Brinkmann EDISON User manual
Phono Amplifier brinkmann «EDISON»
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Manual
Preface
We congratulate you on the purchase of our «EDISON» phono
amplifier.
Brinkmann’s relentless dedication to Quality is your assurance that
you will receive many years of musical enjoyment from this unit..
Please take a short time to read the information in this manual.
We want you to be as familiar as possible with all the features and
functions of your new «EDISON».
Contents
Unpacking
Description
Power supply
Set up of the Phono amplifier
Connections
Operation
Optimizing the sound
Maintenance
Safety
Cleaning
Warranty
Specifications
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Unpacking
The Phono amplifier is delivered in a double-carton shipping box. This
packaging will protect the phono amplifier and the power supply and will
prevent shipping damage. Please keep the packaging and the including
protective packaging inlay material to have maximum protection for your
«EDISON» if it ever needs to be shipped!
Please find in the top layer of the protective packaging inlay :
> this manual
> the Edison phono amplifier
> the remote control
> the power supply including the connection cable with a 6-pole plug
In the bottom layer :
> the granite base for the phono amplifier
> a bag with 2 adapter plugs from XLR to RCA
> a power cord
Description
The «EDISON» Phono amplifier is designed to amplify and equalize the
signals from the cartridges of analog record turntables.
Two Telefunken PCF803 vacuum tubes are used per channel.
The PCF803 was developed in the 60s and was used for colour
television. The company “Telefunken” in Berlin was famous for the
highest quality and durability of their products and for using the newest
technologies for their production.
Each tube contains two systems, a pentode and a triode.
One of the PCF803 is used for the gain stage, the other gives a phase
inverter and output driver.
As tubes produce more noise than semiconductors, we added a bipolar
transistor stage to the input circuitry which also is used for the gain
adjustment.
The rear view of the phono amplifier shows three RCA inputs per
channel. Each of the inputs is equipped with a rotary switch for
adjusting the input resistance. Two of the three inputs are also
equipped with XLR sockets.
The RCA sockets and the pins 2 and 3 of the XLR sockets are
connected together, while the inner pin of the RCA is connected to pin 2
of the XLR socket.
The XLR output sockets, the socket for the power cord and the socket
for the ground connection are located at the centre of the back panel.
The ground connection can be used with all the ground cords of various
tonearms / turntables and then be easily plugged in at the back panel.
The front panel shows on the right side the on-off and mute buttons, the
input selector and in the middle the display, on the right side the knob
for adjusting the gain and two further buttons, one of these switches a
transformer in the input signal path, the other is for switching both
channels to mono.
Your Edison can be ordered with a phase inverter function, instead of
the mono function.
Power supply
The power supply has a closed metal case from anodized aluminum; it
is connected to the ground connection of the power plug. The power
supply should only be connected to the mains with a three-core power
cord.
The power supply has a transformer that transforms the mains voltage
into different alternating voltages.
One of these alternating voltages is rectified and stabilized at 22 VDC.
The output is short circuit proof for a current of 1A and will be shut down
by a PTC during short circuit. The other alternating voltages are used
in the preamplifier. It is important to take care that the connection cable
with the 6-pole connector cannot be damaged or snapped.
Set up and Operation
Set up of the phono amplifier
The weight of the phono amplifier «EDISON» including the granite base
is 24 kilogram. Therefore it is important to have a support of approx. 40
x 45 cm that can easily carry this weight. Please make sure that the
phono amplifier is not placed directly next to power supplies or other
amplifiers. The power supply of the phono amplifier should be placed as
far away from the «EDISON» as possible.
The base of the «EDISON» has full contact to the surface of the granite
base, this prevents vibration seeping into in the phono amplifier.
It is possible to use optional feet from other manufacturers between the
granite base and the support of the phono amplifier. It is important to
take care that optional feet are specified to carry the full weight of the
«EDISON» – approx. 24 kg –. Another option could be the use of thin
sheets (for example leather or rubber) in patches or for the full surface
between the granite base and the support.
There should be 20cm of free space above the phono amplifier to allow
the flawless function of the remote control. The IR sensor is located
right besides the gain control knob under the top glass plate.
In case there is not enough free space above the phono amplifier, it is
possible to place a small upright sheet (about the size of a business
card) behind the sensor of the remote control to allow for the reflection
of the IR impulse to the sensor.
The power supply should also be placed on a resonance free support,
for example a small granite base.
Connecting the cables
The phono inputs are located at the left and right side of the rear panel,
the XLR outputs are located at the middle of the rear panel. When
looked at from the front, the connectors at back are assigned to the
respective channel. There are three phono inputs, input 1 is directly
next to the XLR outputs and input 3 is at the outer side of the rear
panel.
The ground connection and the 6-pole connector for the cable of the
power supply are located at the middle of the rear panel. The plug of
the ground connection can be removed to allow a convenient
connection of several ground cords.
The phono inputs have RCA sockets; two inputs (input 1 and input 2)
have additional XLR inputs. The RCA sockets and the pins 2 and 3 of
the XLR sockets are connected together, while the inner pin of the RCA
is connected to pin 2 of the XLR socket.
It is possible to use the RCA connector for further loads like capacitors
or additional resistors while the XLR sockets are used for the turntable.
Please use the following sequence when connecting the phono
amplifier:
1. Connect the signal inputs (RCA or XLR) of the phono amplifier with
the turntables or tonearms,
2. Connect the ground cords next, make sure that the 4mm plug of the
ground connection is plugged into the connector at the rear panel of the
phono amplifier,
3. Connect the 6-pole plug of the power supply cable to the 6-pole
connector in the middle of the rear panel and tighten the cap nut,
4. Connect the XLR outputs to the respective inputs of the preamplifier
(in case of asymmetrical outputs the XLR-RCA adapters can be used ),
5. Connect the power supply to the mains (do this last!)
The «Edison» phono amplifier usually doesn’t need special power
conditioning because there is already a power filter integrated into the
power supply.
A good, direct connection to the mains without disturbance is beneficial
for the «Edison», it is important not to connect the phono amplifier to
the same AC outlet as for example the power amplifiers, which have
irregular power consumption.
Operation
Pushing the “on-off” switch engages the display and the LED at the
„mute“ switch. The „mute“ switch is disabled as long as the display
shows „Edison“. During this time the tubes are heating up.
About two minutes later the display shows the previously selected input,
the gain for this input is calibrated in dB, the functions “xfmr” and
“mono” if selected, optionally the phase 0° or 180°, whatever has been
selected for this input.
By switching to another input all the preselected functions for this next
input are shown.
All these functions are stored in a micro processor when another input
is selected or the unit is switched off. The individual configurations are
still stored when the «Edison» is disconnected from the mains and is
moved to another place.
„Mute“ and the input selector can also be switched from the remote
control.
Optimizing the sound
Allow us to share some advice with you as to how to extract the
«Edison»’s best sound performance:
The back panel shows the switches for adjusting the resistive load on
the inputs. The values are 47k, 10k, 5k, 2k, 1k, 600ohms, 400ohms,
200ohms, 150 ohms 100ohms 75ohms and 50ohms.
These resistive loads will assure that peaks coming from the cartridges
are well damped or even a “soft roll off” is preferred.
The adjustments allow for individually loading all cartridges and even for
personally preferred sound aspects.
The 47kohms allow for connecting MM cartridges to the «Edison».
Seen from the back the most left position starts with 47kohms, the
center position is 400ohms.
The load values will change when the transformer „xfmr“ is switched
into the signal path :
47kohm > 10kohm, 10kohm > 5k5ohm, 5kohm > 3k5ohm, 2kohm >
1k7ohm, 1k > 900ohm, the lower values are not affected in a way that
needs attention.
As the 47kohm are gone with the transformer in the signal path, no MM
cartridges can be used anymore.
On the other hand the use of the transformer gives the inputs a true
balanced state, what means that both poles (pin 2 and 3 of the XLR
socket) are „hot“, carry signal.
As the RCA sockets carry signal on both inner and outer pole in this
state, there may be hum noises, so we recommend taking the XLR
sockets for balanced use.
Without the use of the transformers the outer pole of the RCA sockets is
bound to ground. The XLR sockets can be used in full performance
though. Connecting together both ground pins (pin 1) of the XLR
cables on the side of the turntable may cause hum problems, so please
avoid this.
Maintenance
Two original Telefunken tubes of the type PCF803 are used per
channel.
The PCF803 was developed in the 60s and was used for colour
television. The company “Telefunken” in Berlin was known for highest
quality and durability of their products and for using the newest
technologies for their production.
Each tube contains two systems, a pentode and a triode.
One of the PCF803 is used for the gain stage; the other gives a phase
inverter and output driver.
The lifetime of a PCF803 is designed for a minimum of ten years by
steady use in a colour TV. As the «Edison» does not stress the tubes in
such a way, the lifetime will be much longer.
We do not know exactly how long the tubes will last, as we do not yet
have data for that, but we believe they will serve approx. 15…25 years.
On the other hand we stock many thousands of this type, so there will
be enough new tubes in the future to replace the old ones.
Do not use tubes from other sources, do only replace with original
Telefunken PCF803, preferably a matched set from our company.
Safety
This phono preamplifier had been designed and tested according to the
guidelines of EN55013 and EN55020 and it meets the safety
requirements of EN60065.
The phono preamplifier «Edison» is only to be used in dry rooms with
an average temperature and is only allowed for AC mains 50…60Hz
with the voltage given on the power supply casing.
The power supply is only to be connected to a grounded wall socket.
Please connect or disconnect the power supply only when the «Edison»
is not connected to the mains.
Please disconnect the «Edison» always from the mains when the
amplifier is not used for a longer period of time (during holidays etc.).
Never leave the power supply unattended while it is connected to the
mains.
Always keep the «Edison» away from wet, heat and open fire! Never
expose it to the blazing sun! Never place receptacles with fluids on the
preamplifier or its power supply.
Take care of enough room around the power supply (10 cm on each
side, 30 cm above); the unit shall not be covered! There is no over
temperature sensor inside the power supply.
Cleaning
The power supply and the preamplifier «Edison» are only to be cleaned
with a dry brush and a dry cloth (microfiber). Please disconnect from the
mains before cleaning.
A cleaning with wet clothes or brushes is not allowed! Liquids will cause
a short circuit inside the «Edison».
The glass plate is not allowed to be removed whilst the «Edison» is
connected to the mains.
Dangerously high voltages inside, risk of electrical shock!
Warranty
The warranty is only valid when concerning faults of the production or of
components used in the phono amplifier. The warranty doesn’t cover
the shipping to our company for repair purpose and back.
Repairs and changes to the phono amplifier should only be done by
brinkmann Audio GmbH or by specially authorized companies.
The warranty expires after unauthorized changes in the phono amplifier.
The warranty also expires after improper use and wrong connection of
the phono amplifier.
Technical Data
inputs : 3 (XLR 2)
distortion / intermodulation : 0,05 / 0,1 %
signal to noise : 69 dbA
bandwidth linear (RIAA): DC... 250 kHz
max. output signal : ± 8 V
output resistance : +/-1 kOhm
input resistance : max 47 kOhm
balanced input resistance max : ± 5 kOhm
output phase : (optional) 0° / 180°
span of the gain control : 43,5… 67dB
power consumption : 35 W
power consumption in stand-by : < 2 W
size of case «Edison»: B x H x T 420 x 65 x 310 mm
size of power supply : dto 120 x 80 x 160 mm
weight incl. power supply : ca. 12 kg
size granite base : 420 x 30 x 310 mm
weight granite base : ca. 12 kg
brinkmann
Im Himmelreich 13
88147 Achberg
Germany
Tel : 08380 981195
Fax : 08380 981233
Mail : info@brinkmann-audio.com
web : www.brinkmann-audio.com
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