Electrocompaniet AW 300 M Owner Manual

AW 300 M
Mono Power Amplifier
Owner's
Manual
EN
The lightning flash symbol within a 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 a 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.
2
Important safety instructions
1. Read all the safety and operating instructions before operating this product.
2. Keep these instructions for future reference.
3. Adhere to all warnings on the product and
in the operating instructions.
4. Follow all operating and use instructions.
5. Do not use this product near water.
6. Clean only with dry cloth. Clean only the
outside of the product.
7. Only use attachments/accessories specified
by the manufacturer.
8. Replace only with same type fuse.
9. Do not block or cover any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. This product should not
be placed in a built-in installation such as a
bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is
provided.
10. Do not install near any heat sources such
as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce
heat.
11. Before connecting the AC power supply
cord to the product, make sure the voltage
selector switch or switches correspond to the
local electrical supply. If you are unsure of your
electrical supply voltage, contact your local
power supply company. The acceptable power
input range is either 100-120 VAC or
200-240 VAC 50/60 Hz.
12. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the
polarized or grounding-type plug. US power
plugs (NEMA5-15) only: A polarized plug
has two blades with one wider than the other.
A grounding type plug has two blades and
a third grounding prong. The wide blade or
the third prong are provided for your safety. If
the provided plug does not fit into your outlet,
consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet.
13. Protect the power supply cord from being
walked on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where
they exit from the product. Do not pull on the
power supply cord.
14. The mains plug of the power supply cord
shall remain readily operable.
15. Unplug this product during lightning storms
or when unused for long periods of time.
16. To completely disconnect this product from
the mains, disconnect the power supply cord
plug from the receptacle.
17. Refer all servicing to qualified service
personnel. Servicing is required when the
product has been damaged in any way, liquid
has been spilled or objects have fallen into the
product, the product has been exposed to rain
or moisture, does not operate normally, or has
been dropped.
18. To reduce the risk of electrical shock, do
not open the product. Refer all disassembling
to qualified service personnel.
19. To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock,
this product should not be exposed to rain or
moisture and objects filled with liquids, such as
vases, should not be placed on this product.
20. No naked flame sources, such as lighted
candles, should be placed on the product.
21. Any terminals marked with the preceding symbol are HAZARDOUS LIVE
and any wiring connected to these terminals must be installed by an INSTRUCTED
PERSON or with ready-made leads or cords.
22. Condensation may occur when moving the
product from a cold to a warm location, or
vice versa. Should this occur, the product may
not operate properly. In such a case do not
apply power to the product, instead let the
product sit at room temperature for a few
hours to facilitate moisture evaporation.
3
Welcome to
the world of
Electrocompaniet!
We thank you for choosing an
Electrocompaniet high-end product.
At Electrocompaniet we are relentlessly
focused on developing audio equipment
that is capable of bringing the fabulous
experience of the concert hall into the very
heart of your home.
Our aim when developing and testing
new products is to ensure that the wonderful richness of tone and every nuance of
feeling and emotion of a piece of music is
delivered to you just as the artist intended.
We continually strive to give you the very
best musical listening experience available
whatever your preferred musical genre.
Sincerely yours,
The Electrocompaniet team
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5
Contents
6
3
Important safety instructions
4
Welcome
8
Unpacking and placement
10
How to connect your system
12
Rear panel connections
14
Mono operation
15
Bi-wiring operation
16
Bi-amping operation
17
Front panel controls
18
Features and specifications
20
Troubleshooting
21
If service is needed
7
Unpacking and placement
Immediately upon receipt of the AW 300 M, inspect the packaging for possible damage during
shipment. The packaging has been designed to provide the safest possible protection for
transport of your power amplifier.
The contents of the carton
Two Electrocompaniet AW 300 M Mono Power Amplifiers
Accessories each amplifier:
• Inspection card
• Owner’s manual
• Velvet cover
• One pair of gloves
• Spare fuses 6,3 AT and 10 AT
• US power cord
• European power cord
Unpacking procedure
The AW 300 M is heavy and at least
two people are required to lift the amplifiers.
Unpack the unit carefully. Save all
packaging materials for future shipment.
1.Place the box on a
flat and stable surface.
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2. Take off the 4 plastic
handles, by dragging
the edge of the handle
towards you.
3. Lift the top cover up
and unfold the bottom
part of the box.
Unpacking and placement
Placement
The AW 300 M relies on free airflow from
the bottom ventilation holes and into the
side ventilation holes that must be allowed
to exit through the top panel ventilation
holes. Under no circumstance should these
ventilation holes be blocked. The amplifier can only be operated if placed in the
horizontal position on the feet, which will
ensure correct airflow through the chassis.
Do not place the amplifier on a thick carpet
or other material that prevents free airflow
from below. Use a stand to lift the amplifier
from the floor instead.
Do not stack or place the AW 300 M near
or on top of other heat sources, such as
radiators or other amplifiers. Placement in a
closed cabinet with restricted airflow to the
rear or front must be avoided. Placement in
a rack should be avoided unless ample free
space is available above the top, and both
sides have unrestricted airflow. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for prolonged time
during operation.
Make sure to leave at least 8 cm (3 inches)
of free space at the top, the sides and the
rear. We recommend at least 15 cm (6
inches) of free space above the top.
>8 cm
3 in.
>8 cm
3 in.
>8 cm
3 in.
Violating these guidelines may result in overheating and possibly shut down to prevent
damage.
9
How to connect your system
How to avoid damage
Connecting to AC mains
Do not under any circumstances connect or
disconnect equipment when power is turned
on. The design of the XLR plug generates a
huge transient when inserted. Connecting or
disconnecting equipment with the power on
can result in severe damage to both speakers
and amplifier.
The voltage select switches are located under
the lid above the mains input. Use a flat screwdriver to slide them left to right, or vice versa.
Always slide them in the direction that will hide
the printed text on the switch. Do not push in
with excessive force. Only use force in the left
or right direction.
Speaker output
Connect your speakers to the output labeled
SPEAKER OUTPUT. The speaker terminals will
accept banana, spades and stripped speaker
cables. Make sure to not mix the left and right
channel and also make sure that the positive
terminal on the speaker is connected to the
positive terminal on the AW 300 M.
WARNING: Before connecting
the AC mains supply, check that
the mains voltage selector is set
correctly according to the voltage
supply in the area where the AW
300 M will be used.
Be careful when connecting your speakers
so that the speaker outputs are not shorted in
any way, neither to the chassis or each other.
Switch the amplifier off before connecting or
disconnecting the speaker cables.
WARNING: Any terminal
marked with the preceding symbol are
HAZARDOUS LIVE and any wiring
connected to these terminals must be
installed by an INSTRUCTED PERSON
or with ready-made leads or cords.
WARNING: The two red colored
terminals have voltage swing relative
to ground, and must never under
any circumstances be connected to
an input that is directly connected to
ground.
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Set both voltage select switches to setting 115
if the mains voltage is in range 100 to 120 VAC.
Set both voltage select switches to setting 230
if the mains voltage is in range 200 to 240 VAC
Connect the included AC mains supply cord
to the power inlet labeled MAINS INPUT on
the bottom rear of the amplifier. The AW 300
M will enter standby when power is present,
and the mains switch is switched to the ON
position. Please set the mains switch in the ON
position only when all connections are ready.
How to connect your system
Balanced XLR operation
The AW 300 M is designed to be used with balanced audio sources. Balanced XLR interconnect
cables with ground on pin 1, positive (hot) on
pin 2 and negative (cold) on pin 3 must be used.
Use the parallel wired LINK output as an optional
connection to other audio equipment.
Pin 2
Pin 3
Pin1
Pin 1
Pin 3
Pin2
Male XLR
Female XLR
Single-ended operation
Use RCA to XLR adapter ECP5XLR for connecting
single-ended sources. Connect the XLR adapter to
the XLR input of the AW 300 M, and connect the
RCA interconnect to the input of the XLR adapter.
The AW 300 M will operate as normal also with
single-ended sources. The XLR adapter may be
purchased separately from your Electrocompaniet
dealer.
XLR adapter
(ECP5XLR)
Trigger input/output
Your AW 300 M is equipped with a standard
12 V trigger input port. This port can be used
for automatically switching your AW 300 M in
and out of standby. Connect the trigger input
port to any controlling equipment with a trigger
output port. The AW 300 M will power up (leave
standby) when a voltage in the range of 5-20 V
(AC or DC) is detected on the trigger input port
and will remain powered on for as long as the
voltage is present on the trigger input port. If Auto
Power Down is enabled, the AW 300 M will enter
standby even if the trigger voltage is present.
The trigger output port is internally wired in parallel with the input port and allows extension of the
trigger chain to other equipment. The AW 300 M
will not actively drive the output port. Use a 3,5
mm mono or stereo jack for connecting to the trigger input and trigger output ports. Current draw
on the input port is approximately 3 mA.
Tip 5 -12V
Tip 5 -12V
Ring
(not in use)
Sleeve
(Ground)
Sleeve
(Ground)
Mono plug
Stereo plug
11
Rear panel connections
2
4
12
1
3
5
6
7
Rear panel connections
Mono balanced input
Connect the left or right channel of the
source to this input. The other channel must
connect to the same input on another AW
300 M. Pin 2 is positive/hot, pin 3 is negative/cold, pin 1 is ground. Use the parallel
wired LINK output as an optional connection
to other audio equipment.
Mains power input
Connect 115/230 VAC mains voltage
input using one of the supplied power cords.
Speaker output terminals
Connect the speaker to these terminals.
Terminals in red color are positive and are
internally connected. Terminals in white color
are negative and are internally connected.
Connect the positive speaker terminal to
either of the red colored terminals, and the
negative speaker terminal to either of the
white colored terminals.
Fuse and voltage select switches
Fuses and voltage select switches are
located under this lid. Unplug the power cord
and unscrew the thumb nut to open the lid.
Turn the top of the fuse holders counterclockwise using a flat screwdriver to access the fuses.
1
2
Ground terminal
Optional grounding point that can be
used to ground your amplifier to a common
ground source in your system.
5
WARNING: Set the voltage select switches
according to the mains voltage in use.
6
WARNING: Replace only with same type fuses.
3
Mains power switch
Switches the mains input voltage on/
off. Set the switch in ON position when operating the AW 300 M from the standby button
or the 12 V trigger input. Set the switch in
OFF position to completely turn off the AW
300 M from the mains.
4
Trigger input and output
Connect a 12V trigger source to the
input port. The output port is internally wired
in parallel and allows extension of the
trigger chain to the next amplifier or device.
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Note: The trigger input will only operate if
the mains switch is in the ON position.
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Mono operation
Mono operation mode requires one AW 300 M to drive one speaker.
Configure both amplifiers as follows:
•
•
•
Set the amplifiers in standby or switch off mains power on the rear panel.
Connect the source to the XLR input.
Connect the speakers as shown in Illustration 1 below.
Illustration 1
Preamplifier
+
Right
Speaker
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+
HF
LF
-
-
+
+
HF
LF
-
-
Left
Speaker
Bi- wiring operation
Bi-wiring operation requires one AW 300 M to drive one speaker with an extra set of
speaker cable.
Configure both amplifiers as follows:
•
•
•
Set the amplifiers in standby or switch off mains power on the rear panel.
Connect the source to the XLR input.
Connect the speakers as shown in Illustration 2 below.
WARNING: Any jumper between the speaker terminals should be removed.
Preamplifier
Illustration 2
+
Right
Speaker
+
HF
LF
-
-
+
+
HF
LF
-
-
Left
Speaker
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Bi- amping operation
Bi-amping operation requires two AW 300 M and one extra XLR cable to drive one
speaker with an extra set of speaker cable.
Configure the amplifiers as follows:
•
•
•
•
Set all amplifiers in standby or switch off mains power on the rear panel.
Connect the source to the XLR input of the top amplifiers.
Connect a standard XLR cable from LINK on the top amplifiers to the XLR input on the
bottom amplifiers.
Connect the speakers as shown in Illustration 3 below.
WARNING: Any jumper between the speaker terminals must be removed in this configuration, or severe damage may be inflicted on the amplifier.
Do not place the amplifiers directly on top of each other. Use a rack to ensure free
airflow for adequate cooling instead. Or place them at least 15 cm (6 inches) apart
on the floor or on stands.
Illustration 3
Right
Speaker
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Preamplifier
+
HF
-
+
HF
-
+
LF
-
+
LF
-
Left
Speaker
Front panel controls
1
2
3
1 Logo indicator
On when amplifier is active and operational.
2
Standby button
Pressing this button (center) will toggle the
AW 300 M in and out of standby. There is a 10
second delay in between repeated presses to
ensure proper power up cycles.
Red standby symbol - the AW 300 M is in standby.
Blue standby symbol – the AW 300 M is powered up and active.
Blinking standby symbol – the AW 300 M is in
error mode. Please see troubleshooting page for
more information.
3
Auto power down button
This button is located on the bottom side of
the AW 300 M offset left one cm from the center, approximately four cm in from the front. Use
your index finger to operate the button.
The button is in released state when it protrudes
4
the bottom surface the most.
Pressed - Auto Power Down is disabled.
The AW 300 M will not enter standby automatically.
Released - Auto Power Down is enabled.
The AW 300 M will automatically enter standby
if no input signal is detected for 30 minutes.
Auto Power Down will initiate a shut down even
if the trigger input is active.
Front illumination button
This button is located on the bottom side
of the AW 300 M offset right one cm from the
center, approximately four cm in from the front.
Use your index finger to operate the button. The
button is in released state when it protrudes the
bottom surface the most.
4
Pressed - Front illumination is turned off.
Released - Front illumination is turned on.
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Features
Input - output
• Balanced input, gold plated XLRs
• Double set of high-quality speaker binding posts
• 12 V trigger input – output
Power supply
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
800VA toroidal transformer, electrostatically and magnetically shielded
Built in DC and high frequency mains filtering
Fully independent power supplies for input and output stages
Voltage regulated input stages
Total of 110000 uF power supply filtering
Hyper fast, soft recovery rectifier diodes throughout
Careful circuit layout to keep ground reference free of rectifying currents
< 0.5W standby consumption
Amplifier circuitry
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fully discrete, very high bandwidth/high slew-rate circuitry
Pure class A input circuitry
Direct coupled – no capacitors in signal path
Utilizing JFET and bipolar transistors, low noise metal film resistors and film capacitors
Electrocompaniet high open loop bandwidth topology
Total of 16 pcs. 15A, 60MHz bipolar output transistors
High current gain output driver stage
Short circuit/high output current, over temperature and DC fault protection
Vastly improved internal ground reference with 1400 mm2 cross section
Controlled, stable and symmetric clipping behavior
General
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Switchable 115VAC/230VAC mains voltage
On/off switchable auto power down
On/off switchable feature lighting
Stiff all steel vibration-controlled chassis with internal bracing
Modularized build-up for easier servicing
Heavy copper circuit boards
Ground screw connection for external system grounding
Soundcare® SuperSpikes™ by SEAS
Specifications
The following technical specifications were measured on randomized test objects and are typical data.
All measurements are made at 120 VAC / 240 VAC // 50 Hz / 60 Hz. Clipping point of the amplifier is set to a level where total harmonic distortion (THD) is 1 %.
Input impedance: 330 kΩ
Frequency response (input filter active):
0.5 – 220 kHz
Frequency response (input filter disabled): 0.5 – 1.1 MHz
Voltage gain (mono, balanced input): 29 dB (x28)
Input-referred noise (20-20 kHz):
< 2 µV
SNR (ref. 1 W/8 Ω load, 20-20 kHz): 95 dB
SNR (ref. full power output, 20-20 kHz): 120 dB
Slew-rate (input filter disabled):
140 V/µs
DC output voltage: < 5 mV
THD+N: 0.0006 %
IMD: < 0.001 %
Damping factor (8 Ω load):
> 1000
Power consumption standby:
< 0.5 W
Power consumption idle:
160 W
212 mm
292 mm
272 mm
MONO rated output power:
8 Ω load:
300 W
4 Ω load:
600 W
2 Ω load:
1000 W
487 mm
Weight:
29 kg / 63.9 lbs
Height:
292 mm / 11.49 in
Width:
212 mm /
Depth:
488 mm / 19.21 in
8.34 in
281 mm
55 mm
*Features and specifications are subject to change without further notice.
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Troubleshooting
Symptom
Nothing happens
when pushing the
standby button.
Nothing happens
when pushing the
standby button.
Indicator
No light
Possible Cause
Mains switch on rear
panel is in the OFF
position.
Set mains switch in the ON postion.
Mains fuse(s) blown.
1. Inspect fuses under lid. 2. Replace
blown fuses and replace with same type.
3. Contact service if fuse blows again.
Amplifier in standby.
Power up amplifier by pressing the
standby button.
No light
No sound.
Steady on red
No input signal, wrong
connections or settings.
No sound.
Steady on blue
Amplifier shuts
down after 30
minutes.
Amplifier does not
shut down from
standby button.
Amplifier shuts
down with or
without music
playback.
Amplifier shuts
down with or
without music
playback.
Shuts down
immediately at
power up.
Steady on red
Corrective Actions
1. Check that your source is on and playing.
2. Check the volume setting on your
preamplifier or source.
3. Check the input selection on your
preamplifier.
4. Check that the speaker terminals are
correctly connected.
Auto power down sets
amplifier into standby
if no input signal is
detected for 30 minutes.
Disable Auto Power Down feature if this
is unwanted behaviour.
12 V trigger input is
active.
Remove 12 V trigger input.
An overload fault or
internal DC fault has
occured.
1. Remove shorted speaker output.
2. Reduce amplifier output load.
3. Make sure connected source has output
DC voltage less than 50mV.
4. Press standby button to reset fault.
An internal
overtemperature fault
has occured.
1. Improve ventilation.
2. Reduce amplifier output load.
3. Press standby button to reset fault.
Mains voltage is not set
correctly.
1. Verify mains voltage settings.
2. Press standby button to reset fault.
5 times
5 times per sec.
1 time per sec.
5 times per sec.
Please contact Electrompaniet service or your dealer if the experienced symptom is not resolved.
20
If service is needed
Your dealer will have all relevant information
regarding service centers in your area, and
will ensure that your unit is serviced with minimum delay. It is our general policy to have
your unit returned to you within five working
days. This is an average time and can vary
locally, depending on the workload at that
particular service station. If for some reason
there are no service facilities available in your
country, contact Electrocompaniet support first.
If requested to do so by technical personnel,
please ship the unit to the following address:
International warranty
Electrocompaniet AS,
Teknologiveien 2,
4120 Tau,
Norway
Product registration online
Web: www.electrocompaniet.com
Service department:
support.electrocompaniet.com
The end user is responsible for all shipping
charges, insurance, re-import and duty charges.
When shipping a product to the factory for
service, always include the following:
1. A sales slip or other proof of purchase if
repair is claimed under warranty.
2. A proforma invoice with value of goods,
stating that the AW 300 M is returned to
Norway for repair.
3. An accompanying letter describing faults,
symptoms, or problems with the unit.
4. Always ship the unit in its original carton
and packaging material to prevent damage in
transit.
Electrocompaniet will not cover damages
incurred in transit. If you require further information concerning the operation of the unit, or if
you have any questions related to service, please
do not hesitate to contact your dealer or your
national distributor.
Our products sold outside Norway are
warrantied exclusively per the authorized
Electrocompaniet dealer’s or authorized distributor’s warranty, and may or may not be the
same from one region to another. For all inquiries about the terms and conditions related to
the warranty offered in your country, please
contact your Electrocompaniet authorized
dealer or distributor.
In order to register your product, please go to
our website: electrocompaniet.com. Get the
latest updates and support in case you have
some issues with our products.
User manual updates online
An updated version of the user manual may be
available online at the Electrocompaniet website. Occasional updates are needed to reflect
new features added to the product since the
user manual was printed.
Care
Use a ultra-soft, dry cloth for cleaning the
casing of the unit.
Never spray any solvent or liquids directly onto
the unit as these may infiltrate the unit and
damage the electronics.
A micro fiber cloth can be moistened with
glass-cleaner if greasy fingerprints needs to be
removed from the front plate or casing.
Avoid temperature extremes, like direct sunlight
or proximity to air conditioner units.
Avoid damp, humid conditions.
Do not use alcohol based cleaners.
21
Notes
22
DEALER
STICKER
HERE
LOCAL DEALER
WARNING:
To avoid risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose the
AW 300 M to rain or moisture. Verify line voltage before use. Do not remove
cover. No user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service
personnel. The warranty is void if the product is tampered with by non-authorized personnel. Always use authorized Electrocompaniet service centers.
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Designed and manufactured in Norway
www.elec tro c om pan i et.c o m
REV 1.0 2023