--------------------------------------------------------------------------- OWNER’S MANUAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRAVO REFERENCE AMPLIFIER JUNE, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS Safety Notices…….……………………………………………………….....03 Introduction……..……………………………………………………………….05 Unpacking…….…………………………………………………………………..05 Placement Considerations………………………………………………..06 Special Design Features…………………………………………………..07 Amp Rear Panel…..……………………………………………………………12 Supply Rear Panel………….…………………………………………………13 Mono Operation…………………………………………………………………16 Bridged Operation…………………………………………………………….17 Biamplification…….…………………………………………………………….18 Care and Maintenance………..…………………………………………….
SAFETY WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
Important Safety Instructions Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Viola Audio Labs power amplifier. 1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting any cables, or when cleaning any component. 2. This product must be terminated with a three-conductor AC mains power cord which includes an earth ground connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must ALWAYS be used. 3.
INTRODUCTION Thank you for choosing the Viola Bravo Reference Amplifier. We have designed and manufactured this exciting product utilizing the latest techniques and the best materials available. Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality listening pleasure available. UNPACKING Under no circumstances should you consider unpacking your amplifier without adequate assistance as both personal injury and damage to the product is likely unless you follow the procedures listed below.
The only exception to this rule is if power is removed from the unit, allowing it to cool down. This can occur due to: extended power outages, unplugging the amplifier from the wall during a vacation; or by leaving the amplifier in sleep mode rather than in standby. In these cases you should expect a brief warm-up period before the amplifier's sound quality is at its best. (Fortunately, you will never have to repeat the full 300 hour break-in period.
from side to side in the amplifier. If you look closely, you will see crosscuts in the side plates of the amplifier. These cutouts provide the air intake and exhaust for the forced-air cooling system. The fans’ superior engineering and ball-bearing construction allow them to run extremely quietly. Most people will never notice them. The only time you are likely to hear them is when you first turn the volume off after a prolonged period of extremely high volume listening.
this greatly increases the life span and reliability of the power supply components. Capacitor lifespan in particular can be increased by at least an order of magnitude. The virtual elimination of the high peak ripple currents also minimizes intermodulation distortion on the power supply “rails” and ground returns. Additional power factor (PF) correction circuitry increases the PF from .9 (typical for “choke” input supplies) to .96 (a power factor of 1 [unity] is considered ideal).
introduced by wiring harnesses, etc. more commonly found in high performance amplifiers. High frequency power supply bypass is accomplished on individual PC boards with capacitors of several film types. The resulting uniformly low power supply impedance seen by the various circuits within the amplifier lays the foundation for both the massive power and the extraordinary finesse that characterizes the Bravo power amplifier.
room were you to find one that could do so). However, many high quality loudspeakers may require rather extreme power levels on a short term basis when reproducing music at realistic levels. Your new amplifier can answer these needs with impunity, without any power supply "sag" and without altering its sonic performance in any way. The resultant imperturbable nature of these amplifiers is reflected in the authority and control with which they reproduce music.
power-up, and switches off-line once the power supply has been charged. Finally, your amplifier incorporates a controlled clipping circuit that prevents the output devices from saturating. The harsh high frequency harmonics generated by hard-clipped output devices are avoided by the wave shaping action of this controlled clip circuitry.
AMP REAR PANEL 12
SUPPLY REAR PANEL Caution! Turn the volume on your preamplifier all the way down before attempting to connect anything to your Bravo power amplifier. 1. Rear Panel Handles Please use these handles to make unpacking and moving your new amplifier around both safer and more convenient. Have help available for the initial unpacking and placement, as these amplifiers are quite heavy. As with anything this massive, proper care should be taken to avoid injury. 2.
Caution! • • • NEVER connect a power amplifier's output terminals to any device other than a loudspeaker. NEVER short -circuit the amplifier's output terminals. NEVER connect the output terminals of one amplifier to the output terminals of another amplifier unless connecting for bridge mode operation (see Bridged Operation below). Caution! There are two recommended methods for connecting speaker cables to your amplifier.
The pin assignments of the Bravo amplifier XLR-type female chassis input connector is Pin 1: Signal ground Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting) Pin 3: Signal - (inverting) Connector ground lug or case: chassis ground These pin assignments are consistent with the standards adopted by the Audio Engineering Society. Refer to the operating manual of your balanced-output preamplifier to verify- that the pin assignments of its output connectors correspond to your Bravo power amplifier.
MONO OPERATION The Bravo Amplifier is a 2 channel stereo amplifier that can be converted to a mono amplifier in one of two ways, Internal Bridge Mode or Internal Parallel Mode. Internal Bridge mode is better suited for high impedance loudspeakers (4 ohms and above) that require more voltage. Internal Parallel Mode is better suited for lower impedance loudspeakers (4 ohms and below) requiring more current.
BRIDGED OPERATION Bridging is the process of converting the left and right channels of your amplifier to act as if it was a single, much larger, one channel amplifier. To play music from both channels (stereo) you would need a second amplifier in bridged mode. Bridging permits you to increase the amount of power you send to each channel by almost four times. Bridging is useful with low sensitivity, high-impedance speakers that require high voltage.
WIRING AND BIAMPLIFICATION SINGLE WIRE CONFIGURATION Single-wiring uses one amplifier channel to power each loudspeaker. A single wire carries the high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) information. Jumpers connect the HF and LF sections of the speaker’s crossover network at the loud speaker. BI-WIRE CONFIGURATION Bi-wiring also uses one amplifier channel to power each loudspeaker. However separate wires carry the high frequency and low frequency information.
Caution! At no time should liquid cleaners be applied directly to the amplifier, as direct application of liquids may result in damage to electronic components within the unit. TROUBLESHOOTING In general, refer any service problems to your VIOLA dealer. Before contacting your dealer, however, check to see if the problem is listed here. If it is, try the suggested solutions. If none of these solves the problem, contact your VIOLA dealer. 1.
If your VIOLA component must be serviced, please contact your dealer. Your dealer will then decide whether the problem can be remedied locally, or whether to contact the VIOLA factory for further service information or parts, or to obtain a Return Authorization. The VIOLA Technical Services Department works closely with your dealer to solve your service needs expediently. Important! Return authorization must be obtained from VIOLA’S Technical Services Department BEFORE a unit is shipped for service.
of previously owned equipment should contact the factory to determine the balance of the warranty period. SERVICE If you believe your VIOLA equipment is not functioning properly, please call your dealer. If you need to return your component, you will be given a Return Authorization number (RA#) by the factory. This number must appear on the outside of the shipping box. Returns without RA# will not be accepted. Returns received in non-standard boxes will be replaced with new packing at the owner’s expense.
There is no other express warranty on this component. This warranty shall not extend beyond the stated warranty period. No responsibility is assumed for incidental or consequential damages. SPECIFICATIONS Class of Output Operation: AB2 Power Rating: 350 watts continuous average power into 8 ohms; 20 Hz to 20 kHz with both channels driven at less than 0.1% THD 1200 watts continuous average power into 8 ohms when configured in Bridged Mode IM Distortion (SMPTE) 1 watt to 300 watts into 8 ohms <0.
DIMENSIONS FRONT PLATE _ | | 9.625”* | | |-----------------17.58-----------------| *ADD .75” FOR FEET REAR PLATE _ | | 8.79” | | |----------------16.74----------------| BOTTOM PLATE _ | | | | 16.74” | | | | |--------------------------26.03*--------------------------| *ADD 1.
