O W N E R ' S M A N U A L
HCA-1201A High Current Power Amplifier
www.parasound.com
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Table of Contents
Important Safety Instructions ........................................................................................3
HCA-1201A Front and Rear Panel Drawings.................................................................4
Introduction .....................................................................................................................5
Installing and Rack Mounting Your Amplifier................................................................ 5
Ventilation Requirements for Your Amplifier.................................................................5
Making Connections to Your Amplifier .......................................................................... 6
Speaker Connections...................................................................................................... 6
AC Power Connections and AC Gr ounding .................................................................. 7
DC T rigger Connection.................................................................................................... 7
Operating Y our HCA-1201A ............................................................................................ 8
Maintaining Y our P arasound Amplifier .......................................................................... 8
In Case of Trouble............................................................................................................8
Parasound HCA-1201A Specifications..........................................................................9
Special Features for the Parasound HCA-1201A
THX Ultra certified by Lucasfilm Ltd.
280 VA Toroid Power Transformer
20,000 uF filter capacitance
Multiple polystyrene film bypass capacitors in power supply
Output relay can be activated with external DC source
Cascode Class A input stages with matched J-FET pairs
Complementary transistors in high voltage driver stage
12 ampere 50 MHz output transistors
Output transistors direct-coupled to speakers without LRC networks
Direct-coupled audio circuits with 0.8 Hz rolloff
High-bias Class A/AB operation
Gold-plated RCA input jacks
Multiple protection circuits
Glass epoxy circuit boards, double-sided for precision
Audiophile-grade AC power cord
The Parasound HCA-1201A is manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm and THX are trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd.
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
The lightning flash with the arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to
the presence of “dangerous voltage” inside the product that may constitute a risk of electric shock.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying the product.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL
1. Read Instructions — Read all the safety and operating instructions before operating this product.
2. Retain Instructions — Retain safety and operating instructions for future reference.
3. Heed Warnings — Adhere to all warnings on the product and in the operating instructions.
4. Follow Instructions — Follow all operating and use instructions.
5. Cleaning — Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. Clean the
outside of the product only.
6. Attachments — Do not use attachments that are not recommended by the product manufacturer; they may be
hazardous.
7. Water and Moisture — Do not use this product near water.
8. Accessories — Do not place this product on an unstable cart or stand. The product may fall causing bodily injury
and damage to the product. A product and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive
force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart to overturn.
9. Ventilation — Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable operation of the
product and to protect it from overheating. These openings must not be blocked or covered. This product should not
be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided.
10. Power Sources — Operate this product only from the type of power source indicated on the label. If you
are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your dealer or local power company. This product is
equipped with a three-prong grounding plug. This plug will only fit into a grounding power outlet. If you
are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the
safety purpose of the grounding plug.
11. Power Cord Protection — Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or
pinched by items placed upon or against them.
12. Lightning— Unplug the unit from the wall outlet for added protection during a lightning storm and when it is left
unattended and unused for long periods of time. This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power
line surges.
13. Overloading — Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords. This can result in a fire or electric shock.
14. Inserting Objects into Unit - Never push objects of any kind into this product through any openings; they may
touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in fire or electric shock.
15. Servicing — Do not attempt to repair or service this product yourself. Opening or removing covers may expose you
to dangerous voltage and other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
16. Damage Requiring Service — Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service
personnel under the following conditions: a) If the power-supply cord or plug is damaged. b) If liquid has been
spilled into the product. c) If the product has been exposed to rain or water. d) If the product does not operate
normally by following the operating instructions. e) If the product has been dropped or damaged in
any way. f) If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance.
17. Replacement Parts — When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement
parts specified by the manufacturer. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, and other hazards.
19. Safety Check — Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform
safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition.
20. Wall or Ceiling Mounting — Mount the product to a wall or ceiling only as recommended.
21. Heat — The product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, and other
products (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
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