Crown CROWN K Series User manual

102010-4
9/99
K-Series
© 1999 by Crown International, Inc., P.O. Box 1000,
Elkhart, IN 46515-1000 U.S.A. Telephone: [phone].
Fax: [phone]. Trademark Notice:
Balanced Current
Amplifier
™,and
BCA
™are trademarks and
Crown
®is a
registered trademark of Crown International, Inc. Other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Lightning Bolt Symbol:
This symbol is used to alert the
user to the presence of danger-
ous voltages and the possible
risk of electric shock.
Exclamation Mark Symbol:
This symbol is used to alert the
usertomakespecialnoteofim-
portant operating or mainte-
nance instructions found in the
reference manual.
Watch for these symbols:

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
Page 2
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
Do not drop or
spill any foreign
(or domestic)
object or liquid
into the K-Series
amplifier.
Clean your
K-Series amp
only with a
damp cloth!
DO NOT BYPASS OR DEFEAT THE
GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION MEANS
USED ON THE K-SERIES AMPLIFIERS.
MAKE SURE ALL BLADES ON THE
POLARIZED POWER PLUG CAN BE
FULLY INSERTED INTO THE EXTENSION
CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET
THAT WILL BE USED WITH THE UNIT.
WARNING: Shock hazard. To reduce
the risk of fire or electric shock, do
not expose this unit to rain or mois-
ture. Do not immerse your K-Series
amplifier in any liquid. Do not operate
your amplifier near a pool, bathtub or
other standing water.
Read all safety and oper-
ating instructions before
operating the K-Series
amplifier. Follow all
instructions carefully and
heed any warnings given.
Hi! I'm Mick, Ill be
giving you the de-
tails about your
new K-Series mp!!
Obtain assistance from qualified ser-
vice personnel if any of the following
occurs:
• The power cord or plug has been
damaged in any way.
• Foreign objects or liquid has fallen
into the amplifier enclosure.
• The amplifier has been exposed to
rain or has been partially or totally
immersed in any liquid.
• The amplifier has been dropped or
the chassis has been damaged.
• You notice a marked change in per-
formance, or your K-Series amp oth-
erwise does not appear to operate
normally.
CAUTION:
Do not locate sensitive,
high-gain equipment such
as preamplifiers or tape
decks directly above or be-
low the unit. If an equip-
ment rack is used, we
recommend locating the
amplifier(s) in the bottom of
the rack and the preampli-
fier or other sensitive
equipment at the top.
Friendly Page
of Tips and
Warnings
Keep your K-Series amplifier
away from sources of heat,
such as a radiator or oven.
Do not cover or surround your
amp with material which may
retain heat, such as a
blanket or curtain.
Important:
Driving heavy loads for sustained periods of time
may cause parts of the amplifier’s case to reach
temperatures which will be hot to touch. But don’t
be alarmed.The amplifier’s internal protection
circuitry ensures maximum temperature levels will
remain well below any level that might be
harmful to the amplifier.
Protect the power
cord attached to
your K-Series am-
plifier. Route it to
avoid foot traffic
or other situations
where the cord
might be stretched
or pinched. Pay spe-
cial attention to the
cord connector and
attachment points.

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
Contents
Friendly Page of Tips and Warnings...................... 2
Important Safety Instructions ................................. 4
Unpacking Your K-Series Amplifier........................ 6
Quick Start ............................................................ 7
Features ................................................................ 9
1 Welcome............................................................. 10
2 Very Detailed Install............................................. 14
3 Operation............................................................ 21
4 Other Issues........................................................ 26
5 Specifications ..................................................... 31
6 Service................................................................ 36
Illustrations
Typical Stereo Hookup .......................................... 8
1.1 The
K-Series Amplifier.................................... 10-11
1.2 The Big Picture: Controls, Indicators and
Connectors ................................................... 12-13
2.1 Mounting Dimensions.......................................... 14
2.2 Mono Mode Switches.......................................... 15
2.3 Input Sensitivity Switch........................................ 15
2.4 Typical Input Wiring............................................. 16
2.5 Stereo Output Wiring........................................... 17
2.6 Bridge Mono Output Wiring................................. 18
2.7 Stereo Hookup .................................................... 19
2.8 Bridged-Mono Output Hookup ............................ 19
2.9 “Y” Mono Input Hookup....................................... 20
2.10 “Y” Mono Input / Bridged Output ......................... 20
3.1 Front Panel Indicators & Controls ........................ 21
3.2 Back Panel Controls............................................ 23
3.3 Back Panel Fuse Location................................... 25
4.1 Balanced & Unbalanced Input Wiring ................. 28
4.2 Balanced Input Wiring......................................... 29
4.3 Unbalanced Input Wiring .................................... 30
5.1 Awesome Frequency (Amplitude) Response ...... 35
5.2 Superior Damping Factor .................................... 35
Important Safety Instructions
1) Read these instructions.
2) Keep these instructions.
3) Heed all warnings.
4) Follow all instructions.
5) Do not use this apparatus near water.
6) Clean only with a dry cloth.
7) Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accor-
dance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8) Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus that produce
heat.
9) Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or
grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades
with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has
two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade
or the third prong is provided for your safety. If the pro-
vided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electri-
cian for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10) Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched,
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the
point where they exit from the apparatus.
11) Only use attachments/accessories specified by the
manufacturer.
12) Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when
unused for long periods of time.
13) Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servic-
ing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in
any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged,
liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the ap-
paratus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or mois-
ture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
Quick Start!
First things first. We know you just
can’t wait to crank up your new
Crown®
K-Series amplifier. And the
last thing you want to do is dig through
pages of tech-talk to find out where the
“ON” switch is. So that’s why we provided
you with this quick and simple page to get
you up and running right away. Just take a
fewminutestoreadthroughthis—nomorethan
five or ten, max—you’ll be glad you did.
1. Make sure the
K-Series amp and all other equipment is
turned OFF before you begin wiring. The amp power switch,
which is located on the far right side of the front panel, is
“OFF” when pressed downward.
2. Mount your
K-Series amp securely in the rack.
3. Connect the left and right inputs coming from your mixer,
preamp, or other processor. You can use either bal-
anced 1/4-inch phone or 3-pin XLR connectors. You
can also choose to run in MONO mode, with either
bridged outputs, “Y” inputs, or both. If so, see the sec-
tions starting on page 14 for further instructions.
4. Connect the output wiring (left and right speakers).
5. Connect your
K-Series amp and other equip-
ment to the appropriate power source.
6. Turn on your mixer, preamp, signal
processor, or any other equip-
ment in your system EXCEPT
your
K-Series amplifier. (Remem-
ber: save the best for last.)
7. Make sure the Channel 1 and
Channel 2 level (volume) controls
on your
K-Series amplifier are
turned all the way down (counter-
clockwise), then flip the power
switch “ON” (press upward).
Unpacking Your K-Series Amp
Please unpack and inspect your amplifier for any damage that
may have occurred during transit. If damage is found, notify
the transportation company immediately. Only you can initiate
a claim for shipping damage. Crown will be happy to help as
needed. Save the shipping carton as evidence of damage for
the shipper’s inspection.
We also recommend that you save all packing materials so
you will have them if you ever need to transport the unit.
NEVER SHIP THE UNIT WITHOUT THE FACTORY PACK.
FCC COMPLIANCE NOTICE
This equipment has been tested and found to com-
ply with the limits for a Class A digital Device, pur-
suant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference when the equipment is oper-
ated in a commercial environment. This equipment
generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instruction manual, may cause harmful in-
terference to radio communications. Operation of
thisequipment in aresidential areais likelyto cause
harmful interference in which case the user will be
required to correct the interference at his own ex-
pense.
“The user is cautioned that any changes or modifi-
cations not expressly approved by Crown Interna-
tional could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.”

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
21
--
Typical Stereo
Hookup
Note: After a two-second delay, the “Enable” light will glow a
bright green to indicate power is on. If no audio signal is
present at the amp, the enable light will then switch to a dim
green.
8. (Now comes the fun!) Supply input, adjust amp levels
and enjoy.
CAUTION: Excessive output levels may toast your speakers.
Crown’s
K -Series amplifier has such low distortion, you may
not realize the actual level being reached until it’s too late.
Please exercise caution and drive your speakers responsi-
bly, or at least warn your neighbors!
9. You may notice that your
K-Series amplifier becomes warm
tothetouch after afewminutesofuse.Don’tbealarmed. This
is the normal operating condition for your
K-Series amplifier.
The
K-Series of amplifiers are designed to be convection
cooled, and therefore radiate heat passively to the
enviroment. Refer to page 26 for more details.

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
Fig. 1.1
The K-2 Amplifier
(K-1 Amplifier
appears the same
except for
nameplate)
The K-Series amplifiers are also highly energy-efficient—some
of the World’s first “green” amps. As a result, the
K-Series
amps use less electricity (reducing your utility bills) and save
the precious resources of our environment.
And that’s not all! Your
K-Series amp can drive an amazing
range of loudspeakers, making it one of the most versatile
amplifiers ever. Plus, your
K-Series has one of our most so-
phisticated (and totally automatic) protection systems, so your
amplifierwill keep working long after otheramplifiers have shut
down. It’s part of our philosophy:
Your show must go on!
This manual will help you correctly set up and use your new
amplifier—we strongly recommend you read all instructions,
warnings and cautions. Also, for your protection, please send
in your warranty registration card today. And save your bill of
sale—it’s your official proof of purchase.
Thank you for choosing Crown! Mick and his team of enthusi-
astic engineers have worked long hours to craft a totally new
kind of amplifier—the
K-Series. These are the first amplifiers to
incorporate Crown’s patented BCA™ (Balanced Current Am-
plifier™) technology, and we are all very proud to have in-
vented them. Our Balanced Current Amplifier makes use of a
special type of circuitry which allows high levels of power out-
put without all of the associated heat you find in a conventional
amplifier. And that’s very good news for you!
How high is the power output? The
K1 amplifier produces an
impressive 1,500 watts and weighs only 32 pounds, while the
K2 produces a whopping 2,500 watts while weighing only 38
pounds; both without using a cooling fan!* Of course, the ab-
sence of a cooling fan means your amp runs quieter (no fan
noise) and cleaner (no need for filters) and requires very little
maintenance (we
thought you’d like that).
* 1,500 watts and 2,500 watts total from both channels (for the K1 and K2
respectively; 750 and 1,250 watts per channel). See the Specifications sec-
tion for details.
1 Welcome

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
Note: K1 amplifier and CE (European) versions of both amplifiers feature identical front and
back panel layouts except for product nameplates and fuse specifications.
Fig. 1.2
The Big Picture:
Controls,
Indicators &
Connectors

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
3. Set the mono mode switches. Both the Bridge Output
and “Y” input switches should be in the OFF position
when you’re running in Stereo Mode (see Figure 2.2). Ste-
reo Mode allows independent inputs on the right and left
channels to feed separate speakers at the output. It’s the
configuration typically chosen for everyday audio appli-
cations.
Fig. 2.2
Mono Mode
Switches
Fig. 2.3
Input Sensitivity
Switch
Turn the Bridge Output switch to ON to have a single in-
put that feeds to a single output with twice the voltage of
Stereo Mode. Use this configuration if you want to give up
stereo capabilities in order to drive your speakers
louder.
(You might also choose to use this configuration if you are
running a distributed sound system from the
K-Series amp . )
Turn the “Y” input switch to ON if you want both inputs to
be connected in parallel. Use this configuration if you
want a common audio signal to feed out to two channels,
each having its own level control. You might use this
setup if you’re running to a monitor speaker on one chan-
nel and a main speaker stack on the other channel.
You may also want to configure your system to take ad-
vantage of both the Bridge Output and “Y” input capabili-
ties. This would allow you to have daisy-chained inputs
fed to a double-the-voltage output. (See further instruc-
tions on daisy-chained inputs in the discussion on con-
necting the inputs in step 5 in this section.)
4. Set the Input Sensitivity switches of each channel to
the desired setting (see Figure 2.3). Two choices are
available: 1.4 V for full rated output, or a fixed voltage gain
of 26 dB. (The
K-Series ship from the factory with default
settings of 1.4 V, which translates to approximately 33 dB
of gain.)
2 Very Detailed Install
Follow these instructions for a detailed explanation of K-Series
installation procedures and options. If you just want to get up
and running as quickly as possible, see the Quick Start sec-
tion on page 7.
1. Begin with the amplifier turned off and disconnected
from the power receptacle. The
K-Series power switch
is located on the right side of the front panel; it is OFF
when depressed downward. Equipment that will be con-
nected to the inputs of the amplifier (such as mixers or
preamplifiers) should also be turned off.
2. Mount the amplifier. Your
K-Series amp is designed to
be mounted in a standard, 19-inch (48.3-cm) equipment
rack (see Figure 2.1). It has been furnished with a conve-
nient, 2-foot-long AC power cord. To meet system compli-
ance, this cord must be plugged into a local,
rack-mounted, commercial grade electrical outlet box.
Extension cords are not to be used. The amp has a
unique front-panel design which provides exceptional air
circulation between
K-Series amps, which makes it easy
to keep your amplifiers cool. (See the section “You Gotta
Know When To Kool It!” on page 26 for hints on amplifier
cooling.)
Fig. 2.1
Mounting
Dimensions
When mounting your amp in a rack, you should secure
the back of the rack as well as the front. Even though the
amp’s center of gravity is toward the front, securing the
amp at both front and rear will assure that the amp stays
in place, even when the rack is transported.

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
If you are running with both the Y-Input and Bridge Output
switches “ON”, you may choose to make use of the un-
used input connectors as low-voltage daisy-chain out-
puts—perhaps to other amplifiers in your system. For
instance, if you’re running in “Y” mono mode and you
connect the input signal to the Channel 1 XLR connector,
you can use the Channel 2 XLR connector plus the two 1/
4-inch phone plugs for daisy-chained outs. This simplifies
your wiring needs, making good use of all the compo-
nents in your system.
Fig. 2.5
Stereo Output
Wiring
6. Connect the outputs of the K-Series amp to your loud-
speakers. If the Bridge Output switch is turned OFF, con-
nect the positive (+) and negative (–) leads of each
loudspeaker to the appropriate Channel 1 and Channel 2
output connectors as shown in Figure 2.5.
Output Wiring Tips
1. To prevent possible short circuits, wrap or otherwise insulate
exposed loudspeaker cable or cable connectors.
2. Donot use connectors thatmight accidentally tie conductors
together when making or breaking the connection
(for example, a standard, 1/4-inch stereo phone plug).
3. Neveruse connectors that could beplugged into AC power sockets.Accidental AC
input will be an electrifying experience for your equipment. But you will find out real
quick if your speakers are any good at 60 Hz!
4. Avoid using connectors with low current-carrying capacity, such as XLRs.
5. Do not use connectors that have any tendency to short.
If the Bridge Output switch is ON, only the Channel 1 in-
put connectors should be used. If only the “Y” input
switch is ON, then either set of connectors can be used.
5. Connect the inputs of the
K-Series amp to your mixer,
preamplifier, or other equipment ahead of the amp. Two
types of balanced input connectors are provided, allow-
ing you to choose either 1/4-inch phone or 3-pin XLR con-
nectors (see Figure 2.4). You can also choose to use
either balanced or unbalanced wiring. (See the section
Balancing the Line on page 28 for an explanation of bal-
anced vs. unbalanced wiring.)
Input Wiring Tips
1. For all input connectivity, use shielded wire only. Cables with a
foil wrap shield or a high-density braid are superior. Cables with
a stranded spiral shield, although very flexible, will break down
over time and cause noise problems.
2. Try to avoid using unbalanced lines with professional equipment.
If you have no choice, keep the cables as short as possible. (Re-
fer to the section Balancing the Line on page 28.)
3. To minimize hum and crosstalk, avoid running low-level input cables, high-level output
wires and AC power feeds in the same path. Try to run differing signal-cable paths at 90°
to one another. If you must use a common path for all cables, use a star-quad cable for
the low-level signals.
4. Before changing input connectors or wiring, turn the amplifier level controls all the way
down (counter-clockwise).
5. Before changing output connections, a professional will turn the amplifier level down and
the AC power off to minimize the chance of short-circuiting the output.
Fig. 2.4
Typical Input
Wiring

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
21
--
Fig. 2.7
Stereo Hookup—
two stacks, one
amp, stereo in,
stereo out.
Fig. 2.8
Bridged-Mono
Output Hookup—
mono or stereo In,
mono out—great for
subs...or when you
want it LOUD!
If the Bridge Output switch is turned ON, connect a mono
load across the red binding posts of each channel as
shown in Figure 2.6. Do NOT use the black binding
posts when the Bridge Output switch is turned on.
Fig. 2.6
Bridge Mono
Output Wiring
Notice that the Channel 1 red binding post is positive (+)
and the Channel 2 red binding post is negative (–) when
the Bridge Output switch is turned on. The black binding
posts should not be used.
Never short or parallel the output channels of a
K-Se-
ries
amplifier to itself or to any other amplifier.
Detailed diagrams of the four possible input-to-output
configurations (Stereo, Bridged-Mono, “Y” Mono, and “Y”
Input to Bridged-Mono) are shown on the following
pages.
7. Turn on all equipment ahead of the amplifier such as
the mixer or preamplifier. Adjust their signal levels to their
optimum “signal to noise” settings.
8. Plug the amplifier into the power receptacle, turn on
the amplifier and adjust its level controls to a desired
setting. See instructions on page 22 if this is the first time
the amplifier is being turned on.
The Next Couple of
Pages Show Some
Typical Hook-up
Options...