Connecting Apollo to the power outlet:
Your Apollo monoblocks have been provided with high ampacity power cords. Use these cords to connect the amplifiers to the wall outlet. It is recommended that you use the same outlet as the preamp to avoid creating a ground loop. It is also recommended that you do not use a power conditioner as it may limit the current available to the amplifiers.
OPERATION OF THE APOLLO AMPLIFIERS
After all proper connections have been made, you are now ready to turn the Apollo amplifiers on. The power on/off switch is located on the front top of the amp between the triode/ultralinear and standby switches. Some preamplifiers and sources can generate dangerous transients that can damage loudspeakers. To avoid letting dangerous transients reach your loudspeakers turn your system on in the following order:
1)Turn on all sources (CD, tuner, etc.) that you will be using.
2)Turn on the preamplifier.
3)Wait until preamp has stabilized.
4)Power up the Apollo amplifiers.
5)Select listening source and play music
When powering down your system turn the amplifier off first.
Note – Important! After turning off the amplifier, wait at least one minute to turn it back on. Do not turn it on then off and then on again in quick succession. Doing this will not allow the power supply to discharge between on/off cycling and may result in transient noises. If short term on/off cycling is necessary, restart the amp in standby mode.
Triode/Ultralinear switch:
The output transformer of a tube amplifier acts as the electrical interface between the very different impedances of the loudspeaker and the tube circuitry. There are three fundamental ways that the output transformer can be connected to the tube circuit.
1)Tetrode or Pentode connection – In this configuration, the highest power level is achieved but at the expense of significantly higher distortion levels. Practically speaking, this mode of operation is sonically inferior and has bean disregarded in the Apollo design.
2)Triode connection – With this configuration, the lowest l evel of distortion is achieved but at the expense of output power. In the case of the Apollo, its power level in triode is high enough that it will likely provide plenty of power for almost any speaker load.
3)Ultralinear operation – With this configuration, power leve ls near those of tetrode mode are achieved with low distortion levels that approach those of triode operation. For loudspeakers that demand very high levels of power, ultralinear should provide excellent sound and plenty of power.
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