MANLEY 1611636667956 Steelhead RC MC-MC Gramophone Cartridge Preamplifier Owner’s Manual

MANLEY 1611636667956 Steelhead RC MC-MC Gramophone Cartridge Preamplifier

INTRODUCTION

THANK YOU!…
…for choosing The MANLEY STEELHEAD® RC phono preamplifier. Please read over this manual carefully as it contains information essential to the proper operation and maximum enjoyment of this fabulous instrument.
The MANLEY STEELHEAD RC is designed to provide that rare combination of maximized sonic performance coupled with a generous ability to adapt to any moving magnet, moving coil or iron vane phono cartridge you may wish to use. With the STEELHEAD’s feature compliment, you no longer have to settle for what a given cartridge sounds like with a fixed predetermined preamp load impedance, or wonder what that same cartridge might sound like when presented with different loading arrangements. What best suits your particular phono cartridge, system, listening room and personal preference is now merely a flick of a switch away! The STEELHEAD adapts to accommodate your situation, rather then the other way ‘round. To this end you will notice that it is the anticipation of your preamplifier needs which has driven every detail of the STEELHEAD’s planning, engineering, styling, operating convenience and adaptability.

UNPACKING
Unpack the preamplifier carefully and make sure that all supplied accessories are present. Examine all items for any possibility of shipping damage. All six tubes should be standing at attention in their sockets. If the unit is damaged or fails to operate, notify the shipper or your dealer or us or your local authorities immediately. Or if you suspect The Shipping People threw it off the airplane and onto your front porch whilst flying overhead at 30,000 feet, notify the shipping company without delay and complain to them as we only guarantee this unit to be able to survive a drop of 23,487 feet or less. Your STEELHEAD RC was packed with extreme love and care. Each box includes the following components and accessories:

1.  1 each, 6-foot IEC 3-conductor mains power cable (that you will probably replace with an expensive audiophile cord anyway.)
2.  1 each, Owner’s Manual per pair (that we hope you will keep reading.)
3.  1 each, Outboard Power Supply Unit with captive grey power cable and big fat connector.
4.  1 each, REMORA Remote Control.

It is prudent to retain the shipping materials for future use, as they are custom-formed for the preamplifier and will greatly minimize the chance of shipping-related damage should you ever need to put your precious Steelhead in the careless hands of The Shipping People again.

INSTALLATION PRECAUTIONS

•  Avoid locating the preamp where it will be exposed to direct sunlight, excessive humidity, dust or moisture. Extreme environments may temporarily or permanently degrade preamp performance.
•  Keep the preamp housing away from sources of strong magnetic field radiation, such as large video display CRTs, large power lines or power/audio transformers in nearby equipment. Extra measures have been taken to shield the magnetically sensitive bits inside the preamp housing. Nevertheless, these measures can be overwhelmed by strong outside influences. Keep in mind that the tiniest disturbance along with the desired signals will be amplified many hundreds or thousands of times.
•  Locate the preamp away from heat-radiating sources, such as other large amps, political demagogues or space-heat-ing equipment.
•  Make sure the preamp and power supply is off before making any system connections. Do not remove or insert the large 16-pin circular power supply connector when the power supply mains switch is in the on (|) position. Do not hot-plug the system.
•  Dissipate any static electric charge build-up on your body by touching the enclosure before making or changing any system connections. The preamp electronics are fairly robust as far as immunity to damage from static charge is concerned, but total immunity cannot be had without unacceptable compromise of audio performance.
•  Be careful to feed only low-level phono cartridge signals to the preamp input connectors. Sustained line-level signals above 15 volts peak may cause damage to sensitive MC input stages even when the preamp is in the standby mode or when the power is off.

AC VOLTAGE SELECTION
The STEELHEAD system may be set to operate on either 117 or 234 volts AC by means of a rotary switch located on the power supply PC board. The power supply’s mains-voltage selector switch is normally preset to the mains voltage at the customer’s location prior to shipment. If, however, the preamp provenance is unknown then the mains-voltage selector switch should be checked and reset to the correct voltage if necessary. The main fuses must also be checked for proper ratings and changed if necessary. Failure to correctly set the mains selector switch or use properly rated fuses can cause extensive damage to the system which is of course not covered by the warranty. The main fuse may be checked by first disconnecting the IEC main cord from the power supply’s power inlet plug. Then gently press the small leaf spring on the side of the rectangular gray fuse retainer cap. The fuse and cap should spring outward toward your fingers. Inspect the fuse for the proper rating; change if necessary. Refer to the fuse-rating chart in the specifications section of this manual (page 19). To inspect or adjust the mains-voltage selector switch it will be necessary to remove the top cover of the power supply enclosure. For this you will need a #1 Phillips screwdriver, and a 3/16 inch flat blade driver to change the selector switch setting. Before opening make sure that the power supply is unplugged from mains power and the STEELHEAD preamp. Once inside you will see tall cylindrical high voltage energy-storage capacitors, which can be a shock nuisance even when the supply is not energized. Therefore, if the supply has been recently power cycled, let the supply capacitors discharge for 15 minutes prior to opening. Then remove 8 Phillips 4×40 retaining screws from the cover, followed by the cover. Lo-cate the voltage selector switch near the mains power entry/fuse/power switch module. The switch face is the black round object, about 1/2 inch in diameter, with white voltage numbers “110” and “220” on the rotor and a white triangular selection indicator on the stator. Notice that the “110” and “220” markings on the switch should not be interpreted as being the precise voltage needed to operate the preamp system. Using the 3/16-inch screwdriver rotate the switch, if necessary, so that the mains voltage you intend to feed the power supply lines up under the selection indicator. Be sure to replace all screws when reassembling.

FEATURES AND APPLICATIONS

HIGH-PERFORMANCE FRONT END
The STEELHEAD RC preamplifier makes the best use of active and passive components and circuit developments generated over the past half-century. The hybrid cascade gain blocks simultaneously deliver wide-band high-gain, low noise and low distortion performance without having to resort to heavy-handed amounts of negative feedback. Or overly complex circuit topology. The multiplicative aspect of the cascaded device’s output (anode) impedance means that the most important characteristics of each gain stage are preserved even though the local negative feedback present in each block is very small. This approach makes the amplification factor of each stage insensitive to tube gain or transconductance variations which occur due to device production tolerance allowances or aging. Other uncommon traits include high quiescent and operating current in each gain stage. This lowers the static and dynamic impedances found within each stage and raises system bandwidth. Musical material which would cause a cave-in of the typical current-starved 12AX7-based preamplifier circuit are conveyed unflinchingly by these amplifier stages.

ACCURATE “4-CORNER” RIAA EQUALIZATION
In the spirit of high fidelity, all four RIAA phono equalization corner frequencies or time constants have been specifically addressed in the STEELHEAD preamplifier. Historically most designs have concentrated on the “big three” time constants of 3180, 318 and 75 microseconds. This ignores the fourth corner of about 3.2 μs, which when ignored causes most phono stages to continue rolling off the highest octave signals coming from the phono pickup, rather than turning the final “corner” and shelving to flat response at about 50 kHz. Careless removal of upper octave bandwidth causes the recovered audio to become somewhat lifeless and remote, with needless loss of impact, detail and percussiveness. Ironically this signal content is precisely what is omitted from all currently popular digital audio delivery formats, and is one of the chief culprits behind the homogenous upper octave sonic characteristics of those formats. As with all equalizing amplifiers intended to correct a given form of frequency-selective emphasis curve, care must be used when building the restorative compensation networks. Great care must be exercised if the goal is to produce a highly accurate passive network coupled to low- feedback amplifiers. And experience has shown that the effort spent in faithfully adhering to the inverse RIAA equalization curve produces results that easily justify the additional procurement and manufacturing costs. To this end, only hand-selected and/or 1% tolerance components are used throughout the RIAA equalization network. Add to that the factory-set variable capacitors, and the result is very high equalization accuracy where small component and circuit layout variations that other manufacturers ignore are netted out. This yields impeccable inter-channel phase and gain matching at any gain setting. In short, the STEELHEAD will magnify the differences in the character and personality of your vinyl recording collection, cartridge, tonearm and turntable. A microscope for the ear! Be prepared to hear previously undiscovered musical content as you play back your favorites!

SWITCH-SELECTABLE CARTRIDGE LOAD IMPEDANCE
An effective means of varying the load seen by the MC cartridge has been included in the form of a 5-position rotary switch. This switch selects various taps on a specially manufactured dual-primary bi-filar wound, high- bandwidth low-resistance and multiple-shielded nickel-core step-up autoformer. A drama to make, the autoformer permits the minute MC cartridge signal power to be efficiently and transparently transformed from low-volts/high-current to high-volts/ low-current. By avoiding conventional parasitic cartridge termination resistors, none of the MC cartridge’s tiny signal power is thrown away before amplification. This results in improved system signal-to-noise ratio. Quite worthwhile provided, as in the STEELHEAD, the autoformer has the necessary performance for the job. This pivotal component has had engineering attention lavished upon it in the only way possible or practical: The Manley Labs magnetics department. In-house transformer prototyping and manufacturing capabilities permit realization of extraordinary transformer designs.
You may now audition your MC cartridge at or near the manufacturer’s specified loading resistance without sacrificing any signal power through a parasitic load resistor. And explore the interesting tonal shifts caused by intentional mild or severe mis-termination of the cartridge. The “right” setting will ultimately depend on the cartridge in use, type of music being heard, other downstream equipment and, most importantly, your personal preference. There will no doubt be moments when a technically “wrong” setting will be musically “right” for a given situation. Do rest assured that, in this instance, a technically wrong setting is completely harmless for all equipment involved. In the case of the 1R input (formerly labeled MM), the typically higher cartridge output levels allow fixed resistor termination, with clockwise-most switch setting being the standard 47k Ohm load resistance. Those MM cartridges capable of properly driving low impedance loads between 25 and 400 ohms should be auditioned through both the 1R and 2Z / 3Z inputs (formerly labeled MM, MC1 and MC2 respectively). By doing so you may find the most appropriate sonic character through the use of unconventional input arrangements. In short, experiment; don’t let the control labeling stop you. On the contrary, we invite you to tweak away!

SWITCH-SELECTABLE CARTRIDGE TERMINATION CAPACITANCE on the front panel yet!
Termination capacitance may be applied to each channel independently in 10 pF steps, up to 1100 pico-Farads. The termination capacitance is present at the gain-stage inputs and is not affected by input selector or gain switch changes. For best accuracy consult your phono interconnect cable literature or manufacturer to determine how much of the termination capacitance may be attributed to the cable. Then subtract at least that amount from the target capacitive termination value. If the interconnect manufacturer does not know the amount of capacitance per unit length that their wire pre-sents (!), then refer to the following example for a starting point: Typical phono interconnect cables will exhibit self-capacitance on the order of about 30 pF per foot. If the interconnect cable is 3 feet (~ 1 meter) in length, you may expect about 90-100 pF of input capacitance to be present due to the interconnect cable alone. If the cartridge manufacturer specifies a load capacitance of 150 pF then it is best to subtract the cable’s portion, i.e., 90 pF. This yields a balance of 60 pF. Thus, the audition should start with the termination capacitance switches set to 60 pF. Each cartridge manufacturer’s product will work best in a laboratory sense when terminated (loaded) with a certain amount of resistance and capacitance. By lab sense it is meant that the signal developed by the cartridge is at maximum power transfer into the pre-amp, with minimum overshoot and ringing, flattest frequency response and gentle roll-off characteristics. But it is those settings that create the most musically satisfying results for you that are of uppermost importance. And your termination preferences may rightly deviate unpredictably from some lab-based norm. A good place to start is with those values recommended by the cartridge manufacturer, less the interconnect cable capacitance. A good default value, if the recommended cartridge load capacitance is unknown, is 150 pF, the sum of cable and termination capacitance switch settings. This value reflects a de facto standard as used by pre-amp manufacturers past and present. From there we encourage you to scrutinize a range of switch settings until you find those values which best suit you and your accompanying components. Also notice that the audible affects of varying the termination capacitance can differ substantially between cartridge types and brands. This is to be expected due to the greatly varying source impedance characteristics of the cartridges available today. In general you may expect the termination capacitance value to alter, at one extreme, subtle imaging and spatial cues, and at the other high-frequency content, forwardness and speed of the reproduced sound. As with the load Z switch, feel free to tune the termination capacitance switches for maximum sonic satisfaction even though the final setting differs from the cartridge manufacturer’s specs.

SWITCH-SELECTABLE AMPLIFIER GAIN
Cartridge output levels and downstream line-level interconnect drive voltage requirements can vary greatly between manufacturers. Hence a four-step amplifier-block gain control has been included to accommodate these differences, as well as differing cartridge sensitivities. You may select from 50 to 65 dB of gain in 5 dB steps. The gain figure is referred to amplifier gain at 1 kHz. Notice that the pre-amp gain is about 20 dB higher (10 times) at 20 Hz and about 20 dB lower (0.1 times) at 20,000 Hz. The 2Z & 3Z input’s step-up autoformer may also provide approximately 2 to 12 dB of additional voltage gain depending on cartridge source impedance and load switch setting.

PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH FUNCTIONS
Four feature switches have been provided for a variety of utility functions. MUTE kills audio signals present at both the FIXED and VARIABLE outputs.
DIM reduces the output level by 20 dB, or about 1/4 previous volume. The DIM function is effective at the VARI-able outputs only. Notice that preamp specifications at the VARIable output may be slightly compromised with the DIM feature engaged. This feature should be treated as a convenience for use when, for example, cueing up a record. System-menacing pops and thumps due to needle-drop are held at bay yet sound from the pick-up may still be heard. SUM combines the amplified audio into a binaural signal, present at the VARIable outputs only. Monophonic or the lateral-only modulation content of your stereo records may now be heard. True mono may be experienced if the feed to one of your two loudspeakers is cut. SLEEP toggles the STEELHEAD between normal operating state and a near zero-power sleep mode. No operating voltages are present when in sleep mode, except for some keep-alive CMOS system control logic, energized by a separate small mains transformer in the power supply.

LINE INPUT SELECT BUTTON
The LINE switch routes external line-level signals to the top of the feature switch stack, and through the VOLUME control. In this way, an external signal source may be manipulated by the SUM, DIM and MUTE switches, along with the volume control, before transmission to any downstream power amplifiers. Notice here that the Steelhead’s variable internal line driver does not have any voltage gain, but does have power gain by virtue of its low output impedance. Since most line-level gear these days has plenty of output level, the last thing you probably need in your system is more gain. Thus, this LINE input allows you to run a CD player (for instance) into the Steelhead, control the volume and let the Steelhead’s Variable Outputs go drive your amplifiers. Or if you have many LINE level sources, you can run the output of another preamplifier or passive switching device (such as a Manley SKIPJACK) into the Steelhead’s LINE input. It’s novel. Try it. In addition, when the LINE function is invoked, the phono stage remains active, and any cartridge signals present will appear in amplified form at the Steelhead’s FIXED outputs. Thus, the preamplifier’s dual signal paths may be applied simultaneously, i.e., listening to the LINE input signal while, for example, recording material from the phono stages. When the LINE feature is not engaged, the phono signals travel through the complete path normally, as described for the line signal above. Notice that the line signal is subject to a fairly demanding 500-ohm termination resistance (not a short-circuit) when the LINE feature is not engaged. This helps cut down on crosstalk between the line and phono signals inside the STEELHEAD enclosure.

BUFFERED VOLUME CONTROL
The STEELHEAD is equipped to drive external power amplifiers directly via low output impedance VARIable line drivers. Purists may easily bypass other outboard preamplifier circuitry by connecting power amplifier inputs directly to the STEELHEAD’s VARIable output jacks.

SEPARATE BUFFERED FIXED AND VARIABLE OUTPUTS.
Choice of constant-level source for interconnection to a line-level-only pre- amp or recorder, and variable outputs for direct connection to power amplifiers.

TWO-STAGE RF INTERFERENCE SHUNTS.
One set of dual dip switches per channel for selective shunting of annoying radio frequency energy to the STEEL-HEAD chassis, or earth ground. These switches are located on the rear apron, nested within each channel’s cluster of RCA jacks. These switchable shunts effectively connect the signal ground to the chassis ground at high frequencies only. Switch the shunt switches on as needed if RFI is encountered. Notice that the shunts are made switchable for those installations where having a permanent shunt connection would, due to innumerable safety and signal grounding arrangements, provoke unacceptably audible “buzz current” ground loops for some users. Notice that these shunts are not part of the signal path.

DISCRETE SYSTEM COMMON AND EARTH GROUND POINTS.
Breakable link between electronics common “zero volts” point and chassis ground allows great flexibility in ground-ing arrangements.

REMOTE HIGH-PERFORMANCE POWER SUPPLY.
Multiple channel power supply in separate enclosure eliminates supply proximity-based noise intrusions into the sig-nal path. Robust and regulated ultra quiet high-voltage rail maintains electrical quiet of sensitive input stage amps. Each voltage channel is conveyed to the preamplifier via separate source and sink lines; no common supply points except at the star-grounding point on the amplifier boards. Multi-core interconnect cable is screened via tinned overall shield braid.

REMORA REMOTE CONTROL.
The REMORA is a radio-frequency-based remote control that allows command of the silicon-free, high-quality motorized VOLUME attenuator set, for infinitely resolvable control of listening levels. No need to “point” the remote in any direction – the Steelhead’s attenuator can be controlled from another nearby room, through walls, through floors, through doors, and through opaque closet or cabinet doors! Please, no need to get up. Sit back. Relax. Enjoy.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

PREPARATION FOR INSTALLATION
Budget a suitable space in which to place the preamplifier, power supply and associated interconnect cable. This space should be free of strong external magnetic and RF fields, and reasonably removed from strong loudspeaker- generated acoustical fields. This space should also be free of excessive heat or dust and large enough to permit easy flow of cool air to the top, bottom and sides of the preamp and power supply. Make sure the power supply’s mains voltage selector switch is set to match the local line voltage, and the wire link is present between the preamp’s green CHASSIS and black CIRCUIT ground mini binding posts on the rear panel. Try to position the power supply away from any interconnect cables which may be carrying audio signals.

BEFORE POWER-UP
Once placed, join the power supply cable to the pre-amplifier via the large 16-pin circular connector. The 16-pin connectors are keyed and can only be mated when both halves are lined up correctly. Check and make sure the power supply is switched off, then attach the grounded IEC power cable jack to the IEC plug. Keep the power off until all other system connections are completed. Proceed by connecting the input and output cabling to the signal sources and loads as desired. Tie any separate turntable or tonearm ground lead to the gold CHASSIS ground binding Set the GAIN dB control to 55 dB and VOLUME control to about 9 o’clock. Choose the 1R, 2Z or 3Z input (formerly labeled MM, MC1 and MC2 respectively) as necessary with the INPUT control. Place the LOAD Ω switch to a value at or near that recommended by the cartridge manufacturer. Adjust the LOAD CAP switch-es to a value at or near that recommended by the cartridge manufacturer less any interconnect cable capacitance. Select and clean, if necessary, your favorite gramophone record. Plug the power cable in and place the power supply’s mains power switch in the on (|) position. The SLEEP switch should glow. Push the SLEEP switch. The SLEEP switch will go dark, selected INPUT and GAIN blue LED’s will illuminate, the MUTE switch lamp will start flashing and the power supply pilot LED and the MAN-LEY STEELHEAD RC badge will light up. The winking MUTE lamp indicates the beginning of a 30-second warm-up mute delay, during which time the muting relay is engaged; no output will be heard from the preamp.

DURING OPERATION
Once audio is heard from the STEELHEAD the exploration for the ideal control settings can begin. However it would be best to allow about 15 minutes of warm-up time for the system to reach thermal equilibrium. Again, notice that the MUTE function operates over both FIXED and VARIABLE outputs, while the DIM and SUM functions are only available at the VARIABLE output jacks.

RETURNING TO STANDBY MODE
At the conclusion of your listening session press the SLEEP switch again to cut power to the preamp. Notice that effort has been made to keep power engagement and cessation noise generated by the preamp to a minimum. Nevertheless it is wise to remove power mains and signal feed to your power amps when the preamp is undergoing a power state change. Additionally, it is best to return the STEELHEAD to the SLEEP mode when not in use rather then leaving the power on indefinitely. This will enhance tube and system life. The tubes should last thousands of hours under normal conditions.

REPLACING A TUBE OR ILLUMINATED BADGE LAMP
Yes there are user-serviceable parts inside! But, as with other vacuum tube- based products, there is also high voltage present. Therefore caution must be used when covers are removed; otherwise there could be shock hazards. As with all mains-powered gear make sure the mains power is off and mains cords are unplugged. Then unplug the power supply from the preamp. If the preamp has been powered up within the last 15 minutes stop! and let the large internal capacitors finish discharging. Wait about 5 minutes before opening the preamp once the 16-pin connector is unplugged. You will need a #1 Phillips screwdriver and a small slot driver. FUSE-LAMP REPLACEMENT: *Note: Units shipped after 5/2003 use long-lasting LEDs that will probably never burn out. For units built before then: After removing the cover use the small slot driver to help pry the badge’s fuse lamp out of the clip holder. Use one hand only when reaching into the enclosure or touching any components inside. Keep the other hand away from the preamp, preferably in your pocket.
TUBE REPLACEMENT: Increased noise level whether gradual or abrupt can generally be attributed to aging tubes. Gradual noise increase from weakened tube cathode emission is the chief symptom of an aging tube, which may be accompanied by exaggerated distortion or loss of headroom. The noise may be a variation in the level of hiss, or the noise may develop a more granular “large-curd” quality. Should these symptoms appear, unplug the tubes in the offending channel and replace with new devices of known-good quality. If the front-end 6922 tube is being replaced in one channel it is wise to replace the same tube in the alternate channel, preferably with matching manufacturer and date code if possible. Let the preamp tube(s) cool down, if necessary, before handling. Tube heater filaments are somewhat more suceptable to damage when warm or hot.
Each tube should require only moderate force for removal and replacement. Gently rock the tube back and forth a bit during removal or replacement. Avoid bending the circuit board. Notice that the heaters of the 6922s are connected in series, and neither channel will function if one of the filaments is open or burned out, or unless both of the 6922s are installed. Akin to those old Xmas tree lights in the attic, no? Be careful to straighten any bent tube pins prior to installation; pin misalignment will make fitting the replacement tube difficult or impossible, and may damage the socket. Be careful to put replacement tubes in the proper sockets.
Never substitute other type numbers of 9-pin tubes without careful research. There are literally thousands of types that share the 9-pin mechanical basing arrangement, but NOT the internal electrical connections! Mechanically compatible tube plugs and sockets by no means indicate electrical compatibility! And random experimenting can easily and quickly destroy the substitute tube and other parts of the preamp! Three tube types that are electrically and plug-socket compatible with the 6922 dual triodes are the 7308, 6DJ8 and the ECC88 / E88CC. Note: the RIAA inputs on the rear panel and their corresponding labels for the front panel’s INPUT selector switch are labeled 1R, 2Z, and 3Z. In older versions of the Steelhead, these were labeled MM, MC1, and MC2 respectively. 1R is generally for MM (moving magnet) cartridges, and 2Z/3Z are generally for MC (moving coil) cartridges.

REMORA REMOTE CONTROL OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Quick Start:
Your Remora Remote Control system has been configured and tested at the factory to verify that the communication link between the radio frequency transmitter and the mating receiver-decoder inside the Steelhead has been properly established. Before beginning, ensure that a fresh 9V alkaline battery has been installed in the Remora Remote transmitter. Yes, we installed a new 9V battery in the Remora Remote when it left the factory. Turn on the Steelhead RC and after a few seconds, push and hold either the up or down command buttons. The command is sent via radio signal to the preamplifier and the motorized volume control will react by moving as directed by the remote switch activation, with motor action occurring as long as a button is engaged. The Remora Remote transmitter’s multi-colored LED lamp will glow bright GREEN when a command is being sent. Notice that the volume control motion will stop when the control reaches the travel end-stops, just as it does when the knob is turned by hand. Also notice that the remote will stop transmitting if either the up or down buttons are pressed for more than 30 seconds. The multi- colored LED lamp on the face of the remote will tell you when the 9V battery needs to be replaced. The battery is GOOD when the lamp is bright GREEN while the transmitter is active. As the battery voltage wanes, the green light may flash RED briefly when the transmitter is switched on; that’s when the load on the battery is heaviest. When the battery is nearing exhaustion, the time interval of the RED flash will expand, and eventually and the battery nears life end, the lamp may stay RED more or less continuously. When the LED lamp stays RED, then the moment has arrived for mandatory replacement of the battery. You may replace the battery at your leisure, since all the Remora Remote transmitter’s settings are held safely and indefinitely, in the microprocessor’s non-volatile flash memory.

More Details:
Here are some details about the features included with your new Remora Remote system. Some are pretty obvious; others are riding just below the surface.
First, the Remora radio-frequency remote control system consists of four parts.

1.  The microprocessor-controlled battery-operated hand-held RF transmitter
2.  The line-operated RF receiver
3.  The microprocessor-controlled decoder and motor drive amplifier
4.  The dual-deck motorized volume control

Using computer-based hardware on both sides of the system adds flexibility and allows enhanced features to be added with little impact on system cost. For example, one such feature is the ability of the receiver-decoder to discriminate between interfering signals, or other Manley Remora Remote enabled preamplifier models so that it will react only to the prescribed remote transmitter.

Remora Remote Features!

1.  Remote transmitter and receiver operate under crystal-clocked microprocessor control for maximum signal discrimination, flexibility, and system range.
2.  The user may easily reprogram the user-number portion of the remote system’s serial I.D. data stream. This will eliminate the possibility of undesired operations due to remote command collisions.
3.  Multi-color LED displays battery condition when the transmitter is in use, as well as two-digit user-number programming status when in program mode.
4.  Internal antennas contribute to sleek design aesthetics and eliminate possibility of damage to them had they been subject to external exposure, while still providing good range.
5.  Transmitter uses readily-available 9V battery.
6.  Transmitter shell made of tough Lexan® for durability.
7.  Real compression-dome push buttons instead of short-lived conductive silicone membrane pads are used for years of dependable operation.
8.  Highest quality motorized attenuator employed for critical audio path with very good inter-channel matching (no silicon attenuators here!)
9.  Two-step attenuator rotation speed: Press and hold a button; for the first half second the attenuator motor runs slowly so the user may “nibble” at the volume setting. After half of a second, the motor rotation rate doubles to move things right along.
10.  Remote transmitter keep-alive interval keeps Remora Remote awake for a few seconds AFTER either button is released, as indicated by the LED lamp glowing DIM green or red. Keeping the microprocessor awake shaves a few dozen milliseconds off of the wake-up time, and helps to make the remote system more responsive.
11.  Flash memory inside both the transmitter’s and the receiver decoders CPU eliminates the need for backup batteries or super-caps, etc.
12.  Clever system architecture and user-programming procedure eliminates the need for dip switches and as-sociated fiddling with awkward dip switch arrays.
13.  Remora Remote consumes very little power which yields long battery life.
14.  Electrically quiet operation preserves low noise floor of the preamplifier’s audio path.
15.  Discrete passive volume control offers highest headroom option over silicon-based devices.

Precautions when using the Remora Remote system:
Use only fresh alkaline 9-volt (006P) batteries in the remote transmitter. The power draw is small during transmit events, and nil when on standby. Unless the transmitter is used very heavily, the battery should last for at least a year, or for about 10 hours of continuous transmit time. If the remote not used very often then the battery life should equal its shelf life. The remote transmitter operates on 433.9 MHz, and features a tuned antenna for reasonable efficiency and extended battery life. As with other RF equipment of this sort, the range can be influenced if the antennas on either side of the link are hampered by obstructions that deflect or attenuate the radio signal. Neither the transmitter nor the receiver should be used or placed behind conductive surface planes, or on top of large metal cabinetry, since this can effectively reduce or block the radio signals. The tuned antenna is positioned at the top or “nose” of the transmitter housing. Best range can be obtained by keeping your hand clear of the top of the enclosure during operation. Range may be severely cut if the remote is placed on a conductive (metal) surface, such as a filing cabinet or other piece of equipment since the metal plane will grossly detune the antenna. When the transmitter is operated in the palm of your hand, you may expect the remote range to be at least 15 meters line-of- sight, typically 20 meters (or more) in most settings. Radio-based systems can be affected by noise or interference occurring on the operating channel. Various government bureaucracies dictate what radio channels may be used depending on several factors such as country where the remote system is to be operated, the exact nature of the transmitted information and so forth. Because of these limitations, the channels used for remote controls of this sort can be crowded, especially where population density is high. In addition to on-channel interference, the desired radio signal may be received perfectly when the remote transmitter is in one location, but mysteriously “drop out” when the transmitter is move a few inches one way or another. The transmitter may need to be rotated or relocated slightly to avoid RF “null” points. The Remora system is highly resistant to false operation due to noise or other remote signals, but the range will be reduced if the competing signals or noise is very strong. If you experience intermittently poor range, briefly try operating the equipment at another location free of possible sources of interference before contacting your dealer or Manley Labs. Keep the remote and all other parts of the system away from rain or moisture of any sort. The Remora Remote’s circuitry is extremely intolerant of moisture intrusion. In the event the remote transmitter gets wet, remove the battery immediately, disassemble the case and try to remove as much moisture as possible as soon as you can. Then let the assembly air-dry in a warm place for a day before re- assembling and testing. DO NOT disturb any trimpot settings or move the antenna components. Remove the battery promptly when it becomes weak or discharged or if the remote transmitter is not going to be used for a protracted period of time. This will help prevent corrosion due to battery leakage. The motorized volume attenuator may safely be actuated by hand, or by the motor under remote command. The attenuator has a slip-clutch transmission, so it is safe to occasionally override the motorized action by hand, or let the clutch slip after the attenuator reaches its end stop. However, the motorized attenuator assembly will last longer if these actions are avoided.

How to establish the digital link (pairing) between the Remora transmitter and the receiver:
Each transmitter and receiver-decoder set is designed to respond to a specific data string as programmed into the transmitter and later acknowledged by the receiver-decoder. A small set of user-defined user numbers is used as part of the data string so that the remote system can be programmed to avoid unwanted operation of another Remora-enabled Manley preamplifier that may be nearby, in range of the transmitter. If necessary, you may alter the specific short user number of the transmitter. When you do so, the receiver can easily be reprogrammed to follow the changes and react to the new user number. Having unique handshake ID codes is important for RF remotes since unlike infrared systems, the remote’s RF commands can penetrate walls, floors, and doors, which might operate other Manley Remora-enabled gear if they all had the same user numbers! The user numbers are a pair of single-digit numbers created by hitting the up and down buttons during a re-mote transmitter programming session. How to program the user numbers is one of those procedures that is harder to write down than to actually do physically. To get acquainted with the remote transmitter itself, we’ll start with a simple matter of determining the Remora Remote’s user-number setting without changing the user number. This requires only one action by you, the user. You’ll get to see some of the Remora Remote’s “modes” as indicated by the LED lamp.

How to query the Remora transmitter to see what user number is already programmed:
Press and hold both the up and down buttons for about 0.5 seconds. Release the buttons when you see the LED change from dim green to flashing dim yellow. The LED will flash dim yellow for about three seconds. Be careful not to touch any buttons while the LED is flashing dim yellow as the remote is in the program mode during this time. The flashing dim yellow LED will time out and will then go dark for a moment. Then the LED will recite the user number by flashing a string of GREEN (up) blinks, then a string of RED (down) blinks. The user number may range from the smallest value of 1 green, 1 red (1,1) up to a maximum of 7 green and 7 red (7,7). As you can see, up to 49 different user numbers are available. Once the user-number readout event lapses, the remote falls back to normal operation.

How to change the user numbers and re-pair the system:
Ordinarily, there will seldom be a need to change the user number. Changing the user number requires a few more ballet steps, as listed below. Some steps are time-window sensitive to help prevent pairing errors due to interference from other signals on the radio channel.Please read over the list of required actions and LED reactions completely before attempting to reprogram your Remora system user number.

1.  Make sure the Steelhead’s power supply is powered ON, but the audio unit is in SLEEP mode. Also make sure the batteries in the Remora Remote are healthy.
2.  Put the Remora Remote into the programming mode by pressing the up and down buttons simultaneously for about a half-second. The LED will blink yellow to indicate that it is in programming mode.
3.  While the LED is blinking yellow, enter the new user number by tapping the “UP” button 1 to 7 times, followed by pressing the “DOWN” button 1 to 7 times. Example: 3 “ups” and 2 “downs” will set a new user number to (3,2). After it has accepted your new code, yellow blinking LED will stop blinking and will then read back the new user number you set by displaying 3 GREEN blinks followed by 2 RED blinks. BE CAREFUL NOT to touch the buttons once the read-back has happened; the remote knows you have reprogrammed it, and it is “armed” with a special data string to tell the receiver-decoder that a user-number change has happened.
4.  With the Remora Remote in this “armed” state and with it in your hand with your thumb hovering over either button, awaken the Steelhead from SLEEP mode by pressing the SLEEP button. Once the preamplifier’s badge lamp is lit, you have about 1.5 seconds to press either button on the remote. The preamplifier should now respond by rotating the volume control in the direction of whichever button has been pressed. Pairing is now complete.

For the first 1.5 seconds after power-up, the Steelhead’s receiver-decoder is configured to be in programming mode looking for any new user-number changes. If the decoder detects the new user-number programming string from an “armed” remote during this 1.5-second interval, the decoder will immediately discard the old user number and adopt the new one before resuming normal operation. In the event that you lose or damage your Remora Remote, a new one can be supplied pre-programmed with your user number if you provide it to us. Otherwise, it is a straightforward matter to observe, note, and re-pair the Remora Remote’s user number to the preamplifier using the query and programming procedure described earlier. Please direct any comments or questions to your dealer or to Manley Labs for further assistance.

 FCC STATEMENT

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. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

•  Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•  Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
•  Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
•  Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Operation with non-approved equipment is likely to result in interference to radio and TV reception. The user is cautioned that changes and modifications made to the equipment without the approval of the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

TROUBLESHOOTING

The STEELHEAD’s system architecture is designed with a variety of features so as to allow flexibility in accommodating as many cartridges and as much downstream gear as possible. Access to these capabilities rest on the assumption that all STEELHEAD systems are functioning properly. If trouble is encountered please review the following short list of symptoms and corrective remedies before contacting your dealer or us.

Remarks on hum pick-up:
Please be aware that the STEELHEAD can develop voltage amplification factors as high as 30,000 times, or 90 dB at the 50-60 Hz power line “hum” frequencies. It is of the utmost importance that cables handling the tiny signals from the phono cartridges be of high quality, with good screening and connection properties, if the single-ended signal is to have any chance of being received by the preamp reasonably free from hum and noise intrusions. This is especially true for moving coil pickups. Please use the shortest practical interconnects and carefully route these away from all possible electrical or magnetic hum or interference sources.

MAINS CONNECTIONS

Your STEELHEAD RC has been factory set to the correct mains voltage for your country. The voltage setting is marked on the serial badge, located on the rear panel. Check that this complies with your local supply. Export units for certain markets have a molded mains plug fitted to comply with local requirements. If your unit does not have a plug fi tt ed the colored wires should be connected to the appropriate plug terminals in accordance with the following code:

GREEN/YELLOW EARTH
BLUE NEUTRAL
BROWN LIVE

As the colors of the wires in the mains lead may not correspond with the colored marking identifying the terminals in your plug proceed as follows:
The wire which is colored GREEN/YELLOW must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked by the letter E or by the safety earth symbol or colored GREEN or GREEN and YELLOW. The wire which is colored BLUE must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked by the letter N or colored BLACK. The wire which is colored BROWN must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked by the letter L or colored RED. DO NOT CONNECT/SWITCH ON THE MAIN SUPPLY UNTIL ALL OTHER CONNECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.
Note:
120 to 240VAC operation changeable with power transformer rewiring via internal switch and fuse value change.
100VAC operation changeover achieved via rewiring of power transformer PCB.
100-120V Operation: Uses a 1.5A MDL SLO-BLO fuse.
220-240V Operation: Uses a 0.75A MDL SLO-BLO fuse.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Information on for customers:
The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have issued the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. The purpose of the Directive is the prevention of waste of electrical and electronic equipment, and to promote the reuse and recycling and other forms of recovery of such waste. As such the Directive concerns producers, distributors and consumers. The WEEE directive requires that both manufacturers and end-consumers dispose of electrical and electronic equipment and parts in an environmentally safe manner and that equipment and waste are reused or recovered for their materials or energy. Electrical and electronic equipment and parts must not be disposed of with normal household wastage; all electrical and electronic equipment and parts must be collected and disposed of separately. Products and equipment which must be collected for reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery are marked with the following pictogram: Small products may not always be marked with this pictogram in which case this is present in the instructions for use, on the guarantee certificate and printed on the packaging. When disposing of electrical and electronic equipment by use of the collection systems available in your country, you protect the environment, human health and contribute to the prudent and rational use of natural resources. Collecting electrical and electronic equipment and waste prevents the potential contamination of nature with the hazardous substances which may be present in electrical and electronic products and equipment. Your MANLEY retailer will assist with and advise you of the correct way of disposal in your country.

SPECIFICATIONS

References

• Manley Laboratories, Inc.

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