Krell Industries PHANTOM User manual

OWNER’S REFERENCE

PHANTOM

STEREO PREAMPLIFIER

THE LEADER IN AUDIO ENGINEERING

Phantom Stereo Preamplifier

Owner’s Reference, v1.0

Krell Industries, LLC.

45 Connair Road

Orange, CT 06477-3650 USA

This product complies with the EMC directive (89/336/EEC) and the low-voltage directive

(73/23/EEC).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read Instructions.

2. Keep these Instructions.

3. Heed all Warnings.

4. Follow all Instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with dry cloth.

7. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appa-

ratus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

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

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

has been damaged in any way, such as a 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.

10. The Phantom preamplifier must be placed on a firm, level surface where it is not exposed to

dripping or splashing.

11. The ventilation grids on the top of the Phantom preamplifier and the space underneath the

Phantom preamplifier must be unobstructed at all times during operation. Do not place flam-

mable material above or beneath the preamplifier.

12. Before making connections to the Phantom preamplifier, ensure that the power is off and other

components are in mute or stand-by mode. Make sure all cable terminations are of the highest

quality, free from frayed ends, short circuits, or cold solder joints.

13. Do not connect an RS-232 cable to the phono power port. Output from the phono power port

can seriously damage your computer.

14. Do not connect the cable from a Krell KPE phono stage to the RS-232 port.

15. THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE AN PHANTOM PREAMPLIFIER.

Please contact Krell if you have questions not addressed in this guide.

This product is manufactured in the United States of America. Krell®is a registered trademark of Krell Industries, LLC., and is restricted for use

by Krell Industries, LLC., its subsidiaries, and authorized agents. Evolution Bias™ is a trademark of Krell Industries, LLC. and is a Krell technolo-

gy based on U.S. Patent No. 5,331,291. CAN Link™, CAST™, Evolution CAST™, and Krell Current Mode™ are trademarks of Krell Industries,

LLC. All other trademarks are registered to their respective companies.

TEL 203-298-4000

FAX 203-891-2028

E-MAIL [email protected]

WEBSITE http://www.krellonline.com

Contents

List of Illustrations, page 4

A Letter from Krell Industries LLC, page 5

SECTION ONE: Phantom Features and Technology, page 6

Features, Revolutionary Krell CAST Technology,

Definition of Terms

SECTION TWO: Unpacking and Placement, page 11

Opening the Phantom Shipping Carton

SECTION THREE: Quick Start, page 13

Connecting the Phantom to Your System,

Operating the Phantom

SECTION FOUR: Anatomy of the Phantom, page 15

Front Panel Description, Remote Control Description,

Battery Installation, and Back Panel Description

SECTION FIVE: Connecting the Phantom to Your System, page 26

Input and Output Connections, Connection Steps

SECTION SIX: Phantom Operation, page 28

On/Off and Stand-by Operation

SECTION SEVEN: Customizing the Phantom, page 29

Navigation Conventions, Menu Functions

SECTION EIGHT: Troubleshooting System Noise, page 43

WARRANTY, page 44

RETURN AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURE, page 46

SPECIFICATIONS, page 47

List of Illustrations

Figure 1, page 15

Phantom Preamplifier and Power Supply Front Panels

Inset Preamplifier and Power Supply Stacked View

Figure 2, page 19

Phantom Remote Control

Figure 3, page 22

Phantom Preamplifier and Power Supply Back Panels

A Letter from Krell Industries LLC

Dear Audio Enthusiast,

Thank you for your purchase of the Krell Phantom preamplifier.

The preamplifier plays a vital role in audio playback by mediating the line-level out-

put of a wide variety of source components in preparation for the amplifier’s input.

At no other point in the reproduction process is music so vulnerable to change, as

the signal level is small, and susceptible to noise and distortion.

Having always valued the role of the preamplifier in fine audio systems, we take

preamplifier design very seriously. We realize that, no matter how impressive an

amplifier’s performance; it can be no better than that of the preamplifier driving it.

Our new Phantom preamplifier employs a powerful, separate power supply, Krell

Current Mode gain stages from input to output, and Current Audio Signal

Transmission (CAST) receivers and transmitters. Utilizing these powerful technolo-

gies, the Phantom conveys the complete range of timbre and dynamics that com-

prise the foundation musical performance. Typical of our latest preamplifier

designs, the Phantom preamplifier includes a thoughtful suite of menu options and

can be customized for the greatest ease of operation.

We hope that you enjoy your new Phantom preamplifier.

Sincerely,

Krell Industries LLC

SECTION ONE

Phantom Features and Technology

This section describes the innovative features and technology of the Phantom pre-

amplifier, and defines CAST and other key terms used in this reference.

The Phantom Stereo Preamplifier, evolving from the flagship Evolution Two, works

to carefully transmit audio signals without damaging the ephemeral staging and

dimensional components of the music. The Phantom is a two chassis design with

a separate power supply that isolates the critical audio stages for the lowest pos-

sible noise floor. A combination of advanced technologies and inspired design ele-

vate the Phantom preamplifier’s performance to the reference level.

Features

Preamplifier

The Phantom preamplifier is the first Krell amplifier to include an optional

crossover. The crossover fuctionality offers the ability to use a subwoofer/satellite

speaker arrangement and still maintain the highest quality sonic performance.

Previous to the Phantom preamplifier, this system configuration would require sig-

nals to pass through a subwoofer’s lower quality crossover circuitry. The Phantom

preamplifier is the centerpiece of a world class audio system where space is at a

premium.

Crossover Highlights

Owing to Krell’s work in the Modulari Duo Reference loudspeakers, the unique

crossover feature is a highly sophisticated option. When the optional board is

present, additional crossover menu items become available. Definable parameters

include independently assignable crossover frequencies and filter types for te high

and low pass sections. Choices include 40Hz, 55Hz, 75Hz, and 100Hz crossover

points with 12dB, 18dB, and 24dB Butterworth or 24dB Linkwitz-Riley style filters.

The high pass section of the crossover uses the full Phantom preamplifier circuitry

for its ouput stage.

Circuitry Highlights

The Phantom preamplifier is a dual monaural circuit design with the left and right

channels afforded their own power supply regulation and individual full chassis

sized boards. All signal gain is realized in surface mount topology using propri-

etary multiple-output current mirrors with nearly 500 times the open loop linearity

of other designs. Approaching 1 MHz of open loop bandwidth in a zero feedback,

balanced, Krell Current Mode, the Phantom output stage terminates in Krell CAST.

continued

A complete Krell system (source, preamp, and amplifier) system, connected using

Krell MMF CAST interconnects reduces the number of voltage gain stages to the

minimum, one. The resulting noise floor approaches the theoretical limit of tech-

nology. Negative feedback is not used anywhere in the preamp, nor is it neces-

sary. Open-loop distortion is typically less than 0.003%. The volume control is

realized with a balanced resistor ladder — bandwidth and transient response of

the preamp circuitry are virtually unaffected by the volume setting.

Power Suply Highlights

The Phantom audio circuits receive power from a Krell Current Mode analog

power supply housed in its own dedicated chassis. The power supply avoids the

common integrated circuit topology used in many preamplifiers and instead mim-

ics the design topology of Krell Evolution e Series amplifiers. The circuitry is com-

pletely discrete giving it the ability to respond quickly to current demands and also

be unaffected by all but the most severe AC voltage power fluctuations.

Oversized for a preamplifier, the power supply features a 290 VA transformer and

41,600µF of capacitance. Locating the power supply in its own chassis presents

the ideal configuration for isolating stray electrical and magnetic interference from

the critical preamplifier signal path. Capable of delivering current and voltage

swing for any musical event, the Phantom power supply is gentle on AC require-

ments when not in use. A new eco-friendly design reduces standby power draw to

2W. .

Revolutionary Krell CAST Technology

Current Audio Signal Transmission, termed CAST, is a revolutionary method of

connecting analog audio components for unparalleled sonic performance.

Innovative engineering combines the new Krell CAST circuitry with existing Krell

Current Mode technology to create entire CAST systems that reproduce music

with incredible range, tonality, and precision.

The Voltage Signal Transmission

and the Traditional Audio System

Traditionally, signal is transmitted in the voltage domain between two components.

In an audio system, each component is a discrete entity with unique characteris-

tics that act upon the musical signal independently. Each component is unaware

of the other components in the system. The cables that connect the components

also have their own electrical characteristics, which affect the sonic presentation

of the entire system. CAST transmission unifies individual components and inter-

connects into an electrically-linked whole. The original signal remains unaltered

from source to speaker.

continued

CAST Basics

Here is how a CAST audio system works. Internally, each CAST source transfers,

or amplifies, current using Krell Current Mode circuitry. This current signal is then

output using CAST circuitry. When the signal is received by a CAST input, Krell

Current Mode circuitry again takes over until the signal reaches the loudspeaker.

By maintaining the musical signal in the current domain from beginning to end, an

entire CAST system behaves as if it is one component. With CAST, circuit board

properties and signal transmission aberrations between components are eliminat-

ed. Cable impedances and their effects on the transmitted signal are non-existent.

How CAST and Krell Current Mode Interact

While CAST is a new method of transferring the musical signal between compo-

nents, its origin stems from Krell Current Mode, the technology developed to

transfer the musical signal within a component. CAST combined with Krell Current

Mode takes circuitry signal transmission to the next evolutionary level. In essence,

Krell Current Mode maintains the integrity of the signal within the component and

CAST preserves the transmitted signal between components. Together, CAST and

Krell Current Mode technologies unify separate Krell components into a single

global circuit. Krell Current Mode technology enjoys bandwidth increases up to an

order of magnitude greater than their voltage based counterparts. This dramatic

increase in circuit bandwidth delivers near perfection in the audible band that typi-

cally suffers from phase distortions in voltage circuits.

CAST Cable Construction

A CAST system uses cables manufactured by Krell and other manufacturers spe-

cially licensed by Krell. Thin and flexible CAST cables are constructed with the

same build quality as other Krell components and are aesthetically matched to the

components that Krell manufactures. An all-metal body and locking connectors

with gold contacts are part of the standard no-compromise specification devel-

oped for every CAST cable made.

(SECTION ONE: Phantom Features and Technology continued)

Evolution CAST

By employing radical current mirror circuitry, the Phantom components elevate the

CAST technology to another level. This advanced use of the technology increases

the linearity, transient speed, and bandwidth of the Evolution components while

reducing the distortion by an order of magnitude.

The Best Musical Performance

When you operate a CAST system, you will hear significant improvements in every

performance area: speed, precision, dynamic range, depth and width of the sound

stage, transient impact, tonal balance, harmonic distortion, and more. The goal for

CAST is the same company goal used for all Krell products. Krell strives for the

delivery of the best performance of a musical event for you, using the full expres-

sion of technology to date.

(SECTION ONE: Phantom Features and Technology continued)

Definition of Terms

The following are definitions of key terms used in this owner’s reference:

Inputs and Outputs

Balanced

A symmetrical input or output circuit that has equal impedance from both input

terminals to a common ground reference point. The industry standard for profes-

sional and sound recording installations, balanced connections have 6 dB more

gain than single-ended connections and allow the use of long interconnect cables.

Balanced connections are completely immune to induced noise from the system

or the environment.

CAST and Evolution CAST

Krell Current Audio Signal Transmission, or CAST, is a proprietary Krell circuit tech-

nology for connecting analog components, transmitting the audio waveform

between components in the current domain rather than in the voltage domain. The

speed and bandwidth provided by Krell CAST and its circuitry update, Evolution

CAST, yield accurate, realistic music reproduction, enabling connected compo-

nents to perform as if they are all part of a single circuit.

Single-ended

A two-wire input or output circuit. Single-ended connections are not recommend-

ed for connections requiring long cable runs. Use care when using single-ended

connections, because the ground connection is made last and broken first. Turn

the system off/on prior to making or breaking single-ended connections.

Operation

Off

When the stand-by/power LEDs are not illuminated, the preamplifier is off.

Stand-by

A new eco-friendly design reduces stand by power to draw to 2W. The stand-

by/power LED of the preamplifier chassis illuminates in red, when the preamplifier

is in stand-by mode. The power supply illuminates in green when the preamplifier

chassis is in stand-by mode. Krell recommends leaving the preamplifier in stand-

by mode when it is not playing music

Operation

When the standby/power LEDs are illuminated in blue, the preamplifier is in opera-

tional mode and ready to play music.

continued

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