BPA 2 & BPA 3 Power Amplifiers
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Important Safety Instructions
Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Proceed power
amplifier.
1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting
any cables, or when cleaning any component.
2. This product is equipped with a three-conductor AC mains power cord which includes an earth
ground connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must ALWAYS be used. If your
electrical outlets will not accept this type of plug, an adapter may be purchased. If an adapter is
necessary, be sure it is an approved type and is used properly, supplying an earth ground. If you
are not sure of the integrity of your home electrical system, contact a licensed electrician for assis-
tance.
3. AC extension cords are not recommended for use with this product. If an extension cord must be
used, be sure it is an approved type and has sufficient current-carrying capacity to power this
product.
4. NEVER use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning audio components.
5. NEVER operate this product with any covers removed.
6. NEVER wet the inside of this product with any liquid.
7. NEVER pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit.
8. NEVER block air flow through ventilation slots or heatsinks.
9. NEVER bypass any fuse.
10. NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified.
11. NEVER attempt to repair this product. If a problem occurs, contact your Proceed® retailer.
12. NEVER expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures.
13. NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.
14. ALWAYS keep electrical equipment out of the reach of children.
15. ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.
3
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From all of us at Madrigal Audio Laboratories, thank you for choosing this
Proceed power amplifier.
A great deal of effort went into the design and construction of this precision
device. Used properly, it will give you many years of enjoyment.
4
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Table of Contents
Unpacking and Placement ........................................................................ 6
Unpacking .......................................................................................................... 6
Placement .......................................................................................................... 6
Ventilation ........................................................................................................... 6
Operating Voltage ...................................................................................... 7
A Quick Start................................................................................................ 8
Special Design Features ............................................................................10
Multiple monaural design ................................................................................ 10
Low impedance power supply ....................................................................... 10
Balanced inputs ............................................................................................... 10
Robust output stage......................................................................................... 10
Extensive protection ......................................................................................... 10
Front Panel .................................................................................................. 11
Rear Panel ..................................................................................................13
Remote turn-on
tip polarity .................................................................................................. 14
Care & Maintenance .................................................................................16
U.S. and Canadian Warranty ..................................................................... 17
90-Day Limited Warranty...................................................................................17
Five Year Extended Warranty ............................................................................17
Obtaining Service ......................................................................................18
Specifications .............................................................................................19
Dimensions: BPA 2 & BPA 3 ........................................................................ 20
Rack Mounting ...........................................................................................21
5
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Unpacking and Placement
Unpacking Unpack your Proceed® BPA 2 or BPA 3 power amplifier and keep all packing
materials for future transport. Shipment of the amplifier without the origi-
nal packing material is not recommended. Locate and remove the heavy gauge
AC power cord, which is tucked into a cardboard slot within the box.
Placement Your Proceed BPA may be placed either near the preamplifier/control center or
near the loudspeakers. It may be placed on a shelf or in a cabinet where it is
convenient to operate.
Note that adequate clearance for the AC cord and connecting
cables must be left behind your BPA. We suggest leaving at least
three inches of free space behind your BPA to allow all cables
sufficient room to bend without crimping or undue strain.
Ventilation Be sure to allow 2 to 3 inches of clearance above your BPA to allow heat dissipa-
tion through air circulation. The vents on both the bottom and the top of the BPA
must be kept free from any obstruction which would reduce the flow of air
through the unit. The best rule of thumb is this: if the top of your BPA is too hot
to touch when “idle,” it needs better ventilation. If so, consider drilling holes in
the supporting shelf under the BPA to promote flow-through ventilation, or use
fans to increase air circulation.
Open equipment racks are generally best for power amplifiers, as they allow
ample ventilation. If your amplifier must be located inside a cabinet which re-
stricts airflow, consider using some fans to increase ventilation.
Avoid placement on soft surfaces such as carpeting. If you prefer to have the BPA
on the floor near your loudspeakers, be sure to place it on a firm surface. (A
piece of tempered glass under the amplifier is aesthetically unobtrusive while
providing firm support and allowing the required ventilation.)
Mechanical drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations
and custom cabinet work (see “Dimensions” at the end of this manual).
For your protection, review “Important Safety Instructions”
before you install your BPA.
6
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Operating Voltage
The Proceed BPA 2 and BPA 3 are factory-set for 100V, 120V, 220V, 230 or 240V AC
mains operation at either 50 or 60Hz, according to the country for which the unit
was manufactured. (230V only in European Union countries, in compliance with
CE regulations.) Make sure that the label on the rear of the BPA indicates the cor-
rect AC operating voltage for your location. The operating voltage cannot be
changed by the user, and any attempt to do so will void the warranty.
If the voltage indicated does not match the service in your area, see your Pro-
ceed dealer.
7
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A Quick Start
We recognize that many people are understandably eager to begin listening to
their new components, and that reading the manual is often done (if at all) at a
later time—perhaps while listening to music through the new product itself. We
strongly recommend that you read this manual thoroughly.
Fortunately, we can help you get some music up and running on your system
quickly, so that you may begin enjoying your new amplifier while reading more
about it. The goal here is simply to make some music as quickly as possible.
The following procedure assumes that the rest of your system is already con-
nected (e.g., source components to preamplifier).
1
TURN DOWN THE VOLUME ON YOUR PREAMPLIFIER
Turning the volume on the preamp all the way down minimizes the oppor-
tunity for unpleasant surprises when first powering up your new amplifier.
It does not need to be turned off—merely turned down.
2
SELECT “XLR” OR “RCA” WITH THE “INPUT SELECT” SWITCHES
Each channel of the Proceed BPA 2 and BPA 3 has both balanced (XLR)
and single-ended (RCA) inputs, with a small switch between the two con-
nectors to select between them. Using these switches, select the appropriate
input for each channel, given your interconnecting cables and preamplifier’s
capabilities.
3
4
CONNECT YOUR PREAMP TO THE BPA
Having selected the appropriate inputs in Step 2, now connect the outputs
of your preamplifier to the corresponding inputs on the power amplifier.
CONNECT YOUR SPEAKERS TO THE BPA
Connect speaker wire from the BPA output terminals to your loudspeakers.
Be sure to maintain consistency in polarity, e.g., the red post on the ampli-
fier to the red connector on the speaker, and likewise black to black. (Get-
ting the wires mixed up won’t damage anything, but the sound will be
lacking in bass and the imaging will be quite poor and unstable.)
5
6
CONNECT THE AC CORD TO THE BPA AND TO YOUR AC OUTLET
The AC receptacle for the power cord is located on the right side of the
rear panel, as seen from the front. The BPA will initially power up in
standby mode.
TURN ON THE BPA BY PRESSING THE POWER BUTTON
Pressing the latching power button on the front panel of the BPA 2 and BPA
3 will connect the amplifier to the AC mains. If the indicator light does not
light, the amplifier is either not receiving AC power or its protection cir-
cuitry has been engaged.
8
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7
SLOWLY RAISE THE VOLUME ON YOUR PREAMPLIFIER
Congratulations! You should now be able to enjoy your favorite music while
reading the rest of this manual. (Please, do read the rest of this manual. It
contains much valuable information about your new amplifier which we
could not possibly fit onto these two pages.)
9
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Special Design Features
Congratulations on your purchase of a Proceed BPA! While your new amplifier is
straightforward in its use, it includes several design features which are responsible
for its outstanding performance. A few of these are given below.
Multiple monaural design Consistent with the finest amplifiers, your Proceed BPA is a true “multiple monau-
ral” design. Each audio channel has its own, dedicated power supply—including a
separate 300VA toroidal transformer for each channel. This approach reduces
crosstalk between audio channels for superior imaging and reproduction of
acoustic space. The demands placed on one channel have virtually no effect on
the performance of the other channel(s).
Low impedance power supply A critical factor in the ultimate performance of an amplifier is its “power supply
impedance,” which can be loosely thought of as the freedom with which the au-
dio circuitry has access to the power it needs, when it needs it. The design of
your Proceed BPA has addressed this important characteristic in a comprehensive
fashion. For example, the power supply capacitors (which act as “reservoirs” of
power for the amplifier circuitry) are mounted directly to the printed circuit
board, immediately adjacent to the output transistors (which require the greatest
amount of current). The layout of the circuitry uses short, thick traces for high
current paths. Internal current capability is further enhanced with high purity
copper buss bars. This attention to detail yields an optimal environment in which
the amplifier may operate to its maximum potential.
Balanced inputs Each channel of your BPA is individually configurable to receive either balanced
or single-ended inputs. This approach allows you to take full advantage of the
greater immunity from noise, RFI, and EMI which balanced transmission of audio
signals offers on any preamp-to-amplifier connection where it is supported. At
the same time, any or all channels of the amplifier may be configured for single-
ended inputs to maintain compatibility with the majority of preamplifiers avail-
able today. The gain structure of the BPA adjusts automatically when you select
different inputs to facilitate this “mix and match” approach.
Robust output stage Each channel of your Proceed BPA uses eight 150 watt power transistors. These
transistors are all individually tested and sorted, and are used in matched sets to
ensure that no one transistor bears a disproportionate part of the overall load.
The combination of an “overbuilt” design specification and extraordinary attention
to detail in manufacturing improves performance, reliability, and longevity.
Extensive protection Your Proceed amplifier will shut itself down if it senses either the presence of
DC (direct current) at the output or an unsafe operating temperature. In either
case, a power relay will cause the amplifier to be disconnected from the AC
mains. In addition, the AC input to each transformer is fused to protect against
excessive current conditions such as driving shorted outputs. Finally, inrush limit-
ing prevents premature aging of power supply components during power-up, and
switches off-line once the power supply has been charged.
10
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Front Panel
1
POWER BUTTON
Pressing the latching power button connects the amplifier to the AC mains,
turning it on. Power consumption when fully on and at idle is approxi-
mately 140 watts for the BPA 2 and 210 watts for the BPA 3.
At your option, you may also toggle the BPA between a standby mode and
fully on by connecting its remote turn on jack to the corresponding remote
turn on output on a Proceed control unit such as the AVP.
When first powered up, the BPA will always go to fully on, regardless of the
signal present at its remote turn-on jack. If the control unit then turns on,
the amplifier will remain on; thereafter, the two will remain in sync. If
power is removed from the BPA, it will automatically re-sync with the con-
trol unit in the course of normal operation. No user intervention is re-
quired, beyond simply turning the system on and off from the control unit.
Power consumption in standby mode is significantly reduced from fully
“on”—just a few watts for the circuitry which controls the turn-on proce-
dure.
Note that if the amplifier has been disconnected from the AC mains power
by depressing the front panel power button, it cannot respond to a remote
turn-on command from a control unit.
2
INDICATOR LIGHT
The indicator light glows either amber or red, depending on the opera-
tional status of your BPA. Amber indicates that the BPA is on and ready to
11
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be used. When the indicator light is glowing red, the unit is in standby
(see 1 above). If the indicator light is completely off, the amplifier is not re-
ceiving power. Check your AC connections and the rear-panel AC fuse.
12
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Rear Panel
Caution!
Turn the volume on your preamplifier all the way down
before attempting to connect anything to your Proceed
BPA 2 or BPA 3.
1
AC MAINS RECEPTACLE
Connect the AC power cord (included in the accessory pack) to the I.E.C.-
standard AC receptacle on the rear panel of the BPA, then to the AC mains
outlet.
Warning!
The Proceed BPA has been safety-tested and is designed
for operation with a three-conductor power cord. Do not
defeat the “third pin” or earth ground of the AC power cord.
2
REMOTE TURN-ON JACK
A 1⁄8" “mini” jack above the AC mains receptacle on the rear panel allows
remote-controlled turn-on (that is, toggling between on and standby) of
the Proceed BPA. This remote “trigger” will be operated by 3–12 volts DC
level signal, with tip polarity as shown below:
13
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Remote turn-on
tip polarity
Your Proceed dealer can help you take advantage of these design features
to maximize your system’s versatility.
3
AC MAINS FUSE
One fast-blow fuse is located on the rear panel of the BPA. If it should be-
come necessary, replace the fuse with the same type only. Refer to the fol-
lowing table for replacement values.
BPA 2
8 amp
4 amp
BPA 3
12 amp
6 amp
100V to 120VAC
200V to 240VAC
Caution!
ALWAYS remove the AC cord before removing the fuse!
4
SPEAKER BINDING POSTS
The Proceed BPA is equipped with gold-plated, high-current binding posts
for output termination to a loudspeaker system. To take full advantage of
the AMP’s sonic quality, we recommend using high-quality speaker cable;
we suggest you see your Proceed dealer for specific recommendations.
Caution!
NEVER connect the Proceed BPA output terminals to any
device other than a loudspeaker.
NEVER short-circuit the amplifier’s output terminals.
NEVER connect the left-channel output terminals to the right-
channel output terminals.
There are two recommended methods for connecting speaker cables to the
Proceed BPA. A high-quality spade lug or hook lug, soldered to the cable
(or crimped with extremely high pressure, or both) is best.
Connect the left-channel + (positive or red) output post of the Proceed BPA
to the + (positive or red) input terminal of the appropriate loudspeaker.
Connect the left-channel – (negative or black) output post of the BPA to the
– (negative or black) input terminal of the appropriate loudspeaker.
Repeat this procedure for the remaining channel(s).
14
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5
BALANCED AUDIO INPUTS
Accepts right-channel and left-channel signals from preamplifiers with bal-
anced outputs via high quality XLR connectors.
The pin assignments of these XLR-type female input connectors are:
Pin 1: Signal ground
Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal – (inverting)
Connector ground lug: chassis ground
These pin assignments are consistent with the standards adopted by the
Audio Engineering Society. Refer to the operating manual of your balanced-
output preamplifier to verify that the pin assignments of its output connec-
tors correspond to your Proceed BPA. If not, wire the cables so that the ap-
propriate output pin connects to the equivalent input pin.
If you are planning to use balanced connections between your preamplifier
and any particular channel of the BPA, select the balanced input by sliding
the input select switch (see Item 6, below) toward the XLR input. Then
connect the balanced outputs of your preamplifier to the corresponding
balanced inputs on the BPA.
6
INPUT SELECT SWITCH
This small switch is found between the balanced XLR input and the single-
ended RCA input on each channel of the BPA. Use it to select which of the
two inputs you plan to use.
The input select switch disables the unselected input in order to avoid any
pickup of stray noise from an open input. It also causes the effective gain
of that channel to be adjusted (either 23 dB balanced or 29 dB single-
ended, to compensate for the 6 dB difference in signal level in these two
connection standards). Should you use your BPA in a home theater system,
this adjustment allows you to use any combination of balanced and single-
ended connections without having to worry about going outside the adjust-
ment range of your controller’s output calibration circuitry.
7
SINGLE-ENDED INPUTS
These RCA connectors accept single-ended inputs from preamplifiers with
single-ended (RCA) outputs.
Connect the left-channel single-ended outputs of your preamplifier to the
left-channel single-ended input on the BPA. Repeat for the remaining
channel(s).
15
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Care & Maintenance
To remove dust from the cabinet of your amplifier, use a feather duster or a lint-
free soft cloth. To remove dirt and fingerprints, we recommend isopropyl alcohol
and a soft cloth. Dampen the cloth with alcohol first and then lightly clean the
surface of the amplifier with the cloth. Do not use excessive amounts of alcohol
that might drip off the cloth and into the amplifier.
Caution!
At no time should liquid cleaners be applied directly to the
amplifier, as direct application of liquids may result in
damage to electronic components within the unit.
16
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U.S. and Canadian Warranty
90-Day Limited Warranty This Proceed® product is warranted to be free from defects in material and work-
manship under normal use for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of pur-
chase. To extend the warranty of this Proceed product, return the warranty registra-
tion card along with a copy of the original receipt of purchase to Madrigal Audio
Laboratories, Inc., P. O. Box 781, Middletown, CT 06457.
Five Year Extended Warranty The extended warranty for this Proceed product is five (5) years from the date of
purchase. During the warranty period, any Proceed component exhibiting defects
in materials and/or workmanship will be repaired or replaced, at our option,
without charge for either parts or labor, at our factory. The warranty will not apply
to any Proceed component that has been misused, abused or altered.
Any Proceed component not performing satisfactorily may be returned to the fac-
tory for evaluation. Return authorization must first be obtained by either calling
or writing the factory prior to shipping the component. The factory will pay for
return shipping charges only in the event that the component is found to be de-
fective as mentioned above. There are other stipulations that may apply to ship-
ping charges.
There is no other express warranty on this component. Neither this warranty nor
any other warranty, express or implied, including any implied warranties of mer-
chantability or fitness, shall extend beyond the warranty period. No responsibility
is assumed for any incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not al-
low limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and other states do not
allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so that
the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights
which vary from state to state. This warranty is applicable in the United States and
Canada only. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, please contact your local, autho-
rized Proceed distributor for warranty and service information.
17
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Obtaining Service
We take great pride in our dealers. Experience, dedication, and integrity make
these professionals ideally suited to assist with our customers’ service needs.
If your Proceed component must be serviced, please contact your dealer. Your
dealer will then decide whether the problem can be remedied locally, or whether
to contact Madrigal for further service information or parts, or to obtain a Return
Authorization. The Madrigal Technical Services Department works closely with
your dealer to solve your service needs expediently.
Important!
Return authorization must be obtained from Madrigal’s
Technical Services Department BEFORE a unit is shipped for
service.
It is extremely important that information about a problem be explicit and com-
plete. A specific, comprehensive description of the problem helps your dealer and
the Madrigal Technical Services Department locate and repair the difficulty as
quickly as possible.
A copy of the original bill of sale will serve to verify warranty status. Please in-
clude it with the unit when it is brought in for warranty service.
Warning!
All returned units must be properly packaged (preferably in
their original packing material), and the proper return
authorization numbers must be marked on the outer carton
for identification. If the packaging to protect the unit is, in our
opinion or that of our dealer, inadequate to protect the unit,
we reserve the right to repackage it for return shipment at the
owner’s expense. Neither Madrigal nor your dealer can be
responsible for shipping damage due to improper (that is,
non-original) packaging.
Your dealer can order a new set of shipping materials for you if you need to ship
your component and no longer have the original materials. There will be a
charge for this service. We strongly recommend saving all packing materials in
case you need to ship your unit some day.
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Specifications
The correlation between published specifications and performance is unreliable. A
list of numbers reveals virtually nothing. All technical measurements must be sub-
ject to qualitative as well as quantitative interpretation. Measurements of the Pro-
ceed BPA yield excellent results by any standards. However, only those specifica-
tions that apply to its actual operation are included here. All specifications are
subject to change at any time, in order to improve the product.
■ Rated power output:
125 w/ch rms @ 8Ω, all channels driven,
20 Hz–20 kHz with no more than 0.1% THD
250 w/ch into 4Ω
■ Frequency response:
within 0.1 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
■ Signal to Noise ratio (main outputs):
■ Input impedance:
better than –80 dB (ref. 1 w)
30kΩ (balanced)
100kΩ (single-ended)
■ Voltage gain:
23 dB (balanced)
29 dB (single-ended)
■ Input sensitivity:
2.4 V for full rated output (balanced)
1.2 V for full rated output (single-ended)
typically 140 W at idle (BPA 2)
■ Power consumption:
typically 210 W at idle (BPA 3)
■ Mains voltage:
determined by the needs of country for which
the unit was manufactured; cannot be reset by dealer or user
■ Overall dimensions:
■ Shipping weight:
See “Dimensions”
47 lbs. (21.4 kg) for BPA 2
61 lbs. (27.7 kg) for BPA 3
two binding posts per channel
■ Connector Complement:
one 3-pin XLR balanced input connector per channel
1 RCA input connector per channel
1 1⁄8" mini-jack for remote turn-on
one IEC AC mains connector
■ Output impedance:
less than 0.05Ω
For more information, see your Proceed dealer, or contact:
Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.
P.O. Box 781
2081 South Main Street (Route 17)
Middletown, Connecticut 06457 USA
Telephone (860) 346-0896
FAX
(860) 346-1540
Internet
Madrigal provides an owner-transferable, five year extended warranty on all
Proceed products within the U. S. and Canada ONLY. Warranty and service
policies outside the U. S. and Canada are set by the local, authorized
distributor and are applicable in the country of purchase ONLY. Madrigal
products are designed to operate at set voltages appropriate for the country
of sale and may be damaged if operated at the wrong voltage.contact your
local dealer or distributor.
19
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Dimensions: BPA 2 & BPA 3
(Note that the BPA 2 and the BPA 3 have the same external dimensions. The BPA 3
is shown below.)
17.26"
43.84 cm
t r
i
p l e m o n a u r a l a m p l i i e r
f
power
HPA
5.25"
13.3 cm
17.61"
44.73 cm
0.695"
1.77 cm
15.47"
39.29 cm
19.55"
49.66 cm
1.40"
3.56 cm
16.87"
42.85 cm
R
PR O
C
E
E
D
BPA3
in u.s.a.
b made
trigger
inputs
+
outputs
–
+
outputs
–
+
outputs
–
mains fuse
T8A 250V (slo-blo) 3AB
200-240VAC:
T4A 250V (slo-blo) 3AG
100- 20VAC:
1
input select
input select
input select
channel 1(right)
channel 2(center)
channel 3(left)
w e w e r o r o
~ ac mains
w
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f
r o
m
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n
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17.46"
44.35 cm
20
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Rack Mounting
If you need or prefer to rack mount your amplifier, contact your Proceed dealer
about the optional rack mount kit. This purpose-designed assembly provides the
needed ventilation for the heatsink “chimneys” of the amplifier as well as the sup-
port required for this heavy component.
To use the rack mount kit, simply bolt the shelf securely to the rack, slide the am-
plifier into place, and then mount the provided trim ring around the faceplate of
the amplifier (which will protrude from the rack by approximately one inch or
2.5 cm). The drawing below will help you visualize the assembly (the Proceed
Five Channel Amplifier is illustrated below, but the assembly is the same for the
BPA amplifiers).
The mounted amplifier and rack mount kit occupies 5 standard rack units of
height.
21
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m
Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.
2081 South Main Street, P.O. Box 781
Middletown, Connecticut 06457 USA
Telephone: (860) 346-0896
Fax: (860) 346-1540
R
PR O C E E D
is a registered trademark of Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.
a Harman International company
630365
© 5/1999 Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.
Printed in U.S.A.
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