Perreaux 6160/P User manual

6160/P
6160/P6160/P
6160/P
160Wx6 Multi-Channel Power
Amplifier
Owners Manual

1
Perreaux Industries Limited makes no warranty for the use of its products, other than those
expressly contained in the warranty detailed herein. The Company assumes no responsibility for
any errors which may appear in this document, reserves the right to change products or
specifications detailed herein at any time without notice, and does not make any commitment to
update the information contained herein. No licenses to patents or other intellectual property of
Perreaux are granted by the Company in connection with the sale of Perreaux products, expressly or
by implication.
PERREAUX®is a registered trademark of Perreaux Industries Ltd.
Terms and product names in this document may be trademarks of others.

2
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3
i
iiiIntroducing the Perreaux
6160 Power Amplifier
Congratulations on your Perreaux 6160 purchase. To realise the full potential o
f
your unit you need to appreciate all aspects of its operation.
Before installing the 6160 into your system, read the entire manual carefully.
Endeavor to understand every detail by familiarising yourself with the controls
and features as you read. You will find it easier to install using the relevan
t
sections of this manual as a reference.
We have attempted to explain every feature and operational facet clearly an
d
concisely. Your Perreaux dealer will be happy to assist if you encounter an
y
unforeseen problems.
Read this manual, install your unit correctly and realise the sonic significance o
f
your investment in Perreaux.
Perreaux products are designed to provide the utmost in sonic realism an
d
electronic reliability with a functional yet elegant appearance that reflects th
e
care and craftsmanship applied during all stages of construction.
Features at a
Glance
àRugged build quality
àUltra-stiff power supply
àSoft-Start circuit
àHybrid Class A/AB output stages
àMOSFET output devices
àHighly powered
àClipping indicators
àBridgeable outputs
àRemote trigger input and output
àMultiple protection systems
àAdvanced PCB design and earthing techniques
àEarth isolation switch
To maintain the consistently high quality that you expect from us, and we expec
t
from ourselves, Perreaux products are essentially handcrafted.
We maintain the human-link throughout, from design and construction, throug
h
to the ultimate test, your music, your system, your ears.
Because we too listen to our products, we know that with your Perreaux you wil
l
discover many more of the musical secrets we strive to reveal.
Note: All references to the 6160 Classic series are also applicable to the 6160
P
P-Series product.
From all of us at Perreaux Industries Limited, thank you for choosing th
e
Perreaux Reference Series 6160 power amplifier.

4
ii
iiii
ii Important Safety Instructions
Note: All safety and operating instructions should be read carefully before th
e
6160 is used. Keep the Owners Manual in a safe place for futur
e
reference.
àThe 6160 should not be used near water, for example near a bathtub,
kitchen sink, in a wet basement, near a swimming pool, etc.
àThe 6160 should be rack mounted only in a heavy-duty rack or stand
that is recommended for audio equipment use.
àMounting to a wall or ceiling should be via a heavy-duty bracket or shelf
designed for audio equipment use.
àThe 6160 should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators,
stoves, or other appliances that produce excessive amounts of heat.
àAlways ensure the 6160 heat sinks have adequate ventilation enabling
air circulation both above and below.
àDO NOT place the 6160 directly onto carpeted surfaces.
àAvoid exposing the 6160 to extremely high or low temperatures.
àThe 6160 should be connected to a mains power supply only of the type
described in the operating instructions, or as marked on the rear of the
unit.
àDO NOT disconnect the mains earth from the system.
àThe mains power supply cord should be routed so that it is not likely to
be walked on or pinched by items placed on or against it.
àThe power cord of the 6160 should be unplugged from the mains outlet
when the unit is to be left unused for long periods or when attempting to
connect or disconnect cables and before cleaning your unit.
àCare should be taken so that objects and/or liquids do not accidentally
fall inside the 6160.
àPlease keep electrical equipment out of reach of children.
àPlease unplug sensitive electronic equipment during electrical storms.
àPlease replace any fuse with the value and type specified.
àAvoid operating the 6160 with the cover removed.
àDO NOT bypass any fuse.

5
àDO NOT attempt to repair the 6160. In the event of a problem, please
contact your Perreaux dealer.
àDO NOT operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.
Caution! The 6160 is an extremely high powered, convection cooled amplifier.
The finned outer heat sinks may become very hot when delivering high
volume levels – to avoid injury; care should be taken not to touch th
e
heat sinks during operation.

6
iii
iiiiii
iii Table of Contents
i
ii
iIntroducing the Perreaux 6160 Power Amplifier .................................................. 3
ii
iiii
ii Important Safety Instructions.................................................................................... 4
iii
iiiiii
iii Table of Contents......................................................................................................... 6
1
11
1Unpacking and Placement......................................................................................... 7
2
22
2Instant Install................................................................................................................9
3
33
3Front Panel Functions............................................................................................... 11
4
44
4Rear Panel Functions ................................................................................................ 13
5
55
5Bridging Channels..................................................................................................... 17
6
66
6Special Design Philosophies .................................................................................... 19
7
77
7Special Design Features............................................................................................ 21
8
88
8Maximising System Potential................................................................................... 23
9
99
9The Power MOSFET................................................................................................... 25
10
1010
10 Care and Maintainance ............................................................................................ 28
11
1111
11 Warranty Information and Obtaining Service ..................................................... 29
12
1212
12 Extended Warranty Registration Form ................................................................. 30
13
1313
13 Faultfinding Your System ......................................................................................... 31
14
1414
14 Specifications.............................................................................................................. 36
15
1515
15 Physical Dimensions.................................................................................................. 39
16
1616
16 Contact Details........................................................................................................... 40

7
1
11
1Unpacking and Placement
The 6160 is packaged for maximum protection. Please carefully read th
e
instructions below before proceeding to unpack the unit. Be extremely careful.
Unpacking
Procedure
à Inspect both ends of the cardboard box and open at the end without the
central staple by slitting the reinforced tape at either side.
à Fold back the flaps and tip the package on end and the inner box will
slide out.
à Lay the inner box down flat and upright, open it conventionally by
separating the top tray from the bottom.
à The product can now be removed from the bottom packaging. This will
be easier if you have someone to help you by holding the base of the
box.
à Alternately, the bottom tray and amplifier could be tipped upside down
and the bottom packaging removed. If opened in this manner, please
ensure that you turn the contents over again.
Note: Be very careful to secure the unit if you are planning to flip the packag
e
upside down.
à Remove the two white polystyrene protectors off either side of the
amplifier, leaving the black material covering.
à Pull back the material and remove the protective black tissue from the
front panel.
The amplifier is now unpacked and ready for further installation.
Note: Please retain all packaging material for future transport.
Box
Contents
1 x 6160 Power amplifier
1 x 6160 Product manual
1 x Detachable AC power cord
Placing
Your 6160
The 6160 should generally be placed close to your preamplifier, keeping th
e
interconnect cabling short.
We strongly recommend keeping the 6160 on it’s own separate shelf to allow fo
r
proper ventilation.

8
Ventilation
Requirements
The 6160 is a high-powered amplifier. For optimal performance, the unit MUS
T
receive adequate ventilation.
à Please do not install in a sealed cabinet.
à Please do not stack products directly on top of the unit.
à Please do not cover the product with a cloth or similar.
à Please do not mount the 6160 directly onto carpeted surfaces.
à As a “rule of thumb”, allow 80-100mm (3-4 inches) around all sides of
the product and mount the 6160 on a flat surface, ensuring that the unit
has adequate access to free flowing air.
à In the event that the 6160 is to be incorporated into custom cabinetry,
please refer to Chapter 15 “Physical Dimensions”.
Note: Please take all necessary steps to ensure that the unit receives adequat
e
ventilation

9
2
22
2Instant Install
If you are like us, the first thing you will want to do is to play your favourit
e
piece of music through your new 6160. The following instructions are written to
enable you to achieve this as quickly as possible. These are not comprehensiv
e
instructions, but are designed to enable you to play music now!
Note: Please take the time to read the 6160 manual thoroughly as i
t
incorporates many features, which will enhance its operation.
Placement
The 6160 is a high-power amplifier and best results will be achieved whe
n
placed on a solid surface with adequate ventilation. DO NOT place on
a
carpeted floor or cover the amplifier!
Turn off associated components
This minimises the potential to damage any other components when connectin
g
your 6160 into the system.
Connect preamplifier to 6160
Connect the output of your preamplifier/processor to the inputs at the rear of th
e
6160 and ensure that the three toggle switches are all set to NORMAL.
Note: Try to keep all interconnect cables as far from loudspeaker cables as
possible and well away from all AC mains leads.
Connect speaker cables to the left and right speaker terminals
We recommend using high quality connectors for your speaker cables, spad
e
lugs are the preferable option as they combine a larger surface area with th
e
possibility of a strong mechanical connection; however, high quality banan
a
terminals are also acceptable.
Note: Be careful to maintain channel integrity, i.e. left to left, right to right, and
phase integrity, positive (+) to positive (+), negative (-) to negative (-).
Switch on preamplifier
Turn on the preamplifier/processor and set the volume to the minimum level.
Select the respective input to which your source component is connected.
Switch on 6160
After checking the supply voltage compatibility with the voltage rating on th
e
6160 rear panel, insert the power cord-set supplied into the rear of the unit an
d
into the wall. Switch on the socket at the wall and power up the 6160 using th
e
switch on the rear panel.

10
Start your source component
Switch on the source component both at the wall and on its front panel. Ensur
e
you have some source material inserted and press play.
Increase the volume
Slowly increase the preamplifier/processor volume control to achieve
a
comfortable listening level.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Now that you have achieved your first objective, sit back, relax and please rea
d
the rest of the manual at your own pace, in your favourite armchair, whils
t
sipping a hot cup of coffee. You’ll find the whole experience much mor
e
pleasurable whilst listening to music.

11
3
33
3Front Panel Functions
Power Indicator
The indicator light is an LED that shows the status of your 6160 multi-channel
power amplifier.
Off
This indicates that the amplifier is not connected to the mains supply. This
could be due to the power switch being set to OFF or power not being supplie
d
to the mains power cord (e.g. unplugged, switched OFF at wall socket, trippe
d
circuit breaker, etc.).
Orange
If the LED is glowing orange, it indicates that the soft-start circuitry is enable
d
and the capacitors are being slowly charged. The soft-start circuitry prevents
large in-rush current upon power-up, which is detrimental to capacitor life an
d
can trip circuit breakers unnecessarily. The LED should only illuminate orang
e
for 1-2 seconds.
Red
When the LED is red, the amplifier is ON and ready to be used.
Green
Shows that the unit is in standby. This occurs when a master device is
connected via the remote trigger input at the rear of the unit and the master
device is OFF.

12
Clipping Indicators
Under the numbered indication on the front panel insert screen, each of the si
x
channels of the 6160 have an independent LED indicator which will illuminate i
f
the input signal is too high, potentially causing damaging distortion and is
a
warning to reduce volume to the indicated channel(s).
Caution! When an indicator illuminates, that channel is approaching clipping. This
should be avoided, as clipping is the main reason for damage to both
amplifiers and loudspeakers.

13
4
44
4Rear Panel Functions
Caution! Please make all changes at minimum volume setting. Only increase the
volume after the connections have been made.
AC Mains Input
An IEC-standard mains input is provided at the rear of the unit. The AC cord se
t
is removable, allowing you to upgrade to a cord set of your preference.
Caution! Prior to connection to the AC mains, please check the voltage label on
the rear panel to ensure that your unit conforms to the power supply in
your area. Never attempt to connect the unit to the incorrect voltage.
Severe damage can result from applying incorrect voltage to the unit.
Speaker Output Terminals
The 6160 is equipped with one pair of output terminals per channel. All
terminals are clearly marked and colour coded RED Positive (+) and BLAC
K
Negative (-). This polarity must be observed when connecting loudspeakers, i.e.
positive terminal of the 6160 to the positive terminal of the loudspeaker an
d
negative terminal of the 6160 to the negative terminal of the loudspeaker.
When bridging two channels, the positive loudspeaker terminals of the bridge
d
pair form the loudspeaker terminals for the bridged channel, i.e. the positive
terminal of the odd numbered channel becomes the POSITIVE terminal of the
bridged pair; the positive terminal of the second channel becomes the
NEGATIVE terminal of the bridged pair (refer labeling on Rear Panel).

14
Caution! Never connect the amplifier’s output terminals to any device other than a
loudspeaker.
Please do not short circuit the amplifier’s output terminals.
Never connect the output of one amplifier to the output terminals o
f
another amplifier.
For more information please refer to Chapter 8 “Maximising System Potential”.
Serial Number
The serial number is unique to your 6160. Please record this number and store i
t
in a safe place. For any service related enquiry, please be prepared to quote the
product serial number to Perreaux personnel or their service representative.
Input Voltage and Fuse Rating
Input Voltage
It is important that the 6160 be operated from the correct AC mains voltage.
This unit is factory set for the voltage applicable to the original country o
f
destination.
The 6160 will operate satisfactorily within a voltage variation of up to ±5% o
f
that voltage at which the unit has been set.
If you require the voltage setting to be altered, e.g. relocation to another area,
city or country, or extraordinarily high or low voltages, please contact you
r
Perreaux dealer. Qualified service personnel can only perform this modification.
Caution! Never attempt to connect the unit to the incorrect voltage. Severe
damage can result from applying incorrect voltage to the unit.
Fuse Rating
The fuse rating displayed here, refers to the rating of the mains inlet fuse.
For more information on fuse ratings, please refer to Chapter 14
“Specifications”.
Caution! Never replace the fuse with any other ratings other than the one
specified.
Earth Lift Switch
This switch enables the user to isolate the internal signal earth of the amplifie
r
from the mains earth and is useful if system hum is a problem. Setting this
switch DOWN connects the internal signal earth to mains earth and is the normal
position. Setting to UP disconnects the signal earth from the mains earth.
Note: Activating this switch has no effect on chassis earth, maintaining the
connection to mains earth.

15
Master Remote Trigger Input
The master trigger input is used to take the 6160 in and out of standby. The
master trigger input is designed to accept a 3.5mm diameter male plug. The
voltage rating is +5V to +12V DC level ON and 0V DC level OFF.
The plug must follow the specifications as per the following diagram:
Slave Remote Trigger Outputs
A parallel slave trigger output is provided to switch on or off any connecte
d
peripherals to the 6160. The slave trigger output is designed to accept a 3.5m
m
diameter male plug. The voltage rating is +12V DC level ON and 0V DC level
OFF.
The plug must follow the specifications as per the diagram below:
AC Mains Fuse
The 6160 is equipped with a user serviceable AC mains fuse. In the event o
f
fuse failure, always replace with the same type and value fuse. Remember, fuses
do not usually blow without a reason. Any doubts about fuse failure should be
conveyed directly to your Perreaux dealer.
For more information on fuse ratings, please refer to Chapter 14
“Specifications”.
Caution! This is the ONLY user accessible fuse.
Never replace the fuses with any other ratings other than the one
specified on the rear panel.
Always ensure your 6160 is disconnected from the mains supply before
attempting to change the mains fuse.
Power Switch
Set this switch right (I) to turn power ON. Mute relay circuitry is employed i
n
the 6160 so output is muted momentarily after the power switch is actuated. Se
t
the switch left (O) to turn the unit off, at which time the outputs will be
disconnected.

16
Input Sockets
Accepts a standard single-ended input (RCA) from a preamplifier/processor wit
h
single-ended outputs. These high quality gold plated sockets are highl
y
conductive, corrosion resistant, and provide less potential for corrosion induce
d
distortion. All inputs are clearly marked channel 1 through 6.
By associating the channel inputs as pairs, the 6160 can be configured as three
160W stereo power amplifiers. Care should be taken to maintain channel
integrity.
Refer to Chapter 14 “Specifications”, for detail on input sensitivity an
d
impedance.
Bridging Switch
The bridging switch allows the combining of two channels together to form
a
single higher output channel. When in NORMAL mode, the individual inputs
correspond directly to the respective loudspeaker outputs. When in BRIDGED
mode, the input channel is the odd numbered channel of the bridged pair, an
d
loudspeaker outputs correspond to the 'positive terminals' of the bridged pair.
Bridged channels offer considerably more power than two channels individually.
For more information on channel bridging, please refer to Chapter 5 “Bridgin
g
Channels”.
Caution! ALWAYS disconnect the unit from the mains power before an
y
modifications to inputs, outputs, and bridging switches are performed.

17
5
55
5Bridging Channels
Under typical conditions, for surround-sound or home theatre applications, ther
e
are two channels available for the front loudspeakers, a channel for the cente
r
loudspeaker, a pair of channels for the rear effects, and an extra channel to driv
e
either a subwoofer or a second center channel loudspeaker.
The Perreaux 6160 multi-channel amplifier can be thought of as three stereo
amplifiers built into a single box. Each pair of channels within the unit can b
e
bridged to form a single channel with approximately three times the potentia
l
output of a single channel. This facility allows this 6160 to be used in a numbe
r
of configurations. For example, bridging two of the 6160 pairs of amplifiers
will provide two channels of approximately 425W into 8Ω, suitable for the mai
n
loudspeakers of the system, and two channels of 160W into 8Ωfor a remote se
t
of loudspeakers.
Ultimately, two 6160 units both operating with all channels bridged, will offe
r
six channels of high power amplification (6 x 425W into 8Ω) for home theatr
e
applications.
To configure for bridged mode:
àEnsure the power switch on the 6160 is switched to the OFF position
and disconnect unit from mains supply. Allow a minute to discharge
stored potential.
àSelect the pair of channels to be bridged. For this example, we will use
channels 5&6. (Other pairs 1&2 and 3&4 are bridged similarly.)
àDisconnect ALL input and output cables (interconnect cables and
loudspeaker cables) from channels 5&6.
àSet the Bridging Switch to the bridged position. This converts internal
circuitry from normal to bridged mode.
àConnect the loudspeaker cable across the POSITIVE terminals of
channels 5&6 loudspeaker output terminals. When bridging two
channels, the positive loudspeaker terminals of the bridged pair form
the loudspeaker terminals for the bridged channel, i.e. the positive
output terminal of the odd numbered channel becomes the POSITIVE
terminal of the bridged pair; the positive terminal of the even numbered
channel becomes the NEGATIVE terminal of the bridged pair. To
explain further, connect the positive conductor to the positive terminal
of channel 5 and the negative conductor to the positive terminal of
channel 6, i.e. the two red terminals. DO NOT connect any cables to
the black terminals; channel 5 negative terminal (-) and channel 6
negative terminal (-).

18
Caution! When in bridged mode, loudspeaker cables must be connected directl
y
from the amplifier to the loudspeakers. DO NOT connect to a speake
r
switch, headphone adapter, or any other device that shares a common
ground between channels .
àConnect the signal lead from the desired source to the bridged input. In
this instance, the bridged input for channels 5&6 is input 5.
Note: Do not connect anything to input 6.
Input 1 and input 3 are to be used if bridging other channels.
àReconnect the mains power supply to your 6160, and turn the power
switch ON.
Note: When in bridged mode, we recommend that the loudspeakers have a
nominal impedance no less than 8Ω.

19
6
66
6Special Design Philosophies
Perreaux has been designing and manufacturing only the highest quality audio
componentry for more than a quarter of a century. Technology has continued to
evolve rapidly over that time and our knowledge and application of design,
materials and manufacturing techniques has advanced in tandem with this.
Today’s Perreaux range comes closer to fulfilling our shared vision than at an
y
other time in the past.
To follow is a discussion on some of Perreaux design philosophies that hav
e
been incorporated into the entire range.
Minimalist
Design
Leading British architect, John Pawson, writes:
“The Minimum can be defined as the perfection that an object
achieves when it is no longer possible to improve it by subtraction.
This is the quality that an object has when every component, every
detail, and every junction has been reduced or condensed to the
essentials. It is the result of the omission of the inessentials”.
Perreaux has historically embraced the minimalist ethic from an audio desig
n
perspective only. The concept of “less equating to more” has been at the hear
t
of all Perreaux audio designs for more than a quarter of a century.
Minimalist Electronics
We wish to maximise the quality of your listening pleasure by keeping th
e
componentry and signal path as uncluttered, short and clean possible. Al
l
components in the signal path, even those of the highest quality have an effec
t
on the signal, thereby altering the quality of the reproduction in some way. Ou
r
aim is to recreate in its entirety, the original performance by not adding o
r
subtracting anything, irrespective of the source.
Minimalist User Interface
We carefully study the user interface and par down the number of buttons an
d
associated clutter leaving just the essential and no more. How tempting it has
been over the years to loose sight of our core values as technology or trends
have made it possible. That is one of the reasons why our older products stil
l
have such a high resale value today. The user interface has and always wil
l
remain simple, free from adornments, clean and uncluttered.
Minimalist Aesthetics
Our products appeal to those who seek the ultimate in audio exclusivity, namel
y
the perfect blend of “form and function”.