PS Audio Power Plant P600 Operating instructions

These instructions cover PS Audio Power Plant Models

P300, P600 and P1200

Quick Start

We recommend you read these instructions before activating your new Multiwave software.

If, however, you want to jump right in, here is how to activate the MultiWave functions.

1. Turn on the Power Plant.

2. The display will read "Sin". You are in the sine wave mode.

3. Push the "up" button and the display will read "SS1". This is the first MultiWave pattern,

and the one we recommend you start with. This is not for turntables or equipment with built

in fans.

4. If your equipment has a built in fan, push the "up" button again and the display will read

PS2. This is the second MultiWave, and the one recommended for units with fans inside,

and in many cases, power amplifiers. This is not for turntables.

What is MultiWave?

MultiWave is a new technology available exclusively on the PS Audio Power Plant series of

AC generators.

Your home's AC voltage, whether 115 volts or 220 volts, is a series of AC sine waves at either 50 Hz or 60 Hz. These sine waves are convert-

ed to DC (direct current) by the power supply in your audio video equipment. DC is necessary to run the circuits in your equipment.

The AC sine waves coming out of your home's wall outlet are never an ideal power source. Thier variable and inferior quality can and usually

does degrade the performance of your equipment.

The PS Audio Power Plant AC generator supplies near perfect AC sine waves to your equipment, at a specific frequency easily set by the front

panel control. This use of near perfect AC sine waves makes a positive impact on the audio/video quality of your system.

Now, MultiWave takes the Power Plant's generating technology a step closer to "better than" perfect AC sine waves. Instead of a series of sin-

gle frequency sine waves, the PS Audio MultiWave generator produces pure AC sine waves of multiple frequencies. These revolutionary mul-

tiple frequencies are stacked in a sequence that more closely approximates the proper charging characteristics sought by your system's elec-

tronics.

And the results? An audible and visual improvement in your audio/video system's performance. An analogy might help. Think of the power

coming out of your wall as the tap water coming out of your faucet. Drinkable? Depends where you live! Think of the PS Audio Power Plant

output as pure mineral water. Ah, refreshing! Now, think of the Power Plant with MultiWave as Gatorade: a power source designed to make

your equipment run and sound better.

Is it safe for your equipment?

Yes, with a FEW exceptions. These include some types of electric motors. We do not recommend using any of the MultiWave patterns for AC

synchronous motors on turntables. If you are planning on using the Power Plant to operate your turntable, we recommend you ONLY use the

standard sine wave functions of the Power Plant.

Check also to see if you have cooling fans in your equipment. Many amplifiers and projectors have small (or large) AC synchronous cooling

fans. On any equipment with a built-in fan, we recommend MultiWave pattern number 2, designated PS2 or the standard sine wave functions.

What features are new to the MultiWave upgrade?

In addition to the standard operation of every Power Plant, we have added several new features to the MultiWave software. These are:

1. Ten MultiWave patterns

2. Output voltage adjustment from the front panel

3. Auto return to the default setting on the front display

4. Half the distortion of the original circuitry.

We have removed the "Display Blanking" from the original software. Its removal was

the result of numerous instances of customer confusion about uncertainty of the

Power Plant's successful operation.

Power Up the MultiWave Equipped Power Plant

If you are using a P300 Power Plant, make sure the master on/off switch on the rear

panel (of most P300 models) is in the "ON" position. Make sure the Power Plant has

power from an AC wall socket.

Press the front panel button labeled "Power".

The Power Plant will activate. The initial display will read "Sin". This is short for "Sine

wave".

Select MultiWave Operation

Use the front panel up/down buttons to select one of ten MultiWaves. These up/down buttons will either be labeled "Power Factor" or

"Frequency" depending on the model of your unit. Although the buttons are differently labeled, their function is the same.

There are ten possible MultiWave choices. The ten choices appear in the order of our listening choices on the PS Audio reference system. We

think many of you will agree with our preferences. But, these are ONLY our recommendations. Please take the time to experiment with the

remaining choices available. Each MultiWave will change the performance of your system and everyone's system will react somewhat differ-

ently. Choose the MultiWave pattern that best suits your listening and viewing preferences. It may very well be different from our system.

PLEASE NOTE: the front panel display will show either "Sin" or the symbol for the chosen MultiWave pattern after 30 seconds, from

wherever you are in the menu.

The pattern you select will be remembered even after the Power Plant is shut off from the front panel. Should the Power Plant become dis-

connected from its AC source, your last settings will be lost and the unit will output pure sine waves.

Now, the MultiWave Settings

SS1. This is our favorite MultiWave. We recommend it first for every application, with the exception of projectors with fans, amplifiers with

fans, and turntables. All digital, analog, power amplifier, and video equipment without internal fans are perfect candidates for SS1. This wave-

form is a series of Sequential Frequency Partial Square MultiWaves composed of 50 Hz, followed by two 120 Hz Partial Square MultiWaves.

PS2. This is our second favorite MultiWave. This is a single 60 Hz sine wave, with a minute amount of a 180 Hz sine wave mixed together to

form a single Partial Square MultiWave. This waveform is strongly suggested for those applications that do not lend themselves to SS1, such

as power amplifiers with fans, projectors with fans, but not turntables. In addition, we recommend everyone try this in comparison to SS1 to

hear or see if it better fits THEIR own system's performance.

SS3.This waveform is a series of Sequential Frequency Partial Square MultiWaves composed of 50 Hz, followed by two 90 Hz Partial Square

MultiWaves. We would recommend use of it for every application, with the exception of projectors with fans, amplifiers with fans, and turnta-

bles. All digital, analog, power amplifier, and video equipment without internal fans are good candidates for this waveform.

SF4 . This is the first of the pure Sequential Frequency MultiWaves. This waveform is a series of Sequential Frequency sine waves composed

of 50 Hz, followed by two 120 Hz sine waves. This pattern is the same as SS1 with the exception that we use pure single frequency sine waves

as opposed to the Partial Square MultiWave construction. We recommend SF4 for every application, with the exception of projectors with fans,

amplifiers with fans, and turntables. All digital, analog, power amplifier, and video equipment without internal fans are good candidates for

this waveform.

SS5. This waveform is a series of Sequential Frequency Partial Square MultiWaves composed of 60 Hz, followed by two 120 Hz Partial Square

MultiWaves. We recommend use of it for every application, with the exception of projectors with fans, amplifiers with fans, and turntables.

All digital, analog, power amplifier, and video equipment without internal fans are good candidates for this waveform.

SS6. This waveform is a series of Sequential Frequency Partial Square MultiWaves composed of 60 Hz, followed by two 90 Hz Partial Square

MultiWaves. We recommend use of it for every application, with the exception of projectors with fans, amplifiers with fans, and turntables.

All digital, analog, power amplifier, and video equipment without internal fans are good candidates for this waveform.

SF7 . This waveform is a series of Sequential Frequency sine waves composed of 50 Hz, followed by two 90 Hz sine waves. We would rec-

ommend SF7 for every application, with the exception of projectors with fans, amplifiers with fans, and turntables. All digital, analog, power

amplifier, and video equipment without internal fans are good candidates for this waveform.

SF8 . This waveform is a series of Sequential Frequency sine waves composed of 60 Hz, followed by two 120 Hz sine waves. We recommend

use of it for every application, with the exception ofprojectors with fans, amplifiers with fans, and turntables. All digital, analog, power ampli-

fier, and video equipment without internal fans are good candidates for this waveform.

SF9 . This waveform is a series of Sequential Frequency sine waves composed of 60 Hz, followed by two 90 Hz sine waves. We recommend

use of it for every application, with the exception of projectors with fans, amplifiers with fans, and turntables. All digital, analog, power ampli-

fier, and video equipment without internal fans are good candidates for this waveform.

Selecting An Output Frequency without MultiWave

If you are not using one of the MultiWave patterns, you can activate the user selectable sine wave feature of the Power Plant. In this mode, you

can choose the single frequency that best suits your system's needs.

We recommend your country's standard AC frequency as a start. In North and Central America, that frequency is typically 60 Hz. Outside of

North and Central America, particularly if your power is 220-240v, your AC frequency is typically 50 Hz.

Please pay careful attention if you plan to operate a turntable with an AC synchronous motor. In this case, the Power Plant frequency must be

set for the specific AC frequency for which the turntable was designed. Check with your turntable manufacturer for specifics.

If your equipment has an internal cooling fan, operate this equipment only at the AC frequency for which the equipment was designed. This will

be either 50 Hz or 60 Hz. This frequency should be marked on the back of the equipment.

For all other applications, we recommend trying 90 Hz. Most customers find this a clear advantage over 50 Hz or 60 Hz.

Remember, after 30 seconds of inactivity, the display on the Power Plant will return to its default position.

To select a frequency

Use the Mode button to select "Sin" on the front panel. If you are in a MultiWave pattern, press the "down" button marked either "Power fac-

tor" or "Frequency" to return to the "Sin" menu.

Once in the "Sin" menu, press the "Mode" button once. The display will show a two-digit number from 50 to 120. The default frequency is 60

Hz. You can now set the available frequencies. They are expressed in Hertz (Hz), which are "cycles per second."

Use the Up and Down buttons to select the frequency you desire. Once the fre-

quency is selected, the display will automatically change to read "Sin" after 30 sec-

onds.

The pure sine wave frequency selected is remembered even after the Power Plant

is shut off from the front panel. If power is disconnected to the Power Plant, these

settings are forgotten and the Power Plant will default to 60 Hz.

Remember, after 30 seconds of inactivity, the Power Plant display will return to its

default position.

Output voltage

The output voltage of the Power Plant is now adjustable via the front panel buttons.

In most cases, we recommend NOT adjusting the output voltage. The default is 117

volts for Power Plants used in North and Central America, South Korea, Taiwan, and

certain other countries. The default is 220 volts for Export units.

Adjust the voltage to best operate your equipment. If you live in Japan, you should adjust the Power Plant's output voltage to your country's

standard of 100 volts. Outside of North America, equipment can be designed to run on 220, 230, or 240 volts. If you are uncertain, please

check with your dealer or the manufacturer. Many times the required voltage is written on the back panel of the equipment.

What if you experience a mechanical hum from a power transformer in a piece of your equipment - hum that does NOT come from the speak-

er? Changing the voltage may help. You can lower the Power Plant's output voltage in small increments. Lowering the output voltage of the

Power Plant A TINY AMOUNT may reduce the mechanical hum from your unit's power transformer. Be judicious with the amount of voltage

lowered. Too low a voltage can adversely affect the audio or video performance of your unit. One to three volts should do it.

Electrostatic loudspeakers present their own issues. In this case, you can raise or lower the output voltage of the Power Plant to best suit your

loudspeaker's power needs. In general, electrostatic loudspeakers operate best at 120 volts or 230 volts depending on your loudspeaker's

requirements. Some MultiWave patterns and some sine wave frequencies higher than 60 Hz MAY cause the power supply in certain electro-

static loudspeakers to produce higher than recommended voltages. This may cause the electrostatic to turn off and enter into a shutdown pro-

tection mode. If your electrostatic loudspeaker shuts off, try lowering the output voltage of the Power Plant a few volts and/or choose a differ-

ent frequency or Multiwave pattern. We recommend checking with the loudspeaker manufacturer for further operating requirements of your

speakers.

Selecting the output voltage

The default position of the Power Plant display will show "Sin" or the Multiwave pattern last selected. Now, press the "Mode" button twice. The

display will start flashing an output voltage. The default settings are 117 or 220

volts, depending on your model.

Use the Up and Down buttons to make your voltage selection. Remember, small

steps are best for fine-tuning your system.

The voltage you select will be remembered after the Power Plant is shut off from

the front panel. Removing the Power Plant from its AC source will cause the set-

tings to be lost.

After 30 seconds, the display will return to its default position.

The power meter

All Power Plants can

measure the power

delivered to your

equipment. The

metering system is

only a rough approximation of the actual power used by your equipment. The power

meter should only be used as a general reference. If the load is small, the power

meter will not register ANY power delivered. For instance, a CD player and pream-

plifier can draw so little power that the display reads "0." Do not worry. The Power

Plant is functioning properly.

Getting to the Power Meter Mode

From the default positions of "Sin" or your selected MultiWave pattern, press the

Mode button THREE times. The number now displayed in the window is an approx-

imation of the wattage delivered to your equipment.

In addition to the numeric display, the front panel has both green and red LED lights. If the green LED is lit, you are in the recommended oper-

ating area of the Power Plant. If the amber LED is lit, you are approaching the limitsof the your model Power Plant. You should not power any

more equipment with the Power Plant. The amber LED is not a warning; it is only a reminder. No action is necessary on your part.

After 30 seconds, the display will return to its default position.

Questions or problems?

If you have any questions or encounter any problems with your new MultiWave software or any aspect of our Power Plant, please contact us

immediately.

You can call or e-mail PS Audio. Our offices are open from Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm Mountain time. The toll free telephone num-

ber in the USA is 877-772-8340. From outside the USA, please telephone 720-406-8946.

You may also contact us by e-mail seven days a week. For technical questions or operational questions, send your email to:

[email protected]. For repair or service issues, please email: [email protected]. For sales or customer service related questions,

please email: [email protected]

PS Audio Power Plant P600, Power Plant P300 Operating instructions

Related papers

Other documents