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Congratulations  on  your  purchase  of  a  Seta  phonograph  preamplifier!

  The  new,  ground-breaking 

Seta is a low noise, fully balanced design featuring an ultra-wide frequency bandwidth of up to 5 MHz 
(Model L), unprecedented for a phono preamplifier. This provides you with the key to obtaining stunning, 
three-dimensional music reproduction from your phonograph records. The Seta is designed to be used as a 
front-end  preamplifier  for  connecting  to  high  resolution  (192  kHz  /  24  bit),  balanced  -  input  computer 
audio interfaces. In conjunction with Channel D 

Pure Vinyl

 software, used for applying the RIAA phono 

correction curve, the strengths of the latest, 21st century cutting-edge analog and digital technologies are 
brought together, delivering superb, high definition, transparent vinyl playback.

For those audiophiles insisting on an all-analog signal path, an optional RIAA hardware correction feature 
is available for a conventional, RIAA-corrected output signal. The Flat and RIAA outputs may be used 
simultaneously (another unique feature), to support the best of the Analog and Digital worlds.

Getting Started

Please take the time to read this Installation and Use Guide, to familiarize yourself with the installation 
and operation of the Seta.

Important:

  If  the  package  you  received  from  your  shipper  is  below  room  temperature,  please  allow  the 

sealed  inner  carton  containing  the  product  to  acclimate  at  room  temperature  for  a  few  hours  before 
opening it, to avoid causing condensation on cold internal surfaces.

After unpacking, connect the provided external power supply to an AC power source and plug the barrel 
connector into the power jack on the rear panel of the Seta. It will take the Seta at least one hour for the 
internal circuitry and solid copper parts to become stabilized to normal operating temperature.

The following items are included. Please check the package and notify Channel D of any shortage:

• Seta

  

Preamplifier,

  

with

  

Internal

  

AGM

  

Batteries

  

Installed

• External

  

DC

  

power

  

supply,

  

110

  

/

  

220

  

Volt

  

Input,

  

2

  

Wire

  

(Isolated)

  

Input

• Precision

  

Screwdriver

• 3/32”Allen

  

L-key

  

(Seta

  

Plus)

The first time using your Seta, the internal battery should be fully recharged at least once before operating 
the preamplifier (playing music). The Seta automatically disconnects the battery charging power supply 
when  a  signal  is  detected.  Therefore,  if  you  would  like  to  immediately  use  the  Seta  to  play  music, 
charging should be manually locked in for at least two hours by selecting the

 Charge Lock

 front panel 

button. This will cause the

 Charge Lock

 indicator to illuminate (as well as the 

Batt

 indicator, if the Seta 

wasn’t  already  charging).  The

  Charge  Lock

  mode  also  is  useful  for  component  burn-in  or  noncritical 

listening.

It’s safe to make signal connections to the Seta while the power supply is connected. 

Be sure to mute the 

Pure Vinyl application software, if running on the computer, or otherwise mute or power down your 
power  amplifier(s)  while  making  signal  connections,  to  avoid  generating  noises  which  could  damage 
loudspeakers.

Siting the Preamplifier

To avoid premature degradation of the rechargeable batteries from higher than normal temperatures, do 
not  place  the  Seta  where  it  may  be  exposed  to  direct  sunlight.  Also, 

do  not

  place  it  on  top  of  any 

component  which  is  a  source  of  heat.  For  optimum  battery  life  the  Seta  should  be  operated  in  an 
environment with ambient temperatures between 40° F and 75° F. Lower temperatures within this range 
will prolong battery life.

Summary of Contents for SETA L

Page 1: ...wer jack on the rear panel of the Seta It will take the Seta at least one hour for the internal circuitry and solid copper parts to become stabilized to normal operating temperature The following items are included Please check the package and notify Channel D of any shortage Seta Preamplifier with Internal AGM Batteries Installed External DC power supply 110 220 Volt Input 2 Wire Isolated Input P...

Page 2: ...rs for applying RIAA compensation or other similar software on other computer platforms Consult the Pure Vinyl software User Guide for more information If using an audio interface with single ended unbalanced inputs not recommended do not connect either XLR output pin to common ground The correct wiring configuration would be to use XLR Pin 2 as signal and XLR Pin 1 as ground if using a balanced t...

Page 3: ...be initialized by pressing the front panel Gain button several times until the Low Light Blue indicator appears The gain setting will be preserved as long as power is supplied and as indicated below in the AGM Rechargeable Battery Operation and Charging section the Seta should normally be maintained in a powered state WARNING Always make changes to the Gain Setting at a reduced or muted playback v...

Page 4: ...ed to offer quieter operation and wider bandwidth with low output moving coil cartridges than is possible with the circuitry used in the Model H Note the Model L cannot be used with high impedance cartridges such as moving magnet or high output moving coil Note If you re accustomed to using conventional phonograph preamplifiers the available Flat Seta gain settings may seem somewhat lower than usu...

Page 5: ...ndex line on the shaft to assist in determining the selector position Note the load settings correspond to having the Single Ended jumpers see below set to the factory supplied Balanced position 25 Ohms 50 Ohms 100 Ohms 150 Ohms 200 Ohms 300 Ohms 500 Ohms 750 Ohms 1000 Ohms 2000 Ohms Other load settings can be obtained by inserting user supplied resistors in the sockets provided on the main circui...

Page 6: ...d The sockets are premium machined gold fingered high reliability type The sockets are on 0 3 inch centers and will accommodate the leads of typical passive resistors and capacitors with this lead spacing Removing Cover Seta with RIAA Correction Module shown Seta Plus Remove 6 hex screws inset figure shows side view Seta Remove 4 Philips screws inset figure shows side view ...

Page 7: ...operation it is strongly advised that balanced shielded twisted pair cable be used to connect the turntable to the Seta This may entail rewiring the turntable For low impedance low output cartridges such as moving coil with an internal resistance of 100 ohms or less and nominal output voltage around 0 6 mV or less shielded twisted pair microphone standard audio signal cable can be used For high im...

Page 8: ...over 24 hours of continuous operation The AGM type lead acid battery is superior to all other battery types used in high end audio applications see http www channld com seta html under the Rechargeable Battery section The Seta will automatically activate Charge mode under either of the following two normal conditions A signal resulting in an output level of less than 40 dBV isn t detected for abou...

Page 9: ... capacity of approximately 2 3 ampere hours is acceptable For example McMaster Carr part number 7448K13 Power Sonic PS 630 The batteries must be replaced in pairs and only sealed lead acid type batteries can be used All other battery types are incompatible with the internal battery monitoring and maintenance circuitry and Seta power and voltage requirements It s best to obtain a fresh replacement ...

Page 10: ...ve low frequency EQ Independent single ended RCA ground referenced and balanced outputs low noise 4 layer circuit boards and surface mount component technology Gain adds 12 dB to flat signal Channel Separation 80 dB 20 Hz 20 kHz greater than 100 dB at 1 kHz Frequency Response 3 dB DC to 12 MHz balanced or single ended outputs Channel Match better than 0 02 dB 10 Hz 50 kHz Deviation from RIAA Stand...

Page 11: ...mmended move all four jumpers indicated into the DC position Neumann RIAA Curve Modification The Seta is configured from the factory for the standard RIAA curve The Neumann modification introduces an extra high frequency time constant to compensate for the putative roll off of the mastering lathe cutting head The Neumann setting can be enabled by removing the two jumpers indicated or placing them ...

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