naim NVC TT 300 Series Phono Stage User Guide

naim NVC TT 300 Series Phono Stage

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

The bolt of lightning in an equilateral triangle warns the user that the device has high voltage that could result in a risk of electric shock.

WARNING : To prevent any risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover (or the back) from the device. There are no user-serviceable parts in this device. For maintenance or repairs, contact a qualified professional. Warning symbol. This symbol is designed to warn the user of the presence of important instructions mentioned in the user manual and relating to the handling, operation and maintenance of the device.

1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug (common). A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. The wide bladed is provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
15. Only connect this product to the type of mains electrical supply indicated on the device. If you are unsure what type of mains electrical supply is required for the product or your electrical installation, ask your installer or your electricity supplier. For devices intended for use with a battery or another power source, see the user manual.
16. This product is a Class 1 appliance. Only plug in the device using the mains plug provided, which incorporates an earth connection. The device must be plugged into an earthed mains socket.
17. Where the mains plug or an appliance coupler is used as the disconnect device, the disconnect device shall remain readily operable. To disconnect the equipment from the mains remove the mains plug from the mains outlet.
18. Do not overload wall sockets, extension leads or multiple socket outlets. This could cause fire or electric shock. Make sure that the maximum permissible power of each component of the installation is not exceeded.
19. In some territories a mains plug may need to be fitted to the supplied mains lead. As the colours of the wires in the mains lead may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in the plug proceed as follows:
20. The wire coloured GREEN-AND-YELLOW must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked by the letter E or by the safety earth symbol or coloured GREEN or GREEN-AND-YELLOW.
21. The wire coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter N or coloured BLACK.
22. The wire coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter L or coloured RED.
23. WARNING : To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this device to water, rain or moisture. In addition, the device must not be exposed to dripping or splashing liquid and no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, should be placed on the device.
24. When using the device, the ambient temperature should not exceed 95°F (35 degrees Celsius).
25. Do not use this device in tropical climates.
26. Do not use this device at altitudes of more than 2,000m.
27. If the device has been transported from a cold environment to a warm environment, make sure no condensation has accumulated before connecting the power cable.
28. Always leave a distance of at least 2″ (5cm) around the product for proper ventilation.
29. Do not place naked flame sources, such as lit candles, near the device.
30. The appliance should only be mounted on a wall or ceiling if the manufacturer allows for this.
31. This product has sharp corners. Handle it with care.
32. Do not attempt to repair this device yourself. Opening the device may be dangerous. Contact a qualified professional for all work on the device.
33. When replacement components are needed, use only the components specified by the manufacturer or components with identical technical features to those of the original product. Using non-compliant components could cause fires, electric shocks or other risks.
34. After any maintenance or repair work on the device, test it to check that it is working safely.
35. Turn the source to minimum before connecting the products and turning up the volume. Once the products are in place, gradually increase the volume to a reasonable and comfortable level.
36. To avoid damaging your hearing, do not listen to loudspeakers at high volumes for long periods of time. Listening to loudspeakers at an excessive volume can cause damage to the user’s ears and may lead to hearing problems (temporary or permanent deafness, buzzing in the ears, tinnitus, hyperacusis). Exposing your ears to a volume higher than 85dB SPL-LAeq for several hours can irreversibly damage your hearing.
37. After removing the product from its packaging, keep the packaging out of the reach of children. It could present a suffocation risk.
38. Some users who are not self-sufficient enough to use the product on their own without danger. In particular, children under 14 or people with some types of disabilities must be supervised and/or accompanied when using the device.

USA Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

Canada : Industry Canada Statement
This device complies with ISED’s licence-exempt RSSs. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Introduction

Note : Full safety warnings can be found in the Statutory Safety Section.

Welcome and congratulations on the purchase of your new NVC TT and NPX TT. Like all Naim Audio products, NVC TT and NPX TT give priority to musical performance. To help the products deploy their potential, it is important to follow the installation and operating instructions provided in the manual.

What’s in the Box

NVC TT and NPX TT are two related products. NPX TT is the dedicated upgrade power supply for the NVC TT. It also allows the NVC TT to be used with older Naim products and products made by other manufacturers.

NVC TT: Phono Stage

NPX TT: Power Supply

Features and Connections Getting to know your product

Both NVC TT and NPX TT provide the foundations of a complete vinyl replay system. The simple addition of a turntable is needed for before connection to an amplifier. Diagrams illustrating the connection are shown in Section 3. The NVC TT has been designed for best performance when connected via DIN to Naim amplification, but can be used with any amplifier with a standard RCA line level input. Your devices should be installed on a dedicated equipment. Do not stand them directly on top of another item of equipment. Care should be taken to ensure that all elements are level. Before switching them on and connecting the cables, the turntable, phono stage and power supply should be installed in their final location. Ensure that the volume on the connected amplifier is turned down before switching it on.

NVC TT: Phono Stage

Note : Naim recommend DIN connections for the best sound quality.

NPX TT: Power Supply

Note : Naim recommend DIN connections for the best sound quality.

Set-up

With NPX TT

Note : Naim recommend DIN connections for the best sound quality.

Without NPX TT

Tips on Installing and Using your Device

We know you are eager to enjoy your new Phono Stage and / or Power Supply, but it will sound even better once these guidelines have been followed. They are designed to help you experience your power amplifier without compromise.

Unboxing and Positioning
Some Naim equipment is extremely heavy. Check the weight of the equipment prior to lifting and if necessary, get some help to carry it safely. Ensure that your equipment rack or table can easily support the weight and is stable. For optimum performance, use your Naim products on a dedicated hi-fi equipment rack – ideally the Naim Fraim or Fraim Lite – to minimise vibrations that can affect sound. No room for a rack? Consider placing your product on a Fraim glass shelf on a suitable piece of furniture, to provide solid but discreet support. Never stack Naim products on top of each other. If they are placed side-by-side, leave some space between the units. Equally, connected products should not be too far apart: the maximum distance is given by the supplied interconnect lead. To reduce the risk of audible hum from the loudspeakers do not place power supplies or power amplifiers close to source components.

Input Connection Details

Type 1: 8 pin DIN

Type 2: 12 way connector

Connectors
For both safe use and performance reasons, do not modify the standard cables supplied.

Interconnect Cables
Naim interconnect cables that share the same connector on each end are marked with a band to establish correct orientation. The band denotes the end that connects to the signal source. Naim Super Lumina interconnect cable will provide the best results.

Signal Outputs
The NVC TT Phono Stage features audio outputs on 5 pin DIN and RCA outputs, and an 8 pin DIN power supply input (NSC 222, NAC 332 or NPX TT), making it easy to connect to a variety of Naim and other manufacturers’ equipment. Always use high quality interconnect cables to connect the phono stage to the amplifier inputs.

Mains Connection
Connect the NPX TT Power Supply to a mains power socket using either the mains lead supplied or a Naim Power-Line.

Powering Up/Down
Once all your input and output connections are made, connect the supplied mains lead to your NPX TT and then to a mains power source. Ensure your sources – your turntable, for example – and any associated external power supplies are switched on before you switch on your NPX TT. Always use the power switch on the product rather than a mains outlet switch for both powering and on and off. A “thump” may be heard from the loudspeakers as power amplifiers are switched on. This is normal, will not cause any loudspeaker damage and does not point to any fault or problem. A mild “pop” may also be heard shortly after equipment is switched off.

Standby Power Settings
The NVC TT Phono Stage powers down into a sleep mode after 20 minutes as its default. In this sleep mode (‘Auto Standby’) the system consumes less than 0.5W of power. The ‘Instant On’ feature sets your system to a mode that leaves the sensitive audio circuitry permanently powered for the best sound quality. The standby power setting on the NVC TT phono stage is only applicable when it is powered by the NPX TT power supply. The standby power setting on the NVC TT phono stage depends on the power supply used. It needs to be powered by a pre- amplifier which can control the standby settings.

Cartridge Selection
The NVC TT Phono Stage features adjustable settings to enable the best performance of a connected cartridge. It is possible to adjust both gain, capacitive and resistive load for Moving Coil (MC) cartridges. The adjustment switches do not apply for Moving Magnet (MM) cartridges as they typically have a much higher output.
The NVC TT is preset to MC mode with cartridge loading values of 100ohms and 1000pF and the high gain setting. The gain and loading can be adjusted using the rear panel switches to match your cartridge choice. Check with the cartridge manufacturer for the recommended values. They can be adjusted for personal preference.

For example:

• Adding more capacitance may reduce any perceived system forwardness.
• Making the resistance lower can help counteract any perceived excessive liveliness
• Switching between high and low gain may help match input levels across a system.

If you use a moving magnet cartridge, set the mode to MM. When using the NVC TT in MM mode set the MC gain to high and the loading values to 1k and 100pF.

Naim Logo Brightness Settings
The brightness of the product logos can be set using the rear panel switch on the NVC TT or the rear panel push button on the NPX TT.

USB Update
The NPX TT has a micro-USB socket on its rear panel for service use only.

Mains Power, Earthing and More

Only use the mains lead and plugs supplied with your Naim products, or the upgrade Naim Power-Line mains lead.

Earthing
In order to avoid hum loops, the signal ground of the whole system should be connected to the mains earth in one place. Typically, this is at the primary source.
For example, if your turntable has a mains earth and you have a Naim streamer in the system, its ground lift switch should be set to “Floating”. This is the best setting for sound quality.

Equipment Fuses
Mains powered Naim Audio equipment is fitted with a mains fuse on the rear panel adjacent to the mains input socket. If necessary; replace it only with the spare fuse supplied or with an identical fuse. Repeated failure of the fuse indicates a fault that should be investigated by your retailer or Naim itself.
Where fused plugs are used, 13 amp fuses should be fitted. Fuses of a lower rating will fail after a period of use. Do not wire voltage dependent resistors or noise suppressors into mains plugs. They degrade the mains supply and the sound.

Non-Rewirable Mains Plugs
If a non-rewirable plug is cut from a mains lead (for whatever purpose) the plug MUST be disposed of in a way to render it totally useless. Considerable shock hazard exists if the cut-off plug is inserted into a mains outlet.

Mains Circuits and Cables/Interference
A hi-fi system usually shares a mains power circuit with other household equipment, some of which can cause distortion that may manifest mechanical hum from mains transformers, including the transformer in your NPX TT. Transformer hum is not transmitted through the speakers and has no effect on the performance of the system; however, a careful positioning of your Naim system may reduce it, as may a separate, dedicated mains circuit. Such a circuit (ideally with a 30 or 45 Amp rating) generally also improves system performance. Only seek advice on the installation of a separate mains circuit from a qualified electrician.

Radio Interference
In some circumstances, depending on where you live and the earthing arrangements of your home, you may experience radio frequency interference. Controls on broadcasting in some territories allow very high levels of radio frequency radiation and both the choice and exact location of the equipment may be critical. Susceptibility to radio frequency interference is related to the wide internal bandwidth necessary for high sound quality. Contact your dealer or the factory for advice on dealing with radio frequency interference.

Lightning Precautions
To protect it from potential damage, your Naim system should be turned off and fully disconnected from mains power when there is a risk of a lightning strike.

Further Tips and Advice

Now you have all the essentials sorted, let us move onto a few more things that you can do to optimise the performance of your new devices.

Running In
Naim products are hand-crafted from a carefully selected range of high-quality components. Your products will sound superb out of the box, but their performance can improve further still as all these various components power up and interact in their first few weeks of use. Keeping your system powered up before using it will assist this process.

Cleaning your Product and Connections
We recommend using only the supplied cleaning cloth to lightly dust any surfaces of the product. Cleaning products may contain ingredients that can likely degrade surface treatments and coatings. Keep interconnect plugs and sockets clean and free from corrosion. The easiest way to achieve this is to fully power off your Naim products (and any connected equipment), unplug all connections from their sockets and firmly push them in again. Do not use contact cleaners and so-called ‘enhancers’, as they can leave deposits that can degrade the sound of your system.

Resetting your Device
The NPX TT can be reset to factory settings by pressing the “Brightness/Reset” button for more than 3 seconds.

Support

The consumers’ legal guarantee of conformity varies depending on the country. In most countries, the dealer where you purchased your Naim product is your main interlocutor in the event of a defect. If the equipment is non-compliant, it must be sent to the dealer, in its original packaging, who will analyse it and determine where the breakdown comes from. If the equipment is under warranty and conditions are met, the equipment will be repaired or replaced according to the conditions applicable to the legal warranty on the date of purchase of the device. Otherwise, a repair estimate will be submitted. The legal guarantee does not cover damage from a misuse or a wrong connection (burnt mobile coils for instance). France excluded, Naim equipment is covered by a warranty whose conditions are locally set or carried out by the official Naim dealer of each country, in compliance with the laws of the concerned territory. In France, every Naim equipment is covered by a two-year legal guarantee from the date of purchase.
A defect can be caused by a failure of the system or by the installation, contact your dealer. You can find a range of support articles for each Naim product online
at www.naimaudio.com If you are still experiencing an issue with your Naim product, contact us directly for help and advice, at support@naimaudio.com

Service and Updates

Any repairs or hardware updates must be carried out by a professional. We recommend you to contact an authorised Naim service centre as many components are custom made, tested or paired. Please contact your local Naim retailer for any service or repair queries.

Specifications

NVC TT: Phono Stage

Parameter| Phono Stage

Switchable MM/MC phono stage with MC load adjustment

---|---
| MM| MC (low & high gain)
Model| NVC TT
Gain| 42dB| 61dB low gain and 67dB high gain (switchable)
Signal to noise ratio| 83dB ref 5mV A-wtd| 84dB ref 0.5mV A-wtd (both gain settings)
RIAA accuracy| +/-0.1dB
IEC cut| (Partial) – 2dB at 20Hz and -3dB at 14Hz
Cross talk| >75dB
Max output signal| 8Vrms
THD+N| <0.005% ref 50mV input| <0.005% ref 1.5mV input
| | 16 selectable capacitive values:
| | 1000Ω, 600Ω, 430Ω, 330Ω, 250Ω,
| | 215Ω, 185Ω,165Ω,150Ω, 140Ω, 125Ω,
| | 115Ω, 105Ω, 100Ω, 90Ω, 85Ω
Loading| 47kΩ and 100pF| 16 selectable capacitive values:
| | 100pF, 400pF, 700pF, 1000pF,
| | 1300pF, 1600pF, 1900pF, 2200pF,
| | 2500pF, 2700pF, 3100pF, 3400pF,
| | 3700pF, 4000pF, 4300pF, 4600pF

Headroom

|

22dB ref 5mV input

| 23dB ref 0.5mV input low gain setting, 17dB ref 0.5mV high gain setting
Power Supply input| Type 1
Input| Stereo RCA| Stereo RCA
Output| 5 pin DIN, 8 pin DIN, Stereo RCA
Front Panel| Clear Acrylic
Naim Logo| White illuminated
Logo Brightness setting| 3 position switch – High, Medium, Low
Power input| +/-18V DC @300mA
Operating Temperature| 5-35°C
Storage Temperature| 0-50°C
Dimensions (H x W x D)| 7 x 21.4 x 31.7cm
Weight| 3.4kg (7.5lbs)

NPX TT: Power Supply

Parameter| Power Supply

DR regulated linear power supply

---|---
Model| NPX TT
Standby Power Consumption| <0.5W
Other Connectors| Micro USB (update only)
Power Supply Output| Type 1, Type 2
Front Panel| Clear Acrylic
Naim Logo| White illuminated
Logo Brightness setting| Button – High, Medium, Low
Mains Supply| 110 to 120V and 220 to 240Vac
Fuses| 110-120 V: T2AL

220-240 V: T1AL

Operating Temperature| 5-35°C
Storage Temperature| 0-50°C
Dimensions (H x W x D)| 7 x 21.4 x 33cm
Weight| 5.6kg (12.35lbs)

Product Recycling

This marking indicates that within the EU this product should not be disposed of with other household wastes. To prevent any risk to the environment or human health, please recycle them responsibly to encourage the reuse of material resources. To return your used device, please use the return and collection systems available, or contact the retailer where you purchased the product. They can recycle this product safely.

Scan QR code for information on packaging disposal

Naim Audio Ltd. Southampton Road, Salisbury, UK SP1 2LN Call. +44 (0) 1722 426600 Email. info@naimaudio.com naimaudio.com

References

• British High-End Audio | Naim Audio
• British High-End Audio | Naim Audio

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