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RB-985 MKII
FIVE CHANNEL POWER AMPLIFIER
AMPLIFICATEUR DE PUISSANCE À CINQ CANAUX
FÜNFKANAL-ENDSTUFE
AMPLIFICATORE DI POTENZA A CINQUE CANALI
ETAPA DE POTENCIA DE CINCO CANALES
MULTI CHANNEL
POWER AMPLIFIER
RB-985 MKII
PROTECTION
F/L CTR F/R
R/L R/R
POWER
Owner’s Manual
Guide d’utilisation
Bedienungsanleitung
Manuale di Istruzioni
Manual de Instrucciones
Page 2
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO
NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
APPLICABLE FOR USA, CANADA OR WHERE
APPROVED FOR THE USAGE
CAUTION: TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE
OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT. INSERT FULLY.
ATTENTION: POUR EVITER LES CHOCS ELECTRIQUES,
INTRODUIRE LA LAME LA PLUS LARGE DE LA FICHE
DANS LA BORNE CORRESPONDANTE DE LA PRISE ET
POUSSER JUSQU AU FOND.
WARNING:
There are no user serviceable parts inside. Refer all servicing to
qualified service personnel.
WARNING:
To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, do not expose the unit
to moisture or water. Do not allow foreign objects to get into the
enclosure. If the unit is exposed to moisture, or a foreign object
gets into the enclosure, immediately disconnect the power cord
from the wall. Take the unit to a qualified service person for inspection and necessary repairs.
Read all the instructions before connecting or operating the unit. Keep this
manual so you can refer to these safety instructions.
Heed all warnings and safety information in these instructions and on the
product itself. Follow all operating instructions.
Clean the unit only with a dry cloth or a vacuum cleaner.
This symbol is to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated dangerous
voltages inside the product's enclosure
that may constitute a risk of electric shock.
This symbol is to alert the user to important
operating and maintenance (service)
instructions in this manual and literature
accompanying the product.
You must allow 10cm, or 4 inches, of unobstructed clearance around the unit.
Do not place the unit on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface that could block the
ventilation slots. If the unit is placed in a bookcase or cabinet, there must be
sufficient clearance around the unit and ventilation of the cabinet to allow
proper cooling.
Keep the unit away from radiators, heat registers, stoves, or any other
appliance that produces heat.
The unit must be connected to a power supply only of the type and voltage
specified on the rear panel of the unit.
Connect the unit to the power outlet only with the supplied 2-pin polarized
power supply cable or an exact equivalent. Do not modify the supplied cable in
any way. Do not attempt to defeat grounding and/or polarization provisions. The
cable should be connected to a 2-pin polarized wall outlet, matching the wide
blade of the plug to the wide slot of the receptacle. Do not use extension cords.
Do not route the power cord where it will be crushed, pinched, bent at severe
angles, exposed to heat, or damaged in any way. Pay particular attention to the
power cord at the plug and where it exits the back of the unit.
The power cord should be unplugged from the wall outlet if the unit is to be left
unused for a long period of time.
Immediately stop using the unit and have it inspected and/or serviced by a
qualified service agency if:
• The power supply cord or plug has been damaged.
• Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled, into the unit.
• The unit has been exposed to rain.
• The unit shows signs of improper operation
• The unit has been dropped or damaged in any way
Place the unit on a fixed, level surface strong
enough to support its weight. Do not place the
unit on a moveable cart that could tip over.
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Figure 1: Controls and Connections
Commandes et prises
Bedienelemente und Anschlüsse
Controlli e collegamenti
Controles y Conexiones
FIVE CHANNEL POWER AMPLIFIER RB-985 MKII
MULTI CHANNEL
POWER AMPLIFIER
RB-985 MKII
PROTECTION
F/L CTR F/R
R/L R/R
POWER
5
RIGHT
SURROUND FRONT
Manufactured under license from
Lucasfilm Ltd. Lucasfilm and THX are
registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd.
POWER AMPLIFIER
MODEL NO. RB-985MKII
POWER CONSUMPTION: 800W
RIGHT
SURROUND
7
FRONT
1 32
5 56
INPUT
CENTER
SPEAKER IMPEDANCE
4 OHMS MINIMUM
SPEAKERS
CENTER
7 7
DB25 INPUT
WARNING:TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE
OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE
THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
LEFT
FRONT
SURROUND
LEFT
SURROUNDFRONT
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE–NE PAS OUVRIR
SERIAL NO.
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Figure 2: Preamp Input and Speaker Output Connections
Prises d’entrée du préamplificateur et prises de sortie des enceintes
Anschlußdiagramm (Cinch-Eingänge und Lautsprecher)
Collegamenti di ingresso dal preamplificatore e delle uscite dei diffusori.
Conexiones de la Señal de Entrada y Salidas a las Cajas Acústicas
PREAMPLIFIER OR SIGNAL PROCESSOR
OUTPUTS
L
R
FRONT
SURROUND
CENTER
RIGHT SURROUND
RIGHT
SURROUND FRONT
Manufactured under license from
Lucasfilm Ltd. Lucasfilm and THX are
registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd.
POWER AMPLIFIER
MODEL NO. RB-985MKII
POWER CONSUMPTION: 800W
RIGHT
SURROUND
FRONT
INPUT
CENTER
SPEAKER IMPEDANCE
4 OHMS MINIMUM
SPEAKERS
CENTER
RIGHT FRONT CENTER
DB25 INPUT
WARNING:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE
OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE
THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
LEFT
SURROUND
FRONT
ROTEL RB-985 MKII
LEFT
SURROUNDFRONT
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
AVIS:
RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE–NE PAS OUVRIR
SERIAL NO.
LEFT SURROUND
DO NOT OPEN
LEFT FRONT
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English
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Contents (circled numbers refer to illustration)
About Rotel __________________________________________ 1
About the THX Ultra™ System ________________________ 1
Getting Started ______________________________________ 2
A Few Precautions 2
Placement 2
Power and Control ___________________________________ 2
Power Input
Power Switch
Protection Circuitry
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1
and Power Indicator
3
2
Input Signal Connection ______________________________ 3
Input Signal Connection
DB25 Connector Input
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6
Speaker Connection __________________________________ 3
Speaker Selection 3
Speaker Wire Selection 3
Polarity and Phasing 3
Speaker Connection
7
Troubleshooting ______________________________________ 4
Front Panel Power Indicator Is Not Lit 4
Fuse Replacement 4
No Sound 4
Protection Indicator Is Lit 4
Specifications _______________________________________ 25
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About Rotel
A family whose passionate interest in music led them to manufacture high fidelity components of uncompromising quality founded
Rotel over 30 years ago. Through the years that passion has remained undiminished and the family goal of providing exceptional
value for audiophiles and music lovers, regardless of their budget,
is shared by all Rotel employees.
The engineers work as a close team, listening to, and fine tuning
each new product until it reaches their exacting musical standards. They are free to choose components from around the
world in order to make that product the best they can. You are
likely to find capacitors from the United Kingdom and Germany,
semi conductors from Japan or the United States, while toroidal
power transformers are manufactured in Rotel’s own factory.
Rotel’s reputation for excellence has been earned through hundreds of good reviews and awards from the most respected reviewers in the industry, who listen to music every day. Their
comments keep the company true to its goal – the pursuit of
equipment that is musical, reliable and affordable.
All of us at Rotel thank you for buying this product and hope it will
bring you many hours of enjoyment.
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About the THX Ultra™ System
THX is an exclusive set of standards and technologies established
by the world-renowned film production company, Lucasfilms Ltd.
THX grew from George Lucas' personal desire to make your experience of the film soundtrack, in both movie theaters and in your
home theater, as faithful as possible to what the director intended.
Movie sound tracks are mixed in special movie theaters called
dubbing stages and are designed to be played back in movie theaters with similar equipment and conditions. The soundtrack created for movie theaters is then transferred directly onto Laserdisc,
VHS tape, DVD, etc., and is not changed for playback in a small
home theater environment. THX engineers developed patented
technologies to accurately translate the sound from the movie
theater environment into the home, correcting the tonal and spatial errors that occur.
Before any home theater component can be THX Ultra certified, it
must incorporate the THX technologies and also pass a rigorous
series of quality and performance tests. Only then can a product
feature the THX Ultra logo, which is your guarantee that the Home
Theater products you purchase will give you superb performance
for many years to come.
Lucasfilm and THX are trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd.
All rights reserved
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FIVE CHANNEL POWER AMPLIFIER RB-985 MKII
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Getting Started
Thank you for purchasing the Rotel RB-985 MKII Power Amplifier.
When used in a high-quality music or home theater system, it will
provide years of musical enjoyment.
The RB-985 MKII is a high-power, five-channel power amplifier,
providing the highest level of audio performance. Discrete output
devices, a massive power supply, premium components, and
Rotel’s Balanced Design ensure superb sound quality. High current capability allows the RB-985 MKII to drive the most demanding loudspeakers.
Be aware that the RB-985 MKII is capable of high power levels, in
excess of 100 watts per channel. Make sure that your speakers
can handle the power of the RB-985 MKII. If in doubt about your
speakers, ask your authorized Rotel dealer for advice.
The RB-985 MKII is straightforward in its installation and operation. If you have experience with other stereo power amplifiers,
you shouldn’t find anything perplexing. Connect some high-quality
RCA cables to your preamp or signal processor and the RB-985
MKII inputs, wire up your speakers, and enjoy.
A Few Precautions
Please read this manual carefully. In addition to basic installation
and operating instructions, it provides valuable information on
system configuration, as well as general information that will help
you get optimum performance from your system. Please contact
your authorized Rotel audio retailer for answers to any questions
you might have. In addition, all of us at Rotel welcome your questions and comments.
Save the RB-985 MKII shipping carton and all enclosed packing
material for future use. Shipping or moving the RB-985 MKII in
anything other than the original packing material may result in severe damage to your amplifier.
Fill out and send in the owner’s registration card packed with the
RB-985 MKII. Also be sure to keep the original sales receipt. It is
your best record of the date of purchase, which you will need in
the event warranty service is ever required.
Placement
The RB-985 MKII generates heat as part of its normal operation.
The heat sinks and ventilation openings in the amplifier are designed to dissipate this heat. The ventilation slots in the top cover
must be open. There should be 10 cm (4 inches) of clearance
around the chassis, and reasonable airflow through the installation location, to prevent the amplifier from overheating.
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Power and Control
Power Input
Because of its high power rating, the RB-985 MKII can draw considerable current. Therefore, it should be plugged directly into a 2pin polarized wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord. A heavy
duty multi-tap power outlet strip may be used if it (and the wall
outlet) is rated to handle the current demanded by the RB-985
MKII and all the other components connected to it.
Be sure the power switch on the front panel of the RB-985 MKII is
turned off (in the out position). Connect the supplied power cord
to the power input receptacle on the back of the RB-985 MKII.
Then, plug the other end of the power cord to the power outlet.
Your RB-985 MKII is configured at the factory for the proper AC
line voltage in the country where you purchased it (either 115
volts AC or 230 volts AC with a line frequency of either 50 Hz or 60
Hz). The AC line configuration is noted on a decal on the back
panel.
Note: Should you move your RB-985 MKII amplifier to another
country, it is possible to reconfigure your amplifier for use on a
different line voltage. Do not attempt to perform this conversion
yourself. Opening the enclosure of the RB-985 MKII exposes you
to dangerous voltages. Consult a qualified service person or the
Rotel factory service department for information.
If you are going to be away from home for an extended period of
time such as a month-long vacation, it is a sensible precaution to
unplug your amplifier (as well as other audio and video components) while you are away.
Power Switch 1 and Power Indicator
The power switch is located on the front panel of your amplifier.
To turn the amplifier on, push the switch in. The LED indicator
above the switch will light, indicating that the amplifier is turned
on. To turn the amplifier off, push the button again and return it to
the out position.
Protection Circuitry
The RB-985 MKII features a thermal protection circuit that protects the amplifier against potential damage in the event of extreme or faulty operating conditions. Unlike many designs, the
RB-985 MKII’s protection circuit is independent of the audio signal
and has no impact on sonic performance. Instead, the protection
circuit monitors the temperature of the output devices and shuts
down the amplifier if temperatures exceed safe limits.
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2
Likewise, remember the weight of the amplifier when you select
an installation location. Make sure that the shelf or cabinet can
support its considerable bulk. Again, use common sense.
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English
Most likely, you will never see this protection circuitry in action.
However, should a faulty condition arise, the amplifier will stop
playing and an LED indicator on the front panel will light up.
If this happens, turn the amplifier off, let it cool down for several
minutes, and attempt to identify and correct the problem that
caused the protection circuitry to engage. When you turn the amplifier back on, the protection circuit will automatically reset and
the indicator LED should go out.
In most cases, the protection circuitry activates because of a fault
condition such as shorted speaker wires, or inadequate ventilation leading to an overheating condition. In very rare cases, highly
reactive or extremely low impedance speaker loads could cause
the protection circuit to engage.
If the protection circuitry triggers repeatedly and you are unable
to isolate and correct the faulty condition, contact your Rotel audio retailer for assistance in troubleshooting.
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Input Signal Connection
[See Figure 2 for wiring illustration.]
The RB-985 MKII has conventional RCA type input connectors, the
type found on nearly all audio equipment.
Note: Do not connect inputs to both the RCA and DB25 inputs.
(See the following section.) Use one or the other.
Note: To prevent loud noises that neither you nor your speakers
will appreciate, make sure the amplifier is turned off when you
make any signal connections.
Use high quality audio interconnect cables. Connect the various
outputs of your preamplifier or signal processor to the corresponding inputs of the RB-985 MKII . Check these connections
carefully to be sure there are no incorrect connections.
DB25 Connector Input
The RB-985 MKII is also equiped with a DB25 type input. This input
is typically only used in professionally-installed custom systems.
The DB25 input duplicates the function of the five RCA inputs. For
information regarding how to use this input, contact your nearest
authorized Rotel service center.
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Speaker Connection
Speaker Selection
We recommend using loudspeakers with a nominal impedance of
4 ohms or higher with the RB-985 MKII. You should exercise some
caution in driving multiple pairs of speakers in parallel configuration, because the effective impedance the amplifier sees is cut in
half. For example, when driving two pair of 8 ohm speakers, the
amplifier sees a 4 ohm load. When driving multiple speakers in
parallel, it is recommended that you select speakers with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms or higher. Speaker impedance ratings
are less than precise. In practice, very few loudspeakers will
present any problems for the RB-985 MKII. See your authorized
Rotel dealer if you have any questions.
Speaker Wire Selection
Use insulated two-conductor stranded wire to connect the RB-985
MKII to the speakers. The size and quality of the wire can have an
audible effect on the performance of the system. Standard
speaker wire will work, but can result in lower output or diminished bass response, particularly over longer distances. In general, heavier wire will improve the sound. For best performance,
you may want to consider special high-quality speaker cables.
Your authorized Rotel dealer can help in the selection of appropriate cables for your system.
Polarity and Phasing
The polarity — the positive/negative orientation of the connections — for every speaker and amplifier connection must be consistent so all the speakers will be in phase. If the polarity of one
connection is mistakenly reversed, bass output will be very weak
and stereo imaging degraded. All wire is marked so you can identify the two conductors. There may be ribs or a stripe on the insulation of one conductor. The wire may have clear insulation with
different color conductors (copper and silver). There may be polarity indications printed on the insulation. Identify the positive
and negative conductors and be consistent with every speaker
and amplifier connection.
Speaker Connection
The RB-985 MKII has five pairs of color coded binding posts on
the back panel. These connectors accept bare wire, connector
lugs, or dual banana type connectors (except in the European
Community countries where their use is not permitted).
The negative connectors for all the channels are black. The positive connectors for the right front and surround speakers are red.
The positive connectors for the left front and surround speakers
are blue. The positive connector for the center speaker is green.
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FIVE CHANNEL POWER AMPLIFIER RB-985 MKII
Route the wire from the RB-985 MKII to the speakers. Give yourself enough slack so you can move the components enough to allow access to the speaker connectors.
If you are using dual banana plugs, connect them to the wires and
then plug into the backs of the binding posts. The hexagonal
thumbscrews of the binding posts should be screwed in all the
way (clockwise).
If you are using terminal lugs, connect them to the wires. If you
are attaching bare wires directly to the binding posts, separate
the wire conductors and strip back the insulation from the end of
each conductor. Be careful not to cut into the wire strands. Unscrew (turn counterclockwise) the binding post hexagonal thumbscrews. Place the connector lug or wire around the binding post
shaft. Turn the hexagonal thumbscrews clockwise to clamp the
connector lug or wire firmly in place.
Note:
Be sure there are no loose wire strands that could touch
adjacent wires or connectors.
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Troubleshooting
Most difficulties in audio systems are the result of poor or wrong
connections, or improper control settings. If you encounter problems, isolate the area of the difficulty, check the control settings,
determine the cause of the fault and make the necessary
changes. If you are unable to get sound from the RB-985 MKII, refer to the suggestions for the following conditions:
Front Panel Power Indicator Is Not Lit
No main power to the RB-985 MKII. Check the front panel power
switch. Make sure that it is set to the on position. Check power
connections at the amplifier and the outlet.
Fuse Replacement
If everything checks out correctly and you still cannot get the amplifier to turn on, the internal power fuse may have blown. If you
believe this has happened, contact your authorized Rotel dealer
for information on where to take your amplifier to get the fuse replaced.
No Sound
If the amp is getting power, but is producing no sound, check the
Protection indicator on the front panel. If it is lit, see below. If not,
check all of your connections and control settings on associated
components.
Protection Indicator Is Lit
The front panel indicator lights when the RB-985 MKII protection
circuits have shut off the amplifier. Typically, this occurs only
when the ventilation openings are blocked, when there is faulty
speaker wiring, or after a period of extreme use. Turn off the system and wait for the amp to cool. Then push the front panel power
switch in and out to reset the protection devices. If the problem is
not corrected or reoccurs, there is a problem with the system or
the amplifier itself.
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RB-985 MKII
FIVE CHANNEL POWER AMPLIFIER
AMPLIFICATEUR DE PUISSANCE À CINQ CANAUX
FÜNFKANAL-ENDSTUFE
FINALE DI POTENZA MULTICANALE
ETAPA DE POTENCIA DE CINCO CANALES
The Rotel Co. Ltd.
10-10 Shinsen-Cho
Shibuya-Ku
Tokyo 150-0045
Japan
Phone: +81-3-5458-5325
Fax: +81-3-5458-5310
082 OMRB-985 MKII 033199
Rotel of America
54 Concord Street
North Reading, MA 01864-2699
USA
Phone: +1 978-664-3820
Fax: +1 978-664-4109
Rotel Europe
Meadow Road
Worthing, West Sussex BN11 2RX
England
Phone: +44 1903-524-813
Fax: +44 1903-524-831
Rotel Deutschland
Kleine Heide 12
D-33790 Halle/Westf.
Germany
Phone: +49 5201-87170
Fax: +49 5201-73370
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