CHORD Huei V.2.0 Phono stage Instruction Manual
- June 6, 2024
- chord
Table of Contents
Chord Electronics
The Pumphouse, Farleigh Lane,
[email protected]
Product Communication
East Farleigh,
Maidstonechordelectronics.co.uk
ME16 9NB United Kingdom
Eliminating ground/earth hum
Turntables can experience unwanted hum or buzzing related to grounding issues
from the cartridge. Huei allows you to ground your turntable using a
convenient grounding post, situated above the ‘IN R’ and ‘IN L’ RCA posts. You
should always use the post to ground your device and eliminate noise.
To ground your cartridge, unscrew the locking earth pin (we recommend three
turns) and locate the earthing wire from your turntable. Place the spade tip
in between the metal washers and hex bolt, before screwing back the locking
earth-pin thumb-tight. While a spade tip is recommended, if you have bare
wire, you can wrap this around the post and then secure the locking earth pin.
Please also read Grounding plate (3.0)
Important information
Only connect Huei to a device capable of attenuating its output, such as a
preamplifier or integrated amplifier. Do not connect Huei directly to a power
amplifier. Incorrect settings could cause irreparable damage to your equipment
and hearing.
If you need support, in the first instance, please contact your supplying
retailer who will be best placed to assist you. If you need additional help
beyond that of your retailer, please visit our support page: chord
electronics. co.UK/get-support
Placement
Always ensure Huei is used in a well-ventilated setting, away from direct
sunlight and heat sources, and has sufficient space around the unit.
Chord Electronics’ Qutest Stand System (available separately) has been
designed to perfectly house Huei. Otherwise, care should be taken not to stack
other units on Huei. Connecting Huei to your preamplifier or amplifier
Moving Magnet gain ranges:
Removing rumble noise
Huei features a Rauch Slope rumble filter that removes mechanical noise from the turntable. It cancels out the opposing noise from each channel whilst keeping the original music signal intact. To engage the filter, press ‘RUMBLE’ until the sphere shows white. If no color is displayed, the rumble filter is ‘off’.
Please note that the impedance of the cartridge may not fit exactly within the ranges specified; select the range that best matches. Selecting an impedance with a 2.2uF load when using a Moving Coil (MC) cartridge dampens the ringing of lower impedance cartridges, reducing distortion.
NOTE: IMPEDANCE CAN NOT BE CHANGED WHEN IN MOVING MAGNET MODE. PRESS AND HOLD THE MM/MC BUTTON TO ACTIVATE MOVING COIL MODE. WARNING! PLEASE MUTE OR LOWER THE VOLUME OF YOUR PREAMPLIFIER BEFORE CHANGING IMPEDANCE.
Connecting Huei to your preamplifier or amplifier
Huei features variable gain to attenuate the volume for high-output cartridges. Use the chart below to adjust the gain to a suitable level for your preamp or amplifier. Do not adjust the gain while a signal is going through the device. If you are unsure of which setting is appropriate, consult your dealer. Please note that the light range will repeat after it has fully cycled. Moving Coil gain ranges:
Moving Coil gain ranges:
To select between Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC), press and hold the ‘MM/MC’ button until the corresponding color is selected for your input.
Selecting the impedance setting for your cartridge
It is only possible to select impedance with a Moving Coil cartridge in MC mode (Moving Magnets always require a set 47 kΩ impedance). Therefore, when in Moving Magnet mode, the ‘IMPEDANCE’ button will not illuminate.
With a Moving Coil cartridge in MC mode, select the correct impedance from information within the manufacturer’s specifications. If you cannot identify the impedance information from your cartridge user manual or relevant website, please consult your supplying dealer or the manufacturer directly.
Once the impedance of the cartridge is known, use the graphical guide below to find a suitable match and select the corresponding color by pressing the IMPEDANCE button repeatedly. The impedance will increase sequentially to Min + 2.2 uF before moving back down the range again.
Connecting turntables to amplifiers
Huei has two outputs: RCA and XLR. We recommended using one output a time. As the circuitry within Huei is fully balanced, XLR may be preferable To connect Huei to the amplifier/preamp, ensure that all devices are turned ‘off’ before securely attaching interconnects to Huei and the partnering amplifier, paying attention to the L (left) and R (right) channel markers.
Once Huei is connected, do not switch your preamp/amplifier ‘on’ until the volume is at its lowest setting. Next, turn Huei ‘on’ and select the appropriate settings for your cartridge as explained below. With the settings correct, elect the lowest gain setting on Huei (white), before turning connected equipment ‘on’.
Next, select the appropriate input on your preamplifier, begin playing the source and gradually increase the gain/volume to a comfortable level. Please note that if Huei is switched ‘off’, it will remember previously selected settings. You should only need to complete the set-up of your cartridge during the initial installation (unless you change the cartridge).
Selecting MM or MC playback
When setting up Huei for playback, it is most important to correctly identify and select the type of cartridge you’ll be using from the cartridge manufacturer’s specifications. Both Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) have unique specifications and subsequently, different custom settings are available within Huei’s menu.
To select between Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC), press and hold the ‘MM/MC’ button until the corresponding color is selected for your input.
Grounding plate
The gold-plated grounding plate, pictured, is preinstalled for your
convenience. It is required for headshells/tonearms that do not provide a
ground for both RCA connectors. It is safe to leave this in place for normal
use, however,, if you are using Huei with a turntable with balanced
connections then please remove the plate.
Power connection
Huei is supplied with a 12 V, 2A external power supply (which is the only
supply that should be used). A convenient power switch above the 12 V DC
input, can be used to switch Huei ‘on’ and ‘off’. We recommend that this is
performed with partnering preamps or amplifiers turned ‘off’. n
Setting LED brightness
It’s possible to adjust the brightness of the control spheres between two
modes: ‘high’ and ‘low’. To cycle between the modes, simply press both the
‘MM/MC’ and the ‘RUMBLE’ buttons simultaneously.
Connecting turntables to Huei
Huei has one stereo pair of RCAs for connection to turntables. These inputs are labeled as ‘IN R’ (right channel) and ‘IN L’ (left channel) and are color- coded to facilitate connections to turntables.
Introduction
Welcome to Huei, a high-performance Moving Magnet and Moving Coil phono stage
proudly developed and manufactured by Chord Electronics in Kent, England.
Please take a few moments to familiarise yourself with its operation.
Connections and controls
Rear
Care instructions
Only operate within the specified temperatures
Specifications
| Input impedance MM | 47,000 Ω |
|---|---|
| Input impedance MC | 100 Ω – 3700 Ω (12-step) |
| Input noise | 1.1n V/Hz |
| Max output voltage | 20 V RMS |
| Equalisation response | RIAA curve |
| Equalization accuracy | ± 0.1 dB |
| Frequency response | RIAA curve 12 Hz to 25 kHz |
| Dimensions | 41 mm (H) x 160 mm (W) x 72 mm (D) |
| Weight | 657 |
Ma de in BRITAIN
The Pumphouse, Farleigh Lane, East Farleigh, Maidstone, ME16 9NB United
Kingdom
MADE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
chordelectronics.co.uk