E160
160W Stereo Power Amplifier
Owners Manual
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i
Introducing the Perreaux
E160 Power Amplifier
Congratulations on your Perreaux E160 purchase. To realise the full potential of
your unit you need to appreciate all aspects of its operation.
Before installing the E160 into your system, read the entire manual carefully.
Endeavor to understand every detail by familiarising yourself with the controls
and features as you read. You will find it easier to install using the relevant
sections of this manual as a reference.
We have attempted to explain every feature and operational facet clearly and
concisely. In the event that something is still unclear to you, your Perreaux
dealer will be happy to assist you further.
Read this manual, install your unit correctly and realise the sonic significance of
your investment in Perreaux.
Perreaux products are designed to provide the utmost in sonic realism and
electronic reliability with a functional yet elegant appearance that reflects the
care and craftsmanship applied during all stages of construction.
Features at a
Glance
àꢀRugged build quality
àꢀStiff power supply
àꢀHybrid Class A/AB output stages
àꢀMOSFET output devices
àꢀHigh power
àꢀAdvanced PCB design and earthing techniques
àꢀEarth isolation switch
To maintain the consistently high quality that you expect from us, and we expect
from ourselves, Perreaux products are essentially handcrafted.
We maintain the human-link throughout, from design and construction, through
to the ultimate test, your music, your system, your ears.
Because we too listen to our products, we know that with your Perreaux you will
discover many more of the musical secrets we strive to reveal.
From all of us at Perreaux Industries Limited, thank you for choosing the
Perreaux E160 power amplifier.
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ii Important Safety Instructions
Note:
All safety and operation instructions should be read carefully before the
E160 is operated. Keep the Owners Manual in a safe place for future
reference.
àꢀThe E160 should not be used near water, for example near a bathtub,
kitchen sink, in a wet basement, near a swimming pool, etc.
àꢀThe E160 should be rack mounted only in a heavy-duty rack or stand that is
recommended for audio equipment use.
àꢀMounting to a wall or ceiling should be via a heavy-duty bracket or shelf
designed for audio equipment use.
àꢀThe E160 should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators,
stoves, or other appliances that produce excessive amounts of heat.
àꢀAlways ensure the E160 heat sinks have adequate ventilation enabling air
circulation both above and below.
àꢀDO NOT place the E160 directly onto carpeted surfaces.
àꢀAvoid exposing the E160 to extremely high or low temperatures.
àꢀThe E160 should be connected to a mains power supply only of the type
described in the operating instructions, or as marked on the rear of the unit.
àꢀDO NOT disconnect the mains earth from the system.
àꢀThe mains power supply cord should be routed so that it is not likely to be
walked on or pinched by items placed on or against it.
àꢀThe power cord of the E160 should be unplugged from the mains outlet
when the unit is to be left unused for long periods or when attempting to
connect or disconnect cables and before cleaning your unit.
àꢀCare should be taken so that objects and/or liquids do not accidentally fall
inside the E160.
àꢀPlease keep electrical equipment out of reach of children.
àꢀPlease unplug sensitive electronic equipment during electrical storms.
àꢀPlease replace any fuse with the value and type specified.
àꢀAvoid operating the E160 with the cover removed.
àꢀDO NOT bypass any fuse.
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àꢀDO NOT attempt to repair the E160. In the event of a problem, please
contact your Perreaux dealer.
àꢀDO NOT operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.
Caution!
The E160 is a convection-cooled amplifier. The finned outer heat sinks
may become very hot when delivering high volume levels – to avoid
injury; care should be taken not to touch the heat sinks during operation.
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iii
Table of Contents
i
ii
iii
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Introducing the Perreaux E160 Power Amplifier .................................................. 3
Important Safety Instructions.................................................................................... 4
Table of Contents......................................................................................................... 6
Unpacking and Placement......................................................................................... 7
Instant Install................................................................................................................ 9
Front Panel Functions............................................................................................... 11
Rear Panel Functions ................................................................................................ 12
Special Design Philosophies .................................................................................... 15
Special Design Features............................................................................................ 17
Maximising System Potential................................................................................... 19
The Power MOSFET................................................................................................... 21
Care and Maintainance ............................................................................................ 24
Warranty Information and Obtaining Service ..................................................... 25
Extended Warranty Registration Form ................................................................. 26
Faultfinding Your System......................................................................................... 27
Specifications.............................................................................................................. 32
Physical Dimensions.................................................................................................. 35
Contact Details........................................................................................................... 36
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1
Unpacking and Placement
The E160 is packaged for maximum protection. Please carefully read the
instructions below before proceeding to unpack the unit. Be extremely careful.
Unpacking
àꢀInspect both ends of the cardboard box and open at the end without the
Procedure
central staple by slitting the reinforced tape at either side.
àꢀFold back the flaps and tip the package on end and the inner box will
slide out.
àꢀLay the inner box down flat and upright, open it conventionally by
separating the top tray from the bottom.
àꢀThe product can now be removed from the bottom packaging. This will
be easier if you have someone to help you by holding the base of the
box.
àꢀAlternately, the bottom tray and amplifier could be tipped upside down
and the bottom packaging removed. If opened in this manner, please
ensure that you turn the contents over again.
Note:
Be very careful to secure the unit if you are planning to flip the package
upside down.
àꢀRemove the two white polystyrene protectors off either side of the
amplifier, leaving the black material covering.
àꢀPull back the material and remove the protective black tissue from the
front panel.
The amplifier is now unpacked and ready for further installation.
Note:
Please retain all packaging material for future transport.
Box 1 x E160 Power amplifier
Contents
1 x E160 Product manual
1 x Detachable AC power cord
Placing The E160 should generally be placed close to your source component, keeping
Your E160
the interconnect cabling short.
We strongly recommend keeping the E160 on it’s own separate shelf to allow
for proper ventilation.
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Ventilation For optimal performance, the unit MUST receive adequate ventilation.
Requirements
àꢀPlease do not install in a sealed cabinet.
àꢀPlease do not stack products directly on top of the unit.
àꢀPlease do not cover the product with a cloth or similar.
àꢀPlease do not mount the E160 directly onto carpeted surfaces.
àꢀAs a “rule of thumb”, allow 80-100mm (3-4 inches) around all sides of
the product and mount the E160 on a flat surface, ensuring that the unit
has adequate access to free flowing air.
àꢀIn the event that the E160 is to be incorporated into custom cabinetry,
please refer to Chapter 14 “Physical Dimensions”.
Note:
Please take all necessary steps to ensure that the unit receives adequate
ventilation
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2
Instant Install
If you are like us, the first thing you will want to do is to play your favourite
piece of music through your new E160. The following instructions are written
to enable you to achieve this as quickly as possible. These are not
comprehensive instructions, but are designed to enable you to play music now!
Note:
Please take the time to read the E160 manual thoroughly as it
incorporates many features, which will enhance its operation.
Placement
The E160 is a convection-cooled amplifier and best results will be achieved
when placed on a solid surface with adequate ventilation. DO NOT place on a
carpeted floor or cover the amplifier!
Turn off associated components
This minimises the potential to damage any other components when connecting
your E160 into the system.
Connect preamplifier to E160
Connect the output of your preamplifier to the unbalanced (RCA) inputs at the
rear of the E160.
Note:
Note:
Try to keep all interconnect cables as far from loudspeaker cables as
possible and well away from all AC mains leads.
Connect speaker cables to the left and right speaker terminals
We recommend using high quality connectors for your speaker cables, spade
lugs are the preferable option as they combine a larger surface area with the
possibility of a strong mechanical connection; however, high quality banana
terminals are also acceptable.
Be careful to maintain channel integrity, i.e. left to left, right to right, and
phase integrity, positive (+) to positive (+), negative (-) to negative (-).
Switch on preamplifier
Turn on the preamplifier and set the volume to the minimum level.
Switch on E160
After checking the supply voltage compatibility with the voltage rating on the
E160 rear panel, insert the power cord-set supplied into the rear of the unit and
into the wall. Switch on the socket at the wall and power up the E160 using the
switch on the front panel.
Start your source component
Switch on the source component both at the wall and on its front panel. Ensure
you have some source material inserted and press play.
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Increase the volume
Slowly increase the preamplifier volume control to achieve a comfortable
listening level.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Now that you have achieved your first objective, sit back, relax and please read
the rest of the manual at your own pace, in your favourite armchair, whilst
sipping a hot cup of coffee. You’ll find the whole experience much more
pleasurable whilst listening to music.
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3
Front Panel Functions
Power Switch
Depress this switch to turn power ON. Mute relay circuitry is employed in the
E160 so output is muted momentarily after the power switch is actuated.
Depress the switch again to turn the unit off, at which time the outputs will be
disconnected.
Power Indicator
The indicator light is a green LED that shows the power status of your E160
power amplifier. If the LED is illuminated it indicates that the amplifier is
powered. If the LED is OFF, the E160 is disconnected from power.
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4
Rear Panel Functions
Caution!
Please make all changes at minimum volume setting. Only increase the
volume after the connections have been made.
Serial Number
The serial number is unique to your E160. Please record this number and store it
in a safe place. For any service related enquiry, please be prepared to quote the
product serial number to Perreaux personnel or their service representative.
Signal Input
Accepts a standard single-ended input pair (RCA) from preamplifiers with
single-ended outputs. Inputs are clearly marked Left and Right, indicated by a
white and red inner ring respectively. Care should be taken to maintain channel
integrity.
Refer to Chapter 13 “Specifications”, for detail on input sensitivity and
impedance.
Earth Lift Switch
This switch isolates the internal signal earth of the amplifier from the mains
earth and is useful if system hum is a problem. Setting this switch down
(EARTH) connects the internal signal earth to mains earth and is the normal
position. Setting to up (FLOAT) disconnects the signal earth from the mains
earth.
Note:
Activating this switch has no effect on chassis earth, maintaining the
connection to mains earth.
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AC Mains Input and Fuse
AC Mains Input
An IEC-standard mains input is provided at the rear of the unit. The AC cord set
is removable, allowing you to upgrade to a cord set of your preference.
Caution!
Prior to connection to the AC mains, please check the voltage label on
the rear panel to ensure that your unit conforms to the power supply in
your area. Never attempt to connect the unit to the incorrect voltage.
Severe damage can result from applying incorrect voltage to the unit.
Mains Fuse
The E160 is equipped with a user serviceable AC mains fuse. In the event of
fuse failure, always replace with the same type and value fuse. Remember, fuses
do not usually blow without a reason. Any doubts about fuse failure should be
conveyed directly to your Perreaux dealer.
For more information on fuse ratings, please refer to Chapter 13
“Specifications”.
Caution!
This is the ONLY user accessible fuse.
Never replace the fuses with any other ratings other than the one
specified on the rear panel.
Always ensure your E160 is disconnected from the mains supply before
attempting to change the mains fuse.
Input Voltage and Fuse Rating
Input Voltage
It is important that the E160 be operated from the correct AC mains voltage.
This unit is factory set for the voltage applicable to the original country of
destination.
The E160 will operate satisfactorily within a voltage variation of up to ±5% of
that voltage at which the unit has been set.
If you require the voltage setting to be altered, e.g. relocation to another area,
city or country, or extraordinarily high or low voltages, please contact your
Perreaux dealer. Qualified service personnel can only perform this modification.
Caution!
Caution!
Never attempt to connect the unit to the incorrect voltage. Severe
damage can result from applying incorrect voltage to the unit.
Fuse Rating
The fuse rating displayed here, refers to the rating of the mains inlet fuse.
For more information on fuse ratings, please refer to Chapter 13
“Specifications”.
Never replace the fuses with any other ratings other than the one
specified.
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Speaker Output Terminals
The E160 is equipped with one set of gold plated output terminals per channel.
All terminals are clearly marked and colour coded RED Positive (+) and
BLACK Negative (-). This polarity must be observed when connecting
loudspeakers, i.e. positive terminal of the E160 to the positive terminal of the
loudspeaker and negative terminal of the E160 to the negative terminal of the
loudspeaker.
Caution!
Never connect the amplifier’s output terminals to any device other than a
loudspeaker.
Please do not short circuit the amplifier’s output terminals.
Never connect the output of one amplifier to the output terminals of
another amplifier.
Do not over-tighten the binding posts on your amplifier.
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5
Special Design Philosophies
Perreaux has been designing and manufacturing only the highest quality audio
componentry for more than a quarter of a century. Technology has continued to
evolve rapidly over that time and our knowledge and application of design,
materials and manufacturing techniques has advanced in tandem with this.
Today’s Perreaux range comes closer to fulfilling our shared vision than at any
other time in the past.
To follow is a discussion on some of Perreaux design philosophies that have
been incorporated into the entire range.
Minimalist Leading British architect, John Pawson, writes:
Design
“The Minimum can be defined as the perfection that an object
achieves when it is no longer possible to improve it by subtraction.
This is the quality that an object has when every component, every
detail, and every junction has been reduced or condensed to the
essentials. It is the result of the omission of the inessentials”.
Perreaux has historically embraced the minimalist ethic from an audio design
perspective only. The concept of “less equating to more” has been at the heart
of all Perreaux audio designs for more than a quarter of a century.
Minimalist Electronics
We wish to maximise the quality of your listening pleasure by keeping the
componentry and signal path as uncluttered, short and clean possible. All
components in the signal path, even those of the highest quality have an effect
on the signal, thereby altering the quality of the reproduction in some way. Our
aim is to recreate in its entirety, the original performance by not adding or
subtracting anything, irrespective of the source.
Minimalist User Interface
We carefully study the user interface and par down the number of buttons and
associated clutter leaving just the essential and no more. How tempting it has
been over the years to loose sight of our core values as technology or trends
have made it possible. That is one of the reasons why our older products still
have such a high resale value today. The user interface has and always will
remain simple, free from adornments, clean and uncluttered.
Minimalist Aesthetics
Our products appeal to those who seek the ultimate in audio exclusivity, namely
the perfect blend of “form and function”.
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“Form and function” are both tough masters. That is why our amplifier heat
sinks are not hidden, but instead feature prominently in all our designs. We
make no excuses for producing some of the most distinctive high-end audio
products on the planet. We let “form and function” blend together in perfect
harmony. This surely is the essence of true minimalist utilisation.
Minimalism in a Wider Context
John Pawson writes:
“Clearly simplicity has dimensions to it that go beyond the purely
aesthetic: it can be seen as the reflection of some innate, inner
quality, or the pursuit of philosophical or literary insight into the
nature of harmony, reason, and truth”.
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6
Special Design Features
Rugged Build Mechanical strength has been a hallmark of Perreaux products since the
Quality company first started production back in 1974. The concept behind the physical
design and construction is that each structural member should contribute to both
rigidity and performance.
Stiff Power The E160 incorporates a custom designed, toroidal power transformer,
Supply employing heavy gauge wire that reduces copper losses to a minimum. An
electrostatic shield prevents AC line borne interference from entering the signal
path. The power supply filter capacitors, totaling 20,000μF have exceptionally
low inductance and internal resistance. They charge and discharge in response
to load demand far more rapidly than conventional storage capacitors and are
capable of delivering the instantaneous current required by the output stages,
providing optimum dynamic range and transient response. The wiring from the
power supplies to the output boards is designed for unimpeded transmission of
the required current and voltage and utilizes heavy gauge, copper wire cables.
Since power supply leads radiate at signal frequencies, all wiring is carefully
loomed to minimise this effect.
Hybrid Class The bi-polar transistors used in the E160 are run in Class A mode. This avoids
A/AB
the crossover notch distortion and the resulting odd-order harmonics present, to
some degree, in all other classes of operation. The devices used in the E160
output stage are MOSFETs, which with high quiescent current circuitry, are run
in the equivalent of Class A to 10 watts. Beyond this point the output class is
technically Class AB (hence the hybrid nomenclature), but with a major
difference. The combination of MOSFET characteristics and their application in
this circuitry, result in crossover distortion so minimal that it is virtually non-
existent.
MOSFET The E160 output stage takes full advantage of the unique qualities of MOSFET
Output Stage devices and in many ways they are superior to bi-polar transistors. A major
advantage is their tendency to draw less current over a large section of the power
bandwidth as their temperature rises (Negative Temperature Coefficient), hence
self stabilising thermally, whereas bi-polar transistors draw more current as their
temperature rises (Positive Temperature Coefficient) and protection circuits
become mandatory to prevent thermal runaway and eventual self destruction.
MOSFETs have the ability to swing fully across the amplifier’s internal DC
voltage and are therefore true "rail-to-rail" devices.
Using MOSFETs
encourages the highest performance from the balance of the internal amplifier
circuitry.
Earthing Perreaux engineers pay particular attention to designing the product to ensure
maximum separation between internal signal and power earths, only meeting at a
central starred point.
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Earth The toggle switch on the rear of the E160 allows the internal circuitry to be
Isolation isolated from the mains earth, whilst still maintaining an earth connection to the
Switch chassis. This ensures the potentially fatal practice of using an AC cord-set with
no earth connection, to alleviate system hum, is not required.
Highest Quality fibreglass PCBs, featuring heavy copper tracks and high-grade
Quality PCBs components, are used throughout the E160. This provides added stability under
and
variable thermal or electrical loads and assures maximum signal integrity,
Components
separation and product life.
High Power
Capable of continuously delivering 160WRMS into 8Ω (200WRMS into 4Ω), the
E160 is highly powered. Utilising six high current Hitachi MOSFETs per
channel, the E160 handles even the most difficult loads with ease.
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7
Maximising System Potential
Interconnects An often-ignored area in high fidelity systems is the cabling connecting the
and Speaker various components. Interconnect leads should be high quality cable with
Cables substantial terminations. Gold plate is inherently resistant to corrosion, and an
excellent conductor. The presence of corrosion induces distortion and poor
conductivity will seriously interfere with sound quality. Terminations must plug
snugly into sockets to maintain maximum conductivity and to avoid annoying
earthing problems.
Speaker cabling is equally critical. Use only solidly constructed cable of high
purity copper or silver content.
Again, gold plated terminations are
recommended, of the spade or banana plug type. Use cables of equal length and
as short as possible to maintain uniform electrical resistance at the lowest
possible level. If your amplifier is closer to one of your speakers than the other,
avoid coiling the longer lead as this can create inductance, with the potential of
reduced high frequency performance. Keep all connections clean, firm and
tight. The traditional adage that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link
most certainly applies to audio systems.
Bi-amping Bi-amping uses two similarly powered amplifiers, with exactly the same input
sensitivity so that, when the same input signal is provided to each of them, the
output level will be exactly the same. This can often be done with one power
amplifier connected to the tweeters and another to the woofers, as it spreads the
power requirement between the two amplifiers. Bi-amping can achieve greater
control, dynamics and resolution than if you try to run everything from a single
stereo amplifier.
Positioning Positioning of your source equipment (tuner, video, disc, tape, record, decks) is
Ancillary
important. To avoid airborne frequency peaks, place them well away from your
Equipment
loudspeakers and not in the corners of your listening area.
Loudspeaker Loudspeaker placement is a controversial issue; suffice to say that room corners
Placement are generally the worst situation. Everything which constitutes your listening
area, including the materials used in its construction, will affect the sound itself
and the sound stage created. Equally, you have to live with your system and
therefore compromises will have to be made in line with your particular
priorities. The best advice we can give concerning the choice of loudspeakers is,
establish clearly in your mind your requirements; listen to many makes and
models, and if at all possible audition your preferred choice in your own
listening area and trust your own ears.
Matching When matching speakers to amplifier wattage – ordinarily, the amplifier should
Amplifier and have a continuous RMS output power rating the same as or higher than the
Speaker speakers at the same impedance rating. For example, 160WRMS, 8Ω speakers
Ratings driven by a 160WRMS at 8Ω amplifier is not as ideal as 120WRMS, 8Ω speakers
driven by a 160WRMS at 8Ω amplifier.
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Note:
160 Watts is twice as loud as 16 Watts, not ten times as loud.
Perreaux equipment is designed with substantial headroom built in – that is, the
reserve necessary to reproduce musical peaks without clipping.
Final High fidelity systems are an investment deserving of careful thought and
Thoughts personal time. Your preferences, priorities and constraints will dictate the
parameters of your purchase, your ears will tell you what is the right choice for
you. Our experience tells us that the bitterness of dissatisfaction lingers long
after the fragrance of cheap price is forgotten, hence our use of the term –
investment.
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8
The Power MOSFET
Today with the vast number of technical achievements occurring around the
world, many discoveries are overshadowed or obscured by some that may
appear more important to the general media. One such discovery of importance,
to the audiophile at least, is that of the power MOSFET device.
The MOSFET The field effect transistor (FET) and then the MOSFET transistor have been
around for a number of years, but only as a small signal-handling device, mostly
employed in radio tuners and communications equipment. The electrical
advantages of these have long been realised by manufacturers of hi-fi. If only
they could be made to handle large amounts of power – what a benefit to the
audiophile.
The term power MOSFET describes a device capable of handling reasonably
large amounts of electrical energy as an amplifier itself – hence power.
MOSFET stands for “Metal Oxide Silicon Field Effect Transistor”, this in turn
means that the device is constructed of Silicon. Similar to a transistor – but the
part that controls the power flow through the device is insulated from the
remainder of the device by a metal oxide insulating layer and the controlling of
the power is achieved by the development of an electrostatic field between the
controlling element and the conducting element.
In a transistor, the control of the power through the device is effected by the
application of a smaller, but nevertheless, significant amount of power to the
controlling element. Whereas in the power MOSFET, the control of the power
through the device is affected by the application of a very small and very
insignificant amount of power to the controlling element – in fact, only the
amount required to create a small electrostatic field. This makes the operation of
a power MOSFET similar to that of a valve.
Other Field There are basically three types of power field effect device, they are: the
Effect junction FET, the vertical FET and the power MOSFET, all of which were
Devices independently developed by three different hi-fi equipment manufacturers in
Japan and all were major technological breakthroughs in their own right.
The first of these was the junction FET, the second the vertical FET and lastly,
the power MOSFET. Although all these devices are vast improvements over
power transistors, the junction FET and vertical FET cannot compare with the
power MOSFET, in terms of simplicity of the supporting driver stages and
power supply requirements.
The power MOSFET, though having similar characteristics to the valve, can be
divided into
2
types of polarities of device
–
P-channel and
N-channel. Broadly speaking only one of these types exists in valve operations.
This means that complementary power MOSFETs – P and N channel – can be
used in an audio output stage providing greater linearity of operation than can be
achieved with valves. In addition, further advantages over the valve include
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their much smaller size, no filaments and greater reliability with reduced
vulnerability to physical damage.
Audio When used in an audio power amplifier, the advantages of the power MOSFET
Applications over the power transistor are much more difficult to describe and would require
greater complexity than can be gone into here. However, they can be
summarised as follows – the most important point is that the power MOSFET
has a negative temperature coefficient whereas the power transistor has a
positive temperature coefficient. This means that when a power transistor is
handling power it heats up further and consumes more power. This
characteristic, called thermal runaway, will result in the destruction of the power
transistor if some means is not provided to control it. The power MOSFET on
the other hand, although heating up due to the power flow through the device,
does not continue to draw more and more power just because its temperature has
risen. But in fact has a tendency to stabilize itself – provided adequate head
sinking is available to remove the heat generated during normal operation.
Incidentally this is less heat sinking than is required for a similarly power rated
standard transistor.
Secondary Then there is the appearance of secondary breakdown and ‘hot spots’ in a power
Breakdown
transistor. This is related to thermal runaway. In order to understand this, one
must imagine that the chip silicon inside the power transistor is in fact many
smaller transistors connected in parallel. Now, if one of these smaller transistors
or a spot on the chip has a greater gain (or amplification factor) than the rest,
then that spot will heat up faster and to a greater temperature than the remainder
of the transistor chip. This means that whole power dissipation capability of the
transistor has been severely reduced and is a major cause of these unexplained
output stage failures in large power amplifiers, i.e. over 80Wrms.
The power MOSFET is largely immune to this problem because if a small part
of this chip has a higher gain than the rest then its temperature will rise slightly
causing that spot to reduce gain and hence stabilization occurs. The power is
more evenly distributed throughout the chip and therefore reliability is
maintained.
It can be seen from the above that the transistor power amplifier has to have a
much larger margin of power dissipation capability and heat sinking in its output
stage than the power MOSFET amplifier.
The transistor power amplifier of 100Wrms output into 8Ω can require a driver
stage capable of delivering 10W at 1kHz and up to 20W at 20kHz into the input
of the output device. The power MOSFET only requires a maximum of 0.01W
so a major saving in driver stage componentry and associated noise and
distortion can be eliminated.
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High Probably, from the sonic quality point of view, the most important improvement
Frequency is the power MOSFETs vastly superior high frequency response. A large
Response proportion of the power transistors used in modern hi-fi amplifiers start to show
a decline in efficiency from 10kHz upwards. The efficiency of the power
MOSFET does not start to decline until about 2MHz and is only down 3dB at
30MHz. This is due to the energy transfer being accomplished with minority
charged carriers in the power MOSFET as opposed to majority charged carriers
within the transistor, and results in hole storage at high frequencies causing the
transistor to dissipate increasing amounts of energy within itself as the frequency
increases.
Further sonic degradation of the transistor power amplifier occurs due to hole
storage of the output transistors. As the output distortion increases with
increasing signal frequency, it is obvious that the distortion products in the
negative feedback path also increase.
Because the negative feedback system is employed to reduce distortion by
cancellation, at high frequencies it causes even more power to be consumed
within the output transistor just to cancel out the distortion.
Transient intermodulation (TIM) is also more prevalent in transistor power
amplifiers because the signal transition in time is relatively slow. This means
the distortion products in the signal of, say, a fast transient will not travel
through the negative feedback system into the output stage fast enough to cancel
at exactly 180 degrees out of phase – resulting in the amplifier being overloaded.
This is not possible in power MOSFET amplifiers.
Other Further sonic improvement is achieved in power MOSFET amplifiers due to
Advantages
reduced crossover distortion, as power MOSFETs have a sharper “knee” than
transistors at cut-off and provide a greater linearity when crossing over from one
device to the other. Because crossover distortion is a major cause of odd order
harmonic distortion in transistor amplifiers (be it small, i.e. 0.05% total) they are
usually considered to sound more harsh than valve amplifiers which generally
have large amounts of even order harmonic distortion up to 5% and are thought
to sound more pleasant and musical.
However, which is more accurate? The valve amplifier at 5% THD with a
pleasant sound and even order harmonics; the transistor amplifier with 0.05%
THD with relatively unpleasant sound with even and odd harmonic output, or a
power MOSFET amplifier with 0.02% THD and relatively pleasant even order
harmonic distortion? In our opinion, the power MOSFET amplifier because the
THD generated is virtually all second or even order harmonic distortion total
0.02% or less at 20kHz and down to 0.004% or less at 1kHz.
It can be seen that power MOSFETs are here to stay and that there are major sonic
and electrical improvements to be had over other output devices.
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9
Care and Maintenance
The E160 has been designed to provide many years of trouble free enjoyment.
It’s important to keep the exterior of the unit clean and to periodically ensure
that the air-cooling grills remain clear from obstruction.
Note:
Please switch the unit off and remove the cord-set from the rear of the
amplifier before attempting to clean your E160 in the manner described
below.
Never apply liquid directly to the E160.
Never use abrasives.
Never rub in a circuilar motion.
Cover The cover features a durable, high quality powder-coat finish. To remove finger
marks and dirt, lightly rub the surface with a soft cloth.
If the dirt is not removed, dip your cloth in a mild solution of soap and water,
squeeze excess moisture from it and then gently reapply to the surface.
Stubborn dirt may be removed by the application of a small quantity of
methylated spirits, applied directly to the cleaning cloth only and reworking the
effected area.
Front Panel Black Powder-coat Finish
The front panel is finished in the same durable powder coat as the cover and can
be cleaned in a similar manner, as described above.
Chrome Finish
To remove finger marks and dirt on chrome finishes, lightly rub the surface with
a soft cloth containing a very small quantity of isopropyl alcohol (methylated
spirits) on it.
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10
Warranty Information
and Obtaining Service
1 Year The Perreaux E160 is warranted to be free from defects in material and
Limited workmanship under normal use to the original purchaser for a period of 1-year
Warranty (365) days from the date of purchase from an authorised dealer or distributor.
5 Year To extend the warranty on your Perreaux E160 to five (5) years from date of
Extended purchase, please return a fully completed warranty registration form along with a
Warranty copy of the original receipt of purchase to:
Perreaux Industries Ltd
PO Box 47413
Ponsonby
Auckland
New Zealand
For the Extended Warranty Registration Form, please refer to Chapter 11.
Warranty Perreaux Industries Ltd may, at its discretion, allow the warranty on this product
transfer.
Information If during the warranty period the Perreaux E160 exhibits defects in materials
on the E160
Warranty
and/or workmanship, it will be repaired or replaced, at our option, without
charge for either parts or labour. The warranty does not apply to any unit that
has been misused, abused or altered.
Any unit that is not performing satisfactorily may be returned to the factory in
Auckland, New Zealand for evaluation. Return authorisation must first be
obtained by either calling or writing to Perreaux prior to shipping the unit.
Perreaux Industries Ltd and it’s authorised distributors and dealers shall not be
held liable for any freight or insurance charges. Freight and insurance charges to
and from the Perreaux factory will be the sole responsibility of the owner of the
unit.
There is no other express warranty on the E160. Neither this warranty nor any
other warranty, express or implied, including any implied warranties of
merchantability of fitness, shall extend beyond the warranty period. No
responsibility is assumed for any incidental or consequential damages.
Obtaining In the event that you are experiencing difficulty with the E160, please as a first
Service step, follow the faultfinding procedures in Chapter 12. If after following this
procedure, you require further assistance, please contact your Perreaux dealer.
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11
Extended Warranty
Registration Form
Please complete this form and either fax, mail or scan and e-mail it to Perreaux
Industries Ltd.
Fax:
+64 9 815 5981
Mail: Perreaux Industries Ltd
PO Box 47 413
Ponsonby
Auckland
New Zealand
E-mail: [email protected]
Alternatively, complete the online Warranty Registration Form on our website
ꢁ
5 Year Extended Warranty Form
Name:
Address:
Suburb:
City:
Country:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Website:
Product Purchased: E - S E R I E S E 1 6 0
Serial Number:
Dealer:
Purchase Date:
/
/
d
d
m
m
y
y
y
y
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12
Faultfinding Your System
Cause and Hum is a particularly annoying form of noise in any high fidelity system and at
Elimination some time has been experienced by many of us.
of Hum
Hum may result from a number of different situations and to make matters
worse maybe caused by a seemingly illogical combination of circumstances.
One or more of three specific causes creates hum in the system.
Induced Hum
Hum can be induced into the system from one or more sources and is generally
associated with the radiation of noise from one system into another.
Hum and noise can be radiated from any object or system involving AC voltage
and current such as power supplies in amplifiers, motors, switching equipment
etc. All of these may be found in your hi-fi system or within your own home.
Hum may be induced into any part of the system, so there are no specific
instructions that can be given which will offer a guaranteed cure. A good
practice to adopt is to keep low-level signal equipment such as phono systems,
tuners etc. well away from high-level signal equipment such as power
amplifiers. Alternatively, careful designs must be employed to negate these
effects on low-level signal equipment. Another good practice to adopt is to keep
all signal leads away from power leads.
The practice of neatly tying excess leads together for a tidy looking installation
should be resisted, as this could be the cause of induced hum in the system.
Earth Loops
Earth loops are a particularly annoying cause of hum in the system. Earth loops
are created by mains frequency current flowing in the screen of signal leads and
becomes apparent with the lack of adequate earthing between the various pieces
of equipment making up the hi-fi system. This is further compounded by the
fact that the equipment earthing considerations vary between different
manufacturers and countries.
Perreaux products used with equipment manufactured by other manufacturers
may cause an earth loop situation, but Perreaux products used with other
Perreaux products will not cause an earth loop situation provided the following
precautions are observed:
àꢀThe entire hi-fi system must be connected to the same mains/line power
outlet. This will ensure that each piece of the system shares the same earth
or ground. This rule applies to all installations of all brands of equipment.
A preamplifier or power amplifier may be operated from an extension cord
plugged into the same mains/line outlet.
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àꢀWhen a piece of equipment is supplied with a three pin mains/line supply
lead all three pins must be connected in the correct fashion - see your
dealer if in doubt.
àꢀCheck all interconnecting signal leads for good connections, both internal
connections and firm contact with the sockets. While the centre pin may
make firm contact, it is very important that the outer contact is also firm.
àꢀNever remove the earth/ground wire from the mains/line supply of any
piece of equipment. This could be hazardous.
Broken Earth Connections
This is a common cause of hum and noise in the system. In many instances, the
only way to eliminate the possibility of hum problems arising through a broken
earth connection somewhere in the system is to physically check every
connection.
Identifying When experiencing a problem, such as one channel not working, or a noise in
and Isolating one channel, it is good practice to adopt a method of isolating the problem to a
Problems specific item or area. This practice will assist in diagnosing, curing, or at least
advising your technician of the problem and result in a saving of time, money
and perhaps frustration.
A logical approach to isolating the probable cause of the problem is to start at
the loudspeakers and work back to the music source, eliminating each piece of
equipment in turn.
Caution!
Observe precautions regarding volume control settings. Please make all
changes at minimum volume setting. Only increase the volume after the
connections have been made.
Check that the entire system is connected in the proper manner and that the
mains/line supply is connected and switched on.
For clarity during this section, we have labeled one loudspeaker ‘A’ and the
other loudspeaker ‘B’. In this example, loudspeaker ‘A’ appears faulty.
Initial system connections
PREAMPLIFIER
E160
B
A
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Step 1 – Loudspeakers
PREAMPLIFIER
E160
B
A
Change the loudspeaker leads from one loudspeaker to the other. If the fault
remains in loudspeaker ‘A’, then loudspeaker ‘A’ is at fault, go no further.
If the fault now appears in loudspeaker ‘B’ then the problem lies further up the
line. Move on to step 2.
Step 2 – Loudspeaker Leads
PREAMPLIFIER
E160
B
A
Change the loudspeaker leads completely from left channel to right and from
right channel to left by now swapping them at the amplifier output. If the fault
now appears in loudspeaker ‘B’, then that loudspeaker lead is at fault, go no
further.
If the fault appears in loudspeaker ‘A’ then loudspeaker leads are OK. Move on
to step 3.
Caution!
Restore the loudspeaker leads to their original connections at both ends.
Step 3a – Inputs (Channels)
PREAMPLIFIER
E160
B
A
Change the input plugs on the rear of your amplifier, as follows: Change each
input source in turn by swapping the plugs left to right and right to left. If the
fault changes to loudspeaker ‘B’ on any one of the selected inputs, then that
particular input source is possibly at fault. Move on to step 3b.
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If the fault stays in loudspeaker ‘A’, then it is probable that the fault may exist
within the amplifier.
Caution:
Changing of any connectors must be carried out at a minimum volume
setting. Only increase the volume after the connections have been
changed.
Step 3b – Inputs (Interconnects)
PREAMPLIFIER
E160
B
A
Change the interconnect leads completely from left channel to right and from
right channel to left by now swapping them at the source component’s output. If
the fault stays in loudspeaker ‘B’, then the interconnect lead is at fault, go no
further.
If the fault appears in loudspeaker ‘A’, then the interconnect lead is OK.
Caution!
Changing of any connectors must be carried out at a minimum volume
setting. Only increase the volume after the connections have been
changed.
Should the fault prove to be in the amplifier it will be necessary to determine
where the fault actually lies. Most of this has been done, for instance, you now
know what input/s and what channel is affected. This information will assist
your Perreaux dealer or service person when or if any service is required.
If the apparent fault is noise in one or both channels and has been localised to
the amplifier, it will be necessary to determine whether or not the noise increases
with the volume control; whether or not the noise exists when no input at all is
connected to the amplifier; and what type of sound the noise is. For example,
low frequency humming noise or high frequency hissing noise.
This
information will also assist your service person in making repairs or
adjustments.
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Faultfinding
Flowchart
Fault in
loudspeaker A
Swap loudspeaker
connections
Fault in
loudspeaker
A?
Loudspeaker A
at fault
YES
NO
Swap amplifier
outputs
Fault in
loudspeaker
B?
Loudspeaker
cable at fault
YES
NO
Restore speaker
cables to original
connections
Swap amplifier
source input
channels
Fault in
loudspeaker
A?
Loudspeaker
cable at fault
NO
YES
Swap source
output channels
Fault in
loudspeaker
A?
Input source
at fault
NO
YES
Amplifier
at fault
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13
Specifications
The E160 specifications are detailed in brief and then subsequently in more
detail. In the detailed version, we attempt to explain the significance of each
specification.
The correlation between published specifications and sonic quality can be
unreliable. A list of numbers reveals virtually nothing. All technical
measurements must be subject to qualitative as well as quantitative
interpretation. Measurements of the E160 reveal excellent results by any
standards. Tested at 115V and 230V after a 10 minute warm up period.
Specifications Rated Power Output: ..................................................................160WRMS into 8Ω
(continuous, per channel, both channels driven from 20Hz-20kHz at < 0.020% THD)
In Brief
.................................................................................................200WRMS into 4Ω
(continuous, per channel, both channels driven from 20Hz-20kHz at < 0.035% THD)
Frequency Response:................................................10Hz – 30kHz, +0dB –0.5dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD+N)
Typically:.....................................................................0.005%, @ 1kHz into 8Ω
20Hz to 20kHz: .......................................................................<0.040%, into 8Ω
Voltage Gain:...............................................................................................28.6dB
Dynamic Headroom (rated with music):.............................................................>1.9dB
Voltage Swing: ........................................................................................... 156Vp-p
Maximum Current Output:........................................................... 24A per channel
Damping Factor:.................................................................>500, @ 1kHz into 8Ω
Signal to Noise Ratio
Rated Output (unweighted):..............................................................................95dB
Input Sensitivity: ....................................................................................... 1.3VRMS
Input Impedance:............................................................................................22kΩ
Smoothing Capacitance:.......................................................................... 20,000μF
Driver Stage:............................................................................................... Class A
Output Stage:....................................................................................... Class A/AB
Audio Connections
Audio Inputs
Unbalanced:.....................................................................1 pair RCA connectors
Audio Outputs
Speaker:............................................... 1 pair speaker binding posts per channel
Other Connections
1 x IEC AC mains input receptacle
Power Consumption
Idle...................................................................................................................40W
Maximum ......................................................................................................450W
(at 4Ω rated output)
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Mains Input Voltage
100V, 110V, 120V, 220V, 230V or 240V AC at 50Hz or 60Hz
(Set within the E160 at time of manufacture)
Dimensions
Width ..............................................................................................430mm (16.9”)
Height .................................................................................................88mm (3.5”)
Depth ..............................................................................................315mm (12.4”)
(not including feet, terminals and handles)
Fuse Ratings
Mains input fuse
100 – 125V:........................................................................... 2SB slow blow 6A
200 – 250V:........................................................................... 2SB slow blow 6A
(user serviceable)
Internal DC rail fuses......................................................4 x 2AG normal blow 6A
(NOT user serviceable)
Weight
Net: ...................................................................................................9.5kg (20.9lb)
(amplifier only)
Gross:..............................................................................................12.5kg (27.5lb)
(amplifier, accessories and packing material)
Specifications Rated Power Output (per channel)................................................ 160WRMS into 8Ω
Explained
The E160 has been designed around the industry standard 8Ω load. The E160
delivers 160WRMS continuously into 8Ω loads and 200WRMS into 4Ω loads. The
E160 will also handle complex and 2Ω loads with stability and ease.
Frequency Response.............................................. 10Hz to 30kHz, +0dB -0.5dB
This is the “standard” specification with which everyone is familiar. Actually,
“frequency response” is a misnomer: technically, it should be called “amplitude
response versus frequency” for it describes how uniform the amplitude or
strength of signals of various frequencies is maintained. It is generally thought
that a difference of 1db is the least that can be perceived by ear. To better that
by a wide margin, the E160 is specified two times higher, thus exceeding the
audible range of the human ear.
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD+N) .............................. 0.005%, @ 1kHz into 8Ω
Measurements are made with fixed, purely resistive loads. However, since
speakers are not purely resistive, an amplifier’s distortion specifications do not
indicate what performance will be with the actual loads presented by speakers.
Perreaux distortion measurements hold for any conditions presented by any
known speaker. Further, any measurable distortion in the Perreaux is second-
order harmonics – the least offensive to the ear.
Voltage Gain......................................................................................................28.6dB
The amount of amplification the amplifier is asserting on the input signal. Gain
can be calculated by dividing the rated output by the input sensitivity.
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Dynamic Headroom........................................................................................>1.9dB
This indicates the E160 can provide more than enough extra power to cope with
the sharpest musical transients. Without adequate headroom, an amplifier can
become unstable under clipping conditions. Perreaux amplifiers are intrinsically
stable under all dynamic conditions.
Voltage Swing..................................................................................................156Vp-p
Loud transients call for a sudden burst of power from the amplifier to drive the
speakers. This force is voltage. Peak to peak voltage is a more useful
specification than Watts when it comes to delivering power to a speaker.
Maximum Current Output.......................................................... 24A per channel
Current is the power reserve in the amplifier necessary to deliver the burst of
voltage required by the ever-changing audio signal. With more than adequate
continuous current per channel and high volts peak-to-peak, the E160 can easily
meet any challenge music can present to it – whether instantaneous or
continuous. To be specific it can deliver high power into low-impedance loads
and provide great dynamic headroom.
Damping Factor.................................................................... >500, @ 1kHz into 8Ω
Another specification not always provided.
One reason perhaps, this
specification is important when indicating an amplifier’s ability to control the
cone behavior of speaker systems, which are difficult to drive. Perreaux power
amplifiers have high damping factors. Thus exerting massive control over the
speaker system.
Signal to Noise Ratio (unweighted)......................................................................95dB
The ratio of desired signal to noise signals present in the output. This figure is
referenced to the rated output of the E160, taking into full account all potentially
annoying hum components.
Input Sensitivity................................................................................................1.3VRMS
Indicates the amount of input voltage required to drive the power amplifier
section to its rated output power (160WRMS into 8Ω).
Input Impedance................................................................................................. 22kΩ
The resistance “load” that is presented to the component that is driving it. The
high value indicates that the power amplifier will not load down the output of
most high quality preamplifiers.
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14
Physical Dimensions
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15
Contact Details
For more information please contact your Perreaux dealer, or contact:
Perreaux Industries Ltd
PO Box 47 413
Ponsonby
Auckland
New Zealand
Ph: +64 9 815-5452
Fax: +64 9 815-5981
E-mail: [email protected]
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Installation Notes
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