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PROFESSIONAL POWER AMPLIFIERS
Professional Power Amplifier
Professional Power Amplifier
Professional Power Amplifier
Professional Power Amplifier
Professional Power Amplifier
Professional Power Amplifier
OWNER’S MANUAL
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Important Precautions This symbol is used to alert the oper- 10. Power down & disconnect units from 20. Non-use periods. The power cord of ator to follow important operating mains voltage before making connec- equipment should be unplugged from procedures and precautions detailed tions. the outlet when left unused for a long in documentation. period of time. 11. Never hold a power switch in the This symbol is used to warn opera- “ON” position if it won’t stay there 21. Service Information Equipm
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Power Amplifier Owner’s Manual Table of Contents Introduction 5 Unpacking 5 Installation and Mounting 5 Front Panel 6 Rear Panel 7 Internal Configuration and Control 8 Operation 9 Connecting Power / Circuit Size Requirements 9 Cooling Requirements 9 Connecting Inputs 10 Connecting Outputs 10 Mode Selection 10 Stereo /Parallel/Bridged Mono Connections 12 ® TourClass Protection Features 14 User Precautions 15 Speaker Protection 15 Recommended Speaker Cabling 15 Maintenance 16 User Responsibility 1
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+ CA12, CA18 Front View Front height 5.25" 133mm Professional Power Amplifier Front width 19" / 483mm CA2-9 Front View Front height 3.5" 89mm Professional Power Amplifier Front width 19" / 483mm Rear & Side Views A A CA2 A + • • AB A 3.5" CA4 + A CA2-9 B 89mm A B •• A B CA6 + B B A B 1 2+ CA9 3- 1.375" 5-way binding post 17.9"/437mm (19"/483mm to rack ears) 18"/457mm version shown. 35mm 1 2+ 3- CA12 A A A CA18* CA12 5.25" • • AB 133mm A A CA18 B A B A B •• B A B Speakon version B shown. *Note:
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Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of a new CA Series professional power amplifier, and thank you for your confidence in Crest Audio products. You are among the growing number of audio professionals who have made Crest Audio one of the world’s leading suppliers of professional and commercial/industrial audio sys- tems. For your safety, please read the Important Precautions section before installing and operating the amplifier. The Crest Audio CA Series is based on the same advanced ci
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Front Panel 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 Professional Power Amplifier 1. Rack Mounting Ears. Never try to hold the Two front panel mounting holes are provided on each mounting ear. circuit breaker/power switch in the “ON” 2. Optional Rack Handles. position if it won’t stay Available from your authorized Crest Audio supplier. there itself! 3. Fan Outlet Grills. CA Series amplifiers are cooled by two, rear-mounted fans. Cool air flows over the heat sinks and exhausts through the front grills. Make sure these
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+ + Rear Panel See Appendix E for information specific to model CA18. A A CAUTION Designed & manufactured in the USA by: RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK A DO NOT OPEN AVIS : RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE—NE PAS OUVRIR WARNING TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. + ATTENTION! POUR ÉVITER LE RISQUE D'INCENDIE OU DE CHOC • • ÉLECTRIQUE, NE PLACEZ PAS CET APPAREIL SOUS LA PLUIE OU Á Crest Audio Inc. L'HUMIDITÉ AB 100 Eisenhower Dr. A Paramus, New Jersey
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Tip - Positive (+) 13-14. Balanced 1/4" (TRS) & XLR Input Connectors. Ring - Negative (-) These connectors accept input signals on balanced TRS and XLR input plugs. Sleeve - Ground ( ) See the figure at the left for information on polarity. Connectors for each chan- nel are in parallel; the unused connectors may be used for “loop through” con- nection to other amplifiers. NOTE: Unbalanced “Tip/Sleeve” plugs may be used with the balanced TRS “Tip/Ring/Sleeve” connectors. The “ring” terminal or n
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Operation Connecting Power / Circuit Size Requirements. CA Series amplifier power requirements are rated at: a) “idle” b) 1/8th power (“typical” music conditions) c) 1/3rd power (“continuous” music conditions) d.) maximum rated power (circuit breaker limited). The maximum power current draw rating is limited only by the front panel circuit breaker. Consult the spec- ifications in the Appendices section for figures on the current that each amplifier will demand. Make sure the mains voltage is cor
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Connecting Inputs. Use either the XLR or 1/4-inch input connectors on the rear to supply audio signals to your Crest Audio CA Series amplifier. Both connectors accept balanced and unbalanced audio connections. (The CA Series amplifiers are configured standard with “Pin 2 hot” on XLR inputs. Please note that some other Crest Audio amplifiers are configured with “Pin 3 hot”). The unused connector can be used to jumper the audio input to another amplifier input. For more information, see the sectio
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Mode Selection. The three-position, recessed Mode Select switch (located on the rear panel) configures the amplifier for either Stereo, Parallel or Bridged Mono Mode. Amplifiers are factory-configured for Stereo Mode. Stereo Mode. In Stereo Mode, both channels operate independently, with their input attenuators controlling their respec- tive levels. Signal at Channel A’s input produces output at Channel A’s output, while signal at Channel B’s input produces output at Channel B’s output. Recommen
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Stereo Mode Connections A or (5-Way Output Binding Posts) A A + NOTE: the Binding Post version A A of the CA18 features two pair of A + • • AB A + 5-Way Output Binding Posts. A B A B A B •• + B A B B 1 2+ 3- + B B B or Parallel Mode Connections A or (5-Way Output Binding Posts) A A + A A A + • • AB A + A B A B A B •• + B A B B 1 2+ 3- + A Bridged Mono Mode Connections (5-Way Output Binding Posts) Bridged/Mono or A A + 643-106 A A A A + • • AB A + A B A B A B •• + B A B B 1 2+ 3- Page 12 Crest
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Stereo Mode Connections A or (Speakon Output Connectors) - + A A 2+ NL4FC 1- A A A 2- • • AB A A 1+ B A B • • A B Speaker + to PIN 1 + B A B B 1 2+ Speaker - to PIN 1 - 3- + B B - or B A Parallel Mode Connections or (Speakon Output Connectors) - + A A 2+ NL4FC 1- A A A • • 2- AB A A 1+ B A B • • A B B Speaker + to PIN 1 + A B B 1 2+ Speaker - to PIN 1 - 3- + - A Bridged Mono Mode Connections Bridged/Mono or (Speakon Output Connectors) - A A + 2+ NL4FC 1- A A A • • 2- AB A A 1+ B
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® TourClass Protection Every model in the CA Series incorporates TourClass protection features. Derived from Crest Audio’s extensive experience with the world’s largest sound rental companies, the TourClass group of circuits sets the industry standard for assured protection of internal amplifier circuits and all connected loads. ACL (Active Clip Limiting). At the amplifier’s full power limit, or clipping point, ACL will be activated. This is indicated by illumina- tion of the Clip LED. The chann
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User Precautions Speaker Protection All loudspeakers have electrical, thermal, and physical limits which must be observed to prevent damage or failure. Cone or compression drivers can be damaged (sometimes to the point of failure) from excessive power, low frequencies applied to high frequency drivers, severely clipped waveforms, and DC voltage. All CA Series amplifiers automatically protect speakers from DC voltages and subsonic signals. For more information, see the TourClass Protection secti
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Maintenance A CA Series amplifier requires no routine maintenance other than occasional cleaning or replacement of the fan intake filters on the rear of the amplifier. (This operation does not require any tools). Filters must be kept clear and clean to ensure proper ventilation through the unit. If the amplifier is used in an extremely dusty or smoky environment, the filter should be cleaned or changed frequently and the unit should be peri- odically “blown free” (using compressed air) of any fo
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Appendices
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Appendix A - Amplifier Specifications 1kHz, 0.01% THD+N 8Ω Stereo Power 160W 250W 400W 600W 700W 1000W (.03% THD+N) 4Ω Stereo Power 250W 435W 600W 900W 1200W 1800W (.03% THD+N) 2Ω Stereo Power N/A 500W 750W 1000W 1400W 2500W (.03% THD+N) 8Ω Bridged Mono Power 500W 830W 1200W 1800W 2400W 3600W (.03% THD+N) 4Ω Bridged Mono Power N/A 1000W 1500W 2000W 2800W 5000W (.03% THD+N) 20Hz-20kHz, 0.1% THD+N 8Ω Stereo Power 150W 245W 350W 550W 650W 950W 4Ω Stereo Power 200W 400W 500W 800W 1100W 1700W 2Ω Ste
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Appendix B - CA Block Diagram R T CHANNEL A PREAMP + NON-INVERTED 2 ATTENUATOR OUTPUT STAGE 2 / 3 † 3 - INVERTED 1 PIN 2 / 3 + A A JUMPER + - (REAR PANEL SWITCH OUTPUT RELAY AMP FRONT END ON CA18) † PREAMP INCORPORATES INPUT BRIDGED SENSITIVITY/VOLTAGE GAIN JUMPER - (REAR PANEL SWITCH ON CA18) PARALLEL + - ATTENUATOR OUTPUT STAGE STEREO † R - SWITCH PREAMP T CHANNEL B AMP FRONT END OUTPUT RELAY B NON-INVERTED + 2 2 / 3 3 B INVERTED - 1 PIN 2 / 3 + JUMPER (REAR PANEL SWITCH ON CA18) Crest Audio C
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Appendix C - Wire Gauge Chart (Metric) 2 Stranded Cable Lgth. Wire Gauge (mm ) Power Loss Power Loss Power Loss (m) (8 ohm load) (4 ohm load) (2 ohm load) 2 0.3 2.9% 5.6% 10.8% 0.5 1.74 3.4 6.7 0.75 1.16 2.3 4.5 1.5 0.58 1.16 2.3 2.5 0.35 0.70 1.39 4 0.22 0.44 0.87 5 0.5 4.3% 8.2% 15.5% 0.75 2.9 5.6 10.8 1.5 1.45 2.9 5.6 2.5 0.87 1.74 3.4 4 0.55 1.09 2.2 6 0.37 0.73 1.45 10 0.5 8.24% 15.5% 28% 0.75 5.6 10.8 19.9 1.5 2.9 5.6 10.8 2.5 1.74 2.9 6.7 4 1.09 1.74 4.3 6 0.73 1.09 2.9 30 0.75 15.5% 0.73
