Bel Canto E1X Stereo Amplifier User Guide
- June 5, 2024
- bel canto
Table of Contents
Bel Canto E1X Stereo Amplifier
Important Safety Instructions
Explanation of symbols used in this manual or on the rear/underside of the apparatus:
The Lightning Flash with an arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.
- Read, keep and follow these instructions.
- Heed all warnings.
- Do not use the apparatus near water, e.g. near a bathtub, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, near a swimming pool etc.
- Clean only with a dry cloth.
- Install in accordance with the Manufacturer’s instructions.
- Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus that produce heat.
- Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet; consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
- Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and at the point where they exit from the apparatus.
- Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
- Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as powersupply cord or plug has been 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.
- Mains plug Use the mains plug to disconnect the apparatus from the mains supply. The mains plug must be accessible at all times. Use the mains switch (if applicable) when the apparatus is not in use.
- Do not expose the apparatus to liquids or moisture, dripping or splashing. Do not place a vessel containing liquid on top of the apparatus. No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, shou Id be placed on the apparatus.
- The apparatus has been designed for use in moderate and tropical climates
In the U.K.
Fuse replacement: This appliance is fitted with a non-rewireable 1 o amp mains
plug. The plug contains a 1 o amp fuse. If the fuse has blown it can be
replaced as follows: 1) Pull out the black fuse cover/carrier. 2) Remove and
dispose of the blown fuse. 3) Fit a new 1 O amp BS1362 approved fuse into the
carrier and push the carrier back into the plug. Always ensure the fuse cover
is fitted. If the fuse cover is missing do not use the plug. Contact your Bel
Canto retailer to obtain a replacement fuse cover. Fuses are for fire
protection and do not protect against electric shock.
WARNING: THIS APPLIANCE MUST BE GROUNDED
FCC Notice
Note: 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.
TO COMPLETELY DISCONNECT THIS APPARATUS FROM THE AC MAINS, DISCONNECT THE POWER SUPPLY CORD PLUG FROM THE AC RECEPTACLE. THE MAINS PLUG OF THE POWER SUPPLY CORD SHALL REMAIN READILY ACCESSIBLE
Disconnect supply cord before changing fuse. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE AND OBJECTS FILLED WITH LIQUIDS, SUCH AS VASES, SHOULD NOT BE PLACED ON THIS APPARATUS.
Warranty Information
Bel Canto products are automatically covered by a 90-day factory warranty that
covers all internal parts and labor. Register online
(HTTP:/ /www.belcantodesign.com/home/support/warranty-registration/e1 x/)
within 30 days of purchase from an authorized dealer to automatically extend
your warranty for 5 years starting from the date of purchase. If you do not
have web access, please contact your dealer for assistance. Upon fully
completing registration, within 5 business days you will receive an email that
officially validates your warranty. Your information will be used for internal
use only and will not be sold or released outside Bel Canto. Your comments and
suggestions are appreciated and help us continually improve our products and
services.
The warranty is only valid to the original owner and is non-transferable.
Damage caused by unauthorized modification, abuse, or neglect of product will
void your warranty. Any cost associated with the return of product is the sole
responsibility of the owner. All returns require a return authorization number
issued after contacting us at
[email protected]. If you have any
questions, please feel free to contact us online at
[email protected].
Unpacking the E1X AMPLIFIER
Carefully inspect each item for any visual damage. If there is any damage, or
anything missing from the list below, please contact your dealer or
distributor.
The below items are shipped with your system:
1 (one) – E1 X Stereo Amplifier
1 (one) – User’s Guide
1 (one) – IEC Power Cable
IMPORTANT: Save all packing materials as they are specially designed to protect the E1 X AMPLIFIER during transportation. If the packing materials are compromised, contact your dealer, distributor, or Bel Canto for proper packaging before attempting to ship your E1 X AMPLIFIER.
Power Connection
The power supply in the E1 X AMPLIFIER is preset for the proper power voltage. The power cable should have the correct plug for your local power system. If you believe this to not be true, please contact your dealer immediately. This product, like any electrical component, can be dangerous and cause injury unless correct handling procedures are observed and used. Before powering this product, it is necessary to read and follow the proper setup and procedures.
WARNING! DO NOT CONNECT POWER TO THIS PRODUCT YET!
Setup & Placement
The E1 X AMPLIFIER can be placed in many locations without compromise. We do
not recommend placing weights or other objects directly on E1 X AMPLIFIER.
This may scratch or mar the chassis finish. Do not use harsh chemicals or
abrasives when cleaning the outside of your E1X AMPLIFIER. Use a clean
microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints from the chassis.
Single-Ended RCA and Balanced XLR connectors are available. XLR connectors
follow the standard AES pin configuration:
- Pin 1 Ground
- Pin 2 Signal+
- Pin 3 Signal –
We recommend placing the E1 X AMPLIFIER in an easily accessible location near your source components.
System Connections
- IEC Inlet. Region specific voltage is internally set.
- Mains Power Switch connects AC input to the power board when set to the I position. The amplifier will start in standby with the switch ring LED white.
- 5/12V Trigger requires a 3.5mm plug connector with tip at 5 to 12VDC. The Mains Power Switch must be in the ON position for the Trigger to work. When the trigger voltage is set between 5 and 12V the amplifier will go into standby mode, turning the front switch LED off.
- Input Section has both RCA and XLR inputs for unbalanced or balanced connection from the DAC or Preamp, respectively. The Input Switch selects either input connection. When set to RCA mode, it will short the -XLR input to ground. Do not connect both XLR and RCA cables to the inputs at the same time.
- Output Loudspeaker NextGen Connectors are optimized for sound quality with any good spade or NextGen banana connector. Note that the NextGen connector is clutched to ensure optimum pressure on the contact.
Do not over tighten- The NextGen connector creates a tight and damped contact preventing chatter and contact noise at the connection to the loudspeaker. Outputs are compatible with any loudspeaker down to 2 ohms
Standby Mode
The E1X AMP will power up in operate mode. This is indicated by the ring LED on the front switch lighting up white. A press on the front panel switch while in operate mode will put the amp in low-power standby mode with the front panel Ring LED off. Another press on the front panel will put it back in operate mode
Tips for Operation
The E1X AMPLIFIER and DC Coupling
The E1X AMPLIFIER is DC coupled with no coupling capacitors in the signal path. This optimizes audio signal quality, maximizing micro and macro-dynamic performance. While the amplifier will protect itself and your loudspeakers from excessive DC offset, it is critical to ensure that any Preamplifier or DAC has low DC offset at its output as this will be amplified by the E1 X AMPLIFIER. If there is excessive DC into the E 1 X AMPLIFIER the amplifier will shut itself and the main power supply off, protecting both the amp and loudspeaker from damage. If this occurs, then have the DC offset of the signal source checked by a qualified technician.
What to do if there is hum or ground noise
In case there is hum or ground noise, check that the RCA/XLR switch is in the
correct position for the type of connection
being used. Ensure that the preamplifier or any source components are not
producing hum by setting the preamplifier to a MUTE or
Standby setting.
The design of the E1 X AMPLIFIER reduces the chance for ground loop induced
hum, but we still recommend using shorter interconnect cables to the
preamplifier or DAC. Connect all power cables to a common outlet box or power
conditioner unit to reduce the possibility for ground current noise being
induced into the audio signal path. If you choose to power your source and
preamplifier components from a different AC supply than used for the E1X
AMPLIFIER, we recommend that you use a high quality balanced XLR cable driven
from a true balanced XLR preamplifier output.
We do not recommend that you resort to ‘cheater plugs’ or some other means to disconnect the power ground from the E1X AMPLIFIER as this may lead to dangerous operation and void the warranty.
The LED Switch at the front of the unit indicates that power is connected to the E1 X AMPLIFIER and that the power switch is in the ON position. If the amplifier detects a fault or short circuit in the output connections, it will go into a protection mode and stop playing. If this occurs toggle the power switch to the OFF position and check the speaker cabling to ensure that no speaker output is either shorted together or connected to a ground. When you are certain that the loudspeaker cabling is correct, power the unit ON again, check that the green LED is lit and that music will play.
There is internal fuse protection on the E1 X AMPLIFIER. If the power switch is in the ON position, the power cable is connected to a functioning power outlet at the correct voltage, and the LED is not lit, this indicates that the internal fuse may have blown. If this occurs contact your dealer, distributor or Bel Canto for service. There are no user-replaceable fuses or other parts. Opening the chassis will void your warranty.
Power Up
We recommend leaving the E 1 X AMPLIFIER powered on at all times as it
benefits the overall sound quality and draws little
power. If your system will not be used for an extended period of time, such as
two weeks, or if there is an imminent
electrical storm, we recommend shutting off your system.
Output Connectors
Bel Canto amplifiers are all equipped with WBT Nextgen binding posts that
accept spade lugs measuring 6mm2 standard 4 mm2 banana plugs, and wire with a
diameter of 6mm2 (1 OAWG). DO NOT USE TOOLS when tightening binding posts as
it can damage the connector
Specifications
Performance:
Features and specifications are subject to improvements and changes without prior notice.
We, the offerer, Bel Canto Design, Ltd., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 USA acknowledge our sole responsibility, that the product
Kind of equipment: Bel Canto E1X Series
Type designation: E1X STEREO AMPLIFIER
Technical regulations:
EN 55013:2001 + A 1 :2003 + A2:2006
EN 55020:2007 + A 11 :2011
EN 61000-3-2:2006 + A2:2009
EN 61000-3-3: 2008
Technical regulations
EN 62368-1 :2014+A 11 :2017
I EC 62368-1 :2014+A 11 :2017
in accordance with Ecodesign Requirements for Energy Related Products Directive 2009/ 125/ EC, is in compliance with the following norm(s) or documents(s):
Technical regulations: EC No. 1275/2008, EN 62301
is in conformity with Directive 2011 /65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, and it has been demonstrated that the requirements specified in Article 4 of such Directive have been met.
221 1st Street North, Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55401
P: 612.317.4550
info@be lcantodesign .com
http://www.belcantodesign.com
2020 Bel Canto Design, LTD