O W N E R ' S M A N U A L HCA-80 6A Si x Channel High Current Power Ampl if ier i Amplifier HCA-806A High Current Mult Current Overload Power 1 2 3 4 AC Line 5 Standby 6 Normal -1- Table of Contents Important Safety Instructions ........................................................................................ 3 Figure #1 and #2 HCA-806A Front and Rear Panel Drawings ..................................... 4 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5 Installing and Rack Mounting Your Amplifier ................................................................ 5 Ventilation Requirements for Your Amplifier ................................................................. 5 Input Connections and Switch Settings for the HCA-806A ......................................... 6 Multi Zone Stereo Operation .......................................................................................... 7 Speaker Connections ...................................................................................................... 7 Mono Bridging ................................................................................................................. 8 AC Power Connections and AC Grounding .................................................................. 8 DC Trigger Connection .................................................................................................... 8 Operating Your HCA-806A .............................................................................................. 9 Maintaining Your Parasound Amplifier .......................................................................... 9 Fuse .................................................................................................................................. 9 In Case of Trouble ............................................................................................................ 10 Special Features .............................................................................................................. 10 Specifications .................................................................................................................. 11 Parasound Limited Warranty (USA only) ...................................................................... 13 -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- HCA-806A Front and Rear Panel Controls i Amplifier HCA-806A High Current Mult EIA Rack Mount Holes Current Overload Power 1 2 3 4 AC Line 5 Standby 6 Normal Power Switch Status Indicators Figure #1 HCA-806A Front Panel Controls + 12 Vdc Trigger Connector Bridge Switches CH 1 CH 2 CH 3 CH 4 CH 5 CH 6 DC Trigger +12 V GND Fuse 10 A Level Controls Levels Off Off Main Fuse Input Connectors Inputs Loop 1/2-3/4 On CH 3+ Ch 4 Mono Bridging Loop 1/2-3/4 On CH 3+ Ch 4 Mono Bridging HCA - 806A High Current Multi-Amplifier Parasound Products, Inc San Francisco, CA U.S.A. Independant NonBridgeable Mono Bridging 8 Min Independant + Mono Bridging 8 Min + Power AC 120V 60Hz Carry Handle Power Consumption: 1000 W CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN Input Looping AC Cord Connector Figure #2 HCA-806A Front Panel Controls -4- Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of this precision audio component and thank you for your selection of Parasound. 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 Amplifier Carefully unpack your amplifier and remove all the enclosed accessories. 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 and Rack Mounting Your Amplifier Place 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. Both the HCA-806A occupies three rack spaces (5 1/4") in a standard 19 inch equipment rack. Be sure to use heavy duty mounting bolts to and nylon shoulder washers on both sides of the faceplate to avoid scratching the amplifier's front panel and to help prevent ground loops. Contact Middle Atlantic Products at (201) 839-1011 to obtain any rack mounting hardware you may need. When rack mounting equipment, have someone help support the unit while you bolt the component to the rack rails. Ventilation Requirements for Your Amplifier 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. -5- Input Connections and Switch Settings for the HCA-806A Refer to Figure #2 Six Channel Operation The six channel mode of your HCA-806A can power the six speakers required for a complete home theater: Front left and right, surround left and right, center channel, and subwoofer. Connect each output from your surround processor to the corresponding input connector of your HCA-806A. If you are using your HCA-806A in the six channel mode, we suggest the following progression of channel priorities. This is an easy way to remember what you connected to each channel for setting levels or troubleshooting: Recommended Input Connections for Six Channel Operation Use INPUTS 1 and 2 for your front left and right channels Use INPUTS 3 and 4 for your left and surround right channels Use INPUTS 5 for your center channel Use INPUTS 6 for your passive subwoofer Switch Settings for Six Channel Operation: Leave LOOP 1/2 > 3/4 and LOOP 1/2 > 5/6 switches in their OFF positions and both MONO BRIDGE switches in their SEPARATE positions. Four and Five Channel Operation In addition to six channel operation, you can use your HCA-806A in a variety of other configurations depending upon your needs. Below are examples of four and five channel operation. Input Connections for Four Channel Operation Use INPUTS 1 and 2 for your front left and right channels Use INPUTS 3 and 4 bridged mono for your center channel (Connect the center output of your processor to INPUT 4 only) Use INPUTS 5 and 6 bridged mono for your subwoofer (Connect the subwoofer output of your processor to INPUT 6 only.) Use an additional amplifier for your surround channels Switch Settings for Four Channel Operation: Leave LOOP 1/2 > 3/4 and LOOP 1/2 > 5/6 switches in their OFF positions Set the MONO BRIDGE switch for channel 3/4 in the MONO BRIDGING position Set the MONO BRIDGE switch for channel 5/6 in the MONO BRIDGING position Input Connections for Five Channel Operation Use INPUTS 1 and 2 for your Front left and right channels Use INPUTS 3 and 4 for your left and right surround channels Use INPUTS 5 and 6 bridged mono for your center channel (Connect the center output of your processor to INPUT 6 only) Settings for Five Channel Operation: Leave LOOP 1/2 > 3/4 and LOOP 1/2 > 5/6 switches in their OFF positions Select the MONO BRIDGE switch for channel 3/4 in the SEPARATE position Select the MONO BRIDGE switch for channel 5/6 in the MONO BRIDGING position Use a powered subwoofer or an additional amplifier for a passive subwoofer -6- Multi-Zone Stereo Operation Refer to Figure #2 You can switch your HCA-806A to reproduce a si ...