Octave V 70 Class A, Owner'S Manual

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6. ADVANCED FUNCTIONS
6.4 Ecomode
The Ecomode serves to reduce heat and unnecessary power consumption when the unit is
switched on but not in use. After 10 minutes without receiving signal, the V 70 Class A Ecomode is
activated, turning down the power. In this “sleep” mode, the V 70 Class A draws less than 20 W
Idle current. Therefore the running unit produces no heat, because the heater voltage and the high
voltage for the power amplifier section are switched off. When the music signal is once again
sensed by the V 70 Class A, the Ecomode circuit will turn the unit back on, with a warm-up/start-up
delay of approximately 30 seconds before the unit will operate.
The Ecomode also serves to increase the lifetime of the tubes, while having an added benefit of
improved safety allowing the V 70 Class A owner a level of security against any problems when
leaving the unit powered on. The Ecomode is a safety and energy-saving feature that automatically
switches off the amplifier's tube circuitry during breaks of more than 10 minutes.
Ecomode reduces the overall power consumption of the amplifier to under 20W, compared with
190W in normal operation. When detecting a signal, the V 70 Class A reactivates automatically and
is ready for use again within 30 seconds.
Rear panel switch settings
Eco off: The Ecomode electronic is off, the amplifier is on.
Eco on:
The Ecomode electronic is activated. Ecomode is signal-controlled; after a 10-
minute silence, Ecomode switches in automatically. The soft-start LED [6] indicates
that the Ecomode was turning down the unit. As soon as the Ecomode circuit
detects a input signal (from the CD player, for example) it will automatically power
the V 70 Class A up. The process takes approximately 30 seconds, after which
time the soft-start LED will extinguish to show that the V 70 Class A is ready for
use.
Note:
If you switch on the V 70 Class A with Ecomode active, it will go through the start
procedure. If it fails to detect a music signal, it will shut down after 10 minutes.
As well as saving electricity, Ecomode has a number of other advantages:
- Extended tube life
- Reduced heating of the whole unit
- Increased passive safety if the unit is left on by mistake
Ecomode is not the same as standby, however, because certain sections of the
amplifier remain on.
Important!
You cannot check the BIAS in Ecomode once the amplifier has powered
down! The BIAS control then displays always yellow.
Powered down during Ecomode is indicated by the soft-start-LED.
Amp off: The power section of the amplifier is off.
This setting is recommended if only the input section is in use. For example, this
would make sense by using the V 70 Class A as a distributor for a signal for an
external headphone amplifier perhaps. Record-Out and regulated Pre-Out is active.
The signal is not activating the Ecomode to turn on the power section.
Ecomode
Eco
off
Eco
on
Amp
off