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1. DISCRIPTION HP 500 MK3 

  

 
 
 
The HP500 is being built since 1987. Many details were improved and a lot of changes took 
place through the years and made the sound of the HP 500 even more attractive. For 
example, today the MK III-version is always equipped with an external power supply. The 
XLR-output with trafo-balancing and a further designed phono-part are options, that make 
the HP 500 to one of the most universal tube preamplifiers of our time. Of course, older 
versions can be updated. 
 
 
 
 

What is special about the HP 500? 

 
 
 

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First of all, the HP 500 is equipped with our self-designed Octave-circuitry-technology, 
that is responsible for the exceptional sound and technical qualities. 

The special thing about the Octave-circuitry-technology is the combination of 
modern semiconductors with the tube. This combination makes it possible, always 
to keep the tube in an optimal operating limit and thereby use the whole sound 
potential. Disturbing characteristics of conventional tube concepts, like hum-
interference, magnetic field disturbances and high output resistance, are 
eliminated. 

 
 
 

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Further more, the manufacturing quality of the HP 500 is perfect, this can also be seen in 
the stable full-aluminium chassis with low resonance. The massive cinch-sockets make it 
possible to connect even thick NF-wires with large plugs. 

Every product of Octave is built in individual construction in Germany and is subject 
to a 100 % control. The final inspection is completed by a 48 hour burn-in-test. 

 
 
 

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In addition, the HP 500 is equipped with a lavish special power supply, that was newly 
designed for the HP 500 especially. 

The power supply of the HP 500 fulfils complex functions: On the one side, it sees 
to a constant sound quality by keeping off mains disturbances and by creating 
constant working conditions due to electronic voltage stabilisation. On the other 
side, the built-in control logic guarantees the highest possible use reliability. With 
its soft-start-technology, it achieves the theoretically maximal possible life of the 
tubes (up to approx. 10 years). 
An additional function of the power supply is the protective circuitry, that releases 
the output of the HP 500 with a time lag by using a relay. Click disturbances 
caused by power failure etc. are therefore absolutely impossible. Transformers are 
made-to-measure by ourselves.  

 

Summary of Contents for HP500MK3

Page 1: ...OWNER S MANUAL HP500MK3...

Page 2: ...functions Amplifier Sound Quality OCTAVE amplifiers are equipped with a proprietary control and monitoring system we call Power Management This is an electronic brain within the amp that regulates an...

Page 3: ...tance are eliminated Further more the manufacturing quality of the HP 500 is perfect this can also be seen in the stable full aluminium chassis with low resonance The massive cinch sockets make it pos...

Page 4: ...nly by a qualified technician Fuses should also only be changed by a qualified technician Always replace fuses with ones of the same type and rating If your amplifier requires servicing please ship or...

Page 5: ...e the unit near flammable materials gases or vapours Avoid areas where there may be heavy accumulations of dust or where the unit may be subject to mechanical vibration Place your OCTAVE amplifier on...

Page 6: ...to your power amplifier making sure that you observe the correct polarity positive on the amplifier to positive on the speakers 6 Check that the amplifier is switched off before connecting the power c...

Page 7: ...r switch of the preamp filter I Muting switch With this function the outputs are turned mute You do this when new components are to be connected to or disconnected from the inputs By this disturbances...

Page 8: ...reamplifier disc playback CD aux input for an additional line unit tuner playback tuner or DSR phono line input for an additional external phono module etc only HP 500 line At the same time the chosen...

Page 9: ...ground cable of the turntable if existing Also see connection to the stereo equipment topic 3 Input MM input for turntables with MM pick up system Input tuner Input aux additional line input for video...

Page 10: ...s design is based on the realization that an effective improvement in sound quality can be achieved by completely isolating the preamplifier from the mains simulated battery powered operation Classic...

Page 11: ...se should be left to a qualified service technician f Phase indicator light This illuminates when the mains supply polarity is correct To achieve the correct phase you may have to reverse the mains pl...

Page 12: ...Please remember that infrared cannot penetrate solid objects Make sure there is a clear line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver 1 Undo both of the M3 countersunk screws on the remote c...

Page 13: ...w impedance moving coil cartridges Most preamps have problems with such cartridges since both gain and input impedance issues have to be addressed simultaneously We have developed an MM MC head amp th...

Page 14: ...ch no Switch position Resistance ohms 1 All Off 500 All Off 500 2 1 On 330 5 On 330 3 2 On 200 6 On 200 4 1 2 On 166 5 6 On 166 5 3 On 97 7 On 97 6 1 3 On 88 5 7 On 88 7 2 3 On 75 6 7 On 75 8 4 On 70...

Page 15: ...16 9 TUBES 9 1 Tube layout power supply board phono board line board Line board c ECC 82 12 AU 7 d e EF 184 Phono board f ECC 83 12 AX 7 g ECC 81 12 AT 7 h ECC 88 6922...

Page 16: ...ght of the front panel using a size 4 Allen key 2 Insert a Philips no 1 screwdriver through the grille at the rear of the unit and undo the two Philips screws at the left and right These screws have r...

Page 17: ...if necessary 5 Cleaning tips Cleaning agents and contact cleaners are not recommended for tube sockets Clean dirty sockets with compressed air and carefully clean tarnished tube pins using a wire brus...

Page 18: ...ely to be caused by defective tubes The most frequent causes are cables and faulty recording devices Solution Unplug all non essential components cables from your preamp Swap channels to check your sp...

Page 19: ...me control 0 5 dB 70 dB Pin allocation XLR output Pin 1 ground Pin 2 hot Pin 3 cold Phono MM Input impedance 47 kOhm II 130 pF Sensitivity 3 mV RIAA equalization accuracy 0 3 dB 15 Hz 20 kHz Gain 40 d...

Page 20: ...ransformer coupled and galvanically isolated The HP 500 MK3 phono has separate inputs for MM MC An optional phono MM and MC module may be added any time MC input impedance is adjustable over a wide ra...

Page 21: ...22...

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