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SIGNAL CONNECTIONS
The Tornado Series was developed using high
quality interconnects and speaker cables from Merlin
Cables, these allow the amplifiers to operate as
intended and deliver their optimum performance. We
strongly recommend that you use these cables for all
connections. You can obtain these from your dealer
or distributor..
Please note that we particularly advise you not to
use solid core interconnect or speaker cables, or any
type of high capacitance speaker cables. We further
suggest that you use short cable runs. Try to keep
interconnects to 2 metres/6 feet or less and speaker
cable runs below 10 metres/30 feet. Even though a
Tornado amplifier will drive longer speaker cables
you will find its performance improves with shorter
cables. The use of “litz” or “goertz” type cables may
cause your amplifier to overheat under certain
circumstances. These are best avoided.
REAR PANEL
A diagram can be found on page 6 of this manual.
MAINS CONNECTIONS
The Tornado’s mains switch is fitted in the centre of
the rear panel. Use this to switch off the amplifier
completely. Below it is an IEC socket into which the
supplied mains lead fits. If an internal fuse should
blow i.e. the blue LED will not illuminate when the
amplifier is not hot but plugged in and switched on,
then the amplifier should be returned to your dealer
for examination. Any replacement should only be of
an identical type.
The amplifier, whilst powered ON, will be warm to
the touch even as idle, due to the class A quiescent
current flowing in the output stage. This is perfectly
normal.
INPUT CONNECTIONS
The input sockets for the Tornado are either RCA
phono or XLR balanced. Connect your pre-
amplifier’s main audio outputs to these. Us the rear
mounted switch to select the input type that you
have connected to. The switch points towards the
input selected.
SPEAKER CONNECTIONS
Gold plated 5-way binding posts are provided for
your speakers’ connections as well as BFA safety
type terminals. The red terminal is the positive
connection and the black terminal is negative. If you
use bare cables or spade terminals that require
clamping in the binding posts, be sure to arrange the
leads so that they do not short-circuit the amplifier.
Clamp the connections tightly but do not over-
tighten them: do not, for instance, tighten the
binding posts with pliers. Check this sort of
connection periodically to make sure that the wire is
still tightly gripped. Better still, use high quality cables
factory fitted with appropriate plugs!
Tornado mono amplifiers are suitable for use with
most current loudspeaker systems with an
impedance rating between 2 and 16 Ohms. Contact
your dealer if you have a particularly unusual
loudspeaker system and are uncertain about how
your amplifier might react to it. Under all normal
circumstances the amplifier is well protected against
encounters with demanding speakers: it has thermal
protection, voltage and current limiting and DC offset
protection.
MUTE LINK INPUT
This is to allow simultaneous mute control over the
power amplifier when used with a Hurricane pre-
amplifier, just connect using the 3.5mm jack lead
provided with your Hurricane pre-amplifier.
BI-WIRING
Although two sets of speaker terminales are
provided, if you intend to bi-wire - or tri-wire - your
loudspeakers, we recommend that you use cables
fitted with a single pair of plugs at the amplifier end
for four reasons. 1) To bi/tri wire properly you should
have a common ground point. 2) Trying to squeeze
two or three individual cables into a binding post will
give a poor connection that will degrade sound
quality. 3) It increases the likelihood of wiring one or
more of the speaker drive units out of phase by
reversing its connections. 4) It invites accidents
through wires breaking free and shorting the
amplifier’s output.
FRONT PANEL
Although there are no front panel controls
Connecting the mute link cable between your
Hurricane pre-amplifier (if you have one) will operate
internal relays that connect the audio signal to the
loudspeakers when the mute button on the
Hurricane’s front panel is pressed once. To un-mute
press it a second time. It does not connect the
mains supply to the amplifier: the actual mains
power switch is on the rear panel.
If you do not have a Hurricane pre-amplifier then the
Tornado will un-mute itself automatically after a few
seconds.
Leaving the mains supply permanently connected
and silencing the amplifier with the Hurricane’s mute
switch means the Tornado will deliver optimum
performance immediately it is brought out of its
“stand-by” state.
When the amplifier’s output is muted the red
indicator light on the front panel extinguishes.