contents 02 04 06 14 19 23 24 25 26 28 6595P controls welcome features set-up remote control TA G t r o n i c C o m m u n i c a t i o n s B u s grounding and hum running in and warming up care and maintenance technical data five channel amplifier 100x5R s 01 controls controls Specification shown may var y for different countries 02 03 welcome heading welcome welcome to the TAG McLaren Audio home cinema experience Dr. Udo Zucker ­ Physicist, PhD in Science, designer of award-winning control electronics, dedicated audiophile and Chief Executive Officer of TAG McLaren Audio Award-winning TAG McLaren technology the TAG2000 F1 powertrain control system has been selected as a Millennium Product TAG McLaren Audio exists with one aim in mind: to produce the very best highend audio and audio-visual equipment in the world. Like many people, I often have my best ideas when relaxing to a piece of music or watching a movie. For years, knowing the technical capabilities of TAG McLaren, I have nurtured the ambition to push sound reproduction to the absolute limit; that's why we formed TAG McLaren Audio. At the core of our development team are highly experienced electronics engineers whose heritage of award-winning hi-fi and world-beating electronic control systems is envied by many and equalled by few. In addition to our experience in the world of hi-fi we are able to utilise our expertise in mechanical engineering, material science, multi-layer printed circuit boards, fast digital signal processing, electronic noise suppression, radio frequency technology and software design to name but a few. All these skills are sharpened to compete in the toughest of all technical sports: Formula One motor racing.We directly apply them to enhance high-end audio, for example material science makes better audio interconnects and resonant - free loudspeaker cabinets, suspension technology decouples better electronics from the sound field and digital signal processing makes better home cinema products.The list is almost endless. I have been an audiophile for more than 30 years, and have used and upgraded many, many audio systems in that time. Our aim is sonic perfection combined with aesthetic delight and solid build quality ­ a rare combination in hi-fi but one which TAG McLaren Audio is already delivering. It is our technical expertise, combined with the strongest desire to be the best, which has produced this hi-technology, multi channel amplifier 100x5R. Its development has pushed the boundaries of refinement in the field of home cinema further. It perfectly compliments our excellent AV32R audio-visual processor and DVD32R dvd player.Whether used for twochannel stereo or full five channel surround sound, we are convinced that, with the 100x5R, you will never be disappointed. 05 04 features features Thank you for purchasing the TAG McLaren Audio five-channel amplifier 100x5R. five channel amplifier 100x5R s The 100x5R is a powerful, hi-performance amplifier which delivers sound reproduction of outstanding clarity and purity for up to five channels.TAG McLaren Audio's expertise in amplifier design has led to a product which will satisfy the audiophile and movie lover. For many years it has been considered quite impossible to setup a home cinema system to the same high standards as an audiophile stereo set-up. However, with the advent of ultrahigh-resolution, high-performance DVD, we now can have `no06 compromise' home cinema with truly excellent sound and picture quality. In many homes the home cinema system has now replaced the two channel stereo set-up, requiring components to complement but also to compete with the best audiophile products. Home cinema provides an all involving sound field, with sound reaching the listener from all directions, just like it happens in the real world. More and more recordings are now available including full surround sound, but even two channel stereo recordings can sound breathtaking when surround information is added.Whilst initial surround sound recordings (such as Dolby Pro LogicTM) provided most of the sound energy to the front channels with often only very subtle information in the surround channels, the latest 5.1 digital recordings can provide full sound to any of the five channels, individually or at the same time. Audiophiles have known for many years that precision, clarity, stereo image and depth can be improved by using so called monoblocs or single channel amplifiers. Providing completely independent amplification for each channel prevents interaction between them, resulting in a cleaner signal and hence better clarity and stereo imaging.This is true whether dealing with two channels or with five channels! The TAG McLaren Audio five-channel amplifier 100x5R includes five completely independent amplifiers, one for each channel, including power switching, transformer, power supply and amplification.The only feature shared is the remote control circuitry which allows each channel to be switched on/off individually using a microcontroller.This microcontroller is also used to switch off the amplifier should problems be detected in a channel. 07 features features TAG McLaren Audio's five-channel amplifier can be equipped with one, two, three, four or all five channels of amplification, making it suitable for a stereo set-up or complete home cinema system. The 100x5R is fully remote controlled and can be expanded into a multi-room set-up using the TAGtronic Communications Bus. topology The 100x5R consists of five identical power amplifier modules in a single compact enclosure. Each module is a complete self contained amplifier, including its own power transformer, bridge rectifier, energy storage capacitors and amplification stage, requiring only mains supply and control signals for functioning. Control signals are required to switch each amplifier module individually on/off and to protect it in case an error condition, such as a short 08 circuit to the loudspeaker, is detected. Each module uses its own custom designed aluminium heatsink for excellent heat dissipation, allowing each module to drive even more critical loudspeakers safely and totally independently from any of the other modules.This results in uncompromised sound quality with perfect channel separation. For added convenience the 100x5R is fully remote controlled, even allowing the user to shut down specific channels, for example when listening to two channel stereo.The remote control also allows the user to adjust the volume of the TAG McLaren AV32R av processor and to run the DVD32R dvd player. massive power resources into 8 ohms, 160 watts into 4 ohms and will drive 190 watts into 2 ohms for short durations. As a result of the 100x5R's selfcontained amplifier module construction, this performance is independant of the number of channels being driven and thus even during the loudest passages of your favourite movie the soundstage remains stable, controlled and detailed. audiophile quality for movie lovers selected and auditioned before a decision about their use in the 100x5R was made. For maximum performance ultra-stable Vishay metal film resistors and lowdielectric loss Wima polypropylene capacitors have been selected, providing the increased transparency and excellent noise suppression which audiophiles attribute to these components. mixed technology construction The 100x5R provides five channels of amplification at audiophile quality. Sound is not compromised if used as a 2 channel stereo amplifier or as a five channel surround sound system. Finally home cinema requirements and audiophile qualities have met. premium-grade audio components With surface mount components for fast digital signal transfer and leaded through-hole components for perfect audio signals, the 100x5R incorporates mixed technology construction to optimise performance.The result is uncompromised sound at a small size. low intermodulation distortion The 100x5R power output of 100 watts into 8 ohms is a conservative rating as the 100x5R will typically deliver 120 watts All components have been carefully A theoretically ideal amplifier 09 features features 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 which 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, the TAG McLaren Audio amplifiers have a frequency response which extends both above and below the range of normal human hearing. straight line technology s frequencies but block any Direct Current (DC).This is traditionally achieved using capacitors, which also block some of the low-frequency signals. In the 100x5R, 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.The result is a very precise reproduction of the lowest bass. supersonic high frequency response Exceptional transparency and purity of sound are the result. remote control muting In addition to being able to switch the 100x5R in and out of standby, the user can also switch off any of the 5 channels not currently being used.The most often used functions of the AV32R and the DVD32R player have also been included to make this a compact system remote control for your complete TAG McLaren Audio home cinema set-up. powerful 16-bit processor The 100x5R has a sophisticated muting system, which stops you hearing loud, annoying switching noises and protects the amplifier and loudspeakers. pure oxygen free copper loudspeaker connectors To prevent intermodulation distortion, an amplifier must respond to very low 10 In order to reproduce high frequencies, the 100x5R is constructed using highlyrated, high-precision components.The circuit has been painstakingly designed to minimise audio signals picking up interference and intermodulating. The 16-bit Siemens C161RI microcontroller controls and monitors all functions of the five channel amplifier 100x5R. For excellent sound quality the 100x5R uses high grade oxygen free high purity copper (OFHC) loudspeaker terminals, designed and manufactured by TAG McLaren.Very few companies provide OFHC loudspeaker terminals due to the difficulties in machining solid copper(1). The benefits of OFHC are clearly audible: improved clarity and transparency, even when compared to high percentage copper alloy terminals. TAG McLaren Audio's OFHC 1. TAG McLaren's expertise in machining exotic and difficult materials for use in Formula One motor racing has overcome this manufacturing problem. 11 features features loudspeaker terminals are gold-plated to ensure consistently good contact quality. Plating is done directly on the OFHC without using a (frequently applied) Nickel separator, as its existence is clearly audible as a more grainy sound. However, without this separator copper atoms will slowly diffuse into the gold plating, making it lose its brilliant shine and gold colour.This change of colour and shine has no affect on the sound quality, it is a purely cosmetic affect which has been accepted by our engineers in pursuit of best sound quality. The TAG McLaren Audio OFHC copper terminal allows for spade connection, as it is superior to all other types of loudspeaker cable connections. Please make sure that you use a high quality loudspeaker cable (such as our Cable AvantGarde F3-10- SPK) including 3/8" (10 mm) OFHC spade contacts. 12 made to last TAGtronic Communications Bus The finned centre section of the three part fascia is machined from a solid aluminium extrusion and is then fine paint finished.To complete the fascia assembly the two extruded end caps are machined, bead blasted and linished to create an even texture which is then chemically brightened and hard black anodised or painted. vibration damping The TAGtronicTM Communications Bus enables products equipped with this advanced interface to transfer and share information easily, e.g. multi-room installations. retrospective channel number upgrade should better amplifier technology become available by replacing amplifier modules. The software of the control circuitry can be field upgraded by a PC over the Internet using the TAGtronic Communications Bus. The cover panel is stiffened by formed ribs, then bonded with viscoelastic laminate to provide a low Q panel which provides rapid absorption of externally induced vibrations. mounting feet The 100x5R can be factory as ...