Amplifiers
- How do I wire my Speakon connector?
- What is Crown's warranty?
- I want to send my Crown amplifier to the factory for service. What should I do?
- What are PIP Modules?
- What does ODEP stand for?
- What is TLC?
- What is IOC?
- What is the CLIP Indicator on my amp telling me?
- Why the 20A and 30A AC connectors, and can I get an adapter to connect to a standard 15A outlet?
- What is the output power rating of my Crown amplifier?
- Can I run one channel of my Crown amplifier at a different impedance than the other channel?
- Should I have the level controls on my amplifier turned all the way up?
- How do I determine the best input sensitivity setting?
- How can I parallel the inputs of my Crown amplifier with the same signal?
- How much "inrush current" will my amp draw during turn on?
- How can I get rid of the noise in my system?
- What is Damping Factor?
- What gauge speaker wire should I use in my system?
- Should I use vented spaces between my amplifiers?
- How can I augment the cooling of my amplifier racks using external fans?
- What does 'VZ' stand for in the MA-3600VZ and MA-5002VZ amplifiers? What does it do?
- Should I use Bridge Mono or Parallel Mono?
- How do I set up my Crown amplifier to operate in Bridge-Mono?
- How do I set up my Crown amplifier to operate in Parallel-Mono?
- Which pin is hot (non-inverting) on a Crown amplifier?
- Isn't Class-I just like other amplifier classes?
- How does Crown measure power?
- What PIP modules are compatable with what amps?
- How do I update the firmware in my CDi, DSi, or XTi amplifier for use with System Architect?
- Why is the screen on the I-Tech 4x3500HD no longer a touch-screen?
How do I wire my Speakon connector?
What is Crown's warranty?
I want to send my Crown amplifier to the factory for service. What should I do?
Please visit this page for specific instructions for obtaining Crown factory service.
What are PIP Modules?
What does ODEP stand for?
What is TLC?
What is IOC?
What is the CLIP Indicator on my amp telling me?
Why the 20A and 30A AC connectors, and can I get an adapter to connect to a standard 15A outlet?
What is the output power rating of my Crown amplifier?
Can I run one channel of my Crown amplifier at a different impedance than the other channel?
Should I have the level controls on my amplifier turned all the way up?
How do I determine the best input sensitivity setting?
How can I parallel the inputs of my Crown amplifier with the same signal?
With Macro-Tech amplifiers the 1/4" inputs are in parallel with the inputs of the PIP-FX. You can use the XLR connector on the standard PIP-FX as an input, and the 1/4" of the same channel as an output to another amp channel.
The standard SST input module on the CE Series and Contractor Series (CH/CL Series) amplifiers have barrier block connectors in parallel with the Neutrik Combo connector. You can use the Combo connector as an input, and the Barrier Block connector of the same channel as an output to another amp channel.
The K Series amplifiers have a "Y input" switch that internally connects both channel inputs.
The CP660 has barrier block input connectors, so the input signals can easily be jumped from one channel to another.
With the D Series, you must use a "Y" cable.
How much "inrush current" will my amp draw during turn on?
Design features of the amplifier, including power supply design and transformer size, partially determine maximum peak inrush current for a given amplifier. In addition, the external factors of AC mains voltage and impedance vary greatly making exact values difficult to determine.
Many Crown amplifiers include "Soft Start," a feature designed to limit inrush current. Worst-case peaks for amplifiers without Soft Start may reach as high as 150 amperes; however, such numbers seldom have bearing on practical operation. For example, it is not unusual to find 3 or 4 Crown Micro-Tech amplifiers on a single 15A or 20A branch circuit without tripping breakers at turn-on. There are a couple of reasons why this is possible. First, peak inrush current is usually of such short duration that the breaker will not trip (maximum duration is approximately 18 msec). Second, Crown amplifiers are designed with design tolerances in the power supply start-up circuitry to make it highly unlikely for more than one amplifier channel to come out of standby during the same 18 msec interval.
If nuisance circuit breaker tripping is a concern, "motor-start" circuit breakers, which are designed to withstand the large inrush currents from electrical motors, may be used in place of standard circuit breakers. Contact a licensed electrician for more information about circuit breaker requirements and electrical codes in your area.
How can I get rid of the noise in my system?
First let us lay some groundwork: audio systems can exhibit "hum" and they can exhibit "buzz," which are two separate situations. To solve the problem, you need to determine whether your system is exhibiting hum or buzz.
Sixty(60)-hertz hum (fifty(50) hertz internationally) is a result of having a ground loop in the audio system. This is where there are two or more ground references in the system, and current is flowing from one ground point to another. Any piece audio equipment requires one ground reference. Ground loops can be formed in a number of ways. For example: An audio power amplifier obtains its ground from the AC power cord. The mixer, which drives the power amplifier, also receives its ground from the AC power cord. When the audio cable connects the mixer to the power amplifier the amplifier now sees a second ground from the mixer. If the mixer and power amplifier are both plugged into the same AC power strip then the mixer/amplifier interconnect cable shield can be cut to eliminate this problem. On most Crown amplifiers there is a "ground lift" switch on the back of the amplifier that performs this function and can be used to eliminate hum caused by ground loops. If you are using a cable service, such as cable TV, and you are routing the audio through your stereo system, you may experience a ground loop hum. This is a result of the cable company's ground reference setting different than your system ground reference. You can contact your cable company and get an isolation transformer that will take care of the problem.
Another cause of system "hum" is electrically induced, such as having a very sensitive component too close to a power transformer. Power amplifiers have large power transformers and can induce a magnetic field into other equipment. If you suspect this may be the cause of your problem then placing more distance between the two components is the only practical solution.
Excessive "noise" on the AC mains can cause "buzz" in certain components. Lighting dimmer packs are notorious for inducing noise onto the AC mains. If this is your problem try putting the lighting system on a different AC mains feed.
Ground loops, induced hum, and all kinds of nasty noises are sometimes hard to pin point. You may have to try several different approaches before arriving at solution. For more information call the Crown Technical Support Group and ask for the Sound & Communications reprint of "The AC Connection."
What is Damping Factor?
Though technically more complex than this, Damping factor is usually thought of as an indicator of how tight an amplifier will sound when powering bass speakers. A speaker's driving motor is a coil of wire (called a voice coil) mounted within a magnetic field. As this coil of wire moves within the field a voltage will be induced in the voice coil. If resonant motions of the speaker are not sufficiently short circuited by the amplifier, the speaker output can have an over accentuated or "boomy" bass sound.
From a technical measurement stand point, Damping factor is the ratio of the rated speaker impedance to the amplifier's output impedance. Low output impedance is the consequence of the amplifier having substantial negative voltage feedback taken from its output terminals. Properly designed negative feed back not only corrects for output voltage errors induced by the speaker but also produces other benefits:
- Low distortion
- Low noise (hiss)
- Flat frequency response
What gauge speaker wire should I use in my system?
Should I use vented spaces between my amplifiers?
*K Series (discontinued) and Commercial Audio Series amplifiers are convection cooled so some space between amplifiers in a rack is recommended. Refer to the corresponding manual for these, and all Crown amplifier models, for specific recommendations.
How can I augment the cooling of my amplifier racks using external fans?
- Place the fan in the back of the rack pointing out or away from the amplifier(s)
- Seal the back of the rack with the road case cover. Mount the fans to the TOP of the road case back cover POINTING OUT.
What does 'VZ' stand for in the MA-3600VZ and MA-5002VZ amplifiers? What does it do?
Background: A power supply must be large enough to handle the maximum voltage and current necessary for the amplifier to drive its maximum rated power into a specified load. In the process of achieving this requirement conventional power supply designs produce large quantities of heat, are heavy, and take up precious real estate. It's no secret that heat is a power amplifier's greatest destructive factor. The larger the power supply, the more heat the output stage will be required to dissipate. An articulated power supply, like VZ, can bypass much of this dilemma by reducing the voltage applied to the transistors when less voltage is required. Reducing the voltage decreases the heat. Subsequently the amplifier runs cooler allowing more power to be safely packed into the chassis. The VZ supply is divided into segments to better match the voltage and current demands of the power output stage. Bear in mind that audio signals are complex waveforms. The average level of music is always much less than the peak level. This means a power supply does not need to provide full voltage all of the time. The VZ supply is divided into two parts. When the voltage demands are not high, it operates in a parallel mode to supply less voltage and more current. The power transistors stay cooler because they are not forced to needlessly dissipate heat. This is the normal operating mode of the VZ power supply. When the voltage requirements are high VZ switches to a series mode to produce higher voltage and less current. The amplified output signal never misses a beat and gets full voltage only when it requires it. Sensing circuitry observes the voltage of the signal to determine when to switch VZ modes. The switching circuitry is designed to prevent audible switching distortion to yield the highest dynamic transfer function-the customer hears only the music and not the amplifier. You get not only the maximum power with the maximum safety; you also get the best power matching to your load.
Should I use Bridge Mono or Parallel Mono?
How do I set up my Crown amplifier to operate in Bridge-Mono?
- Make sure the amplifier is powered down.
- Place the MODE switch (located on the back panel) in the Bridge-Mono position.
- The input connector should be inserted into channel one (leave channel two's input empty.
- Connect the speaker leads across the two red binding posts, using channel one binding post as the + (hot) connection or on CE's with Speakons across pins 1+ and 2+ on the channel one output.
- Channel one level control should be used to control level.
How do I set up my Crown amplifier to operate in Parallel-Mono?
- Make sure the amplifier is powered down.
- Place the MODE switch (located on the back panel) in the Parallel-Mono position.
- The input connector should be inserted into channel one (leave the channel two input empty).
- Place a small diameter wire (14 gage {1.63 mm}) between the two red output binding posts.
- Connect the speaker leads across the red and black binding posts.
- Channel one level control should be used to control output level.
Note: For those amplifiers with IOC (Input-Output Comparator) the channel two IOC indicator will illuminate when the unit is operated in Parallel-Mono.
Note: CE Contractor Series (CH/CL Series) CP660, D Series and K Series amplifiers cannot operate in a Parallel-Mono mode.
Which pin is hot (non-inverting) on a Crown amplifier?
Pin 1 is ground (shield).
Pin 2 is hot (non-inverting)
Pin 3 is low (inverting)
1/4" TRS
Tip: hot (non-inverting)
Ring: low (inverting)
Sleeve: Shield (ground)
Isn't Class-I just like other amplifier classes?
No, Class -I amplifiers are a fundamentally different design from all other amplifier classes on the market. Crown has patented the technology behind Class-I amplifiers and is the only manufacturer in the world building this design.
For more information about Class-I, read this technical paper.
How does Crown measure power?
What PIP modules are compatable with what amps?
We have a compatability chart available on our web site at: http://www.crownaudio.com/iq_htm/modulecompat.htm
How do I update the firmware in my CDi, DSi, or XTi amplifier for use with System Architect?
Please visit this page for instructions:
Why is the screen on the I-Tech 4x3500HD no longer a touch-screen?
Due to supplier issues with quality and delivery, we have removed the touch-screen capability from the I-Tech 4x3500HD. Several of the display screens and menus have been updated to accommodate this change. Performance of the I-Tech 4x3500HD has not been impacted by this change in any way. If you have any questions regarding this issue, please contact our Technical Support team at support@crownaudio.com.