Decware ZMA Operation Manual Download Page 2

OPERATION MANUAL                           MODEL :   ZMA  -  ZEN MYSTERY AMP

 

          REV 1  MAR 2014

                     

IMPORTANT SAFETY 

INSTRUCTIONS! 

PLEASE READ THESE BEFORE 

OPERATING THIS EQUIPMENT. 

1.

Read and Follow these instructions. 

2.

Do not plug your amplifier in or 

attempt to turn it on until you have 

read and followed the steps in this 

complete manual. 

3.

Never leave this amplifier powered 

ON while unattended or at night 

when sleeping. 

  

4.

Do not use this amplifier near 

water or in damp locations. 

5.

Do not place this amplifier near any 

heat sources such as radiators, 

heat registers, stoves, or directly 

above other amplifiers that produce 

heat. 

6.

Do not defeat the safety of the 3 

prong power cord by attempting to 

lift the ground.  If you only have 

two prong outlets in your home, 

have a licensed electrician install a 

grounded outlet near the amplifier. 

7.

Protect the removable power cord 

from being walked on or pinched at 

either end.  

8.

Do not attempt to move this 

amplifier until after it has been 

turned off and cooled down to 

room temperature. 

9.

Unplug the amplifier during 

lightning storms or when unused 

for long periods of time. 

10.

Refer all service to Decware or a 

Decware authorized service tech. 

Do not attempt to fix internal 

problems. There are no user 

serviceable parts inside.   

11.

WARNING

 HIGH VOLTAGES 

PRESENT - This amplifier stores up 

to 500 volts in the capacitors. Do 

not open the amplifier under any 

conditions. 

12.

Never touch a vacuum tube while it 

is operating.  Some can reach 

temperatures near 400 degrees F. 

13.

ALWAYS place amplifier on a solid 

sturdy clean and level surface that 

can support over 100 pounds so 

there is no risk of the amplifier 

falling or getting tipped over.

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lightning flash with arrowhead, within

an equilateral triangle, is intended to

alert the user to the presence of unin-

stalled “dangerous voltage” within the

product’s enclosure that may be of risk

of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an

equilateral triangle is intended to

alert the user to the presence of

important operating and mainte-

nance (servicing) instructions in the

literature accompanying the appli-

ance.

AVIS 

RISQUÉ DE CHOC ELECTRIC-NE PASOUVRIR.

WARNING- TO REDUCE RISK

OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL

SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS

EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR

MOISTURE.

NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS

INSIDE.  REFER SERVICING TO

QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

To prevent the risk of electrical shock, do not remove

cover or bottom.  No user serviceable parts inside.

IMPORTANT SAFETY

INSTRUCTIONS!

PLEASE READ THEM BEFORE

OPERATING THIS EQUIPMENT.

1  Read these 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 a dry cloth.

7  Do not set things on top of apparatus.

8  Install in accordance with manufactur-

ers instructions.

9  Do not install near any heat sources

such as radiators, heat registers,

stoves, or other apparatus (including

amplifiers) that produce heat.

10  Do not defeat the safety purpose of the

polarized or grounding-type plug. A po-

larized plug has to blades with one

wider then the other. A grounding type

plug has to blades and a third ground-

ing prong.  The wide blade or the third

grounding prong are provided for your

safety.  If the provided plug does not

fit into your outlet, consult an electri-

cian for replacement of the obsolete

outlet.

11  Protect the power cord from being walked

on or pinched particularly at plugs, conve-

nience receptacles, and the point where

they exit from the apparatus.

12  Only use attachments/accessories specified

by the manufacturer.

13  Do not attempt to move this apparatus until

after it has been turned of and cooled down

to room temperature.

14  Unplug this apparatus during lighting storms

or when unused for long periods of time.

15  Refer all servicing ot  qualified service per-

sonnel.  Servicing is required when the ap-

paratus has been damaged in any way, such

as 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 oper-

ate normally, or has been dropped.

16  Do not expose this equipment to dripping or

splashing and ensure that no objects filled

with liquid, such as vases, are placed on or

near the equipment.

17  To completely disconnect this equipment

from the A.C. mains, disconnect the power

supply cord from the A.C. receptacle.

18  The mains plug of the power supply cord

shall remain readily operable.

19  Never touch a vacuum tube while it is oper-

ating.  Some can reach temperatures of al-

most 400 degrees F.

20  Turn apparatus off when not in use.

Summary of Contents for ZMA

Page 1: ...OPERATION MANUAL MODEL ZMA ZEN MYSTERY AMP REV 1 MAR 2014 PAGE OF WWW DECWARE COM 1 21 Reference Vacuum Tube Amplifier Model ZMA ZEN MYSTERY AMP...

Page 2: ...RE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL To prevent the risk of electrical shock do not remove co...

Page 3: ...you can e mail zen Decware com If you have any issues check the web site s contact page for up to date e mail addresses and phone hours We also have a strong online support forum that is very active...

Page 4: ...do not try to carry the case because with amp it weights over 50 lbs Set the case on a low table or the floor and carefully lift the amplifier straight up out of the foam Get someone to help if you r...

Page 5: ...s can take up to 24 hours in extreme cases Getting Started First let s get familiar with layout of the amplifier Your amplifier will look like this The important thing to notice about your amplifier i...

Page 6: ...e power cord the power switch and the master gain control These three items serve both of the mono amplifiers that make up the Zen Mystery Amp This way you only need one good power cord whereas separa...

Page 7: ...that can accept up to 8 AWG bare wire banana jacks or the larger spade connectors commonly found on hi end speaker cables As you can see there is a separate positive and negative post for both 4 ohm...

Page 8: ...both at the same time With professional grade equipment featuring differential or transformer balanced outputs we recommend having your ZMA built with the balanced inputs for best sound For example o...

Page 9: ...tube 1 of 2 A10 Left output tube 2 of 2 A11 Left phase inverter tube A12 Left input tube A13 Bias Meter for A10 tube A14 Bias Meter for A9 tube A15 Balance Control for Bias Meter s A13 A14 B1 Right XL...

Page 10: ...ed to fully charge the large 500 volt caps Do not insert tubes if the 500 volt caps have been charged Unplug the amplifier and let it set for 8 hours to let the charge drain away before installing tub...

Page 11: ...f the tubes match If you can t find 4 matched tubes like this you can get by with two matched pairs Simply make tube location A11 and location B11 match Then do the same for A12 and B12 Tube Substitut...

Page 12: ...he meters consist of a left and right pair representing the corresponding output tubes on each side of the amp Since the goal is to have each pair of tubes perfectly match you simply use the bias bala...

Page 13: ...the middle of the meter s range STEP 5 As the amplifier warms up you can re adjust things Once the amplifier has been on for 30 minutes make a final adjustment and then you won t have to adjust anyth...

Page 14: ...mply compensate with the ingenious balance control BIAS WINDOWS and TUBE LIFE The biasing capabilities of this amplifier operate on two pre determined windows Window one is how high and how low you ca...

Page 15: ...ver you want to look at it INSIGHT Since these are real analog meters you can trust their personality to tell you a lot about each output tube For example in addition to the above when you first turn...

Page 16: ...sses is to play the amplifier for 5 hours followed by 5 hours off repeated 5 times That said the amp sounds so good out of the box that you should be able to just use it with the knowledge that things...

Page 17: ...sign a step further to become 100 direct since there are no resistors or chokes used That makes it unique in the world of tube amplifiers on multiple levels since this has never been done before VOICI...

Page 18: ...ation into the amplifier Since starting Decware in 1996 we have yet to hear a better coupling capacitor at any price Even solder and the point to point techniques used to build the amp effect how it s...

Page 19: ...here everything is symmetrically laid out in three dimensions and hand soldered with both channels in a mirror image ensuring every part and wire length is matched between the two channels The layout...

Page 20: ...0 to 100 MA WINDOWED BIAS CONTROL to ADJ OUTPUT TUBES DYNAMIC BIAS BALANCE CONTROL FOR PERFECT MATCHING of EVEN UNMATCHED TUBES 600V CRYO TREATED FLAT STACKED COPPER FOIL BEES WAX SIGNAL CAPACITORS O...

Page 21: ...Hz M Recommended for levels up to 20 dBu at 20 Hz M High input impedance 13 kS S S S with 10 kS S S S load M High common mode rejection 107 dB at 60 Hz This transformer is designed for use in wideband...

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