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Sunfire Classic Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Stereo Amplifier User Manual

1. Pa pue Sunfire from his mind amp soul Classic Vacuum Tube Preamplifier User s Manual I Sunfire User s Manual a CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN CAUTION TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER OR BACK NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL Safety Instructions 1 Read Instructions All the safety and operation instructions should be read before the Sunfire Component is operated 2 Retain Instructions The safety and operating instructions should be kept for future reference 3 Heed Warnings All warnings on the Component and in these operating instructions should be followed 4 Follow Instructions All operating and other instruc tions should be followed 5 Water and Moisture The Component should not be used near water for example near a bathtub washbowIl kitchen sink laundry tub in a wet basement or near a swimming pool etc 6 Ventilation The Component should be situated so that its location or position does not interfere with its proper ventilation For example the Component should not be situated on a bed sofa rug or similar surface that may block any ventilation openings or placed in a built in installation such as a bookcase or cabinet that may impede the flow of air through ventilation openings 7 Heat The Component should be situated away from heat sources such as radi
2. on bok bo NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIHMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE AC AC Fuse outlets cord Line inputs XLR Main Tape Tape outs outs out in Sunfir e User s Manual Note The remote control will only work when the front panel power switch is in the ON position Balance PHONO LINE INPUTS INVERSE r PHONO r PHONO ONO LINE 5210 Bickford Av Snohomish Optional MM MC Phono switch section Overview 5 Sunfire User s Manual Front Panel Features Classic Vacuum Tube Control Center Sunfire compact 7 VIDEO SELECTOR 1235 6 7 8 1 Power Switch 4 This is the main AC power switch Flip the switch up to apply power to the unit It is good practice to turn the volume control down before turning on and keep it down until after about 40 seconds of tube warm up 5 time when the MUTE lamp turns off and the ON lamp stops blinking and turns on continuously If you prefer you may leave this AC power switch permanently on and use the remote control to switch the unit on or off Turning the power off with the remote will extinguish both the MUTE and ON lamps Note the power switch must be in the up POWER position for the remote control to work 2 On lamp During normal operation this lamp will be on When you turn the preamplifier on this lamp blinks for about 40 seconds while the tubes are warming up After that time it will stay on continuously 3 Mute
3. without difficulty 2001 Sunfire Corporation All rights reserved Sunfire Corporation reserves the right to improve its products at any time Therefore specifications are subject to change without notice Manual Part number 913 012 00 Rev C Troubleshooting In view of the Classic s input output flexibility the many connecting cables to and from the components which may be con nected to it and the large number of possibili ties for mis set switches both on the Classic and on the various ancillary components operating with it obviously it is impossible to offer a complete troubleshooting guide to all of the problems which could in principle occur Most such potential problems will be avoided simply by following the instructions in this owner s manual and the instructions supplied with associated products and many other possible problems will be prevented simply by the excellent reliability of modern components So in this section we will provide a guide to some of the most basic and common difficulties which may arise from time to time and suggestions as to their probable causes Toillustrate the sort of thought process which is useful in tracking down problems we begin with the most basic no sound because the preamp s power is off Did you accidentally hit the Power button when reaching for the Stereo Mono button Was the preamp s AC line cord accidentally pulled partially out of its wall socket during hou
4. It s location relative to other stereo components is not critical except that it should not be stacked with or placed adjacent to powerful amplifiers which may generate external hum fields e Typically it is best to locate the Classic close to the turntable or CD player so that connection cables may be kept short The turntable should be ona solid vibration free surface to avoid problems of acoustic feedback and instability In many systems it may be convenient to locate the preamp within arm s length of the prime listening position for which long cables to the amplifier will be necessary normally cable runs of up to 30 feet are OK e Protect it from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and other direct sources of heat such as heating vents and radiators e Do not expose the unit to rain or moisture If fluid or a foreign object should enter the unit immediately turn off the power and contact your Sunfire Dealer e Avoid excessive exposure to extreme cold or dust e Do not place heavy objects on top of the unit 10 Installation AC Power Considerations Ensure that the unit is plugged into an outlet capable of supplying the correct voltage specified for your model Care If you need to clean the front surface first turn off the power and then use a slightly damp ened cloth rubbing with the grain Be careful not to scratch the front window Connection Tips Before setting up your new system please
5. be connected to the preamplifiers CD inputs If your CD player has variable outputs this will allow you to adjust the CD player s output volume to match the volume of other components in your system such as the tape deck or turntable When you switch from one component to the next the initial volume would then be similar If you want your CD player to have an extra special sound you can use the Inverse RIAA circuits as shown on page 12 CD player Connections System Configurations S EXN ayer dD CD player Any of the line level inputs such as TUNER CD VIDEO AUX and TAPE can be used by any source component with a line level output such as DVD LaserDisc VCR reel to reel DAT TV or satellite receiver 234 _ Sunfir e User s Manual ian soni aa Sears S Ax eo TUNER Jovac PUT FT RIGHT RECORD ater PLAY Tape Deck The output from your Tape deck connects An external processor can be connected to the preamplifiers TAPE inputs These in exactly the same way as a Tape deck inputs are only selected by using the preamplifiers Tape Monitor switch The external processor outputs connect to the preamplifiers Tape The inputs of your Tape deck connect to inputs the preamplifiers TAPE outputs These outputs are unaffected by the setting of the The extemal processo Inputs connect volume control or the contour controls to the preamplifiers Tape outputs e Sel
6. consider the following e Before making or changing any connections check the front panel to make sure the Power switch is DOWN off and that the Volume Control is set for no output full counterclock wise The amplifier and all other equipment should be turned off and the preamplifier line cord unplugged before making any connections e Whenever possible keep the power cords away from the signal cables or speaker wires to prevent any hum or interference being heard in the speakers e Choose reliable interconnect cables also called patch cords or RCA cables They should be fully shielded and as short as possible for the job e If your amplifier has balanced inputs then we recommend using the bal anced outputs of the preamplifier as this will provide superior noise rejec tion e Some patch cords can be a very tight fit and there is usually a preferred method of getting them off some have to be removed with a twisting action Be gentle or you may damage the jacks of the amplifier or your other componenis The Phono stage PHONO LINE INPUTS INVERSE r PHONO gt r PHONO 5 MOVING MOVING PHONO LINE CoIL MAGNET OUT IN TUNER PASSIVE PRECISION INVERSE RIAA PHONO NETWORK Sunfire Corporation A 5210 Bickford Avene Snohomish Washington U S A MM MC switch Ground connection The optional phono stage contains two independent stereo phono preamplifier inputs which are optimized for s
7. ohms 1 2W 70 dB change R4 and R28 to 18 ohms 1 2W Changing the input impedance of the phono stage Change the jumper position on the headers labeled J6 amp J9 to the value recom mended by your phono cartridge manufac turer Most moving magnet cartridges work best at the 47k setting Moving coil cartridges typically work best at a lower setting Appendix Tube type and location Phono Board vi V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 6DJ8 or 6922 6DJ8 or 6922 6DJ8 or 6922 12AX7 12AX7 6DJ8 or 6922 Line Board vi V2 V3 6DJ8 or 6922 6DJ8 or 6922 6DJ8 or 6922 MC amp MC amp MC amp MM amp MM amp Infrasonic amp Contour amp Line amp Bal amp Line amp Bal amp Note 6922 Tubes are preferred as they have less noise and microphonics than 6DJ8s o qOGFC TT TT Limited Warranty Sunfire Corporation is proud of its prod ucts which have been built with care using advanced technology and premium compo nent parts Your unit has been crafted to perform properly for many years Sunfire Corporation offers the following Warranty to you the owner of a new Sunfire product The Sunfire Corporation Warranty for the Classic vacuum tube preamplifier is in effect for FIVE years from the date of original retail purchase The Sunfire Corporation Warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship The following however are excluded a Damage caused during shipment b Damage caused by accident misuse abuse of oper
8. simply a switch and must be performed by a Sunfire Authorized Service Station Contact Sunfire Technical Services for more information Muting System The Sunfire Classic employs an electronic clamper to mute the main outputs to elimi nate turn on transients It will not interrupt the tape outputs Muting is accomplished by a shorting relay which when it is open is out of the circuit and hence has no effect on the signal It is controlled by a toggling device so muting cannot be partially on This muting system will turn off the signal to your power amplifier at these times e For about 40 seconds after the initial power on whether by the front panel power switch or the remote control e Immediately at turn off whether by the power switch or the remote control e The main outputs will also mute if the line voltage drops below 70 volts This is to reduce thumping Output impedance The output impedance of the Classic is a low 1 5K ohms so it can drive power amplifi ers having virtually any input impedance Options include connecting several power amplifiers to the Classic s main outputs to separately drive different speaker sets or the use of extra long connection cables to drive power amplifier s located close to the speak ers or self powered loudspeakers Conven tional cables as long as 30 feet or special low capacitance cables as long as 60 feet may be used to drive power amplifier s
9. to check that the MM phono stage is working correctly PHONO LINE INPUTS T PHONO INVERSE mown r PHONO CoL MONG phono Ly macner ou a PASSIVE PRECI RSE RIAA PHONO Neo FROM CD PLAYER System Configurations The following pages show some typical connections that you might make in your installa tion They show how the inputs and outputs of the Classic preamplifier are connected to various audio components DSS es If your turntable is equipped with a Moving Magnet cartridge connect its audio outputs to the preamplifiers Moving Magnet inputs as shown Make sure that the MM MC button is in the OUT position If you have a Moving Coil cartridge use the preamplifier s Moving Coil inputs and push the MM MC button inwards Phono Connections In most cases the turntable ground wire should be connected to reduce any hum heard in the speakers Never connect a line level source compo nent directly to the preamplifiers MC or MM inputs as they will be overloaded They are specially designed to handle only the very low level outputs from a phono cartridge and not the higher voltage outputs from CD players or other line level components Phono level is usually below 100mV whereas line level can be up to 2 volts System Configurations x Sunfire User s Manual 13 Sunfire User s Manual 14 LES LS MIDE i The audio output from your CD player can
10. aker wires acting as receiving antennas In this case it might be cured by connecting a 0 01 to 0 1 microfarad disc capacitor across the speaker terminals of each channel but be sure to check with the amplifier manufacturer first some power amps become unstable and burn out when certain values of capacitance are connected at their output terminals A simple cure is to place the power amp near the speakers and use short wires then use long well shielded signal cables from the preamp to the power amp This shouldn t cause any problems under normal conditions If the interference disappears when you mute the output of the preamp then the interference is part of the signal and probably is entering the preamp from one or more of your signal sources Use the Input Selector and Tape Monitor controls to identify which signal sources are picking up the interference or unplug the sources one at a time Usually turntables and tape decks are most vulner able to RFI If the RFI is coming in through the phono signal leads cables with better shield ing might help Other options include wrap ping the signal cables with aluminum foil which is then connected to the Ground post or forming a loop in the cables adjusting the size of the loop to tune out the interference and taping it in place And as with hum try tightening all phono plugs and twist them in their sockets to get good metal to metal contact RFI in tape decks may enter via signal
11. ation contrary to the instructions specified in the Sunfire Corporation user s manual c Units where the serial number has been defaced modified or removed d Damage resulting from modification or attempted repair by any person not authorized in writing by Sunfire Corpo ration The Sunfire Corporation Warranty extends to the original owner or subsequent owner s during the five year warranty period so long as the original dated purchase receipt is presented whenever warranty service is required All implied warranties including warran ties or mechantability and fitness for particular purposes are limited in duration to the five year length of this Warranty unless otherwise provided by state law Sunfire Corporation s liability is limited to the repair or replacement at our option of any defective product and shall not in any event include property or any other incidental or consequential damages which may result from the failure of this product Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and or do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages so the above limita tions or exclusions may not apply to you Sunfir e User s Manual This Warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state We suggest that you attach your purchase receipt to this Warranty and keep these in a safe place Thank you for
12. ators or other devices which produce heat 8 Power Sources The Component should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in these opera tion instructions or as marked on the Component 9 Power Cord Protection Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked upon or pinched by items placed upon or against them paying particular attention to cords at plugs convenience recep tacles and the point where they exit the Component 2 Safety Instructions The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the product s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user of the presence of important operating and main tenance servicing instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance 10 Cleaning The Component should be cleaned only as recommended in this manual 11 Non use Periods The power cord of the Component should be unplugged from the outlet when unused for a long period of time 12 Object and Liquid Entry Care should be taken so that objects do not fall into and liquids are not spilled into the inside of the Component 13 Damage Requiring Service The Component should be serviced only by qualified service
13. cables but more commonly the interference is picked up directly in the playback head and its associated internal wiring so a cure is likely to involve a trip to the factory or service shop for approved modifications Or you might be able to reduce the interference to tolerable levels simply by turning the tape deck 90 degrees or moving it to another location in the room A signal processor such as an equal izer may be connected between either Main output set and the inputs of the power ampli fier which drives the speakers you wish to equalize Troubleshooting 21 Sunfire User s Manual 22 Appendix Changing the phono stage gain The following gain changes may be performed by experienced electronic techni cians Your Sunfire Dealer may be able to recommend a good service repair shop Factory set gain of MM Phono is 40 dB The gain may be changed as follows 36 dB change R 11 and R 35 to 3 9 K ohms 40 dB R 11 and R 35 are 2 4 K ohms 44 dB change R 11 and R 35 to 1 5 K ohms These resistors are located on the circuit board close to the Phono stages They are identified by white ink lettering Changing these resistors will simultaneously increase the gain of the moving coil phono stage i e by the same four dB increments Factory set gain of MC Phono is 60 dB The gain may be changed independently of MM Phono as follows 60 dB Stock R4 and R28 are 62ohms 1 2W 65 dB change R4 and R28 to 33
14. e connected to the balanced audio outputs as shown The balanced connections are preferred as they provide superior noise cancellation and are less susceptible to interference than unbalanced lines Amplifier Connections balanced XLR System Configurations 17 Sunfire User s Manual Specifications Phono Inputs RIAA curve Moving Magnet input Gain 40dB to tape out Overload 100mV 1 kHz Input Impedance 47Q Noise better than 82 dB IHF A below 10mVrms at 1 kHz Moving Coil input Gain 60dB to tape out Overload 5 60 mV 1 kHz Input Impedance 470Q standard setable to 22Q 470 150Q or 470Q Noise better than 76 dB IHF A below 1000 uVrms at 1 kHz High Level Inputs Frequency response 5 Hz to 50 kHz 0 3dB Line Gain 12dB Infrasonic Filter 18 dB per octave below 10 Hz Noise better than 96 dB IHF A below 2 Vrms Distortion THD 0 5 or less below 3 Vrms out IM CCIR or SMPTE 0 5 or less TIM unmeasurable Input Impedance nominally 50kQ Power Consumption 45 Watts with Phono option 25 Watts without Phono option 1 4 Watts remote standby i e when it has been turned off using the remote control Finish Black anodized front panel and cover Dimensions 19 wide x 6 5 high x 18 deep Weight 25 pounds 18 Specifications Line Voltage Units built for 110V 120V line voltage can be converted to 220V 240V by means of a modification This is not
15. ect the source you would like to listen to such as CD and then select the Tape Monitor switch to listen to the processed sound Tape Deck Connections System Configurations 15 Sunfire User s Manual 16 PHONG moving a oi BS he nee x E S WR SED L lt DD TIS S TO RIGH SPEAKER TO LEFT SPEAKER If your amplifier has RCA inputs you can connect them to the preamplifiers Main 1 or Main 2 outputs It does not matter which pair you use because they are identical Main 2 is provided if you want to runa second amplifier perhaps to play speakers in another room or to drive an active subwoofer A third amplifier can be connected to the balanced XLR outputs if you have another set of speakers in a third room Note that all the amplifiers would be playing the same music selection Amplifier If you are using an electronic crossover to bi amp or tri amp your speakers e Connect a cable from either of the preamplifiers main outputs to the active crossover s inputs e Connect the crossover s High Mid and Low outputs as appropriate to the separate power amplifiers in your system Amplifier Connections unbalanced RCA System Configurations 234 _ Sunfir e User s Manual PHONO INVERSE o DRDO Ex IRD SD T a vente Econ Amplifier SPEAKER TO LEFT SPEAKER If your amplifier has XLR inputs it can b
16. eds of dollars Less expensive transformers will be quiet but will usually exhibit ringing phase shift and some low frequency distortion The problems with most active step up devices are simply reversed Moderate cost smooth high frequency response essentially zero phase shift and low distortion may almost be taken for granted while heroic and expensive design techniques including cryogenic cooling have been required to even approach the low noise of a transformer A superbly accurate dual parallel input combined with the use of high current tubes which exhibit an almost unheard of noise figure at room temperatures made a new super gain phono stage possible It yields all the performance advantages of active circuits with noise levels within 6 dB of the best transformers all at moderate cost and at room temperature To change the gain or the input imped ance of your phono stage please refer to the Appendix on page 22 Infrasonic Filter This circuit corrects for difficulties often encountered with phono disc playback The Infrasonic Filter is an 18 dB per octave design Its response is flat down to 10Hz then attenuates the preamp s frequency response rapidly at lower frequencies Phono playback is inevitably contaminated to some extent by sub sonic energy due to normal amounts of record warp tonearm cartridge resonance and turntable motor rumble If not filtered out of the audio signal this sub audible e
17. er component If you find that noise goes away when a cable TV line is disconnected then you will need a ground loop isolator This is an inexpensive device fitted in line with the coaxial cable feed If the hum persists disconnect all the source components one at a time from the back of the preamplifier and you may identify the problem In many cases hum may be eliminated by reversing the Classic s unpolarized AC power plug in the wall socket In others it can be minimized by connecting a heavy stranded wire from the preamplifiers ground post to a true earth ground which may turn out to be any all or none of the following the third round hole in an electrical wall socket in modern U S homes a steam radiator or a cold water pipe However if your power amplifier employs a three wire power cord the stereo system may already be grounded through that in which case another grounded wire from the preamp may create a ground loop and make the hum worse As for the various components within the stereo system they are mutually grounded via the shields of the signal cables and should not be intercon nected with additional grounding wires for the same reason except of course the turntable whose grounding wire usually but not always should be connected to the preamplifier s ground post 4 s Sunjire User s Manual Finally we come to the other common source of hum problems the signal cables and their ass
18. he balance of the harmonic content Thus a violin will still sound like a violin retaining its air sheen and openness while reducing excessive brightness Note We encourage the routine use of the contour controls as this will significantly enhance your listening pleasure Front Panel Features 7 Sunfire User s Manual Rear Panel Features 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1213 14 Designed by BOB CARVER OUTPUTS INVERSE r PHONO w E zoze omzo4 L BALANCED 15 1 ses a men e O 2 im WARNING ICE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK POSE THIS EQUIPMENT 1 AC Line Cord This is heavy duty cord capable of carrying large currents required by high power amplifiers The Classic itself requires only modest power equivalent to most light bulbs and may thus be pow ered by a conventional extension cord if required But if you have substantial power amplifiers connected to one of the convenience outlets only use a heavy duty extension cord 16 gauge or thicker The line cord should only be plugged in after completing all input and output connections to other components 2 Fuse Always unplug the power cord before inspecting or changing the fuse Never use a fuse with a larger current rating than 2 A 3 Accessory outlets These three unswitched AC outlets are LIVE whenever the unit s line cord is plugged into an active AC receptacle They can be used to supp
19. he preamplifier Input jacks on your tape deck may be labeled Line In Aux or Record but do not use Microphone It is recommended that DIN type record play sockets not be used if conventional RCA jacks are available at the recorder 7 Tape input This connects to the outputs of a tape deck for playing your favorite tapes through the preamplifier This input is selected using the TAPE MONITOR switch not by the Input selector control Tape deck output jacks may be identified as Line Out Play or Monitor 8 Aux input These line level inputs are electrically identical to the other line inputs and may be used for signal sources such as a second tuner a tape deck TV audio tuner VCR or the output of a microphone preamplifier 9 Video input For connection of the audio output from a VCR DVD satellite tuner or TV 10 CD input For connection of the output from a CD player This input is selected using the input selectors COMPACT DISC position If your player has fixed and variable outputs use the variable outputs Then you can adjust the output level of the CD player so that when you switch from Phono to CD to Tuner the volume level will remain approximately the same 11 Tuner input Connect to the line level output from a FM or AM FM tuner 4s Sunfire User s Manual 12 Moving Coil phono input Connect to the output of a turntable equipped with a
20. istened to Volume Control This is the master level control for the stereo system The control is a continuous taper potentiometer to allow smooth transition from one level to another The taper rate of the potentiometer was chosen to provide maximum flexibility and compatibility with other components Input signal levels will vary from one source to the next as well as from one disc tape or FM station to the next so it is normal to notice that your preferred volume control setting varies Note The remote control s Volume Up function is disabled when the system is muted or warming up This is to prevent causing damage to your speakers due to accidentally high volume levels The remote s Volume Down function is available at all times and you can still set the volume at any time using the front panel control but make sure it is turned down while the preamp is warming up 10 Balance Control 11 This adjusts the relative levels of the two stereo channels In its center position the levels are exactly equal Clockwise rotation reduces the Left channel level while counterclockwise rotation reduces Right channel level Small movements off center produce smaller shifts in the stereo image per degree of rotation than near the extreme left and right position This makes slight trimming of levels more convenient Contour Controls The Sunfire Classic is equipped with a tone control stage in the signal path after all input se
21. ket making a tight fit You can plug the turntable line cord into one of the accessory outlets on the rear panel of the Classic preamplifier Moving Coil phono input The rear panel MM MC selector button must be IN for moving coil cartridges The two inputs marked MC are intended for use with moving coil cartridges only This Phono circuit employs an additional 20dB of linear gain for a total of 60 dB to Tape Outputs designed especially for the relatively low voltage output of moving coil cartridges The Classic employs a built in pre amplifier but this design is free of the compromises usually associated with active gain at this stage Historically the problem of obtaining the extra gain required for the moving coil car tridge has been an expensive proposition The problem has been as follows To obtain low noise a step up transformer has been required transforming the low cartridge impedance up to the 47K ohm input imped ance of the phono stage In this process the noise floor of the system is generally estab lished by the 3 to 10 ohm source resistance associated with the moving coil cartridge and is therefore very low However in order to obtain signal performance comparable to even simple active electronic circuits heroic The Phono stage 11 Sunfire User s Manual 12 efforts on the part of the transformer designer are required and the resulting cost will almost always be many hundr
22. l Defective cable from the preamp to the power amp or from a program source to the preamp Speaker wire loose or disconnected Balance control fully clockwise or counter clockwise Imperfect contact in a switch espe cially any lever or slide switch in a program source or signal processor as well as the various signal routing switches in the preamp A speakers fuse is blown Troubleshooting 19 Sunfire User s Manual 20 Loud howl squeal or whistle e The Tape Monitor switch is engaged while microphones in the same room as the speakers are connected to a tape deck for recording e Put the cat out Solo voices or instruments sound thin shrill or distorted e Phono cartridge is wired out of phase Hum Under normal operating conditions you hear very little hum originating in the circuitry of the Classic There is one exception to this rule If you have a high gain power amplifier and unusually sensitive i e efficient loud speakers normal listening levels will involve using abnormally low output levels from the preamp and those small signals might then pick a bit of hum or hiss in the preamp s circuits In this case the solution is to turn down the power amplifier s level controls if it has them or consider having its gain reduced by the manufacturer Contact Sunfire Techni cal Services for further information Except for the condition described above audible hum wil
23. l nearly always be found to be due to problems external to the Classic usually in the signal source i e the turntable or tape deck Many turntables for example have a hum field in the vicinity of the platter due to the turntable s motor or internal power transformer which is acceptably low with moving magnet cartridges but audibly bother some with moving coil cartridges If your turntable has a non polarized AC plug you can experiment with reversing it to see which orientation of the plug minimizes the audible hum The hum may also vary with the location and orientation of the turntable with respect to AC wiring in the walls making it necessary to move the turntable to another part of the room Troubleshooting Turntables and tape decks are sensitive to the external hum fields created by many power amplifiers and sometimes to the hum fields of other house appliances such as a refrigerator on the other side of the wall It is important that signal cables in general and the turntable signal leads in particular should not run close to and parallel with AC power cords nor close to a power transformer or motor including that in the base of the turntable As a test you might try and disconnect all cables which come from outside the room such as cable TV satellite TV or roof top antennas Make sure that they are discon nected where they first enter the room so they are making no connection to your VCR TV or any oth
24. lamp During normal operation this lamp will be off When you turn the preamplifier on this lamp stays on for 6 about 40 seconds while the tubes are warming up indicating that the outputs are muted and no sound is passed to your amplifiers The lamp will also indicate whenever the remote control MUTE is pressed If you accidentally turn off the preamplifier using the remote you can quickly turn it back on The preampli fier will automatically sense that there is no need for a 40 second mute because the tubes are already warmed up 6 Front Panel Features 11 10 9 Remote window This window should be kept clear of obstruction for the remote control to work Stereo Mono Switch This sums the left and right inputs so the main outputs will have identical signals It does not affect the Tape outputs The most common use for this switch is in checking loudspeaker phasing Play any stereo or mono recording select Mono and listen Then reverse the polarity of one speaker connection and recheck The polarity position which develops a clear center image between the speakers with fullest bass content is the correct in phase position of the speaker wiring You should also engage Mono for playback of old monophonic sources since this will cancel most rumble and noise for quieter playback When listening to a single channel source you can either use a Y cord at the selected input or select Mono Tape M
25. lection and tape switching These controls are switches which select a variety of precise contour curves In opera tion a muted click or pop may be heard when chang ing switch positions The controls may be switched in or out of circuit by the contour switch 7 allowing the contoured signal to be quickly compared with the preamplifiers laboratory flat frequency response The contour controls are asymmetrical in boost and cut They have been designed to be very appropriate for real music listening situations The boost exhibits no shelving and reaches a maximum of 6 dB at full clockwise rotation Bass may thus be boosted without the boom associated with shelving in order to in crease deep punch without mid bass fatness Treble boost will field greater definition without the shrillness which results from treble boost shelving In the cut counterclockwise position treble and bass are not rolled off as with most tone controls rather energy output in the upper and lower ranges is reduced while maintaining flat frequency response in those ranges Cut does not exceed 10 dB since frequency response attenuation beyond this yields a dead sound character which is not musically advanta geous Cut is not substantially affected by the tone turnover frequency switches This shelving character istic for the cut mode is very useful for example if a recording sounds too bright The relative harmonic energy can be reduced without affecting t
26. ly AC power to other components of your system including your amplifier The total power draw must not exceed 1000W Verify that all component power switches are OFF before plugging any component line cords into these or any AC outlets Rear Panel Features a PASSIVE PRECISION INVERSE RIAA PHONO NETWORK Sunfire Corporation 5210 Bickford Avenue Snohomish Washington U S A If your power amp is not equipped with a power switch make sure that the preamplifiers power switch is OFF indicator LED is not lit and its AC line cord is unplugged before connecting the power amp s line cord to one of the Classic s outlets Balanced outputs These are the left and right outputs which connect to the balanced inputs of an amplifier used to drive your speakers Balanced outputs offer superior noise cancellation especially if there is a long cable run to your amplifier Main 1 and Main 2 outputs MAIN 1 These are left and right unbal anced RCA outputs which connect to the unbalanced inputs of an amplifier used to drive your main front speakers MAIN 2 Identical to Main 1 They can be used to drive a second power amplifier such as in bi wire or multiple speaker applications to drive a subwoofer or to feed processed signals to a tape recorder or a time delay accessory 6 Tape output These outputs connect to the inputs of a tape deck for recording the source which is currently selected by t
27. moving coil phono cartridge Push the rear panel MM MC selector button IN 13 Moving Magnet phono input Connect to the output of a turntable equipped with a moving magnet phono cartridge Push the rear panel MM MC selector button OUT 14 Inverse phono section The Classic preamplifier allows you to play your CDs or other line level sources through the phono stage It can also be used to check the phono stage operation The special wiring configuration and details for this circuit are described and illustrated on page 12 15 Ground Attach your turntable s ground wire to this point to prevent hum 16 MM MC selector Push this IN if you are using the Moving Coil MC input Push it OUT if you are using the Moving Magnet MM input Note An additional line level input is available if the optional Phono stage has not been installed This input or the phono stage is selected using the input selectors CD PHONO position PHONO LINE INPUTS Sunfire Corporation For more details of the He e Washington U S A Phono stage see pages 11 and 12 Rear Panel Features Sunfire User s Manual Installation Observe the following precautions when choosing a location for your Classic vacuum tube preamplifier e The Classic is an all vacuum tube design It may be operated at any angle and has modest ventilation requirements Do not cover the side ventilation slots e
28. n prise de courant de bruits radio lectriques d passant las limites ou une autre sortie de courant sauf si les lames peuvent applicables aux appareils num riques de class A de class tre ins r es fond sans laisser aucune pariie a B selon le cas prescrites dans le reglement sur le d couvert brouillage radio lectrique dict par les ministere des te communications du Canada 16 Grounding or Polarization Precautions should be taken so that the grounding or polarization means of the Component is not defeated WARNING TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR WARNING ALWAYS FULLY INSERT THE PLUG ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE INTO THE AC SUPPLY SOCKET A N THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR A N MOISTURE Contents Safety instructions Introduction Features Unpacking Overview Front panel features Rear panel features Installation AC power and connections The Phono stage System Configurations Phono connections CD player connections Tape deck connections Amplifier connections unbalanced Amplifier connections balanced Specifications Troubleshooting guide Appendix Changing the phono stage gain Changing the phono stage input impedance Tube type and location Limited Warranty Service assistance To find out more about this and other Sunfire products please visit our website www sunfire com Safety Instructions and Table of Contents 3 Sunfire User s Manual Introduction Dear Friend Congratulations on
29. nergy can overload tape recorders waste amplifier power and drive woofers into excessive cone excursions causing intermodulation distortion audible as muddy bass Normally group delay an unavoidable consequence of the rapid attenuation of sub sonic response can under certain musical The Phono stage circumstances have a just perceptible consequence in the audio passband Infra sonic filtering is thus often somewhat of a compromise In order to eliminate this prob lem the onset of rolloff has been delayed a full octave below 20 Hz effectively reducing group delay to well below the threshold of audibility Precision Inverse RIAA Network A wonderful and classic pleasure in this day and age of digital audio is to listen to vinyl records which were made using the RIAA equalization curve Ordinarily of course with CDs that s not possible The next best thing however is to use your Sunfire s Precision Inverse RIAA network to listen to CDs through its classic vacuum tube phono stage e Connect the output of your CD player to the line input of the inverse phono network e Connect the phono output of the inverse phono network to the input of the MM phono stage using a short interconnect cable e Make sure that the MM MC selector button is OUT to select the MM input e Set the front panel selector switch to CD Phono and Voila RIAA sound from CDs e This mode also allows a line source to be used
30. ocated on the rear panel and record it here Serial Number Purchased from Date Introduction Bob Carver Amplifier Designer Physicist Features High quality vacuum tube design 6 L R pairs of unbalanced inputs Optional MM and MC Phono section 2 pairs of unbalanced main outputs 1 pair of balanced outputs 1 pair of tape outputs Low frequency contour control High frequency contour control Tape monitor switch Stereo mono switch Motorized volume control Balance control Remote control of volume mute and power 3 unswitched AC outlets Gold plated inputs and outputs Classic chassis and styling Overview The Classic is a preamplifier control center If you have previous experience with stereo components you can probably com plete the input output connections and make normal use of the basic preamplifier functions without special instructions We recommend Mute however that you read the entire manual at your earliest convenience You will find that even some of the conventional parts of the Power Classic are in fact not conventional at all on off Classic Vacuum Tube Control Center SELECTOR Mono Stereo Power Tape Tone Input on off Monitor on off selector Designed by BOB CARVER fo u N S w I c H E D Sunfire OUTPUTS LINE INPUTS 1000 WATTS TOTAL REPLACE WITH ORIGINAL TYPE AND RATING QNLY Contour tone controls
31. ociated plugs Inexpensive cables often have mediocre wrapped shield ing so better cables may make an audible difference And it is important that the plug at each end of every cable makes a good tight fit in its mating socket In this don t neglect the source end of the turntable signal cables which in many tables are plugged into sockets underneath rather than being sol dered to terminals within the turntable s base Crimp the leaves of the phono plug s skirt slightly inward if necessary to ensure that it has a tight friction fit on the exterior of the phono jack When plugging in each cable use a rotary twisting motion as the plug goes into the jack in order to scrape away any invisible surface corrosion and make a clean metal to metal contact Finally in many inexpensive molded cables the wire breaks where it makes contact with the plug this problem can be identified by wiggling the cable and listen ing for an intermittent signal connection or intermittent hum Radio Frequency Interference Radio Frequency interference RFI from CB TV AM and other radio transmitters is a common problem and like hum it usually can be traced to a condition external to the Classic Sometimes RFI gets into the power amp via the signal cables running from the preamp and may be cured by substituting cables with better braided or foil shielding More commonly RFI enters the power amp through its output terminals with the spe
32. onitor switch This will connect the output of a recorder to the subsequent preamplifier circuitry It may be used for tape playback or record monitoring with three head recorders Similarly if a signal processor is connected to the preamplifiers Tape inputs and outputs it will be in circuit whenever the Tape Monitor switch is en gaged x Sunfire User s Manual 7 9 Contour On Off In the OFF position the contour circuits are bypassed and the two contour controls 11 will have no effect In the ON position the signal frequency response can be adjusted by the contour controls to suit your taste Input Program Selector This rotary switch selects the program source which will be heard The same program source is also presented to the Tape outputs for recording Note that there is no Tape selection you should engage the Tape Monitor switch to listen to your tape deck If you have the optional Phono input select either MM or MC using the rear panel switch depending upon your phono cartridge and then select CD Phono To minimize bleedthrough or an audible signal when you select an unused input it is recommended that shorting plugs be inserted in all unused inputs Do Not install shorting plugs in any OUTPUT jacks as this would short circuit the preamplifier output If you do not use shorting plugs that is perfectly OK and you can prevent bleedthrough by turning off or muting all signal sources not being l
33. pecific uses The type of phono cartridge you are using in the turntable will determine which phono input to use Only a moving coil cartridge should be connected to the moving coil input or it may become overloaded and distort In terms of frequency response the moving coil and the moving magnet phono are identical In terms of gain and sensitivity however they differ substantially Ground connection If your turntable is equipped with a separate ground lead usually a single wire terminated with a spade lug connect it to the ground post see item 15 on page 8 In most cases this will minimize audible hum and buzz in the phono signal If hum is a problem with your turntable refer to the troubleshooting section starting on page 19 Normally these are the only connections made to the ground post while all other components are grounded through their own signal cables Sunfir e User s Manual Moving Magnet phono input The rear panel MM MC selector button must be OUT for moving magnet cartridges The moving magnet phono circuit has a total gain of 40dB appropriate for typical high output moving magnet and moving iron cartridges Its input impedance consists of 47K ohms resistance in parallel with real capacitance This prevents the complex input interactions which can cause small response shifts in some systems When plugging the cables into the Classic s sockets be sure each plug is inserted fully into the soc
34. personnel when A The power supply cord or the plug has been damaged or B Objects have fallen or liquid has spilled into the Component or C The Component has been exposed to rain or D The Component does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance or E The Component has been dropped or its cabinet damaged 14 Servicing The user should not attempt to service the Component beyond those means described in this operating manual All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel PORTABLE CART WARNING Carts and stands The Component should be used only with a cart or stand that is recommended by the manufacturer A Component and cart combination should be moved with care Quick stops excessive force and uneven surfaces may cause the Component and cart combination to overturn s A Sunfire User s Manual 15 To prevent electric shock do not use this polarized This apparatus does not exceed the Class A Class B plug with an extension cord receptacle or other outlet whichever is applicable limits for radio noise emissions unless the blades can be fully inserted to prevent blade from digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference exposure regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications Pour pr evenir les chocs lectriques ne pas utiliser cette ATTENTION Le pr sent appareil num rique n met pas fiche polarise avec un prolongateur u
35. secleaning earlier in the day Did something else on that same household branch circuit including the power amp or other component plugged in the preamp s AC convenience outlets cause a current surge which blew the fuse or circuit breaker protecting that entire branch circuit In some houses having duplex AC wall sockets the lower one is permanently live while the upper one intended for lamps is controlled by a wall switch near a doorway was the preamp s AC cord accidentally plugged into the switched socket Is the preamp s AC cord plugged into a clock timer which is presently off or unplugged from the wall 4s Sunfire User s Manual No sound The preamplifier s power may be off the amplifier off line cords unplugged AC fuses blown or the power may be off at the wall socket or power strip No sound the power is on Input selector set to an inactive input Tape monitor switch is engaged with no tape machine running Input level controls are turned down on the power amplifier Input or output signal cables may be disconnected The selected program source is not operating Output level control turned down at program source Program source misadjusted for example the FM tuner is tuned between stations No sound phono Rear panel Phono MM MC selector button in wrong position Internal ribbon cable unplugged No phono power jumper in place on power supply board No sound in one channe
36. your choice of a Sunfire Corporation product Service Assistance We suggest that you read the Limited Warranty completely to fully understand your Warranty Service coverage If your Sunfire Corporation product ever requires service write to us or call Sunfire Corporation Technical Services Department P O Box 1589 Snohomish WA 98290 Tel 425 335 4748 Fax 425 335 4746 You will be directed to an authorized Sunfire Corporation Service Station or receive instructions to ship the unit to the factory Please save the original shipping carton and packing materials in case shipping is required Please do not ship Parcel Post Include a complete description of the problem indicating how you have it con nected the associated equipment in your system and a copy of your purchase receipt Initial shipping costs are not paid by Sunfire Corporation return ground shipping costs will be prepaid if repairs were covered by the scope of this Warranty 2001 Sunfire Corporation All rights re served Limited Warranty 23 Bu uw Sunfire from his mind amp soul Classic Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Sunfire Corporation P O Box 1589 Snohomish WA 98291 ec Manual Part number 913 012 00 Rev C
37. your purchase of the Sunfire Classic Preamplifier We believe its sophisticated engineering and meticulous craftsmanship will provide you with many years of listening enjoyment At the heart of the Classic is a high perfor mance control preamplifier with extremely low noise and distortion wide dynamic range and a high degree of control flexibility An optional phono board may be added for precise RIAA phono equalization of moving magnet and moving coil cartridges Your Classic will provide remarkable three dimensional realism with a sumptuous sonic image which can extend beyond the loudspeakers in both breadth and depth Bb Ce Unpacking Your Classic preamplifier should reach you in perfect condition If you do notice any shipping damage please contact your Sunfire Dealer immediately Gently remove the Classic preamplifier from its packing materials with care so as to avoid damage to or loss of any packing materials This is a precision instrument and deserves to be treated with care It has been designed to provide years of reliable service and should you ever need to ship or transport it the original packing materials will provide the safest means Make sure that you keep your sales receipt It is the only way to establish the duration of your Limited Warranty and it may come in useful for insurance purposes Please take a moment to fill out and mail the Sunfire Warranty Registration card Also read the serial number l

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