Madison PHONO
Installation Guide
1. Unboxing
Your Madison Phono comes with the following elements:
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1 Madison Phono
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1 external 5V DC power supply
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1 power cord
When unpacking the Madison Phono, verify that all components are present and in good condition. If any parts are missing or if you notice any signs of damage, contact your retailer or Wattson Audio for assistance.
We strongly recommend keeping the original packaging. It is designed to protect the Madison Phono during transport if the unit needs to be moved or shipped in the future.
2. Safety notice
The Madison Phono is high-quality audio equipment and should be handled with care to ensure optimal performance and longevity. When setting it up, follow these basic precautions:
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Always handle with care and install your Madison Phono on a stable base.
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Do not install your unit near water, nor expose the unit to any liquid.
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Do not install in direct sunlight or near any heat source, such as radiators or other significant heat sources.
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Do not operate under high ambient temperatures (>35°C) or with extremely high humidity (>85%), such as in humid cellars.
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Use only with the external power supply supplied by Wattson Audio.
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Only use options and accessories specified or recommended by Wattson Audio.
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Do not open the unit or try to service it yourself. Always refer to a qualified technician for service or maintenance.
Symbols used:
DC power
Functional Earth (FE)
Specific regional considerations:
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🇩🇰 Apparatets stikprop skal tilsluttes en stikkontakt med jord som giver forbindelse til stikproppens jord.
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🇫🇮 Laite on liitettävä suojakoskettimilla varustettuun pistorasiaan.
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🇳🇴 Apparatet må tilkoples jordet stikkontakt.
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🇸🇪 Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag.
3. Placement and position
Your Madison Phono is designed to rest on the four feet located beneath its enclosure. For proper performance, place it on a flat, stable, and solid surface.
With its low power consumption, the Madison Phono generates minimal heat and does not require active ventilation. It can be placed on top of furniture or inside a cabinet. To maintain performance, avoid covering the unit or placing it near a heat source or in direct sunlight.
4. Input stage choice
Your Madison Phono comes with one of the three available input stage options. These options are referred to as Current, Voltage, and Optical and are designed to match different types of phono cartridges.
1. Voltage
This is a traditional voltage-sensing input stage that suits Moving Magnet cartridges as well as high-impedance Moving Coil cartridges.
2. Current
The current sensing input uses a transimpedance amplifier providing very high performances with low impedance Moving Coil cartridges. This circuit reduces sensitivity to cable characteristics and avoids the issue of load impedance.
3. Optical
Designed specifically for DS Audio optical cartridges, this input stage implements a transimpedance amplifier for current sensing as well as a precise power source for the optical transducers.
Please make sure your Madison Phono is equipped with the input stage that matches your cartridge type. An incorrect pairing could damage the cartridge.
The input stage model is shown on the rear panel of the Madison Phono. Its label is located below the RCA input sockets.
5. Connectors
Before making or changing any connections to the Madison Phono, ensure that the unit is switched off.
1. AC Power
Connect the provided AC power chord into the external power supply AC Mains input.
For safety and performance reasons, it is important to plug the AC power supply into an outlet with earth.
2. Power Supply DC Input
Connect the external power supply output cable to the circular connector labeled DC IN. Only use the external power supply supplied by Wattson audio: the one that comes standard with the product or the Madison Power S.
Madison Phono DC Pin Configuration
The Madison Phono requires 5.0 V DC with a maximum current of 2.0 A.
3. Network - optional
Use a network cable (not supplied) to connect one of your router’s outputs to the NET input at the rear of your Madison Phono. You will hear a “click” once the cable is correctly wired. The network connection allows firmware updates and device status control but is not mandatory for operation.
4. Optical digital audio output
Your Madison Phono is fitted with an optical TOSLINK digital output, labelled TOS. Use it to connect to a Madison Streamer or a third-party external DAC.
5. Coaxial digital audio output
Your Madison Phono is fitted with a coaxial S/PDIF digital output, labelled COAX. Use it to connect to a Madison Streamer or a third-party external DAC.
6. Stereo single-ended RCA analog outputs
The Madison features a high-quality digital-to-analog converter that transforms the processor's digital output into an analog signal. Use these outputs to connect the Madison Phono to the analog inputs of a pre-amplifier or an integrated amplifier.
7. Stereo single-ended RCA analog inputs
Connect the turntable’s cartridge output cable to this RCA pair. Be sure that your Madison Phono is equipped with the input stage that matches the cartridge type.
8. Earth terminal
Use the earth terminal for the earth wire of your turntable’s tonearm.
6. Getting started
Once all connections have been made and the power cable is connected to an AC wall socket, the Madison Phono is ready to be switched on. The standby LED will be lit on the front panel.
Press the main control knob once. All LEDs will illuminate and flash during startup. When the unit is ready, the LEDs will indicate the current settings.
You may now begin playing your records.
7. Using the rotary knob
The rotary knob is used to access and adjust the Madison Phono’s settings.
The LEDs arranged in a semicircle around the left side of the knob indicate the available functions. Turn the knob to select a function. The LED corresponding to the selected function will flash slowly.
Press the knob to adjust the selected function. One of the LEDs in the horizontal bar will then flash slowly to indicate the current setting. Turn the knob to change the setting, then press the knob again to confirm.
The LED will flash three times to indicate that the new setting has been saved.
8. Setting the gain and input impedance
To change the gain setting, turn the knob to the GAIN position and press the knob once. Turn the knob to select the desired gain level, then press the knob again to confirm your selection.
The appropriate gain setting depends on the output level of the cartridge. Refer to the table below for guidance.
For the Current input, the indicated gain levels are based on a cartridge impedance of 10 Ω. The Current input does not require load-impedance matching.
For the Voltage input, the gain setting is linked to the input impedance. LOW and MID are intended for Moving Magnet cartridges. HIGH and MAX should be used with Moving Coil cartridges.
The Optical input uses a transimpedance amplifier similar to the Current input. It does not require load-impedance matching.
A higher gain setting will produce a higher playback volume. You may experiment with the available settings to determine which gain level works best with your cartridge.
During playback, a brief flash of the GAIN LED indicates that the input stage has been overloaded. The Madison Phono includes an automatic limiter to prevent signal clipping, so occasional flashing is not a cause for concern. If the GAIN LED flashes frequently, reduce the gain setting by one level.
9. Selecting the right curve
Records produced today follow the RIAA equalization standard. For this reason, RIAA will be the correction curve used in most applications and is indicated by its own dedicated LED.
To select a different equalization curve, turn the knob to the CURVE position and press the knob once. Turn the knob to select the desired curve, then press the knob again to confirm your selection.
When a non-RIAA curve is selected, the CURVE LED remains lit to indicate that a specific correction curve is active.
To return to RIAA equalization, turn the knob until the RIAA LED flashes, then press the knob to confirm.
10. Activating the subsonic filter
The Subsonic filter is useful when playing warped records. In these cases, you may notice unusual movement from your loudspeakers’ woofers. The Subsonic filter attenuates frequencies below 15 Hz to help prevent this behavior.
To activate the Subsonic filter, turn the knob to the SUB position and press the knob once. Turn the knob to select ON or OFF, then press the knob again to confirm your selection.
When the Subsonic filter is active, the SUB LED remains lit as a reminder.
11. Playing in mono
The Mono function combines the left and right channels to produce a monaural signal. This can be useful when playing mono records, vintage recordings, or in specific listening configurations.
To activate mono playback, turn the knob to the MONO position and press the knob once. Turn the knob to select ON or OFF, then press the knob again to confirm your selection.
When mono playback is active, the MONO LED remains lit as a reminder.
12. Switching the Madison Phono to standby
Although the Madison Phono consumes very little power when switched on, we recommend switching it off or placing it in standby mode when it is not in use.
To place the Madison Phono in standby mode, press and hold the rotary knob while the unit is switched on. The LEDs will fade out, and only the standby LED will remain lit. Power consumption in this mode is minimal.
To switch the Madison Phono back on, press the knob once briefly.
13. Firmware update
From time to time, firmware updates may be released to improve performance, add refinements, or correct issues in the Madison Phono’s internal control software.
The update procedure uses the Madison Phono’s network connection and is carried out through a web page hosted by the unit itself.
At this time, no firmware updates are available. The Madison Phono uses the factory-installed firmware version. Detailed update instructions will be added to this manual when the first firmware update is released.
14. Troubleshooting
If the issue cannot be resolved using the information above, disconnect the unit from the AC wall socket and contact your authorized dealer for assistance.
