MOON P 5.3 Stereo Preamplifier
Front Panel Controls
Figure 1: MOON P5.3 Front panel
The front panel will look similar to Figure 1 (above). The large display window indicates the relative gain setting (ranging
from ‘0’ through ‘50’) for both the left and right channels. As well, whenever you change the selected input source, it’s
number will appear in the window for 3 seconds before reverting back to the gain setting. Immediately to the right of the
display window is a button labeled “Display” which allows you to turn the digital display on and off.
The “Standby/On” button disengages the input section from the rest of the P5.3’s circuitry and turns off the digital display.
However, when in “Standby” mode all audio circuitry remains powered up to help maintain optimal performance. When
switching back from “Standby” to the “on” mode, both the ‘input’ and gain level settings will be memorized from the previous
listening session. The blue pilot LED will not be illuminated when the P5.3 is in “Stand by” mode.
The “Input +” and “Input -” buttons allow you to choose which input source you wish to listen to. The MOON P5.3 Stereo
Preamplifier has five (5) inputs; The first input is fully-balanced and uses XLR connectors labeled A1. The next four (4) inputs
are single-ended and use RCA connectors labeled A2, A3, A4 and A5. Assuming that you’re currently listening to a source
component connected to input A1, the “+” allows to sequentially scroll forward through the available inputs from A2 to A5.
The “-” button allows you to sequentially scroll backwards from A5 to A2. Holding down either the “+” or “-“ button will allow
only a single change of the selected input. You must press the button again to select the next or previous input.
Any one of the five inputs can be configured as a ‘pass-through’ which bypasses the P5.3’s gain control section, allowing you
to control the gain setting via the connected source component’s own volume control – a home theater processor for example.
In ‘pass-through’ mode, adjusting the volume on the P5.3 will have no effect whatsoever when the ‘pass-through’ input is
selected. By pressing and holding the “mute” button for approximately 2 seconds, the selected input will go into ‘pass-
through’ mode; to terminate the ‘pass-through’ mode, simply repeat the procedure.
Only one input can be setup for ‘pass-through’ mode. For example, when you’re listening to the source component connected
to the A3 input and the A5 input is set as a ‘pass-through’ mode, pressing and holding the mute button will only perform the
mute function. You must to scroll to and deactivate the ‘pass-through’ mode on A5, scroll to the A3 input, then press and
hold the mute to put it into ‘pass-through’ mode. The factory default is no inputs are set to ‘pass-through’ mode. Finally,
powering down the P5.3 via the rear panel rocker switch will reset the configured ‘pass through’ input back to the factory
default ‘normal’ mode.
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Front Panel Controls 7