Einstein Poweramp User manual

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The Poweramp
Circlotron Stereo Poweramplifier
Balanced
Manual
Einstein Audio Components GmbH , Prinz Regent Str. 50-60 , D-44795 Bochum
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
[email protected] www.einstein-audio.de

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Dear EINSTEIN customer!
With the EINSTEIN The Poweramp stereo amplifier, you have acquired that
rarest of Hifi components –one that conforms to the most stringent stan-
dards of electrical design and mechanical integrity. To get the most from
it, please take a few leisurely moments and peruse the following instruc-
tions.
The Poweramp is a component that deliberately eschews frilly features to
focus instead on the core essentials:
Realistic reproduction with the utmost fidelity
Rock-solid reliability for years of worry-free service
Intuitive user interface everyone in your household can use
Extended market value to protect your investment
The EINSTEIN The Poweramp does not sound beautiful, soft or energetic.
Our goal is to design components that integrate into existing systems with
the absolute minimum of signal degradation or “artistic license“. A stereo
amplifier’s job is simple (though by no means easy): increase signal ampli-
tude; pass this amplified signal to the loudspeaker; take control of the
transducers. Even the “world’s best“ loudspeaker cannot correct for losses
or errors incurred by the amplifier. Quite the contrary. A superior loud-
speaker will ruthlessly reveal any shortcomings in the amplifier driving it.
Hence your decision to incorporate the EINSTEIN The Poweramp into your
system was a truly informed one. Congratulations.
We extend our regards from Bochum and wish you much musical satisfac-
tion from your new EINSTEIN The Poweramp.
Volker Bohlmeier

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01. Safety concerns - what not to do
Don’t pry inside the machine. It uses high voltages. You’ll void the war-
ranty and risk electric shock.
For safety reasons especially with pets and children, use the tube
cage.
Protect the machine against moisture and condensation.
Don’t defeat the ground.
Only replace fuses with original type ((1.25A fast-blow for 230-240V
Version; 2.5A fast-blow for 100V or 115- 125V Version)
When tube replacements are due, please contact your dealer or our
factory.
The level-jacks (XLR 4-pin) are to be used only with the EINSTEIN level
plugs provided! The ampli fier must be switched off when changing
the level plugs! No other devices may be connected to the ‘Level-
jacks’!
02. What your shipping carton contains
1 x EINSTEIN The Poweramp stereo amplifier in wooden EINSTEIN crate
1 x EINSTEIN power cord custom made
2 x gloves for handling
1 x owner’s manual
2 EINSTEIN Level Plugs (XLR Plugs 4-pin to adjust level) standard -5dB
03. Design overview
The Poweramp closely mirrors the circuitry of our celebrated The Final Cut
OTL mono amplifiers. In fact, without their precedent, the stereo amp in its
current version would have never seen the light of day. The OTLs paved the
way for the unique and proprietary realization of the stereo amplifier’s cir-
cuit architecture. To not bore you with tech talk, let’s put it this way: The
Poweramp is the The Silver Bullet, albeit with transistors rather than valves in
the output stage.
04. Setup
Insure adequate ventilation and a solid hard foundation. Do not place The
Poweramp atop other components nor place other components atop the
EINSTEIN amplifier. Due to the enormous capacities of our overbuilt trans-
formers, record players and phono stages should not be placed in close
proximity to avoid picking up hum. Proper HiFi racks with adequate spacing
are most suitable and can even improve audible system performance.
05. AC mains connection
The IEC power inlet and mains fuse holder are located on the back panel of
the machine. Disconnect the amplifier from the AC plug if you have to re-
place the fuse. Internal rail voltages of 230 volts can cause serious electric
shock.

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06. Component connections
Before initial power-up, install the interconnects to the preamplifier and the
cables to your loudspeakers. If possible, connect the included ground wire
between the grounding posts of your preamp and amplifier.
Interconnects Use any high-quality RCA or XLR-terminated cable. Insure
good non-oxidized contacts. Naturally, we recommend our own NF/XLR
cable EINSTEIN The Flash which has been designed for optimum synergy.
Because The Poweramp operates fully differential from input to output, XLR
connections from the preamp are the preferred means for optimal results,
especially when that preamp happens to be our fully differential, fully bal-
anced (and fully complementary) The Preamp valved linestage!
Loudspeaker cables Insist on cables with superior non-oxidized contacts
and sufficient conductor mass to supply adequate current to the speakers.
This insures proper damping factor for mandatory transducer control. (Ca-
bles of insufficient conductor mass can strangulate an amplifier’s current
delivery.) Our EINSTEIN The Thunder loudspeaker cable matches all require-
ments in a perfect way.
07. Power mains
To turn the machine on or off, please use the switch at the bottom of the
amplifier (left side behind the front panel). Three blue LEDs inside the central
display will confirm power as will the glow of the valves. Thermal stabilization
and final readiness are indicated after about 2-3 minutes once the two
outer LEDs have extinguished. Should one or both of these outer indicators
remain lit, contact your dealer or the factory to avoid internal damage. Op-
timal operation conditions and stabilized sonics for The Poweramp are
reached within a half hour of turn-on.
If there is a problem with the amplifier, either both or one or the other LED
will remain lit, at which point you should turn the amplifier off and contact
your dealer / distributor or EINSTEIN directly. The unit will achieve its optimal
sound and operating temperature after approximately half an hour. It is
recommended that you don’t tax the amplifiers unnecessarily during this
warm up phase as it may result in lower tube life.
08. Control units on the back panel
a. On the back panel of the amplifier you find the loudspeaker terminals for
the right and left channel (red = + output, white = - output)
b. Also on the back panel are the input jacks for the right (red) and left
(white) channel. Although The Poweramp is optimized for balanced opera-
tion (XLR balanced input-jacks) you also can combine unbalanced pre-
amps without any technical problems.
For balanced connection please use the 3-pin XLR jacks. (1=Ground,
2=+Input, 3=-Input)
For unbalanced connection you have two RCA-jacks each per channel.
You use only one jack for each channel (for not inverted normal operation
use the red RCA jack - the white RCA jack delivers an inverted signal).
Please assemble the provided RCA termination connectors (jumpers) to the
RCA jacks not needed.

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CAUTION: for balanced operation the RCA termination connectors must not
be used since they would short-circuit the input signal. During balanced op-
eration the RCA jacks can be used as outputs for bi-amping or a subwoofer.
c. Ground terminal –this terminal can be used to establish a link between
the casing of pre- and power-amplifier which contributes to sound quality.
d. Level-jack –for a better sound quality The Poweramp does not have a
volume control. To adjust the volume you can use the two provided Level-
jacks (4-pin XLR jacks) which by default are covered by a protection cap.
With the EINSTEIN Level-plugs provided you can adjust the gain to a certain
degree. For further custom adjustment please contact your dealer. Without
Level-plugs The Poweramp has maximum sensivity (1V for 0 dB). Gain can
be reduced by up to 10dB by using the appropriate Level-plugs. One set of
Level-plugs (-4dB) is included –other values can provided on request.
CAUTION: The 4-pin XLR jack named LEVEL must never be connected to
anything else but the EINSTEIN Level-plugs! When changing the Level-plugs
the device must be powered-off.
09. Fuses
A blown fuse could indicate internal problems. Should the amplifier refuse
to operate after a blown fuse has been replaced, please contact your
dealer or EINSTEIN immediately. A proper replacement fuse must be
marked 1.25A fast-blow for 230-240V version; 2.5A fast-blow for 100V or 115-
125V version.
Before replacing a fuse, insure that the amplifier is disconnected from your
wall outlet to avoid risk of electric shock. Both mains fuses are housed adja-
cent to the IEC power inlet at the bottom of the machine.
10. Valves
The Poweramp uses PCC88 tubes with a life expectancy of about 3000
hours. To assure optimum performance, only use tubes your EINSTEIN dealer
supplies. We take pains to properly inspect and test all EINSTEIN tubes for
years of trouble-free and uncompromised performance.
11. Service
Should you encounter any problems, please contact your dealer, your dis-
tributor or EINSTEIN directly.
12. Performance Tips
You may enjoy improved performance if you pay attention to the following:
Correct AC power phase; high-quality low-impedance interconnects be-
tween preamp and amp; proper AC mains filtration or conditioning; reso-
nance control by way of a well-engineered equipment support; proper sys-
tem grounding via a single earth ground; high-quality loudspeaker cables.
13. Cleaning
Use a soft cloth and glass cleaner to polish the chrome and stainless steel
parts.

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14. Warranty
The EINSTEIN The Poweramp carries a 3-year parts & labour non-transferable
warranty (6 months for tubes). For detailed warranty conditions please con-
tact your dealer or the distributor of your country. If you have any further
questions please contact [e-mail].
15. Technical Specifications
S/N ratio: 98dB
Channel separation: 90dB
THD @ 1kHz: < 0.01%
Power output: 90 watts/8 ohms (130 watts/4 ohms)
Damping factor: > 250/8 ohm
Weight: 50 lbs
Dimensions: 16.9“ x 16.2“ x 8.1“ (W x D x H)
16. Final test prior to shipping
Sighted inspection O.K. Tester
Electric test O.K. Tester
Listening test O.K. Tester
Packing/contents O.K. Tester
Einstein Audio Components GmbH Prinz- Regent- Str. 50-60 D - 44795 Bochum
Tel [phone] Fax [phone]
[e-mail] www.einstein-audio.de

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CERTIFICATE
The Poweramp
Circlotron Stereo Poweramplifier
We herewith confirm that this EINSTEIN
The Poweramp stereo poweramplifier
Serialnumber _______________________
has been developed and built in Bochum
Germany
Bochum,
Einstein Audio Components GmbH Prinz- Regent- Str. 50-60 D - 44795 Bochum
Tel [phone] Fax [phone] [e-mail]
www.einstein-audio.de