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LISA III TRANSPORTABLE

STEREO HEADPHONE
AMPLIFIRE

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Standard and XP Editions
Congratulations for choosing Our LISA III Amplifier for your
Mobile music system. This Amplifier uses definitive circuit design
augmented with the finest Electronic components to provide you
with the concert hall experience anywhere in the World. TRIAD
Audio’s transportable mobile Amplifiers take your Music beyond
what smaller less sophisticated Amplifiers provide by a wide margin
providing the most accurate reproduction of your portable Audio
devices. LISA III is sonically pure so you will not be embarrassed
when used in your primary High End Music system. Please take a
quiet moment to Read these operating instructions to obtain the
Most Pleasure from your new Amplifier.

This fine Amplifier will provide years of trouble free service if


operated properly and these provide you with this information,
Enjoy…
2008PPL
The LISA III Portable headphone Amplifier represents the
accumulation of over 6 years into the refinement of My
Buffered Multi-Loop Portable Headphone Amplifier Topology
Utilizing a Dedicated ground Channel to Drive the Headphones
Differentially and avoid the Contamination of the Systems
Quiet Ground by the Reactive Load created from Back EMF
(Electromotive Force) of the Headphone drivers. The Original
version of this Amplifier (The PPA), More commonly Known as
“Phil’s Portable Amplifier”. “Defined The Art” for Portable
Headphone Amplification. This Amplifier retains the Basic Core
structure of the PPAv2, However adds a substantial size
Reduction and a more efficient Multi-Loop Negative feedback
Circuit topology than the Original. The LISA III is intended to
provide Reference quality reproduction of Audio Information
into the Finest Dynamic headphones available; however is slim
enough to fit into an overcoat pocket or in with your PDA This
Amplifier will effortlessly drive any Quality Dynamic
headphone to astonishing loud Listening levels with ultra low
noise and distortion. Every aspect of technical performance
that pertains to sound quality is State of the Art. Frequency
response is Ruler flat from DC to beyond the Ultrasonic Band.
This assures no phase shift throughout the Audio range to
completely eliminate time smear caused by Excessive Group
Delay. Noise and Distortion are vanishing low and are orders of
magnitude below audibility. Thanks to Dyn-O-Bias III this
impressive performance only cost about 22 mA resulting in a
typical runtime of about 8-10 Hours of operation at normal
listening levels, With High capacity MAh rechargeable 9 Volt
batteries or up to 25 Hours on Alkaline. The best sound quality
is obtained from NI-MH rechargeable types as included in the
LISA III.
Electrolytic capacitors used in the critical Voltage gain stage
circuits to filter noise off the power supplies and store energy
are OS-CON types. OS-CON is short for "Organic
Semiconductor" a completely new type of capacitor. OS-CON's
have much lower high frequency impedance characteristics
compared to typical aluminum oxide electrolytic capacitors.
This allows OS-CON types to shunt more high frequency noise
into ground and away from the active devices. The Low High
frequency impedance of OS-CON’S allow the Elimination of
Metalized Film capacitors in the Power supply that is typically
required to By-pass the conventional Electrolytic capacitors.
The Only Film capacitors employed are in the Bass boost and
the Ground Channel the Ground Channel utilizes the lowest
loss capacitors available. Polystyrene Film and Foil Type
Polystyrene capacitors have long been recognized as the king
of audio quality capacitors owing to their outstanding
Dielectric Absorption characteristics. The Bass Boost Circuitry
of the LISA III Employ’s capacitors of Polypropylene with a
Metalized Film, This type is the lowest loss best sounding
capacitor for values used in the Bass Boost Circuit.
The Remaining Component Quality is first rate with 1% Mil
Spec RN-55 Dale resistors. The Volume control is the Alps
RKO97; this is chosen for its quiet operation and long life as
well as its diminutive size. The Chip set is at the Leading edge
of Analog Monolithic technology and incorporates the splendid
sounding AD744 Operational Amplifier in the Right and Left
Amplifier channels. The Wide bandwidth and ultra low noise of
the AD829 serve Duty in the ground channel so as to provide
ultra low output impedance well beyond the Operating range
of the Right and Left channels. The Output Current to the
Headphone Load is provided by Three (3) discrete component
Dynamically Biased High Current Output stages providing
plenty of current for any dynamic headphone.
This splendid circuit is built upon FR4 Glass Epoxy Printed
circuit board with two full ground planes, one on the
Component side of the PC board and the other of the same
geometry upon the Bottom of the Board. All electronic
components mount upon the PC board including the switches
and headphone jack to eliminate the rat’s nest of wires most
often found in other Amplifiers. By board mounting each and
every components makes it possible to control exactly where
each conductor is located and thus avoid any possible
interaction between foils, moreover the twin ground plains
form a complete copper shield around all foils regardless of
what side of the PC Board they are located on ground plane
references all stray capacitances to ground and not to an
unintended alternate path. Only the input Jacks are not PC
board mounted, however we provide foils right at the point
that the jacks connect to the Jacks eliminating long wire
lengths. This type of construction results in improved
Reliability by elimination of interconnecting wires. The All
Board mounted assembly Concept maintains close unit-to-unit
consistency and allows lower manufacturing costs to allow us
to bring such a superb product to you at an extremely
attractive price. The Chassis represents the pinnacle of
efficiency by utilizing an existing Extrusion augmented with
tasteful front and rear panels of Solid machined Metalwork.
Optionally available are custom Wood Panel fittings on-to the
standard Extrusion with Minimum delay and Prompt
dependable delivery of this Fine Audiophile component. The
Chassis is tasteful in design, resulting in clean attractive styling
that is at home both ultra Modern interior environments as
well as speaking very favorably to others about your Style
while traveling.
Just one Audition is all it will take for you to know you are
listening to a unique Amplifier with Emotion and dynamics
both in abundance, yet allows the Music to naturally fade into a
velvety background of silence. Texture those subtle shadings
within your music is something LISA III is so good at revealing
that other Amplifiers may sound Boring in comparison.
The primary reason for TRIAD Audio to introduce such an
incredible Headphone Amplifier at so attractive of a price
represents our labor of Love we have for our Craft and the
desire to allow more people to enjoy the Same High Quality
sound they get from fine Audiophile Home Systems while away
on Holiday or traveling. The splendid sound of this Definitive
Product will leave you refreshed and relaxed as you now can
enjoy the same thrilling sound quality you are used to at Home
anywhere you can go and once you have arrived at your
destination Time spent listening to your favorite Music
reproduced in all its stunning glory with LISA III may take you
places not shown on any map.
The various electronic and mechanical component parts within
the Audio system have as much of an impact upon sound
quality as they do with areas of Reliability and performance. It
is with sensibilities attuned to the sound quality of an
Electronic component in addition to its technical aspects that is
used in the hand selection process for LISA III components.
The definitive technology within the LISA III is supported with
component Parts that are hand selected for the highest
performance and sound Quality. The chosen components play
well together, For this a Synergistic approach is used to assure
complete system harmony and have an outcome that is far
greater than the sum of its parts. LISA III takes your music
beyond what portable Audio has in the past by creating a more
high performance and sophisticated portable Amplifier that
TRIAD Audio likes to call TRANSPORTABLE and thus define the
standards for this new and exciting product category.
LISA III AMPLIFIER OPERATING PRECAUTIONS:

• Do not expose amplifier to moisture, rain or water, direct sunlight or extremely


high temperatures.

• Always, insure that amplifier used with an approved External DC power supply

• Always, Disconnect D.C. power supply at the Amplifier before changing


batteries and prior to opening the case.

• When replacing batteries use only NI-MH types of the approved type and
capacity. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel for XP Models.

• Avoid direct contact with any Electronic component that is damp or wet with
chemicals or water, as a safety chemical hazard might exist.

• To handle batteries, use gloves or a paper towel to prevent contamination of


battery electrolyte to your Skin, clean off any residue from Contacts and the
Amplifier interior prior to reassembly.

• Depleted batteries Must be immediately recharged or disposed of; allowing


depleted batteries to remain inside the unit may present a chemical safety and
environmental hazard.

• Properly dispose of depleted batteries by returning worn out batteries to an


approved battery-recycling center.

• Use only the correct DC Power Voltage and ascertain the Voltage present at
the DC power Connector is no more than 28 Volts and no less than 22 volts and
the center pin is positive with the outer sleeve negative.

• do not use uncased, for proper operation LISA III is intended to be fully
assembled prior to operation do not operate the Amplifier outside of its cabinet.

• Avoid damage to your Headphones and other playback equipment, turn off
power to all related components before making any connections.

• Do not use excessive force in handling Knobs buttons and switches.

• Disconnect the power plug from the D.C. Adaptor if the unit is to be stored for
an extended period.

• Do not use solvents such as benzene or paint thinner to clean the unit. Wipe off
the exterior with soft cloth.

• Immediately, turn off the Power and disconnect the mains power cord in the
unlikely event of equipment malfunction and when the batteries are depleted,

• Do not poke around or disturb Electronic parts inside your amplifier. Other than
batteries (Non XP model), there are no user-serviceable parts inside the LISA III.
Limited Liability Statement

Care should be exercised when using This Device. Triad Audio


has know way of controlling the Use of this device or choosing
the personnel that will operate this device, therefore Triad
Audio Cannot take steps to comply with Product Liability Laws,
including but not limited to Laws requiring notification of the
Dangers, if any of operating this device and any associate
Equipment used in conjunction with this Device. Therefore,
acceptance of this device by the customer shall be conclusively
deemed to include a covenant by the customer to defend.
Indemnify and hold TRIAD Audio its employees and
subcontractors harmless from any product Liability claim
arising out of the use of this device. Triad Audio assumes the
customer understands how to use this device and how it is to
be connected to other Equipment and under what conditions
constitute safe use of this device and or the system this device
is a part of. TRIAD Audio will not under any circumstances be
liable for any damages whatsoever, including any special,
indirect, incidental, consequential or exemplary damages
resulting from the use or loss of use of the Amplifier, due to any
cause, even if TRIAD Audio has been advised of the possibility
of such damages. In any event, TRIAD Audio’s total liability to
you for all damages (Whether based on contract, torte or other
theories) will be limited to the amount you actually paid for the
Amplifier in question Some states and jurisdictions do not
allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or
consequential damages so the above limitation may not apply
to you.
Connecting the AC Adaptor
The LISA III is powered by ether the Internal 9 volt batteries or an External AC
adaptor outputting 24 Volts DC at 200 Ma into a 5.5 X 2.1 mm Coaxial DC power
Connector, With the Center (+) positive and the ring (-) Negative. It is highly
recommended that a regulated AC adaptor used with this Interment because
applying a voltage greater than 27 volts will damage the Amplifier.

The DC power Jack is shown on the Right hand side of the rear of the unit as
shown in the above illustration. The two jacks on the left are the Analog inputs for
the Right and Left Audio information from the Source. The LISA III accepts
Unbalanced RCA type plugs with the red as the Right Input and the Black as the
Left input as per International Industry standards.
Servicing the batteries

The batteries inside the LISA III are (2) two nine Volt Application rechargeable
batteries and are recharged while installed in the amp and the Amp is connected
to an External DC power supply or AC Adaptor of 22-24 Volts. Normally the
batteries once installed do not require frequent service; however, in the event
that service is required. The below outlined procedure is required to properly
service the batteries.

(1) Disconnect all external devices from the Amplifier including the
Headphones and the Audio Input cables but most importantly the AC
adaptor plug Remove the 4 fasteners at the corners of the front panel this
unsecured front panel and the Circuit board containing the Batteries are
now easily slide out of the Extruded Body of the Case as shown in the
Below illustration

(2) After Removing the 4 fasteners at the corners of the front panel this
unsecured front panel and the Circuit board containing the Batteries are
now easily slide out of the Extruded Body of the Case as shown in the
Below illustration
The batteries are now available for service and are affixed to the Circuit board
with Double sided reusable adhesive tape and are connected electrically with
conventional 9 Volt battery Clips. See illustration below

After removing the Battery from the circuit Board, you may now remove the
Battery Electrical contact clips. Do not attempt to remove the Battery clips prior to
removing the battery from the Circuit board.

It is advisable to use extreme care at this point in the procedure to prevent


mishaps like broken wires and mechanical damage to the Electronic components
or the Battery Clips

The Above illustration shows the batteries reinstalled and the Amplifier ready to
reassemble.
Connecting the Audio Source

The Audio source defined for this instance as the device you intend to connect
your Amplifier. This can include a Compact disc player, A Personal Audio player
or DAP as they are called or any other stereo Line level output. This Amplifier will
not amplify the output from a Microphone or phonograph pick-up. Only Line level
Sources may be connected. The Power switch on LISA III Must turned off until all
connections to the amplifier are complete including the Headphones. The
Volume and bass controls should be turned fully counter clockwise or there
minimum positions. Illustrated below is the analog input cables connected.

The Right connected to the red Jack and the Left input connected to the black
jack
LISA III Portable Headphone Amplifier
Technical Specifications

Device Type Solid State (IC Op-Amp/Buffer Discrete


hybrid)
Class of Operation DYN-O-BIAS II> Dynamically biased non
Switching output stage..

Bass Boost parameters +3dB@160Hz +12dB@ 32Hz. Maximum

Frequency Response Frequency Response @ 100 mW Into a 45


Ohm Load.
D.C.-1.6 MHz. Within +0 to - 3dB
D.C.- 600 KHz. Within +0 to - 1 dB...

Signal-to-Noise Ratio Signal to Noise ratio relative to Rated


Power Output. Input Shorted > 100 dB
“A” Weighted..
Total Harmonic Distortion Typical Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
@ rated Output 15–30,000Hz
@15 Hz.___@1KHz.___@ 30 KHz.
< 0.09%___ < 0.04%___ < 0.05%
Stereo Crosstalk >95dB @ 1KHz...

Voltage Gain 13.141dB (Av= 4.54)

Input Impedance 50K ohms /100pF...


Input Sensitivity 200mV to 3.0Vrms...
Less than 0.3 Ohms DC-20KHz & < than 1
Output Impedance
ohm @ 200KHz..

Output Voltage 5.0 Volts RMS from DC- 500KHz @ 1,000


Ohms...

Minimum Continuous sine wave Power Internal Batteries 9.6v Load Impedance
Output Per channel from 20-20,000Hz 470 mW_ 14 Ohms
With less than 0.1% THD + Noise 270 mW 32 Ohms
200 mW_ 45 Ohms

Inputs/Outputs (2) RCA inputs, (1) ¼” Inch headphone


output...

Operating Voltage 20-24 VDC@50mA..

Power Consumption 26 mA Quiescent..

Chassis Dimensions Inches 6.7” (L) x 3.1” (W) x 1.06” (H)


MM 170.2 (L) x 78.8 (W) x 26.9 (H)...
XP Model same as above except 1.7” (48.2)

Weight 14 Grams standard 28 Grams XP Model


LISA III SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM
POWER SUPPLY SECTION

The above schematic diagram is one of (4) sections of the complete LISA III
Amplifier. All sections are contained upon one PC Board.
LISA III SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM
GROUND CHANNEL SECTION

The above schematic diagram is one of (4) sections of the complete LISA III
Amplifier. All sections are contained upon one PC Board
LISA III SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM
LEFT CHANNEL SECTION

The above schematic diagram is one of (4) sections of the complete LISA III
Amplifier. All sections are contained upon one PC Board
LISA III SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM
RIGHT CHANNEL SECTION

The above schematic diagram is one of (4) sections of the complete LISA III
Amplifier. All sections are contained upon one PC Board
LISA III COMPONENT LOCATIONS
COMPLETE AMPLIFIRE

Standard and XP Edition

XP Edition only with CARDAS Upgrade

The standard Model contains (2) 9 Volt NI-MH Rechargeable Batteries Installed
Onboard. The XP edition deletes the 9 volt batteries and the board connects to the high
capacity AA battery Pack. Other than the resistor determining the charge current both
the XP and standard model are identical.

The schematics and related technical documents are intended for the convenience of
Qualified Electronic technicians. Publication in this user’s manual does not imply that the
user should repair, modify or perform any service activity with the exception of servicing
the (2) 9 volt transistor type batteries…

TRIAD Audio
Canyonville,Oregon. 97417
U.S.A.

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