Einstein The Absolute Tune User manual

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Dear customer!
With the EINSTEIN The Absolute Tune stereo integrated amplifier, you have acquired that rarest of Hifi
components — one that conforms to the most stringent standards of electrical design and mechanical in-
tegrity. To get the most from it, please take a few leisurely moments and peruse the following instruc-
tions.
The Absolute Tune is a component that deliberately eschews frilly features to focus instead on the core es-
sentials:
•Realistic reproduction with the utmost fidelity
•Rock-solid reliability for years of worry-free service
•Intuitive user interface everyone in the household can use
•Extended market value to protect your investment
The EINSTEIN The Absolute Tune does not sound beautiful, soft or energetic. Our goal is to design compo-
nents that integrate into existing systems with the absolute minimum of signal degradation or “artistic li-
cense“. As the central nexus of an audio system, an integrated amplifier’s influence is vital. Even the
world’s best source or speakers cannot correct for losses or errors incurred by this key component. Hence
your decision to incorporate the EINSTEIN The Absolute Tune into your system was a truly informed one.
Congratulations.
We extend our regards from Bochum and wish you much musical satisfaction from your new EINSTEIN
The Absolute Tune.
Volker Bohlmeier

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1. Safety concerns - what not to do
•Don’t pry inside the machine. It uses high voltages. You’ll void the warranty 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
115- 125V version)
•When tube replacements are due, please contact your dealer or our factory.
2. What your shipping carton contains
•1 x Einstein The Absolute Tune integrated amplifier inside a velour-covered wooden crate
•1 x power cord
•1 x ground wire
•2 x gloves for handling
•1 x remote control with batteries
•1 x owner’s manual
•1 x warranty card
3. Design overview
The Absolute Tune circuitry closely mirrors that of our individual preamplifier The Tube and the The Final
Cut OTL power amp. In fact, without their precedents, the stereo integrated in its current iteration would
have never seen the light of day. The OTL amp and celebrated The Tube valved linestage paved the way
for the unique and proprietary realization of circuit architecture of The Absolute Tune. To not bore you with
tech talk, let’s put it this way: The preamp section of The Absolute Tune borrows breakthrough inventions
from The Tube; the output stage of The Absolute Tune is essentially the The Final Cut, albeit realized with
transistors rather than valves.
4. Setup
Insure adequate ventilation and a solid hard foundation. Do not place The Absolute Tune atop other com-
ponents nor place other components atop the EINSTEIN amplifier. Due to the enormous capacities of our
overbuilt transformers, 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.

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5. AC mains connection
The IEC power inlet and mains fuse holder are located on the left side toward the front and on the belly of
the machine. Disconnect the amplifier from the AC plug if you have to replace the fuse. 230/115 volts
on the fuse contacts can cause serious electric shock.
6. Component connections.
Before initial power-up, install the interconnects to the sources and the cables to your loudspeakers. If
possible, connect the included ground wire between the grounding posts of The Absolute Tune and your
main source.
Interconnects
Use any high-quality RCA-terminated cable. Insure good non-oxidized contacts. Naturally, we recommend
our own NF cable which has been designed for optimum synergy. But that’s just our opinion. Still, allow
us one piece of advice: Use The Absolute Tune to enjoy music, not to test cables.
Loudspeaker cables
Insist on cables with superior non-oxidized contacts and sufficient conductor mass to supply adequate cur-
rent to the speakers. This insures proper damping factor for mandatory transducer control. (Cables of in-
sufficient conductor mass can strangulate an amplifier’s current delivery.)
7. Power mains
To turn the machine on or off, press the rocker mains switch on the left front of the machine’s belly. 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. Optimal operation conditions and stabilized sonics for The Absolute Tune are reached within a
half hour of turn-on.
8. Controls on the front
All functions of The Absolute Tune are controlled by these two knobs. The right one controls volume, the
left one selects inputs. Please remember that The Absolute Tune does not include a phono stage. To con-
nect a record player, you will require an outboard phono stage. Naturally, you can use the phono input for
any other standard line-level source such as a tuner, DVD player or VCR.

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9. Remote control
The included system remote controls all of the EINSTEIN integrated’s functions. The remote is arrayed in
three sections. None of the buttons in the upper section are relevant to The Absolute Tune. The middle sec-
tion sports the buttons for volume control, the lower section contains the keys for direct input selection.
10. Fuses
A blown fuse could indicate internal problems. Should the integrated amplifier refuse to operate after a
blown fuse has been replaced, contact your dealer/distributor or EINSTEIN. A proper replacement fuse
must be marked 1.25A fast-blow for 230/240V version and 2.5A fast-blow for 115/125V version. Be-
fore replacing a fuse, insure that the amplifier is disconnected from your wall outlet to avoid risk of electric
shock. Both mains fuses are housed adjacent to the IEC power inlet at the bottom of the machine.
11. Valves
The Absolute Tune uses E88CC/6922 tubes with a life expectancy of about 2000 hours. To assure opti-
mum 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.
12. Service
Should you encounter any problems, please contact your dealer or EINSTEIN.
13. Cleaning
Use a soft cloth and glass cleaner to polish the chrome and stainless steel parts.
14. Performance Tips
You may enjoy improved performance if you pay attention to the following: Correct AC power phase; high-
quality low-impedance interconnects between preamp and amp; proper AC mains filtration or conditioning;
suitable performance power cord; resonance control by way of a well-engineered equipment support;
proper system grounding via a single earth ground; high-quality loudspeaker cables.

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15. Warranty
EINSTEIN The Absolute Tune carries a 3-year parts & labor non-transferable warranty (6 months for tubes)
if the following conditions are met: We have received your warranty registration card within 14 days of
purchase (validated by stamp or signature of an authorized dealer) as accompanied by a copy of your
sales receipt; no unauthorized modifications or service have been performed. Service appointments during
the warranty period must be dispatched in their original packing materials. Should your integrated ampli-
fier be returned to EINSTEIN Audio Components GmbH for service (or an authorized service center), the
remainder of the warranty period remains intact. Our Service Check in Bochum includes the replacement
of the four input tubes; a complete bench test with printed-out check list; 12-hour non-stop operation; and
a subsequent listening test.
16. Technical Specifications
•S/N ratio: > 96dB
•THD @ 1kHz: < 0.02%
•Power output: 50 watts/8 ohms (80 watts/4 ohms)
•Damping factor: > 250
•Weight: 39.7 lbs
•Dimensions: 16.9“ x 15.4“ x 6.9“ (W x D x H)
17. Final test prior to shipping
•Visual inspection O.K. Tester
•Electric test O.K. Tester
•Listening test O.K. Tester
•Packing/contents O.K. Tester