Me ME580 User manual

ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
ME580 STEREO AMPLIFIER
OWNER’S MANUAL

ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia

CONTENTS
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
Page No.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ME580
Safety First 1
Quick Start Connection uide 1
INSTALLING YOUR ME580
Speaker Cabling 4
Input Leads (Interconnects) 4
Ventilation 4
Mains Power Connection 5
UNDERSTANDING YOUR ME580
eneral Description 6
Microcontroller Monitoring and Control 6
1. Power Up / Power Down Control 6
2. Temperature Monitoring 6
3. DC Offset Monitoring 7
4. Voltage Limiting / DC Monitoring 7
5. High Level High Frequency Output Monitoring 7
6. Output Status Indication 7
7. Amplifier Operating Status Indication 7
8. Control of Brightness of the Operating Status Light 7
9. Control of Brightness of the Standby Status Light 8
10. Remote Startup and Shutdown 8
Protection System Operation 8
1. Abnormal Conditions 8
2. Fault Detection and FAULT (Output Status) Light 9
3. Restarting the ME580 After Fault Detection 9
4. Over-Temperature Detection 9
5. Over-Temperature Shutdown 10
6. Restarting the ME580 After Over-Temperature Shutdown 10
7. Mains Fuse 10
8. Mains Fuse Replacement 10

ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia

CONTENTS
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
Page No.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR ME580 (Cont’d)
High Capacitance Option 10
Bridge Mode – Higher Volume 12
Dual Amplification – Higher Quality Sound 13
GENERAL INFORMATION
Why Your ME Amplifier Is Different 14
PACKAGING AND SHIPPING 15
WARRANTY CONDITIONS 16
TROU LESHOOTING
Faulty or Distorted Sound 18
No Sound (Both Channels) 19
Hum or Buzz Problems 20
SPECIFICATIONS 21
ME580 / ME550-II SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES 22
IMPROVEMENTS OVER ME550 Series II 23
CONTACT US 24

ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia

1
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
SAFETY FIRST
There are no user serviceable components inside your ME580 Power Amplifier. Do not under any
circumstances remove the top or bottom cover of the ME580 amplifier whilst it is connected to a power point,
even if the switch at the power point is turned off.
Never allow moisture or liquids of any kind to enter the power amplifier chassis (condensation, drinks, etc.)
Use only the fuses specified by ME Amplifiers in your ME580 Power Amplifier. Fuses of a different rating may
not protect your amplifier, and may create a fire hazard.
Do not switch on your power amplifier without first turning the gain control on any connected preamplifier to
a minimum.
Do not disconnect any leads from the amplifier until it has been switched off and is completely discharged.
(Allow 1 minute from switch off for the amplifier to discharge.)
Your ME580 Power Amplifier must only be used with a 3 pin EARTHED mains cable. Such a cable is supplied
with the amplifier.
QUICK START CONNECTION GUIDE
If you are in a hurry to get your ME580 power amplifier operating, and it has not been installed by your ME
dealer or other knowledgeable person, please follow the procedure set out below. We do recommend
strongly however that you read the complete instructions in this handbook first.
1. Do not make any electrical connections unless the amplifier is disconnected from the mains power.
2. Make the connections to your program source (preamplifier, CD player with variable output, etc.) as
follows:
•Use the DC Coupled inputs if you are connecting to an ME preamplifier or other DC Servo
Controlled preamplifier.
•Use the AC Coupled inputs if using CD players directly, passive preamps, tube (valve) preamps,
surround sound receivers, etc. If in any doubt read “Understanding your ME580 – DC
Offsets”, consult your dealer, or just use the AC inputs – as that is the safest for your speakers.
•The unbalanced inputs require leads (interconnects) fitted with RCA plugs.
•The balanced inputs require leads (interconnects) fitted with XLR plugs.
If using unbalanced RCA inputs be sure to set the Balanced / Unbalanced input selector switch on the
rear panel of the ME580 to Unbalanced and to Balanced when using balanced XLR inputs.
3. Connect your Speaker Cables securely to your Speaker System, ensuring that a short circuit is not
possible, even if speakers are later moved or repositioned. Shorted cables can lead to amplifier
damage, and can void your warranty.
CAUTION: Your ME580 Power Amplifier is designed to operate with loudspeakers with impedance in
the range 4 – 8 ohms. Operation with loudspeakers of less than 4 ohms nominal impedance is not
recommended.
4. Connect the Speaker Cables to the terminals on the back of the ME580 power amplifier, preferably
using high quality banana plugs. Alternatively, if banana plugs are not available, the ends of the

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
Speaker Cables may be bared and twisted, then inserted into the holes in the sides of the terminals
before tightly screwing down the terminal covers. If using this method, make certain that all bare wire
strands of the Speaker Cables are contained within the terminals, as even one stray strand of wire
could cause a short circuit between a Speaker Cable and the chassis of the amplifier. Also verify that
none of the Speaker Cables can make electrical contact at any point with the chassis of the ME580 or
any other chassis (e.g. CD player chassis). Also ensure that a short circuit between the red (+) and
black (-) terminals of either channel cannot occur. Finally, check that you have connected the speakers
to the amplifier with the same polarity on both channels, i.e. ensure that the wires from the red (+)
terminals on each channel of the ME580 go to the corresponding (red or +) terminals on both left and
right speakers. If the speaker wires are connected the opposite way round on one speaker compared
to the other, the speakers will be “out of phase” resulting in a loss of stereo image.
5. Connect the ME580 to a power point and switch the power point ON. The ME580 will then perform a
one minute initial power up self test, as detailed below. During the self test the ME580 amplifier
cannot be switched on; i.e. pressing the POWER pushbutton will have no effect.
Initial Power Application Self Test
•The ME logo on the front panel escutcheon will be illuminated in Mauve light, the Temperature
Light labeled TEMP will be illuminated in Amber and the Status Light labeled FAULT will
illuminate Red indicating that the amplifier has mains power applied to it, and the cooling fans
will come on and be ramped up in speed to a maximum over a ten second period.
•At the end of the ten second period the TEMP light and the FAULT light will turn off but the fans
will continue to run at maximum speed for a further 40 seconds to allow verification of airflow
from both heat sink air exhaust ports, and the ME logo will remain illuminated in Mauve light
indicating that the amplifier is still in self test mode. After the 40 second airflow test time the fan
speed will be ramped down to zero over a ten second period, and the ME logo will be illuminated
in Amber light, indicating that the self test is complete and the amplifier is in Standby Mode.
6. Press the POWER button located in the centre of the front panel escutcheon. The illumination of the
ME logo will change from Amber to Blue, indicating that the amplifier is ON, and is operational. Music
reproduction will be possible now. For the first minute or so, the sound quality may be slightly
reduced until the amplifier begins to warm up; this is normal, and generally more pronounced when
very cold and less noticeable if the amplifier has been used within the last 30 minutes. After several
minutes, the reen TEMP light on the front panel escutcheon will come on, indicating that the
amplifier is operating within the normal temperature range. When this condition is reached, the
sound quality will be at its best. The time taken for normal operating temperature to be reached will
depend on ambient temperature and the volume setting, as well as the load impedance of the
loudspeakers being used.
Please Note: The ME580 amplifier can only be switched on ONCE per minute. This means that if the
amplifier has been switched on for less than one minute and is then switched off, it cannot be
switched back on until the first minute has elapsed. If the amplifier has been ON for over one minute
it can be switched OFF and immediately may be switched ON. This feature is to reduce stresses caused
by repeated rapid cycling between OFF and ON. If the amplifier is switched OFF before one minute has

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
elapsed since it was switched ON, the Amber illumination of the ME logo will flash on and off until one
minute has elapsed. When the flashing stops, the amplifier may be switched ON.

4
INSTALLING YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
SPEAKER CA LING
It is always preferable to locate the amplifier as close as practicable to the speakers, and between them. Use
speaker cables of good quality and adequate wire size (thickness) and preferably which have been designed
for the purpose. Do not use hook up wire or light duty cable. Ensure that the cables are not excessively long,
and are of the same length for each channel. It is preferable to use good quality banana plugs at each end of
the speaker cables, ensuring that these are a good fit in the sockets on the rear panel of the ME580, and on
the speakers. If connecting the cables without using banana plugs, ensure that the bared ends of the cables
are twisted so that there are no loose strands, before inserting into the terminals and tightening firmly.
Always check to ensure that there are no loose strands of wire outside the terminals, as they could contact the
chassis of the ME580, resulting in a short circuit that could seriously damage your amplifier. Also ensure that
the cables are located in such a way that they are not likely to be accidentally pulled out of the terminals on
the speakers, or on the ME580. Damage may occur to your amplifier if this happens while the system is
operating, particularly at higher volume levels.
SPEAKER IMPEDANCE
Your ME580 is designed for use with loudspeakers with impedance in the range 4 – 8 ohms. Use of
some types of speakers with less than 4 ohms impedance may be possible, but is not recommended.
This is because the ME580 is fitted with current limiting circuitry that is provided to protect the
amplifier against serious internal damage that could otherwise occur when operating at high output
levels with low impedance speakers. In such circumstances, if the current limiting circuitry comes
into operation, degradation of the sound quality will begin to occur, possibly only at some
frequencies, but in severe cases across a wide frequency range. If this situation does occur, it does
not indicate a fault with the amplifier, and can be dealt with, at least in the short term, by reducing
the volume setting on your preamplifier.
INPUT LEADS (INTERCONNECTS)
For the connection between your ME580 and the preamplifier, use a good quality audio type lead fitted with
the correct type of plugs, depending on whether the balanced or unbalanced inputs are to be used. The
unbalanced inputs require RCA type plugs, and the balanced inputs require XLR plugs.
VENTILATION
The amplifier may be positioned within a cabinet or entertainment rack, as long as the cooling air from the
outlet air vents (located on each side of the ME580 towards the rear) is unobstructed. If it is installed within a
cabinet of reduced ventilation, the fan speed will automatically increase to counteract the higher ambient
temperature. Cooling air is drawn into the amplifier through an inlet grill with integral air filter, located
underneath the amplifier at the centre near the front. Ensure that air flow through this grill is not restricted in
any way, e.g. by placing objects under the ME580. Do not install the ME580 on a soft surface such as carpet,
as the weight of the amplifier may cause the feet to sink into the surface and reduce the clearance under the
air inlet grill, which will restrict airflow.

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INSTALLING YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
After prolonged use, particularly in dusty environments, the air filter should be removed by unclipping the
grill, and washed carefully in warm soapy water, rinsed, and allowed to dry naturally before being reinstalled.
It is possible to stack ME580’s one on top of the other, since one amplifier will not significantly increase the
ambient or operating temperature of the other. The ME580 fitted with corner posts is designed to facilitate
stacking.
MAINS POWER CONNECTION
It is beneficial to provide a low resistance connection for the ME580 to the mains power supply, because high
peak currents are drawn by the amplifier to charge its capacitor banks. Therefore the ME580’s performance
can be affected by the quality of the mains wiring. The use of extension leads and power boards should be
avoided where possible, or if they are necessary, the highest available current rating should be used.

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The ME580 Power Amplifier is a nominal 100 watt per channel Stereo Amplifier, which may also be
connected as a bridged Mono Amplifier for greater power output. Operation of the ME580 is controlled and
monitored by a microcontroller. Unbalanced AC and DC Direct inputs are provided, as well as Balanced inputs.
Selection of the Balanced or Unbalanced inputs is via a switch located on the rear panel.
In keeping with established ME design philosophy; overall negative feedback is not used, with the
feedback being taken instead from the output of the voltage amplifier stage.
A DC servo is incorporated within the circuitry to ensure that there is no DC offset at the output if
there is a small DC offset at the input when DC input coupling is used.
In addition a Load Compensation switch is provided on the rear panel which allows the user to select
circuitry that ensures minimum distortion irrespective of the speaker load impedance.
The ME580 is equipped with two independently controlled variable speed cooling fans, one for each
channel. The fans are mounted directly on the output transistor heat sinks to provide optimum cooling by
forcing air directly through the cooling fins. This arrangement also provides a degree of acoustic filtering which
reduces fan noise to very low levels. The fans are fitted with ceramic bearings, which help to reduce noise, and
provide a very long service life.
The ME580 also has independent power supplies for each channel, which allows for greater capacity
within the available space, as well as reducing the chance of transient peaks on one channel affecting the
other channel. The power supply has a large capacitor bank fitted, which provides generous peak capacity to
deal with short loud music passages, as well as providing excellent imaging and bass response. A high
capacitance option can be specified, which increases the peak power handling capacity even further.
MICROCONTROLLER MONITORING AND CONTROL
The microcontroller in the ME580 performs a range of monitoring and control functions to optimize the
operation of the amplifier, as well as providing several convenience features, which are described below:
1. Power Up / Power Down Control
Power Up and Power Down are controlled by the microcontroller to reduce surges and possible
speaker “thump” when switching the amplifier on or off.
2. Temperature Monitoring
Continuous independent monitoring of the operating temperature of each output channel and a
further internal temperature sensor is provided. The microcontroller controls the independent
variable speed cooling fans for each channel, to ensure optimum cooling under all operating
conditions. In the event of an over-temperature condition being detected from any of the three
temperature sensors, the microcontroller will shut down the amplifier and run the fans at maximum
speed to clear the over-temperature condition. The status of the temperature monitoring feature is
indicated by the TEMP light on the front panel escutcheon, as follows:
OFF - Amplifier below normal Operating Temperature.
REEN - Amplifier within normal Operating Temperature range.
AMBER - Amplifier within 5°C of Over-Temperature Shutdown.
RED - Amplifier Over-Temperature Shutdown.
Note: The fans will continue to run after the amplifier is turned off until the ME580 is below 38°C.

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
3. DC Offset Monitoring
Each amplifier output channel is continuously monitored for DC offset to eliminate the possibility of
speaker damage due to DC currents. On power up, the outputs remain disconnected from the
speakers until there is no DC offset present. During normal operation, the amplifier will shut down if
DC is detected on any output.
4. Voltage Limiting / DC Monitoring
Each amplifier output channel is continuously monitored for voltage limiting of the output signal,
which can occur when momentary high amplitude peaks of the input signal cause the amplifier to
exceed the limit of its undistorted output capability. If voltage limiting is sustained for more than a
very brief period, the distortion will be audible. The monitoring circuit can also detect ‘clicks’ or brief
DC events in the output. The amplifier will shut down if sustained voltage limiting or DC is detected.
5. High Level High Frequency Output Monitoring
Each amplifier output channel is continuously monitored for excessive high frequency output, and if
detected the amplifier will be shutdown to protect the loudspeakers.
6. Output Status Indication
A Multifunction Status light on the front panel escutcheon, labeled “FAULT” indicates the status of the
output monitoring circuitry as follows:
OFF - Amplifier operating normally
RED (steady) - Amplifier shutdown, due to either DC offset, sustained Voltage
Limiting or excessive High Frequency output.
RED (pulse or flash) - Momentary Voltage Limiting or DC Event detected on output.
Note: If the STATUS light pulses or flashes repeatedly, the volume setting on the preamplifier should
be reduced to a point where the pulsing or flashing stops. Depending on the recording level of the
particular program material (e.g. CD) being played, different volume settings may be needed to
prevent voltage limiting,
7. Amplifier Operating Status Indication
A status light located behind the ME logo on the front panel escutcheon indicates the operating status
of the amplifier, as follows:
AMBER (steady) - Power available, amplifier is in Standby Mode.
AMBER (flashing) - Power available, amplifier has been switched OFF less than
one minute after being switched ON. Amplifier cannot be
switched ON until flashing stops.
BLUE - Amplifier is ON
MAUVE - Initial Power up Self Test in progress.
8. Control of Brightness of the Operating Status Light
The brightness of the BLUE Operating Status Light located behind the ME logo on the front panel
escutcheon may be varied to suit individual preference and ambient lighting conditions. To adjust the
brightness, when switching ON the amplifier manually, press and hold the POWER button. After 2

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
seconds the blue illumination of the ME logo will begin to change in brightness and will continuously
cycle through the range from minimum to maximum brightness. When the desired brightness is
reached, release the POWER button. This brightness setting will be stored and used each time the
amplifier is turned on, until a new setting is chosen by repeating the process.
9. Control of Brightness of the Standby Status Light
The brightness of the AMBER Standby Status Light located behind the ME logo on the front panel
escutcheon may be varied to suit individual preference and ambient lighting conditions. To adjust the
brightness, when switching OFF the amplifier manually, press and hold the POWER button. After 2
seconds the amber illumination of the ME logo will begin to change in brightness and will continuously
cycle through the range from minimum to maximum brightness. When the desired brightness is
reached, release the POWER button. This brightness setting will be stored and used each time the
amplifier is turned OFF, until a new setting is chosen by repeating the process.
10. Remote Start up and Shutdown
Monitoring of two remote startup and shutdown circuits is provided. The first monitored input is a DC
input used to turn the amplifier on or off when an ME or other compatible pre-amplifier is turned on
or off. This feature requires a connection from the pre-amplifier to the yellow REMOTE POWER
CONTROL terminal on the rear panel of the ME580. The second monitored input is the audio input to
the ME580, which turns the amplifier on when an audio signal is detected. If no audio input is
detected for approximately 2 ½ minutes (± ½ minute), the ME580 will turn off automatically, indicated
by the ME logo changing from BLUE to AMBER. Automatic shutdown will only occur if the amplifier
was turned on by the detection of an audio signal.
PROTECTION SYSTEM OPERATION
The ME580 protection system is elaborate, and will protect both your amplifier and your speakers from
damage for a range of abnormal conditions that may occur with your system. The description that follows is
intended for those users who wish to obtain a better understanding of the operation of the protection system,
and the conditions that may lead to an automatic shutdown of the ME580.
Relays with 4 x 10A parallel sets of arc suppressed contacts are fitted between each amplifier output and its
speaker terminals. These relays keep the speakers disconnected during amplifier start up, and disconnect the
speakers prior to shut down, to prevent any ‘clicks’ or ‘thumps’ reaching the speakers.
The protection system of the ME580 disconnects the mains power applied to the amplifier circuitry, and
disconnects the speakers, if it detects a hazardous condition that could cause damage to the ME580 or your
speakers.
1. Abnormal Conditions
a) Excessive High Frequency on output
Excessive high frequency on output can be caused by factors such as incorrect installation, high FM
volume level ‘off Station noise’, etc. This may also be triggered by excessive high frequency content in
your music (synthesizer music is capable of this) which is considered by the ME580 as being not suitable

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
for normal speaker systems. One exception here is the BOSE 800/901 series, which do not have a tweeter
(dedicated high frequency unit), and therefore may not need this form of protection. If you are using a
speaker system of this kind, you may find that the ME580 will shut down periodically on high level
passages of music. If this occurs, a modification is possible to make allowances for the high frequency
boosting that the equalizer generates. Please see you Dealer regarding this modification, as disabling this
feature will put normal speaker systems at risk. You should not attempt this modification yourself as your
warranty may be voided.
b) DC Offsets
DC offsets can be the result of internal malfunctions of the ME580’s circuitry, or DC voltages that have
been fed to the inputs of the ME580, and are potentially dangerous to your loudspeakers. Loudspeakers
cannot deal with significant DC voltages without damage.
c) Sustained Voltage Limiting
Voltage limiting of the output signal can occur when momentary high amplitude peaks of the input signal
cause the amplifier to exceed the limit of its undistorted output capability. Voltage limiting that continues
for more than a brief period can have a similar effect to that of a DC offset, and is therefore potentially
dangerous to your loudspeakers. If voltage limiting is sustained for more than the predetermined time
that is programmed into the protection system, the amplifier will shut down to protect your loudspeakers.
2. Fault Detection and FAULT (Output Status) Light
If any of the conditions outlined in 1 exists, the Red FAULT light on the front panel escutcheon of the
ME580 will come on, and the amplifier will shut down, indicated by the ME logo changing from BLUE to
AMBER.
3. Restarting the ME580 After Fault Detection
If the amplifier shuts down with the Red FAULT light ON, wait for at least 10 seconds, and then attempt to
turn the amplifier on by pressing the POWER button. If the amplifier comes on, this indicates that shut
down occurred because of excessive high frequency signal detection. If the amplifier does not come on
when the POWER button is pressed, this indicates that shut down occurred because of a DC offset
or a sustained voltage limiting condition. In this case, the amplifier must be reset by switching ‘off’ at
the power point and waiting approximately 10 seconds before switching ‘on’ again. The amplifier will
then perform the Initial Power Application Self Test (refer Page 2), after which it can be turned on by
pressing the POWER button on the front panel.
4. Over-Temperature Detection
If the temperature of either of the two heatsinks inside the amplifier reaches 65°C, or the internal
temperature of the amplifier reaches 65°C, the TEMP light on the front panel escutcheon changes from
REEN to AMBER, indicating that the ME580 is beginning to overheat. This is an abnormal condition, so it
is recommended that the reason for the overheating is investigated at this stage, otherwise the amplifier
will shutdown automatically if the temperature continues to rise and reaches the over-temperature limit.
Overheating may be caused by a restriction or loss of cooling air flow, a fault within the ME580 or the
installation, or a problem with the load that the ME580 is driving (e.g. a shorted speaker wire or faulty
speaker system, speaker switching device etc.)

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
5. Over-Temperature Shutdown
If the temperature of either of the two heatsinks reaches 70°C, or the internal temperature of the
amplifier reaches 70°C, the TEMP light on the front panel escutcheon changes from AMBER to RED, the
speaker outputs are automatically disconnected, the ME logo changes from BLUE to AMBER, and the fans
run at maximum speed until the over temperature situation clears. As normal operating temperature is
being restored, the TEMP light will change from RED to AMBER and then back to REEN. Always
investigate the reason for an over-temperature condition occurring - see the section on Ventilation under
Installing Your ME580.
6. Restarting the ME580 After Over-Temperature Shutdown
Following an Over-Temperature shutdown of the ME580, wait until the TEMP light has returned to AMBER
or REEN. The amplifier can then be restarted by pressing the POWER button on the front panel.
7. Mains Fuse
The mains fuse will blow if an electrical fault occurs in one of the dual power supplies of the ME580. The
fuse may also blow due to fatigue after a long period of service, since large inrush currents pass through
the fuse at switch-on. If the fuse blows, use only a fuse of the specified rating as a replacement. Using a
fuse of a different rating may compromise the protection of your amplifier, and may void the warranty.
8. Mains Fuse Replacement
The mains fuse is located inside a removable fuse holder, indicated by a fuse symbol, on the mains input
socket at the rear of the ME580. To check or replace the fuse, switch off the amplifier at the power point
and unplug the mains lead from the mains input socket on the rear panel of the ME580. Using a small
screwdriver or similar tool, carefully lever out the fuse holder from the socket and check the fuse. It is
preferable to check continuity of the fuse with an Ohm meter if available, or by substituting a known good
fuse. There may not be any visible signs of fuse failure, particularly with the delayed action fuse type as
used in the ME580. If required, replace the fuse with one of the correct type and current rating, as listed
below. A single spare fuse is located inside the fuse holder cover.
ME580 Fuse Rating: 3 amp delayed action (slow blow) M205 fuse.
Refit the fuse holder to the mains input socket, insert the mains plug, and switch on the amplifier at the
power point. If the replacement fuse blows within a short time, a fault condition is indicated, rather than
fatigue failure. Should this occur, contact your ME dealer and arrange for the amplifier to be checked and
repaired as necessary.
HIGH CAPACITANCE OPTION
This option is suggested for larger speaker systems, and for those interested in improved performance,
particularly when other high quality ancillary equipment is installed on the system. The larger storage
capacity gives improved transient, bass and imaging performance because the power supply impedance is
much lower, and the power supply voltage is far more stable. This option increases the total capacitance from
75,200µF to 169,200µF. The degree to which this improves your system performance is largely governed by
the quality of the components in your system, as well as your perceptions and experiences. If you would like

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
more practical and specific observations with components in your system, talk to your ME dealer who will
have experienced the differences with the High Capacitance option fitted. As a general rule of thumb,
Dynamic/Hybrid speaker systems which have one or more of the following will benefit most:
a) Bass driver of 250mm dia. or larger;
b) Impedance dips of lower than 5 ohms;
c) Multiple bass drivers;
d) Frequency response lower 3db point 40Hz or lower.
Pure Ribbon and Electrostatic speaker systems are too varied to generalize about, and hence, we suggest
speaking to your ME dealer at any time after your initial purchase.

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
RIDGE MODE – HIGHER VOLUME
This is an option if you require more power than the standard ME580 provides. This arrangement requires a
pair of ME580 power amplifiers, with each one configured as a mono amplifier and connected as the amplifier
for one channel of a stereo system. The total power capability is over 300 watts continuous per channel into
an 8Ω load. A switch is provided on the rear panel of the ME580 to select either Stereo or Bridge Mode. If in
any doubt about using Bridge Mode, you should consult your ME dealer who has the technical information to
further explain the wiring method. In brief, once the switch is placed in the Bridge position, the Speaker cable
is connected to the ME580 with the positive wire attached to the red left speaker socket, and the negative
wire to the red right speaker socket. In Bridge Mode, only the Left Channel input is used.
RIGHT Amplifier
Preamplifier
Note: Set “Stereo / Bridge” switch
on rear of each amplifier to
“Bridge” position
LEFT Amplifier
LEFT
Speaker
RIGHT
Speaker
Prea
mp
o
L Out
o
R Out
oL
o
L

13
UNDERSTANDING YOUR ME580
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
DUAL AMPLIFICATION – HIGHER QUALITY SOUND
Dual Amplification is sometimes also referred to as Bi-Amplification, which would usually involve an electronic
crossover before the power amplifiers. Dual Amplification does not use an external electronic crossover, but
requires your Speakers to have a Bi-Wire set of terminals. These are two (or more) pairs of terminals, one set
for High frequencies and one set for Low frequencies, which are usually connected together with a wire or
metal strap. You should consult your Speaker manual very carefully, or speak to your ME dealer if there is any
doubt about the suitability of your speakers to be run as Dual Amplified. Severe damage to your amplifiers can
be the result if the wiring is not correct. A typical Dual Amplification connection is illustrated below.
NOTE: Metal strap or wire
connecting High and Low
frequency speaker terminals MUST
be disconnected on both speakers.
Ensure correct polarity (positive
terminal on amplifier to positive
terminal on speaker) for all
speaker connections.
HIGH Amplifier
LOW Amplifier
Preamplifier
LEFT
Speaker
RIGHT
Speaker
L
R
L
R
L Out
R Out

14
GENERAL INFORMATION
ME Amplifiers Melbourne, Australia
WHY YOUR ME AMPLIFIER IS DIFFERENT
ME Amplifiers are very different from other Commercial Amplifier designs.
First – they are capable of very high continuous output currents. This enables your loudspeakers to perform to
their ultimate capabilities.
Second – they are non-inverting (0 degrees) wide bandwidth designs, and consequently able to articulate very
fast short duration transients that would ordinarily escape more conventional amplifiers.
Third – in order to minimize all forms of transmission losses in the signal (music) path, only short, high current
connections are used.
For the safety of your loudspeakers a sophisticated microcontroller based protection system forms the heart
and intelligence of your ME580.
The intelligence of the automatic protection system in your ME580:
•Maintains operating temperature within an optimum range by independently analyzing the
temperature of each output heat sink and the interior of the case, and making small adjustments to
the cooling fan speeds when necessary.
•Samples the output and determines its suitability for your loudspeakers and turns the amplifier off if a
dangerous condition is sensed.
•Turns the amplifier off if it exceeds a dangerous operating temperature.
These are some of the differences between ME amplifiers and other amplifiers. Because of the sophisticated
protection system in your ME580, some installation problems, such as inadequate ventilation, may be
highlighted. You can be confident that once these are resolved, better performance will be obtained, not only
to the credit of ME amplifiers but because the system configuration has been optimized.
Please refer to the problem solving flow charts at the end of this guide if you have any problems, before
reporting the results to your dealer or ME Amplifiers.
The ability of ME amplifiers to articulate extremely fine signals accurately has in many cases been interpreted
as a deficiency in the sound quality from the ME product. The fact is, if a poor quality input source is used (CD
etc.) its character WILL be exposed because the ME amplifier will faithfully reproduce all its characteristics,
both good and bad.