Dynacord Professional Power Amplifiers User Manual

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Professional Power Amplifiers

more than 60 years of amplifiers experience

Mobile Audio | Concert Sound | Fixed Installation | Pro Entertainment

English

Contents



Introduction		Products		technical specifications

Contents	02	PowerH Series	12-17	Application	54

One Brand Fits All	03	Remote Control & IRIS-Net	18	PowerH Series	55

History	04-05	RCM-26 Controller Modul	19-21	Xa 4000	56

Milestones	06-07	LX Series	22-27	LX Series	57

Manufacturing	08-09	CL Series	28-33	CL Series	58-59

Bosch Production System	10-11	SL Series	34-37	SL Series	60-61

		DSA Series - Multi-Channel	38-41	DSA Series	62-65

		RCM-810 Controller Modul	42-43	PCL Series	66	-67

		DSA Serie - Dual-Channel	44-45	DPA Series	68	-71

		PCL Series	46-49

		DPA Series	50-53

One Brand Fits All

In our multimedia world, professional audio systems are playing an ever more important role. For this, power amplifiers are needed the characteristics and properties of which are tailored precisely to the application in question.

The spectrum of these requirements—from live music to fixed installation—has an extremely wide bandwidth and extends from very high power output combined with minimum weight to remote supervision and network capability. DYNACORD’s extensive power amplifier portfolio offers an ideal and cost-effective solution for every field of application.

History

German Engineering Excellence

For more than 60 years, DYNACORD has been one of the most innovative and successful manufacturers of professional audio equipment.

History

In 1945 Werner Pinternagel, who was an engineer, founded a workshop for the repair of radio devices in the Lower Bavarian town of Pilsting. The development and manufacture of audio amplifiers, which he began at the same time, became a particular passion.

These pioneering experiences formed the foundation for over 60 years of expertise in professional power amplifier technology— expertise upon which the brand DYNACORD is able to draw today. Early results included the KI cinema amplifier with its output of 25 watts. The devices of the company, which

in the meantime had moved to Landau and by then boasted a staff of four employees, still bore the brand name ‘Dynaphon’.

From 1948 onwards, mixing and portable amplifiers bearing the name DYNACORD were being sold to an ever expanding circle of customers. Within a few years, the rapidly growing company had become one of the leading enterprises in the still young audio technology industry. Already in 1954, the manual workshop have given way to industrial production

as the product portfolio continued to expand. The high-caliber, pioneering

and often visionary products have been presented ever since at all important international trade fairs and marketed successfully throughout the world. To make it possible to satisfy the enormous demand, DYNACORD moved to Straubing in 1958. The workforce, which at that time numbered 80 employees, continued to expand rapidly. Several times, the production facility was renovated or expanded.

Finally, in 1986 a new plant was opened in which more than 500 employees now develop, produce and dispatch the company’s products to all corners of the globe.

Milestones

The constantly expanding product

range yielded many pro audio milestones.

Milestones

A high degree of innovation, uncompromising quality, exceptional user-friendliness and truely legendary reliability and value retention have for over 60 years defined the brand DYNACORD.

•the first generations of professional mixing amplifiers [Eminent, Gigant]

•the first tape-echo/reverb devices [Echochord]

•the first ‘affordable’ digital reverb device [DRS 78]

•the most advanced digital drums [ADDone, ADDtwo]

•the first professional digital reverb device based on 32-bit floating-point processing [DRP-20]

•the first processor power amplifiers with LPN filters [PCA series]

•one of the most successful power amplifiers in concert sound [L2400 / EV P3000]

•the first processor-controlled complete audio system [P3, P5]

•the first digital loudspeaker controller with graphic display of the acoustic system frequency response in the editing software [DSP 224/244 with CrossMax and EV Dx34/38 with RACE]

•the Planar Waveguide bass horns [F 18, Alpha B3 and many others]

•the world’s most powerful disco system [Alpha]

•the world’s most successful powered mixer [PowerMate]

•the first stackable

compact line array system [Cobra]

•the first Class H grounded bridge high-performance power amplifiers [PowerH]

•the unique IRIS-Net network software [incl. remote supervision, remote control of

power amplifiers and digital audio matrices]

•the first digital power amplifiers with

VLD-variable load drive [DSA Multi-Channel]

Echocord

DRS-78

PowerMate

Cobra

PowerH

Dynacord Professional Power Amplifiers User Manual

Bosch Production System

Quality with system

With the introduction of the Bosch Production System (BPS) at the Straubing works, the brand DYNACORD is further enhancing its already legendary reputation for the highest production quality and reliability.

Quality with system is assured by the BPS worldwide in all Bosch production centres, since absolutely identical indicators, equipment and processes are applied systematically throughout the enterprise. Decisions about which products to produce in which plant are primarily based on core areas of competence.

The same goes for the development. The first measures to guarantee quality are applied as early as the development phase of a product, where the ‘thermal and mechanical stability’, the ‘secure functioning of the circuitry’ and the demands of quality such as the acoustic performance and the product functions themselves are all ascertained in advance and rigorous tests conducted before any final decisions are taken about the design.

Decades of experience and the most modern quality management systems guarantee the extraordinary quality and legendary reliability of DYNACORD products.

Manufacturing

Measurement Hall

Part of the new investment involved the construction and commissioning of what at 600 square metres is one of the world’s largest audio measurement halls.

Manufacturing

Since September 2006, DYNACORD has belonged to the BOSCH concern’s Security Technology department.

The production facility in Straubing has been considerably
expanded and the work reorganized along the lines of
the Bosch Production System (BPS). Part of the new
investment involved the construction and commissioning
of what at 600 square metres is one of the world’s	Manufacturing in Straubing, Germany

Manufacturing

largest audio measurement halls. One of the particular strengths of the brand DYNACORD is the fact that over the many years of its history profound know-how, covering the entire signal chain from the mixer to the loudspeakers has been acquired.

This advantage, coupled with its traditionally close relationship with users, has yielded many unique solutions to once-vexing problems and helped DYNACORD to develop a reputation the world over as a manufacturer of top-flight audio equipment on the absolute cutting edge of development.

Additional capacity is available at the Bosch
plant in Zhuhai, China, where the production also
conforms to the BPS and quality controls are
conducted using identical procedures and equipment.	Manufacturing in Zhuhai, China

PowerH 5000 test in `Production Partner` 10/2007

recommended applications

ConcertSound, Touring, Club/Disco, ProSound, Network

“All the measured data and the stability under continuous output are—as expected— of the highest order”

PowerH Series

The PowerH power amp series represents a further milestone in the 60-year pro audio tradition of DYNACORD.

DYNACORD has long been established worldwide as a manufacturer of professional high-performance amplifiers and by virtue of numerous innovations and the downright legendary reliability of its products has secured for itself a firm place in the elite segment. No small contribution to this success has been made by the firm’s largest OEM customer: its sister company, Electro-Voice.

For years now, countless large and very large sound reinforcement systems installed or on tour throughout the world have been relying on DYNACORD/Electro-Voice power amps. Thousands of amplifiers made by DYNACORD have been deployed on every continent and performed with distinction at many of the truly major productions of recent years.

··H 2500

··H 5000

PowerH Series

HI-end remote controllable power amplifiers

The demands placed on modern power amplifiers are enormous: maximum output, minimum weight, the highest possible degree of efficiency, outstanding audio characteristics, absolute reliability, remote supervision and remote control as well as network capability.

To realize stable outputs of 2500 W / 4 Ω and 3500 W / 2 Ω per channel, power amplifiers must be capable of making available peak output voltages of 180 V to 200 V. This requirement limits the number of

topologies meriting consideration to two concepts only: Class D and DYNACORD’s Linear Grounded Bridge Class H. Linear Push-Pull concepts with Class H topology are proven solutions for power levels up to 1500 W / 4 Ω.

This is the approach adopted by many DYNACORD power amplifiers. The limitation of the Class H push-pull approach is the 250 V specification of typical audio power transistors and their second breakdown restrictions. Even exceeding the specified peak voltage or the

second breakdown limit for short periods leads directly to a failure of the power transistors and the power amplifier. The use of exotic 350V-specified transistors affords no reliable solution in view of their second breakdown behaviour, their performance and also their availability.

Higher power classes require different solutions! DYNACORD‘s linear Grounded Bridge designs (e.g. L2400 / P3000) have proved extremely reliable over many years as well as outstanding in terms

PowerH Series

of audio performance. One of the key advantages of Grounded

Bridge solutions is the considerable reduction in ‚voltage stress‘ for the power transistors. This permits the design of high-powered power amplifiers with peak output voltages in excess even of 200 V.

A logical step in the direction of lowering power dissipation whilst at the same time increasing the output power was the development of a linear Grounded Bridge topology using Class H technology with a multi-stage switching ‚floating‘ po-

wer supply. The use of an extremely stable switching power supply makes a decisive contribution to the very low weight of these power amplifiers: 7 kW packed into a device a mere 2 rack units in height and weighing less than 15 kg!

PowerH power amplifiers are ready for integration into IRIS-Net-based audio systems and networks.

Remote control modules (e.g. the RCM-26) that can be retrofitted offer complete system supervision and remote control combined with digital controller functions.

Features

•stable, very high power output

•very high efficiency

•very lightweight

•multi-stage Grounded Bridge Class H topology

•‚floating‘ switching power supply

•large liquid crystal display

•integrated micro-controller for internal control

•remote control module can be retrofitted for integration into the IRIS-Net bringing supervision, remote control, digital controller functions and digital audio inputs

PowerH 5000 test in `Production Partner` 10/2007

PowerH Series

“All in all, a perfect combination, in which it is evident from every detail that the developers knew exactly what a high-end power amplifier for the professional touring and installation market needs.”

The power amplifiers of the PowerH series represent a milestone in the design and production of high-performance power amplifiers.

Their innovative multi-stage Grounded Bridge Class H topology with its floating switching power supply offers very high and stable output power, very high efficiency, an extremely high level of audio performance and extremely low weight.

They are therefore the ideal drivers for professional touring and highend concert sound, as well as pro sound, applications. Through the use of IRIS-Net-compatible remote control modules, they also offer extensive remote supervision and control functions as well as a universal two-channel digital controller including ultra-precise FIR filtering and digital algorithms to protect

the loudspeakers. DYNACORD power amplifiers are known for their absolute reliability under the most arduous of conditions on the road. Naturally this is also true of the PowerH models.

In addition to the legendary manufacturing quality that comes with the ‚Made in Germany‘ label, the comprehensive set of protective circuits plays an important role here: an integrated micro-controller coordinates tried-and-tested protections against short-circuit, HF or DC at the output, back EMF, overheating and open-circuit operation, the power-up current limitation and dynamic audio limiters as well as making additional new and highly intelligent protective functions possible: for example, the temperature in the power amplifiers is monitored at no fewer than six different points and the front-to-rear ventilator governed accordingly.

Under abnormal thermal ‚worst case‘ conditions, the CPU activates a voltage limiter or gain reduction depending upon the requirements of the situation, so as to obviate the need for a thermal shutdown of the power amplifiers. All corrective measures are indicated by LEDs on the front panel and detailed clearly on the liquid crystal display. In addition, a report is created making it possible to enquire later as to all such ‚interventions‘, each of which is time-stamped.

The mains voltage is monitored and displayed continuously, with the devices adapting automatically to 230 V, for example, or 120 V. At the same time, the mains current consumption is also monitored and displayed. The trip value of the automatic circuit breakers can be set by the user via the display of the power amplifier to prevent the circuit breakers tripping. Any short-

PowerH Series

circuits at the output of the power amplifier are detected early on, even at low levels. The protective circuit is activated and a report on the fault in question appears simultaneously on the front display. In the event of excessive high-frequency overload, there is an automatic level reduction to protect the power amplifier itself and also the loudspeaker components connected.

The large, background-lit liquid crystal display delivers comprehensive status information, error reports and measurements as well as allowing you to control the basic settings and (with the IRIS-Net module integrated) select presets as well.

In addition to extreme reliability and forward-looking operating security, the PowerH power amplifiers are impressive for their outstanding audio performance. The THD,

intermodulation distortion (IMDSMPTE) and dynamic intermodulation (DIM) are well below 0.05% and therefore well below the limit of audibility. All the components of the switching power supply are so safely dimensioned that they are capable of delivering the maximum peak output current of 70 A continuously (H 5000), thereby allowing the power amplifier to operate

as a stable voltage source even with extremely low loads. PowerH power amplifiers therefore have a significant amount of headroom at their disposal, which results in superlative dynamics even with low loads.

PowerH power amplifiers leave nothing to be desired in terms of connectivity. For the inputs, XLR IN/parallel OUT sockets are provided along with additional Phoenix connectors. The input sensitivity is switchable between 0dBu, +6dBu

and 32dB Constant Gain. In addition, there are switches for Bridged Mode and Parallel / Dual as well, naturally, as a Ground Lift switch.

A latching PowerCon connector is provided for the mains power line, which prevents the plug

being yanked out accidentally. The power outputs are implemented as Speakon sockets. The signal of Output B is additionally available on pins ±2 of Output A, so that with 4-pin wiring a two-way system can be driven. Parallel to these, additional binding posts are provided. In terms of connectivity, therefore, PowerH power amplifiers satisfy all the demands of both mobile applications and pro audio fixed installations.

German engineering. Manufactured in accordance with the Bosch Production System (BPS) in Straubing, Germany.

Remote Control and IRIS-Net

IRIS-Net is the integrated software platform for all remotecontrollable devices and systems from DYNACORD and Electro-Voice.

Using IRIS-Net, complete audio systems with a large number of devices of the same or different types can be configured, supervised and controlled centrally from a single user interface.

IRIS-Net supports Ethernet, CobraNet, CAN-Bus and USB as well as being open to additional future implementations. IRIS-Net makes possible the complete supervision of power amplifiers and loudspeakers including their connecting cables and interfaces.

System conditions are polled continuously. Faults are detected immediately and reported, with all problems and events of other

kinds logged along with the date and time at which they occurred. All the parameters and settings of all system components can be saved and reloaded at the push of

a button (Total Recall). Depending upon the application, users can design their own control panels, program automatic sequences, and create groups of devices or functions.

IRIS-Net has for several years already been used in hundreds of audio installations and systems and has proved its value in a variety of applications. IRIS-Net has also for years been the platform for amplifiers belonging to EV’s Precision series, Netmax 8000 and the DYNACORD

P64 Digital Audio Matrix Manager. The P64 is a modular, networkcapable audio system controller with which structures of any kind up to 32 audio channels can be configured freely. As well as FIR filters, a large number of DSP functions with outstanding audio quality (SNR > 115 dB) are available.

Its modular hardware and expandable DSP capacity make the P64 the perfect partner for all audio applications.

The RCM 810 (DSA series) and RCM 26 (Power H) remote control modules are also integrated into the IRIS-Net platform.

RCM-26

Digital Controller Modul for Power H

The RCM-26 is a dual-channel digital controller module for live sound, PA and fixed installation. It offers all conventional signal processing functions such as parametric equalizers, crossovers, delays, compressors and limiters.

It also makes available linear phase FIR filters, zero-latency FIR filters and digital loudspeaker protection algorithms to permit the dynamic range of the amplifier to be exploited to the full. In addition to the electronically balanced analogue inputs of the power amplifier, digital inputs in AES3 (AES/EBU) format are on board. Using the CAN buss, networks of up to 250 power amplifiers can be realized. Additional interfaces include the RS-232 interface for medium control and the Control Port with freely-programmable control inputs and outputs (GPIO). Despite its compact dimensions,

the RCM-26 is unmatched in terms of its capabilities and audio performance. The IRIS-Net Remote Control Module RCM-26 extends the functionality of PowerH power amplifiers by providing:

Remote Control

•AES3 (AES/EBU) digital inputs

•digital signal processing

•loudspeaker protection algorithms

•system integration and networking

•linear 24-bit AD/DA converters

•sigma-delta 128 x oversampling

•dynamic range > 116 dB

•96 kHz sample rate, 48 kHz optional

•THD+N < 0.005%

•2 DSPs 150 MHz / 300 MIPS computational power

•48-bit double-precision algorithms

RCM-26

Supervision and diagnosis

The RCM-26 transmits all relevant amplifier data to the IRIS-Net user interface, supervising the operating status of the power amplifiers, the temperature in the power blocks and in the power supply, voltages and currents at the outputs, all protections, the mains voltage and current consumption, pilot tone and network status.

The impedance measurement with a 20Hz to 20 kHz sine wave sweep and the comparison with the stored reference data make it possible to diagnose with precision the condition of the connected loudspeakers and even of their individual components and cable connections. Problems are therefore detected early and the system is able to respond in good time.

It is even easy to examine the state of loudspeakers that are difficult to access, such as those in stadiums or large entertainment venues. The System Check

function allows you to measure comprehensively, and conduct a full examination of, a very large audio system at the push of a button.

Even in live performance, the connected load is monitored continuously. Any undershooting (short-circuit) or overshooting (interruption) of the set tolerance limits is automatically detected and reported immediately.

FIR filters

Although FIR filters require a massive amount of processing and are complex, they are realized in the RCM-26 in addition to the classical filtering and signal processing functions. Both linear-phase FIR filters and ‚zero latency‘ FIR filters, which add no further delay to the time signals take to pass through the device, are available.

Users can create their own linear phase ‚brick-wall X-over‘ and edit them in real time. For DYNACORD

RCM-26

loudspeaker cabinets and systems, factory presets are available with linear phase ‚brick-wall‘ FIR crossovers. These provide users wishing to tune the system themselves with a completely linearized frequency and phase response upon which to build.

system frequency response in Display

For DYNACORD loudspeaker cabinets, measurements of the frequency and phase response are already provided in the IRIS-Net. This data together with the filter, crossover and delay settings conducted in the RCM-26 can be displayed and taken into account by IRIS-Net. The superposition shows the actual frequency response of the loudspeaker cabinet.

Remote functions

Remote control of the power amplifier under IRIS-Net provides Power On / Standby switching and the programming of power-up sequences for the power amplifiers as well as level settings and the muting of

individual channels or channel groups. In the RCM-26, all parameters can be controlled in real time as well as stored in user memories, from which they can be retrieved and reloaded subsequently.

DSP functions

•X-over: Linkwitz-Riley, Butterworth, Bessel

•FIR Filters: zero latency processing, linear phase X-over

•Master EQ: 6 filters per channel; PEQ,

lo-shelf, hi-shelf, hi-pass, lo-pass selectable

•Channel EQ: 6 filters per channel; PEQ, lo-shelf, hi-shelf, hi-pass, lo-pass, all-pass selectable

•Master delay : 2ms - 2000ms per channel

•Channel delay: speaker alignment

•Dynamics: compressor, limiter per channel

•Protection: Advanced Digital Voice Coil Protection algorithms

•Others: input routing, level, mute,

polarity, sine and noise generators, VU meter

recommended applications

Live Music, ConcertSound, Touring |

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