Current Audio AMP-1270 User manual

1
Instruction Manual
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©2013 Current Audio LLC
1890 Cordell Court, Suite 105 El Cajon, CA 92020 Sales 866-927-7181
AMP1270 RPA 11152013
Multi-Channel 70 Watt Digital
Class D Amplifier
Now with Auto Sensing

!
Safety Instructions
1. Read these instructions completely prior to use or hook-up.
2. Keep these instructions for future reference.
3. Understand and heed all Warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use amp near water.
6. Clean only with a dry cloth. Never use solvents.
7. Do not block any of the ventilation openings.
8. Do not install near heat sources such as stoves, radiators and amplifiers.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the 3 prong grounding plug.
10. Protect power cord from being walked on or pinched.
11. Use only connections suggested by manufacturer.
12. Use only with an approved cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table specified by the manufacturer.
When a cart is used, use with caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid
possible injury caused by tipping over.
13. Unplug this amplifier during lightning storms.
14. Use an ILS-120 to protect from surges, over/under voltages and lightning strikes.
15. Refer service to a qualified service personal.
16. If you install the amplifier in a built-in installation, such as a rack or a bookcase, ensure there is
adequate ventilation. Leave 5” (127mm) of free space at the top and sides and at least 4”
(100mm) at the rear.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to
alert the user to the presence of important operation or maintenance
instructions.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of non insulated
dangerous voltages within the product’s enclosure that may be
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to people.
WARNING
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT
EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO
RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER OR BACK. NO USER-
SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER TO
QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNAL.
2
www.currentaudio.com
©2013 Current Audio LLC
1890 Cordell Court, Suite 105 El Cajon, CA 92020 Sales 866-927-7181
AMP1270 RPA 11152013
This product conforms to all EU Directive
requirements as applicable by law. The complete
Declaration of Conformity can be found at
compliance.currentaudio.com

Thank you for purchasing a Current Audio Multi-Channel Amplifier.
Please read this manual thoroughly before making any connections or applying AC power. This
manual applies to both the AMP-1270 and the AMP-870. The AMP-870 has fewer channels
(eight) compared to the AMP-1270 with twelve channels.
Follow the instructions in this manual. It will allow you to obtain the maximum performance
and listening pleasure from your new amplifier.
Please retain this manual to use as a future reference.
May D-Force be with you.
Supplied Accessories
The box includes the following equipment and accessories:
•(1) Multi-Channel Digital Amplifier (AMP-1270 or AMP-870).
•(1) Grounded Power Cord for US. Europe uses a 220VAC non grounded cord.
•(1) Set of right angle Rack Mount Brackets
•(1) Instruction Manual
3
Specifications
Continuous Power Output
All channels driven
70 Watts RMS at 4 ohms
50 Watts at 8 ohms
Bridged Power Output
All channels driven
140 Watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms
Caution: Maintain an 8 ohm load in the bridged mode
Standby Power
< 1 watt
Power Consumption- 1270 ;870
1100 watts;800 watts
Input Sensitivity/Impedance
500mv /20,000 ohms
Signal to Noise Ratio
95 dB
Frequency Response
20 Hz to 20 kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion
(Un-bridged or Bridged)
0.1% THD 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Dimensions WxHxD
17" (431.8mm) x 4" (101.6mm) x 13" (330.2mm)
Weight
32 lbs (14.6kgs)
Glossary of Terms
•Amplifier- An electronic device for increasing the amplitude of low level electrical signals, used chiefly in
sound reproduction.
•Auto Sensing- Amplifier will only be turned ON when a low level music signal is detected. It will turn off when
no signal is present after about a 10 minute delay. The delay prevents any unwanted annoying cycling of amp.
•Bridging- Amplifier bridging is simply using 2 channels of an amplifier to drive a common load for more power.
•Channel-This refers to one input or output of a stereo zone.
•Continuous Power Out-The ability of an amp to output its full RMS power continuously.
•Frequency Response- Range over which an audio component can effectively produce a useable and fairly
uniform, undistorted output signal.
•Line Level-A low level signal like a CD output that must be amplified to produce a usable audio sound level
for speakers.
•Loop Out- A duplicate low level input signal that can be used to power additional amps to expand your zones.
•THD- Total Harmonic Distortion; specification that compares the output signal of the amplifier with the input
signal and measures the level differences in harmonic frequencies between the two.
•Zone-Two channels make one Zone, sometimes referred to as Room in multi-zone/room amplifiers.
www.currentaudio.com
©2013 Current Audio LLC
1890 Cordell Court, Suite 105 El Cajon, CA 92020 Sales 866-927-7181
AMP1270 RPA 11152013

Welcome to D-Force by Current Audio
D-Force describes the latest digital technology in amplifiers by Current Audio. The D-
Force amplifiers generate the equivalent analog output for speakers by using a
modulated audio signal rather than the traditional digital to analog conversion. Because
this amp uses pulse modulation, the efficiency is 90% compared to 50% of analog.
The amp is a Class D configuration (D does not stand for ‘digital’ but merely refers to the
next letter after Class C). It does exhibit a digital-like output because the outputs are
generated by turning the signal completely ON and OFF.
4
Features
•Dual Power Mode-Input power is switchable from 110VAC to 220VAC.
•3 Prong Plug-Grounded input power for Safety.
•Master Power Switch-Rear panel switch to cut power for service or hook-up.
•Multi-Stage Protection-Each pair of channels/zones is individually protected with internal
circuitry and is indicated on the front bi-color LEDs. The amp will shut down a bad zone if it
senses a short or is overdriven. ONLY the channels that are affected will turn Off and
indicates by the LED turning from blue to red thus pointing to the channel in distress. The
remaining zones will run unaffected and continue to provide sound without shutting down
all zones.
•Global and/or Individual Inputs–One input signal can be universally distributed to all
zones or the user can individually dedicate one or more zones to have a unique separate
input. The other zones will still play the global input.
•Gain Adjustments–There is a global gain control that sets the maximum level to all zones.
In addition, each zone has its own separate gain control to allow the user to customize
each zone to match the acoustics of that room. This also sets the maximum loudness of
each room.
•Installer Friendly Connections–Each speaker channel has pull off plugs to allow the user to
make wire connections up to #14 gauge with positive screw down terminals. The IEC power
cord can be disconnected at the amp for easy service. All inputs are made by easy connect
gold plated RCA plugs.
•Bridging–If more power is required for perhaps an outside area, two channels may be
combined (Bridged) to provide 140 watts at 8 ohms. This is accomplished simply by a
selector switch at each zone. CAUTION: Turn power off when making change and always
maintain an 8 ohm load when in the Bridge mode.
•Rack Mount–packed with each amp is an accessory pack that include brackets allowing the
amp to be rack mountable. This is accomplished by attaching the rack ears with the 4
included screws.
•Power Mode–Power On has three modes. (1)It can toggled ON/OFF by the front power
switch and is indicated by the corresponding LED. (2)It can also be triggered ON/OFF by a
12 VDC signal on the rear 3.5mm Trigger in jack. Front Power button must be in standby
mode to operate trigger. LED must be red. The tip of the plug is (+). (3)It can be triggered
ON by Music Auto Sense. In this mode unit will turn OFF after a 10 minuet delay of no
signal.
www.currentaudio.com
©2013 Current Audio LLC
1890 Cordell Court, Suite 105 El Cajon, CA 92020 Sales 866-927-7181
AMP1270 RPA 11152013

5
AMP-1270
Rear Panel Elements
12
3
2
1 7
6
5
4 10
8 11
1. LOOP OUT
Amp can be daisy chained to
additional amp inputs for more
zones.
2. GLOBAL INPUT
Amplifies any source input across
any or all channel zones.
3. LEVEL
Independent gain control for
each individual channel zone.
6. LINE IN
Individual Input for each
separate channel zone.
5. LINE IN –GLOBAL IN SWITCH
Select GLOBAL or LINE IN Input
for each channel zone.
4. BRIDGED NORMAL SWITCH
Combines two channels of one
zone for increased power.
Turn Power OFF before switching.
Insert same signal to both Line In
inputs for stereo. Requires two (2)
Zones.
7. SPEAKER OUTPUT
Removable plug for making screw
down speaker connections. Make
certain no wire whiskers touch.
8. MASTER POWER
Shuts OFF all power to the
amplifier. Use for service.
10. INPUT VOLTAGE
Allows user to switch fro 115VAC to
220VAC. Remove protective cover.
11. 12VDC TRIGGER IN/OUT
Controls Power state of amp by
external source. Front power button
must be in Standby Mode to operate.
Male Tip is (+).
12. IEC POWER-IN CONNECTOR
Plug female IEC cord here.
Observe selected voltage. Also
houses the main fuse. Replace
only with correct fuse.
!
www.currentaudio.com
©2013 Current Audio LLC
1890 Cordell Court, Suite 105 El Cajon, CA 92020 Sales 866-927-7181
AMP1270 RPA 11152013
10
9
9. AUTO MODE SWITCH
Three ways to energize amp.
Constant ON –MUSIC Sense Trigger –
DC 12V TRIGGER

INSTALLATION
Getting Started
Amplifier Placement
6
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©2013 Current Audio LLC
1890 Cordell Court, Suite 105 El Cajon, CA 92020 Sales 866-927-7181
AMP1270 RPA 11152013
5" of Free Air Space at Top
AMP1270/870
Front of Amp
NO CARPET
4" of Air Space for ventilation
and cable management
Allow at least 2" of Free Air
space on both the Left and
Right sides of the amp
Current Audio D-Force amplifiers require plenty of free air space for safe and proper operation. The
following diagram indicates the minimum amount of free air space to provide the proper ventilation
and heat exchange. Anything less than this will shorten the life of the equipment and may cause the
amp to shut down.
Position the amp with all feet on a solid level surface in a well ventilated area. Do not place the unit on
carpet. There are ventilation slots at the bottom that create a natural cooling flow as the heat rises. If
installing in a rack or a cabinet it may be necessary to add a powered fan to provide cooling air flow.
Do not block the ventilation slots. Do not place on carpet or fabric. Do not place near a heat source. In
order to prevent corrosion or electric shock do not place in wet or humid locations.
Natural Convection Air Flow
INSTALLATION
Making Connections
Caution: All connections and switching should be done with the AC power switched OFF. The final
connection should be the IEC power cord.
INPUTS
The inputs on the back of the amplifier are gold plated RCA connectors. Interconnect cables of equal gold
plated quality that are low impedance and shielded should be used to insure a positive continuous tight
connection between equipment. This will insure the total audio quality.

7
INSTALLATION
Making Connections
SPEAKER OUTPUTS
The speaker output connectors are designed for stranded wire from 18-14 gauge.
Remove about 2” of the outer jacket then strip about 1/4” insulation from each wire and slightly twist
the strands to ensure all strands can be inserted into the hole on the removable black speaker
connector. See the Strip Gauge figure below.
Insert the Red or copper colored conductor all the way up to the insulation into the hole at the bottom of
the plug. Do the same to the Black or silver colored conductor and insert into the BLACK (-) colored
Terminal. Make sure there are NO whiskers from the strands that could cause a short circuit. The other
end of these wires will be connected to your amplifier or volume control.
Note: Sometimes your wire color may be White (+) and Green (-).
After tightening with a small slotted screwdriver, you should have a connection with the proper tension
for continued operation that will not wiggle out or cause poor connection.
Strip to 1/4”
2”
Strip Gauge
For the Right Speaker Output, insert the Red or copper colored conductor all the
way up to the insulation into the hole labeled R+ at the bottom of the plug.
With a small slotted screwdriver turn the screw clockwise until you have a tight
connect. Try pulling the wire, you should not be able to pull the wire from the
screw plug. Next do the same to the Black or silver colored conductor and insert
into the R- Screw Terminal.
Do the same for the LEFT Output. Insert the Red or copper colored conductor all
the way up to the insulation into the hole labeled L+ at the bottom of the plug.
With a small slotted screwdriver, turn the screw clockwise until you have a tight
connection. Try pulling the wire, you should not be able to pull the wire from
the screw plug. Next do the same to the Black or silver colored conductor and
insert into the L- Screw Terminal.
Make sure there are NO whiskers from the strands that could cause a short circuit. The other end of
these wires will be connected to your amplifier or volume control.
Note: The (+) terminals are on the outside of the Speaker Plug. The (–) terminals are on the inside of the
plug.
Sometimes your wire color may be White (+) and Green (-) when using a four (4) conductor audio cable.
You should now have a connection with the proper tension for continued operation that will not wiggle
out or cause a poor connection that can produce intermittent audio static.
Make sure you connect the speakers to the amp In Phase. In Phase means (+) Red of the amp to the (+)
Red of the speaker and the Black (-) of the amp to the Black (-) of the speaker. If they are connected out
of phase, the mid and low frequencies will cancel and the speakers will not perform as intended.
www.currentaudio.com
©2013 Current Audio LLC
1890 Cordell Court, Suite 105 El Cajon, CA 92020 Sales 866-927-7181
AMP1270 RPA 11152013

LOOP OUTPUT
The amp is provided with a LOOP OUTPUT. The loop output provides a unity gain. It is the same signal
that is sourced to the GLOBAL INPUT. This output can be used to gang amplifiers to obtain more zones of
music or used as a source for other components.
INSTALLATION
Setup Selections
SELECTING INPUTS
Caution: Before making any changes to the Bridged or Global In switch positions insure that the Master
Power switch on the rear of the amp is OFF. Possible damage to the amp may occur due high
transient current during switching or from wiring misconfiguration.
Global In/Line In Switch
This switch allows the user to select the source for each zone from the Global In Input or a separate
source input via the Line In Input on each zone.
Bridge/Mono Switch
In certain instances the user may require addition power for some applications. 140 watts at 8 ohms
may be obtained. When in the Bridged mode you are combining two channels per Zone to
accomplish the increased power. NOTE: You will require two Zones (four channels) to get the
increased power for stereo. Pull Speaker Plug to see the Bridged wiring scheme.
Caution: make sure the Master Power switch is OFF before making changes.
Position The Bridge-Mono/Normal switch to the Bridge mode. Next remove speaker plug from the
chassis and connect the (-) speaker wire lead (normally black) to the R+ on the plug. Even though it
may appear wrong this is correct. Now connect the (+) speaker wire lead (normally red) to the L+ on
the plug. Check your work then insert the plug back into the female socket for that zone. If you
require stereo select another zone and do the same for that zone. Designate one of the combined
zones as LEFT and the other combined zone as the RIGHT channel.
Caution: DO NOT connect more than one speaker to the output in the Bridge mode. Maintain an
8 ohm minimum load when using the Bridge mode.
8
Move switch to
Bridged mode
Proper Wiring for
Bridge Mode
(-) Speaker Lead to R+
(+) Speaker Lead to L+
Bridge Mode Hook-up
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©2013 Current Audio LLC
1890 Cordell Court, Suite 105 El Cajon, CA 92020 Sales 866-927-7181
AMP1270 RPA 11152013
Speaker Plug
Removed
Insert same L signal
in both inputs for
stereo. Insert
jumped R signal on
2nd zone.

9
INSTALLATION
Setup Choices for Power ON
The AMP1270 and AMP870 amplifier provides three separate choices to energize the unit. See #10
Rear Panel Call Out on page 5.
Caution: Before making any changes to the AUTO MODE Switch insure that the Master Power
switch on the rear of the amp is OFF. Possible damage to the amp may occur due high transient
current during switching or from wiring misconfiguration.
It has:
1. Constant ON. It is provided by the Front Panel ON/STANDBY Switch. LED must be Blue.
NOTE: The rear Master Power Switch must be ON.
2. DC 12V TRIGGER. The Front Panel ON/STANDBY Switch must be in Standby mode. LED will indicate
red. The tip of the plug is (+).
3. Auto Mode Music. In this mode the amp will energize automatically by sensing a small current when
an audio signal is applied. The Front Panel ON/STANDBY Switch must be in Standby mode. The
switch LED will indicate red.
Constant ON Mode
In the Constant ON mode the amplifier is energized continually. This is the most inefficient mode of
operation. When in this mode the amp is always running and does not conserve energy. If this
mode is selected, careful attention should be given to the steady heat generated. Make sure there is
ample ventilation to accommodate the excess heat produced in this mode.
To have power ON constant the ON position of the AUTO MODE Switch on the rear of the panel
must be in the ON location to the left. Turn the MASTER POWER switch on rear of panel to the ON
position. With this switch ON you can now energize the amplifier from the front panel. The switch
toggles from ON to STANDBY. To indicate Constant ON the front LED lights will illuminate Blue.
MUSIC Auto Sense Mode
When the AUTO MODE Switch is in the MUSIC mode the power to the unit is controlled by the input
signal present on either the GLOBAL INPUT or any LINE IN for the separate Channel Zones. When a
low level signal is detected on either of these inputs the amplifier will energize and send speaker
level sound to the selected zones. If after 10 minutes no signal is present the amplifier will
automatically turn off. The delay prevents cycling when there is any pause in the sound/music
source. The Front panel switch must be in STANDBY indicated red on the switch. It should turn Blue
when a signal is detected on the inputs. The amplifier will energize.
DC 12V Trigger Mode
When the AUTO MODE Switch is in DC 12V position the system requires an external trigger to
energize the amplifier. Connect a remote two conductor via a male 3.5mm phone plug to the DC
12V TRIGGER IN jack. The tip is (+) positive and the sleeve is (-) negative. If more than one device
needs to be controlled connect that device to the to the DC 12V TRIGGER Out jack via a male
3.5mm phone plug. The front Power Switch must be in the Standby Mode to operate. The LED on
the Switch will illuminate red when in Standby mode and turn Blue when triggered. This indicates
the amplifier is active.
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©2013 Current Audio LLC
1890 Cordell Court, Suite 105nue El Cajon, CA 92020 Sales 866-927-7181
AMP1270 RPA 11152013

INSTALLATION
Multi-Room (Zone) Hookup
10
Bridged Output
for Stereo
(Note Inputs)
Normal Output for Stereo
LEFT RIGHT
LEFT
RIGHT
Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Zone 6
CD
Blu-Ray
PC
Output
Input
Output
Output
Output
Global In
Input
Receiver
Multi-room
Output
CS650 CS802 WS650 OR6
OC8B
RIGHT
LEFT
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©2013 Current Audio LLC
1890 Cordell Court, Suite 105nue El Cajon, CA 92020 Sales 866-927-7181
AMP1270 RPA 11152013