ARX SX Series User manual

SX/ZX Series Amplifier Owner's Manual v 3.1 World ©2003 ARX® SX/ZX Series Amplifier Owner's Manual v 3.1 World ©2003 ARX® 1
SX/ZX SERIES
POWER
AMPLIFIERS
OWNER’S
MANUAL
8
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED WARRANTY
ARX Systems (ARX) warrants to the first purchaser of any ARX equipment that it is
free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service.
ARX’s sole obligation under this warranty shall be to provide, without charge, parts
and labour necessary to remedy defects, if any, which appear within twelve (12)
months from date of purchase, and for a further twelve (12) months supply parts only.
Thisisouronlywarranty.Itdoesnotcoverfinishorappearanceitems,burnedvoice
coils, or if the equipment has been, in ARX’s sole judgement:
•Subjected to misuse, abuse, negligence or accident;
•Repaired, worked on, or altered by persons not authorized by ARX;
•Connected, installed, adjusted or used for a purpose other than that for which it was
designed. This includes running a speaker system with the ISC leads disconnected,
or with a non-ARX crossover, or with the wrong processor.
This warranty gives you and us specific legal rights and you may also have other
rights which may apply.
Warranty Service Procedure
Should it become necessary to have your equipment serviced under the
terms of the warranty, please follow these steps:
1. Call your ARX distributor for a Return Authorization (RA) number;
2. Carefully repack the unit, in its original packaging where possible,
including a note with a description of the problem, and a copy of
the receipt showing date of purchase. Attach these to the actual unit
itself. Don’t forget to write your name and address clearly, and
include a phone number where you can be contacted during normal
business hours. Make it easy for our service technicians to contact
you if they have a question. Also, use plenty of packing material -
better to be safe than sorry.
3. Send the unit freight prepaid to ARX Systems, at the address given
you with your RA number. We will pay the return freight when the
serviced unit is returned to you.
4. We strongly recommend you insure the package. We can’t fix it if it
gets lost! Send it by UPS, Fedex, or any similar service that can track
the package. Parcel Post is not recommended
If Warranty Registration Card is missing, please write to ARX in the country of
purchase, stating model and where purchased, or to ARX, PO Box 15, Moorabbin,
Victoria3189,Australia.
Or you can Email us at: [email protected]
ARXARX
ARXARX
ARX Systems Pty Ltd, PO Box 15,
Moorabbin, Victoria 3189, Australia
PhonePhone
PhonePhone
Phone: [phone] FaxFax
FaxFax
Fax: [phone]
International FaxInternational Fax
International FaxInternational Fax
International Fax: [phone]
On the WebOn the Web
On the WebOn the Web
On the Web: www.arx.com.au
EmailEmail
EmailEmail
Email: [email protected]

SX/ZX Series Amplifier Owner's Manual v 3.1 World ©2003 ARX® SX/ZX Series Amplifier Owner's Manual v 3.1 World ©2003 ARX®
27
Specifications SX1500 SX3000 ZX3200
Power Output :
Both channels @ 8: 490 660 700
Both channels @ 4: 700 1,000 1,000
Both channels @ 2: ------ ------- 1,250
Distortion:
1 Watt @8 ohms .02% .027% .027%
10 Watts @8 ohms .012% .028% .028%
Prior to clip @8 ohms .027% .025% .025%
1 Watt @4 ohms .03% .042% .042%
10 Watts @4 ohms .02% .042% .042%
Prior to clip @4 ohms .04% .044% .044%
Channel Separation:
@ 1KHz -88dB -88dB -88dB
@ 10KHz -80dB -80dB -80dB
Front panel indicators:
Signal present LED: yes yes yes
Clip LED: yes yes yes
Bridge LED: yes yes yes
Protection: yes(2) yes(2) yes(2)
Weight: Kg 16 20 21
Lbs 35 44 46.5
Input sensitivity: for
rated output 8 ohms: 1.3V 1.4V 1.4V
Frequency response:
@ rated output: 20Hz - 20KHz ± 0.4dB
Input Impedance: 40Kohms Balanced
Input Connectors: XLR(2)
Output Connectors: Speakon (2)
Construction
All models have a fixed power
lead with an external fuse
mounted on the chassis.
Replace fuse with correct value
as marked on the rear of the
amplifier
IMPORTANT - This amplifier is designed
to be connected ONLY to the AC voltage
ticked below
100 V AC, 50 - 60 Hz
120 V AC, 50 - 60 Hz
220 V AC, 50 - 60 Hz
240 V AC, 50 - 60 Hz
!
It is essential that you check that
this voltage is correct for your
area before connecting it to AC
power. Do not plug power cable
into AC power until voltage has
been checked. If incorrect, contact
your ARX distributor.
Your warranty does not cover
connecting the amplifier to the
wrong voltage AC power!
FUSE
This symbol indicates that a Slow Blow fuse is used in this equip-
ment. Replace with same type and value only
This symbol is intended to alert you to the presence of uninsulated
dangerous voltage within the product's enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.
This symbol is intended to alert you to the presence of important
operating instructions contained in this owner's manual
WARNING SYMBOLS USED ON THIS EQUIPMENT
Complies with 89/336/EEC EMC Directive,
amended by 92/31/EEC and 93/68/EEC and
meets the following standards:EN 55013 :
1990, Sections 3.2 and 3.5 EN 55020 : 1988,
Sections 4.3, 5.4, 6.2, 7.0, 8.0.
Complies with Australian Standard AS/N25
1053
1.2mm steel monocoque,
with 4mm steel front
panel and rear rack
mount ears. 2 handles,
Lexan front and rear
labels, fixed power cord
All are standard 2 rack units (3½”, 89mm) high, 19"
(482mm) wide, and 16" (405mm) deep.
Add at least >3" (80mm) to depth behind front panel
to allow for rear rack mount ears, cabling and
connectors. Add >1" (32mm) to depth before front
panel to allow for handles and controls.

SX/ZX Series Amplifier Owner's Manual v 3.1 World ©2003 ARX® SX/ZX Series Amplifier Owner's Manual v 3.1 World ©2003 ARX®45
Front Panel
• EasyGrip Handles
• Detented Level controls
•Protection,Clip,SignalpresentandBridge
LEDs
• 4 mm steel front panel
• Non-scratch Lexan printed panel
• Illuminated power switch
• Fan filters
Rear Panel
• Variable speed DC cooling fans (4 per amp)
• Balanced XLR Inputs and XLR Loop outputs
• Bridged Mono mode switch, Soft Clip switch
• A, B and Bridged Mono Speakon speaker
connectors
• AC Power Lead and fuse
• Rear rack ears for four point racking
• Main AC isolation switch (some mod-
els)
Application Notes
Things to check before you plug the amplifier in
Main AC power - check that the voltage on your amplifier is the same as
the voltage at the power point. It is a good idea to check this before
plugging the amplifier into the power point. Be especially careful of
plugging into unchecked ‘piggyback’ plugs, power distribution boxes or
extension cables.
Your warranty does not cover damage caused by incorrect wiring.
Make sure the amplifier is connected to the same AC power supply and
Earth/Ground as the rest of the system, otherwise you may set up an
Ground loop hum.
These amplifiers weigh approximately 20 kilos/44 lbs each. For maximum
rigidity, we strongly recommend that you use the rear mounting slots as
well as those on the front panel.
All these amplifiers have 4 cooling fans that force air around and through
the heatsinks.
Air flow diagram
It is extremely important that you ensure that there is unrestricted air access to
these fans, and also unrestricted air exit path. Clean the fan filters regularly or
at the first sign of becoming clogged. COLD AIR IN
FROM FRONT AND
REAR
WARM AIR OUT
AT SIDES
All SX series amplifiers have sufficient fan cooling capacity built in, and
need no extra external fan cooling to operate normally. Their compact
‘UltraFin’ heatsinks provide massive surface areas for rapid cooling and
stable temperatures.
BUT...
When racking up the SX/ZX amplifiers, a you MUST allow space for the
air to exit from the sides of the amplifier. Remember that Power = Heat,
and Maximum air flow = successful heat management.
The easy way to handle it is as in the diagram above, with open sides to
the rack, optionally covered with wide steel mesh. However, if you need
to group several amp racks side by side, then the rack itself should be
made wider to provide an air chamber at the sides of the amplifier. This
must be supplemented by additional fan forced air extraction from the
rack.
Don’t forget that in the case of the ZX3200 we’re talking about the same
power output in watts as a medium size electric bar radiator!

SX/ZX Series Amplifier Owner's Manual v 3.1 World ©2003 ARX® SX/ZX Series Amplifier Owner's Manual v 3.1 World ©2003 ARX®63
Introduction
Thank you for choosing this ARX amplifier. We hope you enjoy using it as
much as we enjoyed creating it. It is a precision engineered product de-
signed for professional use in all pro-audio applications, and as such, a
working knowledge of basic electronic safety procedures is assumed on the
part of the operator.
Like all ARX equipment, it has undergone extensive factory calibration,
testing and ‘burn in’ before shipping. To ensure continued trouble free use,
please familiarise yourself with the contents of this manual before using.
About the SX/ZX amplifiers
A series of amplifiers designed smart, and ready for the intensive duty cycle
that today’s standards of production demand. More power, more protection,
less heat, less weight.These amplifiers represent significant breakthroughs in
the the art of providing effortless, reliable power from compact, efficient
amplifier designs.
Ultra reliable mosfet circuitry, plus a rugged, high current non-switching
power supply are complemented by innovative Split SupplyTM drive circuit-
ry plus new relay switched resettable protection circuits that instantly
disconnect the speakers if a problem is detected.
Each channel has Signal Present and Protection LEDs, and Clip LEDs which
flash if the amplifier attempts to deliver more power than is available,
regardless of load. A single LED marked Bridge indicates that the amplifier
has been switched to bridged mono mode.
All amplifiers utilize massive precision engineered UltraFinTM heatsinks, to
rapidly and evenly dissipate heat from the amplifier. Multiple cooling fans
supply a high c.f.m forced air supply to ensure optimum temperature of the
outputdevices.
Look inside these amplifiers and you’ll see that they look a whole lot differ-
ent from traditional amplifiers, with their masses of loose wiring, solder tags,
and loads of interconnected circuit boards. We’ve learned a lot of manufac-
turing lessons from our successful range of ARX signal processors, and we’ve
adapted those techniques by putting all the circuitry on one motherboard.
Monococqueconstruction,designedusingcomputermodellingtechniques,
has enabled us to produce a more efficient, rigid, all steel chassis for strength
without excess weight.
The ARX commitment is to produce amplifiers that will survive the toughest
musical environment, day after day, night after night, because we know that
audio professionals like yourself depend on them to earn a living.
WARNING!
THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE THE
AMPLIFIER, SO PLEASE DON’T TAKE THE LID OFF AND POKE
AROUND!
Amplifiers run on DC voltages provided by the amplifier’s internal power
supply. The SX series have separate + and - DC fuses for both channels,
mounted internally on the power supply circuit board. The power Mosfets used
in the amplifiers are extremely rugged devices, and the correct rating fuses in
the power supply ensure that the amplifier circuitry is protected from short
circuit damage.
A blown DC fuse will be indicated by a very distorted low volume output from
that side of the amplifier. A blown AC fuse will be indicated by nothing
working at all - check to see if the fans are turning.
Any blown fuse should be investigated. It doesn’t necessarily mean that
something is wrong with the amplifier, but indicates that there is something
wrong in the complete signal path, from the mixing console to the speakers.
If an AC fuse blows:
• Switch the power off, replace the fuse with another of the same rating.
• Switch the power back on.
• If it blows again, switch the power off and replace the fuse with another of
the same rating.
• If it doesn’t blow when you switch it back on, then the fault is somewhere
else. Time to start checking those leads.
• If the fuse does blow, then contact your nearest ARX service centre or the
dealer where you bought the amplifier.
If a DC fuse blows:
Get a qualified service person to inspect inside the amplifier. Please don’t do it
yourself! There are very dangerous voltages inside amplifiers, even when they
have been turned off!
Other Rear Panel Controls
Soft Clip
On the rear panel the Soft Clip switch eliminates clipping when switched in.
We recommend that this switch be switched IN at all times when using the
amplifier. Flush with the panel is OUT, depressed is IN. Use a pencil to push it
IN.
Bridged Mono
On the rear panel, this switches the amplifier into a single channel unit. Use
Channel A input only and the Bridged Mono Speakon output in this mode.
WARNING All the amplifiers deliver very high RMS power in this mode. Make
sure your speakers are capable of handling this amount of power. An 8 ohm
speaker load in bridged mono mode is equivalent to a 4 ohm load per channel.