VAC Avatar Owners manual

Valve Amplification Company

Avatar Integrated Tube Amplifier

& Avatar Special Edition

Instructions

10 September 2001

Please read carefully before installing

Copyright 2001 by Valve Amplification Company. All rights reserved.

WELCOME

Congratulations on your purchase of the VAC Avatar, and welcome to the family of VAC
owners!

Your VAC is designed not to the latest fad but to substance, providing the highest quality
of sound. Time spent familiarizing yourself with this manual will be well rewarded.

It is our goal to provide instruments of the highest quality, be informative to all of our
customers, and to provide responsive, effective customer service.

Please feel free to contact us if we can be of assistance. We can be reached:

Telephone[phone]
Fax[phone]
E-mail [e-mail]
Website www.vac-amps.com

We look forward to being of service, even as you have many years of enjoyment from your
Avatar.

Kevin M. Hayes
President, VAC

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, integrated amplifiers have become the fastest-growing product category in
consumer audio electronics. Given this popularity, and the demand among audiophiles for
higher performance integrateds than were previously available, VAC proudly presents
Avatar, the finest integrated amplifier ever created.

Rather than simply focusing upon the size and cost benefits inherent to the integrated
amplifier, VAC took advantage of the performance advantages which are unique to the
genre. By building a preamplifier and power amplifier on a single chassis, each component
has been optimized to complement the other in a way not possible with separates. The result
is a level of sound quality which only the largest and most costly amp/preamp combinations
can approach. Ergonomically intuitive and functionally complete, Avatar has been designed
to exceed the expectations of the most sophisticated music lovers.

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GENERAL PRECAUTIONS & SAFETY NOTES

1.DO NOT REMOVE CHASSIS COVER UNTIL UNIT HAS BEEN SWITCHED
OFF FOR 5 MINUTES. TUBES BECOME HOT IN USE, AND CAN CAUSE
INJURY. DO NOT EXPOSE CHASSIS TO MOISTURE. DO NOT PLUG INTO
AN AC SOURCE UNTIL ALL CONNECTIONS ARE COMPLETED.

2.Complete all signal (interconnect and speaker cable) connections before connecting
the AC cord to the wall outlet and turning the unit on. Similarly, always turn the
amplifier off and remove the AC power cord before detaching cabling. Failure to
observe this sequence can result in damage to the amplifier, speakers or associated
components.

3.At turn on, all volume controls should be full counter-clockwise and the mode switch
should be set to “Mute”. Allow one (1) minute for warm up before commencing
playback. Note: Mute is automatically engaged when switching on Avatars equipped
with the remote control option.

4.For protection of your speakers and power amplifier, always switch amplifier to
“Mute” before switching the power off or on. Note: Mute is automatically engaged
when switching on Avatars equipped with the remote control option.

5.THESE UNITS CONTAIN NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS. DO NOT
REMOVE THE BOTTOM COVER. LETHAL VOLTAGES ARE PRESENT
WITHIN THE CHASSIS. DO NOT OPERATE THE UNITS IF THEY ARE WET.

6.VACUUM TUBES BECOME HOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE SERIOUS BURNS.
NEVER TOUCH A TUBE WHEN THE UNIT IS ON. IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL
MINUTES FOR THE TUBES TO COOL DOWN AFTER THE UNIT IS
SWITCHED OFF. FOR THIS REASON THE TOP CAGE SHOULD ALWAYS BE
LEFT SECURELY IN PLACE.

7.The Avatar is heavy. Please exercise caution in lifting the unit, and take care to install
Avatar securely in a sturdy, well designed stand so that it will not fall or tip over (this
could cause serious, possibly fatal injury).

8.DO NOT TURN THE SMALL PLASTIC SCREW ON THE METER. IF YOU DO,
THE UNIT MUST BE RETURNED TO VAC FOR RECALIBRATION.

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INSTALLING AVATAR

Physical requirements:

1)Provide Adequate Ventilation-Allow at least two inches of free air space above and
to either side of Avatar.

2)Do not place Avatar in a completely enclosed cabinet. If equipment cabinet has a
solid front door, a “boxer” fan will be necessary to ensure proper airflow.

3)Do not stack other components (or any objects which could impede proper
ventilation) on top of Avatar.

4)Do not operate Avatar on carpet, or on any other surface that might restrict airflow.

5)Avatar’s chassis cover will become warm during normal use.

6)Avatar must be installed in a secure, sturdy, properly built (and ventilated) stand,
cabinet or enclosure. Avatar is heavy, and could inflict serious injury or property
damage if it falls, or if the stand upon which it is place tips over. This concern is
particularly important in households with small children who might try to climb
furniture.

Basic Hookup:

1)Connect line level inputs (CD, Tuner, Tape, etc.) to the appropriate RCA input jacks
on Avatar’s rear panel. Note: with the exception of Phono, all Avatar inputs are “line
level”. Any non-phono source component may be connected to any input EXCEPT
FOR phono.

2)Connect phono cables to the rear panel RCA input labeled “Phono.” Connect the
ground wire from the turntable or phono cable to the “Ground” terminal provided on
Avatar’s rear panel. (See “Phono Section” for cartridge types appropriate for use with
Avatar)

3)Connect loudspeaker cables to the five-way binding posts on Avatar’s rear panel.
Make sure that all connections are tight (Do NOT over tighten, or damage to
amplifier or speaker cable may result), and that heavy or bulky cables are properly
strain-relieved. You will notice that Avatar includes three posts for each of the two
(i.e., left and right) amplifier channels. The negative or “common” cable lead is
always attached to the center post, while the “hot” or positive lead may be connected
to either of the other posts, which are labeled 4-Ohm and 8-Ohm. (See “Matching
Avatar To Your Loudspeakers” for more information)

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