Powerflex 

Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifiers

Operating Manual

Channel 1 Channel 2 Channel 3 Channel 4 Channel 5 Channel 6

Protect
Thermal
Clip Power
Powerflex 670
Signal

Channel 1 Channel 2 Channel 3 Channel 4

Protect
Thermal
Clip Power
Powerflex 470
Signal

A S H LY AUDIO INC.
8 4 7 H o l t R o a d Webster, N Y 1 4 5 8 0 - 9 1 0 3 P h o n e : ( 5 8 5 ) 8 7 2 - 0 0 1 0
Toll-Fre e : ( 8 0 0 ) 8 2 8 - 6 3 0 8 F a x : ( 5 8 5 ) 8 7 2 - 0 7 3 9
w w w. a s h l y. c o m
Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

Table Of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2 UNPACKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3 AC POWER REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.1 Voltage Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.2 Current Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.3 AC Grounding Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4 CABLE REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
4.1 Input Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
4.2 Output Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

5 RACK-MOUNTING REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5.1 Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5.2 Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5.3 Grounding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

6 FRONT PANEL INDICATORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6.1 Power Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6.2 Signal Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6.3 Clipping Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6.4 Thermal Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6.5 Protect Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

7 REAR PANEL FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

7.1 Input Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
7.2 Input Ground Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
7.3 Independent/Parallel Mode Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
7.4 80Hz Low Cut Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
7.5 Input Level Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
7.6 Normal/Bridge Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
7.7 AC Inlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
7.8 Speaker Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

8 SELF-PROTECTION FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
8.1 Power Supply Undervoltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
8.2 Power Supply Overvoltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
8.3 Output Overcurrent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
8.4 Heat Sink Overtemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
8.5 Unacceptable DC or High Frequency Output Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
8.6 AC Power Interruption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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 Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

9 TYPICAL APPLICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
9.1 Independent Channel 70V System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
9.2 Parallel Channel Stereo 70V System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
9.3 Bridged 140V System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
9.4 Parallel Channel MultiZone 70V System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

10 DESIGN THEORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

11 TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
11.1 No Audio Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
11.2 Distorted Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
11.3 Hum or Buzz Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

12 POWERFLEX DIMENSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

13 SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

14 WARRANTY INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Caution:
This power amplifier can produce dangerous output voltage levels, high power levels,
and high sound pressure levels in loudspeakers. In order to minimize the risk of injury, damage, or
hearing loss, please read the entire owner’s manual before connecting to a sound system.

CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, The exclamation point within an equalateral tri-
within an equalateral triangle, is intended to alert the angle is intended to alert the user to the presence of
user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous volt- important operating and maintenance instructions in
age" within the product's enclosure that may be of suf- the literature accompanying the device.
ficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock
to persons.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER SER-
VICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS

APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE, REPLACE ONLY WITH SAME TYPE FUSE.
REFER REPLACEMENT TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

WARNING: THIS APPARATUS MUST BE EARTHED THROUGH THE SUPPLIED

POWER LINE CORD

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Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

1. INTRODUCTION The right to any claim against a public carrier can

be forfeited if the carrier is not notified promptly and if
The Ashly Powerflex 70V amplifiers combine the the shipping carton and packing materials are not avail-
efficiency of a MOSFET high-speed switching output stage able for inspection by the carrier. Save all packing mate-
with the sophistication of modern microprocessors and DSP rials until the claim has been settled.
technology to produce a multi-channel 70V amplifier with
unprecedented versatility and power in a single 3RU pack- 3. AC POWER REQUIREMENTS
age.
3.1 Voltage Requirements
Although similar to other amplifiers with class D
output stages, 70V Powerflex amplifiers employ internal Powerflex 70V amplifiers can be operated from
microprocessor and DSP algorithms to optimize output nominal 120VAC or 240VAC, 50/60Hz mains. This is user-
switching characteristics and eliminate the usual harshness configurable by changing the insert in the AC Inlet (See
associated with high-frequency audio in standard class D section 7.7). The power connector on the amplifier accepts
amplifiers. This optimization results in a spread-spectrum a standard IEC-320 receptacle.
switched output that varies with input amplitude and fre-
quency, and minimizes radiated emissions by eliminating For nominal 120VAC operation, the power cord
the single-frequency high-energy radiated interference should be three-conductor, rated for at least 13A (16AWG).
normally associated with switching outputs. The use of a The line fuse should be type MDA, 12A.
simple linear power supply removes another potential
source of radio-frequency interference, an important con- For nominal 240VAC operation, the power cord
sideration as racks become more and more heavily popu- should be three-conductor, rated for at least 10A (18AWG).
lated with digital signal processing equipment. A small The line fuse should be type MDA, 10A.
switching supply using flyback topology provides an effi-
cient power source for logic, protection, pre-amplifier and 3.2 Current Requirements
indicator circuits.
1.) Idle (no audio):
To assure reliable operation, the usual protection 120V: 0.9A
from excessive high-frequency, DC offset, and thermal 240V: 0.5A
overload is supplemented by power supply undervoltage,
power supply overvoltage, and output overcurrent detec- 2.) With typical audio on all channels:
tion, all monitored and controlled by the latest in minia- (Powerflex 670 with 200W loads, Powerflex 470 with 300W
turized microprocessor technology. loads)
120V: 10A
In sum, Ashly 70V Powerflex amplifiers combine 240V: 5A
the best of the new digital technologies with the best of
the traditional analog technologies to provide a product Powerflex 70V amplifiers consume less than 12
that will supply clean sound at full output from every chan- amps when all channels operate at 1/8 power into rated
nel while generating minimal heat, thus increasing the re- loads. This condition satisfies the UL, CSA and building
liability of every other piece of equipment in a rack as electrical code requirements for a piece of audio equip-
well as preserving its own. ment not to consume more than 80% of the current avail-
able when plugged into a grounded 15 amp outlet and
2. UNPACKING operated at 1/8 of maximum power.

As a part of our system of quality control, every 3.3 AC Grounding Requirements

Ashly product is carefully inspected before leaving the To reduce the risk of ground loop hum, all system
factory to ensure flawless appearance. After unpacking, ground references should originate at the same point in
please inspect for any physical damage. Save the ship- your AC power distribution. Do not remove the amplifier’s
ping carton and all packing materials, as they were care- ground pin, as it creates a potential shock hazard.
fully designed to reduce to minimum the possibility of
transportation damage should the unit again require pack-
ing and shipping. In the event that damage has occurred,
immediately notify your dealer so that a written claim to
cover the damages can be initiated.

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 Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

4. CABLE REQUIREMENTS 5. RACK-MOUNTING REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Input Cables 5.1 Mechanical

Be sure to use shielded cable whether balanced or Powerflex amplifiers are designed to fit in stan-
unbalanced. Shielding which is properly grounded will dard 19-inch equipment racks. The front panel rack-mount
protect the signal from outside electrical interference such ears are sufficiently strong for most applications, however
as RF, fluorescent lighting, and computer/display emis- if you desire further support, we recommend using the four
sions. As a general rule, unbalanced or single-ended (tip- additional holes in the back of the chassis for supplemen-
sleeve) lines of less than 10 feet are satisfactory, but greater tal rear-mounting (see dimensional drawing for details).
distances or noisy field environments require a balanced
signal. Avoid running input lines in close proximity or 5.2 Cooling
parallel to long speaker lines, AC power cables, or power Be certain that both the front and back of the rack
transformers, as this may generate hum or oscillation. have unhindered access to free air flow. Fan direction is
from front to back. It is not necessary to leave empty space
4.2 Output Cables above or below.
It is recommended that the 70V speaker lines be
terminated with spade lug terminals for connection to the 5.3 Grounding
powerflex amplifier’s output screw terminals. Alterna- In some installations where the sound system is
tively, bare stripped wire leads may be wrapped around sensitive to RF noise or system-induced oscillation, it may
the output screw terminals. The output screw terminals be necessary to ground the amplifier’s chassis to the rack
will accept spade lugs or stripped wire for wire sizes 10 to enclosure. This is accomplished using star type
22 gauge. lockwashers on the four rack mounting screws. These star
washers will penetrate through the amplifier’s paint to ad-
CAUTION: THE POWERFLEX 70V AMPLIFI - equately ground the chassis to the rack.
ERS CAN PRODUCE DANGEROUS VOLTAGE LEVELS AT
THE OUTPUT SCREW TERMINALS. ALWAYS UNPLUG
THE AMPLIFIER BEFORE CONNECTING OR DISCON -
NECTING OUTPUT WIRES. THE AMPLIFIER SHOULD
ALWAYS BE OPERATED WITH THE SCREW TERMINAL
SAFETY COVER SECURELY IN PLACE .

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Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

Channel 1 Channel 2 Channel 3 Channel 4 Channel 5 Channel 6

Protect
Thermal
Clip Power
Powerflex 670
Signal

6. FRONT PANEL INDICATORS shut off until the measured temperature drops below about
70°C. The amplifier should be able to maintain proper
6.1 Power Switch operation at an ambient room temperature of 50°C (122°F)
When the unit is switched on there is a five sec- or less with typical audio program and all channels driven
ond delay, during which time the PROTECT circuit will into rated loads.
activate, disconnecting the speakers from the amplifier out-
put. When turning off the amplifier, the load is removed 6.5 Protect Indicator
instantly, and the protect LED will briefly turn on as the The protect LEDs illuminate when the fault moni-
power supply discharges. toring microprocessor has determined that one of the fol-
lowing conditions exists:
6.2 Signal Indicator
The signal present LEDs illuminate at an input - Power supply undervoltage
level of about 14mVrms (-35dBu). - Power supply overvoltage
- Output overcurrent
6.3 Clipping Indicator - Heat sink overtemperature
The clipping LEDs illuminate at an input level of - Unacceptable DC output content
about 870mVrms (+1.0dBu), with all channels driven by - Unacceptable high frequency output content
1KHz into rated load. This indicates that the signal pro- - AC power interruption
cessing circuitry has determined output levels to be ap-
proaching the available power supply rails and has begun Because the signal processing module used in
to “soften” signal peaks. Actual onset of “hard” clipping Powerflex amplifiers processes two channels simulta-
depends on audio program and total load impedance and neously, a fault in one channel will result in a protect con-
does not occur until the signal processing circuitry can no dition for both channels processed by the same module,
longer compensate, which means that signal integrity can ex. channels 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6 (670 only). Thus there will
be maintained even if the clipping indicators illuminate never be a case where only one of the amplifier channels
for short periods of time. is shown in protect mode. When a pair of protect LED's
are illuminated, internal relays have removed the channel
pair's speaker loads from the amplifier output and con-
6.4 Thermal Status Indicator nected the speakers to ground. If the fault is isolated to
The thermal LEDs illuminate when the tempera- one module (channel pair), the other channels will remain
ture of any one of the heat sink extrusions reaches 85° to unaffected.
90°C. Both channels of the affected amplifier module will

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 Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

* Powerflex 670 shown - Powerflex 470

only has channels 1-4.

7. REAR PANEL FEATURES

G Balanced
7.1 Input Connectors G + - Input
The Powerflex 70V amplifier inputs use balanced two piece "Euro- + -
block" connectors for easy installation. It is recommended that balanced
signals be used whenever possible to take full advantage of the amplifier's
common mode rejection properties, and to reduce ground-loop problems.
Euroblock G
Connector G +-
If there is a persistent hum problem, try connecting a balanced sig- +-
nal to the Euroblock input with the Input Ground switch pushed out (ie. no System
input ground connection), but connected to ground at the signal source.
This eliminates potential ground currents through the input cable yet pre-
serves the benefits of shielding.

If using an unbalanced (single ended) source, do not leave uncon-

G Unbalanced
nected the (+) or (-) input connection. Connect the signal to (+) and the
G + - Input
cable shield to both (-) and ground. If hum persists, connect the cable shield + -
only to the (-) input.

7.2 Input Ground Switch

This switch is used to disconnect the input cable ground Euroblock G
Connector G +-
from chassis. The amplifier’s internal signal ground is always referenced to +-
earth ground so that the amplifier output never floats. Unless there is a System
ground loop induced hum problem in the audio system, it is recommended
that the Input Ground switch be left in to connect the input cable ground to
the amplifier’s chassis.

7.3 Independent/Parallel Mode Switch

Each input channel can be switched to provide the input signal to the next higher-numbered channel.
This makes possible a variety of input channel routing configurations to be done internally to the amplifier. If the
Independent/Parallel switch is in the out position (independent mode), the input signal is fed only to the connected
channel. When the Independent/Parallel switch is pushed in (parallel mode), the input signal is fed to the next higher-
numbered channel before it’s level control. By depressing all Independent/Parallel switches and feeding a signal into

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Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

Po w e r f l e x
670 shown -
Po w e r f l e x
470 only has
inputs 1-4.

channel 1, a single input channel connection can supply 7.6 Normal/Bridge Switch
all amplifier channels with the same signal before their The Normal/Bridge switch is used to operate two
level controls. This is useful in multi-zone applications adjacent channels (1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6 on the PF670)
where each zone level can be controlled separately and in bridge mode to drive 140V lines. Pressing a Normal/
only one input connection is needed. Bridge switch in (Bridge mode) disables the even-num-
bered channel’s input connector and level control and in-
7.4 80Hz Low Cut Filter ternally routes the odd numbered channel’s input signal to
Each input channel has an internally se- the next higher even-numbered channel with the phase in-
lectable 12dB/octave 80Hz high pass filter. This filter is verted 180 degrees. The odd-numbered channel level then
useful when driving low quality 70V step-down transform- controls both channel levels equally. The output of two
ers which typically saturate (high distortion and low im- bridged channels is then taken from the two (+) output
pedance) at low frequencies. The amplifier is factory screw terminals of the respective channels to provide twice
configured with this filter bypassed. the power at 140 volts.

To enable the 80Hz high pass filter for a given 7.7 AC Inlet
channel, a qualified service technician can remove the in- Powerflex amplifiers can be configured by the cus-
put panel and reposition one of six jumpers labeled "HPF" tomer for operation at either 115VAC or 230VAC mains.
on the top circuit board assembly, each near their respec- Switching from one to the other simply requires the fol-
tive channel's level control. When the filter is engaged, lowing steps:
the respective channel’s frequency response will be -3dB
at 80Hz, -12dB at 40Hz, and -24dB at 20Hz. 1.) Unplug the amplifier from the wall and re-
move the power cord from the rear of the amplifier.
7.5 Input Level Controls
The Input Level controls attenuate the 2.) Using a small screwdriver as a lever, unlatch
input signals from 0dB to -infinity (OFF). For best head- the fuse holder in the AC inlet and remove it.
room performance, it is recommended that the Input Level
controls always be operated at full level (0dB attenuation). 3.) Remove the voltage selection insert and ro-
Each channel’s level is controlled by it’s respective Input tate until the new nominal mains voltage level indication
Level control regardless of being in Independent or Paral- (115 or 230) is on top and properly oriented for reading.
lel mode. However, when a Normal/Bridge switch is de-
pressed, the odd numbered channel’s level control will 4.) Replace the voltage selection insert in the AC
control both the even and odd numbered channels. inlet, making sure that it is plugged in all the way.

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 Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

Po w e r f l e x
670 shown -
Po w e r f l e x
470 only has
channels 1-4

5.) Replace the fuse with the appropriate size (see In bridge mode, the speaker output con-
#6 below), and press the fuseholder back into the AC inlet nections are taken from the two (+) screw terminals where
until it latches. the odd-numbered channel (+) output is the positive con-
nection and the even-numbered channel (+) output is the
6.) Using a power cord of the appropriate size negative connection.
and with the appropriate terminations, plug the cord into
the rear of the amplifier and then into the wall. The CAUTION: NEVER CONNECT THE TWO (+)
Powerflex amplifier is now ready for use at the new mains SCREW TERMINALS TOGETHER OR CONNECT A (+)
voltage. SCREW TERMINAL TO A (-) SCREW TERMINAL.
If the mains voltage is 110-125VAC, the required
fuse is MDA 12, 250V, and the required power cord is 3- 8. SELF-PROTECTION FEATURES
wire grounded, 13 Amp (16AWG) minimum.
Powerflex 70V amplifiers contain circuitry to self-
If the mains voltage is 220-250VAC, the required protect during extreme fault conditions. These fault con-
fuse is MDA 10, 250V, and the required power cord is 3- ditions are:
wire grounded, 10 Amp (18AWG) minimum.
1.) Power supply undervoltage
7.8 Speaker Outputs 2.) Power supply overvoltage
The Speaker outputs are provided on screw ter- 3.) Output overcurrent
minal barrier strips with security covers. The output screw 4.) Heat sink overtemperature
terminals will accept spade lugs or stripped wire for wire 5.) Unacceptable DC or high frequency output content
sizes 10 to 22 gauge. 6.) AC power interruption

CAUTION: THE POWERFLEX 70V AMPLIFI - Except for AC power interruption, the detection
ERS CAN PRODUCE DANGEROUS VOLTAGE LEVELS AT of any fault will result in the activation of protection cir-
cuitry on a particular module, which consists of two chan-
THE OUTPUT SCREW TERMINALS . THE AMPLIFIER
nels. That is, a short circuit on the output of channel 1
SHOULD ALWAYS BE OPERATED WITH THE SCREW TER- will result in both channel 1 and channel 2 entering pro-
MINAL SAFETY COVER SECURELY IN PLACE. TO CON - tect mode. This is because the signal processing module,
NECT OR DISCONNECT 70V OUTPUT WIRES, ALWAYS which processes both channels simultaneously, does not
UNPLUG THE AMPLIFIER BEFORE REMOVING THE OUT- distinguish between the two channels within a channel pair
when processing a fault.
PUT SCREW TERMINAL SAFETY COVER.

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Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

An AC power interruption will result in all chan- 8.4 Heat sink overtemperature - a measured heat
nels entering protect mode simultaneously, just as if the sink extrusion temperature of more than 85 to 90 degrees
amplifier is being turned off. C. The two-speed fan will switch to high speed at a tem-
perature of 70 to 75 degrees C. The overtemperature fault
In all cases, the amplifier will restart the signal will clear itself when the measured temperature is below
processing module after a short delay and will reconnect about 70 degrees C. The fan will operate at low speed
the speakers after several seconds if no further fault con- below about 50 degrees C.
ditions exist. This allows the servo circuitry to bring any
residual DC offsets to zero before speakers are connected. 8.5 Unacceptable DC or high frequency output
content - a DC offset in the output signal of more than a
Specific conditions resulting in a fault are as follows: few hundred millivolts indicates module failure, and will
trigger a DC protect fault. High frequency (above 20kHz)
8.1 Power supply undervoltage - Possible causes in the output at high amplitudes can cause speaker dam-
would be total load on the outputs exceeding recommen- age and will trigger a HF protect fault.
dations (remove some speakers), low AC mains voltage
(reduce extension cord length or increase wire size, or These two conditions (DC and HF) are tested by
switch to an AC mains circuit more capable of supporting the same circuit so the exact cause cannot be isolated. If
the amplifier's power requirements), or improper AC inlet the fault condition persists after disconnecting all inputs
mains voltage setting (make sure nominal AC mains volt- and outputs from the amplifier, there is probably a module
age matches the number in the viewing window on the AC failure requiring service. Note: the self-testing circuit may
inlet). take as long as 30 seconds to recover from this fault, so be
sure to give the amplifier enough time to reset itself. If
8.2 Power supply overvoltage - Possible causes after 30 seconds the module has recovered, begin plug-
would be high AC mains voltage (change to an AC mains ging in one input and output at a time in an effort to iso-
circuit with voltage within the amplifier's stated require- late a system high-frequency or oscillation problem.
ments) or improper AC inlet mains voltage setting (make
sure nominal AC mains voltage matches the number in the 8.6 AC power interruption - a dropout (or brown-
viewing window on the AC inlet). out of sufficient magnitude) of more than one half mains
line cycle and less than one whole cycle in duration.
8.3 Output overcurrent - more than 7 amperes
being drawn from any output. Possible causes would be
total load on the affected output exceeding recommenda- 9. TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
tions (disconnect some speakers), or a short circuit on one
The Powerflex 670 is essentially three stereo am-
of the outputs driven by the affected module (inspect
plifiers in one chassis, each with Independent, Parallel, and
speaker wiring for proper connection).
Bridge mode, while the Powerflex 470 is two stereo am-
plifiers (four channels), but with more power per channel
The above conditions are checked by the signal
than the 670. Note: The Powerflex 670 is used for the
processing module on a switching cycle by switching cycle
following application details, but the 470 is used in a simi-
basis and are therefore monitored as often as a million or
lar fashion, to a maximum of four channels.
more times a second, allowing protection well before de-
structive conditions have time to cause part failure.

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 Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

9.1 Independent Channel 70V System

Input Section: Possible Application:
Up to Six Different Inputs Multiple Zone 70V Systems where each zone has different audio program
Independent/Parallel Switches - Out
Normal/Bridge Switches - Out
Levels Controls - Used Per Input Channel

1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 3 4 5 6
Up To Six Different Amplifier Inputs
Speaker Outputs - Up To Six Different Outputs
Maximum Power Output Per Channel = 200W/ch for 670, 300W/ch for 470

9.2 Parallel Channel Stereo 70V System

Input Section: Possible Application:

Stereo Inputs Into Channels 1 and 4 Three Stereo Zones
Independent/Parallel Switches - All IN except Ch3-Ch4
Normal/Bridge Switches - Out
Levels Controls - Ch 1, 2,3 for (L), Ch 4, 5, 6 for (R)

(L) (R)
1 4 1 2 3 4 5 6
Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3
Amplifier Inputs:
(L) (L) (L) (R) (R) (R)
An Input Can be Parallel Connected to the Next Highest
Channel by Pressing the Independent/Parallel Switch In. Maximum Power Output Per Channel = 200W/ch for 670, 300W/ch for 470

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Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

9.3 Bridged 140V System

Input Section: Possible Application:

Up to Three Different Inputs 140V system where each zone has different audio program
Independent/Parallel Switches - 1® 2 IN, 3® 4 IN, 5® 6 IN
Normal/Bridge Switches - All IN
Levels Controls - Only Channels 1, 3, or 5 Used

(+) (-) (+) (-) (+) (-)

1 3 5
Bridged Channels 1&2 Bridged Channels 3&4 Bridged Channels 5&6
Amplifier Inputs For 140V Bridged Output From Channel 1 Input From Channel 3 Input From Channel 5 Input
Maximum Power Output Per Bridged Channel Pair = 400W for 670, 600W for 470

9.4 Parallel Channel MultiZone 70V System

Input Section: Possible Application:
One Input on Channel 1 Multiple zone 70V system where each zone has
Independent/Parallel Switches - All In the same audio program but separate level controls
Normal/Bridge Switches - All Out
Levels Controls - All Used

1
1 2 3 4 5 6
One Amplifier Input Connected in Parallel
With The Other Five Input Channels Speaker Outputs - Up To Six Different Outputs From Channel 1 Input
Maximum Power Output Per Channel = 200W/ch for 670, 300W/ch for 470

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 Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

10. DESIGN THEORY 11. TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

Powerflex 70V amplifiers are based on stereo 11.1 No Audio Output

driver modules that use digital processing to generate a
spread-spectrum switching pattern between about 200KHz 1.) Power LED not lit:
and 1.5MHz, depending on input signal amplitude and fre-
quency. This overcomes the self-limiting and inherent Line fuse is blown or power outlet is dead.
weakness in traditional class D fixed-frequency PWM IF LINE FUSE IS BLOWN, REPLACE ONLY
amplifiers, and produces an output with THD+N numbers WITH SAME TYPE AND RATING FUSE.
comparable to class A and class AB linear amplifiers. (see
Specification Notes at end of this section) 2.) Power LED is lit but Protect LEDs stay on:

In Powerflex amplifiers, the input signal is re- Amp module is in protect mode. Speakers have
ceived by a single operational amplifier configured as a been disconnected from amplifier output and connected to
difference amplifier to reduce common-mode effects from ground until the protect fault is corrected. See section 8
sources located at a distance. This difference amplifier has for a complete explanation of protect fault conditions. Out-
a gain of 2.74 which allows the use of less gain later in the put overcurrent, overvoltage and undervoltage faults will
system, improving overall system noise performance. reset in about eight seconds once the fault condition is re-
moved, while excessive DC offset or high frequency faults
The amplified signal, based on the position of vari- take about 30 seconds to reset.
ous selector switches, either bypasses or is processed by a
two-pole high-pass filter with rolloff at 80Hz, and then Speaker Load: The Powerflex 70V amplifier
passes through the attenuating potentiometer. The attenu- may go into self-protect at high output levels if the actual
ated signal is buffered and passed to the amplifier module speaker load power is greater than the specified output
along with a zero-volt reference. power of the amplifier. Some speaker loads may consume
more power at frequency extremes than their nominal
The amplifier module receives the attenuated sig- power rating. Alternatively, too many speaker loads may
nal with a unity gain differential amplifier to eliminate com- be connected in parallel on the 70V line.
mon-mode interference picked up within the amplifier
chassis. The signal is then added to a small DC offset sig-
nal opposite in polarity to any DC offset on the Powerflex 3.) Thermal LED and Protect LEDs stay on:
output bridge and adjusted by the digital processing mod-
ule as described above. The digital processing module, Amp module is in thermal protect mode and needs
which also generates FET drive signals, has a voltage gain to cool. The fan will continue to run while in thermal pro-
of 18.2 for a total system voltage gain of 50. The drive tect, and other modules will continue to function. See sec-
signals generated by the processing module are fed to a tion 8.4 for details.
pair of high-current MOSFET transistors, and the switched
output of these transistors is filtered and applied to the 4.) Power LED lit but no Signal LED activity
speaker outputs. Fault conditions such as overvoltage,
undervoltage, and output overcurrent are measured by the There is no input signal applied or input level con-
module and therefore affect a stereo pair of channels re- trols are turned down.
gardless of whether the fault actually exists on both chan-
nels processed in the module. Since every action applied 11.2 Distorted Sound
to protect the digital processing module affects both chan-
nels being processed, other fault conditions are not sepa- 1.) Clip LED is flashing regularly
rated by channel, but rather by amplifier module.
Amplifier is being overdriven. Turn down the in-
Specification Notes: Due to its spread spectrum out- put level control, or reduce the output level from the sig-
put switching pattern, the output signal of a Powerflex ampli- nal source.
fier contains significant dynamic frequency content* far outside
the audio band, which makes no difference to audible perfor- 2.) Clip LED is not flashing at all
mance, but which makes heavily bandwidth-limited** measure-
ment of amplifier noise and distortion characteristics mandatory.
Amplifier input signal may be exceeding input
*variable 200KHz to 1.5MHz headroom, which is greater than +12dBu, or 3.4V rms
**greater than 48dB/octave above 22kHz (measured using continuous 1kHz sine wave). Incoming

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Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

signal level higher than +12.8 dBu will cause distortion in Hum is usually caused by ground currents flow-
the amplifier. Turning down the input level controls will ing between different pieces of equipment. Ground cur-
not eliminate distortion if the input headroom is exceeded. rents can be minimized by using a single point AC ground
Turn down the output level of the device driving the am- for the sound system, and by using balanced connections
plifier instead. with quality cable throughout the audio path. The Input
Signal Ground switch may be pressed out to disconnect
Additionally, an input signal may already be dis- the signal source equipment signal ground from the am-
torted before it gets to the amp. Check to see if a piece of plifier.
equipment in the signal chain before the amp is clipping.
For best performance, the amplifier should be operated with Buzz, as well as certain audible high frequency
input levels fully CW. Also check for damaged speaker tones, can be caused by environmental emissions such as
drivers that could cause distorted sound. lighting dimmers, neon lights, or computer equipment. Use
balanced connections, and try moving the amplifier, wir-
11.3 Hum or Buzz Noise ing, lighting, or other equipment to different locations to
isolate the source of the noise.
Be sure that the power cord’s 3-prong plug is con-
nected to a properly earth-grounded outlet. Lifting the Sections 3.3, 5.3, 7.1, and 7.2 further discuss is-
grounding third prong may not improve hum or buzz and sues related to grounding and noise problems.
can create a potential shock hazard.

12. POWERFLEX DIMENSIONS

16.94" 2.25"
13.54"

13.18"
1.25"

18.5"
5.19"
4.75"
2.25"

Ch annel 1 Ch annel 2 Ch annel 3 Ch annel 4 Ch annel 5 Ch annel 6

P rotect
Thermal
Clip P ower
Powerflex
Signal

19"

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 Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

13. SPECIFICATIONS Typical Idle Current

Powerflex 670 Powerflex 470
*Power Output 120V: 0.9A 120V: 0.9A
(Maximum Average Power, 0.1% THD, 1KHz) 240V: 0.5A 240V: 0.5A

Rated Per Channel, Two Channels Driven Current with Typical Audio Program Material
Powerflex 670 Powerflex 470 (all Channels driven)
70V: 300 Watts RMS 300 Watts RMS Powerflex 670 Powerflex 470
140V Bridged (1 Channel) 120V: 10A 120V: 10A
600 Watts RMS 600Watts RMS 240V: 5A 240V: 5A

Rated Per Channel, All Channels Driven Cooling: Forced Air, Thermal Sensitive
Powerflex 670 Powerflex 470 2-Speed Fan, Front Inlet/Rear Outlet
70V: 200 Watts RMS† 250 Watts RMS†
140V Bridged Dimensions: 19”L x 5.25”H x 16.5”D
400 Watts RMS 500Watts RMS
Construction: All-Steel Chassis, Extruded
**THD (20Hz-20KHz, all channels driven full power): Aluminum Front Panel
< 0.2%
Weight: Powerflex 670 Powerflex 470
**IMD (SMPTE 60Hz/7KHz 4:1) Net 47 lb 45 lb
@ rated load: < 0.2% (throughout power range) Shipping 54 lb 52 lb

**Hum and Noise: -100dB from full output (A-weighted) Specification conditions:
120VAC mains at 60Hz, 25° C
Full Power Input Sensitivity:
Powerflex 670 Powerflex 470 * Continuous power limited by power line capacity
1.4Vrms(5.1dBu) 1.4Vrms (5.1dBu)
**Non-conventional amplifiers require bandwidth limiting
Input Impedance: 10K ohm balanced, for all distortion and noise measurements.
37K ohm unbalanced
† Signal peaks in audio programming may trigger protec-
tion circuitry at low line voltages. Specifications are subject to
Signal Present Signal Sensitivity: change or improvement without notice.
13mV RMS (-35.5dBu)

Voltage Gain: 50X (34.0dB) 14. WARRANTY INFORMATION

Crosstalk: < -80dB (20Hz - 1KHz) We thank you for your expression of confidence
in Ashly products. The unit you have just purchased is
High Pass Filter: 80Hz, 12dB/octave, internal select protected by a limited five year warranty. To establish the
warranty, you must first complete and mail the warranty
Connections card attached to your product.
Input: Balanced Euroblock
Output: Screw Terminal, 10 gauge wire max Fill out the information below for your records.

Frequency Response: Serial Number _________________________________

±0.5dB (20Hz-20kHz, full power, 2 channels) Dealer ______________________________________
±1.5dB (20Hz-20kHz, full power, all channels) Date of Purchase _______________________________
Dealer’s Address _______________________________
Power Requirement: ______________________________________
110-125VAC, 220 - 250VAC50/60Hz Dealer’s Phone ________________________________
Salesperson ___________________________________

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Operating Manual - Powerflex Multi-Channel 70V Power Amplifier

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