Thrax Audio Heros User manual

Heros
Mono Power Amplifier
by Thrax Audio
Operating Manual
Manual issued 31/01/2013
CAUTION
THE UNIT CONTAINS NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS. DO NOT REMOVE THE COVERS. LETHAL
VOLTAGES ARE PRESENT WITHIN THE CHASSIS.
NEVER OPERATE THE AMPLIFIER WITH THE CHASSIS COVERS REMOVED.
DO NOT OPERATE THE UNIT IF WET OR NEAR WATER.
THE AMPLIFIER IS FAIRLY HEAVY. BE SURE TO USE PROPER LIFTING TECHNIQUES TO AVOID
BACK STRAIN AND INJURY. BE CERTAIN TO INSTALL IT IN A SECURE LOCATION FROM WHICH
IT CAN NOT FALL OR TIP OVER.
WARNING: Do not allow anything to touch the tubes in normal operation - they become
very hot. Take care to keep everyone, especially children and pets, from being able to
reach and touch the tubes, which become extremely hot and may cause serious injury.
Never touch a tube if the glass is broken. The internal structures carry high voltage and
could present a serious, possibly lethal shock. If a tube breaks, unplug the amplifier and
wait 30 minutes, then remove the tube. Keep flammable objects away from the amplifier.
TIME SPENT FAMILIARIZING YOURSELF WITH THIS MANUAL WILL BE WELL REWARDED.

1. Important Safety Instructions …...................………….................................... 3
2. Introduction ………........................................................................................… 4
3. Specification ……..........................................................................................… 4
4. Unpacking and Installation
- Unpacking ……....................................................................................… 5
- Installation ……....................................................................................… 5
6. Front Panel ……..............................................................................................… 6
7. Back Panel
- Inputs …..…...........................................................................................… 6
- Speaker outputs ………......................................................................… 7
- AC Fuse …….........................................................................................… 7
8. Operation ………...........................................................................................… 8
9. Tips: Impedance Matching & Tube replacement .................................... 9
CONTENTS
2

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS: All the safety and operating instructions of your Thrax Audio
equipment should be read before power is applied to the equipment.
RETAIN OWNER'S MANUAL: These safety and operating instructions should be retained
for future reference.
HEED WARNING: All warnings on the unit and in the operating instructions should be
adhered to.
FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS: All operating and use instructions should be followed.
CLEANING: Unplug the unit from the wall outlet and leave for at least 30 min. - make sure
the unit is not hot before you start cleaning. Use dry or damp soft cloth to clean the
surfaces. Do not use corrosive, abrasive or spray for cleaning.
VENTILATION: Do not block any ventilation openings. Do not install near any heat sources
such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers). The unit
should not be installed in a built-in location such as a bookcase or rack unless proper
ventilation is provided.
GROUNDING: Do not defeat the safety purpose of the grounding-type plug. A
grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The third prong is
provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an
electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
POWER CORD PROTECTION: Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles and the point where they exit from the
apparatus.
LIGHTNING: Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long
periods of time.
SERVICING: Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when
the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as if the power-supply cord or plug is
damaged, liquid has been spilled inside the appliance or it has been exposed to
moisture, the appliance does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
DO NOT OPEN THE CABINET: There are no user serviceable components inside this
product. Opening the cabinet may present a shock hazard, and any modification to the
product will void your warranty.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain
or moisture.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
3

4
The Heros mono power amplifier is a top end audio amplifier and an unique component.
Its unusual topology, premium parts, and flexibility make it a pleasure to hear and
operate. Heros is a two stage hybrid power amplifier – tube input stage and solid state
output stage with transformer loaded output.
Features
2 inputs – one unbalanced on RCA and one balanced on XLR
Amplification level switch – low and high
Speaker impedance switch - 4 Ohm / 8 Ohm
Inside you get
Separate constant current PSU for the input tube – 5687 (double triode) and separate PSU
for the output stage. The input/driver stage is a differential triode stage with grounded
cathodes. The output stage is a pair of Power J-FET transistors operating in a push pull
output transformer.
The case is made of plates machined solid aircraft grade aluminium.
INTRODUCTION
• Inputs
- 1 unbalanced RCA connector
- 1 balanced XLR connector
• Output ……………….................................................…............... 100W in 4Ω/8Ω
• Power supply ………………..................................................... …….. 115 or 230 V
• Power consumption …………….......................................................…….. 230W
• Dimensions ………………....................................…….. 210W x 400D x 230H mm
• Weight ………………............................................................................…….. 30Kg
• Finish ……..........................................…….. Black or Silver anodized aluminum
• Tube compliment :
- 1x 5687 amplification
SPECIFICATION

Unpacking
The Heros is shipped with the vacuum tube istalled. Unpack carefully, keep in mind Heros
weights 30 kg ! All Thrax Audio shipping boxes have been specially designed to protect
their contents and special care has been taken to prevent damage under normal
shipping conditions. Mishandling should be evident upon inspection of the shipping
container. Carefully remove your new component from its packing and examine it closely
for signs of shipping damage. We strongly recommend saving all original packing to
protect your component from damage should you wish to store it or ship it at a later date.
Installation
• Provide adequate ventilation. Do not operate on carpet or any other surface that
might block air flow. The chassis will become warm in normal use!
• Do not allow the chassis to touch any metal parts, such as the frame of an equipment
rack. This might create a parallel ground path that could degrade the sound of your system.
• Input connection is via single ended RCA jacks or XLR jacks (which can be from
balanced or unbalanced sources).
• Connect the input and speaker cables.
• Connect the power cable from the power supply to the power amplifier.
• Connect the power supply to the power source indicated on the voltage selector card
(visible by the main fuse), either 115 or 230 volts AC. The voltage may be select by means
of the removable selector card located behind the fuse in the power connectors.
Remove the cards and reinstall so that the desired voltage may be read; be certain to
change the fuse to the correct value.Connect the power supply to the power source
indicated on the rear panel. Avoid power conditioners that float the ground pin. ALWAYS
connect power cord to component before plugging it into an AC outlet, and make sure
that unit's power switch is set to the "OFF" position before making the final connection. For
best performance, try to route the power cord away from signal cables.
• Power requirements are approximately 230 watts per channel. Pay close attention to
power quality, and be aware that different power cords can alter the sound.
• Set the output impedance switch to either “4 ohm” or “8 ohm” to suit your loudspeaker.
Connect the speaker cables: the black lead goes to “-“, the red lead goes to “+”. For
further information see Tips : Impedance Matching.
• Set the input type switch to XLR or RCA, to match the source and cables.
WARNING: Do not allow anything to touch the tubes in normal operation - they become
very hot. Take care to keep everyone, especially children and pets, from being able to
reach and touch the tubes, which become extremely hot and may cause serious injury.
Never touch a tube if the glass is broken. The internal structures carry high voltage and
could present a serious, possibly lethal shock. If a tube breaks, unplug the amplifier and
wait 30 minutes, then remove the tube. Keep flammable objects away from the amplifier.
UNPACKING AND INSTALLATION
5

6
"ON/OFF" Button
Switches the unit on and off. See OPERATION SECTION for details.
LED Indicator
Red light indicates stand-by mode, green light – operation mode. Green light flashes
during warm-up time.
FRONT PANEL
ON/OFF
Button
Status LED
BACK PANEL
Inputs
A XLR jack is provided for balanced connection to a pre-amplifier. The "INPUT SELECT"
switch should be set to the "XLR" (left) position.
RCA (single ended) connection normally is made to the RCA jack. The "INPUT SELECT"
switch is set to “RCA” (right) position.
NOTE: Do not remove and connect input cables or speaker cables while is amplifier is
running. Doing so risks damage to your loudspeakers or the amplifier.
Do not operate the amplifier without a loudspeaker.
Input select switch
Switches betwen XLR / RCA inputs

7
BACK PANEL
Gain swich
Low / High positions to select the gain suitable to your audio system
Speaker impedance switch
4 Ohm / 8Ohm - Use this to select the output impedance
Speaker output
The speaker cables connect to the Speaker Connectors. Either banana jacks, bare wires
or spade plugs can be used. If bare wire is used, be careful that no stray strands get loose
that could cause a short-circuit. The “Common” or “Ground” lead connects to the black
jack. The “Hot” lead goes to red jacks. Bare wires and spade plugs must be tighten by
rotating the ratchet screw clockwise.
A/C Fuses and Mains switch
There are fuses located in the IEC power connector on the back panel. For 220 volt
operation 4 amperes "slow blow" fuses are used. For 110 volt operation the fuses should be
8 amperes. If power does not come on, contact your authorized service representative or
consult the factory for more information.
Tube 5687
Speaker 4Ω/8Ω
Gain Low/High
Input XLR/RCA
IEC Power Connector

8
For initial power up press the main switch located on the back panel. The LED on the front
panel ligths red indicating the unit is now in stand by mode.
To switch the power amplifier on press the “ON/OFF” button located on the front panel.
The LED indicator flashes green whilst warming up for about 2 minutes and turns to solid
green when your Heros is ready for use.
To turn the power amplifier off press the "ON/OFF" buton. However if you are not going to
use the amplifier for a long period we recommend turning it off, using the power switch on
the back panel, to save power.
We recommend switching on yur audio system in the following maner: the sources first,
than preamplifiers, processors and last - the power amplifier. When switching off go
backwards – start with the power amp and go further to the sources.
As with all high fidelity products, the sound characteristic changes somewhat as it warms
up. Best sound will be achieved after about 15 minutes of operation.
Any time that the Heros power amplifier has not been used for a few weeks the sound
may be different. This is also normal for high resolution audio equipment. Optimum sound
should return after a few hours of operation, preferably with an audio signal.
Note that although your Thrax Audio System has been run for 72 hours at the factory, it will
continue to "break in" for approximately 150 hours. Also be aware that many components
display the need for a new break in period after being transported in unheated cargo
aircraft.
OPERATION

9
Impedance Matching
The available impedance settings on your Heros are:
- 8 ohms – use for speakers rated 6 to 16 ohms
- 4 ohms - use for speakers rated 2 to 6 ohms
Since the impedance of most loudspeakers vary over a wide range experimentation is
essential. Most speakers have a rated impedance of 4 or 8 ohms. We recommend
starting with the 8 ohm connection; after you know the sound if that connection, try the 4
ohm connection. Choose the connection that sounds best to your ears.
Tube replacement
Your Heros comes with the tube pre-installed. Tube's working time is approximately 2 000
hours. When tubes replacement is due, we strongly advise you to order replacement
tubes from your Thrax Audio dealers, before the sound quality starts to deteriorate.
Before replacing the tube, all power must be turned off. Unplug the power cord from the
wall, and remove all audio interconnect cables. Wait 15 minutes before removing the
tube.
When removing the tube, handle it carefully, whit minimum twists.
Install the new tube firmly in the socket, noting the location of holes in the socket and pins
of the tube, taking care to make sure that pin pattern corresponds to holes in tube socket.
Manual issued 31/01/2013
TIPS

NOTES