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Sutherland PhonoBlock Owner's Manual

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Summary of Contents for Sutherland PhonoBlock

  • Page 2 “ The performance of the PhonoBlock has been refined and improved. Its classic, understated design is still there — even more so. — RON SUTHERLAND...
  • Page 3 The PhonoBlock was introduced almost 10 years ago. It performs beautifully and continues to please music lovers all over the world. Then came an opportunity to make it even better. The circuit remains essentially the same. Improvements focused on providing a better environment to more fully realize its potential.
  • Page 4 Each PhonoBlock chassis is a self-standing single channel phono preamp. Two are stacked to provide two channels for stereo. In the left shielded compartment is one In the right shielded compartment is a well channel of phono preamp circuitry. regulated and filtered DC power supply.
  • Page 5 — THE REFINEMENT —...
  • Page 6 The PhonoBlock refinements are derived from the Argentum design. The much more expensive Argentum is an all–out, hand-wired, silver– signal path version of the classic PhonoBlock. Turns out, the same extremely disciplined short signal path layout could be used to refine the classic PhonoBlock audio board.
  • Page 7 That’s a challenge—how to have a compact layout for the signal path and a large area for multiple power supply capacitors and shortest distance. Fortunately, there is an alternative to All of the copper area on the bottom side is dedicated to forming a robust power plane compromise.
  • Page 8 The original PhonoBlock used small plug–in circuit boards for setting gain and loading options. They were compact, and provided a short signal path from the plug–in resistor board to the amplifier circuit. The refinement provides an even shorter, those values. Some will want to experiment with different resistor types and/or simpler pathway.
  • Page 9 — LINKING INTO YOUR SYSTEM —...

  • Page 10: Grounding Options

    In the difficult situations, grounding options can save the day. For product safety and electrostatic shielding purposes, the metal casework of the PhonoBlock is electrically connected to the ground lead in the IEC power cord.
  • Page 11 The PhonoBlock is shipped configured for The PhonoBlock is designed to be powered a gain of 60 dB and a loading of 200 Ohms. on 24/7. The supplied AC power cords are just This will be a good starting point for most to get you started.

  • Page 12: Load Settings

    Ohms (4750) 200 Ohms (2000) Ohms (1000) 49.9 Ohms (49R9) NOTE: If you are using a moving coil, step-up Your PhonoBlock is shipped with loading set transformer, check its owner’s manual to to 200 Ohms. determine correct loading resistor value.

  • Page 13: Gain Settings

    Ohms for 50 dB gain (75R0) 40.2 Ohms for 55 dB gain (40R2) Ohms for 60 dB gain (20R0) Ohms for 63 dB gain (15R0) Ohms for 67 dB gain (10R0) Your PhonoBlock is shipped with gain set to 60 dB.

  • Page 14: Shipping Box

    Shipping Box 110–120 VAC, 10 Watts — each 24” wide 24” deep 220–240 VAC, 10 Watts — each 11” high Contact Info Phone: +1 (816) 718-7898 Sutherland Engineering, Inc. Email: ron@sutherlandengineering.com 455 East 79th Terrace, Website: www.sutherlandengineering.com Kansas City, MO 64131...
  • Page 15 — Design Detail Reprinted from the Original PhonoBlock Owner’s Manual —...

  • Page 16: Design Philosophy

    DESIGN PHILOSOPHY Another path to the same destination. Almost always, upscale designs are laden with features. More features are touted to represent ad- vancement, product differentiation AND a rational for the upscale price. The PhonoBlocks don’t play that game. Their elevated performance is achieved by NOT cluttering the signal path with deleterious features.
  • Page 17 The limitations of stereo phono preamps are easily fixed. Each PhonoBlock is purely and simply a self-contained monophonic phono preamp. Each chassis has its own power supply in the right shielded compartment. In the left shielded compartment is one channel of audio circuitry.
  • Page 18 fill up when AC power is applied. For a design guided by simplicity, the PhonoBlock’s power supply may, at first, appear plenty compli- cated. Admittedly, it is both simple AND complex. It is a long chain of individually simple elements.
  • Page 19 Once a circuit topology is optimized for sound quality, it is critical that the surrounding physical environ- ment is supportive of that achievement. Like so many other aspects of the PhonoBlock design, the case is unassuming, classic --------- but with a unique, purposeful twist.
  • Page 20 You can see and even feel the difference. Some are big. The base of the PhonoBlock is laser machined 12 gage cold rolled steel. That’s about 1/8” thick. That substantial platform is protected with baked on epoxy power coat.
  • Page 21 Shipping Box 110–120 VAC, 10 Watts — each 24” wide 24” deep 220–240 VAC, 10 Watts — each 11” high Contact Info Phone: +1 (816) 718-7898 Sutherland Engineering, Inc. Email: ron@sutherlandengineering.com 455 East 79th Terrace, Website: www.sutherlandengineering.com Kansas City, MO 64131...

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