Einstein The Phonoamp User manual

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The Phonoamp
Phono Preamplifier double mono
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 EINSTEIN customer,
With your purchase of the EINSTEIN phono amplifier The Phonoamp, you now own
an audio component of the highest mechanical and electrical qualities. In order
to fully appreciate the great benefits of this unit, we kindly ask you to carefully
read these instructions and manual.
The new EINSTEIN The Phonoamp is the ultimate answer of a superb phono am-
plifier in a discrete single transistor design. 48 single transistors are used in three
amplifier stages. Such an incredible effort is extremely rare in the audio industry,
but the superb technical specifications justify this commitment. Due to the me-
chanical novelty of two faraday cages for perfect shielding this phono amp is
dead quiet. No hiss, no noise which can damage the fragile signal the cartridge
delivers. There is no other manufacturer we know of who is as successful in a dis-
crete design. To achieve best sonic results The Phonoamp is specified for Moving
Coil Cartridges only. The perfect impedance load can be adjusted by custom
made RCA plugs in the rear panel of the phonostage. This way of adjustment
prevents the standard trouble caused by switches or else.
The sound is absolutely stable and in focus. A perfect three dimensional
soundstage with details you have never heard from your vinyl records. Even the
finest details will be transferred to your ears. The dynamics over the complete fre-
quency band are something very special - this phonoamp makes pure, delicate,
smooth, explosive and exciting music.
The EINSTEIN The Phonoamp phono amplifier is not a component, which sounds
nice, soft or bright. Our goal is to integrate a component into your existing audio
system, which minimizes its impact on the music signal. As a source component
responsible for amplifying a turntable’s signal, this phono amplifier is indeed a
special component. No world-class downstream component could ever correct
errors which occur at the source of the musical signal. Incorporating The
Poweramp as a source component for your audio system was the right choice.
We wish you many hours of happy listening with your EINSTEIN The Phonoamp
amplifier.
Regards from Bochum,
Volker Bohlmeier

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1. Safety information and precautions:
Do not manipulate the component in any way (loss of warranty, danger of
electric shock)
For electrical safety reasons never operate the phono amplifier without it be-
ing fully assembled
Protect your phono amplifier from moisture
Never disconnect the protective conductor
Exchange the safety fuse with one of the same value
2. Package contents
EINSTEIN The Phonoamp 1 Phonostage, 1 Powersupply
EINSTEIN custom made power cord
Power supply interconnect cable
Set of impedance load plugs
Gloves
Owner’s manual
3. Technical information
EINSTEIN’s The Phonoamp is a moving coil (MC) phono amplifier single ended
(RCA). A separate outboard power supply provides the necessary power to
the fully discrete designed circuit amplifier section. Every single fet transistor is
hand selected and matched. The high gain, high signal to noise ration design
of this phono amplifier allows the use of very low output moving coil cartridges.
High output cartridges may of course also be used with your phono amplifier
due to the huge headroom design.
The output stage is designed with low impedance and high power reserve so
long interconnects can be used without problem. The Phonoamp chassis is
also engineered to serve a purpose: the actual phonostages (one for each
channel) are located in two separate rectangular steel tubes which are float-
ing mounted in the aluminium chassis (Faraday cage within a Faraday cage).
Thus the phonostages are perfectly shielded and protected from any distortion
or outside interferences while resonances and microphonic effects are close
to zero. The design allows extremely short signal paths
4. Placement
Placing the phono amplifier as close as possible to the turntable results in short
signal cable length and therefore benefit the sound.
5. Power
The power socket is located at the rear panel of the external power supply.
Please make sure that the unit is powered off and not connected to the
power outlet prior to exchanging the fuse. Full mains voltage is at the safety
clip, EXTREME SHOCK HAZARD!
The on / off switch is located on the rear panel next to the mains socket. For
best sound we recommend to leave the phonoamp switched on (in case of
lengthy absence or for storage purposes, you may of course disconnect the
power from the unit).

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6. Connecting your phono amplifier
Prior to enjoying your new EINSTEIN component, please make sure that it is
properly connected to your source and amplifier. You must connect a ground
wire between the phono amplifier and your turntable. Connect the signal
leads from your tonearm with the proper loading and impedance via the sup-
plied termination pins in your choice of 100 Ohm, 300 Ohm, 600 Ohm or 1
kOhm. Leaving the input terminations open, the impedance is 2 kOhm. For
correct settings please refer to your cartridge owner’s manual or contact your
dealer / distributor or EINSTEIN directly.
7. Interconnects and cables
You may use any high quality RCA or balanced XLR interconnects. Please
make sure that the connectors are free of oxidation and offer a solid contact
point. We recommend our own interconnects as they have been optimized to
work with our components (please use our pre-amplifier to listen to music and
not as a testing tool for signal cables).
8. Safety fuse
A blown fuse indicates a fault in your phono amplifier or mains power. Should
your unit not power on after you have replaced the blown fuse please con-
tact your dealer / distributor or EINSTEIN directly. The fuse is of following value:
0.5A slow-blow for 220 - 240V version and 1A slow-blow for 100 - 125V version.
Prior to replacing the fuse, you must disconnect the amplifier from the power
line due to shock hazard. Please make sure that the power cord is discon-
nected from the power outlet(s). The fuse is located right next to the power
socket on the power supply.
9. Service
If you encounter any problems with your phono amplifier please contact your
local dealer / distributor or EINSTEIN directly.
10. Maintenance & care of your phono amplifier
Cleaning of all chrome and stainless steel surfaces should only be done with a
damp cloth and if necessary a small amount of Windex or similar window
cleaner.
11. Tips to improve and tweak the sound quality
You can improve the sound quality of the unit by paying attention to these
suggestions:
Proper phase
High quality, preferably low impedance interconnects
Connect the phono amplifier to a power conditioner
High quality rack and support
Proper ground in your system
Distance external power supply to phono amplifier as big as possible
Distance phono amplifier to any other components with powerful trans-
formers as far as possible

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12. Warranty
Your EINSTEIN The Phonoamp phono amplifier comes with a 3-year warranty if
the following conditions are met:
Return of the supplied warranty card and appropriate customer infor-
mation stamped by your dealer within 30 days of purchase
No modifications of any kind were made to the unit
Return for service or repair in only the supplied original packaging
The warranty is not transferable.
13. Technical specification EINSTEIN The Phonoamp
Amplification 68 db
Signal to noise ratio better than 83 dB 1mV/1KHz
Channel Balance better/similar +- 0.3 (without any feedback)
Headroom 11db
Distortion less than 0.04 % at 1mV 1 KHz(without any feedback)
RIAA equalization passive
Input impedance variable, 2kOhm without any impedance load plugs
Output impedance 60 Ohm
Output voltage 9 V (RMS) max
Input Voltage 3.5 mV at 1kHz max
Weight Phonostage 6 kg (single), 10kg (double)
Power supply 5.5kg (single), 7kg (double)
Dimensions Phonostage215x360x150mm,
Powersupply 215x360x150mm
14. Final testing prior to shipment
Visual inspection OK Control Person
Electrical check OK Control Person
Listening check OK Control Person
Packing & final check OK Control Person
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 Phonoamp
Double Mono Phonopreamplifier
We herewith confirm that this EINSTEIN
The Phonoamp phonopreamplifier
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