The Arcam
Delta 60 is a powerful, versatile and thoroughly modern hi-fi amplifier.
The Delta 60
is a worthy successor to the famous A&R A60. England's "classic"
integrated amplifier of the late
seventies and early eighties. Famed for its reliability and long life, as well
as its fine sound quality, over 30 000 A60s are in everyday use worldwide. By
making use of the advances in technology that were not available when the A60
was designed, the Delta 60 retains all that was best in that amplifier, whilst
improving on it in terms of sound quality, aesthetics and ease of use.
The Delta
60's clean design makes it a perfect match for the Arcam Delta series of hi-fi
components. These include the Delta 70 compact disc player (with its optional
Delta Black Box outboard D/A cenverter) and the Delta 80 FM/AM Tuner. the Delta
60 is also ideally suited to driving Arcam's range of loudspeakers.
Versatility
The Delta 60
can accept inputs from up to 5 different sources. These include 4 line inputs,
normally compact disc, tuner and two tape recorders (one of which can be a
VCR). A full tape monitor facility for one of the tape recorders is provided,
allowing offtape monitoring of the recorder signal when a three head tape
recorder is used. Two tape outputs are available.
the disc
input caters for all Types of pickup cartridge. As well as normall MM
cartridges, even the highest quality low output moving coil types can be
accommodated via the Delta 60's built in low noise MC preamplifier stage. this
is switchable from the rear of the amplifier. In addition, the user's chosen
cartridge may be optimally matched to the disc pre-amplifier by thw addition of
our optional switched loading modules. Versions are available to suit both MC
and MM cartridges.
All inputs
to the Delta 60 are made via good quality phono sockets. All the line level
inputs are fed directly to the volume control, enabling any source to be
accepted without distortion, as the overload margin is virtually infinite. The
volume control itself is a high quality, friction locked "dual" type.
This removes the need for a separate balance control (with a consequent
improvement in sound qualit). A mono switch is provided; this is operative on
all inputs and can yield significant improvements in noise performance when
playing old records or receiving weak FM broadcasts.
Ingenious
loudspeaker switching is an Arcam speciality. Two pairs of loudspeakers may be
used with the Delta 60 - these are connected via heavy duty, silver plated 4 mm
sockekets. The main speaker sockets are hard wired directly to the amplifier's
outputs to obtain the best possible sound quality. Headphones can be used in
parallel with these. A second set of switched loudspeaker sockets is also
available; these can be muted via a front panel switch when not required. This
is particularly useful for someone who wants to listen to headphones without
disturbing the neighbours.
Quality and
Reliability
Great care
has been taken with every aspect of the Delta 60's design to ensure first class
sound quality and reliability. All components are operated well within their
ratings and are laid out on a single large fibreglass p.c.b. (printed circuit
board). This virtually eliminates internal wiring and connectors, both
potential sources of inconsistency and long term unreliability. Most components
are soldered using Arcam's military standard flow soldering and p.c.b. washing
equipment. This is followed by a rigorous visual inspection procedure. 100%
testing of all major parameters is carried out on every amplifier using
advanced computer controlled automatic testing equipment both before and after
a gruelling 24 hour burn in procedure. After this every amplifier is given a
functional listening test by our final inspection department before packing and
despatch.
As with all
Arcam electronics, the Delta 60 is warranted for 2 years from date of purchase
against failure in normal use.
Styling
The Arcam
Delta 60 looks as good as it sounds. This is no accident, because great care
was taken from the outset with all aspects of both the mechanical and
electronic design.
The elegant,
slimline cabinet is construced entirely from aluminium alloy with extensive and
imaginative use being made of custom extrusions. Aluminium was chosen because
of its excellent thermal characteristics (for cooler running) and nonmagnetic
properties (for better ssound quality), in addition to its ease and consistency
of fabrication. The cabinet is finished in attractive and durable black epoxy
paint.
Power
The Arcam
Delta 60 is an extremely well behaved amplifier which has a sufficiently high
peak current capability to drive all practical loudspeaker loads down to 4 ohms
nominal impedance. Electronic protection in the power stages safeguards against any incorrect loads or short circuits. This
short term protection is backed up by easily replaceable output fuses should a
fault persist.
The Delta 60
amplifier is guaranteed to deliver its continuous rated output power of 50
watts per channel into an 8 ohm load at any frequency from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. In
practice, under normal music conditions, considerably more power is available.
Given loudspeakers of at least moderate efficiency, surprisingly high volume
levels are attainable without audible distress.
Electronic
Design
The Delta
60's electronics incorporate high gain, high current power amplifiers whose
inputs are fed directly from the amplifiers's volume control. By eliminating
all line amplifier and tone control stages from the circuitry Arcam have
ensured that all the Delta 60's line inputs are always routed straight through
to the power amplifiers, eliminating the need for such marketing handles as
"CD direct" switches and the like. Due to the amplifier's
straightwire input the number of series coupling capacitors has been
dramatically reduces with consequent improvements in dynamics and clarity.
The power
supply meets Arcam's usual high standards with substantial twin 10,000 uF
reservoir capacitors fed from a generously sized 200 VA Holden and Fisher
toroidal mains transformer. This has excellent regulation and a very low
radiated magnetic field for optimum sonic performance.
The phono
pre-amplifier stages of the Delta 60 are of a high standard for an integrated
amplifier. They feature fully regulated power supplies and a passive
equalisation section between the two main stages which are themselves D.C.
coupled to each other. This system provides audibly better resolution and
imagery. The input buffer amplifiers use precision Op27 amplifiers for improved
noise performance and liberal use is made of 1% metal film resistors and high
grade polystyrene and polypropylene film capacitors. In addition the Delta 60
incorporates a high quality switchable MC cartridge pre-amplifier stage fed
from its own totally separate regulated supply. Provision is made for
customised cartridge loading on both MC and MM inputs via Arcam's unique user
adjustable universal cartridge loading modules.
Specifications
Output Power
Both
Channels : 50 W at 8 Ω (20 Hz to 20 kHz , 0,5%)
Single
Channel : 60 W at 8 Ω , 95 W at 4 Ω
Peak Current
Delivery: ±10A
Harmonic
Distortion: 0,02% (50 W, 8 Ω , at 1 kHz)
Frequency
Response:
Disc : better than 40 Hz - 35 kHz +0,3 -0,5 dB
Typ. -3
dB at 20 Hz
Line : 30 Hz
to 35 kHz ±0,5 dB
Typ. -3
dB at 10 Hz , 80 kHz
Inputs
Disc (Moving
Magnet)
Sensitivity
: 1,8 mV
Noise (CCIR)
: -75 dB
Overload
Margin at 1 kHz : 35 dB
Input
Impedance : 47 k Ω /100 pF
Switchable
Loading Module (type ULM/M) available to provide the following additional
loads; 30 k Ω , 8 k Ω , 200 pF, 320 pF, 420 pF and user programmable option
Disc (Moving
Coil)
Sensitivity
: 160 µV
Noise (CCIR)
: -67 dB
Overload
Margin at 1 kHz : 35 dB
Input
Impedance : 220 Ω /4,7 nF
Switchable
Loading Module (type ULM/M) available to provide the following additional
loads; 100 Ω, 30 Ω, 10 Ω, 100 nF and user programmable option
Tuner, Tape
1, 2
Sensitivity:
160 mV
Noise (CCIR)
ref. 1 W output -95 dB
Input
Impedance: 10 k Ω
Overload
Margin at 1 kHz : 50 dB
CD
Sensitivity
: 260 mV
Input
Impedance : 6 k Ω
Outputs
Tape 1, 2
Nominal Output :
160 mV
Input
IMpedance : 2 k Ω
Crosstalk
(all Inputs): -70 dB at 1 kHz
Power
Consumption: 250 VA maximum
Dimensions
(W x H x D): 430 x 64 x 295 mm