Q: Why does Avalon use opto cells?
A: Avalon uses opto-cell compression
because they are the most musical of all
ccntrol elements.
Q: Can I do mastering with a Vt-747sp?
A: Yes. Since the Vt-747sp is a dedicated
stereo unit it is a great tool for mastering. The
noise floor is low enough for mastering and
the built-in EQ and side chain are perfect for
gentle shaping and sweetening.
Q: Is the Vt-747sp durable enough for the
road?
A: Yes. the Vt-747sp as well as all Avalon
equipment is literally built like a tank. Steel
chassis, metal faceplate, metal knobs, all
circuit boards are fixed with stainless steel
hardware and more.
Q: Should I power down the Vt-747sp ?
A: The Vt-747sp is equipped with a “soft-start”
procedure that slowly brings the unit to life
without damaging the tubes. Avalon
recommends that you turn the unit off if not
being used for more than 4 hours. This
procedure will also save on your electric bills.
Q: Will the Vt-747sp continue to work
when I travel to different countries?
A: Yes. The power supply on the Vt-747sp
has selectable voltages: 100V, 120V, 220V,
and 240V. It is very easy to change the
voltage. See chapter 3.
Q: Why is the High-Mid Band on the Vt-
747sp shelving and not peak/dip like the
other Mid Bands?
A: Having two shelving bands on the high end
of the equalizer gives more flexibility and
musicality. If you want to utilize the High-Mid
Band as a peak/dip then simply cut (turn
down) the High Frequency band to bring
down the ultra high end, giving you more
creative possibilities.
Q: Why does the needle in the VU meter
sometimes drift to the left of 0dB after the
Vt-747sp warms up?
A: As the unit warms up, after approximately
30 minutes, the resistance of the meter coil is
increased with heat and the needle then
settles into its operating 0dB position. If
inadequate cooling is provided, the operating
emperature will be too high. (just like the old
LA2A’s). To calibrate the VU meter to 0dB see
page 32.
Q: Will the Vt-747sp work with unbalanced
inputs on my recording device?
A: Yes. You need to make sure that the
cables you are using are wired the same (pin
2 hot). You can get a cable that has XLR on
one side and RCA or 1/4” on the other. This
will work fine for unbalanced systems. Keep
the cables 20 ft in length or less for best sonic
performance.
Q: Can I use the Vt-747sp with a recording
device that is designed for -10dB operation?
A: Yes. The Vt-747sp will work however the
output signal from the Vt-747sp may be too
hot. Adjust the output control on the Vt-747sp
to match the input to the -10dB device. If you
have a choice, always run at +4dB.
Q: Can I use different types of tubes in the
Vt-747sp to get different or better sounds?
A: Avalon has selected the tubes in your Vt-
747sp for optimal sonic performance. Avalon
does not recommend experimenting with
different types of tubes because they may
cause extreme damage to the Vt-747sp.
Page 28
Avalon Vt-747sp Operation Manual
FAQs
AVA L O N D E S I G N