CARVIN ENGINEERING DATA
OPERATING MANUAL
The DCM Series professional amps are designed utilizing Carvin’s 35
years of experience in power amp technology. They meet or exceed every
standard for professional amplification. Their thick brushed anodized
aluminum face plates, large recessed knobs and heavy-duty steel chas-
sis reflect the manufacturing quality within. All models carry the CE
approval for world-wide use.
PURE—TRANSPARENT SOUND
Carvin considers the sound of an amp equally important as its reliability. To
insure pure, uncolored sound, we designed one of the fastest responding power
amps on the market today. High slew rates of 45v/µs deliver superb transient
response. High frequencies are transparent and open—even at extreme levels.
Linear feedback circuits reduce distortion to near the theoretical zero limit, pre-
venting any type of harshness which would lead to ear fatigue. The DCM Series
amps deliver flat, transparent, unaltered sound—especially important to the studio
user. And you can drive any type of reactive loads, including 70V transformer
distribution systems. These amps are designed to deliver non-stop, continuous
power and are completely protected from heat and short circuits.
ULTRA RUGGED FOR TOURING
Every chassis is made from heavy-duty 16 gauge steel that is plated before
being painted to prevent rust. All internal cabling is neatly tied and harnessed.
Every circuit card is FR-4 MILITARY SPEC, double-sided, through-hole plated,
fire retardant glass epoxy. This insures that the solder flows on the top, bottom
and through each hole of every component, preventing components from shak-
ing loose—even through constant tour use. Neutrik™ XLR connectors,
heavy-duty power switches, recessed knobs, all give the DCM amps a “tank-
like” ability to handle rough touring transport.
TOTALLY MODULAR
With the DCM Series, Carvin brings you totally modular construction. If you
ever need an I/O (input/output) connector card because a connector wore-out,
just unplug it and re-install the replacement card in minutes. You don’t have
to de-solder anything. This applies to every aspect of the DCM Series amps
including the power supply, power cards, heat sinks and fans. Everything is
connected by heavy-duty AMP™ and MOLEX™ type connectors for easy replace-
ment—even the Toroid transformer is a total plug-in.
HEAVY-DUTY COOLING
Carvin offers up to 30% more cooling than comparable amps rated at the same
wattage. This means that the DCM Series are thermally “over-engineered” to be
sure heat will never be a concern. Even outdoor concerts in direct sunligdcm
will not cause thermal shut down. Carvin uses precision 6063 T-5 aluminum high
ratio heat sinks that are extruded for massive amounts of cooling. High efficiency,
multi-speed fans cool your amp quietly even when moving air at up to 115 CFM!
LIGHTER WEIGHT
For some companies weight reduction means cost reduction. Carvin however,
uses expensive TOROID transformers to reduce weight. Toroids deliver mas-
sive amounts of “on demand” current for continuous 2 ohm operation. This
gives the power supply a solid foundation, yielding more headroom for the largest
subwoofer application. Not only do toroids deliver high current, but they are
known for reducing stray magnetic fields eliminating hum & noise. This is espe-
cially important for the recording industry.
DISTORTION-FREE LIMITERS
The purpose of a limiter is to hold down peaks so the amp won’t distort even
HT POWER AMP SPECIFICATIONS:
MODEL
DCM600
DCM1000
Bridged RMS Continuous
4
Ω
, (20-20k Hz, <1.0%)
600w
1000w
8
Ω
, (20-20k Hz, <1.0%)
450w
700w
Both Channels RMS Continuous
2
Ω
(20-20k Hz, <1.0%)
300/300w
500/500w
4
Ω
(20-20k Hz, <1.0%)
250/250w
350/350w
8
Ω
(20-20k Hz, <1.0%)
125/125w
225/225w
THD (Typical—1/2 power):
0.03%
0.03%
Damping Factor:
>350
>400
Slew Rate:
bridged mode
>45v/µs
>45v/µs
Sensitivity:
(4
Ω
, Vms)
1.0 V
1.0 V
Signal to Noise Ratio:
Above 100dB
Frequency Response:
±0.5 dB, 20 Hz to 20kHz
(±1.5 dB, 10 Hz & 40 kHz)
Input Impedance:
>20K
Ω
, balanced
Protection Circuits:
Short Circuit • No Load Protection • SpeakerGuard™ • Thermal Shut-Off • Mute On/Off
Control and Indicators:
Front:
Power switch • Recessed 41 detent attenuators • Signal LED • Clip LED • Protect LED • Power Indicator
Rear:
Ground Lift (each channel) • Parallel Input Switch • Speaker Output Bridge Switch • Limiters
IN/OUT Switch • Input Connectors: Two each; Balanced XLR & 1/4” • Speaker Output Connectors:
Dual heavy-duty binding posts & two 1/4”
Dimensions:
3 1/2" High x 19" Wide x 10" Depth (2-space)
Net Weight:
DCM600: 23 lbs. DCM1000: 26 lbs.
76-10000 0998
12340 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128
(619) 487-1600 (800) 854-2235
www.carvin.com
DCM600, DCM1000
For your records, you may wish to record the following information.
Serial No._____________________ Invoice Date_______________
RECEIVING INSPECTION—read before getting started
INSPECT YOUR UNIT FOR ANY DAMAGE which may have occurred during shipping. If any
damage is found, please notify the shipping company and CARVIN immediately.
SAVE THE CARTON & ALL PACKING MATERIALS. In the event you have to re-ship your unit,
always use the original carton and packing material. This will provide the best possible protec-
tion during shipment. CARVIN and the shipping company are not liable for any damage caused
by improper packing.
SAVE YOUR INVOICE. It will be required for warranty service if needed in the future.
SHIPMENT SHORTAGE. If you find items missing, they may have been shipped separately.
Please allow several days for the rest of your order to arrive before inquiring.
RECORD THE SERIAL NUMBER on the enclosed warranty card or below on this manual
for your records. Keep your portion of the card and return the portion with your name and
comments to us.
DCM600, DCM1000 POWER AMPS
with extra hot input signals (this protects your expensive speakers). In addition,
a well designed limiter can increase your amp’s average output as much as 3 db.
Part of Carvin’s design uses the more expensive, distortion-free linear “opto iso-
lators”. Unlike amps that use FET controlled limiters which can inject small amounts
of distortion, the DCM Series limiters keep your sound pure and uncolored!
FRONT PANELS & CONNECTING UP
The DCM Series feature front panel signal, peak and protect LEDs which let you
monitor the status of the amp. Both channels use precision 41 detent level controls
allowing you to see your settings at a glance. Balanced 1/4 phone & XLR input jacks
are used to eliminate hum & noise. Speaker outputs feature 1/4” jacks & heavy-
duty binding posts that accept up to 50 amp #7 speaker wires.
The rear professional accessory group offers a GROUND switch to remove the
chassis ground from the XLR input, a Parallel input switch connects the inputs of
both channels together eliminating Y connectors and allowing amp patching in mul-
tiple amp systems. The accessory group also features a bridge mode switch for
delivering full power into a 70V distribution system and a limiter ON/OFF switch
that gives you the choice of using the internal limiter circuitry.