In a move that redefines the performance capabilities of professional multichannel power amplifiers, HARMAN’s Crown Audio announced the introduction of its new flagship I-Tech HD Series 4x3500HD DriveCore™ Series 4-channel power amplifier. The 4-channel I-Tech 4x3500HD incorporates Crown’s sixth-generation Class I engine with DriveCore™ technology to deliver 3,500 watts per channel burst into four or two ohms, and offers a host of Crown’s most advanced features including a 4.3-inch TFT LCD with capacitive touchscreen, exclusive HARMAN HiQnet System Architect™ 2.0 control functionality and Version 5 DSP preset support for JBL Professional’s newly-launched VTX Series V25 plus VERTEC® Series line array loudspeakers.
The I-Tech 4x3500HD offers an unprecedented degree of operational flexibility. The 4.3-inch front-panel LCD touchscreen provides amplifier monitoring and access to key functions with color-keyed visuals that are similar to the at-a-glance FaderGlow™ indicators used on Soundcraft and Studer mixing consoles.
The Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD delivers 1,900 watts per channel into eight ohms, 2,000 watts per channel into four ohms and a massive 4,000 watts into four ohms bridged with all channels driven at full bandwidth all from an amplifier that measures just 2U rack spaces high. This remarkable power to size ratio is made possible by Crown’s exclusive DriveCore amplifier IC chip. The DriveCore chip combines the amplifier driver stage into the power output stage (along with additional audio-signal functions), to dramatically reduce overall size and power-consumption requirements and yield energy-efficient operation that conforms to HARMAN International’s GreenEdge™ environmental initiative.
DriveCore technology also gives the I-Tech 4x3500HD the ability to better control and more quickly recover from high-voltage transients, for a highly accurate reproduction of the input signal and better low-frequency response.
A common concern among tour and installed sound professionals is the relative lack of inputs and outputs on DSP-enabled power amplifiers. The I-Tech 4x3500HD provides an ideal real-world solution with its four analog inputs, four AES3 digital inputs and four AES inputs over VDrive and the ability to select four CobraNet® inputs. The amplifier also includes SpeakON or banana plug speaker connectors, as well as a Neutrik® PowerCON AC input connector to prevent the power cord from coming loose in transit.
The Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD provides more DSP sound-tailoring capability than any other amplifier on the market. Its proprietary BSS OmniDriveHD processing engine employs 32bit/192kHz A/D and D/A converters for superb sonic clarity and the ability to precisely tailor the amplifier’s audio output. Crown’s exclusive linear phase FIR and IIR filters provide optimized loudspeaker crossover points with improved midrange clarity and off-axis loudspeaker response.
The amplifier is compatible with the HARMAN HiQnet System Architect and JBL HiQnet Performance Manager™ sound reinforcement system design software. JBL HiQnet Performance Manager is a highly refined user interface that facilitates the design of touring and live performance venue sound reinforcement systems. The inclusion of JBL VERTEC Version 5 DSP preset tunings for VERTEC Series loudspeakers interface with the I-Tech 4x3500HD’s FIR filters to improve the loudspeakers’ sound quality and horizontal coverage performance. For enhanced control and monitoring capabilities the amplifier is also compatible with the Powered By Crown iPad/iPhone application.
“The I-Tech 4x3500HD DriveCore Series offers control, connectivity, DSP and system interfacing capabilities that have never been available in a professional high-power multichannel amplifier before,” said Brian Pickowitz, Market Manager, Tour Sound for Crown. “We designed it entirely without compromise to be the most flexible and useful multichannel amplifier on the market today.”
“The I-Tech 4x3500HD will be an integral part of our turnkey system package for the newly-released, VTX Series V25 flagship fullsize enclosure as well as a powerful, versatile platform that allows VerTec to achieve it’s full performance potential with V5 processing”, added Paul Bauman, Senior Manager, Tour Sound for JBL Professional.
The I-Tech 4x3500HD incorporates a host of additional useful features including Crown’s innovative LevelMax™ limiter technology that combines the operation of the amplifier’s Peak, Thermal and RMS limiters for more effective protection; a front-panel USB port that enables users to load preset amplifier settings or device files and update firmware.
Power per channel with all channels driven for two seconds is as follows: 1,900W at eight ohms; 2,000W at four ohms; 2,000W at two ohms; 3,800W at eight ohms bridged; 4,000W at four ohms bridged.
The Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD DriveCore Series will be available in February 2012.
For more information please contact Sound Technology Ltd on 01462 480000.
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