Theta Digital Dreadnaught II User Manual

THETA DIGITAL

CORPORATION

Dreadnaught II

Owner’s Manual

REV 1.02

PREFACE

CONGRATULATIONS

You have just acquired the most advanced and versatile component for the amplification of audio ever to have
been developed.

IMPORTANT

Save all packaging in a dry place away from fire hazards. Your Dreadnaught II is a precision electronic
instrument and should be properly packaged any time shipment is made. In the unlikely event that you have
to return your Dreadnaught II to the factory for service, or if you send it to us for updating, the original
packaging will best protect the unit from shipping damage.

In order to achieve the fullest flexibility and enjoyment from your Dreadnaught II, we at Theta recommend that
you read this manual in full before connecting the unit to your audio/video system.

Note: It is imperative that the Dreadnaught II be operated in a well ventilated environment and the immediate
external temperature be maintained as specified. External cooling fans may be required in some cases. Do
not stack any equipment directly above or below the Dreadnaught II to protect it from overheating, as well as
the continued functionality of any equipment near and around it.

Warning: Each channel is a balanced bridge amplifier, thus the negative speaker terminal is NOT a ground,
and cannot be connected to a system ground or a loudspeaker system with a common ground. Consult your
speaker manufacturer to ensure that any speaker in your system that will be connected to the Dreadnaught II
does NOT have internal circuitry with a common ground.

WARNING

United States law prohibits disposition of these commodities to Libya, Laos, North Korea, Cambodia or Cuba
unless otherwise authorized by the United States.

© 2002 Theta Digital Corporation. All rights reserved.
Written and Illustrated by Glenn Buckley.

This manual is also available for download as a PDF file at Theta Digital’s website. http://www.thetadigital.com
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or

mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Theta Digital Corporation.

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The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral
triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated
“dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of
significant magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert
the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance
(servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

WARNING

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,

DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE

CAUTION: TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT USE THE AC (POLARIZED) PLUG WITH AN
EXTENSION CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET UNLESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY
INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE EXPOSURE.

Extension cords are not recommended for use with this product.

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Dreadnaught II Identification Record

This information is for your records and for future identification of the Dreadnaught II. Please take a moment
to fill out all pertinent data now, and as upgrades and/or options are installed.

inquiries and/or changes are requested, the serial number will be required.

SERIAL NUMBER

DATE PURCHASED

DEALER’S NAME

DEALER’S ADDRESS/PHONE

INSTALLED CARDS/OPTIONS

(Date of installation)

(Date of installation)

(Date of installation)

(Date of installation)

(Date of installation)

(Date of installation)

(Date of installation)

Whenever upgrades,

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Please carefully read each item of the operating instructions and safety precautions before installing and
using this product. Use extra care to follow the warnings written on the product itself and/or in the operating
instructions. Keep the operating instructions and safety precautions for future reference.

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE ANY OF THE COVER
PANELS.

NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER ALL SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE
PERSONNEL ONLY.

TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT ALLOW LIQUIDS TO SPILL OR OBJECTS TO FALL
INTO ANY OPENINGS OF THE PRODUCT.

THIS UNIT IS SUPPLIED WITH A 3 PIN GROUNDED AC PLUG. ALWAYS INSERT THE AC PLUG INTO
A GROUNDED OUTLET. DO NOT REMOVE THE GROUND PIN OR DISABLE THE GROUND FOR ANY
PURPOSE.

BEFORE MAKING ANY CONNECTIONS TO THE DREADNAUGHT II, FIRST TURN OFF THE POWER
AND THEN DISCONNECT THE AC POWER CORD.

WHEN INSTALLING THE DREADNAUGHT II IN YOUR SYSTEM, MAKE CERTAIN TO ALLOW A
MINIMUM OF ½ INCH OF VENTILATION ON EACH SIDE OF THE UNIT. ALSO ALLOW AT LEAST 3
INCHES OF VENTILATION SPACE ABOVE THE UNIT. IMPROPER VENTILATION OF THE UNIT MAY
CAUSE OVERHEATING, WHICH MAY DAMAGE THE UNIT AND CAUSE A FIRE. PLACE THE UNIT ON
A SOLID SURFACE ONLY. I.E. NOT ON CARPET, ETC.

DO NOT PLACE THE DREADNAUGHT II NEAR HEAT SOURCES SUCH AS DIRECT SUNLIGHT,
STOVES, HEAT REGISTERS, RADIATORS OR OTHER HEAT PRODUCING EQUIPMENT.

TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE ANALOG OUTPUT CIRCUITRY, BE CERTAIN NOT TO SHORT THE
OUTPUT SIGNAL TO GROUND. ENSURE THAT YOUR AUDIO OUTPUT CABLES DO NOT HAVE ANY
INTERNAL SHORTS BEFORE CONNECTING THEM TO THE DREADNAUGHT II.

IF REPLACEMENT OF THE AC LINE FUSE AND/OR ANY INTERNAL FUSE BECOMES NECESSARY,
REPLACE ONLY WITH SAME VALUE AND TYPE OF FUSE. NEVER BYPASS THE FUSE.

IF THE AC CORD BECOMES DAMAGED, DO NOT USE IT. IMMEDIATELY REPLACE IT WITH A NEW
ONE OF THE SAME OR BETTER RATING.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE DREADNAUGHT II BE OPERATED IN A WELL VENTILATED
ENVIRONMENT AND THE IMMEDIATE EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE BE MAINTAINED AS SPECIFIED.
EXTERNAL COOLING FANS MAY BE REQUIRED IN SOME CASES. DO NOT STACK ANY
EQUIPMENT DIRECTLY ABOVE OR BELOW THE DREADNAUGHT II AS TO PROTECT IT FROM
OVERHEATING, AS WELL AS THE CONTINUED FUNCTIONALITY OF ANY EQUIPMENT NEAR AND
AROUND IT.

EACH CHANNEL IS A BALANCED BRIDGE AMPLIFIER, THUS THE NEGA TIVE SPEAKER TERMINAL
IS

NOT A GROUND, AND CANNOT BE CONNECTED TO A SYSTEM GROUND OR LOUDSPEAKER
SYSTEM WITH A COMMON GROUND. CONSULT YOUR SPEAKER MANUFACTURER TO ENSURE
THAT ANY SPEAKER IN YOUR SYSTEM THAT WILL BE CONNECTED TO THE DREADNAUGHT II
DOES NOT HAVE INTERNAL CIRCUITRY WITH A COMMON GROUND.

AFTER MARKET and THIRD PARTY MODIFICATIONS

Please note that any after market and/or third party modifications will void the warranty. In the case of
changing the feet on a unit, in order to prevent any damage (which will also not be covered under warranty),
please verify that the screws being used to secure non-Theta feet do not screw any deeper into the chassis
than the original ones. The original screw is 1/4-20 by 1/2 and goes into the chassis 1/4 inch.

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Table of Contents

PREFACE...........................................................................................................................................................ii

WARNING......................................................................................................................................................iii

Dreadnaught II Identification Record .............................................................................................................iv

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS...............................................................................................................................v

INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................1

Getting to know your Dreadnaught II..............................................................................................................1

Burn-In Time ...................................................................................................................................................1

Reference Manual Conventions......................................................................................................................1

IMPORTANT NOTICE....................................................................................................................................2

Dreadnaught II Block Diagram........................................................................................................................3

Front Panel Layout..........................................................................................................................................5

Front Panel Layout – Rackmount Option........................................................................................................6

Rear Panel Layout ..........................................................................................................................................7

OPERATION.......................................................................................................................................................9

Single and Two channel Modules...................................................................................................................9

Remote Triggers .............................................................................................................................................9

RS232 .............................................................................................................................................................9

Appendix A Troubleshooting Guide ........................................................................................................10

Appendix B Wiring Diagram....................................................................................................................11

Appendix C RS232 Protocol....................................................................................................................12

RS232 Jumper Settings.............................................................................................................................15

Appendix D Specifications.......................................................................................................................16

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