ARX ZR series User manual

ZR3/5/850 Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 3.1 CE ©2003 ARX® ZR3/5/850 Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 3.1 CE ©2003 ARX®
ZR Series
POWER
AMPLIFIERS
OWNER’S
MANUAL
8
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED WARRANTY
ARXSystems(ARX)warrantstothefirstpurchaserofanyARXequipmentthatitisfree
fromdefectsinmaterialsandworkmanshipundernormaluseandservice.ARX’ssole
obligation under this warranty shall be to provide, without charge, parts and labour
necessarytoremedydefects,ifany,whichappearwithintwelve(12)monthsfromdateof
purchase,andforafurthertwelve(12)monthssupplypartsonly.
Thisisouronlywarranty.It does notcoverfinishorappearanceitems,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, 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,
Victoria 3189, 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]

ZR3/5/850 Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 3.1 CE ©2003 ARX® ZR3/5/850 Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 3.1 CE ©2003 ARX®
27
Specifications ZR350 ZR550 ZR850
Power Output :
Both channels @ 8 ohms: 100 200 300
Both channels @ 4 ohms: 150 270 400
Bridged @ 8 ohms : 300 540 800
Distortion:
1 Watt @8 ohms 06% .06% .06%
10 Watts @8 ohms .05% .05% .05%
Prior to clip @8 ohms .08% .08% .08%
1 Watt @4 ohms .08% .08% .08%
10 Watts @4 ohms .09% .09% .09%
Prior to clip @4 ohms .09% .09% .09%
Channel Separation:
@ 1KHz -88dB -88dB -88dB
@ 10KHz -88dB -80dB -80dB
Front panel indicators:
Clip LED: yes yes yes
Bridge LED: yes yes yes
Protection LED: yes yes yes
Weight:
Kg 10 11 12
Lbs 22 24 26
Size 2 RU High (89 mm)
19” Wide (482 mm)
16” Deep (400 mm)*
Input sensitivity: for
rated output 8 ohms: .775V .775V 1.15V
Frequency response:
@ rated output: 20Hz - 20KHz ±.4dB
CMRR >70dB @ 1 KHz
Input Impedance: 40Kohms Balanced
Input Connectors: Female XLR and Jack
Output Connectors: Neutrik Speakon
Construction All steel monocoque
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!
These amplifiers have a removable AC power
lead that connects to an IEC connector (See
Picture at Left). Replace fuse with correct value
as marked on the rear of the amplifier
*Add80mmtodepthbehindfrontpaneltoallowforrearrackmount
earsandhandles;add40mmtodepthbeforefrontpaneltoallow
forhandlesandcontrols
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

ZR3/5/850 Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 3.1 CE ©2003 ARX® ZR3/5/850 Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 3.1 CE ©2003 ARX®45
Front Panel
• EasyGrip Handles
• Detented Level controls
• Protection, Clip, and Bridge LEDs
• 4 mm steel front panel
Rear Panel
• Balanced Jack and XLR Inputs
• Inputs Link switch
• Bridged Mono mode switch
• Neutrik Speakon Output Connectors
• AC power connector
Things to check before you plug your 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 un-
checked ‘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.
We strongly recommend that you use the rear mounting slots as well as those
on the front panel.
There are 2 cooling fans on the ZR series amplifiers to force air around and
through the heatsinks. Do not block the air exit path!
Air flow and cooling
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.
All ZR 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.
COLD AIR IN
FROM FRONT
WARM AIR
OUT AT
REAR
ZR350, ZR550, ZR850
COOLING DIAGRAM
BUT...When racking up ZR series amplifiers, you MUST allow space for the air to
exit from the rear of the amplifier.
If you are using a rack that has a sealed rear panel, with pre wired multipin connec-
tors, then the normal fan cooling of the amplifiers must be supplemented by
additional fan forced air extraction from the rack. All that air being pumped in by
the fans has to exit somewhere
Remember that Power = Heat, and Maximum air flow = successful heat manage-
ment.
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.
• Bridged Mono Switch
READ THIS BEFORE WIRING UP FOR BRIDGED MODE
Pushing this in switches the amplifier into a high power single channel unit to drive
a single 8 ohm load. Please follow these instructions exactly.
1. Turn the amplifier off.
2. Run an Input lead into Channel A input only
3. Run an Output lead from the Bridged Mono Centre Speakon output connector
only
5. Double check your connections, then turn the amplifier power back on.
6. Check at low level before turning it up!
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.
Running in Bi-amp Mode with Plug-in Crossover module fitted
If a Plug-in crossover module is fitted, then Channel A will be the LOWER frequen-
cy, and Channel B the HIGHER frequency.
Note: Fitting the module requires removal of the amplifier lid and should only be
done by qualified technicians.
COLD AIR IN
FROM FRONT
WARM AIR OUT
AT REAR
• Fuse - 3AG type. Replace with
correct value only - as marked on
amplifier rear
• Heavy Duty Rear rack ears for four
point racking
• Non-scratch Lexan printed panel
• Illuminated power switch
• Fan filters. Remove, clean and replace at
first sign of clogging

ZR3/5/850 Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 3.1 CE ©2003 ARX® ZR3/5/850 Series Amplifier Owner's Manual world v 3.1 CE ©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 ZR350, 550, and 850 amplifiers
A complete range of amplifiers designed from the ground up for the intensive duty
cycle that today’s standards of production demand. More power, more protection;
less heat, less weight, and most of all - better sound.
For the ZR series, ARX design engineers have chosen the new generation Lateral
Mosfet devices for the all-important amplifier output stage, ensuring an ultra fast
high frequency, high current-to-load measured in nanoseconds, up to 100 times
faster than amplifiers using conventional Bipolar transistors.
Based on the core technology developed by ARX for our new range of ISC Loud-
speaker Processors, our new ‘Headroom Enhance’ circuitry provides Maximum
power output levels under all rated load conditions, eliminating Output Stage
clipping.
The ZR series feature an internal insert point for the new range of ARX Plug-in
modules: Active crossover boards for easy Bi-Amping, and Plug-in Loudspeaker
processors specifically tailored for the ARX PowerMAX and MicroMAX range of
speaker systems. Advanced computer modelling of the ZR series chassis design has
put strength where it’s needed, and reduced excess weight where possible. Cou-
pling this with the use of compact toroidal transformers has resulted in an excellent
power-to-weight ratio for the ZR series.
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 or amplifier error is detected.
New Input delay muting circuitry eliminates switch on/switch off noise.
Dual variable speed cooling fans circulate cooling air through ARX’s proven
‘UltraFinTM’ heatsink, ensuring that the Mosfet output devices are kept well within
their thermal tolerance levels under all operating conditions.
As a company, ARX is dedicated to producing pro audio products that consistently
deliver the power and the quality that audio professionals expect.
The ZR series is proof of our commitment - a line of amplifiers that work as hard as
you do, 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 some-
thing 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 series feature an internal insert point for the new range of ARX Plug-in
module cards: Active crossover boards for easy Bi-Amping, and Plug-in Loud-
speaker processors specifically tailored for the ARX PowerMAX and 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 immediately above the
plug in card, looking from the back of the amplifier to the front.
6. Secure the card to the motherboard with the screws and spacers provided.
7. Replace the amplifier lid and screws, and test that Low frequencies are coming
from Channel A, and High from Channel B. When this has been confirmed, the
amplifier is ready for use.
Contact your ARX distributor for details of these modules.