RB-985 MK II - Power amplifier ROTEL - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL RB-985 MK II ROTEL

This symbol is to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltages inside the product's enclosure that may constitute a risk of electric shock.

This symbol is to alert the user to important operating and maintenance (service) instructions in this manual and literature accompanying the product.

WARNING:

There are no user serviceable parts inside. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.

WARNING:

To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, do not expose the unit to moisture or water. Do not allow foreign objects to get into the enclosure. If the unit is exposed to moisture, or a foreign object gets into the enclosure, immediately disconnect the power cord from the wall. Take the unit to a qualified service person for inspection and necessary repairs.

Read all the instructions before connecting or operating the unit. Keep this manual so you can refer to these safety instructions.

Heed all warnings and safety information in these instructions and on the product itself. Follow all operating instructions.

Clean the unit only with a dry cloth or a vacuum cleaner.

Keep the ventilation inlets on the unit unobstructed. For example, do not place the unit on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface that could block the ventilation slots. If the unit is placed in a bookcase or cabinet, there must be sufficient clearance around the unit and ventilation of the cabinet to allow proper cooling.

Keep the unit away from radiators, heat registers, stoves, or any other appliance that produces heat.

The unit must be connected to a power supply only of the type and voltage specified on the rear panel of the unit.

Connect the unit to the power outlet only with the supplied 2-pin polarized power supply cable or an exact equivalent. Do not modify the supplied cable in any way. Do not attempt to defeat grounding and/or polarization provisions. The cable should be connected to a 2-pin polarized wall outlet, matching the wide blade of the plug to the wide slot of the receptacle. Do not use extension cords.

Do not route the power cord where it will be crushed, pinched, bent at severe angles, exposed to heat, or damaged in any way. Pay particular attention to the power cord at the plug and where it exits the back of the unit.

The power cord should be unplugged from the wall outlet if the unit is to be left unused for a long period of time.

Immediately stop using the unit and have it inspected and/or serviced by a qualified service agency if:

The power supply cord or plug has been damaged.
- Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled, into the unit.
The unit has been exposed to rain.
The unit shows signs of improper operation
The unit has been dropped or damaged in any way

Place the unit on a fixed, level surface strong enough to support its weight. Do not place the unit on a moveable cart that could tip over.

Commandes et prises

Figure 1: Controls and Connections

Figure 2: Preamp Input and Speaker Output Connections

Contents (circled numbers refer to illustration)

About Rotel 1

About the THX® System 1

Getting Started 2

A Few Precautions 2

Placement 2

Power and Control 2

Power Input 4 2

Power Switch 1 and Power Indicator 2

Protection Circuitry 3 2

Input Signal Connection 3

Input Signal Connection 5 3

DB25 Connector Input 6

Speaker Connection 3

Speaker Selection 3

Speaker Wire Selection 3

Polarity and Phasing 3

Speaker Connection 3

Troubleshooting 4

Front Panel Power Indicator Is Not Lit 4

Fuse Replacement 4

No Sound 4

Protection Indicator Is Lit 4

Specifications 25

About Rotel

A family whose passionate interest in music led them to manufacture high fidelity components of uncompromising quality founded Rotel over 30 years ago. Through the years that passion has remained undiminished and the family goal of providing exceptional value for audiophiles and music lovers, regardless of their budget, is shared by all Rotel employees.

The engineers work as a close team, listening to, and fine tuning each new product until it reaches their exacting musical standards. They are free to choose components from around the world in order to make that product the best they can. You are likely to find capacitors from the United Kingdom and Germany, semi conductors from Japan or the United States, while toroidal power transformers are manufactured in Rotel's own factory.

Rotel's reputation for excellence has been earned through hundreds of good reviews and awards from the most respected reviewers in the industry, who listen to music every day. Their comments keep the company true to its goal – the pursuit of equipment that is musical, reliable and affordable.

All of us at Rotel thank you for buying this product and hope it will bring you many hours of enjoyment.

About the THX® System

The THX system was developed by the THX Division of Lucasfilms, Ltd. to ensure the finest reproduction of surround sound movies. With a THX system, the surround sound encoded movies you watch are reproduced in a realistic recreation of the way they were mixed on the sound stage. This faithful recreation of the movies will allow you to experience the excitement and the entertainment intended by the directors of your favorite films. Rotel has designed the RB-985 MKII to meet the THX Division performance specifications so that you have an accurate recreation of the movie soundtrack in your living room or home theater system. This ensures that our equipment is compatible with other Rotel THX products or with THX products from other companies.

The THX standard yields the best home theater sound because the certification process requires tight adherence to the system performance standards. Rotel components are famous for high performance and high value. We feel the THX certification is a logical extension of our efforts to provide the best possible audio reproduction of surround sound movies.

Getting Started

Thank you for purchasing the Rotel RB-985 MKII Power Amplifier. When used in a high-quality music or home theater system, it will provide years of musical enjoyment.

The RB-985 MKII is a high-power, five-channel power amplifier, providing the highest level of audio performance. Discrete output devices, a massive power supply, premium components, and Rotel's Balanced Design ensure superb sound quality. High current capability allows the RB-985 MKII to drive the most demanding loudspeakers.

Be aware that the RB-985 MKII is capable of high power levels, in excess of 100 watts per channel. Make sure that your speakers can handle the power of the RB-985 MKII. If in doubt about your speakers, ask your authorized Rotel dealer for advice.

The RB-985 MKII is straightforward in its installation and operation. If you have experience with other stereo power amplifiers, you shouldn't find anything perplexing. Connect some high-quality RCA cables to your preamp or signal processor and the RB-985 MKII inputs, wire up your speakers, and enjoy.

A Few Precautions

Please read this manual carefully. In addition to basic installation and operating instructions, it provides valuable information on system configuration, as well as general information that will help you get optimum performance from your system. Please contact your authorized Rotel audio retailer for answers to any questions you might have. In addition, all of us at Rotel welcome your questions and comments.

Save the RB-985 MKII shipping carton and all enclosed packing material for future use. Shipping or moving the RB-985 MKII in anything other than the original packing material may result in severe damage to your amplifier.

Fill out and send in the owner's registration card packed with the RB-985 MKII. Also be sure to keep the original sales receipt. It is your best record of the date of purchase, which you will need in the event warranty service is ever required.

Placement

Because of its high power output, the RB-985 MKII may generate considerable heat. The heat sinks and ventilation openings in the amplifier are more than capable of dissipating this heat under normal conditions, but don't smother your amplifier. There must be adequate clearance around the chassis. The ventilation slots in the top cover must be unblocked, and there must be reasonable airflow around the amplifier. Use common sense when placing the amplifier in a cabinet or when stacking other equipment.

Likewise, remember the weight of the amplifier when you select an installation location. Make sure that the shelf or cabinet can support its considerable bulk. Again, use common sense.

Power and Control

Power Input

Because of its high power rating, the RB-985 MKII can draw considerable current. Therefore, it should be plugged directly into a 2-pin polarized wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord. A heavy duty multi-tap power outlet strip may be used if it (and the wall outlet) is rated to handle the current demanded by the RB-985 MKII and all the other components connected to it.

Be sure the power switch on the front panel of the RB-985 MKII is turned off (in the out position). Connect the supplied power cord to the power input receptacle on the back of the RB-985 MKII. Then, plug the other end of the power cord to the power outlet.

Your RB-985 MKII is configured at the factory for the proper AC line voltage in the country where you purchased it (either 115 volts AC or 230 volts AC with a line frequency of either 50Hz or 60Hz ). The AC line configuration is noted on a decal on the back panel.

Note: Should you move your RB-985 MKII amplifier to another country, it is possible to reconfigure your amplifier for use on a different line voltage. Do not attempt to perform this conversion yourself. Opening the enclosure of the RB-985 MKII exposes you to dangerous voltages. Consult a qualified service person or the Rotel factory service department for information.

If you are going to be away from home for an extended period of time such as a month-long vacation, it is a sensible precaution to unplug your amplifier (as well as other audio and video components) while you are away.

Power Switch

The power switch is located on the front panel of your amplifier. To turn the amplifier on, push the switch in. The LED indicator above the switch will light, indicating that the amplifier is turned on. To turn the amplifier off, push the button again and return it to the out position.

Protection Circuitry

The RB-985 MKII features a thermal protection circuit that protects the amplifier against potential damage in the event of extreme or faulty operating conditions. Unlike many designs, the RB-985 MKII's protection circuit is independent of the audio signal and has no impact on sonic performance. Instead, the protection circuit monitors the temperature of the output devices and shuts down the amplifier if temperatures exceed safe limits.

Most likely, you will never see this protection circuitry in action. However, should a faulty condition arise, the amplifier will stop playing and an LED indicator on the front panel will light up.

If this happens, turn the amplifier off, let it cool down for several minutes, and attempt to identify and correct the problem that caused the protection circuitry to engage. When you turn the amplifier back on, the protection circuit will automatically reset and the indicator LED should go out.

In most cases, the protection circuitry activates because of a fault condition such as shorted speaker wires, or inadequate ventilation leading to an overheating condition. In very rare cases, highly reactive or extremely low impedance speaker loads could cause the protection circuit to engage.

If the protection circuitry triggers repeatedly and you are unable to isolate and correct the faulty condition, contact your Rotel audio retailer for assistance in troubleshooting.

Input Signal Connection 5

[See Figure 2 for wiring illustration.]

The RB-985 MKII has conventional RCA type input connectors, the type found on nearly all audio equipment.

Note: Do not connect inputs to both the RCA and DB25 inputs. (See the following section.) Use one or the other.

Note: To prevent loud noises that neither you nor your speakers will appreciate, make sure the amplifier is turned off when you make any signal connections.

Use high quality audio interconnect cables. Connect the various outputs of your preamplifier or signal processor to the corresponding inputs of the RB-985 MKII. Check these connections carefully to be sure there are no incorrect connections.

DB25 Connector Input 6

The RB-985 MKII is also equipped with a DB25 type input. This input is typically only used in professionally-installed custom systems. The DB25 input duplicates the function of the five RCA inputs. For information regarding how to use this input, contact your nearest authorized Rotel service center.

Speaker Connection

Speaker Selection

We recommend using loudspeakers with a nominal impedance of 4 ohms or higher with the RB-985 MKII. You should exercise some caution in driving multiple pairs of speakers in parallel configuration, because the effective impedance the amplifier sees is cut in half. For example, when driving two pair of 8 ohm speakers, the amplifier sees a 4 ohm load. When driving multiple speakers in parallel, it is recommended that you select speakers with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms or higher. Speaker impedance ratings are less than precise. In practice, very few loudspeakers will present any problems for the RB-985 MKII. See your authorized Rotel dealer if you have any questions.

Speaker Wire Selection

Use insulated two-conductor stranded wire to connect the RB-985 MKII to the speakers. The size and quality of the wire can have an audible effect on the performance of the system. Standard speaker wire will work, but can result in lower output or diminished bass response, particularly over longer distances. In general, heavier wire will improve the sound. For best performance, you may want to consider special high-quality speaker cables. Your authorized Rotel dealer can help in the selection of appropriate cables for your system.

Polarity and Phasing

The polarity — the positive/negative orientation of the connections — for every speaker and amplifier connection must be consistent so all the speakers will be in phase. If the polarity of one connection is mistakenly reversed, bass output will be very weak and stereo imaging degraded. All wire is marked so you can identify the two conductors. There may be ribs or a stripe on the insulation of one conductor. The wire may have clear insulation with different color conductors (copper and silver). There may be polarity indications printed on the insulation. Identify the positive and negative conductors and be consistent with every speaker and amplifier connection.

Speaker Connection

The RB-985 MKII has five pairs of color coded binding posts on the back panel. These connectors accept bare wire, connector lugs, or dual banana type connectors (except in the European Community countries where their use is not permitted).

The negative connectors for all the channels are black. The positive connectors for the right front and surround speakers are red. The positive connectors for the left front and surround speakers are blue. The positive connector for the center speaker is green.

Route the wire from the RB-985 MKII to the speakers. Give yourself enough slack so you can move the components enough to allow access to the speaker connectors.

If you are using dual banana plugs, connect them to the wires and then plug into the backs of the binding posts. The hexagonal thumbscrews of the binding posts should be screwed in all the way (clockwise).

If you are using terminal lugs, connect them to the wires. If you are attaching bare wires directly to the binding posts, separate the wire conductors and strip back the insulation from the end of each conductor. Be careful not to cut into the wire strands. Un-screw (turn counterclockwise) the binding post hexagonal thumb-screws. Place the connector lug or wire around the binding post shaft. Turn the hexagonal thumb Screws clockwise to clamp the connector lug or wire firmly in place.

Note: Be sure there are no loose wire strands that could touch adjacent wires or connectors.

Troubleshooting

Most difficulties in audio systems are the result of poor or wrong connections, or improper control settings. If you encounter problems, isolate the area of the difficulty, check the control settings, determine the cause of the fault and make the necessary changes. If you are unable to get sound from the RB-985 MKII, refer to the suggestions for the following conditions:

Front Panel Power Indicator Is Not Lit

No main power to the RB-985 MKII. Check the front panel power switch. Make sure that it is set to the on position. Check power connections at the amplifier and the outlet.

Fuse Replacement

If everything checks out correctly and you still cannot get the amplifier to turn on, the internal power fuse may have blown. If you believe this has happened, contact your authorized Rotel dealer for information on where to take your amplifier to get the fuse replaced.

No Sound

If the amp is getting power, but is producing no sound, check the Protection indicator on the front panel. If it is lit, see below. If not, check all of your connections and control settings on associated components.

Protection Indicator Is Lit

The front panel indicator lights when the RB-985 MKII protection circuits have shut off the amplifier. Typically, this occurs only when the ventilation openings are blocked, when there is faulty speaker wiring, or after a period of extreme use. Turn off the system and wait for the amp to cool. Then push the front panel power switch in and out to reset the protection devices. If the problem is not corrected or reoccurs, there is a problem with the system or the amplifier itself.

AVERTISSEMENT

13 - Signal Front Links

14 - GND Front Links

12 - Signal Center

15 - GND Center

11 - Signal Front Rechts

16 - GND Front Rechts

10 - Signal Subwoofer

17 - GND Subwoofer

09 - Signal Rear Links

18 - GND Rear Links

08 - Signal Rear Rechts

19 - GND Rear Rechts

Loutsprecher

Continuous Power Output 100 watts/ch

(20-20 kHz, < 0.03%, 8 ohms)

Total Harmonic Distortion (20Hz-20kHz, 8 ohms) < 0.03%

Intermodulation Distortion (60 Hz: 7 kHz, 4:1)

Frequency Response (± 0.5)

Damping Factor (20-20,000 Hz, 8 ohms)

Speaker Impedance

Signal to Noise Ratio (IHFA network)

Input Impedance/Sensitivity

Power Requirements

Power Consumption

Dimensions (W× H× D)

Weight (net)

All specifications are accurate at the time of printing.

Rotel reserves the right to make improvements without notice.

Fiche technique

Consummation 800 Watts

Dimensions (L, H, P) 440 x 139 x 396 mm

173/8" x 51/2" x 155/8"

Poids (net) 15.5kg / 34.1lb

North Reading, MA 01864-2699

USA

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Rotel Europe

Meadow Road

Worthing, West Sussex BN11 2RX

England

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Rotel Deutschland

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