User manual TAG MCLAREN AUDIO 125M

power LED power button monobloc 125M 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: T3.15A L 250V OUTPUT 1 fuse carrier loudspeaker terminals input socket output socket OUTPUT 2 INPUT OUTPUT made in United Kingdom serial number 125 1234567 monobloc 125M ac supply socket Specification shown may var y for different countries welcome welcome power from the amplifier to give their best. shorter cables, superior sound Thank you for purchasing the TAG McLaren Audio monobloc 125M. monobloc 125M We are convinced it will give you many hours of listening pleasure. You can place a single-channel amplifier near to each loudspeaker to minimise the length of the loudspeaker cable. Short cables provide less resistance to the flow of current into the loudspeaker, allowing the combination of amplifier and loudspeaker to reproduce the finest nuances of the music with the utmost clarity and precision. Furthermore, if you use two 125Ms for a stereo system interference between channels is negligible. low intermodulation distortion 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. straight line technology The 125M is a very powerful, high-quality, single-channel power amplifier (often referred to as `monobloc') with an output of outstanding clarity and purity. It complements our PA20R and PA10 preamplifiers in performance and appearance.The 125M is ideal for larger rooms or for highperformance loudspeakers which require a large reserve of 04 The theoretically-ideal amplifier reproduces sound perfectly over an infinite range of frequencies ­ starting from well below the audible range and extending far To prevent intermodulation distortion, an amplifier must respond to very low frequencies but block any Direct Current (DC).This is traditionally achieved using 05 welcome welcome capacitors, which also block some of the lowfrequency signal. In the 125M, a feedback circuit eliminates DC offset voltages 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 sophisticated muting massive power The 125M has a sophisticated muting system, which stops you hearing loud, annoying switching noises and protects the amplifier and loudspeakers. convenient connections In order to reproduce high frequencies, the 125M is constructed using highly-rated, highprecision components.The circuit has been painstakingly designed to avoid any possibility of signals picking up interference and to minimise the effects of intermodulation. 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 125M's power rating of 125 watts is very conservative, as the 125M can typically provide 145 watts into 8 , 240 watts into 4 , and 320 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 125M) and highly-specified output circuitry. The 125M gives you huge power with true hi-performance, hi-fidelity. 06 07 key features getting started · `Straight Line Technology' feedback paths with direct coupled signal and · · · · · High-quality audio components Precision metal-film resistors Cerafine power supply capacitors Epoxy glass circuit board Rated 125 W, typically 145 W into 8 continuous (rated 200 W, typ. 240 W into 4 and rated 275 W, typ. 320 W into 2 for short periods) Duplicated loudspeaker terminals (for bi-wiring or multi-room) Signal output to connect to another power amplifier or to modify input characteristics Sorbothane® sonic isolation feet, specially designed by TAG McLaren Audio(1) loudspeaker terminals before you start We know you are keen to get your 125M 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 125M(1). Make sure that all the components of your audio system are disconnected from the AC supply whenever you change any connections. On the back of your 125M you will find two pairs of loudspeaker terminals, each pair consisting of one red and one black. The terminals on the back of the 125M 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 125M 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 15 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 the red terminal marked OUTPUT 1 on the back of your 125M(2). Then connect the black terminal of your loudspeaker to the black terminal marked OUTPUT 1 on the back of your 125M. OUTPUT 1 preamplifier connection OUTPUT 2 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 125M. Use a good-quality, screened phono-phono audio cable to connect the left or right output of your preamplifier to the socket marked INPUT on the back of your 125M(1). speaker in out The diagram shows a standard loudspeaker arrangement (3) power connection Check that the power button is out so that power is off when you plug in(2). Using the cable supplied, connect the socket on the back of your 125M 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 (-). OUTPUT 1 and OUTPUT 2 are connected together The diagram is for illustrative purposes only. It is not to scale and does not show all connections. See page 15 for more details on connecting loudspeakers 1. Your 125M is a single-channel amplifier and can only accept a mono input. If you want to use the 125M for stereo, you will need two units. See page 15 for more information on connecting amplifiers and loudspeakers The power button is a latching switch. One press will hold it in, the next will release it 3. 2. 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 on the back panel of your 125M accepts the output of a high-quality preamplifier (such as our PA10 or PA20R(1)). INPUT OUTPUT Start playing your sound source. Turn up the volume, sit back and enjoy the music. audio output To simplify multiple power amplifier configurations, an additional OUTPUT socket is provided. This socket is connected in parallel with the INPUT socket. In addition the OUTPUT socket provides the facility to modify the input impedance of the 125M 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 125M 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 125M and your loudspeakers is crucial to the sound quality of your entire audio system. Please follow these recommendations to achieve the best results. Your 125M is specified to operate with 8 loudspeakers, but it can be used with 4 loudspeakers. The 125M may also be connected to loudspeakers which have a transient impedance of less than 4 (1). Always switch off your 125M 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 On the back of your 125M you will find a pair of black terminals and a pair of red terminals. This duplication of the terminals allows you to bi-wire a loudspeaker as explained on page 19. OUTPUT 1 OUTPUT 2 grounding your system All the units in the TAG McLaren Audio F3 Series 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. 1. These ratings are for music signals only. If the 125M 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 125M(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 loudspeaker is to run a single cable (consisting of two wires). Connect the red terminal on the loudspeaker to the red terminal on the 125M. Repeat for the black terminal(1). If your loudspeaker has separate connections for high and low frequencies, make sure these are linked together. speaker hf in out OUTPUT 1 OUTPUT 2 This diagram shows a 125M connected to a loudspeaker with a single input (2) lf 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 125M) in countries where the AC supply is 115 volts 2. 16 17 connecting loudspeakers connecting loudspeakers stereo connection Your 125M is a single-channel amplifier and can only accept a mono input. If you want to use the125M for stereo, you will need one for each channel. Connect the left output of a preamplifier (such as our PA20R) to INPUT on one of the 125Ms and the right output on the preamplifier to INPUT on the other 125M. In this system, it is best to place each 125M as near as possible to the loudspeaker it is feeding. You will get better sound quality if the loudspeaker leads are short. INPUT OUTPUT 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. speaker out This diagram shows two 125Ms connected to a hf in out This diagram shows a 125M bi-wired to a loudspeaker right speaker hf left speaker hf TAG McLaren Audio PA20R preamplifier to create a stereo system lf lf lf in out in out 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) 18 19 connecting loudspeakers connecting loudspeakers 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 output of one channel of a preamplifier (such as our PA20R) to INPUT on one 125M. Connect OUTPUT of this 125M to INPUT on another 125M. Connect one 125M to your loudspeaker's high-frequency driver and the other to the lowfrequency driver(1). For stereo, you will need to duplicate this arrangement for the other channel. INPUT OUTPUT 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. 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. This diagram shows two speaker hf in out 125M mono power amplifiers connected together for bi-amping lf in out 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 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 125M. 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 125M. running in Just like a high-quality car, the performance of your 125M 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 your125M, the performance will improve until the components reach their optimum operating temperature. cleaning In order to maintain the appearance of your 125M, you can clean it as follows: before cleaning, always disconnect your 125M 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 125M 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 125M 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 125M 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 125M is transported. This section is for those of you who really want to know the `insides' of your 125M. You will not miss out on any of the functions or performance of your 125M if you choose not to read any further. rated output power 125 W into rated load impedance (8 ) 200 W into 4 and 275 W into 2 for short periods typical output power 145 W into rated load impedance (8 ) 240 W into 4 and 320 W into 2 for short periods input for full rated power 1.13 V rms input impedance 47 k nominal gain 29.0 dB at 1 kHz signal to noise greater than 96 dB (relative to 0 dBW) 24 25 technical data technical data frequency response (-3 dB) 0.1 Hz ­ 75 kHz power consumption less than 300 W frequency response (20 Hz ­ 20 kHz) ± 0.3 dB dimensions (including feet, terminals and controls) 445 mm wide 75 mm high 333 mm deep total harmonic distortion + noise less than 0.05% 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 polarity (phase) non-inverting for all inputs and outputs We reserve the right to alter design and specification without notice Specification may vary for different countries operating temperature range 10 ­ 35 °C ac supply frequency 50 ­ 60 Hz ac supply voltage 110 ­ 120 V or 220 ­ 240 V The voltage is marked on the rear of the unit 26 27 international standards Your 125M meets or exceeds all the legal requirements listed below: 89/336/EEC directives * 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