5
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.
NOTE: For speakers to be suitable for bi-amping, they must have
separate input terminals for bass (LF) and treble (HF) and any links
between these terminals must be removed before using the P7 in
this way.
The P7 can be easily integrated with various types of loudspeakers
currently available, 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 (for typical
5.1 and 7.1 installations). The speakers are distributed in the front left,
centre, front right, surround left, surround right, surround back left,
surround back right (see diagram below)
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.
Position your front left and right speakers to achieve a good stereo
image for normal musical reproduction as well as for the multi-channel
modes. 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.
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