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Amplifi er Application Guide
®
© 2006 by Crown Audio
Inc., 1718 W. Mishawaka Rd., Elkhart, IN 46517-9439 U.S.A.
Telephone: 574-294-8000. Fax: 574-294-8329.
www.crownaudio.com
®
®
®
®
®
®
Trademark Notice: Amcron
, BCA
, and Crown
, Crown Audio, IOC
, IQ System
, ODEP
and
®
VZ
are registered trademarks and Grounded Bridge™, PIP™ and PIP2™ are trademarks of
Crown Audio, Inc.
Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
133472-1A
1/06
Amplifi er Application Guide
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Summary of Contents for Crown 133472-1A
- Page 1 Amplifi er Application Guide ® © 2006 by Crown Audio Inc., 1718 W. Mishawaka Rd., Elkhart, IN 46517-9439 U.S.A. Telephone: 574-294-8000. Fax: 574-294-8329. www.crownaudio.com ® ® ® ® ® ® Trademark Notice: Amcron , BCA , and Crown , Crown Audio, IOC...
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Page 2: Important Safety Instructions
The information furnished in this manual does not include all of the details of design, production, or variations of the equipment. Nor does it cover every possible situation which may arise during installa- tion, operation or maintenance. If you need special assistance beyond the scope of this manual, please contact our Technical Support Group. -
Page 3: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents Introduction ... 4 Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth ... 5 1.1 Rack Cooling ... 5 1.1.1 Fan-Assisted Models ... 5 1.1.2 Convection-Only Models ... 6 1.2 System Wiring ... 7 1.2.1 Input Wiring ... 7 Input Connector Wiring ... 7 Balanced, Grounded Source ... -
Page 4: Introduction
Introduction This application guide provides useful information designed to help you best ® use your new Crown amplifi er. It is designed to complement your amplifi er’s Operation Manual, which describes the specifi c features and specifi cations of your amplifi er. Helpful guides and tips on subjects such as system wiring and system gain structure, for example, should be helpful to you whether you are a beginner or a seasoned professional. -
Page 5: Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi Ers In-Depth
Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth his chapter provides information to help you get optimum performance from your Crown amplifi er. It is a collection of techniques that can help you avoid many of the common problems that plague sound systems. For further study on many of these topics, refer to the recommended publications listed in the Appendix. -
Page 6: Convection-Only Models
sides) is not blocked or covered by cables. Also, if your Crown amp has foam fi lters, they can be cleaned with mild dish detergent and water when needed. The side walls of the rack should be at least 2 inches (5 cm) away from the chassis for amps with side venting as shown in Figure 1.1. -
Page 7: System Wiring
Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth 1.2 System Wiring The information in this section covers making input and output wiring connec- tions, as well as troubleshooting problems relating to system wiring. 1.2.1 Input Wiring Input Connector Wiring Refer to the following diagrams for input cable wiring for commonly-used con- nector types. -
Page 8: Unbalanced, Grounded Source, Twin-Lead Shielded Cable
Unbalanced, Grounded Source, Twin-Lead Shielded Cable For use with components equipped with three-wire grounded AC line cord or other ground connection. Unbalanced, Grounded Source, Single- Conductor Coax or Twisted-Pair Cable For use with components equipped with three-wire grounded AC line cord or other ground connection. Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi... -
Page 9: Solving Input Problems
Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth Input Wiring Tips 1. For all input connectivity, use shielded wire only. Cables with a foil wrap shield or a high-density braid are superior. Cables with a stranded spiral shield, although very fl exible, will break down over time and cause noise problems. -
Page 10: Output Wiring
Figure 1.5 Balanced RFI Filters 1.3 Output Wiring 1.3.1 Output Connector Wiring 5-Way Binding Post If the amplifi er is set for Stereo (Dual), connect the positive (+) and negative (–) leads of each loudspeaker to the appropri- ate Channel 1 and Channel 2 output connectors as shown in Figure 1.6. -
Page 11: Barrier Block
Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth Barrier Block If the amplifi er is set for Stereo (Dual), connect the positive (+) and negative (–) leads of each loudspeaker to the appropriate Channel 1 and Channel 2 output connectors Figure 1.9 Barrier Block Wiring for Stereo Figure 1.10... - Page 12 3b. If the Mode switch is in the “Stereo” posi- tion (for stereo con- fi guration), connect the positive (+) and negative (–) leads of each wire to the appropriate Chan- nel 1 and Channel 2 connectors as shown in Figure 1.14.
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Page 13: Amplifi Er Load Impedance
Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth Figure 1.18 Connector Assembly: Bushing onto Connector Housing Assembly Figure 1.19 Connecting the Speakon plug to the mating connector To connect the Speakon plug into the mating connector on the speaker, line up the notches between the insert and the mating connector, then insert the plug and turn one quarter-turn clockwise as shown in Figure 1.19. - Page 14 Each speaker has an impedance rating, typically 4 or 8 ohms. Connect- ing one 8-ohm speaker to an amplifi er channel presents an 8-ohm impedance to the channel. If two or more speakers are wired to the same channel, the net impedance presented to the channel will be either more or less than one of the speakers alone, depending on whether they were wired in series or in paral-...
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Page 15: Determining Appropriate Speaker Wire Gauge
Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth 1.3.3 Determining Appropriate Speaker Wire Gauge You should choose loudspeaker cables with suffi cient gauge (thickness) for the length being used. The resistance introduced by inadequate loud- speaker cables will reduce both the output power and the motion control of the loudspeakers. -
Page 16: Solving Output Problems
Two different types of fuses are required for thermal protection and voltage protection. Slow-blow fuses are usually selected to protect loudspeakers from thermal damage because they are similar to loudspeakers in the way they respond to thermal conditions over time. In contrast, high-speed instrument fuses like the Littlefuse 361000 series are used to protect loudspeakers from large transient... -
Page 17: Sub-Sonic Currents
Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth Figure 1.25 Inductive Load (Trans- former) Network input line (similar to the RF fi lters described in Section 1.2.2). 8. Install input wiring according to the instructions in your amplifi er’s Opera- tion Manual. from prematurely activating its protection systems and to protect inductive Figure 1.26 loads from large low-frequency currents is to connect a 590 to 708 µF nono-... -
Page 18: What Is Constant Voltage
level to drive the speaker, and are connected across the wires (see Figure 1.26). The combination of transformer and speaker line presents a much higher impedance to the amplifi er than would the speaker itself, making it possible to add many speakers to a single home run. In distributed speaker systems, as the ratio of voltage to current become greater, less power is lost on the home run. - Page 19 Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth Figure 1.27 Typical Single-Amp, Stereo, Two-Way Hookup Figure 1.28 Typical Two-Amp, Bridge-Mono, Two-Way Hookup Amplifi er Application Guide...
- Page 20 When you use an active crossover to split the power drive to the loudspeaker components, you gain a wide range of advantages, including: 1. Increased gain because the insertion loss of passive crossover networks is eliminated. 2. Consistent power bandwidth: power bandwidth is changed in multi-way pas- sive systems if transducers change impedance or vaporize (blow up).
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Page 21: Fault Monitoring
Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth Figure 1.31 RJ Jack Wiring and Pin Assignments to remotely monitor the amplifi er’s fault status. To set up a circuit that will cause an LED to light whenever a fault status occurs, you can simply use the suggested circuit shown in Figure 1.30. -
Page 22: System Levels
Chapter 1: Crown Amplifi ers In-Depth 1.6.1 System Levels When setting system gain, start at the front of the system and work your way toward the amplifi er. A system with the lowest noise fl oor and maximum overall gain will have most of its gain early in the signal chain. -
Page 23: Chapter 2: Troubleshooting
Chapter 2: Troubleshooting Troubleshooting his section provides fl owcharts to assist you in troubleshooting problems with your amplifi er. In some situations the problem may not be with the amplifi er, but rather may be caused by a system condition. The fl... -
Page 24: No Power
2.1 No Power No Power Is amp plugged in to the AC source? Is the Power (Enable) switch on? Is the Power (Enable) indicator lit? Is an IQ System controlling amp? Refer amp to service center. Plug amp in to the AC source. -
Page 25: No Sound
Chapter 2: Troubleshooting 2.2 No Sound Figure 2.3 No Sound No Sound Check AC Power to Is Power or amp. See "No Power" Enable indicator on? Are signal Check signal source indicators for adequate output. blinking? Are the level Turn up level controls controls until you hear output. -
Page 26: Bad Sound
2.3 Bad Sound Bad Sound Is source signal Check levels and/or clean and indicators at source undistorted? level for clipping. Is there a See "Hum and Hum or Buzz Buzz" in sound? Section 1.2.2. 2.4 Amp Overheating Are ODEP Amp overheating. indicators (if See "Amp equipped) dim or... -
Page 27: Chapter 3: Glossary Of Terms
Chapter 3: Glossary of Terms Glossary of Terms his section provides a handy glossary of terms used in the discussion of profes- sional audio amplifi ers. Some terms are unique to Crown amplifi ers. Most of the terms provided do not directly relate to amplifi ers, but as amplifi ers are but one piece of a larger audio system, are often used when discussing amp usage. - Page 28 In audio terms, a Bus is a point in a circuit where many sig- nals are brought together. For example: Most electronic items have a Ground Bus where all of a device’s individual ground paths are tied together. In mixers, we have Mix Busses, where multiple channels’...
- Page 29 Chapter 3: Glossary of Terms manifests itself as some type of hum, static, or buzz. Such electromagnetic fi elds are produced by fl uorescent lights, power lines, computers, automobile ignition systems, televi- sion monitors, solid state lighting dimmers, AM and FM radio transmitters, and TV transmitters.
- Page 30 I Load/ I Limit Indicator An indicator of some Crown amplifi ers that shows current fl ow to the loudspeakers (“current load”) and the maximum cur- rent available from the amplifi er (“current limit”). Typically, the indicator will glow one color to indicate that current is fl owing to the loads connected to the amplifi...
- Page 31 Chapter 3: Glossary of Terms the amplifi er that allows a single input to feed two combined output channels in order to provide a single output with twice the current of an individual channel in Stereo or Dual mode. Peak On a graph of a sound wave or signal, the highest point in the waveform.
- Page 32 Sound Pressure Level (SPL) The acoustic volume or perceived loudness of sound, measured in decibels. SPL is a function of a signal’s amplitude. ® Speakon A type (and brand) of multi-pin connector developed by Neutrik which is now commonly found on speakers and amplifi ers intended to be used in high power mobile applications.
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Page 33: Appendix: Suggested Reading
Appendix: Suggested Reading his Appendix provides a a list of suggested publications for further reading about professional audio. Audio Systems Design and Installation by Philip Giddings, Phillip Giddings Paperback - 574 pages (1990) Sams; ISBN: 0240802861 Audio Systems Technology, Level I by James S. -
Page 34: North America
NORTH AMERICA SUMMARY OF WARRANTY The Crown Audio Division of Crown International, Inc., 1718 West Mishawaka Road, Elkhart, Indiana 46517-4095 U.S.A. warrants to you, the ORIGINAL PURCHASER and ANY SUBSE- QUENT OWNER of each NEW Crown product, for a period of three (3) years from the date of purchase by the original purchaser (the “warranty period”) that the new Crown product is free of... - Page 35 WORLDWIDE SUMMARY OF WARRANTY The Crown Audio Division of Crown International, Inc., 1718 West Mishawaka Road, Elkhart, Indiana 46517-4095 U.S.A. warrants to you, the ORIGINAL PURCHASER and ANY SUBSE- QUENT OWNER of each NEW Crown1 product, for a period of three (3) years from the date of purchase by the original purchaser (the “warranty period”) that the new Crown product is free of...