Primare A10 User manual

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i
Primare A10 Integrated Amplifier User Guide

>Preface
ii
COPYRIGHT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Copyright © 2000 Primare Systems AB. All rights reserved.
Primare Systems AB
Idavägen 5
SE-352 46 Växjö
Sweden
The information in this guide is believed to be correct as of the date of
publication. However, our policy is one of continuous development and so the
information is subject to change without notice, and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Primare Systems AB.
Primare is a trademark of Primare Systems AB. All other product names are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
FCC Warning: This equipment generates and can radiate radio frequency
energy and if not installed and used correctly in accordance with our
instructions may cause interference to radio communications or radio and
television reception. It has been type-tested and complies with the limits set out
in Subpart J, Part 15 of FCC rules for a Class B computing device. These limits
are intended to provide reasonable protection against such interference in
home installations.
EEC: This product has been designed and type-tested to comply with the limits
set out in EN55013 and EN55020.
This guide was produced by Human-Computer Interface Ltd,
http://www.interface.co.uk

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Contents
Introduction
WELCOME TO THE A10 AMPLIFIER................ (1
USING THE A10 WITH OTHER PRIMARE
PRODUCTS................................................................ (2
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION............................. (2
Using the A10 Integrated Amplifier
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS.................................. (3
FRONT PANEL DISPLAY......................................... (4
SWITCHING ON AND OFF................................ (4
SELECTING A SOURCE........................................ (5
CHANGING THE VOLUME.................................. (5
CHANGING THE BALANCE................................ (5
MAKING RECORDINGS........................................ (6
Connecting the A10 Integrated Amplifier
BACK PANEL CONNECTIONS........................... (7
OUTPUTS ................................................................... (8
INPUTS....................................................................... (8
TAPE CONNECTIONS .......................................... (8
Index

>Preface
iv

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Introduction
Welcome to the Primare A10 Integrated Amplifier! This chapter introduces you
to its key features, and explains how you can take advantage of its superb
sound as the key component in your hi-fi system.
WELCOME TO THE A10 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
The A10 is an integrated preamplifier and power amplifier with extraordinary
performance for its price.
High-performance power amplifier
The A10 incorporates a power amplifier providing 50 Watts per channel of
superb quality sound. An aluminium chassis gives excellent thermal dissipation
characteristics, ensuring that the A10 will remain cool even if you listen at high
volume levels.
Flexible inputs
The A10 preamplifier stage provides five inputs, to cater for a flexible range of
sources, and incorporates a full function tape monitor which allows you to
montitor the tape output while recording a source.
Modular construction
A switch on the rear panel allows you to separate the preamplifier and power
amplifier sections so they can be used as totally separate modules, using the
PRE OUT and MAIN IN sockets. This gives you the flexibility to integrate the
A10 with other equipment, such as a digital surround processor, as part of a
larger system.
Superb technical design
The A10 incorporates a classic circuit design based on J-FET input devices and
bipolar output devices, typical of far more expensive equipment, giving high
performance and excellent reliability.
Intuitive user interface
In keeping with the philosophy of the Primare range of systems, the A10 can
be controlled through a very simple and intuitive set of front panel controls.
Alternatively all the functions of the A10 can be controlled by the C30 Remote
Control, along with the other Primare components in your system.

>Introduction
2
USING THE A10 WITH OTHER PRIMARE PRODUCTS
Although the A10 is flexible enough to work with virtually any other equipment
you have in your system, it is ideal for use with the other products in the
Primare range, such as the Primare V20 DVD Player, Primare T20 FM Stereo
Tuner, or Primare D20 Integrated CD Player. A particular benefit of using the
A10 with other Primare sources is that you can control your entire system with
a single remote control, to give you a fully integrated system with the simplest
possible user interface.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Line inputs 330mV
Tape outputs 300mV
Output power per channel 2 x 50W/ 8Ω, 2 x 78W 4Ω
Peak current ±10A
Frequency response <10Hz – 80kHz, -3dB
THD 0.09%
Signal-to-noise, line -96dB
Output impedance <0.1Ω
Power consumption, stand-by <15W
Dimensions (WxDxH) 430 x 275 x 75mm
Weight 9kg

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Using the A10 Integrated Amplifier
This chapter explains how to operate the A10 Integrated Amplifier, using either
the front panel controls or the C30 Remote Control.
]A The STANDBY button switches the A10 to standby, or switches it on
from standby.
]B The MONITOR button switches the tape monitor on or off.
]C The input selector buttons select one of the five source inputs, or the tape
input.
]D The VOLUME control changes the volume.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
All the functions of the A10 Integrated Amplifier can be accessed using the five
front panel push buttons and volume control, and information about its
operation is displayed on the front panel display:
57
A
MONITOR
VOLUME
TUNER
AUX1
TAP E
AUX2
CD
AUX3
CD
P30 PROCESSOR
P30 PROCESSOR
STANDBY
PRIMARE
]B ]C ]D
]A

>Using the A10 Integrated Amplifier
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FRONT PANEL DISPLAY
The following illustration shows the information on the front panel display:
57
A
AUX2
]C
]A ]B
]A Volume setting.
]B Currently selected input.
]C Indicates that the tape monitor is active.
To dim the front panel display
• Press the DIM button on the remote control.
The display will dim to show just the currently selected source.
To restore the normal display
• Press the DIM button again.
Alternatively the normal display will be restored if you adjust any setting.
SWITCHING ON AND OFF
To switch on
• Use the switch under the left-hand edge of the front panel.
During normal operation you can leave the A10 switched on and in standby.
To switch to standby
• Press the STANDBY button on the front panel or the STBY button on the
remote control.
To switch on from standby
• Press the STANDBY button on the front panel.
Selecting any function with the remote control will also switch on the A10 from
standby.

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Using the A10 Integrated Amplifier
5
SELECTING A SOURCE
The A10 Integrated Amplifier provides a choice of six line inputs, labelled:
TUNER, TAPE, CD, AUX1, AUX2, and AUX3.
To select a source
• Press the button corresponding to the source you want to select until the
name of the source is displayed on the front panel display.
For example: 23 CD
• Alternatively, press the SEL Aor SEL Vbuttons on the C30 Remote
Control to step between sources.
CHANGING THE VOLUME
The A10 allows you to vary the volume from 0 (silence) to 79 (maximum
volume), where each step is equivalent to 0.5dB.
To change the volume
• Rotate the volume control on the front panel, or press the VOL Aor
VOL Vbuttons on the C30 Remote Control.
The current volume setting is shown on the front panel.
For example: 24 CD
CHANGING THE BALANCE
You can change the balance of the sound between the left and right channels
to shift the position of the stereo image.
To change the balance
• Press the MENU button on the C30 Remote Control.
The front panel display shows the current balance setting, where -6
corresponds to the leftmost position, 0 corresponds to centre, and 6
corresponds to the rightmost position.
For example: -2 CD
• Press the VOL Aand VOL Vbuttons on the remote control to adjust the
balance.
• Press the MENU button again to revert to the normal volume display.
Alternatively the normal display will revert automatically after four seconds.

>Using the A10 Integrated Amplifier
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MAKING RECORDINGS
The A10 Integrated Amplifier allows you to make a recording of any source to
the tape output. If your tape recorder provides a monitor output you can
compare the recording to the original source (A-B monitoring).
To make a recording
• Connect the TAPE OUT sockets to your recorder inputs.
• Select the source you want to record.
To monitor the recording
• Connect the tape recorder monitor output to the A10 TAPE IN sockets.
• Press the MONITOR button on the front panel to switch between the
monitor output and the original source.
When the monitor output is selected an indicator is shown on the front panel
display.
For example: 24
A
CD
The MONITOR button has no effect when the TAPE source is selected.

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Connecting the A10 Integrated Amplifier
This chapter explains how to connect the A10 to the other components in your
system, using the connections on the back panel.
]D Tape inputs.
]E Other line inputs.
]F Tape outputs.
TAPE
IN
MAIN
IN
MAIN IN
LEFT SPEAKER
– +
RIGHT SPEAKER
– +
PRE
OUT
AUX1
IN
AUX2
IN
AUX3
IN
CD
IN
TUNER
IN
TAPE
OUT
]G ]H
]F
]E
]D
]B ]C
]A
]A Left and right loudspeaker outputs.
]B Main power amplifier options.
]C Preamplifier outputs.
BACK PANEL CONNECTIONS
]G Power amplifier input selection switch.
]H Mains power input and fuse.

>Connecting the A10 Integrated Amplifier
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OUTPUTS
Loudspeaker outputs
Connect the left and right loudspeakers to the corresponding terminals. The
terminals can accept speaker cables terminated with 4mm banana plugs,
spade terminals, or bare wires. To connect bare wires unscrew the terminal,
pass the bare wire through the hole in the terminal bolt, and clamp the wire in
place by screwing the terminal back down.
Preamplifier outputs
The PRE OUT sockets provide a line-level output from the A10 preamplifier
stage which can be connected to another preamplifier, such as the Primare
P30 Processor. The level of this output is controlled by the volume control on
the A10.
INPUTS
Source inputs
Connect each source to the appropriate source input, connecting the right
channel to the red socket and the left channel to the white socket.
Note that in normal use the input selection switch should be in the right-hand
position, to link the output of the preamplifier stage to the input of the power
amplifier stage.
To connect an analogue turntable with a moving magnet or moving coil
cartridge you will need an additional phono preamplifier such as the Primare
R20. The output of the turntable is connected to the R20, and the output of the
R20 should be connected to a spare input on the A10, such as AUX1.
Main inputs
The MAIN IN sockets allow you to use the power amplifier stage of the A10
as a stand-alone power amplifier. In this case the input selection switch should
be in the MAIN IN position.
TAPE CONNECTIONS
The TAPE OUT sockets provide a fixed level copy of the currently selected
source, suitable for connecting to a tape recorder.
The TAPE IN socket is equivalent to the other line inputs, but provides an
additional monitor function to allow you to switch between the tape monitor
and the current source without affecting what you are recording, see
Making
recordings
, page 6.

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Index
B
back panel connections ............................ 7
balance, changing ................................... 5
C
connections ............................................. 7
tape ................................................... 8
F
front panel
controls .............................................. 3
dimming the display ............................ 4
display ............................................... 4
I
INPUT SELECTOR buttons ......................... 3
inputs...................................................... 8
main .................................................. 8
source ................................................ 8
M
MAIN IN switch ....................................... 8
MONITOR button .................................... 3
monitoring a recording ............................ 6
O
outputs .................................................... 8
loudspeakers ...................................... 8
preamplifier ........................................ 8
R
recording ................................................ 6
monitoring .......................................... 6
S
source, selecting ...................................... 5
STANDBY button ...................................... 3
switching on and off ................................ 4
switching on from standby ........................ 4
T
tape connections ...................................... 8
technical specification .............................. 2
V
volume, changing .................................... 5
VOLUME CONTROL ................................ 3

>Index
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