3050 Mono Power Amplifier Owners Manual 11/21/2011 Boulder Amplifiers, Inc. 3235 Prairie Ave. Boulder, CO 80301 www.boulderamp.
Appendix Fault Conditions Boulderlink Remote Control Operation Getting Started
Thank You Congratulations and thank you for selecting the Boulder 3050 Mono Power Amplifiers for your high-performance music system. We are certain they will provide you with years of listening pleasure. The 3050s represent the concerted efforts of numerous Boulder craftsmen, designers, engineers, and technicians working to bring you the very finest audio playback components in the world.
Appendix Fault Conditions Boulderlink Remote Control Operation Getting Started
Table of Contents Getting Started Placement of the 3050 Mono Power Amplifier Connecting To The Mains Outlet Connecting to a Balanced Source Connecting to an Unbalanced Source Polarity Connecting Your Loudspeakers Operation Powering Up Input DC Offset Voltage Detection Clip Detection Thermal Protection Maintenance Remote Control Remote Control Operation Boulderlink Connecting The Boulderlink Setting Boulderlink Switches Setting Boulderlink ID Numbers Power Up By Boulderlink Boulderlink M
Getting Started Getting Started Placement of the 3050 Mono Power Amplifier Your Boulder 3050 Power Amplifier is designed to reduce interference from external magnetic and radio fields (RF). While placement is not critical, known magnetic fields should be avoided. An isolated granite base has been included with the Boulder 3050. The granite base is intended to serve as a platform on which to place the power amplifier. Choose a solid stable surface for the granite base and amplifier.
Getting Started Getting Started 1-2
Getting Started Getting Started Connecting to a Balanced Source To fully realize the sonic potential of your 3050 Mono Power Amplifier, use balanced connections. Balanced cables minimize interference from magnetic and RF sources. Connect your preamplifier output to the input provided on the rear panel of the 3050. Connecting to an Unbalanced Source Although the inputs are of the 3-pin type, an unbalanced source is easily accommodated by using a special cable.
Getting Started Getting Started UNBALANCED INPUT CABLE 2-POS INPUT 3-NEG INPUT 1-GROUND 1-4
Getting Started Getting Started Polarity Please note that the 3050 Mono Power Amplifier conforms to the standard of pin 2 as the “high” or “hot” pin for the balanced input. The Polarity of the 3050 Mono Power Amplifier is such that a positive-going transition at pin 2 will produce a positive-going transition at the “+” output terminal. Connecting Your Loudspeakers Do not use any wrenches on the loudspeaker binding posts. Tighten these connectors only by hand. WARNING: This is a high-power amplifier.
Getting Started Getting Started 1-6
Operation Operation Powering Up With all your connections made, you are ready to listen to your Boulder 3050 Mono Power Amplifier. To turn the amplifier on, press the POWER button on the front panel. The amplifier will perform a warm up cycle and the power-button indicator will blink white and red. This power up sequence is mandatory and cannot be avoided. Because of the large inrush currents associated with the powerful quadruple Toroidal transformers, eight power relays are used to turn on the amplifier.
Operation Operation 2-2
Operation Operation Input DC Offset Voltage Detection The Boulder 3050 Mono Power Amplifier is a direct-coupled power amplifier with a servo for zeroing out any DC voltage offset coming from the preamplifier or other sources connected to the amplifier’s input. If this input DC is sufficient to cause three volts or more at the output, a loudspeaker protection circuit will mute the amplifier output by electronically disconnecting itself from the loudspeaker. The power indicator will turn red.
Operation Operation 2-4
Remote Control Remote Control Remote Control Operation Operation of the Boulder 3050 Mono Power Amplifier by remote control is possible by use of a Boulderlink cable to a Boulder preamplifier. When Boulderlink is connected correctly, the 3050 will turn on and off with the preamplifier. Moreover, the Boulder 3050 is capable of issuing on/off commands to all other Boulder equipment attached by Boulderlink, including it’s paired amplifier.
Remote Control Remote Control 3-2
Boulderlink Boulderlink is a means of interconnecting most of Boulder products so that their microprocessors can talk to each other, pass important information, and issue commands. Among the key features, Boulderlink allows sequential initiation of power amplifiers’ and other products. Boulder power amplifiers can send messages to Boulder preamplifiers which are then shown on its display.
Boulderlink Boulderlink BOULDERLINK "DAISY CHAIN" BOULDER PREAMPLIFIER BOULDER POWER AMPLIFIER BOULDER POWER AMPLIFIER MASTER SLAVE SLAVE TO ALL OTHER SLAVE UNITS 4-2
Boulderlink Setting Boulderlink ID Numbers Every component is required to have a unique Boulderlink ID number. Boulderlink Each Boulder 3050 Mono Power Amplifier has an amplifier ID switch on the rear panel. Starting by setting the first switch to “0” or “1” by pressing on the either button above or below the ID window. Once the first amplifier is set at either “0” or “1”, assign other amplifiers numbers, moving up in sequence without duplication.
Boulderlink Boulderlink 4-4
Boulderlink Boulderlink Messages Each component in the system can send a message to the preamplifier which is then shown on its display. This is particularly helpful in confirming the operation status of each power amplifier in a multiple amplifier system. Typical messages on a 2010 Preamplifier are as follows. “AMP 1 Error” means that an internal power supply has failed and the amplifier has turned itself off to protect the speakers from damage.
Boulderlink Boulderlink 4-6
Fault Conditions Fatal Errors Fault Conditions If the indicator of the 3050 Mono Power Amplifier blinks white rapidly for a short time and a series of red flashes follows, a fatal error has occurred. The indicator will flash red in a specific sequence, defining its error code to an authorized Boulder technician. If you are experiencing this problem with your 3050, contact your Boulder dealer immediately.
Fault Conditions Fault Conditions 5-2
Appendix Specifications Continuous Power, Each Channel Watts Ω THD 20-2kHz THD 20kHz 1500 8 0.0005% 0.0035% 1500 4 0.0008% 0.0045% 1500 2 0.0014% 0.0110% Peak Power, Each Channel Watts Ω 2100 8 3000 4 6000 2 Equivalent Input Noise (EIN), 20kHz BW Magnitude Response, 20 to 20KHz Magnitude Response, -3dB at Voltage Gain Input Impedance Appendix Common Mode Rejection (Balanced only) Inputs Output Connectors 6-1 1.5 µV +0.00, -0.04 dB 0.
Appendix Power Requirements 220-240 VAC 50-60 Hz, 300W nominal, 6000 W at maximum output All specifications taken at 240 VAC mains Power Weight Amplifier: 355 lbs. (161 kg), Granite Base: 86 lbs. (39 kg), Shipping: 563 lbs. (256 kg).
Appendix Troubleshooting SYMPTOM No Power Indication Red power indication Appendix Amber power indication, but not heard from one channel 6-3 CAUSE REMEDY Power switch is not on Turn on power switch Power amplifier is not plugged in Connect to an AC outlet Home circuit breaker is tripped Have line voltage checked Low line voltage Reset breakers on rear panel Defective power supply cables Have cables tested Defective power supply or preamp Return to dealer for service No signal from one ch
Appendix Appendix 6-4
Appendix Appendix Notes 6-5
Appendix Appendix 6-6
