ARX ZR C Series User manual

ZR ‘C’ Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 2.1 ©2003 ARX® ZR ‘C’ Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 2.1 ©2003 ARX®8 1
ZR ‘C’ Series
Constant Voltage
POWER
AMPLIFIERS
OWNER’S
MANUAL
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]
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED WARRANTY
ARXSystems(ARX)warrantstothefirstpurchaserofanyARXequipmentthatitisfree
fromdefects inmaterials andworkmanship undernormal useand service.ARX’s sole
obligation under this warranty shall be to provide, without charge, parts and labour
necessarytoremedydefects,ifany,whichappearwithintwelve(12)monthsfromdateof
purchase,andforafurthertwelve(12)monthssupplypartsonly.
Thisis ouronlywarranty.Itdoesnot coverfinish orappearance items,burnedvoice
coils,oriftheequipmenthasbeen,inARX’ssolejudgement:
•Subjectedtomisuse,abuse,negligenceoraccident;
•Repaired,workedon,oralteredbypersonsnotauthorizedbyARX;
•Connected, installed, adjusted or used for a purpose other than that for which it was
designed.ThisincludesrunningaspeakersystemwiththeISCleadsdisconnected,or
withanon-ARXcrossover,orwiththewrongprocessor.
Thiswarrantygivesyouandusspecificlegalrightsandyoumayalsohaveotherrights
whichmayapply.
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, DHL 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 coun-
try of purchase, stating model and where purchased, or to ARX, PO Box 15,
Moorabbin, Victoria 3189, Australia.
Or you can Email us at: [email protected]

ZR ‘C’ Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 2.1 ©2003 ARX® ZR ‘C’ Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 2.1 ©2003 ARX®
27
Specifications ZR350C ZR550 ZR850
Power Output :
Eachchannel(W/RMS) 100 200 300
Distortion:
1 Watt @8 ohms 0.06%. 0.06% 0.06%
10 Watts @8 ohms 0.05% 0.05% 0.05%
Prior to clip @8 ohms 0.08% 0.08% 0.08%
ChannelSeparation:
@1KHz -88dB -88dB -88dB
@10KHz -80dB -80dB -80dB
Frontpanelindicators:
ClipLED: yes yes yes
Protection: yes yes yes
Weight:Kg 14 16 18
Lbs 32 36 40
Size 2 RU High (89 mm)
19” Wide (482 mm)
16”Deep(405mm)*
Inputsensitivity:for
ratedoutput8ohms: .85V .85V 1.15V
Frequencyresponse:
@ratedoutput: 20Hz -20KHz+/-.4dB
InputImpedance: 40KohmsBalanced
InputConnectors: XLR/Jack
OutputConnectors: NeutrikSpeakon
Construction Allsteelmonocoque
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
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
220-240 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
These amplifiers have a removable AC power
lead that connects to an IEC connector (See
Picture at Left) with built in fuse. Replace fuse
with correct value as marked on the rear of the
amplifier
Complies with 89/336/EEC EMC Directive,
amended by 92/31/EEC and 93/68/EEC and
meetsthefollowingstandards:EN55013:1990,
Sections3.2and3.5EN55020:1988,Sections
4.3,5.4,6.2,7.0,8.0.
ComplieswithAustralianStandardAS/N251053
6. Secure the card to the motherboard with the screws and spacers provided.
7. Replace the amplifier lid and screws, and test that full range audio is coming from
Channel A, and Channel B. When this has been confirmed, the amplifier is ready for
use.
*Add80mmtodepthbehindfrontpaneltoallowforrearrackmount
earsandhandles;add40mmtodepthbeforefrontpaneltoallow
forhandlesandcontrols
Contact your ARX distributor for details of these modules.

ZR ‘C’ Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 2.1 ©2003 ARX® ZR ‘C’ Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 2.1 ©2003 ARX®45
Application Notes
Things to check before you plug the amplifier in
Main AC power - check that the voltage marked 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 a Ground loop hum.
The ZR550C weighs approximately 14 kilos/30 lbs, and the ZR850C 16 kilos/34
lbs.We strongly recommend that you use the rear mounting slots as well as
those on the front panel.
All these amplifiers have cooling fans that force air around and through the
heatsinks. There are 2 fans on each model in the ZR ‘C’ series
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 regular-
ly or at the first sign of becoming clogged.
Front Panel
• EasyGrip Handles
• Detented Level controls
• Protection and Clip LEDs
• 4 mm steel front panel
• Non-scratch Lexan printed panel
• Illuminated power switch
• Fan filters
Rear Panel
• Balanced Jack and XLR Inputs
• Inputs Link switch; sends whatever signal is connected to
Channel A to Channel B as well, eliminating the need for
patch leads.
• ISO Transformer coupled Speakon Outputs, wired to Pin
# 1 + and Pin # 1 –
• AC power connector with integral fuse.
• Heavy Duty Rear rack ears for four point racking All ZR ‘C’ series amplifiers have sufficient fan cooling capacity built in,
and need no extra external fan cooling to operate normally. Their com-
pact ‘UltraFin’ heatsinks provide massive surface areas for rapid cooling
and stable temperatures.
BUT...
When racking up these amplifiers, a you MUST allow space for the air to
exit from the rear of the amplifier. Remember that Power = Heat, and
Maximum air flow = successful heat management.
Other Rear Panel Controls
• Input Link Switch
Pushing IN the Input Link switch sends whatever signal is connected to Channel
A to Channel B as well, eliminating the need for patch leads. Also known as
Parallel Mono mode.
COLD AIR IN
FROM FRONT
WARM AIR OUT
AT REAR
COLD AIR IN
FROM FRONT
WARM AIR OUT
AT REAR

ZR ‘C’ Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 2.1 ©2003 ARX® ZR ‘C’ Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 2.1 ©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 designed for profession-
al 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 ZR ‘C’ Series amplifiers
The ARX ZR ‘C’ series amplifiers (the C denotes Contractor) are designed smart,
and ready for the intensive duty cycle that today’s installations 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. They incorporate 2 x toroidal output line transformers,
for easily driving constant voltage speaker systems.
For the all-important amplifier output stage, the ZR ‘C’ series use the new genera-
tion Lateral Mosfet devices . These provide ultra fast high current-to-load capability,
switching many amperes of high frequency current in nanoseconds, up to 100 times
faster than amplifiers using conventional Bipolar transistors.
Our massive precision engineered UltraFinTM heat exchanger rapidly and evenly
dissipates heat from the amplifier. Twin cooling fans supply a high c.f.m forced air
supply to ensure optimum temperature of the output devices.
‘Headroom Enhance’ circuitry based on the core ISC error correction technology
developed for our new range of ISC Loudspeaker Processors. This provides Maxi-
mum power output levels under all AC mains supply voltages and rated load
conditions, eliminatingOutput Stage clipping.
All the ZR series amplifiers have new re-settable High Current relay switched
protection circuits that instantly disconnect the speakers when a potentially damag-
ing signal is detected. New Input delay muting circuitry eliminates switch on/switch
off noise.
A feature of the ZR series is an internal insert point for the new range of ARX Plug-
in modules, such as the MicroPRO Plug-in ‘processor-on-a-card’ with all operating
parameters optimised for the MicroMAX range of speakers. The MicroPRO PlugIn
eliminates the need for a stand-alone processor, reducing system cost, wiring and
size.
At ARX we are committed to producing amplifiers that keep going day after day,
night after night, because we know that audio professionals like yourself depend on
them to earn a living.
The new ZR ‘C’ series is proof of that commitment.
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. TheZR ‘C’ 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 devic-
es, 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 indicat-
ed 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 blows again, 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!
Plug-in Modules
The ZR ‘C’ series feature an internal insert point for the new range of
ARX Plug-in module cards: Plug-in Loudspeaker processors specifically
tailored for the ARX MicroMAX range of speaker systems.
Note: Fitting the card requires removal of the amplifier lid and should
only be done by qualified technicians.
1. Switch amplifier off and remove from power point.
2. Allow all capacitors to discharge by waiting at least 10 minutes.
3. Remove the 12 screws holding the lid on.
4. Gently insert the card component side up into the mating connector
on the left hand side of the amplifier motherboard.
5. Switch the DIP switch S4 from NOR to CH B, and DIP switch S5 from
NOR to CH A. These switches are mounted on the motherboard imme-
diately above the plug in card, looking from the back of the amplifier to
the front.
.../continued