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Operating Your HCA-1206
Refer to Figure #2
Power Switch
Press the upper side to turn the unit on; press the lower side to turn the unit off.
Standby/Operation LEDs
The red Standby LED will come on red whenever you first turn the unit on. It will light for about four to
five seconds while the amplifier circuits are stabilizing before the six protection relays start to energize.
At this time the red LED will turn off and the green Operate LED will come on to signal normal
operation. It will also light up red whenever there is a short circuit or fault which triggers the protection
circuits. Whenever the red LED illuminates, no sound can be heard. If the red Standby LED lights up
during operation it could indicate that more DC is present than its servos can handle, a short circuited
speaker line, or possible internal fault. Once the problem has been corrected, the protection circuits will
automatically reset. Turn the unit off for at least 10 minutes while you check your connections, then try
again. If the red LED continues to glow, contact your Dealer, Installer or Parasound Technical Service
for further advice.
Current Overload LEDs
The current overload LEDs for channels 1 through 6 will only illuminate if the unit is driven
continuously at or past its maximum current capacity. These LEDs will indicate overload of the power
supply just before the onset of audible distortion. In virtually all imaginable listening situations, these
LEDs will rarely illuminate.
Level Controls
Each channel has a separate input level control. The HCA-1206 will sound best with its level controls
set to maximum, where they are effectively out of the audio signal path. However, if your preamplifier
has very high gain, and its volume control cannot track properly for left-right channel balance near its
minimum position, it may be necessary to reduce the input level control settings on the HCA-1206. We
deliberately have located the controls on the rear panel, so they can be set once and forgotten.
Burning-in your HCA-1206
Like other great power amplifiers, the HCA-1206 requires at least 72 hours of continuous operation after
it is first turned on to sound its best. This gives the materials in various parts a chance to form so audio
signals achieve greater definition, smoothness and transparency.
Although the unit will sound spectacular when you first operate it, you will find it worthwhile to listen
again after a few days and you’ll discover details in your music and videos you may not have guessed
were there.
Maintaining your HCA-1206
Your HCA-1206 requires no periodic maintenance and has no user serviceable parts inside. Do not
remove the top cover to avoid risk of electric shock. To keep it clean use only a soft cloth and never use
any solvents or abrasives. Fingerprints may be removed with a soft cloth moistened only with a few
drops of water.
The amplifier has corrosion-free gold input jacks, but each year it is a good idea to twist the input plugs
to preserve perfect signal transfer by removing corrosion which might have accumulated on the
connecting plugs themselves. Make sure the unit is turned off while you do this.
