Cerwin Vega Cv 1800 Users Manual Originator
CV-900 to the manual 39616ae4-dba8-436b-9db9-03c2b8d46505
2015-02-03
: Cerwin-Vega Cerwin-Vega-Cv-1800-Users-Manual-467738 cerwin-vega-cv-1800-users-manual-467738 cerwin-vega pdf
Open the PDF directly: View PDF 
.
Page Count: 8
CV-900 / CV-1800 / CV-2800
HEAVY DUTY PROFESSIONAL AMPLIFIERS
USER MANUAL
MANUAL_CVAMPS-REV-B1.qxd:Originator: M. Schlazer Size: 8.5 x 11 7/30/08 11:34 AM Page 1
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
MANUAL_CVAMPS-REV-B1.qxd:Originator: M. Schlazer Size: 8.5 x 11 7/30/08 11:34 AM Page 2
Read these instructions - All the safety and operating instructions sh-
ould be read before this product is operated.
Retain these instructions - The safety and operating instructions sh-
ould be retained for future reference.
Heed all warnings - All warnings on the appliance and in the operati-
ng instructions should be adhered to.
Follow all instructions - All operating and use instructions should be
followed.
Do not use this apparatus near water - The appliance should not be
used near water or moisture - for example, in a wet basement or
near a swimming pool, and the like.
Clean only with dry cloth.
Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
manufacture’s instructions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registe-
rs,stoves,or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding plug.
A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the ther. A grou-
nding plug has two blades and a third grounding prong.The wide bla-
de or the third prong is provided for your safety. If the provided plug
does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement
of the obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly
at the plugs, convenience receptacles, and at the point where they
exit from the apparatus.
Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket,
or table specified by the manufacturer, or
sold with the apparatus. When a cart or rack
is used,use caution when moving the cart/a-
pparatus combination to avoid injury from
tip-over.
Unplug the apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for
long periods of time.
Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Servicing is required when
the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power supply
cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fa-
llen into the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does
not operate normally, or has been dropped.
Please keep the unit in a good ventilation environment.
WARNING:To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose
this apparatus to rain or moisture. The apparatus shall not be expo-
sed to dripping or splashing and that no objects filled with liquids,
such as vases, shall not be placed on apparatus.
WARNING: The mains plug or appliance inlet is used as disconect
device, the disconnect device shall remain readily operable.
Power Sources – This product should be operated only from the
type of power source indicated on the rating label.If you are not sure
of the type of power supply to your home, onsult your product dealer
or local power company. For products intended to operate from batt-
ery power, or other sources, refer the perating instructions.
Safety Check – Upon completion of any service or repairs to this pr-
oduct, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to dete-
rmine that the product is in proper operating condition.
Don't touch conductive parts of output terminals to prevent hazard-
ous electrical shock. The external wiring connected to the terminals
requires installation by an instructed person or the used of ready -
made leads or cords.
This eguipment is for commercial & professional use only.
This product is in compliance with EU WEEE regulat-
ions. Disposal of end of life produc should not betre-
ated as municipal waste. Please refer to your local
regulations for instructions on proper disposal of this
product.
To prevent hazardous electrical shock, do not touch
the conductive parts of the output terminals.The exte-
rnal wiring connected to the terminals requires installation by an
quallified technician or the use of ready made leads or cords.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove any
cover. No user-serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to quali-
fied service personnel only.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within the equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of suf ficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.
The exclamation point within the equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of impo-
rtant operation and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying this appliance.
CAUTION: To prevent electric shock, do not use this polarized plug with an extension cord, receptacle or other outlet
unless the blades can be fully inserted to prevent blade exposure.
Protective earthing terminal. The apparatus should be connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective
earthing connection.
Hot danger.Please don't touch the area because a hot danger may exit.
This lightning flash is intended to alert the user to the presence of non-insulated “dangerous voltage” on the
output terminals that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.The external wiring
connected to the terminals requires installation by an instructed person or the used of ready-made leads or
cords.
14 3
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for your decision to purchase Cerwin-vega’s innovative new CV Series professional power amplifier! Engineered for superior
sound reproduction, the CV Series line of professional amplifiers deliver top quality audio at an affordable price. The CV Series offer a
standard of reliability and efficiency that makes them the perfect solution for every DJ, musician, and sound engineer. Welcome to a new
level of professional quality sound performance!
UNPACKING & INSTALLATION
Although it is neither complicated to install, nor difficult to operate your amplifier, a few minutes of your time are required to read this
manual for a properly wired installation, and to become familiar with the unit’s features. Please take great care in unpacking the unit and
do not discard the carton and other packing materials. They may be needed when moving the unit and are required if it ever becomes
necessary to return the unit for service. Never place the unit near a radiator, in front of heating vents, in direct sunlight, in excessive
humidity, or dusty locations to avoid damages and to guaranty a long reliable use. Connect the unit with the system components accord-
ing to the description on the following pages.
FEATURES
• Cerwin-vega amplifiers deliver the following power ratings.
• CV-900 - 2 x 210 Watts at 8 ohm, 2 x 320 Watts at 4 ohm and 2 x 420 Watts at 2 ohm
• CV-1800 - 2 x 400 Watts at 8 ohm, 2 x 600 Watts at 4 ohm and 2 x 900 Watts at 2 ohm
• CV-2800 - 2 x 600 Watts at 8 ohm, 2 x 900 Watts at 4 ohm and 2 x 1400 Watts at 2 ohm
• 2-channel, parallel or bridged mono operating modes for flexible application 900 Watts for CV-900, 1800 Watts for CV-1800 and 2800
Watts for CV-2800
• Independent limiters for each channel reduce overload distortion
• Independent input level controls for each channel allow precision adjustments
• Precise signal and clip LED indicators to monitor performance, allow you to correct for overloading (clipping) condition
• Low-frequency filters (40 Hz) remove rumble and subsonic frequencies
• Twin-tunnel and two temperature-sensitivity forced-air cooling system to maintain a low operating temperature during use
• Balanced XLR or balanced 1/4-inch TRS Combination input connector for each channel and LINK ports
• 5-way output binding posts or Speakon® connectors enable secure operation
• High-current toroidal transformer for absolute reliability
• Independent DC and thermal overload protection on each channel automatically protects amplifier and speaker from damage or failure
• The CV-Series can be mounted in any standard 19” rack
NOTES
MANUAL_CVAMPS-REV-B1.qxd:Originator: M. Schlazer Size: 8.5 x 11 7/30/08 11:34 AM Page 3
4 13
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
1. Rack Ears
These ears are used to mount the amplifier in any standard 19”
rack.
2. Fan Vent
The CV-Series amplifiers are cooled by two rear-mounted fans
(except for CV-900 which is cooled by a single rear mounted fan).
Cool air flows through the front fan filters, reducing the
temperature of internal components while forcing the heat out the
rear vents. Never block these vents and keep them clean at all
time.
3. AC Power Switch
This switch powers the unit on and off.
4. Signal Indicators
These blue LED's will illuminate to indicate that a signal is
present at the amplifier input, and that the signal is being ampli-
fied.
5. Clip Indicators
These red LED's will illuminate at the clipping threshold. These
lights should not light up during normal use as they indicate
signal outside of the amplification range of the amplifier. When a
signal is "clipped" and the clip indicator illuminates, it means that
the signal is being distorted at the output stage. Prolonged
clipping can not only damage your amplifier, but also your
speakers, so be careful to monitor the clip indicator during setup
and use. If the clip indicator is illuminated then simply lower the
channel gain or input signal until the indicator does not light.
6. Active Indicators
These blue LED's indicate that AC power is connected and the
amplifier is turned on.
7. Protect Indicators
These red LED's indicate that the channel is in Protect mode.
When the channel goes into protect mode all output for that
channel will be muted. The protect LED's light when overheating
or other severe problems occur. This is to protect any speakers
connected to the channel. The LED's also light for approximately
five seconds whenever the unit is powered on and fade slowly
when the amplifier is powered off.
8. Channel input level control
These two 21-position detented potentiometers adjust input level
for their respective amplifier channels. In Bridged Mono Mode,
only channel 1 level control is used to adjust signal level. In
Parallel Mode, both input level control are used to adjust signal
level for their respective amplifier channels. At their fully
counter-clockwise position, the signal is attenuated by more than
80dB. At their fully clockwise position, the signal is at maximum
gain. When 0 dBu of signal arrives at the input jacks and the
Channel input level controls are set to their fully clockwise
position, the unit delivers full power output.
NOTES
MANUAL_CVAMPS-REV-B1.qxd:Originator: M. Schlazer Size: 8.5 x 11 7/30/08 11:34 AM Page 4
12 5
REAR PANEL CONTROLS
1. Fan
This is a variable speed cooling fan. Cool air enters the amplifier
through the fan filters located on the front of the amplifier. Be sure
not to block these ports when installing the amplifier or other
equipment.
2. Input connectors
Connect the input source to the balanced combo connectors
using either XLR or 1/4” TRS plugs. They are configured as fol-
lows : Pin 2 (Tip) hot, Pin 3 (Ring) cold, and Pin 1 (Sleeve)
ground. We recommend using balanced three-conductor cabling
wherever possible. Unbalanced two-conductor 1/4” plugs can
also be inserted into these inputs, but you will get better signal
quality and less noise and hum if you use balanced lines. Stereo
signal should be connected to the Channel 1 and Channel 2 input
jacks. When operating the unit in Bridged Mono or Parallel
modes, use the Channel 1 input jack only.
3. Link connectors
These jacks are used to send a parallel signal to another device
or amplifier.
4. High Pass Filter (HPF) switch.
These switches are used to activate the built-in High Pass Filter.
The HPF rolls off signals below 40Hz. This improves bass per-
formance by limiting sub-audio cone motion, making more power
available for the speaker’s rated frequency range. When the filter
is turned off, a 5 Hz roll off protects against DC or deep sub-audio
inputs.
5. Limiter switch
When the input signal connected to your amplifier is too high, you
end up with a distorted output signal. To prevent this, both chan-
nels feature a clip limiter that can be engaged or disengaged
selectively.
6. Bridge / Stereo / Parallel switch
This switch changes the amplifier operating mode between
stereo, mono bridged, and parallel.
7. 5-way Binding Post
Connect each channel of the unit to your speakers. Binding posts
are provided for each channel as well as Speakon®connectors, so
that paralleling of speakers is possible. Connection to the binding
posts can be made with bare wire, banana plugs, or spade lug
terminations. Make connections to both the Channel 1 and
Channel 2 terminals for Stereo or Parallel Mode, or a single
connection across the red terminals only of Channel 1 and
Channel 2 for Bridged Mono Mode.
8. Speakon® output connectors
You can use these to connect each channel of the unit to 8 ohms
or 4 ohms loudspeakers. Using Speakon® speaker cables, make
connections to both the channel 1 and channel 2 connectors for
Stereo or Parallel Mode, or to the Bridged mode connector for
Bridged Mono Mode.
9. Circuit breaker
The breaker acts in place of common disposable fuses. This cir-
cuit breaker will trip if there is a fault with the main voltage or if
maximum output is exceeded. Simply depress the circuit breaker
and power up the unit again.
10. AC input
IEC connector for AC power cable. Connect the supplied heavy-
gauge 3-pin IEC power cable.
WARRANTY & RETURN POLICY
Who’s covered by this warranty?
Cerwin-Vega’s Limited Warranty on professional audio products extends only to the original purchaser as evidenced by the original Bill
of Sale and only for the products purchased from authorized Cerwin-Vega dealers. Ten words of advice: retain the original bill of sale in
a safe place!
What’s covered by this warranty?
Cerwin-Vega warrants that all new professional audio products shall be free from defects in material and workmanship, under normal
and proper use. During the warranty period, Cerwin-Vega agrees to repair or replace (at our option) all such defective parts at no charge
for labor or materials.
What’s Not covered by this warranty?
This Limited Warranty does not apply to defective equipment that: has been altered or repaired by other than factory approved proce-
dures; has been subjected to negligence, misuse or accident; has been damaged by improper line voltage; had its serial number or any
part of it altered, defaced, or removed; or has been used in a way that is contrary to Cerwin-Vega’s written instructions. Except as pro-
vided by statute, this Limited Warranty does not cover losses, consequential or otherwise, resulting from the improper use of, or inabili-
ty to operate, any Cerwin-Vega product.
How long Does the warranty Extend?
Cerwin-Vega’s Limited Warranty extends for a period of (5 ) years for all non-powered speaker systems and related components and (3)
years for all stand-alone power amplifiers and related components from date of purchase as shown on the original Bill of Sale. The war-
ranty period will be extended if the warranty repairs have not been performed due to delays caused by circumstances beyond the con-
trol of the original purchaser, or if the warranty repairs did not remedy the defect and the original purchaser notifies Cerwin-Vega or the
original dealer or an Authorized Cerwin-Vega Service Center of the failure of the repairs within 30 days after they were completed.
How Do you get warranty Service?
In order to obtain warranty service, contact your original dealer or distributor, or an Authorized Cerwin-Vega Service Center. If, for some
reason, you have trouble locating a service representative, contact Cerwin-Vega’s Customer Service Department for assistance:
Cerwin-Vega! Customer Service Dept.
P.O. Box 816667
Hollywood, FL 33081
In some cases, the Customer Service Department can solve a service problem without any return of equipment to Cerwin-Vega, there-
by avoiding transit delays.
Phone: 954.316.1500 option 5 Fax: 954.316.1590.
E-mail: info@cerwin-vega.com
Now, what if the product must be returned?
If the Customer Service Department determines that the equipment must be returned to Cerwin-Vega for service, a Return Authorization
will be issued, and the defective merchandise may be shipped directly to the above address freight prepaid, along with a copy of both
the Return Authorization and the original Bill of Sale. The product will be repaired or replaced (at our option) and returned to the original
purchaser. Only the return postage will be paid by Cerwin-Vega. Cerwin-Vega will not be responsible for damage occurring in shipment
from the original purchaser or due to improper packing materials. Remember to pack all equipment carefully and in the original carton if
possible. Additional charges may be added if new packing materials are required for return shipment. SAVE YOUR ORIGINAL
PACKING MATERIALS!
Other remedies under the law
The exercise of any of the provisions under the Limited Warranty does not affect the protections or remedies of the original purchaser
under other laws. If you have additional questions about service, write or call the Customer Service Department. This Limited Warranty
applies to all Cerwin-Vega Professional products, and supersedes all previous warranty statements. Cerwin-Vega reserves the right to
make changes in product design and specifications at any time.
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN AND BY APPLICABLE LAW, CERWIN-VEGA MAKES NO ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATION or WAR-
RANTY OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
THE MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, DESIGN CONDITION OR WORKMANSHIP OF THE EQUIP-
MENT, OR THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL INCLUDED THEREIN, THIS LIMITED WARRANTY CONSTITUTES THE SOLE AND
ENTIRE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CERWIN-VEGA AND THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER
MANUAL_CVAMPS-REV-B1.qxd:Originator: M. Schlazer Size: 8.5 x 11 7/30/08 11:34 AM Page 5
6 11
PROTECTION
Every model in the CV-Series incorporates protection features. The front panel Protection LED indicates the activity of the speaker
connection relay circuitry in each channel. When the protection LED turns on, this circuitry is active, and all connected speakers are
muted.
Initial power-up : For approximately five seconds after initial
power-up, the protection circuitry is activated and the speaker
outputs are muted. If everything is operating normally, you will
hear an audible click at the conclusion of this brief period, as the
protection circuitry is deactivated and the unit begins delivering
signal to the connected speakers. It is normal for the Protection
LED to fade gradually after the amplifier is powered off.
Thermal Protection : Abnormally high heat sink temperatures
will engage the protection circuitry for the overheating channel
only. An output relay disconnects the speakers until normal tem-
perature range is restored. The Protect indicator will light to show
the protection circuit is active. To guard against this problem,
make sure the unit receives adequate ventilation on all sides and
that both the front and rear panels are unobstructed. If the power
transformer gets too hot, its thermal switch will disconnect all of
the secondary power and disconnect both channel outputs.
Short circuit : If output is shorted due to faulty wiring, the ther-
mal circuitry will automatically protect the amplifier. If this occurs,
the load will be disconnected by the thermal protection circuitry.
DC Voltage Protection : If an amplifier channel detects DC volt-
age at the speaker output, the output relay will immediately open
to prevent speaker damage.
Subsonic Frequency Protection : The built-in High Pass Filter
provides subsonic frequency protection for each channel.
Current limiting Protection : At the amplifier’s full power limit, or
clipping point, the limiter circuitry will be activated. This is indicat-
ed by illumination of the Clip LED. The channel gain is automati-
cally reduced, protecting the speakers from high power.
Uncontrolled feedback, oscillations, or improper equipment gain
setting may activate this circuitry, which is virtually transparent in
operation as full signal bandwidth is maintained.
There is reason to be concerned any time the Protection LED
lights up (except for initial power-up during approximately five
seconds). If this occurs, turn the amplifier off immediately and
check all wiring and external equipment carefully in order to
locate and correct the condition.
Clipping is the result of an amplifier running into power supply lim-
itation. The maximum output voltage that any amplifier can pro-
duce is limited by its power supply. Attempting to output a voltage
(or current) level that exceeds the power supply limit will result in
a flattening effect on the signal. A clipped waveform exhibits
extreme harmonic distortion, making it sound harsh or dissonant.
The clip limiter detects this and reduces the gain to minimize the
amount of overdrive. To preserve as much of the program dynam-
ics as possible, limiting reduces the average program level until
peaks barely clip. Each channel has its own clip limiter, which can
be switched on or off. When driving full-range speakers, clip lim-
iting reduces high frequency distortion caused by bass overload.
It also protects higher frequency drivers from excess overdrive
and harsh clipping harmonics.
Clip limiter
Also known as a low-cut filter, a High Pass Filter rolls off signals
below 40Hz. The reproduction of the signal’s bass portion is thus
optimized, since ultrCV-low, distracting frequencies are eliminat-
ed, and more power is available for the reproduction of the want-
ed segment of the signal.
You should set up the filters so they best suit the frequency
response of your speakers, since some speakers are particularly
sensitive to over-excursion. The 40Hz filter works well with most
compact full-range speakers.
HPF (Hi-Pass Filter)
SETUP
SPEAKER COMPATIBILITY
The CV Series of amplifiers are designed to work with many different speakers on the market. They have been paired with the following
Cerwin-Vega speakers. The following compatibility matrix can be used as a reference. (See: www.cerwin-veg com for product specs.)
MANUAL_CVAMPS-REV-B1.qxd:Originator: M. Schlazer Size: 8.5 x 11 7/30/08 11:34 AM Page 6
10 7
Stereo Mode
In stereo mode, both channels operate independently with individ-
ual input gain controls. Signal at channel 1’s input produces out-
put at channel 1, while signal at channel 2’s input produces out-
put at channel 2’s output. Recommended minimum nominal load
impedance for stereo operation is 2 ohms per channel.
Parallel Mode
When set to Parallel mode, a signal applied to channel 1’s input
will be amplified and appear at outputs for both channel 1 & 2.
The parallel mode is well suited for applications in which driving
two speakers with the same signal but with separate amplifica-
tion. The ‘Channel1’ and ‘Channle 2’ input gain controls individu-
ally control the out put level on channels 1 and 2.
Bridged Mono Mode
Bridged mono mode straps both amplifier channels together to
make a very powerful, single-channel monaural amplifier. One
channel ”pushes” and the other channel “pulls” equally, doubling
the power over that of either channel alone. Therefore the voltage
is doubled, the peak power is quadrupled, and program power is
roughly three times as high as that of the individual channel.
Signal is applied to the channel 1 input only and channel 1 input
gain control is used to adjust signal level. The input gain control
belonging to channel 2 are not used.
Note : Bridged mono mode is to be used only when the CV-Series
is connected to a 4 or 8 ohms speaker load. Use of Bridged mode
with speaker loads of less than 4 ohms can result in severe dam-
age to the unit due to excessive heat and current lim-
iting.
Use extreme caution when operating the amplifier in
Bridged Mono Mode. Never ground either side of the
speaker cable; the speaker load must “ float “ away from the
Stereo Mode
CONNECTIONS
(5-Way Ouptut Binding Posts)
Parallel Mode
(5-Way Output Binding Posts)
Bridged Mono Mode
(5-Way Output Binding Posts)
SETUP
Mode Select
SPECIFICATIONS
MANUAL_CVAMPS-REV-B1.qxd:Originator: M. Schlazer Size: 8.5 x 11 7/30/08 11:34 AM Page 7
8 9
CONNECTIONS
Stereo Mode
B
A
Parallel Mode
B
A
Bridged Mono Mode
B
B
SPK+ to PIN 1+
SPK- to PIN 1-
SPK+ to PIN 1+
SPK- to PIN 1-
SPK+ to PIN 1+
SPK- to PIN 1-
SPK+ to PIN 2+
SPK- to PIN 2-
SPK+ to PIN 1+
SPK- to PIN 1-
SPK+ to PIN 1+
SPK- to PIN 1-
SPK+ to PIN 1+
SPK- to PIN 1-
SPK+ to PIN 2+
SPK- to PIN 2-
SPK+ to PIN 1+
SPK- to PIN 2+
WIRING
These are several ways to interface to the amplifier to support a variety of applications.
Unbalanced 1/4” Connector
Balanced TRS 1/4” Connector
XLR Balanced Wiring Guide
Speakon®Connector
MANUAL_CVAMPS-REV-B1.qxd:Originator: M. Schlazer Size: 8.5 x 11 7/30/08 11:34 AM Page 8
