RAM Audio S Series S 6044 Professional Power Amplifiers User Manual

: June 6, 2024
: RAM Audio

Table of Contents

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
General Information
- Introduction
- Main Characteristics
Controls: Where and What?
- Front Panel
- Rear Panel
Installation and Operation
Protection Systems
Technical Specifications
- Data
References
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Professional Power Amplifiers
1500-2000-3000-4000-6000
3004-4004-4044-6004-6044
S Series
OPERATION MANUAL

© 2006 by C.E. Studio-2 s.l. – Spain (EEC)
http://www.ramaudio.com
e-mail: support@ramaudio.com

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

WARNING:
The exclamation point inside an the equilateral triangle indicates the existence of internal components whose substitution may affect safety.
The lightning and arrowhead symbol warns about the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
To avoid fire or electrocution risk do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.
To avoid electric shock, do not open the unit. No user-serviceable parts inside. In the case of disfunction, have the unit checked by qualified agents?
Class I devise.

©2006 by C.E. Studio-2 s.l.
Pol.Ind. La Lloma
C/Sierra Perenxisa nº28
46960 Aldaya – Valencia – SPAIN
Phone: +34 96 127 30 54
Fax: +34 96 127 30 56
http://www.ramaudio.com
e-mail: support@ramaudio.com
P-7654-564 QXPDQXDoc 4/06
RAM Audio®, PMS™, SSP™, ICL™andQuantaPulse™are registered trademarks of C.E.
Studio-2 s.l..All other names are trademarks of their respective companies.

General Information

Introduction

The S Series Power Amps is RAM Audio’s response to our discerning clients’ needs for a series of powerful, compact, versatile, and rugged amplifiers characterized by no-compromise electronic and mechanical specifications. The S Series range offers the bonus of optional add-on modules that extend its operational capability to match any of today’s market requirements.
The S Series incorporate unique absolute protections as the PMS ™ or SSP ™ systems.

Main Characteristics

Instantaneous High Flow QuantaPulse EVO Power Supply.
Ultra-compact and lightweight 2-U high.
Laser-cut aluminum front panels with integrated carrying handles.
Neutrik ® XLR input connectors, input and signal link in 2 channel models.
Input Link switch: allow daisy-chaining of the one channel input signal to another adjacent channel.
Neutrik ® Speakon ® output connectors.
Detented sealed potentiometers for easy recall of volume settings.
ICL, PMS, Hi-temp, Signal indicators per channel.
Highly versatile with multiple configuration possibilities and additional module options.
Switchable ICL clip-limiters per channel.
Switchable and selectable (30 or 50 Hz) sub-sonic highpass filter per channel.
Three-position gain selector (26, 32 or 38 dB).
Dual or Bridge mode operation.
Twin continuously variable, temperature-controlled, back to front cooling fans.
Oversized power components (high SOA reserve specification).

Controls: Where and What?

Front Panel

See Figure 1

Signal attenuation level control
knobs: Permit independent control
of each channel’s attenuation (21 steps).
SIGNAL: This LED indicates the presence of a signal at the inputs.
TEMP: This LED shows temperature protection is active.
PMS: LED indicating PMS in operation (see page 10)
ICL: LED indicating Intelligent Clip Limiter in operation (see page 10).
Main Power Switch:
The position I: Connects the amplifier’s
current feed. (Blue LED on).
Position O disconnects the Power.
Position II (optional): Stand-by Mode. The Amp’s Power is activated remotely via Ethernet. (Amber LED).

Rear Panel

See Figure 2

Signal Input: Female Neutrik® XLRConnectors for the amplifier’s signal input.
Signal Link: (2 channels models only) Male Neutrik ®XLR Connectors for the daisy-chaining input signal to other amplifiers (parallel connected to female input connectors).
Link / Dual Switch: in Link mode, you can Link an Input to another adjacent input to use the same input signal. In Dual mode, each channel has an independent Input.
Gain Selection Switch: Gain Selection Switch: Three-position for 26, 32 or 38dB Gain, (Default setting 32dB).
Configuration Switch: Subsonic filter, ICL, and Bridge (see page 9).
Speaker connectors: Neutrik ® Speakon to connect the speakers.

Installation and Operation

Connections

The Power switch must always be on the “Off” position before plugging the amp to a properly earthed mains socket (220-240V AC / 110V-120V AC).
The input signal fed to the amplifier can be either balanced or unbalanced. The drawing below describes both ways to wire an XLR connector for the purpose.
Balanced Signal: Connect pin 1 to Ground, pin 2 to Signal + (hot) and pin 3 to Signal – (cold).
Unbalanced Signal: Connect Pin 1 to Ground, pin 2 to Signal and pin 3 to Ground.

Important!: If a connection is done with an unbalanced line and pin 3 on the XLR is not connected to the ground, a 6 dB loss occurs in the line and only a quarter of the amplifier power is produced.
The two-channel amplifier models provide, for each channel, a female XLR Connector (Signal Input) parallelled to a male XLR to daisy chain several amplifiers with the same signal line (LINK).

The amplifier can operate on three different configurations: DUAL, LINK or BRIDGE. The connections for the three modes are different.

3.1.1 DUAL Channel Mode
See Figure3
– Switch “Off” the amp.
– Set the Mode Switch on the rear panel to “DUAL”.
– Select the chosen Gain on the back panel Switch (Default setting 32dB).
– Connect the signal lines to the female XLR connectors on all channels.
– Connect the speakers’ lines to the corresponding Speakon on the amp respecting the polarity.
– Switch “On” the amp.
– Use the level control knob on the front panel to adjust each channel independently.
– Each signaling LED group will show its corresponding channel status.

3.1.2 LINK Channel Mode
See Figure 4
– Operate as Dual Channel Mode with the signal input linked to another adjacent channel.

3.1.3 BRIDGE Channel Mode
See Figure5 – Switch “Off” the amp.
– Set the configuration switch on the rear panel to “BRIDGE” (see page 9).
– Select the chosen Gain on the back panel Switch (Default setting 32dB +6dB).
– Connect a signal line to input female XLR Channel “A” (or Ch-C in 4 channel models).
– Connect the speaker line to the Channel A Speakon (or Ch-C in 4 channel models) wired to +1 and +2. In this way pin +1 is positive. WARNING! S6000, S6004, and S6044 models in BRIDGE mode have a particular connection: the speaker has to be wired to pin +1 and -2 (pin +1 is positive). The “-“ pins in these models, do not have to be Ground!
– Switch “On” the amp.
– Use Channel-A (or Ch-C in 4 channel modes) control knob to adjust the amp’s output.
– The signaling LED groups will show the single-channel status.

Configuration

The amplifier has an ensemble of mini dips on the back panel, which allow for the following configurations: the highpass subsonic filter, the ICL deactivation and the bridge mode. All these configurations can be cross-set in any way, independently from the others. The basic configuration possibilities are as follows:
Standard Configuration: the amplifier works without a high pass subsonic filter, Clip Limiter ICL enabled and no Bridge mode.

Sub-sonic Filter Enabled: the amplifier works with high pass subsonic filter (30Hz in this case), Clip Limiter ICL enabled, and no Bridge mode.

Bridge Mode: the amplifier works without high pass subsonic filter, Clip Limiter ICL enabled and Bridge mode. ICL Clip Limiter Disabled: the amplifier works without high pass subsonic filter, Clip Limiter ICL disabled, and no Bridge mode.

Troubleshooting

In the event of an incorrect connection or misfunctioning, the amp will activate one or more of its LEDs to warn about the problem.

Correct function: SGNL lights to indicate signal presence.

ICL: The Intelligent Clip Limiter is operating (see page10).

No Signal: No Input Signal is reaching the amp.

Overheating: The amplifier has reached the maximum operational temperature. A most common cause is: the normal airflow is blocked, accumulated dirt, dust or objects leaning against the grill. Check and clean periodically.

PMS: Several causes can trigger this LED, the most common are:
– The amplifier is in power-on sequence, where output is inhibited until the amp circuits are ready to operate.
– The internal temperatures rise to near thermal shutdown point due to unfavorable operating conditions.
– Excessive mains current consumption.

Protection Systems

PMS™ – Power Management System
This is a complete set of protections that monitors the main amp parameters (load status, signal input, temperature, current, etc.) in order to draw from the power supply only the precise amount of current required to maintain safe operation during hazardous or extreme working conditions.
This system controls the amount of power that the amp delivers under three basic circumstances:

The power-on sequence, where output is inhibited until the amp circuits are ready to operate. This routine is repeated at every restart, not just when the power switch is activated.
When internal temperatures rise to near thermal shutdown point due to unfavorable operating conditions. Here the system takes control, restricting current so as to maintain operational continuity at the precise power level which the amp is capable of withstanding at that particular moment.
Excessive mains current consumption. This event only occurs either under laboratory conditions (long-term sinusoidal signal testing with dummy loads) or, for example, in field applications in conditions of prolonged acoustic howl-round. Here PMS takes control to avoid any damage to the speakers and to prevent the mains breaker from tripping or the fuses blowing.

ICL2™ – Intelligent Clip Limiter
The RAM Audio ICL2 is an antislip system to avoid speaker failure and provide a more acceptable sound quality even when clipping occurs. With the ICL2 system, you don’t lose the music “punch” but the speakers are kept under control.
SSP™ – SOA Sentry Protection
SOA Sentry protection effectively limits the power that the amp could deliver into an incorrect load or to a direct short-circuit. This avoids power transistor failure.

Technical Specifications

Data

Technical Specifications

| S-1500| S-2000| S-3000| S-4000| S-6000| S-3004| S-4004| S-4044| S-6004| S-6044
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Output Power
1kHz, 1.0% THD+N
@ 2Ω| 2x 880 W| 2x 1190 W| 2x 1570 W| 2x 1950 W| 2x 2950 W| 4x 700 W| 4x 980 W| –| 4x 1440 W| –
@ 4Ω| 2x 575 W| 2x 790 W| 2x 1100 W| 2x 1380 W| 2x 2025 W| 4x 500 W| 4x 670 W| 4x 975 W| 4x 1000 W| 4x 1480 W
@ 8Ω| 2x 325 W| 2x 460 W| 2×630 W| 2x 810 W| 2x 1250 W| 4x 300 W| 4x 430 W| 4x 690 W| 4x 620 W| 4x 1015 W
Bridge @ 4Ω| 1760 W| 2380 W| 3140 W| 3900 W| 5900 W| 2x 1400 W| 2x 1960 W| –| 2x 2880 W| –
Bridge @ 8Ω| 1150 W| 1580 W| 2200 W| 2760 W| 4050 W| 2x 1000 W| 2x 1340 W| 2x 1950 W| 2x 2000 W| 2x 2960 W
Pink Noise 12dB C.F.
@ 2Ω| 2x 975 W| 2x 1360 W| 2x 2060 W| 2x 2460 W| 2x 4225 W| 4x 890 W| 4x 1170 W| –| 4x 2080 W| –
@ 4Ω| 2x 610 W| 2x 880 W| 2x 1240 W| 2x 1600 W| 2x 2600 W| 4x 580 W| 4x 820 W| 4x 1230 W| 4x 1280 W| 4x 2110 W
Frequency Response
Power Bandwidth ±0.25dB| 20Hz-20kHz
Phase Response
@ 1 watt 20Hz-20kHz| ±15 deg
Total Harmonic Distortion
20Hz-20kHz| <0.05%
Intermodulation Distortion SMPTE| <0.05%
Damping Factor
20-500Hz @8Ω| >500
Crosstalk
20Hz-1kHz| >75 dB
Voltage Gain| 26/32/38 dB
Sensitivity Rated Power @ 8Ω (V)| 2.6/1.3/0.6| 3.0/1.5/0.8| 3.6/1.8/0.9| 4.0/2.0/1.0| 5.0/2.5/1.3| 2.6/1.3/0.6| 3.0/1.5/0.8| 3.7/1.9/0.9| 3.5/1.8/0.9| 5.0/2.5/1.3
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 20Hz-20kHz| 112 dB| 113 dB| 115 dB| 116 dB| 118dB| 112dB| 113dB| 116dB| 116dB| 118dB
Required AC Mains
230 V – 50 Hz (idle)| 0.5 A| 0.5 A| 0.5 A| 0.5 A| 0.5 A| 0.5 A| 0.5 A| 0.5 A| 0.5 A| 0.5 A
@ 4Ω (1/8 rated power)| 4 A| 4.8 A| 6.2 A| 7.5 A| 10.5A| 6 A| 7.5 A| 11A| 10.5A| 15A
Dimensions
W x H x D (mm)
W x H x D (inches)| 483x89x310

19×3.5×12.2

Weight
Net (Kg- Lbs)| 8-17.6| 8-17.6| 8.5-18.7| 8.5-18.7| 8.6-18.9| 8.5-18.7| 8.5-18.7| 8.5-18.7| 8.6-18.9| 8.6-18.9

Protections
Soft-start, Turn-on Turn-off transients, Muting at turn-on, Over-heating, DC, RF, Short-circuit, Open or mismatched loads, Overloaded power supply, ICL™, PMS™, SSP™

Manufactured in the EEC by C.E. Studio-2 s.l.
Pol. Ind. La Lloma – C/Sierra Perenxisa nº28
46960 Aldaya – Valencia – SPAIN
Phone: +34 96 127 30 54 Fax: +34 96 127 30 56
http://www.ramaudio.com e-mail: support@ramaudio.com