Handbook

Manuel
Handbuch
Handleiding
 CAUTION ATTENTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE
SHOCK DO NOT OPEN NE PAS OUVRIR

safety
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove cover (or back). No user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to
qualified service personnel.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
guidelines The lightning flash with an arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated
‘dangerous voltage’ within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance
(servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

CAUTION: In Canada and the USA, to prevent electric shock, match the wide blade of the plug to the wide slot in the socket and
insert the plug fully into the socket.

Important safety instructions

8. Cleaning 14. Abnormal smell
This product is designed and manufactured to
meet strict quality and safety standards. However, Unplug the unit from the mains supply before If an abnormal smell or smoke is detected from
you should be aware of the following installation cleaning. the appliance, turn the power off immediately and
and operation precautions. The case should normally only require a wipe unplug the unit from the wall outlet. Contact your
with a soft, damp, lint-free cloth. Do not use paint dealer immediately.
1. Take heed of warnings and instructions
thinners or other chemical solvents for cleaning. 15. Servicing
You should read all the safety and operating
instructions before operating this appliance. Retain We do not advise the use of furniture cleaning You should not attempt to service the appliance
this handbook for future reference and adhere to sprays or polishes as they can cause indelible beyond that described in this handbook. All other
all warnings in the handbook or on the appliance. white marks if the unit is subsequently wiped with servicing should be referred to qualified service
a damp cloth. personnel.
2. Water and moisture
9. Power sources 16. Damage requiring service
The presence of electricity near water can be
dangerous. Do not use the appliance near water – Only connect the appliance to a power supply of The appliance should be serviced by qualified
for example next to a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen the type described in the operating instructions or service personnel when:
sink, in a wet basement or near a swimming pool, as marked on the appliance. A. the power-supply cord or the plug has been
etc. This is a Class 1 device and must be earthed. damaged, or
3. Object or liquid entry The primary method of isolating Solo from the B. objects have fallen, or liquid has spilled into
mains supply is to use the switch on the rear of the appliance, or
Take care that objects do not fall and liquids
are not spilled into the enclosure through any Solo. Solo must be installed in manner that makes C. the appliance has been exposed to rain, or
openings. Liquid-filled objects such as vases disconnection possible. D. the appliance does not appear to operate
should not be placed on the equipment. 10. Power-cord protection normally or exhibits a marked change in
4. Ventilation Power supply cords should be routed so that they performance, or
Do not place the equipment on a bed, sofa, rug or are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items E. the appliance has been dropped or the
similar soft surface, or in an enclosed bookcase placed upon or against them, paying particular enclosure damaged.
or cabinet, since ventilation may be impeded. We attention to cords and plugs, and the point where
17. Speaker connections
recommend a minimum distance of 50mm around they exit from the appliance.
the sides and top of the appliance to provide Any speakers must be connected to Solo using
11. Grounding
adequate ventilation. Class 2 wire (i.e., no connection to earth should
Ensure that the grounding means of the appliance be made). Failure to observe this precaution may
5. Heat is not defeated. cause Solo to be damaged.
Locate the appliance away from naked flames 12. Power lines
or heat producing equipment such as radiators,
Locate any outdoor antenna/aerial away from Safety compliance
stoves or other appliances (including other
power lines. This product has been designed to meet the IEC
amplifiers) that produce heat.
13. Non-use periods 60065 international electrical safety standard.
6. Climate
If the unit has a stand-by function, a small amount
The appliance has been designed for use in
of current will continue to flow into the equipment
moderate climates.
in this mode. Unplug the power cord of the
7. Racks and stands appliance from the outlet if left unused for a long
Only use a rack or stand that is recommended for period of time.
use with audio equipment. If the equipment is on
a portable rack it should be moved with great care,
to avoid overturning the combination.

E2
 English
welcome… … and thank you for purchasing the Arcam Solo music system.
Contents
Arcam has been producing high-quality audio components for nearly thirty years. safety guidelines ..................................................... E2
During that time we have amassed a wealth of knowledge on both the design and
welcome…............................................................... E3
construction of audio components in order to give the best sound performance for
the price. The design of Solo is a distillation of this knowledge into an easy-to-use making connections................................................ E4

package that is intended to give you years of listening enjoyment while taking just a making music .......................................................... E5
few minutes to learn how to use. remote control......................................................... E6

using the radio ........................................................ E7

This handbook is intended to give you a detailed guide of the use of the Solo music
system. Overleaf, you will find a ‘quick start’ guide that should be sufficient for most installation guidelines ............................................ E8
users; further into the handbook you will find additional information on the more advanced features................................................. E11
advanced features. technical specification .......................................... E13

We hope that your Solo music system will give you years of trouble-free operation. product guarantee ................................................ E14
In the unlikely event of any fault, or if you simply require further information
about Arcam products, our network of dealers will be happy to help you. Further
information can be found on the Arcam web-site at www.arcam.co.uk.
Safety
Safety guidelines are set out on page 2 of this
The Solo development team handbook.
Many of these items are common sense
precautions but, for your own safety and to
ensure that you do not damage the unit, we
recommend that you read them.
This product requires an earth connection.

Turn to pages 4 & 5 for a quick-start guide to Solo…

E3
 Introduction
This page gives a quick overview of the installation process for Solo. For more detailed instructions on
each of the items below, please see the “Installation Guidelines” section of this handbook, starting on
page 8.

making
Radio aerial
connections In Europe and Canada, Solo is usually fitted with a combined FM/DAB (digital radio) receiver module; in
the USA and the Far East, an AM/FM receiver module is usually supplied. In order to use either of these
modules, you must connect an aerial to the unit – a suitable aerial is supplied as an accessory.
The FM/DAB aerial connector is an F-type (screw) connector. The aerial should be connected to this
input by pushing the pin into the hole in the centre of the connector, then screwing the sleeve onto the
outside. The AM aerial should be connected as described on page 9.
Remote control connectors To use the supplied ‘T’ shaped wire aerial, mount it as high up as possible on a wall with the elements
These connections are intended for use in multi- positioned vertically. If accessable, try each usable wall of the room to see which gives the best
room installations and are unlikely to be used in reception. Use tacks or adhesive tape to secure the aerial to the wall, but ensure that tacks do not come
most cases. Further information can be found on into contact with the internal wire of the aerial.
page 9. For optimal reception, the use of a roof-mounted (external) aerial is recommended (see page 10).

REMOTE RS232 FM
PROGRAM
L
OUT IN IN GND AM
12V
TRIGGER ZONE 2 LOCAL
230V ZONE 2 PRE OUT TAPE OUT TAPE IN GAME TV AV IN
SPEAKER
~ OUTPUT
50 – 60HZ CD OUT L
xxW
MAX
R
R

SERIAL NO.

Power Speakers Audio outputs Audio inputs

Solo is supplied with a moulded mains plug In order to hear any sound from Solo, you must If you wish, Solo can be used as a high-quality
Pre-out
already fitted to the lead. Check that the plug connect speakers to it. Solo is designed to drive amplifier for other audio sources. Five audio inputs
supplied fits your supply – should you require a a single pair of speakers, rated between 4 and These connectors carry the output of the pre-amp. are provided for this purpose (one is on the front-
new mains lead, please contact your Arcam dealer. 8 ohms, and is fitted with speaker terminals that stage of Solo. If you wish to use an external power panel).
can accept either spade terminals or bare wires. amp. with Solo, connect these outputs to the
Push the IEC (kettle-style) plug end of the power Use a stereo phono lead to connect the audio
inputs of your power amp.
cable into the socket on the back of Solo, making To connect the left speaker, unscrew the terminals output of the source to one of the audio inputs
See page 9 for further details.
sure that it is pushed in firmly. Put the plug on on the back of Solo labelled L, insert the speaker of Solo. The labels above the inputs on Solo give
the other end of the cable into your power supply wire (or spade) and screw the terminals back up. Zone 2 suggested uses, but all the inputs have the same
socket and, if necessary, switch the socket on. Make sure that the red (positive/+) terminal of the characteristics (all are line-level inputs) and any
These connectors carry the output of the pre-amp.
Solo is fitted with a power switch on the rear of speaker is connected to the red terminal on Solo suitable device may be connected to any input.
for Zone 2. For more information on using Zone 2,
the product, next to the power inlet. To use Solo, and the black (negative/–) terminal of the speaker Note, however, that the name of the input cannot
please turn to page 8.
make sure that this is switched on. is connected to the black terminal on Solo. Repeat be changed on the front-panel display.
the above to connect the right speaker to the CD out
terminals labelled R. Tape loop
Solo is fitted with a transformer designed to This is an optical connection that carries the digital
It is important that no stray strands of wire from A tape loop is provided to allow connection of an
accept the mains voltage in the region that the audio stream from a CD or from the DAB radio
these connections are allowed to touch another external cassette deck to Solo.
product was shipped to. If your mains supply (where fitted). It is intended to allow recording of
voltage does not match this specification (as cable or the product casing. Failure to ensure this CDs/DAB to MiniDisc, or similar. TAPE OUT – Connect these outputs to the input
shown on the rear panel), you wish to take the can cause a short circuit, and damage to your Solo. sockets of your cassette deck (usually labelled
Connect this output to the optical input of your
unit to a region with a different main voltage, RECORD).
recording device. Further details can be found on
or the mains plug is incorrect, please consult Do not over-tighten the loudspeaker terminals, page 9. TAPE IN – Connect the output sockets of your
your Arcam dealer. or use a wrench, pliers, etc., as this could cassette deck (usually labelled PLAY) to these
This product must be earthed. cause damage to the terminals which will not inputs.
be covered under warranty. Note that the TAPE OUT output is muted when
Tape is selected as the music source.

E4
 Listening to a CD Listening to the radio Navigating the menu system
To play a CD: To listen to DAB radio (if installed): 1. Switch the unit on, then press the MENU
button to enter the menu system.

English
1. Switch the unit on (the power light glows 1. Press the SOURCE+ button (remote: DAB) until
blue). ‘DAB’ is shown on the display. 2. Press the SOURCE– and SOURCE+ buttons on
2. Press the </� button (load) on the front- 2. Press the � or � buttons (remote: the front panel (or and on the remote
panel or � on the remote control to open or ) until the station you want to listen to control) to select the menu item you want to
making music the CD tray.
3. Place the CD in the centre of the tray,
is shown. The station will be tuned in after a
short pause.
change.
3. To increase the value of an item, press the �
making sure that the text printed on the CD Note that no DAB stations will be heard unless a button (or + on the remote). To decrease the
is face-up. Press the � or 4 (play) button to station scan has been performed. See page 10 for value of an item, press the � button (– on
close the drawer. further details. the remote).
4. Wait for the disc to load. If play was 4. The menu may be closed at any time by
To listen to FM/AM radio (if installed): pressing the MENU button.
pressed to close the drawer, then the disc 1. Press the SOURCE+ button (remote: FM or
will start playing automatically, otherwise AM) until ‘FM’ or ‘AM’ (as required) is shown Note that pressing the menu button when Solo is
press 4/; (remote: 4) to start playback. on the display. in stand-by allows the setting of the clock.
Other controls detailed below can be used to skip 2. To tune in the station you require, press and For more information on the menu items, see
between tracks, change the volume, etc. hold the � or � buttons (remote: or ) page 11. For information on setting the clock, see
until the station frequency is shown. page 12.
For more information on the radio, see pages 7
and 10.

MENU SOURCE INFO OK VOLUME

POWER

IN

Menu and OK Power

Press MENU to enter the Solo menu. OK is used at some points in the menu Press to switch Solo between ‘on’ and ‘stand-by’.
to select an option. See the panel ‘Navigating the menu system’ (above) for When Solo is in stand-by the light next to the power button on the front-panel
further details, or turn to page 11. glows red, and the front-panel display shows the current time. Pressing POWER
when the unit is in stand-by will cause the unit to switch on, when the power
Source –/+ button light will turn blue.
Used to change the audio source. If you wish to listen to FM radio, for
example, press SOURCE+ repeatedly until ‘FM’ is shown in the top left corner
Volume and Mute
of the display. Use these controls to mute, increase, or decrease the volume. If Solo is muted,
These buttons are also used when navigating the Solo menu. See the panel pressing the MUTE button for a second time or changing the volume will unmute
‘Navigating the menu system’ for more information. it. The current volume is shown in the top right corner of the display.

Info � and �
This button is used to change the information displayed on the front panel When a CD is being played:
for the source being played. For example, if a CD is being played, pressing n press and release to skip to the previous or next track on the disc.
this button will change the display between showing elapsed track time, n press and hold to rewind or fast-forward.
remaining track time, and CD Text (if available). When the radio is being used:
Further display options are available for the other sources. n in preset mode (see page 7), these change to the previous/next preset station.
n in tune mode, these change the tuned frequency (FM/AM) or the selected
Stop/Eject (</�) station (DAB).
The remote When in the Solo menu:
control is Press to stop playback of a CD, and press again to open the tray. If the tray is
n press � to decrease a value or move left; press � to increase a value or
described on opened, it can be closed either by pressing this button for a second time, or
move right.
the next page. by pushing in gently on the tray itself.

Play/Pause (4/;)
CD playback control – toggles between playing and pausing the CD.

E5
 Remote control buttons

� (Power) – Switches Solo between stand-by and on. When the unit is in stand-by, the light next to
the power button on the front panel glows red; when the unit is switched on, the light is blue. Using the remote control
remote If the light next to the power button is not illuminated, check that Solo is connected to the mains
supply and that the switch on the rear panel is on (the dot is depressed). Please keep in mind the following when using
the remote control:
control Track/preset selection (0–9) – Press the number of the track or preset that you want to hear. To
n Ensure that there are no obstacles
between the remote control and the
select a track/preset greater than 9, press and hold the first digit of the track (e.g. 1) until the number remote sensor on Solo. The remote has
is shown in the bottom left corner of the display (‘1–’), then press the second digit. a range of about seven meters. (If the
remote sensor is obscured, the remote
control input jack on the rear panel is
and – Used when listening to the radio. When in tune mode (see MODE, below), pressing
available. Please contact your dealer for
and changes the tuned frequency; in preset mode, the preset station is changed. further information.)
n Remote operation may become unreliable
if strong sunlight or fluorescent light is
INFO – Changes the display mode for CD or radio. For example, pressing INFO when a CD is being played
shining on the remote sensor of Solo.
will switch between displaying the current track time, the track time remaining, CD text (if available)
n Replace the batteries when you notice
and large-character display. Similar options are available when the radio is being used.
a reduction in the operating range of the
remote control.
MODE – Some sources allow changes to the listening mode.
CD – Press the MODE button to cycle through the repeat/shuffle modes for CD playback. The options
are ‘repeat disc’, ‘repeat track’, ‘shuffle’ (the tracks on the disc are played in a random order) and Inserting batteries into the
‘repeat shuffle’. To cancel any of the shuffle/repeat modes, press MODE until the playback mode is remote control
removed from the display.
DAB/FM/AM – Press MODE to switch between ‘tune’ and ‘preset’ mode. When in tune mode,
pressing or changes the tuned frequency (FM/AM) or the selected station (DAB); in preset
mode, the preset station is changed. See the next page for more information.

DISP – Cycles the brightness of the front-panel display. There are several different brightness levels to
chose from, including switching the display off.

1. Open the battery compartment by

Source selection – Press the appropriate button to select the audio source you would like to hear.
pressing the button on the back of the
remote control.
Cursor keys and OK – The behaviour of these keys depends on the mode that Solo is in. If the
configuration menu is open (see page 11), then the up and down keys are used to select the
configuration item; the left and right keys are used to change the value of the current configuration
item, and OK is used to confirm an action (where required). If the configuration menu is not open,
then the up and down keys work in the same way as the preset up/down keys (described above),
with the left and right keys changing the volume.

Mute – Press once to mute the speaker and pre-amp outputs of Solo. Press for a second time (or change
the volume) to unmute the unit. 2. Insert two ‘AAA’ batteries into the battery
compartment, following the polarity
indications given inside the compartment
MENU – Pressing the MENU button allows entry into the configuration menu of Solo. This is described
itself.
fully on pages 11 and 12. Press the MENU button for a second time to leave the menu.
3. Push the battery cover back into position.

CD playback commands
4 (Play) – press this button to start the play-back of a CD.
< (Stop) – press to stop the play-back of a CD.
; (Pause) – press to pause the play-back of a CD. Press again (or press play) to re-start play-back.
� (Skip/Scan backwards) – press and release this button to skip backwards to the beginning of the
current/previous track. Press and hold the button to scan backwards.
� (Skip/Scan forwards) – press and release this button of skip forwards to the beginning of the next
track. Press and hold the button to scan forwards.
� (Open/Close) – press to open the CD tray; press again to close it.

E6
 Radio features
Preset mode indicator
Solo is fitted with either a DAB/FM or an AM/FM

English
receiver, depending on the part of the world that Source selection Station name Current volume
it is shipped to. To identify which is fitted in your

using the
Solo, first locate the FM aerial connector located
on the far right of the rear panel of Solo. If there
is an AM connector to the right of this, then your
radio Solo is fitted with an AM/FM module; if you see
only a blanking plate to the right of the FM aerial
connector, you have a DAB/FM module.
Solo provides: Transmission details, or other information
n up to 30 station presets;
n full RDS information on FM (where
transmitted); programme-associated data on
DAB;
n FM signal-strength and DAB data-rate meters.

Searching for stations FM/AM DAB

Pressing the MODE button when the radio is To search for new stations, ensure that Solo is Tuning stations in under DAB is different from
selected as the music source toggles between in ‘Tune’ mode, as described above. conventional FM or AM tuning, in that you do
the two tuning modes of Solo – ‘Preset’ or n Automatic tuning. Pressing the or not need to know the transmission frequency
‘Tune’. The selected mode is shown briefly on buttons on the remote control (� of the station – this is handled for you by Solo.
the display. or � on the front panel) for longer than Select DAB as the source, then press the
When in preset mode, pressing the or one second engages automatic tuning. MENU button. Navigate through the menu
buttons on the remote control (� or � on the Solo searches for a radio station signal of options (see page 12) until ‘DAB Setup’ is
front panel) selects the previous/next station sufficient strength, then stops. To skip to displayed. There are two options under this
preset (if these are defined). Note that these the next station, press one of the buttons menu item – ‘Scan’ and ‘Erase settings’.
buttons have no effect, in preset mode, if again. Automatic tuning is available for Selecting ‘Scan’ causes Solo to search for new
no presets are defined. both FM and AM. DAB stations. If any are found, then they will
n Manual tuning. Use the and be added automatically to the list of available
In tune mode, by contrast, pressing these buttons (� or � on the front panel) to
buttons changes the AM/FM tuning frequency stations. Press MENU for a second time to exit
select the desired tuning frequency. the menu.
or selects the next DAB radio station from the This can be used for tuning to a specific
station list. frequency. It is also useful if you are To select a DAB radio station, press the
trying to select a station that is too weak or buttons on the remote control until
for the auto search mode. the name of the station you want to listen
to is displayed. The station will be tuned
in automatically after a delay of about two
seconds.

Programming station presets Selecting station presets

If you wish, you can store your favourite radio station in one of the preset Solo must be in preset mode before preset stations can be selected (see
radio stations supported by Solo. This allows quick access to the station above).
in the future, without the bother of having to re-tune. Solo provides for 30 To cycle through your preset stations, use the or buttons on the remote
preset radio stations, which are shared between DAB and FM, or AM and FM control (� or � on the front panel). Alternatively, presets can be selected
(depending on your product configuration). directly by using the numeric keypad on the remote. See page 6 for further
To store a preset, first tune to the radio station you wish to store. To store the information on this option.
station into one of presets 1-9, press and hold the appropriately numbered
button on the remote control until the ‘preset saved’ message is displayed.
An alternative method, which allows access to the higher-number presets, is
pressing the MENU button to enter the Solo configuration menu (described
fully on page 12), then navigating through the menu until ‘Store Preset’ is
displayed. Using the – and + buttons on the remote control (� or � on the
front panel) select the preset number you wish to use for the station. If a
preset is in use already, then the name or transmission frequency of the
station held in the preset is shown on the bottom line of the display; empty
presets are indicated by ‘Empty’ being shown. When the preferred preset
number is shown, press OK to store the preset. Note that saving a radio
station into a location occupied already will cause the original preset station to
be overwritten by the new one.
Your presets are retained when Solo is disconnected from the power supply.

E7
 General guidelines
Positioning the unit Interconnect cables
n Place Solo on a level, firm surface, avoiding n Make sure the remote-control receiver
direct sunlight and sources of heat or damp. in the centre of the front panel display is We recommend the use of high-quality screened

installation n Do not place Solo on top of a power

amplifier or other source of heat.
unobstructed, otherwise this will impair the
use of the remote-control. If line-of-sight is
cables, since inferior-quality cables will degrade
the overall quality of your system. Use only cables
that are designed for the particular application
guidelines
n Do not place Solo in an enclosed space impractical, a remote-control repeater can
such as a bookcase or closed cabinet unless be used with the rear panel connector (see as other cables will have different impedance
there is good provision for ventilation. Solo below). characteristics that will degrade the performance
is designed to run warm during normal n Do not place your record deck on top of this of your system (for example, do not use cabling
operation. unit. Record decks are very sensitive to the intended for video use to carry audio signals). All
n Do not place any other component or item noise generated by mains power supplies cables should be kept as short as is practically
on top of Solo as this may obstruct airflow which will be heard as a background ‘hum’ if possible.
around the heat-sink, causing Solo to run the record deck is too close. It is good practice when connecting your
hot. (The unit placed on top of Solo would equipment to make sure that the mains power-
become hot, too.) supply cabling is kept as far away as possible from
your audio cables. Failure to do so may result in
unwanted noise in the audio signals.

Speaker installation –
15 m
The advice given here are general guidleines for speaker Speaker stands 4 0 c
installation. Refer to the documentation supplied with your The more firmly a speaker is held, the better it will
speakers for more precise positioning and installation sound. We recommend the use of rigid metal stands

>6
information.

0c
of 40–60cms height. Properly damped types that do

m
not ‘ring’ when tapped with a pencil (either by virtue of
Positioning construction, or because they are filled with dry silver 40
As a rough guide, speakers should be placed on rigid stands at sand) will bring out the best in a speaker. Ensure that the –6
0cm
about 15–40cms from the rear wall and at least 60cms from any stands and/or speakers do not wobble.
side wall. Speakers should never be placed on the floor (unless
they are floor-standing speakers), or in corners.
The final sound will depend on the acoustics of the listening room
and experimentation with speaker positioning is very worthwhile.
As a starting point, we suggest that the speakers are placed

2
–
2–3m apart with their backs 15cms from the rear wall.

3m
Listening in a second room
Solo provides two independent volume controls, offering
you the possibility of listening to the same output in two
different rooms of your house. To do this, you will require
the following:
n a power amplifier (such as the Arcam P80) and speakers;
n suitable interconnect cables, such as those described above;
n a remote control receiver (optional), available from your Arcam dealer;
n a second Solo remote control (optional), available from your Arcam dealer.
Make the connections as follows: Note that the second room is always muted
when Solo is switched – – it must be
1. Ensure that all equipment is switched off and disconnected from the mains 15 on
m required. This is
supply. 40c
unmuted ‘explicitly’ when
to avoid unexpected output in the remote
2. Connect the outputs of Solo labelled ‘Zone 2’ to the audio inputs of the power
location.

>6
amplifier using the interconnect cables.

0c
m
3. Connect the speakers to the speaker terminals of the power amp. The speakers
should be connected in the same method as described in the panel on page 4, 40
–6
‘Speakers’. 0cm
4. Plug the remote receiver from the second room into the connector labelled ‘In
Zone 2’ on the rear of Solo.
5. Reconnect the equipment to the mains supply and switch on. You should be
able to hear the output of Solo in through the power amp. and control the
volume using the remote control.

2
–
3m
E8
 Audio inputs
REMOTE
PROGRAM
RS232 FM

English
Solo provides
OUT IN four
L
IN audio inputs and a tape loop, allowing connection of
Tape loop GND AM
12V
TRIGGER ZONE 2 LOCAL
230V other audio sources, (games console, TV, DVD player, etc.). Three of these
SPEAKER
A tape loop is provided to allow connection of an external
ZONE 2 PRE OUT TAPE OUT TAPE IN GAME TV AV IN
~
50 – 60HZ inputs, together with the tape loop, are on the rear-panel, with one on
OUTPUT cassette deck to Solo. CD OUT
RS232 FM xxW
���� ������ ���� �� MAX the front of Solo. The labels above the inputs give suggested uses, but all OUT – Connect these outputs to the input sockets
TAPE ������
R
four inputs have the same characteristics (all are line-level inputs) and any of your cassette deck (usually labelled RECORD).
AM
GND suitable device may be connected to any input. TAPE IN – Connect the output sockets of your cassette
�����
ZONE 2 PRE OUT TAPE OUT TAPE IN GAME TV AV IN
To connect a device to an input on the rear of Solo, use a stereo phono deck (usually labelled PLAY) to these inputs. SERIAL NO.
��
T L cable of a suitable length; for connection to the front-panel, the cable must Connecting a record deck
terminate in a stereo 3.5mm jack plug. Connect the audio output of the
device to one of the inputs of Solo, making sure that the plugs are pushed Solo is not fitted with a phono pre-amplifier. If you wish to connect a record
R deck to Solo, then you will need an external pre-amplifier. Please contact
in firmly. We advise you to use high-quality interconnect cables wherever
possible to ensure the best possible sound quality. your dealer for further information and recommendations on the best option
SERIAL NO.
for you.

Audio outputs
TAPE OUT: This output is taken before the volume control, i.e., the source connect these sockets to the input sockets of your power amp., then
being listened to is routed directly to this output. If you wish, this output connect your speakers to its speaker terminals.
RS232 FM
may be connected to a cassette recorder
REMOTE
(or other recording device).
PROGRAM
Under no circumstances should this output be connected to a power L ZONE 2 OUT: This is the output to be used for a second room system. It
amplifier. 12V OUT IN IN should be connected to the amplifier in the second room. The output GND AM
TRIGGER ZONE 2 LOCAL
Note that this230V
output is muted when the source is set to tape, to SPEAKER
level varies with the volume control for the second room. ZONE 2 PRE OUT TAPE OUT TAPE IN GAME TV AV IN
~
prevent feed-back
50 – 60HZ loops.
OUTPUT
CD OUT L
xxW
MAX
CD OUT: This carries the digital output from the CD and DAB (where fitted)
PRE OUT: To improve the sound quality still further, or if you require more R stages of Solo, and can be used for making digital recordings using
than the 50W/channel that Solo offers, an external power amp. or compatible recording devices (such as MiniDisc). When a CD is being R
subwoofer can be connected. For a subwoofer, a 2-phono to single- played, this output carries a signal with a sample rate of 44.1kHz; with
SERIAL NO.
phono adapter cable will be required, which should be used to connect DAB radio, the signal sample rate is 48kHz.
the pre-out sockets to the input of the subwoofer. For a power amplifier,

Remote control inputs/outputs and the 12V trigger

These connections are intended for use in multi- IN ZONE 2– Use this connector if you are using RS232 control
Listening with headphones room installations. Normally there is no need to a second room system that has a remote Solo is fitted with an RS232 serial connector that
make any connections to these sockets. If you sensor. The external sensor is used to allows remote control from a PC, or similar device.
The front-panel of Solo
would like to make use of these features, however, receive the signals from the remote control, In normal use, it is unlikely that this connector
has a socket allowing
please download the document ‘Solo Remote which are then fed to Solo (into this input) will be used. If you wish to experiment with this
the connection of
Control’ from our web-site (www.arcam.co.uk), using a suitable cable. remote-control method, however, full details of
headphones. To use
which includes advice on how to make these OUT – This output carries all signals from the remote-control protocol can be found on the
headphones with Solo,
connections. the front-panel remote-control receiver, Arcam web-site.
plug the headphones
12V TRIGGER – This output provides a 12V signal plus commands received through the
into the socket on the
���� ������ ����whenever
�� the unit is switched on (i.e., not two external sensor inputs ������
left hand side of the front
off or in stand-by). This signal can be used detailed above (‘In Local’
panel. When headphones
to switch on automatically power amplifiers and ‘In Zone 2’). This can be
are plugged into the �����
(or other compatable equipment) connected used to route remote-control REMOTE
headphones socket the PROGRAM
�� to Solo, as they will come on when Solo is commands to other equipment L
main speaker output
activated. (potentially in different 12V OUT IN IN
and the pre-amp. output TRIGGER ZONE 2 LOCAL
IN LOCAL – This allows remote control signals locations). For example, DVD-
are muted automatically 230V SPEAKER
to be received by Solo if the remote sensor player commands could be ~ OUTPUT
(Zone 2 output remains 50 – 60HZ
is covered (or otherwise not ‘visible’ to received by Solo, then routed xxW
active). MAX
the remote control). An external sensor is to a DVD player in a remote R
This socket accepts headphones with an used to receive the signals from the remote location using this output
impedance rating between 8Ω and 2kΩ, control, which are then fed to Solo (into this connector.
fitted with a 3.5mm stereo jack plug. The input) using a suitable cable.
headphone socket is always active, except
when Solo is muted.

E9
Radio aerial DAB
The type of aerial you should use depends Assembling the AM loop aerial
If the transmission signal is strong in your area on your listening preferences and the local
Your Solo is capable of superb radio reception, but then the supplied indoor aerial may be sufficient conditions. If you listen exclusively to FM
only if it is receiving a good quality transmission (it should be hung on a wall with both wires fully transmissions, for example, and the FM
signal. stretched out vertically). In weak signal areas, an signal strength is strong in your area, then
Solo is fitted with either a DAB/FM or an AM/FM external aerial is desirable in order to receive the a simple omni-directional aerial mounted in
receiver module, depending on where you bought highest number of services. your loft or on your roof may be sufficient.
it. Independent of which radio module is fitted to DAB transmissions can be in either ‘Band III’ Listening to DAB in a weak signal area will
your Solo, however, a roof-mounted aerial should or the ‘L-band’ (or both). To determine the require a high-gain, roof-mounted aerial.
be used wherever possible to obtain the best transmission frequency in your area, contact your For the best reception of both DAB and
reception. dealer, or refer to www.WorldDAB.org. In Band III FM signals, an aerial combiner box may
transmission areas, use a multi-element Yagi aerial be required (as shown in the diagram
if you are a long way from a transmitter, or use an opposite). This combines the signals
omnidirectional or folded dipole aerial if you are received by two aerials (one for DAB, the
close to more than one transmitter (in the U.K., other for FM), into one cable that then
a Band III region, this should be mounted with connects to Solo. If an aerial combiner
is not used, the single aerial chosen for 1. Release the tie-wrap and unwind the
the elements vertically, as the transmissions are
both DAB and FM reception may not give twisted lead. Fold the plastic stand forward
vertically polarised). If the DAB services in your
optimum performance in some regions. through the loop frame.
area are transmitted on L-band then consult your
dealer with regard to the best aerial to use. For the best advice, we recommend that
Whether you decide to install an external aerial, or you contact your local Arcam dealer or
opt to use the supplied ribbon cable, it should be aerial installation expert.
connected to the F-type (screw) connector labelled
‘FM’ on the rear of the unit.

FM/AM
An FM aerial is required to receive VHF radio signals, and an AM aerial is required to receive
AM/medium wave radio signals.

FM aerial
Although an FM ribbon aerial is supplied as an accessory to Solo, for optimal FM radio
reception a roof- or loft-mounted aerial is advised as this will give superior reception. In some
areas cable radio may be available or, in an apartment building, a distributed aerial system may
be installed. In either of these cases you should have sockets in your home marked FM or
VHF (do not use those marked TV), which should be connected to the connector labelled ‘FM’
on the rear of Solo.
VH If you wish to use the supplied FM ribbon cable, mount this as high up as possible on a wall
F/F with the ‘T’-elements positioned horizontally. Try each usable wall of the room to see which
M
DA gives best reception and use tacks or adhesive tape to secure the aerial in a T shape, but note
B that no tacks should come into contact with the internal wire of the aerial.

AM aerial
2. Push the tab into the open slot in the
An AM loop aerial is supplied as an accessory to Solo. This should be attached to the AM
base of the stand. Press until the tab clicks
aerial inputs on the rear of Solo with one end connected to ‘AM’ and the other to ‘Ground’ (it
home.
does not matter which way round this aerial is fitted). Make sure that the aerial is positioned
well away from Solo itself, TVs, computers and other sources of RF ‘noise’. Rotate the aerial
to discover which position gives the best reception.
In areas of weak reception, or when Solo is in use inside a steel-framed building (such as an
apartment building), a wire between 3 and 5 metres long can be used to strengthen reception.
Mount this high up outside the building (if possible) and connect one end of this wire to the
‘AM’ part of AM aerial input, in addition to the loop aerial supplied (do not disconnect the AM
loop aerial).

aerial combiner
3. Connect the leads to the AM socket at the
rear of the Solo. Rotate the aerial’s stand
until you obtain the best reception.

E10
 Product configuration Key to the symbols used on these pages:
Solo allows you to adjust listening settings to suit your
Front panel Remote control

English
taste, and to customise various features to fit your system. Symbol: key: key:
Use the diagram shown below to help you navigate through

advanced
the available settings.

Adjusting listening settings

features
������

‘Switch on’ state In normal use, the display shows information on the current
volume, the source being listened to, and any source-
relevant information (such as the play-back time on a CD). To
adjust the listening settings, press MENU on either the front- ������

panel or on the remote control. Use the keys as indicated to

select and adjust a particular setting.

Left Right Balance

This setting allows you to increase the volume of one
channel (left or right) relative to the other channel. It should
not normally be necessary to adjust this setting but, if
you habitually sit closer to one speaker than to the other,
–dB +dB altering the balance may help to restore the stereo image
for your listening position.

Bass OK
��

This setting changes the relative volume of the lower

–dB +dB frequency components of your music. If you feel that your
music is not ‘warm’ enough, increase this setting; if your music is ‘boomy’, decreasing this setting may
help.
See also ‘Bass correction’, below. Note that the control is inactive when headphones are connected.
–dB +dB Treble
This setting changes the relative volume of the higher frequency components of your music. If you feel
that percussion items in the music (for example) are being lost, increasing this setting may help. If high
frequency sounds are too dominant, decrease this setting.
– + Note that the bass and treble controls are inactive when headphones are connected.

Bass correction
Only if source This setting does not normally need to be used (leave on minimum).
is CD Bass correction may be used if Solo is connected to reduced-frequency-range (‘Small’) speakers, that
cannot reproduce very low frequency sounds. Increasing this setting causes very low frequency sounds
to be progressively attenuated (since these cannot be reproduced by the speaker), while the volume of
slightly higher-frequency sounds is increased. This means that the overall bass ‘amount’ produced by the
Only if source speaker sounds the same as a full-range (‘Large’) speaker.
is FM You cannot damage any part of your system using this setting, so we suggest that you experiment with it,
together with the bass and treble controls, until you find the combination you prefer.

Sleep timer
Only if source This timer allows you to specify a listening period, after which Solo will switch automatically into stand-by.
is DAB The period can be set in 5-minute intervals, up to 120 minutes (2 hours).
Erase
settings CD programme
OK If you wish to program the play-back order of a CD,
CD programming:

Only if source is press OK when this menu item is displayed. The CD 34 Highlight the track to add
Scan for available stations
OK DAB, FM or AM play-back order is then entered as described in the “CD
programming” panel, shown right. When you have finished OK Add track to programme
entering the programme, press MENU to leave program
–Preset +Preset “mode”. Press MENU for a second time to leave the Solo CLR Delete the last entry
Confirm preset
OK configuration menu.
Press STOP twice (remote only)
FM Mode STOP to clear the entire programme.

This menu item is shown only when the selected source is

Confirm preset –Preset +Preset FM.
OK In some weak signal areas, it can be beneficial to force the FM tuner to mono output, as mono requires a
much lower signal strength to produce acceptable results. If the signal strength in your area is good, leave
this set to ‘stereo’.

E11
DAB Setup Setting the clock and alarm
This menu item is shown only when the selected source is DAB. When Solo is in stand-by, press MENU to set the clock or alarms.
There are two options under this menu item – ‘Scan’ and ‘Erase settings’. Selecting ‘Scan’ causes Solo Use the left and right buttons on the remote control to select the item to change, then use the up and
to search for new DAB stations. If any are found, then they will be added automatically to the list of down buttons to change the value. For example, after pressing MENU to enter the clock/alarm setting
available stations. menu, pressing up and down will change between setting the clock and setting one of the alarms.
Scanning for new stations does not erase old stations that are no longer transmitted – over time, or if Solo allows up to four different alarms to be set.
you change location, this may lead to you having a number of stations in your list that cannot actually be
received. In this case, select ‘Erase settings’, then perform a new scan; when the scan is complete, only Stopping or pausing an alarm
stations that are available currently in your area will be shown. To stop an alarm ringing, press the power button on the front-panel or remote control. Alternatively, press
OK to enter ‘snooze’ mode; the alarm will re-sound after a 10-minute delay. To cancel snooze-mode, press
Set Preset the power button.
This menu item is shown only when the selected source is DAB, FM or AM.
See the section ‘Programming station presets’ on page 7 for more information.
Confirm
Adjusting Zone 2 volume settings
Press and hold MENU on the front panel until ‘Z2 Vol’ is displayed, then use the volume control to
decrease/increase the Zone 2 volume. Press MENU again to exit.
Previous Set the
day
Next

Earlier Set the time

Later
(minutes) OK
Exit to
Setting the clock Earlier time-of-day
Set the time display
Later (hours)

12HR
Set 12/24
24HR hour clock
Previous item Next item

Select an alarm
or set the clock
Stand-by state Stand-by state
Off Set alarm
on or off
On
Previous item Next item
Earlier Set hours
for alarm
Later

Earlier Exit to
Set minutes
time-of-day
Later for alarm display
Setting alarms
AM Set AM
or PM
PM

Off Set alarm days

Alarms go off at the scheduled
time for highlighted days. In this on or off
On
example, alarms are set to go off
on weekdays only.

Select a
signal source

E12
 English
technical
specification

Pre-amplifier FM receiver
Inputs RF tuning range 87.5–108MHz
Maximum input level 2.5Vrms Sensitivity (typical) 2µV
Input impedance 47kΩ Signal/noise ratio (at 200mV) 58dB
Signal/noise ratio 105dB Distortion (THD at 200mV) 0.5%
Co-axial outputs
AM receiver (where fitted)
Maximum output level 2.5Vrms
RF tuning range 522–1611kHz
Output impedance 500Ω
Signal/noise ratio (at 200mV) 40dB
Optical output (TOSLINK)
Distortion (THD at 30% modulation) 1.5%
Sample rate 44.1kHz (with CD playback),
48kHz (with DAB receiver),
otherwise muted. General
Amplifier Supply voltage 100V, 115V or 230V AC,
depending on shipping region
Continuous power output, per channel, 80kHz measurement bandwidth Power consumption Stand-by 3.2W;
Both channels, 4Ω, 1kHz 75Wrms, 0.013% THD+n Operational 50W (typical), 400W (maximum)

Distortion, both channels 4Ω, 80% power, 1kHz 0.011% THD+n Size (W x D x H) W430mm x D350mm x H79mm
Weight (net) 7.75kg
CD play-back
Weight (packed) 10.5kg
DAC Wolfson 24-bit multilevel Delta-Sigma DAC Supplied accessories Mains lead
Frequency response (±0.5dB) 20Hz–20kHz Wire dipole aerial (Band III)
Remote control handset and two AAA batteries
DAB receiver (where fitted) Instruction manual and registration card

DAC AKM 96kHz 24-bit Delta-Sigma DAC Radio interference

RF tuning range 174–240MHz (Band III) Solo is an audio device containing microprocessors and other digital electronics. It has been designed to
1452–1490MHz (L-band) very high standards of electromagnetic compatibility.
If Solo causes interference to radio or television reception (which can be determined by switching Solo
Sensitivity (typical) –98dBm (VHF measurement to EN50248)
off and on), the following measures should be taken:
Input impedance 50Ω n Re-orient the receiving antenna or route the antenna cable of the effected receiver as far as
possible from Solo and its cabling.
Audio data rate (maximum) 224kbits/s MPEG layer II, protection level 3
n Relocate the receiver with respect to Solo.
Number stored services (maximum) 128 n Connect the receiver and Solo to different mains outlets.
If the problem persists, please contact your Arcam dealer.

E13
 product
guarantee

Worldwide Guarantee
This entitles you to have the unit repaired free of charge, during the first two years after purchase, at
any authorised Arcam distributor provided that it was originally purchased from an authorised Arcam
dealer or distributor. The manufacturer can take no responsibility for defects arising from accident,
misuse, abuse, wear and tear, neglect or through unauthorised adjustment and/or repair, neither can they
accept responsibility for damage or loss occurring during transit to or from the person claiming under the
guarantee.

The warranty covers:

Parts and labour costs for two years from the purchase date. After two years you must pay for both parts
and labour costs. The warranty does not cover transportation costs at any time.

Claims under guarantee

This equipment should be packed in the original packing and returned to the dealer from whom it was
purchased, or failing this, directly to the Arcam distributor in the country of residence.
It should be sent carriage prepaid by a reputable carrier -– not by post. No responsibility can be accepted
for the unit whilst in transit to the dealer or distributor and customers are therefore advised to insure the
unit against loss or damage whilst in transit.
For further details contact Arcam at:
Arcam Customer Support Department,
Pembroke Avenue, Waterbeach, CAMBRIDGE, CB5 9QR, England.
or www.arcam.co.uk.

Problems?
If your Arcam dealer is unable to answer any query regarding this or any other Arcam product please
contact Arcam Customer Support at the above address and we will do our best to help you.

E14