Tag mclaren audio 250MR User Manual
owner’s manual
250MR
02 controls
04 welcome
06 introduction
07 construction
08 amplifier module
15 set up
20 operation
21 remote control
24 TAGtronic Communications Bus
25 running in and warming up
26 care and maintenance
28 appendix
30 technical data
contents
12/01
|
01
9339X
|
–
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
–
21
3
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
controls
controls
|
0302
power/
standby LED
remote control
active LED
remote control
window
TAGtronic
communications bus
BUS
OUTIN
Double insulated: When servicing, use only
identical replacement parts.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
220-240V
~
50-60Hz
Fuse; T5A L250V
class 2 wiring
minimum rated
load impedance
8 Ω per channel
balanced
input socket
BALANCED
INPUT
+
–
LOUDSPEAKER
ground
OUTPUT
LINE INPUT
2 1
+
line level
input socket
3
–
made in United Kingdom by
serial
number
monobloc 250MR s
ac supply
socket and
fuse carrier
Specification shown may vary for different countries
loudspeaker
terminals
|
welcome
Dr. Udo Zucker
Chief Executive Officer
TAG McLaren Audio
Pushing technological
boundaries; TAG McLaren’s
F1 electronics
welcome to
TAG McLaren Audio exists with one
aim in mind: to produce the very best audio
and audio-visual equipment.
Like many people, I often have my best
ideas when relaxing to a piece of music
or watching a movie. For years, knowing
the technical capabilities of TAG McLaren,
I have nurtured the ambition to push music
and movie reproduction to the absolute limit
without compromising ease of use; that’s
why we formed TAG McLaren Audio.
At the core of our development team are
highly experienced engineers whose
heritage of award-winning hi-fi and worldbeating electronic control systems is envied
by many and equalled by few.
There are many immediate spin-offs into
audio from our expertise in automotive
electronics, mechanical engineering and
the material science of Formula One motor
racing: multi-layer printed circuits, fast
digital signal processing, electronic noise
suppression, radio frequency technology
and software expertise to name but a few,
all prerequisites of an outstanding audio
product.
welcome
TAG McLaren’s aim is sonic perfection
combined with aesthetic delight and solid
build quality – a rare combination in hi-fi
but one which TAG McLaren Audio is
already delivering.
Dr Udo Zucker
|
0504
|
introduction
Thank you for purchasing the TAG McLaren 250MR
construction
The 250MR houses a self-contained, hi-performance 250 W amplifier module, described in
detail on the following pages, and a control board, spaced apart for minimal interaction.
|
0706
A monobloc, also known as single
channel amplifier, is the ultimate
power amplifier configuration,
eliminating channel crosstalk and, if
placed close to a loudspeaker, the
influence of the loudspeaker cable!
The 250MR achieves typically 255 W per channel into 8 ohms and 400 W into 4 ohms. Its
IHF tone burst performance is also impressive: typically 300 W into 8 ohms, 550 W into
4 ohms and 1000 (!) W into 2 ohms.
The monobloc 250MR is a refinement of the highly regarded three channel amplifier 250x3R,
using a single 250 W amplifier module and its associated control electronics in an attractive
case. This has many benefits:
• The 250MR can be placed
close to the loudspeaker,
resulting in extremely short
loudspeaker cables, which
in turn minimises their
influence. The result is
improved loudspeaker
control.
• Each 250MR
connects individually
to the mains supply,
reducing the
influence of the
mains cable and
hence potential
channel crosstalk.
• Adjacent amplifier modules,
located in the same enclosure
will interact with each other
through magnetic coupling,
which can be minimised but
never completely eliminated. This
is extremely small in the 250x3R,
but non existent in the 250MR!
control electronics
The 250MR’s control electronics is powered
by an additional, tiny transformer and a
local power supply, allowing the 250MR to
be put into standby without incurring
a high energy bill.
The remote control
circuitry acts on
commands received
from either the user
via the IR remote
control or the AV32R
via the TAGtronic
Communication Bus.
The protection control
circuitry monitors the
performance of the amplifier in
order to power it down should a
fault occur.
main
transformer
amplifier
module
tiny standby
transformer
TAGtronic
Bus
control
electronics
|
amplifier module
amplifier module
|
0908
deep under the skin
The 250MR power amplifier includes a selfcontained power module, as shown above.
The module is a complete amplifier, with its
own power transformer, bridge rectifier,
energy storage capacitors and amplification
stage, requiring only mains supply and
control signals to function.
Control signals are used to switch the
amplifier module on/off and to protect it in
case an error condition, such as a short
circuit in the loudspeaker, is detected.
The module has a high-efficiency aluminium
heatsink for excellent heat dissipation,
allowing it to drive even the most critical
loudspeakers safely and dependably. This
results in uncompromised sound quality
with perfect channel separation.
Each 250MR delivers typically 255 Watts
into 8 ohms, 400 Watts into 4 ohms and
will drive 1000 Watts into 2 ohms for short
durations.
As a result of the 250MR‘s monobloc
construction, this performance is wholly
independent of the number of system
channels being driven and thus even
during the loudest passages of your
favourite movie the soundstage remains
stable, controlled and detailed.
There are many design features which have
been derived from our excellent 100x5R
and our F1-600MR amplifiers to make this
amplifier very special. We have listed a
few on the following pages.
an optimised mix of global and local
negative feed back
The 250MR gives excellent linearity and
low distortion without relying on high global
negative feedback, which can present
difficulties when handling rapidly changing
signals. The amplifier implements at each
amplifying stage a controlled amount of
local feedback, which not only linearises
but also defines the gain and other vital
parameters closely.
cascode compensation
The 250MR uses an advanced stabilisation
concept called Cascode Compensation.
This might be the first time that this
sophisticated and elegant system has been
used in an audio amplifier. Its advantages
are excellent stability, inherently good
supply-rail rejection and a reduction in DC
drift. This gives outstanding stability with
performance drifts being virtually eliminated.
output transistors
The output devices are bipolar junction
transistors chosen for maximum linearity. The
advanced MT-200 package is used which
gives a greater area for heat transfer than
the traditional TO3, enhancing the amplifier’s reliability for many years to come.
exceptionally accurate quiescent stability
It is universally accepted that accurate
setting and stability of quiescent conditions
is crucial to optimal Class-B amplifier
operation. The bias range over which the
best linearity is obtained is narrow, and
on either side of it crossover distortion
increases markedly. The 250MR has one
of the most accurate quiescent controls
ever implemented, stabilising against
output level, load impedance and mains
voltage changes.
sophisticated muting
The 250MR has a sophisticated muting
system, which stops you hearing loud,
annoying switching noises and protects
both the amplifier and the loudspeakers.
Particular care has been taken to make
sure that the muting circuitry, when
switched off, doesn’t affect the sound
quality. For this purpose carefully selected
relays with minimal crosstalk between coil
and contacts have been used.
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