Arcam Alpha 3 - Manual (Page 2)

Arcam Alpha 3 handbook
Introduction
The Arcam Alpha 3 integrated stereo amplifier has been
designed to provide a combination of high quality sound reproduction and
sophisticated styling. The Alpha 3 amplifier has five inputs for turntable,
compact disc player, tuner, video sound output and tape recorder.
The Alpha 3 provides outputs for both speakers and
headphones, and produces low level signals suitable for recording on to tape.
Although designed for simplicity of operation the Alpha 3 has comprehensive
tone control facilities which enable good results to be obtained with a wide
variety of programme material.
A matching Alpha tuner, Compact Disc player and Alpha
speakers are also available. Please ask your dealer or distributor for full
details, or write to Arcam at the address shown at the end of this booklet.
Installing and using vour Alpha 3 equipment
Mains connections
Check that the voltage setting of the amplifier, as indicated on
the back panel, is the same as the local mains supply. The wires in the mains
lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:
Green and yellow - Earth
Blue - Neutral
Brown - Live
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead may not
correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug
proceed as follows;
The wire which is coloured green and yellow must be
connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked by the letter E or by the
safety earth symbol or coloured green or green and yellow. The wire which is
coloured blue must be connected to the terminal which is marked by the letter
N or coloured black or blue. The wire which is coloured brown must be
connected to the terminal which is marked by the letter L or coloured red or
brown.
Export units for certain markets have moulded mains plugs
fitted as standard. If the mains plug is fused fit a 5 amp fuse for the Alpha 3
amplifier.
The AC supply inlet to the Alpha 3 amplifier uses a standard
I EC chassis mounting plug. The lEC line socket on your mains lead and the
I EC plug on the Alpha 3 units are a tight fit; before first using an Alpha 3
amplifier it is therefore important to ensure that the socket is pushed firmly
home into the chassis plug.
Rear panel connections
Please refer to diagrams on inside of rear cover
All inputs and tape outputs are via RCA phono connections.
For most equipment, the right hand channel output is
indicated by a red plug, and the left hand channel by a black or white plug.
Disc Input
This input is only suitable for use with turntables fitted with a
moving magnet or high output moving coil cartridge. If your turntable is fitted
with a low output moving coil cartridge you will need to use some form of
external step-up device (a transformer or head amplifier) between the cartridge
and the Alpha 3. If your turntable is fitted with a flying earth lead, connect it to
the ground terminal directly above the disc input. Nevertrv to use any other
audio equipment (such as a CD player or tape deck) through the disc input.
The input will be overloaded and the sound will be badly distorted.
CD, Video and Tuner inputs
These inputs may also be used as general purpose inputs for
sources with a line level output, such as a second tape recorder.
Tape input / output
Signals can be received from the line output, and sent to the
line input of a tape recorder via these sockets.
Speaker outputs
The speaker outputs will drive speakers within the range of
4 to 16 ohms impedance. The speaker binding posts will accept bare wires or
4 mm banana plugs. The speaker cable’s positive conductor must be
connected to the red terminals, and the negative conductor to the black
terminals. The positive conductor of the cable is usually marked as such, or
may have a ridge running down the length of the outer insulation.
When fitting 4 mm plugs, ensure that the positive conductor is
connected to the red plug, and the negative conductor to the black plug. When
using bare wires, strip back approximately 12 mm, (1/2") and twist the bare
ends tightly. Unscrew the binding post and insert the wire underneath, then
tighten. Check that no stray strands can short to other terminals, or to the
chassis.
Operating two pairs of speakers
If desired, it is possible to operate two sets of 8 ohm
impedance (or higher) speakers with the Alpha 3 amplifier. One pair is
connected to the ’direct’ speaker terminals, and the second pair is connected
to the ’switched’ terminals.
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