Parasound PLD-1100 Owners manual

O W N E R ' S M A N U A L

P/LD -1100 Line Drive Preampl if ier

Congratulations on your purchase of this precision audio component and thank you for your selection of
Parasound. Your P/LD-1100 Line Drive Preamplifier has been designed with the latest technology to
become the heart of the finest music systems. Premium parts and advanced design by renowned circuit
designer John Curl combined with full remote control make the P/LD-1100 one of the finest preamplifier
values ever offered.

Please take a few moments now to read these instructions thoroughly so you may fully understand the
sophisticated capabilities of your new preamplifier.

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Unpacking and Placement

Open the carton of your P/LD-1100 carefully and inspect the unit for possible shipping damage. Report
any damage to your dealer immediately. You will find the detachable AC line cord packed separately
inside the carton.

Save your plastic bag, inserts, and carton. You may need these later for transporting the P/LD-1100 or for
shipment in the event it ever requires factory service. Record the serial number (on rear panel) here for
future reference: ____________________

Locate your P/LD-1100 as close as possible to your source components and power amplifier. Keep it out
of direct sunlight, and away from heat sources such as a hot air vent or radiator. If you are stacking your
components, avoid placing your P/LD-1100 on top of heat producing components, such as power
amplifiers or tube-type preamplifiers.

Making Connections

Before making any signal connections, make sure your P/LD-1100’s volume control is turned fully
counterclockwise or its power is turned off. When making connections, make sure there is no strain or
tension on any wires that could cause them to pull loose later on.

Input connections

• CD Each input has the same input sensitivity and impedance and is compatible

• Tuner with any typical analog line level source: DAT, MD, DCC, output of a

• Video Laserdisc or VCR, D-A converter, tape deck or phono pre-preamplifier.

• Aux It is normal if your CD player or D-A converter sounds louder than any of

• Tape Play the other sources and requires a slight volume control adjustment.

• Direct This is the preferred input to connect the source component for your most

critical listening. Direct jacks feed a separately switched line level input
with the most direct signal path to your power amplifier.

• Tape Record/Playback Jacks

Play jacks connect to the Line Output jacks of the analog deck.
Rec jacks connect to the Line Input jacks at the deck.

Make sure you connect inputs and outputs of the Right and Left channels consistently, otherwise channels
will be exchanged when you replay a tape you had recorded through this system. The Tape jacks are not
switched as a monitor for simultaneous comparisons of recording to source. Be careful not to set your tape
deck to record whenever the Tape input is selected on your P/LD-1100. Otherwise you will create an
uncontrolled feedback blast which can quickly damage your speakers.

• Main Line Out Connectors

There are two pairs of Line Out jacks which can connect to two separate power amplifiers.

External Remote Control Input Jack

Your P/LD-1100 is compatible with most popular infrared repeater systems for remote control operation
from another room or when it is installed in a cabinet where its handset signals cannot reach its front panel
remote control sensor. The External Remote Control connector is a standard “mini” size jack. The center
conductor is for + and the outer conductor is for - . Your Authorized Parasound Dealer or Custom
Installer can recommend a compatible repeater system.

DC Trigger

This connector provides a +12 Volt DC 350 milliampere capacity trigger whenever you turn on the
P/LD-1100. Use this connector to activate equipment such as relays or power amplifiers that can be
triggered with DC voltage.

Headphone Jack

The built in premium high current, low noise headphone amplifier drives any headphones with an
impedance of 8 Ω or higher. It is always live, regardless of the operation of the Mute switch.

AC Line Cord Receptacle

Plug the female end of the AC cord firmly into the AC receptacle and make sure that it is properly seated.
Connect the male end directly to an AC wall outlet. Avoid use of an extension cord or power strip since
these often degrade sound quality.

Operating Your P/LD-1100

Before turning the unit on, recheck all your connections and turn down the volume control to avoid any
unpleasant “blasts” that could damage your speakers.

• On-Off Switch

Push once to turn on. Push again to turn off. The Mute LED will light up during a 3-4 second delay after
turn on. After the circuits stabilize, the muting is defeated.

• Volume Control

Adjust listening level; the knob controls a smooth, precision Alps potentiometer. If your power amplifier
has gain controls, they should be adjusted to accommodate a 11 AM - 1 PM setting of your P/LD-1100
volume control knob for your most frequent listening level. The slight resistance you feel when turning
the volume control is from the gearing of its remote control actuator motor.

• Balance Control

Adjust relative left and right volume levels with this precision Alps 4-gang control. If clockwise rotation
favors the left channel speaker as you face it, you have reversed Right and Left hookups between your
preamp and power amplifier or between your power amplifier and speakers.

• Input Select Buttons

Press the button for the source you wish to hear. LEDs indicate selection.

• Mute

This button mutes the signal at the line out jacks, while leaving the headphone jack live. It is a convenient
way to listen privately without the need to switch off your power amplifier(s).

• Remote Control

The remote control handset duplicates every function of the front panel controls with the exception of the
balance control. The front panel LEDs above each switch alert you to the operating status of your P/LD-

1100. The remote control transmitter has a range of approximately 20 feet. Use only AA alkaline
batteries in the handset and observe the correct polarity which is marked in the case.

Whenever you turn your P/LD-1500 on, it will select the same source and resume the same volume setting
you were playing before the last time you turned it off. This feature is dependent upon leaving your
preamp plugged into an AC outlet that is always live.

Never interfere with the motorized operation of the volume control knob while it is moving by a command
from the remote control handset.

Your remote control handset also includes controls for the matching Parasound T/DQ-1600 FM/AM
Broadcast Reference tuner. The handset Polarity button has corresponding circuitry only in the Parasound
P/LD-2000 preamplifier, and it has no function on your P/LD-1100.