ALLNIC AUDIO H?3000 User manual




ALLNICAUDIO
H‐3000PHONOSTAGE
OWNER’SMANUAL

ALLNIC AUDIO
H-3000 PHONO STAGE
ThankyouforpurchasingthisAllnicAudioH‐3000PhonoStage.Weare
certainyourtrustinAllnicAudioandHammertoneAudio,aswellasyour
appreciationforthesoundofthishigh‐qualitydevice,willberewardedby
itsexcellentoperationforyearstocome.

PleasereadthisentiremanualbeforeyouconnecttheH‐3000totheother
componentsofyoursystemandthewalloutlet.
2

TABLEOFCONTENTS:
___________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCING THE H-3000 PHONO STAGE 4
___________________________________________________________________
WHAT’S IN THE BOX? 5
___________________________________________________________________
SAFETY 5
___________________________________________________________________
CLEANING
Chassis
Connectors 5
___________________________________________________________________
INITIAL SET-UP
Location, Location, Location
Power Connection
Inputs
Outputs
Moving Coil (MC) Transformer Controls
A Note On Phase
Impedance 6
___________________________________________________________________
INITIAL POWER ON 7
___________________________________________________________________
OPERATION 8
___________________________________________________________________
TUBES 8
___________________________________________________________________
SPECIFICATIONS 9
___________________________________________________________________
WARRANTY 9
___________________________________________________________________
FIGURES 10
PleasereadaboutSAFETYbeforeyouattempttousetheH‐3000‐wecare
aboutourcustomersandtheequipment,andwewantyoutoenjoythis
productforalongtime!
3

INTRODUCINGTHEH‐3000PHONOSTAGE
TheH‐3000isAllnicAudio’stopofthelinephonostage
model.LikeallAllnicAudioproducts,itusesPermalloy
(ironandnickelalloy)foritstransformercores.Allnicis
gratefultoMr.G.W.ElmenofWesternElectricfor
inventingPermalloyfortransformercoreuse,andinso
doing,providinganenormousservicetorecorded
musiclistenerseverywhere.
TheH‐3000hasthefollowingfeatures:
•LCRTYPERIAAEQUALIZATION:
RIAAequalizationisaspecificationforthecorrect
playbackofvinylrecords,establishedbythe
RecordingIndustryAssociationofAmerica.The
purposeoftheequalizationistopermitlonger
playbacktimesandimprovesoundquality.
RIAAequalizationisaformofestablishingaflat
frequencyresponsefortheplaybackofrecorded
music.Thenecessityforthisequalizationprocess
arisesfrommechanicaldifficultiesinherentin
recordproduction.Inordertopreventthecutting
needlefromover‐cuttingintothenextrecord
grooveinthebass,asarecordiscut,somebass
frequenciesareattenuated.Inthetrebleregion,in
orderforhighfrequencysoundsnottobemasked
bythenoiseinherentinmovingastylusoverand
throughamodulatedvinylsurface,sometreble
frequenciesareboosted.Withtheapplicationof
thecorrectfilteringtechniquesonplayback,the
resultisaflatfrequencyresponsewithbettersignal
tonoiseratios.
Therearefourde‐emphasismethodsthatcanbe
appliedatplayback:
A.Activefilters(Negativefeedbacktypes):
Differentquantitiesofnegativefeedbackare
applied,withdeeperfeedbacktothehigh
frequenciesandshallowertothelowfrequencies.
Thebenefitsofthismethodareimprovedsignalto
noiseratios,lowcostandconsistentoperation.
Someoftheshortfallsarelooserbassreproduction
andpossiblyapinchedandcompressedhighfrequency
playbackduetoexcessfeedbackratios.
B.Passivefilters(CRtype):
‐ ThefrequenciesarefilteredtofittheRIAAspecification
byvaryingtheamountofattenuationatdifferent
frequenciesthroughacomplexcapacitor‐resistor
network.Thistechniqueresultsinnovoltageoverload,
purerreproduction(becausethereisnofeedback),and
moreaccurateRIAAcompensation.However,thereare
problemsbecausethesystemprovidesnogain,and
insertionlossandimpedancematchingissuesarise.
C.Hybridfilters(useofbothCRandnegative
feedbacktypes):
Inthismethod,bothtypesoffiltersappliedseparately;
anactivefilterisappliedtothelowfrequenciesanda
passivefiltertothehighfrequencies.Unfortunately,
boththeadvantagesanddisadvantagesofeachof
thesetwotypesoffilters,alreadydiscussed,affectthe
playbacksystematthesametime.
D.LCRfilters,whichareusedintheH‐3000:
Twopiecesofalinearreactor(akindofchokecoil)
comprisethemainpartofthesefilters,assistedby
preciseCRfilters,inordertolowerimpedancesand
insertionloss.
Invacuumtubecircuits,activeandpassivefiltersusually
areoperatedononehundredpluskiloohmsof
impedance.AnLCRRIAAfilter'simpedanceisaconstant
600ohms.
Furthermore,anLCRRIAAfilter'sseriesresistanceisless
than13ohms(asacomparative,somefamousonesare
31ohms).Thelowertheimpedance,themoredynamicis
thesoundreproduction,withbetterbassresponseand
speed.
ButLCRRIAAunitshavedrawbacksaswell.These
drawbacksarehighcostandthedifficultyofimpedance
matching;thelatterhasbeentheprimaryhindranceto
thecommercializationofthissuperbmethodinthe

4

constructionofphonostageamplifiers.However,
AllnicAudiomanufacturesahighqualityLCRRIAAunit
andhasdevelopeda600ohmsimpedancematching
method.
•TheH‐3000PhonoStageisalltransformer
coupled.
•Nonegativefeedbackdesignwithonlytwogain
stages
•Forsuperiorsignaltonoiseratios,theH‐3000is
equippedwithpurevacuumtube,highspeed,
automaticvoltageregulationforeachchanneland
apowersupplyunitseparatefromthephono
stageitself.
•HighqualityMCStep‐upTransformerswith
PermalloycoresareusedfortheH‐3000’sdualMC
inputs.
•Newvacuumtubedampingtechnology–Allnic
Audio’spatented"AbsorbGELtubedamper"
technologypreventsharmfulvibrationsfrom
reachingthesignal/gaintubesand,therefore,
preventsmicro‐phonicnoisepropagationinthe
tubes.TheAllnicAudioAbsorbGeldamper
technologyeffectivelysolvesaproblemthat
plaguesmosttubeamplificationsystems.Provided
othertubecomponentsdonotintroducemicro‐
phonicnoiseintoyoursystem,withtheAbsorbGel
dampingsystem,youwillenjoyadegreeof
transparentsoundthatwillsurpriseandplease
you.
•PureClassAoperation
•Purebalancedoperation
•AsareallAllnicAudioproducts,theH‐3000isfully
RoHS(EUReductionofHazardousSubstances
regulation)compliantinconstructionandmaterials

WHAT’SINTHEBOX?

Pleasecheckthattheshippingboxcontainsthe
following:

•One(1)AllnicH‐3000phonostage–innatural
aluminumorblack,dependingonyourorder
specification
•One(1)PowerSupplyforH‐1500II/H‐3000–in
naturalaluminumorblack,dependingonyour
orderspecification
•One(1)powerumbilicalcord
•One(1)IECtypepowercord
•One(1)Owner’sManual

Note:
1) TheH‐3000anditspowersupplyshipwiththe
tubesinstalled.
2) TheH‐3000powersupplywillworkwithmostIEC
typeaftermarketpowercords.Ofcourse,onlyyou
candeterminethepowercordthatworksmost
synergisticallywiththeH‐3000inyoursystem.
3) BesuretheH‐3000powersupplyunitislabeled
fortheACvoltageofyourlocation.Ifitisnot,
pleasecontactHammertoneAudio.

Weadvisethatyoukeeptheboxesandotherpacking
materialsthatyourH‐3000camein.Itwillbeusefulifyou
sellyourH‐3000orintheunlikelyeventyouneedtoshipit
orthepowersupplyforservice.

SAFETY

•RemoveALLcushioningmaterialsbetweenthe
tubesandtheprotectivepartsofthechassis
beforeoperation.
•Disconnectthepowercordbypullingtheplug,not
thecable.
•Donotattemptanyrepairs.Donotremovethe
units’chassiscoverswithoutspecificauthorization
fromHammertoneAudio.
•Keepthepowercordsawayfromheatsources
•Keeptheunitsawayfromliquids–donotallow
anyliquidtoentertheinterioroftheunits.
•Whentheunitsaremovedfromacoldtoawarm
environment,allowsufficienttimeforanycondensation
toevaporateinbothunitsbeforepluggingthepower
supplyunitintoanACconnection.
•Donotattemptanyrepairs.
•Donotremovetheunits’chassiscoverswithoutspecific
authorizationfromHammertoneAudio.
•Seethenoteson“Location,Location,Location”.

CLEANING

A.Chassis
Useonlyasoft,lint‐freeclothdampenedslightlywithwater
only(NOcleaningfluids!)tocleanthefaceplateandchassis
oftheH‐3000anditspowersupply.
5

B. Connectors
Youmayuseanygoodqualitycontactcleaner
recommendedforsuchapplicationstocleanthecontacts
fromtimetotime,asyoudeemappropriate.

INITIALSET‐UP

A.LOCATION,LOCATION,LOCATION

Likeallaudioproductsusingtubes,theAllnicAudioH‐3000
anditspowersupplyneedtobeplacedonasolidstandina
locationthatprovidesgoodaircirculationaroundboththe
phonostageandthepowersupply.

•DONOTcoverthetopoftheH‐3000phonostageor
theventilationslotsinthetopofthepowersupply
chassis.
•DONOTplacetheunitsoncarpetorfoam.
•DONOTsubjecttheunitstoknocksandshocksasyou
movethemaround.Thisadviceismeantparticularly
forthosewhomaywanttoplacetheH‐3000orits
powersupplyonsomekindofafter‐marketisolation
feetorsimilardevices.Droppingonesideofeitherof
theH‐3000units,orthewholeofeitherunit,isnota
goodthingtodo.
•DONOTplacetheunitsnearastronglightorheat.
•DONOTplaceanythingheavyontheunits.
•DONOTallowrubberorvinylmaterialstoreston
eitherunits’chassisforlongperiodsoftime.This
coulddiscolourthemetal.

•DOplacetheunitsonashelforstandthatisstable
andnotsubjecttovibrationorsuddenshock.
•DOconsiderusingahighqualitypowercordand
inter‐connects,forbothinputsandoutputs.TheH‐
3000isahighlysensitivepieceofelectronicdesigned
forneutralityandwilloutputwhatyouputintoit.
•DOtrytoplacetheH‐3000anditspower
supplyawayfrommajorsourcesofRFIand
EMI;thoughwellshielded,theH‐3000unitswill
functionbestawayfromlargepower
transformersandothersourcesofsuch
interference.




B. POWERCONNECTIONS

TheH‐3000powersupplyusesastandardthreeprong
maleIECconnectionforACinput.Youneedtouseapower
cordwithafemalethreeprongIECconnectoratoneend.

TheH‐3000powersupplyconnectstothephonostage
itselfusingthesuppliedumbilicalcable.Connecttheunits
toeachotherusingtheumbilicalcablewiththe
appropriatescrew‐onconnectionstothereceptacle
labeled“DCSourceInput”ontherearofthephonostage
andtheconnectionterminallabeled“DCSourceOutput”
ontheleftsideoftherearofthepowersupply(Please
refertoFigures1and2).

TheH‐3000powersupplyyouhavepurchasedisset
internallyforAC110/120volt–60HZoperation.Thereis
nowaytochangethistoanotherACsettingwithoutreturn
oftheunittothefactoryforre‐wiring,attheowner’scost,
includingtransportbothdirections.

C.INPUTS

Therearetwo(2)setsoftwo(2)pairsofsingle‐ended(RCA)
inputs.Thesetwopairsarelocatedinthemiddleoftherearof
thephonostage(SeeFigure1)andlabeled“input”inthemiddle
abovethem.Eachchannelpairofinputsisalignedvertically,
withtheleftchannelinputatthetopandtherightchannelinput
onthebottom.Thetwolefthandpairsofinputs(facingtheback
ofthephonostage)havean“MC”labelabovethetwoleft
channelconnectors;thesearethetwoinputpairsforamoving
coilcartridge.Therighthandpairofinputshasan“MM”label
abovetheleftchannelconnectors;thesearethetwoinputpairs
foramovingmagnetcartridge.Eachpairofmovingcoiland
movingmagnetconnectionshasanumberlabelbetweentheleft
andrightchannelinputconnections.

Ineachcase,forbothMCandMMconnections,thelefthand
verticallyalignedpairofconnections(again,facingthebackof
theunit)correspondstoinput1forthebuttonswitchonthe
frontpanelofthephonostage,whiletherighthandvertically
alignedpairisinput2.

BetweenthetwosetsofMCandMMinputconnectionsisa




6

screwtypeconnector.Thisconnectoristheground
connectionforagroundwirefromacartridgeand/or
turntable.

WhenyouarefacingthefrontoftheH‐3000,thetwopairsof
MCconnectionsareontheright/centreoftheunit,withthe
twoMMconnectionsimmediatelytotheirleftontheother
sideofthegroundconnection.

TheH‐3000hasbeendesignedandmanufacturedtowork
mostsynergisticallywithAllnicAudiopreamplifiers,pre‐
phonostagesandequalizationproducts.

D.OUTPUTS
TheH‐3000isequippedwithonepairofunbalancedor
“single‐ended”(RCA)outputsandonepairoftruebalanced
(XLR)outputconnections.Theleftchanneloutput
connectionsarelabeled“leftoutput”andarejusttotheleft
oftheDCSourceInput.Therightchanneloutputconnections
arelabeled“rightoutput”andareonthefarlefthandsideof
therearofthephonostageunit(SeeFigure1).Ineachpair,
thebalanced(XLR)connectionislabeled“1”,andthe
unbalanced(RCA)connectionislabeled“2”.

Aboveeachpairofoutputs,comprisedofonesingle‐
‐ended(RCA)connectionandonebalanced(XLR)
connection,isaswitchforselectingeitherthebalanced
orthesingle‐endedconnector.Theswitchesarelabeled
“unbalancedoutput”.Movingtheunbalancedoutput
switchestotheright(facingtherearoftheunity)sets
theoutputstotheirrespectiveunbalanced(RCA)
connector.Ofcourse,theoppositepositionineach
casesetstheswitchesforthebalancedconnectors.Be
suretohavebothswitchessetfortheconnectionyou
areusing.Youmayhavebothbalancedandunbalanced
outputsconnectedatthesametimewithout
introducinghumPROVIDEDyouhavetheoutput
switchessettounbalancedoutput.

E. MovingCoil(MC)TransformerControls

Onthetopofeachchannel’sMCtransformeronthe
centrerearofthechassisdeckofthephonostageunit,
thereisarotatingcontrol.Turnthecontrolknobtoselect
fromfourgainfactors.


The“X#”scalecorrespondstothefactorthatyouwillselect
forthemillivoltoutputofyourselectedMCcartridge.Each
positionontheX#(factor)scalecorrespondstoanincrease
ingain,indicatedonthe“+#dBscale.Youshoulduse
identicalsettingsforbothtransformerstoavoidchannel
imbalance.

NOTE:
PleasemuteyourH‐3000,and/orreduceyour
preamplifier’svolumecontrol,duringtransformergain
adjustments.Beawareifyouareincreasinggain,thatyou
mayhitanuncomfortablyloudvolumelevel.

F.ANOTEONPHASE

Phaseissuesgenerallywillresultinlackofbassand/or
focusofthestereoimage.Youmayneedtoreverse
connectionsonyourcartridgeifyouarehavingphase
issues.Asisusualinthesecircumstances,sometrialand
errorexperimentationmayberequiredtofindthecorrect
position.TheprocessissimplifiedforyouwiththeH‐3000,
asithasaphasecontrolswitchonthefrontpanelofthe
phonostageunit.

G.IMPEDANCE

IntheSpecificationsattheendofthismanual,youwill
readthatthemovingcoil(MC)inputimpedancefortheH‐
3000isupto470ohms.Thisvaluerepresentstheinternal
impedanceofthecartridgeitself,andisatthevery
extremeofwhatwouldnormallybeexpectedforthe
internalimpedanceofanMCcartridge.Itwouldbe
exceptionallyunusualtofindacartridgewithinternal
impedancegreaterthanthatvalue.

INITIALPOWER‐ON

OnceyouhaveyourH‐3000inplaceandallconnectionshave
beenmadetoyourturntableandpreamplifier,youarereadyto
turnonthepowerforyourH‐3000.BeforeyoupoweruptheH‐
3000,though,besureyouhave:
•removedallthecushionmaterialsbetweenthetubesand
theprotectivepartsofthechassis
•selectedtheoutputconnectionsthatyouwanttouse,single
ended(RCA)orbalanced(XLR),onthetwoswitchesonthe
backofthephonostage
•turnedthevolumedownormutedyourpreamplifier
7

•pressedthebuttonswitchonthelefthandsideofthe
frontpanelofthephonostage,labeled“muting”below
andhavingbuttoninandouticonsforoperateandmute,
respectively,tothein/down“mute”position(seeFigure
3)
•pressedthebuttonswitchontherighthandsideofthe
frontpanelofthephonostagetotheappropriatephase
position,either“normal”(pressedin)or“inverted”(out
position).Wesuggeststartingwith“normal”.
•rotatedtheknoblabeled“inputselector”tothe
appropriateinput,correspondingtotheinputyouwill
useinitially(SeeFigure4),eitherMC1orMC2,orMM1or
MM2
•ifyouareusingamovingcoilcartridge,settheMC
transformercontrolsonthetopofthechassistothe
factorthatyouwilltryinitially
•checkedthatallyourconnectionsaresnug

ToturnontheH‐3000,pressinthebuttonswitchonthefront
ofthepowersupplymarkedwithonandofficons(seeFigure
4).Ofcourse,theoffpositionisthereverse,pressingthe
buttonagainsoitisreturnedtothemaximumraised
position.

OPERATION

Whenthepowersupplyison,thelightonitsfrontpanelwill
illuminateand,ifitisinthe“operate”position,thelight
abovethemutingswitchonthefrontpaneloftheAllnic
AudioH‐3000phonostagewillilluminateafteraforty(40)
secondautomaticprotective“mute”period.Thelightabove
thephaseswitchwillilluminateaswell,iftheswitchisinthe
“normal”positionatturnon.

Toavoidsurgestothespeakers,itisbesttoswitchbetween
MMorMCinput,orbetweeninputs1and2ofeither,only
withtheH‐3000in“mute”modeandwithyourpreamplifier
volumedownorotherwisemuted.

Fromthispointon,operationisstraight‐forward.All
functionsexceptforMCtransformers’gainselectionare
controlledfromthefrontpanel.Ofcourse,BECAREFULabout
differencesingainbetweenyoursources.Generally,disc
playersandtunerswillhavegreatergainthanphonostages.
Thatmeansthevolumesettingforlisteningtoyourturntable
mightbetoohighforlisteningtoCD’s.

Whenyouarefinishedlistening,turnoffyourpower
amplifier(s);thenturnoffyourpreamplifierandthenturnoffthe
H‐3000lastbypressingtheon‐offswitchonthefrontpanelof
thepowersupplysoitreturnstotheoutposition.

Inthecaseofanyfailure,pleasecontactHammertoneAudiofor
assistance.

THECURRENTMETERS

Theseilluminatedmetersindicatethecurrentsupplytothegain
tubesintheH‐3000.Theyareindicatorsoffailureordamageto
thefunctionoftheunit.Thereisonemeterforeachchannel.
Theneedleshouldbebetweenthetwoparallellinesjustleftof
centreonthemeterface.Anyfailureofthetubesorcircuitsin
oneortheotheroftheH‐3000’schannelsisindicatedbythe
needleonthemeterfortherespectivechannelmovingoutfrom
betweenthesetwoparallellines.

•Iftheneedlehasmovedtotheleftoftheparallellines
onameter,itmeansthatoneorboththeE810Ftubes
forthatchannelisfailing.
•Iftheneedleoneithermetermovestotherightofthe
parallellines,itmeansthatoneortheotherofthe
voltageregulatortubes(7233or6485)forthatchannel
isfailing.

Inthecaseofanyfailureindicatedbyameter,pleasecontact
HammertoneAudioforassistance.

TUBES

TheH‐3000usesthefollowingtubes(pleaseseeFigure6):

•Four(4)xE810F
•Two(2)x7233
•Two(2)x6485
•One(1)x5AR4(in,andtheonlytubein,thepower
supply)

Allconsequencesofchangingorattemptingtochangetubesare
bornebytheuserunlessbyexpressagreementbetweenthe
ownerandHammertoneAudio.NeitherAllnicAudionor
HammertoneAudiowillacceptanyliabilitywhatsoeverforany
injurytotheuserordamagetotheH‐3000,anyofitsparts,or
tubesorreplacementtubesresultingfromtheuserchangingor
attemptingtochangetubes.

8

SPECIFICATIONSFORTHEALLNICAUDIOH‐3000PHONO
STAGE

Inputs:MovingCoil(MC)×two(2)
pairsunbalanced(RCA)
MovingMagnet(MM)xtwo(2)
pairsunbalanced(RCA)

Ground:One(1)xscrewtypeterminal

Outputs:One(1)pairxunbalanced(RCA)
One(1)pairxbalanced(XLR)

Frequency(RIAA):20Hz~20KHz(±0.5db)
30Hz~15kHz(±0.3dB)

VoltageGain:+44db(1KHz)MM
+74db(1Khz)MC(withMC
transformerswitchatX30
position)

InputImpedance:MCupto470Ω(see
“Impedance”intheInitialSet‐
Upsection,above)
MM47kΩ

MaximumInputVoltage
(MM,non‐clipping):20Hz/10mV
100Hz/50mV
1KHz/220mV
10KHz/690mV
THD
(TotalHarmonic
Distortion):Lessthan0.3%(1KHz,Output1V)
OutputImpedance:200Ω(Constant)

S/NRatio:‐85db(CCIR,1KHz)

PowerConsumption:80W–110/120/60Hz

Tubes:E810F(orD3a‐thereareno
equivalentstothesetubes)×4(gain
stages,leftandrightchannels)
7233(noequivalent)×2(Voltage
Regulators)
6485(similarto6AH6,6AH6WA,
6AH6S,CV2521)×2(Voltage
Regulators)

Fuse:AC2A,250V

Dimensions:
‐PhonoStage:430mm(16.9inches)x350mm(13.8
inches)x173mm(6.82inches)(WxDx
H)
‐Powersupply:170mm(6.7inches)x275mm(10.8
inches)x118mm(4.65inches)(WxDx
H)

Weight:
PhonoStage:15.7Kg(34.62lbs)unpacked
Powersupply:8.1Kg(18lbs)unpacked
Bothunitsinoriginalpacking:30Kg(66
lbs)

WARRANTY

AllAllnicAudioamplifierandphonostageproducts,includingtubes,arewarranted,includingpartsandlabour,fortwelve
monthsfromdateofpurchase.DateofpurchaseisthedateindicatedontheinvoicefortheproductissuedbyHammertone
Audio.Subjecttoapplicablelaws,warrantyisnon‐transferableandvalidonlyfororiginalpurchaser.

Forthewarrantytobevalid,adefectiveproductmustbereturnedtoHammertoneAudioforservicepriortoanyunauthorized
attempttorepair.AnyrepairworkonanAllnicAudioproductnotspecificallyauthorizedbyHammertoneAudiowillvoidthe
warrantyontheproduct.
9

Figure 1 – H-3000 Rear Panel View
Figure 2 – H-3000 Power Supply Rear Panel View

Figure 3 – H-3000 Chassis Top View - MC Transformer Controls
10

Figure 4 – H-3000 Front Panel View
Figure 5 - H-3000 Power Supply Front Panel View
11

Figure 6 – H-3000 Internal View


12