Axium AX250i User manual

INSTALLATION & OPERATION MANUAL
AX250i
Two Zone:
Two Stereo Pre-Amplifiers & Amplifiers
With RS232, Keypad & IR Control
Total In Home Connectivity

Congratulations!
You have purchased one of the most advanced, dedicated multi-room amplifiers on
the market. The AX250i like other Axium products is designed to maximize control,
simplify functionality, & expedite installation. Axium products are built to the highest
standards of quality and reliability.
To view Axium’s product line of Multizone Amplifiers, controllers, & accessories
please visit the Website at www.axium.co.nz You may also download the latest
control software.
Table Of Contents
INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………………1
FEATURES……………………………………………………………………………………………2
INSTALLATION QUIDE….…………………………………………………………………….4
FRONT PANEL OPERATION.………………………………………………………………..5
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS…………………………….…………………………………6
SPECIFICATIONS…………………………………………………………………………………8
APPENDIX1: RS232 PROTOCOL…………………………………………………………9
APPENDIX2: AMPCTRL PROGRAM……………………………………………………..11

INTRODUCTION
The AX250I Multizone amplifier combined with Axium Controllers, and/or a Home
automation system enables you to individually adjust the Power status, volume and
audio source in up to two rooms, and On status in a further two rooms.
There are many advanced control features that may be accessed via the RS232
interface, some of which are monitoring of any controlled parameter, maximum
volume limit setting, zone tracking - See the features section of the manual.
A utility program called AMPCTRL is available from the Axium website, this gives
users complete access, and control of all Axium networked components, and even
provides the ability to schedule events from your personal computer.
Axium Multizone amplifiers may be interconnected via the expansion bus, providing
up to 32 zones of control, and vastly simplifying installation cabling.
Multizone Amplifier IRX receiver
Integrate Controllers freely throughout the system.
Decide what control best suits each room.
KRX – keypad KDX – Keypad PRX – Remote
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FEATURES
•Two Zone with two speaker switched outputs
Two pre-amplifiers and amplifiers, each with two speaker switched outputs.
Speaker A & B outputs are Zone 1, Speaker C & D outputs are Zone 2.
•Remote controlled via Infra-red and Wired IR
The front panel is equipped with an IR receiver, so the AX250i may receive IR directly
from a PRX remote control, or other learning remote. The wired IR is decoded directly
by the AX250i (IR is not re-emitted out of the front panel)
•RS232 Control
Full control and monitoring is available via RS232 of any Axium multizone amplifier or
KRX keypad. Only one RS232 connection is necessary to an Axium amplifier stack.
•Audio Inputs
Four stereo inputs (CD, Tape, Tuner, & Aux) and one mono Input. (Utility)
•Amplifier Power and Protection
50 Watts RMS into 8 ohms, capable of driving into 4 ohms. The amplifiers are
protected against short term output shorts, and high ambient temperatures.
Care should be taken to ensure adequate ventilation – see “installation guide”
•Amplifier ON Status - “Amp-On”
Each Speaker output has front panel On status indication, and 12VDC outputs on the
rear panel connector. The output’s are protected against shorts and back EMF voltage
surges which may occur if powering a relay.
•Summed Amp-On
A “Summed Amp-On” 12VDC output is provided on the rear panel connector. This is
typically used to switch the Audio source component’s AC power.
If any amplifier Zone or Speaker output in an Axium amplifier stack is ON, then this
output will be 12VDC. The output is protected against shorts and back EMF voltage
surges which may occur if powering a relay.
•Power failure Restoration
After an AC power outage the AX250i restores it’s settings to the pre-interrupted
state. All internal settings are stored in non-volatile memory.
•Direct wiring Keypads & IR receivers
An IR input is provided on the rear panel connector, this is separately buffered both to
the IR output jack, and to the Axium expansion Bus (Axium amplifier stack)
•Pre-amplifier output
The Zone 1 line level post fader output is provided on the rear panel
Typical applications are: Active sub-woofers & for connecting to higher-powered
amplifier.
•Source select output
The Zone 1 line level (pre-fader) source select output is provided on the rear panel.
Typical applications are slave amplifier driven passive volume controlled speaker
networks.
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•Axium Bus
Axium Bus provides inter amplifier & Keypad control and monitoring.
The Bus is protected from shorts to both 0V and +12VDC.
•Bass, Treble, Balance, and Loudness controls
Bass, Treble, and Balance controls may be accessed via the front panel or RS232. The
loudness control - which is a low frequency boost whose level is dependent on volume
– is controlled via the AMPCTRL set up utility (RS232)
•Expansion Bus
Data, IR, Amp-On & Audio Sources are interconnected via the expansion bus
to other Axium amplifiers, thus simplifying the Axium amplifier stack wiring.
The expansion bus uses the simple 20-way ribbon cable connector system
•32 Zones
32 zones of control is available. On the AX250i each Zone must be different, however
in a multiple amplifier stack same Zone amplifiers are possible – they simply mimic
every parameter.
•Zone Tracking
A Zone may be programmed to track one other Zone. When Zone tracking is selected,
the source selection is tied together, but Standby, Mute, and volume control are
independent. This is useful for closely coupled audio areas where it is advantageous to
have different volume control but the same source.
•Maximum volume limiting
A volume limit may be set on any Zone, typically this is to prevent reckless use of the
system, or prevent destruction of speakers when powered by a slave amplifier.
•Global IR commands
There is a range of Global IR commands available for turning All amplifiers either On,
Off, or selecting various audio sources. There are also Force and Release Preset
commands that invoke a user programmed Amplifier preset.
•Global Preset
One Preset may be programmed for every Zone, wherein any controlled parameter
may be set. A Preset may be invoked either by the Preset IR command, RS232, or by
a contact closure at the panels “preset input utility” connector on the rear panel. When
a preset is invoked all Zones go to their programmed preset state. Upon release from
the preset the amplifier Zone returns to it’s previous state. A typical application is
phone paging.
•Firmware upgradeable
The AX250i’s microcontroller may be updated with the latest operational firmware via
the RS232 port and a boot-loader program. The ability to enhance the functionality of
installed Axium product’s provides a degree of future proofing, and flexibility.
•Toroidal transformer power supply
An impressive toroidal transformer ensures stable power supply performance and
minimal magnetic field interference.
•Restore factory defaults
Remove AC power, push and hold down Function & Tuner Keys and reconnect AC
power. The Amplifier will be reset to factory defaults, and memory cleared.
3

INSTALLATION GUIDE
UNPACKING
Immediately upon receiving your AX250i inspect the carton for evidence of
mishandling during shipment. Then carefully unpack the unit and inspect for
damage.
Please save the shipping carton and all inner packing materials in the event that the
AX250i needs to be shipped for service or moved to a new location.
Should you discover that the AX250i has been damaged during shipping please
contact your dealer immediately.
PRECAUTIONS
1) Never expose the unit to moisture
2) Avoid restricting the airflow around the AX250i. Good airflow is necessary to
help ensure proper operation. Not only should you provide enough free space
around the unit, but also ensure that air can flow freely and escape from the
amplifier surroundings. Failure to do so may cause intermittent channel
cutout and reduced life expectancy.
3) Under no circumstances should the speaker output terminals of the unit be
short circuited, or connected to another output.
4) Never plug the RS232 cable into the unit while power is connected.
5) Never short the 10 way controller connector terminals. These should all be
connected before the AX250i is powered.
6) Avoid installing the AX250i in positions where the front panel is exposed to
direct sun light. This may intermittently slow down the response of the unit to
commands.
7) Never connect more than four controllers to the unit’s 12Vdc-power supply
terminals. The supply is internally poly-fused (self-resetting) and will open
circuit.
8) Never connect the AX250i’s +12Vdc power supply to an external power
supply or other Axium amplifier’s +12Vdc output.
4

FRONT PANEL OPERATION
Speaker select & Infra-Red 2 digit Function Front panel Keypad
Amp-On indicators Receiver Display indicators
SELECT
The SELECT button toggles the amplifier zone/speaker for which the front panel keypad is addressing.
This is indicated by the Green Zone select LED'’ (A, B, C & D)
It is also used as an ‘enter key’ when setting the amplifier zone.
FUNCTION
The FUNCTION button toggles between BASS, TREBLE, BALANCE & ZONE.
Once a function is selected (corresponding LED FUNCTION indicator) the parameter may be edited using
the VOL UP & DOWN buttons. For example to adjust the BASS settings on zone 1, make sure that the
Speaker A or B indicator LED is lit (green) and the Zone is ON. Press the FUNCTION button until the BASS
indicator LED is illuminated. You can then increase or decrease the BASS by pressing the VOL UP
(increase) or DOWN (decrease). The FUNCTION level/value is indicated on the 2-digit display.
The Zone is selectable between 0 – 31 and must be set in memory by pressing the SELECT button.
FUNCTION mode is terminated after 4 seconds of inactivity or by toggling past the last FUNCTION (ZONE).
STANDBY
Standby toggles the selected speaker output ON or OFF.
Amp-On indicators (RED LED’s) provide standby status.
VOL UP & DOWN
VOL UP & DOWN control the selected Zone’s volume in 2.5db steps.
If the zone is muted, then pushing either VOL Up or DOWN will un-mute the amplifier.
MUTE
The MUTE button toggles the selected Zone’s muting.
The 2-digit display flashes while muted.
CD
Selects the CD input source
TAPE
Selects the TAPE input source
TUNER
Selects the TUNER input source
AUX
Selects the AUX input source 5

REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS
RCA RCA
Zone 1 line outputs Mono Utility input Speaker Outputs
Pre – out Source select Zone 2 Zone 1
Speaker D Speaker C Speaker B Speaker A
2 way connector 9 Pin connector
Preset Utility RS232
20 way Header 10 way connector IEC Fused
RCA Expansion Bus Controller connections AC power socket
Audio Source
Line Level Inputs 3.5mm phono
IR output
Audio Source Inputs
CD, TAPE, TUNER, AUX & Utility are common to all zones.
The utility input is mono and connects to both left and right channels. Typical applications are
paging, or where a mono source is required (AM radio)
Line Outputs
SOURCE SELECT is the Zone 1 pre-fader output - independent of the volume control.
A typical application for this output is where speakers have volume pads installed and a slave
amplifier is required to operate the network at full power.
PRE-OUT is the Zone 1 post fader output – Output level is dependant on the volume control.
The output is muted when Zone 1 is muted.
PRE-OUT may be used to drive a high power Slave amplifier or Active Sub-Woofer.
IR Out A 3.5mm phono socket provides direct connection for IR emitters. The output is individually
buffered and current limited, this ensures that a damaged emitter does not short out the IR
system.
Expansion Bus
Axium amplifiers may be connected together via a 20 way IDC ribbon cable connection.
This simplifies the Audio source component connections. – CD, TAPE, TUNER, AUX & Utility are
connected to only one Axium amplifier!
The summed Amp-On output, Axium Bus, and buffered IR input are linked through the Bus.
Axium Bus is a 2 wire serial communication interface which provides inter-amplifier and controller
monitoring and control.
6

RS232 Port
The RS232 Asynchronous serial port provides data acquisition and control of Axium networks by
a Home Automation System, or personal computer. Only one RS232 connection is necessary
when interfacing with an Axium network.
The lead must be ‘Null modem’ : 9 pin female ‘D’ connectors at both ends (pin connections 2 and
3 swapped at one end)
See appendix1: RS232 protocol for more information.
PRESET Utility
A voltage free contact closure forces all Axium amplifiers (Zones) into their PRESET mode.
Open circuiting the terminals restores the amplifiers to their previous states.
10 way Terminal Block
0V 0V connection to Axium controllers and accessories.
IR Infra-Red input from Axium controllers.
12V Self-resetting Poly fused +12Vdc power supply for Axium controllers and
accessories. The maximum number of controllers is four.
If this is exceeded it is likely that the internal fuse may trigger open circuit.
ΣThe logical ‘OR’ of the Amp-On outputs. If any speaker output is ON, then Σis
On (12V). This is used to switch power sockets for connecting AC power to
Audio source components. i.e. CD players, Tuners etc.
Amp-ON A If Speaker A (Zone 1) is ON then output will be +12V. Current limited (25mA)
Amp-On B If Speaker B (Zone 1) is ON then output will be +12V. Current limited (25mA)
Amp-On C If Speaker C (Zone 2) is ON then output will be +12V. Current limited (25mA)
Amp-On D If Speaker D (Zone 2) is ON then output will be +12V. Current limited (25mA)
AXI – W Axium Bus (Clock) for connecting to Keypad controllers
AXI – B Axium Bus (Data) for connecting to keypad controllers.
IEC Fused AC Power Socket
An IEC AC power socket provides the possibility of international power connectivity.
The operating voltage may be changed internally to 110VAC.
Fuse = 1.6Amp Slow blow, size =20mm. Replace only with same rated fuse!
Speaker Outputs
Speaker A, B, C & D outputs are BANANA sockets.
If both A & B are used then the maximum load on each output is 8 ohms. (4 ohms min/amp)
If both C & D are used then the maximum load on each output is 8 ohms. (4 ohms min/amp)
The BLACK outputs are all common.
The RED outputs must never be connected together. It is not possible to operate the amplifiers in
parallel or “Bridge Tied Load”.
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SPECIFICATIONS
Audio Performance
Preamplifier:
Input impedance (all inputs) = 180Kohms
Frequency response = 20Hz – 20KHz
Signal-Noise ratio (relative to 1V @1KHz) = >90db
Channel separation = >90db
Max pre-out before clipping = 2.3V RMS
Max input level (Tone control defeated) = 2.0V RMS
THD (Vin = 1V; Gain = 0db) = < 0.05%
Bass control range = ±12db
Treble control range = ±12db
Balance control range = ±19db
Loudness boost (Gain < -50db) = +6db @ 40Hz
Volume control range = -86db - 0db (2.5db steps)
Mute attenuation = 100db
Amplifier:
Output power -8 ohm load = 50W RMS
Output power – 4 ohm load = 75W RMS
SlewRate =10V/µs
THD (8ohm load, 1KHz @ 5Watt) = <0.01%
IR range
9 m @ 30degrees off horizontal axis.
Dimensions
Width = 435mm (17”)
Height = 112mm (4-2/5”)
Depth = 340mm (13-2/5”)
Weight
7.8Kg (17-1/16 lbs)
Certification
This device complies with AS/NZS 1053, Edition 5, 1999
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APPENDIX1: RS232 PROTOCOL
Baud Rate = 9600
Command Structure: <command><zone><data>line feed.
Characters are all ASCII.
Command
Command Description
01 Standby
02 Mute
03 Source Selection
04 Volume
05 Bass
06 Treble
07 Balance
09 Send All parameters
0B Cause key press on Keypad
0C Amplifier features
0D Volume Limit
0E Preset Call
0F Track Zone
10 Unsupported IR command received
60 – 6F User defined IR commands, no data byte
70 – 7F User defined IR commands, one data byte
Zone
Axium amplifiers and keypads are encoded with up to 32 zones (00 – 31)
All amplifier zones may be addressed by sending the FF characters
Data
Command Content
Standby 00 – Standby A OFF
01 – Standby A ON
02 – Standby B OFF
03 – Standby B ON
Mute 00 – Mute
01 – Un-mute
Source
Selection 00 – Select CD 01 – Select Tape
02 – Select Tuner
03 – Select Auxiliary
04 – Select Mono utility input
Volume 00 – A0 range
Bass F4 – 0C (-12db - +12db)
Treble F4 – 0C (-12db - +12db)
Balance EC – 14 (Left –20db – Right –20db)
Amplifier
features 00 – Loudness enabled 01 – Loudness disabled
Volume Limit 00 – A0 range
Preset 00 – Standard mode
11 – Force Preset
Track Zone 00 – 31 zone to be tracked
FF – for no zone tracking 9

Notes:
•Commands are used as notifications. If an amplifier is switched ON, it will notify the other devices
on the Axium Bus by sending the Standby command (01). Any amplifiers with the same zone will
take the notification as a command and also switch ON.
•When a command is sent to an amplifier it will first be transmitted on the Axium bus and then
returned to the PC (Home automation system). If an error occurs an error will be returned
instead of the original command. The PC (Home automation system) needs to ignore its
command when it is returned.
•Standby B commands are ignored by AX450i amplifiers.
•A Standby A or B ON command implies that the amplifier is not muted, if the amplifier was
previously OFF. A Mute command must follow the Standby command if it is muted.
•The ‘Track zone’ command tells the zone specified to follow the source selection of the “Zone to
be tracked”. This does not imply that the “Zone to be tracked” will also track the Zone amplifier.
It is normal that the program setting up the zone tracking will send two commands, one to get
Zone X to Track Zone Y, and another to get Zone Y to track Zone X.
Example strings:
010801 : Standby A ON command for Zone 8
060002 : +2db Treble setting on Zone 0
033102 : Tuner source selection on Zone 31
0B0311 : Volume down continuous push on Zone 3 keypad
Keypad key codes
An Axium Keypad may be directed to emit its learnt IR commands via RS232 control.
This is achieved by sending a ‘Cause key press on Keypad’ command, followed by the zone, and the
Keypad key code (data).
The Keypad key code is encoded with IR string repeats. (See table below)
To terminate a continuously repeating ‘Key press’, command a 00 keypad key code must be sent.
REPEATS KEY
Continuous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
00 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx Stops repeating the current key
01 21 41 61 81 A1 C1 E1 Aux
02 22 42 62 82 A2 C2 E2 Tuner
03 23 43 63 83 A3 C3 E3 CD Bank
04 24 44 64 84 A4 C4 E4 CD
05 25 45 65 85 A5 C5 E5 Vol Up
06 26 46 66 86 A6 C6 E6 Ch Up (2)
07 27 47 67 87 A7 C7 E7 Random (1)
08 28 48 68 88 A8 C8 E8 Play
09 29 49 69 89 A9 C9 E9 Power
0A 2A 4A 6A 8A AA CA EA + Track skip (0)
0B 2B 4B 6B 8B AB CB EB - Track skip (9)
0C 2C 4C 6C 8C AC CC EC Disc skip
0D 2D 4D 6D 8D AD CD ED Mute
0E 2E 4E 6E 8E AE CE EE Fast Forward (8)
0F 2F 4F 6E 8F AF CF EF Rewind (7)
10 30 50 70 90 B0 D0 F0 Pause (6)
11 31 51 71 91 B1 D1 F1 Vol Down
12 32 52 72 92 B2 D2 F2 Ch Down (5)
13 33 53 73 93 B3 D3 F3 Band (4)
14 34 54 74 94 B4 D4 F4 Stop (3)
10

APPENDIX2: AMPCTRL PROGRAM
Overview:
AMPCTRL is an Axium amplifier setup utility program.
Full control, and tracking of any Axium amplifier zone if provided.
The program also has a scheduler. A wake up alarm clock is a typical function for the scheduler
Multiple amplifier setups may be programmed and scheduled to run either periodically or as single events.
A keypad Macro may also be programmed as part of the Schedule.
An Axium Keypad (connected to an amplifier) may be controlled, causing the keypad to emit it’s learnt IR
strings. Thus Audio Source (CD, Tuner etc) control may be achieved via the AMPCTRL program.
The Keypads programming file may be imported from AxiumIR (Keypad and Remote control program)
providing button ID’s.
For a full AMPCTRL users guide please visit the Axium Website: www.axium.co.nz
System requirements: Win95/98 or Win2000 PC with Com port
11