Schiit KARA User manual

BALANCED, DISCRETE DIFFERENTIAL
SOLID STATE PREAMPLIFIER
INPUT 1 INPUT 2 BAL OUT SE OUTSIN 3 IN 4 IN 5
CAUTION:
RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK—DO NOT OPEN
NO USER
SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE
01234567
115VAC30W
ASSY IN USA

Tubes, schmubes. Sometimes all you
need is a great solid state preamp. And
Kara is a super-amazing, over-the-top
fully discrete, fully balanced differential
solid state design, running on 64V rails
(meaning it can swing over 100V dif-
ferentially at the output—a completely
bonkers feat for a preamp), while deliv-
ering top-of-class THD+N performance...
and while also sounding fantastic!
INTRODUCTION
CONNECTIONS
1 Balanced inputs. We’ve provided two
pairs of balanced inputs. Connect to any
components with balanced outputs using
XLR cables. There won’t be any conversion
to SE inside or any other funny business
going on.
2 Single-ended inputs. Connect any SE
source with RCA cables. They’ll automagi-
cally be converted to balanced with the
wonders of Nexus™.
3 Balanced outputs. Connect to your amps
with balanced inputs using XLR cables—or
add a Loki Max afterwards if you’re feeling
froggy.
4 Single-ended outputs. Connect to your
amps with single-ended inputs using RCA
cables.
5 Power switch. Up is on, down is off.
Sound only comes out when it’s on.
6 AC input. Connect the supplied AC cord
here, or you won’t get any sound even if
the power switch is on. You can even use
a fancy power cord if you like; not that it’ll
make any difference.
The following is required by the roughly 9,542
government agencies and regulations we have
to comply with. If you have some common
sense, they should seem pretty straightforward. In any
case, read these instructions before proceeding farther,
follow all instructions, and heed all warnings. Or else!
1. If you don’t know how to install audio devices, get a
qualied professional to help.
2. Never use this device near water, and clean only with
a dry cloth.
3. Assure adequate ventilation, do not block any ventila-
tion openings, or place near heat sources.
4. Use only the supplied power cord or suitable replace-
ment. Route cords away from trac areas and protect
them from being pinched. Unplug the cord from the out-
let if the apparatus is unused for a long period of time.
INPUT 1 INPUT 2 BAL OUT SE OUTSIN 3 IN 4 IN 5
CAUTION:
RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK—DO NOT OPEN
NO USER
SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE
01234567
115VAC 30W
ASSY IN USA
13 4
5
2
5. To prevent electric shock, do not use the plug with an
extension cord, receptacle, or outlet unless blades can be
fully inserted.
6. Refer all servicing to qualied service personnel. Service
is required when the device has been damaged, including
cord or plug damage, liquid has been spilled or objects have
fallen into the device, the device has been exposed to rain or
moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS DEVICE
TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
6

INPUT 1 INPUT 2 BAL OUT SE OUTSIN 3 IN 4 IN 5
CAUTION:
RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK—DO NOT OPEN
NO USER
SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE
01234567
115VAC 30W
ASSY IN USA
1 Remote window. Don’t block this window
if you want Kara’s remote to work correctly.
2 Headphone output. Yes! Kara has a
headphone output. This is a real-deal, fully
discrete, same-as-the-SE-stage as Kara,
64V rail headphone output, so feel free to
treat your headphones. Preamp outputs are
muted when headphones are inserted, and
the Headphone LED (9) turns on.
Note: Kara’s headphone jack is fully protected against
all faults. It will mute on rst plug-in, and mute again
when unplugging headphones.
3 Input select. Push this button to step
through the inputs, 1-5. The rst two are
balanced, the last 3 are single-ended.
4 Input. Your selected input is indicated by
the LED to the right of this control.
5 Volume. Turn up for more, down for less.
Simple, right? Same as you’ve been using
for years, at least before the crazy carmak-
ers started putting everything on screens.
Buttheads.
6 Mode select. Push to step through output
modes. Kara offers pure passive operation,
as well as low and high Nexus™ gain.
OPERATION
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25
9 Muting and Headphone Indicators. These
LEDs indicate conditions in which the output
is muted, as follows:
Headphone connected
Preamp muted
When you press and hold (8) to force the
preamp outputs on while a headphone is
connected, the Headphone LED will pulse
slowly.
Press and hold (8) again to turn off preamp
outputs when in Override mode.
The mute LED also ashes on start-up, while
Kara is performing self-checks and coming
up to proper operating points. This takes
about 40 seconds after power on.
6
4
7 Mode. The LED corresponds to your mode.
From left to right:
Passive
Low Gain
High Gain
Passive runs only the resistor ladder and
bypasses the gain stage.
Note: Passive mode can’t convert between SE and
balanced. The other modes can.
8 Mute/HP Override. Press to mute all
outputs. Press and hold for 2 seconds to
force the preamp outputs on when a
headphone is plugged in.
8
7 9
INPUT 1 INPUT 2 BAL OUT SE OUTSIN 3 IN 4 IN 5
CAUTION:
RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK—DO NOT OPEN
NO USER
SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE
01234567
115VAC 30W
ASSY IN USA
INPUT 1 INPUT 2 BAL OUT SE OUTSIN 3 IN 4 IN 5
CAUTION:
RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK—DO NOT OPEN
NO USER
SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE
01234567
115VAC 30W
ASSY IN USA
INPUT 1 INPUT 2 BAL OUT SE OUTSIN 3 IN 4 IN 5
CAUTION:
RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK—DO NOT OPEN
NO USER
SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE
01234567
115VAC 30W
ASSY IN USA
INPUT 1 INPUT 2 BAL OUT SE OUTSIN 3 IN 4 IN 5
CAUTION:
RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK—DO NOT OPEN
NO USER
SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE
01234567
115VAC 30W
ASSY IN USA
INPUT 1 INPUT 2 BAL OUT SE OUTSIN 3 IN 4 IN 5
CAUTION:
RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK—DO NOT OPEN
NO USER
SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE
01234567
115VAC 30W
ASSY IN USA

I hear hum, what do I do?
You may have a ground loop. Try a ground
loop isolator or a device like the EbTech
HumX to eliminate the ground loop.
I hear small pops when I change modes.
This is normal with DC-coupled preamps like
Kara. Minor changes in DC level may make
small pops.
There’s no sound after I turn Kara on.
Kara delays the output for 40 seconds after
you rst turn the preamp on for self-checks,
during which time the Mute LED ashes.
No I mean there’s still no sound.
Do you have headphones plugged in? That
will mute the output.
What if I want headphone and preamp
output at the same time?
Press and hold the Mute/HP Override
button to enable simultaneous output. Be
careful—don’t forget you have headphones
connected when you crank it up!
FAQ
What’s with the clicking noises when I turn
the volume?
That’s the sound of the mechanical relays
in the relay-switched stepped attenuator.
Totally normal.
Does Kara convert from SE to balanced?
If you are using the Low or High gain set-
tings, yes. You can also run balanced inputs
and get SE outputs in both gain modes.
Can I use both balanced and SE outputs at
the same time?
Most of the time, yes. If you have products
that short the input when turned off, then
that can cause distortion.
I have the volume all the way down and still
hear faint music.
Yes, that is normal with a relay attenuator.
If it’s bothersome, hit the Mute button to
completely mute the preamp.
It doesn’t turn on, what do I do?
Plug it in to a different AC socket. Ensure
you are not currently in a blackout. Then
email us if it still doesn’t work.
Saga/Freya Ragnarok 2 Loki Loki Max
SCH 03-11
SCH 03-13 SCH 03-14
BYPASS
20HZ UP/DOWN
250HZ UP/DOWN
2KHZ UP/DOWN
6KHZ UP/DOWN
16KHZ UP/DOWN
BYPASS
PRESET 1
PRESET 2
PRESET 3
20HZ UP/DOWN
120HZ UP/DOWN
400HZ UP/DOWN
2KHZ UP/DOWN
6KHZ UP/DOWN
16KHZ UP/DOWN
VOLUME
INPUT
OUTPUT
MUTE
SCH 03-12
VOLUME
INPUT
OUTPUT
MUTE
GAIN
Sleipnir/Ellida
SCH 03-15
PLAY/PAUSE
SKIP FWD
FAST FWD
FAST REV
STOP/EJECT
DISPLAY OFF
SKIP BACK
DACs DACs
SCH 03-16a SCH 03-16b
INPUT
INVERT
MUTE
INPUT SEL
INVERT
MUTE
Yes, Kara comes with a remote control. Unlike earlier
Freyas, this is now a fancy milled aluminum model. It’s
still inexpensive to replace in case you lose it or want
another one, however.
1 Input. Press this button to select the input you want to
listen to. If you skip the input, keep pressing—it cycles
back around.
2 Volume Up/Down. Press the up arrow to turn volume
up, press the down arrow to turn it down. Simple as that.
3 Output. Press to change between passive, low gain,
and high gain mode.
4 Mute. Press to mute the preamp.
Changing the Battery
1. Flip the remote over to reveal a single hole on the back.
2. Push the remote open by inserting the end of an open paper clip
into the hole in the back and pushing rmly. It’s held together with
magnets.
3. Replace the battery inside with one of the same type.
4. Reassemble the remote by rst inserting the clear LED in the front,
then dropping the panel down onto the matching magnets. Press
down gently to pop the panel in place.
1
32
4
REMOTE

SCHIIT.COM
[email protected]
IN THE BOX
(1) Kara
(1) Power Cord
(0) Op-amp gain stages
(0) Tubes
(0) Switching supplies
(Various) Stickers and stuff
(Innite) Appreciation from
the whole Schiit crew in
Valencia, CA and Corpus
Christi, TX
(Even more) Thanks from
our chassis and PCB guys
in California, Nevada, and
Utah.
This product is in compliance with standards
and regulations of the European Community.
WARRANTY
Schiit Audio warrants to the original purchaser that this prod-
uct shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for
ve (5) years from the date of purchase. If a defect covered by
this warranty occurs during this period, Schiit Audio will repair
the defective product, free of charge. Date of purchase will be
based on customer receipts, otherwise date of manufacturing
will be used.
If you believe you need warranty service, contact us rst.
Schiit Audio products sent back to us without a Return Autho-
rization (RA) will be returned to the sender without repair. To
contact us and obtain an RA, email [email protected].
Warranty Limitations. This warranty shall not apply if a
product: (a) is modied or tampered with; (b) is damaged
by negligence, accident, unreasonable use, or other causes
unrelated to defective materials or workmanship, or (c) has
had the serial number altered or removed.
Any implied warranties, including warranties of merchant-
ability and tness for a particular purpose, are hereby limited
in duration to the warranty period of 5 years. In no event shall
Schiit Audio be liable for consequential or incidental damages
resulting from the breach of any implied or expressed warran-
ties. Some states do not allow these limitations, so they may
not apply to you. You may also have other rights which vary
from state to state or province to province.