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Operating your PHP-850
Before turning the unit on, recheck all your connections and turn down the volume control to avoid any
unpleasant "blasts" that could damage your speakers.
Power Switch
Press the upper part of the rocker to turn on. Press the lower part of the rocker to turn off. There will be a
slight delay after turn on, while circuits are muted as they are stabilizing.
Volume Control
Adjust listening level; the knob controls a smooth, precision potentiometer. If your power amplifier has gain
controls, they should be adjusted to accommodate a 11AM-1PM setting or your PHP-850 volume control
knob for your most frequent listening level.
Balance Control
Adjust relative left and right volume levels with this precision control. If clockwise rotation favors the left
channel speaker as you face it, you have reversed Right and Left hookups between your preamp and power
amplifier or between your power amplifier and speakers.
lnput Select Buttons
Press the button for the source you wish to hear. LED indicators indicate selection. (Remember, Phono is for
turntables only.)
Bass and Treble Tone Controls
These offer precision adjustment of tonal balance. To preserve sonic clarity, use these controls sparingly and
only for recordings that sound better with them. You will find that very slight adjustments can add a degree
of warmth, richness, clarity and airiness. However, greater adjustments may obscure musical detail, and
even risk overloading your speakers.
Tone Defeat
By pressing this button, you bypass all of the tone control circuitry. This will give you audiophile purity,
reduced phase shift, noise and distortion, as if the tone controls were not present.
Headphone Jack
For private listening at any time. It accommodates headphones with an impedance range from 8
Ω
to 600
Ω
.
To listen privately, you must turn off your power amplifier, as inserting a headphone plug into this jack does
not mute the signal at the Line Output jacks.
Burning-in your PHP-850
Like many other great preamplifiers, your PHP-850 requires at least 72 hours of continuous operation after
it is first turned on to sound its best. This gives various internal components and wiring a chance to "form"
their optimum electron paths and pass complex musical information with greater definition, smoothness,
and transparency.
Although we're certain your PHP-850 will sound spectacular when you first turn it on, you will find it
worthwhile to reserve your final judgment until you've listened after a more few days. You'll discover addi-
tional details you may not have imagined in your music.
