Einstein The Amp Ultimate User manual

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The Amp ultimate
Integrated Ciclotron Amplifier
Manual
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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Dear customer!
With the EINSTEIN The Amp ultimate stereo integrated amplifier, you have acquired
that rarest of Hifi components –one that conforms to the most stringent standards
of electrical design and mechanical integrity. To get the most from it, please take
a few leisurely moments and peruse the following instructions.
The Amp 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 the household can use
Extended market value to protect your investment
The EINSTEIN The Amp 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“. 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 de-
cision to incorporate the EINSTEIN The Amp 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 Amp.
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 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 100- 125V version)
When tube replacements are due, please contact your dealer or our fac-
tory.
02. What your shipping carton contains
1 x EINSTEIN The Amp ultimate integrated amplifier inside a wooden crate
1 x EINSTEIN The Remote II handcrafted remote control
1 x EINSTEIN power cord custom made
2 x gloves for handling
1 x owner’s manual
03. Design overview
The Amp circuitry closely mirrors that of our individual preamplifier The Preamp and
the The Silver Bullet OTL tube balanced power amp. In fact, without their prece-
dents, the stereo integrated in its current iteration would have never seen the light
of day. The OTL amp and celebrated The Preamp valved linestage paved the
way for the unique and proprietary realization of circuit architecture of The Amp.
To not bore you with tech talk, let’s put it this way:
The preamp section of The Amp borrows breakthrough inventions from The Pre-
amp; the output stage of The Amp is essentially the The Silver Bullet, albeit realized
with transistors rather than valves.
04. Setup
Insure adequate ventilation and a solid hard foundation. Do not place The Amp
atop other components 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.
05. AC mains connection
The IEC power inlet and mains fuse holder are located on the back panel. Discon-
nect 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.
06. 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 Amp and your main source.

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Interconnects
Use any high-quality RCA-terminated cable. Insure good non-oxidized contacts.
Naturally, we recommend our own NF cable EINSTEIN The Flash which has been
designed for optimum synergy. But that’s just our opinion. Still, allow us one piece
of advice: Use The Amp to enjoy music, not to test cables.
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. (Cables of insufficient conductor mass can stran-
gulate an amplifier’s current delivery.) The EINSTEIN The Thunder loudspeaker ca-
ble is a perfect partner for The Amp.
07. 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 in-
ternal damage. Optimal operation conditions and stabilized sonics for The Amp
are reached within a half hour of turn-on.
08. Controls on the front
All functions of The Amp are controlled by these two knobs. The right one controls
volume, the left one selects inputs. Please remember that The Amp does not in-
clude a phono stage. To connect 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.
The Amp offers a built in mains supply for the EINSTEIN Little Big Phono moving coil
phono stage. The Little Big Phono can be purchased without mains supply. As a
special treat we offer an additional discount if it is purchased together with The
Amp. To connect the phonostage to the mains supply of the The Amp please use
the two 6-pin male socket +- 18 Volt outputs on the back panel.
09. Remote control
The supplied EINSTEIN The Remote II remote control contains all functions relevant to
the operation of your integrated amplifier as input selection and volume control. To
change batteries please open the three screws on the back acrylic panel with the
provided tool. When you open the case just change the two AAA batteries. Please
make sure you are using high quality batteries.
10. Fuses
A blown fuse could indicate internal problems. Should the integrated amplifier re-
fuse 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 100V or 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.

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11. Valves
The Absolute Tune Limited Edition 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.
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: Cor-
rect AC power phase; high-quality low-impedance interconnects between pre-
amp and amp; proper AC mains filtration or conditioning; resonance control by
way of a well-engineered equipment support; proper system grounding via a sin-
gle earth ground; high-quality loudspeaker cables.
15. Warranty
EINSTEIN The Amp carries a 3-year parts & labor non-transferable warranty (6
months for tubes). For detailed warranty conditions please contact your dealer or
the distributor of your country. If you have any further questions please feel free to
contact [e-mail].
16. Technical Specifications The Amp ultimate
S/N ratio: > 97dB
THD @ 1kHz: < 0.016%
Power output: 90 watts/8 ohms (130 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
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 Amp Ultimate
Integrated Ciclotron Amplifier
We herewith confirm that this EINSTEIN
The Amp Ultimate integrated amplifier
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