User's Guide
™
PRe3
Two Channel Analog
Pre-Amplifier
Bel Canto Design, LTD.
212 Third Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 317.4550
Fax: (612) 359.9358
©2006 Bel Canto Design, LTD
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.
Unpacking your PRe3
PRe3 box contents include the following:
1 (one) - PRe3 Preamplifier
1 (one) - PRe3 User’s Guide
1 (one) - Power cord [6.6’ - 2 meters long]
1 (one) - Remote Control
1 (one) – Warranty Sheet
Carefully unpack each piece and check
for shipping damage. If there is any
damage, or if anything is missing,
please contact your dealer, distributor or
Bel Canto Design.
IMPORTANT: Save all packing
materials as the packing is spe-
cially designed to protect the
unit during transportation or shipping. If
the packaging becomes lost or dam-
aged, please contact your dealer, dis-
tributor or Bel Canto before attempting
to transport your unit.
Power Connection
The power supply on the PRe3 is preset
for the proper national voltage. The
power cable should have the correct
plug for your local power system. If you
believe this to not be true, please con-
tact your dealer immediately.
This preamplifier, like any electrical com-
ponent, can be dangerous and cause
injury unless correct handling proce-
dures are observed and used. Before
powering this preamplifier it is neces-
sary to read and follow proper setup
and procedures.
Warning!
Do not connect power to this
preamplifier yet!
page 4
© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd.
PRe3 User’s Guide 0206 Rev. A
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.
Placement and Initial Setup
Because the PRe3 runs cool it can be
Single Ended RCA and Balanced XLR
connectors are available. XLR jacks
allow balanced hookup using the stan-
dard North American pin configuration:
placed in many system locations without
compromise. We do not recommend
placing weights or other objects directly
on the PRe3. This may mar or scratch
the chassis finish. Do not use harsh
chemicals when cleaning the outside of
your PRe3.
Pin 1 Ground
Pin 2 Input +
Pin 3 Input -
IMPORTANT: Make all connections before powering your unit.
Design Features
The Bel Canto PRe3 represents a power-
ful statement in high performance audio
control preamplifiers. Its superb audio
performance and transparency renders it
a modern standard in control preamplifi-
er design:
• Precision audio grade resistors and no
capacitors in the audio signal path
• Ultra low noise second stage regulation
for the analog amplifier sections
• Home Theater Bypass mode on Input 5
• Digitally controlled analog
volume control for optimum signal archi-
tecture and no-compromise gain and
balance control
• New Single-Knob user interface pro-
vides simple, intuitive control function
• All analog, low noise, low distortion
architecture for controlling up to six (6)
2-channel inputs including 1 balanced
input
• Fully balanced XLR outputs for optimum
interface to the power amplifier
• 4-layer PC board design for superior
signal routing, grounding and power
supply routing
• Latest generation of low-noise, low-dis-
tortion high speed audio buffers, level
controls and output drivers provide
superb measured and subjective audio
quality
• Independent digital and analog trans-
formers and multi-stage power supplies
for precise power to the sensitive analog
circuitry
© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd.
page 5
PRe3 User’s Guide 0206 Rev. A
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.
PRe3 Single-Knob Control Functions
Front Panel Control Knob:
Input Selection Mode:
The control knob is a continuously rotat-
ing control with a push-switch function.
Pressing the control knob in briefly will
toggle into the input selection mode. The
selected input will be displayed for 5
seconds. During this time you can rotate
the control knob to scroll to the desired
input. Pressing the knob again will select
the indicated input. The volume level will
automatically ramp down and up during
this selection process. If the control knob
is not pressed for 5 seconds, the indicat-
ed input will automatically be selected
and the PRe3 will return to the default
volume control mode.
Standby Mode:
Pressing and holding the control knob
for 2 seconds will take the PRe3 out of
Standby and in to operating mode. The
unit will come up in a soft mute mode.
The operating input will be indicated for
several seconds and then it will go to the
volume control mode. To place the PRe3
in Standby mode press and hold the
control knob for 2 seconds.
Home Theater Bypass Operation:
Volume Control Mode:
Input 5 can be set to a home theater
bypass mode (htb) that is used to pass
the front left/right outputs from a multi-
channel processor output through the
PRe3 to the main L/R power amplifiers.
This mode must be used with a
preamp output which has volume
control function as the PRe3 vol-
ume and mute controls will not
function while the PRe3 remains
in the htb unity gain setting.
When in the Input Selection Mode, Input
5 can be toggled between the normal
operting mode (In 5) and the bypass
mode for (htb5) by pressing the control
knob 2 times. You will note that the Input
display will toggle between htb5 and In
5. The display simply reads htb (home
theater bypass) when the bypass mode
is active.
The PRe3 default operating mode allows
you to change volume level by rotating
the knob. The volume down function
(counter-clockwise rotation) is very rapid
and allows quick changes in the volume
level. Volume up (clockwise rotation)
functions rapidly up to a displayed vol-
ume level of 50.0. There is a pause at
50.0 until the display dims then the vol-
ume up function continues more slowly
to a displayed value of 60.0 and then
slower yet above 60.0. This operation
makes it difficult to accidentally set a vol-
ume level that is too high.
© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd.
page 6
PRe3 User’s Guide 0206 Rev. A
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.
Mute: (available only on the
remote)
Standby:
Used to toggle the PRe3 into and out of
standby mode. Standby hard mutes the
outputs while keeping all circuitry run-
ning, maintaining optimum circuit per-
formance. Before unplugging the PRe3
from mains power it is recommended to
place it in standby first. Standby is indi-
cated by the presence of 2 dashes on
the display - - .
The PRe3 starts up in Soft Mute. This
level is 20dB below the displayed vol-
ume level. When MUTE is first pressed it
goes to the Soft state, indicated by 2
decimal points on the volume display
(i.e. 50.0.). Pressing MUTE again rapid-
ly will fully MUTE the outputs. Full mute
is indicated by 4 decimal points in the
volume display (i.e. .5.0.0.).
Pre In:
This is used to toggle through the inputs,
when initially pressed it will indicate the
currently selected input.
© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd.
page 7
PRe3 User’s Guide 0206 Rev. A
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.
Remote Control
Volume Up:
Volume Down:
Increases the output level in
0.5 Decibel (dB) steps over a range
of 0.0 to 100.0.
Decreases the output level.
STANDBY
VOLUME CONTROL
INPUT SELECTION
CONTROLS HARD AND SOFT MUTE
Conditioning
The PRe3’s sonic performance will
start to stabilize after 100 hours of
continuous power up.
© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd.
page 8
PRe3 User’s Guide 0206 Rev. A
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PRe3 Front Panel
PRe3 Back Panel
© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd.
page 9
PRe3 User’s Guide 0206 Rev. A
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.
PRe3 Specifications
Bandwidth • DC-200KHz
Volume setting for unity gain • 80.0
Signal to Noise Ratio @ 2 Volt RMS • >105 dB A weighted, 20Hz-20kHz
Distortion @ 2 Volt RMS/1kHz • <0.001%
Dynamic Range • 120 dB
Input overload • 10 V RMS
Output Impedance • 500 Ohms Single Ended, 200 Ohms Balanced
Input Impedance • 10K Ohms Single Ended, 20K Ohms Balanced
Maximum Gain • 20dB/10X
Maximum Output Level • 9.5 V RMS
Idle power draw • 10 Watts
Power Requirements • 100-120 VAC 50-60 Hz or 220-240 VAC 50-60 Hz
Dimensions • 8.5” W x 12.5” D x 3” H (216 mm x 318 mm x 75 mm)
Weight: • 10lbs. (4.5 kg)
© 2006 bel canto design, Ltd.
page 10
PRe3 User’s Guide 0206 Rev. A
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.
Bel Canto Design, LTD.
212 Third Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 317.4550
Fax: (612) 359.9358
©2006 Bel Canto Design, LTD
PRe3™ is a trademark of Bel Canto Design, LTD
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.
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