MP 100 Owner’s Manual

Introduction

The Myryad MP 100 Stereo Preamplifier has been designed to offer a combination of high quality sound reproduction and elegant styling.

The preamplifier can accept up to six line-level input sources, including two tape recorders. Three pairs of line outputs are provided (one pair Z-balanced) and a headphones output. All functions – input selection, volume and standby – can be operated using the infra-red remote control handset.

The MP 100 offers a range of expansion possibilities:

• The AUX. input can be converted to accept the output from a phono cartridge by installing a Myryad Phono Cartridge Pre-Amp Module.
• The three sets of line outputs allow easy connection in a wide variety of multi-amplifier systems.
• The "My-Link" input/output can be coupled to other Myryad products which can then be remote-controlled via the MI-120’s infra-red receiver.

Installation note

This preamplifier generates very little heat but still requires some ventilation. Do not place it on a rug or other soft surface into which it could sink, obstructing the air inlets in its underside. Do not allow any obstruction to the ventilation slots in the rear panel. The preamplifier should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided.

CAUTION: To prevent a fire or shock hazard, do not permit this product to become wet. If liquid is accidentally spilled on it, immediately shut off its power at the wall socket and unplug the AC power cord. Allow sufficient time for complete evaporation to occur before operating the preamplifier again. If the liquid is anything but water and/or alcohol, the preamplifier should be examined by a qualified service technician before it is used again.

Do not remove the cover, or attempt to modify or repair the preamplifier yourself. Refer all servicing to a qualified technician.

Accessories

Your MP 100 is supplied complete with the following accessories:

• Separate mains power cord to suit country of sale.
• System remote control handset.
• Four AAA batteries for handset (not in some countries).

REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS

POWER inlet

Before making any connection, check that the mains voltage setting printed on the rear panel is the same as your local mains supply.

Plug the female (socket) end of the power cord into the power inlet on the rear of the preamplifier. Plug the male (plug) end of the cord into a "live" wall socket or a suitable heavy duty extension cable.

UK version: The mains plug is supplied fitted with a 5A fuse. It should only be replaced with a fuse of the same rating (5A) which complies with BS1362.

Instructions for re-wiring a UK plug can be found here.

POWER switch

Press one side of this rocker switch (the side nearer the edge of the rear panel) to switch the preamplifier ON and the other side (towards the audio connectors) to switch it OFF. When the POWER switch is in the OFF position all power is disconnected from the preamplifier. In this condition the preamplifier cannot be powered up from the front panel or the remote control. When the POWER switch is in the ON position (and the power cord correctly inserted and plugged in to a live wall socket) the preamplifier will power up in standby mode (see below).

It is recommended that the POWER switch is turned OFF if the preamplifier is not going to be used for an extended period of time.

MY-LINK input/output

When the MP 100 is used in a system with other Myryad products all may be joined together via the My-Link. This will allow all the different products to be remotely-controlled via the infra-red receiver on the MP 100. My-Link offers two benefits. Firstly, only the MP 100 infra red receiver needs to be in "line-of-sight" from the remote handset. Secondly, the My-Link allows remote control of some Myryad products which do not have their own infra-red receiver.

Line outputs 3, Z-balanced (XLR jacks)

These outputs are designed to feed power amplifiers fitted with balanced inputs. They are wired "Z-balanced" which means that the "cold" line impedance (pin 3) precisely matches that of the "hot" line (pin 2), but the "cold" line carries no signal. This allows full benefit to be gained from all the interference and ground loop rejection capabilities of the power amplifier’s balanced inputs without the additional circuitry (and resulting signal degradation) of push-pull outputs. More information about the Z-balanced system can be foundhere.

Line outputs 1 and 2 (RCA phono jacks)

These two outputs carry exactly the same signals and are both wired "unbalanced". In a normal preamp/power amp system, use the Line 1 outputs to drive the inputs of your stereo power amplifier (such as the Myryad MA 120). In a "bi-amplifier" system connect the Line 1 outputs to one stereo power amplifier (driving e.g. the treble sections of the loudspeakers) and connect the Line 2 outputs to the second stereo power amplifier (driving the bass sections of the loudspeakers). More information on this and other multi-amplifier systems with Myryad products, can be foundhere

TAPE 1 input/output

These connectors are suited to any type of tape recorder, including high-quality "3-head" types which allow you to monitor the signal off the tape whilst it is being recorded. Connect a stereo cable from the TAPE 1 REC output sockets of the preamplifier to the LINE IN or RECORD IN sockets on your tape deck. Connect a second stereo cable from the TAPE 1 PLAY input sockets of the preamplifier to the LINE OUT or PLAY OUT sockets on your tape deck.

Any source selected for listening on the MP 100 will automatically be fed to the TAPE 1 REC output sockets for recording. If the TAPE 2 input is selected then tape copies may be made from TAPE 2 to TAPE 1. It is NOT possible to copy from TAPE 1 to TAPE 2.

TAPE 2 input/output

These connectors are suited to any type of tape recorder, but "off-tape" monitoring is not possible using TAPE 2. The wiring from TAPE 2 to your tape deck is identical to the TAPE 1 wiring described above.

Any source selected for listening, except TAPE 1, will automatically be fed to the TAPE 2 REC output sockets for recording. It is NOT possible to record from TAPE 1 to TAPE 2.

CD Input

Connect the audio output cables from a CD player to these sockets. (NOTE: this input is for an audio signal, not for the digital output from your player.) If you do not have a CD player then any other line level source may be connected to this input.

VIDEO input

Connect the audio signal output cables from a video-related source such as video cassette recorder or TV set to these sockets. Alternatively any other line level source may be connected to this input.

TUNER input

Connect the audio output cables from a radio tuner to these sockets. If you do not have a tuner then any other line level source may be connected to this input.

AUX. Input

The audio output from any line level source may be connected to this input. Alternatively a Myryad Module may be fitted internally in your MP 100 to convert this input for other applications – such as phono cartridge input for a record player. Your Myryad dealer can advise you on what Modules are currently available. Please follow the instructions supplied with the Module when making all connections.

Ground Terminal

This terminal (marked GND) is provided for grounding a record player connected to the AUX. input when a Myryad Phono Cartridge Pre-Amp Module is fitted (see above).

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS

STANDBY

When the preamplifier is plugged into a live wall socket and the POWER switch is turned ON, it will power up in "standby" mode and the LED (Light Emitting Diode) in the STANDBY button will glow red. In this mode the internal circuitry of the MP 100 is powered up but isolated by relays at its inputs and outputs and consumes very little power.

When the STANDBY button is pressed the preamplifier circuitry will be activated and the input used last automatically selected. The LED in the STANDBY button will change to blue, the LED in the button of the selected input will light up and, after a few seconds delay, the line outputs will be connected to the preamplifier. During this delay period the LED in the volume control knob will flash to indicate that the line and headphones outputs are muted. When first switched out of STANDBY after POWER ON, the CD input will be selected by default.

When the STANDBY button is pressed again the preamplifier will be returned to standby mode. The LED in the STANDBY button will glow red again and all other LEDs on the preamplifier will be extinguished.

CAUTION: When in standby mode the internal circuitry of the MP 100 is still live, so all safety precautions MUST be followed.

Infra-red receiver window

The infra-red (IR) remote control receiver is mounted behind this circular window. It must therefore not be obscured when the preamplifier is to be operated using the remote control handset. Where possible it is best to arrange that the IR window is in "line-of-sight" of the remote handset.

Volume control

The volume control adjusts the sound level for both loudspeakers and headphones. It does not affect the signals fed to the TAPE 1 and TAPE 2 REC sockets so it can safely be adjusted whilst making a recording.

The blue LED pointer in the volume control illuminates when the preamplifier is operating. The pointer may also be used to facilitate manual operation of the control. When the MUTE mode is engaged using the remote control, the volume control pointer will flash repeatedly to indicate this condition. Always press MUTE on the remote handset again to disengage the function before advancing the volume control setting.

Headphones Socket

The headphones socket will accept a standard ¼" (6 mm) stereo jack plug or adapter. All types of headphones of any impedance may be used, with one exception: most electrostatic headphones cannot be driven directly from a preamplifier.

Insertion of a plug into the headphones socket automatically mutes all Line outputs, thus silencing any loudspeakers. In order to re-activate the Line outputs and resume listening to loudspeakers you must unplug the headphones from this socket.

TAPE 1 (Monitor)

When you press the TAPE 1 button you can hear the output signal from a tape deck connected to the TAPE 1 PLAY sockets on the rear panel. This is a "toggle" function switch: you press it once to engage and press again to disengage. The blue LED in the centre of the TAPE 1 button illuminates to indicate that TAPE 1 is engaged.

Pressing the TAPE 1 button has no effect on the other input select buttons. The signal source selected by the other input select buttons will be fed to the TAPE 1 REC output sockets, irrespective of whether the TAPE 1 button is engaged or not. Thus, if you have a "three-head" tape deck that permits off-tape monitoring you can use the TAPE 1 button to switch back and forth between the source signal and the off-tape signal, to check its quality, whilst the recording is in progress.

NOTE: If the TAPE 1 button is engaged with no signal source connected to the TAPE 1 PLAY sockets, or with no tape running, then you will hear only silence, regardless of the settings of any of the other controls.

TAPE 2 input select

When you press the TAPE 2 button you can hear the output signal from a tape deck connected to the TAPE 2 PLAY sockets on the rear panel. The same signal will also be fed to the TAPE 1 REC output sockets, so allowing a tape to be copied from a playback tape deck connected to TAPE 2 to a recording tape deck connected to TAPE 1. The blue LED in the centre of the TAPE 2 button illuminates to indicate that TAPE 2 is engaged.

Pressing the TAPE 2 button disconnects all signals from the TAPE 2 REC output sockets. It is therefore not possible to make a recording onto a tape deck connected to the TAPE 2 sockets when the TAPE 2 button is engaged.

CD, VIDEO, TUNER and AUX. input selects

When you press one of these buttons you can hear the output signal from the source connected to respective input sockets on the rear panel. The same signal will also be fed to the TAPE 1 REC and TAPE 2 REC output sockets for recording. The blue LED in the centre of the chosen button illuminates to indicate which source has been selected. Pressing any one of these buttons, or TAPE 2, will disengage whichever input was previously selected and extinguish its LED.

LINE OUTPUT MUTING

When the preamplifier is in standby mode all the input and line output connectors are isolated from the preamplifier by high quality relays. When the preamplifier is first switched on from standby mode the line outputs remain disconnected for a few seconds to allow the internal voltage levels to settle. The same process occurs when the preamplifier is switched back into standby mode.

The line outputs are also muted when the MUTE button on the R/C handset is pressed. It is recommended that the preamplifier be switched into mute before changing input or output interconnects.

REMOTE CONTROL HANDSET OPERATION

The MP 100 is supplied with the Myryad System Remote handset which has been ergonomically designed to be easy and comfortable to use. It will control not only your MP 100, but also Myryad CD players and FM tuners.

The nine keys at the top of the handset operate the MP 100. The first six keys (CD, TUNER, AUX., TV, TAPE 1 and TAPE 2) function in exactly the same way as their counterparts on the front panel, allowing any input source to be selected for listening or recording.

Pressing one of the VOLUME up or down keys will cause the motorised volume control in the preamplifier to rotate clockwise or anti-clockwise respectively. There is one aspect in which the remote operation of the volume control is different from manual operation. If the preamplifier is in mute mode (after pressing MUTE on the R/C handset) then pressing the VOLUME up key will automatically disengage mute mode and re-connect the signal to your power amplifier. This prevents an excessively high volume level from being set by mistake.

Pressing the MUTE key will engage mute mode. The line outputs will be disconnected (removing the signal feed to the power amplifier and loudspeakers) and the blue LED in the volume control will flash slowly. MUTE is a "toggle" function, so pressing the key again will disengage the mute mode.

The green STANDBY key at the bottom left of the handset operates in exactly the same way as the STANDBY key on the front panel.

Operation of Myryad CD Players and Tuners

The Myryad A-V System Remote handset will also control Myryad CD Players and Tuners. The PLAY, PAUSE, STOP, SHUFFLE, TIME, REPEAT, SKIP> and SKIP< keys are for CD Player operation only. The PRESET, MANUAL, SEARCH, MONO, STORE, TUNE up and TUNE down are for Tuner operation only.

The remaining keys, the digits 0 to 9 and DIM, can operate either a CD Player or a Tuner. To control a CD Player, press the CD input source select key. Then "0-9" and DIM will control only the CD Player until the TUNER input source select key is pressed. To control a Tuner, press the TUNER input source select key. Then "0-9" and DIM will control only the Tuner until the CD input source select key is pressed.

Installing and Replacing Batteries

The remote handset uses four 1.5 V type AAA batteries. To fit new batteries first open the battery compartment in the rear of the handset and remove any existing batteries. Fit the new ones as directed by the symbols moulded inside the battery compartment, then replace the battery compartment cover.

The batteries should always be removed if they are flat (indicated by no remote control operation or by operation only at very short range), or if the remote control is not going to be used for an extended period.

Trouble Shooting

For help trouble shooting, try the guide. You can also look at the FAQ section. If you still have questions, please email Myryad for technical support.

Specifications

For specifications, click here.

Systems Building

For information regarding system building with the MP 100 Pre-Amplifiers, MI 120 or MA 240 Integrated Amplifiers and MA 120, MA 240 and MA 360 Power Amplifiers, have a look at the Myryad Technical Note addressing this subject.

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