Audio Research High Definition Reference 80S User manual

H I G H D E F I N I T I O N®

Reference 80S

There is only One Reference®

Thank You.

Thank you for choosing the

Reference 80S to be a part of your

high performance music listening

system. Since 1970, Audio Research

has been creating some of the

world’s ﬁnest audio equipment.

Each piece is handcrafted in

Minnesota, and has been

designed to provide many years

of listening enjoyment.

We understand you are eager to

begin listening; however, please

take a few minutes to read through

this guide for useful information

concerning the operation of your

new ampliﬁer. Once installed, please

allow an appropriate break-in period

to fully appreciate the beneﬁts this

ampliﬁer will provide to your system.

After reading the user guide, if you

have any further questions regarding

your ampliﬁer, contact your dealer or

Audio Research customer service -

they will be happy to help you make

the most of your new component.

Happy Listening!

Contents

5-6

Safety Instructions

Warnings

Installation

Connections

Operation

Maintenance

Warranty

Speciﬁcations

Vacuum Tube Placement

Before Operating the Reference 80S

Tube Cage Removal

Tube Cage Installation

Ventilation Requirements

In Your System

Vacuum Tube Life Expectancy

Back Panel Connections

Input Connectors

Output Connectors

Impedance Matching

Remote Turn On

RS-232

A.C. Power Connection

Back Panel Controls

Front Panel Controls

Start Up

Shut Down

Front Panel Button Controls

Hour Counter

Break In

Vacuum Tubes

Service

Cleaning

Disposal and Recycling Guidelines

Safety Instructions

The lightning ﬂash with arrowhead symbol with 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 sucient magnitude to constitute

a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the

user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (service)

instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

The 3 wavy lines symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the

user to the presence of a hot surface on the exterior case of the product.

• Read these instructions.

• Keep these instructions.

• Heed all warnings.

• Follow all instructions.

• Do not use this apparatus near water

• Clean only with dry cloth.

• Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s

instructions.

• Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other

apparatus (including ampliﬁers) that produce heat.

• Do not defeat the purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has

two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a

third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If

the provided plug does not ﬁt into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of

the obsolete outlet.

Safety Instructions

• Warning: The apparatus shall be connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective

earthing connection.

• Protect the power cord from being walk on or pinched particularly at plugs,

convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

• Only use attachments/accessories speciﬁed by the manufacturer.

• Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

• Refer all servicing to qualiﬁed service personnel. Servicing is required when the

apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power supply cord or plug is

damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the

apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has

been dropped.

• WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE

THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

• DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APARATUS TO DRIPPING OR SPLASHING AND THAT NO

OBJECTS FILLED WITH LIQUIDS, SUCH AS VASES, SHOULD NOT BE PLACED ON THE

APPARATUS.

• TO COMPLETELY DISCONNECT THIS APPARATUS FROM THE AC MAINS,

DISCONNECT THE POWER SUPPLY CORD FROM THE AC RECEPTABLE.

• THE MAINS PLUG OF THE POPWER SUPPLY CORD SHALL REMAIN READILY

ACCESSIBLE.

• The user-replaceable rear panel fuse of the Reference 80S shall only be replaced with

a fuse of the correct breaking capacity and voltage rating as speciﬁed below and on the

rear panel of the ampliﬁer.

100-127V T5AL250V MDQ (ARC part 34500505)

220-240V T2.5AL250V (ARC part 34600303)

• Speaker terminal banana jacks are plugged/capped for units sold in countries where

this is required due to power cord plub pin shapre.

To prevent ﬁre, or shock hazard, do not

expose your Reference 80S to rain or

moisture.

Do not place objects containing water on

top of this unit.

This unit contains voltages which can

cause serious injury or death. Do not

operate with covers removed. Refer

servicing to your authorized Audio

Research dealer or other qualiﬁed

personnel.

The detachable power cord on your

Reference 80S is equipped with a heavy

gauge, 3-conductor cable and a standard

three-prong grounding plug. For absolute

protection, do not defeat the ground

power plug. This provides power line

grounding of the Reference 80S chassis

to provide absolute protection from

electrical shock.

The appliance coupler (a.c. power

connector) at the rear of this unit must

be accessible for emergency power

disconnect.

The power button on the front of this unit,

when o, does not disconnect all power

from this unit. This unit is in sleep mode

when not on.

For continued protection against ﬁre haz-

ard, replace the fuse only with the same

type and rating as speciﬁed at the fuse

holder

This unit is RoHS compliant.

Handling and moving the Reference

80S

The Reference 80S weighs 62 lbs. (28

kg). When lifting, note the rear of the am-

pliﬁer with the power and output trans-

formers is the heavy end.

A note about packaging...

Save all packaging in a dry place away

from ﬁre hazard. Your Reference 80S

preampliﬁer is a precision electronic

instrument and should be properly

cartoned any time shipment is made. You

may not have occasion to return your unit

to the factory for service, but if that should

prove necessary, or other occasion

requiring shipment occurs, the original

packaging will protect your Reference

80S from unnecessary damage or delay.

Important

The AC power supply cord

must be disconnected from the

ampliﬁer before replacement or

installation of vacuum tubes.

Warnings

Installation

Before operating the Reference 80S

Your Reference 80S ampliﬁer is shipped

with the vacuum tubes packed in a

separate foam-lined carton. These must

be unpacked and installed before you

attempt to operate the ampliﬁer. Included

are four matched KT150s and two

matched 6H30 tubes.

Follow the procedure on the next pages

to remove the top cage prior to vacuum

tube installation.

Vacuum Tube Installation

Carefully remove each vacuum tube from

its protective foam and match its location

‘V’ number (written on the base of the

tube) to the’V’ number screened next

to each socket on the top plate of the

Reference 80S. Firmly seat each tube in

its matching socket, taking care to align

the key at the base of each KT150 to its

socket hole.

The 6H30 tubes in V5 and V6 are not

keyed, and care must be taken to align

the pins to the sockets. A small ﬂashlight

can assist.

HIGH DEFINITION

V1 V2 V3 V4

V5 V6

Vacuum Tube Placement

Tube cage removal and installation

CAUTION: THIS STEP FOLLOWED BY USER IS ALLOWED ONLY ONCE FOR THE INITIAL

INSTALLATION BEFORE POWERING UP THE PRODUCT FIRST.

Warning: Tube replacement shall be done by skilled or service personnel, or qualiﬁed

technician.

Important

The AC power supply cord must be disconnected from the ampliﬁer before

replacement or installation of vacuum tubes.

To remove the cage:

Use the supplied 7/64” hex driver to remove the (3) cap screws and nylon washers at the

rear of the top cage, per illustration 1:

Gently slide the cage to the rear. Then lift it up and o the chassis, per illustrations

2 and 3.

Illustration 1

Illustration 2

Installation

Illustration 3

To install the cage:

Gently place the cage on top of the chassis. Ensure the sides of the cage are fully seated

on the top plate.

Slowly slide the cage forward until the two locating screws engage with the cap screws

behind the front panel.

See illustration 4. When the cage rear ﬂange is ﬂush with the rear edge of the chassis the

cage is fully installed. Note that you may have to slightly squeeze in the sides to allow

slots in the cage ﬂange to align with the top plate cap screws.

Illustration 4

Table of contents

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