Crown CROWN K Series User manual

102010-2
2/98
KK
KK
K-Series-Series
-Series-Series
-Series
© 1998 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.
®
120 VAC North
American
Units Only:
Commercial
Audio
E106377
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
user to make special note of im-
portant operating or mainte-
nance instructions found in the
reference manual.
Watch for these symbols:

Page 2
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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 Amp!!
Obtain assistance frObtain assistance fr
Obtain assistance frObtain assistance fr
Obtain assistance from qualified serom qualified ser
om qualified serom qualified ser
om qualified ser--
--
-
vice personnel if any of the followingvice personnel if any of the following
vice personnel if any of the followingvice personnel if any of the following
vice personnel if any of the following
occurs:occurs:
occurs:occurs:
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.

Page 3
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
Do not drop or
spill any foreign
(or domestic)
object or liquid
into the K-Series
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.
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.

Page 4
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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 SHIPTHE UNITWITHOUTTHE FACTORY PACK.
FCC COMPLIANCE NOTICE
This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class A digital Device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interfer-
ence when the equipment is operated 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 interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely
to cause harmful interference in which case the user
will be required to correct the interference at his own
expense.
“The user is cautioned that any changes or modifica-
tions not expressly approved by Crown International
could void the user’s authority to operate the equip-
ment.”

Page 5
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Page 6
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 few minutes to read through
this—no more than 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 balanced
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 sections starting on page 14
for further instructions.
4. Connect the output wiring (left and right speakers).
5. Connect your
K-Series amp and other equipment to the ap-
propriate power source.
6. Turn on your mixer, preamp, signal processor, or any other
equipment in your system EXCEPT your
K-Series amplifier.
(Remember: save the best for last.)
7. Make sure the Channel 1 and Channel 2 level (volume) con-
trols on your
K-Series amplifier are turned all the way down
(counter-clockwise), then flip the power switch “ON” (press
upward). 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.

Page 7
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
21
--
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
to the touch after a few minutes of use. Don’t be alarmed.
This is a normal operating condition for your K-Series ampli-
fier. 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.
Typical Stereo
Hookup

Page 8
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Page 9
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
Contents
Friendly Page of Tips and Warnings ...................... 2
Unpacking Your
K-Series Amplifier ........................ 4
Features ................................................................ 5
Quick Start ............................................................ 6
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 .......................................... 7
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

Page 10
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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

Page 11
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
amplifier will keep working long after other amplifiers 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.

Page 12
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
Fig. 1.2
The Big Picture:
Controls,
Indicators &
Connectors

Page 13
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.

Page 14
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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 6.
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. It has been furnished with a convenient, 3-foot-long
AC power cord. To meet system compliance, 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.

Page 15
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. Stereo 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 applications.
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. 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.)

Page 16
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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. You can also choose to use either balanced or
unbalanced wiring. (See the section Balancing the Line
on page 28 for an explanation of balanced vs. unbal-
anced 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 equip-
ment. If you have no choice, keep the cables as short as pos-
sible. (Refer to the section Balancing the Line on page 28.)
3. To minimize hum and crosstalk, avoid running low-level input, high-level output and AC
power feeds in the same path. Try to run differing signal 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. When changing input connectors or wiring, turn the amplifier level controls all the way
down (counter-clockwise).
5. When 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

Page 17
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 daisy-chain outputs—perhaps
to other amplifiers in your system. For instance, if you’re
running in “Y” mono mode and you connect the input sig-
nal 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 components 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 insu-
late exposed loudspeaker cable connectors.
2. Do not use connectors that might accidentally tie conduc-
tors together when making or breaking the connection
(for example, a standard, 1/4" stereo phone plug).
3. Never use connectors that could be plugged 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.

Page 18
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
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...

Page 19
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!

Page 20
K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™
Fig. 2.9
“Y” Mono Input
Hookup—Great
for when you want
independent level
controls for
monitors and main
stacks
Fig. 2.10
“ Y” Mono Input to Bridged-Mono Output
Hookup—When you want plenty of power
such as running a sub-bass and you
need to daisy chain the input signal.