TheDirector
Model D3400 • Model D4400
Installer’s Guide
®
29
Bridging The Director
To increase the output power of The Director Model
D3400, you can join (bridge) two channels into a single chan
-
nel of 250 watts. Accomplishing this is a simple matter. Just
press the Mono button to send the same audio signal to both
channels of the zone and then connect the speaker terminals
as shown in the diagram below.
Bridged connection speaker hookup
Caution
- Do not use a
speaker rated at less
than 8 ohms when
bridging. In a
bridged system,
each channel of
the bridged pair “sees” one half of
the speaker load.
This means that a bridged amp
driving an 8 ohm speaker is actually
operating into a 4 ohm load.
Advanced Topics
In Wall Volume Controls
Is an in-wall volume control rated at 60 watts (con-
tinuous) adequate?
For The Director Model D3400 just barely is the simple
answer. Go for one with a higher rating if you want a reli
-
able system. Though The Director Model 3400 is rated at 60
watts, that is a conservative number and it can put out more
power if only a few channels are driven. In contrast to the
conservative rating of The Director, the wall volume control
may be rated using favorable assumptions. Also make sure
the volume control power rating is continuous not peak. The
continuous rating is about one-third of peak.
For The Director Model D4400, the answer is no. The
higher power from The Director Model D4400 will simply
overwhelm the 60 watt volume control in short order. Use a
volume control rated above 100 watts (150+ is the best ) con
-
tinuous not peak.
What happens to the in-wall volume control if the am-
plifier power is greater than it can handle?
It will not be pretty but then again no one will die. Typi
-
cally, the magnetics of the volume control will be over taxed,
saturate and thereby become a lower impedance than rated.
This will encourage The Director amplifier to put out even
more power possibly putting the amp into protection. If not
this extreme, there is an excellent chance the volume control
saturation will damage the sound quality. The upshot is use a
volume control with a margin of safety.
