OPERATION MANUAL MODEL : CSP3 - CLASSIC STEREO PREAMP
REV 1 MAR 2018
Operation and Setup
!
To operate your CSP3, install the tubes, hook up the output jacks to the amplifier.
Once you are sure the amplifier and preamp are securely connected together with a
high quality interconnect cable between 1 and 5 meters in length you may plug
both units into the wall outlet.
Before you turn either piece on make sure that all of the controls on the CSP3 are
turned all the way down.
Turn on the CSP3 and let it warm up for one minute. Double check that all the
controls are down all the way, including the volume and that the interconnect cables
are securely installed into the output jacks of the CSP3 and the input jacks of your
amplifier.
Turn on the amplifier. The amplifier should come on and if has a gain control on it,
turn it up to the half way point. Your system is now on and at idle. Any noise or
hum that you hear is your system reference. Make a note of it so that later when
we connect our sources we can see if they added any noise or hum.
It is now time to connect your first source component to one of the input pairs on
the CSP3. You can do this while the CSP3 and your amplifier are on and at idle, but
be sure you haven’t turned any of the controls on the CSP3 up yet.
If you didn’t hear any hum or noise increase when you connected your first source
that means that A) your cables are probably good and B) there is no ground loop
between the components.
No add your second source if you have one and again listen for any increase in
noise or hum. If with either source you DO notice an increase in noise or hum then
it comes from cables or small ground loops between the components or both. The
key here: is the noise or hum acceptable? For example if you have to put your face
up to the loudspeaker to hear it, it’s acceptable. If however you can hear it from
the listening chair it is not acceptable and should be corrected before going any
further.
Once everything is connected and warmed up and you are happy that there are no
excessive amounts of noise or hum, you can set the controls on the CSP3 to match
your amplifier’s requirements:
1) turn up the input level controls all the way (clockwise). These are only adjusted
during headphone use and only with headphones that get too loud.
2) turn on your source and get some music playing.
3) turn up the main volume control on the CSP3 to half way.
4) slowly turn the output level controls up until you hear music playing at a normal
listening volume.
5) your preamp is now adjusted properly for your amplifier.
6) further experimentation can be made by adjusting the gain control on the
amplifier if it has one relative to the output level settings on the CSP3.
!
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