Hafler Stereo Amplifier IRIS User Manual

Hafler Iris Preamplifier  
 
INSTALLATION  
The gloss black insert on the face-plate of your new Hafler  
Equipment has been packaged with a removable protective  
coating. Please peel off this protective coating following in-  
stallation.  
When cleaning the face-plate, we advise a soft cotton cloth with  
a non-abrasive cleaner that is safe for lexan and painted  
surfaces. DO NOT use paper towels or any coarse material to  
clean the face-plate as these materials may scratch the insert.  
IRIS is shipped with styled end caps on its front panel. Rack-  
mounting ears are available from the factory for standard 19”-  
wide racks.  
In locating IRIS, keep these factors in mind:  
1) All preamplifiers with high-gain moving-coil phono circuitry  
can be susceptible to pickup of hum from strong external  
magnetic fields. Such fields are usually strongest from power  
amplifiers, but can also come from other equipment. When  
stacking or racking your equipment, you may have to do so as  
to minimize this potential problem.  
2) The IR (infrared) “eye” for the IRIS remote system is behind  
the dark red screen above the Record 1 switch. The IRIS  
remote system combines a powerful transmitter and very  
sensitive receiver, resulting in highly reliable communication  
under conditions where many remotes will not work. However,  
best operation usually results if the preamplifier is located AT or  
ABOVE the height at which you will typically use the transmitter.  
3) It is also desirable that the IR “eye” not have to look directly  
at extremely bright light sources, particularly those of fluores-  
cent nature. Such conditions can impede communication reli-  
ability.  
2
 
Power IRIS is internally connectable for virtually all AC line-power  
Connections systems. Units not marked otherwise, on the rear panel, are  
connected for 120 Vofts, 50-60 Hz.  
Two SWITCHED outlets and one UNSWITCHED outlet (U.S.  
120 Volt standards) are provided on the rear panel. The  
UNSWITCHED outlet is provided for powering certain me-  
chanical equipment, if so recommended by its manufacturer.  
The SWITCHED outlets can be used for all other devices up to  
a total (for all outlets) of 580 Watts (continuous-rating).  
The IRIS power switch is very rugged and can sustain the turn-  
on surge of large amplifiers. However, some audio purists  
prefer to connect large power amplifiers through alternate line-  
supply arrangements to minimize any added magnetic fields in  
the low-signal environment of their preamplifier.  
Input IRIS employs a very low-noise, high-gain, complementary-  
Connections symmetry phono circuit of selectable gain, derived from our  
and Selection U.S. patent 4,496,910. The phono stage output is selected by  
(Phono)  
the PHONOKEY and then, processed the same as other HIGH  
LEVEL inputs.  
The phono inputs (gold jacks) are compatible with normal  
MOVING-MAGNET and HIGH-OUTPUT MOVING-COIL  
cartridges (typically 2-5 mV), and LOW-OUTPUT MOVING-  
COIL cartridges (typically 0.2-0.5 mV). Input impedance is 47k  
ohms, except when optional cartridge loading is employed.  
This is discussed at the end of this manual.  
The rear-panel (MM/MC) switch (next to the phono jacks), when  
depressed, increases phono-stage gain by 20dB for LOW-  
OUTPUT MOVING-COIL cartridges.  
CAUTION:  
Never operate this switch, either way, unless the VOLUME  
control is turned full down, as the very high gain present can  
result in switching transients able to blow fuses in amplifiers or  
loudspeakers, or damage some types of loudspeakers.  
3
 
The usual ground thumbscrew is provided for turntable-frame  
grounding via the extra ground wire provided on most turn-  
tables.  
IRIS has seven pairs of main HIGH LEVEL inputs, selected by  
High Level  
the seven (oval) KEYS to the right of the phono KEY. All of these  
Inputs  
(Oval Key inputs proceed at unity gain to the attenuator/line-amplifier  
selected) system, which has a maximum gain of 20dB.  
All of these basically identical inputs are selectable by the input  
KEY switches. The KEY switches activate a digital system  
which effects audio-signal selection by FET switches, followed  
by matched J-FET buffers.  
Excepting phono, all input impedances, for the entire preampli-  
fier, are in the 15-28k ohms range.  
To get you to the basic operation of IRIS as quickly as possible,  
we have deferred the discussion of EPL and TAPE loops to a  
later section.  
Main Outputs  
and  
The MAIN output jacks are used to feed the power amplifier.  
Their low output impedance of 316 ohms allows driving long  
Mono switch cables if necessary.  
The MONO switch effects a passive combining of the stereo  
channels into monaural, fed through the attenuator system to  
both line amplifiers. Although rarely used today, this switch is  
provided for the optimum reproduction of treasured mono  
recordings, and can be employed to check for exact system  
balance.  
It is highly recommended that where you may have a constant  
monaural source, such as a mono TV, that you secure a “Y”  
splitter from an electronics store and feed both preamp chan-  
nels in parallel. This makes remote operation easier, and  
avoids accidentally leaving MONO engaged when you switch  
back to a stereo source.  
 
OPERATION  
CAUTION:  
The EPL switch and the tape MONITOR switches, explained  
later, are often the cause of an apparently “dead” system, when  
they have accidentally been left engaged. Always check them  
first if a system is found “dead” on turn-on. For now, make sure  
that all six of the group of round-button switches are intheirOUT  
position.  
Turn-On/Off When IRIS is powered-up, the MUTE legend will light alone,  
along with a small GREEN indicator, between the knobs, called  
the VOLUME/BALANCE (V/B) indicator. The V/B indicator  
shows that the IRIS panel knobs are determining VOLUME and  
BALANCE. Its operation is explained in the remote section.  
logic  
During this period, none of your KEY inputs will be accepted into  
memory. This period is about five seconds, during which the  
MAIN outputs of the preamplifier are muted.  
At the end of this turn-on safety period, the MUTE indicator will  
go out and the TUNER legend will light. TUNER mode is  
designed as a reset state to facilitate easiest turn-on for  
background music etc. Any of the other seven inputs may now  
be selected by their appropriate KEY.  
The MUTE KEY causes the MUTE light to illuminate, and the  
preamp to fade down approximately 20dB. This mode is used  
for phono cueing and at any other convenient time, such as  
answering a phone etc. Depressing the NORMal KEY restores  
normal level. The two-key format is used so that you always  
know whether you are muting or de-muting.  
Muting System  
Volume/ The level-control system in IRIS is unusual and uniquely suited  
Balance System to our goal of combining superb sound with high convenience.  
It is an indirect type in which no audio signals are passed  
through the panel controls.  
 
The actual audio attenuation elements are passive optically-  
controlled resistors, arranged in a special CYBER-OPTIC  
control circuit (patent applications in progress) which allows a  
combination of very low distortion and stereo tracking accuracy  
(typically 0.1dB) not previously possible in a passive, continu-  
ous control system.  
The BALANCE control produces approximately 13dB maxi-  
mum cut in one channel, while boosting the other channel by  
3dB-to maintain constant music power during control panning.  
This simplified signal flow diagram can be very helpful in  
understanding the discussion of the EPL and TAPE loops.  
The EPL and  
Tape Loop  
Systems  
In IRIS, the EPL output jacks and RECORD output jacks are  
activated only when the related panel switch is engaged. This  
completely disconnects the inputs of unpowered accessories-  
often a cause of distortion. These buffer-fed jacks have 2.15k  
ohms output impedance.  
The EPL (External-Processing-Loop) system consists of the  
EPL switch and the EPL output and EPL input jacks. When the  
EPL switch is engaged, you may use the EPL outputs to feed  
into an external accessory, and receive its returning output on  
the EPL input jacks. You can alternatively employ the EPL input  
jacks as an 8th HIGH Level input.  
The tape system on IRIS comprises two pairs of TAPE input  
jacks, two pairs of RECORD output jacks and six related control  
switches.  
Note that the TAPE input jacks are selectable either by the input  
selector KEYS, or by the tape MONITOR switches. These jacks  
receive the OUTPUTS of tape decks.  
For PLAYING tapes you will likely prefer to use the tape KEYS  
for selection-particularly as these functions are accessible  
from the IRIS remote.  
The four round buttons associated with tape functions are not  
needed for normal tape playback.  
6
 
IRIS FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM  
(ONE CHANNEL SHOWN)  
2
I
1
SWITCH  
MON I TOR  
2
SWITCH  
0
0
I N  
MAIN  
OUT  
7
 
Recording Any recording requires that you activate either the RECORD 1  
System jacks, the RECORD 2 jacks (or both) using the RECORD 1 or  
RECORD 2 switches on the panel.  
As seen in the signal flow diagram, this makes any input  
selectable by the KEYS available to these outputs.  
EXAMPLE: KEY-selecting TUNERwith RECORD  
1
depressed  
will send both TUNER channels out the RECORD 1 jacks to the  
INPUTS of the tape deck.  
The diagram also shows that if you have two decks you can  
select either as a PLAYER using the TAPE KEYS and send it  
to the other deck for recording.  
EXAMPLE: Select deck 1 as PLAYER with TAPE KEY 1 and  
send to deck 2 through the RECORD 2 switch and jacks.  
OR: Select deck 2 as PLAYER with TAPE KEY 2 and send to  
deck 1 through the RECORD 1 switch and jacks.  
CAUTION:  
Engaging either RECORD switch on IRlS brings into action  
special safety logic which you may easily interpret as faulty  
operation, until you understand its put-pose:  
1) IRIS refuses TAPE  
KEY 1 if RECORD 1 is engaged. Likewise  
for TAPE KEY 2 and RECORD 2. These are potentially danger-  
ous sources of unexpected high-energy positive feedback  
loops, having been known to destroy more than a few loud-  
speakers.  
2) These switches automatically restrict certain remote control  
actions, as explained later.  
Thus always leave these switches OUT, unless actually re-  
cording.  
 
Tape  
The tape MONITOR switches at first appear to allow only a  
Monitoring redundant selection of what you hear from your deck(s) when  
Switches  
you use the TAPE KEY(s). The important difference is that  
MONITOR switches actually BREAK the audio path inside the  
preamplifier, allowing you to listen to the deck’s OUTPUT while  
its INPUT is being fed from any source selectable by the KEYS.  
This feature is necessary for selectable by the KEYS. This  
feature is necessary for real-time monitoring in three-head  
decks, but can be of some value for signal-path verification in  
two- head decks.  
Engaging both tape MONITOR 1 and tape MONITOR 2 switches  
results in the selection of tape MONITOR 2.  
Make it a habit after recording to check that all six of the round  
buttons are back OUT-unless you are using EPL or MONO.  
 
USING THE IRIS  
REMOTE SYSTEM  
Infrared Remote Integrated System  
INTRODUCTION  
The IRIS preamplifier achieves its infrared (IR) remote capabil-  
ity by the addition of the IRIS remote RECEIVER board, which  
plugs into a keyed male connector at the top of the preamplifier’s  
Command/Memory/Display (CMD) board, containing the front-  
panel key switches and legend LED's.  
pulses modulated in  
IRIS employs a "carrier" of bright IR  
frequency (25/35 kHz)  
by a 32-bit Pulse-Code-Modulation (PCM)  
signal. The carrier is also amplitude modulated for clocking  
synchronization. This code must pass stringent format check-  
ing at the receiver, to ensure communication security.  
The IR pulses radiate from the two clear LEDs arranged in a”V”  
formation, protruding through the remote’s bezel. Dominant  
radiation is to the front, where the minute lenses are located, but  
considerable radiation is available to the sides and rear of the  
array. Thus you will likely find that the remote will communicate  
well to most preamplifier locations without having to aim the  
transmitter-but every room is different in the IR world, so you  
should experiment for best results, possibly also re-reading the  
preamplifier location recommendations earlier in this manual.  
The top eight KEYS operate much like the input selector KEYS  
on your preamplifier. However, from REMOTE, you must hold  
the KEY long enough to get at least one flash from the RED  
(Completed-Frame) LED at the top front of the remote. The  
bottom KEYS, MUTE and NORMAL, operate similarly. The  
remaining two KEYS, CLR and SX are explained later.  
Key Command  
Transmissions  
Both of the remote’s knobs are connected to a capacitive touch-  
sensing circuit. Touching either knob ALONE causes the remote  
to transmit the position of BOTH knobs to the IRIS receiver. The  
process takes approximately 1/8 second. At each successive  
1/8 second, a new 32-bit frame of knob-position data is trans-  
mitted, tracking your knob-motion-until slightly after you release  
the knob.  
volume/  
Balance (V/B)  
Command  
Transmissions  
10  
 
Note: The touching of BOTH knobs simultaneously will some-  
times inhibit operation of the touch-sensing system. The knob-  
touch system overrides any KEY-type command-so that KEY  
commands will not transmit, if you are accidentally touching  
either knob.  
The transmission of analog control positions to the preamplifier  
works much like the process used in digital recording and  
playback. Duringeachof these 1/8-second transmission frames,  
the transmitter takes an Analog-to-Digital (A/D) conversion of  
the BALANCE knob position, transmits it twice, in different  
forms, then takes an A/D conversion of the VOLUME knob  
position, and similarly transmits it, then flashes the RED  
(Completed-Frame) LED at the top of the remote transmitter.  
During the same 1/8 second, the receiver carefully checks the  
incoming BALANCE code-format, loads the BALANCE data  
into a temporary storage register, then carefully checks the  
VOLUME code-format, and if BOTH pass ALL checks, finally  
sends both data sets to Digital-to-Analog (D/A) conversion  
overriding the analog DC Voltages of the preamplifier’s knobs  
to the CYBER-OPTIC attenuator system.  
Automatic  
Transfer of  
V/B Control  
To give you completely natural and safe analog command of  
VOLUME and BALANCE at both preamplifier panel and re-  
mote, IRIS automatically transfers control authority immedi-  
ately to whichever knob-set you use. Control stays there until  
you use the other set of knobs.  
At preamplifier power-up, V/B control always reverse to the  
preamplifier’s knobs, because the unpowered preamplifierdoes  
not “remember” previously entered remote data. The green  
panel V/B LED lights, indicating this PANEL V/B mode.  
This indicator is also used in a bright FLASHING mode to  
indicate each new arrival of valid V/B data from the remote. The  
preamplifier automatically transfers to the V/B settings of the  
remote knobs on the FIRST flash of this indicator. After the  
transmission, this indicator will then remain UNLIGHTED,  
indicating that V/B control has moved from the preamplifier  
PANEL knob settings to those of the REMOTE knobs.  
V/B control will return to the preamplifier’s knobs if either is  
slightly TURNED-indicated by the V/B LED returning to its  
statically LIGHTED state.  
11  
 
Note: Which V/B knob-set is in command is unaffected by ANY  
KEYS-remote or preamplifier. It depends ONLY in where the  
LAST V/B command came from (including the effects of pream-  
plifier power-up discussed earlier).  
CAUTION:  
Since the IRIS remote is fun for many adults, it is likely that small  
children will also find it so. After a system turn-on, the REMOTE  
knobs may not be set where you left them at last listening. If you  
then TOUCH either remote knob, you may suddenly have a lot  
more level than you expected!  
Your instinctive reaction of quickly reducing the remote VOL-  
UME setting will take this level down very quickly. However, in  
such situations, a better approach is to use a remote KEY to  
either (-20dB) MUTE the system, or select an unused or dead  
input-BEFORE TOUCHING either remote knob then restore  
the remote VOLUME control to normal level and operate as  
usual.  
Remote V/B  
Resolution  
The preamplifier’s CYBER-OPTIC level-control system has  
essentially infinite resolution-as no digital steps are used. In the  
remote V/B transmission mode IRIS employs 8-bit or 256-step  
format to obtain resolution essentially indistinguishable from  
preamplifier panel operation. For VOLUME, the command  
step-size is approximately 0.25dB, increasing in the deep-  
cutoff region. For BALANCE, the command step-size is typically  
0.1dB.  
Record Security Engage either RECORD 1 or 2 on your preamplifier. You will  
and Umbilical  
find that most of your remote KEY functions are not being  
systems accepted at the preamplifier, but VOLUME BALANCE, MUTE  
AND NORMal are working as usual. This unique IRIS feature  
allows you to retain convenient remote control of those functions  
which come AFTER the RECORD OUTPUT jacks in the  
preamplifier signal path, but keeps you from accidentally input-  
ting any commands which would spoil your recording process.  
An INTERRUPTED flashing of the preamplifier’s MUTE indica-  
tor tells you which functions it will not accept during this safety  
mode.  
12  
 
The rear of the IRIS receiver card has a recessed, keyed male  
connector which carries needed digital signals for allowing the  
IRIS system to be connected to coming Hafler IRIS-compatible  
accessories, in a manner similar to which dispersed computer  
terminals can share the same data lines without confusion.  
The TUNER legend commands already on the remote will  
automatically route to the soon coming IRIS-compatible TUNER,  
after you have selected TUNER, if it is powered. Similar logic  
exists on the CD selection. The CLR (CLeaR) KEY allows you  
to return to normal preamplifier input selection.  
A STEADY flashing of the MUTE LED tells you that automatic  
command out-routing is in effect. If RECORD SECURITY is also  
ineffect, the INTERRUPTED flashing will override the STEADY  
flashing, telling you that IRIS refuses to enter TUNER (or CD)  
changes from the remote, during recording.  
This KEY is included to minimize the risk of system obsoles-  
cence by allowing for future accessories which may require  
more detailed instructions than can be provided by IRIS’ usual  
easy single keystroke commands.  
sx (Serial  
eXternal KEY  
You can preview this operation, and also observe the STEADY  
MUTE LED flashing discussed above, by KEYing SX and  
following with any sequence of the top 8 KEYS depressed within  
3 second intervals.  
All IRIS-compatible accessories will also have a similar (syn-  
chronously) flashing indicator showing when they are RE-  
SPONDING to out-routed commands.  
Battery  
The RED (Completed-Frame) indicator, on the transmitter, is  
Replacement arranged to grow dimmer rapidly, when batteries are approach-  
ing end-of-life. Even though the remote will still work, its range  
will be less and corrosion could begin to set in-if this condition  
is left too long.  
Replacement batteries: (4) AA type, preferably Alkaline.  
13  
 
1) Remove the 4 screws on the bottom cover of the transmitter,  
and pull the cover off.  
2) The battery polarities are clearly marked in the plastic holder,  
visible when the batteries are removed.  
Carefully observing these polarity markings, replace all 4  
batteries.  
3) Check IMMEDIATELY for normal transmitter operation by  
observing the RED transmitter indicator. It should now flash  
brightly.  
4) Replace the bottom cover, making sure to orient it for the  
screw pattern, and replace the 4 screws.  
OPTIONAL CARTRIDGE LOADING  
Optional cartridge loading is a “fine-turning” matter, and many  
cartridges work quite well without it. ONLY a cartridge’s  
manufacturer can provide proper recommendations for this  
process, as every cartridge is different. And ONLY you can say  
for sure whether or not it produces meaningful sonic improve-  
ment-for you. For those who wish to change the factory  
installed loading, we have included a very flexible system which  
automatically switches loading components when MM or MC is  
selected.  
Your preamplifier has been supplied with 100 ohm resistors and  
220 pF capacitors installed in the appropriate sockets. While  
these values are suitable for most cartridges, you may wish to  
alter them as described below.  
Instructions- The preamplifier must always be UNPLUGGED from AC before  
For Qualified  
removing its cover. Full AC line voltage is present at numerous  
Personnel only  
locations inside the unit.  
Remove the 4 screws under the unit which securethetopcover,  
and slide it off, to the rear. The diagram below shows how to cut,  
form and plug-in optional loads. Observe carefully which sock-  
ets are for MM (capacitors) and for MC (resistors).  
14  
 
Even if you are experimenting, you must replace the cover  
before re-plugging in the unit to AC-not only for safety reasons,  
but to shield hum and interference which can totally invalidate  
any attempts at sonic evaluation.  
CAUTION:  
When low value resistors are installed and automatically se-  
lected by the high-gain MC position (button IN) of the PHONO-  
GAIN switch, accidentally using this setup for a HIGH OUTPUT  
cartridge can result in deceptively normaloutput levels, but with  
improper  
cartridge  
frequency-response.  
MC  
RES  
I
STOR  
CAPACITOR  
I R I S  
0
0
0
0
0
0
IRIS WITH COVER REMOVED.  
SHOWING LOCATION OF OPTIONAL  
CARTRIDGE LOADING PLUG-INS.  
15  
 
IRIS SPECIFICATIONS  
(Measurements at REC OUT)  
Phono Section:  
20Hz-20kHz, ±0.1 dB  
Frequency  
Response:  
Maximum 5 Volts RMS, 20Hz-20kHz  
Output  
Voltage:  
Totul Harmonic 20Hz-20kHz  
Distortion  
&
Moving Magnet: .002%  
Moving Coil: .009%  
Noise  
Sensitivity:  
(For 0.5 volts RMS @ 1 kHz  
Moving Magnet: 6.0 mV RMS  
Moving Coil: 600  
V RMS  
Signal to Noise  
Ratio:  
(A-weighted, relative to 0.5  
Moving Magnet: -87dB  
Moving Coil: -8OdB  
V
RMS)  
Maximum Input  
(@1kHz)  
Moving Magnet: 65 mV RMS  
Moving Coil: 6.5 mV RMS  
Signal:  
Input  
Impedance:  
Gain:  
Nominal 47,000 ohms  
Moving Magnet: 220 pF as supplied, user adjustable  
Moving Coil: 100 ohm as supplied, user adjustable  
(@1kHz)  
Moving Magnet: +38.5dB  
Moving Coil: +58.5dB  
LINE SECTION  
Frequency  
Response:  
20Hz-20kHz,  
dB  
Bandwidth:  
Maximum  
6Hz- 1 50kHz,  
-3dB, into 1 Ok ohm load  
8 volts RMS, 20Hz-20kHz  
Output  
Voltage:  
16  
 
.005%, 20Hz-20kHz  
@ 2 volts RMS  
Total Harmonic  
Distortion  
&
Noise:  
Sensitivity:  
(For 0.5 V RMS Output): 75 mV RMS  
Signal to Noise  
-97dB (A-weighted, relative to 2.0  
V
RMS)  
Ratio:  
Input  
Impedance:  
15-28k Ohms  
+20dB  
Gain:  
I
Output  
Line Out: 316 ohms  
Record Out: 2150 ohms  
Impedance:  
GENERAL  
Inputs  
Phono (Mv/MM), CD, Tuner, Video, Aux 1, Aux 2,  
Tape 1,Tape 2,EPL In  
Outputs:  
Controls:  
Record 1, Record 2, EPL Out, Line  
input Selectors, Phono gain, Mute/Normal, Record Send 1,  
Record Send 2, Tape Monitor 1, Tape Monitor 2, External  
Processor Loop engage, Mono, Balance, Volume, Power  
convenience  
(Polarized)  
1
Unswitched,  
2
Switched,  
5
amp continuous,  
Outlets: 72 amp surge  
Size:  
17” wide x 3” high  
x
8
1/2” deep  
TRANSMITTER  
Controls:  
Input Selectors (or as redefined when IRIS compatible unit(s)  
are present), SX/Clear, Mute/Normal, Volume Balance Knobs  
&
Size:  
2
7/8” wide, 11 1/2” high, 7 1/2” long  
Batteries:  
4
x
AA Alkaline  
1 7  
 
F ACTORY SERVICE AND LIMITED WARRANTY  
If you encounter anydifficultyor have anyquestionsconcerning  
your IRIS preamplifier, please call our Customer Service De-  
partment weekdays, 8 am to 3:30 pm Mountain Standard time,  
at 602-967-3565.  
Before returning any unit to the factory for service, please call  
us. All units being returned (regardless of warranty status) must  
receive a Return Authorization (RA) Number. In addition, we  
can offer trouble-shooting assistance that may often simplify or  
even eliminate the need for factory service.  
The Hafler IRIS is warranted for 3 years from date of purchase,  
including parts, labor, and return shipping costs from the factory  
to the owner within the Continental USA.  
It is the owner’s responsibility to pay shipping (preferably UPS)  
to the factory: collect shipments will not be accepted. Units  
under warranty should be accompanied by a copy of a dated Bill  
Of Sale. Use the original carton and all packing material, and be  
sure to include a return address, and a brief description of the  
difficulty, including whether it is intermittent.  
This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may also have  
other rights which vary from state to state.  
18  
 

Graco Cooktop ISPS002AC User Manual
Grizzly Nail Gun H2910 User Manual
Grizzly Router H3114 User Manual
Hoshizaki Ice Maker F 330BAH C User Manual
Hotpoint Cooktop CBRA 640 X S User Manual
Hotpoint Ventilation Hood HT9X User Manual
Hotpoint Washer WMXTF 922 User Manual
HP Hewlett Packard Digital Camera 630 series User Manual
Hypertec Carrying Case 3101 User Manual
Impex Home Gym PT 70 User Manual