I-Tech HD DriveCore Series Power Ampliers
Operation Manual
page 57
constant regardless of whether the LevelMAX Limiter suite is enabled 
(ON) or bypassed (OFF).
14.6 LevelMAX RMS Limiter
LevelMAX RMS limiting accurately limits the output signal to the 
specified RMS threshold voltage.
14.7 RMS Threshold (VRMS)
The RMS Threshold should be set by the user to correspond to the 
short term (2 hour) power handling of the transducer or system. 
Refer to the appropriate JBL Specification Sheet, Technical Manual or 
Product Manual for two hour power ratings. To calculate the RMS 
Threshold in VRMS, use the following equation:
 
where AES Power (Wrms, 2 hour) is the free air component power 
rating. 
If minimum impedance data is unavailable, use nominal impedance. If 
2 hour AES power ratings are unavailable, use 2 hour IEC power 
ratings. For most applications, it is recommended to operate LevelMAX 
limiters in Auto mode so that peak thresholds are automatically 
calculated based on the RMS threshold and selected LP frequency  
(see 14.1).
14 LevelMAX Limiters
14.1 LevelMAX Peak Limiter
LevelMAX Peak limiting instantaneously limits the output voltage to 
not exceed the defined peak threshold voltage.
14.2 Peak Limiter Threshold (V
pk
)
In Auto mode, the peak limiter threshold value is automatically 
determined from the defined RMS threshold and the low pass 
frequency defined in the XOVER block. For a low pass frequency less 
than 100 Hz, the RMS to peak threshold ratio is 6 dB. From 100 Hz to 
400 Hz, the RMS to peak ratio increases from 6 dB to 9 dB. Above 400 
Hz, the ratio remains at 9 dB.
For Advanced and Manual modes, the peak limiter threshold can be set 
by the user.
14.3 Peak Limiter Attack (sec)
The peak limiter attack time is instantaneous and cannot be modified. 
The output voltage is limited to the value defined by the peak limiter 
threshold (see 14.1).
14.4 Peak Limiter Release (sec)
In Auto mode, the peak limiter release time is determined by the high 
pass frequency defined in the XOVER block. 
For Advanced and Manual modes, the peak limiter release time can be 
set by the user.
14.5 Peak Limiter Look-Ahead
Peak Limiter Look-Ahead inserts a delay into the peak limiter signal 
path in order to ‘look’ at the input signal and anticipate when the peak 
threshold will be exceeded. If it detects that the threshold will be 
exceeded, the signal is gradually reduced prior to reaching the 
threshold, while still limiting to the correct peak voltage. This approach 
eliminates a sharp signal discontinuity which, in turn, could create 
audible distortion.
The peak limiter look-ahead value is 0.5 ms. This value was determined 
to be subjectively acceptable for most frequency ranges while not 
adversely compromising overall latency. Overall latency remains 
14.8 LevelMAX Transducer Thermal Limiter
LevelMAX Transducer Thermal limiting is designed to protect 
transducers from long term thermal damage by gradually adjusting the 
RMS threshold until the target long term thermal threshold voltage has 
been reached. The thermal limiter functions only when the RMS limiter 
is enabled and when the thermal voltage threshold is lower than the 
RMS threshold. On the main limiter panel, the thermal protection LED 
turns on once the thermal limiter is 0.75 dB into limit.
14.9 Thermal Voltage (V
RMS
)
The thermal voltage threshold should be set to correspond to the long 
term (100 hour) power handling of the transducer or system.
Refer to the appropriate JBL Specification Sheet, Technical Manual or 
Product Manual for 100 hour power ratings. To calculate the Thermal 
Voltage Threshold in VRMS, use the following equation:
where Power (Wrms, 100 hour) is the 100 hour power rating. 
If 100 hour power handling data is unavailable, set 100 hour power 
rating ≈ 0.8 x 2 hour power rating.
14.10 Thermal Response Time (s)
The thermal response time is the amount of time the average RMS 
signal is above the thermal threshold voltage before limiting begins. 
Once the threshold has been exceeded for the amount of time defined 
by the thermal response time, the RMS threshold is lowered until the 
target thermal voltage has been reached. The thermal response time is 
not the time it takes to reach the target voltage, although the longer the 
thermal response time, the longer it takes to reach the target voltage. It 
is also dependent on the amount of gain reduction and the ratio 
between RMS and thermal thresholds.
Thermal response time is transducer-dependent and should be based 
on the initial temperature rise of the transducer voice coil to protect it 
from thermal overload. 
If detailed transducer data is unavailable, the Thermal Response Time 
should be left at the default value of 10 sec. 
)(Impedance Nominal)hour100,(Power)(ThresholdThermal ohmsxWrmsVrms �
=
)(Impedance Minimum)hour2,(PowerAES)(ThresholdRMS ohmsxWrmsVrms �
=