O W N E R ' S M A N U A L HCA-3500 Ultra High Cur rent Power Ampl if ier t Power Amplifier HCA-3500 Ultra High Curren Power Left Power Right Designed in California by John Curl -1- Table of Contents Important Safety Instructions ........................................................................................... 3 Figure #1 HCA-3500 Front and Rear Panel Drawings ..................................................... 4 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 5 Ventilation Requirements .................................................................................................. 6 Making Connections to the HCA-3500 .............................................................................. 6 RCA Input Connections ..................................................................................................... 6 XLR Input Connections ...................................................................................................... 6 XLR Selector Switch .......................................................................................................... 7 Speaker Connections......................................................................................................... 7 Bi-Wiring ............................................................................................................................. 7 AC Power Connections and AC Grounding ..................................................................... 7 Maintaining Your Parasound Amplifier ............................................................................. 8 In Case of Trouble ............................................................................................................... 8 Special Features for the Parasound HCA-3500 ............................................................... 9 Parasound HCA-3500 Specifications............................................................................. 10 Special Features for the Parasound HCA-3500 Independent power supplies for each channel for true dual-monaural operation Massive encapsulated 1.4 kVA toroid power transformer for each channel 97,600 uF power supply capacitance for each channel Multiple polystyrene film bypass capacitors in power supply Direct coupled design uses no inductors or capacitors in the signal path DC servo direct-coupled audio circuits with 0.5 Hz rolloff Output transistors direct-coupled to speakers without LRC networks Cascode Class A input stages with matched J-FET pairs Hand-picked complementary MOSFET transistors in high voltage driver stage High-bias Class A/AB operation provides 15 Watts of pure Class A operation 8 complementary pairs of 15 ampere 60 MHz output transistors per channel High-quality Neutrik XLR jacks for balanced inputs Two sets of gold-plated metal structure RCA input jacks for balanced operation Two sets of gold-plated 5-way binding posts facilitates bi-wiring Multiple protection circuits, temperature sensors and silver-cadmium relay protection Glass epoxy circuit boards, double-sided for precision Two hand-made audiophile-grade AC power cords-separate for each channel -2- IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS The lightning flash with the arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of "dangerous voltage" inside the product that may constitute a risk of electric shock. The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying the product. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Read Instructions -- Read all the safety and operating instructions before operating this product. Retain Instructions -- Retain safety and operating instructions for future reference. Heed Warnings -- Adhere to all warnings on the product and in the operating instructions. Follow Instructions -- Follow all operating and use instructions. Cleaning -- Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. Clean the outside of the product only. Attachments -- Do not use attachments that are not recommended by the product manufacturer; they may be hazardous. Water and Moisture -- Do not use this product near water. Accessories -- Do not place this product on an unstable cart or stand. The product may fall causing bodily injury and damage to the product. A product and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart to overturn. Ventilation -- Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable operation of the product and to protect it from overheating. These openings must not be blocked or covered. This product should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided. Power Sources -- Operate this product only from the type of power source indicated on the label. If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your dealer or local power company. This product is equipped with a three-prong grounding plug. This plug will only fit into a grounding power outlet. If you are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the grounding plug. Power Cord Protection -- Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them. Lightning-- Unplug the unit from the wall outlet for added protection during a lightning storm and when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of time. This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power line surges. Overloading -- Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords. This can result in a fire or electric shock. Inserting Objects into Unit - Never push objects of any kind into this product through any openings; they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in fire or electric shock. Servicing -- Do not attempt to repair or service this product yourself. Opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage and other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Damage Requiring Service -- Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: a) If the power-supply cord or plug is damaged. b) If liquid has been spilled into the product. c) If the product has been exposed to rain or water. d) If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. e) If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way. f) If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance. Replacement Parts -- When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by the manufacturer. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, and other hazards. Safety Check -- Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition. Wall or Ceiling Mounting -- Mount the product to a wall or ceiling only as recommended. Heat -- The product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, and other products (including amplifiers) that produce heat. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 19. 20. 21. -3- Figure #1 HCA-3500 Front and Rear Panel Drawings t Power Amplifier HCA-3500 Ultra High Curren Rack Mount Holes High Temp Power Overload Power Left Right Operation Status Indicators Left Power Switch Right Power Switch Carry Handle Normal and Bi-Wire Speaker Connectors Right Channel Same as Right Channel Left Channel Right Speaker Left Speaker Non-Inverting Non-Inverting RCA Input Jack Non-Inverting Unbalanced Inputs Unbalanced Inputs Inverting RCA Input Jack Input Selector Inverting Bi-Wire Bi-Wire Inverting Input Selector Unbalanced Balanced Input Selection Switch Balanced Unbalanced 1 Balanced XLR Connector HCA - 3500 2 Balanced Input 3 Ultra High Current Power Amplifier Parasound Products, Inc San Francisco, CA U.S.A. Balanced Input CAUTION TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER. THERE ARE NO USER SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL WARNING TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. DO NOT RESTRICT ADEQUATE VENTILATION. CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN Fuse T15A/250 V Power Consumption: 1200 W AC 120V 50/60Hz Power Consumption: 1200 W Fuse T15A/250 V Main Power Fuse Carry Handle IEC AC Cord Connector -4- Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of this precision audio component and thank you for your selection of Parasound. Your Parasound HCA-3500 was designed by renowned circuit designer John Curl and is built using only the finest precision components available for optimum musical quality and performance. Each channel of the amplifier has its own power supply including an independent 1.4 kVA toroidal power transformer and 97,600 uF of filter capacitance. This dual-mono configuration provides the high levels of power needed for some of today's more sophisticated speaker systems. The inherently low output impedance of the HCA-3500 easily maintains control of your loudspeakers even during demanding impedance variations. Unique circuit topology of the direct coupled HCA-3500 includes balanced JFET input transistors, MOSFET drivers and ultra high current output devices. The output delivers a generous 15 watts of pure class A operation. Additionally, there are no inductors or capacitors in the signal path. These design refinements reduce high odd-order harmonic distortion, improve overall clarity and preserve low-level musical details. Please take a few moments to read these instructions so that you may fully understand the capabilities of your new Parasound power amplifier. Unpacking Your HCA-3500 Carefully unpack your amplifier and remove all the enclosed accessories. These accessories include two 12 AWG AC cords, rack mount hole plugs, and this manual. Be sure to inspect the unit for any possible shipping damage. If you see any, contact your Parasound Dealer immediately. Save all the packing material in case you need to ship the amplifier for repair. Before you proceed, find the serial number located on the rear panel of your amplifier and record it here for reference: Serial #____________________ Date of Purchase____________________ Installing Your HCA-3500 Locate your amplifier away from heat sources such as air ducts and radiators. Always mount the amplifier horizontally and make sure that your cabinet or shelf can support its weight. It is best to provide a separate shelf for your amplifier rather that stacking it directly above or below your other components. The HCA-3500 occupies four rack spaces (7") in a standard 19 inch equipment rack. When rack mounting the HCA-3500, have someone help support the unit while you bolt the component to the rack rails. Be sure to use heavy duty mounting bolts and nylon shoulder washers on both sides of the faceplate to avoid scratching the amplifier's front panel and also to help prevent ground loops. Contact Middle Atlantic Products at (201) 839-1011 to obtain any additional rack mounting hardware you may need. -5- Ventilation Requirements To insure safe and reliable operation, it is very important that the amplifier has plenty of ventilation to prevent overheating and automatic shut down from its thermal protection circuitry. Please observe the following ventilation guidelines when installing your amplifier in a cabinet or other enclosed area: 1) If you are not using a fan, allow at least six inches on each side and above the amplifier, and do not close off the front with a cabinet door or panel. 2) If you are enclosing the amplifier within an equipment cabinet, use a fan to draw in cool air and exhaust warm air. Two vent holes are required: one for intake and one for exhaust. 3) Do not place the amplifier on carpeting that will obstruct the air flow into the bottom of the amplifier chassis and heatsinks. 4) Avoid stacking components. If you do stack components, you must use a fan to circulate the warm air that will quickly become trapped between them when they are powered on. Making Connections to the HCA-3500 Refer to Figure #1 Leave the AC cords disconnected before making any signal or speaker connections. When making connections to the amplifier, make sure there is no strain or tension on the input leads, speaker wires, or AC cord that could cause ...