Perreaux 6160/P Stereo Amplifier User Manual
Contents
1. AC Sense The 6160 monitors the AC voltage at the secondary windings of the toroidal transformer that in turn supply the rectification stages In the event that the toroidal transformer AC output should fail the protection circuitry will disconnect the output The output will be reconnected once the AC voltage has been restored DC Rail Fuse Each of the VE and VE DC rails supplying the output stages of each channel are protected with a fuse In the event that any one of the fuses should fail the protection circuitry will automatically detect the fault and disconnect the output of the respective channel s 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 The toggle switch on the rear of the 6160 allows the internal circuitry to be isolated from the mains earth whilst still maintaining an earth connection to the chassis This ensures the potentially fatal practice of using an AC cord set with no earth connection to alleviate system hum is not required Quality fiberglass PCBs featuring heavy copper tracks and high grade components are used throughout the 6160 This provides added stability under variable thermal or electrical loads and assures maximum signal integrity separation and product life The 6160 utilises soft start circuitry to protect the fuses and or circuit breakers in your home s mai2. 6160 P 160Wx6 Multi Channel Power Amplifier Owners Manual PRERREAUX 1 PRERREAUK 1 Perreaux Industries Limited makes no warranty for the use of its products other than those expressly contained in the warranty detailed herein The Company assumes no responsibility for any errors which may appear in this document reserves the right to change products or specifications detailed herein at any time without notice and does not make any commitment to update the information contained herein No licenses to patents or other intellectual property of Perreaux are granted by the Company in connection with the sale of Perreaux products expressly or by implication PERREAUX is a registered trademark of Perreaux Industries Ltd Terms and product names in this document may be trademarks of others PRERREAUK 1 This page has intentionally been left blank Features ata Glance Note PRERRE AUK 1 Introducing the Perreaux 6160 Power Amplifier Congratulations on your Perreaux 6160 purchase To realise the full potential of your unit you need to appreciate all aspects of its operation Before installing the 6160 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 cle
3. In the event that you are experiencing difficulty with the 6160 please as a first step follow the faultfinding procedures in Chapter 13 If after following this procedure you require further assistance please contact your Perreaux dealer 29 12 PRERRE AUK 1 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 info perreaux com Alternatively complete the online Warranty Registration Form on our website WWW perreaux com D Year Extended Warranty Form Name Address Suburb City Country Telephone E mail Website Product Purchased Serial Number Dealer Purchase Date 30 73 Cause and Elimination of Hum PRERRE AUK 1 Faultfinding Your System Hum is a particularly annoying form of noise in any high fidelity system and at some time has been experienced by many of us 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
4. Please take all necessary steps to ensure that the unit receives adequate ventilation Note Note Note PRERRE AUK 1 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 6160 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 Please take the time to read the 6160 manual thoroughly as it incorporates many features which will enhance its operation Placement The 6160 is a high power 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 6160 into the system Connect preamplifier to 6160 Connect the output of your preamplifier processor to the inputs at the rear of the 6160 and ensure that the three toggle switches are all set to NORMAL 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 me
5. Please do not short circuit the amplifier s output terminals Never connect the output of one amplifier to the output terminals of another amplifier For more information please refer to Chapter 8 Maximising System Potential 3 Serial Number The serial number is unique to your 6160 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 O Input Voltage and Fuse Rating Input Voltage It is important that the 6160 be operated from the correct AC mains voltage This unit is factory set for the voltage applicable to the original country of destination The 6160 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 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 14 Specifications Never replace the fuse with any other ratings other than the one specif
6. 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 PRERREAUK 1 Faultfinding Flowchart Swap loudspeaker connections Fault in loudspeaker A YES Loudspeaker A at fault Swap amplifier outputs Fault in loudspeaker YES Loudspeaker B cable at fault Restore speaker cables to original connections Swap amplifier source input channels Fault in loudspeaker A NO Loudspeaker gt cable at fault YES output channels Fault in loudspeaker A NO Input source Cae YES Amplifier at fault 35 144 Spec
7. high power amplification 6 x 425W into 8Q for home theatre applications To configure for bridged mode o Ensure the power switch on the 6160 is switched to the OFF position and disconnect unit from mains supply Allow a minute to discharge stored potential 2 Select the pair of channels to be bridged For this example we will use channels 5 amp 6 Other pairs 1 amp 2 and 3 amp 4 are bridged similarly o Disconnect ALL input and output cables interconnect cables and loudspeaker cables from channels 5 amp 6 o Set the Bridging Switch to the bridged position This converts internal circuitry from normal to bridged mode o Connect the loudspeaker cable across the POSITIVE terminals of channels 5 amp 6 loudspeaker output terminals When bridging two channels the positive loudspeaker terminals of the bridged pair form the loudspeaker terminals for the bridged channel i e the positive output terminal of the odd numbered channel becomes the POSITIVE terminal of the bridged pair the positive terminal of the even numbered channel becomes the NEGATIVE terminal of the bridged pair To explain further connect the positive conductor to the positive terminal of channel 5 and the negative conductor to the positive terminal of channel 6 i e the two red terminals DO NOT connect any cables to the black terminals channel 5 negative terminal and channel 6 negative terminal 18 Caution Note Note PRERREAUK 1 When i
8. 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 manufacture
9. 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 Further sonic improvement is achieved in power MOSFET amplifiers due to reduced crossover distortion as power MOSFETs have a sharper knee than transistors at cut off and pr
10. ant Safety Instructions All safety and operating instructions should be read carefully before the 6160 is used Keep the Owners Manual in a safe place for future reference 2 The 6160 should not be used near water for example near a bathtub kitchen sink in a wet basement near a swimming pool etc 2 The 6160 should be rack mounted only in a heavy duty rack or stand that is recommended for audio equipment use a Mounting to a wall or ceiling should be via a heavy duty bracket or shelf designed for audio equipment use 2 The 6160 should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators stoves or other appliances that produce excessive amounts of heat o Always ensure the 6160 heat sinks have adequate ventilation enabling air circulation both above and below 2 DO NOT place the 6160 directly onto carpeted surfaces a Avoid exposing the 6160 to extremely high or low temperatures o The 6160 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 2 DO NOT disconnect the mains earth from the system 2 The 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 2 The power cord of the 6160 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 a Care sh
11. arly and concisely Your Perreaux dealer will be happy to assist if you encounter any unforeseen problems 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 o Rugged build quality o Ultra stiff power supply s Soft Start circuit 2 Hybrid Class A AB output stages o MOSFET output devices a Highly powered 2 Clipping indicators 2 Bridgeable outputs o Remote trigger input and output 2 Multiple protection systems a Advanced PCB design and earthing techniques 2 Earth 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 All references to the 6160 Classic series are also applicable to the 6160P P Series product From all of us at Perreaux Industries Limited thank you for choosing the Perreaux Reference Series 6160 power amplifier Note PRER RE AUX 1 Import
12. ase ensure that you turn the contents over again Be very careful to secure the unit if you are planning to flip the package upside down o Remove the two white polystyrene protectors off either side of the amplifier leaving the black material covering o Pull back the material and remove the protective black tissue from the front panel The amplifier is now unpacked and ready for further installation Please retain all packaging material for future transport 1 x 6160 Power amplifier 1 x 6160 Product manual 1 x Detachable AC power cord The 6160 should generally be placed close to your preamplifier keeping the interconnect cabling short We strongly recommend keeping the 6160 on it s own separate shelf to allow for proper ventilation Ventilation Requirements Note PRERREAUK 1 The 6160 is a high powered amplifier For optimal performance the unit MUST receive adequate ventilation n Please do not install in a sealed cabinet Please do not stack products directly on top of the unit Please do not cover the product with a cloth or similar Please do not mount the 6160 directly onto carpeted surfaces As a rule of thumb allow 80 100mm 3 4 inches around all sides of the product and mount the 6160 on a flat surface ensuring that the unit has adequate access to free flowing air In the event that the 6160 is to be incorporated into custom cabinetry please refer to Chapter 15 Physical Dimensions
13. chanical 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 processor and set the volume to the minimum level Select the respective input to which your source component is connected Switch on 6160 After checking the supply voltage compatibility with the voltage rating on the 6160 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 6160 using the switch on the rear panel 10 PRERREAUK 1 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 Increase the volume Slowly increase the preamplifier processor 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 Front Panel Functions 1 Power Indicator The indicator light is an LED that shows the status of your 6160 multi channel power amplifier Off This ind
14. d 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 2 The 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 31 Identifying and Isolating 32 Problems Caution PRERRE AUK 1 2 When 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 2 Check 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 o Never 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 When experiencing a problem such as one channel not worki
15. ft 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 Restore the loudspeaker leads to their original connections at both ends Step 3a Inputs Channels PREAMPLIFIER dmm re uem 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 33 34 Caution Caution PRERRE AUK 1 If the fault stays in loudspeaker A then it is probable that the fault may exist within the amplifier 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 Lines 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 Changing of any
16. fully completed warranty registration form along with a 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 12 Perreaux Industries Ltd may at its discretion allow the warranty on this product to be transferred Please contact Perreaux on info perreaux com requesting a transfer If during the warranty period the Perreaux 6160 exhibits defects in materials 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 6160 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
17. g Only increase the volume after the connections have been made 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 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 Qe Speaker Output Terminals The 6160 is equipped with one pair of 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 6160 to the positive terminal of the loudspeaker and negative terminal of the 6160 to the negative terminal of the loudspeaker When bridging two channels the positive loudspeaker terminals of the bridged pair form the loudspeaker terminals for the bridged channel i e the positive terminal of the odd numbered channel becomes the POSITIVE terminal of the bridged pair the positive terminal of the second channel becomes the NEGATIVE terminal of the bridged pair refer labeling on Rear Panel 14 Caution Caution Caution Note PRER RE AUX 1 Never connect the amplifier s output terminals to any device other than a loudspeaker
18. ibe 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 Then there is the appearance of secondary breakdown and hot spots in a power 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 Th
19. icates that the amplifier is not connected to the mains supply This could be due to the power switch being set to OFF or power not being supplied to the mains power cord e g unplugged switched OFF at wall socket tripped circuit breaker etc Orange If the LED is glowing orange it indicates that the soft start circuitry is enabled and the capacitors are being slowly charged The soft start circuitry prevents large in rush current upon power up which is detrimental to capacitor life and can trip circuit breakers unnecessarily The LED should only illuminate orange for 1 2 seconds Red When the LED is red the amplifier is ON and ready to be used Green Shows that the unit is in standby This occurs when a master device is connected via the remote trigger input at the rear of the unit and the master device is OFF 12 Caution PRERREAUK 1 o Clipping Indicators Under the numbered indication on the front panel insert screen each of the six channels of the 6160 have an independent LED indicator which will illuminate if the input signal is too high potentially causing damaging distortion and is a warning to reduce volume to the indicated channel s When an indicator illuminates that channel is approaching clipping This should be avoided as clipping is the main reason for damage to both amplifiers and loudspeakers Caution Caution Rear Panel Functions Please make all changes at minimum volume settin
20. ied 5 Earth Lift Switch This switch enables the user to isolate the internal signal earth of the amplifier from the mains earth and is useful if system hum is a problem Setting this switch DOWN connects the internal signal earth to mains earth and is the normal position Setting to UP disconnects the signal earth from the mains earth Activating this switch has no effect on chassis earth maintaining the connection to mains earth Caution PRERREAUK 1 Q Master Remote Trigger Input The master trigger input is used to take the 6160 in and out of standby The master trigger input is designed to accept a 3 5mm diameter male plug The voltage rating is 5V to 12V DC level ON and OV DC level OFF The plug must follow the specifications as per the following diagram 5 12V DC lt 10mA Q Slave Remote Trigger Outputs A parallel slave trigger output is provided to switch on or off any connected peripherals to the 6160 The slave trigger output is designed to accept a 3 5mm diameter male plug The voltage rating is 12V DC level ON and 0V DC level OFF The plug must follow the specifications as per the diagram below 12V DC 20mA O AC Mains Fuse The 6160 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 Pe
21. ifications 36 In Brief PRERREAUK 1 Specifications The 6160 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 6160 reveal excellent results by any standards Tested at 115V and 230V after a 10 minute warm up period Rated Poser Output 5 de eoe lease res D ee stehe 160Wgys into 8Q continuous per channel driven from 20Hz 20kHz at lt 0 04 THD Had NI to p nie etes esee dr e RI es Qe Fea npe SURE 225Wrms into 40 continuous per channel driven from 20Hz 20kHz at lt 0 07 THD Bridged ns r alari ina 425W rms into 80 continuous driven from 20Hz 20kHz at lt 0 07 THD Frequency Responses ato esee Dd o aes im s 5Hz 40kHz 0 25dB Total Harmonic Distortion THD N Typically ola ch ane iti da AU ass ts 0 005 1kHz into 80 2UE t0 20ETITZ ollare 0 04095 into 80 Voltage Gr jede IT E 27 6dB Dynamic Headroom rated with music gt 1 5dB Voltage SWIDB oceania iii 160V gt p Maximum Current Output aise nant Mie ae ead 24A per channel Damping PACLORS ess Arte e NA de 7500 1kHz into 80 Signal to Noise Ratio Rated Output ousacighted ia 95dB Taput Sensitivit
22. iling 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 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 of your source equipment tuner video disc tape record decks is important To avoid airborne frequency peaks place them well away from your loudspeakers Loudspeaker placement is a controversial issue suffice to say that room corners 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
23. ion 20 PRERREAUK 1 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 7 Rugged Build Quality Ultra Stiff Power Supply Hybrid Class A AB MOSFET Output Stage PRERRE AUX 1 Special Design Features Mechanical strength has been a hallmark of Perreaux products since the 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 The 6160 incorporates a massive custom designed toroidal power transformer employing unusually 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 60 000uF have exceptionally low inductance and internal resista
24. is 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 80Wims 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 100W ms output into 8Q 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 High Frequency Response Other Advantages PRERRE AUK 1 Probably from the sonic quality point of view the most important improvement is the power MOSFETs vastly superior high frequency response A large 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
25. is that of the power MOSFET device 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 Thi
26. ker system Signal to Noise Ratio unweighted ss 95dB The ratio of desired signal to noise signals present in the output This figure is referenced to the rated output of the 6160 taking into full account all potentially annoying hum components Input SENS T V Y anh oi rte ea etl ee el ceed oa iaia 1 3V ems Indicates the amount of input voltage required to drive the unit to its rated output power 160Wnys into 80 INPUEIMPEdANee salata al 36kQ 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 Physical Dimensions 15 39 16 40 PRERREAUK 1 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 info perreaux com Internet www perreaux com PEERRE AUX 1 Installation Notes 41
27. makes and models and if at all possible audition your preferred choice in your own listening area and trust your own ears When matching speakers to amplifier wattage ordinarily the amplifier should have a continuous RMS output power rating the same as or higher than the speakers at the same impedance rating For example 100Wrws 8Q speakers driven by a 100Wrws at 8Q amplifier is not as ideal as 100Wrws 8Q speakers driven by a 160Wems at 8Q amplifier 23 24 Note Final Thoughts PRERREAUK 1 100 Watts is twice as loud as 10 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 High fidelity systems are an investment deserving of careful thought and 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 The MOSFET Other Field Effect Devices PRERRE AUK 1 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
28. mode the input channel is the odd numbered channel of the bridged pair and loudspeaker outputs correspond to the positive terminals of the bridged pair Bridged channels offer considerably more power than two channels individually For more information on channel bridging please refer to Chapter 5 Bridging Channels ALWAYS disconnect the unit from the mains power before any modifications to inputs outputs and bridging switches are performed PRERRE AUK 1 Bridging Channels Under typical conditions for surround sound or home theatre applications there are two channels available for the front loudspeakers a channel for the center loudspeaker a pair of channels for the rear effects and an extra channel to drive either a subwoofer or a second center channel loudspeaker The Perreaux 6160 multi channel amplifier can be thought of as three stereo amplifiers built into a single box Each pair of channels within the unit can be bridged to form a single channel with approximately three times the potential output of a single channel This facility allows this 6160 to be used in a number of configurations For example bridging two of the 6160 pairs of amplifiers will provide two channels of approximately 425W into 8Q suitable for the main loudspeakers of the system and two channels of 160W into 8Q for a remote set of loudspeakers Ultimately two 6160 units both operating with all channels bridged will offer six channels of
29. n bridged mode loudspeaker cables must be connected directly from the amplifier to the loudspeakers DO NOT connect to a speaker switch headphone adapter or any other device that shares a common ground between channels o Connect the signal lead from the desired source to the bridged input In this instance the bridged input for channels 5 amp 6 is input 5 Do not connect anything to input 6 Input 1 and input 3 are to be used if bridging other channels o Reconnect the mains power supply to your 6160 and turn the power switch ON When in bridged mode we recommend that the loudspeakers have a nominal impedance no less than 80 Minimalist Design PRERREAUK 1 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 Leading British architect John Pawson writes 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 ha
30. nce 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 tinned copper wire cables Since power supply leads radiate at signal frequencies all signal wiring is carefully loomed to minimise this effect The bi polar transistors used in the 6160 are run in Class A mode This avoids 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 6160 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 The 6160 output stage takes full advantage of the unique qualities of MOSFET 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 Nega
31. ng or a noise in one channel it is good practice to adopt a method of isolating the problem to a 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 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 AMPLIFIER Caution PEERRE AUX 1 Step 1 Loudspeakers PREAMPLIFIER AMPLIFIER 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 P Change the loudspeaker leads completely from le
32. ns power supply Without this circuit the huge inrush current required to charge the 60 000uF of power supply capacitance can blow the fuses or trip the circuit breakers Capable of continuously delivering 160Wpms into 8Q 225Wrws into 4Q the 6160 is highly powered Utilising six high current Hitachi MOSFETs per channel the 6160 handles even the most difficult loads with ease 9 Interconnects and Speaker Cables Bi amping Positioning Ancillary Equipment Loudspeaker Placement Matching Amplifier and Speaker Ratings PRERRE AUK 1 Maximising System Potential An often ignored area in high fidelity systems is the cabling connecting the various components Interconnect leads should be high quality cable with 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 co
33. nsitivity 37 38 PRERREAUK 1 Dynamic CACO DIN tac ille pet raodo cutis tete pude gt 1 5dB This indicates the 6160 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 a iii eee 160Vpp 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 MaxIMUntCUrencoOutput esiti estoni 24A per channel Current is the power reserve in the amplifier necessary to deliver the burst ot voltage required by the ever changing audio signal With more than adequate continuous current per channel and high volts peak to peak the 6160 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 Facto aiar gt 500 1kHz into 8Q 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 spea
34. ould be taken so that objects and or liquids do not accidentally fall inside the 6160 2 Please keep electrical equipment out of reach of children 2 Please unplug sensitive electronic equipment during electrical storms 2 Please replace any fuse with the value and type specified 2 Avoid operating the 6160 with the cover removed 2 DO NOT bypass any fuse PRERREAUK 1 DO NOT attempt to repair the 6160 In the event of a problem please contact your Perreaux dealer n DO NOT operate this product in an explosive atmosphere Caution The 6160 is an extremely high powered 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 NSONGCURWN s QuUAWN PRERRE AUK 1 Table of Contents Introducing the Perreaux 6160 Power Amplifier cesses 3 Important Safety Instructions ran on tan pon ya intra 4 Table of CODEGDES usi ci iar RS Fd EE nis HA drain laid 6 Unpackng and Placementi snai 7 abs LA Lab EEE PRE NP IE I OL 9 Front Panier FUBICUOTIS den ressens nan nus iua sa RN Hu cH a 11 R ar Panel FUrncHOons Lists citet hdi pic das oes tat und 13 Bridging e dalla ee 17 Special Design Philosophies sioe un ag caa wa pine ndun Rn CE ck aaa ua Kan REE n ferreri Cd a ndun cn 19 Special Design Features iii 21 Maximising System Poten
35. ovide 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 27 10 28 Note Cover Front Panel PRERRE AUK 1 Care and Maintenance The 6160 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 Please switch the unit off and remove the cord set from the rear of the amplifier before at
36. rreaux dealer For more information on fuse ratings please refer to Chapter 14 Specifications 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 6160 is disconnected from the mains supply before attempting to change the mains fuse Power Switch Set this switch right I to turn power ON Mute relay circuitry is employed in the 6160 so output is muted momentarily after the power switch is actuated Set the switch left O to turn the unit off at which time the outputs will be disconnected 16 Caution PRERREAUK 1 Input Sockets Accepts a standard single ended input RCA from a preamplifier processor with single ended outputs These high quality gold plated sockets are highly conductive corrosion resistant and provide less potential for corrosion induced distortion All inputs are clearly marked channel 1 through 6 By associating the channel inputs as pairs the 6160 can be configured as three 160W stereo power amplifiers Care should be taken to maintain channel integrity Refer to Chapter 14 Specifications for detail on input sensitivity and impedance QD Bridging Switch The bridging switch allows the combining of two channels together to form a single higher output channel When in NORMAL mode the individual inputs correspond directly to the respective loudspeaker outputs When in BRIDGED
37. s The 6160 will also handle complex and 20 loads with stability and ease when operated in NORMAL mode Load impedances lower than 80 are not recommended when operating in BRIDGED mode Frequency RES DONS C ous quere no LS he 5Hz to 40kHz 0 25dB 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 6160 is specified four times higher thus far exceeding the audible range of the human ear Total Harmonic Distortion THD N eee 0 00596 1kHz into 8O 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 WONG CCAM esate DU Pp 27 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 se
38. s makes the operation of a power MOSFET similar to that of a valve There are basically three types of power field effect device they are the junction FET the vertical FET and the power MOSFET all of which were 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 25 Audio Applications 26 Secondary Breakdown PRERRE AUK 1 their much smaller size no filaments and greater reliability with reduced vulnerability to physical damage When used in an audio power amplifier the advantages of the power MOSFET over the power transistor are much more difficult to descr
39. s 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 funct
40. tempting to clean your 6160 in the manner described below Never apply liquid directly to the 6160 Never use abrasives Never rub in a circuilar motion 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 The front panels differ between the Classic Series 6 60 and P Series 6 60P The Classic Series front panel is finished in chrome electroplate where as the P Series is finished in the same durable powder coat as the cover They both can be cleaned in a similar manner to the cover as described above 1 1 1 Year Limited Warranty 5 Year Extended Warranty Warranty Transfer Information on the 6160 Warranty Obtaining Service PRERRE AUK 1 Warranty Information and Obtaining Service The Perreaux 6160 is warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use to the original purchaser for a period of 1 year 365 days from the date of purchase from an authorised dealer or distributor To extend the warranty on your Perreaux 6160 to five 5 years from date of purchase please return a
41. tial 0rrrrrereerie eee serie eine eine eine eine einen 23 The Power MOSFETRESS SN Ne de de eaiiuiars 25 Care and MaIMAIN ANCE ones dans ducendo eu cR dn sas rata 28 Warranty Information and Obtaining Service eese 29 Extended Warranty Registration FOrm crei eeieeeeiiee eine eine einen 30 Faultfinding Yo r System 31 SPeEciicationiS sile ai aaa 36 Physical DIMENSIONS ES nn asus cestaccancbecgshasncedcasnsdencesanadecasucshe 39 Contact DC CAS Sn entities ci dius ist dat Door edi gi asi fea dud P IDE AUS 40 Unpacking Procedure Note Note Box Contents Placing Your 6160 PRERRE AUK 1 Unpacking and Placement The 6160 is packaged for maximum protection Please carefully read the instructions below before proceeding to unpack the unit Be extremely careful 2 Inspect both ends of the cardboard box and open at the end without the central staple by slitting the reinforced tape at either side 2 Fold back the flaps and tip the package on end and the inner box will slide out a Lay the inner box down flat and upright open it conventionally by separating the top tray from the bottom 2 The 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 a Alternately the bottom tray and amplifier could be tipped upside down and the bottom packaging removed If opened in this manner ple
42. tive 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 21 Clipping Indicators Caution Bridgeable Outputs Protection Systems Earthing Earth Isolation Switch Highest Quality PCBs and Components Soft Start Circuitry Highly Powered 22 PRERRE AUK 1 Each of the six channels of the 6160 have an independent LED indicator which will illuminate if the output approaches clipping potentially causing damaging distortion and is a warning to reduce volume to the indicated channel s When the clip indicator illuminates that channel is approaching clipping This should be avoided as clipping is the main reason for damage to both amplifiers and loudspeakers The 6160 has the facility to combine two independent channels into a single higher output channel The bridging switch allows the selection of two independent channels or the combining of two channels to form a single higher output channel Bridged channels offer considerably more power than two channels individually
43. y iode Me aaepe Dod detenti deas 1 3Vems Input Impedance aculei eredi area asa 36kQ Smoothing Capacitance unir a a dat nn ans 60 0001F Dtivet SidEe ll aa Class A CPU SAS a Areale DIN Mie UNI NA E Class A AB PATO puts oes eset tetas re ons Sad epp ted en eim dis 6 x RCA connectors Audio Outputs ita 6 pairs of speaker binding posts Other Connections 1 x IEC AC mains input receptacle 1 x 3 5mm mini jack for master remote input 5 12V DC 1 x 3 5mm mini jack for slave remote output 12V DC Power Consumption I m 100W Maximu RE M RIED PES 1600W at 4Q rated output Specifications Explained PRERREAUK 1 Mains Input Voltage 100V 110V 120V 220V 230V or 240V AC at 50Hz or 60Hz Set within the 6160 at time of manufacture Dimensions MUI Sen nn AR d A Sinaia 482mm 19 0 Hp 176mm 6 9 Dopod 460mm 18 1 not including feet terminals and handles Fuse Ratings Mains input fuse ODA 2SB slow blow 15A 200 25 290 e tete de to Se ce RU mrs 2SB slow blow 10A user serviceable Internal DC rail Muses sa cca oer neto irrito us 12 x 2AG normal acting 6A NOT user serviceable Weight UN Gb P RE ee eee 30 0kg 66 11b Grossa ble 34 0kg 74 81b Rated Power Output per channel 160Wems into 80 The 6160 has been designed around the industry standard 80 load The 6160 delivers a staggering 160Wrws continuously into 80 loads and 225Wrws into 4Q load
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