Mackie FR1400 Stereo Amplifier User Manual


 
5
Owner’s Manual
Owner’s Manual
Getting Started
The following steps will help you set up your
amplifier, and get the levels just right.
Settings:
1. Be sure the amplifier’s POWER switch is off.
2. Turn down both Level controls.
3. On the rear panel, set the SUBSONIC FILTER
switch OFF and the CLIP LIMIT switch ON.
4. Determine which AMP MODE is best for your
application:
STEREO mode is the typical setup for am-
plifying stereo signals. INPUT 1 is routed to
CHANNEL 1 output, and INPUT 2 is routed to
CHANNEL 2 output.
MONO mode is used for sending a mono signal
to both outputs, with separately adjustable
level controls. INPUT 1 is used in MONO mode
(leave INPUT 2 disconnected).
BRIDGE mode uses both outputs to double the
power to one speaker (or set of speakers). IN-
PUT 1 is used in BRIDGE mode (leave INPUT
2 disconnected and its Level control turned
down).
NOTE: 4 ohms is the minimum speaker imped-
ance you should connect to the amplifier in
BRIDGE mode.
5. Set the AMP MODE switch according to your
application and delicate sensibilities.
Connections:
1. Using balanced cables, make connections from
your mixer (or other signal source) MAIN OUT
to your amplifier’s INPUTs.
2. In STEREO mode, connect the cables from your
signal source to the amplifier’s INPUT jacks, ei-
ther XLR or 1/4" TRS. The XLR and TRS inputs
for each channel are wired in parallel.
The balanced XLR inputs are wired as follows:
Pin 1 = shield (ground)
Pin 2 = hot (+)
Pin 3 = cold (–)
The 1/4" TRS inputs are wired as follows:
Tip = hot (+)
Ring = cold (–)
Sleeve = shield (ground)
3. In MONO mode and BRIDGE mode, connect
one cable from the input source to INPUT 1,
and connect nothing to INPUT 2.
4. In STEREO and MONO modes, connect speaker
cables to the SPEAKER OUTPUTS, either the
binding posts or the Speakon® connectors.
The binding post connectors are wired as fol-
lows:
Red = hot (+ speaker terminal)
Black = cold (– speaker terminal)
The Speakon connectors are wired as follows:
1+ = hot (+ speaker terminal)
1– = cold (– speaker terminal).
5. In BRIDGE mode, if using the binding post
outputs:
CH 1 red post = hot (+ speaker terminal)
CH 2 red post = cold (– speaker terminal)
Do not use the black terminals.
If using a Speakon connector, connect the
Speakon to the center BRIDGED connector.
The BRIDGED Speakon connector is wired as
follows:
1+ = hot (+ speaker terminal)
2+ = cold (– speaker terminal)
6. Plug all the sound system components into suit-
able AC outlets, properly grounded and capable
of delivering adequate current.
7. Make sure your signal source is powered up and
delivering signal to the amplifier.
8. Turn the power amplifier’s switch on. Verify that
the POWER LED lights.
9. Slowly turn up both Level controls on the am-
plifier. You should hear music and see the SIG
LEDs flashing. If the OL (Overload) LEDs are
flashing, turn down either the Level controls on
the amp or the source signal’s output level con-
trols (i.e., master faders), until the OL LEDs
either blink occasionally or not at all.
10. For quieter listening, it is preferable to adjust
the amp’s Level controls rather than the source
signal’s output level (unless you have the
source’s control all the way up!).
Things To Remember:
Never plug amplifier outputs into anything
except speakers (unless you have an outboard
box specifically designed to handle speaker-
level signals). Pumpkins are right out.
Before making connections to an amp or recon-
figuring an amp’s routing, turn the amp’s level
controls down, turn the power off, make the
changes, turn the power back on, and then turn
the level controls back up.
If you shut down your equipment, turn off the
amplifiers first. When powering up, turn on the
amplifiers last.
Save the shipping box and packing material!