background image

22

User's Manual

Troubleshooting

If the hum persists, disconnect all the

source components one at a time from the
back of the preamp, until you identify the
problem.

Try moving the speaker cables away from

any power cords. Try just one speaker,
connecting it to different channels and see
if an amplifier channel is bad.

Check there are no broken connections

inside the interconnect cables.

Other causes of noise

Speaker noise may also be caused by

interference or noise on your AC line.
Make sure there are no large appliances
sharing the line, or halogen lamps or
lamps with dimmer controls.

Try connecting your system to another AC

socket on a separate line.

If the hum is heard from within the ampli-

fier and not through the speakers, this may
also be caused by interference on the AC
line. Internal hum can be made worse by a
shelf or cabinet resonating, so try moving
the amplifier to another location.

Try moving your preamplifier further away

from your amplifier.

Never place your preamplifier on top of the

amplifier.

Try moving your components further away

from the TV, especially if you ever notice
the screen has changed color in the area
closest to the component.

If you are still having a problem, remem-

ber that Sunfire’s dealers and technical
support staff will assist you. Make a list of
the things you have tried.

Poor bass performance

Make sure that your preamp does not

have the bass level turned down.

Many surround preamplifiers have controls

which can direct all the bass to subwoof-
ers, or let your main speakers play the full
range. Make sure that the preamplifier has
been correctly set.

Check that the speaker wires have been

connected correctly: Make sure that the
positive of each speaker connects to a
positive output of the amplifier, and the
negative of each speaker connects to a
negative output. If one speaker is wired
incorrectly, than it will be “out of phase”
with the others, resulting in poor bass
performance.

If you have connected the amplifier using

the XLR inputs, make sure that the XLR
cables are wired correctly. If one has the
hot and cold reversed, then this will also
cause a speaker to be out of phase.

No high frequency output

If you are biamping or biwiring, make sure

that the 

current source

 fuses have not

blown.

Turn-on and turn-off thumps

Plug the amplifier into a separate switched

power strip or outlet from your other
components. This will allow you to do the
following to reduce any turn-on or turn-off
noises in your speakers:

Turn on your preamplifier and components

before turning on the amplifier.

At the end of your listening session, turn

off the amplifier first.

Summary of Contents for Architectural Choice Series II

Page 1: ......

Page 2: ...to a power supply only of the type described in these operation instructions or as marked on the Component 9 Power Cord Protection Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked upon or pinched by items placed upon or against them paying particular attention to cords at plugs convenience receptacles and the point where they exit the Component 10 Cleaning The Component...

Page 3: ...ver is applicable limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications ATTENTION Le présent appareil numérique n émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant las limites applicables aux appareils numériques de class A de class B selon le cas prescrites dans le règlement sur le brouillage radioélectriq...

Page 4: ...ures 12 13 System configurations 14 Unbalanced inputs current source outputs 14 Balanced inputs voltage source outputs 15 Parallel mono 16 Biwiring stereo 17 Biwiring mono 18 Biamping 19 Speaker connections 20 Troubleshooting guide 21 22 Limited warranty 23 Service assistance 23 Contents To find out more about this and other Sunfire products please visit our website www sunfire com Table of Conten...

Page 5: ... custom installations Standard Edition 325 Watts per channel into 8 Ω 650 Watts per channel into 4 Ω 17 wide chassis Signature Edition 625 Watts per channel into 8 Ω 1250 Watts per channel into 4 Ω 17 wide chassis Bob Carver s signature on the front panel Signature and Standard Editions The Signature Edition has more power output and uses premium quality output terminals compared to the Standard E...

Page 6: ... Critical capacitors are film devices with high dielectric strength and ultra low absorption characteristics An enormous Sunfire power source built around a massive power transformer provides the ultimate muscle for limitless dynamics I could go on and on but here s the best part I ve included two kinds of left and right outputs 1 a standard voltage source i e near zero impedance output for all ty...

Page 7: ... and the box in case your amplifier ever needs to be moved or shipped for repair Make sure that you keep your sales receipt It is the only way to establish the duration of your Limited Warranty and it may come in useful for insurance purposes Please make a note of your serial number located on the rear panel Serial ___________________________ Purchased at ___________________________ ______________...

Page 8: ...th channels driven into eight ohms from 20Hz 20kHz with no more than 0 5 T H D Power at clipping minimum 1250 watts per channel into four ohms 2500 watts per channel into two ohms time limited basis Hum and Noise 118 dB A Weighted Maximum output current 100 amperes peak to peak per channel Maximum output voltage 70 7 Vrms Output impedance Voltage source Approximately zero ohms Current source Appro...

Page 9: ...115 dB A Weighted Maximum output current 80 amperes peak to peak per channel Maximum output voltage 51 Vrms Output impedance Voltage source Approximately zero ohms Current source Approximately one ohm Input impedance RCA inputs 24kΩ Input sensitivity for rated output Unbalanced 1 8 Vrms Balanced 0 9 Vrms Input impedance XLR inputs 24kΩ each leg balanced to ground Female XLR Pin 1 is ground Pin 2 i...

Page 10: ...ents are all turned OFF before making or changing connections Make sure that the power cords of all your components are attached to the same outlet or at least to the same circuit This will reduce the possibility of a ground loop in the system Make sure that the total current draw does not exceed the current rating of the outlet Use the XLR inputs if your preamplifier has XLR outputs These balance...

Page 11: ...ing the glass base to prevent the carpet from restricting the airflow If you choose to place the unit on a shelf or other hard surface the base will isolate the amp from vibration and will help make an attractive installation Illumination The meter is illuminated by an incandes cent lamp operating at a very warm color temperature I have been influenced by the scale lighting of classic electronic e...

Page 12: ...eater Grand is turned on the Sunfire amplifier will also turn on even when the volume is turned down 1 8 mono mini jacks are provided for ease of installation along with a terminal strip to allow more flexibility for custom wired installations The terminal strip and both the 1 8 mini jacks are connected in parallel allowing daisy chaining to turn on multiple amplifiers Any 1 8 mono to mono two wir...

Page 13: ...s According to your taste you may select the current source for electrostatic planar magnetic or ribbon speakers Select the voltage source for subwoofers For cone based systems use either For a biwired system use the current source for midrange and treble drivers and use the voltage source for the subwoofer s These are suggestions only By all means please feel free to experi ment with other wiring...

Page 14: ...agram also shows how the current source outputs connect to the input posts of your speakers The voltage source can be used instead as shown on the next page The following diagrams show some typical connections that you might make in your installation They show how the inputs and outputs of the Sunfire Amplifier are connected to your preamplifier and speakers Unbalanced RCA inputs and current sourc...

Page 15: ...alanced XLR inputs and voltage source output connections If your preamplifier has XLR outputs it can be connected to the XLR inputs as shown This diagram also shows the voltage source output connections to the speaker inputs The current source outputs can be used instead as shown on the previous page ...

Page 16: ...th amplifier channels Never use the voltage source outputs for Parallel Mono as this will may cause overheating distor tion and shutdown Connect your preamplifier s right output to one of the amplifier s right input jacks Connect the amplifier s unused right input to the left input with a short patch cord Alternatively you can use a Y cable to split the preamp output into two one to feed the left ...

Page 17: ...fire Amplifier has two pairs of outputs One idea is to use the voltage source to drive the woofer and the current source to drive the upper range This will offer improved performance compared to conventional wiring Stereo Biwire Connections Connect the amplifier s right voltage source output to the right speaker s woofer input terminals Connect the amplifier s right current source output to the ri...

Page 18: ...put terminals Connect the same amplifier s left current source output to the right speaker s upper range input terminals Connect your preamplifier s right output to one of the amplifier s right input jacks Connect the unused right input to the left input with a short patch cord Alternatively you can use a Y cable to split the preamp output into two one to feed the left input and one to feed the ri...

Page 19: ...uency True biamping is very efficient because each amplifier channel only receives and amplifies the range required for its driver For example in the diagram below the right channel only amplifies the low frequencies and the left channel only amplifies the high frequencies Make sure that you adjust the crossover frequency to suit your speakers Check the speaker s specifications An alternative conn...

Page 20: ...s are easier on the amplifier than parallel connections as the total impedance is higher than driving a single speaker Parallel For example if you want to parallel connect two speakers to the front right channel of the amplifier The positive output terminal of the front right channel connects to the positive input of the first speaker and to the positive of the second speaker The negative output t...

Page 21: ...n internal short Measure all speakers and check their impedance specifications If you have connected speakers in paral lel the overall impedance may be too low It is recommended that you rearrange the speakers in series to increase the overall impedance thus taking some of the load off the amplifier Make sure that the amplifier has good ventilation and is not overheating Use the crystal base to al...

Page 22: ...remem ber that Sunfire s dealers and technical support staff will assist you Make a list of the things you have tried Poor bass performance Make sure that your preamp does not have the bass level turned down Many surround preamplifiers have controls which can direct all the bass to subwoof ers or let your main speakers play the full range Make sure that the preamplifier has been correctly set Chec...

Page 23: ...ll not in any event include property or any other incidental or consequential damages which may result from the failure of this product Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and or do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages so the above limita tions or exclusions may not apply to you This Warranty gives you specific legal ri...

Page 24: ...Manual part number 913 041 00 Rev A ...

Reviews: