Soundstream Reference Series 200 Programming manual

REFERENCE
200/300/500
Power Amplifiers
OWNERS MANUAL
AND
INSTALLATION GUIDE
SOUNDSTREAM
T E C H N 0 L 0 G IE S

COAERA TULA TIONS!
You now own the REFERENCE Amplifier, the product of an
uncompromising design and engineering philosophy.
Your
Soundstream REFERENCE amplifier will outperform any other amplifier
in the world.
To maximize the performance of your system, we recommend that you
thoroughly acquaint yourself with its capabilities and features. Please
retain this manual and your sales and installation receipts for future
reference.
Soundstream amplifiers are the result of American craftsmanship and
the highest quality control standards, and when properly installed, will
provide you with many years of listening pleasure. Should your amplifier
ever need service or replacement due to theft, please record the
following information, which will help protect your investment.
Model and Serial #
Dealer’s Name
Date of Purchase
Installation Shop
Installation Date
CA UTIOE”
‘Vi
Prolonged listening at high levels may
result in hearing loss. Even
though7your new Soufidsk?am REFERENCE amp!ifier sounds better
than anything you’ve ever heard, exercise caution to prevent hearing
damage.
2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Features ........................................................................... .4-5
REFERENCE Power Supply Design..................................... 6
Passive and Electronic Crossovers ......................................
6
6 dB/octave Passive Crossover Chart.................................. 7
12 dB/octave Passive Crossover Chart ................................
8
Series and Parallel Wiring .................................................... 9
LSE.Q Theory and Use
..................................................
1 O-l 1
Setting High Power/High Current........................................
12
Setting Coherent StereoTM/Mixed Mono/Bridged Mono
....... 13
Wiring
............................................................................. 14-15
Wiring Diagram .................................................................. 15
Installation and Mounting ....................................................
16
Level Setting ......................................................................
17
Protection Circuitry & Troubleshooting ............................... 18
Service ............................................................................... 18
Specifications ..................................................................... 19
3

REFERENCE Amdlifier
(REFERENCE500 stitiwh)
Hsndcmfkd in the U.S.A.
rm OND REMOTE
+L- -RI
HIGH CURRENT / “KM POWER
MONO I STEREO/MIXED MONO
DESIGN FEATURES
l Uncompromising Design and Construction including mil-spec glass epoxy
circuit boards and high current custom gold-plated solid brass connections
that will accept up to 4 gauge power/ground wire (8 gauge on the REF200).
l High Power/High Current Capability - Soundstream’s exclusive circuit which
permits customization of your amplifier to its particular application-high
current, low impedance loads (multiple subwoofers, less than 2 ohms mono)
or High Power, higher impedance loads (2 ohms mono and up).
l Coherent Stereo%illxed Mono selection for either “pure” stereo operation
or mixed mono for simultaneous stereo and mono.
l Chassisink” Darlington Power Array - Soundstream’s “overbuilding” of the
output section incorporates multiple output transistors instead of a few for
faster, stronger power delivery. The transistors are sandwiched between the
circuit board and the heatsink in a design called ChassisinkM to ensure cool,
efficient amplifier operation.

l PowerGrid Power Supply Design - All power supply components are located
near one another, connected by thick, wide PCB traces, which ensures rapid,
high current delivery. The entire power supply is isolated on one side of the
circuit board while the audio stage is located opposite it, guaranteeing minimal
noise.
l Ultra-Low ESR Capacitance Bank -
Multiple small input power capacitors
are used to provide a lower ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance), which means
more power in and out faster.
l Smart Thermal Rollback - Most amplifiers shut off when they get too hot. In
the unlikely event the REFERENCE amplifier reaches 85” C, it will gradually
roll back its average power (without affecting the dynamics). Once the
amplifier has cooled off, it returns to full power output. If overheating should
continue, a second thermal sensing protection circuit will shut off the amplifier
if the heatsink reaches 95” C.
l Unregulated Power Supply -4 ohm power ratings are measured at 12 volts,
meaning substantially greater output in the real world when the vehicle is
running, where voltages range from 13.2 to 14.4 volts.
l Fault Monitor LED on the front panel notifies you of blown power supply
fuses.
l 112 ohm Drive Ability - The REFERENCE amplifiers are designed to drive
virtually any load-all the way down to l/2 ohm stereo (1 ohm mono).
l Dual Discrete Class A Drive Stages - Over six times the drive current of most
amps, which maintains performance into low impedance loads.
l Drive DelayTM Muted Turn-on/off Circuit - A unique circuit which completely
eliminates any amplifier-related turn-on/off noises.
l Flexible Input Sensitivity accepts voltages from 100 mV to 2.5 V, permitting
maximum output from the amplifier with virtually any source unit.
l Balanced Input Design for added immunity to noise caused by component
and vehicle electrical system interaction.
l LSE.Q (REFERENCESOO) fully adjustable subwoofer equalization circuit
providing frequency and leve/“Q” adjustment for optimum subwoofer
performance. An adjustable subsonic filter protects woofers from damaging
low frequency information and maximizes output in a usable range.

REFERENCE POWER SUPPLY DESIGN
The REFERENCE amplifiers employ an extremely efficient unregulated pulse-
width modulated power supply. REFERENCE amplifiers from Soundstream are
rated at 12 volts but are designed to take advantage of the additional voltage
available when the vehicle is running. The two major advantages of the
unregulated power supply are:
l awesome dynamic power capabilities
l added continuous power with higher voltages (see chart below)
Because of the dynamic properties of most music, all audio components should
be able to react accordingly. Thanks to their unregulated power supplies, the
REFERENCE amplifiers can comfortably exceed their rated power for dynamic
portions of the music.
4 Ohm Stereo Watts
0 20 40 60
4 ohm Power
25wattsx2@12volts
45 watts x 2 @ 14.4 volts
(REFERENCE200 shown)
PASSIVE AND,ELECTRONIC CRbSSOtiERS
,_
r’our REEERENCE amplifier is unique in its ability to switch between Coherent
3tereoTM
and mixed mono output mode. The REFERENCE amplifiers are
zapable of driving a,complete subwoofer and satellite system in the Mixed.Mono
configuration. However, for lowest distortion, maximum output, and best sound
quality, we recommend that you use an electronic crossover and multiple
:hannels of amplificbtion.
f a single REFERENCE amplifier is to driie a subwoofer and satellite system,
Dassive high and low pass crossovers will be necessary. Use the charts on
Dages 7 8 8 to detem\ine the values of the crossover,components.
6

6 dB/OCTAVE
PASSIVE CROSSOVER CHART
‘,
\
lrr--
/‘
8’
+ --+&-----
6 dB/octave hi_sh pass
K
-
+
Y-L----
,/”
L
6 dB/octave low pass
KEY
L = high quality (DCR < 1 ohm) inductor/coil
C = non-polarized 50 v (or greater) capacitor
FREQ.
80 Hz
100 Hz
130 Hz
200 Hz
280 Hz
400 Hz
600 Hz
800 Hz
1000 Hz
1200 Hz
1800 Hz
4000 Hz
2 ohms
L C
4.1 mH
3.1 mH
2.4 mH
1.6 mH
1.2 mH
0.8 mH
0.5 mH
0.41 mH
0.31 mH
0.25 mH
0.16 mH
0.08 mH
1000 pF
800 pF
600 pF
400 pF
300 pF
200 pF
138 pF
100 pF
78 pF
66 FF
44 pF
20 pF
4 ohms
LC
8.2 mH
6.2 mH
4.7 mH
3.3 mH
2.4 mH
1.6 mH
1.0 mH
0.82 mH
0.62 mH
0.51 mH
0.33 mH
0.16 mH
7
500 pF
400 pF
300 pF
200 FF
150 pF
100 pF
68 pF
50 pF
39 pF
33 pF
22 pF
IOpF
8 ohms
L
C
16 mH
12mH
10mH
8.8 mH
4.7 mH
3.3 mH
2.0 mH
1.6 mH
1.2 mH
1.0 mH
0.88 mH
0.33 mH
250 pF
200 pF
150 pF
100 pF
75 pF
50 pF
33 pF
28 pF
20 pF
16pF
IOpF
5 PF

112 dB/OCTAVE
PASSIVE CROSSOVER CHART
12 dWoctave hilsh pass
12 dB/octave low pass
KEY
Ll = high quality (DCR c 1 ohm) inductor/coil
Cl = non-polarized 50 v (or greater) capacitor
FREQ.
80 Hz
100 Hz
130 Hz
200 Hz
260 Hz
400 Hz
600 Hz
800 Hz
1000 Hz
1200 Hz
1600 Hz
4000 Hz
2 ohms
Ll Cl
5.5 mH
4.7 mH
3.3 mH
2.2 mH
1.8mH
1.1 mH
0.75 mH
0.5 mH
0.47 mH
0.33 mH
0.27 mH
0.10 mH
680 pF
560 pF
400 pF
300 pF
200 pF
150 pF
100 pF
68 pF
50 pF
44 pF
30 pF
15 wF
4 ohms
Ll Cl
11 mH
9.1 mH
6.8 mH
4.7 mH
3.6 mH
2.2 mH
1.5mH
1.0 mH
0.9 mH
0.75 mH
0.50 mH
0.22 mH
8
330 pF
270 pF
200 pF
15opF
100 pF
68 )rF
47 pF
33 pF
27 pF
22 FF
15pf
6.8 pF
8 ohms
Ll Cl
22 mH
18mH
15mH
9.1 mH
6.8 mH
4.7 mH
3.0 mH
2.0 mH
1.8mH
1.5 mH
1.0 mH
0.47 mH
180 pF
150 pF
100 pF
75 pF
50 pF
33 pF
26 pF
15pF
13pF
11 pF
6.8 pF
3.3 pF

SERIES AND PARALLEL WIRING
Below are examples of series and parallel wiring configurations. Please note
how the impedances differ with the different configurations.
Amplifier
i
r
+
r-P%7
jidl Jkk&
;“4 Ohm “1 / 4 Ohm “\,,
2-4 ohm drivers in parallel
= 2 ohms
Amplifier
+
_I
-
/“4 Oh; ‘> ~
?-
+(
/‘4 Ohm ‘\‘,
4-4 ohm drivers in parallel
=I ohm
2-4 ohm drivers in series
= 8 ohms
9

LSE.Q is a unique subwoofer
control circuit included with the
SOUNDSTREAM REFERENCE500
amplifier. It is capable of removing
subsonic energy in program material.
The circuit consists of two controls.
One adjusts the frequency of
operation and the other adjusts the
range of boost, With both controls
adjusted fully counter-clockwise, no
boost is applied and the amplifier is
flat in response down to 20 Hz.
The frequency control (Hz) adjusts
the starting point of the subsonic
filter. This high pass filter can be
adjusted from 20 Hz up to a
maximum of 60 Hz. This control is
useful for setting the lowest
frequency that your subwoofer will
see. (See figure 1)
/
I
i
LSE.Q
\
dB
( FEa B&T (
FIG. 1 LSEQ
FIG. 4 Variable “Q”
The Q control adjusts the amount of
boost applied at the set frequency.
This is adjustable from .707 (flat) to
2.8 (+9 dB). (See figure 2)
.
dB
FIG. 2 Variable ‘Q
When the Q is set to .707
(Butterworth), LSE.Q acts as a sub-
sonic filter only. (See figure 3)
LSE.Q THEORY AND USE
FIG. 3 Variable High Pass
The simple act of removing the signal
below the vented tuning frequency can
improve system output by as much as
3 dB.
With Q values greater than
,707, boost is added in addition to the
sub-sonic filter. (see figure 4)