Ayon Reference Amplifier Owner's Manual

Ayon Audio, Hart 18, 8101 Gratkorn / Austria

Tel.: 0043 3124 24954, Fax: 0043 3124 24955

www.ayonaudio.com

ayon® is a registered trademark

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Reference

Owners Manual

Ilust. l

Thank you for choosing high end from Ayon Audio. We value the trust which you place in us by buying our triode amplifiers and are committed to provide you with high end sonic performance and component quality.

Ayon Audio products are engineered to provide you with cutting edge sonic performance and many years of listening pleasure in your home.

Please read this manual carefully before putting your amplifier to use and follow the described steps.

Ayon Audio, Hart 18, 8101 Gratkorn / Austria

Tel.: 0043 3124 24954, Fax: 0043 3124 24955

www.ayonaudio.com

ayon® is a registered trademark

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Introduction

The Ayon Reference

The Reference amplifier has been designed to offer cutting edge sonic performance over the whole audio band. It features carefully selected components and highly advanced output transformer and tube technology.

Set up

Unpacking

When upacking please check the contents of the shipping carton. It should contain:

1. each box one Ayon Audio Reference amplifier

2. each box a complete set of selected tubes.

1 signal tube 6SN7, 1 driver tube 8B and 2 power tube

3. each box a power cable

4. the owners manual

Retain packing materials for future transport.

Ayon Audio, Hart 18, 8101 Gratkorn / Austria

Tel.: 0043 3124 24954, Fax: 0043 3124 24955

www.ayonaudio.com

ayon® is a registered trademark

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Placement

Place the amplifier in a dry, level place with unrestricted air circulation. There should be at least 10 cm of space between the amplifiers’s output tubes and any the closest item in the environment.

Best results are achieved by placing the amplifier on a platform made from dense material like plywood.

Contact your Ayon Audio dealer for further advice regarding the topic of sound optimization.

Tube installation

The Reference amplifier is shipped with a complete set of selected and matched signal-, driverand power tubes. In order to warrant proper function of the amplifier the tubes have to be inserted into their designated sockets on the chassis.

For proper tube installation please consult the following illustration.

When installing the driver- and power tubes check their internally visible serial number and insert them into the socket with the matching number.

The driver- and power tubes feature two pairs of golden pins of different strength which have to be inserted into their respective.

Component Layout

1. Low Voltage Power Transformer - Filament

2. High Voltage Power Transformer

3. Output Transformer

4. 2 Power Supply Chokes

5. Rectifier Tube 5U4G for 8B

6. Pre-driver Tube 6SN7GT

7. Driver Tube 8B

8. Power Tube 52B-S

9. Power Tube 52B-S

Trimmpoti Biascontrol left Powertube

Trimmpoti Biascontrol right Powertube

Ayon Audio, Hart 18, 8101 Gratkorn / Austria

Tel.: 0043 3124 24954, Fax: 0043 3124 24955

www.ayonaudio.com

ayon® is a registered trademark

- 4 -

Connecting your Reference amplifier

Turn off all source components before connecting them with the Reference amplifier.

Then connect your amplifier in the follwing order to the terminals shown in illustration 2:

1. Power cord – please check that the voltage indicated on the amplifiers fits your local power grid.

Then connect the provided power cord to socket no. 6 on the amplifiers

2. Pluspole of the loudspeaker – connect the plus pole of the loudspeaker to terminal no. 5 at the

amplifier (left amp to left speaker – right amp to right speaker)

3. Minuspole of the loudspeaker – connect the minus pole of the loudspeaker to terminal no. 3 at

the amplifier (left amp to left speaker – right amp to right speaker). In most cases the 8 ohm operation will bring more satisfaction in listening. If not you have to connect your plus poles of the loudspeaker to the terminal no. 4 of your amplifier (left amp to left speaker – right amp to right speaker).

4. Source connection – connect your source to the RCA plug on your amplifier if you will not find a

RCA plug on your source you may connect your source to the XLR plug 2. (right signal to right amplifier and left signal to left amplifier.

Illust. 2

6 3 4 V 5 G B 6 1 2

Ayon Audio, Hart 18, 8101 Gratkorn / Austria

Tel.: 0043 3124 24954, Fax: 0043 3124 24955

www.ayonaudio.com

ayon® is a registered trademark

- 5 -

Initial operation

In order to avoid any accidental damage to your amplifier and speakers make sure that the volume dial on your source is set to minimum (at 8 o’clock) before turning on your amplifier with the power switch under the front panel.

Upon turnoff, the “Ayon” logo, which serves as control light will light up, indicating that the circuit has started its initial warm up cycle.

A soft acoustic internal relay “click” and increase in the logo’s illumination will indicate a few moments later that the amplifier has reached operating status. Select a source and adjust the volume. If the amplifier has been properly connected music should come forth form your loudspeakers.

If the music will appear to loud or to silent you may adjust it in steps -0dB / -6dB with the toggles with G (see illustration 2)

Ilust. 3

Power switch

Control light

Ayon Audio, Hart 18, 8101 Gratkorn / Austria

Tel.: 0043 3124 24954, Fax: 0043 3124 24955

www.ayonaudio.com

ayon® is a registered trademark

- 6 -

Bias control and adjustment

At the factory, bias of your amplifier has been set to around 18 V DC referenced for a mains voltage of 230 volts AC. In order to avoid overdriving the tubes, please check the bias level and adjust it to your local power line conditions. To do so switch off all connected source components and chose with the toggle switch B (illustration 2) one powertube. The build in voltmeter V (illustration 2) will now show you the bias voltage. The bias voltage should not exceed 20 volts curing your local grid’s peak voltage hours an not go below 16 volts at the grid’s low hours. Bias is adjusted at the trimmer potentiometer accessible via screwdriver through the opening near your power tube (see illustration on page 3).

Change the setting in small steps making sure that bias is set in the optimum range between 16 volts to 19 volts. Do the same for the second power tube and control again both tubes. After setting the bias for the first amplififer follow the same steps for the second amplifier. We recommend that you do not experiment with bias voltages outside the indicated ideal range. Moving the bias outside of the recommended range will not improve sound quality but will compromise the operating safety of the amplifier and may damage the power tubes. Bias adjustments have to be undertaken by qualified technicians only. Improper adjustments will void the manufacturer’s warranty.

Ayon Audio, Hart 18, 8101 Gratkorn / Austria

Tel.: 0043 3124 24954, Fax: 0043 3124 24955

www.ayonaudio.com

ayon® is a registered trademark

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Maintenance

Chassis

Your amplifier’s chassis is best cleaned with a soft cloth and regular window cleaning fluids. Please make sure that no cleaning fluid enters the amplifier’s interior. Polishing the chassis with a dry or rough cloth could scratch it.

Tubes

To lower the connection impedance of the tubes’ connecting pins may be cleaned with a carbon brush and sealed with anti oxidation fluids available from the qualified audio trade. Clean the gals envelope with window cleaning fluids while making sure that no cleaning fluids is spilled into the amplifier or sockets. Never touch the amplifier while it is running or the tubes while they are hot.

Input-terminals

Chinch terminal connetion impedance is reduced by cleaning with special cleaning tissues available from the audio trade and subsequent sealing with contact sealing fluid.

Ayon Audio, Hart 18, 8101 Gratkorn / Austria

Tel.: 0043 3124 24954, Fax: 0043 3124 24955

www.ayonaudio.com

ayon® is a registered trademark

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Specifications

Amplifier Reference*

Class of Operation Parallel Single Ended Pure Class A Load Impedance 2 - 8 Ohms Negative feedback 0 dB Bandwidth 5 Hz – 100 kHz Output Power 55 Watt Peak Output Power 110 Watt Input Impedance 55K Ohm S/N ratio 98 dB Hum 0,005 V Frequency Response 7 Hz - 35 kHz / 0 dB Frequency Response 5 Hz - 100 kHz / -2.8 dB Inputs 1 x RCA, 1 x XLR Input Gain -0 dB & -6 dB Dimensions 37 x 60 x 27 cm Weight 55 kg per unit

* this amplifier may be used with any type of 300B output tube after bias and heater voltage adjustment to the new type. These adjustments have to be made by an authorized Ayon Audio dealer or distributor.

Ayon Audio, Hart 18, 8101 Gratkorn / Austria

Tel.: 0043 3124 24954, Fax: 0043 3124 24955

www.ayonaudio.com

ayon® is a registered trademark

- 9 -

Warranty and service

Ayon Audio amplifiers comes with a 2 year limited warranty covering defects in material and craftsmanship. The tubes are covered by a one year warranty according to our general warranty terms. During the warranty period, repairs are provided free of charge. Transportation costs to and from the repair provider has to be paid by the owner.

This warranty is void when:

1. the amplifier is used commercially or professionally.

2. damage occurs because of excessive grid voltage or

shorts at the amplifier terminals.

3. the amplifier has been operated without loudspeakers

4. violent damage to the amplifier

5. the amplifier has been opened by unqualified personnel

and adjustments have been set to incorrect values.

6. the identification plate and serial number have been removed.

All requests for repairs under this warranty have to be accompanied with a properly completed warranty card signed and stamped by the dealer and a copy of the original purchase receipt.