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POWERLIGHT 2A
User Manual
Manuel de l’utilisateur
Bedienhandbuch
Manual del Usario
PL218A
PL2A Audio Power Amplifiers
• PL224A
with Analog Signal Processing
PL230A
*TD-000089-00* PL236A
TD-000089-00
Rev.B
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EXPLANATION OF GRAPHICAL SYMBOLS The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous” voltage within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to humans. The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying th
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Explanation of Graphical Symbols.......................................................2 CONNECTIONS: Inputs................................................................................21 FCC Interference Statement....................................................................2 Outputs............................................................................22 INTRODUCTION: SECURITY PANEL USE & INSTALLATION...................................................24 PL2A Ser
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INTRODUCTION: PL2A OVERVIEW Thank you for the purchase of your new POWERLIGHT 2A amplifier. To get the most The POWERLIGHT 2A is easy to use. All operating mode switches are grouped out of your amplifier, review this manual carefully. The installation and operation together on the rear panel. These critical switches have color-coded LED’s to sections provide proper connection and operation guidelines. positively confirm switch position. A brilliant blue LED on the front clearly indicates whe
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INTRODUCTION: PL2A OVERVIEW REAR PANEL 1. DataPort 2. Terminal block inputs 3. Configuration switches 4. XLR inputs 5. Speakon outputs 6. Binding post outputs 7. Cooling air inlet vents 8. Serial number label 9. IEC connector for AC power cord 9a. Power cord retaining clip (install on item 8) SIDE PANEL 1. Low pass delay network SIP* socket (J5) 2. Crossover frequency network SIP socket (J4) 3. Subaudio filter push-button switches (1 per channel) 4. Subaudio filter “on” indicator LEDs (1 per
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FEATURES & SETUP- REAR PANEL SWITCHES: INPUT CONFIGURATION INPUT CONFIGURATION- This switch selects between STEREO or PARALLEL input configuration. The indicator LED’s above the switch confirm the switch setting. STEREO: Each input is sent to its respective channel. Each channel has independent subaudio filtering, clip limiting, gain control, and outputs. In STEREO mode, a full-frequency signal may be presented to each channel. When to use STEREO input configuration: Use STEREO for stereo sourc
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FEATURES & SETUP- REAR PANEL SWITCHES: MODE MODE- This switch selects between BI-AMP, 2 CH, or BRIDGE modes of operation. The indicator LED’s above the switch confirm the selection. BI-AMP: This puts the amplifier into a “crossover” mode. CH 1 receives the low frequencies and CH 2 is receives the high frequencies. The th crossover is a 4 order Linkwitz-Riley. The crossover frequency and low- frequency alignment delay are “programmed” with SIP (single in-line package) resistor networks . These sm
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FEATURES & SETUP- REAR PANEL SWITCHES: DATAPORT INPUT SIGNAL DATAPORT INPUT SIGNAL- This switch selects the regular inputs or the DataPort inputs, and allows the DataPort to enter before or after the analog processing. WARNING: There is no DataPort “flag” for this setting, so the appropriate setting must be confirmed manually. OFF: If the DATAPORT CONNECTION is not being used, set to the OFF position. The DataPort MONITOR SIGNALS and STANDBY are still active, but the DataPort input signals will
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FEATURES & SETUP- REAR PANEL SWITCHES: GAIN-SENSITIVITY SELECT GAIN-SENSITIVITY SELECT- This switch selects the gain structure of the amplifier. Each channel runs through a gain buffer which allows all models to have either a uniform 1.2 Vrms input sensitivity or a uniform 26 or 32 dB of voltage gain (all measured with the GAIN controls at maximum). The internal signal leaving this stage is approximately +4 dB, leaving about 16 dB of headroom for the rest of the signal processing. NOTE: The GA
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FEATURES & SETUP- SIDE PANEL SWITCHES: SUBAUDIO FILTER and SUBAUDIO FREQUENCY The side panel cover plate must be removed to access the side panel switches. CH1 SUBAUDIO FILTER, CH2 SUBAUDIO FILTER- These push-button switches are used to turn on or off the SUBAUDIO FILTER for each channel. Press the switch in for ON; the green LED illuminates when the filter is ON. Push in and allow the switch to release for OFF; the green LED extinguishes when the filter is OFF. The filter’s roll-off frequency i
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FEATURES & SETUP- SIDE PANEL SWITCHES: LO FREQ DELAY and HF ATTEN LO FREQ DELAY- This switch is active only when the amplifier is in BI-AMP mode. This switch controls an additional analog delay which adds to the inherent delay of the low frequency filter. The amount of delay is determined by the SIP programming network installed in the DELAY NETWORK socket (J5). DELAY OFF disables the delay. ENABLE LO FREQ DELAY activates the delay. Refer to the SIP network value selection chart for more informa
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FEATURES & SETUP- SIDE PANEL SWITCHES: HORN BOOST HORN BOOST- These switches are only active when the amplifier is in BI-AMP mode. These switches work in combination to control the amount of high-frequency horn boost. The horn boost is adjustable from 0 to 14dB in 2dB steps as measured at 20 kHz. Add the values of the selected switches for the total boost. 12
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FEATURES & SETUP- SIDE PANEL SWITCHES: POWER LIMITER POWER LIMITER: Each channel has its own limiter with independently adjustable threshold and time con- stants. A ten-section switch for each channel controls the limiter settings. LIMITER ACTIVITY LED’s: Just below the CH 1 and CH 2 labels you will note a clear circle which has a yellow LED behind it. Each LED illuminates only when its limiter is reducing gain. Therefore, the LED activity tells you how hard the limiter is working and shows the
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FEATURES & SETUP- SIDE PANEL SWITCHES: POWER LIMITER (continued from previous page) FAST- Set both POWER LIMITER SPEED switches to FAST. This setting produces 20 milliseconds (0.020 seconds) of release time. The AVG mode will produce 8 milliseconds of attack time, and PEAK mode will produce less than 1 millisecond of attack time. This setting will have low distortion down to about 1 kHz. It is suitable for high frequency protection, but will cause a distinctly “muddy” effect when used on full r
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FEATURES & SETUP- SIDE PANEL SWITCHES: CLIP LIMITER POWER LIMITER TRACKING- continued The high frequency driver requires a lower power threshold and fast limiting response. Try the FAST setting and the PEAK mode. Short peaks will be limited aggressively, but signals will return to normal almost instantly. This response (fast with low threshold) would have too much “ducking” and low frequency distortion for use with full range material. Once each driver has optimal protection, you need to make th
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FEATURES & SETUP- SIDE PANEL: CROSSOVER & DELAY NETWORK SELECTION & INSTALLATION SIP RESISTOR NETWORK INSTALLATION GUIDELINES AND SELECTION DECODING SIP NETWORK RESISTANCE VALUES INFORMATION (see note below decoding chart) Your PL2A amplifier is shipped configured to order with SIP networks installed. If the factory set up is not applicable for your application,then you will need to know your desired crossover frequency and low frequency delay time in order to select the corresponding SIP resist
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FEATURES & SETUP- SIDE PANEL: CROSSOVER & DELAY NETWORK SELECTION & INSTALLATION Turn the power to the amplifier off before removing or installing SIPs! The SIPs may be installed “either way”. The SIPs are symmetrical and thus perform identically no matter which end points to the left or right. This completely eliminates “polarity” errors that might otherwise arise. The side cover plate must be removed to access the SIP sockets. Be sure to reinstall the side cover plate after installing the SIP
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FEATURES & SETUP: DATAPORT, FRONT PANEL LED INDICATORS, GAIN CONTROLS DATAPORT CONNECTOR The PL2A amplifier features a QSC DataPort connector which connects to accessory products to enhance your amplifier application. The CM16a Amplifier Network Monitor can remotely control and monitor your PL2A amplifier. The DSP-3 digital signal processor can mount directly to the rear of your PL2A amplifier, adding an incredible amount of processing power in a small, powerful module at a very competitive pri
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INSTALLATION: RACK MOUNTING AND MOUNTING DIMENSIONS Before installing into equipment rack: ensure that all side-access DIP switches and crossover SIPs are setup as desired. They will be impossible (or extremely difficult) to change after the amplifier is installed in the rack. The side cover plate should be installed to keep dust and foreign material out of the chassis. Securing the Front Ears to the Rack Rails Use four screws and washers when mounting the PL2A amplifier to the front rails. Supp
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INSTALLATION: FAN COOLING & AC MAINS FAN COOLING The fan varies speed automatically to maintain safe internal temperatures and minimize noise. Keep the front and rear vents clear to allow full air flow. Hot air exhausts out the front of the amp so it does not heat the interior of the rack. Make sure that plenty of cool air can enter the rack, especially if there are other units which exhaust hot air into it. Keep the front and rear vents clear to allow full air flow. Make sure that plenty of co
