Chord SYMPHONIC User manual

1
welcome
Thank you for buying a Chord Electronics product
Before you start to enjoy using your Chord Electronics product, please take a couple of
minutes to read how to connect your audio equipment and loudspeakers to your Chord
Choral product and how to maximise your listening experience.
user guide for
phono stage
SYMPHONIC

2
phono stage
SYMPHONIC
The phono stage provides the vital conditioning needed for a signal coming from the stylus
of your turntable and hugely amplifies the signal before it is fed to your pre-amplifier.
Combining high performance and ease of use, the phono stage is an important component
in a system that utilises a turntable.

3
background
We want you to be confident using your new Chord Electronics product.
You are probably an audiophile with extensive knowledge of audio equipment.
However, you may not be!
So in the following section we explain a few basics to help you get started, or get you back
up to speed if you are a little rusty.

4
connecting your equipment
Chord amplifiers are supplied with and designed to be connected using balanced inputs.
The interconnecting cables you use will depend on the available input and output sockets
on your other equipment. We have installed unbalanced inputs on all Chord equipment,
thus enabling you to mix Chord Electronics and other manufacturer’s equipment.
Balanced inputs carry twice the strength of signal of unbalanced inputs and are able to be
fed down long lengths of cable with less deterioration of signal. They are also less prone to
interference than unbalanced inputs. Balanced inputs have three pins and use Neutric XLR
style connectors. Pin 1 is earth, pin 2 is positive and pin 3 is negative.
Unbalanced inputs use RCA phono connectors, which are gold plated with teflon high
performance dielectric insulators for optimum performance.
Basic system diagram
1
2
3
outputs
inputs
CD Transport Turntable
outputs
inputs
outputs
inputs
outputs
inputs
DAC 64
SYMPHONIC
phono stage
MEZZO
power amplifier
PREMA
pre-amplifier
speakers
- Amplification
- Switching and
level control
- Data and
analogue
conversion
- Signal
Detection

5
when setting up
To ensure that your Chord product works efficiently and safely, please pay particular
attention to the following issues.
ventilation
Your Chord product should have at least 5cm of clear space all around it to ensure a free
flow of air at all times. We do not recommend that you place your Chord product directly
on a carpet as this can damage the equipment through blocked ventilation.
mains lead and plug
All Chord equipment comes supplied with the correct mains lead and plug. This should be
used at all times.
if you need to fit a plug for UK/Europe
Connect the blue wire to the neutral terminal
Connect the brown wire to the live terminal
Connect the yellow/green wire to the earth terminal
if you need to fit a plug for US/Canada
Connect the white wire to the neutral terminal
Connect the black wire to the live terminal
Connect the green to the earth terminal
earthing issues in Europe
In some European countries a hum may occur if your processor is connected to mains
sockets that do not have an earth. If this is the case please ensure that:
1. Your equipment is connected via a multi-way mains block which contains an earth point
at each socket outlet. This is to ensure that the chassis metalwork of each item is
connected together.
2. We recommend that an earthing method for your building is implemented.
3. Use the connecting points on your Chord unit and connect to an available earth point.

6
safety warnings
It is important that your equipment is earthed at all times via its own mains lead. Failure to
do this may be hazardous. The power supply components within the units are designed to
be operated at lethal voltages and energy levels. Circuit designs that embody these
components conform with applicable safety requirements. Precautions must be taken to
prevent accidental contact with power-line potentials. Do not connect grounded test
equipment.
This unit complies with EN 50081-1 and IEC 801/2

7
mains connection
The mains connector of your Choral product is at the back of the unit. Plug the female end
(socket) of the mains cable into the power connector of your Choral product, and the male
end (plug) of the mains cable into mains wall socket or mains extension socket. The mains
connector type will differ slightly for each Choral product. This is due to the highly
compact nature of this range requiring differences in chassis metalwork for each product.
Mains connector and switch
powering up
Press the bottom part of the power switch labelled ‘I’.
powering down
Press the top part of the power switch labelled ‘O’.
Mains
Switch
Live Neutral
Earth
Mains
Connector

8
balanced outputs on the
SYMPHONIC
You need to connect the outputs on the back of your SYMPHONIC to a pre-amplifier,
which in turn will feed a signal to a power amplifier in order to drive your loudspeakers.
There is a pair of balanced XLR outputs, which will drive a 68Ωload.
connecting to your pre-amplifier
Use the XLR style output connectors to connect your SYMPHONIC to the XLR style input
connectors of your PRIMA or any other model of pre-amplifier. Ensure that you connect
the left output on the SYMPHONIC to your left input on your pre-amplifier. Also the right
output on the SYMPHONIC should be connected to the right input on your pre-amplifier.
Balanced outputs on the SYMPHONIC
LEFT
RIGHT

9
unbalanced outputs on the
SYMPHONIC
You need to connect the outputs on the back of your SYMPHONIC to a pre-amplifier,
which in turn will feed a signal to a power amplifier in order to drive your loudspeakers.
All Chord equipment is designed to be used with balanced connections to maximise audio
signal quality. However there is also a pair of unbalanced outputs as well in case your pre-
amplifier does not have balanced inputs.
connecting to your pre-amplifier
Use the phono style output connectors to connect your SYMPHONIC to the phono style
input connectors of your pre-amplifier. Ensure that you connect the left output on the
SYMPHONIC to your left input on your pre-amplifier. Also the right output on the
SYMPHONIC should be connected to the right input on your pre-amplifier.
Unbalanced outputs on the SYMPHONIC
LEFTRIGHT

10
balanced inputs on the
SYMPHONIC
You need to connect the outputs on your turntable inputs of your SYMPHONIC phono
stage, which in turn will feed a signal to a pre-amplifier. The signal will then pass onto a
power amplifier in order to drive your loudspeakers. There is a pair of balanced XLR
inputs on your SYMPHONIC phono stage.
connecting to your phono stage
Use the XLR style input connectors to connect your SYMPHONIC to the XLR style output
connectors of your turntable. Ensure that you connect the left output of your turntable to
the left input on your SYMPHONIC. Also the right output on the turntable should be
connected to the right input on your SYMPHONIC.
Balanced inputs on the SYMPHONIC
LEFT
RIGHT