FURTHER INTRODUCTION
Burn In New Equipment
Burn in is very important. Valve components work at high voltage and temperature and when new they should spend an extended
period at those temperatures to bed in. We recommend you burn in the amplifier for at least four or preferably twelve hours
before you first using it. If you run in your equipment for this extended period, make doubly sure that all the safety conditions
covered in this manual are fully met. Supervise the equipment for the first hour or so and if you have to leave the unit unattended
thereafter, look in occasionally to make sure all is well.
Warming Up Before Use
Allow at least fifteen minutes for the amplifier to 'warm up' before use. If you play loud music while the system is cold. The output
valves will not be fully operated and the amplifier will be starved of voltage and current. The resulting distortion is unpleasant
and potential damage to the amplifier's valves and your loudspeakers. Intensive use of the equipment before it has warmed up
will shorten valve's life.
Valve Lifetimes
Valves contain a heating element. This heats up the valve's cathode, which is coated to give off a steady stream of electrons.
After a few years this coating will begin to wear out and performance will gradually deteriorate. The KT66 output valves are likely
to deteriorate first but the driver valves will also eventually wear out.
As the valves start to wear out the sound will become less well defined and a lack of dynamics and power will become evident.
Replacing the valves with a new set will fully restore the audio performance of the amplifier. When replacing valves it is essential
to use the highest quality available. Poor quality valves will adversely affect the sound quality and may in extreme cases damage
the amplifier. When replacing the output valves, use matched sets for best results.
Do not leave the amplifier permanently switched on or you will seriously shorten the lifespan of your valves!
Output Transformer
After installing or changing the wiring to your speakers, keep the volume control at zero, let the amplifier warm up and turn up
the main volume gradually. If you don't hear sound, switched off immediately and investigate.
The output transformer is designed to match the high voltage, low current conditions in which the output valves operate to the
low voltage high current requirements of a loudspeaker. Although robust, an output transformer can be damaged and in extreme
cases wrecked, by careless use. If you play a valve amplifier into a short circuit, the output transformer will soak up a lot of
energy before failing, but if the short persists the transformer could be damaged. Operating a valve amplifier at high output level
with loudspeaker connected can also damage an output transformer.
The machine must be used on the connected load conditions, otherwise it may cause damage to the output transformer.
Summary of Contents for PA-One
Page 1: ...PA One ...