Faq - Radial Engineering J33 User Manual

True to the Music

FAQ

What is an RIAA pre-amp and why do I need one?
When vinyl albums are produced, a preset EQ curve is intro-
duced. This EQ curve is the RIAA phono response curve and has
been a standard since the introduction of the long play record or
LP. The RIAA response curve was developed to get better per-
formance out of the medium. When the record is played back the
signal needs to be restored by applying the exact opposite EQ
curve as the one introduced during production. This is what the
RIAA preamp section of the Radial J33 is doing. Without an RIAA
preamp, LPs would not sound as they were intended to.
Can I use an active phono cartridge with the J33?
No. The J33 is designed to use magnetic cartridges which make
up 99% of all turntable cartridges ever sold.
What should I do if I depress the rumble filter and still have
feedback?
Try using an isolation pad such as the Primacoustic IsoPlane
(www.primacoustic.com). This will reduce the vibration going
into the turntable and help eliminate low frequency resonant
feedback.
Can I connect other devices such as keyboards or com-
puter sound cards to the J33's input?
No. The J33's input is pre-equalized with the RIAA curve. This
curve is designed for LP records and would make any other
source sound bad, plus these line-level devices would overload
the J33's sensitive input circuit and cause distortion.
Why is there no ground lift on the J33?
Because the ground lift would disconnect the pin-1 on the XLR,
which in turn would shut off the phantom power.
Can I rackmount the J33?
Yes. The Radial J-Rak will allow as many as 8 direct boxes to
be rack-mounted in two RUs. Go to the Radial website for more
details on the J-Rak. (www.radialeng.com)
What should I do if the LEDs do not light up?
Check that the external power supply is connected or, if connect-
ing to a mixer through the J33's XLR outputs, make sure the 48V
phantom power has been turned on at the mixer.
Can I record an album directly to my computer sound card
using the J33?
Yes. Most sound cards are equipped with a 3.5mm input con-
nector. Connect the line-level output of the J33 to the computer
and you should be set to go. Sound card input levels vary, so
watch for distortion as the output of the J33 is quite hot. Your
computer sound card software should allow you to pad down the
input should this be a mic-level input.
How will the J33 sound with my hi-fi system?
Great! The J33 is a low noise preamplifier and will out-perform
the typical RIAA preamp built into consumer hi-fi equipment.
Radial Engineering J33 User Guide
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