Sonic Frontiers Line 1, Line 2, Line 3 Owners manual

T H E S O N I C F R O N T I E R S L I N E S E R I E S P R E A M P L I F I E R S

OWNER ’S MANUAL

OPERATING MANUAL FOR THE SONIC FRONTIERS
LINE SERIES PREAMPLIFIERS

We at Sonic Frontiers hope you will derive many years of listening pleasure with your new
LINE Series Preamplifier. This Operating Manual contains important information regarding
the operation and care of these Preamplifiers. Be sure to read this manual carefully and fol­low these instructions in order to keep them performing and sounding their best. Please con­tact Sonic Frontiers if you have any questions - a Customer Service Representative will be
pleased to assist you.

C O N T E N T S

Unpacking ........................................................................................................1

Operation, Connection and Control Diagrams ........................................................2

Control and Connection Functions ........................................................................4

Preamplifier Set-up ..............................................................................................6

Tube Insertion ....................................................................................................6

Chassis Placement ..............................................................................................7

Connecting External Equipment ............................................................................7

Power Connections ............................................................................................8

Home Theatre Accessories....................................................................................8

Powering On and Startup Procedures ....................................................................9

Remote Control Functions ..................................................................................10

Tube Replacement ............................................................................................11

Trouble Shooting ..............................................................................................11

Fuse Location ..................................................................................................11

Safety Instructions..............................................................................................12

Warranty ........................................................................................................12

Technical Specifications ....................................................................................13

Remote Control Battery Replacement ....................................................................14

This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “danger­ous voltages” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude
to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompany­ing the appliance.

U N P A C K I N G

At this point we assume that you have successfully opened the box flaps and found this manual.
These boxes were designed to ensure the safe transport of the LINE Series Preamplifiers. Sonic
Frontiers strongly recommends the storage of these boxes in a safe dry place. In the event that the
Line 1, Line 2, or Line 3 may have to be shipped in the future, the original boxes are the best means
for the protection and safety of the preamplifier during transportation.

Here is a chart listing what you will find in the box:

Tube Complement

• Line 1 and Line 2 6 - 6922

• Line 3 10 - 6922
2 - 6GH8A

Phillips Screwdriver 1

Screws 18 or 36*

Power Cord 1

Cotton Gloves 1 pair

Extra Fuses 2

Line 1, Line 2, or Line 3 Preamplifier 1

*Line 2 or Line 3 Power Supply 1

Preamplifier Top Cover 1

*Power Supply Top Cover 1

Remote Control 1

Warranty Card 1

Operating Manual 1

If after your inspection of the contents there is a discrepancy, contact your dealer or Sonic Frontiers
immediately.

* Only for Line 2 or Line 3 owners.

OPERATION, CONNECTIONS AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS

LINE 1, LINE 2, AND LINE 3 FRONT PANEL

Note: This diagram applies to ALL LINE Series preamplifiers, as they all have identical front panel functions.

A B C D E F G H I J

Figure 1 - Line 1, Line 2, and Line 3 Front Panel

LINE 1 REAR PANEL

K L

N P QM VR S T U

O W

Figure 2 - Line 1 Rear Panel

LINE 2 AND LINE 3 REAR PANEL

X P Q VR S T U

O

Figure 3 - Line 2 and Line 3 Rear Panel

W

OPERATION, CONNECTIONS AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS CONT’D

LINE 2 POWER SUPPLY REAR AND FRONT PANELS

M

N Y

Figure 4 - Line 2 Power Supply Rear and Front Panels

LINE 3 POWER SUPPLY FRONT PANEL

Figure 5 - Line 3 Power Supply Front Panel

Z

Z AA

LINE 3 POWER SUPPLY REAR PANEL

Y

N

Figure 6 - Line 3 Power Supply Rear Panel

CONTROL AND CONNECTION FUNCTIONS

4

A - X L R Balanced Input Buttons (BAL 1, BAL 2) -

These buttons will select a balanced input signal connected
to one of the XLR Balanced Inputs. When selected the LED
display window will light BAL 1 or BAL 2. Input volume levels
can be preset and saved in memory. See “K” below.

N o t e : Whenever you select a new input, there is a ramp up in volume as the preamp resets

to your saved level. The duration of the ramp up is dependent on the output level.

B - Single-Ended Input Buttons (SE 1 - SE 4) -

These buttons will select a single-ended input signal connect­ed to that specific single-ended input. The selected input will
be displayed in the LED display window. Preset input volume
levels can be saved in memory. See “K” below.

Note: Whenever you select a new input, there is a ramp up in volume as the pre-

amp resets to your saved level. The duration of the ramp up is dependent on
the output level.

C - Tape Input Button - This button toggles the Tape moni-

tor ON/OFF and will display TAPE in the LED display win­dow. All other preamp display functions remain active and
the same.

Note: Whenever you select this function there is a ramp up in volume as the pre-

amp resets to your saved level. The duration of the ramp up is dependent on
the output level.

ly and safely. Depending upon the methods used in
producing the recording, the user may prefer listening to a
given recording in either phase position.

G - LED Display Window - The Display window gives the

operating status of the Preamplifier. There are four levels of
light intensity available plus OFF. This is adjustable only with
the remote control DISP (display) button. See page 10.

H - Balance Buttons - These buttons control the relative bal-

ance of the left and right channels to compensate for any dis­crepancies caused by speaker placement, source imbalance,
etc. The balance between the left and right channel can be
changed by pressing the BALANCE LEFT or BALANCE RIGHT
button. When the left balance button is pressed, the R I G H T
channel will be decreased in 0.5dB increments. When the
right balance button is pressed the LEFT channel will decrease
in 0.5 dB increments. To reset to an equal balance either
adjust until the volume levels are equal again or select any
other input - then reselect this input to recall the preset (default)
settings. For setting default levels see “K” below

Note: To reset the volume levels to equal values on both channels, simply press

and hold the Mode button for a minimum of 1.5 seconds. The volume level
will then revert to the higher of the two channels.

D - SSP (Surround Sound Processor) Input Button -

This button selects the Surround Sound Processor (SSP) input
signal. When selected, SSP will light in the LED display win­dow and all other displays will blank indicating that all pre­amp functions are completely disabled. The SSP signal is
directly connected to all the preamp’s single-ended and bal­anced outputs. Note: The XLR outputs become a single-ended
signal. Non-inverting polarity (0˚) is automatically selected.
The only way to deselect SSP mode is to press the SSP button
a second time.

Note: Whenever you deselect this function there is a ramp up in volume as the

preamp resets to the level of the previously selected input. The duration of
the ramp up is dependent on the output level.

E - H e a d R o o m™Headphone Output - H e r e you can

insert the plug from your headphones into the front panel
headphone jack. When headphones are plugged in MUTE
will be displayed in the LED display window. All functions
remain operational. All the linestage main outputs will be
MUTED except the TAPE. Use the volume control to set a
desired level. When the Headphone plug is removed the vol­ume levels will all return to their preset or default settings.

Note: Whenever you remove your headphone plug there is a ramp up in volume

as the preamp resets to the default input and saved level. The duration of
the ramp up is dependent on the output level.

Note: When headphones are plugged in, the output to your amplifier is muted (as

indicated in the front panel LED display window). However a second MUTE
function is still available (by pressing the MUTE button) for the headphones.

Note: Headphones will not work when SSP mode is selected.

F - Phase Button - This button allows the user to invert the

system phase polarity by 180˚ (relative to the input signal) easi-

I- Mode Button - The LINE Series Preamplifiers can oper-

ate in one of two modes: MONO or STEREO. Only the
MONO mode is indicated in the LED display window.
Switching between MONO and STEREO is done by press­ing the mode button on the front panel or remote control.
Mono is available for any input (balanced or single-ended),
including TAPE OUT.

Note: A secondary feature of the Mode button is its ability to reset the channel

balance to an equal setting on both channels. Simply press and hold the
Mode button for 1.5 seconds to perform this operation.

J - Mute Button - The Line Stage main output can be muted

by pressing the MUTE button. When the signal is muted it
will be indicated in the LED display window. The TAPE OUT
function is not affected. A secondary “volume control” MUTE
function is still available while listening with headphones.

Note: Whenever you deselect this function there is a ramp up in volume as the

preamp resets to your saved level. The duration of the ramp up is depen­dent on the output level.

K - Precision Balanced Volume Attenuator Control -

This continuous rotation knob controls the balanced attenuator. It
gives precise control over left and right channel levels in 0.5 dB
steps - 191 levels of attenuation from 00.0 to 95.5. Turning
the control knob clockwise will increase the volume. Once the
end of each range (00.0 or 95.5) is reached, the knob will
continue to rotate without any further change in volume setting ­a reverse in direction will immediately begin changing the vol­ume level in the other direction.
Setting Default Volume Levels - Volume/Balance levels for indi­vidual inputs (except SSP) can be pre-set and stored in memory.