QSC PL-9.0-PFC Brochure

FEATURES

PowerLight

he PowerLight™ 9.0
high power professional amplifiers, delivering over

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4500 watts/ch. at 2 ohms. At only 3RU, 19.5” deep,
and 59 lbs., the PowerLight 9.0
ratio of power to size and weight ever achieved by
a professional power amplifier.
QSC engineered this massive power output capacity
and compact size through several breakthroughs in
power supply technology and output circuit design.
Foremost among these is the first incorporation of
power factor correction (PFC) in an audio amplifier
power supply. PFC lowers average AC current
requirements by as much as 40% and peak

Guaranteed minumum specs

PFC

9.0

PFC

sets new standards in

PFC

has the highest

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requirements up to 80%, greatly reducing the strain
on AC distribution.
The amplifier also features line and load regulation,
making its peak power capacity immune to drops in
AC line voltage. Other power supply features include
true soft start and a frequency-invariant design that
operates on any AC line frequency.
The amplifier’s output circuit is equally innovative.
State-of-the-art high-speed components and large­die, N-channel MOSFETs combine with a four-tiered
DC supply to yield efficiency comparable to Class D
designs, but the audio circuitry operates in linear
mode for lowest distortion and noise.

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Highest continuous output
capacity of any audio amplifier

Highest output voltage swing of
any audio amplifier

First audio power amp with PFC.
PowerWavePFC™ Switching
Technology improves audio
performance and lowers AC
current requirements

Lowest AC current draw per watt
of output

Four-step Class H output for the
highest efficiency of any linear
amplifier

First Current Cell™, quasi­complementary full-bridge output
circuit using ultra-high power
N-channel MOSFETs

Ideal for powering subwoofers
and low frequency drivers or
high-power full-range systems

Zero inrush current at start-up
avoids tripping circuit breakers

Line and load regulation
maintains peak power output
despite AC fluctuations

Clip Limiter (user defeatable)—
reduces distortion, helps protect
loudspeakers

Unique clip-tracking circuitry
provides instant recovery and
maintains constant damping

Detented gain controls with
2 dB steps for easy resetting

Neutrik “Combo” (XLR & ¼”) and
Euro-style barrier balanced input
connectors

Stereo/bridge/parallel mode
switch

Custom-designed, extra large
“touchproof” binding post output
connectors—60A rating

Remote AC power control

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Data port for MultiSignal
Processor

3 year warranty PLUS optional
3 year extended service contract

1675 MacArthur Boulevard
Costa Mesa, California 92626-1468 USA
Ph: 714/754-6175 Fax: [phone]
Web: www.qscaudio.com E-mail: [e-mail]

Patents pending

PowerLight™

OUTPUT POWER (per channel)

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8 Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.2% THD, 1800 watts
4 Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.2% THD, 3200 watts
8 Ω, 1 kHz, 1% THD, 1950 watts
4 Ω, 1 kHz, 1% THD, 3400 watts
2 Ω, 1 kHz, 1% THD, 4500 watts

OUTPUT POWER (bridged mono)

16 Ω, 1 kHz, 1% THD, 3900 watts
8 Ω, 1 kHz, 1% THD, 6800 watts
4 Ω, 1 kHz, 1% THD, 9000 watts

DISTORTION (SMPTE-IM): less than 0.02%
DISTORTION (typical):

<0.03% THD, 8Ω, 20 Hz–2 kHz @ 1800 watts
<0.03% THD, 4Ω, 20 Hz–2 kHz @ 3200 watts
<0.05% THD, 2Ω, 20 Hz–2 kHz @ 4500 watts

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:

20 Hz to 20 kHz, ±0.15 dB

Specifications

2 Hz to 50 kHz, +0, -3 dB

DAMPING FACTOR:

(1 kHz and below)

2000 or greater

PFC

NOISE: 107 dB below rated output (20 Hz–20 kHz)
SENSITIVITY: 3.0 Vrms (+11.8 dBu) for rated power @ 8Ω

2.8 Vrms (+11.2 dBu) for rated power @ 4Ω

CONTROLS:

Front: AC switch, Ch. 1 and Ch. 2 gain knobs, Ch. 1 and Ch. 2 Clip Limiter switches
Rear: Parallel/Stereo/Bridge switch, Remote AC Control terminal strip

VOLTAGE GAIN: 40× (32 dB)
INPUT IMPEDANCE: 10K unbalanced, 20K balanced
INDICATORS: (each channel)

PROT: Red LED CLIP: Red LED
STANDBY: Yellow LED LEVEL -10 dB: Yellow LED
PWR-ON: Green LED LEVEL -20 dB Yellow LED

SIGNAL: Green LED

CONNECTORS:

Input: Euro-style terminal strip and Neutrik “Combo” XLR + ¼” TRS input
Output: “Touch-proof” binding posts, 60A rated; and Neutrik Speakon

COOLING:

Four variable-speed fans, rear-to-front air flow

AMPLIFIER PROTECTION:

PowerLight 9.0

Full short circuit, open circuit, thermal, ultrasonic, and RF protection. Stable into reactive or
mismatched loads.

LOAD PROTECTION:

On/off muting, DC-fault power supply shutdown.

OUTPUT CIRCUITRY:

N-channel MOSFET Current Cell™ full-bridge, four-step Class H output

POWER REQUIREMENTS: (120 VAC)

Multiply current by 0.5 for 230V units.

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1. Pink noise @ 1/8 of rated power represents typical audio program with minimal clipping.

2. Pink noise @ 1/3 of rated power represents audio program with heavy clipping.

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DIMENSIONS:

19” (48.3 cm) rack mounting

5.25” (13.3 cm) tall (3 rack spaces)

17.9” (45.5 cm) deep (behind front mounting rails)

1.6” (4.1 cm) in front of mounting rails

19.5“ (49.5 cm) overall depth

WEIGHT: 59 lbs (27 kg) net, 66 lbs (30 kg) shipping

†Output Averaging™ short circuit protection (US Patent 4,321,554)
SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

1675 MacArthur Blvd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 USA
Ph: 714/754-6175 Fax: [phone]
Web: www.qscaudio.com E-mail: [e-mail]

ARCHITECT’S AND ENGINEER’S SPECIFICATIONS

The amplifier shall contain all solid-state circuitry, using N-channel MOSFET
silicon output devices in a quasi-complementary full bridge configuration.
The amplifier shall employ a four-level class-H stepped rail structure and
shall exceed the efficiency of an ordinary class-B linear output circuit. The
amplifier shall operate from 50–60 Hz AC power. The amplifier shall draw
less than 2280 VA when driven with random program material at 1/8 rated
power into four ohm loads. The amplifier shall be supplied with an AC cord
having a standard twist-lock 30-ampere AC plug, NEMA L5-30, for 120 V
units and shall operate from a 30A outlet; 220–240 V units shall be equipped
with a 320-C19 16A IEC mains connector. The amplifier shall comply with
FCC part 15 Class A requirements.

Rear panel photo goes here

FPO

The amplifier shall employ forced-air cooling with variable speed fans for
minimum acoustic noise. The flow of air shall be from rear to front to avoid
temperature rise inside the equipment rack into which it is mounted. It
shall be possible to fully and safely operate one or more rack-mounted
amplifiers without empty space above, below, or in between them. The
amplifier shall be capable of continuous operation at 1/3 power into 4-ohm
loads in ambient temperatures up to 104°F (40°C).

The amplifier shall contain two independent amplifier channels, each with
separate and independent power-factor-corrected switching power sup­plies. The amplifier’s power supplies shall exhibit an AC line power factor
better than 0.99 at all output powers in excess of 500 watts. The 120V
units shall operate correctly on program material for line voltages of 80
volts to 135 volts when connected to a circuit nominally rated at 120 VAC,
and 230V units shall have a similar compliance range on 230 VAC circuits.

All amplifier protection systems shall be self-resetting upon removal or
cessation of the offending faults. Each channel shall have protective circuitry
against short circuit or mismatched loads. Each channel shall indepen­dently monitor heat sink temperature and shall adjust its fan speed to
reduce internal heat sink temperatures, and if necessary, shall initiate
signal muting to prevent excessive temperature rise. Both channels shall have
on-off muting, acting for two seconds after turn-on, and within ¼ second
after turn-off or loss of AC power. Each channel shall have DC fault protection
for the load, consisting of a shutdown of each amplifier channel’s power
supply. There shall be no relay contacts in series with the amplifier outputs.

On the front panel shall be the AC power switch; a green power-on LED
indicator; a yellow standby LED indicator and a red protect LED indicator.
Each channel shall have the following controls and displays: a front panel
detented gain control, with 11 gain settings: 32 dB, 30 dB, 28 dB, 26 dB,
24 dB, 22 dB, 20 dB, 18 dB, 14 dB, 8 dB, -∞; a recessed clip limiter defeat
switch; a green “signal present” LED triggering at -30 dB; two yellow LED
output indicators, triggering at -20 dB and -10 dB; a red LED showing true
amplifier clipping. Each channel shall have a user-defeatable clip limiter.

The output connectors for each channel shall be Neutrik® Speakon™ con­nectors in parallel with 60-ampere “touch-proof” binding posts, accepting
individual banana plugs or up to 4 AWG (6 mm) wire. Connector terminals
shall be arranged on one-inch centers to discourage the use of low power
connections and to comply with European safety codes.

The rear panel input shall provide barrier strip and Neutrik “Combo” con­nectors for each channel. The XLR input shall be wired with pin 2 positive,
pin 3 negative, and pin 1 shield; the ¼” TRS input shall be wired with tip
positive, ring negative, and sleeve grounded. Inputs shall be electronically
balanced, with a minimum impedance of 10 kilohms per side, and a common

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mode rejection of at least 50 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
A high-density 15-pin Data Port connector shall carry audio and amplifier

operational status signals to and from a QSC MultiSignal Processor.
A recessed slide switch on the rear panel shall allow selection of stereo,

bridging, or parallel operating modes. A two-position barrier strip on the
rear panel shall be used for remote control of the power supplies; making
an electrical connection between the terminals shall place both amplifier
channels in standby mode when the front panel power switch is in the “on”
position, while opening the connection causes the power supplies to re­sume operation. The front panel power switch shall function as a master
switch that removes all AC power.

Each channel shall be capable of meeting the following performance cri­teria with both channels driven: sine-wave output power of 1800 watts
into eight ohms, and 3200 watts into four ohms, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with less
than 0.2% THD. Frequency response at 3 dB below rated power shall be 20
Hz to 20 kHz, ±0.15 dB. The voltage gain shall be 40×, equivalent to 32 dB,
and the full-power input sensitivity for an 8-ohm load shall be 3 V
signal to noise ratio over the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz shall exceed 106 dB
relative to full output. IHF damping factor shall exceed 2000.

The amplifier chassis shall occupy three rack spaces, with provision for
securing and supporting the rear corners. Depth from mounting surface to
tips of rear supports shall be 17.9" (45.5 cm).

Weight shall not exceed 60 lbs (27.3 kg). The amplifier shall be the QSC
Audio Products PowerLight 9.0

PFC

.

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