APART MA30 User manual

MA30 - MA60
Instruction manual

4
Mixing amplifiers

Instruction manualMA30 - MA60
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• Do not connect the inputs / outputs of amplifiers or consoles
to any other voltage source, such as a battery, mains source, or
power supply, regardless of whether the amplifier or console is
turned on or off.
• Power down & disconnect units from mains voltage before
making connections.
• Do not use the unit near stoves, heat registers, radiators, or
other heat producing devices.
• Do not operate equipment on a surface or in an environment
which may distort the normal flow of air around the unit. If the
unit is used in an extremely dusty or smoky environment, the
unit should be periodically “blown free” of dust.
• Do not remove the cover. Removing the cover will expose you
to potentially dangerous volt-ages.
• Do not drive the inputs with a signal level higher than that
required to drive equipment to full output.
• Do not run the output of any amplifier back into another input.
• In case of mal-function this device should be serviced by
qualified service personnel only.
• This unit has NOT been designed for use in mobile applications,
such as: mobile discobars, mobile PA systems, live bands, audio
rental systems, …
CAUTION
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT REMOVE COVER OR BACK
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE
SERVICING ONLY FOR QUALIFIED PERSONNEL

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Mixing amplifiers
Introduction
“Setting a new industry standard”
When we, at Apart, look at mixing amplifiers today it seems like the
complete pro audio industry slumbered. Stuck into old habits, the
overall look and feel remains a hassle for both users and installers
worldwide.
Due to extensive research and input from our partners, our R&D
department together with a world leading design company
succeeded in redefining the look of the “mixing amplifier” as we
know it today.
The new and revolutionary Apart MA30 and MA60 mixing
amplifiers offer the end-user an unseen cutting edge design and
ease of use. The groundbreaking front panel is clear and easy to use
without any unnecessary bells and whistles.
What you see is what you get, but there is more: the refreshing
rear panel will give every installer an instant gratification due to the
sheer and logic design.
Together with an unknown connectivity and immaculate sound
performance this reliable mixing amplifier is the new standard in the
fixed install audio market.

Instruction manualMA30 - MA60
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Features
• 2U high with removable rack ears
• ½ rack width, possibility to join 2 units into one 19” wide unit
• High power class-D power amplifier module with 100 volt
output transformer
• Output power:
- MA30: 1 x 30 W @ 70 V / 100 V / 4 ohm.
- MA60: 1 x 60 W @ 70 V / 100 V / 4 ohm.
• High thermal efficiency.
• PRE-AMP output.
• Patented front panel designed to create an intuitive user
interface.
• Front control for end-user and back panel for configuration
installer (out of reach of end-user).
• Universal switching mode power supply.
• Auto standby mode (can be switched off) with < 0.5 W
standby.
• 24 volt DC / 500 mA priority output.
• Dedicated emergency input with mute all switch.
• Paging mic input with contact closure and chime.
• Front panel operated mic with switchable vox.
• 2 line inputs on RCA.
• Signal clip indicators and gain control on all inputs for fast and
easy configuration of the input gain.
• No cooling fan – maintenance free.
• Extended speaker and amplifier protection circuits: over current
protect, over temperature protect, APC clip limiter.
• 4 priority levels for audio routing.

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Mixing amplifiers
1. Emergency input: connect your balanced 0 dBV line level
emergency input on the euroblock connector. If available,
connect the emergency contact at the “mute all” connection.
The contact must be “potential free”, i.e. a relay or switch
contact that does not carry any foreign voltage. The emergency
level can be set with the volume control only. If the clip led
lights up when the emergency signal is present, lower the
level of the emergency signal at the source to avoid distortion.
Activating the emergency input will also activate the priority
output (6).
2. Paging mic input: connect your paging mic here: the input
accepts microphone level signals on balanced euroblock and
line level signals on RCA. Adjust the gain potmeter so that
the clip led does not light up when the signal is at its highest
level. Then set the volume control as desired. When the paging
contact is closed, all other sources (except emergency input)
Connections
1
6
2 3 4 5
7 8 9 10

Instruction manualMA30 - MA60
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will be muted, and the chime will sound. Set the chime level as
desired. The paging contact will also activate the priority output
(6). To test the chime level, a chime test button is present.
3. MIC input: connect a microphone here: the euroblock input
accepts balanced microphone or line level signals. Set the mic/
line switch accordingly. Phantom power (48 V) can be applied
to the balanced euroblock by pushing the phantom power
switch. The led beneath the switch will be lit when phantom
power is present. Adjust the gain potmeter so that the clip
led does not light up when the signal is at its highest level. If
necessary, activate the vox circuitry by turning the vox potmeter
until you hear an audible “click”. Now turn the vox potmeter
up until the vox circuit is activated. The MIC volume can be set
using the front panel potmeter (6). MIC can be activated by
pressing the MIC select switch on the front panel (2). The vox
circuit, when activated, will attenuate (30 dB attenuation) all
lower priority sources (input 1-2). MIC input is compatible with
the local input panel .
4. Input 1: line level input on RCA connectors. Adjust the gain
potmeter so that the clip led does not light up when the signal
is at its highest level.
5. Speaker out and output EQ: speaker output connector on
euroblock. Use the 4 ohm, or the 70 volt or the 100 volt
output. Never use more than one output at the same time. Use
the Lo and Hi EQ potmeters to adjust the sound as desired.
6. Priority out: this connector will supply 24 VDC, max 500 mA
when priority is activated. Priority will be activated by the
emergency switch, or by the paging contact (and the chime

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Mixing amplifiers
test button) on the paging mic input. Typically, 24 volt priority is
used to override volume controllers present on speaker lines.
7. Auto standby: set the switch to “enabled” to enable auto
standby.
8. Input 2: line level input on RCA connectors. Adjust the gain
potmeter so that the clip led does not light up when the signal
is at its highest level.
9. Pre-out: the pre-amp output carries the same line level signal
that is being fed to the power amplifier, i.e. the signal level is
determined by the position of the master volume control.
10. Mains inlet and mains power switch: connect the mains power
cord here. Switch on the power switch to power up the unit.
The mains fuse is also located here.
Note: emergency switch and the paging contact (and the chime
test button) will mute all lower priority input signals. MIC vox
will attenuate all lower priority input signals by 30 dB. This is also
known as “voice over circuit”.
The chime can only be activated by closing the paging contact (and
the chime test button) on the paging mic.
As long as the chime sounds (approx. 2 sec), the paging message
will be muted, even if the chime level is set to the minimum (off)
level.

Instruction manualMA30 - MA60
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IMPORTANT!
This amplifier relies on convectional cooling. In normal situations,
overheating will not occur due to the class-D amplifier topology.
Since there are no cooling fans in the amplifier, make sure the
convectional cooling system can work properly. The unit can be
built in a 19 inch rack system using the included 19 inch brackets,
but the ventilation holes should never be blocked. Therefore, it is
absolutely necessary to allow at least one free rack space or 44 mm
above the amplifier.
Make sure the ambient temperature is between 0 and 40°C.
Operating the unit beyond its normal limits may cause overheating.
If necessary, use a forced ventilation system in your mounting rack
when the rack holds multiple amplifiers.
The mains fuse is located in the mains inlet. When the fuse is
broken, replace it with a fuse of the same current and voltage
rating:
- MA30: T 1 AL / 250 V
- MA60: T 1.6 AL / 250 V.
For qualified personnel only!
Before using the amplifier for the first time, check the total
impedance of your speaker lines using an impedance meter:
temporarily disconnect the speaker line from the amplifier and
measure the speaker line. Minimum load impedance @ 100 volt
must be 167 ohms or more (MA60) or 333 ohms or more (MA30).
These values correspond to 60 and 30 watts @ 100 volt.

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Mixing amplifiers
1
1. On / Standby switch: switch the unit on from standby by pushing
this button. Switch to standby by pressing again. Please note that
the main power switch at the rear of the unit (10) must be switched
on. Read more about standby on the next page. When the unit is
on, the on/standby button led will light up steadily.
2. MIC on/off switch: use this switch to turn the MIC on and off.
3. Input 1 selection button: by pressing this button, you can select
input 1, or switch off the selected input by pressing the button
when it is lit. You can only select one input at a time.
4. Volume knob: turn the knob clockwise to increase the volume,
counterclockwise to decrease. The volume knob sets the output
volume of the selected input 1 – 2 only.
5. Status leds: S/C or signal/clip led lights up green when a output
signal is present and turns red when the amplifier is clipping.
Protect led lights up when an overload occurs. The amplifier will
mute until the condition is normal again. Emergency led will light
up to indicate that an emergency message is coming through (mute
all contact). The paging led lights up when the paging contact (or
the chime test button) is closed. Vox MIC will light up to indicate
6
Operation 2 3 4 5
7 8

Instruction manualMA30 - MA60
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that the vox circuit of MIC is active. The vox circuit will not be
active when MIC is not lit
(front button 2).
6. MIC volume control: this knob determines the output volume of
MIC.
7. Name field: here you can attach the source name stickers supplied
with the unit.
8. Input 2 selection button: by pressing this button, you can select
input 2, or switch off the selected input by pressing the button
when it is lit. You can only select one input at a time.
Note: you can switch on MIC and input 1 or 2 simultaneously. The
volume of MIC is determined by knob (6). Volume knob (4) has
no influence on the output volume of MIC. When the vox circuit
from MIC is enabled, MIC will attenuate the input 1-2 signal
(30dB attenuation). The emergency input and paging microphone
levels and settings can only be set at the rear panel, out of reach
of the enduser.
Standby
The auto standby function can be enabled/disabled via a switch (7)
at the rear of the unit. The power/standby knob led will slowly fade
in/out to indicate that standby is activated.
Basically, there are 2 standby modes:
• manual standby: activated by pushing the power button on the
front.
• auto standby: activated by the auto standby circuitry.

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Mixing amplifiers
The unit will go to auto standby after 10 minutes when all
these requirements are fullfilled:
• Auto standby is enabled
• No audio signal is present on the SELECTED INPUT* (or when
no input is selected)
• No emergency signal is present, and the emergency contact is
not closed
• The paging contact is not closed.
The unit will wake up from auto standby when:
• Activating the previously selected sound source (i.e. signal
present on the previously selected input**).
• Pushing any front button.
• Activating the paging contact (or the chime test button).
• Activating the emergency input by closing the emergency
switch.
• Cycling the power using the rear power switch (or a mains
power interruption).
The unit will wake up from manual standby when:
• Pressing the standby / power button.
• Activating the emergency input by closing the emergency
switch.
• Cycling the power using the rear power switch (or a mains
power interruption).
• Pushing any front button.
*Note: when the audio cable at the selected input is long and noisy,
the unit will not go to auto standby mode.
**The minimum required signal level required to wake up the unit
from auto standby is 2-10 mVrms for line inputs and 0.1-1 mVrms
for microphone signals.

Instruction manualMA30 - MA60
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Mounting the mixing amplifier
With the optional mounting kit MA3060-19, you can:
• Mount the amplifier in a 9.5 inch rack
(aka half-rack or 10 inch rack)
• Mount the amplifier under a shelf or under a counter

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Mixing amplifiers
• Mount the amplifier in a 19 inch rack
• Convert 2 mixing amps into one 19” unit
Use only the screws supplied with the MA3060-19 kit:
• Short screws: used for the bottom connection plates
• Long screws: used to attach the rack ears
• The rear connection plates are mounted with the original rear
panhead screws
• If necessary, remove the rubber feet

Instruction manualMA30 - MA60
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Connect two units with the provided connection plates and srews.
Turn devices upside
down
2x
2x

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Mixing amplifiers
Input labels
Use the sticker paper included in the box to attach labels to the
front panel inputs. The blank labels can be personalised.

Instruction manualMA30 - MA60
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The 4 ohm and 70 volt connectors are not used. Connect the
common or speaker line ground wire to the COM connector.
Connect the 100 volt line to the 100 volt connector.
The minimum speaker line impedance is 333 ohms (MA30) and
167 ohms (MA60).
Check the impedance with an impedance meter before connecting
the speaker line to the amplifier.
Practical examples
a. Connecting the speakers
Example: 100 volt speaker line.
Connect the speaker line wires
as shown.
Note: never use more than one output at a time ! Do not overload
the speaker output. In 70 and 100 volt speaker lines, the power of
all speakers in the chain must be added. The total power MUST be
lower than or equal to the amplifier’s output power. For example:
on a 240 watt 100 volt amplifier, you can connect 4 x 60 watt
100 volt speakers in parallel: 4 x 60 = 240 watts.
Always measure the speaker line with an impedance meter or
speaker line watt meter

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Mixing amplifiers
b. Connecting and setting up a paging microphone
1. Connect the microphone wire as shown in the picture.
The + - GND is used for the balanced signal of the microphone.
The paging contact closure is indicated in the picture.
mic signal paging
contact
2. Close the paging contact and keep it closed.