ANK Audio Note Kits M3 Phono Board User manual

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Manual Version 1.2 - July 2007

Copyright © 2007 AudioNote Kits
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Table of Contents
ection1: M3 Phono Board Build ............................................................................................................................................3
Phono Board Parts List ........................................................................................................................................................3
Preparation ..........................................................................................................................................................................4
Fitting the Valve Bases ........................................................................................................................................................6
Installing the Resistors.........................................................................................................................................................7
tarting the oldering ..........................................................................................................................................................9
Additional Techniques and Tips.........................................................................................................................................16
Continuing Construction.....................................................................................................................................................18
Installing R3 and R5...........................................................................................................................................................20
Adding the Tube hield Grounds.......................................................................................................................................20
Installing the Capacitors.....................................................................................................................................................23
ection 2: Final Wiring...........................................................................................................................................................28
ection 3: Testing the M3 Phono Board................................................................................................................................29
Hook-Up and Voltage Checks ...........................................................................................................................................30
Appendix................................................................................................................................................................................31
Resistor Color Code Reference .........................................................................................................................................32
Phono Board chematic ....................................................................................................................................................33
Resistors and Color Codes ................................................................................................................................................34

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Section1: M3 Phono oard uild
There are two versions of the M3 Phono Board available.
The tandard Copper Track PCB board is considered to be the simplest board to build whereas the Hard-Wired version is
usually the choice of the more experienced builder.
This manual is dedicated to the Hard-Wired (trackless PCB) version.
Phono Board Parts List
The Complete Parts list for the Phono Board is shown below.
For resistor color code chart refer to the APPENDIX. You can also find an 'Interactive Resistor Color Code Calculator' on
our website (available from the Links page).
Category Quantity Part Designator
Capacitors (Electrolytic) 4 470uf 16v or 220uf C3, C4, C5, C6
2 .33uf C13, C14
2 .22uf C11, C12
2 2.42n C9, C10
2 8n2 or 8200pf C7, C8
Capacitors (Non-polarized)
2 .047uf C1 C2
4 1M2 R25, R26, R1, R2
2 1K2 R19, R20
4 1K R11, R12, R13, R14
2 82K R7, R9
2 47K R4, R6
2 820R R8 R10
2 39K R24, R23
2 100K R15, R16
2 1M R22, R21
Resistors
2 270K R17, R18
* Made up of 1M and
1M2 in series
2 2M2 R3, R5
3 9 pin Valve Bases
1 M3 Phono Board
Valves / Bases
3 6072 V1, V2, V3
Throughout the construction of this board, make sure that no adjacent wires touch each other. Use the black insulating
sleeving provided to insulate such wires from making an unwanted (and potentially dangerous contact). Wires follow the
paths to the components as indicated by the white lines on the board. Often, it will be possible to use the leg of the

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components to connect to the various points, however from time to time, the legs will be too short and will need to be
extended with tinned wire.
The above picture shows the top and bottom of the M3 Phono Board. The bottom of the board shows how the leg of each
component is joined to another - these are shows by the thick white lines.
Whenever making a connection you should, at the same time, trace that connection on the schematic (i.e. circuit
diagram). That way you will make fewer mistakes and also learn more about the circuit.
NOTE: We have included a disk in your kit that includes high-resolution pictures of most of the ones shown here in the
manual so that you can zoom in on them on your computer.
Preparation
The first step is to install the spacers onto the board as
shown opposite.
Note on the underside of the board that we have white lines
(stencils) that show the connections of the components.

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Here are some tools that you will find very handy while
working on the hardwired phono board – a cutter on the left,
a wire stripper/cutter in the middle, and needle nose pliers
on the right.
Have your schematic and Resistor Color code chart handy! These will make it easier for you to verify that you have done
the correct thing as you work through the various connections.

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Fitting the Valve Bases
Our first installation will be the valve bases.
As you can see from the picture opposite the valve base is
inserted in the board and the small spacers are used under
the screw holes.
The Tube hield is then used on top with the screws going
through them.
Use a M3 screw from the phono hardware bag and secure
with an M3 nut on the other side of the board.
Opposite, you can see the underside of the board where
one of the valve bases has been fitted and secured.
Here we have the 3 valve bases installed.
Valve base installation is now complete.

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Installing the Resistors
Our next task is to install MO T of the resistors in the board. tart by referring to your schematic and your Resistor Color
Code Chart. You can start at the top of the chart.
You will notice that the first resistor on the chart is the 820R
resistor (R8 and R10).
Identify the two resistors that have the following color codes
– GREY – Red – Black – Black followed by a thicker
BROWN tolerance band.
You will need to bend the resistor leads with pliers (or
neatly by hand) in order for it to be inserted correctly into
the board.
o, go ahead and install the 2x 820R resistors in positions
R8 & R10.

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Above you can see the two resistors installed correctly into the board. You will also want to gently bend the leads on the
underside of the board so that the resistors don’t fall out as we are going to install all the rest of the resistors (except for
R3 & R5). The graphic on the right you can see how the legs are bent to keep the resistor in position.
Carry on with your color code chart and install the rest of the resistors on the chart – except for the last two – R3 & R5 -
these are a special case.
The pictures above show your Phono Board with the resistors installed.

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The next step is to gently bend down the resistor leads so
that they are roughly following the traces.
In some cases it will be straightforward; in others you will
not be sure which way to go! Do your best!
ome traces will require the needle nose pliers where you
will have to bend the leads to follow the tracks!
Starting the Soldering
Once that is completed we will now perform our first soldering job! We want to connect pin 3 and pin 6 together on the V1
Valve Base.
Using the silver wire supplied with your kit you will want to
slide one end of the silver wire into the valve base V1.
DO NOT CUT the silver wire yet – this is one of the tricks to
using it – always have a long piece – do your soldering and
then CUT when the job is completed – the wire gets very
hot and difficult to handle in short pieces.

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I suggest using a highlighter to keep track of your successful connections so that you know where you are up to. o in our
case we have just completed the wiring of pin 3 to pin 6 of the V1 (LEFT) Valve base – so highlight the connection with a
highlighter or pen. Eventually, you will be able to spot any connections that you may have missed etc.
As you can see from the above picture strip, the three steps involved here are:
• lide the wire into position
• Perform soldering on both sides
• Cut the wire
You will be repeating this a few times!
Now go a head and do the same thing for V2 and then highlight your schematic with the same connection.
Now we will start to make some other soldering connections to the valve bases. We are not going to show you every
detail of the phono board build but rather show you the techniques involved and the correct order that you should do
things and then leave it up to you make your own decisions on connections etc…