Balanced Audio Technology VK-53SE User manual

VK-53SE

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

VK-53SE

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

TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION 4

Package Content 4

Physical Placement 5

Connecting to your system 5

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS 6

VK-53SE Power On sequence 6

Turning the VK-53SE Off 6

PHASE Button and LED 7

MONO button and LED 7

MUTE button and LED 7

INPUT selection 7

VOLUME knob 7

DISPLAY format 8

FUCTION button 8

DISPLAY Brightness Function 9

MUTE function 9

VK-53SE PROGRAMMABLE FUNCTIONS 10

Parameter Definitions 11

PROGRAMMING THE VK-53SE 11

BALANCE adjustment 11

VOLUME offsets 12

PHASE 13

MONO/STEREO 13

MAXIMUM gain 13

FIXED gain 14

DISPLAY MODE 14

INPUT NAME 15

REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 16

Volume Up/Down 16

Mute 16

Fade 16

Input 17

Display/Power 17

Fuse Protection 17

Servicing 17

Cleaning 17

RESETTING THE VK-53SE 18

Warranty 19

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for your purchase of the Balanced Audio Technology VK-53SE

preamplifier. Please read this owner's manual to obtain the full benefit of the

VK-53SE 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-53SE Preamplifier 1

Power Cord 1

Spare Fuse 1

Torx Wrench (T-15) 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-53SE to the factory for service.

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-53SE preamplifier on top of other units, nor vice

versa.

CONNECTING THE VK-53SE TO YOUR SYSTEM

Balanced Components

Use balanced XLR interconnects. All input and output connectors are clearly

marked on the back panel.

Note: The VK-53SE XLR connectors are wired as follows:

Pin 1: common/shield

Pin 2: positive

Pin 3: negative

Use either the Main 1 or Main 2 Output for connection to your power amplifier.

Both yield equivalent results.

Single-Ended Components

Single-ended components have RCA connectors. The VK-53SE preamplifier

is designed to work with any mix of single-ended and balanced components

connected to its inputs and outputs. All that is required to connect a single-

ended component with RCA connectors to the VK-53SE’s inputs or outputs is the

optional balanced to single-ended 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.

VK-53SE 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 states:

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-53SE can be turned OFF by

pressing and holding

the Standby button.

VK-53SE Power-On sequence:

When you turn the VK-53SE 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-53SE 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-53SE Off:

The unit can be turned OFF by

pressing and holding

the Standby button. It will

automatically mute.

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-53SE 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-53SE

is switched into its Balance mode. More on that in the corresponding sections of

this manual.

The volume control knob on the VK-53SE is linked to a digital encoder and is of a

continuously rotating type (there are no stops).

DISPLAY FORMAT:

The VK-53SE 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-53SE:

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.

DISPLAY Brightness Function

Changing the Display Brightness: The VK-53SE display can be dimmed

or turned completely OFF by simply pressing the DISPLAY button on your

VK-R3 remote control transmitter.

Each press will reduce the brightness of display and LED indicators in steps

from full ON to OFF, and then one press back to full ON. The LED indicators

will dim but never turn completely OFF. With the display OFF, issuing any

remote control command that would normally require a display change (i.e.:

Volume, Input selection, Fade) will automatically turn the display back ON

for short period of time.

MUTE Function:

The VK-53SE has two mute modes: manual and automatic. The blue LED above

the Mute button goes ON when the unit is in MUTE state. To MUTE the VK-53SE,

depress the MUTE button located on the right side of the front panel. Depressing

this button again will return the unit to its normal operation and turn the mute

LED off.

When the unit is powered up it automatically self-mutes until the proper operating

points of the circuitry are reached. It will then automatically go into Play mode,

provided the Mute function was not activated (the blue Mute LED is Off).

Turning the VK-53SE OFF even for short time, will make the unit reset its power

sequencing circuit and mute its output.

It will then require 50 seconds for the

unit to become operational again.

Table of contents

Other Balanced Audio Technology Amplifier manuals

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-1000 User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-P3 User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-52SE User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-50SE User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-150 User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-75SE User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-5 User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-55 User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-33SE User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-31 User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-30SE User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-40 User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-P10 User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-20 User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-600M User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-5SE User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology Phono Module User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-500 User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-32SE User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology REX II User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-60 User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-P10SE User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-250M User manual

Balanced Audio Technology

Balanced Audio Technology VK-600 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