ALLNIC H-5500 Phono-Stage Preamplifier Owner’s Manual

: June 5, 2024
: ALLNIC

Table of Contents

ALLNIC H-5500 Phono-Stage Preamplifier
ALLNIC AUDIO
INTRODUCING THE H-5500 PHONO-STAGE PREAMPLIFIER
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
SAFETY
CLEANING
INITIAL SET-UP
OPERATION
CURRENT METER
SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE ALLNIC AUDIO H-5500 PHONO-STAGE PREAMPLIFIER
WARRANTY
FIGURES
Documents / Resources

ALLNIC H-5500 Phono-Stage Preamplifier

ALLNIC-H-5500-Phono-Stage-Preamplifier-PRODUCT

ALLNIC AUDIO

H-5500 PHONO–STAGE PREAMPLIFIER
Thank you for purchasing this Allnic Audio H-5500 Phono-Stage Preamplifier. We are certain your trust in Allnic Audio and its dealers worldwide, as well as your appreciation for the sound of this high-quality device, will be rewarded by its excellent operation for years to come.
Please read this entire manual before you connect the H-5500 to the other components of your system and the wall outlet.

Information and specifications for the Allnic Audio product described in this manual are subject to change without notice.
For a list of Allnic Audio distributers around the world, please visit Allnic Audio’s website: http://allnicaudio.com

INTRODUCING THE H-5500 PHONO-STAGE PREAMPLIFIER

The H-5500 is the successor to Allnic Audio’s H-1202 phono stage preamplifier and sits just below the H-7000 model. Like all Allnic Audio products, it uses Permalloy (iron and nickel alloy) for its transformer cores. Allnic is grateful to Mr. G.W. Elmen of Western Electric for inventing Permalloy for transformer core use, and in so doing, providing an enormous service to recorded music listeners everywhere.
The H-5500 has the following features:

High-quality, NOS E180CC twin triode tubes
CR type RIAA equalization, precisely compensated within +/- 0.3dB
Automatic, all tube voltage regulation circuit, ensuring exceptionally stable and quiet operation
High quality Moving Coil Step-up Transformers with Permalloy cores
MC transformers variable gain (+22dB, +26dB, +28dB and +32dB)
No negative feedback design
Pure Class A operation
As are all Allnic Audio products, the H-5500 is fully RoHS (EU Reduction of Hazardous Substances regulation) compliant in construction and materials

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

Please check that the shipping box contains the following:

One (1) Allnic H-5500 phono stage – in natural aluminum or black, depending on your order request
One (1) IEC type power cord
One (1) Owner’s Manual

Note:

The H-5500 ships with the tubes installed.
The H-5500 will work with most IEC type aftermarket power cords. Allnic’s ZL-3000 and ZL-5000 power cords will provide excellent results. Of course, only you can determine the power cord that works most synergistically with the H-5500 in your system.
Be sure the H-5500 is labeled for the AC voltage of your location. If it is not, DO NOT connect the H-5500 to your AC mains. Contact your authorized Allnic representative (See Figure 1).

We advise that you keep the box and other packing materials that your H-5500 came in. It will be useful if you sell your H-5500 or in the unlikely event you need to ship it for service.

SAFETY

Remove ALL protective cushioning material inside the tube chimneys before operation. The tube chimneys should contain NOTHING except the tubes. You may experiment with the tube damping rings, on or off.
Disconnect the power cord by pulling the plug, not the cable.
Do not attempt any repairs. Do not remove the unit’s chassis covers without specific authorization from an authorized Allnic Audio representative.
Keep the power cord away from heat sources.
Keep the unit away from liquids – do not allow any liquid to touch the tubes or enter the interior of
the unit.
When the unit is moved from a cold to a warm environment, allow sufficient time for any condensation to evaporate before plugging the H-5500 into an AC connection.
See the notes on “Location, Location, Location”.

CLEANING

Chassis
Use only a soft, lint-free cloth dampened slightly with water only (NO cleaning fluids!) to clean the faceplate and chassis of the H-5500 and its power supply.

Connectors
You may use any good quality contact cleaner recommended for such applications to clean the contacts from time to time, as you deem appropriate.

INITIAL SET-UP

LOCATION
Like all audio products using tubes, the Allnic Audio H-5500 needs to be placed on a solid stand in a location that provides good air circulation around the phono stage.

DO NOT cover the top of the H-5500 phono stage or tube chimneys.
DO NOT place the unit on carpet or foam.
DO NOT subject the unit to knocks and shocks as you move it around. This advice is meant particularly for those who may want to place the H-5500 on some kind of after-market isolation feet or similar devices. Dropping the H-5500 is not a good thing to do and may void the warranty.
DO NOT place the unit near a strong light or heat.
DO NOT place anything heavy on the unit.
DO NOT allow rubber or vinyl materials to have contact with the unit’s chassis for long periods of time. This could discolor the metal.
DO place the unit on a shelf or stand that is stable and not subject to vibration or sudden shock.
DO consider using a high-quality power cord and interconnects, for both inputs and outputs. The H-5500 is a highly sensitive piece of electronic designed for neutrality and will output what you put into it. Allnic’s Zero Loss (ZL) Technology cables will work synergistically with the H-5500.
DO try to place the H-5500 away from major sources of RFI and EMI; though well shielded, the H-5500 will function best away from large power transformers and other sources of such interference.

POWER CONNECTIONS
The H-5500 uses a standard three-prong male IEC connection for AC input. You need to use a power cord with a female three-prong IEC connector at one end (See Figure 1).
The H-5500 is set internally for AC 110/120 volt – 60 HZ, or 220/230 – 50 HZ operation. There is no way to change this to another AC setting without the return of the unit to the factory for re-wiring, at the owner’s cost, including transport both directions.

INPUTS
There are four (4) pairs of single-ended (RCA) inputs, two for Moving Coil (MC) cartridges and two for Moving Magnet (MM) cartridges. These four pairs are located in the middle of the rear of the H-5500 with the ground screw between the two MC pairs and the two MM pairs (See Figure 1). The input pairs are labeled MC 1 and 2 and MM 1 and 2, with the number of each pair on the vertical axis between the top (left channel) and bottom (right channel) RCA input connectors. Facing the rear of the H-5500, the two left-hand pairs of inputs are the MC cartridge inputs, with pair 1 closest to the center ground screw. The two right-hand pairs of inputs are the MM inputs, with pair 2 closest to the center ground screw and pair 1 next to the IEC connection.
When you are facing the front of the H-5500, the input connections are in the center of the unit, with the MC connections on the right and the MM connections to the left, next to the IEC connection.
The H-5500 has been designed and manufactured to work most synergistically with Allnic Audio products, including line-stage preamplifiers, pre-phono stages and ZL Technology cable products.

OUTPUTS
The H-5500 is equipped with one set of single-ended or “unbalanced” (RCA) outputs. Facing the rear of the H-5500, the right channel RCA output connection is just to the left of the MC RCA input pairs (when facing the front of the H-5500, to their right). Facing the rear of the H-5500, the left channel RCA output connection is just to the right of the MC RCA input pairs (when facing the front of the H-5500, to their left (See Figure 1).

MOVING COIL (MC) TRANSFORMER CONTROLS
Facing the front of the H-5500, the MC step-up transformers are on the H-5500 deck immediately behind the four E180CC tubes. The right channel transformer is on the right, closest to the outside edge of the chassis (See Figure 4). On top of each transformer cylinder, there is a rotating control (See Figure 3). Turn the control knob to select from four gain factors: +22dB, +26dB, +28dB and +32dB. Combined with the H-5500’s 40dB native gain, for MC there is 62dB, 66dB, 68dB and 72dB of gain available. Each of the second set of indicators on the top of the transformers marks the impedance tied to the gain setting diagonal to it. The impedance at each of ×13, ×20, ×26 and ×40 on the control knob is equivalent to 278Ω, 117Ω, 69Ω, and 29Ω and respectively. The impedance and gain relationships are not user adjustable. You should experiment with the gain settings to find the best setting for your cartridge. Use identical settings for both transformers to avoid channel imbalance.

INITIAL POWER-ON
Once you have your H-5500 in place and all connections have been made to your turntable and preamplifier, you are ready to turn on the power for your H-5500. Before you power up the H-5500, be sure you have:

removed ALL the cushion materials from inside the tube chimneys
turned the volume down or muted your preamplifier
muted the H-5500 by ensuring that the button switch labeled “mute” on the right-hand side of the front panel of the H-5500 is in the “out” position (i.e., it is not “depressed”)
rotated the single knob labelled ‘Selector” on the right front of the unit to the appropriate input, corresponding to the input you will use initially, either MC 1 or 2 or MM 1 or 2. The MC 1 and 2 and MM 1 and 2 input labels are at 10 o’clock, eleven o’clock, 1 o’clock, and 2 o’clock, respectively (See Figure 2).
if you are using a moving coil cartridge, set the MC transformer controls on the top of the chassis to the factor that you will try initially (See Figure 3).
Checked that all your connections are snug.
To turn on the H-5500, press in the button switch labelled “power” just to the right of the current meter on the left of the front panel. Pressing the power button again will power down the H-5500 (See Figure 2).

OPERATION

The H-5500 has a “soft start”. After pushing in the power button, the H-5500 will take about 40 seconds to be ready for play. Each time the H-5500 is powered on, the current meter and the light in the middle of the front panel will both illuminate. The light will be red. It will change to orange at the same time that the needle of the current meter moves up to between the two parallel lines at its top. Note: if the mute button is in the “mute” position (button
“out”) when you power on the H-5500, the light will illuminate red and stay red until the mute button is pressed
“in”, unmuting the H-5500 and causing the light to change from red to orange.

CURRENT METER

The current meter indicates correct operation of the H-5500. If the meter falls to the right outside the two parallel lines that it should sit between, a failure of the voltage regulator or voltage corrector tube (or both) is indicated. If the needle falls to the left outside the parallel lines, a failure of one or more of the E180CC tubes is indicated. Such a failure will likely be accompanied by a loss of output in one or both channels.
To restore correct operation, change the tube(s) that have failed, using the same or equivalent tube (only as specified in this Manual). No biasing is required.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE ALLNIC AUDIO H-5500 PHONO-STAGE PREAMPLIFIER

Inputs: Two (2) pairs Moving Coil (MC) unbalanced (RCA)
Two (2) pairs Moving Magnet (MM) unbalanced (RCA)
Output: One (1) pair unbalanced (RCA)
Ground: One (1) x screw type terminal
Frequency (RIAA): 20Hz ~ 20KHz (±0.3db)
Voltage Gain: MM: +38db (1KHz)
MC: Variable: +22dB, +26dB, +28dB, +32dB (1Khz)
Input Impedance: MC up to 278Ω MM 47kΩ
Maximum Input Voltage (MM, non-clipping): 20Hz / 30mV, 100Hz / 60mV, 1KHz / 300mV, 10KHz / 500mV
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): Less than 0.3% (1KHz, Output 1V)
Output Impedance: 1.2KΩ (on-off method)
S/N Ratio: -68db (CCIR, 1KHz)
Power Consumption: 20W / 220V @ 60Hz
Tubes: E180CC – New old stock -approximately electrically (not sonically) equivalent: CV8431, 7062,
- 5965, 12AV7, 6414, 6829;
- 7233 – New old stock (no equivalent) – voltage regulator;
- 5654 – New old stock (equivalent to 6AK6, A4361, CV1762) – voltage corrector.
Fuse: AC 3A, 250V, slow blow (for 120V; 2A for 230V)
Dimensions: 430mm (~17 inches) x 260mm (~10.25 inches) x 170mm (~6.7 inches) (W x D x H) |
Weight Unpacked: 8.2 Kg (18 lbs)
Packaged: 11 Kg (24 lbs)

WARRANTY

FOR WARRANTY SERVICE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ALLNIC AUTHORIZED DEALER.

All Allnic Audio amplifier products are warranted against materials and manufacturing defects for parts, excluding tubes, and labour for two (2) years from date of purchase. Tubes are warranted against materials and manufacturing defects for one (1) year from date of purchase. The warranty is transferable for the balance of the original purchaser’s warranty period, provided, as stated below, no unauthorized repairs or modifications have been performed on the product. Date of purchase is the date indicated on the invoice for the product issued by Allnic Audio or its authorized representative. For the warranty to be valid, a defective product must be returned to Allnic Audio’s authorized representative for service prior to any unauthorized attempt to repair. Any repair work on an Allnic Audio product not specifically authorized by Allnic Audio or its authorized representative will void the warranty on the product.