Parasound Stereo Amplifier HCA 2205A User Manual

O W N E R ' S  
M A N U A L  
HCA-2205A Five Channel High Current Power Amplifier  
H C A- 2 2 0 5 A H i gh C u r r en t M u l t i Am p l i f i er  
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Power  
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Norm  
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Line  
AC  
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS  
The lightning flash with the arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to  
the presence of “dangerous voltage” inside the product that may constitute a risk of electric shock.  
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important  
operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying the product.  
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE  
PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL  
1. Read Instructions — Read all the safety and operating instructions before operating this product.  
2. Retain Instructions — Retain safety and operating instructions for future reference.  
3. Heed Warnings — Adhere to all warnings on the product and in the operating instructions.  
4. Follow Instructions — Follow all operating and use instructions.  
5. Cleaning — Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. Clean the  
outside of the product only.  
6. Attachments — Do not use attachments that are not recommended by the product manufacturer; they may be  
hazardous.  
7. Water and Moisture — Do not use this product near water.  
8. Accessories — Do not place this product on an unstable cart or stand. The product may fall causing bodily injury  
and damage to the product. A product and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive  
force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart to overturn.  
9. Ventilation — Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable operation of the  
product and to protect it from overheating. These openings must not be blocked or covered. This product should not  
be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided.  
10. Power Sources — Operate this product only from the type of power source indicated on the label. If you  
are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your dealer or local power company. This product is  
equipped with a three-prong grounding plug. This plug will only fit into a grounding power outlet. If you  
are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the  
safety purpose of the grounding plug.  
11. Power Cord Protection — Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or  
pinched by items placed upon or against them.  
12. Lightning— Unplug the unit from the wall outlet for added protection during a lightning storm and when it is left  
unattended and unused for long periods of time. This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power  
line surges.  
13. Overloading — Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords. This can result in a fire or electric shock.  
14. Inserting Objects into Unit - Never push objects of any kind into this product through any openings; they may  
touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in fire or electric shock.  
15. Servicing — Do not attempt to repair or service this product yourself. Opening or removing covers may expose you  
to dangerous voltage and other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.  
16. Damage Requiring Service — Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service  
personnel under the following conditions: a) If the power-supply cord or plug is damaged. b) If liquid has been  
spilled into the product. c) If the product has been exposed to rain or water. d) If the product does not operate  
normally by following the operating instructions. e) If the product has been dropped or damaged in  
any way. f) If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance.  
17. Replacement Parts — When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement  
parts specified by the manufacturer. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, and other hazards.  
19. Safety Check — Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform  
safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition.  
20. Wall or Ceiling Mounting — Mount the product to a wall or ceiling only as recommended.  
21. Heat — The product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, and other  
products (including amplifiers) that produce heat.  
-3-  
 
Figure #1 HCA-2205A Front and Rear Panel Drawings  
H C A- 2 2 0 5 A H i gh C u r r en t P ow er Am p l i f i er  
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Rack  
Mount Holes  
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Standb  
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High T  
AC  
Operation Status  
Indicators  
Carry Handle  
Power Switch  
Input Connectors  
and Level Controls  
Speaker Connectors  
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HCA - 2205A  
High Current Multi-Amplifier  
Parasound Products, Inc  
San Francisco, CA U.S.A.  
Manufactured under  
license from Lucasfilm  
Ltd. Lucasfilm and THX  
are registered Trademarks  
of of Lucasfilm Ltd.  
Input  
Ch  
1
Ch  
Ch  
1
1
WARNING:  
TO PREVENT FIRE  
OR SHOCK HAZARD.  
DO NOT EXPOSE  
THIS UNIT TO RAIN  
OR MOISTURE.  
Ch  
Ch  
1
1
CAUTION:  
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC  
SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE  
COVER. NO USER  
SERVICEABLEPARTS  
INSIDE. REFER SERVICING  
TO QUALIFIED SERVICE  
PERSONNEL.  
Fuse T15A/250  
V
AC 120V 50/60Hz  
DC Trigger  
+12V GND  
CAUTION  
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK  
DO NOT OPEN  
Power Consumption: 2000  
W
+ 12 Vdc  
Trigger Connector  
Carry Handle  
AC Cord Connector  
-4-  
 
Introduction  
Congratulations on your purchase of this precision audio component and thank you for your selection  
of Parasound. Your Parasound power amplifier was designed by renowned circuit designer John Curl  
to meet or surpass the stringent standards required by Lucasfilm for use in THX Home Cinema  
systems. Please take a few moments to read these instructions so that you may fully understand the  
capabilities of your new Parasound power amplifier.  
Unpacking  
Carefully unpack your amplifier and remove all the enclosed accessories. Be sure to inspect the unit  
for any possible shipping damage. If you see any, contact your Parasound Dealer immediately. Save  
all the packing material in case you need to ship the amplifier for repair. Before you proceed, find the  
serial number located on the rear panel of your amplifier and record it here for reference:  
Serial #____________________  
Date of Purchase____________________  
Installation and Rack Mounting  
Locate your amplifier away from heat sources such as air ducts and radiators. Always mount the  
amplifier horizontally and make sure that your cabinet or shelf can support its weight. It is best to  
provide a separate shelf for your amplifier rather that stacking it directly above or below your other  
components.  
The HCA-2205A occupies four rack spaces (7") in a standard 19 inch equipment rack. Be sure to use  
heavy duty mounting bolts to and nylon shoulder washers on both sides of the faceplate to avoid  
scratching the amplifier’s front panel and also to help prevent ground loops. Contact Middle Atlantic  
Products at (201) 839-1011 to obtain any rack mounting hardware you may need. When rack  
mounting the HCA-2205A, have someone help support the unit while you bolt the component to the  
rack rails.  
Ventilation Requirements  
To insure safe and reliable operation, it is very important that the amplifier has plenty of ventilation to  
prevent overheating and automatic shut down from its thermal protection circuitry. Please observe the  
following ventilation guidelines when installing your amplifier in a cabinet or other enclosed area:  
1) If you are not using a fan, allow at least six inches on each side and above the amplifier, and do not  
close off the front with a cabinet door or panel.  
2) If you are enclosing the amplifier within an equipment cabinet, use a fan to draw in cool air and  
exhaust warm air. Two vent holes are required: one for intake and one for exhaust.  
3) Do not place the amplifier on carpeting that will obstruct the air flow into the bottom of the  
amplifier chassis and heatsinks.  
4) Avoid stacking components. If you do stack components, you must use a fan to circulate the warm  
air that will quickly become trapped between them when they are powered on.  
-5-  
 
Making Connections to the HCA-2205A  
Refer to Figure #1  
Leave the AC cord disconnected before making any signal or speaker connections. When making  
connections to the amplifier, make sure there is no strain or tension on the input leads, speaker wires, or  
AC cord that could cause them to pull loose.  
Your HCA-2205A is designed to deliver the same power and sonic characteristics to the Left, Center,  
Right, and both Surround speakers of your home theater system. For additional low frequency response,  
we recommend that you install a powered subwoofer. Even though all the channels of the HCA-2205A  
operate identically, the input and output connectors are color coded to make it easier to identify each  
channel in case you ever need to troubleshoot your system.  
Input Connections  
Connect the left front output of your processor to the White Channel 1 Input of your HCA-2205A  
Connect the right front output of your processor to the Red Channel 2 Input of your HCA-2205A  
Connect the center output of your processor to the Green Channel 3 Input of your HCA-2205A  
Connect the right surround output of your processor to Blue Channel 4 Input of your HCA-2205A  
Connect the left surround output of your processor to the Blue Channel 5 Input of your HCA-2205A  
Connect the subwoofer output of your processor to the input of your powered subwoofer.  
Speaker Connections  
You may connect bare wire up to AWG 12, speaker wire terminated with 1/4" spade lugs, or banana  
plugs to the five-way binding posts of your power amplifier. If you use bare wire without terminals,  
make sure you remove only enough insulation so the wire can fit through the hole that runs sideways  
through the terminal’s binding post. Before inserting the wire, twist all its strands tightly to prevent  
strays that could cause a short circuit. (You may want to "tin" the stripped wire with solder to prevent  
it from fraying and oxidizing.)  
Connect the HCA-2205's Channel 1 Speaker Output to your Left speaker  
Connect the HCA-2205's Channel 2 Speaker Output to your Right speaker  
Connect the HCA-2205's Channel 3 Speaker Output to your Center speaker  
Connect the HCA-2205's Channel 4 Speaker Output to your Left Surround speaker  
Connect the HCA-2205's Channel 5 Speaker Output to your Right Surround speaker  
Minimum Speaker Impedance Precautions  
Although the HCA-2205A is capable of driving speakers with occasional impedance dips below 2 ,  
it is primarily designed to drive loudspeakers with a 4 or 8 nominal impedance. This is because  
sustained high power operation into loads of less than 4 may cause overheating and subsequent  
thermal shutdown.  
Observing Correct Polarity  
When you connect speakers to your amplifier, you will notice that one side of the two conductor  
speaker wire will have some sort of mark: either printing, a raised ridge on the insulation, or a different  
color of conductor to let you know which wire to connect to the positive and which to the negative  
speaker terminals so you can repeat the connection on the power amplifier's binding posts.  
-6-  
 
DC Trigger Connection  
This connector provides the ability to trigger your amplifier on with an external DC voltage source  
ranging from + 9 Vdc to +12 Vdc. With the main power switch in the off (down) position, the  
amplifier can be turned on with voltage from any external DC source such as the +12 Vdc trigger  
from the Parasound P/SP-1500 AV Processor/Preamplifier. Since it is optically coupled, the DC  
trigger only requires 15 mA of current to activate the circuitry and turn on the amplifier.  
AC Power Connections and AC Grounding  
Before you connect the AC cord, make sure your amplifier's power switch is in the off position and  
the external DC trigger is off. If possible, plug your amplifier directly to an AC wall outlet. Do not  
connect the amplifier to the accessory AC outlet on your preamplifier or processor because the  
amplifier's current draw exceeds the ratings of most preamplifier’s power switches and power cords.  
If you use an external AC line conditioner or surge suppressor, make sure it can withstand the power  
requirements of the amplifier listed in the specification section of this manual.  
Operating the HCA-2205A  
Refer to Figure #1  
Power Switch  
Manual Turn On  
Press the upper side to turn the unit on manually; press the lower side to turn the unit off.  
Automatic Turn On  
When the power switch is in the off position, the power amplifier can be turned on with an external  
DC voltage applied at the DC trigger connector on the rear panel. (see above)  
Level Controls  
Each channel has its own rear mounted "set and forget" input level control. Your amplifier will  
sound best with these 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 amplifier. When using the HCA-2205A in a THX installation, each  
level control must be set at maximum to correspond to 0 dB THX reference level.  
AC Line Indicator  
The AC line indicator on the front panel of your amplifier lights to show you that AC is present at  
the AC connector. This indicates that the AC cord is connected and that power is applied to the  
amplifier.  
Standby/Normal Indicators  
When you first turn the amplifier on, the Standby indicator will light for about five seconds while the  
internal circuits are stabilizing. After that, the Standby indicator turns off and the Normal indicator  
lights to signal that the amplifier is operational.  
-7-  
 
The Standby indicator will also light whenever there is a fault that triggers the protection circuitry.  
This may indicate one of the following conditions: DC present at the amplifier's input, a speaker  
impedance overload, a short circuited speaker line, or possible internal fault. If this indicator remains  
lit, remove power to the amplifier and check all connections. During this time, the protection circuits  
should automatically reset. If the Standby indicator stays lit after you reapply power, contact your  
Parasound Dealer, Installer or Parasound Technical Service for further advice.  
Current Overload LEDs  
These indicators let you know if you are exceeding the amplifier's power supply capacity. During  
normal operation, the bi-color operation indicators for channels 1-5 will be green and the Current  
Overload indicator will remain off. If any channel is driven beyond its maximum current capacity or  
the impedance for that channel is too low, the Current Overload indicator will light and affected  
channel's indicator will change from green to red.  
High Temp Indicator  
This indicator will light when any of the external heatsinks reach 90 degrees centigrade. If the High  
Temp indicator lights, it probably means that the amplifier has inadequate ventilation. Refer to page  
4 for more information about proper ventilation. Once the heatsinks cool below 90 degrees, the  
amplifier will automatically reset.  
Maintaining Your Parasound Amplifier  
Your Parasound power amplifier requires no periodic maintenance and has no user serviceable parts  
inside. To avoid the risk of electric shock, do not remove the top cover. The amplifier's exterior can  
easily be cleaned with a soft cloth moistened only with a few drops of water or glass cleaner.  
Main Power Fuse  
There is an external fuse located within the AC receptacle that may blow as a result of an internal  
fault condition. This fuse protects the unit from possible damage to internal parts. Never replace this  
fuse with a fuse of higher value than installed from the factory. Substitution of a larger fuse may  
create serious stress and damage to internal parts and will void your warranty.  
In Case of Trouble  
If you suspect a problem with your amplifier, first turn the amp off and check all your connections.  
The trouble may be caused by another component or even a defective hookup cable. If you are  
hearing hum out of any of your speakers, turn off the amplifier and disconnect the inputs to it. If the  
hum goes away, it was probably be caused by your processor or one of the source components  
connected to it. Frequently hum in home theater systems is caused by a grounding problem with the  
cable TV system. Contact your cable provider if necessary to make sure the cable feed into your  
house is properly grounded. There are cable isolation devices available such as the Video Link #634  
or the Mondial Magic specifically designed to cure this problem. In rack mounted systems, ground  
loops and hum can sometimes develop via the metal rack rails of the equipment rack. This problem  
can be solved with nylon shoulder washers available from Middle Atlantic Products (refer to rack  
mounting section of this manual).  
-8-  
 
If All Else Fails...  
Call your Parasound dealer or Parasound Technical Service. We can suggest other diagnostic tests you  
can easily perform. If we determine that your amplifier should be returned to Parasound or an  
Authorized Parasound Warranty Center for inspection and possible servicing, call Parasound for the  
location of a warranty center near you. If you choose to send it to Parasound, contact us to obtain a  
Return Authorization (RA) number. You will be asked to repack the unit in its original packaging  
including the additional outer box for protection during transit. The Return Authorization number  
must be clearly marked on the outer carton only. You should ship the unit by UPS with adequate  
insurance and a copy of your purchase receipt to validate your ownership.  
Units that arrive without your specific Return Authorization number, without a suitable shipping  
carton or with evidence of improper internal packing must be refused. We do not accept collect  
shipments. After repair under warranty, the unit will be returned to you via prepaid UPS. In the case  
of a non-warranty repair, contact us and we will advise you of the repair charges before you ship the  
unit to us. The same packing and Return Authorization number requirements apply.  
Special Features for the Parasound HCA-2205A  
• Designed by John Curl  
• THX certified by Lucasfilm Ltd.  
• Independent power supplies for each channel  
• Modular circuit board layout  
• Massive encapsulated 2 kVA toroid power transformer  
• 30,000 uF power supply capacitance for each channel  
• Multiple polystyrene film bypass capacitors in power supply  
• Can be triggered on with an external DC source  
• Cascode Class A input stages with matched J-FET pairs  
• Hand-picked complementary transistors in high voltage driver stage  
• 8 complementary pairs of 15 ampere 60 MHz output transistors per channel  
• Output transistors direct-coupled to speakers without LRC networks  
• DC servo direct-coupled audio circuits with 0.8 Hz rolloff  
• High-bias Class A/AB operation  
• Gold-plated metal structure RCA input jacks  
• Multiple protection circuits, temperature sensors and silver-cadmium relay protection  
• Glass epoxy circuit boards, double-sided for precision  
• Hand made audiophile-grade AC power cord  
-9-  
 
Parasound HCA-2205A Specifications  
Continuous Power Output  
220 watts RMS x 5, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 8 ,  
300 watts RMS x 5, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 4 ,  
Current Capacity  
60 amps peak per channel  
Slew Rate  
> 130 V/µsecond  
Frequency Response  
5 Hz-100 kHz, +0/-3 dB at 1 watt  
Total Harmonic Distortion  
< 0.03 % at full power; < 0.01 % typical levels  
IM Distortion  
< 0.03 %  
TIM  
Unmeasureable  
Dynamic Headroom  
> 1.5 dB  
Interchannel Crosstalk  
> 80 dB at 1 kHz  
> 60 dB at 20 kHz  
Input Impedance  
33 kΩ  
Input Sensitivity  
1 V for 28.28 V; THX Reference Level; 1.5 V for full output  
S/N Ratio  
> 96 dB, THX Reference Level  
Damping Factor  
> 1000 at 20 Hz  
Dimensions  
19“ wide x 7“ high x 18“ deep (7 5/8” high with feet)  
Power Consumption  
1500 watts  
Power Requirements  
110 Vac-120 Vac  
-10-  
 
Parasound Limited Warranty (USA only)  
Your Parasound amplifier is covered by a limited warranty against defects in materials and  
workmanship for a period of two years from date of purchase. This warranty is provided by the  
Parasound dealer where the unit was purchased. Warranty repair will be performed only when your  
purchase receipt is presented to validate your ownership, date of purchase and authorized status of  
the selling dealer. Defective parts will be repaired or replaced without charge by your authorized  
dealer’s store or the location designated by your dealer that is authorized to service Parasound  
equipment. Additional information is available by calling or writing to the Service Manager,  
Parasound Products, Inc. at the address below. Charges for unauthorized service and transportation  
costs are not reimbursable under this warranty.  
This warranty becomes void if the product has been damaged by alteration, misuse, accident or  
neglect. Alteration includes any removal, obscuration or defacement of its serial number. This  
warranty becomes void if the unit has been connected or operated contrary to printed instructions.  
Parasound assumes no liability for property damage or any other incidental or consequential damage  
whatsoever which may result from the failure of this product. Any and all warranties of  
merchantability and fitness implied by law are limited to the duration of this expressed warranty.  
Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations  
may not apply. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential  
damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply.  
This warranty gives the original purchaser specific legal and other rights which may vary state by  
state.  
Parasound Products, Inc. 950 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111  
© 1997 Parasound Products, Inc.  
-1
 

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