Crown K-2 Owners manual

K-Series

© 1999 by Crown International, Inc., P.O. Box 1000,
Elkhart, IN 46515-1000 U.S.A. Telephone: [phone].
Fax: [phone]. Trademark Notice:

Amplifier

registered trademark
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

™,

and

™

BCA

are trademarks and

of Crown International, Inc. Other

Watch for these symbols:

Lightning Bolt Symbol:

This symbol is used to alert the
user to the presence of danger­ous voltages and the possible
risk of electric shock.

Balanced Current

Crown

®

is a

Exclamation Mark Symbol:

This symbol is used to alert the
user to make special note of im­portant operating or mainte­nance instructions found in the
reference manual.

102010-4

9/99

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Friendly Page

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Hi! I'm Mick, Ill be

giving you the de-

tails about your

new K-Series Amp!!

Read all safety and oper-

ating instructions before

operating the K-Series

amplifier. Follow all

instructions carefully and

heed any warnings given.

Obtain assistance from qualified ser-

vice personnel if any of the following
occurs:

• The power cord or plug has been
damaged in any way .

• Foreign objects or liquid has fallen
into the amplifier enclosure.

• The amplifier has been exposed to
rain or has been partially or totally
immersed in any liquid.

• The amplifier has been dropped or
the chassis has been damaged.

• You notice a marked change in per­formance, or your K-Series amp oth­erwise does not appear to operate

normally.

of Tips and

War nings

CAUTION:

Do not locate sensitive,

high-gain equipment such

as preamplifiers or tape

decks directly above or be-

low the unit. If an equip-

ment rack is used, we

recommend locating the

amplifier(s) in the bottom of

the rack and the preampli-

fier or other sensitive

equipment at the top.

Driving heavy loads for sustained periods of time

may cause parts of the amplifier’s case to reach

temperatures which will be hot to touch. But don’t

be alarmed.The amplifier’s internal protection

circuitry ensures maximum temperature levels will

remain well below any level that might be

harmful to the amplifier.

Keep your K-Series amplifier

away from sources of heat,

such as a radiator or oven.

Do not cover or surround your
amp with material which may

retain heat, such as a

blanket or curtain.

Important:

Do not drop or

spill any foreign

(or domestic)

object or liquid

into the K-Series

amplifier.

Clean your

K-Series amp

only with a

damp cloth!

Protect the power
cord attached to
your K-Series am­plifier. Route it to
avoid foot traffic
or other situations
where the cord
might be stretched
or pinched. Pay spe­cial attention to the
cord connector and
attachment points.

WARNING: Shock hazard. T o reduce

the risk of fire or electric shock, do

not expose this unit to rain or mois-

ture. Do not immerse your K-Series

amplifier in any liquid. Do not operate

your amplifier near a pool, bathtub or

other standing water.

DO NOT BYPASS OR DEFEAT THE

GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION MEANS

USED ON THE K-SERIES AMPLIFIERS.

MAKE SURE ALL BLADES ON THE

POLARIZED POWER PLUG CAN BE

FULLY INSERTED INTO THE EXTENSION

CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET

THAT WILL BE USED WITH THE UNIT.

Page 2

Page 3

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Important Safety Instructions

1) Read these instructions.

2) Keep these instructions.

3) Heed all warnings.

4) Follow all instructions.

5) Do not use this apparatus near water.

6) Clean only with a dry cloth.

7) Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accor­dance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

8) Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus that produce
heat.

9) Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or
grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades
with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has
two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade
or the third prong is provided for your safety. If the pro­vided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electri­cian for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

10) Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched,
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the
point where they exit from the apparatus.

11) Only use attachments/accessories specified by the
manufacturer.

12) Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when
unused for long periods of time.

13) Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servic­ing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in
any way , such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged,
liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the ap­paratus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or mois­ture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

Contents

Friendly Page of Tips and Warnings...................... 2

Important Safety Instructions ................................. 4

Unpacking Your

Quick Start ............................................................ 7

Features................................................................ 9

1 Welcome............................................................. 10

2 Very Detailed Install............................................. 14

3 Operation............................................................ 21

4 Other Issues........................................................ 26

5 Specifications ..................................................... 31

6 Service................................................................ 36

K-Series

Amplifier........................ 6

Illustrations

Typical Stereo Hookup .......................................... 8

1.1 The

1.2 The Big Picture: Controls, Indicators and

2.1 Mounting Dimensions.......................................... 14

2.2 Mono Mode Switches .......................................... 15

2.3 Input Sensitivity Switch ........................................ 15

2.4 Typical Input Wiring............................................. 16

2.5 Stereo Output Wiring ........................................... 17

2.6 Bridge Mono Output Wiring ................................. 18

2.7 Stereo Hookup .................................................... 19

2.8 Bridged-Mono Output Hookup ............................ 19

2.9 “Y” Mono Input Hookup ....................................... 20

2.10 “Y” Mono Input / Bridged Output ......................... 20

3.1 Front Panel Indicators & Controls ........................ 21

3.2 Back Panel Controls ............................................ 23

3.3 Back Panel Fuse Location ................................... 25

4.1 Balanced & Unbalanced Input Wiring ................. 28

4.2 Balanced Input Wiring......................................... 29

4.3 Unbalanced Input Wiring .................................... 30

5.1 Awesome Frequency (Amplitude) Response ...... 35

5.2 Superior Damping Factor .................................... 35

K-Series

Connectors ................................................... 12-13

Amplifier.................................... 10-11

Page 4

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Unpacking Your

K-Series Amp

Please unpack and inspect your amplifier for any damage that
may have occurred during transit. If damage is found, notify
the transportation company immediately . Only you can initiate
a claim for shipping damage. Crown will be happy to help as
needed. Save the shipping carton as evidence of damage for
the shipper’s inspection.

We also recommend that you save all packing materials so
you will have them if you ever need to transport the unit.

NEVER SHIP THE UNIT WITHOUT THE FACT OR Y PACK.

FCC COMPLIANCE NOTICE

This equipment has been tested and found to com­ply with the limits for a Class A digital Device, pur­suant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference when the equipment is oper­ated in a commercial environment. This equipment
generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instruction manual, may cause harmful in­terference to radio communications. Operation of
this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
harmful interference in which case the user will be
required to correct the interference at his own ex­pense.

“The user is cautioned that any changes or modifi­cations not expressly approved by Crown Interna­tional could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.”

Quick Start!

First things first. We know you just

can’t wait to crank up your new

®

Crown

K-Series

last thing you want to do is dig through

pages of tech-talk to find out where the

“ON” switch is. So that’s why we provided

you with this quick and simple page to get

you up and running right away. Just take a

few minutes to read through this—no more than

five or ten, max—you’ll be glad you did.

1. Make sure the

K-Series

amp and all other equipment is
turned OFF before you begin wiring. The amp power switch,
which is located on the far right side of the front panel, is
“OFF” when pressed downward.

2. Mount your

K-Series

amp securely in the rack.

3. Connect the left and right inputs coming from your mixer,
preamp, or other processor. You can use either bal­anced 1/4-inch phone or 3-pin XLR connectors. Y ou
can also choose to run in MONO mode, with either
bridged outputs, “Y” inputs, or both. If so, see the sec­tions starting on page 14 for further instructions.

4. Connect the output wiring (left and right speakers).

5. Connect your

K-Series

amp and other equip-

ment to the appropriate power source.

6. Turn on your mixer, preamp, signal
processor, or any other equip­ment in your system EXCEPT
your

K-Series

amplifier . (Remem-

ber: save the best for last.)

7. Make sure the Channel 1 and

Channel 2 level (volume) controls
on your

K-Series

amplifier are
turned all the way down (counter­clockwise), then flip the power
switch “ON” (press upward).

amplifier. And the

Page 6

Page 7

Typical Stereo
Hookup

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Note: After a two-second delay, the “Enable” light will glow a
bright green to indicate power is on. If no audio signal is
present at the amp, the enable light will then switch to a dim
green.

8. (Now comes the fun!) Supply input, adjust amp levels
and enjoy.

CAUTION: Excessive output levels may toast your speakers.

K

Crown’ s

-Series amplifier has such low distortion, you may
not realize the actual level being reached until it’s too late.
Please exercise caution and drive your speakers responsi­bly , or at least warn your neighbors!

9. You may notice that your

K-Series

amplifier becomes warm
to the touch after a few minutes of use. Don’t be alarmed. This
is the normal operating condition for your
The

K-Series

of amplifiers are designed to be convection

K-Series

amplifier.

cooled, and therefore radiate heat passively to the
enviroment. Refer to page 26 for more details.

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Page 8

21

--

Page 9

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

1 Welcome

Thank you for choosing Crown! Mick and his team of enthusi­astic engineers have worked long hours to craft a totally new
kind of amplifier—the

K-Series.

incorporate Crown’s patented BCA™ (Balanced Current Am­plifier™) technology, and we are all very proud to have in­vented them. Our Balanced Current Amplifier makes use of a
special type of circuitry which allows high levels of power out­put without all of the associated heat you find in a conventional
amplifier. And that’s very good news for you!

How high is the power output? The
impressive 1,500 watts and weighs only 32 pounds, while the

K2

produces a whopping 2,500 watts while weighing only 38
pounds; both without using
sence of a cooling fan means your amp runs quieter (no fan
noise) and cleaner (no need for filters) and requires very little
maintenance (we

thought

These are the first amplifiers to

K1

amplifier produces an

a cooling fan!* Of course, the ab-

you’d like that).

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

The

K-Series

of the World’s first “green” amps. As a result, the

amplifiers are also highly energy-efficient—some

K-Series

amps use less electricity (reducing your utility bills) and save
the precious resources of our environment.

And that’s not all! Your

K-Series

amp can drive an amazing
range of loudspeakers, making it one of the most versatile
amplifiers ever. Plus, your

K-Series

has one of our most so­phisticated (and totally automatic) protection systems, so your
amplifier will keep working long after other amplifiers have shut
down. It’s part of our philosophy:

Your show must go on!

This manual will help you correctly set up and use your new
amplifier—we strongly recommend you read all instructions,
warnings and cautions. Also, for your protection, please send
in your warranty registration card today. And save your bill of
sale—it’s your official proof of purchase.

Fig. 1.1
The K-2 Amplifier
(K-1 Amplifier
appears the same
except for
nameplate)

Page 10

* 1,500 watts and 2,500 watts total from both channels (for the K1 and

respectively; 750 and 1,250 watts per channel). See the Specifications sec­tion for details.

K2

Page 11

Page 12

Indicators &

Controls,

Connectors

The Big Picture:

Fig. 1.2

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Note: K1 amplifier and CE (European) versions of both amplifiers feature identical front and

back panel layouts except for product nameplates and fuse specifications.

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Page 13