General FAQ

Are the XLR connections on the amps and preamps truly balanced?
Yes. All three pins of the XLR connection are part of the circuit, which means it's a real balanced connection. (If pin 3 is sent to ground or left open...
Wed, 24 Jan, 2024 at 11:40 AM
The specs say that the amp uses X number of watts. Does this mean that it uses this much electricity all the time?
Far from it. The numbers are maximum ratings, which occur during moments that all channels peak simultaneously.
Wed, 24 Jan, 2024 at 11:50 AM
I'm getting a hum/buzz from the speakers and/or horizontal bars on the video image - how do I solve this?
This is a ground loop, and often needs to be dealt with on a case by case basis, but in general, can be traced by disconnecting things from the back of the ...
Wed, 17 Oct, 2018 at 2:25 PM
Why do the power cords have two prongs instead of three?
To help prevent ground loops, which occur when there is more than one ground path. Often misunderstood, the ground conductor prevents the chassis from becom...
Wed, 17 Oct, 2018 at 2:26 PM
The power amp's ratings say that its maximum consumption is 15A (or 1800W or 1800VA). The subwoofer also uses up to 15A. There's only one 15A circuit available in the whole room for a 30A requirement - can I use the system with it?
Since rooms with only one circuit tend not to be very large, another circuit is usually not needed. Breakers need time to heat up and shut off, and the typi...
Wed, 24 Jan, 2024 at 11:43 AM
Which analog audio connection should I use, RCA or XLR?
Generally, RCA is fine for the typical 3 to 6 foot connection. For longer connections, or for those in interference-prone environments, XLR is the better ch...
Wed, 17 Oct, 2018 at 2:32 PM
I want to biamplify some of my speakers. Can I use the RCA outputs on the preamp to feed some amp channels and the XLR outputs to feed others?
Although they put out a signal simultaneously, using them for biamplification will cause an imbalance since the XLR outputs are louder. It's a lot simpl...
Wed, 17 Oct, 2018 at 2:34 PM
Does passive biamping waste the amp's power because each channel still has to amplify the full range signal and not just the highs or the lows?
With the jumpers removed on a bi-amp capable speaker, the impedance of each section is not the usual 4 or 8 ohms, but several hundred if not more at the fre...
Wed, 24 Jan, 2024 at 12:08 PM
I can hear excessive buzzing from the transformer and/or speakers from a distance - what's wrong?
The most common cause of this is a dimmer somewhere in the house. Try turning all dimmable lights off completely, regardless of where they are in the house....
Wed, 24 Jan, 2024 at 11:50 AM
Does Y-splitting the preamp's audio output damage the signal?
This fear may have roots in observations that splitting a cable TV signal can add noise to the picture, or that plugging two sets of headphones into a porta...
Wed, 24 Jan, 2024 at 11:47 AM