Consonance M10s User guide

M10S

SAFETY INSTRUCTION
To avoid personal injury or damage to equipment, please

ensure that you read this manual in its entirety before
attempting to operate the equipment. Please retain this
manual for future reference.

TO PREVENT THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES REMOVE ANY PARTS OF
THE EQUIPMENT COVER. THERE ARE NO USER
SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. ALL SERVICING MUST BE
CARRIED OUT BY QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

This icon marks a presence of un-insulated “dangerous voltage” within the product's enclosure
that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

This icon marks important operating, maintenance and service information that should be
read to prevent possible personal injury

WARNINGS

Do Not Disassemble

Do not attempt to service the equipment beyond that described in this manual. Touching the
equipment’s internal parts could result in severe personal injury. All other servicing or
problems as listed below should be referred to qualified Consonance service technicians:

• The power supply cord or plug has been damaged

• Objects have fallen or liquid has been spilled into the equipment

• The equipment does not appear to function normally or exhibits a marked change in

performance

• The equipment has been dropped or the enclosure damaged
Do not under any circumstances allow anyone to modify your Consonance equipment without
first checking with Opera Audio, your dealer, or your distributor. Unauthorized modifications
will invalidate your guarantee.

Power Source

The equipment should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in this
manual or as marked on the equipment.

Grounding or Polarization

Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by
items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords and plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the amplifier.

Ventilation

The equipment should be situated so that its location or position does not interfere with its
proper ventilation.

1. The equipment must not be placed on bed, sofa, or similar surfaces, that may block the
ventilation openings,

2. The equipment must not be placed in a built-in installation, such as a bookcase or cabinet
that may impede the flow of air.

3. The equipment should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat
register, stoves, or other electronic appliances that produce heat. This equipment is not
intended for commercial use.

Water and Moisture

The equipment should not be used near water, e.g., near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink,
laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool etc. Similarly, do not placed objects
filled with liquid, such as vases on top of the equipment.

Speaker Impedance

For best performance, the load presented by the speaker has to match the M10’s output
impedance per channel. Refer to the speaker’s manufacturer handbook for information on the
nominal impedance. The M10SE is factory set to match the speakers at 4~8 ohms.

Lighting

Consonance hi-fi system can be damaged by lightning. Power amplifiers are particularly at
risk and therefore should be turned off when there is risk of lightning strike. For complete
protection all mains plugs and any aerial cables should be disconnected when not in use.

Power Lines

In case of connecting a tuner, an outdoor antenna should be located away from power lines. If
an outside antenna is connected to the system, be sure the antenna is grounded so as to
provide some protection against voltage surges and built up of static charges.

Cleaning

Never clean with furniture polish, benzene, or volatile liquids. Dust periodically with a clean,
soft paint brush. Fingerprints can be removed with a moist polishing cloth.

Table of Contents

SAFETY INSTRUCTION

1. INTRODUCTION 2

2. UNPACKING & SET-UP 2

3 OPERATING TIPS 3

4. GENERAL WARNINGS 4

5. TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE 5

6. REMOTE CONTROL 3

7. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION 8

8. WARRANTY 9

Introduction

Thank you for the purchase of the M10S high-end tube amplifiers. Opera Audio
welcomes you to the growing number of discerning audiophiles who own Opera
Audio products. This manual has been prepared to help you to maximize your
enjoyment of the perform ance and features of your ne w Consonance equipment.
Please study this manual carefully and become acquainted with all the features,
operation and capabilities of your new Consonance equipment. Should you have
any questions, or desire information on other Opera Audio products, please
contact your local Opera dealer.

Unpacking & Set-up
Unpacking

Before any Opera Audio product leaves the factory it is carefully inspected for
physical imperfections as a routine part of Opera Audio's stringent systematic
quality control. After you have unpac ked the equipment, carefully inspect for any
physical damage. Save the shipping carton and packing materials as they are
essential for future use to reduce the possibility of transportation damage.

Set-up

1. Check Equipment Voltage

Ensure that the operating voltage of the amplifier, check the shipping carton lab el
and/or owners manual, conforms to the delivery voltage of your local power su pply
(i.e. 240V / 230V / 220V / 115V / 100V AC de pendent on country).

2. Positioning the Equipment

The amplifier may generate considerable heat during normal operation. Please
ensure that the unit is far away from effect of any domestic heat source and
adequate air circulation around the u nit is provided t o maintain c ool operatio n. For
air circulation, leave enough space a round th e unit (at least 3 cm on the top and 3
cm on the sides and leave enough space on the back for the power cord and
interconnect cables). If the equipment is going to be mounted in an enclosed
cabinet, it is recommended that the rear of the cabinet has vents to allow air to
circulate around the unit. Wi th these considerations implemented, the e quipment
should then provide exceptional performance as intended. However, the usual
protection of equipment from excessive dust and moisture should always be
observed. All the equipment mad e by Opera Audio has been carefully designed
with high quality components so that Long-term undiminished performance is
operated in accordance with the instruction s pr ovide d .

3. Install Vacuum Tubes

Locate the KT88, ECC82 and ECC83 vacuum tubes and insert them into their
sockets according to the print on top lid. Pay attention on t he pr oper tube
orientation please and be sure to hold the tube by its base when inserting and

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removing. This will minimize the chance of breaking the glue between the socket
and the glass.

4. Connect Signal Cables

Connect the input source to the amplifier’ s rig ht and left channel RCA jacks. Refer
to rear chassis drawing for connec t i on location. These jacks are labeled wit h
colored washers: red for right and black for left.

5. Connect Speaker Cables

Connect the speaker cables. Refer to rear chassis drawing for speaker connect or
location. Be sure the positive speaker lead is connected to the plus symbol on the
speaker connector (In this case, red to red, black to blac k) Not e: NE V ER switch
on the amplifier unless a speaker is connect ed t o both output terminals. Operation
of the amplifier without a load may damage the outp ut transformers.

Operating Tips
A. Power cord, plugs and sockets

The power cord should be routed so that it is not likely to be stepped on or
pinched by items placed upon or against it. All the plugs and so c kets su pplied with
your Consonance equipment have been chosen because they mark the best
possible connection for their purpose. A poor contact will degrade the signal
substantially, plugs and sockets should look clean and free from corrosion. The
easiest way to clean them is to switch off the equip ment, pull the plug s out of thei r
sockets, and push them back in again. Special contact cleaners and contact
enhancers should not be used as they tend to d eposit a film, which is very diffic ult
to remove and may degrade the sound.

B. Switching on and off

Source components and powe r supplies for CD players, tuners, preamplifier s and
crossovers should be switched on before switching on the amplifier(s). Always
switch the amplifier(s) off and wait about 5 minute for its power supply capacitors
to discharge before con necting or discon necting any leads. Alwa ys use the power
switch on the equipment instead of the mains outlet switch.

C. Running in

Your Consonance equipment will take a considerable time to run-in before it
performs at its best. The durat ion varies, but under some condit ions you will find
that the sound continues t o improve for as much as five weeks. Bet ter and more
consistent performance will be achieved if the system is left switched on f or long
periods. However, please take note th at all electronic equipme nt can be damaged
by lightning and should not be left on for long periods unattended.

D. Power supply

Where fused plugs are used variou s amp fuses should be fitt ed. Fuses of a lower
rating will fail after a period of use. A hi-fi system usually shares a main circuit with
other household equipment some of which can cause distortion of the mains
waveform. In some Consonance equipments such distortion can lead to a
mechanical hum from the transformers. The hum is not transmitted through the

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speakers and has no effect on the perform ance of the syst em but is purely local t o
the transformer. A separate fused mains circuit (like that reserved for electric
cookers) will have lower impedance, supply cleaner power, and consequently
improve system performance. Do not wire voltage dependent resistors or noise
suppressors into mains plugs. They degrade the mains supply and the sound.

E. Positioning

Power supplies and amplifiers should be loca ted at a reasonable distance away
from other equipments in the system. Adequate spacing will prevent the
generation of transformer resonance which in turns causing audible hum to be
heard from the loudspeakers . The minimum recom mende d dist ance is 300mm (12
inches), and that allowed by the standard interconnect lead being maximum.
Many of the Consonance equipment s, due to stringent requirements for ultimate
sonic reproduction, are extremely heavy in weight. If you are placing the
equipments on equipment rack or table please ensure that the frame is structural
sound for supporting the total weight of the equipments.

F. Cables, connections and speaker Impedance

Loudspeaker leads are also very important leads to suit your equipment
installation. The leads should eac h be at le ast 3.5 met ers long and of equal lengt h.
The recommended maximum is 20 mete rs. The loudspeaker connectors su pplied
with all Consonance amplifiers and loudspeakers h ave been specif ically designed
to make a tight mechanical connection. It is essential that these are used in orde r
to comply with local safety regulations.
For best performance, the load presented by the speaker has to match the
amplifier's output impedance. Refer to the manufacturer's information for your
speaker nominal impedance. All vacuum tube amplif ier made by Opera Audio are
factory set to match the speakers at 8 ohm s and 4 ohms.

General Warnings

Every piece of Consonance equipment is designed to produce the finest sound
quality that can be achieved, by avoidi ng c omprom is e whereve r pos sible. This can
lead to circumstances that may be unfamiliar to the equipment owner. The
material that follows contains advice specifically related to Co nsona nce equip ment
as well as more general warning about the use of domestic audio products.

Please read it carefully:
The transformers in Consonance amplifiers and power supplies may sometimes

make a mechanical noise caused by distortion of the mains waveform.
Consonance transformers are large in size and have heavy gauge secondary
windings making them relatively sensitive to such distortion. A separate mains
circuit for your hi-fi system may reduce the effect while also giving an overall
improvement in sound quality. It may be necessary however to take account of
mechanical transformer noise wh en placing your equipment.
In some circumstances, depending on where you live and the grounding
arrangements in your home, you may experience radio frequency interference.
Controls on broadcasting in some territories allow very high levels of radio
frequency radiation and both the choice and exact placement o f equipment may
be critical. If there is a known problem in your locality it is advisable to arrange for
a home demonstration be fore purchase to ensure that you r selected Cons onance

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equipment can be operated normally. Susceptibility to radio frequency
interference is related to the wide internal bandwidth necessary for high sound
quality. Systems incorporating moving coil phono preamplifiers and active
crossovers are more likely to suffer.

Troubleshooting Guide

From time to time you may experience problems in obtaining optimum equipment
performance. Following is list of frequently en co untered problems.

Problem Solution

Power indicator and filaments
do not light

Check the fuse and make sure the amplifier
is plugged into a working power outlet

Sound out of one speaker only Turn volume control fully counter-clockwise

and reverse input connectors. I f s oun d
changes from one speaker to the other,
check source or replace inter-connect wires.
If the sound is still coming out of the same
speaker only, check speakers on another
piece of equipment for proper operat ion.

Static, noise, or hum Turn the potentiometers Individually

clockwise or counter-clockwise until the hum
reduces to the lowest level on each channel

Equipment problem could also be caused by fault in any part of the system or its
installation. As Legal consumer protection varies from country to country, you
should always first consult the local dealer for any technical problems that you
may experience. Please contact your local distributor or Opera Audio at the
address in the back of this manual for any difficulties that cannot be resolved.

Certain Consonance equipment is made in special versions f or different territories
as a result it is impracticable to arrange inte rnational guar antees. P lease es tablish
appropriate guarantee arrangement s with your o wn dealer at t he time of sale. We
are always available to offer help and advice. It is essential that repairs and
updates are only carried out by authorized Consonance dealer or Opera Audio
factory. As many Consonance components are custom made and specially
matched, the replacement parts must be ordered through Opera Audio or its
representative. Our dealer will have all relevant information about the service in
your area and will ensure that you equipment is serviced without delay.

If for some reason, there are no service facilities available in your area, please
ship the equipment to the address listed at the back of the manual.

Please note that you are responsible for all sh ippin g cha rge s, insurance, and re­importation to your country, and duty arrangements.

When shipping a product back to factory for service, always include the following:

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• Sales slip or other proof of purchase if repair is claimed under warrant y.

• A proforma invoice with value of the goods, stating that the amplifier is

returned to china for repair.

• An accompanying letter describing faults, symptoms or problems with
the amplifier.

• Always ship the amplifier in its original carton and packaging material to
prevent damage in transit.

Opera Audio will not accept responsibility for any damage caused in transit, no
matter whatever caused.

6. REMOTE CONTROL

The Consonance amplifier can be controlled by an optional Consonance system
remote control. Like other Consonance products, the number of butt ons is kept to
a minimum.
The volume of the amplifier can be operated b y usin g th e remo te control.
The remote control uses four 1.5-volt LR03 AAA batterie s .

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7.Technical Specification

FUNCTION

From left to right are: Mode switch (Headphone or Speaker), Headphone
jack , Power indicator,Input selector, IR,Volume control

From left to right are: Tubes, Triode/ ultralinear switch

From left to right are: Input jacks(1,2, 3,4), Speaker connector, Power plug
and Fuse, Speaker connector

Power switch

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

CONTROL FUNCTIONS:

Triode / Ultralinear Switch

Volume, Mode Switch, Pow er On/Off and

POWER OUTPUT: 12.5 watt ( Ultralinear ) / 8 watt ( Triode ) RMS 1kHz
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION: less than 1%( 5 watt, 1kHz )
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: ( -3dB points at 5 watt ) 6Hz-60kHz
INPUT SENSITIVITY: 280mV
INPUT IMPEDANCE: 100k ohms
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE: 6~8 ohms.
SIGNAL/NOISE: 90dB
CONSUMPTION: 86watt
INPUT INTERFACES:3 group (RCA),1 group 3.5mm jack for Ipod
OUTPUT INTERFACES: speaker terminals and headphone jack - ( on the
front panel )
OVERALL NEGATIVE FEEDBACK: Little ( -6dB )
VACUUM TUBE:KT88x2,ECC82 x1,ECC83 x1
DIMENSIONS: 320 ( L ) x 260 ( W ) x 150( H ) mm
WEIGHT:15kg ( packed )

SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

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Warranty

Opera audio guarantees each produ ct ma nufact ured by us to be f ree from defects
in materials and workmanship under normal use. Our obligation under this
warranty is limited to making good at o ur factory any part or parts thereof which
shall, within 1 year after delivery to the o riginal purchaser, be returned to u s with
transportation charges prepa id, and which an examination shall disclose to have
been thus defective; this warranty being expressly in lieu of all other warranties
expressed or implied and of all other obligations or liabilities on our part. This
warranty shall not apply to any Opera audio product which shall have been
repaired or altered outside of our factory in any way so as to affect its stability, nor
which has been subject to misuse, negligence or accident. Warranties of the
vacuum tubes are by the respective manufac tu rers, usually 90 days.

Please mail or e-mail the Registration Card to the addre ss as f o llows:

The Opera Audio Co., Ltd.

No.2 JiuXianQiaoLu
ChaoYang District
Beijing, China
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[email protected]
www.opera-consonance.com

Registration Card

Name
Address

City
State
Zip
Email
Telephone
Model
Serial Number
Purchase Date
Dealer

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