USER’S GUIDE
Table of Contents Safety Precautions 4 NEC (National Electrical Code) Standards 6 A Note for the Cable Television (CATV) Installer Antenna Grounding Outside the House 6 6 Thank You for your RPA-1 Purchase 7 Unpacking the RPA-1 8 Inventory Recording the Serial Number 8 8 RPA-1 Front Panel Layout 9 Emotiva RPA-1 Reference Power Amplifier 9 Audiophile 2 Channel Amplifier Features 9 RPA-1 Rear Panel Layout 10 Installation and Connections 11 AC Power Considerations Physical Placement Input
Troubleshooting Guide No Sound (from one or more speakers connected to the RPA-1) The amplifier shuts down often or the line circuit breaker trips often Poor Bass Performance From Full Range Speakers connected to the RPA-1 Turn-on and turn-off thumps “Hum” Noises in the Speakers Other Probable Causes of Noise RED light on the front panel blinks from blue to red RED light on the front panel is illuminated solid red Problems with the whole Audio System 22 22 22 22 23 23 24 24 24 24 RPA-1 Technical Specifica
Safety Precautions Read this User’s Guide thoroughly before attempting to install and configure the Emotiva RPA-1 Amplifier. All the safety and operation instructions should be read before any operation of the component(s) begin. After successful installation and configuration of the Emotiva RPA-1 Reference Power Amplifier, be sure to retain this manual in a safe place for any future reference needs.
To prevent electric shock, do not use this polarized plug with an extension cord, receptacle or other outlet unless the blades can be fully inserted to prevent blade exposure. Pour preevenir les chocs electriques ne pas utiliser cette fiche polarises avec un prolongateur, un prise de courant ou une autre sortie de courant, sauf si les lames peuvent titre inserees a fond sans laisser aucune parIIIe a decouvert.
NEC (National Electrical Code) Standards A Note for the Cable Television (CATV) Installer This reminder is to call the CATV system installer’s attention to Article 820-40 of the NEC that provides guidelines for proper grounding and in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as practical.
Thank You for your RPA-1 Purchase Dear Home Entertainment Enthusiast, Thank you for purchasing the Emotiva RPA-1 Reference Power Amplifier. We sincerely believe that it offers you outstanding performance and value. Emotiva products are engineered and produced with the highest quality materials and incorporate the latest technology. We think you will find the Emotiva RPA-1 meets or exceeds your expectations. The Emotiva RPA-1 is unlike any two channel home audio amplifier on the market.
Unpacking the RPA-1 The Emotiva RPA-1 Reference Power Amplifier should reach you in flawless condition. If you notice any shipping damage or other issues upon unpacking the unit, please contact your Emotiva Retailer immediately. Inventory Gently lift out the unit and remove all the packing material and accessories. It is important to save all the packing materials and the box in case your Emotiva RPA-1 ever needs to be moved or shipped back to the factory for service.
Emotiva RPA-1 Reference Power Amplifier Audiophile 2 Channel Amplifier Features • Dual mono block design • Extremely low residual noise floor • Dual high current toroidal power transformers • Enhanced Emotiva EPM power module topology • 200 watts RMS per channel into eight ohms • 300 watts RMS per channel into four ohms • 1Hz – 80kHz bandwidth • THD+N - .
RPA-1 Rear Panel Layout 8 1 2 3 9 4 7 5 6 1 RCA Audio Inputs These RCA inputs provide the signal information for the left and right channels of the RPA-1. Simply connect them to the appropriate output of the preamplifier or other preamp level audio device. 7 2 Master Power Switch This rocker switch provides the master power for the RPA-1.
Installation and Connections AC Power Considerations Ensure that the unit is plugged into an outlet capable of supplying the correct voltage and current specified for your model. Remember to account for the electrical power that other components will require if they share a common wall socket or electrical circuit. The majority of household electrical sockets in places other than the kitchen and garage are 15 amperes maximum. Most CD players and other source components are fairly low current items.
Input Connection Considerations Whenever possible, keep preamp level audio cables away from electrical power cords by at least a few inches. It’s more important with amplifiers as the AC power cords are carrying much more current than other source and preamplifier components, which means there is a larger degree of noise or “hum” potential with the amplifier power cord in close proximity.
Connection Diagrams Connecting a Preamp Connection of a Preamp Level Device using XLR Inputs This diagram shows the RPA-1 amplifier connected to a preamplifier with XLR outputs. This is the preferred method of connection where possible. Connection of a Preamp Level Device using RCA Inputs This diagram shows the RPA-1 amplifier connected to a preamplifier with RCA outputs. If the preamplifier does not have XLR outputs, this becomes the default connection.
Connecting Speakers Connection of a Stereo Speakers This diagram shows a traditional single connection to two loudspeakers, one left channel and one right channel. Internally the speakers have passive networks so there is just a single speaker connection. In this case, if there were multiple input terminals and you intend to drive each speaker with a single amplifier channel, you must make sure the shorting bars are in place on the speaker joining each positive to positive and negative to negative.
Biamped Connections (Low Pass and High Pass) This connection shows two RPA-1 amplifiers used in a bi-amp mode. One of the amplifiers is connected to the low frequency drivers and has a low pass filter employed by the preamplifier. The other amplifier has a high pass filter employed and is connected to the mid and high frequency drivers. Please note that if using this configuration with the Emotiva RSP-1 preamplifier, the SUB out is a L+R mono output and may not be suitable for your stereo speaker situation.
12V Trigger Connections The 12 VDC trigger connection shown can be used to turn the amplifier on when the preamplifier turns on. This trigger will actually trigger with any switched DC Voltage from 5-12 VDC, however the majority of audio components use a standard 12 VDC trigger connection for this function. This is the preferred connection as it has the greatest degree of reliability. Never switch anything that plugs directly into the wall with this trigger connection.
Series and Parallel Speaker Connections Whenever connecting more than one speaker per channel to an amplifier (regardless of the brand), you must consider the way in which the amplifier will be impacted by adding the additional speaker(s). Additionally, speakers with dual voice coils also apply to this consideration. Two voice coils in a single speaker also cause different reactions from an amplifier depending on the way in which they connect to the amplifier.
The total impedance of equal speakers in parallel is found by dividing the impedance of one speaker by the number of speakers. For example, two eight ohm speakers in parallel is a four ohm load (eight ohms divided by two), four eight ohm speakers in parallel is a two ohm load (eight ohms divided by four).
Speaker Placement Tips Tips Before Beginning Read this section thoroughly. There are a number of ways in which it may seem aesthetically pleasing to place speakers in a room that will ultimately result in a sound quality compromise. The placement of speakers is equally as important as the room itself. While there may be very little you can do about the room where your home theater is installed, you can choose placement of speakers within that room to maximize the sound quality of the system.
The Front Speakers You should closely follow the placement recommendations of your speaker manufacturer, with the addition of the following points: • The left and right front speakers should be positioned so that your TV is exactly centered between them. This will help create a stable phantom center image • For the best overall imaging, the left speaker should be set exactly the same distance and angle away from your listening position as the right speaker.
1 2 Place the subwoofer in the listening position 3 Play a test tone or low bass music Walk around the room and see where the bass has the best performance. That’s where your subwoofer belongs! Notice where in the room the bass output from the subwoofer sounds the loudest. Shut things down and install the subwoofer there. This is the best position for the subwoofer. The bass will sound the best when you are sitting in your normal listening position.
Troubleshooting Guide The Emotiva RPA-1 is expertly designed and built to provide years of trouble-free performance. Most problems that occur can usually be solved by checking your setup or making sure that the audio and video components connected to the RPA-1 are on and fully operational. The following information will help you deal with common setup problems you may experience during normal use of your unit. If problems persist, contact your Emotiva Dealer for help.
Turn-on and turn-off thumps • Plug the amplifier into an un-switched AC outlet, and use the 2 wire Trigger Input connection with a trigger between 5-12VDC from the source unit or preamplifier (such as the Emotiva RSP-1 Preamplifier). This should allow the amplifier to turn on and off silently. • If your powered subwoofer is the cause of the “thump” sound (not the other speakers connected to RPA-1), plug it into a different 110VAC outlet than the RPA-1 amplifier so there is no power surge conflict.
Other Probable Causes of Noise Speaker noise may also be caused by interference or noise on your AC line. Make sure there are no large appliances sharing the line, or halogen lamps or light-dimming Triac devices. • Try connecting your system to another AC socket on a separate line. • If the hum is heard from within the RPA-1 and not through the speakers, this may also be caused by interference on the AC or DC lines. The power transformers may turn this interference into an audible noise.
RPA-1 Technical Specifications Rated Power Output: (Both Channels Driven @ 1Khz, 120VAC/ 60HZ supply, THD noted) (Per Channel) 200 Watts into 8 Ohms (0.04%THD) 300 Watts into 4 Ohms (0.04%THD) Frequency Response: 20-20Khz: +/-0.1dB 10-100Khz: +/-1.0dB Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): (1Hz to 80kHz measurement bandwidth) <0.
Trademark Disclosure Emotiva Disclosure © Copyright 2006 Emotiva All Rights Reserved. Emotiva reserves the right to make improvements to its products at any time. Therefore, the specifications of the product and the specific details of this manual are subject to change at any time.
Limited Warranty Emotiva is proud to design and manufacture quality products for the home audio and home theater enthusiast. Your RPA-1 Reference Power Amplifier has been crafted to perform flawlessly for many years. As a result of this quality and craftsmanship, Emotiva offers the following warranty to owners of the RPA-1. Emotiva Audio warrants the RPA-1 to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of FIVE YEARS from the original date of purchase.
Emotiva 106 Mission Court, Suite 101 Franklin, TN 37067 Tel Fax Website - (615) 771-1224 (877) EMO-TECH (615) 771-1128 www.emotiva.com Rev 1.
