HELVIA AB and H Series 2 CH Professional AB and H Power Amplifiers User Manual

HELVIA AB and H Series 2 CH Professional AB and H Power Amplifiers

Product Information

Specifications

• Model: ZEUS 900-AB
• Model: ZEUS 2700-H
• Power: 2-CH Professional Power Amplifier

Product Overview
The ZEUS AB & H Series are 2-CH Professional Power Amplifiers designed for professional audio applications. They provide high-quality amplification for audio signals.

Precautions

Important Safety Symbols
The following symbols are important safety symbols:

• The lightning flash with the 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.
• Protective grounding terminal
• Alternating current/voltage
• Hazardous live terminal

Important Safety Instructions
Please read and follow these important safety instructions:

1. Read these instructions carefully.
2. Keep these instructions for future reference.
3. Heed all warnings provided.
4. Follow all instructions given.

Getting Started

Unpacking
When unpacking the ZEUS AB & H Series, please ensure that all components are included and in good condition. The package should contain the following:

• ZEUS 900-AB or ZEUS 2700-H Power Amplifier
• User Manual (Manuale d’uso)

Audio Connections
To connect the ZEUS AB & H Series Power Amplifier to your audio system, follow these steps:

1. Identify the audio input and output connectors on the amplifier.
2. Connect the audio source (such as a mixer or audio player) to the input connectors using appropriate cables.
3. Connect the output connectors of the amplifier to the speakers or other audio devices.
4. Ensure that all connections are secure.

Operation Modes
The ZEUS AB & H Series Power Amplifiers support different operation modes:

• Bridge Mode: This mode allows you to bridge the two channels of the amplifier to create a single, more powerful channel. Use this mode when you need higher power output for a single speaker or subwoofer.
• Parallel Mode: In this mode, the two channels of the amplifier work together to provide higher power output to multiple speakers. Use this mode when you need to drive multiple speakers simultaneously.
• Professional Signal Clip On/Off: This feature allows you to enable or disable professional signal clipping protection. When enabled, it prevents the amplifier from producing distorted signals that can damage the speakers.

Warranty and Service
The ZEUS AB & H Series Power Amplifiers come with a warranty. For warranty details and service information, please refer to the warranty card or contact our customer support.

WARNING

CAUTION: This denotes that the apparatus is turned on.
WARNING: This denotes precautions that should be observed to prevent the danger of injury or death to the operator.

FAQ

• Q: Can I use the ZEUS AB & H Series Power Amplifiers near water?
  A: No, the apparatus should be protected from moisture and rain and cannot be used near water.

• Q: Can I place the ZEUS AB & H Series Power Amplifiers near heat sources?
  A: No, the apparatus should be located away from heat sources such as radiators, stoves, or other appliances that produce heat.

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 the “CONTACT” section of www.helviasystems.com and send an e-mail with your opinion; this would help us make equipment that is closer to the real needs of our customers.
Finally, please read this user manual carefully before using the product; incorrect use could cause damage to you and the product. Take care!
The HELVIA team

PRECAUTIONS

Important Safety Symbols
The above warning is located on the unit.

• The lightning flash with the 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.
• Protective grounding terminal
• Alternating current/voltage
• Hazardous live terminal
• Denotes the apparatus is turned on
• Denotes the apparatus is turned off
• WARNING: Describes precautions that should be observed to prevent the danger of injury or death to the operator.
• CAUTION: Describes precautions that should be observed to prevent danger of the apparatus.

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
   Never introduce objects or spill liquids into the apparatus.

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 nullify 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 an external fuse holder, before replacing the fuse, ensure that the device is switched off and disconnected from the AC outlet to avoid the risk of fire and damage to the unit.

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.

10. Warning
    Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

GETTING STARTED

Unpacking
Thank you for purchasing your ZEUS AB & H 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 Power Amplifier
• 1x Power Cable
• 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 packing materials. 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

ZEUS amplifiers always mean reliability and ruggedness. They were born for fixed installations or live applications of low-impedance professional sound systems, and offer RMS powers ranging from 100W to 1000W @ 8ohm per channel. The series consists of 2-channel models, three of them in class AB; two in class H. Thus, these are equipment whose technologies are extensively tested and guarantee the highest audio quality.

The difference from similar systems depends on the great attention paid to the quality of the components (toroidal transformers, electrolytic capacitors, transistors and others) and to the efficiency of protections and limiter, all while always considering robustness, durability and safety of both internal circuitry and driven speakers.

Main Features:

• Stereo/Parallel/Bridge-mono modes
• Intelligent Cooling System
• 2 x 19” Rack Unit Chassis Design
• AB-Class or Class-H traditional and reliable circuitry
• High-quality transformers and components
• Thermal, Short Circuit and Signal Protection
• Soft Start Function

Sizes

Front Panel

1. Power Switch
   Switches the amplifier ON or OFF.
   Note: When the power switch is turned OFF, the device is not com-pletely disconnected from the mains. So if the amplifier is not used for a long time, please disconnect the power cord from the outlet.

2. Volume Control Knobs
   Separate volume control knobs for channel 1 and 2. When the amplifier is in BRIDGE or PARALLEL mode, the volume is controlled by the channel 1 knob.

3. On/Power LED (Green)
   When this LED lights up, it means that the amplifier has been turned on and AC power is available.

4. Protect LED (Red)
   When this LED lights up it means that the corresponding channel is in protection mode (speaker is cut off by relay) and that a possible damage is in progress. Each channel is provided of this LED.

5. Signal LED (Green)
   Signal LEDs, each assigned to one channel. When the input signal exceeds 40dB, these LEDs light up.

6. Clip LED (Yellow)
   Two yellow LEDs, each assigned to one channel, indicate when the corrisponding 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 level until the LEDs turn off.

7. Front Panel Ventilation Grid
   It allows constant ventilation between the front and back of the amplifier. The amplifiers in this series draw air in from the rear and exhausts it from the front, allowing heat to dissipate without heating the rack. When the amplifier is work-ing harder, the fan speeds up and expels more hot air. It is recommended not to obstruct this grille.

Rear Panel

1. AC Power Cable And AC Voltage
   ZEUS AB & H series amplifiers are designed to operate at 220-240V – 50/60Hz. Check that the socket to which the amplifier is connected provides this voltage before turning on the unit.
   Note: If you happen to damage 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|

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.

2. Fuse Holder
   In case of fuse burn, to prevent the risk of fire and damaging the unit, please replace the fuse. Before replacing the fuse, make sure the unit is turned off and disconnected from the AC outlet.

3. Input and Link Connectors
   Each channel has 1 balanced female XLR connector, which accepts an XLR plug from almost any type of equipment with a balanced or unbalanced output. Male XLR LINK connectors are connected in parallel with their respective inputs, to provide the same signal to other amplifiers or recording devices.
   Channel 1 input allows the amplifier to be operated in BRIDGE or PARALLEL mode.
   Note: Whenever possible, always use balanced cables. Unbalanced cables can also be used, but there may be noise problems. In any case, avoid using balanced cables for one channel and unbalanced for the other.

4. Output Connectors
   Each channel has one Speakon® and one binding post output for connecting to the loudspeakers. Use Speakon® output 1 and 2 to work in STEREO mode, and Speakon® output 1 for PARALLEL and BRIDGE mode.
   You can also operate the amplifier in BRIDGE mode by using CH1+ and CH2+ binding post outputs. Binding post CH1+ will connect to the + terminal of the speaker, while binding post CH2+ will connect to the – terminal of the speaker.
   Warning: Before making any connection, make sure the power cable is disconnected from the mains and all volume controls are at mini-mum.
   Warning: Never use binding posts and Speakon® outputs together.
   For more information about amplifier and speaker wirings, please read section “5. OPERATION MODES” at page 12.

5. Mode Selector
   By using this 3-position selector you can switch between PARALLEL, STEREO and BRIDGE operation mode of the 2 amplifier channels.

6. Gain Sensitivity Selector
   This 3-position switch allows you to select 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 satu-ration occurs, with consequent signal reduction. This selector allows to choose as the input sensitivity: 1.0V=13dB, 0,775V=0dB, 1,4V=26dB.

7. Cooling Fans
   These devices are equipped with an intelligent cooling system so that there is a forced airflow from the front to the back for cooling the devices when needed.

AUDIO CONNECTIONS
You will need XLR cables for the connections to the amplifier, and Speakon® NL2 or NL4 (depending on connection mode) for connection from the amplifier to the speakers. 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. Make sure pins 1 & 3 are bridged together in the case of XLR connectors.

OPERATION MODES

The amplifiers of the ZEUS AB & H Series have three operation modes:

• Stereo Mode
• Parallel Mode
• Bridge Mode

STEREO MODE
In STEREO MODE you have:

• 2 separate channel inputs (CH1-CH2).
• 2 separate channel outputs (CH1-CH2, Speakon® or Binding Post).
• Each channel has its volume control.

This is the typical setting for amplifying stereo signals. The input signal of each channel is present on the respective output speaker.
To set the amplifier in STEREO MODE, set MODE selector (5) to STEREO position (center) and connect the outputs as shown above.

STEREO MODE WIRING

PARALLEL MODE
In PARALLEL MODE you have:

• 1 channel input (CH1).
• 1 channel output (Speakon®CH1, combined of both separate outputs).
• The level is controlled by volume knob of CH1.

In PARALLEL MODE, both separate amplifier sections are fed with the same mono input. The signal from Channel Input 1 is routed to both channels of the amplifier. Speakon® Output 1 allows you to use a 4-Pin SPEAKON connector (by using all the four pins) to send both outputs from Output 1, feeding 2 loudspeakers: To set the amplifier in PARALLEL MODE, the MODE selector (5) should be set to the PARALLEL position (left) and connect the output as shown above.

PARALLEL MODE WIRING

BRIDGE MODE
In BRIDGE MODE you have:

• 1 channel input (CH1).
• 1 channel output (Speakon®CH1, combined of the sum of both outputs).
• The level is controlled by the volume knob of CH1.

BRIDGE MODE, with a mono input and a mono output, allows you to combine the two amplification channels into one more powerful mono channel. The input signal of Channel 1 will be sent to amp channel 1 and 2, but, as opposed to PAR-ALLEL MODE, both amplifiers now work together to provide more power.
To set the amplifier in the BRIDGE MODE, set the MODE selector(5) to the BRIDGE position (right) and connect the output as shown above.

Warning: Do not use the black binding posts when the amplifier is operating in BRIDGE mode.

BRIDGE MODE WIRING

SPECIFICATIONS

Class AB

8Ω

2 x 150W @ 4Ω

| 2 x 200W @ 8Ω

2 x 300W @ 4Ω

| 2 x 300W @ 8Ω

2 x 450W @ 4Ω

Bridged output power| 1 x 300W @ 8Ω| 1 x 600W @ 8Ω| 1 x 900W @ 8Ω
Input Sensitivity| 0.775V / 1.0V / 1.4V| 0.775V / 1.0V / 1.4V| 0.775V / 1.0V / 1.4V
Input Impedance| 20KΩ / 10KΩ| 20KΩ / 10KΩ| 20KΩ / 10KΩ
Frequency Response| 20Hz – 20kHz ±0.3dB| 20Hz – 20kHz ±0.3dB| 20Hz – 20kHz ±0.3dB
Damping Factor| > 350| > 350| > 350
S/N Ratio| > 95dB| > 95dB| > 95dB
Amplifier Class| A/B| A/B| A/B
Power Requirements| 220-240Vac – 50/60Hz| 220-240Vac – 50/60Hz| 220-240Vac – 50/60Hz
Power Consumption (average / max)| 200W / 310W| 400W / 620W| 600W / 925W
Dimensions (WxDxH)| 483 x 340 x 88 mm

(19.0 x 13.4 x 3.5 in)

| 483 x 340 x 88 mm

(19.0 x 13.4 x 3.5 in)

| 483 x 400 x 88 mm

(19.0 x 15.7 x 3.5 in)

Packing Size (WxDxH)| 550 x 405 x 168 mm

(21.6 x 15.9 x 6.6 in)

| 550 x 405 x 168 mm

(21.6 x 15.9 x 6.6 in)

| 550 x 480 x 168 mm

(21.6 x 18.9 x 6.6 in)

Height| 2 x 19” Rack Unit| 2 x 19” Rack Unit| 2 x 19” Rack Unit
Unit Weight| 7.85 kg – 17.3 lbs.| 9.00 kg – 19.8 lbs.| 12.10 kg – 26.7 lbs.
Carton Weight| 9.45 kg – 20.8 lbs.| 10.6 kg – 23.4 lbs.| 13.85 kg – 30.5 lbs.

Class H

8Ω

2 x 900W @ 4Ω

| 2 x 1000W @ 8Ω

2 x 1350W @ 4Ω

Bridged output power| 1 x 1800W @ 8Ω| 1 x 2700W @ 8Ω
Input Sensitivity| 0.775V / 1.0V / 1.4V| 0.775V / 1.0V / 1.4V
Input Impedance| 20KΩ / 10KΩ| 20KΩ / 10KΩ
Frequency Response| 20Hz / 20kHz| 20Hz / 20kHz
Damping Factor| > 200| > 200
S/N Ratio| > 100dB| > 100dB
Amplifier Class| H| H
Power Requirements| 220-240Vac – 50/60Hz| 220-240Vac – 50/60Hz
Power Consumption (average / max)| 1200W / 1820W| 2000W / 2730W
Dimensions (WxDxH)| 483 x 400 x 88 mm

(19.0 x 15.7 x 3.5 in)

| 483 x 400 x 88 mm

(19.0 x 15.7 x 3.5 in)

Packing Size (WxDxH)| 550 x 480 x 168 mm

(21.6 x 18.9 x 6.6 in)

| 550 x 480 x 168 mm

(21.6 x 18.9 x 6.6 in)

Height| 2 x 19” Rack Unit| 2 x 19” Rack Unit
Unit Weight| 16.50 kg – 36.4 lbs.| 19.60 kg – 43.2 lbs.
Carton Weight| 18.25 kg – 40.2 lbs.| 21.35 kg – 47.0 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 hurt 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 – Italy
HELVIA® è un marchio di fabbrica registrato di FRENEXPORT SPA – Italia

References

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