User's Guide
PRe3
e.One
Two Channel Analog
Pre-Amplifier
Bel Canto Design, L
212 Thir
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 317.4550
Fax: (612) 359.9358
.belcantodesign.com
www
Info@belcantodesign.com
©2006 Bel Canto Design, L
™
™
Series
TD.
venue Nor
d A
th
TD
Thank you for purchasing the Bel Canto Design PRe3. Your PRe3 sets a benchmark for
design, quality and sonic performance, continuing Bel Canto’s heritage of musicality
and realism.
™
PRe3
Two-Channel Analog
Pre-Amplifier
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Power Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Initial Setup and Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Design Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Control Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 - 7
Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Front and Back Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Warranty Information
Please take a moment to fill out your warranty registration sheet. Returning this registration validates
your warranty. This information will not be sold or
released outside Bel Canto. Your comments and suggestions help us continue to improve upon our products and services.
Bel Canto products are automatically covered by a
90 day factory warranty. With no additional cost,
you have the option to extend your warranty by completing and returning the enclosed warranty registra-
m within 30 days of pur
tion for
copy of the original sales r
Bel Canto dealer. This will ensure prompt warranty
coverage. This warranty is only valid to the original
chase, along with a
eceipt fr
om an authorized
owner who has returned the warranty sheet along
with a copy of the original sales receipt, covering all
internal parts and workmanship. This warranty is
void if damage is due to abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modification. The cost associated with the
return of this unit is the sole responsibility of the
owner.
Bel Canto products are uniquely identified with a
serial number on the back panel of each unit. This
number is required to validate your warranty. Please
ence the serial number if service is required. If
efer
r
you have any questions, comments, or if we can be
of service, please contact us Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CT/USA.
page 3© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd. PRe3 User’s Guide 0806 Rev. A
Unpacking your PRe3
PRe3 box contents include the following:
1 (one) - PRe3 Preamplifier
1 (one) - PRe3 User’s Guide
1 (one) - Power cord [6.6’ - 2 meters long]
1 (one) - Remote Control
1 (one) – Warranty Sheet
Carefully unpack each piece and check
for shipping damage. If there is any
damage, or if anything is missing,
please contact your dealer, distributor or
Bel Canto Design.
Power Connection
The power supply on the PRe3 is preset
for the proper national voltage. The
power cable should have the correct
plug for your local power system. If you
believe this to not be true, please contact your dealer immediately.
IMPORTANT: Save all packing
materials as the packing is spe-
cially designed to protect the
unit during transportation or shipping. If
the packaging becomes lost or damaged, please contact your dealer, distributor or Bel Canto before attempting
to transport your unit.
This preamplifier, like any electrical component, can be dangerous and cause
injury unless correct handling procedures are observed and used. Before
powering this preamplifier it is necessary to read and follow proper setup
and procedures.
Warning!
Do not connect power to this
preamplifier yet!
© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd. PRe3 User’s Guide 0806 Rev. A
page 4
Placement and Initial Setup
Because the PRe3 runs cool it can be
placed in many system locations without
compromise. We do not recommend
placing weights or other objects directly
on the PRe3. This may mar or scratch
the chassis finish. Do not use harsh
chemicals when cleaning the outside of
your PRe3.
IMPORTANT: Make all connections before powering your unit.
Design Features
The Bel Canto PRe3 represents a powerful statement in high performance audio
control preamplifiers. Its superb audio
performance and transparency renders it
a modern standard in control preamplifier design:
• All analog, low noise, low distortion
architecture for controlling up to six (6)
2-channel inputs including 1 balanced
input
• Fully balanced XLR outputs for optimum
interface to the power amplifier
• 4-layer PC board design for superior
signal routing, grounding and power
supply routing
• Latest generation of low-noise, low-distortion high speed audio buffers, level
controls and output drivers provide
superb measured and subjective audio
quality
• Independent digital and analog transformers and multi-stage power supplies
for precise power to the sensitive analog
circuitry
Single Ended RCA and Balanced XLR
connectors are available. XLR jacks
allow balanced hookup using the standard North American pin configuration:
Pin 1 Ground
Pin 2 Input +
Pin 3 Input -
• Precision audio grade resistors and no
capacitors in the audio signal path
• Ultra low noise second stage regulation
for the analog amplifier sections
• Home Theater Bypass mode on Input 5
• Digitally controlled analog
volume control for optimum signal architecture
• New Single-Knob user interface provides simple, intuitive control function
page 5© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd. PRe3 User’s Guide 0806 Rev. A
PRe3 Single-Knob Control Functions
Front Panel Control Knob:
The control knob is a continuously rotating control with a push-switch function.
Standby Mode:
Pressing and holding the control knob
for 2 seconds will take the PRe3 out of
Standby and in to operating mode. The
unit will come up in a soft mute mode.
The operating input will be indicated for
several seconds and then it will go to the
volume control mode. To place the PRe3
in Standby mode press and hold the
control knob for 2 seconds.
Volume Control Mode:
The PRe3 default operating mode allows
you to change volume level by rotating
the knob. The volume down function
(counter-clockwise rotation) is very rapid
and allows quick changes in the volume
level. Volume up (clockwise rotation)
functions rapidly up to a displayed volume level of 50.0. There is a pause at
50.0 until the display dims then the volume up function continues more slowly
to a displayed value of 60.0 and then
slower yet above 60.0. This operation
makes it difficult to accidentally set a volume level that is too high.
Input Selection Mode:
Pressing the control knob in briefly will
toggle into the input selection mode. The
selected input will be displayed for 5
seconds. During this time you can rotate
the control knob to scroll to the desired
input. Pressing the knob again will select
the indicated input. The volume level will
automatically ramp down and up during
this selection process. If the control knob
is not pressed for 5 seconds, the indicated input will automatically be selected
and the PRe3 will return to the default
volume control mode.
Home Theater Bypass Operation:
Input 5 can be set to a home theater
bypass mode (htb) that is used to pass
the front left/right outputs from a multichannel processor output through the
PRe3 to the main L/R power amplifiers.
This mode must be used with a
preamp output which has volume
control function as the PRe3 volume and mute controls will not
function while the PRe3 remains
in the htb unity gain setting.
When in the Input Selection Mode, Input
5 can be toggled between the normal
operting mode (In 5) and the bypass
mode for (htb5) by pressing the control
knob 2 times. You will note that the Input
display will toggle between htb5 and In
5. The display simply reads htb (home
theater bypass) when the bypass mode
is active.
page 6© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd. PRe3 User’s Guide 0806 Rev. A
Mute: (available only on the
remote)
The PRe3 starts up in Soft Mute. This
level is 20dB below the displayed volume level. When MUTE is first pressed it
goes to the Soft state, indicated by 2
decimal points on the volume display
(i.e. 50.0.). Pressing MUTE again rapidly will fully MUTE the outputs. Full mute
is indicated by 4 decimal points in the
volume display (i.e. .5.0.0.).
Pre In:
This is used to toggle through the inputs,
when initially pressed it will indicate the
currently selected input.
Standby:
Used to toggle the PRe3 into and out of
standby mode. Standby hard mutes the
outputs while keeping all circuitry running, maintaining optimum circuit performance. Before unplugging the PRe3
from mains power it is recommended to
place it in standby first. Standby is indicated by the presence of 2 dashes on
the display - - .
page 7© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd. PRe3 User’s Guide 0806 Rev. A
Remote Control
Volume Up:
Increases the output level in
0.5 Decibel (dB) steps over a range
of 0.0 to 100.0.
STANDBY
INPUT SELECTION
Volume Down:
Decreases the output level.
VOLUME CONTROL
Conditioning
The PRe3’s sonic performance will
start to stabilize after 100 hours of
continuous power up.
CONTROLS HARD AND SOFT MUTE
page 8© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd. PRe3 User’s Guide 0806 Rev. A
PRe3 Front Panel
PRe3 Back Panel
page 9© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd. PRe3 User’s Guide 0806 Rev. A
PRe3 Specifications
Bandwidth • DC-200KHz
Volume setting for unity gain • 80.0
Signal to Noise Ratio @ 2 Volt RMS • >105 dB A weighted, 20Hz-20kHz
Distortion @ 2 Volt RMS/1kHz • <0.001%
Dynamic Range • 120 dB
Input overload • 10 V RMS
Output Impedance • 500 Ohms Single Ended, 200 Ohms Balanced
Input Impedance • 10K Ohms Single Ended, 20K Ohms Balanced
Maximum Gain • 20dB/10X
Maximum Output Level • 9.5 V RMS
Idle power draw • 10 Watts
Power Requirements • 100-120 VAC 50-60 Hz or 220-240 VAC 50-60 Hz
Dimensions • 8.5” W x 12.5” D x 3” H (216 mm x 318 mm x 75 mm)
Weight: • 10lbs. (4.5 kg)
© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd.
page 10
PRe3 User’
s Guide 0806 Rev
. A
Bel Canto Design, LTD.
212 Third Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 317.4550
Fax: (612) 359.9358
.belcantodesign.com
www
Info@belcantodesign.com
©2006 Bel Canto Design, L
PRe3™ is a trademark of Bel Canto Design, L
TD
TD
Loading...