Soundstream MC-140X, MC-245 Owner's Manual
MC
140x
Multi-Channel 140 Watt Amplifier
with Staggered Electronic Crossover
MC
245
Khannel
240 Watt Amplifier
With
Staggered Electronic Crossover
OWER’S
MANUAL
T E
C
H N
0
L
0 G I
E
S
MC140x
Multi-Channel
140 Walt Am
Stagge
lifier with
Ektronic
tJ
Crossover Network
MC245
S-Channel
240
Wait
s&He
Crossover Network
Am
J
lifier with
Ektronic
Thank you for purchasing the Soundstream MC140” or
finest amplifier/electronic crossover combinations made, a precision component capable
of audiophile quality performance.
To get the most out of your unit, we suggest that you acquaint yourself with its capabilities
and design. Please retain this manual for future reference.
Model Number:
Serial Number:
Dealer’s Name:
MC245
You now own one of the
.
OM(NER’S
MANUAL
This Soundstream
control standards;
Should it ever require service or replacement, recording the information below for your own
records
Date of
Date of
will help protect your investment.
Purchase:
Install:
Product is the result of American craftsmanship and the highest quality
your amplifier/electronic crossover will deliver many years of pleasure.
DESIGN FEATURES
The MC140x is conservatively rated at
140
watts. This power can be divided into: Four
channels (4 x 35 watts), Three channels (2 x 35 watts, 1 x 90 watts), Two channels (2 x 90
watts).
The MC245 is conservatively rated at 240 watts. This power can be divided into; Five
channels (4 x 35 watts, plus 1 x 100 watts), Four channels (2 x 35 watts, plus 1 x 90 watts,
plus 1 x 100 watts), Three channels (2 x 90 watts, plus
1 x
100 watts).
The design topology of both amplifiers utilize multiple
Darlington
output devices with a total
output capability five times the total rated output of the amplifier. With such reserves and no
current limiting, both amplifiers operate without strain even at maximum output. Power,
ground, and speaker connectors are rated to handle up to 80 amps and accommodate up
to 8 gauge stranded cable. To prevent potentially damaging turn-on and turn-off thumps, a
built-in delay circuit allows these amplifiers to fully stabilize before sending the audio signal
to the loudspeakers.
The MC
140x/245
provide superior, non-intrusive protection from overheating in two ways:
First, the Soundstream “Chassisink” has been custom designed to guarantee the lowest
_
possible thermal resistance (maximum cooling), greatly reducing the possibility of overheating. Secondly, if this should occur, all Soundstream amplifiers incorporate our “Smart
Power Supply”
which temporarily modifies the power supply’s operating parameters,
allowing the amplifier to run much cooler. Full output capability is restored once the
amplifier returns to normal operating temperature. This entire process is automatic and
inaudible.
In the case of an actual amplifier malfunction, secondary fuses will shut down these
amplifiers in a conventional manner.
Only
premium parts are used, such as 1% metal film
resistors, gold-plated input connectors, double-sided masked glass epoxy circuit boards
and immersible sealed potentiometers. Input sensitivity is
adiustoble
to match any tuner/
deck, these amplifiers can even be interfaced with most OEM speaker level signals. Both the
MC140” and MC245 incorporate built-in Staggered Asymmetrical Electronic Crossover.
The high pass crossovers are set at 18OHz with a slope of 6dB per octave. The low pass
crossovers are set at 75Hz with a slope rate of 12dB per octave. By selecting two staggered
frequencies, a dip in the acoustic response is created, which is most useful to compensate for
common vehicle response peaks between these
two fixed
points.
INSTALLATION
Proper installation and
adiustment
will reward you with reliable operation and optimum
performance. Automotive sound system installations can be tricky, especially for first-timers.
For
this reason, you may want to consider using a professional installer who has the tools
and more importantly, the experience to do the job right.
of
you decide to install your equipment yourself, we hope this manual will
sewe
as a helpful
guide.
Making Terminations at the Amplifier
The only tool needed to make wire terminations at the amplifier will be an insulated flat
blade screwdriver. Do not use a non-insulated screwdriver since this may short against the
heat sink and damage the amplifier. The screwdriver used should be one with a long
enough shank to allow clearance between the fins of the heat sink. Moreover, this will
prevent unwanted damage or scraping.
bcation
and Mounting
m
The first step in an installation is thorough planning. Choose the location for your amplifier
carefvlly.
The amplifier should be located in either the passenger compartment or the trunk,
never in the engine compartment or in any outside location exposed to dirt and moisture.
Adequate ventilation is important; allow enough space so that air can circulate around the
,
heat sinks. Make sure that the installed amplifier will not interfere with normal operation of
the vehicle. It is best not to locate an amplifier near your vehicle antenna, since the switching
power supply can interfere with AM reception. Your amplifier should be mounted to your
vehicle’s chassis with the four screws provided. Use you amplifier as a template for making
pencil marks where you intend to drill. (Make sure the location you are planning to drill
through is free of any obstacles such as factory vehicle wiring or gas tanks.) It’s a good
idea
to bench test your system before mounting the components. If you have a 12 volt power
source, you can connect and test all components outside the vehicle. Or, you can connect
them inside the vehicle prior to final mounting. Either way, connect
aII
components exactly
the way you intend to in the system to ensure proper installation; then disconnect all power
connections until the installation is complete.
Wring
Determine how your vehicles wiring is laid out. Keep all wiring inside the vehicle. Good
standard audio practice suggests keeping all low level wiring away from wires carrying
twelve volts. If you drill a new hole through any metal, be sure to install a grommet to prevent
shorting. It is a good idea to paint the bare metal to prevent rust. All wires should be
hidden under carpet; an exposed wire can inadvertently be pulled, causing disconnection
or shorting. Wires should never be under tension or subject to moisture. Use cable ties to
bundle excess wire.
Amplifier Configuration Diagmms
In the last nine pages of this manual you will find several system configuration diagrams.
Please review the pages appropriate to the amplifier model you have purchased. Both these
Soundstream amplifiers offer a variety of available configurations. Please use the configuration that best suits your installation needs.
MC140” - Sekting
Operating Mode
The
140
watts available from the MC
140x
can be divided into two channels (stereo) three
channels (stereo plus a single mono channel) or four channels (front and rear stereo; or
stereo bi-amp).
To select any of these modes, remove the access hatch on the
bottom
of the amplifier and set
the internal switches marked stereo/mono to the desired mode of operation. (Do not close
the access hatch if you are going to be using the internal electronic crossover capabilities
OF
this amplifier.)
For two channel operation, set both internal switches to the
mano
position.
For three channel operation, set one switch to mono operation and the other to stereo.
For four channel operation, leave both switches in the stereo position.
MC140” - Internal Ektronic
Crossover
Your MC140” is equipped with a Staggered Asymmetrical Electronic Crossover. Based on
the selected operating mode, you can operate a pair of satellites and a pair of subwoofers
in
the four channel mode, or a pair of satellites and a mono subwoofer in three channel
mode. The crossover points are preset as follows; High pass is set at
18OHz
permitting only
frequencies of
l80Hz
and higher to be passed on to the
satellib.
Low pass is set at
90Hz
permitting only frequencies of
90Hz
and lower to be passed on to your
subwoofer(
The
net
result
is an effective Two-way Staggered Asymmetrical Crossover. To set up the
electronic crossover for your system, again go to the access area on the bottom of the
amplifier. Right next to the Stereo/Mono switches, you will find he crossover switches. They
are labeled Full Range/High Pass, and Full Range/Low Pass. When using the on-board
crossover, the satellite speakers must be connected to the outputs labeled Channels
Z/4,
and your subwoofers should be connected to the outputs
labeledChannels l/2.
This is how
the crossover is configured. For a visual reference, please consult the Amplifier
Configuru-
tion &grams
at the end of this manual.
MC245 - Selecting Operating Mode
The 240 watts available from the MC245 can be divided into three channels (stereo plus a
single mono channel), four channels (stereo plus two mono channels), and five channels
(front and rear stereo plus a single mono channel). To select
any
of
these modes, remove the
access plugs labeled stereo/mono on the bottom of the amplifier and set the switches to the
desired setting.
For five channel operation, set both switches to the stereo position.
For four channel operation, set one switch to mono operation,
and
the other-to stereo.
For three channel operation, set both switches to the mono.
MC245 -
Internal Ektronic
Crossover
Your MC245 is equipped with a Staggered Asymmetrical
Crossuver.
Based on the selected
operating mode, you can operate two pairs of satellites and one to four subwoofers in five
channel mode, one pair of satellites, a center channel, and one )O four subwoofers in four
channel mode, or one pair of satellites and one to four subwoof& in three channel mode.
To set up the electronic crossover for your system, again go to theaccess
plugs
on the bottom
of the amplifier and locate those marked; Full Range/High
Passand
Full Range/Low Pass.
4
When using the on-board crossover, the satellite speakers must be connected to the outputs
labeled Channels
I, 2,3,4,
and the subwoofers must be connected to the outputs labeled
Mono Subwoofer Channel. This is how the crossovers are configured. For a visual reference
as to how all selections should be made for your application, please consult the Amplifier
Configuration
Diagrams
at the end of this manual.
;
MC140” -
input Connections
Inputs to your amplifier attach by means of standard RCA type iacks. When using the
amplifier in the stereo mode, use both the left and right input iacks. When using a portion of
the amplifier in bridged mode, use only the right input jack for the side of the amplifier that
is to be bridged.
Your MC140” has also been equipped with a unique feature that allows you to use just the
Channels
S/4
input and distribute the signal to all four channels of the amplifier. This is
accomplished by using the switch labeled
/ntemu/Audio
/nput/Extemu/
Audio
Input. This
switch is located with the crossover and bridging switches behind the access hatch on he
bottom of the amplifier. When set to the Externalposition, the amplifier must receive input on
both the Channel
I/2
and Channel
S/4
side. When set to the Internal position you need
only use inputs on the Channel
S/4
side of the amplifier. The major benefit of this switch is
twofold, you can use it when you are interfacing with a head unit equipped with only one set
of pt-eamp outputs, and when you are using the
full
crossover capability of the amplifier in a
full bi-amp system, where there is no need to have head unit fading capability.
-
MC245
-
Input Connections
Inputs to your amplifier connect by means of standard RCA type iacks. When using
Channels
l/2
and Channels
S/4
in stereo you must use all four of the left and right inputs.
When using either pair of amplifiers bridged, only the right input is to be used for that pair.
Your MC245 has also been equipped with optional separate subwoofer inputs. You can use
either or both of the inputs since this is a paralleled mono input. You can also feed this
amplifier a stereo signal and it will automatically
sum it
into a mono signal.
If you plan to use the external subwoofer inputs for your particular application, it will be
necessary for you to first locate the switch labeled Memo/ Audio
Input/&emu/
Audio
/nput
located behind an access plug or hatch on the bottom of the amplifier. Set the switch to
the External position, this will activate the external inputs. If you are going to use just the four
inputs, set the switch to the Memu/ position. This will automatically distribute signal to the
subwoofer portion of the amplifier. Please consult the Amplifier
Configurution
Diagrams
for
the application that best suits your needs.
General Guidelines - Input Connections
For connection from your head unit to the amplifier(s), we recommend the use of
Soundstream DL.1 or an equivalent premium cable. In most cases, the signal source will be
the preamp output jacks of a head unit. However, some head units use preamp output
connectors other than the RCA type. In this case you will need a special adapter to convert
from the source configuration to RCA. This adapter should be available from the dealer who
sold you your head unit. If your head unit has speaker outputs but no preamp outputs, your
Soundstream amplifier has been equipped with “Adapter-free” interface capability. This
allows you to wire an RCA connector directly to the end of your head units speaker wires.
However, before doing so, determine if your head unit has standard or BTL type output. A
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