HELVIA ZEUS CA Series Multipurpose Power Amplifiers User Manual

June 12, 2024
HELVIA

HELVIA ZEUS CA Series Multipurpose Power Amplifiers

Please read this manual carefully and keep it for future reference Dear value Customer, First, thank you for purchasing a HELVIA® product. Our mission is to offer solutions based on the most up-to-date technologies for all systems integration needs in the private, commercial and corporate sectors. We hope you are satisfied with this product and, if you wish to participate, we would be very pleased to receive your feedback on the operation of this product and possible improvements for the future. You can go to “CONTACT” section of www.frenexport.com and send an e-mail with your opinion; this would help us make equipment that are closer to the real needs of our customers. Finally, please read this user manual carefully before using the product; incorrect use could cause damages to you and the product. Take care! The HELVIA team

PRECAUTIONS

Important Safety Symbols

The above warning is located on the unit

  • The lightening flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
  • The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product

Important Safety Instructions

  • Read these instructions
  • Keep these instructions
  • Heed all warning
  • Follow all instructions
  1. Water and Moisture
    The apparatus should be protected from moisture and rain and can not be used near water; for example near a bathtub, a kitchen sink, a swimming pool, etc.

  2. Heat
    The apparatus should be located away from heat sources such as radiators, stoves or other appliances that produce heat

  3. Ventilation
    Do not block areas of ventilation opening. Failure to do could result in fire. Always install according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

  4. Object and Liquid Entry
    Objects do not fall into and liquids are not spilled into the inside of the apparatus for safety.

  5. Power Cord and Plug
    In case of external power cord, protect it from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two poles; a grounding-type plug has two poles and a third grounding terminal. The third prong is provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, refer to an electrician for replacement.

  6. Fuse
    In case of products with external fuse holder, in order to prevent the risk of fire and damaging the unit, please use only of the recommended fuse type as described in the manual. Before replacing the fuse, make sure the unit turned off and disconnected from the AC outlet.

  7. Electrical Connection
    Improper electrical wiring may invalidate the product warranty.

  8. Cleaning
    Clean only with a dry cloth. Do not use any solvents such as benzene or alcohol.

  9. Servicing
    Do not implement any servicing other than those means described in the manual. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel only. Only use accessories/attachments or parts recommended by the manufacturer.

GETTING STARTED

Unpacking

Thank you for purchasing your ZEUS CA Series Amplifier. All units have been rigorously tested before leaving the factory. In order to facilitate your installation, commissioning and use of this product, please read this manual. Carefully unpack the carton and check the contents to ensure that all parts are present and in good conditions:

  • 1x ZEUS CA Power Amplifier
  • 1x Power Cord (Europlug – VDE Female)
  • This User manual

If anything damaged during transport, notify the shipper immediately and keep packing material for inspection. Again, please save its carton and all packingmaterials. If the unit must be returned to the manufacturer, it is important that the unit is returned in the original manufacturer’s packing. Please do not take any action without first contacting us. Our products are subject to a continuous process of further development. Therefore modifications to the technical features remain subject to change without further notice.

WARNING : Packaging box is not a toy! Keep out of reach of children!!! Keep in a safe place the original packaging material for future use.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Helvia Zeus CA series is designed for the world of small-medium commercial audio systems, both on 70V or 100V constant voltage lines, and low-impedance lines from 4 to 16 ohm. It offers 1, 2 and 4 channels Class-D amplifiers with 120W, 240W and 350W RMS powers. Each channel is independent and equipped with its own line transformer, therefore it is possible to choose between 70/100V or 4-16 ohm low-impedance for each of them, offering maximum versatility according to the specific needs of each zone. Each channel is equipped, in addition to volume, Led VU-meter and clip indicator, with gain adjustment on the rear panel. There is also an HPF filter with a cut-off frequency at 400Hz. Both inputs and outputs are balanced with XLR connectors; all power outs are with Phoenix (Europlug) connection. The versions with 1 and 2 channels are also equipped with DC 24V auxiliary power input for any emergency purposes. Helvia paid high attention to safety, reliability and duration over time of these amplifiers. Each channel is equipped with muting system at power on, signal limiter, thermal protection and current limitation. The cooling system with fan speed controlled by internal temperature, is also reinforced thanks to the 19” 2U Rack standard size that increases the thermal dissipation. The quality is not only based on the accurate selection of active and passive components, but also on the quality of raw materials used for line transformers, and in the use of digital processing to offer stability, reliability and high-level sound performance.

Main Features

  • 1, 2 and 4 channels from 120W to 350W each
  • 70V – 100V and 4-16ohm operation
  • 2U 19” Rack Standard for maximum heat dissipation
  • High-quality components for maximum reliability
  • 24VDC Auxiliary Power Supply for EMC purposes (only 1-Ch and 2-Ch models)
  • Full protection system including signal limiter, thermal protection, and current limiting
  • Variable-speed fans for quiet and efficient cooling

FRONT PANEL

  1. Signal LED Bar (Green)
    This bar, present on all channels, lights up when the signal level ranges from -30dB to about 0dB. If these LEDs remain on, you might need to reduce the channel volume or reduce the incoming audio signal.

  2. Clip LED (Red)
    This LED, present on all channels, lights up when the corresponding channel has an output overload. Some flashing may be normal but if these LEDs remain on for a long time, please reduce the input signal levels until the LEDs turn off.

  3. Power LED
    The POWER indicator lits whenever power is ON.

  4. Power Switch
    Press this switch to (1) position to turn the amplifier ON, and to (0) position to turn it OFF.

  5. Volume Control
    This knob adjusts the volume of each channel.

  6. Front Panel Ventilation Grid
    It allows constant ventilation inside the amplifier. When the amp works harder, the fan will speed up and expel more hot air. It is suggested not to obstruct this grill

REAR PANEL

AC Power Connector and Fuse
ZEUS CA series amplifiers are designed to operate at 230V – 50/60Hz. Check that the socket to which the amplifier is connected provides this voltage before plugging the power cord (included) and turning on the unit.

Note : If you happen to lose the AC line-cord, always use a three-pin plug with a ground pin. The wire correspondence is as follow:

Cable Pin International
Brown Live L
Blue Neutral N
Yellow/Green Earth

ATTENTION : Always connect the earth! Pay attention to your safety! Before taking into operation for the first time, the installation has to be approved by an expert.In case of fuse burn, to prevent the risk of fire and damaging the unit, please use only T10AL-250V (5x20mm) fuses. Before replacing the fuse, make sure the unit turned off and disconnected from the AC outlet.

DC +24V Power Input
These amplifiers can also be powered by DC 24V. This function is very useful in those installations where an auxiliary power line is provided at 24V which, in the case of blackout or other, powers the audio system mainly for emergency messages.

WARNING : When these amplifiers are powered by DC 24V, the current consumption ranges from 6A up to 40A. Please take into consideration this data when choose power cables thickness and pay attention to the polarity of the terminals of this connector

Output Connectors

Each channel has a 5-pole Phoenix (Europlug) connector for connecting to loudspeakers.

  1. It is the output positive pole for constant voltage lines at 100V.
  2. It is the output positive pole for constant voltage lines at 70V.
  3. It is the output positive pole for low-impedance speaker systems from 4 to 16ohms.
  4. Output ground to be used as negative pole for both 70/100V lines and 4-46ohm systems.
  5. Same as pin 4.

Channel Output Connector
Each channel has one balanced male XLR connector, which accepts an XLR-F connector to almost any type of equipment with a balanced or unbalanced line- level input.

Channel Input Connector
Each channel has one balanced female XLR connector, which accepts an XLR plug from almost any type of equipment with a balanced or unbalanced line level output.

High-Pass Filter
This 2-position switch, when in ON position, activates an high-pass filter with cutoff frequency set to 400Hz. It is useful in case of sound systems with subwoofers, of to reduce the bass-frequency response in case of speakers with limited broadband (e.g. ceiling or column speakers for vocal announcement only, etc.)

Channel Gain
This trimmer allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the input signal so that you always have an adequate margin (Headroom) between the nominal level of a signal and the maximum level that the amplifier can handle correctly before saturation occurs with consequent signal reduction

AUDIO CONNECTIONS

You will need XLR cables for the connections to the amplifier. See the picture below that shows the internal wiring of these cables. Be sure to use only high-quality cables.

You can, of course, also connect unbalanced equipment to balanced inputs. Use either mono and stereo jack, making sure ring and collar are connected together (or pins 1 & 3 in the case of XLR connectors).

RACK MOUNTING AND DIMENSIONS

Use four screws and washers to mount the amplifier to the equipment rack rails.  To use the amplifier outside a rack, attach the self-adhesive rubber feet to the bottom. In the applications where the rack assembly may be moved, we strongly recommend supporting the rear of the amplifier. Optional rack handles provide finger grips at each end, making lifting and setting into the rack more comfortable.

SPECIFICATIONS

1-Channel Models

Model ZEUS 1120CA ZEUS 1240CA ZEUS 1350CA
100V RMS Output Power 120W 240W 350W
70V RMS Output Power 120W 240W 350W
4-16Ω RMS Output Power 120W @ 4Ω 240W @ 4Ω 350W @ 4Ω
Input Sensitivity 1V/Gain max @ 0.775V
Input Impedance 20KΩ ±10%
HPF Filter ON = 400Hz-20kHz; OFF = 80-20kHz
Frequency response 80-20kHz/ 400Hz-20kHz
THD (1W @ 1KHZ) < 0.05%
Damping Factor >300 @ 100 Hz >350 @ 100 Hz >400 @ 100 Hz
Crosstalk >70dB
S/N Ratio >85dB
Amplifier Class Class D
Power Requirements AC 230V/DC24V

Power Consumption

(Average/Peak)

| 150W (Average)| 300W (Average)| 440W (Average)
Input Connectors| 3-Pin Female XLR
Output Connectors| 5-Pin Phoenix
Ch Output Connectors| 3-Pin Male XLR
Cooling| Temperature controlled fan
Dimension (WxDxH)| 484x400x88 mm (19.0 x 15.7 x 3.5 in)
Rack Mount| 2x 19” Rack Units
Packing Size (WxDxH)| 550 x 500 x 170 mm (21.6 x 19.7 x 6.7 in)
Net Weight| 6,7 kg (14.8 lbs.)| 8,7 kg (19.2 lbs.)| 9,4 kg (20.7 lbs.)
Gross Weight| 8,3 kg (18.3 lbs.)| 10,3 kg (22.7 lbs.)| 11,0 kg (24,2 lbs.)

2-Channel Models

Model ZEUS 2120CA ZEUS 2240CA ZEUS 2350CA
100V RMS Output Power 120W*2 240W*2 350W*2
70V RMS Output Power 120W*2 240W*2 350W*2
4-16Ω RMS Output Power 120W @ 4Ω 240W @ 4Ω 350W @ 4Ω
Input Sensitivity 1V/Gain max @ 0.775V
Input Impedance 20KΩ ±10%
HPF Filter ON = 400Hz-20kHz; OFF = 80-20kHz
Frequency response 80-20kHz/ 400Hz-20kHz
THD (1W @ 1KHZ) < 0.05%
Damping Factor >300 @ 100 Hz >350 @ 100 Hz >400 @ 100 Hz
Crosstalk >70dB
--- ---
S/N Ratio >85dB
Amplifier Class Class D
Power Requirements AC 230V/DC24V

Power Consumption

(Average/Peak)

| 300W (Average)| 600W (Average)| 880W (Average)
Input Connectors| 3-Pin Female XLR
Output Connectors| 5-Pin Phoenix
Ch Output Connectors| 3-Pin Male XLR
Cooling| Temperature controlled fan
Dimension (WxDxH)| 484x400x88 mm (19.0 x 15.7 x 3.5 in)
Rack Mount| 2x 19” Rack Units
Packing Size (WxDxH)| 550 x 500 x 170 mm (21.6 x 19.7 x 6.7 in)
Net Weight| 9,6 kg (21.2 lbs.)| 11,7 kg (25.8 lbs.)| 13,0 kg (28.7 lbs.)
Gross Weight| 11,2 kg (24.7 lbs.)| 13,3 kg (29.3 lbs.)| 14,6 kg (32.2 lbs.)

4-Channel Models

Model ZEUS 4120CA ZEUS 4240CA ZEUS 4350CA
100V RMS Output Power 120W*4 240W*4 350W*4
70V RMS Output Power 120W*4 240W*4 350W*4
4-16Ω RMS Output Power 120W @ 4Ω 240W @ 4Ω 350W @ 4Ω
Input Sensitivity 1V/Gain max @ 0.775V
Input Impedance 20KΩ ±10%
HPF Filter ON = 400Hz-20kHz; OFF = 80-20kHz
Frequency response 80-20kHz/ 400Hz-20kHz
THD (1W @ 1KHZ) < 0.05%
Damping Factor >300 @ 100 Hz
Crosstalk >70dB
S/N Ratio >85dB
Amplifier Class Class D
Power Requirements AV230V

Power Consumption

(Average/Peak)

| 600W (Average)| 1200W (Average)| 1760W (Average)
Input Connectors| 3-Pin Female XLR
Output Connectors| 5-Pin Phoenix
Ch Output Connectors| 3-Pin Male XLR
Cooling| Temperature controlled fan
Dimension (WxDxH)| 484x400x88 mm (19.0 x 15.7 x 3.5 in)
Rack Mount| 2x 19” Rack Units
Packing Size (WxDxH)| 550 x 500 x 170 mm (21.6 x 19.7 x 6.7 in)
Net Weight| 13,5 kg (29.8 lbs.)| 17,0 kg (37.5 lbs.)| 20,0 kg (44.1 lbs.)
Gross Weight| 15,1 kg (32.3 lbs.)| 18,6 kg (41.0 lbs.)| 21,6 kg (47.7 lbs.)

Our products are subject to change. Modifications to technical features remain subject to change without notice

WARRANTY AND SERVICE

All HELVIA® products are covered by warranty according to European regulations (2 years in the case of purchase by private person – B2C; 1 year in the case of purchase by company – B2B). The warranty is valid from the date of purchase by the end user (private individual or company), indicated in the purchase document (receipt in the case of private person; invoice in the case of company). The following cases / components are not covered by the above warranty:

  • All accessories supplied with the product;
  • Improper use;
  • Failure due to wear and tear;
  • Any unauthorized modification of the product by the user or third parties.

HELVIA must meet the warranty obligations due to any non-compliant materials or manufacturing defects, by remedying free of charge at HELVIA’s discretion by either repairing or replacing specific parts or the entire equipment. Any defective parts removed by a product in the event of a warranty claim become property of HELVIA. During the warranty period, defective products can be returned to HELVIA retailer or installer with proof of original purchase (receipt or invoice). To avoid damage during transport, please use the original packaging, if available. For more information, visit the website: www.helviasystems.com.

WARNING
READ CAREFULLY – only for EU and EEA (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). This symbol indicates that the product must not be disposed of with household waste, according to the WEEE directive (2202/96/EC and subsequent amendments) and national legislation. The product must be delivered to a designated waste collection center (e.g. on an authorized one-for-one basis when you buy a new similar product, or to an authorized collection site for recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment). Improper handling of this type of waste can have a negative impact on the environment and human health due to potentially dangerous substances that are generally associated with electrical and electronic equipment. At the same time, your cooperation in the proper disposal of this product will contribute to the effective use of natural resources. For more information about where you can drop off your waste equipment for recycling, please contact your local city office, waste authority, approved WEEE scheme or your household waste disposal service

www.helviasystems.com This product is imported in the European Union by FRENEXPORT SPA – Via Enzo Ferrari, 10 – 62017 Porto Recanati – Italy HELVIA® is a registered trademark of FRENEXPORT SPA – SPA – Italia

References

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