6
B.
INPUTS
There are two (2) female inputs. One accepts a balanced
cable with a male XLR connector; the other is to accept a
cable with a single-ended, RCA type male connector. These
input connections are located on the right (facing the back)
rear of the chassis, with the balanced input closest to the side
edge. Between the inputs, there is a switch to select one of
two pin configurations for a balanced cable (i.e., it changes
the phase). The top position is for pin 2” hot” and pin 3
“cold”; the bottom position is for the reverse (in both cases,
pin 1 is ground). Please refer to Figure 4
C.
SPEAKER TERMINALS
The A-5000 NEO is equipped with one pair of high-quality
speaker terminals. These terminals are located in the middle
of the rear panel of the A-5000 NEO chassis. There is a
common ground connection, and one 4 ohm and one 8 ohm
connection. The common ground terminal is the farthest to
the right (facing the chassis rear) and is labeled “COM”. The 8
ohm live connection is to the far left, and the 4 ohm
connection has the centre position. The terminals accept
bare wire (not recommended) and spade and banana type
connectors. Please refer to Figure 4.
D.
POWER CONNECTION
Connect the input interconnect and speaker cables
before you insert the power cable into the receptacle at
the far left (again, facing the chassis rear). The A-5000
NEO uses a standard three prong male IEC connection
for AC input. You need to use a power cord with a
female three prong IEC connector at one end. Please
refer to Figure 4.
The A-5000 NEO you have purchased is set internally
for AC 110/120 volt – 60 HZ operation. There is no way
to change this to another AC setting without return of
the unit to the factory for re-wiring, at the owner’s cost,
including transport both directions.
INITIAL POWER-ON
Once you have your A-5000 NEO in place and all connections
have been made to your turntable and preamplifier, you are
ready to turn on the power for your A-5000 NEO; before you
power it up, though, be sure you have:
removed ALL the cushion materials from inside the tube
chimneys
selected the input connection that you want to use, single
ended (RCA) or balanced (XLR), on the switch on the back of
the chassis and have the interconnect firmly attached.
turned on your source(s) and your preamplifier, and turned
the preamplifier’s volume control down to zero or otherwise
muted its output
securely and correctly fastened the speaker cables and
ensured that they are also connected properly to the
speakers
checked that all tubes are snug in their sockets
Turn on the A-5000 NEO by pushing the on/off vertically
mounted rocker switch, located at the front of the right side
panel (facing the front of the unit) to the “on” position. The “on”
position is with the vertical line on the switch (the upper
portion) depressed and the part of the switch marked with the
“o” (the lower portion) in the raised position. Of course, the off
position is the reverse. After about a thirty to forty (30 - 40)
second delay (the soft start), the A-5000 NEO will be powered
on.
OPERATION
When the power is on, the current meter on the face of the
chassis will illuminate. From this point on, operation is straight-
forward.
When you are finished listening, turn off your A-5000 NEO
monoblock(s) first; then, turn off your preamplifier and sources.
In the case of any failure, please contact Hammertone Audio for
assistance.
THE CURRENT METER
This illuminated meter indicates the current supply to each of
the two 300B gain tubes in the A-5000 NEO. This single meter
operates for each 300B by use of the switch on the left side
panel of the chassis, near the front plate (facing the front panel).
The switch’s top position is for the right hand 300B (facing the
front of the unit) and the lower position is for the left-hand
300B. There is a potentiometer for each 300B (Refer to Figure 5).
When you turn on the A-5000 NEO, the needle of the current
meter for each 300B should be between the two parallel lines on
the meter face. Any error of current supply to or failure of a
300B tube is indicated by the needle on the meter moving out
from between these two parallel lines.
