Parasound P 3 manual

P 3 Pr eamplifier Owner’ s Guide[...]

THANK YOU! Congratulations and Thank Y ou for Choosing Parasound Y our new Parasound P 3 Preamplifier presents the latest advancements in audio technology . The P 3 is built to the strict quality and performance standards set by Parasound. W e’re proud to offer you this exceptional audio component that will bring many years of enjoyment and depen[...]

UNP ACKING AND PLACEMENT GUIDELINES FOR THE P 3 __________________________________________________________________________________________ CONNECTING A SOURCE COMPONENT TO THE BALANCED DIRECT 1 INPUTS ON THE P 3 __________________________________________________________________________________________ CONNECTING A SOURCE COMPONENT TO THE UNBALANCED[...]

UNP ACKING AND PLACEMENT GUIDELINES FOR THE P 3 Unpacking Y our P 3 Carefully unpack your P 3 from the shipping carton and remove all the enclosed accessories: • Remote control with two AAA batteries • Detachable AC cord • T wo T rigger control wires with a 2.5 mm sub-mini plug on each end. While you are unpacking your new preamplifier , insp[...]

YOU SHOULD KNOW Balanced XLR Jacks and Their Pin Configuration The balanced inputs of the P 3 use XLR jacks that conform to the industry standard of: Pin 1: Ground, Pin 2: Positive (+), Pin 3: Negative (--). The balanced outputs on some components use terminals with 3 screws instead of XLR jacks. These are compatible with the P 3 as long as you mat[...]

Left and Right Direct 1 Unbalanced Inputs If your best-sounding audio source component has only unbalanced RCA output jacks, connect them to the P 3 unbalanced Direct 1 input jacks. What Y ou’ll Need: • One pair of shielded interconnect cables with RCA plugs • A source component with RCA output jacks Before Connecting Leave the P 3’ s AC co[...]

Direct 2 Unbalanced Input Jacks The P 3 Unbalanced Direct 2 input jacks are for your next-best-sounding source component if the Direct 1 input jacks are already connected to another source. What Y ou’ll Need: • One pair of shielded interconnect cables with RCA plugs •A source component with RCA output jacks Before Connecting Leave the AC cord[...]

C onnecting a Source Component to the Aux Inputs on the P 3 The P 3 has a single Aux input, but two pairs of Aux jacks for either a phono or a line level source. The Aux Select switch determines if you’ll hear the source connected to the Aux-Phono jacks or the source connected to the Aux-Line jacks. It’ s possible to use both pairs of Aux jacks[...]

Connect the outputs of your CD player , tuner , or any other line level source to the CD and T uner jacks. All of the line level inputs are electrically identical. What Y ou’ll Need For Each Input Connection: • One pair of shielded interconnect cables with RCA plugs •A source component with RCA output jacks Before Connecting Remove power to a[...]

Connect the input and output from your analog tape recorder to the T ape Play and Rec (Record) jacks of the P 3. See T ape Record and Play Circuitry in the T echnically Speaking section for more information. What Y ou’ll Need: • T wo pairs of shielded interconnect cables with RCA plugs • An analog recording component such as a cassette deck o[...]

CONNECTING AN EXTERNAL SIGNAL PROCESSING COMPONENT TO THE P 3 EXTERNAL LOOP JACKS Y ou can connect signal-processing equipment such as a frequency-shaping equalizer into the signal path of the P 3 via its External Loop Connections. See External Loop In/Out Connections in the T echnically Speaking section for more information. What Y ou’ll Need: ?[...]

For best sound performance, use the P 3 Balanced Line Output connections if your power amplifier is equipped with balanced inputs. What Y ou’ll Need: • One pair of balanced interconnect cables with XLR plugs • An amplifier with balanced XLR input jacks Before Connecting Leave the AC cord disconnected until you have made all connections to pre[...]

CONNECTING THE P 3 TO THE UNBALANCED INPUTS ON YOUR POWER AMPLIFIER Use these outputs if your power amplifier does not have balanced input connectors or if you prefer to use unbalanced connections. What Y ou’ll Need: • One pair of shielded interconnect cables with RCA jacks •A power amplifier with unbalanced input jacks Before Connecting Remo[...]

CONNECTING AN INFRARED REPEA TER SYSTEM TO THE P 3 The External Remote Input jack is for a wired infrared repeater system or system controller . It eliminates the need for a stick-on front panel IR flasher . There is also a Loop Out jack to loop or “daisy chain” to an additional infrared remote-controlled component. What Y ou’ll Need: • An [...]

TURNING ON THE P 3 WITH AN EXTERNAL TRIGGER VOL T AGE The P 3 can be turned on automatically when a trigger voltage is received from an external DC voltage source such as a system controller . What Y ou’ll Need: • A trigger cable with 2.5 mm sub-mini plugs (provided) • A component with an external +9Vdc to +12Vdc trigger voltage Before Connec[...]

The 12V T rigger Output jack generates its own +12 Vdc voltage whenever the P 3 is turned on so it can trigger other components such as a Parasound power amplifier . This output will provide up to 200 mA of current to trigger an external component. What Y ou’ll Need: • A second trigger cable with 2.5 mm sub-mini plugs (provided) •A component [...]

RS232 CONTROL The P 3 External Control connector is used only if you have a computer -based system controller . The P 3 is compatible with most system controllers. RS232 codes for Parasound units can be downloaded from www .parasound.com. Connecting a Controller to the RS232 Port of the P 3 What Y ou’ll Need: •A computer -based control system w[...]

CONNECTING THE P 3 AC POWER CORD AC Power Connections We recommend plugging your P 3 into the same AC outlet or power strip used for your accompanying audio components, especially the power amplifier and source components. What Y ou’ll Need: • An IEC 65 AC Cord (provided) • An AC outlet or power strip within reach of the AC cord Before Connec[...]

Tu rning the P 3 On and Off Y ou can turn the P 3 on and off with the On-Off button on its front panel, with the On and Off buttons on its remote control handset, or with an external DC source. Tu rning On the P 3 Press either the On-Off Button on the front panel or the On button on the remote control. Tu rning Off the P 3 Press either the On-Off B[...]

OPERA TING YOUR P 3 continued Selecting the Input Source Y ou can select the input source by repeatedly pressing the Source button on the front panel until the desired source name appears in the status display . Y ou can also select the desired source directly with the Source select buttons on the remote control. The Source buttons on the remote co[...]

OPERA TING YOUR P 3 continued Adjusting Bass and T reble T one T one Button Pressing the T one button on the front panel or remote control turns on the tone display . The illumination around the Bass and Tr eble buttons will also brighten. After pressing the T one button, you have about five seconds to make adjustments. < Bass > Buttons Press[...]

2 1 3 4 7 5 8 9 10 6 3 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 2 1 4 5 6 14 15 P 3 FRONT P ANEL AND REMOTE CONTROL 19 P 3 Front Panel 1. Phones Jack 2. On-Off 3. Source Select 4. Bass Adjust 5. T one Engage 6. Balance Controls 7. T reble Adjust 8. Mute Indicator 9. V olume Control 10. Display Window P 3 - T 3 Remote Buttons Controls 1. On,Off P 3 & T 3 2. T one On-O[...]

TROUBLE No power P 3 will not turn on with DC trigger voltage Power but no sound Distorted sound through speakers. Hum and/or buzz through speakers PROBABLE CAUSE Power cord is disconnected V oltage selector switch is in the wrong position AC fuse is blown DC trigger source wired with reverse polarity or voltage too low V olume control turned down [...]

SERVICING YOUR P 3 If All Else Fails –Call Us for Help Call your Parasound dealer or Parasound’ s T echnical Service Department toll free at 1-866-770-TECH (8324). W e can often solve the problem with simple diagnostic tests you can perform yourself. If we determine that your P 3 will need further inspection or servicing, we will: a) refer you [...]

Balanced and Unbalanced Input Lines Recording and broadcast studios use balanced connections almost exclusively because of their inherent ability to reject noise and hum, assuring the best sound. Certain high quality preamplifiers and surround controllers built for residential use utilize balanced connections with XLR jacks for the same reasons. Th[...]

TECHNICALL Y SPEAKING continued even risk overloading your speakers. Y ou can only adjust the bass and treble controls on the front panel. However , you can compare the sound with the tone controls on or off by pressing the T one button on the front panel or remote control. DC T rigger Input Jack The P 3 can be turned on automatically when a trigge[...]

P ARASOUND P 3 DESIGN OVERVIEW Audio Circuit Path T opology Direct Inputs 1 and 2 of the Parasound P 3 preamplifier are selected by hermetically sealed relays with gold contacts. The other inputs are switched by a precision CMOS IC with outstanding characteristics for signal overload, low distortion and crosstalk, and wide frequency response. This [...]

Frequency Response 5 Hz - 55 kHz, +0/-1 dB, full output T otal Harmonic Distortion < 0.01%, 1 kHz < 0.03%, 20 kHz IM Distortion < 0.03% Maximum Output > 8 V , before clipping T one Controls Bass +/- 10 dB at 100 Hz T reble +/- 10 dB at 10 kHz Input Impedances Line inputs: 30 k Ω Ta pe/Play input: 30 k Ω External Loop input: 30 k Ω[...]