MANUAL Champ - 2 Audiophile Stereo Power Amplifier INFO@APART-AUDIO.
Safety First! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Caution: hot and sharp surfaces ! This professional device needs to be installed by qualified personnel only. Please check the carton box for any kind of damage on reception of the goods. In case of a damaged carton, please contact your dealer before opening the carton. !!!! Danger !!!! Exposure to extremely high noise levels may cause a permanent hearing loss.
Introduction Dear customer, Why does live music leave an unforgettable impression on you ? The answer is simple: dynamics. The ability of a sound system to produce crystal clear low level sounds as well as extreme musical peaks without any distortion, the power to leave some headroom for those occasional peaks in music. Pure power ! This ease of music reproduction can not be described in figures or specifications. In the following pages we will explain how we have reached our goal.
1. Fanless design and highlights • Audiophile grade components mounted on solid aluminum and steel construction chassis for the highest possible signal integrity and reliability, even under difficult circumstances. • High current, high voltage discrete output stage in class G configuration, capable of driving even the most demanding speaker systems and combinations. Either at low or high power, you will hear the Champ-2 difference.
2. Features • Intelligent APC circuitry constantly analyses incoming music signals and keeps dynamics alive. An additional ultra fast peak limiter avoids amplifier clipping in case someone hits the inputs too hard. Please remember, this is a musical amplifier, please leave some headroom and enjoy the music. • Bridge or stereo mode: more than double the output power and convert this amplifier into a monoblock amplifier with one push on a button. Minimum load impedance is 8 ohms in bridge mode.
What is APC ? APC is one of the most intelligent amplifier protection circuits ever designed, simply because it does the job without interfering with the typical dynamic character of music. APC allows you to fully exploit the potential of the amplifier, maintaining high power reserves and thus producing high, clean power. It is a common misunderstanding that high power amplifiers will overload or destroy lower power speakers, the opposite is true.
3. Inputs and outputs Front panel layout: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1) Volume potmeter channel 1: use this potmeter to preset the volume. In case the amplifier has been switched to bridge mode, this potmeter sets the level for bridge operation. 2) Signal led channel 1: this led lights up green when a sufficiently strong signal is present on the left channel, after passing the input level control. At startup, the led will light up red during a few seconds, this is perfectly normal.
) Signal led channel 2: this led lights up green when a sufficiently strong signal is present on the left channel, after passing the input level control. At startup, the led will light up red during a few seconds, this is perfectly normal. When it lights up red during use, the power transformer or power amplifier is overheated or in protect mode and is shut down. Turn off the power. The amplifier will not turn on automatically after most error conditions.
Led status messages Fault condition SGL led CH1 = red Ch 1 amp overheat TEMP led CH1 = red SGL led CH2 = red Yes Ch 2 amp overheat Ch 1 amp error (DC, HF, short circuit, overload) Yes Yes Yes Ch 2 amp error (DC, HF, short circuit, overload) Transformer thermal protection TEMP led CH2 = red Yes Yes Yes Yes What to do ? Output signal condition Reduce input signal or check amplifier load. Wait for cool down. No output Reduce input signal or check amplifier load. Wait for cool down.
Rear panel layout: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1) Channel 2 unbalanced input on cinch connectors: use the top or bottom cinch connector to apply an unbalanced signal on channel 2. These connectors are wired in parallel, this means you can use the second connector as a signal link connector. 2) Channel 2 balanced input on Neutrik XLR connector, this connector is wired in parallel to connector ‘3’. This allows you to link the balanced signal to another amplifier.
9) Bridge mode switch: use this switch to convert the amplifier into a mono bridge amplifier. In this case you can apply an input signal to the channel 1 input only ! Leave the channel 2 connectors open ! Bridge mode input level is controlled by the channel 1 volume controller only. The ‘BR’ led on the front panel will indicate that the amplifier is in bridge mode. Minimum bridge mode speaker load is 8 ohms.
4. Rack mounting and wiring Champ-2 can be mounted in a 19” rack, taking up only 1 rack space. Always allow a good airflow around the amplifier’s front, rear, side, top and bottom. When installing in a rack with multiple audio devices, it is compulsory to leave one rack space between units. Fill the empty rack spaces with meshed blind panels for improved ventilation. Never mount the amplifier in a sealed cabinet, unless adequate forced ventilation is provided.
5. Standalone use It is possible to integrate Champ-2 in a high quality audio chain. In order to adapt the front panel dimensions to the dimensions of other equipment, it is possible to remove the 19” brackets and handles for an even more sleek and refined look. Remove the two screws marked in red circles and slide off the handles. 13 INFO@APART-AUDIO.
6. Technical specifications Rated output power, both channels driven: Dynamic program power, both channels driven Bridge-mono operation 8 ohm 750 W 2 channel mode 8 ohm 200 W / ch 2 channel mode 4 ohm 350 W / ch 2 channel mode 2.7 ohm 450 W / ch Dynamic capacity at 2 ohm, both channels driven 600 W / ch *a 2.7 ohm load can be seen as 3 pieces of 8 ohm speakers in parallel (or even 6 pcs of 16 ohm speakers). A 2 ohm load is technically possible but not recommended for long term use at high power.
General technical specifications Input impedance / sensitivity unbalanced (RCA) / 4 ohm 10 Kohm / 1 V 0dBV Input impedance / sensitivity balanced (XLR) / 4 ohm 20 Kohm / 1 V 0 dBV Frequency response (0, -0.5 dB) 10 Hz – 50 kHz THD < 0.05 % IMD < 0.
ANY SUGGESTION? They are well appreciated and eventually rewarded! Send your ideas or suggestions to suggestions@apart-audio.com Company names, product names, and names of formats etc. are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. © 2008 APart-Audio specifications subject to change without notice. CHAMP-2 is developed by Audioprof nv Lanteernhofstraat 90 BE-2100 Deurne BELGIUM 16 WWW.APART-AUDIO.
