SERVO 170/260/550 S T E R E O AMPLIFIER OWNERS MANUAL ®
Introduction 3 System Features 4 Guided Tour 5 Servo-550 Front Panel 5 Servo-550 Rear Panel 6 Servo-260 / Servo-170 Front Panel 7 Servo-260 / Servo-170 Rear Panel 8 Setting Up and Using the Servo Amplifier 9 Suggested Applications 10 Appendix A: Compatible Studio Nearfield Monitors 11 Appendix B: Linearity and THD vs. Frequency Sweep 12 Appendix C: Power Output vs.
Introduction Congratulations on purchasing the Samson Servo Amplifier! Although designed for easy operation, we suggest you first take some time to go through these pages so you can fully understand how we’ve implemented a number of unique features. The Servo Amplifier is a stereo power amplifier which is optimized for use in both professional and project recording studio environments as well as for live performance.
System Features The Samson Servo Amplifier utilizes the latest technology in professional power amplifier design. Here are some of its main features: • The Servo-550 model delivers 275 watts (into 4 ohms) of power per side. The Servo-260 model delivers 130 watts (into 4 ohms) of power per side. The Servo-170 model delivers 85 watts (into 4 ohms) of power per side.
Guided Tour - Servo-550 Front Panel 3 4 4 CLIP CLIP SAMSON STUDIO AMPLIFIER 275 WATT STEREO SERVO - 550 PROTECTION IDLE IDLE POWER ∞ ∞ MAX 2 5 1 5 MAX 2 1: Power switch - Use this to power the Servo Amplifier on or off. 2: Channel input controls (left/right) - These 41-position knobs allow you to adjust the input level of the signal arriving at the rear-panel input jacks. At the fully counterclockwise position (labeled “∞”), the signal is infinitely attenuated (completely off).
Guided Tour - Servo-550 Rear Panel 2 1 6 SAMSON SERVO 550 STUDIO AMPLIFIER FUSE 10A/250V CAUTION; REPLACE WITH THE SAME TYPE FUSE AS INDICATED. UTILISER UN FUSIBLE DE RECHANGE DE MEME TYPE.
Guided Tour - Servo-260 / Servo-170 Front Panel 4 4 3 CLIP CLIP SAMSON STUDIO AMPLIFIER 130 WATT STEREO SERVO - 260 PROTECTION IDLE IDLE POWER ∞ ∞ MAX 2 5 1 5 MAX 2 1: Power switch - Use this to power the Servo Amplifier on or off. 2: Channel input controls (left/right) - These 41-position knobs allow you to adjust the input level of the signal arriving at the rear-panel input jacks.
Guided Tour - Servo-260 / Servo-170 Rear Panel 2 6 1 SAMSON SERVO 260 STUDIO AMPLIFIER CAUTION FUSE 6A/250V RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN ! TO PREVENT SHOCK DO NOT OPEN. NO USER SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD DO NOT EXPOSE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. CAUTION CAUTION ; REPLACE WITH THE SAME TYPE FUSE AS INDICATED. UTILISER UN FUSIBLE DE RECHANGE DE MEME TYPE. HEATSINK MAY BE HOT! DO NOT BLOCK AIRFLOW OR OVERHEATING MAY OCCUR.
Setting Up and Using the Servo Amplifier Setting up your Servo Amplifier is a simple procedure which takes only a few minutes: STEREO BRIDGED MONO Servo-550 Bridged Mono / Stereo switch GROUND +RIGHT LEFT + GROUND RIGHT LEFT Servo-550 output connectors LEFT RIGHT +RIGHT LEFT+ GROUND OUTPUT 120W/4Ω Servo-260 and 170 output connectors R 1.
Suggested Applications The Samson Servo Amplifier has been designed to deliver ultra-clean sound in a variety of applications, as described below. Bear in mind that, since the Servo Amplifier is a power amplifier, it requires preamplification of input signal (this is most commonly accomplished by a mixer such as any of the Samson MPL or PL models).
Appendix A: Compatible Nearfield Monitors The Samson Servo Amplifier is the perfect system for powering nearfield monitor systems in both professional and project recording studio environments. Although compatible with virtually all nearfield monitors currently on the market, this chart provides a partial listing of some of the more popular models. Studio monitors differ from consumer hi-fi speakers in that they are designed for accuracy rather than subjective enhancing of sound.
Appendix B: Linearity and THD vs. Frequency Sweep 0dB ref AUDIO PRECISION Servo 550 LEVEL(dBr) & THD+N(x) vs FREQ(Hz) 1.000 5.0000 Ap .9000 4.0000 3.0000 .8000 2.0000 .7000 1.0000 .6000 0.0 .5000 -1.000 .4000 -2.000 .3000 -3.000 .2000 -4.000 .1000 -5.000 10 100 1k 10k 0.0 50k Servo-550 Linearity (0 dB Ref) and THD+N vs. frequency sweep (10 Hz - 50 kHz) 0dB ref AUDIO PRECISION Servo 260 LEVEL(dBr) & THD+N(x) vs FREQ(Hz) 1.000 5.0000 Ap .9000 4.0000 3.0000 .8000 2.0000 .7000 1.
Appendix C: Power Output vs. THD Watts AUDIO PRECISION Servo 550 THD +N (%) & LEVEL (W) vs FREQ (Hz) THD 300.00 1.000 Ap 270.00 .9000 240.00 .8000 210.00 .7000 180.00 .6000 150.00 .5000 120.00 .4000 90.000 .3000 60.000 .2000 30.000 .1000 0.0 20 100 1k 0.0 50k 10k Servo-550 Power output (-1 dB @ 1 kHz re: 275 W) vs. Total Harmonic Distortion Watts AUDIO PRECISION Servo 260 THD +N (%) & LEVEL (W) vs FREQ (Hz) THD 150.00 1.000 Ap 135.00 .9000 120.00 .8000 105.00 .7000 90.
Appendix D: The Servo Amplifier Protection Circuitry As noted in the “Guided Tour” section of this manual, the Servo Amplifier's front panel Protection light indicates the activity of the relay speaker connection circuitry. When the Protection light is lit, this circuitry is inactive, and all connected speakers are muted (provided with 0 volts DC), thus protecting them and preventing any audible “thump” from occurring.
Appendix E: Bridged Mono Mode (Servo-550 Only) The Servo-550 amplifier provides a rear-panel switch that allows it to be used in a bridged mono mode. When this switch is placed in the “Stereo” (up) position, the Servo-550 functions as a true stereo amplifier, where both of the two independent amplifier channels (left and right) can receive different input signal and produce independent output signal.
Specifications 1. Rated Output Power At 1 kHz, 4 ohm At 1 kHz, 8 ohm @ 5% 340 W 150 W 105 W 230 W 95 W 70 W Model 550 Model 260 Model 170 Model 550 Model 260 Model 170 @ 1% 300 W 139 W 94 W 215 W 105 W 60 W 2. Total Harmonic Distortion (with 30 kHz LPF, 4 ohm) Model 550 @ 275 watts Model 260 @ 130 watts Model 170 @ 85 watts 0.07% 0.20% 0.10% 3. Signal To Noise Ratio (with 80 kHz LPF, all models) Channel R Channel L 103 dB 103 dB 4. Frequency Response (LPF off, all models) 5.
