PS Audio UPC-200 Owners manual

Owner’s Reference

Instructions for use

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

UPC Power Center

Document 15-040-01-1

Introduction i

Introduction

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

Important Safety Instructions

Heed all warnings Follow all instructions

WARNING. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

Clean only with a dry cloth.

Do not place ﬂ ammable material on top of or beneath the component.

All PS Audio components require adequate ventilation at all times during operation. Rack mounting is acceptable where appropriate.

Do not remove or bypass the ground pin on the end of the AC cord unless absolutely necessary to reduce hum from ground loops of connected equipment. This may cause RFI (radio frequency interference) to be induced into your playback setup. All PS products ship with a grounding type plug. If the provided plug does not ﬁ t into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

Read these instructions

When making connections to this or any other component, make sure all components are off. Turn off all systems’ power before connecting the PS Audio component to any other component. Make sure all cable terminations are of the highest quality.

There are no fuses inside this product.

THERE ARE NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE ANY PS AUDIO PRODUCT. REFER ALL SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL

Please contact your authorized dealer, distributor, or PS Audio if you have any questions not addressed in this reference manual.

This product is manufactured in the United States of America. PS Audio restricted for use by PS Audio International, Inc., its subsidiaries, and authorized agents.

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

is a registered trademark of PS Audio International Inc., and is

Introduction ii

Table Of Contents

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

Introduction

Getting Started

Quick Start Guide

Questions and Answers

Troubleshooting

Warranty

Service

2 - 3

4 - 5

6 - 7

8 - 9

10 - 11

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Table Of Contens iii

Introduction

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

Thank you for your purchase of the PS Audio UPC-200 Power Center.

What will it do?

Cleaning and Isolation

Use separately or together

Surge and spike protection

What you can expect

The UPC-200 is designed to provide AC cleaning, isolation and complete protection from surges, spikes and power line problems from the AC power line.

The UPC-200 is based on PS Audio’s unique Ultimate PowerCell™ technology. Ultimate PowerCells combine an energy store and release system coupled with a low resistance inductive cleaning element that provides cleaner, low impedance, non-restricting AC power to the load. Ultimate PowerCells also provide noise isolation from equipment connected to them.

There are two Ultimate PowerCells in each UPC-200 and they can be used as separate zones with isolation from each other or together to provide a higher current, lower impedance path to your equipment.

Surge and spike protection is provided by non-degrading multiple Tranzorbers backed up by high current MOV’s. Tranzorbers eliminate 99% of all surges and spikes that occur on the line and these Tranzorbers will continue to keep your equipment safe for many years to come. Unlike MOV’s, Tranzorbers are non-degrading. In the unlikely event the surge or spike is large enough to potentially damage the Tranzorbers in the UPC, protection circuitry within the UPC will engage the backup MOV’s and disconnect your equipment from the power line. In this way, MOV’s are rarely used and then only for backup purposes.

You can expect 100% safe operation for any connected equipment along with improved performance. The UPC-200 used either as two Ultimate PowerCells feeding separate pieces of equipment, or as a single ultra high current device, will improve both video and audio performance of any connected system.

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Introduction iv

Getting Started

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

Location

Cautions

Isolation

Power Cables

Conditioners

Once your new UPC-200 is unpacked, you’ll need to ﬁ nd a convenient place to set it.

There are several ways to mount the UPC-200: on a rack shelf, on the ﬂ oor behind the equipment, or simply on a shelf next to the powered equipment.

If the UPC-200 is to be placed on the ﬂ oor or carpet, make sure the unit is not going to come in contact with water or cleaning solvents.

The UPC-200 can beneﬁ t from aftermarket isolation devices such as cones, spikes and Sorbothane pads.

Once you have chosen the location for the UPC-200 you can use the supplied AC power cord to connect it to the AC wall receptacle or you can use an aftermarket power cord and receptacle.

We strongly recommend the use of a PS Audio xStream Power receptacle to feed the UPC-200 power. While the supplied power cable is adequate for the task it is not going to provide the best performance. Choosing any xStream Power cable will make a signiﬁ cant performance improvement over the stock power cable.

If you are using additional power conditioning equipment, such as a PS Audio Power Plant, it is recommended that the UPC-200 be placed after the Power Plant and used to isolate equipment connected and powered by the Power Plant.

™ AC cable and a PS Power Port™ AC

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Getting Started 1

Quick Start Guide

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

Once you have decided on the location and chosen the appropriate power cables, you are ready to install the UPC-200.

The UPC-200 has two modes of operation: dual zone or ultra high current. Choose which mode is appropriate for your situation and adjust the bottom mounted switch accordingly.

Dual Zone

High Current

Choose dual zone mode if you need to isolate equipment from each other. Examples would be analog sources and digital sources. Analog sources might be a preampliﬁ er, phono stage or analog power ampliﬁ er. Digital sources might be a CD player or a D to A converter. Choose dual zone if you wish to power two or more different items on the UPC-200.

We also recommend using the dual zone mode when powering two separate ampliﬁ ers.

You can select High Current mode on the bottom of the UPC-200 if you wish to power a large ampliﬁ er, projector, or any piece of AV equipment that consumes a lot of power. Each zone of the UPC-200 can handle a 15 amp load, but it is recommended that if you have a large power draw piece of equipment that you combine both Zone 1 and Zone 2 to create a single high current zone.

A power ampliﬁ er rated at 300 watts per channel or higher would be a good candidate for a single high current zone. A projector or other device that is rated at 600 watts or higher would also be a good candidate for a single high current zone.

Both Power Ports with be tied together and are in parallel when using the High Current mode. This means that Zone 1 and Zone 2 will be the same when in High Current mode.

Turn off

Remove the power cord

Insert the UPC

Turn off the unit you are going to power with the UPC-200. We recommend turning all equipment in the system off or to standby mode when powering down the unit you wish to power with the UPC-

200.

Remove the power cord that was powering your AV unit from its power source. The power source could be a wall AC receptacle, the output of a power conditioner, surge and spike protector or a Power Plant AC regenerator.

Insert the UPC-200 into the system. Plug the UPC-200 into the power source using the AC power cable you selected. It is advisable to use as short a power cable as possible to the UPC-200. We do not recommend plugging the UPC-200 into an extension strip or plug extender unless it is of the highest quality and heavy duty design, such as the PS Audio Juice Bar or device with similar properties.

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Quick Start Guide 2

Quick Start Guide

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

Connect the power

Avoid switched outlets

Connect your equipment

If the AC power source is a balanced transformer or Power Plant, plug the UPC-200 into the output of the transformer or Power Plant.

Once the UPC-200 has been connected to the power source, make sure that power source is energized and providing AC power to the UPC-200.

If you are using an AC wall receptacle to power the UPC-200, make sure the AC receptacle is not a switched outlet. Switched outlets are those outlets that can be turned on/off with the wall switch. It is advisable to leave the UPC 200 powered at all times.

Once the UPC-200 has been powered, plug your AV equipment into one of the two the AC receptacles on the UPC-200. Make sure to use a high quality aftermarket AC power cable to power your equipment from the UPC-200. It is important to note that the AC power cable is a critical link in the chain and great care should be taken to ensure only the best non-restrictive AC power cable is used to power both the UPC 200 and your AV equipment.

Turn your equipment back on. Make sure everything is powered up properly with the UPC-200 between the AC receptacle and your AV equipment.

At this point you should be ready to enjoy the beneﬁ ts of clean safe power provided by the UPC-

200.

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Quick Start Guide 3

Questions And Answers

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

Should the unit be on all the time?

Are there any internal fuses?

Is the AC receptacle important?

Placement?

The UPC-200 is best left powered on at all times. The current draw is negligible and keeping it powered on will make sure the internal AC capacitors stay working properly.

There is no harm in leaving the unit on at all times as the lifespan of the UPC 200 will be unaffected by leaving it on.

There are no user replaceable internal fuses inside the UPC-200. There is a user replaceable surge board. The components inside the UPC-200 have lethal voltages when powered and even when unpowered. Capacitors inside the UPC-200 can retain an electrical charge after the unit has been powered down. Do not attempt to get inside the unit for any reason unless instructed to do so by your dealer or an authorized service representative. Should the UPC-200 cease to function, contact your dealer or PS Audio’s service center for help.

The AC receptacle is a critical link in the electrical chain. If you are using a standard AC wall receptacle to power your equipment, we would recommend the use of a Power Port AC receptacle, a hospital grade AC receptacle or at the minimum a high quality spec grade receptacle. The connection between the wall AC receptacle and your equipment can be a critical link in the success of your equipment’s performance.

Placement of the UPC-200 is not critical.

Placement with respect to other equipment can be important. In general, place the UPC 200 between the unit you are powering and the AC source. If you are using a power conditioner, balanced isolation transformer or Power Plant, place the UPC 200 between those devices and the unit you will be powering.

Isolation?

Multiple UPC’s

Isolation through the use of spikes, cones or Sorbothane feet is recommended for the UPC-200 if space and budget allows. Isolation of any piece of high-end stereo and theater equipment is always recommended wherever practical.

Using multiple UPC-200 ’s in series with each other will increase the degree of noise reduction. However, we do not recommend the use of multiple UPC 200 devices for audio purposes as the impedance presented by the device will go above levels recommended for optimal audio quality. Multiple UPC 200 devices in series can work very nicely for video sources.

What voltages can I run the UPC 200 on and how much power will

The UPC-200 is speciﬁ c to your country’s voltage. Do not use the UPC-200 on a voltage higher than it is rated for. For instance, do not take a 120 volt rated UPC 200 and attempt to use it in a 220 volt country. Failure to observe this cautionary note will void your warranty. If you need to operate the UPC-200 at a voltage other than the voltage it was designed for, contact your dealer, distributor or the

it handle?

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Questions and Answers 4

Questions And Answers

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

factory for the proper surge board. The internal surge board is a plug-in board that will accept either 120 volt or 220 volt surge boards from the factory. Once the proper surge board is installed, the UPC200 may be operated at any voltage, appropriate to the board.

The UPC-200 is non-current limiting and may be used with any sized power ampliﬁ er, projector or source equipment in your system. It is recommended the UPC 200 be used separately in the high current mode (bottom mounted switch) if the load is a big one, such as a large power ampliﬁ er or projector. Multiple source equipment may be connected to a single UPC-200 if desired, and for this application we recommend the Dual Zone mode (bottom mounted switch).

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Questions and Answers 5

Troubleshooting

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

No power comes through the unit

No AC in

Switched receptacle

Internal surge board died

If no power comes out of the UPC-200 it probably indicates no power is going into the UPC-200. There are no internal fuses. Check the front panel of the UPC-200 to see if the power light is lit. If it is not, and no power is coming from the outlets of the UPC-200, there are several possibilities:

You are not giving the UPC power

Plug your AV unit into the same power source as the UPC-200 to test. Another possibility is the line cord. Swap line cords and make sure the unit has power. Sometimes the line cord feeding the UPC-200 is not functioning properly. Test both cords if necessary.

If the UPC-200 and its powered equipment lose power mysteriously chances are pretty good that you have the UPC-200 connected to a switched receptacle on the wall or the back of a receiver or a power conditioner. Switched AC receptacles are those receptacles that are controlled by a wall mounted power switch and are typically intended to be used to power on/off a lamp in the room. Most times these receptacles are unmarked and inadvertent switching on or off of the power switch can cause a lot of headaches trying to track down the reason your new equipment does not power up. Most switched receptacles are on the top AC receptacle in a two gang box. Always use the lower receptacle on the wall port if you are unsure.

The internal surge protector board has died

If there is a surge too large for the UPC-200’s internal surge protector to handle, the UPC-200 will disconnect your equipment from the AC line. Therefore, no power will be delivered through the UPC200 rear mounted outlets.

If you have determined the UPC-200 does not pass power, after performing the above tests, turn to the service section of this manual for details on receiving service.

If the results are less than expected

Upgrade the power cables

Use heavier gauge cables

If you do not hear or see a signiﬁ cant improvement in your system’s performance, there are several possibilities:

You have not upgraded the power cables

Whenever you place any piece of equipment in line with the AC power you add another power cable. So, even if the new unit did nothing to improve the AC power, the mere act of adding two power cables in series with each other can have a deleterious effect on performance. It is, therefore, critical that the two power cords be of a higher quality and larger gauge then the original if possible. Use shorter power cables of high quality so that the total length of the two power cables equals the original length of the one power cable. i.e. two 1 meter cables with the UPC 200 between them, relative to a single 2 meter cable plugged directly into the wall.

Use heavier gauge power cables

A typical power cable is 14 gauge and can constrict or limit the power delivery to and from the UPC-

200. The heavier the wire gauge of the power cables connecting the UPC-200 to the wall, the better. The same rule applies to the output of the UPC-200, heavier gauge power cables are better.

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Troubleshooting 6

Troubleshooting

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

Break in

Expectations

Video results

You have not allowed the unit to break in properly

All high-end audio and video equipment needs a period to break in. Break in periods of up to two weeks are not uncommon, however the average we suggest is 24 hours. To break in the unit, all you need to do is have it plugged into an AC power source and powering a piece of equipment.

Your expectations do not match the results

Expectations are a funny thing. If you are not expecting much, you’re usually quite happy with any result at all and the opposite is equally true. The UPC-200 will lower the apparent noise ﬂ oor of recordings, improve the harmonic structure of instruments and increase depth and ambience. If you expect 1000 veils to be removed from your system, you’ll most likely be disappointed. The improvements are subtle to dramatic depending on your system’s resolving power and program material. We suggest you listen for signs of improvement on music featuring non-complex music containing a lot of upper harmonics, such as acoustic guitar, piano, human voice, light orchestral pieces.

Video will also have a lower noise ﬂ oor and this will be displayed as apparent blacker blacks, richer colors and a more three dimensional image. Again, these can range from subtle to dramatic depending on the quality of the power line in the ﬁ rst place and the resolution of the video source.

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Troubleshooting 7

Warranty

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Conditions

PS Audio warrants the product designated herein to be free of manufacturing defects in material and workmanship, subject to the following conditions, for a period of three (3) years from the date of purchase by the original purchaser or date of shipment to the authorized PS Audio dealer, whichever comes ﬁ rst.

This Warranty is subject to the following conditions and limitations: the Warranty is void and

inapplicable if the product has been used or handled other than in accordance with the instructions in the owner’s manual, abused, or misused, damaged by accident or neglect or in being transported, or the defect is due to the product being repaired or tampered with by anyone other than PS Audio or an authorized PS Audio repair center.

a. The product must be packaged and returned to PS Audio or an authorized PS

Audio repair center by the customer at his or her sole expense in the original packing material. PS Audio will pay return freight of its choice for original purchasers.

b. Return Authorization Number (RA Number) is required before any product is returned

to our factory for any reason. This number must be visible on the exterior of the shipping container for PS Audio to accept the return. Units shipped to us without a Return Authorization Number or without a visible RA Number on the exterior of the shipping container will be returned to the sender, freight collect.

c. RETURNED PRODUCT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

OF THE DEFECT.

PS Audio reserves the right to modify the design of any product without obligation to

purchasers of previously manufactured products and to change the prices or speciﬁ cations of any product without notice or obligation to any person.

Remedy

Transfer of Warranty

In the event the product fails to meet this Warranty and the above conditions have been met,

the purchaser’s sole remedy under this Limited Warranty shall be to return the product to PS Audio or an authorized PS Audio repair center where the defect will be repaired without charge for parts or labor.

This Warranty is for the beneﬁ t of the original purchaser of the covered product and may be

transferred to a subsequent purchaser of the product.

Extended warranty policies:

1. By submitting the registration card, via mail or internet, within 90 days of purchase, the warranty period will be extended to 5-years from the date of purchase.

2. If outside of the 90-day window of purchase, a 2-year extended warranty can be

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Warranty 8

Warranty

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

purchased for any PS Audio product within the original 3-year warranty period for a fee of $50.

3. To qualify for the extended warranty the Product must be purchased through an authorized PS Audio dealer or distributor and you must present a written receipt.

4. All of the policies of the extended warranty are the same as the limited warranty

Miscellaneous

This warranty does not cover the cost of custom installation, customer instruction, setup adjustments or signal reception problems.

This warranty does not cover cosmetic damage or any damage due to accident, misuse, abuse, negligence or modiﬁ cation of, or to any part of the Product, without initial express consent from PS Audio. This warranty does not cover damage due to improper operation or maintenance, connection to improper voltage supply, or attempted repair by anyone other than a facility authorized by PS Audio to service the Product.

This warranty is invalid if the factory applied serial number has been altered or removed from the Product.

To locate the servicer or dealer nearest you, or for service assistance or resolution of a service problem, or for product information or operation, call or email PS Audio.

ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE ABOVE PRODUCT SHALL BE LIMITED

TO THE DURATION OF THIS WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY DOES NOT EXTEND TO ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL COSTS OR DAMAGES TO THE PURCHASER. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or an exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This Warranty gives you speciﬁ c legal rights, and you may also have other rights that vary from state to state.

Inquiries regarding the above Limited Warranty may be sent to the following address: PS

Audio International, Inc., 4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80301 ATTN: Customer Service; Email: customerservice@psaudio.com; Voice 720-406-8946; FAX: 720-406-8967.

Outside the US

PS Audio has authorized distribution in many countries of the world. In each country, the authorized importing retailer or distributor has accepted the responsibility for warranty of products sold by that retailer or distributor. Warranty service should normally be obtained from the importing retailer or distributor from whom you purchased your product. In the unlikely event of service required beyond the capability of the importer, PS Audio will fulﬁ ll the conditions of the warranty. Such product must be returned at the owner’s expense to the PS Audio factory, together with a photocopy of the bill of sale for that product, a detailed description of the problem, and any information necessary for return shipment.

4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301

PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Warranty 9

Service

Owner’s Reference UPC Power Center

If you require service in North America

Obtain an RA number

Contact information

If you are in the United States or Canada

In the unlikely event there is a problem with your PS Audio component, please contact your dealer, distributor, or the PS Audio corporate research center to discuss the problem before you return the component to our California manufacturing facilities for repair. Products shipped to either the factory or the corporate research facilities will be refused and returned freight collect if not accompanied by a PS Audio Service Department issued return authorization number (RA Number).

Return authorization numbers must be prominently displayed on the outside of the box and an accompanying letter describing the problem and re-listing the RA number must be inside the box to qualify for service.

If you are transferring your warranty, you must ﬁ rst contact PS Audio or your dealer or distributor for details.

To contact the PS Audio Service Department:

TELEPHONE 720-406-8946 HOURS Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm MST FAX 720-406-8967 E-MAIL service@psaudio.com WEBSITE http://www.psaudio.com

If you are in the United States or Canada use the following procedure:

1. Obtain a Return Authorization Number (R/A number) and shipping address from the PS Audio Service Department.

2. Insure and accept all liability for loss or damage to the product during shipment to the PS Audio factory and ensure all freight (shipping) charges are prepaid.

The product may also be hand delivered to the California or Colorado facilities if arrangements with the Service Department have been made in advance. Proof of purchase will be required for warranty validation at the time of hand delivery.

Use original packing

If you are outside the US or Canada

Use the original packaging to ensure the safe transit of the product to the factory, dealer, or distributor. PS Audio may, at its discretion, return a product in new packaging and bill the owner for such packaging if the product received by PS Audio was boxed in nonstandard packaging or if the original packaging was so damaged to the point it was unusable. If PS Audio determines that new packaging is required, the owner will be notiﬁ ed before the product is returned.

To purchase additional packaging, please contact your authorized PS Audio dealer, distributor, or the PS Audio Service Department for assistance.

If you are outside the United States or Canada and require service you must contact your country’s dealer or distributor for instructions. PS Audio warranties its products (see warranty section) worldwide.

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PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com

Service 10

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PS Audio UPC-200 Owners manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual