Sonum H2O - User Manual

H2OEvolution II

Microphone PreamplifierAPI 500 compliant

User ManualRelease 2.1 January 2014

H2O Evolution II - User Manual

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Introduction and main features Rack Mounting the Preamp Page 3 Manufacturers rack Page 4 Front View Page 5 Controls Page 6, 7 Front and rear connectors Page 8 Technicalspecifications Page9,10 TakingcareofyourPreamplifier Page10 Warranty Page11,12 RecallSheet Page13 Certifications Page14 ConnectionOutlines Page15,16 OurTechnology Pages17,18 Copyright Page19

INDEX

Sonum © H2O Evolution II is the result of our strong desire to be the first Italian company on the market to ever create a discreet-component Class A Preamplifier/DI featuring state-of-the- art technology, unprecedented input level gain (+69db), ultra-low noise and maximum transparency. In other words, an incredible Line Mic, Hi-z preamplifier of superb quality. We wanted the H2O Evolution iI to have a wonderful design as well. Every single component was conceived, designed and manufactured exclusively for Sonum© following our constant search for personality.

Our mission is creating new professional products featuring quality, state-of the-art technology and a

great design. So why the name Sonum © ? This word comes from the Latin “Sonus, Soni” and it exactly means sound! No other words could

better merge the Italian origins of our products and their unbelievable sound quality. This word can also be translated with the following terms: canto, verse, accent, tone, character, sonority, musicality.

H2O too is not just a randomly chosen name. It perfectly reflects the qualities of its clean, transparent, fluid and strong sound. All features that water has!

The state-of-the-art technology used to build this preamp (trasformer-less solid state PS, with discreet Class A components for instance) makes the H2O Evolution II the perfect professional solution whenever ultra-low noise, incredible gain, sound transparency as well as an unprecedented transient processing speed are required.

These outstanding features are a must when it comes to faithfully recording classic and acoustic guitars, voices, strings, brass sections and pianos.

Sonum © H2O Evolution II is perfect for every single instrument.

INTRODUCTION

MAIN FEATURES


3

RACK MOUNTING

1) Removetheprotectivepackaging

2) Removetheanti-electrostaticpackaging

3) Makesuretherackisturnedoffandphysicallyunpluggedfromthemeans.

4) Useastarscrewdrivertoremovethetwoblockingscrewsofftheslotyouaregoingtoinsertthepreampin(seeredcirclesonpic1*)

5) Touchtherackmetalchassis todischargeanyelectrostaticcharges thatmaydamagethepreamp.

6) Gentlyinsertthepreampintothechosenslot,makingsurethebottomconnectorperfectlyfitsintotheracksocket(markedbyayellowrectangleonpic1)

7) Fixthepreampusingthescrewsyouremovedatstep4.Donotapplytoomuchforceduringthisoperation.

8) Properlyconnecttheaudioinputandoutputoftheslot.Reconnectyouraudiocablesincaseyouhaveremovedthem.

9) Plugtherackbackintothemeans.

10) Setthepreampvolumeto0byturningtheknoballthewaytotheright.

11) Turnontherack.Youarereadytogo!

*Pleasenote:

WeusedanAPI-500B6Lunchbox (mainpicturebelow)asanexample fordescribing themountingprocedure.However,accordingtoAPIʼs“VPRAlliance”standardizationprogramguidelines.

Foto 1


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MANUFACTURERS RACK Atthedateofreleaseofthismanualthefollowingproductsarealsocompatiblewiththe500series: A-DESIGN ® •500HR-2slotpowered1Urack** http://www.adesignsaudio.com

API ® •500-6B-6slotlunchbox http://www.apiaudio.com •500VPR-10slot3Urack

ATLASPROAUDIO®•REVOLVER-2slotdesktop http://www.atlasproaudio.com

BAE® •DLB-2slotdesktop http://www.brentaverill.com •6Modulerack-6slot3Urack •11modulerack-11slot3Urack •6ModuleLunchbox-6slotLunchbox

CHAMELEONLABS®•CPS-501-1slotpowered1/2rack http://www.chameleonlabs.com

EMPIRICALLABS® •EL-500-2slotpowered1Urack http://www.empiricallabs.com

PURPLEAUDIO® •SweetTenRack-10slot3Urack http://www.purpleaudio.com

RADIAL® •TheCube-3slotdesktop** http://www.radialeng.com •Powerstriprack-3slot1Urack**

•Workhorse-8slot3Urackwith8x2summing •WR-8Workhorse-8slot-3Urack

SMPROAUDIO® •JUICERACK-1slot1/2rack http://www.smproaudio.com •JUICERACK-3slot1Urack •JUICERACK-8slot3Urack •JUICEBLOCK-3slotdesktop

TONELUX® •V4ROADSTER-4slotdesktop http://www.tonelux.com

TUBE-TECH ® • RM2 - 2 slot desktop http://www.tube-tech.com • RM8 - 8 slot - 3U rack

Note** Max one piece of H2O Evolution II, the power supply is too low.


5

VolumeKnob

12LedVuMeterOL(OverLoad)and

M(Memory)

PhantomPowerLED

Phasebutton

PhantomPowerbutton

Padbutton

Input selector

LineandHi-zcomboinput(Jack/Trs+XLR)

Rackblockingscrews

Rackblockingscrews

PREAMPLIFIER FRONT VIEW

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1) VOLUME Volumecanbecontrolledasfollows:

2) VU-METER Sonum©H2OEvolutionIIfeaturesthestandardprofessional+4dBuVu-Meterwitharangeof-20

dB/+3dBwithaoverloadLEDforpreampsaturation.WeincludedaM(memory)LEDfortemporarysaturationvaluememory(approx.6seconds). Coloredeiled:

range-20dB/0dB: GreenLed range+1dB/+3dB:OrangeLed OverLoad: RedLed Memory: WhiteLed

3) PHANTOM POWER The“+48V”buttonswitchenablesthephantompowersupplyforthemicinputonthebackoftherack.

Thetensionof48Visreachedprogressivelyinthetime.(2secondones) Phantom Power is generated in the rack itself so its quality is strictly dependent on the quality of the

rackmodelyouareusing.AnywayweincludeddecouplingandafilterinthepreampsoastoprovidetheH2OEvolutionIIwiththebestpowerintermsofquality.

PREAMPLIFIER CONTROLS

0 100 0 100

ROTATION VOLUME MINIMUM

clockwise decrease

ROTATION VOLUME MAXIMUM

anti-clockwise increase

LEDCOLOR FUNCTION VU-METER

White OverLoadMemoryRed OverLoad

Orange Range+1dB/+3dB

Green Range-20dB/0dB

STATE BUTTON PHANTOM

OFF Deactivated

ON Activated

M

OL

+ 3

+ 2

+ 1

0

- 1

- 3

- 5

- 7

-10

-20


7

STATE BUTTON PHASE

OFF Normal

ON Invert

4) LED PHANTOM POWER Whentheblueled(4)lightsupitmeansthatphantompowerisbeingsuppliedtothemicconnector

correctly.

5) PHASE Inverts the signal phase

6) PAD Reducesthegainby17db Beingacompletelyactivegainreduction,itdoesnotintroducepassivepower.Thereforeitdoesnot

affecttheinputimpedence,thefinalqualityofthesound,orthesignal/noiseratio.Theonlyonethingitdoesismodifyingthegainrange.

7) INPUT SELECTOR Forniscetreopzioni:

Givesyouthreedifferentoptions:Mic: Enablesthemicinputonthebackoftherack.Itacceptsbalancedinputsignals

upto+22dBuandfeatures2150Ohmimpedence.HI-z: Enables the front jack combo connector. It accepts unbalanced signals up to

+11dBuandfeatures1.000.000OhmimpedenceLine:EnablesthefrontXLRcomboconnector.Itacceptsbalancedsignalsupto+27dBu

andfeatures11000Ohmimpedence. ALLINPUTSAREPROTECTEDAGAINSTOVERVOLTAGE

8) COMBO CONNECTOR AcceptsTRSandXLR.IfenabledyouhaveaccesstoallthefeaturesofaDIbox

PREAMPLIFIER CONTROLS

STATE BUTTON PAD

OFF 0dB

ON -17dB


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FRONT AND BACK CONNECTORS TheLine/Hi-zinputisonthefrontofyourH2OEvolutionII.TheNeutrik®comboconnector(seepic.

1)equallyacceptsXLRMale,JackMaleMono,JackMaleStereo(TRS)connectiontypes.

Micinputsandoutputsareusuallyonthebackoftherackinwhichthepreampisinserted. Theconnectiontypesdependonthemodeloftherackyouareusing.Below(pic.2)youcanseea

API®500-B6Lunchbox

Pic 1

Pic 2


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Model H2O Evolution II

Vu-Meter • Vu-Meter 12led operatinglevel+4dBu LedoftemporarymemoryofOverLoad(6second) Phantom Power • PhantomPower RackSuppliedPhantomPower+48V

Circuit • Circuit ClassAdiscreetcomponentcircuitarchitecture (OriginalProject).

Compatibility • API500Series API500Compliant

Absorption • Powersupply +16VDC@100mA(NoLoad) -16VDC@60mA(NoLoad) Connectors • FrontPanel Balanced/UnbalancedLineinputXLR/F, UnbalancedHi-zTRS/F • RearPanelIn/Out Comb15PositionscardedgestandardEDAC 156X.156-306-015-520-102

InputLevel • MaxMicInputLvl +22dBu • MaxLibeInputLvl +27dBu • MaxHi’zInputLvl +11dBu

OutputLevel • MaxOutputLvl +28dBu

InputGain • MaxMicInputgain +69dB • MaxLineInputgain +47dB • MaxHi-zInputgain +49dB

Pad • ActivePad -17dB Beingacompletelyactivegainreduction,itdoesnotintroducepassivepower.Thereforeit doesnotaffecttheinputimpedence,thefinalqualityofthesound,orthesignal/noiseratio. Theonlyonethingitdoesismodifyingthegainrange.

Input impedence • Micinputimpedencedifferential 2.150Ohm • Lineinputimpedencedifferential 11.000Ohm • InputHi-zimpedence 1.000.000Ohm (newshieldingofincreasedisolation)

Output impedence • Outputimpedence 10Ohm

SPECIFICATIONS


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SPECIFICATIONS

FRONT PANEL CLEANNESS Delicatelycleanthefrontpanelusingamicro-fiberdampclothandglassdetergent.Donotuseabrasivedetergentsforthispurpose.Donotspraytheproductsdirectlyonthepreampbutalwaysuseacloth.Donotusepaperorothermaterialsthatmayleaveresidues.Youcouldriskpluggingupthemicro-holesoftheVU-Meter.Incasethishappensdonotusepinsorneedlestocleanthemuporyouwillirreparablydamagethem.Useonlylow-pressuredehumidifiedcompressedair.

BACK CONNECTOR CLEANNESS Normally,youdonʼtneedtocleanthebackconnectorforitisgoldplatedandguaranteesthebest

qualityoveralongperiodoftime. So perform this operation onlywhen the connector is really dirt or if it has oxidized. In order to

properlycleanityoumustremovethepreampfromtherackfirst.(seepage3) Gentlypull theH2OEvolutionIIout itsslotanduseisopropylalcoholonly.Makesureyoudonot

touchtheconnectorandthecontactswithyourbarefingertips.Letdryandre-mountthepreampintotherack.

SHIELDING CLEANNESS There is no need to do this. Should you go through this anyway, use isopropyl alcohol.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR PREAMPLIFIER

Cover • Stainlesssteel5/10mm ProtectionfromElectromagneticInterferences(EMI), fromRadiofrequency(RFI)andelectrostaticcharges (ESD).Itisolatesthecircuitsfromtheaccidental damages.

Weight 0,420Kg

Measures LxHxD138x38x175mmVu-Meter


11

• Sonum©H2OEvolutionIIproductwarrantyisregulatedbytheItalianlawinforceandthelegalrightsit gives you may vary from country to country, state to state and province to province, according to the localjurisdiction.Totalwarrantyperiodis12monthsfromtheoriginaldateofpurchase.Thiswarrantycovers the H2O Evolution II against factory and workmanship defects, present since the date of purchaseandtheymustbenotifiedtoSonum©assoonaspossible

• ThiswarrantyDOESNOTcoverdamagecausedby: improper installation,wronguseof theunit,badmaintenanceaswellascarelessconservation,repairsperformedbyunauthorizedpersonnel,transportation,corrosionandwhenevertheserialnumberislost,removed,changedorunreadable.Thepresentwarranty doesnot cover factory defects occurred after thewarranty expiration dateandif thesedefectswhereabsentat themomenttheunitwaspurchasedordeliveredtothefinaluser. Inadditiontowhatlistedabove,Sonum©cannotbeheldresponsibleforanydamagecausedbyincidentsandnaturalcalamitiessuchassnow,rain,thunderandsimilar.Periodiccheck-ups and functional controls are not covered unless necessary when a component needs complete restoring and reconditioning within the warranty period. Damage due to overvoltage, caused byotherelectronicdevicesormanualalterationof theproductarenotcovered.Wecannotbeheldresponsibleforanyunnotifiedchangesinemployedmaterialsordesignmodificationsdifferentfromwhatspecifiedinads,catalogsorontheinternet.Ultimately,thiswarrantydoesnotcoverexcessiverepairandtechnicalassistancecosts.

• Wheneverthelistedconditionsarerespected,Sonum©willrepairtheproductfreeofchargeandwillsenditfreightprepaidbacktotheretailseller.AllproductscoveredbyourwarrantymustbesenttoSonum©freightprepaidandinclusiveofallfiscaldocumentation.Incasetheproductissenttousafter thewarrantyhasexpired thebuyerwillbearall costs (administration,shipping, technicalassistance).Pleasealways contact us via email prior to sending the unit sowe canevaluate allpossiblecostsinadvance.

WARRANTY


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RECALL SHEET

H2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line H

i-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line H

i-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line H

i-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line H

i-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line H

i-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line H

i-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line H

i-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

IIH

2O

M0L321013571020

100

+48

Pad

ø

0

+++------

PUSH H

i-z - Line

Hi-z

Line

Mic

EV

OL

UT

ION

II

Project Date

Descrption

Descrption

Descrption

Descrption

Descrption

Descrption

Note

Note

Note

Note

Note

Note

n.n.

n.n.

n.n.


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©

DeclarationofConformity

Sonum©declarestheH2OEvolutionIIsinglechannelmicrophonepreamplifiermoduletobeinmaterialconformitywiththefollowingECdirectivesandrelatedstandards:

• 2006/95/ECLowVoltageDirective• 2004/108/ECEMCDirective

Thetechnicaldocumentationisavailableinourcenter.

CertificateofCompliance

Sonum©declarestheH2OEvolutionIIsinglechannelmicrophonepreamplifiermoduleisRoHScompliantandmeettherequirementsandspecifiedlimitsofrestrictedsubstancesaccording2002/95/ECdirective.

RAEE

Sonum©H2OEvolutionIIismarkedwiththeWEEEsymboltocomplywiththeEuropeanUnion’sWasteElectrical&ElectronicEquipment(WEEE-EuropeanUnion’sWasteElectrical&ElectronicEquipment)Directive2002/96/EC.

Thesymbolindicatesthatthisproductshouldnotbetreatedashouseholdwaste.Itmustbedisposedandrecycledseparatelyaselectronicwaste.Pleaseassisttokeepourenvironmentclean

Abovedeclarationsarevoidbymodificationofthedevicewithoutapproval,orunauthorizedservicing.

05/07/2011,Firenze

Sonum© Marraghini Miriano

CERTIFICATIONS


15

CABLEMost users of the Sonum© H2O Evolution II, have invested much time and money in their selection of microphonesandpreamplifiers.Werecommendthatyougivesomeconsiderationtothemicrophone,instrumentandoutputcablesyouselect,aswell.Usehigh-quality,lowcapacitancecable.Braidedshieldingand“starquad”typemiccableswillperformbetterinelectricallynoisyenvironments.Manufacturerssuchas“Mogami”,“Canare”,“Belden”,etc.makehighperformancecableofthistype.Usecableswithhigh-qualityconnectors.Manufacturerssuchas“Neutrik”,“Switchcraft”,etc..makehighperformancecomponent.Ourstudiotestinghasshownthatsomeofthemoreesotericguitar/instrument“super-cables”do,indeed,soundbetter.Manufacturerssuchas“Klotz”,“Elixir”etc..makecableofthistype.Avoidexcessivecablelengthandereplacedamagedcableandconnectors.

CABLE TYPETherearetwostylesofaudiocablesusedforconnectionstotheSonum©H2OEvolutionIIina500seri-esrack:

• Shielded/single-conductortypeforunbalancedsignals(Instrumentcables)• Shielded/twisted-pairtypeforbalancedsignals(Microphone/Linelevelcables)

Werecommendthatallinterconnectingcablesarewiredaccordingtothefollowingstandards.Failuretodothiscanresultinmalfunctionoraudibledistortion.Instrumentcables(unbalanced)onTSconnectors:(Jackmono6,3mm): Tip=positive(+)signal Sleeve = shieldMicrophoneandLinelevelcables(balanced)onXLRorTRS(Jackstereo)connectors: Pin1=Shield Pin2=Positive(+)signal Pin3=Negative(-)signal

Attention:Whenconnectinganbalancedoutputtoasubsequentaudiodevicewithanunbalancedinput,thenegativesignallead(fromPin3)mustbewiredtoshield(Sleeve)attheTSconnector

CONNECTIONS OUTLINES

Female XLR(Rear view)

Connector TRS

Connector TS

Male XLR(Rear view)

1 1

1

1

2 2

2

2

3 3

3


16

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CONNECTIONS OUTLINES

CARD EDGE CONNECTIONSIfyouareusingacustomcardrack,oracardracknotmanufacturedbyAPI®,pleaseverifythefollowingpowersupplyterminations:

• 1 CHASSISGROUND• 2 +OUTPUT• 3 NC• 4 -OUTPUT• 5 AUDIOCOMMON• 6 NC• 7 NC• 8 -INPUT• 9 NC• 10 +INPUT• 11 NC• 12 +16VDC• 13 POWERCOMMON• 14 -16VDC• 15 +48VDC

Pin1islocatedatthetopofthecardedgeconnector.


17

Asoundengineershouldbeamazedwhenlisteningtoit.Atruehighendpreamplifier,beingtheveryfirstdevicewheresoundflowsthroughafterbeingpickedupbythemicrophone,mustrenderitineverysingledetail.Sonum©H20microphonepreamplifierwasbuiltkeepingallofthisinmind.Theentireproject isbasedonan innovative technology thatmakesourpreamptotallydifferent from itscompetitors.WesetanewbarbybringingsomethingnewtotheglobalpanoramaofprofessionalAPI500compliantmicrophonepreamps.

Ourstrengthsaretheresultofaninnovativetechnologicalresearch.

• AcustommadefrontpanelwithagreatmodernlookdesignedbySonum©andmanufacturedinItaly;ergonomicknobs,highqualityvu-meter.

• A4LayerPCBStack-up.ThecircuitwasentirelybuiltinItalyusingthehighesttechnologicalstan-dardsavailable.Weimplementedacomputer-basedsimulationmethodoptimizingtheplacementofeachsinglecomponentsoastoeliminatetheriskofunwantedcoupling.

• Foraudiocoupling,onlyMMK5,MetallizedPolyesterFilmCapacitorswereused.Thesecomponentsareabletoprocessthefastesttransientswithoutdistortingorintroducingnoise.

• Ultimateaudioqualityisguaranteedbyselected,discreetCLASSAcomponents.

• Dynamicchangeoftheinputstagearchitectureismadepossiblebyarevolutionarygaincontrolme-thod.Sonum©H20alwaysworksusingtheentiredynamicrangeoftheinputsignalandmaintainsaconstant,highS/Nratiothroughoutthewholegainrange.

• ThePAD,likethegain,doesnotoperatethetraditionalway.Itisfullyactive,whichmeansitcutsdownthegainoftheactivecomponentswithoutintroducingpassivepoweroralteringthesoundquality.

• 48VPhantomPowerissuppliedprogressivelyintwosecondswhenadevicethatrequiresitisde-tected.Thispreventsanyriskofdamage.Whenitisnotneededanymoreittakesanothertwosecon-dstocompletelyshutdownforthesamereason.

• We were obsessive about choosing the best components: resistant and reliable switches, se-lectedamongthehigherstandardsofmilitarytechnicalcomponentindustry;longlife,lowESR,temperature-resistantcapacitors,“matched”transistorsforultimatebalancing,gold-platedcontactsformaintaining thebestperformancesovera longperiodof timeeven if thepreampneeds tobefrequentlyremovedfromtherack;highquality12-MicroLEDvu-metercompliantwithVPRAlliancespecifications;Neutrik®frontconnectorandmuchmore...

SoundengineerswhoalsocollaboratedwithSonum©duringtheplanningstageenvisionedbothaDIandaLine/Hiinputconnectiononthefrontpaneloftheunit.

Theresultofallthisisatop-endpreampfeaturingincrediblevolumegain;unprecedentedsonicdetail;richandtransprentsoundwithnodistortionwhatsoeverevenwhenpushedhard.

OUR TECHNOLOGY


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©

IMPEDENCE-BASEDVOLUME&CONSTANTSIGNAL/NOISERATIO

Thegainpotentiometerisnotusedassignalpartitioner,asusual.Thepotentiometersonthemarketboostthesignalwhenturnedclockwise.HoweverthedrawbackisthattheS/Nratioisheavilyalteredlowvolumelevels,letalonewhenthesignalispadded.Thisisduetothenoise-floorbeingthesameateachregulation.InsidetheSonum©H20thepotentiometeractsbymodifyingthecircuitarchitectureandchangingthegainalone.Thisway,theS/Nratioisnevermodifiedandremainsconstant.Theinputimpedancedoesnotchangewiththevolumebeingregulated,asaconsequencethesonicqualityisnotaffectedintheleast.Inordertoachievethisusingnon-custompotentiometers(soastocutthefinalcostsbutmaintainingthesametopquality)weusedaninvertedlogarithmicpotentiometer.Thisiswhytheknobisturnedanti-clockwise.

Hereisanexampleusingsomerealfigures:Noise=1mVAudioSignal=10V

Traditionalpreamplifierwithfixedgainandinputsignalpartitioner:volume10%=S/N=1V/1mV=1000volume50%=S/N=5V/1mV=5000volume100%=S/N=10V/1mV=10000

Sonum©H2OEvolutionIIwithvariabilegainandlogarithmicpotentiometervolume10%=S/N=10V/1mV=10000volume50%=S/N=10V/1mV=10000volume100%=S/N=10V/1mV=10000

Asalreadystated,thepadworksthesame.ItfeaturesacompletelyactivegainreductionarchitecturethatdoesnotintroducepassivepoweranddoesnotalterthesoundqualityortheS/Nratio.Only,itmodifiestheactivegainrangeofthepreamp.

OUR TECHNOLOGY


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Sonum H2O - User Manual

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