Goldmund PH3.8 User manual

USER MANUAL

Goldmund PH3.8

Phono Preamplifier

Goldmiund PH3.8 – Phono Preamplifier - 2

Congratulations.

Thank you for purchasing the Goldmund PH3.8 Phono Preamplifier.

You have acquired the best Phono Preamplifier ever made for professional and domestic uses. It

will share its qualities of cleanliness, liveliness and detailed sound reproduction with its illustrious

predecessor the Mimesis PH3. Please take some time to read this manual. It may provide you with

useful information to make your pleasure of listening to the PH3.8 even higher.

INTRO UCTION

GOL MUN PH3.8 – Phono Preamplifier

Goldmund was founded in 1978 and has ever since been dedicated to the accurate reproduction

of sound and image.

At Goldmund, we strive to lead in the creation, development and manufacture of the industry’s

most advanced technologies, including audio and video systems, home-networking and music

distribution.

The guiding principle at Goldmund is to produce a precise sound with the least possible loss of

quality through the different stages. Goldmund will never adopt a technology before it is sufficiently

developed to satisfy the high quality standards we set. This is why Goldmund has often rejected

mainstream technologies and developed its own.

Goldmiund PH3.8 – Phono Preamplifier - 3

Table of Contents

1UNPACKING 5

2 CHOICE LOCATION AN COOLING 5

3 LINE VOLTAGE A JUSTMENT 6

4CONNECTIONS 6

5 REAR PANEL CONTROLS 7

6 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS 10

7 SOUN QUALITY OPTIMIZATION 10

8MAINTENANCE 10

9TECHNICAL ATA 11

10 REAR PANEL 13

Goldmiund PH3.8 – Phono Preamplifier - 4

W A R N I N G !

This extremely high quality phono preamplifier

possesses new technical features which are

necessary for accurate sound reproduction in

the best audio systems.

Only careful installation and use can

provide the satisfaction you are expecting.

The installation instructions must be carried

out in full and the mentioned precautions

taken to get the expected result and to avoid

impairing performance.

Goldmiund PH3.8 – Phono Preamplifier - 5

1 UNPACKING

You will find in the GOLDMUND PH3.8 box:

- The Phono Preamplifier.

- The power cord.

- This manual.

ATTENTION

Please keep the packaging in case you need to transport the PH3.8 at a later date or if you

have to send it for maintenance.

This packaging has been designed specifically to protect the PH3.8 in transit. Use of

alternative packaging is likely to result in damage, invalidating warranty cover.

2 CHOICE LOCATION AN COOLING

The Goldmund PH3.8 phono preamplifier does not generate a significant amount of heat.

The performance of the phono preamplifier is however directly related to its thermal

stability. The PH3.8 must therefore be located to allow adequate cooling of the heatsink

without over-ventilation.

Avoid stacking the PH3.8 with equipment generating heat.

Avoid locating the PH3.8 in direct proximity to any power amplifier, as the field generated

by some units can be detrimental to performance of phono preamplifiers.

Goldmiund PH3.8 – Phono Preamplifier - 6

3 LINE VOLTAGE A JUSTMENT

A voltage selector is provided on the back plate of the preamplifier. Adjust it with a

screwdriver if the line voltage provided is not appropriate.

ATTENTION: On the 220V position, PH3.8 preamplifier will function properly for main line

voltage in between 200V and 250V. On the 110V position, the main line must deliver

between 105 and 125V. If your main line is usually out of these tolerances, please consult

your GOLDMUND dealer.

Note:

Please check the value of the main line fuse. This fuse is located on the power cord

receptacle. The lid can be removed with a small screwdriver when the cord is removed.

Use a 1A slow-blow fuse for 220V and 110V.

4 CONNECTIONS

Connect the power cord to the back of the PH3.8 and plug it into the nearest wall socket.

Use a 3 lug grounded plug for safety.

To get the best sound from the PH3.8, avoid any multiple plugs or extension cords.

Connect the input interconnects between the phono preamplifier and the turntable.

If you are using a moving-coil cartridge select the inputs marked MC-L and MC-R. To

connect a moving-magnet cartridge use the inputs marked MM-L and MM-R.

Note:

Both inputs can be connected simultaneously if no hum is generated. In that case, the front

panel selecting the inputs acts a source selector between the two cartridges or tone-arms.

Plug the output interconnects from the RCA female sockets (labeled “output”) to the

preamplifier.

Goldmiund PH3.8 – Phono Preamplifier - 7

5 REAR PANEL CONTROLS

POWER ON

When first powered on, the preamp will become operative only after approximately twenty

seconds of warm up. This ensures proper stabilization of the circuitry and avoids any

unwanted noise, this delay will also be applied every time a change is done on the front

switches. After this delay, the output of the preamplifier is connected to the output

connectors.

Note:

The GOLDMUND PH3.8 phono preamplifier should remain connected at all times.

If the power cord is accidentally disconnected, a special safety circuit switches the preamp

to muting, to avoid any disturbance to reach the power amplifier and the speakers, even in

case of a power failure in the building.

It is normal for a slight sound to be heard from the speakers when the Phono Preamplifier

is turned ON or OFF. The PH3.8 is self-protected and the sound heard is corresponding to

the charging and discharging of the capacitors.

INPUT MM/MC SELECTOR

This front panel switch controls which input is used: the Moving Magnet or the Moving Coil

input.

GAIN

Level adjustment acting simultaneously on both channels for both the moving coil and the

moving magnet sources.

Goldmiund PH3.8 – Phono Preamplifier - 8

5 REAR PANEL CONTROLS (Ctd.)

BACK PANEL IMPE ANCE SWITCHES

Six switches are located around the preamplifier input connectors. These switches

individually adjust the loading of each input separately for each channel. For Moving

Magnet inputs, both resistive and capacitive load can be adjusted. For Moving Coil inputs,

only resistive load can be adjusted.

Each switch has nine positions, numbered 1 to 9. The table below indicates the values

applied for each selector position:

Selector MC R-Load

(Moving Coil Resistance)

The following values are parallel resistance load applied to the MC inputs.

One selector controls the right input, the other one the left input.

Switch position Load applied on the input

1 - 10 Ohms

2 - 20 Ohms

3 - 50 Ohms

4 - 100 Ohms

5 - 470 Ohms

6 - 1.5 kOhms

7 - 4.7 kOhms

8 - 15 kOhms

9 - 47 kOhms

Goldmiund PH3.8 – Phono Preamplifier - 9

5 REAR PANEL CONTROLS (Ctd.)

Selector MM R-Load

(Moving Magnet Resistance)

The following values are parallel resistance load applied to the MM inputs. One selector

controls the right input, the other the left one.

Switch position Load applied on the input

1 - 50 Ohms

2 - 220 Ohms

3 - 1 kOhms

4 - 5 kOhms

5 - 10 kOhms

6 - 20 kOhms

7 - 33 kOhms

8 - 47 kOhms

9 - 100 kOhms

Selector MM C-Load

(Moving Magnet Capacitance)

The following values are parallel capacitors load applied to the MM inputs. One selector

controls the right input, the other the left one.

Switch position Load applied on the input

1 - 20 pF

2 - 50 pF

3 - 100 pF

4 - 220 pF

5 - 470 pF

6 - 1 nF

7 - 2.2 nF

8 - 4.7 nF

9 - Off

Goldmiund PH3.8 – Phono Preamplifier - 10

6 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS

On the front panel of the GOLDMUND PH3.8 Phono Preamplifier you will find two switches.

The left switch selects the global gain (low or hi) of the preamplifier, the right switch selects

the MM or MC cartridge.

To start playing the Phono Preamplifier, turn the power switch ON located on the back

panel of the preamplifier. The Phono Preamplifier is operative immediately after its self-

test.

7 SOUN QUALITY OPTIMIZATION

If the preamplifier has been left unpowered for a few days, the optimum sound quality is

only reached after a few hours. This is why GOLDMUND recommends leaving the PH3.8

powered on.

8 MAINTENANCE

The GOLDMUND PH3.8 Phono Preamplifier usually requires no maintenance.

Always turn the power off before cleaning your Phono Preamplifier. Use only a clean, soft,

damp cloth. Dampen with water or a mild detergent solution. Avoid abrasive or harsh

cleansers (eg. products containing sodium carbonate).

Table of contents

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