Cyenne Audio Contralto LE User manual
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High performance class-A headphone amplifier
USER’S MANUAL
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INDEX
CONTENTS
1. Safety.................................................................................................................................................3
2. Description.......................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Sound inputs......................................................................................................................4
2.2 Line outputs.......................................................................................................................4
2.3 Power..................................................................................................................................4
2.4 Front panel.........................................................................................................................5
2.5 Display................................................................................................................................6
3. Unpacking & use.............................................................................................................................7
3.1 Placement..........................................................................................................................7
3.2 Connect your sources.....................................................................................................7
3.3 Connect your headphones............................................................................................8
3.4 Connect the power..........................................................................................................9
4. Recycling..................................................................................................................................12
5. Trouble shooting...........................................................................................................................13
Certification and compliance.........................................................................................................14
Specification......................................................................................................................................14
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1SAFETY
Caution Warning
This symbol indicates care
should be taken otherwise
damage occurs
This symbol indicates danger
for fire and potentially fatal in-
jury
There is risk of fire and lethal electric shock when mishandled. Read carefully for safe use.
a. Place the device in a clean and dry room.
b. Only use indoors, the equipment is not waterproof.
c. Do not use near to water, e.g. in a bathroom, swimming pool, moist basement etc.
d. Don’t install in place hotter than 40 degrees Celsius, such as a kitchen, boiler room etc.
e. Power only from standard mains voltage, see backside label on product for correct voltage.
f. This equipment needs to be grounded with a safety earth from a 3 pin wall outlet. Do not interrupt
the safety earth connection (e.g. to solve ground loop problems).
g. Place equipment on a stable surface in such way it doesn’t fall and cause injuries.
h. Route the cables so people will not accidently step on them and make the equipment tip over.
i. Route the power cord in a way it cannot be worn out, gets pinched, gets walked over, to avoid dam-
age to the power cord.
j. Handle the power cord with care. Unplug by holding the plug, never pull the wire.
k. Unplug the equipment immediately if the power cord looks damaged, the equipment doesn’t work
properly, has become wet or has been dropped, looks damaged. Contact a qualified service techni-
cian for help before using the equipment again.
l. Do note remove the cover, modify or disassemble the equipment.
m. Unplug the equipment when not in use for a long period of time and during severe storms.
n. To clean, use soft, damp, cloth; do no spray anything on the equipment or use aggressive agents like
benzene, thinner, insect spray as this will damage the casing finish and might cause fire.
o. Don’t place objects filled with liquids such as vases near the equipment.
p. Please disconnect your system from the mains before attempting to clean your unit.
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2DESCRIPTION
2.1 Sound inputs
2.2 Line outputs
2.3 Power
The Contralto LE is an advanced headphone amplifier designed to drive a large variety of headphones.
There is a large current reserve to driver low-impedance headphones and high voltage reserve to drive
the new category of 300 Ohms headphones.
The Contralto LE has line-outputs to connect to other amplifiers so conventional amplifiers and speakers
or another headphone amp can be used without re-plugging cables.
Sound from pre-amps, CD players, media players and turntable preamps can be used.
To connect the Contralto LE to another amplifier if needed. Both outputs follow the volume control.
A. Right XLR input for balanced signals. XLR is the preferred way to connect the Contralto LE, es-
pecially when the signal cables are longer than about two meters. The balanced inputs are im-
mune for hum and other interference cables can pick up.
B. Left XLR input.
C. One set of cinch (RCA) inputs. The red on top is the right channel. This is an un-balanced signal
and is the most common source signal for consumer audio.
NB: Only connect one source at the time. Connecting two sources to the Contralto LE will degrade
sound quality.
D. Right XLR output for balanced signal.
E. Left XLR output.
F. Cinch (RCA) outputs. Top is right channel.
Note: the line-outputs might give a plop when the unit is turned o. Don’t connect the Contralto LE
directly to an end-amplifier without volume control.
G. To connect the power cord to the wall outlet. On the lower side, there is a replaceable fuse. This
fuse interrupts the power when there is a problem with the Contralto LE or the wrong mains
voltage was applied.
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2.4 Front panel
The front has 4 main parts:
H. Power push button to power on and o.
I. Power indicator. Lights when power button is on.
J. Dual jack plugs, 2 headphones can be used at the same time
K. Volume knob to set the headphones volume.
A
H IK
B C D GF
J
E
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<left blank>
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3.1 Placement
3.2 Connect your sources
3UNPACKING & USE
Review the safety chapter before proceeding
Unpack the product carefully. The box should contain:
- Contralto main unit
- Power cord
- This instruction manual
If anything missing, check the box again carefully. Some content might have shifted during transport and
might be on the bottom of the box. If there really is something missing, contact your dealer or us for ad-
vice.
The Contralto LE becomes warm in normal use and needs some ventilation. Don’t place it on top of a
heat generating device such as a (power) amplifier. You can place it safely on top of a Cyenne Audio DAC.
The rubber in the feet might leave a permanent mark on some type of surfaces, don’t place directly on
top of antique furniture or other expensive surfaces.
Make sure the Contralto LE is switched o before making any connection. Risk of
hearing and equipment damage.
Turn the volume knob fully counter-clockwise before playing music for the first time to avoid
hearing damage and damage to you headphones.
The Contralto LE is a powerful headphone amplifier to allow enough headroom for high qual-
ity dynamic music but can cause permanent and irreversible hearing damage when played
too loud for extended periods of time. Do not use the Contralto LE to overpower background
sounds in a noisy environment as this will likely raise the sound level above a safe level. Even a
sound pressure as low as 90dB for several hours on a row may be harmful already.
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There are 2 ways to connect the Contralto to your source, choose one:
1) Use the XLR balanced input. This is the preferred way as this oers the best rejection of interference.
2) Use the cinch (RCA) inputs. Make sure to use high quality cable and keep the cable length under 2
meters to avoid hum and other interference.
You can connect two headphones at the same time using the two Jack plugs.
3.3 Connect your headphones
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3.4 Connect the power
Connect one side to the Contralto LE and then plug the other side into the wall outlet.
For your own safety, make sure any replacement cable you like to use (e.g. audiophile power cables) is
fully compliant with local safety regulations and has safety earth connection.
The Contralto LE needs to be used with 3 pin power cables and wall outlets with safety earth connection.
Read the safety hints in chapter one.
The included power cord is not certified to be run through a wall, under a floor, trough con-
duct, under carpet etc. Consult a certified electrician if there is no power socket nearby.
Turn the volume knob fully counter clockwise.
Switch on all your equipment and as last the Contralto LE.
Play music on your source device. Slowly turn up the volume of the Contralto LE until music is heard. Ad-
just the volume to suite your taste. If you hear nothing, turn the volume back to fully counter clockwise
and then check source and connections.
Note the warnings in chapter 3.2.
3.4 playing music
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This product’s packaging materials are recyclable and can be reused.
Please dispose of any materials in accordance with the local recycling
regulations.
When discarding the unit, comply with local rules or regulations.
Batteries should never be thrown away or incinerated but disposed of in
accordance with the local regulations concerning chemical waste.
For EU customers: This product and the accessories packed together
constitute the applicable product according to the WEEE directive ex-
cept batteries.
This product is RoHS 2014 compliant and lead free.
RECYCLING
Recycling information
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TROUBLE SHOOTING
1) No power. Power LED is o
a. Try pushing the power switch again.
b. Check if the power cord is firmly fit.
c. Try another wall outlet.
d. Check / replace fuse on backside (this is rare). Replace the fuse with
the value and type specified (H 500 T) for continues protection against fire.
2) No sound
a. No input signal, check source, cables.
b. Input cable was inserted into the wrong plug on source. Like inserted into video.
output or a digital audio outputs of the DVD player.
c. Source is powered o, check if source is on.
d. Volume level too low. Increase the volume level.
e. Headphones plug not fully inserted, push the plug in.
f. Source is not playing anything, start playback.
3) Sound unexpectedly too soft.
a. Check if source has volume control. If it has, set it to the maximum un-distorted level.
b. If the source is a Cyenne Audio DAC, set the DAC’s volume to 0 dB.
4) There is a buzz or hum in the sound. Probably due to ground loop.
a. Connect the Contralto LE, the sources and the amplifier to the same power strip.
b. Check if cables are connected properly and not half inserted etc.
c. Your setup includes a TV, many TV’s are grounded trough the aerial or cable connection.
d. Disconnect the TV to test. If hum is gone now, ask your dealer for a antenna isolation transformer.
e. Use the balanced XLR inputs instead of cinch.
More information is available at http://www.cyenne-audio.com/en/7_support
If none of the above solves your problem or you still have questions, contact your dealer.
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We, the manufacturer / importer,
Cyenne Audio Co. Ltd.
Declare that the product
Kind of product: Audio Amplifier for headphones
Type designation: Contralto LE series
Is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of the following
directives:
RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU)
EMC Directive (2004/108/EC)
Low Voltage Directive (2006/95/EC)
ErP Directive (2009/125/EC)
The product is compatible with the following norms / standards:
EN 55013 (2001+ A1:2003+ A2:2006)
EN 55020 (2007+ A11:2011)
EN 61000-3-3 (2008)
IEC 61000-4-2 (2008)
IEC 61000-4-4 (2004+ A1:2010)
EN 60065 (2002+ A1:2006+ A11:2008+ A2:2010+
A12:2011)
EN 50564 (2011)
CE mark was first applied in: 2015
Intended use: indoor
Declaration of conformity
Check www.cyenne-audio.com for more information.
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Specifications
Volume control:
• Attenuation from -100dB till zero stepless.
• High quality stereo VR.
Headphones output
• Dual Jack, 6.35 mm (1⁄4 inch) 3-contact stereo, supports two headphones
• Impedance from 32 Ohms till 300 Ohms supported
• Maximum output power of 3000mW
• Maximum output voltage 8 Vrms into 100 Ohms, 6 Vrms into 32 Ohms.
• Fixed gain of 14dB.
Input signal
• Cinch or balanced XLR 3 pin, typical 2 Vrms, max 8 Vrms input voltage
• Impedance 10 kOhm for cinch, 20 kOhm for balanced
Line output
• Balanced and un-balanced, 100 Ohm output impedance.
• Line output varies with the volume level
• Output is buffered, no loss of quality when downstream equipment is turned off
Amplifier
• Full discrete, class-A, MOSFET, output impedance 0.5 Ohm
• Distortion better than 0.01% (20 Hz - 20 kHz, THD+N) for closed loop operation
• Noise and hum, better than -110 dB @ 2Vrms output
• Wima, Rubycon and Nichicon capacitors, precision low-noise thin film resistors
• Ordering option: open loop output mode
Various
• Environment: relative humidity 10 – 90% non-condensing, temperature limits: 10C– 40C operating,
-20C to 80C storage.
• Net weight: 3.2 kg, gross weight: 3.9 kg
• Dimensions: 280 x 60 x 280 mm (excluding protrusions). Same footprint as Cyenne Audio DAC’s.
• Power supply: maximum 25 VA, available in 115 VAC and 230 VAC models. All model 50/60 Hz.
• Power cord, user’s manual included
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