Audio Note ONGAKU Technical manual

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ONGAKU
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INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
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OWNER’S INFORMATION
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1) IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
2) CE DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
DISPOSAL
POWER REQUIREMENTS
3) INTRODUCTION
4) OVERVIEW
5) UNPACKING AND INSTALLATION
6) VALVE INSTALLATION
9) CONNECTION
10) OPERATION
11) TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
12) WARRANTY INFORMATION
13) CONTACT INFORMATION
CONTENTS
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SUCH REPLACEMENT MUST ONLY BE CARRIED OUT BY A
QUALIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIAN.
Do not attempt to replace any fuses without first disconnecting the unit
from the mains electricity supply.
! IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION !
RISK OF SHOCK OR ELECTROCUTION! INTERNAL OPERATING
VOLTAGES ARE LETHAL!
Do not remove top cover, unless specifically instructed to do so in the user
manual.
This unit contains fuses and other safety components in accordance with
BS60065 requirements.
In the event of failure, replacement fuse or safety component must be of
the same part type and value.
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This product generates high levels of heat. Adequate ventilation must
be provided. Do not restrict airflow through any ventilation slots or
place the unit on any surface that may restrict airflow.
Valve equipment operates at extremely high temperatures;
KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN AND ANIMALS.!
Do not store or operate this unit in areas of high humidity or in close
proximity to water / moisture.
Do not expose or immerse the unit in liquid of any kind.
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This product must be earthed –ensure that the mains supply cable earth /
ground is correctly connected.
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OTHER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS: -
Never touch the power cord with wet hands.
Always remove the power cord by grasping the plug, not the cable.
Never expose the unit to excessive heat or magnetism.
Never let an inexperienced person repair or reassemble the unit.
Never put anything, especially metal objects, inside the unit.
Never place excessive weight on the unit.
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POWER REQUIREMENTS
Power requirements for electrical equipment vary depending on your geographical
location. Please ensure that your unit meets the power requirements in your area.
The power requirement for your unit is marked on the serial number plate, located on
the rear panel.
If you are in doubt, please contact your dealer before plugging the unit into the mains
supply.
CE DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
DISPOSAL
This product must not be disposed of as normal household waste. To
prevent possible harm to the environment please separate the product
from other waste to ensure that it can be recycled in an environmentally
safe manner. Please contact your retailer or the appropriate local
government office for collection facilities.
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We declare under our sole responsibility that this product is in conformity
with the following standards or standardized documents:
BS EN 60065 in accordance with the regulations 73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC
(from 1 January 1997)
CE 94
Peter Qvortrup,
Director
Audio Note (UK) Limited
25 Montefiore Road
Hove
East Sussex
BN3 1RD
United Kingdom
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
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Thank you for purchasing this Audio Note (UK) product. With the correct care it
should give you many years of pleasure and enjoyment.
Please take the time to read all of the information in this manual before connecting
your new component to an electrical supply or your system, to ensure both your
safety and satisfaction.
Please note that due to our desire to continually improve products, specifications are
subject to change without notice. Therefore it is important to refer to the manual that
is supplied with your product for the most accurate information; manuals downloaded
from our website or obtained from other sources may no longer fully apply to your
product.
If you have any questions regarding the information contained within this document
or your new component, please feel free to contact us: -
Audio Note (UK) Limited
25 Montefiore Road
Hove
East Sussex
BN3 1RD
United Kingdom
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]o.uk
INTRODUCTION

ONGAKU INTEGRATED
Congratulations on your purchase of the Audio Note (UK) ONGAKU Integrated
Amplifier.
The ONGAKU has rightly earned a place in history; its name is synonymous with the
finest possible audio reproduction, and for once the reality is equal to the Legend!
It is a Pure Class A Singled Ended valve amplifier that uses the highly regarded 211 /
VT-4C triode valve, producing a level of performance that is radically superior to any
other current designs.
Only the finest possible components have been employed: -
Audio Note (UK) silver wire has been use exclusively for all internal wiring, including
all transformers and power supply connections.
Audio Note 2 watt Tantalum resistors have been used throughout.
All capacitors are either Black Gate Electrolytic or Audio Note (UK) silver foil.
All transformers are our own in-house custom designed and manufactured devices;
driver and output transformers are fully silver wired AN-Perma 50 nickel C-core and
the mains transformer is a fully silver wired HiB double C core.
No integrated amplifier has ever produced the levels of musical purity delivered by
the ONGAKU… It is without doubt the finest possible integrated amplifier available
today.
It has been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical
specification, and fulfills all Audio Note (UK) Level 5 criteria: -
Pure Class A operation
Zero Negative Feedback
Single Ended Output Stage
Valve Rectification
Directly Heated Triode operation
Materials and component quality

Please take care when unpacking your ONGAKU Integrated Amplifier. Choose a
clean, clear location to unpack your unit. Be aware that the amplifier is very heavy;
before attempting to unpack or lift the unit, check the weight and if necessary use
more than one person so that it can be moved safely and easily.
We recommend that you retain and carefully store all of the original packing
materials, in case transportation / shipping is required at a later date.
Select a suitable location for the unit. This should be a dry, dust free and level area,
preferably shielded from direct sunlight and free from vibration. Also ensure that the
location is stable and capable of carrying the weight of the unit.
A suitable mains power outlet must be close to the location; power cords must not be
pulled or stretched tightly in an attempt to reach a wall socket. If the power cord will
not easily reach the socket, choose a closer location!
Please ensure that adequate ventilation for the unit is provided, and that airflow
through any ventilation slots in the unit is not restricted. We recommend a distance of
at least 50cm free space is maintained above the unit, and preferably it should be
sited in free space or on the top shelf of your equipment rack or table. Please also
remember that valve equipment operates at extremely high temperatures, so a
position that is inaccessible to any children or animals is essential.
UNPACKING AND INSTALLATION

The amplifier is shipped without its 6 valves installed. It is necessary to install the
valves before the amplifier can be operated.
It is essential that the valves are installed correctly or serious damage that is not
covered by the warranty will result. We recommend that your dealer perform
this procedure for you if you are in any way unsure.
FIRSTLY, ENSURE THAT THE AMPLIFIER IS NOT CONNECTED TO A MAINS
ELECTRICAL SUPPLY, AND THAT THE POWER CORD IS NOT CONNECTED TO
THE AMPLIFIER.
Now remove the 6 valves that are packed inside the amplifier. Also inspect the
amplifier to check that nothing has become damaged during transit.
Carefully unwrap the 6 valves. You will find the following: -
1 x CV4068
1 x 6463
2 x 211 / VT-4C valves
2 x 5R4WGB valves
Once again, please understand that it is absolutely vital these valves are fitted
correctly.
Looking from the front of the amplifier install the 211/ VT-4C valves first: -
VALVE INSTALLATION

Inspect a 211 valve and you will notice that there is a small ‘pin’ protruding from one
side of the valve base; this locating pin ensures that the valve can only be correctly
inserted into the amplifier in one way.
Also examine the two large apertures in the top plate of the amplifier, located
between the two small valves and the black rectangular transformer covers. These
are the insertion points for the 211 valves.
1) Gently hold a 211 valve, and locate the small side mounted pin on the valve
base.
2) Line up this pin with the locating hole in the mounting aperture on the
amplifier’s top plate.
3) Gently insert the valve, and GENTLY twist in a clockwise direction, until the
valve ‘locks’ in position, and no more movement can take place.
VALVE INSTALLATION continued…

Please make sure that steps (1), (2) and (3) are correct. Check again that both
valves are fully inserted correctly in to their respective valve sockets
Looking from the back of the amplifier, insert the 5R4WGB valves into the two empty
sockets located on the left, situated between the black rectangular transformer
covers and the loudspeaker connection binding posts. Locate the rib on the central
pin of the valve and align with the valve base (it can only be inserted one way due to
this locating rib) and with gentle but firm pressure insert the valve.
Finally, insert the two small signal valves into the front two sockets. Looking from the
front of the amplifier, insert the taller 6463 valve into the left socket, and the smaller
CV4068 into the right socket. The valves can only be inserted one way.
Check one more time that all of the 6 valves are correctly fitted!
VALVE INSTALLATION continued…