Balanced Audio Technology VK-32SE User manual
1
VK-32SE
WARRANTY REGISTRATION FORM
Unit Serial Number: _______________________________________
Customer Name: _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
_______________________________________
Date of Purchase: _______________________________________
Purchased From:
Dealer Name: _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
_______________________________________
IMPORTANT NOTE:
In order to receive the full five year product warranty, please mail this
completed form together with a copy of your sales receipt to Balanced Audio
Technology at the address below, within thirty days of purchase.
Failure to do so will result in the product being warrantied for one year
from the date of manufacture.
1300 First Stat Blvd. Suite A Wilmington DE 19804 Tel: 302-999-8855 Fax: 302-999-8818
2
VK-32SE
Vacuum Tube
Balanced Stereo Preamplifier
Owner's Manual
1300 First Stat Blvd. Suite A Wilmington DE 19804 Tel: 302-999-8855 Fax: 302-999-8818
3
Vacuum Tube Current Sources in VK-32SE
Your VK-32SE incorporates a unique feature that allows you to optimize its sound to tailor it to your
individual taste or system requirements.
The Vacuum Tube current sources incorporated in the VK-32SE, being part of the signal gain stage, have a
direct effect on the unit’s sound. Changing the tube type used in that circuit allows the user an extra degree
of control over the sound of the unit.
In its standard configuration the VK-32SE current sources use the Russian 6C19 tubes. That tube is
basically a miniature version of the famous 6C33 tube, and provides, in our view, the best combination of
sonic characteristics and electrical performance.
However, the unique design of the VK-32SE allows you to also use other tube types in that application.
Currently, the user has the following three choices for vacuum tube Current Sources:
1. The standard 6C19 tube current source as installed from the factory.
2. The 6H30 SuperTube current source which requires the purchase of the X-PAK accessory.
3. The 5881 tube current source.
4
In order to change the tube type the user needs to remove the installed Current Source board, and replace it
with either another board, designed for a particular tube type, or install the 5881 tubes as a direct plug-in.
Only the 5881 tubes can be used directly upon the removal of the 6C19 current source board.
Please consult the factory regarding options for other tube types that may be available in the future.
WARNING:
The following procedure should only be performed by qualified personnel
To change the current source:
1. Turn the unit OFF and wait at least 5 minutes to allow the tubes to cool down and the power
supply charge to dissipate.
2. Remove the six screws holding the current source board.
3. Pull the current source board straight up to disengage its connectors.
4. Install the new current source board making sure its connectors are properly aligned. Board will
be positioned properly when the mounting holes in the circuit board align with the standoffs.
5. Install the six mounting screws.
6. Turn the unit ON.
5
TABLE OF CONTENT
CURRENT SOURCES 3
CHANGING CURRENT SOURCES 4
INTRODUCTION 6
Package Content 6
Physical Placement 7
Connecting to your system 7
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS 8
VK-32SE Power On sequence 8
Turning the VK-32SE Off 8
PHASE Button and LED 9
MONO button and LED 9
MUTE button and LED 9
INPUT selection 9
VOLUME knob 9
DISPLAY format 10
FUCTION button 10
DISPLAY Brightness function 11
MUTE function 11
VK-32SE PROGRAMMABLE FUNCTIONS 12
Parameter Definitions 13
PROGRAMMING THE VK-32SE 13
BALANCE adjustment 13
VOLUME offsets 14
PHASE 15
MONO/STEREO 15
MAXIMUM gain 15
FIXED gain 16
DISPLAY MODE 16
INPUT NAME 17
REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 18
Volume Up/Down 18
Mute 18
Fade 18
Input 18
Display/Power 19
Fuse Protection 19
Servicing 19
Cleaning 19
RESETTING THE VK-32SE 20
SPECIFICATIONS 21
WARRANTY 22
6
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for your purchase of the Balanced Audio Technology VK-32SE preamplifier.
Please read this owner's manual to obtain the full benefit of the VK-32SE in your system. It will
provide you with the needed safety information and operating procedures for this exceptional
unit.
WARNINGS:
To prevent the possibility of serious injury, electrical shock or fire:
DO NOT operate with the cover removed.
DO NOT expose to rain or moisture.
DO NOT defeat the ground power-plug.
DO NOT replace fuse with anything other than the same type and rating as supplied by the factory.
Package Contents
Included in the box should be the following:
Description Quantity
VK-32SE Preamplifier 1
Power Cord 1
Spare Fuse 1
Torx Wrench (T-10) 1
Spare Top Cover Screws 5
User’s Manual 1
VK-R3 Remote Control (If ordered)
Save all the packaging material in a safe dry area for the unlikely event that you need to
return the VK-32SE to the factory for service.
7
PHYSICAL PLACEMENT
It is recommended that you provide at least 6" of free space around the unit for proper ventilation.
Mount the unit on a hard surface with proper ventilation underneath.
Do not stack the VK-32SE preamplifier on top of other units, nor vice versa.
CONNECTING THE VK-32SE TO YOUR SYSTEM
Balanced Components
Use balanced XLR interconnects. All input and output connectors are clearly marked on the back
panel.
Note: The VK-32SE XLR connectors are wired as follows:
Pin 1: common/shield
Pin 2: positive
Pin 3: negative
For the VK-32SE, use the Main 1 XLR Output for connection to your balanced power amplifier.
The Output 2 is configured as an RCA connector output.
Single-Ended Components
Single-ended components have RCA connectors. The VK-32SE preamplifier is designed to
work with mix of single-ended and balanced components connected to its inputs and outputs. If
more single ended components need to be connected to the preamplifer, then the XLR inputs or
outputs can be used for that in conjunction with RCA/XLR adapters. These adapters are available
from an authorized Balanced Audio Technology dealer at a nominal charge.
Two types of adapters are available:
Input Adapters: RCA Female to XLR Male
Output Adapters: RCA Female to XLR Female.
8
VK-32SE FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
STANDBY Button and LED
The Standby button is used to turn the unit ON and OFF and to switch the preamplifier into its
Standby mode. The LED indicates the status of the unit’s power circuitry and has four state:
LED OFF Display OFF Unit is in OFF state
Display ON Unit is in ON state
LED Flashing Unit is going through its Power-ON routine
LED ON Unit is in its STANDBY mode
When the unit is plugged into a power line, it will stay in the OFF state until the Standby button is
pushed. The LED will then start blinking and the unit will go through a 50second warm-up
sequence. At the end of that sequence it will turn ON.
Pressing the button again will switch the unit into its Standby mode.
The VK-32SE can be turned OFF by pressing and holding the Standby button.
VK-32SE Power-On sequence:
When you turn the VK-32SE On, it will automatically go through a gentle power-on sequence.
This sequence takes 50 seconds, during which time the display and the Standby LED will be
flashing, indicating the status of the unit.
1. The number on the display during this time indicates the volume setting. This will usually
start at 000. This setting can be changed during this time by using the volume knob or
Volume Up/Down buttons on your VK-R3 remote control transmitter. In addition, such
functions as Phase, Mono, input selection and Mute can be changed during this time either
from front panel or through the remote control.
2. Normally the VK-32SE will be not muted (Mute LED on the display is OFF) and will begin
playing at the end of the 50 second delay. If so desired, the unit can be put in the MUTE
mode during this delay interval either by depressing the front panel MUTE switch or by
using the MUTE button on the VK-R3 remote control transmitter.
Turning the VK-32SE Off:
The unit can be turned OFF by pressing and holding the Standby button. It will automatically
mute.
9
PHASE button and LED
This button allows the user to invert the absolute polarity of the signal to compensate for some
recordings that are made out-of-phase. The LED indicates whether the unit is in its INVERTING
or NONINVERTING mode. This function is also accessible via the VK-R3 remote control.
LED OFF Non Inverting operation
LED ON Inverting operation
MONO Button and LED
The Mono button allows the user to switch the VK-32SE in Mono operation when the two channels
are summed together. This may be useful, for example, while listening to old monophonic
recordings. This function is also accessible via the VK-R3 remote control.
LED OFF Stereo operation
LED ON Mono operation
MUTE Button and LED
The Mute button disables the preamplifier output. It is recommended that the Mute be engaged any
time the signal cables are changed or any other system configuration changes are being made. This
function is also accessible via the VK-R3 remote control.
LED OFF Unit in Play mode
LED ON Output Muted
INPUT selection buttons 1through 5
These allow the user to select any of five available inputs to be played. The selected input number
together with its name will be indicated on the unit front panel display as well. This function is also
accessible via the VK-R3 remote control.
VOLUME Knob
This knob performs different function depending upon the unit’s mode of operation. In normal
mode it works as volume control knob.
It is also used as a data input device in various Function modes to program the unit. For example,
it is used to set the BALANCE adjustment when the VK-32SE is switched into its Balance mode.
More on that in the corresponding sections of this manual.
The volume control knob on the VK-32SE is linked to a digital encoder and is of a continuously
rotating type (there are no stops).
10
DISPLAY FORMAT:
The VK-32SE Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) is capable of showing up to twelve
alphanumeric characters. Its format depends on the mode of operation. In the normal PLAY mode
the display has the following format:
1. One character indicating the selected input number.
2. Four-character input name. That name is fully programmable (See the programming
functions) and can include up to four character from the Latin, Cyrillic or Greek alphabets
or digits.
3. Balance adjustment indicator. Characters L or R indicate that the balance is shifted in the
corresponding direction. A BLANK character means that the gains of both channels are
identical.
4. Volume setting - three digits with the full range of 000 to 140 (See programming section on
Maximum Volume Setting)
FUNCTION Button
This button puts the unit in its programming mode. In addition to its normal PLAY mode, there are
eight programmable functions in the VK-32SE:
BALANCE Adjustment
RELATIVE VOLUME setting
PHASE setting
MONO/STEREO setting
MAXIMUM volume setting
FIXED volume setting
DISPLAY (Volume) mode
INPUT NAME assignment
Pressing this button while in PLAY mode will switch the unit into programming mode. Once in
the programming mode, pressing the Function button will switch the unit into its NEXT
programmable functions. The unit will stay in the programming mode until the exit command is
issued. To EXIT the programming mode at any time, press and hold the Function button for about
TWO seconds.
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