Aesthetix Io PHONO STAGE User manual

Io with Volume Control
PHONO STAGE
OWNER'S MANUAL
Aesthetix Audio Corporation
5144 N. Commerce Ave. Suite A ♦Moorpark, Ca. 93021
Phone: [phone] ♦Fax: [phone]

INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the Io Phono Stage. It has been engineered to
deliver the highest attainable sound quality from your turntable. This is its
sole purpose. Only the highest grade electronic components are used in the
Io, including: non-inductive wirewound resistors in the signal path;
polystyrene, polypropylene, and Nichicon electrolytic power supply, bypass,
and signal capacitors; low noise matched vacuum tubes; glass epoxy dual
mono circuit boards; 20 gauge steel chassis; custom wound low flux power
transformers.
PLACEMENT
The Io main unit should be located away from possible sources of hum such
as power cords, power transformers and the like. It should not be located on
top of its own power supply or any other heat source such as a power
amplifier. It must be kept well ventilated any time it is on. If it is positioned
within an enclosed space then fans may be warranted. All air vents must
remain unobstructed. The power supply is the main source of heat and
should therefore be positioned for adequate ventilation and away from the
main unit, if possible. Placement of the power supply immediately below
the main unit reduces the tube life of Io's tubes.
CONFIGURATION
THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES SHOULD ONLY BE
ATTEMPTED WITH THE POWER CORD DISCONNECTED.
INPUT IMPEDANCE:
Note: If 47K ohms is the desired input impedance, the unit comes factory
configured for this setting. The following instructions may be skipped.
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The input impedance of Io may be configured to virtually any useful value.
On the back panel of the main unit, locate the section labeled “INPUT
IMPEDANCE”. Two jumpers (and a spare) are supplied with Io, one for the
left channel and one for the right. Locate the desired input impedance and
its corresponding jumper position in the following table:
IMPEDANCE JUMPER POSITION
10K 10
4.75K 9
1K 8
475 7
243 6
121 5
75 4
40.2 3
20 2
10 1
Orient the supplied jumper vertically and insert onto protruding pins below
the desired position number (use needle-nose pliers). Do the same for the
remaining channel. If an intermediate not listed value of input impedance is
desired, please contact the factory. Virtually any value is easily attainable.
Gain: Gain is adjusted using the front panel volume controls. No internal
gain adjustment is available on units with volume controls.
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CONNECTIONS
Note: Never connect power supply's power cord to a wall outlet while
umbilical cables between main unit and power supply are disconnected.
A. Connect the male end of one of the supplied umbilical cables to a power
output jack on the power supply. This is a keyed connector so proper
alignment is necessary for correct pin connection.
B. Connect the female end of the same umbilical cable to a male receptacle
on the main unit.
C. Connect the male end of the other supplied umbilical cable to the
remaining power output jack on the power supply.
D. Connect the female end of the same umbilical cable to the remaining
male receptacle on the main unit.
E. Connect turntable to the Io using either RCA or XLR connectors.
F. If desired, connect source component to auxillary input using RCA or
XLR connections. It is not permissible to connect two source
components, one to the RCA and one to the XLR connectors.
G. Connect Io to either a preamp line level input or a linestage input using
the XLR or RCA connections. If your Io is equipped with volume
controls, it may be connected directly to a power amplifier.
H. Because the Io contains no turn-on mute circuitry the following
procedure is recommended anytime the Io is initially turned on:
I. Ensure that either the power amplifier is off (necessary if the Io is
connected directly to the power amplifier) or the linestage (preamp) is
selected to an input different from the one Io is connected to. This will
prevent any turn-on artifacts from reaching the loudspeakers.
J. Connect power cord of the power supply to an unswitched grounded wall
outlet. It is not recommended to use any sort of line conditioner or ac
generating device. Any failure caused by such a device will not be
covered under warranty.
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OPERATION
Caution: Lower Volume controls all of the way before selecting a
different input via the front panel toggle switches.
*Ensure linestage/preamp and/or power amp are properly muted to prevent
possible damage to speakers.
A. Turn power on.
B. Wait at least ten minutes for power supplies to fully stabilize before
unmuting preamp or turning on / unmuting power amplifier.
C. Begin playing record.
D. If the optional second input is installed, before switching inputs turn both
channels volume completely counter clockwise (OFF).
E. Always unmute linestage with volume fully counter-clockwise and then
slowly increase the volume until desired listening level is achieved.
F. Mute linestage before lifting stylus from record. This will prevent any
unwanted noises from reaching the speakers. The PHONO / AUX switch
may be used as a mute switch, provided that the other source is not
playing.
G. Before turning Io off, ensures that preamp/linestage and/or power amp
are properly muted.
H. Turn off Io.
A NOTE ON TUBES
The Io has been designed to minimize differences between tube brands.
Different brands and quality levels still sound different in the Io but these
differences are minimal and in most cases not worth the efforts involved in
finding and purchasing them. A great deal of listening was invested in
finding the optimal tube types and brands for the Io. It is therefore not
recommended to try different tube brands and more importantly different
tube types. Should there be a need to replace one or more tubes it is
recommended that they be purchased from Aesthetix as these tubes are
tested in the units they are used in.
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TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
V1 and V2 = 12AX7LP
V3 – V6 = 12AX7WB (Older units)
V3, V5 = E83CCS (Newer units)
V4, V6 = 12AX7WB (Newer units)
V7 = 6922
V8 = 6SN7
NOTE: The following is a detailed technical description of the circuitry
employed in the Io. It is intended for technically inclined readers for
informational purposes only.
The Io comprises two separate units, the phono stage itself and the power
supply unit. The units are connected together via two detachable umbilical
cords.
The phono stage contains three main amplification sections and an output
buffer section. The first section is a high gain, low noise, zero feedback
single ended amplifier composed of two low-noise 12AX7 vacuum tubes.
This then feeds a high gain, low noise differential amplifier (two 12AX7
vacuum tubes) which amplifies the signal and produces a complementary
minus phase signal. Thus, the unit is balanced from the second amplification
section through the output. The signal is then applied to the third
amplification section which is nearly identical to the second. It also contains
two 12AX7 vacuum tubes. The filter is next in the signal path, a purely
passive design with the highest grade capacitors and non-inductive
wirewound resistors throughout. Lastly, the signal is buffered and sent to
the output jacks in balanced form. Each separate amplification section has
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its own power supply filtering network and regulated heater supply to isolate
the individual sections and prevent them from interacting.
The Power Supply has two main sections, the heater power supplies and
the primary plus and minus power supplies. The heart of the heater supply
is its massive, low flux, 210 volt-amp power transformer which has fourteen
separate secondary windings that are individually regulated and supply both
the power supply and main unit tubes. The primary high voltage supply is
composed of a similarly massive 170 volt-amp transformer which feeds a
common-mode choke input filtering network and then high current vacuum
tube regulators (one EL34/6CA7, three 12AX7 tubes per regulator).
Each regulator is capable of supplying 600 volts at 100mA. There are two
such regulators in the power supply.
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90 DAY LIMITED WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS
(3 Year optional extended service contract)
1. Aesthetix warrants the product designated herein to be free of manufacturing defects in material
and workmanship, subject to the conditions herein set forth, for a period of 90 days from the date of
purchase by the original purchaser. If the purchaser registers the unit with Aesthetix by mailing in the
warranty card, together with a copy of the bill of sale, within 14 days of the date of purchase, said
purchaser will be registered for an extended service contract. The extended service contract extends the 90
days to a period of 3 years from the date of purchase by the original purchaser or no later than 4 years from
the date of shipment to the authorized Aesthetix dealer, whichever comes first.
2. CONDITIONS
This warranty is subject to the following conditions and limitations. The warranty is void and
inapplicable if the product has been used or handled other than in accordance with the instructions in the
owner's manual, abused or misused, damaged by accident or neglect or in being transported, or the defect is
due to the product being repaired or tampered with or modified by anyone other than Aesthetix. The
product must be packed and returned to Aesthetix by the customer at his or her sole expense. A returned
product must be accompanied by a written description of the defect and a photocopy of the original
purchase receipt. This receipt must clearly list model and serial number, the date of purchase, the name
and address of the purchaser and authorized dealer and the purchase price. Aesthetix reserves the right to
modify the design of any product without obligation to purchasers of previously manufactured products
and to change the prices or specifications of any product without notice or obligation to any person.
3. REMEDY
In the event the above product fails to meet the warranty, and the above conditions have been met,
the purchaser's sole remedy under the limited warranty shall be to return the product to Aesthetix where the
defect will be rectified without charge for parts or labor.
4. LIMITED TO ORIGINAL PURCHASER
This warranty is for the sole benefit of the original purchaser of the covered product and shall not
be transferred to a subsequent purchaser of the product.
5. DURATION OF WARRANTY
This warranty expires 90 days after the date of original purchase. If Aesthetix receives the
warranty registration card, this period is extended to the third anniversary of the date of purchase or no
later that the fourth anniversary of the shipment to the authorized Aesthetix dealer, whichever comes first.
6. MISCELLANEOUS
ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE ABOVE PRODUCT SHALL BE
LIMITED TO THE DURATION OF THIS WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY DOES NOT EXTEND
TO ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL COSTS OR DAMAGES TO THE PURCHASER.
Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or an exclusion or limitation of
incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This
Warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
7. WARRANTY OUTSIDE THE USA
Aesthetix has formal distribution in many of the countries of the free world, in each country the
Aesthetix importer has contractually accepted the responsibility for product warranty. Warranty should
normally be obtained from the importing dealer or distributor from whom you obtain your product.
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