BPA 2 & B PA 3 Power Amplifiers PR O C E E D WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. 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 sufficient 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 appliance. Marking by the "CE" symbol (shown left) indicates compliance of this device with the EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and LVD (Low Voltage Directive) standards of the European Community. The information contained in the manual is subject to change without notice. The most current version of this manual will be posted on our web site at http://www.madrigal.com. 2 Important Saf ety Instructions Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Proceed power amplifier. 1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting any cables, or when cleaning any component. This product is equipped with a three-conductor AC mains power cord which includes an earth ground connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must ALWAYS be used. If your electrical outlets will not accept this type of plug, an adapter may be purchased. If an adapter is necessary, be sure it is an approved type and is used properly, supplying an earth ground. If you are not sure of the integrity of your home electrical system, contact a licensed electrician for assistance. AC extension cords are not recommended for use with this product. If an extension cord must be used, be sure it is an approved type and has sufficient current-carrying capacity to power this product. NEVER use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning audio components. NEVER operate this product with any covers removed. NEVER wet the inside of this product with any liquid. NEVER pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit. NEVER block air flow through ventilation slots or heatsinks. NEVER bypass any fuse. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified. 11. NEVER attempt to repair this product. If a problem occurs, contact your Proceed® retailer. 12. NEVER expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures. 13. NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere. 14. ALWAYS keep electrical equipment out of the reach of children. 15. ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms. 3 From all of us at Madrigal Audio Laboratories, thank you for choosing this Proceed power amplifier. A great deal of effort went into the design and construction of this precision device. Used properly, it will give you many years of enjoyment. 4 Table of Contents Unpacking and Placement ............................................................... 6 Unpacking .......................................................................................................... 6 Placement .......................................................................................................... 6 Ventilation ........................................................................................................... 6 Operating Voltage ............................................................................. 7 note the serial number ....................................................................................... 7 amplifier bottom-panel label ..................................................................... 7 A Quick Start ..................................................................................... Special Design Features ................................................................... 8 10 Multiple power supplies ................................................................................... 10 Low impedance power supply ....................................................................... 10 Balanced inputs ............................................................................................... 10 Robust output stage ......................................................................................... 10 Extensive protection ......................................................................................... 10 Home THX Audio System certification .............................................................. 1 1 Front Panel ........................................................................................ Rear Panel ........................................................................................ 12 14 communication cable ............................................................................. 15 Remote turn-on tip polarity ...................................................................... 15 Bridged Operation ........................................................................... 18 Bridging Explained ........................................................................................... 18 Balanced Bridging ........................................................................................... 18 Balanced Bridging Kit ............................................................................... 19 Single-Ended Bridging ...................................................................................... 20 Single-Ended Bridging Kit .......................................................................... 21 Biamplification ................................................................................ Care & M aintenance ....................................................................... U.S. and Can adian Warranty ........................................................... 23 24 25 Balanced Y-adapter ................................................................................. 23 90-Day Limited Warranty .................................................................................. 25 Five Year Extended Warranty ........................................................................... 25 Obtaining Se rvice ............................................................................ Specifications .................................................................................. Dimensions ...................................................................................... Installation Notes ............................................................................. 26 27 28 29 5 Unpacking and Placement Unpacking Unpack your Proceed® BPA 2 or BPA 3 power amplifier and keep all packing materials for future transport. Shipment of the amplifier without the original packing material is not recommended. Locate and remove the heavy gauge AC power cord, which is tucked into a cardboard slot within the box. Placement Y our Proceed BPA may be placed either near the preamplifier/control center or near the loudspeakers. It may be placed on a shelf or in a cabinet where it is convenient to operate. Note that adequate clearance for the AC cord and connecting cables must be left behind your BPA. We suggest leaving at least three inches of free space behind your BPA to allow all cables sufficient room to bend without crimping or undue strain. Ventilation Be sure to allow 2 to 3 inches of clearance above your BPA to allow heat dissipation through air circulation. The vents on both the bottom and the top of the BPA must be kept free from any obstruction which would reduce the flow of air through the unit. The best rule of thumb is this: if the top of your BPA is too hot to touch when "idle," it needs better ventilation. If so, consider drilling holes in the supporting shelf under the BPA to promote flow-through ventilation, or use fans to increase air circulation. Open equipment racks are generally best for power amplifiers, as they allow ample ventilation. If your amplifier must be located inside a cabinet which restricts airflow, consider using some fans to increase ventilation. Avoid placement on soft surfaces such as carpeting. If you prefer to have the BPA on the floor near your loudspeakers, be sure to place it on a firm surface. (A piece of tempered glass under the amplifier is aesthetically unobtrusive while providing firm support and allowing the required ventilation.) Mechanical drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations and custom cabinet work (see "Dimensions" at the end of this manual). For your protection, review "Important Safety Instructions" before you install your BPA. 6 Operating Voltage The Proceed BPA 2 and BPA 3 are factory-set for 100V 120V 220V 230 or 240V AC , , , mains operation at either 50 or 60Hz, according to the country for which the unit was manufactured. (230V only in European Union countries, in compliance with CE regulations.) Make sure that the label on the rear of the BPA indicates the correct AC operating voltage for your location. The operating voltage cannot be changed by the user, and any attempt to do so will void the warranty . If the voltage indicated does not match the service in your area, see your Proceed dealer. 7 A Quick Start We recognize that many people are understandably eager to begin listening to their new components, and that reading the manual is often done (if at all) at a later time--perhaps while listening to music through the new product itself. We strongly recommend that you read this manual thoroughly. Fortunately, we can help you get some music up and running on your system quickly, so that you may begin enjoying your new amplifier while reading more about it. The goal here is simply to make some music as quickly as possible. The following procedure assumes that the rest of your system is already connected (e.g., source components to preamplifier). 1 TURN DOWN THE VOLUME ON YOUR PREAMPLIFIER Turning the volume on the preamp all the way down minimizes the opportunity for unpleasant surprises when first powering up your new amplifier. It does not need to be turned off--merely turned down. 2 SELECT "XLR" OR "RCA" WITH THE "INPUT SELECT" SWITCHES Each channel of the Proceed BPA 2 and BPA 3 has both balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) inputs, with a small switch between the two connectors to select between them. Using these switches, select the appropriate input for each channel, given your interconnecting cables and preamplifier's capabilities. 3 CONNECT YOUR PREAMP TO THE BPA Having selected the appropriate inputs in Step 2, now connect the outputs of your preamplifier to the corresponding inputs on the power amplifier. 4 CONNECT YOUR SPEAKERS TO THE BPA Connect speaker wire from the BPA output terminals to your loudspeakers. Be sure to maintain consistency in polarity e.g., the red post on the ampli, fier to the red connector on the speaker, and likewise black to black. (Getting the wires mixed up won't damage anything, but the sound will be lacking in bass and the imaging will be quite poor and unstable.) 5 CONNECT THE AC CORD TO THE BPA AND TO YOUR AC OUTLET The AC receptacle for the power cord is located on the right side of the rear panel, as seen from the front. The BPA will initially power up in standby mode. 6 TURN ON THE BPA BY PRESSING THE POWER BUTTON Pressing the latching power button on the front panel of the BPA 2 and BPA 3 will connect the amplifier to the AC mains. If the indicator light does not light, the amplifier is either not receiving AC power or its protection circuitry has been engaged. 8 7 SLOWLY RAISE THE VOLUME ON YOUR PREAMPLIFIER Congratulations! Y should now be able to enjoy your favorite music while ou reading the rest of this manual. (Please, do read the rest of this manual. It contains much valuable information about your new amplifier which we could not possibly fit onto these two pages.) 9 Special Design Features Congratulations on your purchase of a Proceed BPA! While your new amplifier is straightforward in its use, it includes several design features which are responsible for its outstanding performance. A few of these are given below. Multiple monaural design Consistent with the finest amplifiers, your Proceed BPA is a true "multiple monaural" design. Each audio channel has its own, dedicated power supply--including a separate 300VA toroidal transformer for each channel. This approach reduces crosstalk between audio channels for superior imaging and reproduction of acoustic space. The demands placed on one channel have virtually no effect on the performance of the other channel(s). ...