Audio Research REFERENCE PHONO 10 User manual

User Guide
H I G H D E F I N I T I O N ®
REFERENCE
PHONO 10
Phono Preamplifier

2Contents
Preface 3
Illustrations
Audio Chassis 4
Power Supply Chassis 5
Warnings 6
Installation
Installation of Vacuum Tubes 7
In Your System 8
Connections 9
Operation
Power-Up Procedure 10
Front Panel Controls 11
Remote Control Only Controls 12
Interactive Touch Screen Operation 13 - 15
Troubleshooting 15
Maintenance
Servicing 16
Cleaning 16
Disposal and Recycling Guidelines 16
Limited Warranty 17
Specications 18

3
Preface
Thank you for selecting the Reference Phono 10 as
part of your music listening system. The engineers and
designers at Audio Research have spent countless hours
of listening and testing to create a preamplier of the
highest caliber for music reproduction. The Reference
Phono 10 has been designed to provide you many years
of playback.
Please take a few minutes to read through this guide
to help you better understand and optimize your new
preamplier. If you have any questions regarding the
operational functions, contact your dealer or distributor
for assistance.
Sit back and enjoy your new preamplier and the
enhancements it will bring to your system. The
Reference Phono 10 will bring new life to your record
collection.
Happy listening!

4Illustrations
POWER MUTE
PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA
MADE IN U.S.A.
REFERENCE PHONO 10
STEREO PHONO PREAMPLIFIER
WARNING
TO PREVENT FIRE AND SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT
EXPOSE THIS DEVICE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
UNIT MUST BE OPERATED IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION.
-DO NOT OPERATE WITH COVERS REMOVED-
UNIT CONTAINS VOLTAGES WHICH MAY BE HAZARDOUS.
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION
!
SERIAL
FROM POWER SUPPLY
CABLE "A"
FROM POWER SUPPLY
CABLE "B"
RIGHT
RIGHT
INPUT 1
INPUT 2
LEFT
LEFT
TURNTABLE
GROUND
SINGLE
ENDED
BALANCED
SINGLE
ENDED
BALANCED
LEFT OUTPUT
RIGHT OUTPUT
RS232
Audio Chassis

5
Illustrations
Power Supply Chassis
PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA
MADE IN U.S.A.
REFERENCE PHONO 10
STEREO PHONO PREAMPLIFIER
WARNING
TO PREVENT FIRE AND SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT
EXPOSE THIS DEVICE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
UNIT MUST BE OPERATED IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION.
-DO NOT OPERATE WITH COVERS REMOVED-
UNIT CONTAINS VOLTAGES WHICH MAY BE HAZARDOUS.
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION
!
VOLTS
SERIAL
TO AUDIO CHASSIS
CABLE "A"
TO AUDIO CHASSIS
CABLE "B"
235W MAX 50/60 HZ
~
6A FUSE
SLO-BLO
T4A (230V)
CAUTION
FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION AGAINST
FIRE HAZARD REPLACE FUSE ONLY
WITH SAME TYPE AND RATING
Remote
HOURS
INPUT 1
INPUT 2
RIAA
DSP DN
POWER
HI GAIN
REFERENCE
PHONO
DSP UP
50
100
200
500
1K
47K
DECCA
CUSTOM
LO GAIN
MUTE
COLUMBIA

6Warnings
To prevent re, or shock hazard, do not expose your Reference Phono 10
to rain or moisture.
This unit contains voltages which can cause serious injury or death. Do
not operate with cover removed. Refer servicing to your authorized Audio
Research dealer, service center or factory.
The detachable power cord on your Reference Phono 10 is equipped with
a heavy gauge, 3-conductor cable and a standard three-prong grounding
plug. For absolute protection, do not defeat the ground power plug. This
provides power line grounding of the Reference Phono 10 chassis to provide
absolute protection from electrical shock.
For continued protection against re hazard, replace the fuse only with the
same type and rating as specied at the fuse holder.
The appliance coupler at the rear of this unit must be accessible for
emergency power disconnect.
A note about packaging...
Save all packaging in a dry place away from re hazard. Your Reference
Phono 10 preamplier is a precision electronic instrument and should be
properly cartoned any time shipment is made. You may not have occasion to
return your unit to the factory for service, but if that should prove necessary,
or other occasion requiring shipment occurs, the original packaging will
protect your Reference Phono 10 from unnecessary damage or delay.

7
Installation
Installation of Vacuum Tubes
Before operating the Reference Phono 10...
This unit has been shipped with the vacuum tubes installed in protective
foam in a separate box packed inside the shipping carton. Remove the
tubes carefully from the protective foam. Using a phillips-head screwdriver
to loosen the fastening screws, remove the top cover and set aside.
After removing the top cover and the vacuum tubes packed in protective
foam, see the accompanying illustrated sheet (g. 1 + 2) for instructions
on installing the tubes for your Reference 10 in their proper locations in the
power supply and audio chassis. Note that the numbers written on each
tube correspond to a ‘V’ number printed on the circuit board next to each
tube socket. Insert each tube rmly, carefully aligning the tube pins with the
corresponding socket holes.
V1V5
V7 V3
V2V6
V8 V4
TOP VIEW
AUDIO UNIT
L
R
g. 1
L
R
V9
TOP VIEW
POWER
SUPPLY
UNIT
V10
V11
V12
g. 2

8Installation
In your System
While the Reference Phono 10 does not dissipate an unusual amount of
heat, it is important that it be provided with reasonable airow to assure
long, trouble-free operation. In addition, the following installation guidelines
will help insure maximum sonic performance as well as reliable service:
Operate unit in upright and horizontal position, prefer-ably on solid, non-
metal shelving.
Do not stack the preamp on top of a power amplier: not only could this
cause overheating, but hum may be introduced into the preamp from the
proximity of the amplier’s power transformer.
Do not stack components or other objects directly on top of the Reference
Phono 10.
Do not place or operate your preamp on a soft or irregular surface such as
a rug. This will prevent proper ventilation.
Do not operate your preamp without the top and bottom covers installed.
These are required both for safety as well as shielding from interference
(except in service operations by qualied personnel).
Ensure a minimum of 8-10” clearance above the unit when placed on
shelving.

9
Connections
Input Connections
The Reference Phono 10 offers two sets of RCA input connectors, for
connecting multiple turntable/tonearm cables. There is a ground terminal
connection adjacent to the RCA input connectors to allow grounding of the
turntable(s).
Output Connections
There is one set of BAL and one set of RCA output connectors for connecting
to line inputs (Direct, Aux, Phono, Tuner, etc.) of your linestage/preamplier.
All input/output connectors are gold plated and connect ‘ground’ before
‘hot’. On disconnect, ‘hot’ is disconnected rst.
Note: A ‘passive’ line stage is not recommended for use with the Reference
Phono 10 as it may not provide the gain necessary to amplify the output of
the Reference Phono 10 to adequate levels to the power amplier.
It is recommended that all connections be made to the Reference Phono
10 with the power turned ‘off’.

10 Operation
Power-Up Procedure
Secure all rear-panel connections between Reference Phono 10 and the
preamplier. Connect umbilical cables between the Reference Phono 10
Audio and power supply chassis. Twist outer ring to secure.
Plug three-prong power cord from rear of chassis into grounded A.C. wall
outlet. The Power switch defaults to ’off’ when the unit is plugged into a
power receptacle.
Press power switch (either remote or front panel). The screen will initially
display ‘Now Loading’ for a few seconds, after which it will display the Audio
Research logo followed by ‘Reference Phono 10’ (g. 3 + 4). The main
display screen will then appear on the screen, and ‘MUTE’ will be ashing.
Once ‘MUTE’ becomes solid, depress the front panel MUTE button (right
button) or touch the word ‘MUTE’ on the screen to initiate normal operation.
Select input source, then make any other necessary adjustments.
Shut-Down
• Activate ‘Mute’ function.
• Turn off power amplier(s).
• Turn off preamplier.
• Press Reference Phono 10 Power switch to ‘off’.
g. 3 g. 4