VAC ?200 Phi Two Hundred Setup guide

F 200
TheVACPhi Two Hundred
Stereo BeamPower Amplifier
Operation&MaintenanceInformation
Valve Amplification Company
Manual issued01/02/2009
Revised 03/11/2009, 01/21/2010

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CAUTION -SAFETYNOTICES
THEAMPLIFIERCONTAINS NOUSERSERVICEABLEPARTS.DONOT REMOVETHEBOTTOM PLATES
ORCHASSIS COVERS.LETHALVOLTAGESAREPRESENTWITHIN THECHASSIS.DONOT OPERATE
THEUNITSIFTHEYAREWET.
VACUUMTUBESBECOME HOT ENOUGHTO CAUSESERIOUSBURNS.NEVERTOUCH ATUBEWHEN
THEUNITIS ON. ITMAYTAKESEVERALMINUTESFORTHETUBESTO COOLDOWN AFTERTHEUNIT
ISSWITCHEDOFF.ITIS STRONGLY RECOMMENDEDTHATTHETUBECOVERSBELEFTIN PLACEATALL
TIMES.
Never touchatubeiftheglass isbroken.Theinternal structurescarryhighvoltageandcouldpresent
aserious,possiblylethal shock.Ifatubebreaks,unplugtheamplifier andwait30 minutes,then
removethetube.
Keepflammable objectsawayfrom theamplifier.
DONOT LEAVETHEAMPLIFIER UNATTENDED IN OPERATION.
THEAMPLIFIERIS HEAVY.ITIS ADVISABLETO HAVEASSISTANCEIN UNPACKING,MOVING,AND
SETTINGUP. BESURETO USEPROPERLIFTINGTECHNIQUESTO AVOIDBACK STRAIN AND INJURY.
BECERTAIN TO INSTALL ITIN A SECURELOCATION FROM WHICH ITCAN NOT FALL OR TIPOVER.
Provideadequateventilation -allow atleast3inches aboveandto eachside.
Donot place inacompletelyenclosed cabinet.Donot stackother equipment on topof theVAC
unit.
Donot operateon carpetoranyother surface thatmight blockair flow.

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INDEX
Introduction
Installation -Stereo
Mono Connections/ Mono Switch(option)
Operation
Installing New Output Tubes
Biasing &Checking Output TubeCondition
Replacement of Low Level Tubes
Care OfChassis
Tips andAdvice
A WordAbout Tubes inGeneral
Output Tubes
Low Level Tubes
Impedance Matching
Grounding
Tuning YourSystem
Specifications
Footnotes
Warranty&Registration Form

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INTRODUCTION
ThePhi200 isauniquepoweramplifier,andoneof themostvividanddetailedinVAC’s history,
secondonlyto thelarger Phi300.1.Featuringanewdirect-coupledinput &driver circuit,extremely
fastandvividsoundisachievedfrom both single-endedandbalancedsources.
ThePhi200 maybeused as a100+watt/channel stereoamplifier,orcanbeconnectedas a200+
watt monophonic amplifier.
ThePhi200 isdesignednot to thelatestfadbut to substance,forthehighestpossible soundquality.
Timespent familiarizing yourselfwith thismanual will bewell rewarded.

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INSTALLATION -STEREO USE
01)Install thevacuumtubes.Eachtubeoritsboxhas a“V” number,whichcorresponds to the
labels on thetopplateof theamplifier;these indicatewhere eachtubeshouldbeinstalled.
Fiteachtubeinto thematching socket.
Wheninserting andremoving tubes, handle them bytheir bases, not bytheir glass bulbs.
Notethatthere isalocatorpinon theoctal (eight contact)tubes thatindicates proper
alignment.
02)Connectinput cables,either RCA types forunbalancedsources,orbalancedXLRtypes for
balancedsources.
03)Verifythatthetwo“Balance /Single-Ended”switches are setto thesamedesiredposition.
Settheinput typeswitchto XLR (forbalancedinput)orRCA (forsingle-endedinput).
04)Ifyouramplifier isfittedwith aMONOSWITCH, ensure thatitissetto “STEREO”.
05)Connectthespeaker cables;theblackleadgoes to “-“ or“Ground”.Theredleadgoes to
“+” or“Positive”.Followthelabels fortheimpedance thatbestmatches yourloudspeakers.
06)Connecta12 volttrigger cable into thesocketon thebackpanel ifdesired;thisallowsthe
amplifier to beturnedon andoff byanexternal device.
07)Provideadequateventilation -allow atleast3inches aboveandto eachside.
08)Donot place inacompletelyenclosed cabinet.Donot stackother equipment on topof the
VAC unit.
09)Donot operateon carpetoranyother surface thatmight blockair flow.
10)Thechassis will becomehot innormal use.
11)Donot allowthechassis to touchanymetal parts,suchas theframeof anequipment rack.
Thismight createaparallel groundpath thatcoulddegradethesoundof yoursystem.
12)Connectthepower cordto thepower source indicatedon therear panel (will beeither
100,120,220, or240 voltsAC).Voltageconversionsmustbedoneatthefactoryof by
anauthorizedVAC importer.
13)Avoidpower conditioners thatfloatthegroundpin.
14)Power requirementsare approximately600 watts.Payclose attention to power quality,and

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beaware thatdifferent power cords canalter thesound.
15) Checkthebiassettingsof theoutput tubes whentheunitisfirstinstalled andwhenever a
tubeischanged.Itisalsoagoodidea to verifythesettingsperiodically,suchas once a
week. Follow thebiasprocedure outlinedlater inthismanual.
NOTES:
Donot removeandconnectinput cablesorspeaker cableswhile isamplifier isrunning.
Doing sorisksdamageto yourloudspeakers ortheamplifier.
Donot operatetheamplifier without aloudspeaker orloadresistorattached.
Donot allow anything to touchthetubes innormal operation -theybecomeveryhot.
Takecare to keepeveryone,especiallychildrenandpets,frombeingable to reachand
touchthetubes, whichbecomeextremelyhot andcause seriousinjury.
Never touchatubeiftheglass isbroken.Theinternal structurescarryhighvoltageandcould
present aserious,possiblylethal shock.Ifatubebreaks,unplugtheamplifier andwait30
minutes, thenremovethetube.
Keepflammable objectsawayfrom theamplifier.

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MONOCONNECTION - with Mono Switchoption
For200+watt mono operation:
1)SettheMONOSWITCH to “Mono”.
2)Ensure thatthetwoBALANCE/SEswitches are setidenticallyto oneanother.
3)Connecttheinput cable to either XLRconnector(balancedsource) orto either RCA
connector(unbalancedsource).
4)Connectthenegativespeaker leadto either “COMMON”binding post.
5)Connectthepositivespeaker leadto the“4-8"bindingpostassociatedwith theCommon
postselectedinstep4.Inmono operation,thiswill matchwell with speakers rangingfrom
approximately2to 8ohms.
6)Donot use the“1-2"or“2-4"binding posts.
MONOCONNECTION - without Mono Switchoption (earlyproduction units)
For200+watt mono operation:
1)Connectidentical input signals to thetwoinput jacks. Itispossible to use a“Y”adapter to
dothis, orwith twocablesifyourpreamplifer has twopairs of outputs.
2)Connectajumper wire betweenthetwobinding postslabeled“COMMON”.
3)Takenoteof yourloudspeaker’s impedance.Ifitis4or8ohms,connectajumper between
thetwobindingpostslabeled“8OHMS”;ifitis2ohms,connectajumper bewteenthetwo
binding postslabeled“4OHMS”.
4)Ifyourspeaker is4or8ohms,connectitto theCOMMONand8OHMbindingpostsof
either channel;ifyourspeaker is2ohms,connectitto theCOMMON and4OHMbinding
postsof either channel.
5)Ensure thattheBALANCE/SINGLE-ENDED switches are setidentically.

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OPERATION
Power on earlyunitsisappliedwith afront panel pushbutton switch.Notehowyou are pushing
thebutton if‘contactbounce’occurs, andyou’ll soon acquire areliable technique.
Power on later unitsisappliedthroughafront panel rocker switch.
Soundwill beginapproximately45 seconds after turnon.
Aswith all highfidelityproducts,thesoundcharacteristic of theVAC changes somewhatas itwarms
up.Weadvise againstleavingtheequipment on atall times forsafetyreasons,andbecause of the
attendant acceleration of output tubewear andpower consumption.Lifeof theoutput tubes
averages 3,000 to 8,000 hours.Forbesttubelife,turntheamplifier off whenyou are not listening.
AnytimethattheVAC Power Amplifier has not beenused forafewweeksthesoundmaybe
different.Thisisalsonormal forhighresolution audioequipment.Optimumsoundshouldreturnafter
afew hoursof operation, preferablywith anaudiosignal.
Please notethatalthoughyourVAC Systemhas beenrunfor48 hoursatthefactory,thebreak-in
timeof highresolution audioequipment isinfuriatinglylong. ThePhisoundwill continueto season
forapproximately200 hours.Theearlysoundof theamplifier will beless extended,dynamic,and
coherent.Thenthesoundwill improvenoticeably,followedbyaperiodof darker sound,finally
giving wayto thedesiredmusicality. Patience isavirtue.
Alsobeaware thatmanycomponentsdisplaytheneedforanewbreakinperiodafter being
transportedinunheatedcargoaircraft.

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INSTALLINGNEW OUTPUTTUBES
First, see theSAFETYNOTICEearlier inthemanual.
Output tubes are typeKT88.Replacement outputtubes shouldbepurchasedfromVAC. Itis
desirable thattubes beinmatchedquartetsforeachchannel,andbeclose to the"bogey"values
forthemajorparameters. Makecertainthateachtubefitsfirmlyinitssocket.
ALL POWERMUSTBEOFF.Waituntil theoldtubes havecooleddown(TUBESBECOME HOT
ENOUGHTO CAUSESERIOUSBURNSWHENIN OPERATIONANDMAYTAKESEVERALMINUTESTO
COOLDOWN).Install thenewtubes firmlyandfullyinthesockets,observingthatthetubewill only
fitinto thesocketinoneorientation,determinedbytheplastic “keyway”inthecenter of thebase.
Donot use excessiveforce. Replace thetoprods before operating theamplifier.
Adustthebiascontrolfullycounterclockwise.
Switchon theamplifier andfollowthebiasprocedure outlinedlater inthismanual.Biasmustbe
checkedandadjustedwhentheamplifier firstturnson,at60 seconds,90 seconds,twominutes,
andfiveminutes.Intheearliestchecks,setthebiassothatthemeter readabitto theleft of center.
Final setting shouldbemadeafter 15-30 minutes. Rechecknew tubes dailyforthefirstweek.
Whenever atubeischanged, thebiassettingsmustbecheckedand adjusted.
Aslight violetglowinthetubeisnot cause forconcern.Ifatanytimetheplate(theoutermostmetal
structure) of theoutput tubes beginsto glowbright orangeorredSWITCH OFF IMMEDIATELY (a
small area with adull orangeglowisnormal forcertainversionsof theKT88).Theredglowindicates
thatthetubeis"runningaway",being destroyedbyconducting excessivecurrent.Tubes mayrun
awayforseveral reasons:
1)Thetubeisnot fullyinsertedinthesocket.
2)Thetubefitslooselyinthesocketand thuscannot makecorrectcontact.Suchatubeis
unusable.
3)Thetubeisdefective.
Intheevent thattrouble isencounteredcheckconnectionsand/ortryanother tube.Stopifthe
problem persistsandconsultwith yourdealer orVAC.
Forfurther information,refer to Tips &Advice:Tubes inGeneral andTips &Advice:Output Tubes.

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CHECKINGOUTPUTTUBECONDITION
Thecondition of eachindividual KT88 output tubeshouldbecheckedwith thebuiltinindicatorLED
lights, locatedbehindeachKT88.
Proper settingisindicatedbyanLEDthatisdarkwhenno music isplaying, but lights‘with thebeat’
as music isplayed.Toachievethissetting, place theprovidedadjustment screwdriver inthebias
adjustopeningforthetubeto beset.While watchingtheassociatedLED, turnthecontrolclockwise
until theLEDlights;thenturnthecontrolslightlycounterclockwise until theLEDjustgoes out.Be
certainto stopthemusic before making thereading.
Repeattheadjustmentsifnecessary, as thetubes interactslightly.
DoNOT touchthetubes themselves, as theyare hot enoughto cause seriousburns.
NOTE:Someversionsof KT88will evidence adull orangeglowover asmall percentageof the
tube’s anode(see photo).
OutputTube Bias Adjustment:
Biassettingsitshould be checkedwhenyouinstall youramplifierand
approximatelyonce everymonththereafter.Itmustalsobe adjustedeachtime
atube isreplaced.
Allow theamplifier toreachnormaloperatingtemperature(abouttenminutes
ofwarmup should be sufficient).Mutethepreamplifierand setthebiasforthe
four KT88 tubesby referencingtheamber LEDlightsbehind eachtube.
Usingthesuppliedtool(orasmall flatbladedscrewdriver),rotateeachcontrol
in turnclockwiseuntil theassociatedLEDjustlights,thenbackup slightlyuntil the
lightjustgoesout.
Since theadjustmentscaninteractslightly,recheckall four tubes.

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REPLACEMENTOFLOW LEVELTUBES
All power mustbeswitchedoff.Allowtubes to cooldown.Removeandreplace with newtubes
of theappropriatetypes.Notethatthese tubes haveacentral platic shaft with alocatorridgeon
oneside;thisridgemustbealignedwith theslot inthesocket.
Replacement tubes are available from VAC andother sources.
Forfurther information,refer to Tips &Advice:AWordAbout Tubes inGeneral andTips &Advice:
A WordAbout Low Level Tubes.
CAREOFCHASSIS
VAC chassis are machinedaluminumforsuperiorelectromagnetic performance.Themainchassis is
finishedinadurable mattepowdercoatpaint.Cleaningtheunitwith adampcloth WHILETHEAMP
IS SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED shouldsuffice.Donot getcleaning solutionsonto orinto the
tubesocketsorjacks.

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TIPS&ADVICESECTION
A WordAbout Tubes inGeneral
Itistruethateachbrandof tubesounds different inaparticular highresolution circuit.Thisisbecause
no twomanufacturersmakeatubetypeinquitethesameway, andthecentral tendenciesof the
performance parameters will differ slightlywith eachmaker.Toemphasizethepoint,examinethe
platestructure of anytwo6SN7fromdifferent manufacturersandyou mayfindthattheyare not the
sameshapeandsize.(Becarefulhere,as oftenatubeismadebyafirmother thanindicatedon its
label.Intheheydayof tubes itwas common to crossbrandbetweenmajorlabels,suchas GEand
RCA. Todaymanylabels donot manufacture their tubes atall, including GoldAeroandRAM.)
Thissonic variabilitymayatfirstseemaliability,but further thought will reveal thatitisanadvantage,
justliketheabilityto adjustVTAon atonearm. Theowner of atubeamplifier canselectthose tubes
whichsoundlikethereal thinginhis/her specific system. Ofcourse,ifthemanufacturer you prefer
is rare you maywant to purchase afew spare tubes forthefuture.
Howlongshouldtubes last? Ithas longbeenknowninprofessional circles(andprobablynow
forgotten)thatatubesuchas the12AX7will displaybetter performance characteristicsafter two
years of continual operation thanwhenitwas new. Innormal use itisnot unusual foralowlevel
tubeto last5years orlonger.Output tubes are another story,as theyare continuallyproviding
significant amountsof current.Here thesoundisyourbestguide.Certainlyatubeshouldbe
replacedwhenitsemission issignificantlydownoritstransconductance issubstantiallyout of
specification. Innormal use, output tubes will lastatleast2years andperhaps more than5years.
Itisnormal to see aslight violetglowinapower tubesuchas a300B orEL34.However,avivid
violetindicates excess current flow throughthetubeandshouldbeinvestigated.
VAC cantesttubes forconcernedcustomers.

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Tips:Output Tubes
YourVAC Amplifier uses theKT88 kinkless tetrode.Itisstronglyrecommendedthatreplacement
tubes bepurchasedonlyfromVAC. If,however,you want to customizethesoundto yourtastes,
beaware thatas with interconnectsandspeaker cables,eachtubemanufacturer'sKT88 tends to
haveadistinctsound, as well as itsownreliabilityprofile.
Tips:Low Level Tubes
TheVoltageAmplifier/Phase Splitter anddriver tubes inthePhiisthe6SN7mediummuoctal twin
triode.Youramplifier isfittedwith thecurrent production VAC Tested6SN7fromChina,whichwe
findsuperiorto theNOStypes wehavetried.There are dozensofversionsof thistubeavailable
innewoldstock(NOS)fromavarietyof sources.Itwouldbeimpossible to characterizethemall.
Other equivalent typenumbers are 5692, 13D2, B65, ECC32, QA2408, QB65, andCV1988.
Tubes V1andV2shouldbetransconductance matched,andtubes V3andV4shouldbe
transconductance matched;thisminimizes distortion.
Westronglyrecommendobtaining tubes as setsfrom VAC.

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Tips:Impedance Matching
Westronglysuggestthatyou experiment with theavailable impedance connectionsforthebest
sonic matchwith yoursystem. Sinceno loudspeaker representsanunchangingimpedance atall
frequencies,itisimpossible to assertwith certaintywhichoutput tapisappropriateto use.Inmany
systemsanamazing difference insoundwill existbetweenthevariousimpedance taps.
Since theimpedance of mostloudspeakers varyover awiderangeexperimentation isessential.
Mostspeakers havearatedimpedance of 4or8ohms.Werecommendstartingwith the8ohm
connection; after you knowthesoundifthatconnection,trythe4ohmconnection.Choose the
connection thatsounds bestto yourears.
Ifyou bi-wire yoursystem(run separatespeaker leads fromtheamplifier tothehighandlow
frequencytransducers) you maydiscover thattwodifferent impedance taps workbest.
Contraryto popular misconception, no power islostdueto unused output taps.
Formore information consultVAC Technical Monograph90-9,whichmaybeviewedon ourwesite
(http://www.vac-amps.com).

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Tips:AudioGrounding
Systemsincorporatingsingle-endedinterconnectcables(“RCA cables”) are proneto aproblem
knownas “groundlooping”,whichcanresultinextraneoushumsandbuzzes audible throughthe
loudspeaker. Ifthisoccursinyoursystem, you haveto attemptto minimizethegroundloop.
Tominimizethebuzz using thenormal RCA input jack, there are several steps you cantake:
1)Use theshortestinterconnectspossible.
2)Use interconnectswith goodshielding properties.
3)Keeptheaudiocablesas close together as possible.
4)KeeptheAC cords awayfrom theaudiocables.
5)Trydifferent groundsettingson yourpreamplifier,ifithas them. Forexample,theVAC
Signature,Phi,and Renaissance preamplifiersmaybesetto “ungrounded”or“XLR”audio
modes.
6)Theuse of cheater plugsisnot recommendedandposes asafetyhazard.

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SPECIFICATIONS
TheVAC Phihas beendevelopedwith thecritical ear as themajorarbiter of quality,with both
conventional anduniquemeasurementsprovidinginsight andguidance as necessary.Thelackof
emphasis on measurementsisdueto thefactthatengineering'sarsenal of equipment andtechniques
donot operateon thepatternrecognition principlesthatcontrolhumanperception of sound.
Intheimmortal words of Daniel von Recklinghausen,ifitmeasuresgoodandsounds bad,itisbad.
Ifitmeasuresbadandsounds good, you'vemeasuredthewrong things.
Forthose concernedwith testbenchperformance,thefollowingdescribes typical measured
performance of thePhi200 whenoperatedat120 VAC, 60 Hz.
Power Output:110 watts/channel continuousaveragepower at1kHzwith less than3%
THD into 8ohmsconnectedto the8ohm tapinthestereomode.
220 wattsinmono operation,4ohmloadconnectedto paralleled8ohm
taps.
FrequencyResponse:down0.5dB at7Hzand30 kHz, ref0dB =1watt @1kHz.
down3.0dB at3.5Hzand115 kHz, ref0dB =1watt @1kHz.
AbsolutePolarity:Does not invertabsolutephase.

WARRANTY
Your equipmentiswarranted for aperiod ofthirty (30)daysfromthe dateofpurchase.Inaddition,if the
registrationformisreceivedby VACalongwithacopyofyour sales receiptfromanauthorized VACdealer
withinthisthirty days,the warranty will beextended totwo (2)years (tubes excepted).Thiswarranty applies
only tounitssoldinthe United States ofAmericathroughauthorized VACdealers andoperated withinthe
United Statesby the original purchaser.It covers factoryserviceand,withinthe continental U.S., standard
return shipping. For warranty informationoutside ofthe U.S.contactthe importer ofVACequipmentfor your
country. Unitssoldoutside ofthe U.S.shouldstill beregistered withVAC. It isthe responsibility ofthe
customer and/or dealer toensure suitability ofthisequipmentfor anyparticularapplication.
Your questions andcommentsare alwayswelcome.Contact:
Valve AmplificationCompany
1911 EastAvenue North
Sarasota, FL 34234
Telephone [phone]Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
_____________________________ Detachand mail to theaddress aboveassoon aspossible. ____________________________
Phi 200 RegistrationForm
Name________________________________________________________________________
Address________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Telephone_______/_______-_____________e-mail __________________________________
Dealer name________________________________City ____________________________________
Salesperson___________________ Purchase date____________SerialNumber ________________
How didyoufirstlearn ofVACproducts?____________________________________________________
What other brands/modelsdidyouconsider? _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
What made youdecide onthe VAC?_______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
What else wouldyoulikeus toknow? _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Optional:
What magazines do youreadregularly?________________________________________________________
What are your hobbies (besides fillinginwarranty cards)?_______________________________________
What are your favoritetypes ofmusic? ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Onwhat format?(CD, LP,DVD, SACD, MP3,etc.)______________________________________________