Audiocontrol 960961 User Manual

ARCHITECT

Model 960 Model 961

16 Channel Power Amplifier Speaker Optimizer

Professional Installer’s Consciousness Guide

For Those Who Consider Perfection Possible

22410 70th Avenue West Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 USA 425-775-8461 • Fax 425-778-3166 www .audiocontrol.com

Important Information

Dealer Name _______________________________________

Date Installed _______________________________________

Serial Number ______________________________________

Ethernet MAC Address _______________________________

IP Address Dynamic / Static __________________________

CONTENTS

The ArchitectTM Product Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Experienced Installer’s Quick Hook-Up Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

A Guided Tour Of The Architect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Hooking Up Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Installation: The Long Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Remote Power Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Audio Hook-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Speaker Hook-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Equalizing the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Equalization Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

A Short Introduction To Equalizers And Acoustics . . . . . . . . . 16

Audio Analysis Using Pink Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

What’s Inside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

The Truth About Bass and

The Programmable Frequency Match Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Patented Intelligent Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Lightdrive Protection System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Using the Ethernet Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

A Brazen Plug For Other AudioControl Products . . . . . . . . . . 25

Appendices

Appendix A

Bridging The Architect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Appendix B

Using the Ethernet-Based Automation Systems . . . . . . . 26

The Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Service Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

ARCHITECT

Model 960 Model 961

™

Installer’s Guide

The Architect Model 960, Model 961

Congratulations!

Y ou are now installing a component which can dramatically improve the performance of any distributed audio system, especially those utilizing in-wall speakers. The Architect™ 900 Series is an American-designed and built, “set and forget” component which will provide a lifetime of trouble-free service for your multiroom audio system.

The Architect™ 900 Series is made by the only electronics company in the world that specializes in amplifiers, equalizers, signal processors and audio analyzers. And the company whose professional sound division designed and sells the most popular one-third octave real time analyzer in the world, the SA-3050. AudioControl’s passion for high quality, meticulous attention to detail and pro sound heritage shows itself in the dozens of awards we have won for our designs, products and service. Now, as when we began, our greatest satisfaction is our reputation for sonic excellence and reliability among people just like you throughout the world.

Product Highlights

This manual is designed to help you get everything you can out of your new amplifier. So, even though you’re dying to see it in action, please take a few minutes to slog through our not-soweighty prose and learn how to get the most from The Architect power amplifier. Anything as capable as this amp deserves all the explanation it can get.

ARCHITECT

Model 960 Model 961

™

Installer’s Guide

Product Highlights

Cool Running - Distributed audio systems can place terrific de-

mands on a home’s AC power. Sometimes just a little brownout can cause an amplifier to pull enough current to blow the house circuit breaker. Even when they’re running properly, most amplifiers put out enough heat to make any air conditioning system sweat. AudioControl takes care of these problems with our patented (US Patent #5,708,577) power supply regulation and Class-H amplifier design. Both of these features combine to create one of the most reliable and efficient audio amplifiers available. Higher efficiency means a cooler running amplifier . The advanced power supply regulation also minimizes circuit breakerpopping in-rush currents.

Built For The Long Haul – The Architect™ 900 Series has been

designed with durability in mind. The Lightdrive protection circuitry defends The Architect™ and your speakers against clipping, distortion, damage, and even teenage parties. Even if the party lasts all weekend. Each channel pair is independently protected so a problem in one channel will not affect the rest of the system.

Specially-Designed Equalization Controls – (Model 960 and

Model 961) The Architect™ 900 Series is intended to provide a dramatic sound improvement for “small” speakers, such as those with 6inch and 8-inch woofers. The Architect’s 75Hz, 250Hz, 700Hz, 2500Hz and 12KHz band centers were chosen to optimize in-wall and 2-way bookshelf speakers at critical frequencies where adjustment is most advantageous. The bandwidths (or ‘Q’ as our engineering types call it) have also been optimized for the difficulties that in-wall speakers present. This allows The Architect™ 900 Series to improve the sound of these smaller speakers better than any other equalizer.

PFM Subsonic Filter – The Architect’s Programmable Frequency

Match (PFM) circuitry is a bass-blocking 40 Hz filter which protects small speakers and improves their overall sound. It gives small woofers only those frequencies they can use by “chopping off” bass below 40Hz. The woofer is protected and can do a better job of reproducing midbass and higher frequencies.

Ethernet Network Compatible – ( Model 961) The power of the

Internet is built into the Architect. This internal web server provides remote service diagnostic capabilities and enables the system integrator to control this amplifier via Ethernet.

Made in the Northwest Rainforest – The Architect™ 900 Series

began its existence at our factory in Mountlake T errace, Washington, a few miles north of Seattle. Here, we also build precision test instruments, equalizers, analyzers and a totally awesome line of car stereo components. AudioControl started in 1977 and has won so many audio industry awards for design and engineering excellence that our reception room wall is starting to sag. But enough about us, let’s start getting the most from the audio system!

ARCHITECT

Model 960 Model 961

™

Installer’s Guide



Front Panel

Model, 960, Model 961

 

 Stereo Speaker Equalization controls - This

array of knobs provide up to 12dB boost or cut at 75Hz, 250Hz, 700Hz, 2500Hz and 12KHz. After initial adjustment the only time you would change the control settings are 1) if you connect different speakers into the system, 2) if (assuming the speakers aren’t built-in) you move them significantly, such as from a bookshelf to floor stands, or 3) if your room acoustics change through addition or rearrangement of furniture, wall or floor coverings, large hairy dogs, etc.

 Channel Status LED’s - These dual-color

LED’s serve two purposes. First they illuminate Blue when the corresponding channel is active. The second function of the status LED is to turn Red if something has caused that zone to go into protection.

 Protection LED - This LED also has two

faces. In normal operation it glows Blue when the remote power trigger is active and the Architect is in stand-by . If the Protection LED turns Red, then one of the internal protection circuits have come into use. All the protection circuits automatically reset themselves when the problem causing the fault has been fixed.

 Power LED - Nothing too tricky here...when

you have the Master Power switch on the back panel turned on and the Architect is plugged into an active AC outlet, this little Blue light will shine forth.

A Guided Tour Of

The Architecttm 900 Series

more rear panel features on the next page

ARCHITECT

Model 960 Model 961

™

Installer’s Guide

)

 PFM Highpass Filter – This bass blocking filter

sets the low frequency cut-off point of the Architect. The PFM filter is 18dB per octave and the frequency is fixed at 40Hz. When this button is Out (defeated) the channel passes full range to the zone.

 Bus Select Switches – These two buttons next to

each zones local input jacks selects the input source for that amplifier zone. If both buttons are Out, the zone receives signal from the Local Input. If the T op #1 Bus button is pressed, the zone source is Bus Input #1. When Both Bus #1 and Bus #2 buttons are depressed, the zone source is Input Bus #2. Whenever a Bus Input is selected, the zone input can be remotely triggered to the local input using the 12 volt Local Trigger input (see #6 on previous page).

Local Inputs - These unbalanced RCA inputs connect to your preamplifier’s outputs. Any standard line level audio signal can be connected to these inputs.

AC Power Fuses - The Architect is designed with several layers of protection circuitry . These main AC power fuses are here just in case something really awful goes wrong. There are no internal fuses in this amp.

Power Cord The Architect™ draws a maximum of 1600 watts at full power. Make certain that it is plugged directly into the wall outlet or a power strip with sufficient power rating. Since the Architect has remote power switching, you should plug the unit into an AC outlet that is always active.

Master Power Switch - This switch shuts off the main AC power. Normally the only time you need to turn the master power switch off is if the system is going to be shut down for an extended period of time.

Remote Power Control - This three pin connector allows you to remotely turn on the Architect. You can either use a contact closure between the Trigger In and the +12V output or an external 12 volt trigger between the Control In and Ground terminals. The +12 volt output is not designed to power other pieces of equipment.

Ground Lift Switch – This switch selects the level of isolation between the audio signal ground and your AC earth ground. In normal operation this switch should be in the Ground position, but if you run into trouble with an AC ground hum, try the other two settings for the best operation. For your safety , the chassis is always connected to the earth ground regardless of the switch setting.

Hooking Up Your System

What you’ll need:

1. The Architect™ 900 Series Amplifier.

2. RCA audio hook-up cables.

3. Small blade screwdriver for terminal blocks

4. (Optional) A balanced line driver (of course we recommend the AudioControl BLD-10 and BLR-10) if you are going to mount the Architect more than 20 feet from the preamp.

5. Enough speaker wire to reach all of your speakers.

6. Multi-zone audio controller, receiver , or preamplifier .

7. Although you can set the speaker optimization controls by ear, a real-time audio analyzer such as the AudioControl Industrial SA-3052 is very helpful.

Hooking Up Your

System

8. An RJ-45 10BaseT Ethernet connection cable. (Optional - Architect Model 961)

BLR-10 and BLD-10 Balanced Audio Drivers send audio over CAT-5. Extends high quality audio up to 1000’.

SA-3052

ARCHITECT

Model 960 Model 961

™

Installer’s Guide

+ 25 hidden pages