Mackie M800 manual

M•800 O WN E R ’ S MAN U AL HIGH-CURRENT POWER AMPLIFIER ™ ON OFF POWER PROFESSIONAL POWER AMPLIFIER FULL SY MMETRY DUAL DI FFERE NTIAL H IGH C URR ENT D ESI G N OL – 3 – 6 – 9 – 20 – 3 – 6 – 9 – 20 OL CH 1 28 26 24 18 20 16 22 14 12 6 0 0 1.23v (+4dBu) SENSITIVITY GAIN /dB 1.23v (+4dBu) SENSITIVITY GAIN /dB CH 2 NORM HOT SIG [...]

CAUTION AVIS RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE NE PAS OUVRIR CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK) NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ATTENTION: POUR EVITER LES RISQUES DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE, NE PAS ENLEVER LE COUVERCLE. AUCUN ENTRETIEN DE PIECES INTE[...]

3 Part No. 820-079-00 Rev. B 3/2000 ©2000 Mackie Designs Inc., All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. INTRODUCTION amplifier to handle is clipping. Conventional designs use lots of negative feedback to provide stability and lower distortion. When clipping occurs, this “feedback” causes high-frequency sticking, keeping the amplifier “latc[...]

4 QUICK ST AR T 6. Determine which AMP MODE is best for your application: • STEREO mode (separate left and right inputs, separate left and right outputs) is the typical setup for amplifying ster eo signals. • MONO mode (sometimes called Dual- Mono mode — one or two inputs, two mono outputs) is for sending the same signal to two different spea[...]

5 9. In STEREO and MONO , connect speaker cables to the SPEAKER OUTPUTS , either binding post or 1/4" TS: • The binding posts are wired r ed = positive (+) and black = negative (–) • The 1/4" TS connectors ar e wired tip = positive (+) and sleeve = negative (–) 10. In BRIDGE mode, using a single speaker: • The speaker positive ([...]

6 APPLICA TION DIAGRAMS Mackie’s gang of oppr essed illustrator droids have created easy-to-understand diagrams of popular studio and live-sound setups. FEA TURE DESCRIPTIONS: Each and every knob, switch, and connector on the M•800 power amplifier is explained in depth here. Important and inter esting points are noted using these two icons: Thi[...]

7 M•80 0 : MONO OPERA TION CH 1 1 CHANNEL CH 2 SPEAKER OUTPUTS + – – + MONO BRIDGE BAL/UNBAL MONO BRIDGE OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON 120 VAC 60 Hz 1500 WATTS CONSTANT DIRECTIVITY HORN EQ /AIR EQ LOW CUT FILTER 170 Hz OFF 4.5k Hz 6k Hz 2k Hz AIR EQ 100 Hz STAGE MONITOR TYPICAL 35 Hz TYPICAL T YPICAL TYPICAL TYPICAL STEREO (MONO BRIDGE) 800 WATTS 4 OH[...]

8 M•80 0 : STEREO SYSTEM WITH CD HORNS M•80 0 : STEREO SYSTEM USING TWO AMPLIFIERS IN BRIDGED MODE CH 1 1 CHANNEL CH 2 SPEAKER OUTPUTS + – – + MONO BRIDGE BAL/UNBAL MONO BRIDGE OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON 120 VAC 60 Hz 1500 WATTS CONSTANT DIRECTIVITY HORN EQ /AIR EQ LOW CUT FILTER 170 Hz OFF 4.5k Hz 6k Hz 2k Hz AIR EQ 100 Hz STAGE MONITOR TYPICAL [...]

9 APPLICA TION DIAGRAMS M•800 IN BRIDGE MODE WITH A BASS GUIT AR PREAMPLIFIER CH 1 1 CHANNEL CH 2 SPEAKER OUTPUTS + – – + MONO BRIDGE BAL/UNBAL MONO BRIDGE OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON 120 VAC 60 Hz 1500 WATTS CONSTANT DIRECTIVITY HORN EQ /AIR EQ LOW CUT FILTER 170 Hz OFF 4.5k Hz 6k Hz 2k Hz AIR EQ 100 Hz STAGE MONITOR TYPICAL 35 Hz TYPICAL T YPICAL [...]

10 Here ar e some more examples of how you might use the GAIN controls: • When you are in a small room wher e loud volume is not requir ed, having the amp gain controls turned fully clockwise would r equire you to keep the mixer faders down exceptionally low . In this case, first set the mixer faders to unity gain, adjust the mixer’s input trim[...]

11 METERS The meters indicate the output level in decibels refer enced to the clipping point of the amplifier . The top LED is labeled OL (short for Overload). If this comes on, the amplifier will start to dis- tort, and the audio signals may “clip”. Ideally , the –20 , –9 , –6 , and –3 LEDs will light at normal signal levels, while the[...]

12 POWER CORD The M•800 is supplied with a detachable power cord. Make sure the power switch is off before firmly attaching the cord to the ampli- fier . Fit the other end into an AC outlet properly configured for the type of plug on the power cord and for the voltage rating of the amplifier . For current-delivery purposes, the M•800’ s volta[...]

13 If you’re using low imped- ance loads at high power levels, we r ecommend that you use the binding post speaker outputs rather than the 1/4" TS jacks. Al- though 1/4" jacks and plugs ar e convenient and easy to use, they are not designed to handle high-level currents. Make sure that the amplifier is off befor e making connections or [...]

14 In order to match the output bandwidth with your particular speaker system, the M•800 am- plifier has a tunable LOW CUT FIL TER. The frequencies ar e clearly marked along the knob’s travel: • Fully counterclockwise, the frequency is be- low 10Hz, effectively bypassing the filter . • Center detent is 35Hz , labeled TYPICAL, since few woof[...]

15 CONST ANT DIRECTIVITY SWITCH If you don’t have constant directivity horns, you can leave this switch OFF . Compression drivers mounted on constant- directivity horns r equir e compensation in the form of a high-frequency boost, with its “knee” set somewhere between 2kHz and 6kHz. Until now , you’d have to r esort to external crossovers o[...]

16 AMP MODE This three-way switch determines what kind of amplifier you want the M•800 to be (or not to be — what was the question?) The switch alters the input signal routing within the amplifier . Shipped from the factory , it is set to STEREO , correct for about 90% of appli- cations (hence the TYPICAL indicator near it). The switch should o[...]

17 LIMITER LIMITER ON (TYPICAL) . This is the normal configuration with protective limiting. LIMITER OFF is without protective limiting. The limiter is not designed to alter your sound — it’s just ther e to protect your speakers from the effects of clipping. Its effect is virtually transparent, meaning you probably won’t even notice any audib[...]

18 GENERAL PRECAUTIONS W ARNING: Bypassing the plug’s ground pin can be dan- gerous. NEVER do it! The AC current demand of an amplifier var - ies depending on several factors, including the crest factor and the duty cycle of the program material. Under typical conditions r eproducing rock music wher e musical peaks are just below clipping, the M?[...]

19 AC Power Distribution The majority of AC outlets encountered in homes and clubs are served by a 240V AC center-tapped service en- trance transformer . This provides two phases of AC power on either side of the center tap at 120V each. In order to minimize ground loops, the safety grounds for all the outlets should be connected to a common (“st[...]

20 • T urn the POWER off, check the speaker connections and make sur e that there ar e no strands of wire shorting across the speaker terminals. • Is the HOT LED lit? Make sur e there is cool air available at the front of the amplifier . Make sure there is room at the sides of the amplifier for warm air to exit. Allow the amplifier to cool off.[...]

21 As soon as the music gets loud, the amp shuts down! • Check the M•800’s meters. Be sure that OL is not lighting up frequently or continuously . • Can the amp breathe? The M•800 amps draw their ventilation air in from the front and out through the side panels. They need plenty of fresh air to stay cool. Do not block the ventilation port[...]

22 APPENDIX B: T echnical Information For example, four 8-ohm speakers, con- nected in parallel, will equal a 2 ohm load (8 / 4 = 2). If the parallel loads aren’t all the same, things gets a little more complicated, but noth- ing that you can’t do with a simple calculator . Th e total impedance ( Z T ) is given by the following formula, wher e [...]

23 M•800 SPECIFICA TIONS Maximum Power: 175 watts per channel into 8 ohms 275 watts per channel into 4 ohms 400 watts per channel into 2 ohms 550 watts into 8 ohms bridged 800 watts into 4 ohms bridged Note: Power ratings are specified at 120VAC line voltages. The M•800 power amplifier draws large amounts of cur- rent from the AC line with cont[...]

24 19.00" (48.3cm) 17.25" (43.8cm) 15.25" (38.7cm) 3.50" (8.9cm) 2U 16.25" (41.3cm) M•800 WEIGHT 28 lbs. 12.7 kg) Limiter Section: Complementary Positive and Negative Peak Detecting Indicators: 5 meter LEDs per channel –20dB, –9dB, –6dB, –3dB, OL (Overload) TEMP STATUS NORMAL/HOT LEDs Power Consumption: 55 watts a[...]

25 M•800 BLOCK DIAGRAM CH 1 BALANCED LINE INPUT (TRS) CH 1 BALANCED LINE INPUT (XLR-F) LIMITER LIMITER ON OFF ON OFF LIMITER SWITCH LIMITER DETECTION LIMITER DETECTION ON OFF LOW CUT FIL TER FREQ CD EQ FREQ ON OFF LOW CUT FIL TER FREQ CD EQ FREQ CH 1 GAIN STEREO MONO BRIDGE STEREO MONO BRIDGE STEREO MONO BRIDGE CH 2 GAIN INVERTING UNITY GAIN AMPL[...]

26 APPENDIX C: Bi-amping and T ri-amping CH 1 OUT CH 2 OUT CH 1 IN CH 2 IN + – + – FR SERIES POWER AMPLIFIER (STEREO MODE) HIGH FREQUENCIES T O TWEETER LOW FREQUENCIES T O WOOFER TWO-WA Y SPEAKER CABINET HIGH-LEVEL P ASSIVE CROSSOVER HIGH FREQUENCIES T O TWEETER LOW FREQUENCIES T O WOOFER TWO-WA Y SPEAKER CABINET HIGH-LEVEL P ASSIVE CROSSOVER F[...]

27 A. Mackie warrants all materials, workmanship and proper operation of this FR Series product for a period of three years from the original date of purchase. If you complete the optional question- naire portion of the Product Registration Card, the warranty will be extended for an additional two years . If any defects are found in the materials o[...]