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Getting started with your P7
INTRODUCTION
The P7 Multi-channel Power Amplifier is built to Arcam’s traditional
high quality design and manufacturing standards. It is an extremely
high-performance multi-channel power amplifier, offering up to 150W
per channel. It is obviously well suited to multi-channel home cinema
amplification, and also provides superb quality stereo performance with
two-channel sources. The P7 is an ideal partner for the FMJ AV8 Pre-
amp Processor.
Each power amplifier module is identical, and is electrically isolated from
the other modules by opto-isolated circuitry which ensures that each
amplifier module has its own isolated supply. This allows the amplifier to
give excellent channel separation and very low distortion.
The P7 also has input and output phono sockets for the signal being fed
to each channel, to allow the signal to be passed on to additional power
amplifiers to drive loudspeakers in other rooms or to bi-amplify any of
the speakers. If the P7 is being used to drive a five-channel surround
sound system, then the spare two modules (‘L surround rear’ and ‘R
surround rear’) can be used in conjunction with the main (‘L front’ and
‘R front’) modules to bi-amplify suitable front left and right speakers.
The P7 can be easily integrated with various types of loudspeakers,
including those that are THX certified. Being THX certified means that
the P7 has passed the rigorous THX Ultra2 specification enabling it to
reproduce THX Surround EX signals from both Dolby Digital and DTS
soundtracks, when fed from a THX Surround EX-capable processor,
such as the Arcam AV8.
The customised installation of the P7 to a listening room is an
important process which requires care at every stage. For this reason,
the installation information is very comprehensive and should be
followed carefully. This manual has been written with the assumption
that the installer is familiar with the installation of audio/video systems.
SPEAKER INSTALLATION
The P7 allows connection of up to seven loudspeakers. All speakers,
with the exception of the subwoofer, should be arranged around your
normal viewing/listening position (see diagram). The subwoofer can be
placed almost anywhere and we recommend experimenting with it in
various positions to obtain the best result.
Surround back
left
Surround back
right
CentreFront
left
Front
right
Subwoofer
Surround left
Surround right
Position your front left and right speakers to achieve a good stereo
image for normal musical reproduction. If they are placed too close
together there will be a lack of spaciousness. Alternatively if they are
placed too far apart the stereo image will appear to have a large hole
in the middle and will be presented in two halves.
The centre speaker allows for a more realistic reproduction of dialogue
and centre sounds as well as wider and better imaging for stereo effects
and background sounds for home cinema use. Do not compromise
on the quality of your centre speaker as it carries all the dialogue for a
home cinema system.
The surround left and right speakers reproduce the ambient sound and
effects present in a multi-channel home cinema system.
The surround back left and surround back right speakers are used to
add extra depth, a more spacious ambience and sound localisation.
A subwoofer will greatly improve the bass performance from your
system. This is useful for reproducing special cinema effects, especially
where a dedicated LFE (Low-Frequency Effects) channel is available, as
with Dolby Digital or DTS Digital Surround encoded discs.
CABLES
We recommend the use of high quality screened analogue, digital
and video cables as inferior quality cables will degrade the sound and
picture quality of your system. Only use cables that are designed for
the particular application as other cables will have different impedance
characteristics that will degrade the performance of your system.
Speaker cable length should be minimized and low resistance wire
should be used throughout to ensure efficient power transmission and
avoid audible distortion.
For optimum soundstage imaging, try to keep the right and left speaker
cables the same length. You are also advised to route the signal cables,
speaker cables and mains power cables away from each other to
minimize interference.
Contact your Arcam dealer or installer for details of suitable cables.