Audio Research Reference Phono 3 User manual

Reference Phono 3

H I G H D E F I N I T I O N ®

Thank You.

Thank you for choosing the

Reference Phono 3 to be a part

of your high performance music

listening system. Since 1970,

Audio Research has been creating

some of the world’s nest

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 phono

preamplier. Once installed,

please allow an appropriate

break-in period to fully appreciate

the benets this preamplier

will provide to your system.

After reading the user guide, if

you have any further questions

regarding your phono preamplier,

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

Warnings

Installation

Before Operating the Reference Phono 3

In Your System

A Note about Vacuum Tubes

Connections

Back Panel Connections

Input Connectors

Output Connectors

Record Output

A.C. Power Connection

RS-232 and IR Input

Operation

Front Panel Controls and Display

Start-Up

Shut-Down

Break-in

Front Panel Controls

Remote Only Functions

Settings Menu

System Settings - Menu Tree

Settings Menu

Auto Shutdown

Cartridge Settings

Tube Hours

Display Brightness

Equalization

Maintenance

Vacuum Tubes

Service

Cleaning

Disposal and Recycling Guidelines

Fuse Values and Locations

Warranty

Specications

Warnings

To prevent re or shock hazard, do not

expose your Reference Phono 3

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 qualied personnel.

The detachable power cord on your

Reference Phono 3 is equipped with a heavy

gauge, 3-conductor (where applicable)

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 Phono 3 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 re hazard,

replace the fuse only with the same type

and rating as specied at the fuse holder

(see page 19 for fuse information).

This unit is RoHS compliant.

The Reference Phono 3 has automatic

muting to help protect system components

in the event of low line voltage. When

sensing low line voltage, the preamp

displays ‘Low Line’ and automatically goes

into ‘Mute’. This condition will persist until

the line voltage returns to a safe operating

level; please note the unit will remain

in ‘Mute’ even after ‘Low Line’ no longer

appears.

Note that automatic muting is only

designed to protect against power line

interruptions or severe voltage drop. It

will not mute in the event of subsonic

transmissions from a faulty input source,

amplier failure or speaker malfunction.

A note about packaging...

Save all packaging in a dry place away

from re hazard. Your Reference Phono

3 preamplier 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 Phono 3

from unnecessary damage or delay.

Before operating the Reference Phono 3

Your Reference Phono 3 preamplier 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 phono

preamplier. Included are six 6H30 tubes

for the analog stage, and a 6H30 and

6550WE used in the power supply. Proceed

according to the following instructions.

Installation

Remove all screws fastening the top cover.

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 printed

next to each socket. Firmly seat each

tube in its matching socket, taking care

to ‘key’ the tube pins to the socket holes.

Retain the tube carton with other packing

materials for possible future use.

Refasten the top cover on the

phono preamplier.

V6 V4 V2

V5 V3 V1

Installation

In your system

To ensure normal component life and safe

operation this unit must be operated

only in an upright position. Adequate

airow and proper cooling can occur

only if there is no restriction above and

behind the unit and on either side.

The special non-marring elastomer feet

provide adequate spacing and stability

only on a smooth, hard surface, and also

assist to isolate the phono preamplier

from spurious vibrations. For upright

stability and best performance, never

operate the unit while it is sitting on a

soft surface such as a thick rug or carpet.

Due to its weight, this preamplier must

be supported on a surface specically

rated for such a load. Check with the

manufacturer of your support system to

be sure it is rated to handle this weight.

If the unit is to be operated in an enclosure

such as an equipment rack, make certain

that adequate airow above and to

each side of the unit is provided. Audio

Research recommends a minimum of 6-8

inches (15-20 cm) of clearance above the

Reference Phono 3 to maintain proper

ambient operating temperature.

The ‘ambient’ operating temperature should

never exceed 120° F or 49° C. Improper

installation will cause premature tube

failure and will aect your warranty,

as well as the service life of the unit.

It is normal for a vacuum tube preamplier

to run quite warm, and if used for

prolonged periods, hot to the touch.

All components within are, however,

operated at safe, conservative levels

and will not be improperly aected

thereby, providing the requirements

outlined above are adhered to.

A Note about Vacuum Tubes

The vacuum tubes in your Reference Phono 3

have been burned in, tested and electrically

matched to provide the best performance

and reliability of your preamplier. That

said, vacuum tubes must be replaced

from time to time. The 6H30 tubes in

the Reference Phono 3 should have an

expected life of approximately 4,000

hours, while the 6550WE tube in the power

supply should have a life expectancy of

approximately 2,000 hours. These life

expectancies are only approximate.

Connections

A.C. Mains connector

Fuse Holder

RS-232 connector

IR Input

Phono Inputs

Main

Outputs

Back Panel Connections

Connections

Input Connectors

The Reference Phono 3 provides two sets of

input connectors, labeled Input 1 and Input

2. Both input connectors are single-ended.

Output Connectors

Two pairs of balanced and single-ended

main outputs are provided. The outputs

are connected in parallel. If using both

outputs simultaneously, the combined

input impedance of the preamplier being

driven by the Reference Phono 3 must

be greater than or equal to 20k Ohms.

A.C. Power Connection

It is important that the Reference Phono 3

be connected via its supplied 20 amp IEC

12-gauge power cord to a secure, dedicated

A.C. power receptacle. Never connect to

convenience power receptacles on other

equipment. Only use the power switch

on the front of the Reference Phono 3

for On/O control of the preamplier, or

the IR input, RS232 or remote control.

RS-232 Input

The RS-232 input allows connection of

a control or automation system.

IR Input

The IR input allows a remote IR sensor or

repeater system to be connected to the

Reference Phono 3 for control purposes,

utilizing a standard mono 1/8” connector.

Important

Use the best available speaker wires

and interconnects. Audio Research

cannot emphasize this enough. As

better components and systems are

developed, it becomes increasingly

important to avoid the limitations of

inferior system interconnections.

It is important sonically that your entire

system be connected so that the audio

signal arriving at the speakers has correct,

or ‘absolute’ polarity (i.e., non-inverted).

Operation

Front Panel Controls and Display

Vacuum Fluorescent

Display

Power On/O

Option

(used with Menu) Input

Mute

Enter

(used with Menu)

Table of contents

Other Audio Research Amplifier manuals

Audio Research

Audio Research Reference Phono 2 SE User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research D-90B User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research LS15 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research V70 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research SP20 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research Definition DSi200 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research VSi75 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research VT200 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research REFERENCE PHONO 10 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research LS17 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research SP14 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research Definition DS450M User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research Reference 250 SE User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research SP17 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research D400MKII User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research LS27 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research SP-5 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research REFERENCE PHONO 10 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research M-100 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research PH8 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research Definition Series User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research SP9 MKIII User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research SP-8 User manual

Audio Research

Audio Research GSi75 User manual

Popular Amplifier manuals by other brands

ASTRO

ASTRO HVO V40 P operating manual

Marantz

Marantz SUPERSCOPE BLA-545 Service data

NAD

NAD CI980 Quick setup guide

Technics

Technics SE-CH770 Service manual

Harman Kardon

Harman Kardon HK6300 instruction manual

NAD

NAD T975 owner's manual

McIntosh

McIntosh MA6850 Brochure & specs

Electro-Harmonix

Electro-Harmonix ENGLISH MUFF’N manual

Viatron

Viatron Autrix Technical manual

GME

GME GA9800 instruction manual

Atlas

Atlas CP700 Specification sheet

Roland

Roland KC-1000 owner's manual

Pyle

Pyle PFMRA350BW user manual

Advantage

Advantage S-250 manual

IRT Electronics

IRT Electronics DVA-3007 manual

Dimavery

Dimavery BA-100 Series user manual

Sony

Sony XM-S400D operating instructions

Schertler

Schertler ROY X quick guide