Trafomatic Audio RHAPSODY User manual

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RHAPSODY
TUBE INTEGRATED STEREO AMPLIFIER

Table of Contents
Section Page No.
Safety Precautions 03
Getting Started 06
 AboutYourAmplier     06
Packaging/Preparationforuse   07
Controls and Their Functions 09
 FrontPanel      09
 RearPanel      11
Servicing13
Technical Specications    14

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
ALLTHE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS THAT
ARE APPLICABLETOYOUR EQUIPMENT.
CAUTION! TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
SCREWS. NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALI-
FIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
SAFETY
Read the User’s Manual and refer to it frequently during use of this product.Allthesafetyand
operatinginstructionsshouldbereadbeforetheproductisoperated.
Retain the User’s Manual.Thesafetyandoperatinginstructionsshouldberetainedforfuturereference.
Follow Instructions.Alloperatingandinstructionsforuseshouldbecloselyfollowed.
Power Sources.Thisproductshouldbeoperatedusingonlythetypeofpowersourceindicatedonthe
markinglabel.Ifyouarenotsureofthetypeofpowersupplyinyourhome,consultyourproductdealer
orlocalpowercompany.
Grounding.ThisproductisequippedwithathreeprongIECconnector.Alwaysusepowercordwith
adequatewirecrosssectionandanelectricaloutletthatisgrounded.Ifyoudonotknowwhetherthe
outletisgrounded,consultyourelectricianorlocalpowercompany.
Power Cord Protection.Powersupplycordsshouldberoutedsothattheyarenotlikelytobewalked
onorpinched.Payparticularattentiontocordsatplugs,conveniencereceptaclesandwheretheyexit
fromtheproduct.Alwaysusepowercordswithadequatecurrentratingsandsafetycertications(UL,
CE,TÜV,CSA,etc.)
Fuses.Forcontinuedprotectionagainstrehazard,replacefuseswiththesametypeandratingofthe
fusesspecied.Whenchangingfuses,completelyunplugtheACcordfromthewalloutlet.Ifindoubt
whatfusestouse,contactfactoryorauthorizeddistributor.
Tubes.Duringoperation,thevacuumtubesgetveryhot.Allowatleast30minutesafterremovingpower
fortubestocooldown.
Turn-off when not using.Turnofftheunitassoonasyoustopactivelyusingit.Unplugthepowersupply
fromthewallduringalightningstormorwhentheproductistobeleftunattendedandunusedforlonger
periodsoftime.
03 RHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplier

RHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplier

ENVIRONMENT
Water and Moisture.Donotusethisproductnearwater-i.e.nearabathtub,ashbowl,kitchen
sinkorlaundrytub;inawetbasement;ornearaswimmingpoolorthelike.Dampbasements
shouldbeavoided.
Heat.The productshouldbesituatedawayfrom heatsourcessuchasradiators,heatregisters,
stovesorotherappliancesthatproduceheat.Alsoavoidputtingtheunitinthedirectraysofthesun.
For indoor use only.
PLACEMENT
Accessibility.Itisnormalforanaudiodevicetorunwarmifusedforprolongedperiods.Always
placeyourdeviceawayfromchildrenandpetstopreventburns.
Ventilation.Properventilationiscriticalforsafeandreliableoperationofallvacuumtubebased
equipment.Thisproductshouldnotbeplacedinabuilt-ininstallationorrackunlessproperven-
tilationisprovidedorthemanufacturer’sinstructionshavebeenfollowed.Neverplaceanything
ontopofyourunitthatcouldobstructairowandcausevacuumtubestooverheatanddamage
theunit.Donotplaceyourunitinaclosedbookcase;overheatingcouldoccur.Ensurethatthere
isatleast8”(200mm)ofopenspaceaboveandaroundtheunit.
Surface.Placetheunitonaatlevelsurface.Careshouldbetakentopreventobjectsfrom
fallingandliquidsfromspillingintotheunit.Donotsubjecttheunittoexcessivesmoke,dust,
vibrationorshock.
MAINTENANCE
Cleaning.Unplugthisproductfromthewalloutletbeforecleaning.Donotuseliquidcleaners
oraerosolcleaners.Useadryclothforcleaning.Donotuseanytypeofabrasivepad,scouring
powderorsolventsuchasalcoholorbenzene.
Tube replacement.Vacuumtubeshavelifeinthe5000hoursrange.Werecommendreplacing
thetubesafter24-36months,dependingonyourlisteninghabits.Thatwillensurethattheunit
alwaysperformsatitsbestandtubefailurewillnotoverstresstheotherpartsoftheunit.
Biasing the amplier. BiasingoftheRhapsodyintegratedamplierisnotrequired.
SERVICE
Replacement Parts.Whenreplacementpartsarerequired,besurethattheservicetechnician
usesreplacementpartsspeciedbythemanufacturerorpartswiththesamecharacteristicsas
theoriginalpart.Unauthorizedsubstitutionsmayresultinre,electricshockorotherhazards.
Tube replacement. Should it become necessary to replace the vacuum tubes, remove the
AC power plug from the wall and allow thirty minutes (30 min) for the high voltage capaci-
torstodischarge.Followinstructionsoutlinedbelowinthesection“Handlingvacuumtubes”.
Modications.Modicationstotheamplierarestronglydiscouraged.Theunitwasdesignedby
experiencedengineersandtestedforsafeandreliableoperation.Anymodicationmayposea
safetyriskandresultinreducedlifetimeoftheproduct.Anyremovalofthecoverwillvoidwarranty.
05 RHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplier

GETTING STARTED
ABOUT YOUR AMPLIFIER
Your Rhapsody Integrated Amplierwasdesignedtoprovideanexcellentvaluebasedonits
highperformance,whichisaresultofcarefullydesignedcircuitandoptimizedcomponentse-
lection.Thedesignutilizesminimumnumberofactivepartsandtopqualitypassiveelements.
TheRhapsody amplier isoneofthemostrenedapplicationsofthe300Btubeandallows
themtoshineinalltheirglory.
The 300B power tubes operate in the parallel single-ended Class A mode. The power
tubes are driven by highly linear 6SN7 tubesconguredinahighly transparent circuit.A
sophisticated C-L-C lter,oneperchannel,goesaboveandbeyondwhattypicaltubeampli-
ersoffer.Custom transformers and chokes, Mundorf MLytic HV capacitors,point-to-point
wiringwithVan den Hul cablesassembledbyskilledtechnicianscompletethepictureofan
exceptionalexampleofneanddurableelectronics.
TheRhapsodycanaccommodate300Btubeswithasolidormeshanode(plate),thankstothe
switchmountedonthetoppanel.Makesuretoreadthismanualthoroughlyforwordsofcaution
whenchangingthemodeofoperation.
Automaticbiasensuresoptimizedperformancethroughoutthelifeofthetubeswithoutneedfor
periodicadjustments.
FitandnishoftheRhapsodymakeitawelcomeadditiontoeverylivingenvironment.
TheRhapsodyIntegratedStereoAmplierhasthree(3)line-levelsingle-ended(RCA)inputs
andonebalanced(XLR)input.Therearededicatedoutputsforfour(4)oreight(8)ohmspeak-
ers..
HANDLING AND REPLACING VACUUM TUBES
Manypeoplehave never had experience handlingvacuumtubes. Process is very similarto
handlingincandescentlightbulbs.Aswiththelightbulbs,youshouldnottouchavacuumtube
whenitisoperatingsinceyoucanburnyourself.Similarly,ifatubeisdroppedonahardsurface
itmaybreakorchangecriticaloperatingparameters.Whenreplacingthetubes,allowsufcient
time,minimum30minutes,fortubestocooldownandinternalcapacitorstodischarge.Before
youinsertatubeyoushouldmakecertainthattheunitisdisconnectedfromtheACoutlet.In-
spectthetubeforcracksandphysicaldamage.Makesurethatthepinsarestraight.Ifyouneed
tostraightenthepins,beverycarefulasitmaycausetheglassenvelopetobreak,causingthe
tubetolosethevacuumandfailassoonastheunitispoweredon.Carefullyalignthepinswith
thesocketandgentlyinsertthetube.
Never force a tube into a socket.
Onlythesametypeofvacuumtubescanbeused–nosubstitutionsareallowed.Shouldyou
decidetobuyreplacementtubesfromTrafomaticAudio,restassuredthattheywerefullytested
beforetheshipment.
06
RHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplierRHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplier

PACKAGING
Savetheoriginalpackaginginadryplace.Thepackaginghasbeendesignedtoprotectyour
devicefromstressesincurredduringshipping.
Usingpackagingdifferentfromtheoriginalincreasesrisksofshippingdamages.
PREPARATION FOR USE
Placeyourunitonaat,stablesurface.
Powerswitch,locatedontherearsideoftheunitshouldbeintheOFFposition.
Makesurethatthevoltageselectorswitch(locatedontherearpanel,nexttotheACinlet)is
properlyset:thisswitchneedstobesetsothatthenumberdisplayed(115or230)corresponds
withthelinevoltageinyourcountry.
Pluginthepowercord.
Connectaudiosourcetooneoftheamplier’sinputsandmakesurethatinputselectorswitch
isinthecorrespondingposition.
Ifsomeofyoursourcesrequiresignalgrounding(turntabletonearm,forexample),connectthe
wiretothegroundinglug(GND)ontherearpaneloftheamplier.
Byusingthefrontpanelinputselectorswitch,selecttheappropriateaudiosource(rca1through
rca4).
Makesurethatvolumecontrolissettotheminimumposition.
Turnontheamplierbyusingpowerswitchlocatedontheleftsideoftheunit.
Slowlyincreasevolume,tomakesuretherearenounusualnoisescomingoutofthespeakers.
CONGRATULATIONS!YouareallsetandreadytoenjoyhighsoundqualityoftheRHAPSODY
Integrated Stereo Amplier.
07 RHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplier

RHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplier

CONTROLS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
FRONT PANEL
Input Selector: The four positions “Inputs” switch is used to select one of the four available
line-levelinputs,markedRCA1,RCA2,RCA3(single-endedinputs)andXLR(balancedinput).
Volumecontrol:regulatesmaximumoutputsonthespeakerterminalsoutputs.
ThefrontpanelalsohoststwovisuallystrikinganalogVUmeters.
TOP PANEL
Thetoppanel of the Rhapsody amplierhostsfourswitches markedANODEDISSIPATION
300BwithMESHandSOLIDpositions.Theswitchesareusedtosetpropermodeofoperation
for300BtubeswithMeshorSolidanode.The300BtubeswiththeMeshanodecanhandleless
powerthattheSolidanodetubes,therefore,please note that the tubes with Mesh anode can
be damaged if the switch is in the SOLID position! Changingthemodeofoperationshould
bedoneonlyaftertheamplierhasbeenturnedoffforminimumof30minutes.
ThetoppanelalsohasapotentiometerlabeledVUSENSITIVITY.Whenusedwithhighlyefcient
speakers,theVUMeters’needlesmayhaveashortmovementpath.Toincreasemovementof
theinstruments’needles,theVUSENSITIVITYcontrolcanbeusedtogetvisuallystrikingVU
meterresponse,withoutchangingthevolumeofthemusicoraffectingqualityreproductionin
anyway.
LEFT SIDE OF THE UNIT
PowerON/OFFswitch:TheswitchturnstheamplierONandOFF.
WhenturningontheRhapsodyamplier,makesurethatthevolumecontrolisatitsminimum.
Theamplierwillbefullyfunctionalafteronly30seconds.However,asitwarmsupoverthe
rst15minutesofoperation,youmaynoticesubtleimprovementsinthesoundquality.
Attheendofyourlisteningsession,makesuretoturntheamplieroff.Leavingitturnedon
doesnotimprovesoundqualityanditreduceslifeofthevacuumtubes.
Theampliershouldalwaysbeturnedonandoffviaitsownpowerswitch.
09 RHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplier

RHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplier

CONTROLS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
REAR PANEL
TheonlycontrolontherearpanelisthelinevoltageselectorswitchlocatednexttotheACpower
inlet(ACINPUT).Thisswitchneedstobesetsothatthenumberdisplayed(115or230)corre-
spondswiththelinevoltageinyourcountry.
Therearpanelalsohosts:
Groundinglug(GND)
Threesingleended(unbalanced)inputs,markedRCA1,RCA2andRCA3
TwoXLRconnectorsforthebalancedinput.
Speakerterminals,informofve-way binding posts.Eachchannelhasthreeterminals,
marked0,4and8.Speakerwiregoingtothenegativespeakerterminalshouldbeconnect-
edtothebindingpostmarkedwith0,whilethepositiveterminalshouldbeconnectedtothe
bindingpostwithmarkingthatcorrespondstothenominalimpedanceofthespeaker.
REMOTE CONTROL
TheRhapsodyampliercomeswithitsowndedicatedremotecontrol.Forthesakeofsimplicity,re-
liabilityandlongbatterylife,basicfunctionalityisprovidedviatwobuttons:volume up and down.
11 RHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplier

RHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplier

SERVICING
HighqualitypartsandcarefuldesignoftheRHAPSODYensurelongandreliableoperation
withoutneedforanymaintenanceotherthanthatlistedintheMAINTENANCEsection.Inan
unlikelycasethattheunitdoesnotoperateasintended,pleasecontactthefactoryoryourlocal
distributorforassistance.
CAUTION
Lethalvoltagesarepresentinsidetheamplier.Donotremovetheamplier’scovers.Servicing
oftheunitshouldbeperformedonlybyauthorizedservicepersonnel.

14
RHAPSODY-TubeIntegratedStereoAmplier
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
RHAPSODY | TUBE INTEGRATED STEREO AMPLIFIER
Class of operation: ParallelSingle-Ended(classA)
Tube complement: 4x300B,2x6SN7
Remote controlled volume control
Input impedance: 100Kohms
Inputs: 3xRCAand1xXLR
Input sensitivity: 0.5Vrms
Outputs: 4,8ohms
Output power: 2x20W
THD: 0.55%@1W,1kHz
S/N ratio: 80dB
Frequency bandwidth: 10Hz–75kHz(-3dB)
Input voltage: 115/230V,50/60Hz(100-120-220-240Vavailableonrequest)
Power consumption: 280VA
Size: 470x370x260mm
Weight: 32kg

TUBE INTEGRATED STEREO AMPLIFIER
RHAPSODY
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