background image

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

26 

 

10. OPTION (SUPER) BLACK BOX 

 
 

Description 

With the Black Box technology OCTAVE 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. 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 
 

10.1 Option Black Box 

 

 

 

Legend 

 

(1) 

Indicator LED 

The  LED  illuminates  continuously  when  the  power  amplifier  is  on. 
The LED goes out when the protection circuitry trips. This is normal, 
because the protection circuitry cuts the power to the amplifier 

(2) 

High-current plug 

 
 
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.

 

Summary of Contents for V 70 Class A

Page 1: ...V 70 Class A Owner s Manual English...

Page 2: ...d insights into the interaction of amplifier and loudspeaker With tube amplifiers in particular a general reluctance to depart from the classic circuit designs has not done the technology any favors A...

Page 3: ...4...

Page 4: ...onnections 16 6 Advanced functions 18 6 1 Power Selector alternative output tubes 18 6 2 Protection 19 6 3 Soft Start 19 6 4 Ecomode 20 6 5 Front Channel 21 6 6 Regulated preamplifier output Pre Out 2...

Page 5: ...6...

Page 6: ...across the entire frequency response up to maximum modulation The enormous power with up to 70 watts of music power is significantly above the output level of conventional Class A amplifiers and is m...

Page 7: ...out only by a qualified technician Defective fuses should also only be re placed by a qualified technician Always replace fuses with ones of the same type and rating If your amplifier requires servici...

Page 8: ...le materials gases or vapors 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 a stable level surface 2...

Page 9: ...mote control 1 x 2 5 mm Allen key for removing the cover Owner s manual with warranty card Cloth and gloves 3 2 Removing the grille Procedure For your own safety make sure that the amplifier is not co...

Page 10: ...an of components and tubes by protecting against stresses caused by high inrush currents when switching on Procedure Check that the Ecomode switch on the rear panel is in the Eco off position Connect...

Page 11: ...s in the center of the display one for each power tube If the amplifier is still cold the LEDs will initially illuminate yellow Please wait five to ten minutes After an additional 5 minutes the BIAS c...

Page 12: ...13 3 GETTING STARTED 3 7 Connection options overview...

Page 13: ...input for tuner etc Pos 3 Aux 1 RCA line level input for video etc Pos 4 Aux 2 RCA line level input for video etc Pos 5 CD 2 XLR line level input for CD SACD or similar Pos 6 The electronic BIAS meas...

Page 14: ...nit is switched on Protection Red LED lights up when the electronic protection system has switched off the amplifier due to an error see chapter 6 2 Soft start Lights up during the soft start process...

Page 15: ...MM MC input with Phono option AUX 1 RCA line level input for Video etc Tape Rec Record output for tape or DAT GND Ground connector for Turntable Front Channel Input for the front channel of a multich...

Page 16: ...n see chapter 10 You must switch off the V 70 Class A using the power switch before connecting and disconnecting the Black Box AC supply socket IEC socket with integrated fuse holder The fuse is locat...

Page 17: ...70 Class A is able to deliver up to 2 x 50 W RMS Output Power The slightly weaker tubes type KT 88 or 6550 can be used in the position LOW In this position the maximum output power is limited to 2 x...

Page 18: ...bes A fault in one of the preamp tubes which overloads the affected channel Once the protection system has cut in the only way you can turn the V 70 Class A back on is to turn the on off switch off an...

Page 19: ...plifier 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 tu...

Page 20: ...lated preamplifier output Pre Out Using with an active subwoofer The regulated preamplifier output is most commonly used to drive an active subwoofer The Pre Out is decoupled via a separate buffer to...

Page 21: ...e tubes are never exceeded in pentode mode weaker output tubes may also be considered Output tubes can be divided into two broad classes classic pentode output tubes for medium power amplifiers and mo...

Page 22: ...power tubes The BIAS is shown with three colored LEDs yellow for quiescent current too low green for correct quiescent current and red for quiescent current too high The display too low or too high in...

Page 23: ...allowed a longer warm up period You should check these tubes after about 20 minutes 7 5 Running in the tubes All OCTAVE equipment is subject to a 48 hour Long term quality test at the factory to burn...

Page 24: ...phono preamplifier incorporates active RIAA equalization with an active 2nd order subsonic filter The phono preamplifier uses semiconductor technology throughout The subsonic filter suppresses undesi...

Page 25: ...roves dynamic range separation depth soundstage size and articulation rendering the musical reproduction clearer throughout the entire frequency range The amplifier remains unaffected by mains variati...

Page 26: ...electrolytics The yellow LED indi cates that this procedure is taking place The discharge circuit also activates if the SBB connecting cable is accidentally removed This is to prevent the SBB maintain...

Page 27: ...eappears you have two grounded components connected to the V 70 Class A You must now unplug your components in reverse order to find out which of them is grounded Usually the hum will still appear eve...

Page 28: ...r fridges and 12V halogen lamps can produce strong radio interference when they turn on and off Depending on the wiring in your home this can result in clicks and pops in your loudspeakers To fix the...

Page 29: ...BIAS screws to the extreme right and leave them there If you have not been able to adjust the BIAS satisfactorily turn the adjuster screw back to its extreme left position Driver tube heater fault Wh...

Page 30: ...ection system to trip Should this happen switch the V 70 Class A off and replace the problem tube Faulty driver tube In very rare cases a problem with one of the driver tubes can cause the V 70 Class...

Page 31: ...4 ohms Power Selector High 2 x 50 W RMS Power Selector Low 2 x 25 W RMS Peak Power into 4 ohms Power Selector High 2 x 70 W Peak Power Selector Low 2 x 35 W Peak Into 8 Ohms Load the Output Power is...

Page 32: ...W idle 20 W in Ecomode Inrush current limitation to 600 W for 0 3 sec Weight 23 kg Mains fuse 230 240V 4 A slow blow H T4AH size 5 x 20 mm 115 240V 6 3 A slow blow H T6 3AH size 5 x 20 mm 100V 6 3 A...

Page 33: ...ss at 20 Hz is less than 0 2 dB Graph 2 Noise spectrum A A FFT SPECTRUM ANALYSIS V110SE 5V 4Ohm Noise spectrum at 1 kHz 5 W into 4 ohms there is no mains interference to be seen 50 Hz 200 V 100 Hz 70...

Page 34: ...cannot be checked but these will generally last for well over 10 years 4 Does the V 70 Class A have to have all of its tubes fitted In principle the V 70 Class A will also operate without tubes It is...

Page 35: ...octave de We reserve the right to alter and improve the specifications in pursuit of better OCTAVE logo is a registered trade mark of Andreas Hofmann Copyright by Andreas Hofmann Reproduction in whol...

Reviews: