Adcom GFA-5802 User Manual

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G FA-5802

High Current MOSFET

Power Amplifier

OWNER’S MANUAL

THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

ARE REQUIREMENTS OF UL AND CSA SAFETY REGULATIONS

Warning: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose
this unit to rain or moisture.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

A

DO NOT OPEN

A

AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE-NE PAS OUVRIR

The graphic symbol of a lightning flash with an arrow
point within a triangle signifies that there is dangerous
voltage within the unit and it poses a hazard to anyone
removing the cover to gain access to the interior of the

A

Read all the safety and operating instructions before connecting or using

this unit

Retain this notice and the owner’s manual for future reference

All warnings on the unit and in its operating instructions should be adhered to

All operating and use instructions should be followed

Do not use this unit near water; for example, near a bathtub, washbowl,

kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool

The unit should be installed so that its location or position does not interfere
with Its proper ventilation For example, it should not be situated on a bed,

sofa, rug, or similar surface that may block the ventilation openings, or
placed in a built-in installation, such as bookcase or cabinet, that may

impede the flow of air through its ventilation openings
The unit should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat

registers, stoves, or other devices (including amplifiers) that produce heat

The unit should be connected to a power-supply outlet only of the voltage

and frequency marked on its rear panel

The power-supply cord should be routed so that it is not likely to be walked
on or pinched, especially near the plug, convenience receptacles, or where

the cord exits from the unit.

Clean unit only as recommended in its instruction manual

The power-supply cord of the unit should be unplugged from the wall outlet
when It is to be unused for a long period of time

Care should be taken so that objects do not fall, and liquids are not spilled,
into the enclosure through any openings

This unit should be serviced by qualified service personnel when
A. The power cord or the plug has been damaged, or
B Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled, into the unit; or
C The unit has been exposed to ram, or liquids of any kind, or

D The unit does not appear to operate normally, or exhibits a

marked change in performance; or

E The device has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged

DO NOT ATTEMPT SERVICING OF THIS UNIT YOURSELF.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

unit Only qualified service personnel should make

any such attempt.

The graphic symbol of an exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle warns a user of the device that it is
necessary to refer to the instruction manual and its
warnings for proper operation of the unit

Do not place this unit on an unstable cart, stand, tripod,
bracket, or table The unit may fall, causing serious
injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the
unit Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table
recommended by the manufacturer, or sold with the
unit Any mounting of the device should follow the man
ufacturer’s instructions, and should use a mounting ac
cessory recommended by the manufacturer

ATTENTION

POUR PREVENIR LES CHOCS ÉLECTRIQUES NE PAS UTILISER
CETTE FICHE POLARISÉE AVEC UN PROLONGATEUR, UNE PRISE
DE COURANT OU UNE AUTRE SORTIE DE COURANT, SAUE SI LES
LAMES PEUVENT ÊTRE INSÉRÉES À FOND SANS EN UISSER AU
CUNE PARTIE À DÉCOUVERT

CAUTION

TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT USE THIS POLARIZED PLUG
WITH AN EXTENSION CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET UN
LESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE
EXPOSURE

CAUTION

POWER LINES

Any outdoor antenna must be located away from all power lines.

OUTDOOR ANTENNA GROUNDING

If an outside antenna is connected to your tuner or tuner-preamplifier, be
sure the antenna system is grounded so as to provide some protection
against voltage surges and built-up static charges. Section 810 of the
National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA No. 70-1984, provides information with
respect to proper grounding of the mast and supporting structure, grounding
of the lead-in wire to an antenna discharge unit, size of grounding
conductors, location of antenna discharge unit, connection to grounding
electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode.

a. Use No.lO AWQ (5.3 mm‘) copper, No.6 AWG (B.4 mm’) aluminum,
No.17 AWG (1.0 mm’) copper-clad steel or bronze wire, or larger, as a
ground wire.

b. Secure antenna lead-in and ground wires to house with stand-off
insulators spaced from 4-6 feet (1.22-1.83 m) apart.

c. Mount antenna discharge unit as close as possible to where lead-in
enters house.

d. Use jumper wire not smaller than No.6 AWG (13.3 mm’) copper, or the
equivalent, when a separate antenna-grounding electrode is used. See NEC
Section 810-21 G)-

EXAMPLE OF ANTENNA GROUNDINQ AS PER NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE INSTRUCTIONS

POWER SERVICE GROUNDING

ELECTRODE SYSTEM
(e g. Intenor metal water pipe)

CONTAINED IN ARTICLE 810 - RADIO AND TELEVISION EQUIPMENT

POWER lines

STANDOFF

INSULATORS, D

EXTERNAL ANTENNA

TERMINALS OF RADIO RECEIVER

GROUND WIRE, a.b

GROUND CLAMPS

BONDING JUMPER, d

OPTIONAL ANTENNA GROUNDING
ELECTRODE DRIVEN 8 FEET (2 44 M) INTO
THE EARTH IF REQUIRED BY LOCAL
COOES SEE NEC SECTION 810-21 (f)

ANTENNA
LEAD-IN WIRE

NOTE TO CATV SYSTEM INSTALLER

This reminder is provided to call the CATV system installer’s attention to
Article 820-22 of the National Electrical Code that provides guidelines for
proper grounding and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be
connected to the grounding system of the building, as close to the point of
cable entry as practical.

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your decision to purchase the GFA-5802 Stereo Power Amplifier. You have made a wise choice

that will reward you with exceptionally accurate and musical sound reproduction for years to come To realize the full potential
of your new amplifier, please read these operating and installation instructions thoroughly before attempting to connect it.

FEATURES

• Precision matched MOSFETs used throughout the signal path.

• Over 100,000 pF of power supply filter capacitance with low ESR for greater reserve capacity.

• Reduced number of gam stages improves signal reproduction accuracy.

• Custom toroidal power transformer with dual secondaries provides greater peak current capability.

• Separate front-end power supply complete with separate transformers.

• Dual High quality, gold plated binding posts.

• Independent thermal protection and distortion LED’s for each channel.

• Gold plated RCA jacks.

• Large external heatsinks for greater cooling capability of output devices.

• Heavy gauge, anodized aluminum front panel

• Powder coated, baked chassis and top cover for greater durability.

• Cooling vents on top cover for greater efficiency and cooler operation while driving low impedance loads

IMPORTANT NOTICE: ADCOM PROTECTION PLAN (USA ONLY)

understand the extent of the protection offered by the Warranty, its reasonable limitations, and what you should do in order to
obtain its benefits. Be sure to verify that the serial number printed on the rear panel matches the serial number on the outer
carton. If any number is altered or missing, you should notify us immediately in order to ensure that you have received a
genuine ADCOM product which has not been opened, mishandled, or tampered with in any way.

UNPACKING

electrical parameters as a routine part of ACCOM’s systematic quality control This, along with full operational and mechanical
testing, should ensure a product flawless in both appearance and performance After you have unpacked the GFA-5802,
inspect it for physical damage Save the shipping carton and all packing material as they are intended to reduce the possibility
of transportation damage, should the amplifier ever need to be shipped again. In the unlikely event damage has occurred,
notify your dealer immediately and request the name of the carrier so a written claim to cover shipping damages can be
initiated. THE RIGHT TO A CLAIM AGAINST A PUBLIC CARRIER CAN BE FORFEITED IF THE CARRIER IS NOT NOTIFIED
PROMPTLY IN WRITING AND IF THE SHIPPING CARTON AND PACKING MATERIALS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR
INSPECTION BY THE CARRIER. SAVE ALL PACKING MATERIALS UNTIL THE CLAIM HAS BEEN SETTLED.

ADCOM offers the enclosed valuable Limited Warranty. Please read the details on the Warranty Card carefully to

Before your new GFA-5802 left our factory, it was carefully inspected for physical imperfections and tested for all

PLACEMENT AND CARE OF THE GFA-5802

During normal home operation the heatsinks of the GFA-5802 will become very warm. However, there are instances
during high-level playback into low impedances when the heatsinks will become much warmer than usual. To ensure the
amplifier’s long-term, trouble-free operation, it is necessary to provide adequate ventilation for the heatsinks. Therefore, the
GFA-5802 should be kept away from external sources of heat such as radiators and hot-air ducts. The GFA-5802 should never
be placed with other heat-producing components in a cabinet or enclosure lacking free air flow

If you require that the GFA-5802 be mounted in an enclosed cabinet, it is recommended that the rear panel of the
cabinet be provided with ventilation openings at the top and bottom to allow air to circulate freely in the cabinet The top and
bottom panel of the amplifier’s chassis have been provided with vents to allow the necessary cooling of the internal
components. It is important that these vents are not obstructed in any way.

We recommend that you do not stack other components on top of the GFA-5802. This is particularly important If your

system includes low-impedance loudspeakers which are difficult to drive, or if you will consistently demand high volume levels
from the amplifier and speaker system. Not only will heat generated by the amplifier affect the performance of equipment
stacked on top of the GFA-5802, but the free flow of air through the ventilating slots in the amplifier may be partially obstructed

If you observe these recommendations, the GFA-5802 will perform reliably in any reasonable environment. You

should also pay attention to such normal considerations as protection from excessive dust and moisture. Occasional
vacuuming of accumulated dust on the chassis, heatsinks, panels and around the ventilating slots should be all that is
required

The optimal performance of your new GFA-5802 will ultimately depend on the care with which you make the

connections between the amplifier, preamplifier and the loudspeakers All input and output signal connections should be made
only with high quality, low-loss, low capacitance cables following the recommendations in the following relevant sections.