Redgum RGi35 User manual

REDGUM Audio Pty Ltd
Factory 3, 25 Clarice Rd
Box Hill South, VIC, 3128, Australia
Ph: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
redgumaudio.com
ABN 45 093 132 515
REDGUM Audio
Integrated Amplifier
RGi35/35s
RGi60/60s
RGi120/120s
RGi120ENR
Owner’s manual

Contents
Why REDGUM?..............................................................................1
Unpacking..................................................................................2
Connecting your amplifier to other components.......................................3
Loudspeakers ..........................................................................................3
CD players, DVD players and other components .........................................4
External power amplifier...........................................................................5
Record out...............................................................................................5
How to use your REDGUM amplifier .....................................................6
Turning the amplifier on and off................................................................6
Input source selection ..............................................................................8
Volume and balance control......................................................................8
Achieving the best sound from your system ...........................................9
Where to put your speakers.......................................................................9
Your listening room................................................................................10
Other helpful hints .................................................................................11
Troubleshooting.........................................................................12
Specifications ............................................................................14
Warranty..................................................................................16
Warranty Registration...................................................................17

1
Why REDGUM?
The river red gum is Australia’s most widespread and recognised tree,
and it produces a wood that is truly unique. It yields the second hardest
timber in the world, and this strength saw its widespread use in the
railway lines that sprang up to connect the rapidly expanding colonies of
early 20th century Australia. Its resistance to termites also made it the
natural choice for building foundations, and to this day it continues to
support some of our most historic structures.
The river red gum can be found on most river banks in mainland
Australia, where its roots tap into water stored in the sands and its leaves
provide food for the indigenous wildlife. It presence is synonymous with
the Australian outback, at once a symbol of life sustaining water and the
struggle against a harsh climate. When conditions turn dry, the red gum
will adapt by shedding huge branches from its trunk in an effort to
conserve moisture. As anyone familiar with camping in the Australian
bush will tell you… don’t ever pitch your tent underneath a red gum tree!
A celebrated part of our culture, it has perhaps been made most famous
through the landscape paintings of Hans Heysen and Ronald Bull.
And while it was in wide use throughout Australia’s history, it was not
until the invention of the carbide saw that it was possible to cut the wood
accurately. And only then could the real beauty of this unique hardwood
be unveiled.
When polished it reveals a deep red lustre, highlighted by an intertwining
and tightly packed grain structure. Fine irregularities add to this beauty,
and it is highly sought after as a decorative wood for these unique
aesthetic properties. No two pieces of red gum will match exactly, and
this is as it should be. Like our products, each piece is outstanding and
unique.
Now that you’ve heard the story of the Australian river red gum, it’s time
to listen to your very own REDGUM. We’ve carefully selected and lovingly
crafted each piece before coupling it to some of the finest audio
engineering that money can buy. The results? Stunning! Trust us, you
won’t believe your ears.

2
Unpacking
Carefully unpack and inspect your new amplifier.
In the carton there should be:
?? an Owners Manual
?? the on/off key (for key switch versions only)
?? a REDGUM key ring
?? the amplifier itself.
If there is any damage to the amplifier, contact your dealer immediately.
It is a good idea to keep the shipping carton and packing materials, as
they can be used to protect your amplifier whenever you need to move it
again in the future.
If you need to repack your amplifier at a future time, replacement
packaging is available from REDGUM Audio at a nominal charge.
Contact REDGUM Audio Pty Ltd via the website.

3
Connecting your amplifier to other components
For safety reasons, always ensure that your amplifier and other
components are turned off and disconnected from mains power before
making any connections. Failure to do so may result in an electrical
shock and/or damage to your equipment.
Loudspeakers
The loudspeaker terminals at the rear of your amplifier are colour coded
red (+) and black (-).
Out
Switching
Remote
In
300W (max)
220-240V 50/60Hz
AC
Do Not Open
Speaker
Left
Speaker
+--+Right
Ne Pas Ouvrir
Risk of Electric Shock
Risque de Choc Electrique
AustraliaMade in
Follow the steps below to connect your amplifier to your speakers.
Step Action
1Connect the:
?? red (+) amplifier terminals to the respective red speaker (+)
terminals; and
?? black (-) amplifier terminals to the respective black (-
) speaker
terminals.
Make sure when doing this that you connect the left/right speakers
to the left /right channel outputs on the amplifier.
2Ensure that all connections points are clean, and that all connections
are secure. Check that wiring terminations look neat and that no
loose strands of wires are touching any other terminals. Failure to
make neat connections may result in poor sound, or amplifier
damage.
Note: We recommend using heavy gauge speaker cable for the best quality
sound (the heavier, the better and with a 2mm minimum).

4
CD players, DVD players and other components
There are five input connections at the rear of your amplifier labeled
DVD1, DVD2, VCR, CD and AV1. Each of these inputs has a left and right
channel jack, and these are colour coded white (left channel) and red
(right channel).
Record Out Preamp
AV1CDVCRDVD2DVD1
Out
R
L
REDGUM Integrated Amplifier
Connect the output jacks of each of your components to the
corresponding input jacks at the rear of the amplifier. When doing this, be
careful to ensure that the correct left/right channel connections have
been made. RCA connectors are colour coded to help you, so use the
white plugs for the left channel and the red plug for the right channel.
We recommend the use of high quality RCA interconnects wherever
possible, for the best quality sound.
The amplifier inputs are all the same sensitivity, and will accept a signal
from any line-level source (Mini Disc, DAT player, VCR, Tuner, etc.).
Therefore, any unused inputs may be used by other components. If you
wish to connect a Turntable, you will need to purchase a separate phono
pre-amplifier. REDGUM Audio produces a stand-alone phono pre-
amplifier. If in any doubt, consult your dealer.

5
External power amplifier
Your REDGUM amplifier comes with ‘Preamp Out’ sockets. This allows the
amplifier’s pre-amp stage to be connected to an external power amplifier
if desired. To do this, connect your REDGUM amplifier’s left/right Pre-
amp Out outputs to the corresponding left/right pre-amp inputs on the
external power amplifier using high quality RCA interconnects.
Record out
The Record Out/Tape Out sockets allow you to record a signal coming in
through any of the input sockets (for example, your CD player). This
signal is unprocessed, and fed directly from the input sockets to the
Record Out sockets to allow the best quality “straight through” recording.
Use RCA connectors to connect the Record Out sockets to your recording
device.

6
How to use your REDGUM amplifier
At the front of your amplifier is an on/off switch, and three rotary
controls. These are used to turn the amplifier on and off, select the input
source, and adjust the volume and balance.
Turning the amplifier on and off
Your amplifier utilises either a rocker/toggle switch or a key switch as the
on/off control.
For rocker/toggle switch versions, flick the switch on the front panel to
turn the amplifier on and off.
For key switch versions, insert the key provided into the lock. When the
key is vertical, the power is off. To turn on the power, rotate the key
clockwise a quarter turn.
You may remove the key when the amplifier is turned on. However, it is
recommended that you leave the key in place for convenience. If you do
remove it, you can safely turn the amplifier on and off by using the rocker
of the Circuit Breaker switch (marked Reset/Off) at the rear of the chassis.
In this case, rocking the switch to the ‘Reset’ position will turn the
amplifier on. Alternatively, you can safely turn the amplifier on and off
from the power point when the Circuit Breaker switch is in the ‘Reset’
position.
Note
Always make sure that the volume is turned down before turning on your
amplifier, to protect your equipment.

7
Why do I hear sounds when turning my amplifier on and off?
You can expect to hear sounds from your loudspeakers when turning your
REDGUM amplifier on and off. Usually, you will hear a slight ‘pop’ sound
when turning on, and a couple of low 'thunk' sounds when turning off.
These sounds are caused by electrical energy increasing and decreasing
within the amplifier. They are a sign that your amplifier is operating
normally, and are not a cause for concern.
More on 'thunks'
In greater detail, REDGUM amplifiers make audible 'thunks' when powered
up and down, but usually only the latter ones are noticeable to people. A
REDGUM amplifier has no need to mask this sound with a troublesome
relay in the speaker line. In fact, customers can be reassured that this
sound is a healthy sign that the amplifier is flexible enough to cope with
such rapid changes in the power supply.
What actually causes the 'thunks' is best explained for the process during
the powering down of a REDGUM integrated amplifier (35W, 60W or
120W), which has both channels run from a shared power supply. When
the system is turned off, the first and weaker 'thunk' comes from both
speakers together, as the power in the supply (which is common to both
channels) “settles” below the voltage required for stable operation. The
voltage available to the amplifier continues to fall till eventually the
output stage of one of the channels goes into conduction, thus grabbing
and dumping the remaining stored power into the speaker line of that
channel. This dumping causes the remaining supply of power to collapse,
causing the third and loudest 'thunk', but only through the channel where
it was dumped.
As a result, the second channel is left with virtually no power to access
from the shared supply. Since the separate output stages of the channels
have reached their critical cut-off voltages sequentially, the second
channel is deprived of the power required to produce a sound of the same
proportions as the loud 'thunk' from the first channel. Because of
component tolerances, the final 'thunk' sound is usually heard from the
same channel.
This same process occurs with the 170W and 300W monoblock REDGUM
amplifiers, but with both channels producing their final ‘thunks’, each in
their own time. Each channel has its own power supply, so the fall in
voltage affects only that channel, causing it to collapse as described
above.

8
Input source selection
Rotate the input selector to choose which component will play through
your amplifier.
Note
Always make sure that the volume is turned down before changing the
input source, to protect your equipment.
Volume and balance control
REDGUM amplifiers are available in two versions –single or dual volume
control.
If your model has a single volume control, the left rotary control affects
the volume and the middle rotary control affects the balance between the
speakers.
If your model has dual volume controls, the left rotary control affects the
volume of the left speaker and the middle rotary control affects the
volume of the right speaker. These controls are usually moved together
and this can be done easily using only one hand. Place the outer side of
the hand onto the top of the two volume controls. With a slight downward
pressure to maintain a “grip” on the controls, slide your hand to the left
or right to adjust the volume. Should you prefer, a belt is available from
the manufacturer that circles the two controls so they move together
when only one control is turned. Should it be required because of room
acoustics, further fine adjustments can be made with individual controls
once the general volume level has been chosen.

9
Achieving the best sound from your system
This section is provided to offer some general assistance to those seeking
to get the very best performance from their system. You will be surprised
by just how much improvement can be had be experimenting with a few
simple factors. The following advice is based on our own years of trial
and error, and we hope that checking through it makes a positive
difference to the sound of your system.
Where to put your speakers
Deciding on the best placement for speakers is a very individual thing, as
each of us have our own listening preferences. Try moving your speakers
around while listening to some favourite tracks until you find the result
which suits you best.
Distance from the surrounding walls
Placing your speakers right in the corners of the room can result in bass
which sounds 'boomy'' and unclear. Try to keep your speakers at least
20cm from both the rear and side walls. Bigger distances will usually
bring about an improvement in the sound.
Distance between the speakers themselves
The correct distance between the speakers will depend on the size of your
listening room, and your personal taste. Start by experimenting with the
speakers from two to four metres apart.
Distance between the speakers and the listening position
The best stereo imaging will be achieved when the listening position
forms the point of a triangle, where the other two points are made by the
speakers themselves. Start with your listening position as the point of an
equilateral triangle, and experiment by moving forwards and backwards.
The angle (toe-in) of the speakers
At REDGUM Audio we recommend a 30 degree angle between the
speakers. This provides a strong central image, and suitable 'timing' to
provide good rear projection for home theatre. You should experiment,
however, to find the sound that suits you best.

10
Your listening room
Strange as this may sound, the room itself will have a profound affect on
how your audio system responds. In fact, many experts consider the
room to be as important to the sound as any other component in your
system!
Did you ever notice how it’s difficult to talk in some restaurants because
you can’t hear each other over all the other conversations going on
around you? Yet another similarly sized restaurant is perfectly suited to
intimate romantic murmuring. The difference lies in the surfaces around
you. Here is a simple test –go into your bathroom and clap your hands;
then clap them again in a room with carpet, curtains and other soft
furnishings. Notice the difference? In a room with many hard reflective
surfaces sound waves bounce around a lot before dying out. Not even
the most expensive stereo in the world is capable of sounding good in
such a challenging acoustic environment.
When it comes to your listening room the same principles apply. Wooden
floorboards, polished concrete and slate tiles are all highly reflective
surfaces. In a room without curtains or other wall furnishings the sound
may be overly ‘bright’ or aggressive.
Similarly, it is possible for a room to be too ‘damped’ or absorptive.
Where there are no reflective surfaces at all the sound may seem ‘dead’ or
lacking in energy.
Luckily for us, most household rooms are a combination of the two. And,
generally speaking, a combination of the two will bring about the best
results.
Too many hard surfaces?
If your room is too ‘bright’, try placing a large rug on the floor between
your listening position and the speakers. Or hang some soft furnishings
from the walls.
Too many soft surfaces?
If your room is too damped, try removing some of the soft furnishings
from the walls or rugs from the floor.
Managing the bass
Sometimes, low frequency waves can also bounce around and cause
problems in a listening environment. This may be the result of the shape
of the room, or the materials it is constructed from. Large pieces of
furniture in a room can often help to break up these ‘standing waves’.

11
While few of us will feel the need to redesign a room to improve its sonic
properties, sometimes a small change, like placing a rug on the floor, can
make a big improvement to the sound.
Other helpful hints
Corrosion and sound system terminals
Atmospheric corrosion can build up on speaker cable and interconnect
terminals over time. Should this occur, removing and re-inserting wires
and cables will improve the contact and hence the quality of signal
transmission. Always remember to turn off all equipment before
connecting or disconnecting any wires or cables.
Placement of components in your sound system
Lots of fresh air is important to the health of your electronics. The louder
you play your music, the more important it is to ensure that components
receive adequate ventilation. Amplifiers, in particular, will generate a lot
of heat. Placing the amplifier at the top of the stack, and ensuring
adequate ventilation, will help to ensure that heat can be dissipated as it
should.

12
Troubleshooting
The following troubleshooting guide is designed to assist you in
identifying and rectifying any problems you may experience with your
speakers.
Symptom Likely cause Recommended action
No sound The amplifier is not turned on, or is
not connected to the power outlet Check that the amplifier is plugged into the power outlet, and turned on
The sound of a particular
input source is not heard Improper connections Make sure that the external component is connected correctly
Stereo image is
vague/bass response is
lacking
Speakers out of phase Check that the correct + to + and –
to –connections have been made
between the amplifier and your
speakers
Buzzing or crackling sound
when connecting wires Equipment is turned on Turn off all equipment before making any cable connections
Distortion at low volumes Speaker wires are touching each
other, or another terminal, and
shorting the signal
Amplifier is damaged
Ensure that all cable connections are
clean with no loose wires
Check/repair amplifier
Distortion at high volumes Amplifier is overloaded Turn down the volume to avoid
damage to your speakers and
amplifier
If the problem cannot be resolved by any of these recommended actions
you should make certain that the problem lies with the amplifier, as
malfunction within other components may also be the cause of the
symptoms. You can do this by borrowing a CD player and speakers that
you are certain are working, and replace your normal components with
these to test the amplifier in isolation. If the problem persists, please see
your local REDGUM Audio dealer.

13
Lost Keys
Lost keys can be replaced, as information is kept on file at the REDGUM
factory about every product we manufacture. If you provide us with the
serial number of your product (look under the amplifier, on the carton, or
on the final test report issued with the product), we can provide you with
another key. Just fax us the details and a replacement key will be sent by
airmail the same day (Fax: [phone]).
Thermal cut-off
For your convenience, there are no replaceable fuses in this amplifier.
The only overload devices are thermal. Internally, there are thermal cut-
offs that will shut down the amplifier if the heatsinks reach 80 degrees
Centigrade. This would usually only happen if the speaker leads remain
‘shorted’ for a period of time.
Should this occur, your amplifier will resume operation once it has
returned to normal operating temperature.
Circuit breaker
Additional protection for your equipment is built into the amplifier in the
form of a Circuit Breaker. Found on the rear panel of the chassis, it is a
rocker switch with RESET and OFF positions. (See also section –Turning
the amplifier on and off.)
In the (unlikely) event of a power overload or an internal malfunction, the
Circuit Breaker on the rear will activate (‘trip’). The switch will
automatically rock to the OFF position, and a red light will be seen inside
the rocker.
In the case of a power overload, rocking the switch to the RESET position
will turn on your amplifier again. When reset the red light will turn off and
you will hear a ‘thunk’ sound as the amplifier powers up.
However, in the event of an internal malfunction, resetting the switch will
not be possible. When the switch is rocked to the RESET position, it will
instantly flick back to the OFF position, and the red light will stay ‘on’.
Should this occur, the amplifier will need professional service.
If in any doubt whatsoever, please consult your dealer.

14
Specifications
RGi35 / RGi35s
35 Watt + 35 Watt Integrated Amplifier (dual or single volume control)
Power Output: 35+35 Watt/Ch RMS (90 +90 RMS IHF pulse)
Harmonic Distortion: 0.009% (below clipping)
Intermodulation Distortion: < 0.005% (below clipping)
Signal to Noise: > 100db
Input Impedance: 10k (Matches 600 ohms -50k)
Frequency Response: 0.8hz -80khz (-3db points)
Peak Current: > 120 amp
Audio Inputs: 5 inputs:-DVD1, DVD2, VCR, CD & AV1
Suggested Speakers: RGSB Link Series
Cabinet Finish: solid Red Gum wood fascia, powder-coated
1.6mm steel chassis
Dimensions: 420mm (W) x360mm (D) x93mm (H)
Shipping weight: 8.1 kg (8.16 kg cubic)
RGi60 / RGi60s
60 Watt + 60 Watt Integrated Amplifier (dual or single volume control)
Power Output: 60+60 Watt/Ch RMS (132 +132 RMS IHF pulse)
Harmonic Distortion: 0.009% (below clipping)
Intermodulation Distortion: < 0.005% (below clipping)
Signal to Noise: > 100db
Input Impedance: 10k (Matches 600 ohms -50k)
Frequency Response: 0.8hz -80khz (-3db points)
Peak Current: > 150 amp
Audio Inputs: 5 inputs:-DVD1, DVD2, VCR, CD & AV1
Suggested Speakers: RGSB Link Series or RGS38i
Cabinet Finish: solid Red Gum wood fascia, powder-coated
1.6mm steel chassis
Dimensions: 420mm (W) x360mm (D) x93mm (H)
Shipping weight: 9.1 kg (8.16 kg cubic)

15
RGi120 / RGi120s
120 Watt + 120 Watt Integrated Amplifier (dual or single volume control)
Power Output: 120+120 Watt/Ch RMS (285 +285 RMS IHF pulse)
Harmonic Distortion: 0.009% (below clipping)
Intermodulation Distortion: < 0.005% (below clipping)
Signal to Noise: > 100db
Input Impedance: 10k (Matches 600 ohms -50k)
Frequency Response: 0.8hz -80khz (-3db points)
Peak Current: > 150 amp
Audio Inputs: 5 inputs:-DVD1, DVD2, VCR, CD & AV1
Suggested Speakers: RGS38i
Cabinet Finish: solid Red Gum wood fascia, powder-coated
1.6mm steel chassis
Dimensions: 420mm (W) x360mm (D) x93mm (H)
Shipping weight: 9.1 kg (8.16 kg cubic)
RGi120ENR
155 Watt + 155 Watt Integrated Amplifier (single volume control only)
Power Output: 155+155 Watt/Ch RMS (293 +293 RMS IHF pulse)
Harmonic Distortion: 0.009% (below clipping)
Intermodulation Distortion: < 0.005% (below clipping)
Signal to Noise: > 100db
Input Impedance: 10k (Matches 600 ohms -50k)
Frequency Response: 0.8hz -80khz (-3db points)
Peak Current: > 150 amp
Audio Inputs: 5 inputs:-DVD1, DVD2, VCR, CD & AV1
Suggested Speakers: RGS38i
Cabinet Finish: solid Red Gum wood fascia, powder-coated
1.6mm steel chassis
Dimensions: 420mm (W) x360mm (D) x93mm (H)
Shipping weight: 10.8 kg (8.16 kg cubic)

16
Warranty
REDGUM amplifiers are warranted to be free of defects in material and
workmanship, subject to the following conditions, for SEVEN (7) years
from the date of purchase by the original owner. Warranty claims must be
accompanied by proof of purchase, including date.
This warranty is subject to the following conditions and limitations:-
This warranty is void and inapplicable if the amplifier has:
not been used in accordance with the instructions contained in
the manual;
been subject to misuse or abuse, one example of which would
be damage consistent with speaker terminals being hooked to
another electrical source;
been modified, repaired or tampered with by anyone not
specifically authorised in writing to do so by REDGUM or its
agents;
been damaged by accident, intent, neglect or transportation.
Should the product be faulty, the owner is liable for the cost of freight to
the nearest REDGUM repair agent, or the factory. Should the product be
found to be without fault, the owner will be liable for the return freight
also.

17
Warranty Registration
Complete for warranty registration:
Name
Address
City
Zip/Post Code
Country
Date of purchase
Place of purchase
Model No
Serial Number (if any)
Fax this page to the REDGUM Audio factory at [phone]
Alternatively, you may email the details (including serial number) to
[email protected]