Parasound HCA-500 User manual

Parasound HCA-500 High Current Amplifier
Congratulations on your purchase of this precision audio component and thank you for your selection of
Parasound. Your HCA-500 has been designed with the latest technology to become the heart of the finest
music systems. Its high power output is matched by an ample current capacity to drive virtually any speakers
you might select.Arobust power transformer and potent power supply assure power in reserve.An ultra-fast
discrete A/AB output stage assures flawless reproduction. You have made an excellent choice.
Please take a few moments now to read these instructions thoroughly so you may fully understand the
sophisticated capabilities of your new power amplifier.
Unpacking
Save your carton and the styrofoam inserts for future safe transport in case you move or the unit ever
requires shipping for repair. Note, the actual printed carton is not itself strong enough for safe shipping, so it
is best if you place it into an additional outer "overcarton" before shiprnent.
Before you proceed, find the serial number which is located on the rear panel of the unit and note it here for
future reference or in case the unit is ever stolen___________________ .
O W N E R ‘ S M A N U A L
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Caution: To reduce the risk of electric
shock, do not remove the top cover.
There are no user-serviceable parts
inside. Refer servicing to qualified
service personnel.
WARNING: To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose this unit to rain or moisture.
Rear Panel
1. Input Jacks (RCA type)
2. AC Power Cord
3. Speaker Terminals
4. Main Fuse
5. Input Jacks (1/4” phone jacks)
Front Panel
1. Power Switch
2. Standby-Operation LED
3. Level Controls
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Placement of your HCA-500
Keep your Parasound HCA-500 out of direct sunlight and away from windows which could ever be left
open to let in rain. It should be placed away from heat sources such as hot air ducts or radiators; do not place
the unit directly on a pile carpet that could interfere with air flow into its bottom vent openings. If you place
the HCA-500 on the floor near your speakers, elevate it up from the pile of the carpet. If you stack your
components, it is better to place the HCA-500 above or alongside your other components; when driven hard,
the unit itself may create a little heat and disturb components stacked on top of it. If it is inside a cabinet,
allow ample ventilation. Very sensitive low level sources might pick up some hum radiated from its power
transformer.
Rack Mounting the HCA-500
The HCA-500 can be mounted to a 19" rack by attaching the optional RMK-800 Rack Mount Kit as shown
below. Please note, the panel size of the HCA-500 is 3 3/4" high, which is 1/4" taller than a standard EIA 2-
space rack. You may find you need to drill new mounting holes in your rack to accommodate it properly.
To attach the RMK-800, first remove the
three bolts at each side of the cover - closest
to the front panel. Use the 6 longer bolts
supplied in the rack mount kit to attach both
panel extension/chassis supports.
Tighten these firmly, as they bear the full
weight of the amplifier.
(Sorry-RMK-800s are no longer available)
Making Connections
Before making any signal or speaker connections, make sure your power amplifier is turned off. When
making connections, make sure there is no strain or tension on input leads or speaker wires that could cause
them to pull loose later on.
lnput connections
In most stereo systems, you will use the gold-plated RCA jacks for the R and L channels. Make sure these
are consistent with the R and L outputs from your preamplifier.
For professional applications you can use the alternate 1/4" (6.3mm) phone jack inputs. These are also
"unbalanced" inputs, the same as the RCA jacks.
Speaker connections
You may use either bare wire or banana plugs with the HCA-500 "5-way" terminals. If you use bare wire
without spade lugs or plugs, make sure you strip only enough wire to fit into the hole that runs across the
metal shaft of the terminal. Before inserting the wire, twist all its strands tightly to prevent strays that could
cause a short circuit between + and - terminals!
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Polarity
It is important to observe correct polarity when using in stereo mode. One side of the speaker lead will have
some sort of mark, either printing, a raised ridge on the insulation or different color of conductor. This
permits you to know which wire you had connected to the + and which to the speaker terminals so you can
do exactly the same at the power amplifier terminals.
Multiple speaker hookup
If you plan to connect more than one pair of speakers to your HCA-500, please make sure both are rated for
at least 8 ohms. Sustained operation into a combined speaker load whose impedance is too low results in
excess current flow which may trigger protection circuits or damage the amplifier's output transistors. Many
speakers have an actual impedance that is much lower than its rated impedance. If either of your speaker
systems are less than 8 Ω, you should check with your Parasound dealer before attempting combined speaker
operation.
Mono hookup
For mono operation, you may use a single channel of the HCA-500. Or you may wish to use it as a dual-
mono amplifier. An example would be to use one channel for amplifying a center channel speaker and the
other for a subwoofer in a home theater setup. The HCA-500 does not bridge to mono by combining chan-
nels. Do not attempt to wire the speaker terminals of each channel to each other, as this will not increase
power output, but will cause serious harm to the amplifier!
Use good wire
For best results you should never use speaker wire thinner than 16 gauge - it will constrict the sound and
deteriorate bass response. You may also wish to experiment with audiophile-grade speaker wire and inter-
connects. Each will have a different characteristic sound and some may be more compatible with the sonic
signature of your various components. Your HCA-500 is stable with any reputable brand of wire.
AC line cord
You can plug this into a wall socket or an AC outlet on your preamplifier. If you plan to leave the HCA-500
power switch on and turn it on and off with your preamp, make sure the preamp's own power switch is rated
for the full current draw of the HCA-500 and others it is controlling. Connection by flimsy extension cord
(or preamp power cord) will impair the sound reproduction of the HCA-500.
Operating the HCA-500
Power Switch
Press once to the in position to turn the unit on. Press again to the out position to turn it off.
Level Controls
Adjust the gain of each channel independently. Many preamps have volume controls which do not track
correctly to preserve channel balance at the lowest end of their rotation. By reducing the settings of the
HCA-500 level controls you can use the preamp volume control in its optimum range.
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Standby/Operation LED
This LED will come on red whenever you first turn the unit on. It will light for about four to five seconds
while the circuit is stabilizing before the protection relay clicks on. At this time it will turn green to signal
normal operation is available. It will also light up red whenever there is a short circuit or fault which triggers
the protection relay. Whenever this LED illuminates red, no sound can be heard. If the Standby LED lights
up red during operation, it could signal an overload, short circuited speaker line or possible internal fault.
The protection circuits automatically reset. Turn the HCA-500 off for at least 10 minutes while you check
your connections, then try again. If the LED continues to glow red, you should contact your dealer for
further advice.
Fuses
The HCA-500 has one external and several internal fuses which may blow as a result of an internal fault
condition. This protects the unit from possible damage to internal parts. You should not attempt to replace
internal fuses yourself - there are dangerous high voltages stored in the power supply even after power has
been turned off or the unit has been unplugged. In any case, never replace any fuse with a larger value.
Substitution of a larger fuse may create serious stress or damage to internal parts and will void your war-
ranty.
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Breaking-in the HCA-500
Like other great power amplifiers, the HCA-500 requires about 24 hours of operation after it is first turned
on to sound its best. This gives delicate capacitors a chance to "form" and pass audio signals with greater
definition, smoothness, and transparency.
Although the HCA-500 will sound terrific when you first operate it, you will find it worthwhile to listen
again after a few days and you'll discover details in your music you may not have guessed were there.
Maintaining your HCA-500
The HCA-500 requires no periodic maintenance and has no user serviceable parts inside. Do not remove the
top cover to avoid risk of electric shock. To keep it clean use only a soft cloth and never use any solvents or
abrasives. Fingerprints may be removed with a soft cloth moistened only with a few drops of water.
The HCA-500 has corrosion-free gold input jacks, but each year it is a good idea to twist the input plugs to
preserve perfect signal transfer by removing corrosion which might have accumulated on the connecting
plugs themselves. Make sure the unit is turned off while you do this.
In Case ofTrouble
If you.suspect a problem with this unit, first recheck all your connections. If one channel is inoperative, the
trouble may be caused by another component or even a defective hookup cable. If only one channel is out for
all sources, try reversing the L and R cables to the power amplifier (turn it off before moving wires). If the
same channel stays out, it indicates trouble with the power amplifier itself. We suggest you contact your
authorized Parasound dealer or custom installer, or call Parasound Technical Service if you suspect a prob-
lem. We will suggest other diagnostic tests you can easily perform yourself and which will save you a lot of
trouble.
If it is determined that the HCA-500 should be returned for inspection and possible servicing, you must first
obtainaReturnAuthorizationnumber.Youwill beasked torepack theunit inits originalcarton andstyrofoam
packing plus an additional outer box over its own box for proper protection in transit. You should send the
unit by UPS with adequate insurance specified.
Units that arrive without the correct Return Authorization number, without a suitable shipping carton or
evidence of improper internal packing or collect will be refused. We cannot accept collect shipments. After
repair under warranty, the unit will be returned to you via prepaid UPS.
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HCA-500 Specifications
Continuous Power Output
50 watts RMS x 2, 20Hz-20kHz, 8 Ω
75 watts RMS x 2, 20Hz-20kHz, 4 Ω
Dynamic Power Output
85 watts RMS x 2, 20Hz-20kHz, 8 Ω
100 watts RMS x 2, 20Hz-20kHz, 4 Ω
Current Capacity
10 amperes continuous
20 amperespeak
Slew Rate
40Vµsecond
Frequency Response
10Hz-60kHz, +0/-3dB
Total Harmonic Distortion
< 0.25% at full power
< 0.15% typical levels
TIM
Unmeasureable
IM Distortion
< 0.05%
Dynamic Headroom
> 2dB
lnput lmpedance
30k Ω
S/N Ratio
>100dB, input shorted, IHF A weighted
Damping Factor
Over 100 at 20Hz
Dimensions
17 1/4" wide x 3 3/4" high x 11 3/4" deep
19" wide using RMK-800 rack mount kit
Weight
16 lbs.
© 1991 Parasound Products, Inc.
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Parasound LimitedWarranty (USA only)
Your Parasound HCA-500 is covered by a limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship
for a period of two years from date of purchase. This warranty is provided by the Parasound dealer where the
unit was purchased. Warranty repair will be performed only when your purchase receipt is presented as
proof of ownership, date of purchase and authorized status of the dealer. Defective parts will be repaired or
replaced without charge by your authorized dealers store or the location designated by your dealer that is
authorized to service Parasound equipment. Additional information is available by calling or writing to the
Service Manager, Parasound Products, Inc. at the address below. Charges for unauthorized service and
transportation costs are not reimbursable under this warranty.
This warranty becomes void if the product has been damaged by alteration, misuse, accident or neglect. This
warranty becomes void if unit has been burned out by extended testing or listening with load impedances
contrary to printed instructions. This warranty applies only to units used in residential, non-commercial
situations. The warrantor assumes no liability for property damage or any other incidental or consequential
damage whatsoever which may result from the failure of this product. Any and all warranties of merchant-
ability and fitness implied by law are limited to the duration of this expressed warranty.
Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not
apply to you. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so
the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary state by state.
Please Stay inTouch
We'd like to hear from you about your experience with your Parasound HCA-500. Of course we want to
assist you with any questions you may have, but we'd also be thrilled to know how much you are enjoying
the unit. You don't need to have a problem as an excuse to call.
Reviews are coming in from all over the world and we continually have exciting new products in develop-
ment. If you'd like us to keep you advised, just drop a line and ask to receive updates. We welcome your
suggestions and look forward to hearing from you.
Parasound Products, Inc. 950 Battery Street San Francisco, CA 94111Tel [phone] Fax [phone]
© 1991, Parasound Products, Inc.
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