AMR AM-77 User manual

AM-77 Reference Class
Dual-Mono Pre-Main Amplifier
Owner’sManual
Ver 3.6.3

2
FCC Declaration of Conformity - United States only
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is sub-
ject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
FCCWARNING:
Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the
party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to op-
erate the equipment.
NOTE:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for
a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interfer-
ence to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which
can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which
the receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Canadian Notice (Avis Canadien)
Class B Equipment
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences
du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.
This products complies with the EMC Directive (89/336/EEC) and the
Low Voltage Directive (73/23/EEC) issued by the Commission of the
European Community.
Compliance with these directives implies conformity to the following
European Norms (in parentheses are the equivalent international stand-
ards and regulations):
o EN55022 (CISPR 22) - Electromagnetic Interference
o EN55024 (IEC61000-4-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11) - Electromagnetic Immunity
o EN61000-3-2 (IEC61000-3-2) - Power Line Harmonics
o EN61000-3-3 (IEC61000-3-3) - Power Line Flicker
o EN60950 (IEC60950) - Product Safety

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The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert
the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (serv-
icing) instructions in the literature accompanying this component.
Unplug the component from the wall outlet before cleaning. Never use
benzine, thinner or other solvents for cleaning; use only a soft damp
cloth.
Care should be taken so that objects do not fall, and liquids are not
spilled into the enclosure through any openings.
This component should be serviced only by qualified AMR service per-
sonnel when:
A. The power cable or the power input socket has been damaged;
B. Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the component;
C. The component has been exposed to rain or liquids of any kind;
D. The component does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a
marked change in performance;
E. The component has been dropped or the enclosure has been damaged.
DO NOT ATTEMPT SERVICING OF THIS UNITYOURSELF. REFER
SERVICING TO QUALIFIEDAMR SERVICE PERSONNEL
Upon completion of any servicing or repairs, request the service point’s
assurance that only AMR Authorised Replacement Parts with the same
characteristics as the original parts have been used, and that the rou-
tinesafetycheckshavebeenperformedtoguaranteethatthecom-
ponentisin asafeoperating condition.
REPLACEMENT WITH UNAUTHORIZED PARTS MAYRESULTIN
FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK OR OTHER HAZARDS
This component weighs over 35 kilograms. Do not place this compo-
nent on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table as the compo-
nent may fall causing serious injury to a child or adult and serious
damage to the unit. An appliance and cart combination should be
moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force and uneven surfaces
may cause the component and cart combination to overturn.
Any mounting of the device on a wall or ceiling should follow the Man-
ufacturer’s instructions and should use a mounting accessory recom-
mended by the manufacturer.
Read and follow all the safety and operating instructions before con-
necting or using this component.
All warnings on the component and in its operating instructions should
be adhered to.
Retain this Owner’s Manual for future reference.
Do not use this unit near water; for example, near a bath tub, wash-
bowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement or near a swimming
pool.
WARNINGS

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Precautions
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
set out in the EMC Directive using a connection cable shorter than 3
metres.
On power sources
The mains power cable should be routed so that it is not likely to be
walked on or pinched, especially near the plug or back panel recepta-
cle. The component should not be disconnected from the AC power
source as long as it is connected to the wall outlet, even if the compo-
nent itself has been turned off.
If this component is not going to be used for a long time, be sure to
disconnect the component from the wall outlet. To disconnect the AC
power cable, grasp the plug itself; never pull the cable.
On placement
The AM-77 may become warm during normal operation. Given this, it is
imperative that the AM-77 when installed, its location or position DOES
NOT interfere with its proper ventilation.
For example, it should not be situated on a bed, sofa, rug or similar
surface that may block the top or bottom ventilation openings; or placed
in a built-in installation, such as a bookcase or cabinet, that may im-
pede the flow of air through its top and bottom ventilation openings.
Do not place the component in a location near heat sources, or in a
place subject to direct sunlight, excessive dust, or mechanical shock.
Do not place the component in an inclined position.
It is designed to be operated in a horizontal position only. Do not place
heavy objects on the component.
Keep the component away from equipment with strong magnets, such
as microwave ovens or large loudspeakers.
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not place vessels filled with liquids,
such as vases, on the component.
Running-In
AMR estimates that the AM-77 may take between 300-500 operating
hours for all of the internal components to be fully-broken in. Please
anticipate the sonic performance of the AM-77 to settle only after it has
been used for this approximate length of time.

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Contents
WARNINGS 3
Section 1 - Setup
1.1 Unpacking 9
1.2 Setup 10
Section 2 - Component Overview
2.1 AM-77 Front Panel 13
2.2 AM-77 Rear Panel 14
2.3 RC-77 Remote Control 16
Section 3 - Operation
3.1 Power On/Off 17
3.2 Volume Adjustment 17
3.3 Rear Inputs 17
3.4 Speakon Outputs 18
3.5 Synch Connectors 18
3.6 Mode Switch 18
3.7 Int/Power Switch 18

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3.8 Hifi/Pro Switch 18
3.9 RS232 Option Connector 19
3.10 Menu (RC-77 only) 19
3.11 OK (RC-77 only) 19
3.12 Mute (RC-77 only) 19
3.13 Brightness (RC-77 only) 19
Section 4 - Advanced Features
4.1 Labelling of Inputs and Setting Level Offset 21
4.2 Labelling Input X 23
4.3 Setting Level Offset 23
4.4 Setting Fixed Input Level 24
4.5 OptiProtect® SpeakerOverload Protection 25
4.6 OptiMains® Protection for Excessive Under/Over-Voltages 26
Section 5 - System Configurations
5.1 OptiOperation® Different System Configurations 27
5.2 Connection of more than one AM-77 28
Mode I: Pre-Main Stereo 29
Mode II: Pre-Main Monoblock 30
Mode III: Pre-Main Bi-Amplifier 31
Mode IV: Power Stereo 32

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Mode V: Power Monoblock 33
Mode VI: Power Bi-Amplifer 34
5.3 Switching and Connection Diagrams for Different Modes 35
Mode I: Pre-Main Stereo 35
Mode II: Pre-Main Monoblock 36
Mode III: Pre-Main Bi-Amplifier 38
Mode IV: Power Stereo amplifier 40
Mode V: Power Monoblock Amplifier 42
Mode VI: Power Bi-Amplifer 44
Section 6 - Additional Connectivity
6.1 Input for iPod/other portable music players 47
6.2 HiFi/Pro Switches for Balanced XLR inputs 48
6.3 RS232 Options Connector 49
AppendixA- Troubleshooting 50

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Section 1 - Setup
Thank you for purchasing this AMR Reference Class component.
We hope you derive as much pleasure from using this component as we have enjoyed making it for you.
1.1 Unpacking
This section refers to the unpacking of the AM-77 and its subsequent setup.
Upon unpacking, please find:
i. AM-77 Reference Class Dual-Mono Pre-Main Amplifier.
ii. RC-77 Remote Commander.
iii. Mains power cable.
iv. Synchronisation (3.5mm jack) cable (for linking-up multipleAM-77s).
v. AM-77 Owner’s Manual.
vi. AMR Warranty Card.
vii. AMR Test Disk.
viii. Aluminiumprofessional flightcase.
Please ensure that all items are present. Should an item be missing, please contact your AMR distributor/dealer.
Please that check all
contents are present

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1.2 Setup
Pre-Main Stereo Amplifier Connection
The following diagrams illustrate the standard connection of theAM-77 in pre-main stereo amplifier mode. This is
the default factory setting and is suitable for the majority of audio systems. Figure 1.1 depicts the use of standard
banana/spade speaker connectors while Figure 1.2 illustrates the use of Speakon connectors.
Figure 1.1 System connection using banana plug/spade connector equipped speaker cables
Warning: ensure no
speaker connector is
in contact with the
chassis to cause a
short-circuit!
Defaultpre-main
mode: theAM-77as
an integrated
amplifier

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Figure 1.2 System connection using Speakon connector equipped speaker cables
AMRrecommends
the sonically
superior Speakon
connectors
i. Connect the respective spade/banana/Speakon connectors of the speaker cables to the AM-77.
ii. Connect the source/s via the respective left and right XLR or RCA connectors to Inputs 1-5.
iii. Connect the IEC of the mains power cable to the AM-77 and the socket to a mains source.

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2.1 AM-77 Front Panel
Section 2 - Component Overview
F1. STANDBY: to place theAM-77 in active or standby mode.
F2. SOURCE: to select between the 5 different inputs.
F3. VOLUME: to adjust the volume level.
F4. iPod 3.5mm input connector: for the connection of an iPod or similar portable music device.
F5. iPod USB charging connector: for re-charging an iPod or similar portable music device.
The plastic protec-
tivefilm covering the
display may be
removed

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2.2 AM-77 Rear Panel
R1. SPADE/BANANAoutputs: for connection of standard termination speaker cables.
R2. SPEAKON outputs: for connection of Speakon terminated speaker cables.
R3. HIFI/PRO switch: to allow for a source with transformer balanced output*.
R4. INT/POWER amp switch: to alternate between Pre-Main and PowerAmplification setings*.
R5. MODE switch: to alternate between Stereo/Monoblock/Bi-Amplification settings*.
R6. INPUT 1: shared XLR and RCA input, for signal input of source equipment.
Warning: ensure no
speaker connector is
in contact with the
chassis
* Please refer to Sec-
tions 3 - 5 for a more
detailedexplanation

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R7. INPUTS 2-5: RCA inputs, for signal input of source equipment.
R8. SYNC connectors: for connection of more than oneAM-77.
R9. RS232 option connector: to facilitate future upgrades*.
R10. Infra-Red Link: for connection of a wireline remote control.
R11. IEC power connector: for the connection of a mains power cable to theAM-77.
R12. POWER: rocker switch to power on/off mains electricity to theAM-77.
In the majority of audio systems, theAM-77 is most likely to be operated as a Pre-Main Amplifier: please inspect
the rear panel of theAM-77 to verify that the default settings (in bold) to enable theAM-77 to operate in this mode
are as follows:
- HIFI/PRO switch (R3) is set to ‘HiFi’ (set to left position)
- INT/POWER switch (R4) switch is set to ‘Int’ (set to right position)
- MODE switch (R5) is set to ‘LR’ (set to middle position)
* Please refer to Sections 3 - 5 for a more detailed explanation.

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2.3 RC-77 Remote Control
RC1. MENU: to enterAdvanced Features mode*.
RC2. STANDBY: to place theAM-77 in active/standby mode.
RC3. SOURCE: to select between the 5 different inputs.
RC4. VOLUME: to adjust the volume level.
RC5. MUTE: to Mute (temporarily turn off sound) theAM-77.
RC6. BRIGHTNESS: to adjust brightness levels.
RC7. OK: to be used inAdvanced Features mode*.
* Please refer to Section 4 - Advanced Features section for more details

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Oncepowered OFF:
always wait 30
seconds before
switching on again
Section 3 - Operation
3.1 Power On/Off
Press and release the ‘POWER’ rocker switch (R12) at the rear of the AM-77 to switch on the mains power.
To switch the mains power OFF, press again and release. Always WAIT at least 30 seconds before switching
ON again. This is to enable the OptiMains® circuit to shutdown properly.
The display will light up to indicate the unit is switched on and ready for use. This should take just under 1 minute
as the OptiMains® circuit is verifying and theAM-77 is warming up.
3.2 Volume Adjustment
Adjust the volume up or down to attain a comfortable level for listening.
While adjusting volume levels, there may be a very minor “click” fromAM-77 and the speakers. This is the normal
operation of the relays within the OptiLevel® direct path precision volume control.
3.3 Rear Inputs
At the rear of the AM-77, there are 5 inputs for the connection of source components.
Input 1 (R6) is of most consequence because first, while all 5 inputs can be connected via RCAonly, Input 1 also
allows for the optional connection of XLR connectors.
Second, in other configurations where the AM-77 is used in single-channel mode, all other inputs are defeated.
Signal input is allowed only through the LEFT channel (white) of Input 1: via XLR or RCA (Please refer to Section
5 - System Configurations for a detailed explanation).
Beware: prolonged
listening at high
volume levels is likely
to damage your
hearing

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3.4. Speakon Outputs
At the rear of the AM-77 are Speakon female connectors (R2) to allow speaker cables terminated with Speakon
male connectors to be connected to the AM-77.
3.5 Synch Connectors
At the rear of the AM-77 are Synchronisation ‘In’ and ‘Out’ connection points (R8). This is for the linking of
multiple AM-77s for alternative system configurations. Please refer to Section 5 - System Configurations for a
detailed explanation.
3.6 Mode Switch
At the rear of theAM-77 the ‘Mode’switch (R5) allows for theAM-77 to alternate between Stereo/Monoblock/Bi-
Amplifier modes. Please refer to Section 5 - System Configurations for a detailed explanation.
3.7 Int/Power Switch
At the rear of theAM-77, the ‘Int/Power’ switch (R4) enables the AM-77 to alternate between pre-main or power
amplification modes. Please refer to Section 5 - System Configurations for a detailed explanation.
3.8 HiFi/Pro Switch
At the rear of theAM-77, the ‘HiFi/Pro’switch (R3) allows for a source with a transformer balanced output to be
connected to the AM-77. Please refer to Section 6 - Additional Connectivity for a detailed explanation.

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3.9 RS232 Option Connector
At the rear of theAM-77, the RS232 connector (R9) allows the AM-77 to be upgraded. Please refer to Section 6
- Additional Connectivity for a detailed explanation.
3.10 Menu (RC-77 only)
The MENU button (RC1) will enter the Advanced Menu system of the AM-77. Please refer to Section 4 -
Advanced Features for a detailed explanation.
3.11 OK (RC-77 only)
The OK button on (RC7) the RC-77 is for the confirmation of a desired selection within the Advanced Menu
system of the AM-77. Please refer to Section 4 - Advanced Features for a detailed explanation.
3.12 Mute (RC-77 only)
The MUTE button (RC5) will disengage the volume of theAM-77 and re-engage the volume if it is pressed again.
3.13 Brightness (RC-77 only)
The BRIGHTNESS button (RC6) will adjust the display’s brightness at the front panel of theAM-77. There are 4
different brightness settings including display off.
With its own isolated power supply, with the display ON or OFF, there is no sonic impact upon theAM-77.

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