Crown PIPCLP Brochure

P.I.P.-CLP

© 2005 by Crown Audio®, Inc., 1718 W. Mishawaka Rd. 46517-9439 U.S.A. Tele­phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. PIP modules are produced by Crown
Audio, Inc. Trademark Notice: Studio Reference, PIP, PIP2 are trademarks and
Crown, Crown Audio, Amcron, Macro-Tech, Com-Tech, IOC and P.I.P. are regis­tered trademarks of Crown International. Other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.

Obtaining Other Language Versions:

To obtain information in another language about the use of this product, please
contact your local Crown Distributor. If you need assistance locating your local
distributor, please contact Crown at 574-294-8200.

Note: The information provided in this manual was deemed accurate as of the
publication date. However, updates to this information may have occurred. To
obtain the latest version of this manual, please visit the Crown website at www.
crownaudio.com.

Printed on

recycled paper.

101641-5

8/05

P.I.P.-CLP

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Fig. 1 The P.I.P.-CLP

1 Welcome

Thank you for purchasing the
Crown P.I.P.®-CLP accessory.

PIP™ modules are designed to

install easily into the back panel
of many Crown amplifiers. PIP
stands for “Programmable Input
Processor.” Their versatile fea­tures expand the capabilities of
your amplifi er and enable you to
customize it for your particular
needs.

The P.I.P.-CLP is designed to
detect and reduce overload in
the output stages of Crown Com-

Tech,® Macro-Tech® and Studio
Reference™ amplifi ers. As the am-

plifi er output reaches the clipping
threshold, an internal error signal
activates the P.I.P.-CLP which
reduces the input gain of the am­plifi er at a fast yet audibly unde­tectable rate. This feature provides
an additional 13 dB of input signal
headroom, making it virtually im­possible to overload the amplifi er.
By following the simple installa-

tion instructions in this manual,
you will expand your amplifi er to
include these capabilities.

Specifi cations

Connectors: Two female XLR in­puts; pin 1 is ground, pin 2 is posi­tive (+) and pin 3 is negative (–).

Signal-to-Noise: –85 dB (refer­enced to 0.775 volts) equivalent
input noise from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

Frequency Response: Flat
±0.2 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

Input Impedance (Nominal):
20 k ohms balanced and 10 k
ohms unbalanced.

Limiter Action: Range of lim­iter action is restricted to 13 dB
(nominal). Threshold is set to
the point of amplifier overload.
Compression attack time is 0.35
milliseconds; decay time is 160
milliseconds.

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2 Installation

You may need a Phillips screw­driver to remove the existing PIP
module or panel from your ampli­fi er.

CAUTION: Before connecting
this or any PIP to your ampli­fi er, it is important to turn the
amplifi er's level controls down,
turn it off and remove the AC
power. Don’t touch the circuitry.
Even though the amplifier is
off, there could still be enough
energy remaining to cause elec­tric shock.

1. Turn down the level controls
(full counterclockwise), turn
off the amplifi er and unplug it
from the AC power source.

2. Remove the existing PIP
module or panel (two screws).
For PIP2TM amplifi ers, this
may involve disconnecting the
PIP from a PIP2 input adapter
(see Figures 2.2 and 2.3). If a
PIP2 input adapter is already
present, do not remove
the ribbon cables from the

P.I.P.-CLP

adapter. Otherwise you will
have to reconnect them in the
next step.

3. Standard PIP Amplifi ers: Align
the edges of the P.I.P.–CLP
in the PIP card rails and
fi rmly push the unit in until it is
seated against the mounting
bracket (see Figure 2.3).

PIP2 Amplifi ers*: (Requires

a PIP2 input adaptor, Crown
part number Q43528-1.) Con­nect the PIP2 input adapter

FROM AMPLIFIER

PIP2 ADAPTER

B
A

B

A

18 PIN (B)

20 PIN (A)

Fig. 2.2 PIP2 Input Adapter

Connection

to the two input cables of the
amplifi er (see Figure 2.2).
Notice that the PIP2 input
adapter should be positioned
with the PIP edge connector
on top and facing away from
the amplifi er. The 20-pin cable
(A) is connected fi rst, then the
18-pin cable (B) is connected.
Both ribbon cables should
extend below the PIP2 input
adapter.

Fig. 2.1 Installation into a

Standard PIP Amplifi er

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* Note: The P.I.P.– CLP is not compatible

with Crown CTs amplifi ers.

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P.I.P.-CLP

Next, insert the edge con-

nector of the P.I.P.–CLP into
the PIP2 input adapter (see
Figure 2.3) and insert the as­sembly into the PIP opening in
the back of the amplifi er.

4. Tighten the two PIP mounting
thumbscrews.

5. Reconnect input wiring.

6. Plug in the amplifi er and turn
it on. Adjust its level controls
to a desired setting.

Do not tamper with the circuitry.
Circuit changes made by unau­thorized personnel, or unauthor­ized circuit modifi cations, are not
allowed.

Fig. 2.3 Installation into a

PIP2 Amplifi er

Remember: Crown is not liable for
any damage resulting from over­driving other components in your
sound system.

Crown Audio

Technical Support / Factory Service
1718 W. Mishawaka Rd., Elkhart,
Indiana 46517 U.S.A.
Telephone: [phone]
800-342-6939
(North America,
Puerto Rico, and
Virgin Islands only)

Facsimile: 574-294-8301
(Technical Support)
574-294-8124
(Factory Service)

Internet:
http://www.crownaudio.com

CAUTION: If your amplifier is
equipped with 1/4-inch phone jacks
on the back panel, do not connect
input signals to them while the
P.I.P.-CLP is installed. Input sig­nals connected to the phone jacks
will be altered by the output cir­cuitry of the P.I.P.-CLP and result
in a distorted signal.

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3 Optional Modifi ca­tions

Some amplifi ers are perceived to
be louder than others while they
actually deliver equal or less pow­er. Such an amplifi er is typically
set up to clip the input signal, or it
uses built-in compressors that re­duce dynamic range and increase
average signal levels. This is fi ne if
it’s what you want. But if you don’t
want it and you can’t get rid of it,
it’s a problem. This is why Crown
amplifi ers are designed to deliver
maximum power without distortion
or hidden compressors to make
them sound louder.

But what if you prefer the sound
and apparent loudness of a com­pressed audio signal? In this

P.I.P.-CLP

case, the P.I.P.-CLP can be modi­fi ed to simulate the same effect.
Normally, the P.I.P.-CLP protects
loudspeakers from damage that
can result from a clipped signal.
For maximum protection, the
PIP’s default configuration pro­vides super-fast attack and decay
times with an infi nite compression
ratio.

Modifi cations to the PIP can slow
the attack and decay times to al­low some clipping, which many
listeners perceive as a louder
sound. (This short-term clipping
does not damage loudspeakers.)

B

Fig. 3 Resistor and Capacitor Locations for Modifi cations A and B

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There are two possible modifi ca­tions; the fi rst increases the attack
time while the second doubles
both attack and decay times.

Modifi cation A will increase the
attack time from the original 0.35
milliseconds to 5 milliseconds. It
does not affect the original decay
time which is 160 milliseconds.

1. Replace the two 10 k ohm

resistors marked R117 and
R217 with 121 k ohm resis­tors.

Modification B will further in­crease the attack time beyond that
produced by modifi cation A, and
will also increase the decay time.
If you choose to make modifi ca­tion B, you must also make modi­fi cation A. Together, modifi cations
A and B produce an attack time of
10 milliseconds and a decay time
of 320 milliseconds.

1. Perform modifi cation A.

2. Replace the two 0.1 µf capaci­tors C103 and C203 with 0.22
µf capacitors.

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Rev. G

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P.I.P.-CLP

For Technical Support contact:

Crown Audio Technical Support Group

Phone: [phone] (North America, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands) or 574-294-8200

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1718 W. Mishawaka Rd., Elkhart, Indiana 46517 U.S.A.

Fax: [phone] Internet: http://www.crownaudio.com

Reference Manual