Owners Manual

Inputs 2.1
Connect to any line level source component using a standard RCA cable.
Rear
Front
Introduction
Anni is a next-generation ‘headphone amplifier+’ that complements the high
quality of our multi-award-winning Qutest DAC and Huei phono stage. We
took a dierent approach to the design and created a powerful headphone
amplifier+ which belies its compact dimensions: Anni is also capable of driving
loudspeakers, regardless of size.
Accurately controlled across the entire audio bandwidth with extraordinary
low frequency capability, Anni’s protection circuitry allows for the delivery of
enormous peak current outputs for its size whilst avoiding overdrive; it does this
dierently to other amplifiers on a half-cycle by half-cycle basis. If the output
of the amp is being over-driven, Anni will detect it and collapse the waveform
on each over-driven, half-cycle. So not clipping like other amplifiers but instead
going from a completely undistorted waveform to one that is missing half-cycles
i.e. it becomes heavily distorted suddenly until the level is slightly reduced. Then
the music signal will totally recover without any harm occurring to the amplifier
or speaker, with the music being once again undistorted.
Power on/o 3.1
With connections successfully made (as per section 2.0), and volume set to
zero, press the power button. The button will display green, before settling
on cyan. Pressing the power button again puts the unit in standby; the
button will display red.
Note: if either of the headphone outputs are connected, the power button
will display green to show the speaker output has been disconnected. If the
headphones are then removed, the power button will revert to cyan and the
speaker output will become active.
Select an input 3.2
Select input 1 or 2 by pushing the volume knob sequentially. Input 1 is
indicated by a blue LED ring, input 2 is red.
Amplifier operation 3.3
With connections successfully made and with volume set to zero, select the
input, press play on the chosen source and adjust Anni’s volume accordingly.
Connections and
controls
Operation
2.0 3.0
6.35 mm (1/4 inch)
headphone output
Volume control/input
select
3.5 mm headphone output
12 V DC output
Speaker output left
channel
Speaker output right
channel
Line level inputs 1 and 2
15 V DC power input
General operation and
important information
1.0
Chord Electronics
Anni | Manual
_
Connecting to loudspeakers 2.2
Connect to the loudspeaker using 4 mm banana-plug-terminated speaker
cable, observing polarity.
Ground terminal
Gain
button
Power
button
Connecting to headphones 2.3
Using the front two outputs, connect headphones with 6.35 mm (1/4-
inch) or 3.5 mm terminations to Anni and the output will automatically be
selected. The volume controls both headphone outputs simultaneously: they
are not independently controllable.
Headphone operation 3.4
Anni has both 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) and 3.5 mm headphone outputs, which
can be used both individually or simultaneously meaning two can listen.
With the volume set to zero, connect to one or both headphone outputs and
slowly increase the volume.
Note: if connecting headphones when music is already playing through
the loudspeakers, a short delay will be experienced before the headphone
output becomes active (to protect the amp). In addition, low gain will be
automatically selected. Removing the headphones (with speakers still
connected) will revert the output signal back to the speakers.
Input 1 Input 2
Right speaker
channel
Left speaker
channel
6.35 mm
headphone
3.5 mm
headphone
Input 1 Input 2
Power connection
Anni is supplied with an external power supply and has been designed to
be permanently connected to a power source. Connect the included 15 V supply
to Anni. If hum occurs, use the ground terminal to connect to an available
earth point. Always set the volume to zero before playback and before
connecting/removing headphones.
Connections and controls
2.0