Soundstream Reference Series CLASS-A-3.0, Reference Series CLASS-A-6.0, Reference Class A 6.0 Installation Manual

REFERE'NCE

ClassA3,O

ClassA6.0

Power Amplifiers

OWNERS MANUAL

AND

INSTALLATION GUIDE

SOUNDSTREAk”

TECHNOLOGIES

COMXA

TULA TION’S.

You now own the REFERENCE Class A Amplifier, the product of an

uncompromising design and engineering philosophy. Your Soundstream

REFERENCE Class A 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.

Model and Serial

#

Dealer’s Name

Date of Purchase
Installation Shop
Installation Date

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features

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

4-5

REFERENCE

Power Supply

Design.. ...................................

6

Passive and Electronic Crossovers .....................................

.6

6

dB/octave

Passive Crossover Chart

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

7

12 dB/octave Passive Crossover Chart

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

8

Series and Parallel Wiring

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

9

LSE.Q

Theory and

Use

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

IO-I 1

Setting High Power/High Current

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

12

Setting Coherent

Stereom/Mixed

Mono/Bridged Mono

.......

13

Wiring..

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

:.

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

14-15

Wiring Diagram

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

15

Installation

and

Mounting..

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

16

Level Setting.. .....................................................................

17

Protection Circuitry & Troubleshooting

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

18

Service ...............................................................................

18

Specifications

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

19

3

i-l,OH

CURRENT I

HIGH POWEI

MONO I

STEREO

I MIXED MONO

63

DEStGN

FEATURES

l

Pure

Class A” Output Topology

for the utmost in musicality and definitive
power output. Soundstream’s uniqe design allows the Class A amplifiers to
deliver

uncomparable sonics

or, when operated at lower impedances, to

provide phenomenal amounts of power.

l

Uncompromising Design

and

Construction including mil-spec glass epoxy
circuit boards and high current custom gold-plated solid brass connections
accept up to 4 gauge power/ground wire. Use of 1% metal film capacitors in

the circuit path and ultra-tight tolerance components ensure unsurpassed

maximum musicality.

l

High Power/High Current Capability - Soundstream’s exclusive circuit which
permits customization of your amplifier to its particular application-high
current, low impedance loads (multiple subwoofers, less than 1 ohm mono) or

High Power, higher impedance loads (1 ohm mono and up).

l

Coherent

Stereo?rltixed

Mono selection for either “pure” stereo operation or

mixed mono for simultaneous stereo and mono.

l

ChassisinkTM

Darlington Power Array - Soundstream’s “overbuilding” of the

output section incorporates multiple output transistors instead of a few for
faster, stronger power delivery. The transistors are sandwiched between the
circuit board and the heatsink in a design called Chassisink” to ensure cool,

efficient

amplifier operation.

l

PowerGrid

Power Supply Design - All power supply components are located
near one another, connected by thick, wide PCB traces, which ensures rapid,
high current delivery. The entire power supply is isolated on one side of the
circuit board while the audio stage is located opposite it, guaranteeing minimal
noise.

l Ultra-Low ESR Capacitance Bank - Multiple small input power capacitors are

used to provide a lower ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance), which means

more power in and out faster.

l Smart Thermal Rollback - Most amplifiers shut off when they get too hot.

In
the unlikely event the REFERENCE 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.

l Unregulated Power Supply

-

4 ohm power ratings are measured at 12 volts,

meaning substantially greater output in the real world when the vehicle is
running, where voltages range from- 13.2 to 14.4 volts. In addition, the
amplifier will perform with as little as 9 volts and as much as 15 volts.

l Fault Monitor LED on the front panel notifies you of blown power supply

fuses.

l

l/4

ohm Drive Ability - The REFERENCE Class A amplifiers are designed to

drive virtually any load-all the way down to

114 ohm stereo (112 ohm mono).

l Dual Discrete Class A Drive Stages

-

Over six times the drive current of most

amps, which maintains performance into low impedance loads.

l Drive

DelayTM

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

eliminates any amplifier-related turn-on/off noises.

l Flexible Input Sensitivity accepts voltages from 100

mV

to 2.5 V, permitting

maximum output from the amplifier with virtually any source unit.

l Balanced Input Design for added immunity to noise caused by component

and vehicle electrical system interaction.

l

LSE.Q

(Class A 6.0) fully adjustable subwoofer equalization circuit providing

frequency and

IeveP’Q”

adjustment for optimum subwoofer performance. An
adjustable subsonic filter protects woofers from damaging low frequency
information and maximizes output in a usable range.

5

REFERENCE POWER SUPPLY DESIGN

The REFERENCE Class A amplifiers employ an extremely efficient unregulated
pulse-width modulated power supply. REFERENCE Class A amplifiers from

Soundstream are rated at 12 volts but are designed to take advantage of the

additional voltage available when the vehicle is running. The two major

advantages of the unregulated power supply are:

l awesome dynamic power capabilities

l added continuous power with higher voltages (see chart below)

Because of the dynamic properties of most music, all audio components should
be able to react accordingly. Thanks to their unregulated power supplies, the
REFERENCE Class A amplifiers can comfortably exceed their rated power for
dynamic portions of the music.

4 Ohm Stereo Watts

,4.

,ohtn Power

26, in&&&

a:@ 12

vqts

iaji&&

x 2 @r

14.4 volt!3

(REFERENCE

Class

4~3.0 ,shown)

6