TRILOGY 990 (01) PDF DOCUMENT

Be careful when unpacking your TRILOGY 990 amplifier, as it is heavy. Seek assistance if necessary. It is recommended to store the packaging safely for future use, as it is the ideal method for protecting your amplifier from damage during transport.

Do not site the TRILOGY 990 near liquids or place water-filled containers near the unit. If water comes into contact with the unit, immediately pull out the mains plug and contact your dealer for an inspection.

The amplifier is cooled by convection and requires good circulation of room temperature air under and around it. Do not place it near heat sources such as radiators or in direct sunlight. Do not enclose it in a cupboard or place it directly on carpet.

A flat, smooth surface is required. For optimal performance, your TRILOGY 990 should be placed on a dedicated high-performance equipment platform away from other appliances to minimize sensitivity to vibration, strong magnetic fields, and radio interference.

The AC input voltage for the TRILOGY 990 is preset for the country of purchase. Before plugging in, verify that the label on the rear panel matches your AC supply voltage. Use the supplied AC inlet cable. If a different cable is used, ensure it is wired correctly and that the fuse is rated at 10 amps.

The wires in the AC input cable are colored as follows:

Green and yellow…………..Earth

Blue…………………………..Neutral

Brown…………………………Live

The amplifier must be earthed. Do not disconnect the AC earth at any time. A direct connection to a mains outlet is best for your amplifier; avoid using adapters.

It is good practice to complete all interconnections before switching on the power to avoid damage.

Power: Connect the supplied AC input cable to the IEC inlet. The unit can be left connected to the mains at all times.

Audio Inputs: The TRILOGY 990 has two alternative line-level audio inputs. Connect your preamplifier’s Main output to either the single-ended input on RCA “Phono” connectors or the balanced input on Neutrik XLR connectors. If your preamplifier offers a choice, the balanced connection is preferred.

Speaker Outputs: Each channel has outputs via copper terminals. Connect the terminal marked ‘+’ to the positive (+) terminal of your loudspeaker, and the terminal marked ‘–’ to the negative (–) terminal. Ensure each connection is secure and not touching another. Do not over-tighten the terminals; finger-tight is sufficient.

TASLink: Twin TASLink connectors allow system interconnection and control with other Trilogy Audio System products for remote switching and monitoring.

After all connections are made and checked, the [power indicator] will be dimly lit.

To turn on: Briefly press the [power button]. The [power indicator] will flash slowly for 25 seconds, then flash more rapidly for another 25 seconds. During this “warm up” period, the output is muted. Afterwards, the [power indicator] will remain steadily on, and the TRILOGY 990 is ready for use. Optimal performance is achieved in about 1 hour.

To turn off: Press and hold the [power] button for half a second.

“Keep Warm Mode” is a feature that maintains the TRILOGY 990’s output stage at an optimal temperature but with reduced power consumption. This allows the amplifier to achieve optimum performance in a much shorter period of time when brought back to full operation.

To enter Keep Warm Mode: When the TRILOGY 990 is on, briefly press the [power button]. The [power indicator] and heatsink flute illumination will slowly and continually cycle between full intensity and dim.

To exit Keep Warm Mode: Briefly press the [power button] again. The standard start-up sequence will commence.

The TRILOGY 990 is a true balanced, bridged amplifier. In this configuration, the loudspeaker is connected between the outputs of two separate power amplifiers, rather than between an amplifier’s hot (+) terminal and the system earth. This design prevents the large currents flowing to the loudspeaker from affecting the delicate system earth.

IMPORTANT PRECAUTION: DO NOT, in any circumstances, allow either the positive (+) OR the negative (–) outputs of the TRILOGY 990 to be connected to earth or to each other. Be aware that some loudspeaker switching matrices or headphone adaptors may create such a connection, which could damage the amplifier.

The [Power indicator] on the TRILOGY 990 provides visual warnings of potential overload or fault conditions. These warnings are indicated by a series of “blinks” where the indicator is mainly ON and blinks OFF within a 1.6-second period. You should not experience these conditions in normal use.

One blink off (Over Current): The amplifier is being asked to supply too much current to the loudspeaker. The TRILOGY 990 will momentarily mute and repeatedly do so until the volume is lowered. Continued operation in this state will cause the amplifier to enter Over Current Lockout.

Two blinks off (DC Offset): The output signal has a DC component or contains very low frequencies at high amplitude. The TRILOGY 990 will mute until this condition has ceased. This may be caused by a brown-out or playing source material with extremely low frequencies at high levels. Continued operation will cause the amplifier to enter DC Offset Lockout.

Three blinks off (Temperature Hot): The heatsink temperature has reached 60 degrees Celsius. The TRILOGY 990 will remain operational, and this warning will continue until the amplifier cools below 55 degrees Celsius. If the temperature exceeds 65 degrees Celsius, the amplifier will enter Over Temperature Lockout.

If a warning condition persists, the TRILOGY 990 will enter a Protective Lockout Mode and turn itself off. This is indicated by the [Power indicator] being largely OFF with brief flashes ON. The number of flashes indicates the reason for the shutdown. It is important to note the number of flashes to diagnose the issue.

1 flash: Over current lockout.

2 flashes: DC Offset lockout.

3 flashes: Over temperature lockout.

4 flashes: Power supply lockout.

5 flashes: Output stage lockout.

Before attempting to restart the amplifier, you must identify and correct the problem (e.g., check for a short circuit in the loudspeaker cabling or ensure the airflow over the heatsink is not obstructed).

When the TRILOGY 990 is in Lockout mode, it cannot be turned back on using the [power button]. If you are confident that you have found and corrected the cause of the lockout, you can attempt to re-power the amplifier by following these steps:

1. Remove the IEC power inlet cable from the amplifier.

2. Wait for at least 10 seconds.

3. Plug the power cable back into the amplifier.

4. Follow the normal turn-on procedure by pressing the [power button].

If the TRILOGY 990 re-enters the lockout mode, it is important to consult your Trilogy dealer, as there may be an internal fault.

TASLink is Trilogy’s proprietary bus system for the TRILOGY 990 that uses standard Cat5 or Cat5e cables with RJ45 plug terminations. It allows the TRILOGY 990 to communicate with other Trilogy audio products to synchronize power on/off and provide error information. It also has a bus remote line (GPI) allowing equipment from other manufacturers to be powered on/off by a Trilogy pre-amp, or allowing the 990 to be turned on by another system. Do not cross-plug computer networks and TASLink, as damage may result.

TASLink also enables a “Security Bonding” feature. This allows your TRILOGY 990 to be security bonded to a specific Trilogy pre-amp. Once bonded, the 990 can only be turned on via TASLink by that original bonding pre-amp, not with its local power button or any other device.

First, ensure the TRILOGY 990 is switched off and disconnected from the power supply.

Dust the unit regularly with a soft cloth or a soft brush.

For more stubborn marks, use a slightly damp cloth with a very small amount of mild detergent, such as washing up liquid. Do not use a wet cloth.

Never use abrasives or alcohol-based agents, as they will harm the surface finish. Do not allow the unit to become wet during cleaning.

Your TRILOGY 990 uses thermionic valves (vacuum tubes) for amplification. These have a finite lifespan and will need replacing. In typical use, small signal valves can last for 5000 hours. Frequent switching on and off reduces valve life.

It is good practice to replace the valves periodically to prevent a sudden loss of a signal path. If your amplifier exhibits a noticeable loss of performance, extreme sensitivity to vibration, or becomes excessively noisy, then new valves should be fitted by your authorized Trilogy dealer. There are no user-serviceable parts inside the unit; do not open or attempt to repair it yourself.

Specification subject to change.