parks audio Puffin User manual

PuYn Quick Start
 Connect the music source, like a turntable or CD player, to the PuYn's input.
 Then connect the PuYn's output to your main stereo device, like an integrated
amp or acve speakers.
 The PuYn has three controls: the Standby buon, the Knob, and the Select
(arrow) buon. The Standby turns the PuYn on and oV. The Knob quickly rotates
through sengs. The Select buon chooses the funcon or seng.
 With your main system volume adjusted low, turn on the PuYn (allow 4 to 5 sec-
onds aer inially plugging in the DC adapter). If using a turntable, you can start
playing music as the default gain seng is for typical vinyl usage.
 If you are using a CD player or other line output music device, scroll to the 'Set?'
control on the PuYn and adjust to the 'CD' preset for the correct ampli®caon.
Otherwise you will have a very loud output, as the PuYn ampli®es an otherwise
already large audio signal.
 Always have your system's master volume control adjusted low when changing
the 'Gain' seng or loading presets on the PuYn to prevent loud surprises. The
Standby buon is also a great emergency mute buon in an unexpected "loud
music" event.
 Other than some care with gain changes, just have fun with the PuYn. ou can't
break anything and can always revert to a default preset with the 'Set?' funcon.
So feel free to experiment.

1. Volume
Typically the Volume will be le at 100% and a system master volume control will be
used elsewhere. But it can be used as a cue mute when changing records and cleaning
the stylus. Select and rotate the knob CW (clockwise) one click for Mute. Rotang CCW
(counterclockwise) will aenuate the signal and lets the PuYn be used with systems
lacking a volume control. Another method is keeping the Volume set to 50%, which
then permits fast adjustment of volume depending on mood or source material.
CCW: Muted,1%,2%,4%,7%,10%,14%,20%,25%,32%,40%,50%,60%,70%,85%,100%,Muted :CW
2. Tilt
Tilt may be the most useful of the four tone controls. Like a seesaw, it pivots the fre-
quency response at 900Hz, the fulcrum frequency. This quickly adjusts toward either a
warmer or brighter sound character. Go higher for more detail or lower for more
warmth. When switching cartridges on your turntable or even changing records, the
Tilt may be the easiest way to get the 'right' sound to your ear.
CCW [warmer]: -6,-5,-4,-3,-2,-1,+0,+1,+2,+3,+4,+5,+6 :[brighter] CW
3. Bass
This is a bass shelving control with a corner frequency of 300Hz. It adjusts in 1dB steps.
CCW [less bass]: -6,-5,-4,-3,-2,-1,+0,+1,+2,+3,+4,+5,+6 :[more bass] CW

4. Treble
This is a treble shelving control with a corner frequency of 3kHz. It adjusts in 1dB steps.
CCW [less treble]: -6,-5,-4,-3,-2,-1,+0,+1,+2,+3,+4,+5,+6 :[more treble] CW
5. Air
Air is a higher frequency treble control (above 8kHz) that is intended as a cartridge
loading adjustment. This will help extend frequency response of high inductance mov-
ing magnet cartridges, but can also tame other overly bright cartridges or other
sources. It is a substute for capacive loading techniques.
CCW [less air]: -6,-5,-4,-3,-2,-1,+0,+1,+2,+3,+4,+5,+6 :[more air] CW
6. Hi (High Frequency Filter)
This is a 4th order Buerworth ®lter to aenuate higher frequencies. It is extremely
¯exible at reducing surface noise on old LPs and 78s. It is also useful at adjusng the
frequency response combined with the previous tone controls, Treble and Air. Adjust
by taste and give your ears a break from unnecessary fague. You can even recreate
the moving magnet resonance happening between 9kHz to 11kHz which can add life to
the sound. To experiment, try Air +3 and Hi 11kHz with any type of input—even mov-
ing coils or CDs.
CCW: 5kHz,7kHz,8kHz,9kHz,10kHz,11kHz,12kHz,13kHz,14kHz,15kHz,20kHz,30kHz,48kHz :CW

7. Lo (Low Frequency Filter)
This is a 4th order Buerworth ®lter to aenuate lower frequencies. While mainly it is
used to eliminate vinyl rumble and tonearm resonances, it can be adjusted higher for
use with old LPs and 78s. It can also be adjusted to 68Hz or higher to reduce mains
hum which may be present on many older recordings.
CCW: 5Hz,10Hz,15Hz,20Hz,30Hz,45Hz,68Hz,100Hz,150Hz,220Hz :CW
8. Mode
There is one stereo mode and three monaural modes. The monaural modes are either:
Mono, Le, or Right. Mono sums both the le and right channels. This can lower noise
by summing out of phase pops and clicks. Somemes previous groove damage to one
channel or the other means that using the Le or Right modes may provide superior
sound. You can quickly rotate through these three sengs to determine the best
seng, parcularly for a noisy recording. You can also use Le and Right modes for a
fresh album experience with a stereo recording. You'll hear things otherwise hidden in
a stereo mix. Classic stereo recordings like Beatles and Hendrix are recommended.
CCW: Stereo,Mono,Le,Right :CW (360 mode)
9. TF (Transfer Funcons)
Use nonlinear transfer funcons of classic analog sounds. 'Tube' has very dominant
2nd harmonic distoron like a 300B triode vacuum tube. 'Tape' has a dominant 3rd
harmonic distoron like classic Amperex tape machines. Amazingly, the high levels of
distoron may not be noceable to many listeners. A key bene®t of the 'Tape' seng
is addional clipping headroom.
CCW: OFF,Tube 2H,Tape 3H,2H & 3H :CW

10. Gain
Get your sound source well matched to your stereo system with the PuYn’s wide
range of gain sengs: from -4dB for high level inputs (CDs, DACs) to 72dB gain (low
output moving coils). 40dB is a typical gain seng for most phono setups. Remember
to always turn down the main system volume when adjusng the gain to prevent loud
surprises.
When switching between gain sengs there's a half second delay, in which the PuYn
mutes the output and allows seling to occur to prevent any thumps. Normally it is
suggested to use the presets in 'Set?': MM, MC, CD, or PC, and then adjust the 'Gain'
from there.
CCW: -4dB,0dB,4dB,8dB,12dB,16dB,20dB,24dB,28dB,32dB,
36dB,40dB,44dB,48dB,52dB,56dB,60dB,64dB,68dB,72dB :CW
11. Load
This is the PuYn's input impedance and will almost always be le at 47k. For moving
coil users, the 200 ohms seng will provide a very good load for a wide range of mov-
ing coils (though HOMCs should use 47k). 200 ohms can also be used to aenuate the
input when the -4dB gain seng has level clipping due to a source with non-standard
line levels (some DACs or proaudio devices). But it is suggested to lower the output on
the source device if possible for best ®delity.
Select: 47k or 200 ohms

12. Balance
This provides balance control between the le and right channel in 2dB steps.
CCW: L15,L14,L13,L12,L11,L10,L09,L08,L07,L06,L05,L04,L03,L02,L01,+00,
R01,R02,R03,R04,R05,R06,R07,R08,R09,R10,R11,R12,R13,R14,R15 :CW
13. Fine Balance
Adjusts the le channel in +/- 0.3dB steps to match the right channel. This can be done
by monitoring the average signal levels. Using a mono record in Mode:Stereo you can
see the diVerence in levels at the le & right inputs (ADC) and then you can adjust the
Fine Balance to make the outputs (at the DAC) the same. Another balancing method
requires: a mono record, Mode:Mono, Phase:Mixed, and then the Fine Balance func-
on selected (blinking cursor). With the following sengs the channels are nulled and
you can adjust the Fine Balance for maximum cancellaon. Note: some high frequency
content will remain and is normal, due to slight phase diVerences in the higher fre-
quencies.
CCW: -L9,-L8,-L7,-L6,-L5,-L4,-L3,-L2,-L1,+00,+L1,+L2,+L3,+L4,+L5,+L6,+L7,+L8,+L9 :CW
14. Phase
This has three sengs: Normal, Invert, and Mixed. Normal has the phase the same
phase as the incoming signal while the Invert mode has the phase reversed. Mixed
phase has the two channels 180 degrees out of phase. It can be used to troubleshoot
speaker wiring, adjust the ®ne balance, or for an interesng stereo eVect.
CCW: Normal,Invert,Mixed :CW (360 mode)

15. EQ
These are diVerent record equalizaons that have been used over the last seventy
years for 78s and LPs. It will be turned oV for non-vinyl sources like CDs or digital mu-
sic. For most vinyl users, the 'RIAA LP' will be the only seng ever used. For enthusi-
asts with older LPs and 78s, the other EQ sengs will provide a proper equalizaon for
best sound from these records.
CCW: OFF,RIAA LP,Teldec LP,London LP,AES LP,NAB LP,Columbia LP,
IEC 78,CCIR 78,Columbia 78,500N-0 78,300N-0 78,250N-0 78 :CW
16. Set?
You can load four factory default presets and save four of your own. To save a User
seng, choose the User slot and press the Pun's Standby (on/oV) buon. Note that
the gain seng can be drascally changed (76dB dynamic range), so make sure you
have your system volume turned very low when loading presets. Aer a load or save,
this funcon will default to OFF again. Sengs are saved to Flash (non-volale) when
you turn the Pun oV, load a preset, or save a preset. You can cycle power (press
Standby buon twice) for a Flash save at anyme.
CCW: OFF,MM 36dB,MC 56dB,PC 16dB,CD -4dB,
User 01,User 02,User 03,User 04 :CW (360 mode)

Signal Levels
The Pun signal levels can be monitored between Set? and olume. These show a dB
full scale (dBFS) value, so +00dBFs is the max signal the Pun can handle at that stage
in the Pun, and this is normally a negave value. The more negave, the smaller it is.
The Pun routes the signal in the follow way:
Input -> Adjustable Analog Gain -> ADC (Analog-Digital Converter) ->
DSP (Digital Signal Processing) -> DAC (Digital-Analog Converter) -> Output
 If +00dBFS peak signals regularly occur at either the le or right ADC, lower the
PuYn's Gain.
 If +00dBFS peak signals regularly occur at either the le or right DAC, lower the
PuYn's Gain or Volume.
The Select buon can change between the Average and Peak signal mode. Peaks can
easily happen with vinyl pops, and these clip events don't harm the PuYn and are
handled gracefully and not set downstream. Any DAC clipping is handled in the DSP
¯oang point math and causes no issues other than small amounts of higher order
distoron. The main goal is to avoid distoron caused from constant clipping. For ref-
erence, -20dBFS to -10dBFS is a typical Average signal level range at the DAC.

Speci®caons
 Works with all record players and cartridges. Suitable gain sengs (-4dB to 72dB)
for moving coil carts (0.25mV), HOMCs (2mV), standard MM (4mV), all the way to
CDs and DACs (2V).
 Max input and output: 2Vrms
 Input impedance: 47k ohms (50pF) selectable to 200 ohms (1nF) for moving coils
 Output impedance: 1k loads and up, but will drive some sensive headphones
 Analog gain stage: NJM2122M
 ADC: Texas Instruments PCM1808
 DAC: Texas Instruments PCM5102A
 DSP: ARM Cortex M4 80MHz with 32-bit FPU
 Digital conversion done with 24 bit resoluon at 96kHz sampling rate