Tandberg TCA 3008 A Review

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IPMENT PROFILE V

TANDBERG
3008A
PREAMP
AND

3009A AMP

Manufacturers Specifications

Preamplifier

Frequency Response: Line inputs.
20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0, -0.1 dB; 1.6
Hz to 250 kHz. :3 dB. MM and MC
phono inputs. FtlAA 20 Hz to 20 kHz,
:02 dB.

Maximum Output: 10 V at clipping

level.

THD (New IHF Standard): 0.004%
for MM and MC inputs, 0.003% for
"Digital Disc" inputs. 0.007% for line
inputs.

Phono Input Sensi 'vity tor 0.5 V
Output at 1 kHz: 10 mV input for
MM, 60 p.V for MC.

Phono Input Overload: 290 mV for
MM, 17 mV for MC.

5/" Ratio: 74 dB, A-weighted. for
MM input: 78 dBA for MC input; 95
dBA for line inputs.

High-Level Sensitivity: 70 mV.

Phono Input Impedances: Selec-
table, 33/47/100 kilohms paralleled
by 20/120/350 pF for MM cartridges:
150 ohms for MC cartridges.

Dimensions: 171/3 in. W x 3% in. H
x 13% in. D (43.5 cm x 8.3 cm X
34.9 cm).

Weight: 39.9 lbs. (18.1 kg).

Price: $795.

Power Amplifier

Power Output: 20 Hz to 20 kHz. 200
watts rms continuous into 8 ohms.
330 watts rms into 4 ohms. 456 watts
rms into 2 ohms; 1,512 watts peak
(pulse) power into 0.5 ohm.

Rated THD: Less than 0.05%, 1 to 2
ohms; less than 0.01%. 8 ohms.

Frequency Response: 0.07 Hz to

1.5 MHz, +0, -0.2 dB at 1 watt
output.

SIN Ratio: 94 dB referred to 1 watt
into 8 ohms. A-weighted; 117 dB re-
ferred to 200 watts into 8 ohms.

IM Distortion: Less than 0.05% at
rated output.

Damping Factor: 250, wide-band,

Input Sensitivity: 150 mV for 1 watt
output, 2.12 V for rated output.

Slew Rate: 250 V/pS.

Rise-Time: 0.9 (LS,

Dimensions: 17%; in. W x 3% in, H
x 133/4 in. D (43.5 cm x 8.3 cm x
34.9 cm).

Weight: 25 lbs. (11.3 kg).

Price: $995.

Company Address: Labriola Court.
Armonk. NY. 10504.
For literature, circle No. 90

The 3008A preamplifier and 3009A power amplifier sit at
the top of Tandberg's line of stereo products. These slim.
attractive, Scandinavian-styled components represent the
latest in Tandberg's thoughts about audio design. Their
circuitry employs discrete components (no le). polyester
capacitors (with low dielectric absorption) and metal-film
resistors in the signal path, and minimal amounts 01 overall
negative feedback-features believed by many audiophiles
to be necessary for the best sonics.

The 3009A is rated to deliver 200 watts into 8 ohms and a
staggering 1.512 watts (pulsed) into 0.5 ohm. The unit, an
adaptation of the firms 3006A stereo amplifier, is a monau-
ral, high-current design that can deliver very high power into
speaker loads, even ones with very low impedances. The
low-impedance capability was intended for those who wish
to drive several loudspeakers wired in parallel. or speaker
systems with an intrinsically low load impedance such as
the Apogee Scintilla. (The Scintilla can be configured as a
4- or a 1-ohm speaker, and many audiophiles feel it sounds
better in the 1»ohm configuration.)

The black chassis of the Tandberg amp and preamp are
of rack width but lack mounting "ears." Each unit stands
only 3% inches high. and their 133/4-rnch chassis depth is
convenient for placing these components on shelves or wall
units. The 3009A weighs only 25 pounds, unusually light tor
a ZOO-watt mono amplifier.

Our samples came with rosewood side panels which
allow two monaural amplifiers to be stacked for stereo use
(single rosewood panels are also available). We have srnce
learned that Tandberg does not recommend this arrange-
ment for optimum performance, but we found it produced
no ill effects.

Control Layouts

The preamps front panel features a large number of
controls. At the far left are the on/otf switch and the head-
phone jack and its volume control. Next come tour buttons
which control monitoring and two-way dubbing facilities for
two tape decks. Near the front panels center are buttons lor
the subsonic filter and the tone-control defeat. the bass and
treble tone controls, and buttons ior stereo/mono and loud-
nessacompensation switching. At the right is a rotary input
selector. wrth positions for "Tuner." "MC" (moving-coil) and
MM" (moving-magnet) phono cartridges. and Digital
Disc." At the far right is a small balance control and a large.
detented volume control.

On the preamps rear panel are the signal, ac, and
ground connections. The high-level signal jacks include
inputs and outputs for two tape decks, inputs for a tuner and
a CD player. and the main preamp outputs. The phono
stage has separate pairs ol jacks for the MM and MC inputs.
Loading for MM cartridges is controlled by two toggles, one

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AUDIO/JANUARY 1986

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selecting load impedances of 100. 47 or 33 kilohms. and the
other selecting load capacitances of 20, 120 or 350 pF. The
back panel also features an unswitched ac. output rated at
600 watts. and three switched outputs rated at a total of 300
watts. A fuse. a switchable 115- or 230»V ac input. and a
detachable line cord make up the remainder of this highly
functional back panel.

The amplifier's front panel contains only a power switch.
an LED power»on pilot light Just above the switch. and a
second LED mounted at the front panels right side. which
serves as a clipping indicator. The rear panel holds nickel-
plated signal input connectors. and tive-way speaker bind-
ing posts of somewhat nonstandard design. Like the
preamp. the amp has a detachable line cord.

Mechanical Construction

The usual approach to audiophile-component construc-
tion is to make components that are as heavily built as their
professional equivalents. but neater. and to pay little atten
tion to styling beyond the functional. Tandberg took a differ-
ent course. Instead ol the usual. heavy chasss with bolted»
on panels. Tandberg built this amp and preamp around light
but strong (and attractive) aluminum extrusions. The strong-
est ones. logically enough. make up the front and rear
panels. Lighter extrusions for the sides serve as attachment
points for the side covers and for a number of sheet-metal

subchassis that hold internal components in place These
subchassis. and the liberally vented bottoms, are of thin.
dull-finished sheet steel. The tops are made of two heavy.
slotted extrusions which look into place. covering the at
tachment screws. This technique minimizes the number of
screw heads Visible on the top and side cover panels. thus
enhancing the components appearance. but may lack the
strength of a more unitized assembly All chassis compo-
nents are held together with sheetemetal screws rather than
the machine screws which we prefer While we would not
recommend this construction for professronal use (and
abuse). we find it adequately strong for its Intended home
applications. The light chasSis. dull-steel bottom and inter»
nal structures. and cost-eliective lasteners make it clear that
Tandberg favors external cosmetics over internal overbuild-
ing; audiophiles who worship the innards of their compo-
nents Will not be as pleased We prefer less slick, more
purely functional styling, but all thats a matter of taste.

In the rear two-thirds of the arnplrlier chassis. vertical.
chimney-type heat-Sink castings flank and support the large
torOidal transformer. The venting of the top and bottom
leaves a number of open areas to act as flues for these heat
radiators. making a fan unnecessary despite the amplifiers
slim design.

The quality of the maior Circuit boards and the compo-
nents on them is just what you'd expect for a product in this

AUDIO/JANUARY 1986

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