Parasound Stereo Amplifier HCA 3500 User Manual

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HCA-3500 Ultra High Current Power Amplifier  
H C A- 3 5 0 0 U l t r a H i gh C u r r en t P ow er Am p l i f i er  
er  
Pow  
er  
Pow  
Right  
Left  
Designed in California by John Curl  
 
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-3500 Front and Rear Panel Drawings  
H C A- 3 5 0 0 U l t r a H i gh C u r r en t P ow er Am p l i f i er  
Rack  
Mount Holes  
erload  
Right  
Ov  
Temp  
High  
Left  
Operation Status  
Indicators  
Left Power Switch  
Right Power Switch  
Carry Handle  
Normal and Bi-Wire  
Speaker Connectors  
Same as Right Channel  
Right Channel  
Left Channel  
Right Speaker  
Left Speaker  
Non-Inverting  
Non-Inverting  
Non-Inverting RCA Input Jack  
Unbalanced Inputs  
Unbalanced Inputs  
Inverting  
Inverting  
Inverting RCA Input Jack  
Input Selection Switch  
Bi-Wire  
Bi-Wire  
Input Selector  
Balanced Unbalanced  
Input Selector  
Unbalanced Balanced  
HCA - 3500  
Ultra High Current Power Amplifier  
Parasound Products, Inc  
San Francisco, CA U.S.A.  
Balanced XLR Connector  
Balanced Input  
Balanced Input  
CAUTION  
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC  
SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE  
THE COVER. THERE ARE  
NO USER SERVICABLE  
PARTS INSIDE. REFER  
SERVICING TO QUALIFIED  
SERVICE PERSONNEL  
WARNING  
TO PREVENT FIRE  
OR SHOCK HAZARD,  
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS  
UNIT TO RAIN OR  
MOISTURE. DO NOT  
RESTRICT ADEQUATE  
VENTILATION.  
CAUTION  
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK  
DO NOT OPEN  
AC 120V  
50/60Hz  
Power Consumption: 1200  
W
Power Consumption: 1200  
W
Fuse T15A/250  
V
Fuse T15A/250  
V
Main Power Fuse  
Carry Handle  
IEC AC Cord Connector  
-4-  
 
Introduction  
Congratulations on your purchase of this precision audio component and thank you for your selection of  
Parasound.YourParasoundHCA-3500wasdesignedbyrenownedcircuitdesignerJohnCurlandisbuilt  
using only the finest precision components available for optimum musical quality and performance.  
Eachchanneloftheamplifierhasitsownpowersupplyincludinganindependent1.4kVAtoroidalpower  
transformer and 97,600 uF of filter capacitance. This dual-mono configuration provides the high levels  
of power needed for some of today’s more sophisticated speaker systems. The inherently low output  
impedance of the HCA-3500 easily maintains control of your loudspeakers even during demanding  
impedance variations.  
Unique circuit topology of the direct coupled HCA-3500 includes balanced JFET input transistors,  
MOSFET drivers and ultra high current output devices. The output delivers a generous 15 watts of pure  
class A operation. Additionally, there are no inductors or capacitors in the signal path. These design  
refinements reduce high odd-order harmonic distortion, improve overall clarity and preserve low-level  
musical details.  
Please take a few moments to read these instructions so that you may fully understand the capabilities  
of your new Parasound power amplifier.  
Unpacking Your HCA-3500  
Carefully unpack your amplifier and remove all the enclosed accessories. These accessories include two  
12 AWG AC cords, rack mount hole plugs, and this manual. 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____________________  
Installing Your HCA-3500  
Locateyouramplifierawayfromheatsourcessuchasairductsandradiators.Alwaysmounttheamplifier  
horizontallyandmakesurethatyourcabinetorshelfcansupportitsweight. Itisbesttoprovideaseparate  
shelf for your amplifier rather that stacking it directly above or below your other components.  
TheHCA-3500occupiesfourrackspaces(7")inastandard19inchequipmentrack.Whenrackmounting  
the HCA-3500, have someone help support the unit while you bolt the component to the rack rails. Be  
sure to use heavy duty mounting bolts 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 additional rack mounting hardware you may need.  
-5-  
 
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.  
Making Connections to the HCA-3500  
Refer to Figure #1  
Leave the AC cords 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.  
RCA Jack Input Connections  
You can connect the output of your preamplifier or processor to the RCA input jacks in a variety of ways:  
Normal Unbalanced Non-Inverting Input  
Connect the unbalanced outputs of your preamplifier to the left and right positive (+) inputs only. With  
this connection, the HCA-3500's output is non-inverted; a positive signal at the input results in a positive  
signal at the output.  
Unbalanced Inverting Input  
Connect the unbalanced output of your preamplifier to the to the left and right negative (—) inputs only.  
Withthisconnection,theHCA-3500'soutputisinverted;apositivesignalattheinputresultsinanegative  
signal at the output.  
Balanced RCA Inputs  
Connect the left and right positive (+) output of your preamplifier to the left and right positive (+) inputs  
of the HCA-3500 and connect the left and right negative (—) output of your preamplifier to the left and  
right negative (—) inputs of the HCA-3500. These balanced connections provide an alternative to using  
an XLR connector if your preamplifier is equipped with (+) and (—) RCA output connectors.  
XLR Input Connections  
If your preamplifier is equipped with balanced XLR output connectors, you can use these connections  
as an alternative to the RCA jacks. The industry standard pin assignment for the  
HCA-3500's XLR input connector is Pin 1: Ground, Pin 2: Positive (+), and Pin 3: Negative (—).  
-6-  
 
Input Selector Switch  
Once you have decided which input connectors you will use, set the input selector switches to their  
Unbalanced or Balanced XLR position.  
Speaker Connections  
YoumayconnectbarewireuptoAWG12, speakerwireterminatedwith1/4"spadelugs, orbananaplugs  
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.)  
Bi-Wiring  
The HCA-3500 is equipped with an additional set of binding posts to facilitate bi-wiring. These extra  
speaker connectors are in parallel with the main binding posts. If your loudspeakers have two sets of  
speaker connectors, you can bi-wire by connecting two sets of speaker cables from each channel of your  
HCA-3500 to your speakers. Bi-wiring effectively reduces the lead resistance of your speaker wire thus  
diminishing power loss and improving damping factor. The extra set of binding posts also make it easy  
to connect an additional pair of speakers.  
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.  
Minimum Speaker Impedance Precautions  
Although the HCA-3500 is capable of driving speakers with occasional impedance dips well below  
2 , it is primarily designed to drive loudspeakers with a 4 or 8 nominal impedance. This is because  
sustainedhighpoweroperationintoloadsoflessthan4 maycauseoverheatingandsubsequentthermal  
shutdown.  
AC Power Connections and AC Grounding  
Before you connect the AC cords, make sure the HCA-3500's power switches are in the off or down  
position. If possible, plug your amplifier directly to an AC wall outlet. Be sure to plug both AC cords into  
the same outlet help prevent possible ground loops. Do not connect the AC cords to the accessory AC  
outletonyourpreamplifierbecausetheamplifier'scurrentdrawexceedstheratingsofmostpreamplifier’s  
power switches and power cords. If you use an external AC line conditioner or surge suppressor, make  
sure it can withstand the HCA-3500's power requirements listed in the specification section of this  
manual.  
-7-  
 
Operating the HCA-3500  
Refer to Figure #1  
Power Switches  
Thereareseparatepowerswitchesfortheleftandrightchannels.Presstheuppersidetoturneachchannel  
on; press the lower side to turn each channel off.  
Bi-Color Channel Status Indicators  
When you first turn the power switches of the HCA-3500 on, the Left and Right channel status indicators  
will light red for about five seconds while the internal circuits are stabilizing. After that, these indicators  
will change from red to green to signal that bothe channels are operational. Either the Left or Right  
channel status indicator may change from green to red if there is a fault that triggers the protection  
circuitry.Thismayindicateoneofthefollowingconditions:DCpresentattheamplifier'sinput,aspeaker  
impedance overload, a short circuited speaker line, or a possible internal fault. If either indicator changes  
to red, remove power to the amplifier and check all connections. During this time, the protection circuits  
should automatically reset. If either Left or Right channel status indicators remain red after you reapply  
power, contact your Parasound Dealer, Installer, or Parasound Technical Service Department for further  
advice.  
Current Overload Indicator  
These indicators let you know if there is too low of an impedance at the amplifier's output thereby  
exceedingtheamplifierscurrentcapacity. Duringnormaloperation, thebi-colorLeftandRightchannels  
indicators for the will be green and the Current Overload indicator will remain off. If either channel is  
driven beyond its maximum current capacity because the impedance for that channel is too low, the  
Current Overload indicator will light red and the affected channel's indicator will change from green to  
red.  
High Temp Indicator  
This indicator will light when either of the external heatsinks reaches 90 degrees centigrade. If the High  
Temp indicator lights, it probably means that the amplifier has inadequate ventilation. If either channel  
is driven beyond its thermal capacity, the High Temp indicator will light red and the affected channel's  
indicator will change from green to red. Refer to page 6 for more information about proper ventilation.  
Once the heatsink cools below 90 degrees, the amplifier channel will automatically reset and resume  
normal operation.  
Maintaining Your Parasound Amplifier  
Your Parasound power amplifier requires no periodic maintenance and has no user serviceable parts  
inside. Toavoidtheriskofelectricshock, donotremovethetopcover. Theamplifier'sexteriorcaneasily  
be cleaned with a soft cloth moistened only with a few drops of water or glass cleaner.  
Main Power Fuses  
There is an external fuse for each channel on the rear panel. These fuses protect the unit from possible  
damage to internal parts. Never replace fuses with a higher value than installed from the factory.  
Substitution of larger fuses may create serious stress and damage to internal parts and will void your  
warranty.  
-8-  
 
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 your speakers, turn off the amplifier and disconnect the inputs to it. If the hum goes away, when  
you turn the amplifier back on it was probably be caused by your preamplifier or one of the source  
components connected to it. Also, make sure that both AC cords are connected to the same AC outlet.  
In rack mounted systems, ground loops and hum can sometimes develop via the metal rack rails of the  
equipmentrack. Thisproblemcanbesolvedwithnylonshoulderwashers(refertorackmountingsection  
of this manual).  
If All Else Fails...  
CallyourParasounddealerorParasoundTechnicalServiceDepartment.Wecansuggestotherdiagnostic  
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 RA number must be clearly marked on the outer  
cartononly.YoushouldshiptheunitbyUPSwithadequateinsuranceandacopyofyourpurchasereceipt  
to validate your ownership.  
Units that arrive without your specific RA number, without a suitable shipping carton or with evidence  
of improper internal packing may be refused. We do not accept collect shipments. After repair under  
warranty, the unit will be returned to you via prepaid UPS within the Contentinental United States. 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.  
-9-  
 
Parasound HCA-3500 Specifications  
Continuous Power Output  
350 watts RMS per channel from 20 Hz-20 kHz into 8 , both channels driven  
500 watts RMS per channel from 20 Hz-20 kHz into 4 , both channels driven  
Current Capacity  
120 amps peak per channel  
Slew Rate  
> 130 V/µS  
Power Bandwidth  
2 Hz-150 kHz, +0/-3 dB at 1 watt  
Total Harmonic Distortion  
< 0.05 % at full power; < 0.01 % typical levels  
Intermodulation Distortion  
< 0.03 %  
Transient Intermodulation Distortion  
Unmeasureable  
Dynamic Headroom  
> 1.5 dB  
Interchannel Crosstalk  
> 95 dB at 1 kHz  
> 80 dB at 20 kHz  
Input Impedance  
100 kΩ  
Input Sensitivity  
1.4 V for 100 watts output  
2.25 V for full output  
Gain  
31 dB  
Signal to Noise Ratio  
> 115 dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted  
Damping Factor  
> 1000 at 20 Hz  
Power Requirements  
110 Vac-120 Vac 1200 watts per channel  
Dimensions  
19" wide x 7" high x 18" deep (7 3/4" high with feet)  
Weight  
80 lb Net  
-10-  
 
Parasound Products, Inc. 950 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111  
© 1998 Parasound Products, Inc.  
-11-  
 

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