owner's manual contents version V3.10 | 01 12/01 02 04 06 07 08 15 20 21 24 25 26 27 29 controls welcome introduction construction amplifier module set up operation remote control TAGtronic Communications Bus running in and warming up care and maintenance appendix technical data 250x3R 9340D 02 | controls controls | 03 three channel status LEDs remote control active LED remote control window TAGtronic communications bus balanced input sockets line level input sockets RIGHT CHANNEL BUS IN OUT CENTRE CHANNEL LEFT CHANNEL LINE INPUT LINE INPUT LINE INPUT Double insulated: When servicing, use only identical replacement parts. CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN NOT OPEN DO BALANCED INPUT clas s 2 w i r i ng minimum rated load impedance 8 per channel 2 1 3 2 1 3 BALANCED INPUT 2 1 3 2 1 3 BALANCED INPUT 2 1 3 2 1 3 220-240V ~ 50-60Hz Fuse; T1A L250V + ­ ­ ground + ­ ­ ground + ­ ­ ground + LOUDSPEAKER OUTPUT LOUDSPEAKER OUTPUT + LOUDSPEAKER OUTPUT + ­­ ­­ three channel amplifier 250x3R s made in United Kingdom serial number ­­ three channel amplifier 250x3R s power/ standby LED power button mute LED ac supply socket and fuse carrier loudspeaker terminals Specification shown may var y for different countries 04 | welcome welcome | 05 welcome to Dr. Udo Zucker Chief Executive Officer TAG McLaren Audio TAG McLaren Audio exists with one aim in mind: to produce the very best audio and audio-visual equipment. 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 music and movie reproduction to the absolute limit without compromising ease of use; that's why we formed TAG McLaren Audio. At the core of our development team are highly experienced engineers whose heritage of award-winning hi-fi and worldbeating electronic control systems is envied by many and equalled by few. There are many immediate spin-offs into audio from `a perfect team' Pushing technological boundaries; TAG McLaren's F1 electronics our expertise in automotive electronics, mechanical engineering and the material science of Formula One motor racing: multilayer printed circuits, fast digital signal processing, electronic noise suppression, radio frequency technology and software expertise to name but a few, all prerequisites of an outstanding audio product. TAG McLaren's 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. Dr Udo Zucker 06 | introduction Experts have known for many years that precision, clarity, stereo image and depth can be significantly improved by using so called monoblocs or single channel amplifiers. These constructions provide completely independent amplification for each channel which prevents interaction between them, resulting in a cleaner signal and hence better clarity and stereo imaging. This is true with two channels and even more with multi channel amplifiers! The TAG McLaren three channel amplifier 250x3R includes three completely independent amplifiers, one for each channel. They only share the remote and protection control circuitry, located on a separate printed circuit board. This circuitry is powered individually by a tiny transformer construction | 07 and local power supply (as it isn't responsible for any sound performance), allowing the 250x3R to be put into standby without incurring a high energy bill. The remote control circuitry acts on commands received from either the user via the IR remote control or the AV32R via the TAGtronic Communication Bus. Channels can individually be switched on/off for best sound quality and most efficient energy usage. The protection control circuitry monitors the performance of each module against programmed parameters in order to power down a channel should a fault occur. The 250x3R can be equipped with two (250x3R/2) or three amplifier modules, making it suitable for a stereo set-up or as part of a complete home cinema system. Thank you for purchasing the TAG McLaren three channel amplifier 250x3R The 250x3R is a fully remote controlled, very high power, hi-performance amplifier which delivers sound reproduction of outstanding clarity and purity for up to three channels. The 250x3R can be factory assembled with two or three channels. Retrospective upgrade from two to three is possible without losing or compromising quality. The 250x3R achieves typically 255 W per channel into 8 and 400 W into 4 . Its IHF tone burst performance is also impressive: typically 300 W into 8 , 550 W into 4 and 1000 (!) W into 2 . The 250x3R's operating software can be upgraded using a PC and the TAGtronic Programming Cable with new software being distributed via TAG McLaren's website www.tagmclaren.com. Amplifier modules can also be upgraded should better amplifier technology become available in the future. 08 | amplifier module Each module has its own high-efficiency aluminium heatsink for excellent heat dissipation, allowing it to drive even the most critical loudspeakers safely and totally independently from any of the other modules. This results in uncompromised sound quality with perfect channel separation. Each 250x3R module delivers typically 255 Watts into 8 ohms, 400 Watts into 4 ohms and will drive 1000 Watts into 2 ohms for short durations. As a result of the 250x3R`s self-contained amplifier module construction, this performance is wholly independent 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. There are many design features which have been derived from our excellent 100x5R and our F1-600MR amplifiers to make this amplifier very special. We have listed a few of these very technical items on the following pages. an optimised mix of global and local negative feed back The 250x3R gives excellent linearity and low distortion without relying on high global negative feedback, which can present difficulties when handling rapidly-changing signals. The amplifier implements at each amplifying stage a controlled amount of local feedback, which not only linearises but also defines the gain and other vital parameters closely. cascode compensation The 250x3R uses an advanced stabilisation concept called Cascode Compensation. This might be the first time that this sophisticated and elegant system has been used in an audio amplifier. Its advantages are excellent stability, inherently good supply-rail rejection and a reduction in DC drift. This gives outstanding stability with performance drifts being virtually eliminated. output transistors The output devices are bipolar junction transistors chosen for maximum linearity. The advanced MT-200 package is used which gives a greater area for heat transfer than amplifier module the traditional TO3, enhancing the amplifier's reliability for many years to come. | 09 deep under the skin The 250x3R consists of three identical power amplifier modules in a single compact enclosure. Each module is a complete, selfcontained amplifier, with its own power transformer, bridge rectifier, energy storage capacitors and amplification stage, requiring only mains supply and control signals to function. Control signals are used to switch each amplifier module individually on/off and to protect it in case an error condition, such as a short circuit in the loudspeaker, is detected. exceptionally accurate quiescent stability It is universally accepted that accurate setting and stability of quiescent conditions is crucial to optimal Class-B amplifier operation. The bias range over which the best linearity is obtained is narrow, and on either side of it crossover distortion increases markedly. The 250x3R has one of the most accurate quiescent controls ever implemented, stabilising against output level, load impedance and mains voltage changes. sophisticated muting The 250x3R has a sophisticated muting system, which stops you hearing loud, annoying switching noises and protects both the amplifier and the loudspeakers. Particular care has been taken to make sure that the muting circuitry, when switched off, doesn't affect the sound quality. For this purpose carefully selected relays with minimal crosstalk between coil and contacts have been used. 10 | amplifier module coupled without any capacitors, an arrangement called `straight line' technology. The result is a very precise reproduction of the lowest bass. supersonic high frequency response (high end) In order to reproduce high frequencies, the 250x3R is constructed using highly-rated, high-precision components. The circuit has been painstakingly designed to minimise audio signals picking up interference and intermodulating. Exceptional transparency and purity of sound are the result. amplifier module input balanced XLR and standard RCA inputs The 250x3R provides both balanced XLR inputs and standard RCA inputs. There is no need to switch between the two inputs, the 250x3R will automatically sense the input used. single ended RCA input looking at RCA terminal A single ended connection sends, as the name implies, the signal via a two conductor cable, one for the signal and one for the ground (which is usually connected to the screen on one or both ends). The single ended connection is the most commonly used connection type between preamplifiers/av processors and their power amplifiers. It works extremely well, even over long distances, if the output stages of the av processor/preamplifier are of a `low impedance' configuration, such as those in the TAG McLaren AV32R or DPA32R. However, if several products are connected together it is possible for a current to flow | 11 low distortion A 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 Hz to 20 kHz 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, TAG McLaren amplifiers have a frequency response which extends both above and below the range of normal human hearing. straight line technology (low end) An amplifier must respond to very low frequencies but block any Direct Current (DC) to prevent intermodulation distortion. This is traditionally achieved using capacitors, which also block some of the low-frequency signals. In the 250x3R, a feedback circuit eliminates DC offset voltage and allows the signal path to be direct between the ground connections of those units, caused by electro-magnetic interference or ground potential differences. This current is indistinguishable from the signal and hence can become, if severe enough, audible as a hum or buzz. The problem is usually referred to as ground loops. balanced line technology XLR input looking at XLR connection A major advantage of balanced interconnects is the complete suppression of ground-loop problems. Balanced line inputs use 3 conductors, one for the ground and two for the voltage difference between the signal and the ground at the preamplifier/av processor. As a result the balanced input at the amplifier does not respond to the voltage between input and ground, which could be altered by a ground loop, but to the difference between the two conductors carrying the signal. For this system to work well, it is important that the balanced input performs an accurate subtraction of the signals at its 12 | amplifier module output OFHC loudspeaker connections For excellent sound quality the 250x3R uses TAG McLaren's high grade oxygen free high purity copper (OFHC) loudspeaker terminals combined with a new knob made from nonconductive Pocan. Very few companies provide OFHC loudspeaker terminals due to the difficulties of machining solid copper, an unacceptable excuse for TAG McLaren. The knobs for the 250x3R have been manufactured from non conductive Pocan without a metal insert as it was found that this gave the best sonic result, identical to that obtained using an OFHC knob(1) (as used on the TAG McLaren 100x5R). amplifier module when only the best is good enough! | 13 input terminals. The measure of how well it does this is called the `common-mode rejection ratio'. In the 250x3R this is more than 40 dB, or one hundred times, and best of all, this is permanently fixed as it is set by precision resistors rather than by attempting to balance variable semiconductor properties. combining a single ended av processor with t ...