Ayre K-1x Manuale utente
A y r e
K-1x Preamplifier
Owner’s Manual
Table of
Contents
Welcome to Ayre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Installation and Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Optimizing the Phono Stage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Numbers and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
In Case of Trouble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Statement of Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
A Place for Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Welcome to
Ayre
Please send in your warranty
registration card so we can
stay in contact with you.
The Ayre K-1x offers a significant advance in the musical
performance of audio preamplifiers. The warmth and
immediacy of a live performance are apparent from the first
listening. The combination of superb resolution and a
natural, relaxed quality will draw you into the music, time
and time again. This level of performance has been
implemented using the highest level of workmanship and
materials. Your Ayre K-1x preamplifier will provide a
lifetime of musical enjoyment.
Page 2
Installation and
Operation
The Ayre K-1x is easy to hook up and use. The following
guidelines will ensure that the installation goes smoothly.
Location
The Ayre K-1x comprises two components - the main
preamplifier and the external power supply, which are
joined by an umbilical cable. A detachable connector allows
these units to be temporarily separated for easy installation.
The preamplifier’s power
supply emits a mild hum
field, and should be located
away from other components.
The main unit produces very little heat and can normally be
stacked with other components. However, in certain
situations, hum can be induced into the audio circuitry. In
this case, try separating the components by a few feet (one
meter or so) to isolate the interfering component.
The receiver for the optional infrared remote control is
mounted behind the left-most scallop on the preamplifier’s
front panel. Although the transmitter’s beam will reflect off
of most wall surfaces, a direct line of sight from the
listening position will ensure the maximum range. The
beam will also travel through glass if necessary.
Page 3
Inputs
When you have a choice, a
balanced connection will offer
slightly higher sound quality
than an unbalanced
connection.
The Ayre K-1x offers three pairs of balanced inputs and
three pairs of unbalanced inputs. Balanced connections are
made via three-pin XLR connectors, while unbalanced
connections are made via RCA jacks. In accordance with the
IEC standard, XLR pin 2 is the positive phase (hot).
The input connectors on the rear panel are labeled “1”
through “6”.
If you are connecting a tape deck to your
system, be sure to connect it to input “6”.
This will prevent the undesired possibility of a feedback
loop when monitoring a tape recording. If a tape deck is not
installed in your system, input “6” performs like the other
unbalanced inputs.
If the optional phono stage is installed, it will
use input “2”. Do not connect a high-level
source to the phono input.
If the phono stage is not installed, input “2” performs like
the other balanced inputs. Please refer to the section
“Optimizing the Phono Stage” for more detailed
information on connecting your turntable.
Input Labels
Input “1” on the rear panel
corresponds to the top label,
while input “6” corresponds to
the bottom label.
The front panel switches can be labeled to reflect the
components in your individual system. The faceplate must
be removed to install custom labels for the selector switches.
Use the supplied 1/8" allen wrench to remove the four
screws visible on the faceplate. Then slide the faceplate away
from the unit, taking care not to scratch the knobs.
!
!
Page 4
Remove the old label by using a small object (such as an
allen wrench) to push through the access holes on the rear of
the faceplate. The labels have a self-adhesive backing, and
new ones are simply pressed into place.
Outputs
All three pairs of outputs may
be used simultaneously if
desired.
The Ayre K-1x offers two pairs of balanced outputs and one
pair of unbalanced outputs.
Please note that the unbalanced outputs invert
absolute polarity.
When using an unbalanced connection between the Ayre
K-1x and your power amplifier, it is suggested that the
speaker cables’ “plus” and “minus” leads be reversed at the
amplifier. This will restore absolute polarity and can
enhance the sense of realism on many recordings.
!
Off
Record
Listen
Mute
A y r e
Phono
Tuner
Auxil
Video
Disk
Tape
Infrared Remote
Control Receiver
1.0 dB Steps
4.0 dB Steps 2.0 dB Steps
Input #1
Input #6
Unity Gain
Status Indicator
Red = Warm-Up
Green = Mute
Blue = Listen
3.0 dB Steps2.0 dB Steps
Page 5
Powering the Unit
Be sure to connect the umbilical cable to the power supply
before plugging in the AC power.
Install or remove the umbilical connector only
when the AC power is disconnected.
The Ayre K-1x draws very
little power and is designed to
be left on at all times.
The Ayre K-1x features a sophisticated power monitoring
system. When first plugged in to an AC power source, the
front panel indicator light will glow red for approximately
90 seconds. During this time, the outputs are muted and
the mute switch is inoperable.
After the circuitry has stabilized, the indicator light will
change to green, indicating that the unit is ready for play,
though the unit remains muted. When the listener toggles
the mute control, the unit is operational and the indicator
light glows blue.
Should the AC line lose power, the preamplifier’s outputs
are immediately muted. Similarly, if the AC line voltage
drops below 80% of normal (brown-out), the outputs will
mute and the indicator light will glow red. After the line
voltage returns to normal, the initial power-up cycle will
begin again.
Controls
The volume control and the
mute switch may be operated
either by the optional remote
control or the front panel
controls.
There are four controls on the Ayre K-1x preamplifer - the
volume control, the input selector (“Listen”), the tape record
selector (“Record”), and the mute switch. These controls
provide the ideal combination of flexibility and ease of use.
Page 6
!
Unlike other products that use conventional volume
controls (potentiometers), the Ayre K-1x uses a mil-spec,
precision stepped attenuator with solid-silver contacts to
provide the ultimate in sound quality. This volume control
features 46 distinct positions, offering precise and repeatable
settings.
It is normal to listen with the
volume knob advanced farther
than you may be used to with
other equipment.
The volume control offers 1.0 dB steps over most of its
range, allowing you to exactly select the desired listening
level. To maximize its capabilities, it has been designed so
that the volume knob will be between 1 o’clock and 3
o’clock for a loud playback level in most systems.
When a surround-sound processor is used, it is sometimes
useful to know the unity-gain volume setting. Since the
gain of the Ayre K-1x line-stage is 16 dB when driving a
power amplifier with balanced inputs, unity gain occurs
when the volume control is 10 steps below the maximum
setting (see illustration).
Since the tape record selector
(“Record”) is controlled
separately from the main
input selector (“Listen”), it is
possible to listen to one source
while recording from another.
The tape record selector (“Record”) controls which source
component is connected to the tape output jacks. It is
recommended that the tape record selector be switched to
the “Off” position except when making a recording. This
will isolate the tape deck’s circuitry from the preamplifier,
providing the highest level of sound quality when listening.
Remote Control
Please note that the supplied
batteries (2 x AAA) must be
installed in the remote control
unit prior to use.
The optional remote control for the Ayre K-1x has four
buttons. The top two buttons on the right side control the
volume level, while the bottom button on the right side
toggles the preamplifier’s mute control. The single button
on the left side of the hand-held transmitter will operate an
Ayre V-1x power amplifier.
Page 7
Unbalanced Power Amplifiers
When using the Ayre K-1x
with an unbalanced power
amplifier, note tha t the
unity-gain volume setting will
now occur when the volume
control is five steps below the
maximum setting.
Unbalanced power amplifiers with single-ended inputs only
utilize one-half of the Ayre K-1x’s balanced output signal.
The result is a 6 dB gain reduction, requiring that the
volume control be further advanced for an equivalent
listening level. However, certain systems may have
insufficient gain to produce a satisfying listening level, even
with the volume control turned fully up.
If required, the gain of the line stage can be increased 6 dB
to compensate for this loss. Please contact your authorized
Ayre dealer or the factory for information on this
procedure. (It is not recommended to increase the gain of
the Ayre K-1x when using a balanced amplifier, as the level
of the lowest volume setting may be too loud.)
Break-In
Please note that the optional
phono stage utilizes
additional circuitry and will
require its own break-in
period.
A break-in period is required to achieve the maximum sonic
potential of the Ayre K-1x due to the manufacturing
processes used in the capacitors, circuit board material, and
wires. This normally requires between 100 and 500 hours of
playing time.
Page 8
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