Soundstream Technologies 255, 555, 355 User Manual

SPECIFICATIONS

Channels I &

255 1 (4kW x2)

355

555

THD Signal to Noise Frequency Response Stereo Separation Damping Input Sensitivity Input Impedance

2; 3 & 4

4 a Stereo

Bridged)

(12.5 Vdc)

225Wx4

25Wx4

(5OW

x 2)

4owx4

Subwoofer Channel

MODEL

I I

255

355

555

(80W x 2)

(12.5 Vdc) (14.4 Vdc)

I I

5OWxl 75Wxl

15OWxl

Stereo

Bridged)

(14.4 Vdc)

5ow x4

(IOOW

80W x4

(160W

2t2

100wx1

15OWxl

250W x

co.1

>I00 dB

20 Hz to 20 kHz sf 0.5 dB

>90 dB 900

200 mV to 5.0 Volts

Ok Ohms

$“,“x:,

x 2)

Crossover Specifications

Low Pass: High Pass:

Band Pass (555): 50 Hz - 500 Hz at 12 dB/Octave (Mid-Bass)

55 Hz - 220 Hz at 24 dB/Octave 50 Hz - 500 Hz at 12 dB/Octave

(Removable SIP @ 150 Hz on 255)

50 Hz - 4

kHz

at 12 dB/Octave (Mid)

(12dB

on 255)

SWNDSTREAI’V

T E C H N 0

I I

RUBICON

5/3

Power Amplifiers

0 G

E S

Channel

Hawkins Bass Control

0 to +9 dB

(Hawkins Bass Control “IN”)

Boost(555), +6 dB

(255,355); Boost Frequency = 45 Hz

Sub Sonic filter frequency = 13 Hz

Dimensions (W x D x H)

RUBICON555:

RUBICON355: 13.0” X 9.8” X 2.25” (330mm X 250mm X RUBICON255:

15.0” X 9.8” X 2.25” (381 mm X 250mm X 57mm)

11 .O” X 9.8” X

WWW.SOUNDSTREAM.COM

Folsom - California 95630 USA

ph 916.351.1288 . fax 916.351.0414

2.25”

(280mm X 250mm X 57mm)

rev A - 12/29/98

Owner’s Manual

and

Installation Guide

57mm)

Congratulations!

You now own a Soundstream uncompromising design and engineering philosophy. Your Soundstream

RUBICON

amplifier will outperform any other amplifier in the world.

RUBICON

amplifier,

the

product of an

Design Features

Table of Contents

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

p4-5

To maximize the performance of your system, we recommend that you thoroughly acquaint yourself with its capabilites and features. Please retain this manual and your sales receipt for future reference.

Soundstream amplifiers are the result of American innovation and

craftmanship

installed, they 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

with the highest quality control standards. When properly

Rubicon

Crossover Adjustments

Hawkins Bass

Amplifier Diagram

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

ControlTM

Theory and Use

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

Installation: Speaker Output Modes

Installation: Wiring

lnstal

lation: Mounting

lnstal

lation:

Level Setting and Front Spoiler..

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

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

................ p 14

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

..........

~6-7

p8-9

plO-11

p 12-13

P 16

p 18

Prolonged listening at Even though your better than anything you’ve ever heard, exercise caution to

prevenf

hearing damage.

CAUTION!

high

levels may result in hearing loss.

new

Soundstream

Rubiwn amplifier sounds

Sample System Diagrams

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

p 19-26

Protection Circuitry, Service and Troubleshooting . . . p 27

Specifications

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

P 28

RUBITM

supply topology eliminates “power sags” during low frequency reproduction by rapidly increasing the duty cycle, stabilizing the power supply and allowing it to deliver the power required when reproducing low frequencies. Also, greater reserve gate power is stored for low voltage situations that occur during extreme conditions.

STACTTM (STabilized

ply stress by 50%. Typical designs degrade the stereo image due to phase reversal of even-order harmonic distortion that occurs between the inverted channels. In the STACT design, inversion is done at the power amplifier drive stage. Since the fully symmetrical power amplifier produces no even-harmonic distortion itself and all preamplifier circuitry is run completely in-phase, no even harmonic distortion phase reversal occurs.

(Rapid-Use Branched

Apex

Qrrent _Topology)

jmpulse)

This new proprietary power

Reduces power sup-

ChassisinkTM

tween the circuit board and the heatsink to provide cool efficient amplifier operation.

Differentially Balance RCA Input

in the audio path.

Continuously Variable Crossover Networks (355 & 555):

Octave 2-way dB/Octave

12 dB/Octave 3-way crossover which can be selected for mid-bass

(65 to 500 Hz) or midrange (65 to 4,000 Hz) operation.

Built-in Staggered S.I.P. Crossover Network (255)

electronic

channels 1-4 of the amplifier and send low pass to channel 5 of the amplifier.

All transistors are ideally located and sandwiched be-

eliminates ground loop related noise

12 dB/

highpass

lowpass

crossover is designed to send high pass information to

12dB/oct Highpass

crossover, variable from 65 to 220 Hz and 24

crossovers variable from 30 to 120 Hz. 555 on/y

Built-in two-way

and

Lowpass

crossovers.

TridentTM

1. Output protection against short circuits or improper loads.

Ground fault detection: Shuts down the amplifier when a significant voltage and battery ground.

3. Thermal Protection: Puts the amplifier into thermal rollback or shuts the amplifier down in extreme thermal conditions.

Hawkins Bass Control

at 45 Hz) and routes otherwise wasted amplifier power back to the audible bandwidth.

Harmonic Bass Alignment

are critically aligned to fundamental peaks at low frequencies. This produces tighter, more accurate bass reproduction.

Drive Delay

power supply eliminating turn-on pops. Turn off process is reversed: Amplifier section turns off first, followed by the power supply.

Dynamically Optimized

uted between primary and secondary power supplies, providing dynamics and improved RF filtering.

Protection

(~5

Volts) fluctuation occurs between electrical (turn-on lead)

llTM

Topology

provides a focused subwoofer boost (O-9

Amplifier section powers up 2 to 3 seconds after the

Power Grid

provides three types of protection:

The 2nd and 3rd order harmonic peaks

Power grid is evenly distrib-

greater

Flexible

sensitivity. Symmetrical Discrete Balanced Class A Drive Boards Auto-ad-

just for linear performance while driving low impedance loads.

Removable Front Spoiler allows for stealth installation of RCA, Speaker and Power wiring.

Stereo1

Input Level Control allows 200 mV to 5 V input

KEY TO

Power LED

Subsonic / Hawkins Bass Control Switch

engage the Sub Sonic filter at 13 Hz. Select “HAWKINS BASS CONTROL” to engage the subwoofer channel’s high pass filter @I 45 Hz with +6 boost for optimum bass.

Subwoofer Channel Input Select

fading bass control, “CH 3&4” for front to rear fading bass control.

Channels

or external (CH

Amp Mode Switch (Channels 1-4)

in 3 channel operation (use input channels output in 5 channel operation.

Inputs

Input Level

ltiputs

Input Level

10.

Sub Input Level

11.

Low Pass Filter Control Adjustment

frequency control for the internal low pass filter.

12.

Speaker Connection Terminal

Subwoofer Channel.

13.

GND - Main ground connection.

hicle.

14.

REMOTE

15.

+12V -

tive terminal.

Main Fuse

16.

Indicates amplifier power.

3&4

Input Select

38~4

local RCA inputs).

Right and left channel RCA inputs for channels

Channels

Right and left channel RCA inputs for channels l&2.

Channels

Subwoofer channel input level control.

Remote turn-on input from the head unit. Accepts +12V.

Connected to a fuse or circuit breaker, then to the battery’s posi-

Main power supply fuse.

CALLOUTS

Select “SUB SONIC” to

Selectable inputs; “CH l-4” for non-

Selectable inputs from internal (CH

Select “3CH” for bridged mono output

1 &

2). Select “5CH” for stereo

3&4

input level control.

l&2

input level control.

(Subwoofer Channel) crossover

Speaker connections for CH l-4

Bolt to a clean chassis point in the ve-

3&4.

l&2)

‘.

,-l

KEY TO

Power LED - Indicates amplifier power.

Subsonic / Hawkins Bass Control Switch - Select “SUB SONIC” to

engage the Sub Sonic filter at

to engage the subwoofer channel’s high pass filter @ 45 Hz with +6

boost for optimum bass.

High Pass XOVER Switch - (Channels l&Z) Select “IN” for use with the

internal crossover or “OUT” for use with external crossover.

High Pass XOVER Switch - (Channels

internal crossover or “OUT” for use with external crossover.

Subwoofer Channel Input Select - Selectable inputs; “CH 1-4” for non-

fading bass control,

Channels

or external (CH

Amp Mode Switch - (Channels 1-4) Select

in 3 channel operation (use channels 1 & 2). Select

output in 5 channel operation.

Inputs - Right and left channel RCA inputs for channels

Input Level - Channels

10.

High Pass Filter Control Adjustment - (Channels

quency control for the internal high pass filter.

11.

tnputs -

Input Level

12.

13.

High Pass Filter Control Adjustment - (Channels

quency control for the internal high pass filter.

14.

Low Pass Filter Control Adjustment - (Subwoofer Channel) crossover

frequency control for the internal low pass filter.

15.

Sub Input Level - Subwoofer channel input level control.

Speaker Connection Terminal

16.

Channel.

17.

Speaker Connection Terminal - Speaker connections for Ch’s Speaker Connection Terminal - Speaker connections for Ch’s

18.

19.

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

20.

GND - Main ground connection.

hicle.

21.

+12V -

tive terminal.

22.

Main Fuse - Main power supply fuses.

3814

Right and left channel RCA inputs for channels

Channels

Connected to a fuse or circuit breaker, then to the battery’s posi-

“CH 3&4”

Input Select - Selectable inputs from internal (CH

3&4

local RCA inputs).

CALLOUTS

Hz. Select “HAWKINS BASS CONTROL”

3&4)

Select “IN” for use with the

for rear fading bass control.

“3CH”

3&4

input level control.

l&2

input level control.

Speaker connections for Subwoofer

Bolt to a clean chassis point in the ve-

for bridged mono output

“5CH”

for stereo

3&4.

3&4)

crossover fre-

l&2.

l&2)

crossover fre-

l&2)

3&4. l&2.

+12V.

+ 9 hidden pages

Soundstream Technologies 255, 555, 355 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual