O W N E R ' S
M A N U A L
HCA-1500A High Current Power Amplifier
H C A- 1 5 0 0 A H i gh C u r r en t P ow er Am p l i f i er
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verlo
Current Overload
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Poowwer
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Normal
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AC Line
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Standby
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Current Overload Indicators
H C A- 1 5 0 0 A H i gh C u r r en t M u l t i Am p l i f i er
Power
Current Overload
L
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AC Line
Standby
Normal
Power Switch
Power & Status Indicators
Figure #1
HCA-1500A Front Panel Drawing
Input Connectors,
Looping Output Connectors,
and Level Controls
+ 12 Vdc
Trigger Connector
DC Trigger
+12
V
GND
Inputs
Mono Bridge
Manufactured under license from LucasArts Entertainment
Company. U.S. and Foreign Patents pending. Lucasfilm THX Audio
and Home THX Symbols are Trademarks of LucasArts Entertainment
HCA - 1500A
High Current Power Amplifier
Parasound Products, Inc
San Francisco, CA U.S.A.
Company Lucasfilm is
a
Trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd.
THX
Level
Stereo
Loop Outputs
THX
Level
R
L
AC 120
V
60 Hz
Power
6.3 Fuse
A
WARNING:
TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD. DO NOT EXPOSE THIS
UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
Speakers
CAUTION:
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER
SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER
SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE
PERSONNEL.
CAUTION:
CAUTION
Speaker Impedance
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
4
8
Ω
Ω
Minimum Stereo
Minimum Bridged
Power Consumption: 700
W
AC Receptacle
Speaker Connectors
Figure#2
HCA-1500A Front Panel Drawing
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Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of this precision audio component and thank you for your selection of
Parasound. Your HCA-1500A 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. Each precision
component within your HCA-1500A is carefully selected for optimum sound quality on even the most
challenging music and film soundtracks.
Parasound amplifiers have greater operational flexibility and power than most other amplifiers you may
have used, so please take a few moments now to read these instructions thoroughly so you may fully
understand the various capabilities of your new Parasound power amplifier.
Unpacking Your Amplifier
Carefully unpack your amplifier and remove all the enclosed accessories including the remote control and
detachable AC cord. Be sure to inspect the unit for any possible shipping damage. If you see any, contact
your Parasound Dealer immediately. Be sure to save both cartons and the packing inserts for future
transport and always pack the inner carton into a protective outer carton before shipment.
Before you proceed, find the serial number located on the rear panel of your unit. Record it here for future
reference. ____________________
Installing and Rack Mounting Your Amplifier
Place your amplifier away from heat sources such as air ducts or 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-1500A occupies three rack spaces (5 1/4") into 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 prevent ground loops. Call Middle Atlantic Products at
(201) 839-1011 to obtain information about a wide variety of rack mounting hardware. When mounting
equipment into an equipment rack, it is always a good idea to have someone help support the unit while
you bolt it to the rack rails.
Ventilation Requirements for Your Amplifier
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 Parasound 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. In either case, 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, you must use a fan to circulate the warm air that quickly becomes trapped between them.
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Making Connections to Your Amplifier
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.
Input Connections
Connect the output of your preamplifier or processor to the right (red) and left (white) channel RCA jacks
for stereo operation. For bridged mono operation, use only the right channel input jack and leave the left
channeljackdisconnected.
Output Looping Connections
The right (red) and left (white) channel output looping RCA jacks provide you with a convenient way to
connect multiple amplifiers together from one source for multi-room/multi-zone applications. Once you
have connected the source to input jacks, you can connect these looping output jacks to the input of an
additional power amplifier without having to use separate "Y" connectors.
Speaker Connections
You may connect solid or stranded wire up to AWG 12, 1/4" spade lugs, single or dual 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 fits 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.)
Polarity
It is important to observe correct polarity. When you connect speakers to your amplifier, you will notice
that one side 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. This lets you know which wire is connected to the positive
and which to the negative speaker terminals so you can do exactly the same at the power amplifier binding
posts. Polarity is marked separately on the rear panel for both stereo and bridged connections.
Minimum Impedance Precautions
Connect loudspeakers with a 4 Ω or 8 Ω nominal impedance for normal operation. Your amplifier is
capable of driving speakers with occasional impedance dips below 2 Ω. However, sustained high power
operation into loads of less than 4 Ω may cause overheating and is therefore not recommended.
Bridged Mono Operation
For bridged operation, we recommend an 8 Ω minimum mono load. This restriction results from the
mathematics of the bridging circuitry. In the bridged mono mode each channel of the amplifier functions
for only the positive or negative half of the musical waveform. As a result, each channel “sees” only half
of the speaker’s impedance. Use of an 8 Ω speaker means that the load for each channel is 4 Ω. For a 4 Ω
speaker, the impedance would be only 2 Ω per channel.
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Rear Panel Bridged Mono Switch
Select Mono (up) or Stereo (down) as marked on the rear panel. The main power should be switched off
before moving this switch. If you accidentally leave the Mono Bridge switch in the Mono (up) position,
you will find stereo output will be weak and distorted.
Bridged Mono Speaker Connection
In the bridged mono mode, connect the speaker to only the left red positive terminal and the right red
positive terminal. In the bridged mode the right channel’s red terminal becomes positive, and the left
channel’s red terminal becomes negative. Do not use either of the black negative terminals. You may also
use a single standard 3/4" (19 mm) dual banana plug for the mono bridge connection to the two inner red
positiveterminals.
AC Power Connections and AC Grounding
Before you connect the AC cord, make sure you 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 current draw of the amplifier.
DC Trigger Connection
This connector provides a way to trigger your amplifier on with an external DC voltage source ranging
from + 9 Vdc to +12 Vdc. With the main power switch on 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. Since it is optically coupled, the DC trigger only requires 15 mA of current to activate the
circuitry and turn on the amplifier.
Operating Your HCA-1500A
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)
AC Line LED
The AC line LED on the front panel of your amplifier will illuminate whenever AC is present at the AC
connector. This LED indicates that the AC cord is connected and power is applied to the amplifier.
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Standby/Normal Operation LEDs
The red Standby LED will light when the amplifier is turned on either with the power switch or an
external DC trigger. It will stay lit about four to five seconds while the amplifier circuits stabilize. After
that, the red LED will turn off and the green normal LED will signal that the protection relays have
switched off and that amplifier is ready to operate.
The Standby LED will also light whenever there is a short circuit or other fault that triggers the protection
circuitry. This may indicate that excess DC is present at the amplifier's input, a speaker impedance
overload, a short circuited speaker line, or possible internal fault. If this LED remains lit, remove power to
the amplifier and check all connections. During this time, the protection circuits should automatically
reset. If the red LED stays lit after you reapply power, contact your Parasound Dealer, Installer or
Parasound Technical Service for further advice.
Current Overload LEDs
The Current Overload LEDs for left and right channels will only illuminate if the unit is driven past its
maximum current capacity. These LEDs are not clipping indicators, but rather are designed to signal you
when you are exceeding the limits of your amplifier. If these LEDs light, it’s usually a sign that your
speaker impedance is too low, resulting in too much current draw from the amplifier's power supply. In
virtually all imaginable listening situations with recommended loads, these LEDs should never illuminate.
Level Controls
Each channel has its own rear mounted "set and forget" input level control. Your amplifier sounds 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-1500A in a THX installation, each level control must be
set at maximum, which corresponds to 0 dB THX reference level.
Maintaining Your Parasound Amplifier
The HCA-1500A 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 with water or Windex.
Main Power Fuse
Your amplifier has an external fuse located within the AC receptacle that may blow as a result of an
internal fault condition. This protects the unit from possible damage to internal parts. Never replace this
fuse with a larger value than installed from the factory. Substitution of a larger fuse may create serious
stress or 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 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, it is probably
be caused by your processor or one of the source components connected to it.
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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).
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 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 plus an 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. You must also include 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
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 an out of 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 requirements apply.
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Parasound HCA-1500A Specifications
Continuous Power Output - Stereo
205 Watts RMS x 2, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 8 Ω, both channels driven
315 Watts RMS x 2, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 4 Ω, both channels driven
Continuous Power Output - Mono
630 Watts RMS, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 8 Ω
Current Capacity
60 Amperes 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
IMDistortion
< 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; 1.2 V for full output
S/N Ratio
> 110 dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted
Damping Factor
> 800 at 20 Hz
Dimensions
19“ wide x 5 1/4“ high x 16“ deep (5 7/8” high with feet)
Weight
40 lb net
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Special Features for the Parasound HCA-1500A
• Designed by John Curl
• THX certified by Lucasfilm Ltd.
• Independent power supplies for each channel
• Massive 1 kVA toroid power transformer
• 60,000 µF computer-grade capacitors in power supply
• Multiple polystyrene film bypass capacitors in power supply
• DC Trigger Auto On Feature
• Cascoded Class A input stages with matched J-FET pairs
• Handpicked complementary MOSFET transistors in high voltage driver stage
• 8 complementary pairs of 15 ampere 50 MHz output transistors
• 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
• Gold-plated looping output jacks
• Multiple temperature sensors and silver-cadmium relay protection
• Glass epoxy circuit boards, double-sided for precision
• Custom designed audiophile-grade AC power cord
• Multiple Protection Circuits
Notes:
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The Parasound HCA-1500A is Manufactured under license from Lucasarts Entertainment Company.
U.S. and foreign patents pending. Lucasfilm Audio and Home THX are trademarks of Lucasarts
Entertainment Company, Lucasfilm is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd.
Parasound Products, Inc. 950 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
415-397-7100 / FAX 415-397-0144
© 1997 Parasound Products, Inc.
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