Whest whestTHREE Phonostage Reference Series Manuale utente
Contents
Introduction
Safety
Cleaning
Connections
Cartridge gain and loading
Technical specification
Fig.1 whestTHREE Signature rear panel
Fig.2 HVDM (High Voltage Dual Mono) Supply connection
Fig.3 Gain and load selectors
Warranty
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Whest Audio whestTHREE Signature phonostage.
As you know, this unit is designed to retrieve the maximum amount of information from your vinyl LPs.
It does this by using proprietary low noise audio circuitry as well as a newly developed filter which
together with the RIAA filter enables the whestTHREE to playback up to 56Khz.
Brief history
The RIAA curve was designed many years ago to enable the use of vinyl as a playback medium. Back
then the humble stylus and audio electronics could really only playback a very limited bandwidth. A
system bandwidth of 12Khz was quite rare. Nowadays most systems have a bandwidth of 100Khz; the
modern day cartridge can playback frequencies beyond 60Khz – so why continue to use a
phonostage with a filter curve designed for systems designed in the 1950s?
Forward thinking
Because of our close links with the music recording industry we were able to measure several
Neumann cutter heads prior to cutting a master onto acetate. What we found was that the cutter head
would cut high frequency all the way to 50khz!
With these results and the research acquired from the DAP programme in 2004, we then designed an
hf filter that would complement the RIAA filter we had designed for the famed PhonoStage.20. This has
now been incorporated into the whestTHREE phonostage. Because of the extended hf response of the
whestTHREE Signature, large amounts of information are now able to be heard when it was once
thought there was nothing there!
The extended hf enables you to hear further into the soundstage by bringing to life the lowest
frequencies of a kick drum and positioning all instruments to form a three dimensional soundstage.
It is partly because of the extended hf response that the whestTHREE excels where others just plainly
fail.
Safety
Place your unit on a firm level surface where it is not exposed to dripping or splashing of any liquid.
Position it away from radiators and other heat sources and leave a space of at least 5cms around the
unit for ventilation.
Please note that there are no user serviceable parts inside.
In the unlikely event that this unit needs to be serviced please return it to an authorised Whest Audio
service agent.
There is a REAL risk of electrical shock if this unit is opened!
Please do not attempt to open this unit for servicing unless authorised as it WILL invalidate your
warranty.
Cleaning
When cleaning the unit please do not use any liquids as it may enter the unit causing it to malfunction.
We recommend applying a very small amount of engineering oil such as WD40®to a lint free cloth and
then wiping the unit in the direction of the grain on both the front panel and lid. Engineering oil is a tried
and tested method of cleaning grained aluminium and stainless steel panels. You only need to do this
a few times a year.
Connections
Please read the safety section before connecting your unit.
Before connecting to the mains, check that the mains supply voltage corresponds to the voltage printed
on the power supply unit. If the mains voltage is different, please consult your authorised Whest Audio
dealer.
All whestTHREE units come supplied with an Audiophile grade interconnect as well as a computer
grade interconnect for transferring your LPs to your computer.
Although all listening tests were conducted with this interconnect please feel free to use your preferred
interconnect or ask your dealer for advice.
1. When connecting the whestTHREE please make sure that your system’s source selector is
switched to an input OTHER THAN the input to which the whestTHREE unit is to be connected.
2. Please make sure that the HVDM supply unit connected to a switched wall socket or similar
switched socket and is in the OFF position.
3. First disconnect the turntable from the amplifier / preamplifier or other phonostage.
4. Connect the turntable leads to the whestTHREE observing the colour codes for channel ID.
5. Connect the ‘grounding’ lead from the turntable arm lead to the grounding post on the
whestTHREE.
6. Connect the output of the whestTHREE to the amplifier / preamplifier aux/line input.
The whestTHREE features both balanced and unbalanced outputs. Please make sure you
only use one of these outputs - either balanced or unbalanced - not both.
Unlike differential balanced outputs that increase output gain by 6dB, the whestTHREE features
'true impedance balanced outputs' which many of today's professional microphones and mixers
use. Please do not be alarmed if the gain is the same as the RCA unbalanced outputs - this is
quite normal. As long as you have a correctly wired balanced interconnect the balancing system
along with noise cancellation will work as it should. The balanced outputs are configured to AES
standards. Some older products built in the USA may be wired incorrectly. Please check your manual.
AES standards for XLR should be wired as Pin2 HOT Pin3 COLD Pin1 Chassis.
7. Once you are happy that all inputs and outputs have been connected properly, attach the 2 HVDM
multi-pin cables to the whestTHREE multi-pin chassis sockets. Please make sure CH1 is
connected to CH1 or L.Power CH2 is R. The connectors will 'click' once they are plugged in
properly.
8. Next connect the 3 pin mains cable supplied making sure the HVDM supply switch is in the OFF
position. '0'
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