Tag mclaren audio 250X3R User Manual
owner’s manual
250x3R
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
27 appendix
29 technical data
contents
version V3.10 12/01
|
01
9340D
|
loudspeaker
terminals
three channel amplifier 250x3R
LINE INPUT
–
+
LOUDSPEAKER
OUTPUT
BALANCED
INPUT
RIGHT CHANNEL
LINE INPUT
–
+
LOUDSPEAKER
OUTPUT
CENTRE CHANNEL
LINE INPUT
–
+
LOUDSPEAKER
OUTPUT
LEFT CHANNEL
s
ground
+
–
BALANCED
INPUT
ground
+
–
BALANCED
INPUT
ground
+
–
2 1
3
2 1
3
2 1
3
line level
input sockets
balanced
input sockets
three channel
status LEDs
power/
standby LED
remote control
window
mute
LED
power
button
remote control
active LED
three channel amplifier 250x3R s
220-240V
~
50-60Hz
Fuse; T1A L250V
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCKRISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPENDO NOT OPEN
Double insulated: When servicing, use only
identical replacement parts.
serial
number
made in
United Kingdom
class 2 wiring
minimum rated
load impedance
8 Ω per channel
– – –
OUTIN
BUS
–
– –
21
3
21
3
21
3
TAGtronic
communications bus
ac supply
socket and
fuse carrier
controls
controls
|
0302
Specification shown may vary for different countries
|
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: multilayer 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
‘a perfect team’
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
construction
|
0706
The 250x3R is a fully remote controlled,
very high power, hi-performance amplifier
which delivers sound reproduction of outstanding clarity and purity for up to three
channels.
The 250x3R can be factory assembled with
two or three channels. Retrospective upgrade
from two to three is possible without losing or
compromising quality.
The 250x3R achieves typically 255 W per
channel into 8 Ω and 400 W into 4 Ω.
Thank you for purchasing the TAG McLaren
three channel amplifier 250x3R
Its IHF tone burst performance is also impressive:
typically 300 W into 8 Ω, 550 W into 4 Ω
and 1000 (!) W into 2 Ω.
The 250x3R’s operating software can be
upgraded using a PC and the TAGtronic
Programming Cable with new software
being distributed via TAG McLaren’s website
www.tagmclaren.com. Amplifier modules can
also be upgraded should better amplifier
technology become available in the future.
Experts have known for many years that
precision, clarity, stereo image and depth
can be significantly improved by using so
called monoblocs or single channel amplifiers. These constructions provide
completely independent amplification for
each channel which prevents interaction
between them, resulting in a cleaner signal
and hence better clarity and stereo
imaging. This is true with
two channels and
even more with
multi channel
amplifiers!
The TAG
McLaren three
channel amplifier
250x3R includes
three completely
independent amplifiers, one
for each channel.
They only share the remote and protection
control circuitry, located on a separate
printed circuit board. This circuitry is
powered individually by a tiny transformer
and local power supply (as it isn’t
responsible for any sound performance),
allowing the 250x3R 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.
Channels can individually be
switched on/off for best
sound quality and
most efficient energy
usage.
The protection
control circuitry
monitors the
performance of each
module against programmed
parameters in order to power
down a channel should a fault occur.
The 250x3R can be equipped with two
(250x3R/2) or three amplifier modules,
making it suitable for a stereo set-up or as
part of a complete home cinema system.
|
amplifier module
amplifier module
|
0908
deep under the skin
The 250x3R consists of three identical power
amplifier modules in a single compact
enclosure. Each module is a complete, selfcontained 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 each
amplifier module individually on/off and to
protect it in case an error condition, such as
a short circuit in the loudspeaker, is detected.
Each module has its own high-efficiency
aluminium heatsink for excellent heat
dissipation, allowing it to drive even the
most critical loudspeakers safely and totally
independently from any of the other modules.
This results in uncompromised sound quality
with perfect channel separation.
Each 250x3R module 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 250x3R‘s self-contained
amplifier module construction, this
performance is wholly independent of the
number of 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 of these very technical items on
the following pages.
an optimised mix of global and
local negative feed back
The 250x3R 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 250x3R 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 250x3R has one
of the most accurate quiescent controls ever
implemented, stabilising against output
level, load impedance and mains voltage
changes.
sophisticated muting
The 250x3R 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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