Plinius Jarrah User manual

Phono Preamplifier

CONGRATULATIONS

CONGRATULATIONSCONGRATULATIONS

CONGRATULATIONS on your decision to become the proud owner of this

Plinius Jarrah Phono Preamplifier.

This manual has been prepared to help you understand the operation of your amplifier, and to provide

information about its design and the variety of ways it may be used.

We have designed and manufactured this preamplifier to reproduce faithfully and accurately, your

favourite music. With a little care and a full understanding of the operating recommendations in this

manual, your Plinius Jarrah Phono Preamplifier will provide years of high-quality, trouble-free

performance.

Serial Number: ..................................................................................

Date of Manufacture: ..................................................................................

Final Test Certified By: ..................................................................................

IMPORTANT: PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS MANUAL

THOROUGHLY BEFORE USING YOUR PREAMPLIFIER.

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................Page 3

Precautions ...................................................................................................................................Page 5

Installation and Operation ..............................................................................................................Page 6

Input/Output Connection ................................................................................................................Page 7

Jarrah Features ..............................................................................................................................Page 9

Specifications .............................................................................................................................Page 11

Index ...........................................................................................................................................Page 12

Contact Details ............................................................................................................................Page 13

Please take special note of the following precautions before operating your new preamplifier:

•This preamplifier operates at hazardous voltage levels. We recommend that any work requiring

removal of the lid be referred to a suitably qualified and experienced service technician.

•DO NOT attempt to connect any input of this preamplifier to its own outputs.

•DO NOT earth any output terminal or connect any of these terminals together without following the

instructions in this manual or seeking qualified assistance.

•DO NOT place this preamplifier in any position where liquids or any foreign material may

accidentally enter it.

•DO NOT connect any voltage source, short circuit, earth/ground or appliance (other than suitable

audio preamplifiers) to the phono preamplifier output terminals.

•DO NOT connect any voltage source, short circuit, earth/ground or appliance (other than suitable

phono turntable) to the phono preamplifier input terminals.

PLACEMENT AND VENTILATION

Ventilation through and around your Plinius Jarrah Phono Preamplifier should be kept unimpeded, so

ensure that the heat vents (slots in the lid) are not covered or restricted in any way. Also refrain from

placing the Plinius Jarrah on top of other electronic equipment to avoid RF interference being introduced

to the highly sensitive phono stage circuitry.

The Plinius Jarrah design incorporates a very high level of mechanical de-coupling of the input and

output. However, it can still be influenced by acoustical feedback in the operating environment. The use

of acoustic cones or a suitably spiked preamplifier stand or table, may further enhance the performance of

this preamplifier. Consult your PLINIUS

PLINIUSPLINIUS

PLINIUS dealer for further advice if required.

MAINS VOLTAGE CONNECTION

Firstly, check that the mains supply voltage printed on the rear of this preamplifier power supply is similar

to the mains supply voltage in your area. If in doubt, please consult your PLINIUS

PLINIUSPLINIUS

PLINIUS dealer.

Mains supply power connection is via the supplied plug-in lead. A standard IEC socket connects the

mains power at the preamplifier end, while a local mains plug is required at the wall end.

The wiring code used inside all Plinius product is:

Gree

GreeGree

Green to Earth/Ground

n to Earth/Groundn to Earth/Ground

n to Earth/Ground

Blue to Neutral

Blue to NeutralBlue to Neutral

Blue to Neutral

Brown to Phase/Live

Brown to Phase/LiveBrown to Phase/Live

Brown to Phase/Live

Should a ‘local’ plug need fitting to the wall end of the lead, ensure that a suitably qualified service

technician wires the plug correctly.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT POWER UP YOUR PREAMPLIFIER UNTIL YOU

HAVE CONNECTED YOUR INPUT/OUTPUTS CORRECTLY

FOR YOUR SYSTEM, (AS EXPLAINED IN THE NEXT

SECTION).

It is important that you connect your preamplifier (outputs) and phono turntable (inputs) to your Plinius

Jarrah Phono Preamplifier correctly to ensure the preamplifier is not damaged, and sounds its best within

your system.

Connect your phono turntable to the inputs on the back of the Plinius Jarrah. Make sure you connect the

red coded cable to the red RIGHT RCA input, and the black (or white) cable to the black LEFT RCA input.

Also, make sure all the RCA connectors are a snug fit and are inserted all the way in.

Now connect your preamplifier interconnects to the outputs on the Plinius Jarrah, again ensuring you have

left and right channels connected in phase. Note that the output of the Jarrah Phono Preamplifier is at

‘line level’ or the same as that of normal CD players, tuners etc. DO NOT connect the output from your

Jarrah to a dedicated preamplifier phono stage as the gain of the Plinius Jarrah and Preamplifier will be

mismatched, which could damage the preamplifier phono stage. Use only normal line level preamplifier

inputs when connecting the Plinius Jarrah.

If your phono turntable has an earth cable, this can be connected to the gold earth post on the back of the

Plinius Jarrah.

Fit the power supply DIN socket to the back of the Plinius Jarrah. It only fits in one way, and ensure that it

is fitted securely.

TERMINATION QUALITY

Quality of the connections must be examined to ensure that high-performance, trouble-free operation is

enjoyed. Check that all interconnection cables are snug fitting and inserted all the way in.

PHASING (OR POLARITY)

It is important to achieve good stereo imaging in your listening room. By observing the wiring

instructions above, each preamplifier/power amplifier/loudspeaker combination should be in phase. If

you experience poor stereo image and/or a lack of bass, check that all interconnection cables and

loudspeaker wires have been connected correctly. We recommend that you use one of the easily

obtainable ‘test discs’ to help you ensure both phasing and channel orientation are correct. If in doubt,

consult your PLINIUS

PLINIUSPLINIUS

PLINIUS dealer for advice.

To achieve a sound performance that is correctly aligned to your room, make sure all of the leads carrying

signals for the RIGHT channel loudspeaker are connected to the RIGHT input/outputs on your power

amplifier/preamplifier/CD player etc. Signals for the LEFT channel should be wired in a similar fashion.

CONNECTING THE MAINS SUPPLY

Now that your Plinius Jarrah Phono Preamplifier is configured to your system correctly, the mains cable

can be plugged into the IEC socket on the back of the power supply pack. Re-check all interconnection

cables are fitted correctly. Flick the wall switch on. The front LED should light and the Plinius Jarrah is

ready to use.

WARM-UP PERIOD

You will find that the Plinius Jarrah will become noticeably ‘warmer’ in sound after being on for a period of

time. We usually recommend waiting at least 24 hours before expecting the best quality of sound

reproduction from your preamplifier. Also, as the Plinius Jarrah uses very little power while on, we

suggest leaving the unit turned on so that it will always be at it’s sonic best.

PHONO CARTRIDGE LOADING ADJUSTMENT

The phono cartridge load can be adjusted to suit your particular phono cartridge, using two pairs of

internal blue mini-switches.

The Jarrah mini-switches are factory set to a 47kΩload. Also, switch 1 is set in the on position. This is a

220pF capacitive setting and is usually required for RF suppression. It is not recommended that you turn

switch 1 off.

Disconnect the lead from the IEC socket on your Plinius Jarrah. Carefully remove the lid by undoing the

six cap screws. Locate the blue mini-switch banks to the rear of the circuit board. Adjust the settings of

the five individual switches (remember to do both channels) to give a loading required with reference to

the table below.

LOAD

REQUIRED

SWITCH NUMBER AND SETTING

1 2 3 4 5 6

LOAD

REQUIRED

SWITCH NUMBER AND SETTING

1 2 3 4 5 6

7.4ΩON ON ON ON ON ON 29ΩON ON ON ON ON

7.5ΩON ON ON ON ON 30ΩON ON ON ON

7.6ΩON ON ON ON ON 31ΩON ON ON ON

7.7ΩON ON ON ON 32ΩON ON ON

8.0ΩON ON ON ON ON 41ΩON ON ON ON

8.1ΩON ON ON ON 43ΩON ON ON

8.2ΩON ON ON ON 45ΩON ON ON

8.3ΩON ON ON 47ΩON ON

8.8ΩON ON ON ON ON 76ΩON ON ON ON

8.9ΩON ON ON ON 82ΩON ON ON

9.0ΩON ON ON ON 90ΩON ON ON

9.1ΩON ON ON 100ΩON ON

9.7ΩON ON ON ON 320ΩON ON ON

9.8ΩON ON ON 470ΩON ON

9.9ΩON ON ON 1kΩON ON

10.0ΩON ON 47kΩON

Now reassemble your Plinius Jarrah.

PHONO GAIN ADJUSTMENT

The phono stage can also be set to high or low gain to suit your phono turntable specifications (high gain

is the factory setting).

Disconnect the lead from the IEC socket on your Plinius Jarrah. Carefully remove the lid by undoing the

six cap screws. Locate the small black phono jumpers to the centre-front of the circuit board. The gain

can now be adjusted noting that high gain (factory setting) is set with jumpers to the front position, and

low gain is set with the jumpers towards the rear of the preamplifier. Now reassemble your Plinius Jarrah.

MAINS/LINE FUSE

A Mains/Line fuse is fitted within the IEC socket on the rear of the power supply pack. A small drawer at

the bottom of this socket may be removed (after the IEC plug is removed) by levering it out with a flat

blade screwdriver. The fuse fitted should be rated at no greater than 0.5 amp normal blow.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT FIT A FUSE WITH A HIGHER RATING.

In the unusual event that this fuse should blow, you must first establish the cause of this failure (such as

power surges, damaged mains cable, etc.) before replacing the fuse with one of the same rating and type.

Should the phono preamplifier continue to demonstrate mains fuse failure, contact your PLINIUS

PLINIUSPLINIUS

PLINIUS dealer.

CHANGING THE MAINS/LINE VOLTAGE CONFIGURATION

Should your mains supply voltage vary from the voltage your Plinius Jarrah was supplied configured to, a

suitably qualified service technician may alter it.

The two options are:

110

110110

110V - 120V

V - 120VV - 120V

V - 120V (USA/Japanese Markets)

220V - 240V

220V - 240V220V - 240V

220V - 240V (European/Pacific Rim Markets)

Disconnect the lead from the IEC socket on your Plinius Jarrah power supply. Place the power supply on

its feet with the Plinius label to the top. On the rear of the power supply you will see a drawer for the fuse

that has a 230V/115V label printed on it. The voltage label that is the correct way up (nearest the top of

the power supply) is the voltage at which the power supply is currently set to. Carefully pry the fuse

drawer out and turn around before refitting. Make sure that the voltage you require is printed towards the

top of the drawer as viewed when the power supply is on its feet.

IMPORTANT: DOUBLE CHECK THE FUSE POSITION BEFORE REFITTING

THE FUSE CARTRIDGE.

FREQUENCY

REQUENCYREQUENCY

REQUENCY R

RESPONSE

ESPONSEESPONSE

ESPONSE:

:::Phono RIAA network 20Hz to 20kHz ±0.2dB.

DISTORTION

ISTORTIONISTORTION

ISTORTION:Typically <0.05% THD at input level.

HUM

UMUM

UM & N

& N& N

& NOISE

OISEOISE

OISE:

:::-70dB, A weighted (input loaded).

IIINPUT

NPUTNPUT

NPUT S

SENSITIVITY

ENSITIVITYENSITIVITY

ENSITIVITY:

:::800µV nominal.

IIINPUT

NPUTNPUT

NPUT I

IIIMPEDANCE

MPEDANCEMPEDANCE

MPEDANCE:

: User selectable.

RATED

ATEDATED

ATED O

OUTPUT

UTPUTUTPUT

UTPUT L

LEVEL

EVELEVEL

EVEL:

: 500mV RMS into 10kΩor higher.

HEIGHT

EIGHTEIGHT

EIGHT:

: 55mm (2 1/4")

WIDTH

IDTHIDTH

IDTH:

: 150mm (6")

DEPTH

EPTHEPTH

EPTH:

: 300mm (11 3/4")

WEIGHT

EIGHTEIGHT

EIGHT:

: 1.5kg (3 1/3lbs)

Date of Manufacture .......................................................................................................................Page 3

IEC Power Connector...............................................................................................................Pages 8,10

Input Terminals ..............................................................................................................................Page 7

Mains/Line Fuse...........................................................................................................................Page 10

Mains/Line Voltage.......................................................................................................................Page 10

Mains Power Supply Pack .......................................................................................................Pages 8,10

Mains Supply Connection........................................................................................................ Pages 8,10

Mains Voltage Configuration.........................................................................................................Page 10

Operating Temperature ...................................................................................................................Page 5

Output Terminals............................................................................................................................Page 7

Phasing..........................................................................................................................................Page 7

Phono Cartridge Load Adjustment...................................................................................................Page 9

Phono Gain Adjustment ..................................................................................................................Page 9

Safety Precautions..........................................................................................................................Page 5

Serial Number................................................................................................................................Page 3

Terminations ..................................................................................................................................Page 7

Ventilation......................................................................................................................................Page 5

Warm-Up Period ............................................................................................................................Page 8