THE HUBBLE -a phono preamplification instrument by Sutherland Engineering OWNER’S MANUAL
A note from designer RON SUTHERLAND: Thank you for purchasing the new Sutherland Hubble phono preamplifier, an instrument for discovery and exploration. With it, you can look deeply into the most subtle details of your treasured music collection. From any view point, the dove-tailed integration of aesthetics, performance, and technology will affirm your choice to include it in your music system. It will earn your respect as a long-term, collaborative teammate.
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY A Blank Sheet of Paper...a perfect beginning A new product is a new opportunity for perfection. With perfection as the goal, the Hubble started with the only absolute, perfect beginning – a blank sheet of paper. Each element added to the perfect start was meticulously scrutinized and evaluated before its inclusion. To avoid clutter in general, and especially in the signal path, only essential ‘must have’ elements were allowed on the list.
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY a ‘good’ thing. Each channel will be affected in the same way, arriving in the listening room with the relative difference in channel information preserved. Thus, all the stereo information, ambience and spatial clues are maintained. But some designs are more ‘dual-mono’ than others. There is an opportunity to pull away from the ordinary by paying meticulous attention to construction and layout details.
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY MUST HAVE PHYSICAL CIRCUIT PLATFORM Once a circuit topology is optimized for sound quality, it is critical that the surrounding physical environment does not compromise that achievement. Anytime two conductors are at a different voltage potential, there is an electric field generated between them. Dielectrics within that field become involved in charge storage. If not carefully consider, that extra charge storage can time smear details of a musical signal.
OPERATION Initial Set Up Release the top cover by removing the eight knurled screws on the bottom plate. Audio boards are located on the left side of the enclosure. On the left side of each circuit board you will find headers for receiving the plug-in configuration boards. The Hubble is shipped with a cartridge loading of 100 Ohms and a gain of 60 dB. If you wish to change those values, locate the appropriately labeled plug-in board.
OPERATION Installing Batteries Power is furnished with sixteen alkaline ‘D’ cell batteries. With normal operation, each set will last for approximately 1,000 hours of ON time. Install the batteries end-to-end with the negative terminals toward the large spring. Orient them as shown in the photo. If they are installed incorrectly, no damage will be done. Low Battery Indication It is unlikely battery voltage will drop significantly within a year of listening time.
HUBBLE specifications Size 17” wide 3.25” high 16.75” deep Gain settings 45 dB 50 dB 55 dB 60 dB Cartridge Loading 100 ohms 200 ohms 475 ohms 1k ohms 4.75k ohms 47.5k ohms Weight (without batteries) 22 lbs. net 27 lbs. shipping Power Requirements 16 Alkaline ‘D’ cells Battery Life 1,000 hours (actual power-on time) THE HUBBLE www.sutherlandengineering.
