Carvin KB1000, KB1010, KB1015 Owner's Manual
CARVIN ENGINEERING DATA OPERATING MANUAL
76-72000B 0705
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KB1000 HEAD/KB1010 COMBO/KB1015 COMBO
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Congratulations on your purchase of the KB1000 series amp. The KB1000 com-
bines a 7-channel stereo line mixer, 4-band EQ, Direct Out box and a stereo / bi-ampable
power amp with crossover into one compact package. Your new amp inherits Carvin’s
rugged DCM power amp technology with features including power amp limiters, high
current
Speakon
™
speaker connectors, 1’ Titanium Drivers for the KB1010 and the
KB1015 combos, and thermal/short circuit protection. This manual covers the KB1000
head the KB1010 and KB1015 combo amplifiers.
GETTING STARTED QUICKLY
If you are like most players, you probably want to plug in your new amp and
get started playing right away. However, with a full-featured amp like the KB1000,
it is important to set it up correctly for optimum results. Before you start, be sure
your amp is plugged into the correct AC voltage.
1. With the amp turned off, set the POWER AMP 1 & 2 levels to “5” and set the
MAIN level to “0” to start. Adjust volume with the MAIN level.
2. Set the X-OVER switch to the “OUT” position. “IN” if you are using the KB1015 cabinet.
3. Make sure the BRIDGE switch (rear) is set to the “OUT”position.
4. Set the LOW, LOW MID, HI MID and HIGH tone controls to their center “0”
position. Adjust later after you are more familiar with the amp.
5. Plug your keyboard stereo outputs into one of the INPUT jack pairs 1 thru 7.
Mono signals should be plugged into the right (R) input jack which will be fed
to both LEFT and RIGHT outputs of the amp. Start with the INPUT LEVEL
controls at about “3”.
6. Now, turn the amp ON.
7. With your keyboard output set to 5, start playing. Check to be sure the red PK
LED next to the INPUT LEVEL CONTROL is not flashing (very dim flashing is
OK) or unwanted distortion will result. Turn down your keyboard’s output level
if your instrument causes input clipping or turn down the AMP I or AMP 2 levels
on the amp. If you hear no sound and the green SIG LED does not light, turn
up your keyboard’s output level or check your connection.
8. Gradually raise the MAIN POWER AMP level. Re-adjust according to the desired
volume. Never try to get full power by pushing the INPUT LEVEL controls to
maximum while keeping the AMP 1 & 2 and MAIN levels below 5, they should be
set to 10.
9. Biamping the KB1015 combo or any large stack requires careful balancing of
the AMP 1 & 2 controls. These controls power the woofer and 1” Titanium HF
Driver independently. Double check to see that the speakers are plugged
into the correct amp outputs. If the cables are reversed your amp will not
perform correctly.
10. Need more output? The KB1000 is a powerful 1000w amp. Adding more speak-
ers is the best way to substantially increase output. Every time you double
your speakers, your acoustic output goes up by a factor of four. This is far
more efficient than trying to add 4 times the power because speakers become
less efficient when driven hard. Bridging your amp into 4 ohms gives you
maximum output. However, the high power of this amp can damage your
speakers. The amp will go into “protect” if loaded below 4 ohms in the bridged
mode. Hopefully, this will help you get started. Have fun exploring the features
and sounds of the KB1000.
DESIGNED FOR TOURING
Every KB1000 is made from heavy-duty 16 gauge steel that is galvanized before
being painted to prevent rust. All internal cabling is neatly tied and harnessed. Every
circuit card is MIL SPEC, double-sided, through-hole plated, fire retardant FR-4 glass
epoxy. This insures that the solder flows on the top, bottom and through each hole
of every component, preventing components from shaking loose. Toroid transformers
are used as they are the engineer’s choice for greater power supply current while
reducing weight and magnetic “hum” fields. Every KB model is made in the USA.
KB1000 SPECIFICATIONS:
Output Power
8Ω THD < 1% 225/225w
4Ω THD < 1% 350/350w
2Ω THD < 1% 500/500w
8Ω Bridged THD < 1% 700w
4Ω Bridged THD < 1% 1000w
THD Less than .5% at 1k Hz
Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20k Hz
Channels 1 - 7 Level controls, signal and peak LEDs, stereo/mono auto input
switching, DI mute on channel 6 and 7.
Input Impedance >10kΩ
Amp EQ. LOW ±15dB @ 50Hz
LO MID±15dB @ 300Hz
HI MID±15dB @ 2.5kHz
HIGH ±15dB @ 10kHz
Crossover 12dB per Octave Sweepable100Hz to 1kHz
• Stereo XLR direct output with level control and ground lift switch • Front panel
master volume and independent power amp columes with protection and peak indi
cators • Front panel headphone jack • Two 1/4”, one
Speakon
™
and binding post
speaker outputs for each channel, plus a bridge out Speakon™jack • Rear panel
1/4” balance line output jacks
AC Requirements 120VAC 60 Hz or 230VAC 50 Hz optional model
Power Requirements 1200VA
Dimensions:
KB1000:
19”W x 10”D x 3.5”H
KB1010:
23.5”W x 18”D x 21.5”H
KB1015:
21.75”W x 15.25”D x 31.25”H
Weight: KB1000 Head: 30 Lbs, KB1010: 72 Lbs, KB1015: 97 Lbs.
Warranty One year parts and labor
KB1010
KB1015
KB1000
FRONT PANEL FEATURES
1. INPUT LEVELS AND MIXING 1-7
The KB1000 has 7 inputs which are combined to produce a single stereo or mono output.
The INPUT LEVEL control is used to set the input level and how much signal is mixed.
To make sure you have plenty of headroom for mixing, the keyboard output levels should be
set so that turning the INPUT LEVEL to at least “7”, preferably “10” will not cause clipping.
The red CLIP LED indicates when the input is close to clipping. To avoid clipping, reduce the
keyboard level first, then turn down the INPUT LEVEL knob if the clipping persists. The green
SIG LED indicates a signal is present at the input ONLY when the INPUT LEVEL is turned up.
2. INPUT JACKS
Two 1/4” phone jacks are provided on each of the 7 channels to accommodate both stereo and
mono instruments. Plugging mono sources into the “R” jack of an INPUT will send signal to
both LEFT and RIGHT outputs. You can double the amount of inputs by choosing to run in
“MONO” mode and plugging into all 14 (1-7, L&R) input jacks, without regard to stereo assign-
ment. Adjust keyboard output levels to mix L&R inputs accordingly.
3. AMP EQ CONTROLS
The AMP EQ tone controls consist of a LOW, LO MID, HI MID and HIGH controls. These con-
trols DO NOT affect the DIRECT OUT XLRs. Since most of the tone shaping is done within the
keyboard itself, the AMP EQ controls are designed to accomodate for differences in speakers
and acoustic environments. The LOW control affects the lowest frequencies. Excessive “BOOMINESS” can be reduced by turning the LOW control down while turning it up can add fullness
to your sound. The LO MID control adjusts frequencies in the 300Hz range adding extra punch
when needed. The HI MID control adjusts frequencies in the 2.5kHz range allowing you to
“cut through” on a crowded sound stage. The HIGH control knob is designed to cut or boost
the highest frequencies. Usually a “dead” room will will require a boost from the HIGH control while a “live” room with a lot of reflective surfaces will invite you to reduce the HIGH control. Note: boosting the high frequencies can result in increased hiss. This is normal. The
AMP EQis a sound shaping tool which may require some practice to get the best results. Listen
to the results and experiment with different settings.
4. DIRECT OUT XLR
s
The DIRECT OUT XLRs are balanced outputs that get their signal directly from INPUTs 1-7.
These outputs are very useful when connecting to the main mixing board for live performances
or recording. Use the DIRECT OUT LEVEL control to set the output. The MONO switch is used
to combine the LEFT and RIGHT INPUTS so that both L-R DIRECT OUT XLR jacks receive the
same mono signal. NOTE: THE DIRECT OUT MONO SWITCH DOES NOT AFFECT THE STEREO
OR MONO OUTPUT OF THE POWER AMP. A LIFT GND switch is also available on the DIRECT
OUT XLR jacks. Set this switch for the lowest hum/noise when using this output. When the
LIFT GND switch is depressed, the signal ground is lifted from these jacks thus eliminating
any ground loops between the KB1000 and the gear it’s feeding. NOTE: THE AMP EQ, POWER
AMP 1&2 AND MAIN LEVEL CONTROLS DO
NOT AFFECT THE DIRECT OUT SIGNAL.
5. DIRECT OUT LEVEL
The DIRECT OUT LEVEL control sets the output for the DIRECT OUT XLRs ONLY. It will not
affect the volume coming out of the amp speakers or the rear line outs. Communicate with
the mixing engineer to set the proper level.
6. DI MUTE SWITCHES (ON INPUTS 6&7)
Inputs 6 and 7 feature DI MUTE switches. When pressed “IN”, signals from inputs 6 and 7
will be REMOVED from the DIRECT OUT XLRs, but will still be heard through the AMP 1&2
speaker outputs, PHONES jack and rear LINE OUT jacks. This is useful for listening to “click”
tracks, monitor feeds or other sources WITHOUT sending these signals to the DIRECT OUT
XLRs and to the house system.
7. ELECTRONIC X-OVER (BI-AMPING)
When the BI-AMP switch is pressed “IN”, the amp is in the bi-amp mode. This means all frequencies BELOW the X-OVER FREQ are sent to the POWER AMP 1 OUTPUT, while frequencies ABOVE the X-OVER FREQ are sent to the POWER AMP 2 OUTPUT. To select the crossover
frequency, rotate the FREQ control knob until the desired frequency is obtained. Try 800Hz. A
bi-amped system gives the user greater control over the tone. This allows speakers designed
for specific frequencies to be utilized to their fullest potential. Subwoofers will be more efficient at reproducing low frequencies with less distortion. Full range enclosures will not have
to work as hard reproducing the lowest frequencies which consume the most power. Stereo
(L-R) separation from the power amps is no longer possible, but is retained at the DIRECT
OUT XLRs and PHONES jack. NOTE: BI-AMPING DOES NOT NECESSARILY DELIVER THE MOST VOLUME
FROM YOUR SYSTEM.
8. OUTPUT CONTROL GROUP–MAIN, AMP 1L, AMP 2R
The output group controls the volume and amp output levels. The POWER AMP 1 & 2 CONTROLS adjust the volume to the individual amps. The MAIN control sets the overall volume.
Try setting the MAIN control to 5 as a starting point.
FULL RANGE MONO (KB1010) AND STEREO: For KB1010 operation push the MONO (MAIN)
switch IN. Turn up the AMP 1L knob on the KB1010 until the desired volume level is reached.
If your are connecting a pair of speakers for stereo use, be sure to release the MONO (MAIN)
switch. Turn up the AMP 1L & AMP 2R knobs until the desired volume level and left and right
balance is reached.
BIAMP CONTROL(combos): To set the balance, bring up the AMP 1L (LOW FREQ) knob until
the desired volume level is reached. Now bring up the AMP 2R (HIGH FREQ) knob until the
desired balance has been achieved.
BRIDGE mode, use only the AMP 1L control, as the AMP 2R control becomes ineffective. If
either of the red PK LEDs flash for AMP1 or AMP2, reduce the POWER AMP 1 or 2 volume
or, engage the LIMITER switch on the rear panel.
9. MONO (MAIN) SWITCH
With the MONO switch in the “OUT” position, the KB1000 will preserve stereo imaging from
the INPUT JACKS to the POWER AMP 1(L) & 2(R) outputs. Setting the MONO switch to the
“IN” position will send the combination of both LEFT and RIGHT signals to both POWER AMP
OUTPUTS. Helpful if only one speaker cabinet is used, or if stereo imaging is not important.
NOTE: THE
MONO (MAIN) SWITCH DOES NOT AFFECT THE STEREO OR MONO OUTPUT OF
XLR DIRECT OUTS.
10. PHONES JACK
A PHONES jack is provided for practicing or monitoring. The MAIN knob controls the volume.
The phones jack does not interrupt the amplifier output. To listen to the PHONES output with-
out sound from the speakers, turn down the POWER AMP 1&2 controls. A high-current headphone amp drives this output for any pair of headphones.
REAR PANEL FEATURES
11. POWER / (RESET)
Push the upper portion of the POWER SWITCH to turn the amplifier on. If the POWER LED is
on but no sound is coming out of the speakers, the amp may have gone into one of its protection modes with the PROTECT LED ON. To reset the amp, turn the power off for one minute
and then turn the amp back on. If the problem persists, check for; a) The speaker impedance
is too low for the bridge output (4 ohm min.) or normal outputs (2 ohms min. per amp) b) bad
speaker cable, c) damaged speaker or d) blocked rear fan cooling vents.
12. COOLING VENTS
The rear vents cool the internal power amps. Provide a minimum of 3” clearance for adequate
ventilation. Blocking the air flow to these vents will cause the amp to thermally protect and
turn the speaker relays off. The PROTECT LED on the front panel will light. If this happens,
clear the obstruction first, keep the power on, allowing the amp to cool. The amp will engage
the speaker relays when cooling conditions return to normal.
13. LIMITER SWITCH
The KB1000 features distortion-free, optoislator power amp limiters. Limiters help prevent
power amp clipping by reducing peaks before they reach the amp. To use this feature, press
“IN” the LIMITER switch.
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