Harman Kardon PA 4000 Owner's Manual

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Contents

Harman Kardon PA 4000 Owner's Manual Manual pdf 11 page image

11 CHANNEL CONFIGURATIONSSpeaker Wire ConnectionsRegardless of the channel configuration used,the final step of the installation process is toconnect the amplifier to your speakers, usinghigh-quality cable. The PA 4000 is equippedwith binding post terminals that accept barewire, spade lugs or banana-type plugs, whenthey are permitted by local safety agencies.Once you have located the proper speaker ter-minals for the type of output configuration inuse, connect your speakers using the followingguidelines.To ensure that the high-quality signals pro-duced by your PA 4000 are carried to yourspeakers without loss of clarity or resolution,we recommend that you use high-qualityspeaker cable. Many brands of cable are avail-able, and the choice of cable may be influencedby the distance between your speakers and theamplifier, the type of speakers you use, personalpreferences and other factors. Your dealer orinstaller is a valuable resource to consult inselecting the proper cable for connectionsbetween your amplifier and speakers.Regardless of the brand or type of cable selected,we recommend that you use a cable constructedof fine, multistrand copper with a gauge of 14or larger. Remember that in specifying cable,the lower the number, the thicker the cable.Cable with a gauge of 16 may be used forshort runs of less than ten feet. We do not rec-ommend that you use any cables with an AWGequivalent of 18 or higher, due to the powerloss and degradation in performance that willoccur.Cables that are run inside walls should havethe appropriate markings to indicate that theyare listed with UL, CSA or other testing agencystandards. Questions about cables inside wallsshould be referred to a qualified installer or alicensed electrical contractor who is familiarwith the NEC and/or the applicable local build-ing codes in your area.If bare wire is used for the connections, stripapproximately 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch of insulationfrom the end of each wire and carefully twistthe strands of each conductor together. Becareful not to cut the individual strands or twistthem off; for optimal performance, all strandsmust be used.Then, loosen the knobs of the speaker outputterminals far enough so that the pass-throughhole is revealed. In order to preserve properstereo imaging and low-frequency reproduction,it is essential that proper polarity be observedwhen connecting speakers to the PA 4000. Besure to connect the negative terminal for eachchannel on the PA 4000 to the negative termi-nal on the speaker, and the positive terminal onthe PA 4000 to the positive terminal on thespeaker. Note that one conductor of the speakercable will have no markings and the other willhave a red line, brand name markings, a blackthread or some other positive indication. Followthe proper connection instructions for your sys-tem with regard to which terminals are used.The small speaker icons next to each pair of ter-minal posts will guide you to the correct con-nections. When the connections are made, twistthe cap back so that the connection is secured,but do not overtighten or use tools, as this maybreak the delicate wire strands and decreasesystem performance.If you are using spade lugs, connect them tothe wire using the manufacturer’s instructionsand then loosen the caps on the speaker termi-nals. Place the lugs between the plastic cap andthe back of the terminal, as if it were a horse-shoe on the game’s post. Be sure to observeproper polarity, using the appropriate speakerhook-up icons for your system’s configuration.Tighten with your fingers to obtain a positivecontact.When banana plugs are permitted, connectionsmay be made by simply inserting the jackaffixed to your speaker wire into the hole pro-vided on the rear of the colored screw caps onthe binding posts. Before using banana-typejacks, make certain that the plastic screw capsare firmly tightened down by turning them in aclockwise direction until they are snug againstthe chassis. This will ensure that the maximumsurface area of the plug is in contact with thejack. Be certain to observe proper polarity.Finally, run the cables to the speaker locations.Where possible, it is recommended that thelength of cable connecting any pair of speakersbe identical, even though one speaker may bephysically closer to the amplifier than the other.Do not coil any excess cable, as this maybecome an inductor that creates frequencyresponse variations in your system.Finally, connect the wires to the speakers,again, being certain to observe proper polarity.Remember to connect your “negative” or“black” wire to the matching terminal on thespeaker. Similarly, the “positive” or “red” wireshould be connected to the like terminal on thespeaker.When making connections using bridged ampli-fier configurations, be certain to use the correctpositive and negative terminals for bridgedapplications. In bridged applications, the nega-tive speaker connector terminal will be red eventhough the connection is properly marked asnegative.NOTE: While most speaker manufacturersadhere to an industry convention of using blackterminals for negative and red ones for positive,some manufacturers may vary from this config-uration. To ensure proper phase connectionsand optimal performance, consult the identifica-tion plate on your speaker terminals, or thespeaker’s manual to verify polarity. If you donot know the polarity of your speaker, ask yourdealer or installer for advice before proceeding,or consult the speaker’s manufacturer.As a general rule, avoid running input signal orspeaker wire connections in parallel with eachother, or with AC power cords. This can result inundesired hum or other interference that willgreatly degrade signal performance.Channel Configurations and Audio Connections