Franklin A4012 User manual

A4012 TWELVE CHANNEL MULTI-ZONE AMPLIFIER

User Manual

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Thank you for purchasing the Franklin Audio™ A4012 Twelve Channel Multi-Zone Ampliﬁer. The versatility of the A4012

makes it the perfect choice for almost every type of custom multi-room audio system. Its tabletop or rack-mountable

design allows it to be integrated easily into high-end whole house audio systems.

INSTALLATION:

Franklin Audio ampliﬁers are designed to help deliver a great audio experience. However, where you place the ampliﬁer

can have a large effect on the performance you receive, and the life of the unit. If you are not rack-mounting the ampliﬁer,

position it with all feet resting on a solid level surface. Be sure that the ampliﬁer is in a well-ventilated area and DO NOT

install the ampliﬁer near a source of heat or in an extremely humid or wet location.

CAUTION: All connections and switching must be done with the ampliﬁer’s power switch positioned to ‘Off’. Connect the

power cord last to be sure that the ampliﬁer is off during all of your connections and set up.

FEATURES:

• 12 channels (6 stereo zones) in one convenient enclosure

• Stable Class AB design delivers superior audiophile sound

quality and performance

• Independent and bus inputs provides unparalleled ﬂexibility

• Bridgeable channel outputs provide additional power

when needed

• Independent channel gain controls allow the output of

each speaker to be perfectly matched

• Switchable 115/230V input voltage

• Manual, auto, or triggered on/off for integration into any

automated system

• Multi-stage protection circuitry for reliability and easy

troubleshooting of audio system

• Installer-friendly setup and connections

• Can be converted easily between rack-mount and

tabletop conﬁgurations

• Heavy-duty steel chassis with brushed aluminum faceplate

FRONT PANEL:

1. Master Power Switch / Indicator LED

Front panel pushbutton power switch turns the ampliﬁer

on and off. When the switch is on and the indicator LED

is red, the ampliﬁer is in standby mode. The remote turn

on switch (located on the rear) is either in the “trigger”

or “auto” position. When the LED is blue, the ampliﬁer is

fully active. The master power switch will turn off the am-

pliﬁer no matter which power mode has been selected.

2. Zone Status Indicators

Each pair of channels or zones has a bi-color LED to

indicate its operational status.These indicators provide quick

and easy troubleshooting of the system.If the circuitry deter-

mines that a channel must be shut down due to excessive

heat or low impedance (a short), only the channels that are

affected will be turned off causing the zone LED to turn red.

The remaining zones will continue to operate and maintain a

blue LED status. Once the condition has been corrected for

the zone in question, the status LED will return to blue.

Note: When the power LED is red and the zone status LEDS

are not lit (off), indicates the unit is in standby mode.

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REAR PANEL:

3. BUS Line Inputs / Outputs

The A4012 has two common or BUS inputs that receives

audio signals from standard line-level audio sources and

sends them to any or all channels. The BUS line outputs

are direct feed-through to allow the BUS inputs to be

fed to other ampliﬁers. Be sure to use high quality RCA

cables that feature low impedance, shielding and high

quality connectors.

4. Remote Turn-On Switch

This switch selects the turn-on stimuli that will put the ampli-

ﬁer in ready mode. “Trigger” setting relies on 3-30V AC/DC

voltage going into the trigger input to activate the ampliﬁer.

“Auto” setting senses a signal on the RCA line-level inputs

and automatically puts the amp in ready mode.“On” setting

puts the amp constantly in ready mode so that it can be

controlled by the master power switch on the front panel.

In “Auto” mode, the ampliﬁer will take approximately 15

minutes to return from ready to standby mode.

5. Trigger Input / Output

The trigger input is a handy feature when connecting the

ampliﬁer to an automated audio system. The 3.5mm mini-

plug jack will accept a 3-30V AC/DC output from another

device, or from a separate power supply. When the trigger

input is energized, the amp turns from standby to ON mode.

When using the A4012 with a receiver without a trigger

output, the voltage can come from a 12V wall wart (3.5mm

tip-positive connector) plugged into the receiver’s switched

outlet and the trigger input. The A4012 can also provide an

output trigger voltage (12DC @500mA max.) to turn on and

off other devices in the audio system. When the ampliﬁer

turns off (standby mode), the voltage will drop to zero.

Note: Remember there is a delay of approximately 15

minutes before the ampliﬁer goes to standby when using

the “Auto” turn-on mode.

6. Channel Gain Control

Each channel has its own independent level adjustment.

This allows the output level of each speaker to be per-

fectly matched to its area. It can also be used to limit the

maximum audio level in a certain area.

7. Bridging Switch

By simply ﬂipping a single switch, two channels can be

combined to increase the total power output.This is helpful

when extra power is needed in certain areas.

Note: The minimum impedance for bridged channels is 8

ohms. Also, please observe the proper speaker wiring when

bridging channels. Input selection and volume settings for

bridged channels will be controlled by the left channel.“BR”

is bridged mode and “ST” is non-bridged or stereo mode.

CAUTION: Only change switch positions when the

ampliﬁer is turned off.

8. Input Selection Switch

Each channel is capable of delivering the source from

many inputs. The three main inputs are BUS 1, BUS 2

and LINE IN. The selection for these inputs is done via

the Input Selection switch associated with each channel.

Select the desired source input. Set the Input Selection

switch to BUS 1 (will play source connected to the BUS

1 input), BUS 2 (will play source connected to the BUS

2 input) or LINE IN (will play source connected to that

channel’s LINE IN).

CAUTION: Only change switch positions when the

ampliﬁer is turned off.

9. Speaker Output Terminals

The A4012 uses high quality Phoenix style connectors

for the speaker connections. Use 14-18 gauge stranded

two-conductor loudspeaker wire. Ensure that at least

2 inches of each conductor are separated. Strip away

¼ inch of insulation from each conductor. Connect the

appropriate conductor to each screw terminal, observing

correct polarity. Also, please observe proper speaker wir-

ing when bridging channels.

10. Individual Channel Input

All twelve channels have their own dedicated input that

allows the connection of audio sources in addition to

the common BUS inputs. This is useful when using the

A4012 with an audio matrix switcher.

11. AC Voltage Switch

The unit is set at the factory for 115V U.S. operation; simply

connect the included IEC power cord to your wall outlet.

For 230V operation, move the voltage selector switch to the

230V position. When operating at 230V the internal fuse

located in the IEC socket should also be changed. In most

230V applications a separate power cord will be required

and is not included.

12. IEC Power Connector

The unit comes with an IEC jack that permits removal of

the AC power cord. This allows the ﬂexibility of changing

the power cord for different countries. The IEC socket

also houses the main fuse holder. Plug the power cord

supplied with the ampliﬁer into the ampliﬁer and wall

outlet or appropriate surge protector.

CAUTION: DO NOT plug the ampliﬁer’s power cord into

a switched outlet, such as what is provided on some Sur-

round Receivers. If you wish to have the ampliﬁer turn on

when the Receiver is powered up, use one of the power

modes, such as Trigger or Auto.

CLOSE UP OF CONNECTIONS

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NOTES ABOUT HUM:

While the A4012 has been designed to minimize the possibility of

hum in the audio system, it is still possible that a hum will occur

in rare circumstances. Its safety grounding can create a path for

small amounts of 60 Hz energy to travel through the line-level audio

system. Although not dangerous, this energy can cause difﬁculty

with the auto signal sensing circuit, and at the very least will interfere

with the quiet enjoyment of your system. The ﬁrst course of action

should be trying to make sure that all of the audio components are

connected to either the same electrical outlet, or at least into the

same circuit branch. Next, cable TV systems are notoriously the

culprit, so be sure to try disconnecting all coaxial feeds that are

connected to the system. If this solves the problem, install a coaxial

line isolator and reconnect the system. In the very worst case, a

line-level audio isolator/transformer connected to the line-in of the

ampliﬁer will usually solve the problem.

TYPICAL 6-ROOM INSTALLATION

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove cover. No user serviceable parts inside. Refer

servicing to qualiﬁed personnel. To reduce the risk of ﬁre and shock do not expose unit to rain or

moisture. The unit should be connected to an earth grounded AC electrical socket. The unit should

be operated in a well ventilated area. Minimum clearance is 2 inches from the ventilation openings.

Note: Unit is set at the factory for 120V operation. Be sure to change the fuse (4A rating) before

switching to 230V operation.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Rated Power Output: 40 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms

Bridged Power Output: 80 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms

(8 ohm minimum)

Input Sensitivity:

380 mV for full output with all level controls at max.

Input Impedance: 18K ohm

Frequency Response: 5 Hz to 72 kHz

Distortion: .005% THD 20 Hz-20 kHz @ 30W (8 ohm)

Distortion (Bridged): .010% THD 20 Hz-20 kHz @ 80W (8 ohm)

Channel Crosstalk: 80 dB

Signal to Noise Ratio: 105 dB A-weighted

Efﬁciency: 63%

Power Requirements: 115/230 VAC, 60 Hz/50 Hz

Stand-By Power Rating: 115V, 0.264W *

Auto Turn-On Sensitivity: 13.7mV

Dimensions: 16.7" W x 4" H (including feet) x 14.25" D

Weight: 33 lbs.

* The A4012 complies with the ENERGY STAR and CE EuP directive.

Franklin Audio™ Last Revised: 9/9/2016

franklin-audio.com

tel + 937.550.0228

info@franklin-audio.com

PO Box 4

Franklin, OH 45005

USA

Warranty Information

Franklin Audio products are warranted free from defects in material and workmanship for 5 years from date of purchase (see exceptions below). In the rare case of a product

failure, please contact your place of purchase or call our Customer Support Department at (937) 550-0228.

Warranty Limitations

There are no other warranties, either express or implied, that extend the foregoing, and there are no warranties of merchantability or ﬁtness for any particular purpose.

Franklin Audio is not responsible for any consequential on inconsequential damage to any other unit or component or the cost for installation or extraction of any component

of the audio system, or for the improper use of products. This includes but is not limited to burnt voice coils, overheating, bent frames, holes in the cone, or broken lead

wires. Warranty does not apply to misuse, abuse, neglect, accident, improper use, etc. Franklin Audio reserves the right to repair or replace the products with either a new

or factory refurbished unit.

This warranty gives you speciﬁc legal rights and you may also have other rights that vary from state to state.

Non-Warranty Service: If non-warranty service is required, the product may be sent to the Company for repair/replacement, transportation prepaid, by calling

(937) 550-0228 for details, complete instructions, and service fee charges.

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