CANARY AUDIO CA-301 MK-II User manual

CANARY AUDIO®
300B Triode Tube Power Amplifier
Handcrafted in California
CA-301 MK-II
OWNER’S MANUAL
MADE IN USA

!This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence
of important operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying the unit.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol is intended to
alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous
voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock
to persons.
Dear Customer:
Please allow us to take this opportunity to thank you for purchasing this
CANARY AUDIO product.
We strongly recommend that you carefully study the Safety Instructions before
attempting to operate the unit.
After you have finished reading the instructions, please save this manual for
future reference.
WARNING:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE
THE UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION:
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT USE THIS POLARIZED AC PLUG
WITH AN EXTERSION CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET UNLESS
THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE EXPOSURE.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
COVER (OR BACK). NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SER-
VICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL ONLY.

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Power Source:
•The unit should be connected to an AC power source of the proper rated
voltage.
•Never replace the power supply’s line fuse with the one of incorrect
characteristics.
AC Cord Protection:
•Do not defeat the grounding or polarization feature of the AC cord.
•Make sure that the AC receptacle holds the AC cord plug firmly and securely.
•Keep the AC cord away from heating appliances.
•Never put heavy object on the AC cord.
•If smoke, malodors or noises are emitted from the unit, turn the power off and
disconnect the AC cord.
Keep Away from Water and Moisture:
•This unit should not be used near water.
•Keep the unit away from flower vases, bathtubs, washbowls, kitchen sinks,
laundry tubs, swimming pools, etc. If liquids are spilled into the unit, serious
damage could occur.
Ventilation:
•Slots and openings in the chassis and in the back or bottom are provided for
necessary ventilation.
•Do not place a cloth on top of the unit or block the provided ventilation slots
and openings in any other way.
•Do not place the unit on a bed, sofa, rug or other similar surface which may
block the slots and openings.
•Do not place the unit in a confined space, such as a bookcase or built-in
cabinet, unless proper ventilation is provided.
Non-Use Periods:
•When left unused for a long period of time, the unit should be unplugged from
the AC outlet.

PROPER CARE
Break-in Period:
•As with most audio components, the CA-301MK-II requires a “break-in”
period. During this period the internal components will stabilize and reach
their normal operating parameters. There are no special procedures required
for this break-in period, just listening to your favorite music will accomplish
this task all by itself.
•The time required to break in the CA-301MK-II is approximately 30 to 50
hours. Upon completion of the break-in period you will hear an improvement
in the overall sound quality of the amplifier.
No Fingers or Other Foreign Objects:
•Touching internal parts of this unit is dangerous and may cause serious
damage to the unit. Do not attempt to disassemble the unit.
•Do not put any foreign object into the unit through the ventilation slots and
openings.
Cleaning:
•A regular dusting with a soft, non-abrasive cloth will generally keep the finish
of the faceplate and chassis looking like new.
Packing Materials:
•The original packing materials and shipping boxes are custom designed to
prevent shipping damage from occurring.
•We recommend that you retain all of the packing materials and shipping
boxes for your CA-301MK-II to be covered by warranty.
Registration Card:
•To ensure that your CA-301MK-II is registered, please spend a moment now
to complete and return the Registration Card.
•Save a copy of the Registration Card and the bill of sale as proof of purchase
for future reference.

UNPACKING
•Open the shipping boxes and remove the top layer of foam.
•Remove the owner’s manual and other accessories from the packing box.
•Grasp the underside of the amplifier and lift it straight out of the packing box.
(2 People Needed)
•Place the amplifier in a safe location. Remove the protective plastic wrapping.
•After unpacking the CA-301MK-II, inspect it for any shipping damage and
contact us immediately if any is found. Do not plug the power supply into any
outlet if you find any shipping damage.
•Please keep all packing materials for future transport of your player. Shipping
the CA-301MK-II in anything other than its original boxes may result in
damage that is not covered by warranty.
ACCESSORIES
The following items are included in the package aside from the main unit:
•Owner’s manual
•Warranty card
•AC power cord
•Vacuum tubes
PLACEMENT
•Do not place the unit near a heating device or in a location where it is
exposed to direct sunlight.
•Do not place the unit in an excessively humid or dusty location.
•Avoid placing the unit in the areas of vibration, impact or where the surface is
tilted as the internal parts may be seriously damaged.
•Avoid placing the unit next to kitchen counters or other locations where it is
subjected to oily fumes.
•Place the unit in a horizontal position, and do not place anything heavy on it.
•Do not place the unit on any other equipment which may become hot.

CONNECTION STEPS
1. Place the CA-301MK-II in a rack, on a shelf or on the floor.
2. Turn off any associated components prior to connecting the CA-301MK-II.
This minimizes the chance of momentary electrical surges disturbing your
system.
3. Neatly arrange and organize wiring to and from the Evolution amplifier and
all components. Separate AC wires from audio cables to prevent
hum or other unwanted noise from being introduced into the system.
4. Install the vacuum tubes according to the instructions provided on the
following page of this owner’s manual.
5. Connect the outputs of your preamplifier or any audio source equipment
to the inputs on the back of the CA-301MK-II. Be sure to match up the left
and right conductors appropriately.
6. Connect the loudspeaker cables to the loudspeaker binding posts on the
back of the CA-301MK-II. Use only the binding post (4 or 8 ohms) that
matches the impedance of the loudspeaker.
Be sure to connect the polarity of the speaker cables correctly. Match the
positive (red) and negative (white) binding posts to the corresponding
speaker connections.
The custom made binding posts are capable of accepting speaker cable
with spade lug, banana plug, pin connector or bare wire.
7. With the power switch in the OFF position, attach the power cord to the
CA-301MK-II and connect it to your AC outlet.
Use the supplied AC power cord or an aftermarket cable. For optimum
results, we recommend the use of Canary Nickel PW-ONE power cable.
8. First, turn on your source equipment. Then, turn on the CA-301MK-II.
9. Bias the CA-301MK-II according to the instructions provided in the “Tube
Biasing” section.

V1
V5
Diagram 1.1 Overview of CA-301 MK-II
TUBES INSTALLATION
Be sure the amplifier is OFF before installing any tubes.
Avoid touching the tubes with bare hands to prevent skin oils from depositing on
the glass surface of the tubes.
Insert each tube in the corresponding socket. Refer to Diagram 1.1 for further
clarification.
The 6SN7 tubes are inserted into sockets designated as V5 and V6. Align the
center key of the tube base with the slot in the center of the socket. Carefully push
down the tube into the socket with a gentle rocking motion until it is firmly seated.
The 12AX7 tube is inserted into sockets designated as V7. Be sure to align the
pins with the socket holes when installing these tubes. Carefully push down the
tube into the socket with a gentle rocking motion until it is firmly seated.
The 300B tubes are inserted into sockets designated as V1 to V4. Pay extra
attention to the tube pins and socket holes for these tubes. Identify the two
larger pins and align the pins with the two larger holes on the socket. Carefully
push down the tube into the socket with a gentle rocking motion until it is firmly
seated.
V2
V3
V4
V6V7

TUBE BIASING
Bias voltage applied to the grids of the power tubes in the output stage should be
checked from time to time to keep these tubes operation at the optimum
operating point. A properly biased power tube will have a longer life.
To check and adjust the bias voltage of the 300B tubes, simply follow the
following procedures.
Tools Required:
Digital Multimeter
Long-handled slotted screwdriver
Procedures:
1. Making sure that the power switch is in the OFF position.
2. Install all the tubes to the corresponding sockets using gentle rocking motion.
(See “Installing the Tubes” section for detail information on installing the
tubes.)
3. Connect your speaker leads, input cable and power cord to the amplifier.
4. Carefully turn the amplifier upside down or turn it up vertically. Unscrew the
bottom metal plate to get access to the inside of the amplifier.
5. Turn ON the amplifier.
6. Turn on the multimeter. Select the section for measuring up to 20V DC.
Attach and secure the negative test lead to the chassis or to the binding post.
7. Carefully attach the positive test lead to the soldering point marked as C1 on
the main PC board for measuring.
8. Carefully insert a long-handled slotted screwdriver into the bias adjustment
pot marked as VR1 on the PC board. Slowly rotate the screwdriver to adjust
the bias voltage until it reaches 0.55V.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 to adjust the bias voltage for the three remaining 300B
tubes in the same fashion as biasing the first one. Use soldering points
marked as “C2, C3 and C4” for measuring, and bias adjustment pots marked
as “VR2, VR3 and VR4” for adjusting. You will need to go back and forth a
few times until all four 300B tubes are properly biased.

TUBE BIASING (cont’d)
10.Once you have finished biasing all four 300B tubes, wait a few minutes and
recheck the settings again.
11.Turn the power OFF. Detach the negative test lead from the chassis. Put the
bottom metal plate and the screws back on. Carefully place the amplifier back
to a horizontal position.
12.The CA-301 MK-II power amplifier is now ready to use.

SPECIFICATIONS
Model: CA-301 MK-II
Rated Power Output: 22 Watts RMS
Input Sensitivity: 0.33 Volts for full output
Input Impedance: 100,000 Ohms
Frequency Response: +/- 3 dB from 10 Hz to 55,000 Hz
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.5%
Signal-to-Noise ratio: -84 dB below 1 Watt
Damping Factor: 10
Power Consumption: 210 Watts (true RMS)
Output Impedance: 4, 8 Ohm
Tube Complement: 4-300B,
2-6SN7GTB,
1-12AX7
Dimensions: 19” W x 16” D x 7” H
Weight: 68 lbs.
Note:
Specifications are subject to change without notice. Weight and dimensions are approximate.