User manual TAG MCLAREN AUDIO 100P

power LED power button power amplifier 100P contents 0 2 welcome 0 8 key features 0 9 getting started 1 3 signal input and output 1 4 grounding 1 5 connecting loudspeakers 2 2 running in and warming up 2 3 care and maintenance 2 5 technical data 2 8 international standards 220-240V ~ 50-60Hz Fuse: T4A L 250V RIGHT CHANNEL OUTPUT left INPUT right left OUTPUT right LEFT CHANNEL OUTPUT fuse carrier loudspeaker terminals (right) input sockets loudspeaker terminals (left) made in United Kingdom serial number 100 1234567 power amplifier 100P ac supply socket output sockets Specification shown may var y for different countries welcome to a new partnership . . i n h i - p e r fo r m a n c e , h i - f i d e l i t y All TAG companies perpetually strive for, and achieve, excellence and highperformance in every area of their business. These qualities are demonstrated in the fastidious standards that make TAG Heuer Derek Scotland (on the left) ­ Technical Director Peter Stevens ­ Chief Industrial Designer Dr. Zucker ­ Chief Executive TAG McLaren Audio has been created with celebrating a TAG McLaren victor y one aim in mind: to produce the best highfidelity audio and audio-visual systems available. Now the first fruits of that Now, this blend of talent and expertise has been combined with the award-winning experience of Audiolab to create a company with a technical advantage and access to resources second-to-none in the high end audio industry TAG McLaren Audio. Throughout the F3 Series development process, quality, performance and reliability have been paramount, resulting in unparalleled performance, operational excellence and sheer listening pleasure. alliance are ready ­ a unique new range of audio products. watches some of the world's most admired; in the teamwork that makes TAG McLaren's motor racing team one of the most successful in Formula One; and in the advanced electronics technology that makes TAG Electronic Systems the first choice for many Formula One constructors and high-performance car makers. 03 welcome welcome low intermodulation distortion straight line technology Thank you for purchasing the TAG McLaren Audio stereo power amplifier 100P. power amplifier 100P We are convinced it will give you many hours of listening pleasure. The 100P is a very powerful, high-quality, stereo power amplifier with output of outstanding clarity and purity. It complements our PA20R and PA10 preamplifiers in performance and appearance.The 100P is ideal for larger rooms or for high-performance loudspeakers which require a large reserve of power from the amplifier to give their best. 04 The theoretically-ideal amplifier reproduces sound perfectly over an infinite range of frequencies ­ starting from well below the audible range and extending far above the capabilities of human hearing. Although sound outside the human hearing range of approximately 20 to 20,000 Hz cannot be heard, it can significantly distort the quality of music reproduction through an effect that audio engineers call `intermodulation distortion'.This type of distortion moves imperfections that originate outside the hearing range back into the audible frequencies.To minimise this effect,TAG McLaren Audio amplifiers have a frequency response which extends both above and below the range of normal human hearing. To prevent intermodulation distortion, an amplifier must respond to very low frequencies but block any Direct Current (DC).This is traditionally achieved using capacitors, which also block some of the lowfrequency signal. In the 100P, a feedback circuit eliminates DC offset voltage and allows the signal path to be direct coupled without any capacitors.This arrangement, which we at TAG McLaren Audio call `Straight Line Technology', is easy to describe but not easy to realise.The design has taken our expert engineers years to perfect. supersonic high-frequency response In order to reproduce high frequencies, the 100P is constructed using highly-rated, highprecision components.The circuit has been painstakingly designed to avoid any possibility 05 welcome of signals picking up interference and to minimise the effects of intermodulation. sophisticated muting massive power The 100P has a sophisticated muting system, which stops you hearing loud, annoying switching noises and protects the amplifier and loudspeakers. convenient connections A signal output is provided to connect another power amplifier in multi-amplifier systems. It may also be used to tailor the input characteristics for special purposes. The loudspeaker output terminals are duplicated for your convenience in case you wish to bi-wire your loudspeakers. The 100P's power rating of 100 watts is very conservative, as the 100P can typically provide 120 watts into 8 , 180 watts into 4 , and 220 watts into 2 for a short period. Performance of this calibre is essential to drive even the least sensitive loudspeakers without distortion, and has been achieved through the use of a very large power supply (which accounts for the high weight of the 100P) and highlyspecified output circuitry. Separate power supplies for each channel maximises channel separation. The 100P gives you huge power with true hi-performance, hi-fidelity. 06 key features getting started · `Straight Line Technology' feedback paths with direct coupled signal and · · · · High-quality audio components Precision metal-film resistors Epoxy glass circuit board Rated 100 W, typically 120 W into 8 continuous (rated 150 W, typ. 180 W into 4 and rated 190 W, typ. 220 W into 2 for short periods) Duplicated loudspeaker terminals (for bi-wiring or multi-room) Signal output to connect to other power amplifiers or to modify input characteristics Sorbothane® sonic isolation feet, specially designed by TAG McLaren Audio(1) before you start We know you are keen to get your 100P working. This section will have you listening to your favourite music as quickly as possible. If you fold out the front cover of this manual you will locate diagrams which will help you find your way around your 100P(1). Make sure that all the components of your audio system are disconnected from the AC supply whenever you change any connections. loudspeaker terminals · · On the back of your 100P you will find four pairs of loudspeaker terminals, each pair consisting of one red and one black. The terminals on the back of the 100P use BFA(2) sockets. The BFA plug pushes into the middle of the terminal. · 1. 2. 1. For the very best performance we recommend that our units are placed on individual shelves and are not stacked one on top of another Throughout this instruction manual (except in titles), bold print indicates the lettering that you will find on the panels of your 100P In models for countries where the AC supply is 115 V, the terminals accept 4 mm `banana' plugs instead of BFA plugs. 4 mm plugs are not permitted in Europe. Please see page 16 for more details of the terminals 08 09 getting started getting started loudspeaker connection Use high-quality loudspeaker cable terminated in BFA plugs(1) to connect the red terminal of your right loudspeaker to one of the red(2) terminals marked RIGHT CHANNEL OUTPUT on the back of your 100P. Then connect the black terminal of your right loudspeaker to one of the black terminals marked RIGHT CHANNEL OUTPUT on the back of your 100P. Connect the left loudspeaker to a pair of LEFT CHANNEL OUTPUT terminals in the same way. right speaker in out left speaker RIGHT CHANNEL OUTPUT preamplifier connection You will need a preamplifier (such as our PA10 or PA20R) connected to a sound source (such as our CD player CD20R or tuner T20) to feed into your 100P. Use a good-quality, screened phono-phono audio cable to connect the output of your preamplifier to the sockets marked INPUT left and right on the back of your 100P. left INPUT right left OUTPUT right power connection The diagram shows a standard loudspeaker arrangement (3) Check that the power button is out so that power is off when you plug in(1). Using the cable supplied, connect the socket on the back of your 100P to an AC supply outlet. For the best sound quality, we recommend that you do not use multi-plug adaptors. 1. 2. If you prefer to use a cable which does not have BFA plugs, please see page 16 If your loudspeaker terminals are not colour coded ­ red corresponds to positive (+) or signal and black corresponds to negative (­). For each channel the terminals of the same colour are connected together The diagram is for illustrative purposes only. It is not to scale and does not show all connections. See page 14 for more details on connecting loudspeakers 1. The power button is a latching switch. One press will hold it in, the next will release it 3. 10 11 getting started signal input and output switch on Press the power button in. The blue power LED will come on. Wait for about 10 seconds for the muting system to switch off . (1) audio input The INPUT left and right on the back panel of your 100P accepts the output of a high-quality preamplifier (such as our PA10 or PA20R)(1). left INPUT right left OUTPUT right Start playing your sound source. audio output Turn up the volume, sit back and enjoy the music. To simplify multiple power amplifier configurations, additional OUTPUT left and right sockets are provided. These sockets are connected in parallel with the INPUT sockets of the same channel. In addition the OUTPUT sockets provide the facility to modify the input impedance of the 100P by using a phono plug loading module. Please consult your retailer for further information. 1. 1. The output is muted when the power is switched on to allow all the voltages to stabilize. This protects your 100P and your loudspeakers and prevents unpleasant noises from upsetting your listening experience The INPUT can accept a line output from a signal source such as a CD player but, unless the source has a wide-ranging variable output, there will be no volume control and the sound level may be excessive. This could result in damage to your loudspeakers 12 13 grounding connecting loudspeakers The AC mains supply normally operates at either 50 or 60 Hz (depending on which country you are in). Under some circumstances this can cause an audible hum in your loudspeakers. Should you have any problems with hum in your system, please contact your retailer. The connection between your 100P and your loudspeakers is crucial to the sound quality of your entire audio system. Please follow these recommendations to achieve the best results. Your 100P is specified to operate with 8 loudspeakers, but it can be used with 4 loudspeakers. The 100P may also be connected to loudspeakers which have a transient impedance of less than 4 (1). Always switch off your 100P before changing any connections. Always use high-quality loudspeaker cable. avoiding hum To minimise the possibility of mains hum in your system: do not link the ground terminals of separate audio units together. use screened cable for your signal connections and keep the left and right channel cables close together. loudspeaker terminals grounding your system All the units in the TAG McLaren Audio F3 Series range are double insulated and do not require safety ground connections. Your system does not need to be connected to ground (audio engineers call this `floating'). However, if you want to ground your system, please contact your retailer who will be able to assist you. On the back of your 100P you will find four pairs of loudspeaker terminals. For each stereo channel (i.e. right and left), there is one pair of black terminals and one pair of red. This duplication of the terminals allows you to bi-wire the loudspeakers as explained on page 18. RIGHT CHANNEL OUTPUT 1. These ratings are for music signals only. If the 100P is amplifying a continuous sine wave, an 8 load must be used 14 15 connecting loudspeakers connecting loudspeakers connection methods We recommend that you use loudspeaker cables terminated in BFA plugs or spade terminals. These plugs are designed to fit the terminals on the back of the 100P(1). The BFA plug and socket ensures that you cannot touch the high-voltage output conductors. Screw the knob of the terminal all the way in and push the plug into the centre of the knob. If you do not have BFA plugs, you can use `spade' connectors. Unscrew the terminal enough to push the spade into the slot in the side of the terminal, then tighten the terminal by hand. You should not use tools to tighten the terminal; over-tightening will reduce the sound quality. If you choose to use bare wire, there is a hole in the side of the terminal to accommodate it. Make sure that there are no strands of wire sticking out of the terminal. standard connection The simplest way to connect your loudspeakers is to run a single cable (consisting of two wires) to each one. For each stereo channel, connect the red terminal on the loudspeaker to the red terminal on the 100P. Repeat for the black terminal(1). If your loudspeakers have separate connections for high and low frequencies, make sure these are linked together. right speaker hf in out lf lf left speaker hf RIGHT CHANNEL OUTPUT This diagram shows a 100P connected to loudspeakers with a single input (2) 1. Connecting black to black and red to red ensures that the `phasing' is correct. If this is wrong it can affect the sound. If your loudspeaker terminals are not colourcoded, black corresponds to negative (-) and red corresponds to positive (+) or signal. Please refer to your loudspeaker manual for details This diagram, and those that follow, are for illustrative purposes only; they are not to scale and do not show all connections 1. The BFA connector complies with current EU safety standards, which do not allow the use of 4 mm `banana' plugs. 4 mm terminals are permitted (and are fitted to the 100P) in countries where the AC supply is 115 volts 2. 16 17 connecting loudspeakers connecting loudspeakers bi-wiring With many high-quality loudspeakers, you can make separate connections to the high- and low-frequency drivers(1). In such cases, you may want to run separate cables for the high and low frequencies as shown in the diagram. To do this, you will need to remove the links, provided as part of the loudspeaker, which connect the drivers. Please refer to your loudspeaker instructions to find out how to do this. Bi-wiring provides separate paths for high- and low-frequency signals, improving the sound quality in many cases. right speaker hf in out lf lf left speaker bi-amping To improve the sound further, you can use separate amplifiers for high and low frequencies. This will allow you to increase the volume without distorting the sound. As each amplifier is operating in a smaller bandwidth, intermodulation distortion may also be reduced. Connect the left and right output of a preamplifier (such as our PA20R) to the INPUT left and right on one of your 100Ps. Also connect the left and right preamplifier outputs to the other 100P. Then connect one 100P's loudspeaker terminals to the highfrequency drivers of the left and right loudspeakers. Use the second 100P to connect to the low-frequency drivers(1). out This diagram shows two 100P stereo power amplifiers connected to a TAG McLaren Audio This diagram shows a hf 100P bi-wired to a pair of loudspeakers. right speaker hf in out left speaker hf PA20R for bi-amping lf in out lf 1. The `driver' is the mechanism inside the case of the loudspeaker which actually makes the sound. Most high-quality loudspeakers have drivers for high, low and often middle frequencies and the capability to connect them separately. However, the lack of this facility is not necessarily a sign of low quality (as some of the finest loudspeakers in the world have proved) 1. This simple connection method works with any combination of TAG McLaren Audio F3 Series amplifiers because they have matched gains. If you want to connect a different manufacturer's amplifier, you may need to use an active crossover or a gain-setting facility. Please contact your retailer for advice if you wish to do this 18 19 connecting loudspeakers connecting loudspeakers bi-amping alternative arrangement An alternative connection method is shown here. This arrangement has the added advantage of allowing you to place each amplifier close to the loudspeaker it is feeding, thus enabling you to connect them together with short cables. Connect the right channel output of a preamplifier (such as our PA20R) to INPUT left on one of your 100Ps and the left channel output of the preamplifier to INPUT left on the other 100P. On each 100P connect OUTPUT left to OUTPUT right. left INPUT right left OUTPUT right tri-wiring Some high-quality loudspeakers have separate drivers for the middle frequency range as well as high and low. In such cases, it may be possible (for details refer to your loudspeaker instructions) to run separate cables for each frequency range to tri-wire the loudspeakers. If you wish to do this, you will need to connect two wires to one terminal. We recommend that you use stackable BFA plugs for this purpose. These are available from your retailer. On each amplifier, connect one of the stereo outputs to the highfrequency driver and the other to the low-frequency driver. This diagram shows an alternative method of connecting two 100P right speaker hf left speaker hf other multiple amplifier arrangements The arrangements described above, and on previous pages, are only suggestions and do not cover all the connection possibilities for amplifiers and loudspeakers. If you want to expand your audio system, please contact your retailer who will be happy to discuss your specific requirements. out stereo power amplifiers to a TAG McLaren Audio PA20R for lf lf bi-amping in out in out 20 21 running in and warming up care and maintenance TAG McLaren Audio equipment is designed to give optimum performance for many years. fuses There is a fuse in the power socket on the back of your 100P. To change the fuse, unplug the power cable and pull out the fuse carrier drawer(1). The fuse carrier contains a spare fuse; this is the first one that you see when you open the carrier. There are no other user-serviceable parts inside the 100P. running in Just like a high-quality car, the performance of your 100P will improve during the first few hours of operation. The electronic components will then have reached and settled down to nearperfect specification. warming up Every time you switch on your 100P, the performance will improve until the components reach their optimum operating temperature. cleaning In order to maintain the appearance of your 100P, you can clean it as follows: before cleaning, always disconnect your 100P from the AC supply. any grease or dirt on the case may be removed with a soft, lint-free cloth moistened slightly with a mild solution of warm water and detergent or washing-up liquid. Do not use any other solutions. Do not use any solvents or abrasives. take great care not to get any liquid inside the case. If this happens, you should have your 100P serviced. 1. You cannot open the fuse carrier drawer while the plug is in the socket 22 23 care and maintenance technical data service The only service you should do to your 100P is described on the previous page. All other servicing should only be carried out by one of our authorised service agents. If service is required please contact your authorised TAG McLaren Audio retailer. If your 100P is still under guarantee, please refer to the guarantee card which gives you details on how to claim against the guarantee. Please keep the original packaging and use it whenever your 100P is transported. This section is for those of you who really want to know the `insides' of your 100P. You will not miss out on any of the functions or performance of your 100P if you choose not to read any further. rated output power (both channels driven) 100 W per channel into rated load impedance (8 ) 150 W into 4 and 190 W into 2 for short periods typical output power (both channels driven) 120 W per channel into rated load impedance (8 ) 180 W into 4 and 220 W into 2 for short periods input for full rated power 1.0 V rms input impedance 47 k nominal gain 29.0 dB at 1 kHz signal to noise greater than 95 dB (relative to 0 dBW) 24 25 technical data technical data frequency response (-3 dB) 0.1 Hz ­ 75 kHz ac supply voltage 110 ­ 120 V or 220 ­ 240 V The voltage is marked on the rear of the unit frequency response (20 Hz ­ 20 kHz) ± 0.3 dB power consumption less than 500 W total harmonic distortion + noise less than 0.05% dimensions (including feet, terminals and controls) 445 mm wide 75 mm high 333 mm deep channel balance ± 1 dB The rated and typical performance applies when the mains supply voltage is either 230 V AC for 220 - 240 V units or 115 V AC for 110 - 120 V units channel separation better than 80 dB (20 Hz ­ 20 kHz) We reserve the right to alter design and specification without notice Specification may vary for different countries polarity (phase) non-inverting for all inputs and outputs operating temperature range 10 ­ 35 °C ac supply frequency 26 50 ­ 60 Hz 27 international standards Your 100P meets or exceeds all the legal requirements listed below: directives 89/336/EEC * 73/23/EEC EMC Directive (as amended by 93/23/EEC) Low Voltage Directive (as amended by 93/23/EEC) safety * IEC65: * IEC65 A2: * IEC65 A3: * EN60065: 1985 1989 1992 1993 emc emissions EN50081 -1: EN55022 Class B: EN60555 -2: EN61000 -3-3: FCC Part 15 Class B: 1992 1994 1987 1995 1997 emc immunity EN50082 -1: IEC801 -2: IEC801 -3: IEC801 -4: EN61000 -4-2: EN61000 -4-4: EN61000 -4-5: EN61000 -4-11: 1992 1991 1984 1988 1995 1995 1995 1994 ± 3 ± ± ± ± 8 kV V/m 1 kV 8 kV 1 kV 2 kV air discharge AC power, ± 500 V other ports air, ± 4 kV contact discharge AC power, ± 500 V other ports common mode, ± 1 kV differential mode *115 V units are fitted with 4 mm terminals. They comply with 73/23/EEC, IEC65 and EN60065 in all other aspects 28