Tate Fosgate 101A connections in system

[63909]

Hi All,
having just got one of these, I've done the 230V conversion and the PSU caps. Everything powers up and there's no evidence of anything amiss at the moment, so I'm at the stage of connecting it up and seeing what the result is. I've downloaded the instruction manual and although its got a few examples of the setups - I can't really see how to integrate it into my system, so I'm after some advice:
I have a Preamp and two matched Stereo power Amps. The manual seems to imply using the tape monitor switches to supply the Tate and the rear amp - then the preamp out to the front amp? The tate has front and back outputs, can these not be connected to the poweramps and the preamp output go to the tate input, or is the tape monitor output used to give a fixed signal so the Tates controls run the volume settings? If anyone has any pointers I'd appreciate it. No great rush as I have to re make the Phono output connection board anyway as there's no chance of fitting any decent RCA's side by side to it - too narrow.
Thanks
Joe

 

[Sonik Wiz]

Hi All,
having just got one of these, I've done the 230V conversion and the PSU caps. Everything powers up and there's no evidence of anything amiss at the moment, so I'm at the stage of connecting it up and seeing what the result is. I've downloaded the instruction manual and although its got a few examples of the setups - I can't really see how to integrate it into my system, so I'm after some advice:
I have a Preamp and two matched Stereo power Amps. The manual seems to imply using the tape monitor switches to supply the Tate and the rear amp - then the preamp out to the front amp? The tate has front and back outputs, can these not be connected to the poweramps and the preamp output go to the tate input, or is the tape monitor output used to give a fixed signal so the Tates controls run the volume settings? If anyone has any pointers I'd appreciate it. No great rush as I have to re make the Phono output connection board anyway as there's no chance of fitting any decent RCA's side by side to it - too narrow.
Thanks
Joe

I don't see any need to be concerned about the tape inputs/outputs.

Just plug your TT, disc spinner, what have you into the appropriate inputs on your preamp. Take the preamp outputs and plug into the Fosgate main inputs. Take the Fosgate decoded outputs & connect to the inputs on your power amps..

Bonus tip: In your member profile there is a spot to list your equipment set up in detail. Strictly optional but it can be a big help for others to check when replying to questions like this.

 

[par4ken]

Hi All,
having just got one of these, I've done the 230V conversion and the PSU caps. Everything powers up and there's no evidence of anything amiss at the moment, so I'm at the stage of connecting it up and seeing what the result is. I've downloaded the instruction manual and although its got a few examples of the setups - I can't really see how to integrate it into my system, so I'm after some advice:
I have a Preamp and two matched Stereo power Amps. The manual seems to imply using the tape monitor switches to supply the Tate and the rear amp - then the preamp out to the front amp? The tate has front and back outputs, can these not be connected to the poweramps and the preamp output go to the tate input, or is the tape monitor output used to give a fixed signal so the Tates controls run the volume settings? If anyone has any pointers I'd appreciate it. No great rush as I have to re make the Phono output connection board anyway as there's no chance of fitting any decent RCA's side by side to it - too narrow.
Thanks
Joe

Yes the most logical (to you and I) hookup is the one not shown. It was assumed that people would use a quad receiver or stereo receiver with a separate rear amplifier. The idea of totally separate preamp and separate power amps is not really addressed. If you are using integrated amplifiers (which include controls such as volume balance and tone controls), then you are all set. The stereo pre-amplifier would connect to the Tate inputs. The tape output will give a steady well balanced level to the Tate. The Tates volume control can be used as a master volume control and you can fiddle with the volume and balance and tone setting of the amplifiers to suit.

If you have power amplifiers (non-integrated) that lack any controls then you are stuck with using the Tate's volume and balance controls only. You will also have no provision for adding discrete sources. The level has to be set by the preamplifier output and the Tate input, it needs a properly adjusted input level. For that reason it is normally best to use the tape output to connect to the Tate. If you instead connect the Tate to the preamplifiers main output you will be able to make use of the units tone controls, but beware that if the channels don't closely track it will degrade decoding.

Myself I use a separate stereo pre-amp and then a home built quad preamp after the decoder incorporating all the controls tone, balance, volume and extra inputs that you would find in a quad receiver. I tend to forget that most people aren't set up that way. My amplifiers are just that; amplifiers pure and simple with no controls, just input and output jacks.