Tag mclaren audio PPA20 User Manual
power
LED
input selector
button
filter selector
button
riaa/iec
input
mc/mm mode
in 1
mcx 30
direct
in 2
mcx 10
filter
status
indicators
riaa
mm
mono
riaa/iec
mute
power
button
02 welcome
08 key features
10 getting started
12 inputs
14 selecting the cartridge type
17 muting
18 filter and mono settings
contents
21 grounding
23 outputs
25 special input loading
28 running in and warming up
29 interference
30 care and maintenance
32 technical data
36 international standards
fuse
carrier
220-240V
~
50-60Hz
Fuse: T1A L250V
made in United Kingdom
ac supply
socket
left
transformer
balanced
(option)
mode selector
button
output level
button
0 dB
-20 dB
left
right
signallevel
ground
terminals
phono input
sockets
PHONO
signal 12
load load
ground
left
right
cartridge selector
button
transformer
balanced
(option)
OUTPUT
XLR output
(optional)
transformer
balanced
(option)
output
sockets
12 3 4right left right
left
right
transformer
serial
PPA 1234567
number
balanced
(option)
Specification shown may vary for different countries
welcome to a new partnership
..in hi-performance, hi-fidelity
Derek Scotland (on the left) – Technical Director
Peter Stevens – Chief Industrial Designer
Dr. Zucker – Chief Executive
All TAG companies perpetually strive
for, and ac hieve,excellence and highperformance in every area of their
business.
These qualities are demonstrated in the
fastidious standards that make TAG Heuer
watches some of the world’s most
admired;in the teamwork that makes TAG
McLaren’s motor racing team one of the
most successful in Formula One;and in the
advanced electronics technology that
makes TAG Electronic Systems the first
choice for many Formula One constructors
and high-performance car makers.
celebrating a TAG McLaren victory
Now,this blend of talent and
expertise has been combined
with the award-winning
experience of Audiolab to create
a company with a technical
advantage and access to
resources second-to-none in the
high end audio industry TAG McLaren Audio.
TAG McLaren Audio has been created with
one aim in mind:to produce the best highfidelity audio and audio-visual systems
available. Now the first fr uits of that
alliance are ready – a unique new range of
audio products.
Throughout the F3 Series development
process,quality, performance and
reliability have been paramount,resulting
in unparalleled performance,operational
excellence and sheer listening pleasure.
03
welcome
welcome
Thank you for purchasing the TAG McLaren Audio phono preamplifier PPA20.
We are convinced it will give you many hours of
listening pleasure.
The PPA20 is dedicated to those who want to get the very
best out of their vinyl records.It can accept the output of two
turntables and includes the capability to fine tune the signals
of both independently.The PPA20 also has switchable filters
to enhance your enjoyment of older records which may be
damaged or were recorded using non-standard equalisation.
RIAA / IEC frequency response
The frequency response of the PPA20 meets
the RIAA specification,and a switchable lowfrequency (‘rumble’) filter is included which
meets the IEC specification.An additional
switchable bandpass filter allows you to
remove noise at both low and high
frequencies and a facility is also provided
to select mono reproduction.
low intermodulation distortion
The theoretically-ideal preamplifier
reproduces sound perfectly over an infinite
range of frequencies – starting from well
below the audible range and extending far
above the capabilities of human hearing.
Although sound outside the human hearing
range of approximately 20 to 20,000 Hz
cannot be heard,it can significantly affect
the quality of music reproduction through
an effect that audio engineers call
‘intermodulation distortion’.This type
of distortion moves imperfections that
originate outside the hearing range back
into the audible frequencies.To minimise
this effect, TAG McLaren Audio
preamplifiers have a frequency response
which extends both above and below the
range of normal human hearing.
straight line technology
To prevent intermodulation distortion,
a preamplifier must respond to very low
frequencies but block any Direct Current
(DC). This is traditionally achieved using
capacitors, which also block some of the
low-frequency signal.In the PPA20,
a feedback circuit eliminates DC offset
voltage and allows the signal path to be
direct coupled without any capacitors.
0504
welcomewelcome
This arrangement, which we at TAG
McLaren Audio call ‘Straight Line
Technology’, is easy to describe but not
easy to realise.The design has taken our
expert engineer s years to perfect.
Audio called ‘Time Constant Switching’.
This changes the characteristics of the
preamplifier during input switching to
reduce the settling time so that the mute
period can be as short as possible.
high-quality circuitry
The circuits in the PPA20 are ‘nocompromise’designs using high-quality,
high-stability components to send a
smooth,clean signal to your amplifier for
excellent sound quality.
time constant switching
The PPA20 has a sophisticated muting
system which protects your hi-fi and
prevents annoying, loud switching noises
from reaching the output.A preamplifier
that responds to low frequencies will ‘ring’
for a long time in response to the sudden
voltage changes that happen,for example,
when you select a different input.A muting
system that simply waited for the switching
transients to die down naturally would take
far too long to settle.To overcome this
versatile input loading
The inputs of the PPA20 have the correct
loading for moving magnet and moving coil
cartridges. Each input includes special load
terminals which allow you to tailor the
input to match any cartridge which may
need special,non-standard,loading
characteristics. Gain control is also
provided so that you can select the right
amount of amplification for your cartridge.
Loading and gain settings for each input are
retained in the memory of the PPA20.
The PPA20 unveils,without any
compromise,all of the music infor mation
in your record collection.
problem the PPA20 incorporates a
technique developed by TAG McLaren
06 07
key features key features
‘Straight Line Technology’ to give low-frequency response
•
down to 0.1 Hz
Dual mono design with independent left and right grounds
•
Precision RIAA equalisation
•
Independent inputs for two turntables with independent
•
An additional transformer-coupled and balanced output, via the
•
fitted XLR connectors, can be supplied as an option
Precision metal-film resistors
•
Sorbothane
•
TAG McLaren Audio
®
sonic isolation feet, specially designed by
(1)
ground connections
Settings for two different types of cartridge
•
Three gain settings
•
Input, gain and cartridge-type settings retained in memory
•
Automatic muting with ‘Time Constant Switching’
•
Controls for: input selection, cartridge type, low-frequency
•
(IEC) filter, bandpass filter and mono
Dedicated sockets for special cartridge loading
•
Two low-impedance analogue stereo outputs to allow long
•
cable runs
Switchable 20 dB output attenuator
•
1. For the very best performance we recommend that our units are placed on
individual shelves and are not stacked one on top of another
08 09
getting started getting started
Check that the power button is out so that power is off when you
W e know you are keen to get your PPA20 working. This section will
have you listening to your favourite music as quickly as possible.
If you fold out the front cover of this manual, you will locate
diagrams which will help you find your way around your PPA20
(1)
.
power
connection
(4)
. Using the cable supplied, connect the socket on the
plug in
back of your PPA20 to an AC supply outlet. For the best sound
quality, we recommend that you do not use multi-plug adaptors.
10
before
you start
turntable
connection
amplifier
connection
Make sure that all the components of your audio system are
disconnected from the AC supply whenever you change any
connections.
Use the cable supplied with your turntable and tone arm to connect
your turntable to the phono sockets marked PHONO signal 1 left
and right on the back of your PPA20
(2)
.
Use a good-quality, screened phono-phono audio cable to
connect the phono sockets marked OUTPUT 1 left and right on
the back of your PPA20 to the corresponding AUX inputs of your
amplifier or preamplifier
(3)
.
Make sure the AUX input is selected and the amplifier’s volume
is turned down.
left
right
signal
load load
PHONO
ground
switch on
Press the power button in. The blue power LED will come on.
Start playing a record on your turntable.
signal 12
Turn up the volume, sit back and enjoy the music
left
right
1. Throughout this instruction manual (except in titles), bold print indicates the
lettering that you will find on the panels of your PPA20
2. If your turntable has a ground lead, you should connect it to your PPA20, please
see page 21
3. You should not use the phono input of your amplifier or preamplifier unless you
are sure it is suitable for line level inputs. If your amplifier does not have an
input labelled AUX, you can usually connect to an input labelled LINE or any
other line level input
4. The power button is a latching switch. One press will hold it in, the next will
release it
5. While the above procedure should work with most cartridges, you may find that
with your cartridge there is no sound or it is distorted. If this happens, please
read the rest of this instruction manual to find out how to set up your PPA20 to
work with your cartridge
(5)
.
11
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