Martin Audio MA1400 User Manual

Martin Audio – MA1400 Amplifier

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CONTENTS (ENGLISH) Page No

1 CONTENTS MA1400 USER GUIDE 1
2APPROVALS 2
3WARNINGS 2

3.1 EXPLANATION OF GRAPHICAL SYMBOLS 2

3.2 WARNING 2

3.3 CAUTION 2

3.4 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 2

3.5 USER RESPONSIBILITY 3

3.5.1 LOUDSPEAKER DAMAGE 3

3.5.2 SPEAKER OUTPUT HAZARD 3

3.5.3 RADIO INTERFERENCE 3

4 INTRODUCTION 4

4.1 UNPACKING 4

4.2 FRONT PANEL 4

4.3 REAR PANEL 5

5 REAR PANEL FEATURES 5

5.1 GAIN SWITCH 5

5.1.1THE DIP-SWITCH 6

5.1.2 SENSITIVITY 6

5.1.3 OPTIONS 6

5.2 LINK SWITCH 6

5.3 OPERATING MODES 6

5.3.1 STEREO MODE 6

5.3.2 NOTES FOR AMPLIFIER TESTING 6

5.3.3 TANDEM MODE 7

5.3.4 BRIDGE MONO MODE 7

5.3.5 BRIDGE MONO MODE FEATURES 7

6 INSTALLATION 8

6.1 MOUNTING 8

6.2 COOLING 8

6.3 OPERATING VOLTAGE 8

6.4 GROUNDING 8

6.5 POWER CONSUMPTION 9

6.5.1 CALCULATION 9

7 CONNECTIONS 10

7.1 INPUT CONNECTIONS 10

7.1.1BALANCED INPUTS 10

7.1.2 UNBALANCED INPUTS 10

7.2 CONNECTING SPEAKERS 11

8 OPERATION 12

8.1 OPERATING PRECAUTIONS 12

8.2 POWERING UP – SOFT START 12

8.3 INPUT ATTENUATORS 12

8.4 INDICATORS 12

9 PROTECTION FEATURES 13

9.1.1 OUTPUT LIMITER 13

9.1.2 THERMAL PROTECTION 13

9.1.3 VHF PROTECTION 13

9.1.4 SHORT CIRCUIT PROTECTION 13

9.1.5 AC MAINS VOLTAGE PROTECTION 13

9.1.6 DC PROTECTION 13

10 MAINTENANCE 14

10.1 TROUBLESHOOTING 14
11 WARRANTY 15
12 SPECIFICATIONS MA1400 16

All material © 2007. Martin Audio Ltd. Subject to change without notice.

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GUIDES

Martin Audio – MA1400 Amplifier

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2 APPROVALS

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GUIDES

This equipment conforms to the requirements of the EMC directive 89/336/EEC, amended by
92/31/EEC and 93/68/EEC and the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC, amended
by 93/68/EEC.

Standard Applied EMC Emission EN55103-1, E3

EMC Immunity EN55103-2, E3, with S/N below 1% at normal operation level.
Electrical Safety EN60065, Class 1

3 WARNINGS

3.1 Explanation of graphical symbols

The lightning symbol within a triangle is

intended to alert the user to the presence
lethal voltages within the amplifier that are of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric
shock to humans.

3.2 WARNING

To reduce risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose
this apparatus to rain or moisture.

3.4 Important Safety Instructions

Before using your amplifier, please read the operating instructions and the safety suggestions.

1. Keep this manual for future reference.

2. Do not operate the amplifier if liquid ingress is suspected.

The exclamation mark within a triangle is

!

intended to alert the user to presence of
important operating and service instructions in the
literature accompanying the product.

3.3 CAUTION

To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not
remove screws. There are no user-serviceable parts
inside this amplifier. Refer servicing to qualified
personnel only.

3. Do not stand water or any other liquid on, or near the amplifier.

4. Do not use this amplifier near water. Do not operate the amplifier if wet or standing in liquid.

5. Clean only with dry cloth.

6. Do not block the air intake or exhaust ports. Always install the unit in accordance with the instructions.

!

7. Do not operate the amplifier on or near any source of heat, such as radiators, lighting dimmer racks, or
other apparatus that produce heat.

8. Always operate the unit with the chassis ground wire connected to the electrical safety earth. Do not
defeat the purpose of the electrical safety earth, it is provided for your safety. A grounding type plug is
fitted; this has two pins and a third grounding prong. If the plug provided does not fit your mains outlet,
consult an electrician or a competent person to replace the fitted plug. See page 8 section 6.3 for wiring
colour code.

9. Connect only to AC power outlets rated 230 - 240V (or 100 - 120 V), 50-60Hz.

10. Do not use this amplifier if the mains cable is damaged or frayed, particularly check where the mains
cable exits the amplifier and the mains plug. Protect the mains cable from being walked upon or rolled
over by heavy objects.

11. Only use accessories specified by the manufacturer.

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12. The unit is intended to use in a 19” rack. Follow the mounting instructions. When racks with wheels are

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used, use caution to avoid injury from tipping when in motion.

13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

14. Do not connect an amplifier output in parallel or series with any other amplifier’s output. Do not connect
the amplifier output to any other voltage source, such as a battery, mains outlet, or power supply,
regardless of whether the amplifier is turned on or off.

15. Do not run the output of any amplifier back into another channel's input.

16. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel only. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been
damaged in any way such as:

• Mains cable, or plug is damaged

• Liquid has entered the amplifier.

• An object has fallen into the unit

• The amplifier has been exposed to rain or moisture

• The amplifier does not operate normally

• The amplifier was dropped or the enclosure is damaged

17. Do not remove top or bottom covers. There are no user serviceable parts inside the amplifier, removal of
the covers will expose hazardous voltages, and may void the warranty.

18. An experienced person should always supervise inexperienced adults or minors when using professional
audio equipment.

3.5 User responsibility

3.5.1 Loudspeaker damage

Your amplifier is very powerful and can be potentially dangerous to both loudspeakers and humans alike.

Many loudspeakers can be easily damaged or destroyed by overpowering, especially with the high power

!

available from a bridged amplifier. Always check the speaker’s continuous and peak power capabilities.

Even when using the amplifier’s front panel attenuator's to reduce the gain, it is still possible to reach full output

power, if the input signal level is high enough.

3.5.2 Speaker output hazard

Power amplifiers are capable of producing hazardous output voltages. To avoid the risk of electric shock, do

not touch any exposed loudspeaker wiring, when the amplifier is operating. See page 10. Connecting
loudspeakers

3.5.3 Radio interference

A sample of this product has been tested and complies with the limits for the European Electro Magnetic
Compatibility (EMC) directive. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference from electrical equipment. This product uses radio frequency energy and if not used or installed in
accordance with these operating instructions, may cause interference to other equipment, such as radio receivers.
Compliance with the (EMC) directive does not automatically guarantee non- disturbance of susceptible equipment
in close proximity to this amplifier.

If this equipment is suspected of causing interference this can be easily checked by powering the amplifier on and
off, The user can correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Re - orientate or relocate the antenna.

• Increase the distance between the amplifier and the effected equipment

• Connect the mains cable to a socket on a different circuit from that to which the affected equipment is

connected.

• Check if the affected equipment complies with the EMC limits for immunity, (CE-labelled). If not,

address the problem with the manufacturer or supplier. All electrical products sold in the EC must be
approved for immunity against electromagnetic fields, high voltage flashes, and radio interference.

• Consult your dealer or an experienced engineer/ technician for help.

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4 INTRODUCTION

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GUIDES

Thank you for purchasing a Martin Audio power amplifier. This manual contains important information on operating
your amplifier correctly and safely. Please take some time and read this manual and familiarize yourself with the
advanced features of this amplifier.

4.1 Unpacking

Each Martin Audio MA series amplifier is built to the highest standard and thoroughly inspected before it leaves the
factory. After unpacking the unit, examine it carefully for any signs of transit damage and inform your dealer if such
damage is found. It is suggested that you retain the original packaging so that the unit can be repackaged at a
future date if necessary.

Please note that Martin Audio and its distributors cannot accept responsibility for damage to any returned product
through the use of non - approved packaging.

4.2 Front Panel

32 45

PRO TE CT

CLIP

-40dB

ON

768

1

0

MA1400

1

1

1 . In pu t leve l atte n ua to rs
T he se co ntro ls are u se d to se t the sign al le ve l e nterin g the am plifier. T he y are calibrated in d B 's to a ssist the se tu p o f
a ctive lou dsp ea ke r syste m s. (Se e p ag e 1 2).

2 . Prote ct in dica to r
This indicator illuminates if the amplifier attempts to function above its maximum operating temperature (90°C).
The indicator first comes on as a warning, to either turn down the input level or check the cooling arrangements,
after which point the amplifier will mute the input signal. When the cooling fans have returned the output heat sinks
to the normal operating temperature the input signal is un-muted.
T he p ro tect L ED a lso illu mina te s w he n con sta nt sign als a bo ve 12 kHz at fu ll p ow e r are d etected a t the o u tp ut
termina ls or if the sh ort circu it pro te ctio n is a ctivate d. If this o ccurs the in pu t sig na l is mu ted , an d the process rep e ats
u ntil th e VH F sig na l is n o lo ng e r pre se nt o r the sh ort circu it is re mo ve d . (S ee pa ge 1 3).

3 . Clip /limit ind ica to r
T his in d icato r sign a ls w h en the am plifier o u tp ut is clip ping or lim iting . It ha s two differe nt in dica tio n sta te s:
W he n th e clip lim ite r is en ga ge d , it ha s a sho rt time co nsta n t an d it illum in ate s briefly. (Se e p ag e 1 2).
W he n th e clip lim ite r is no t en g ag ed , it ha s a n incre ase d tim e co nstan t a nd it illum ina te s for a lo ng er pe rio d.

4. Signal present indicator.
T his LE D Illu mina te s a t – 40 dB b e lo w full ou tpu t sig na l.

5 . On in dica tor
The four bottom green ”ON” LED's indicate that the output circuits are receiving the correct rail voltage.

6 . P ow er sw itch
T urns th e ma ins p ow e r “O N ” or “O FF ”.
(See pages 8 and 1 1

)

7 . F an g rille filters
A g rille w ith foa m filte rs is lo ca te d o n th e fro n t pa ne l to p re ve nt du st from e n te rin g th e a mp lifie r. T h e grille is re mo vab le
for e asy cle a ning o f the filter by simp ly p u llin g the m o ff. T he foa m filter sho u ld a lwa ys b e u se d .

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8 . Ca rry/p ro tection ha nd le

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GUIDES

Both handles can be used to carry the amplifier; they also act as protection for the front panel. In fixed installations
or where rack front covers are too shallow, they may be removed by unscrewing the retaining bolts behind the front
panel.

4.3 Rear Panel

13 45678?4 1

Clip Limiter A

ff

On

OUTPUT CH.B

1+ CH.B+

1- CH.B-

O

Made in the EEC byMARTIN AUDIO MA1400

CH. B INPUT

CH. B INPUT

1/ 4“

XLR
Pin 1 Scrn Sleeve
2 Pos Tip
3 Neg Ring

+ - Gnd

STEREO

230-240V 50-60Hz

Current consumption: 8 A

LINK/ BRIDGE A+B

CH.B

CH. A INPUT

CH. A INP UTGAIN

GAIN
CH. A

+ -

Gnd

ON

OFF

123

GAI N

20dB
23dB
26dB
29dB
32dB
35dB
38dB
41dB

678

On

Clip Limiter B

39

OUTPUT CH.A

STEREO
1+CH.A+
1- CH.A­2+CH.B+
2- CH.B-

BRIDGE
Pin 1+ Spk+
2- Spk-

Off

Ser. No:

1. Output / Speaker connector
T he N eu trik S pe akon co nn e ctor is u se d o n th e o utp uts of th e a mp lifie r. A fu ll d e scrip tion is fou n d in th e op e ra tion
section . (Se e p ag e 11).

3. Clip limiter switch
Turns the clip limiter “ON” (switch IN position) or “OFF” (switch OUT position). (See page 13).

4. Input signal XLR.
The Neutrik Combo jack is used which also features a _” TRS phone jacks. (Pin 2 is “hot”, see page 10).

5. Link / Input. A 'Phoenix' screw terminal connector connected in parallel to the female XLR input is provided for
hard wiring the input, or linking the channel to another input.

6. Gain switch channel B. Three of the switches in the DIP-switch (1,2,3) select the gain of the channel to be either
20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 36, 39 or 41 dB. (See page 5).

7. Link and Polarity reverse switch. The two middle switches in the DIP-switch are used for Link and / or Bridge
operation. (See page 6).

8. Gain switch channel A. Three of the switches in the DIP-switch (6,7,8) select the gain of the channel to be either
20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 36, 39 or 41 dB. (See page 5).

9. AC Mains cable. WARNING!
A label just below the mains cable on the rear of the amplifier indicates the selected AC mains operating
voltage. Connect the mains cable only to the AC source referred to on the label.

!

5 REAR PANEL FEATURES

5.1 Gain switch

T he g ain switch loca te d o n th e rea r p an el (the ce ntra l D IP -sw itch ) cha ng e s th e inp ut se nsitivity of the am plifier. T his
can b e u se fu l w he n u sing lo w or high no mina l inp u t sign a ls. Mo st p rofessio na l m ixin g con so les o p erate a t a level o f
+ 4 to + 6 d Bu ; th e re fo re th e 3 2d B-g ain po sitio n e nsure s th e re is p le nty o f fa d er m o ve me nt availab l e . F o r a s e m i
p ro fe ssion al mixing de sk op erating a t a n om ina l level o f 0 dB u o r -1 0 dB th e high e r ga in se tting s o f th e a mp lifie r ca n b e
u se d.

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5.1.1 The DIP-switch

pe p

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D iffe re n t ga ins a nd fu nctio n ca n b e selecte d for ch an ne l A a n d B, b y

a pp ro priate setting of th e DIP switch . Se le cting th e ma xim um ga in o f the
a mp lifie r is alwa ys a tra de o ff be tw e en n oise an d h ea dro om . A low g a in
a mp lifie r am p lifies le ss of the no ise o f th e p re ced in g e qu ip m en t (m ixe r,
cro ssove r, e q ua lize r e tc.). A h igh er in pu t level is the n req u ired to a tta in full
p ow er o u tp ut, so th e h ea d ro om w ill b e d ecre a se d o n mixe r o r cro ssove r
o utpu ts. In a n actively d rive n syste m the re is u sua lly a d ed ica te d lou dsp ea ke r
p ro ce sso r or co ntro lle r, fo r th e lou d sp ea ke r system . So m e lo u dspe ake r
m an ufacturers recom m en d a spe cific g a in for th e a mp lifie rs fo r use w ith the ir
con trollers.

T he re a re eig ht p osition s o f ga in se lecta ble , fro m 20 dB to 4 1 dB in 3 dB step s.

T he d ifferen t settin gs fo r th e D IP -sw itch es are liste d in th e tab le be lo w . Th e three sw itch e s to th e ve ry le ft are for
cha nn el B, a n d th e three to the ve ry righ t a re fo r ch an n el A . T he tw o sw itche s in th e m id dle sele ct the op era ting m o de
o f th e a mp lifie r, S tereo or L in k /Bridg e A+ B .

5.1.2 Sensitivity

Sensitivity is the level in volts (rms.) or dBu (referred to 0.775Vrms) that are required
to obtain full output power. As the output power varies with the load impedance, 4
ohms is usually taken as the reference. The table below gives input volts rms Versus
gain for full output power @ 1% t.h.d, 1Khz sinewave.

Gain dB 20 23 26 29 32 35 38 41
Input dBu +17.3 +14.3 +11.3 +8.3 +5.3 +2.3 -0.7 -3.7
Input V rms 5.67 3.98 2.84 1.99 1.40 0.99 0.70 0.50

5.1.3 Options

A s th e D IP -switch is recessed , A security sticke r can b e p la ce d a cro ss the ba y to preve nt u n au th orize d tam pe rin g

o nce th e g ain h as b e en se t. A no the r o ptio n is to re mo ve th e D IP -switch . T his sh o uld o nly be do ne by a uth orize d
service p erso nn e l ! T his co rre sp o nd s to all switche s set to “OF F ”, i.e. 3 2d B g ain a nd stereo mo de .

5.2 Link switch

T he L in k switch loca te d o n th e rea r p an el (the ce ntra l D IP -sw itch ) is fo r cha ng ing th e op era ting mo de o f the am plifier
(se ctio n 5 .3 ).

5.3 Operating modes

5.3.1 Stereo mode

In this configuration, both channels operate independently of each other. This is used
for all 2-channel operations, eg bi amp and stereo. Stereo mode is selected by
placing the two central switches in the “OFF” position (Down). The attenuators on the
front panel control the respective channel levels.
Never connect either output terminal to ground or in parallel. The recommended
minimum nominal impedance, for stereo or tandem operation, is 2 ohms per channel.

5.3.2 Notes for amplifier testing

NOTE: Channel B is always polarity reversed on the input, and polarity reversed back on the output. On
channel B the positive output voltage with respect to 0V appears on pin -2 of the Speakon connector.

!

Channel A is connected with normal polarity. By having channel A and B operating in opposite polarity,

the energy storage in the power supply is more efficient. This is significant for signals below 100 Hz (sub bass etc.)
and improves the power bandwidth. Be sure to use balanced inputs on all measuring equipment (including
oscillosco

robes) if you are bench testing.

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Reverse operation of Channel B.

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5.3.3 Tandem mode

In tandem mode channel A input is linked to channel B input, either input socket may then be used to provide the
input signal. Tandem mode is activated by placing the two central switches (4 and 5) in the "ON" position (UP).
Bo th input attenuators' are active, allowing you to set different levels for each channel. Note that only the inputs are
connected in parallel. This is NOT a parallel output mode. Never connect either output terminal to ground or in
parallel.
You can use the remaining input connectors to parallel off “Daisy - chain” signals to other amplifiers.
NOTE: Always turn off the Link switches when using the amplifier for Bi-amping.

5.3.4 Bridge mono mode

B ridg e m on o m od e is used to d elive r incre ase d po w er to the lo ud sp ea kers. Usin g
the M A1 4 00 in b ridg e m od e red uce s th e n um be r o f o utpu t cha nn e ls fro m two to
o ne . Th e n om ina l im p ed an ce of th e lo a d mu st be m o re tha n 3 o h ms. Se t the
L in k/Bridg e A +B switch es to "ON " (UP ) a nd u se eithe r of th e inp ut co nn ectors A o r
B . Yo u can u se th e rem ain in g in p ut co nn ecto r to carry a pa ra lle l sig na l to othe r
a mp s. B o th A an d B level atte nu a to rs mu st b e a t the sam e p osition . W e
recom me n d th e y a re u se d in the 0 dB fu lly clo ckw ise p ositio n . Th e lou dsp ea ke r
sho uld n ow b e con ne cte d to C ha nn el A ou tpu t S pe akon . (+1 sh ou ld be co nn ecte d
to th e [+] p o sitive te rm ina l of th e lou dspe a ke r, an d -2 to th e [-] n eg ative term in al of
the lou d sp ea ker.

5.3.5 Bridge mono mode features

Bridged mono mode combines the power of two output channels into one. This results in twice the voltage swing,
four times the peak power and just less than three times the full power of a single channel.

This is because the coil is driven with positive voltage at one pole and an equivalent negative voltage at the other
pole. So, if an 8 ohms load is connected in bridged mode, one channel shares one 4 ohms part of the load, and the
other channel shares the other 4 ohms part. The power into 4 ohms from an MA 1400 is 700W. So, the total
bridged power into the 8 ohms load will be 2 x 700 = 1400W

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6 INSTALLATION

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6.1 Mounting

The amplifier is two rack unit's high (2U) and weighs 18Kg (39.6Ibs) and will mount in a standard EIA 19” rack.
Amplifiers may be stacked directly on top of each other. There is no need for spacing between units. If it is the
intention to fill a rack with amplifiers, we recommend racking is started from the bottom of the rack. It is also
recommended that rear supports are used for amplifiers mounted in the middle of the rack, especially if used as
part of a portable system.

6.2 Cooling

Your amplifier uses a forced air cooling system to maintain a low and even operating temperature. All fan cooled
MARTIN AUDIO MA Series amplifiers have front to rear cooling. Never try to reverse the airflow, as the amplifier
needs a pressure chamber between the fans and heat sink, and this only operates in one direction of the airflow.

Make sure that there is an adequate air supply in front of the amplifier, and that the rear of the amplifier has
sufficient space to allow the exhaust to escape. If the amplifier is rack-mounted, do not use covers or doors on the
front or rear of the rack. If the heatsink temperature rises too high, its sensing circuit will mute the hot channel.If the
power supply overheats, another sensing circuit will mute both output channels, until they cool down to a safe
operating temperature

For installations with a central cooling system, usually found in fixed installations with a dedicated rack room, it may
be necessary to calculate the maximum heat emission. Refer to Power consumption on page 9. Remember! never
rack different makes of amplifier together that have opposing air flow characteristics.

6.3 Operating voltage

WARNING!
A label just below the mains cable on the rear of the amplifier indicates the selected AC mains operating voltage.
Connect the mains cable only to the AC source referred to on the label. The warranty will not cover damage
caused by connecting to the wrong type of AC mains.

If th e p ow er plug is n ot ap prop ria te fo r yo u r co u ntry, it ca n b e cu t o ff an d re - w ire d to a su ita ble co n ne cto r in th e
follo win g wa y:

B LA CK o r B RO W N L IV E

W HITE o r B LU E N EU TR AL

G RE EN o r G RE E N/YE LL O W E AR TH

O nce co n ne cte d to a su ita ble AC su pp ly, the am plifier ca n be starte d w ith the p o we r switch. Wh en yo u po w er u p the
a mp lifie r it ta ke s a cou p le o f secon d s to se lf ch eck (th is is kno wn as th e "soft sta rt" o r "slow start" se qu e nce), the fa ns
the n blo w at high sp ee d b efore g oing in to "idle". T he tw o bo tto m gre en L E D’s th e n illum in ate to sho w th e a mp lifie r is
o pe ra tio na l.

6.4 Grounding

T he re is n o g ro un d lift switch o n th is am plifier. T he sign al grou nd is a lwa ys floa tin g (lifted ), with re sp ect to ch a ssis
g ro un d via a grou nd lift re sisto r. If a p ote ntia l d iffe ren ce ab ove 0 .6 V is de te cte d b etwe en sign a l grou n d an d cha ssis
e arth , a sho rt circu it is a utom a tica lly introd uce d be tw e en th e tw o, en su rin g ele ctrical p ro tectio n. If o th er eq uipm e nt o r
a mp lifie rs w ith in a syste m sh ou ld de velop a n e le ctrical fa ult to ea rth , the m ain s fu se on th at e q uipm en t sho u ld rup ture
d ue to this a utom atic syste m allow in g a n ea rth fa ult cu rre nt to flo w for protectio n p urpo se s.
If ho we ver yo u wish to p e rm an en tly co nn ect the sign al g rou nd to cha ssis e arth , con ne ct th e X LR -co nn ecto r’s sh ell lu g
to pin 1 . In th e in terest o f sa fety n ever d iscon n ect th e e arth pin o n th e m ains ca ble .
T o co mp ly with CE a p prova l (rad io in terfe re n ce ), th ere is an AC m ain s filte r. T h is filter n e ed s the cha ssis e arth fo r
referen ce, o th erw ise a curre n t lo o p is fo rm ed via th e sig n al g ro u nd .
N ever d iscon n ect (lift) the m ain s sa fety ea rth .

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6.5 Power consumption

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There are three ways to determine the power/current consumption of the amplifier:

First, the peak current draw at full power output. Under this condition the amplifier will operate for less than 2
minutes before thermally limiting or blowing the mains fuse.

Second, the maximum expected average current under worst case program material, which is 1/3 of full power
according to the FTC-standard. At this level the music will be in the state of constant clip and is therefore the
highest power level one can obtain without completely obliterating the program material.

Lastly, the "normal operating power", as defined by EN 60065 as a measurement level for approval and testing to
this standard. The normal operating power is measured using pink noise, with an average output power equal to
1/8 of full power. The one-eighth power is the maximum volume music can be re-played without continuous
amplifier clipping, and corresponds to a headroom of 9dB's, which is very low for normal program material.

MAX OUTPUT POWER MAINS INPUT POWER

Power 1/3 Power 1/8 Power Idle

[W] note 1 note 2

MA1400 8 ohms 2x 425 690 430 90

4 ohms 2x 700 1150 760 90
2 ohms 2x 1050 1925 1225 90

note 1 Average power with music as program source. The amplifier driven to clip level.
note 2 Normal music power with 9dB headroom, IEC standard power rating.

6.5.1 Calculation

The current draw can be calculated by dividing the mains input power by the mains voltage.
We recommend that you design the power distribution for at least the required current at 1/8 power, and 1/3 power
for heavy-duty demands such as concert touring and Industrial music etc.

The heat power can be calculated as follows:
If a headroom figure of 9dB is used with a 4 ohms load on each output of the amplifier. The 1/8 power per channel
is 700 / 8 = 87 watts, and the total output power = 2 x 87 = 175 watts.
The mains power consumption from the chart above is then 760 watts.

The heat power produced is the difference between the power consumption and output power;
760 - 175 = 585 watts total for the amplifier.

MA1400 HEAT POWER

1/3 POWER 1/8 POWER 1/3 POWER 1/8 POWER 1/3 POWER 1/8 POWER

WATTS Kcal/hour BTU/hour
8 Ohm 407 324 350 280 1390 1110
4 Ohm 683 585 590 500 2330 2000
2 Ohm 1225 963 1050 830 4180 3290
1/3 Power level = Average power with music as programme source. The amplifier driven to clip level
1/8 Power level = Normal operating power with music as programme source, 9dB headroom

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10

7 CONNECTIONS

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GUIDES

7.1 Input connections

7.1.1 Balanced inputs

T he inp u t co n ne ctors a re N eu trik ® co m bo jacks an d incorp orate a n XL R a nd _" (6.3 mm ) jack. T h ey a re active
b alan ce d a nd wire d a s be low :

P IN 1 G RO UN D/S HIEL D
P IN 2 H OT (+)
P IN 3 C OL D (-)

Figure 4. XLR input connector

Figure 5. XLR balanced

T IP H OT
R IN G C OL D
S LE EV E S HIEL D/G RO UN D

_” TRS plug

Th e inp ut im ped ance is hig h eno ugh (20 K o hm s b ala nced) to a llo w
”d aisy-cha in ing ”, or mu ltiple p ara llel inp ut co nne ction s. Th e h ead ro om
of the inp ut circu its is a lso h igh e nou gh to accep t the ma ximum ou tp ut
le ve l from virtually an y low -le vel sign al so urce. Ba lan ced sign als a re
le ss se nsitive to AC hu m a nd RF in te rfe ren ce . T he so urce imp eda nce
sh ou ld be le ss tha n 1 Ko hm s to a vo id hig h fre que ncy losses in lo ng
ca bles.

To daisy chain amplifiers, use the screw -te rm ina l (Ph oen ix co nne cto r),
la be led Link, provided o n e ach chan nel. It is co nne cte d in parallel with
th e Ne utrik® C om bo jack on each inp ut.

7.1.2 Unbalanced inputs

T o use a n un b alan ce d sou rce , co n ne ct pin 3 (ring on T RS ja ck) to th e
shield o f th e con ne cto r. If you le ave o ne p in disco nn ected , you w ill lose
6 d B’s in level .
A b ette r m eth od o f con ne cting u n ba la n ce d so u rces is sho w n in be lo w.
T his is similar to the co nn ectio n fo r b alan ced line s, b u t pin 3 is
con ne cte d to th e sh ield a t th e sou rce . Th e h um a n d no ise reje ctio n for
the cab le is eq uiva len t to th at of a ba la nce d lin e. T o m in im ize h um in
the a ud io, u se ba la n ce d inp uts w he ne ver p ossib le .

Unbalanced line connection

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Balanced line with unbalanced equipment

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GUIDES

For two-channel (stereo) operation, use both channels A and B. For tandem stereo or bridged mono operation, use
only one of the inputs. See operating modes for more details.

7.2 Connecting speakers

S pe aker co nn e ctio ns are m ad e via the tw o N eu trik® N L4 F C S pe akon co nn e ctors. Th e S pe akon co nn e ctor is
d esig ne d for high p o we r lou dspe a ke r u se a nd me ets a ll w o rldw ide safe ty re qu irem e nts.

C on ne ction s.
The Speakons are wired :

Channel A output
Pin +1, Pin -1 = Output A
Pin +2, Pin -2 = Output B

Channel B output
Pin +1, Pin -1 = Output B

The right Speakon, Channel A, has both channel A and B outputs available, so is useful for bridging and bi-amp
operation (see bridged mono operation on page (7). The left Speakon, Channel B, carries only the channel B
output.

Channel A and B into two separate
Speakons.

Never connect either output terminal to ground or to some other output or input terminal (see warnings in chapter

1)
For normal two-channel operation, connect each speaker load across the output’s positive and negative terminals.
Pay attention to speaker polarity; loudspeakers connected out of polarity degrade sound quality.
Keep the loudspeaker cables as short as possible and use a good quality stranded cable. Do not use shielded wire,
such as microphone or guitar cable. The loudspeaker cable reduces the power of the amplifiers in two ways:
It increases the load impedance and introduces resistive power losses.

Channel A and B into one Speakon
(Stereo and Bi-amp)

Bridged mono

WARNING: To prevent electric shock, do not operate the amplifier with any of the loudspeaker cable
conductors exposed.

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8 OPERATION

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8.1 Operating precautions

• Make sure that the power switch is set to “OFF” before connecting any input or output or operating the
switches on rear panel. See pages 8 about installation.

• Make sure that the AC mains voltage is correct and the same as the one printed on the rear panel of the
amplifier. See pages 8, about operating voltage and power consumption.

• Make sure that the switches on the rear panel for operation modes, gain-switch and clip-limiter switch are
in the correct position. See page 6 about operation modes and page 13

• It is always a good idea to turn down the gain controls during power-up, to prevent speaker damage in
case a high signal is present at the input.

8.2 Powering up – Soft start

• W he n yo u p ow e r up th e am p lifier it ta ke s a cou ple o f se con ds to self-che ck. T his is kno wn a s the "soft-sta rt"
o r "slo w -sta rt" seq u en ce . T he fa ns th en b lo w a t h ig h sp e ed b e fo re g o in g into "id le " a nd the fo ur bo ttom gree n
L ED ’s illu min ate to sh ow th e am p lifie r is o p eration al.

about clip limiters.

8.3 Input attenuators

T he two in pu t level atte n ua to rs on th e fron t p an e l ad ju st th e sig na l leve l fo r the ir re sp ective a mp lifie r ch a nn el in a ll
m od es. T he y a re calibrate d in d B to h elp se tting up a ctive lo ud sp ea ker system s.

In brid g ed m o de , bo th co n trols m ust b e in th e sa m e po sitio n, so tha t the sp ea ke r loa d w ill b e sh a re d eq u ally be tw ee n

the cha n ne ls.

8.4 Indicators

T he yellow L E D's at th e top ind ica te if a ny prote ctio n circu its a re activated .

PR OTECT

CLIP

-40dB

ON

MA1 40 0

The ”-40 dB” LED’s illuminate if the output signal is greater than -40dB (with 0dB referenced to full output power).
These LED’s also act as signal present indicators.

The two bottom green ”ON” LED’s indicate when the power supply is operating normaly and the output circuits are
receiving the correct rail voltage.

T he se a re de scrib ed on p a ge 1 3.

T he C lip /lim it LE D's ind ica te w h en th e am plifier ou tp ut is clip ping or limiting . It
h as two diffe re nt in dica tio n sta te s

• W he n th e clip lim ite r is en ga ge d it h as a sh ort tim e co n stan t a nd
illum in a te s b riefly.

• When the clip limiter is not engaged it has an increased time constant
and it illuminates for a longer period.
Front Indicators

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13

9 PROTECTION FEATURES

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GUIDES

E ach MA R TIN A UD IO M A series a mp lifie r h as m a ny a d va nced prote ctio n fea tu res, th a t will prote ct b o th the am plifier
a nd the lo ud spe akers con n ecte d to it, sho uld a fa ult co n ditio n arise . Un d er n orm al u se th ese fea tures a re in a ud ib le .
A ll p ro tectio n circu its o pe r a t e i n d e p en de ntly.

9.1.1 Output Limiter

A n ou tp u t lim iter is includ ed to a vo id am plifier clip pin g. W h en a n a mp lifie r is se ve rely ove rd riven , its o utp ut w ave fo rm
is clip p ed (its p ea ks are squ are d off) –red u cing th e cre st fa ctor. In extre me ca se s, th e wa veform can a p proa ch th at of
a squ are w ave . An a m plifier is n orma lly cap a ble o f prod u cing fa r mo re po w er u nd e r th e se con d itio n s th an its n orma l
u nd isto rte d rated o u tp ut po we r.

T he lim ite r w orks b y m on ito ring th e o utpu t a nd co mp arin g the distortio n p ro du ce d b etw ee n th e inp u t an d o utpu t o f th e
a mp lifie r. If the d istortio n excee ds 1% TH D for a n y re aso n (vo ltag e o r cu rre nt clip pin g), th e lim ite r re d uces th e in p ut
sig na l p ro po rtion ally. N o te tha t, if th e sig na l is disto rted or clip pe d b efore it re a ch es th e am p lifier, the clip limite r w ill n ot
b e activated .

U nd er n o rm al op eration th e clip limiter is ina ud ible. T h e lim iter ca n be tu rn ed “O n” or “Off” by pressin g th e releva nt clip
lim it sw itch .(3 p ag e 5 )
S om e ma n ufacturers o f lo u dspe ake r pro ce ssors d o n ot reco mm en d the u se of clip limite rs in a m plifiers, a s it can
e ffect the tracking of th e proce ssor's limiters.
If th e a mp lifie r is be in g u se d w itho u t an y e xtern al lim iting , M artin A ud io re co m me nd le avin g the clip limite rs sw itche d
"ON " (b u tton de pressed ).

9.1.2 Thermal protection

W he n th e a mp lifie r is drive n ve ry ha rd in to a lo w imp ed a nce loa d, th e co o ling fa ns w ill run at h igh spe e d. If the se
o pe ra tin g co n dition s con tin ue , the P rotect ind ica to r(s) will illu min ate ind icating th at the am plifier is a bo u t to g o into
the rm al sh utd ow n.

A fter five se co nd s the a m plifie r w ill g o in to th e rm al p rotect b y mu tin g the inp u t sig na l. A fte r 1 5-20 se co nd s the
a mp lifie r will ha ve co ole d do wn en ou g h fo r the a m plifie r to com e ou t o f shu td ow n a nd op erate a s n orma l. If th e lo ad
con ditio ns re ma in u n ch an g ed the th erm al p ro tectio n will be re - initia te d . Th erm al p rotectio n occurs wh e n th e h ea tsin k
tem pe ra ture rea ch es 90

9.1.3 VHF protection

If a signal of more than 12kHz, at full power is detected for more than five seconds, the VHF protection mutes the
input signal. (This is indicated on the front panel (4) by the protect LED ). After five seconds the outputs will un­mute and return to normal operation, unless the output signal has remained unchanged, in which case the VHF
protection will re-initiate.

9.1.4 Short circuit protection

All MARTIN AUDIO MA Series amplifiers are completely short circuit protected. The protection circuit permits very
high peak currents, but still holds the output devices within the safe operating area. If a sh o rt circuit is ma intaine d ,
the cha n ne l a ffecte d w ill e ve ntu ally go into a th erma l p ro te ct cycle u ntil th e sho rt circuit h as be en re mo ve d .

9.1.5 AC mains voltage protection

If the AC mains voltage is outside the operational window (over or under voltage), the power supply will
automatically shut down. When the mains voltage is above the minimum start voltage and below its maximum
operating voltage the amplifier will restart.

°

C .

The two green ”ON” LED’s indicate when the power supply is operating correctly.

9.1.6 DC protection

T he re a re tw o typ es of D C p ro te ction :

• F uses o n the su pp ly bran che s of ea ch ch an ne l.

• D C crow b ar p rotectio n th a t sh orts th e o utpu t if m ore th a n 10 vo lts D C is be in g d etected o n the o u tp uts. Bo th

the se circuits co me in t o e f f e c t o n c e a D C l e v e l is de te cte d o n eith e r ch a nn el.

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10 MAINTENANCE

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GUIDES

Under normal use the amplifier should provide years of trouble-free service. The only maintenance required by the
user is to clean the front grill periodically.
In some extreme cases it may be necessary for authorized service personnel to clean the inside of the amplifier.
These conditions usually occur after prolonged use, e.g. in environments using "cracked- oil" smoke machines.
If you are using your amplifier for heavy-duty use i.e. concert touring or industrial music it is recommended that you
have your amplifier serviced every 3 years, purely as a preventative measure.

10.1 Troubleshooting

These are typical things to check if you think your amplifier is faulty:
Fault: No output.
If the Signal Present LED (-40dB) is illuminating a signal is entering the amplifier, and the likely cause is an
unsecured Speakon loudspeaker connector, or loose termination.
Check also that the VHF protection is not activated. If it is, remove the cause of the high frequency oscillations from
the relevant input.

Fault: The amplifier goes into thermal protection when driven at low level.
Check that there is no short circuit present at the amplifier's output, e.g. any component in the loudspeaker (this
can occur when the loudspeaker coil gets hot).

Fault: The amplifier goes into protection with power indicators off.
Check that the AC mains voltage is within the amplifier’s operating range, 130-265V@ 230V, and (65-135V @
115V). Over/under-voltage protection may have occurred. If the amplifier is connected by mistake to a 3-phase
supply, an internal non-resetable fuse or resistor may have blown. The amplifier then has to be returned to your
supplier for service.

Fault: The amplifier does not respond even after checking above items.
In the unlikely event of on a non-user rectifiable fault, return the amplifier to your supplier or an approved service
centre.
Martin Audio cannot be held responsible for damage or injury as a result of the top cover being removed.

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11 WARRANTY

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GUIDES

General

The MA1400 Power amplifier is warranted to be free from defects in components and factory workmanship under
normal use and service, for a period of three years from the date of original purchase. During this warranty period
MARTIN AUDIO LTD or it's nominated agents, will undertake to repair, or at it's discretion, replace this product at
no charge to it's owner, when failing to perform as specified, providing the unit is returned undamaged, in it's
original packaging, shipping prepaid, to the factory, distributor or authorised service facility.

This warranty shall be null and void, if the product is subjected to:

1) Repair work or alteration by persons other than those authorised by MARTIN AUDIO LTD
or it's agents.

2) Shipping accidents, act of god, war, civil insurrection, misuse, abuse, operation with incorrect AC voltage,
operation with faulty associated equipment, exposure to inclement weather conditions and normal wear
and tear. Units on which the serial number has been removed or defaced will not be eligible for warranty
service.

3) MARTIN AUDIO LTD shall not be responsible for any incidental or consequential damages, with respect to
the products warranted.

MARTIN AUDIO LTD reserve the right to make changes or improvements in design or manufacturing, without
assuming any obligation to change or improve products previously manufactured.

This warranty is exclusive and no other warranty is expressed or implied.
This warranty does not effect your statutory rights.

International

Please contact your supplier for this information, as rights and disclaimers may vary from country to country.

Technical assistance and services

If your Martin Audio product needs repair, contact your Martin Audio dealer or distributor, or contact Martin Audio
to obtain the location of the nearest dealer or distributor.
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: + 44 (0)1494 438669
E mail: [e-mail]

www.martin-audio.com

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12 SPECIFICATIONS MA1400

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MAXIMUM OUTPUT POWER EIA @1kHz 1%thd FTC 20 – 20kHz @ 0.1% thd

8Ω per Channel
4Ω per Channel
2Ω per Channel
8Ω Bridged
4Ω Bridged

MAXIMUM OUTPUT VOLTAGE

8Ω load 58Vrms
Peak voltage, no load 91Vrms

POWER REQUIREMENTS 230V version 115V version

Operating voltage 130 – 265 Vac 65 – 135Vac
Minimum start up voltage 190Vac 95Vac
Peak inrush current 20A 10A

MAINS CURRENT DRAW @ 4 Ohms 230V version 115V version

Quiescent current (no load) 0.75Arms 1.5Arms

th

1/8

Full power (both channels driven) 5.2Arms 10.4Arms
1/3rd Full power (both channels driven) 8.0Arms 16Arms
Full power (1Khz @1% thd) 14Arms 28Arms

425W 400W
700W 670W
1050W 980W
1400W 1300W
2100W 1900W

DISTORTION

THD 20Hz – 20KHz 1W to full power 0.07%
THD @ 1KHz 1dB below clip 0.01%
DIM 30 @ 3dB below clip 0.008%

HUM / NOISE < -105dB

CHANNEL SEPERATION -70dB

OUTPUT IMPEDANCE 30mΩ

SLEW RATE 45VµS

INPUTS

DIP switch selectable gain dB
Input Vrms Ref 4Ω for full power

Impedance 20KΩ Differential

c.m.r.r. 50dB

DIMENSIONS (W) 483mm x (H) 88mm x (D) 359mm

WEIGHT 18Kg (37Ibs)

20 23 26 29 32 35 38 41

5.67 3.98 2.84 1.99 1.40 0.99 0.70 0.50

10KΩ Single ended

(W) 19ins x (H) 3.5ins x (D) 14.1ins

SHIPPING DIMENSIONS (W) 560mm x (H) 180mm x (D) 500mm

SHIPPING WEIGHT 19.6Kg (43lbs)

(W) 22ins x (H) 7.1ins x (D) 19.7ins

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Front Panel

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Gain controls 2 x 31 Position detent
Indicators Protect 2 x Yellow LED’s
Indicators Clip 2 x Red LED’s
Indicators Signal Present 2 x Green LED’s

Rear Panel

Input Connectors 2 x Neutrik Combo, + 3 pin Phoenix
Output Connectors 2 x Neutrik Speakons
Clip Limiters Push Switch “ON”/ ”OFF” per Channel

Speakon¸ and Combº jack, are registered Trademarks of Neutrik AG Liechtenstein

MA1400 Amplifier

Century Point, Halifax Road, Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP12 3SL, England.

Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]

Web: www.martin-audio.com E-mail: [e-mail]

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MA1400 Amplifier

User’s Guide

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