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8. USING THE (SUPER) BLACK BOX
Description
OCTAVE, with the Black Box technology, offers an instrument for optimizing the OCTAVE amplifier
in respect to the speaker. This flexibility is a unique feature of the OCTAVE brand.
The dynamic and tonal stability of an amplifier is strongly dependent upon the stability and capacity
of the power supply, therefore the Black Box and Super Black Box were developed as external
upgrades to the OCTAVE amplifiers’ power supply storage capacitors by increasing their
capacitance by a factor of 4 (Black Box) or 10 (Super Black Box), respectively. This is a
tremendous benefit if the speaker is difficult to drive. Loudspeaker efficiency is made less critical,
while the amplifier is enabled to handle speakers with minimum impedances as low as 2 ohms
(except for EL34 with 4 ohms). The power supply capacitance increase realized via use of the
Black Box or Super Black Box stabilizes current delivery and reduces the impedance interaction of
the load. This improves dynamic range, separation, depth, soundstage size and articulation,
rendering the musical reproduction clearer throughout the entire frequency range. The amplifier
remains unaffected by mains variations and interferences due to the noise filtering characteristics
of the capacitors
8.1. The Black Box option
Black-Box
Indicator LED
High-current plug
The LED illuminates continuously when the power amplifier is on.
The LED goes out when the protection circuitry trips. This is normal, as the protection circuitry cuts
the power to the amplifier.
Specification
Dimensions
170 X 97 X 257 mm (W x H x D)
Weight 2.5
kg
Connection cable
Length: 70 cm. Longer lengths are available upon request.
Connecting to the amplifier
Important! Before connecting the Black Box, switch
off
the unit using
the
power switch and wait for 1 minute
.
When inserting the connector, guide the anti-rotation lug carefully into the
mating recess in the socket.
When you switch on the amplifier, the LED on the front panel of the Black
Box will illuminate.
Note: The LED on the Black Box goes off when the amplifier's electronic
protection circuitry is activated or the Ecomode has turned the unit down.
Should you wish to disconnect the Black Box, switch off the amplifier first
and
wait until the LED on the Black Box has gone out.
