Whest PhonoStage PS.20 User manual

MM MC
MSU IN
L
INPUT
L
Z. LOADING
R
CE
R
OUTPUT
PS.20 by whest audio ltd
Operating manual
PS.20 + MsU.20

Contents
Description
Safety
Cleaning
Connections
Specification
Fig.1 PhonoStage.20 rear
Fig.2 MsU.20 rear
Fig.3 Basic connection
Fig.4 Grounding arrangements

Description
Thank you for purchasing the Whest Audio Ltd PhonoStage.20.
As you know, this unit is designed to retrieve the maximum amount of information from your vinyl
LPs. It does this by using proprietary low noise audio circuitry as well as a newly developed filter
which together with the RIAA filter enables the PhonoStage.20 to playback up to 60Khz.
BRIEF HISTORY
The RIAA curve was designed many years ago to enable the use of vinyl as a playback medium.
Back then the humble stylus and audio electronics could really only playback a very limited
bandwidth. A system bandwidth of 12Khz was quite rare. Nowadays most systems have a
bandwidth of 100Khz! The modern day cartridge can playback 60Khz. So why continue with a
filter curve designed for systems designed in the 1950s?

FORWARD THINKING
Because of our close links with the music recording industry we were able to measure several
Neumann cutter heads prior to cutting a master onto acetate. What we found was that the cutter
head would cut high frequency all the way to 50Khz!
With these results and the research acquired from the DAP programme we then designed a hf filter
that would complement the RIAA filter we had designed for the PhonoStage.20. Because of the
extended hf response of the PhonoStage.20 large amounts of information are now able to be heard
when it was once thought there was nothing there.
The extended hf enables you to hear further into the soundstage by bringing to life the lowest
frequencies of a kick drum and positioning all instruments to form a three dimensional soundstage.
It is because of the extended hf response that the PhonoStage.20 excels where others just plainly
fail.

Safety
Please note that there are no user serviceable parts inside.
If for any reason this unit needs to be serviced please return it to an authorised Whest Audio Ltd
service agent.
There is a risk of electrical shock if this unit is opened!
Please do not attempt to open this unit as it WILL invalidate your guarantee.
Cleaning
When cleaning the unit please do not use any liquids as it may enter the unit causing it to
malfunction. We recommend a lint free cloth with a small amount of polish applied to the cloth.

Connections
All PhonoStage.20 units come supplied with an Audiophile grade interconnect.
Although all listening tests were conducted with this interconnect please feel free to use your
preferred interconnect or ask your dealer for advice.
1. When connecting the PhonoStage.20 please make sure that your system’s source selector is
switched to an input other than the input to which the PhonoStage.20 unit is to be connected.
2. Please make sure that the MsU.20 unit on/off switch is in the off position. This is done by
pressing the ‘0’ on the mains switch on the rear of the unit.
3. First disconnect the turntable from the amplifier / preamplifier.
4. Connect the turntable leads to the PhonoStage.20 observing the colour codes for channel ID.

5. Connect the ‘grounding’ lead from the turntable arm lead to the groundingpost on the
PhonoStage.20.
6. Connect the output of the PhonoStage.20 to the amplifier / preamplifier aux input.
7. Once you are happy that all inputs and outputs have been connected properly, attach the MsU
multi-pin connector to the MsU.20 first, then to the PhonoStage.20.
8. Then plug the supplied IEC mains cable into an appropriate power wall socket.
9. If all is OK just press the ‘I’ on the rear mains switch. A small red light should glow on the
MsU.20 unit’s front panel- this indicates that all is OK. There is no light on the PhonoStage.20
unit.
10. Select the correct source input on the amplifier / preamplifier.

11. LOADING & GAIN
a. Use the Blue loading plugs if you are using a Moving Coil cartridge. These plugs apply a
100ohm loading value to the MC input.
b. Use the Black loading plugs if you are using a Moving Magnet cartridge. These plugs apply a
47,000 ohm loading value to the MM input.
c. If your cartridge requires a different loading value please ask your Whest Audio dealer or contact
Whest Audio ltd on [email protected] or tel: [phone]
d. The majority of MC cartridges will require the 100ohm plugs. Occasionally we have found that a
different value is required, but this is very occasional.
The Gain of the PS.20 is fixed but can be adjusted internally by your dealer or by Whest Audio Ltd
before purchasing a unit.

12. Play a LP and enjoy!
It may take several hours before the PhonoStage.20 settles down to work more efficiently, but
generally 4-6 hours is sufficient time for the sensitive components to find their ‘steady state’
working temperature.
Please familiarise yourself with the rear panel (fig.1) layout as it will make unplugging and cleaning
easier.

Specification
Model No.: PhonoStage.20 + MsU.20
RIAA curve accuracy: 18Hz - 22Khz +/- 0.2dB
Frequency response: 5Hz - 60Khz +/- 1.5dB
Working band: 15Hz - 53Khz
MM Gain: 40dB
MC Gain 65dB to suite all 0.5-0.7mV cartridges
THD+N: 0.007%
Connections: Unbalanced
Connectors: Gold Audiophile
Unpacked weight: 3Kgs
Packed weight: 4Kgs
Dimensions: 2 x 165mm x 107mm x 62mm
Operating voltage: 230VAC 50Hz or 115VAC 60Hz
(see dealer)

Supplied in package:
1 x PhonoStage.20 head unit
1 x MsU.20 power supply
1 x Audiophile interconnect
1 x 8-way MsU multi-pin cable
1 x IEC mains cable
1 x set MM loading plugs (47K/220p) - Black
1 x set MC loading plugs (100R/1.5n) - Blue

In use
The PhonoStage.20 has been designed to be simple to integrate into any audio system.
See the PhonoStage.20 rear panel drawing on fig.1 & MsU.20 rear fig.2 for connections.
For basic connectivity follow fig.3.
For various grounding methods see fig.4.
Cartridge loading
The majority of MC cartridges fall into the 100R/1.5n loading category.
If your MC cartridge requires a different loading plug please consult your Whest Audio Ltd dealer or
contact Whest Audio Ltd on [email protected]
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Fig.1 PhonoStage.20 rear
PS.20 by whest audio ltd
OUTPUT
R
CE
R
Z. LOADING
L
INPUT
L
MSU IN
MM MC
inserts for loading plugs
to connect to pre/amplifier
to connect to turntable
selector for Moving Magnet
(MM) or Moving Coil (MC)
cartridge
to connect to
MSU via 8 pin
cable.

MsU.20 by whest audio ltd
WARNING
No user serviceable parts inside. Refer to manual for proper fuse rating.
CE
MSU OUT
Fig.2 MsU.20 rear
to connect to
PhonoStage.20
via 8 pin cable.
to connect to
mains supply

Fig.3 Basic connection
Preamp or integrated amp
INPUT1INPUT2INPUT3INPUT4
GND
MSU multipin cable
Right channel - Red Left channel - White or Black
MSU OUT
CE
WARNING
No user serviceable parts inside. Refer to manual for proper fuse rating.
MsU.20 by whest audio ltd
PS.20 by whest audio ltd
OUTPUT
R
CE
R
Z. LOADING
L
INPUT
L
MSU IN
MM MC

MM MC
MSU IN
L
INPUT
L
Z. LOADING
R
CE
R
OUTPUT
PS.20 by whest audio ltd
Left channel - White or Black Right channel - Red
GND
INPUT4 INPUT3 INPUT2 INPUT1
Preamp or integrated amp
MM MC
MSU IN
L
INPUT
L
Z. LOADING
R
CE
R
OUTPUT
PS.20 by whest audio ltd
Left channel - White or Black Right channel - Red
GND
INPUT4 INPUT3 INPUT2 INPUT1
Preamp or integrated amp
GND
Right channel - Red Left channel - White or Black
PS.20 by whest audio ltd
OUTPUT
R
CE
R
Z. LOADING
L
INPUT
L
MSU IN
MM MC
Fig.4 Grounding arrangements