Soundstream AirBass, BLT4, DaVinci User Manual

I) A

Limited

N C

Edition

Seven

Channel

Balanced Input Amplifier

OWNER’S MANUAL AND

INSTALLATION GUIDE

SOUNDSTREAM@

CONGRA TULA

TIONS!

You now own

the

Limited Edition

DaVinci amplifier, the product of an uncompromising design and

engineering philosophy. Your Limited Edition DaVinci amplifier will outperform any other amplifier in the world.

To maximize the performance of your system, we recommend that you thoroughly acquaint yourself with its capabilities and features.

Please retain this manual and your sales and installation receipts for future

reference. Soundstream amplifiers are the result of American craftsmanship and the highest quality control standards,

and when properly installed, will provide you with many years of listening pleasure. Should your amplifier ever need service or replacement due to theft, please record the following information, which will help protect your investment.

Serial # Dealer’s Name Date of Purchase Installation Shop Installation Date

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

..~................................~.~..~.~~.........~.....~................................~..........

4-5

DaVinci Diagram

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-....................................................

6-7

Limited Edition

BLT4TM

Balanced Line Transmitter

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8-9

Selecting Crossover Modes

......................................................................................................

Selecting Input Modes ..............................................................................................................

Wiring .......................................................................................................................................

Installation and Mounting

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Crossover Adjustments

. . . . . . . . . . . . ..I..............................................................................................

Level Setting

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.....

LSE.Q Subwoofer Equalization Circuitry

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

..~......

A/RBASSTM

Accessory Option

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sample Systems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

..-

I..~............................,..............

18-21

Protection Circuitry, Troubleshooting & Service

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

..-

. . ..-..-...........................

Specifications

...

l Uncompromising Design and Construction including mil-spec glass epoxy circuit boards and high

current, custom gold-plated, solid aluminum connections that will accept up to l/O gauge power/ground wire.

l Auto High

CurrentTM

(subwoofer channel only) - Soundstream’s exclusive circuit which automatically

optimizes your amplifier to its particular application

High Current, low impedance loads (multiple

sub-

woofers, less than 2 ohms) or High Power, higher impedance loads (2 ohms and up).

l Continuously Variable Electronic Crossover

Continuously variable 4, 3 or 2-way crossovers with

12 dB/octave high pass and bandpass filters, and a 24 dB/octave subwoofer low pass filter. The six

non-subwoofer channels of the DaVinci amplifier can be used to drive almost any conceivable system!

l Rear Channel De-emphasis

In 2 or 3-way mode, Channels

3&4

of the DaVinci amplifier can be used for rear fill, and include a de-emphasis contour filter; a circuit based on theater surround technology in which rear fill information is rolled off at 6 dB/octave with a -3 dB point at 7,000 Hz to provide a more realistic listening experience.

PowerGrid

Power Supply Design - All power supply components are located near one another, for

the shortest possible current path and are connected by thick, wide PCB traces, which ensure rapid, high current delivery.

Ultra-Low ESR Capacitance Bank - Multiple miniature “stiffening” capacitors ensure rapid power de-

livery for dynamic peaks.

Multiple small input power capacitors are used to provide a lower ESR

(Equivalent Series Resistance), which means more power, faster.

Proprietary

Vari-quietTM

Fan Cooling

Internal Heat Sinking and thermostat controlled fan system

maintain safe operating temperatures.

Smart Thermal

RollbackTM -

Most amplifiers shut off when they get too hot.

In the unlikely event the DaVinci amplifier reaches 85” C, it will gradually roll back its average power (without affecting the dynamics). Once the amplifier has cooled off, it returns to full power output. If overheating should continue, a second thermal sensing protection circuit will shut off the amplifier if the heatsink reaches 95” c.

Unregulated Power Supply - 4 ohm power ratings are measured at 12 volts, which means substantially greater output in the real world when the vehicle is running, where voltages range from 13.6 to

14.4 volts.

Dynamic capability of the unregulated power supply is vastly greater than that of a tightly

regulated power supply.

Fault Monitor LED on the front panel notifies you of a blown power supply fuse. 1 Ohm Subwoofer Drive Ability - The DaVinci subwoofer channel is designed to be stable into any

impedance, down to 1 ohm.

Seven Dual Discrete Class A Drive Stages - Over six times the drive current of most amps, which

maximizes linearity into any load.

Drive

DelayTM

Muted Turn-on/off Circuit - A unique circuit which completely eliminates amplifier-

related turn-on/off noises.

Fully-Balanced Studio Quality Class A Inputs with the Limited Edition

BLT4TM 4Channel

Balanced

Line Driver (included) for professional quality performance and noise cancellation. The

6-pin

DIN plug

carries (+) and

(-)

signal information for left and right channels, audio ground, and

*I5

Vdc to operate

the Soundstream

BLT4TM

Balanced Line Transmitter.

Flexible Input Sensitivity - Variable input sensitivity controls for use with a balanced line transmitter,

such as the Soundstream BLT4.

LSE.Q - Fully adjustable subwoofer equalization circuit providing frequency and level

“Q”

adjustment for optimum subwoofer performance. A frequency tracking subsonic filter protects woofers from potentially harmful low frequency information and maximizes output in a usablerange.

A/RBASSTM

Upgradable - This feature allows wireless remote control level adjustment of the

sub-

woofer channel of the

DaVinci amblifier.

DaVinci

VINCI

l-3

l-4 I-5

l-6 l-7

l-8 l-9

2-O

2-l

2.2

24 25 26

28 29

FRONT PANEL

36 37

v v v v

38 39

I I

__-----__

_..----_

I-

-s

BOTTOM PANEL

Key to

Calloutq

10.

Input Overload Indicators - Indicates the signal input level or input gain level is too high (Channels 1 through 7). Auto High CurrentTMLED - Indicates amplified subwoofer channel power on in “High Current” mode. High Power LED - Indicates amplified subwoofer channel power on in “High Power” mode. Fault LED - Indicates a blow power supply fuse. Rear Fill De-Emphasis - Select “IN” to engage the 6 dB / octave low pass filter at 7

kHz

on Channels

3&4

(2 or 3 way

modes only).

Illumination - Turns on and off the back lighting behind the

DaVinci

icon (Vitruvian Man).

Input Level - Subwoofer channel level control.

LSE.Q

Gain(Q) Control - Adjustment for the filter Q (Boost) for the LSE.Q sub-sonic protection circuit.

LSE.Q

Frequency Control - Adjustment for the high pass filter frequency for the

LSEQ

sub-sonic protection circuit.

Subwoofer Channel Crossover Switch - Select “IN” for use with the internal crossover, or “OUT” for use with an

external crossover.

II.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25,

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

Low Pass Crossover Adjustment Pot - Subwoofer channel; crossover frequency setting for the internal low pass filter. Subwoofer Channel Input Select - Select “REM” for inputs from remote inputs (internal link to Channels 1 through

4),

“LOC” for the local subwoofer channel input.

Input Level -Channel 1 independent level control. Input Level - Channel 2 independent level control. Channel

l&2

Crossover Switch

Select “IN” for use with the internal high pass filter, or “OUT” for use with an external

crossover or full range operation.

High Pass Crossover Adjustment Pot - Channels

l&2;

crossover frequency setting for the internal high pass filter. This

filter applies to Channels

l&2

in 2-way mode, Channels

5&6

remote input in 2-way mode, or Channels

5&6

high pass in 3 and 4-way mode. (See the DaVinci flow chart diagram and system diagrams on pages 17 and 18 for a more detailed explanation.) Low Range Band Pass / High Pass Crossover Adjustment Pot - Channels

l&2;

crossover frequency setting for the

internal low range band pass / high pass filter. This filter applies to Channels

l&2

satellite high pass filter in 3-way mode,

Channels

3&4

midrange high pass filter in 4-way mode, and Channels

5&6

midbass low pass filter in 3 and 4-way modes.

High Range Band Pass I High Pass Crossover Adjustment Pot - Channels

l&2;

crossover frequency setting for the

internal high range band pass / high pass filter. This filter applies to Channels

l&2

tweeter high pass filter in 4-way mode

and Channels’3&4 midrange low pass filter in 4-way mode.

Bridge Mono Switch - Channels

l&Z;

Select “IN” for bridged mono operation (right channel balanced input is only

used.). Select “OUT” for Coherent

StereoTM

operation,

Input Level

Channel 3 independent level control.

Input Level - Channel 4 independent level control. Channel 3&4 Crossover Switch - Select “IN” for use with the internal high pass filter, or “OUT” for use with an external

crossover or full range operation.

Channel

3&4

Input Select

Select “REM” for inputs from remote inputs (internal link to Channels

l&2),

“LOC”

for the

local Channel

3&4

input.

High Pass Crossover Adjustment Pot - Channels

3&4;

crossover frequency setting for the internal high pass filter. This

filter applies to Channels

3&4

only in 2 and 3-way modes.

Bridge Mono Switch - Channels

3&4;

Select “IN” for bridged mono operation (right channel balanced input is only

used.). Select “OUT” for Coherent Stereo operation.

Input Level

Channel 5 independent level control.

Input Level - Channel 6 independent level control.

Channel

5&6

Input Select - Select “REM” for inputs from remote inputs (internal link to Channels

l&2),

or “LOC” for the

local Channel

5&6

input.

Bridge Mono Switch - Channels

5&6;

Select “IN” for bridged mono operation (right channel balanced input is only

used.). Select “OUT” for Coherent Stereo operation.

2-Way

3-Way

Crossover Switch - All Channel operation. Select 2-way for standard subwoofer satellite operation.

select 3-way for midbass / satellite operation on the front channels. Select 4-way operation for midbass / midrange

tweeter operation on the front channels.

31.

A/RBASSTM

Connector and Switch - Optional AIRBASS subwoofer level control connector and input switch.

32.

GND - Main ground connection. Bolt to a clean chassis ground in the vehicle.

33.

REM - Remote turn-on input from the head unit. Accepts

+I2

34.

+12V - Connected to a fuse or circuit breaker, then to the battery’s positive post.

35.- 41. Speaker Connections - Channels l-6 and subwoofer speaker connections.

42.

Main Fuses - Main power supply fuses.

Limited Edition

BLT4

BALANCED INPUT

The DaVinci amplifier utilizes professlonal quality true balanced line audio inputs for maximum fide and noise cancellation. Supplied with the DaVinci is a Limited Edition BLT4 Balanced Line Transmitter, finished in the same 24 karat gold as the DaVinci. The BLT4 converts an unbalanced

ity

signal (standard RCA output from a head unit) to a True Balanced Audio signal, with all its features and benefits.

l Phantom Power

The BLT4 is powered by the DaVinci amplifier via the mini-DIN cable.

eliminates additional power, ground and remote wire connections.

l Mini-DIN Cable

The balanced line audio cable features a small convenient

6-pin

mini-D

This cable carries

(+)

and

(-)

signal information for Left and Right channels, audio ground

Vdc to operate the Soundstream BLT4.

This

N plug. and

*I5

l Flexible Input Sensitivity

The BLT4 is designed for optimum performance with a 5 volt balanced signal level. Any head unit having an unbalanced signal output level from 250 mV to 5.0 V can be used to obtain the 5 Volt balanced signal.

l Independent Level Controls

The BLT4 features independent Left and Right channel input level

controls for added adjustment flexibility and convenience.

l Channels l-2

& l-4

Input Select - Select input

I-2

if you have a single pair of unbalanced inputs.

Select input l-4 if you have two pairs of unbalanced inputs. This enables you to receive 4 channels

of balanced line output at all times.

l Clipping Indicator

The BLT4 also features an input level clipping LED. This I

you have reached the desired 5 Volts balanced audio signal level.

l Compact Design

The

BLT4’s

chassis is small enough to fit in the dash of you

radio or in-dash EQ.

ets you know when

car behind your

l industry Compatible

While there is as yet no “industry standard” for car audio balanced line audio connections, you will find an ever-growing number of companies use the same 6-pin connector and pin configuration (See the diagram below).

(For setting the BLT4, see the section on “Level Setting” on page 16.)

BAIANCED

+ 15

Volts

Right Signal

Shield

-~.-______-____-

--1

NOTE: The pin configuration shown in the diagram is the

’

view looking into the balanced input / output jacks on the

BLT4

and the DaVinci.

+ 16 hidden pages

Soundstream AirBass, BLT4, DaVinci User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual