Harman Kardon Signature 1.5 Service Manual
Signature 1.5
Two Channel Amplifier
TECHNICAL MANUAL
Harman Consumer Group
250 Crossways Park Drive
Woodbury, N.Y. 11797
1-800 645-7484 in the USA
A Harman International Company
Part No.: 1112-SIGNATURE1.5 Rev A 7/99
Two Channel Amplifier Harman Kardon SIGNATURE 1.5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPECIFICATIONS....................................................................1
Signature 1.5 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS............................2
FEATURES ..............................................................................2
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS...............................................3
INSTALLATION........................................................................4
OPERATION ............................................................................6
IDLE CURRENT ADJUSTMENT FOR SIGNATURE 1.5.......6
OUTPUT TRANSISTOR REPLACEMENT ..............................6
ON THE SIGNATURE 1.5
TROUBLE SHOOTING............................................................7
PROTECT MODE ....................................................................7
Signature 1.5 MECHANICAL EXPLODED VIEW....................8
Signature 1.5 MECHANICAL PARTS LIST.............................9
SPECIFICATIONS
Signature 1.5 PACKING EXPLODED VIEW ...........................9
Signature 1.5 POWER SWITCH/INDICATOR PCBs .............10
Signature 1.5 POWER AMPLIFIER PCB Rev B....................11
Signature 1.5 Electrical Parts List ..........................................12
Signature 1.5 (120V) TRANSFORMER WIRING Rev A........14
Signature 1.5 (120V) TRANSFORMER WIRING Rev B........15
Signature 1.5 (230V) TRANSFORMER WIRING Rev A........16
Signature 1.5 (230V) TRANSFORMER WIRING Rev B........17
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS.......................................................18
Signature 1.5 POWER SWITCH/INDICATOR........................19
SCHEMATIC (1 of 1)
Signature 1.5 POWER AMP SCHEMATIC (1 of 2) ...............20
Signature 1.5 POWER AMP SCHEMATIC (2 of 2) ...............21
Power Requirements:
120V version: ...............120VAC, 50/60Hz
230V version: ...............230VAC, 50Hz
Power Output: ...................2x200watts @8 ohms
20Hz - 20kHz, <0.03% THD, Both Channels Driven
1 x 700watts @ 8 ohms
20Hz - 20kHz, <0.03% THD, Bridged Mono Mode
2 x 350 watts @ 4 ohms
20Hz - 20kHz, <0.03% THD, Both Channels Driven
High-Current Capability: ............130Amps
Frequency Response: ..............<1Hz - >170kHz ±3dB
Power Bandwidth: ................<5Hz - >160kHz
THD/IMD: ......................<0.03% at rated output
Crosstalk ......................>-87 dBr between any two channels at maximum output
Negative Feedback: ...............<25dB
Input Impedance: .................33Kohms
Input Sensitivity: .................1volt for rated output
Remote Trigger Voltage: ............6-12volts DC (tip of plug must be “positive”(+))
Remote Trigger Impedance: .........20Kohms
Dimensions (H xWxD):...........7½x17¼x15¼inches
191 x 438 x 387 mm
Weight:........................47lbs/21 kg
1
Two Channel Amplifier Harman Kardon SIGNATURE 1.5
FEATURES
The Harman Kardon Signature 1.5 is a flexible, state-of-the-art audio power amplifier designed to deliver high
performance for use in home theater or music reproduction applications. The following are among its many
features:
Designed and manufactured in the United
n
States
High-current output capability
n
Two channels with bridgeable outputs
n
Ultrawide bandwidth design
n
Low negative feedback
n
Signature 1.5 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
harman/kardon
1.5
Low harmonic and intermodulation distortion
n
Massive heat sinks for quiet convection cooling
n
High-current power supply
n
Remote turn-on/turn-off circuitry with select
n
Signature Series and Harman Kardon products
or through optional accessories.
On/Off
S
123
1 Power Switch: Press this switch to turn the 1.5 on for
manual operation, or to place it in the Standby mode for
automatic/remote turn-on when the 1.5 is connected to a
device with a compatible trigger circuit.
Note: Even when the Power Switch is off, the unit is still
connected to the AC power supply.
2 Power-On Indicator: When the word SIGNATURE is
illuminated in blue, the 1.5 is in a normal operating
condition.
IGNATURE
series
3 LED Indicator: The color of this indicator varies with the
status of the 1.5. It is red when the unit is off and in Manual
Operation, amber in the Standby mode, and flashing green
during Warm-Up. If the indicator flashes and alternates
between red and amber, the 1.5 is in the Protect mode,
indicating a problem in the unit or connections to the
speakers.
2
Two Channel Amplifier Harman Kardon SIGNATURE 1.5
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS
CHANNEL ONE (RIGHT) CHANNEL TWO (LEFT BRIDGE)
SPEAKER SPEAKER
4MINW 4MINW
12
IN IN
BRIDGE
NORMAL
()BRIDGE()
8MINW
678 910 115
5 Channel One Output: When the amplifier is being used in
the two-channel (Stereo) mode, connect the right channel
speaker to the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals. When
the amplifier is being used in the Bridged Mono mode
connect the Positive (+) terminal ONLY to the Negative (-)
terminal on your speaker.
6 Channel One Input: When the amplifier is being used in
the two-channel (Stereo) mode, connect the right channel
output of your preamp or processor to this input jack. When
the amplifier is being used in the Bridged Mono mode, this
jack is not used.
7 Bridge/ Normal Switch: When the amplifier is used for
two-channel stereo operation, this switch should be in the
NORMAL position. For Bridged Mono use only, place the
switch in the BRIDGE position.
8 Channel Two Output: When the amplifier is being used
in the two-channel (Stereo) mode, connect the left channel
speaker to the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals.
POWER AMP
TRIGGER IN
BRIDGE IN
AC INPUT
AC 120V/60Hz 600W
9 Channel Two/ Bridged Input: When the amplifier is
being used in the two-channel (Stereo) mode, connect the
left channel output of your preamp or processor to this input
jack. When the amplifier is being used in the Bridged Mono
mode, connect the output of your preamplifier or other
line-level signal source to this jack.
10 Power Amp Trigger Input: Connect this jack to a
matching 6- to 12-VDC trigger output on a compatible
device to have the 1.5 automatically turn on from the
Standby mode when voltage is applied from the triggering
unit. Note that a 3.5mm mono mini-plug with a positive tip
should be used for the connection.
11 AC Power Cord: Connect this plug to a non-switched
AC outlet. Due to the high-current draw of the Signature 1.5,
it is NOT recommended that the accessory outputs on the
back of audio/video components be used to power this
product.
When the amplifier is being used in the Bridged Mono mode
connect the Positive (+) terminal ONLY to the Positive (+)
terminal on your speaker.
Important Note: When the 1.5 is used in the Bridged Mono
mode, do not connect a speaker with an impedance less
than 8 ohms.
3
Two Channel Amplifier Harman Kardon SIGNATURE 1.5
INSTALLATION
Note: When making any connections between source
components, processors or preamplifiers and the 1.5, or
when making any connections to speakers, be certain that
both the input device and the 1.5 are turned off. To ensure
that there will be no unwanted signal transients that can
damage equipment or speakers, it is always best to unplug
all equipment from AC power outlets before making any
connections. Modern electronic products often have a
“standby” mode that may be activated even though the
product may appear to be turned off.
Power Control Connections
The Signature Series 1.5 amplifier features a built-in remote
turn-on system that will automatically turn on the amplifier
when another device in the system is switched on. To
activate this system, this amplifier must be used in
conjunction with compatible Signature Series or Harman
Kardon products or other approved devices.
Note: Before making any connections to remote trigger
outlets, it is critical that both the 1.5 and the triggering
device be turned off. For additional safety, it is best that
these connections be made while both products are
unplugged from AC power sources.
Remote Turn-On with the Signature Series 2.0 and
Compatible Harman Kardon Products
Connect one end of the accessory cable supplied with the
2.0 to the Power Amp Trigger In jack on the rear of the
1.5. Connect the other end to the TRIGGER OUTPUT jack
on the 2.0.
Remote Turn-On Using an External AC-to-DC Converter
If the 1.5 is not used with a compatible Harman Kardon
product, it is still possible to activate the unit for automatic
turn-on.
To control the amplifier in this manner you will need a small
UL/CSA-approved class-2 AC-to-DC power converter
capable of delivering a 6- to 12-volt DC signal. The DC
voltage should terminate in a standard 3.5 mm mono
miniplug, with the tip of the plug “positive” (
converter may be obtained as a “Power Adapter” from many
electronics retailers. Consult your dealer for further
information.
10
+). This type of
Connect the 3.5 mm miniplug from the power converter to
the Power Amp Trigger In jack on the rear of the 1.5.
10
Audio System Connections
As a general rule, avoid running any input signal or speaker
wire connections next to or parallel with AC power cords.
This may cause undesired hum or other interference that
will greatly degrade signal performance.
When making input connections with RCA-type plugs on
interconnect cables, make certain to gently but firmly insert
the plugs into the jacks on the rear of the 1.5. Loose
connections can cause intermittent sound and may damage
your speakers.
Input Connections
Stereo Mode: For conventional two-channel stereo
operation, connect the right channel output of your pre-amp
or processor to the Channel One Input and the left
channel output to the Channel Two Input . Make certain
that the Bridge/ Normal Switch is in the NORMAL
position.
Bridged Mono Mode: To use the 1.5 as a single-channel,
mono amplifier, connect the line-level output of your
preamp, processor or other signal source to the Channel
Two/ Bridged Input connector on the rear panel. No
connection is required to the Channel One connector in this
mode. Make certain that the Bridge/ Normal Switch is
in the BRIDGE position.
7
9
Output Connections
The final step of the installation process is to connect the
amplifier to your speakers using high-quality cable. A pair of
binding posts is provided for each channel output. These
posts will accept bare wire or banana-type plugs. To ensure
that the high-quality signals produced by the 1.5 are carried
to your speakers without loss of clarity or resolution, we
recommend that you use high-quality speaker cable. Many
brands of cable are available, and the choice of cable may
be influenced by the distance between your speakers and
the amplifier, the type of speakers you use, personal
preferences and other factors. Your dealer or installer is a
valuable resource to consult in selecting a proper cable for
connections between your amplifier and speakers.
6
9
7
Plug the AC adapter into a switched outlet that will be
activated when you wish to have the amplifier turn on. This
may be the switched outlet at the rear of an AV receiver or
other audio equipment, an AC outlet that is part of a current
sensing control unit activated by a pre-amp or surround
processor or a switched AC wall outlet.
Regardless of the brand or type of cable selected, we
recommend that you use a cable constructed of
high-strand-count copper with a gauge of 14 or smaller.
When specifying cable, remember that the smaller the
number, the thicker the cable.
4
Two Channel Amplifier Harman Kardon SIGNATURE 1.5
Cable with a gauge of 16 may be used for short runs of less
than ten feet. We do not recommend the use of cables with
an AWG equivalent of 18 or higher due to the power loss
and degradation in performance that will occur.
Cables run inside walls should have the appropriate
markings to indicate listing with UL (“CL-2/CL-3”), CSA
(“FT-4”) or appropriate safety agency standards that may be
required in your area. Questions about running cables
inside walls should be referred to your installer or a licensed
electrical contractor who is familiar with the NEC and/or the
applicable building or electrical codes in your area.
Two-Channel/Stereo Systems: When installing a
two-channel (stereo) system, connect the positive (+) and
negative (-) terminals from the right and left speakers to the
5
matching terminals on the rear panel of the 1.5. Make
certain that the Bridge/Normal Switch is in the
NORMAL position. When the 1.5 is used for
two-channel/stereo operation, speakers with an impedance
of no less than 4 ohms may be used.
Bridged Mono Applications: To use the 1.5 as a
single-channel, mono amplifier, connect the (+) terminal on
your speaker to the (+) terminal on the Channel Two
Output on the 1.5. Connect the negative (-) terminal on
your speaker to the positive (+) terminal on the Channel
One Output .
Note: For mono applications, no connections are made to
the negative (-) speaker output terminals on the 1.5. Make
certain that the Bridge/Normal Switch is in the BRIDGE
position.
Important Note: When the 1.5 is used in the Bridged Mono
mode, do not use speakers with an impedance of less than
8 ohms.
8
5
8
7
7
holes at the rear of the terminal. Making certain that you
observe the correct polarity for the type of system being
installed (Stereo or Bridged Mono), pass the exposed wire
through the hole until the wire is visible from the bottom end.
Holding the wire in place, twist the cap back so that the
connection is secured. Do not overtighten or use tools, as
this may damage the plastic terminal cap or break the
delicate wire strands and decrease system performance.
Important Note: When making speaker wire connections,
be certain that none of the strands from one lead touch any
other lead. This will cause a short circuit and may damage
your amplifier or speakers. Damage from short circuits
caused in this manner is not covered by the product
warranty.
Connections may also be made using spade lugs or
standard 4 mm OD banana plugs. Before using a
banana-type jack, make certain that the plastic screw caps
on the 1.5 are firmly tightened by turning them clockwise
until they are snug against the chassis. This will ensure that
the maximum surface area of the plug is in contact with the
jack. Once the wire has been attached to the banana plug
following the plug manufacturer’s instructions, simply insert
the banana plug into the hole provided on the rear of the
colored screw caps on the terminal posts. Be certain to
observe proper polarity.
Finally, run the cables to the speaker locations. It is highly
recommended that the length of cable connecting any pair
of speakers be identical. For example, make certain that the
cable length connecting left and right front or left and right
rear (surround) speakers is identical, even though one
speaker may be physically closer to the amplifier than the
other. Do not coil any excess cable, as this may become an
inductor that creates frequency response variations in your
system.
When making speaker connections, note that one
conductor of the speaker cable may have no markings or an
indication of (-) for negative polarity, and the other will have
a red line, brand-name markings, a colored thread or some
other positive-polarity indication (
The wire with the positive indication should be connected to
the red terminals on both the 1.5 and your speakers. The
negative wire should be connected to the black terminal on
the 1.5 and the speakers.
If bare wire is used for connections, strip approximately
3/4”(20 mm) of insulation from the end of each wire and
carefully twist the strands of each conductor together. Be
careful not to cut the individual strands or twist them off; for
optimal performance, all strands must be used.
Next, loosen the knobs of the speaker output terminals far
enough so that the cap moves back on its threads past the
+).
Connect the wires to the speakers, again being certain to
observe proper polarity. Remember to connect the negative
or black wire to the matching terminal on the speaker.
Similarly, the positive or red wire should be connected to the
like terminal on the speaker.
Note: While most speaker manufacturers adhere to an
industry standard of using black terminals for negative and
red ones for positive, some manufacturers may not adhere
to this configuration. To ensure properly phased
connections and optimal performance, consult the
identification plate on your speaker terminals, or the
speaker’s manual to verify polarity. If you do not know the
polarity of your speaker, ask your dealer or installer for
advice before proceeding, or consult the speaker’s
manufacturer.
5
Two Channel Amplifier Harman Kardon SIGNATURE 1.5
OPERATION
The Signature 1.5 may be operated in either a manual or
automatic mode. If the unit is being used in a stand-alone
operation you should follow the instructions below for
Manual Operation. When the Signature 1.5 is connected to
another compatible device such as the Signature 2.0 or
PT2500 tuner, follow the instructions for Automatic
Operation.
Make sure the power switch is in the off position before
plugging in the AC power cord. After all the connections
have been made to the amplifier’s input jacks and speaker
terminals, connect the power cord to an AC outlet. Turn on
your source component and receiver/processor first; start
with a low volume level to protect your speakers.
Manual Operation
The LED indicator should be glowing red if the unit is
plugged in. Press the front panel switch to turn the unit on.
The indicator will flash green briefly, and then go out; the
front panel will then illuminate to blue.
To turn the unit off, press the power switch again. The LED
indicator will return to red.
Automatic Operation
Before proceeding, make certain the connection between
the Signature 2.0, PT2500, or other trigger source has been
connected properly to the unit following the previous
directions. At this point the trigger source should be off.
After all cables are connected and the Signature 1.5 is
plugged in, the LED Indicator should be glowing red. Press
the power switch and the indicator will turn amber indicating
the unit is in the standby mode and ready to turn on when it
receives a signal from the triggering device. Finally, turn on
your Signature 2.0, PT2500, or other trigger source to turn
the Signature 1.5 on.
The indicator will flash green briefly, and then go out; the
front panel will then illuminate to blue.
At the conclusion of your listening session, there is no need
to turn the Signature 1.5 off manually. When the Signature
2.0, PT2500, or other trigger source is turned off, the
Signature 1.5 will return to the standby mode.
Important Note: If you will not be using your audio
system for an extended period of time, such as a vacation,
we recommend turning the Signature 1.5 off using the
power switch.
IDLE CURRENT ADJUSTMENT FOR SIGNATURE 1.5
Locate test points P4 and P5; these are 2 pin female molex connectors (2 total, 1 per channel) on the MAIN AMPLIFIER PCB
near the speaker terminals.
Attach a DC voltmeter (set to a low range) to these points. This is best accomplished by making up a “test plug” using a male
molex connector that fits into the one in the unit, with wires attached, for connection to the voltmeter. An alternate method is to
use two “mini-grabbers” to attach to the two outer pins on each connection. Warning: Do not accidentally short the two points
together with a meter probe during adjustment.
Adjustment Points: R60, R69
Adjust to 18mv across test points, one channel at a time, until both channels comply.
OUTPUT TRANSISTOR REPLACEMENT ON THE SIGNATURE 1.5
1) Remove the top cover.
2) Remove all molex connectors on the main amplifier board.
3) Remove the (4) outer screws holding the heatsink plate to the chassis.
4) Remove all outer Philips screws holding both speaker terminals and RCA connectors to the rear panel.
5) Angle and lift the entire amplifier assembly and heatsink up and out of the chassis.
6
Loading...