AQ-10 amplifier User Manual v1.0 EM Acoustics Loudspeakers Building 74 Dunsfold Park Cranleigh Surrey GU6 8TB UK www.emacoustics.co.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 2
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 3 CONTENTS DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY 4 THANKS 5 INTRODUCTION 5 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 6 INSTRUCTIONS DE SECURITE IMPORTANTES 7 Installing Your Amplifier: Electrical Considerations 8 Installing Your Amplifier: Mechanical Considerations 9 Installing Your Amplifier: RF Emissions 9 About Your Amplifier: Dynamic Amplifier Performance Measurements 10 Connecting To Your Amplifier: Inputs 11 Connecting To Your Amplifier: Speaker Outputs 12 Connecting
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 4 DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY We, the manufacturer: MC2 Audio, Units 6-8 Kingsgate Heathpark Industrial Estate Honiton, Devon England EX14 1YG acknowledge our responsibility that the following products: Kind of equipment: Commodity Code: Type Designation: Audio amplifier 8518408990 E100 and all OEM variants of this model are manufactured: in accordance with EMC Directive 2004/108/EC, in compliance with the following norm(s) or document(s): Technical Regulations: EN55103-1
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 5 THANKS Thank you for choosing an AQ-10 amplifier for your application. Please spend a little time reading through this manual, so that you obtain the best possible performance from the unit and become familiar with its operating requirements. The AQ-10 is designed and manufactured by MC2 Audio in the UK. All MC2 products are carefully designed and engineered for cutting-edge performance and world-class reliability.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 6 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS CAUTION: RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 7 INSTRUCTIONS DE SECURITE IMPORTANTES ATTENTION: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE. NE PAS OUVRIR Le symbole représentant un éclair fléché dans un triangle équilatéral a pour but d’alerter l’utilisateur de la présence d’une “tension dangeruese” non isolée à l’intérieur du boitier, pouvant être d’une force suffisante pour constituer un risqué d’électrocution.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 8 Installing Your Amplifier: Electrical Considerations The amplifier has been manufactured to comply with your local power supply requirements, but before connecting the unit to the supply, ensure that the voltage (printed on the rear panel) is correct. The amplifier is fitted with either a 100/120V or 220/240V tapped transformer according to customer requirements. Make sure power outlets conform to the power requirements listed on the back of the unit.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 9 Installing Your Amplifier: Mechanical Considerations To ensure that this equipment performs to specification, it should be mounted in a suitable rack or enclosure as described below. Like all high power amplifiers, it should be kept away from other equipment which is sensitive to magnetic fields. Also, this amplifier may suffer a substantial reduction in performance if it is subjected to, or mounted close to equipment which radiates high RF fields.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 10 About Your Amplifier: Dynamic Amplifier Performance Measurements The AQ-10 is the very latest example of a ‘dynamic amplifier’. This new ‘breed’ of power amplifiers provide very high peak power levels in a much smaller, and lighter, package than previously possible with conventional amplifiers. They are designed specifically for today’s high power audio installations, which use multiple speakers with electronic crossovers or speaker controllers.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 11 Connecting To Your Amplifier: Inputs XLR M ALE The inputs are made via 3-pin XLR connectors, which are electronically balanced and should be connected via a high grade twin core screened cable, as follows: PIN1: Screen (see note) PIN2: Hot (signal +) PIN3: Cold (signal -) The amplifier is designed to operate with fully balanced equipment and ground loops or loss of performance may be experienced if connected to unbalanced sources.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 12 Connecting To Your Amplifier: Speaker Outputs SPEAKON NL2 & NL4 The speaker outputs are via Neutrik SpeakONTM connectors. 2 pole (NL2FC) or 4 pole (NL4FC) connectors can be used. Pin 1+: Hot Pin 1-: Cold Additionally the Channel A SpeakONTM connector carries Channel B output on Pins +2 & -2 to allow easy bi-amping or bridged operation using a single NL4 connector. Similarly, Channel C’s SpeakONTM connector also carries Channel D output.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 13 Connecting To Your Amplifier: Bridged (Mono) Operation Pairs of channels may be independently bridged – channel pair A&B, and/or channel pair C&D. The method is the same for both channel pairs: Supply signal to Channel A or C input only and push in the appropriate rear panel switch marked “BRG A&B” or “BRG C&D”.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 14 Operating Your Amplifier: Front Panel Controls and Indicators 1: Power Switch: This single pole switch turns the amplifier fully off (but does NOT isolate it from the mains supply). 2: Power LED: This indicates when the amplifier is active. This does NOT indicate the presence of a mains supply when the power switch is OFF. 3: Signal Meter and OCM indicators: These LED bar graphs show instantaneous level on each channel to indicate proximity to the limiter threshold.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 15 Typical conditions that could cause the protection to be triggered include very high frequency or subsonic input signals, DC in the inputs, short-circuited outputs, or internal high temperatures. The protection circuit can affect all channels or a ‘channel pair’ depending on the type of fault. This is indicated by the combination of A/P LED and OCM LED illuminating.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 16 Operating Your Amplifier: Rear Panel Sockets and Switches 3 4 P.R.C. CH. C S1 S2 P.R.C. CH. B S1 S2 5 LINK A & B LIN K B & C B RG C& D P.R.C. CH. D S1 S2 LINK C& D 2 P.R.C. CH. A S1 S2 6 E-SERIES AM PLIFICATION 1: GND 2: Sig+ 3: Sig- P.R.C. B RG A&B S1 S2 WARNINGS All vents on front and rear of unit must not be obstructed. This unit must be earthed. Power Reduction Control 0dB CH. D OUT CH. C OUT CH. B OUT CH.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 17 Looking After Your Amplifier: Maintenance These maintenance instructions are for use by qualified personnel only. Before any routine maintenance, please ensure that your amplifier is disconnected from the mains supply! The filter behind the air intake apertures on the front of your amplifier should be cleaned or replaced periodically, e.g. 12-24 months. (Filters in amplifiers located in more 'dirty' atmospheres may require more frequent maintenance).
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 18 Changing the Gain of Your Amplifier: Internal Adjustments! These instructions are for use by qualified personnel only. Before any routine maintenance, please ensure that your amplifier is disconnected from the mains supply! Gain/Sensitivity Settings Adjustment is by moving a link on the input PCB (PCB741) – one link for each channel. Channel A’s link is number 1, channel B’s is number 2 and so on. The gain may be set to 26, 32 (factory default setting) or 36dB.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 19 Performance Of Your Amplifier: Specifications Main Specifications Parameter (Units) AQ-10 Output Power per channel [Crest Factor = 4.8] (Watts) 8 Ohms 4 Ohms 2 Ohms 1400 2800 3700 8 Ohms 4 Ohms 5300 7400 Output Power per channel bridged [Crest Factor = 4.
AQ-10 Operating Instructions Page 20 Performance Of Your Amplifier: Specifications Power Consumption and Thermal Emissions – AQ-10 Mains (V) 240 240 240 120 120 120 Load (R) 8 4 2 8 4 2 Current Draw (A) Thermal Emissions (W) No Sig’l Light Average Heavy No Sig’l Light Average Heavy 2.1 3.0 4.5 8.3 504 528 566 660 2.1 3.9 7.0 14.4 504 551 628 816 2.1 4.5 8.6 19.1 504 564 668 936 4.2 6.0 9.0 16.6 504 528 566 660 4.2 7.8 14.0 28.8 504 551 628 816 4.2 9.
