AVM EVOLUTION PA3.2, EVOLUTION A3.2, EVOLUTION A5.2, EVOLUTION A5.2T, EVOLUTION PA5.2 Operating Instructions Manual

operating instructions

integrated amplifiers EVOLUTION A3.2, A5.2
preamplifier EVOLUTION PA3.2

2

Dear customer,

thank you for purchasing this AVM product. you own now a versatile, excellent sounding hifi
component. Before enjoying music, please read this manual carefully. After that you will know how
to use your new AVM component in the optimal way.

Sincerely yours

Your AVM-Team

Declaration of conformity (for EC only)

We herewith confirm, that the unit to which this manual belongs fulfills the EC rules necessary to
obtain the sign

the necessary measurements were taken with positive results.

AVM Audio Video Manufaktur GmbH, Daimlerstraße 8, D-76316 Malsch
Website: www.avm-audio.com, E-mail: [e-mail]

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Table of contents

page

Präamble 2
Table of contents 3

1. Basic informations 4

1.1 Mechanical construction & supply 4

1.2 Preamplifier 4

1.3 Power amplifier 4

1.4 Tuner 4

1.5 Phono 5

1.6 D/A converter (option) 5

2. Control elements and connectors 5

2.1.1 Frontpanel PA3.2, A3.2 5

2.1.2 Frontpanel A5.2 5

2.2.1 Rear panel PA3.2, A3.2 6

2.2.2 Rear panelA5.2 6

2.3 Pin configuration of connectors 6

2.4 Insertion and removal of plug-in cards 7

2.5 Setting of the phono card 8

2.6 Installation and cooling 9

2.7 Connection to mains 9

2.8 Connecting the analogue signal sources 9

2.9 Connection of digital sources 9

2.10 Connecting a recorder 9

2.11 Connecting processors and equalizers 9

2.12 Connecting subwoofers 10

2.12.1 Active subwoofers 10

2.12.2 Active subwoofers with built in filters 10

2.13 Connecting loudspeakers 10

2.13.1 A3.2 10

2.13.1 A5.2 10

2.13.3 Bi amping 10

2.14 Connecting power amplifiers 10

2.15 Trigger outputs 10

2.16 Remote control of power amplifiers
via audio cable 10

2.17 Headphones / front input 11

2.17.1 Headphones 11

2.17.2 Front input 11

2.18 Antenna connection 11

3. Basic operation 12

3.1 First connection to mains 12

3.2 Switching on / standby 12

3.3 Selecting the signal source 12

3.4 Volume setting 12

3.4.1 Setting of input sensitivity 12

3.5 Tuner 13

3.5.1 Tuning 13

3.5.2 Station memory 13

3.5.3 Selecting a station out of memory 13

page

4. Advanced settings, the menu system 14

4.1 RDS-Display 14

4.2 Scanmode 14

4.3 2 ch-mode 14

4.4 Bandwidth 14

4.5 Sensitivity 14

4.6 Tone control 14

4.7 Bass 14

4.8 Treble 14

4.9 Loudness 15

4.10 Balance 15

4.11 Input attenuation 15

4.12 Set poweramp 15

4.13 Set front connector 15

4.14 Set processor 15

5. Remote control 16

6. Cleaning 16

7. If something doesn’t work 16

8. Conditions of warranty (EC only) 17

9. Technical data 18

9.1 EVOLUTION PA3.2 18

9.2 EVOLUTION A3.2 18

9.3 EVOLUTION A5.2 18

9.4 Phono 19

9.3 Tuner 19

9.3 D/A converter 19

10. Appendix 20

10.1 personal setup 20

10.1.1 Set display brightness 20

10.1.2 bass & treble control 20

10.1.3 skip unused inputs 20

10.1.4 define input names 20

10.1.5 gain fix / variable 20

10.1.6 FM auto store 21

10.2 Reset 21

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1. Basic information

1.1 Mechanical construction & supply

The case is fully made of aluminium. The audio-connectors are all gold plated to minimize electrical losses
and provide long lasting perfect contacts.

The PA3.2's power supply consists of an oversized toroidal transformer with minimized magnetic stray field
and 10.000 µF of capacitance.

In the A3.2 / A5.2 a switch mode power supply delivers clean, hum-free electrical energy for the analogue
sections of the preamplifier. All voltages are additionally buffered by large capacitors directly in the circuitry
where they are needed. The power amplifiers are fed by a separate switch mode power supply (A3.2)
respective two independent switch mode power supplies - one for each channel (A5.2)

Thus independently of the demanded output power the power amplifier has no influence on the preamp.

1.2 Preamplifier

The input circuits act extremely fast and use special semiconductors for exact and nearly noise free sound
reproduction. SMD technique allows a very compact circuit layout and thus extremely short signal paths.

The volume control is done by highly precise integrated circuits. They allow setting in 0,5 dB steps and their
channel balance is better than 0,05 dB. All this provides an absolutely precise, musical sound reproduction
from lowest to highest listening levels.

If you whish to correct the frequency response at low listening levels or to have more or less treble or bass,
you can activate the sound processor and set the frequency response. For linear reproduction the whole
circuitry is removed out of the signal path by relays and has absolutely no influence.

The preamp section has one balanced XLR input and five RCA-Cinch inputs. Additionally there are three
slots for plug in cards: one phono card, one tuner card and a digital card with three digital inputs.

One fixed level output for recording and a processor in/out for connection of equalizers are provided. The
two preamplifier outputs (RCA-Cinch and XLR) are driven by powerful output stages and can easily handle
longer cables with high capacitance.

1.3 Power amplifier (A3.2 and A5.2 only)

A3.2 and A5.2 use for each channel a separate powerful and efficient digital class-D amplifier. These
amplifiers have an analog feedback loop from output to input. This ensures a nearly load-independent
frequency response and a very good damping factor.

Further highlights are very low output noise, low distortion and an extremely good efficiency. Even when
delivering peak power levels to the speakers they deliver over 90% of the supplied energy to the speakers
and thus produce nearly no heat.

1.4 Tuner (option)

The tuner plug in card can be adapted to different reception situations. you can set bandwidth, and sensitivity
values in order to achieve optimal sound quality from aerial antenna as well as from cable. With it’s high
sensitivity the tuner can also work with a simple indoor antenna. The stereo decoder offers high channel
separation as well as very low noise.

The RDS section (audio data system, not available in all countries) is processor controlled and shows you
station names and texts with additional information about the program you are listening to.

The station memory allows you to store up to 63 stations. It stores not only their frequency, but also the
individual setting of sensitivity, bandwidth and mode (mono/stereo).

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1.5 Phono (option)

The phono pcb is also installed in a slot in the rear panel of the unit. You can connect MC pickups as well as
MM-types. The phono pcb is very versatile and allows individual setting of cartridge type, cartridge load and
gain. The RIAA-equalization uses precise film capacitors and has a built in subsonic filter. So it works well
with most of all cartridges on the market.

1.6 D/A-converter (option)

The optional D/A-converter can also be plugged into a slot from the rear panel. It offers 3 digital inputs: The
optical and the coaxial input accept digital signals from CD-players, digital tuners and other sources. The
USB input can be connected to a suitable Computer. PCs working with WINDOWS XP or higher as well as
most Apple computers recognize the USB input automatically soon after connection. There is normally no
need to install special driver software.

The converter uses upsampling technique (192 kHz/24 bits). The jitter coming from the digital input signal is
nearly completely eliminated. Upsampling to 192 kHz also spreads the inevitable quantization noise to a
broader frequency range and therefore reduces (compared with CD format) the part of quantization noise in
the audible frequency range by a factor of over 4.

The D/A conversion is done by a highly precise IC which works with 24 bits accuracy. The reconstructed
music signal offers therefore crystal clear original sound with no loss of fine details.

2. Control elements and connectors

The numbers in the drawings below mark the control elements. They refer to the numbers in the text, where
the operation is described.

2.1.1 Front panel PA3.2, A3.2

1121098765431

2.1.2 Front panel A5.2

1121098765431

1 Power button (on / off)
2 Source selector
3 Control LED
4 Display

5 - 9Multifunctional buttons (soft keys)
10 Volume knob
11 Phones output / Front input

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2.2.1 Rear panel PA3.2, A3.2

30

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 2718171615141312 2928

O

I

2.2.2 Rear panelA5.2

3231

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 2718171615141312 2928

O

I

12 - 14 Digital inputs (Option)
15 Antenna socket (Option)
16 Phono input (Option)
17 Ground socket for turntable chassis
18 Input 1 (XLR)
19 Inputs 1 - 5 (RCA-Cinch)
20 Output for recorder (fixed level)
21 Processor output
22 Processor input
23 RS 232 connector
24 Pre amplifier output (RCA-Cinch)

25 Connector for external IR-sensor
26 Trigger outputs
27 Pre amplifier output (XLR)
28 Mains switch
29 Mains connector
30 Speakers output, A3.2

(red = Plus, black = GND)

31 Speakers output B, A5.2

(red = Plus, black = GND)

32 Speakers output A, A5.2

(red = Plus, black = GND)

2.3 Pin configuration of connectors

1

3

2 2

3

1

3,5mm stereo

+5V supplyIR-SignalGND

infrared input

3,5mm mono

+8V trigge

r

GND

trigger outputs

XLR-input XLR-output external IR-input(socket 25) Trigger out (sockets 26)

1 = GND (shield) 1 = GND (shield)
2 = non inverting input 2 = non inverting output
3 = inverting input 3 = inverting output

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2.4 Insertion and removal of plug-in cards

CAUTION: Before installing or removing cards ensure that the power plug is disconnected. Printed
circuit boards are never to be installed or removed with the unit switched on. If you are
inexperienced in working with electrical appliances it is recommended that you request your dealer
to install the plug–in cards.

We offer three plug in cards: A tuner card and a phono input and a digital input. For these cards the units
have 3 slots on the rear panel:

• The (seen from the rear side) most right is for phono

• The place in the middle is for tuner

• The (seen from the rear side) most left is for digital I/O

The cover plates are each secured to the housing with a screw above and below. Before removing a cover
plate, unscrew both screws entirely. The cover plate can now be removed.

Rotate the card that is to be installed in such a way that the components are on the left side. Insert the new
card into the free slot. Ensure that the plug of the circuit board mates with the relevant socket inside the unit.
Push the card firmly home but do not use force. At the end of the procedure the rear face of the card must be
in level with the other rear surfaces. After the two securing screws have been firmly replaced the unit is
ready for operation.

NOTE: The plugs of the circuit boards are mounted different heights. This ensures that a phono card
doesn't fit into the slot where the tuner must be installed and vice versa. So please make sure to
install each card in the right slot and do not use force when pushing the card in.