Australian Monitor
Operation 13
Your signal source (i.e. the equipment feeding the
amplifier) should have an output impedance of 600
Ohms or lower to avoid unwanted high frequency
lossinthecabling.
Inputoverloadoccursat+20.5dBu(8.25volts).
Hum Problems
Most equipment is designed for minimum hum when
used under ideal conditions. When connected to
otherequipment,andtosafetyearthinanelectrically
noisy environment however, problems will often
occur.
The three "E"s of hum and hum related noise which
canplagueyouraudiosystemare:
a)Electrostaticradiation,
b)Electromagneticradiation,and
c)Earthloops
Electrostatic radiation capacitively couples to
system elements causing an interference voltage
that mainly affects higher impedance paths, such as
amplifier inputs. The source is generally a nearby
highvoltage such as a mains lead or a speaker lead.
The problem can usually be reduced by moving the
offending lead away, or by providing additional
electrostatic shielding (i.e. an earthed conductor
whichformsabarriertothefield).
Electromagnetic radiation induces interference
currents into system elements that mainly effect
lower impedance paths. Radio transmitters or stray
magnetic fields from mains transformers are often
thecauseofthisproblem.Itisgenerallymoredifficult
to eliminate this kind of interference, but again,
moving the source away or providing a magnetic
shield(i.e.asteelshield)shouldhelp.
Earth loops can arise from the interfacing of the
variouspiecesofequipmentandtheirconnectionsto
safetyearth.
This is by far the most common cause of hum, and it
occurswhensource equipment andtheamplifierare
plugged into different points along the safety earth
wherethesafetyearthwiringhasacurrentflowingin
it. The current flowing through the wire produces a
voltage drop due to the wire’s resistance. This
voltage difference between the amp earth and
source equipment earth appears to the amplifier's
inputasasignalandisamplifiedashum.
Thereare threethingsyoucandotoavoid earthloop
problems:
Ensure your mains power for the audio system is
“quiet” i.e. without equipment on it such as air-
conditioning, refrigeration or lighting which may
generatenoiseintheearthcircuit.
Ensure all equipment within the system shares a
common ground/ safety earth point. This will
reducethe possibility of circulatingearth currents
as the equipment will be referenced to the same
groundpotential.
Ensure that balanced signal leads going to the
amplifierareconnectedtoearthatoneendonly.
Signal Ground-Lift Switch
When proper system hook-up has been carried out,
you may still have some hum or hum related noise.
This may be due to any of the previously mentioned
gremlins.
YourSynergySeriesamplifierhasa“SignalGroundLift”
switch which disconnects the input ground wiring
from the amplifier.A substantial drop in hum and or
hum related noise can result from judicious use of
thisswitch.
NOTE
Iftheinput groundliftswitch isusedyoumust ensure
adequate shielding of the input wiring. If the signal
source equipment does not provide adequate
shielding (i.e. a definitive connection to ground) you
must disconnect the shield from the input
connector's ground pin (Pin-1) and re-connect it to
the "drain" contact on the input connector. This will
ensure the shield on your input wiring actually goes
totheamplifierchassisandsubsequentlytoearth.
DO NOT CONNECT PIN-1 DIRECTLY TO THE
DRAIN CONNECTION.
You will defeat the amplifiers internal grounding
scheme and possibly cause instability to the
amplifier.
Always ensure that your amplifier is off and the
attenuators are down when you engage this switch.
Thisswitchshouldonlybeusedwhentheamplifieris
operatedfromabalancedsignalsource.
NOTE: Be wary of quasi-balanced outputs, these
areoftennomorethanfloatingunbalancedoutputs.
4. Operation
IMPORTANT
All signal source equipment should be adequately
earthed. This not only ensures your safety but
everybody else's as well. Faults can and do occur in
mains connected equipment where the chassis can
become “live” if it is not properly earthed. In these
instances the fault in a “floating” (ungrounded) piece
of equipment will look for the shortest path to ground
which could possibly be your amplifier's input. If the
faultcurrentislargeenoughitwilldestroytheinputto
your amplifier and look for the next available path,
whichmaybeyou!
Before making any connections to your Synergy
Seriesamplifierobservethefollowing:
Ensure the mains voltage supply matches the
labelontherearpanelofyouramplifier(+/-10%).
Ensure that the power switch is OFF (to the left -
0)
Ensure that all system grounds (earth) are
connected from a common point. Avoid powering
equipment within a system from multiple power
sources that may be separated by large
distances.
Check the continuity of all interconnecting leads
toyouramplifier,ensure that there are noopenor
shortcircuitedconductors.
Ensure that the power handling of your load
(speakers) can adequately cope with the power
outputoftheamplifier.
Before operating your Synergy Series amplifier,
ensurethat:
- The attenuators are at the “OFF” position (fully
anticlockwise).
- The GROUND LIFT Switch is not engaged
(shouldbeinthe“out”position).
- TheBRIDGESwitchisnot engaged if you arenot
runningtheampinbridgedmode.
Powering Up
REMEMBER
The amplifier should be the last piece of equipment
thatyou turnonandthe first pieceof equipmentthat
youturnoff.
We recommend turning the attenuators on your
amplifierdownwhenturningtheuniton.
WhenyoupowerupyourSynergy Series,youramplifier
goes through an establishment period before it will
accept signal. The Inrush Current Supression (ICS)
circuit is in operation for the first 0.5 seconds. This
limits the mains current to prevent "nuisance-
tripping"ofcircuitbreakers.
During this period you will hear a couple of relays
“click”, indicating mains is now directly applied to the
amplifierandthesignalpathisconnected.
While the ICS circuit operates there is also a 30dB
muteonthe signal input.Aftertwosecondsthis mute
will release, allowing any applied signal to pass
unattenuated.
When switching the amplifier off, wait a couple of
seconds before switching the unit on again. This
allowstheICScircuittoreset.
Level Matching
The normal operating position for the attenuator is
the max position (fully clockwise, no attenuation). In
this position the amplifier operates at full gain.
Turning the attenuator back (anticlockwise) reduces
theinputsensitivity.
NOTE:
If full power output is required you should operate
your amplifier with the front panel attenuator above
the half way (12o’clock) position, otherwise clipping
of the input circuitry and its resultant distortion will
occurbeforefulloutputpowerisachieved.
Sensitivity
Youramplifierisalineardeviceoperatingwithafixed
input to output voltage gain (less attenuation). The
maximum output voltage swing is determined by the
applied mains voltage, load, load type and the duty
cycleoftheappliedsignal.
The input sensitivity for your Synergy Series amplifier
when the attenuator is at maximum position (fully
clockwise)isnominally:
+4.0dB(1.23voltsin)forratedpowerintoa8ohm
load.
+3.0dB(1.10voltsin)forratedpowerintoa4ohm
load.
Each channel of your Synergy Series amplifier has a
nominal balanced input impedance of 30kOhms
(@1kHz) and should not present a difficult load for
anysignalsource.
12 Operation