Theta Digital Dreadnaught III Owner's Manual

THETA DIGITAL

Dreadnaught III owner’s manual

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 III 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 III 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 III, 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 III 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 III 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 III 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.

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.

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 III Identification Record

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

upgrades, 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)

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 III, FIRST TURN OFF THE POWER AND THEN DISCONNECT THE AC POWER CORD.

WHEN INSTALLING THE DREADNAUGHT III 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 III 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 III.

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 III 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 III 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 NEGATIVE 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 III 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.

Table of Contents

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

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

Dreadnaught III Identification Record ................................................................................. iv

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

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

Getting to know your Dreadnaught III ................................................................................. 1

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

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

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

Dreadnaught III 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

RS-232 ...................................................................................................................... 9

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

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

Appendix C RS-232 Protocol ....................................................................................... 12

RS-232 Jumper Settings .............................................................................................. 15

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

INTRODUCTION

Getting to know your Dreadnaught III

This Dreadnaught III has been put through a rigorous and unique testing procedure that ensures that it will last for many years with minimal service requirements. This procedure includes the following:

• All assembled circuit boards are given a thorough visual inspection and are then tested in a benchreference Dreadnaught III.

• The tested, assembled circuit boards are then installed in a new Dreadnaught III and the whole unit is tested for every function and parameter.

• The unit is put on a burn-in torture rack to test for any possible component failures.

• It is then tested on an audio analyzer for all pertinent parameters.

• The unit has all remaining chassis components installed and then undergoes a complete visual

inspection, which assures that all Dreadnaught III’s meet visual specifications.

• The Dreadnaught III then undergoes a critical listening and functional test.

Burn-In Time

This unit has a break in period of about 1 week during which continuous improvement in sound quality will be observed. It is recommended that music be played continuously through the unit during this time to expedite the break in period.

Reference Manual Conventions

For clarity purposes, references to buttons and LED’s will be shown in bold capital letters.

+ 16 hidden pages

Theta Digital Dreadnaught III Owner's Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual