Knoll Systems MVP-44-A Owners manual

Congratulations and thank you for choosing the Knöll
MVP44a power amplifier. The MVP44a is designed to meet
the amplifier needs of custom installed multi-zone systems
where high quality sound is a specific requirement as well
as ease of installation and operation. A six output zone
model is available, MVP64a.

Key Features:

MVP44a

Four stereo power amplifiers with

individual volume control electronics

and four input source selection

INSTALLATION

MANUAL

It is very important to use a top quality

RJ45 8/8 crimper tool. We strongly

suggest using a cat 5 / RJ45 electronic

tester to verify the wire conductors.

Complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to:

1. This device may not cause harmful interference

2. This device must accept any interference received
including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Version 3.2

1. Individual zone, four source selection. Each of the four rooms

can select any of the four stereo sources.

2. Individual mute, volume, bass, treble and balance adjustment.

Each of the four stereo channels feature adjustments for bass, treble and
balance. Individual room keypads control volume and mute. Any keypad
can turn the whole system on or off.

3. Cost and size efficiency. The MVP44a consists of a total of four

stereo power amplifiers with individual volume control electronics in a 3­1/2" enclosure. Each power amplifier channel can deliver 50 watts RMS.

4. Automatic protection circuitry. Each MVP44a channel is

individually and fully protected against low impedance, overheating,
overloading, overvoltage and undervoltage. The protection circuitry
automatically restores the amplifier channel as soon as its parameter
returns to the safe operating area.

5. External trigger and functions out. An 12VDC trigger output is

provided to turn other components on or off. Six function ports are
provided (connects to a 590-00) to turn on and off components via IR as
well as provide four IR commands, source from the MR60 keypads

6. Stackable 17" chassis. The MVP44a can be stacked or placed in a

19" EIA equipment rack (requires RK-AMP kit).

7. Data port. For larger systems, multiple MVP44a's can operate in

tandem so all MVP44's turn off and on together and share infrared
signals, page, connect to door chimes, connect to external controllers, etc.

8. Cooling fan. Fans maximize system performance and helps to avoid

early protection system distortion.

9. All on and all off. MR60 keypads turn on any source in all rooms.

10. Volume level indication. MR60 keypads display volume level on

top three rows of buttons. FNC-MUTE level is the lowest.

11. All room volume up and down (rooms on only) via FNC button.

2

System layout considerations

The MVP44a is the heart of a whole home music system. A MVP44a
is designed to work with 1-4 rooms or zones. Up to three MVP44a's
can be ganged together to allow up to 12 rooms or zones each
individually controlling one or two pairs of enclosure or inwall
speakers. Connection is achieved via the data port using a stereo

3.5mm jack on the rear of the MVP44a.

Rooms are usually controlled by a MR60 keypad. The keypads are
not intented for outdoor use. The MR60 contains an almost all
brand infrared repeater and most functions can be controlled by the
Knoll RB8 remote control. RB8 commands can easily be stored in a
learning remote. The MR60 is available with three different source
layouts (all of the MR60 keypads in one system have to have the
same source layout) and three bezel colors white, almond and ivory
for a total of 9 models. The source layout and bezel colors are easy to
change in the field.

Some rooms will not require a MR60 keypad and most MVP44a
functions can be utilized with an RB8 remote and an infrared
repeater (a MR173 IR converter is required). Up to three IR
receivers in three different rooms can be connected to a single
MR173. The MVP44a includes an internal four single or dual emitter
connection block, so emitters will have to be ordered if required. The
infrared pass through is always available when the amplifier is turned
on and in standby or powered up.

Follow directions from the speaker manufacturers when deciding
speaker locations.

...System layout considerations continued

In certain commercial applications a microphone paging override
is required. Model MR171 paging and override module takes a
balanced or unbalanced mic, (with defeatable phantom power) or
a line level input and when activated overrides all inputs (even if
some or all zones are in standby) and pages at a preset volume in
all zones.

A variety of door chime and telephone paging, door entry and
front door camera modules are being developed. Check our web
site for more information.

The MVP44a includes a 12VDC trigger output to control and power
various items when the MVP44a is powered up. When the MVP44a
agoes into standby the trigger output ends. It's maximum output is
60mA.

An innovative IR connection system is also included to turn on and
off the various source components as well as four separate
commands. A Xantech 590-00 controller is required for this
purpose. The Xantech 590-00 is a an IR sequence generator. When
it receives commands from the MVP44a it generates an IR command
or sequence of up to 10 commands.
The on command is automatically generated when the MVP44a goes
out of standby and into power up. The off command is automatically
generated when the MVP44a goes from power on to standby. These
sequences are generally used to turn on and off the source equipment.

Note: The MVP44a prefers 6-8 ohm speaker loads. Connecting to
4 ohm loads won't hurt the MVP44a but those channels connected
to 4 ohm loads may occasionally shut down due to overloading.

Never connect the MVP44a to 2 ohm loads.

The MVP44a has a cooling fan to increase long term power output
and reliability.

...continued

3

To activate the four commands, when the system is powered up,
press the MR60 keypad button FNC then quickly press one of the
four source buttons on the top of the MR60 keypad. This will
initiate a pulse at the MVP44a FUNCTION output, that in turn
generates an IR command that is pumped back into the MVP44a IR
emitter port 1 and out to the various emitters connected to ports
2-3-4, that will initiate the command to the source component.

4

Installation

It is very important to use a top quality RJ45 8/8 crimper
tool. We strongly suggest using a cat 5 / RJ45 electronic
tester to verify the wire conductors.

Installing the MVP44a should be relatively easy. With a bit of
planning, the MVP44a will give trouble free service for years.

1. The most important consideration when installing the
MVP44a is cooling. The MVP44a has a lot of power packed into a

small chassis size. When installing it in an equipment stack, it should
be the top component. It needs at least 1-3/4" of space above the
MVP44a to allow for adequate cooling.

2. When installing the MVP44a in a rack we suggest adding a
1-3/4" blank above and below the MVP44a. In multiple MVP44a
installations, plan for a 3-1/2" blank (double) between each MVP44a
and a 1-3/4" blank on the top and bottom. Amplifiers should
always be the top components in a rack system.

3. If MVP44a channels frequently shut down due to overheating,
either the output levels will have to go down or 8 ohm speakers
installed. If 8 ohm speakers are installed on all channels and some
channels still shut down, call the factory for advice.

4. Connect the MVP44a inputs to the source component outputs with
good quality, short as possible RCA jack cables. Connect each
channel individually.

5. If source D is not being used we suggest you short both of them
out with a RCA shorting jack. This will make the room speakers
quieter in standby modes.

6. Connect the MVP44a speaker outputs to speakers using good
quality speaker wire. Minimum 16 gauge copper wire is
recommended with 14 gauge minimum for runs over 30' (10m)
Make sure the speakers in each room are connected in phase.

7. Install MR60 keypads (or infrared receivers) in the rooms with the
speakers. Cat 3 or cat 5 wire can be home run to the MVP44a or up
to three rooms daisy chained on one wire.

***Be sure to set the dip switch on the rear of the MR60***

See the dip switch adjustment below. Connect all eight individual
wires using RJ45 connectors. Four wire conductors are needed for
each keypad (one unique, common: IR , ground and 12VDC).

MR60 Dip Switch

MR60

1 2 3 4

Adjustment
Use either RJ45

connector as they
are in parallel

The rear of the MR60 is shown. Because one to three MR60's can
be connected or daisy chained to the same cat 5 wire, the keypad
position on the wire must be selected using the dip switch. The two
MR60 RJ45 connectors are in parallel. Only one dip switch slider
should be on and the other two off (#1 is shown on in this example).
The MR60 1-2-3 dip switch positions correspond to MVP44a keypad
ports and speaker outputs A3 or B1-B2-B3.

***Even if the keypads are home run, the

MR60 dip switch position has to be selected***

If three keypads are daisy chained on one wire, select the MR60
dip switch on the first MR60 to one, the second MR60 to two and
the third MR60 to three. At the rear of the MVP44a, the RJ45
connector from the three MR60 keypads can be connected any
corresponding keypad Bank A3 or Bank B; port 1, 2 or 3. The
corresponding speaker outputs will be the same number as selected
on the MR60 keypad (example: the MR60 keypad with #2 dip on
and connected to MVP44a keypad bank B will control speaker
outputs B2R and B2L).

Note: Ideally the MVP44a likes 6-8 ohm loads. Connecting to
4 ohm loads won't hurt the MVP44a but those channels
connected to 4 ohm loads may occasionally shut down due to
overloading. Never connect the MVP44a to 2 ohm loads.

5

After installation, if the keypads are not working properly or not
controlling at all, Check the MR60 dip switch settings, wiring
layout and crimp as well as bank connections very carefully.

6