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: Balanced Current Amplifier™, and BCA™ are trademarks and Crown ® is a registered trademark of Crown International, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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.

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.

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Friendly Page

of Tips and

Warnings

Do not

CAUTION:

locate

sensitive,

high-gain

as

equipment

such

preamplifiers

or tape

decks

dir

low the

ectly

above

or be-

unit.

If

ment

an equip-

rack

is used,

recommend

we

locating

amplifier(s)

the

in the

the rack

bottom of

and

fier

or

the preampli

other

-

sensitive

equipment at

the top.

Obtain assistance

from qualified

ser-

following

vice personnel

if any of the

occurs:

cord or plug

has been

•

The power

damaged

in any way.

has

fallen

or liquid

•

Foreign

objects

e.

into the amplifier

enclosur

to

•

The amplifier

has been exposed

partially

or

totally

rain or has been

.

immersed

in any liquid

or

has been dropped

•the chassis has been damaged. -

•You notice a marked change in performance, or your K-Series amp oth erwise does not appear to operate normally.The amplifier

Driving

heavy

may

forImportant:

cause

loads

temperatures

be

alarmed.

parts

the

sustained

which

of

amplifier

circuitry

The

will

’s

periods of

be

time

remain

ensures amplifier’s

hot to

case to

well

reach

harmful to

below maximum internal touch. But

amplifier.

protection

the

thattemperature

don’t

any

level

might

levels

be

will

	Keep	your			K-Series					amplifier
										of heat,
							ces
											.
	away from sour
	such	as a radiator							or oven
										round	your
	Do not cover						or sur				may
										which
	amp	with			material
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	retain
									.
							tain
	blanket			or cur

Page 2

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Do		not			drop
spill							or
(or			any
						foreign
		domestic)
object			or
into
	the			K liquid
amplifier				-
			.		Series

	Clean		your
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		Series
	-				a
	K		with
	only
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	damp

WARNING:

the

Shock

not

risk of

hazard.

fire or

To

ture expose

this

electric

reduce

. Do

not

unit to

shock,

amplifier in

immerse

rain or

do

your

any

your

mois-

other amplifier

liquid. Do

Series

standing

near a

K-

pool,

not

operate

water.

bathtub

or

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.

DO

NOT

BYPASS

OR

GROUNDING

USED

OR

DEFEA

ON

MAKE

SURE

K-

POLARIZATIONTHE

THE

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ALL SERIES

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THE

BE

BE

USED

OR

EXTENSION

OTHER

OUTLET

WITH THE

UNIT.

Page 3

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.

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Contents
	Friendly Page of Tips and Warnings	...................... 2
	Important Safety Instructions .................................	4
	Unpacking Your K-Series Amplifier........................	6
	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
Illustrations
	Typical Stereo Hookup ..........................................	8
1.1	The K-Series Amplifier ....................................	10 - 11

1.2The Big Picture: Controls, Indicators and

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

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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 FACTORY 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.”

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K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Quick Start!

First things first. We know you just

can’t wait to crank up your new Crown® K-Series amplifier. And the 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 bal-

anced 1/4-inch phone or 3-pin XLR connectors. You 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. (Remember: 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).

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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. Crown’s K-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 K-Series amplifier. The K-Series of amplifiers are designed to be convection cooled, and therefore radiate heat passively to the enviroment. Refer to page 26 for more details.

Typical Stereo

Hookup

1 2

- -

Page 8

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

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. These are the first amplifiers to 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 K1 amplifier produces an 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 a cooling fan!* Of course, the absence 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 you’d like that).

*1,500 watts and 2,500 watts total from both channels (for the K1 and K2 respectively; 750 and 1,250 watts per channel). See the Specifications section for details.

Page 10

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Fig. 1.1

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

The K-Series amplifiers are also highly energy-efficient—some of the World’s first “green” amps. As a result, the 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.

Page 11

K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™		K-Series Balanced Current Amplifier™

Fig. 1.2

The Big Picture:

Controls,

Indicators &

Connectors

Note: K1 amplifier and CE (European) versions of both amplifiers feature identical front and back panel layouts except for product nameplates and fuse specifications.

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