Harman Kardon Stereo Amplifier PA5800 User Manual

Harman Kardon  
PA5800  
Multichannel Amplifier  
PA5800  
Power  
Owners Manual  
 
Introduction  
1
Congratulations! As the owner of a  
Harman Kardon PA5800 Multichannel  
Power Amplifier, you have at your com-  
mand a unique product. The PA5800 has important information that will help you  
been carefully designed to deliver the best to make certain that the amplifier is  
possible sonic performance, along with  
outstanding industrial design that  
matches other Harman Kardon products  
or complements any interior design.  
In order to fully enjoy the performance of  
your amplifier, please take a few minutes  
to read this owners manual. It contains  
Description an d Features  
The Harman Kardon PA5800 is a flexible,  
state-of-the-art audio power amplifier  
designed to deliver high performance for  
use in home theater or music reproduc-  
tion applications. The following are  
among its many features:  
properly connected to the rest of the  
equipment in your system.  
Designed and manufactured in the  
United States  
If you have any questions about this  
product or its installation and operation,  
please contact your retailer or custom  
installer. They are your best sources of  
product information.  
High-current output capbility  
Ultrawide bandwidth design  
Low negative feedback  
You may also contact Harman Kardon  
via the World Wide Web at:  
http://www.harmankardon.com.  
Low harmonic and intermodulation  
distortion  
Massive heat sinks for quiet convec-  
Welcome to the Harman Kardon family.  
We wish you many years of listening  
pleasure!  
tion cooling  
High-current power supply  
Remote turn-on/turn-off circuitry  
with select Harman Kardon prod-  
ucts or through optional acces-  
sories  
 
Safety Information  
2
replaced immediately with cords meeting  
factory specifications.  
exposed to direct sunlight or near  
heating equipment.  
Important Safety Information  
Verify Lin e Voltage Before Use  
Your new Harman Kardon PA5800  
amplifier has been factory-configured for  
use with 120-volt AC line current.  
Connecting the amplifier to a line volt-  
age other than that for which it is  
intended can create a safety and fire haz-  
ard, and may damage the amplifier.  
Avoid moist or humid locations.  
Han dle th e AC Power Cord Gen tly  
When disconnecting the power cord from  
an AC outlet, always pull the plug, never  
pull the cord. If you do not intend to use  
the amplifier for a considerable length of  
time, disconnect the plug from the AC  
outlet.  
Do not obstruct the ventilation slots on  
the top of the unit or place objects  
directly over them. Remember, power  
amplifiers generate heat, and the heat  
sink fins and ventilation slots that  
form part of the cabinet are specially  
designed to remove this heat. Placing  
other electronic equipment near these  
heat-dissipation systems may possibly  
affect the long-term reliability of both  
your amplifier and the objects placed  
above it.  
If you have any questions about the volt-  
age requirements for your specific model,  
or about the line voltage in your area,  
contact your selling dealer before plug-  
ging the unit into a wall outlet.  
Do Not Open th e Cabin et  
There are no user-serviceable compo-  
nents inside this product. Opening the  
cabinet may present a shock hazard, and  
any modification to the product will void  
your guarantee. If water enters the unit,  
or any metal object such as a paper clip,  
wire or staple accidentally falls inside the  
cabinet, disconnect the unit from the AC  
power source immediately and consult  
an authorized warranty station.  
Clean in g  
Verify AC Circuit Capacity Before Use  
High power output of your amplifier may  
require heavy current draw under full  
load conditions. To ensure proper perfor-  
mance and avoid potential safety haz-  
ards, we recommend that it be connected  
to a circuit with 20-amp capacity.  
Connecting multiple amplifiers to the  
same circuit, or connecting the amplifier  
to a circuit used by other heavy-power  
devices, such as high-wattage lights, may  
cause circuit breakers to trip. It is always  
a good idea to avoid using any audio  
equipment on the same AC circuit as  
equipment with motors, such as air con-  
ditioners or refrigerators. This will lessen  
the possibility of power variation and  
electrical start-up noise affecting your  
sound system.  
When the unit gets dirty, wipe it with a  
clean, soft and dry cloth. If necessary,  
first wipe the surface with a soft cloth  
slightly dampened with mild soapy water,  
followed by a fresh cloth with clean  
water. Wipe immediately with a dry cloth.  
Never use benzene, thinner, alcohol or  
any other volatile cleaning agent. Do not  
use abrasive cleaners, as they may dam-  
age the finish of metal parts. Avoid spray-  
ing insecticide near the unit.  
In stallation Location  
To ensure proper operation and to  
avoid the potential for safety hazards,  
place the unit on a firm and level sur-  
face. When placing the unit on a shelf,  
be certain that the shelf and any  
mounting hardware can support the  
amplifier’s weight.  
Movin g th e Un it  
Before moving the unit, be certain to dis-  
connect any interconnection cords with  
other components, and make certain  
that you disconnect the unit from the AC  
outlet.  
Make certain that the proper space is  
provided both above and below the  
unit for ventilation. If the amplifier  
will be installed in a cabinet or other  
enclosed area, make certain that there  
is sufficient air movement within the  
cabinet. Consult with your dealer or  
installer for more information.  
Do Not Use Exten sion Cords  
To avoid safety hazards, use only the  
power cord supplied with your unit. If a  
replacement cord is used, make certain  
that it is of a similar gauge. We do not  
recommend using extension cords with  
this product. As with all electrical devices,  
do not run power cords under rugs or  
carpets or place heavy objects on power  
cords. Damaged power cords should be  
Do not place the unit directly on a car-  
peted surface.  
Avoid installation in extremely hot or  
cold locations, in an area that is  
 
Unpacking and Installation / Rear Panel Connections  
3
To minimize the size of the carton in  
storage, you may wish to flatten it.  
Carefully remove any staples used to  
close carton seams; carefully slit the tape  
on the bottom and collapse the carton.  
Other cardboard inserts may be stored in  
the same manner. Packing materials that unit, or in between multiple amplifiers in  
cannot be collapsed should be saved  
along with the carton in a plastic bag.  
When positioning the amplifier in its  
final location, make certain that it has  
adequate ventilation on all sides, as well  
as on the top and bottom. Do not place  
CDs, record jackets, owners manuals or  
other paper on top of, or beneath the  
Unpacking and Installation  
The carton and shipping materials used  
in protecting your new amplifier were  
specially designed to cushion it from the  
shocks and vibration of shipping. We  
suggest that you save the carton and  
packing materials for use in shipping if  
you move or if the unit ever needs repair.  
a stack. This will block the air flow, caus-  
ing degraded performance and a possible  
fire hazard. If the unit is to be enclosed  
in a cabinet or rack, make certain that  
there is adequate air circulation, with  
means provided for hot air to exit and for  
cool air to be brought in.  
Rear Panel Connections  
WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD - DO NOT OPEN  
AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE - NE PAS OUVRIR  
MODEL NO. PA5800  
SERIAL NO.  
CAUTION  
RISK OF ELECTRIC  
HARMAN KARDON  
SHOCK. DO NOT OPEN  
NORTHRIDGE  
CALIFORNIA, USA  
MADE IN USA  
E160812  
596D  
LISTED  
AUDIO SYSTEMS  
POWER AMP  
TRIGGER IN  
CHANNEL ONE (FRONT RIGHT)  
SPEAKER  
CHANNEL TWO (SURROUND RIGHT)  
SPEAKER  
CHANNEL THREE (FRONT CENTER)  
SPEAKER  
CHANNEL FOUR (SURROUND LEFT)  
SPEAKER  
CHANNEL FIVE (FRONT LEFT)  
SPEAKER  
1
2
3
4
5
IN  
IN  
IN  
IN  
IN  
4 OHMS  
4 OHMS  
4 OHMS  
4 OHMS  
8 OHMS  
AC INPUT  
AC 12OV/60Hz 340W  
¡
£
¢
¡ Speaker Outputs: Connections from these terminals should be made to the appropriate speakers in your system.  
Audio Inputs: Connect the outputs of the PT2500, ADP303 or other surround processor, preamplifier or decoder to  
these jacks.  
£ AC Power Cord: Connect this plug to a wall-mounted AC outlet. Due to the current draw of the PA5800, it is NOT  
recommended that the accessory outlets on the back of the audio/video components be used to power this  
product.  
¢ Remote Amp Trigger In: Connect this jack to the matching trigger output on a PT2500 or other compatible device  
to have the PA5800 automatically turn on when the device is activated. See page 4 for additional details.  
Note: To assist in the installation of this product, the numbers used in this diagram appear in the manual to guide you to  
rear panel connections.  
 
Installation and Connections  
4
Note: When making any connections  
between source components, proces-  
sors or preamplifiers and the PA5800, If the PA5800 is not used with a compati-  
or when making any connections to  
speakers, be certain that both the  
input device and the PA5800 are  
turned off. To ensure that there will  
be no unwanted signal transients that  
Rem ote Turn -On Usin g an Extern al AC-  
to-DC Con verter  
Connect the outputs of the PT2500 or  
your surround processor to the audio  
inputs of the PA5800 . To simplify  
installation, it is best to follow the mark-  
ings on the rear panel by connecting the  
Front Right output of the PT2500 to the  
Front Right input on the PA5800, follow-  
ing the same pattern for each channel.  
ble Harman Kardon product, it is still  
possible to activate the unit for auto-  
matic turn-on.  
To control the amplifier in this manner  
can damage equipment or speakers, it you will need a small AC-to-DC power  
is always best to unplug all equipment  
from AC power outlets before making  
any connections. Modern electronic  
converter capable of delivering a 6- to  
12-volt DC signal. The DC voltage should designed for use in Bridged configu-  
terminate in a standard 3.5mm mono  
Important Note: The PA5800 is not  
ration. Do not connect the same input  
or speaker to more than one channel.  
products often have a standby” mode miniplug. This type of converter may be  
that may be activated even though the  
product may appear to be turned off.  
obtained as a “Power Adapter” from  
many electronics retailers. Consult your  
dealer for further information.  
To ensure that the high-quality signals  
produced by the PA5800 are carried to  
your speakers without loss of clarity or  
resolution , we recommend that you use  
high-quality speaker cable. Many brands  
of cable are available, and the choice of  
cable may be influenced by the distance  
between your speakers and the amplifier,  
the type of speakers you use, personal  
preferences and other factors. Your dealer  
or installer is a valuable resource to  
consult in selecting a proper cable for  
connections between your amplifier and  
speakers.  
Power Control Connections  
Plug the AC adapter into a switched out-  
let that will be activated when you wish  
to have the amplifier turn on. This may  
be the switched outlet at the rear of an AV  
receiver or other audio equipment, an AC  
outlet that is part of a current sensing  
control unit activated by a preamp or  
surround processor or a switched AC wall  
outlet.  
The Harman Kardon PA5800 amplifier  
features a built-in remote turn-on system  
that will automatically turn on the  
amplifier when another device in the  
system is switched on. To activate this  
system, this amplifier must be used in  
conjunction with a Harman Kardon  
PT2500, other compatible Harman  
Kardon products or other approved  
devices.  
Connect the 3.5mm miniplug from the  
power converter to the Remote Amp  
Trigger in ¢ jack on the rear of the  
PA5800.  
NOTE: Before making any connections  
to remote trigger outlets, it is critical that  
both the PA5800 and the triggering  
device be turned off. For additional safety,  
it is best that these connections be made  
while both products are unplugged from  
AC power sources.  
Regardless of the brand or type of cable  
selected, we recommend that you use a  
cable constructed of fine, multistrand  
copper with a gauge of 14 or smaller.  
When specifying cable, remember that  
the lower the number, the thicker the  
cable.  
Audio System Connections  
As a general rule, avoid running any  
input signal or speaker wire connections  
next to or parallel with AC power cords.  
This may cause undesired hum or other  
interference that will greatly degrade sig-  
nal performance.  
Rem ote Turn -On with Com patible  
Harm an Kardon Products – in cludin g  
th e PT2500  
Connect one end of the accessory cable  
supplied with the PT2500 to the Remote  
Amp Trigger in ¢ jack on the rear of the  
PA5800. Connect the other end to the  
jack on the PT2500 that carries the same  
identification.  
Cable with a gauge of 16 may be used for  
short runs of less than ten feet. We do not  
recommend the use of cables with an  
AWG equivalent of 18 or higher due to  
the power loss and degradation in perfor-  
mance that will occur.  
When making connections with RCA-  
type plugs on interconnect cables, make  
certain to gently but firmly insert the  
plugs into the jacks on the rear of the  
PA5800. Loose connections can cause  
intermittent sound and my damage your  
speakers.  
 
Installation and Connections  
5
Cables run inside walls should have the  
appropriate markings to indicate listing  
with UL (CL-2/CL-3”), CSA (FT-4”) or  
appropriate safety agency standards that  
may be required in your area. Questions  
terminal. Making certain that you  
observe polarity by connecting the nega-  
identical, even though one speaker may  
be physically closer to the amplifier than  
the other. Do not coil any excess cable, as  
this may become an inductor that creates  
frequency response variations in your  
system.  
tive ( ) wire to the black terminal and  
-
+
the positive ( ) wire to the red terminal,  
pass the exposed wire through from the  
about running cables inside walls should top of the slot until the wire is visible  
be referred to your installer or a licensed  
electrical contractor who is familiar with  
the NEC and/or the applicable building  
or electrical codes in your area.  
from the bottom end. Holding the wire in  
place, twist the cap back so that the con-  
nection is secured. Do not overtighten or  
use tools, as this may damage the plastic  
terminal cap or break the delicate wire  
strands and decrease system perfor-  
mance.  
Connect the wires to the speakers, again  
being certain to observe proper polarity.  
Remember to connect the negative or  
black wire to the matching terminal on  
the speaker. Similarly, the positive or red  
wire should be connected to the like ter-  
minal on the speaker.  
Con n ection s to Speakers  
The final step of the installation process  
is to connect the amplifier to your speak-  
ers using high-quality cable. A pair of  
binding posts is provided for each chan-  
nel output. These posts will accept bare  
wire or banana-type plugs.  
Important Note: When making  
speaker wire connections, be certain that  
none of the strands from one lead touch  
any other lead. This will cause a short  
NOTE: While most speaker manufactur-  
ers adhere to an industry standard of  
using black terminals for negative and  
circuit and may damage you amplifier or red ones for positive, some manufactur-  
Note that one conductor of the speaker  
cable will have no markings or an indi-  
cation of “-for negative polarity, and  
the other will have a red line, brand-  
name markings, a colored thread or  
some other positive-polarity indication.  
speakers. Damage from short circuits  
caused in this manner is not covered by  
the product warranty.  
ers may not adhere to this configuration.  
To ensure properly phased connections  
and optimal performance, consult the  
identification plate on your speaker ter-  
minals, or the speaker’s manual to verify  
polarity. If you do not know the polarity  
of your speaker, ask your dealer or  
Connections may also be made using  
standard 4mm OD banana plugs. Before  
using a banana-type jack, make certain  
that the plastic screw caps on the PA5800  
are firmly tightened by turning them  
clockwise until they are snug against the  
The wire with the positive indication  
should be connected to the red terminals  
on both the PA5800 and your speakers.  
installer for advice before proceeding, or  
consult the speaker’s manufacturer.  
The negative wire should be connected to chassis. This will ensure that the maxi-  
the black terminal on the PA5800 and  
the speakers.  
mum surface area of the plug is in con-  
tact with the jack. Once the wire has been  
attached to the banana plug following  
the plug manufacturers instructions,  
simply insert the banana plug into the  
hole provided on the rear of the colored  
screw caps on the terminal posts. Be cer-  
tain to observe proper polarity.  
If bare wire is used for connections, strip  
approximately 3/4” (20mm) of insula-  
tion from the end of each wire and care-  
fully twist the strands of each conductor  
together. Be careful not to cut the indi-  
vidual strands or twist them off; for opti-  
mal performance, all strands must be  
used.  
Finally, run the cables to the speaker  
locations. It is highly recommended that  
the length of cable connecting any pair  
of speakers be identical. For example,  
make certain that the cable length con-  
necting left and right front or left and  
right rear (surround) speakers is  
Next, loosen the knobs of the speaker  
output terminals far enough so that the  
cap moves back on its threads past the  
U-shaped groove at the back end of the  
 
Operation  
6
Operation of the PA5800 is simple. There  
are no controls to adjust once the instal-  
lation is complete.  
To place the unit in operation, simply  
depress the power switch. Note that the  
ring surrounding the power switch will  
glow green. There may be a short pause  
between the time the power switch is  
turned on and power is applied to the  
speakers. This is intentional, and this  
feature protects your speakers from dam-  
Finally, turn on the PT2500 or other  
device used to trigger the remote amp  
trigger, such as a wall-mounted AC  
adapter. The PA5800 will respond to the  
trigger signal by automatically turning  
on, and the ring surrounding the power  
switch will turn green. There will be a  
short pause after the signal is applied  
and the indicator changes color, and the  
power will be applied to the speakers.  
This pause is intentional to protect your  
speakers from damage as the amplifier  
stabilizes.  
After all connections have been made to  
the amplifier’s inputs and speaker termi-  
nals, connect the amplifier’s power cord  
to an AC outlet. Make certain that the  
PA5800 power switch is in the off position age as the amplifier stabilizes.  
before plugging in the power cord.  
You are now ready to enjoy the finest  
At this point you are almost ready for lis-  
tening. First, turn on the source compo-  
nents and processor in your system. It is  
always a good idea to turn on your  
amplifier last. This avoids the possibility  
of any turn-on pops or transients from  
other equipment being amplified and  
sent to your speakers, where they may  
cause damage. Always start with a low  
volume level on your controller or pre-  
amp to avoid damage to your speakers.  
sonic performance available. All volume  
and level adjustments are made at your  
preamp, controller or surround processor.  
Once your system is turned on, you are  
ready to enjoy the finest sonic perfor-  
mance available. There are no controls  
to adjust. All volume and level adjust-  
ments are made by your preamp, con-  
troller or surround processor.  
To turn the unit off, press the front panel  
power switch.  
For Automatic Operation  
Before proceeding, make certain that the  
connection between the PA5800 and  
PT2500 or other trigger source has been  
properly made as outlined previously. At  
this point the triggering unit should be  
turned off.  
At the conclusion of your listening ses-  
sion, there is no need to manually turn  
off the PA5800. When the PT2500 or  
other triggering device is turned off,  
removing power from the trigger jack,  
the PA5800 will return to the standby  
mode.  
Manual Operation  
If the unit is not being used with the  
automatic, remote turn-on system and  
the AC power plug is connected to a live  
outlet, the ring surrounding the power  
switch will glow red. This is your indica-  
tion that the unit is functional.  
Plug the PA5800 into a live AC power  
source. The ring surrounding the power  
switch will glow red. Press the Power  
switch once and note that the ring will  
turn to amber. This is your indication  
that the PA5800 is in standby mode.  
Important Note: If you will not be  
using your audio system for an extended  
period of time, such as during a vaca-  
tion, it is always a good idea to turn the  
unit off using the power switch. This will  
prevent the automatic turn-on circuits  
from accidentally turning the system on  
during your absence.  
 
Service Information / Troubleshooting  
7
If your installation has followed the pro-  
cedures in this manual, you should enjoy out only by an authorized Harman  
It is important that any repairs be carried connection or thermal overload, the  
Harman Kardon PA5800 will place itself  
in a “protect” mode to prevent damage  
to the amplifier. When this happens, the  
ring surrounding the power switch will  
flash and alternate between red and  
amber.  
many years of trouble-free operation and  
high-quality listening enjoyment. The  
PA5800 does not contain any user-ser-  
viceable parts. If you suspect a problem  
that may require service assistance, con-  
tact your dealer, installer or an autho-  
rized Harman Kardon service depot.  
Kardon service agent to ensure proper  
service and preserve the protection of  
your Limited Warranty. It is a good idea  
to keep your sales slip or receipt in a safe  
place (along with this manual) so that it  
will be available to verify the purchase  
date for warranty claims.  
When this occurs, IMMEDIATELY turn off  
the unit using the power switch and cor-  
rect the problem. Then turn the unit  
You may also contact Harman Kardon  
via the World Wide Web at:  
In put/ Output Protection  
Under some conditions, such as a shorted back on. If the unit continues to go into  
http://www.harmankardon.com.  
speaker wire, DC voltage on an input  
a protect mode, contact your dealer or  
installer for assistance.  
Troubleshooting Chart  
The items listed below are a brief guide to minor problems that may arise with audio equipment such as the PA5800. Before taking a  
unit in for service, you should check to see if any of these hints solve the problem. If these solutions do not rectify the problem or if  
the problem reoccurs, contact your dealer or an authorized Harman Kardon  
service depot for assistance.  
DIAGONSIS  
TROUBLESHOOTING HINTS  
PROBLEM  
Power Switch turned off.  
(No Power Light LED)  
Turn on Power Switch.  
Amplifier will not turn on.  
Remote trigger cable not properly  
connected.  
Verify connection of trigger cable  
at both ends.  
• Inputs not connected to  
proper jack.  
Check input connections.  
Check speaker connections.  
Amplifier turns on, but no audio from  
one or more channels.  
Speakers not connected properly.  
• Improper settings or output levels  
from processor or controller.  
Check the settings on your preamp,  
processor or controller.  
Audio plays, then cuts off.  
Amplifier shorted (LED flashes  
amber).  
Check speaker connections for  
short circuit.  
 
Technical Specifications  
8
5 x 80 watts @ 8 ohms  
Power Output:  
FTC: 20 - 20kHz, .03% THD, All Channels Driven  
5 x 110 watts @ 4 ohms  
FTC: 20 - 20kHz, .03% THD, All Channels Driven  
±
73 Amps  
High Current Capability:  
Frequency Response:  
Signal to Noise:  
0.22 Hz - 160 kHz -3 dB at 1 watt  
Less than 110 at rated power 80 watts  
Less than 0.03% at rated output  
THD/IMD:  
<5Hz 160kHz  
Power Bandwidth:  
Input Impedance:  
˜
33K Ohms  
1 volt for rated output  
6 - 12 volts DC  
20K Ohms  
Input Sensitivity:  
Remote Trigger Voltage:  
Remote Trigger Impedance:  
Dimensions (HxWxD):  
17-3/8 x 6-1/8 x 15-1/2 inches  
165 x 440 x 394 mm  
30 lbs/27.3 kg  
Weight:  
120VAC, 50 Hz / 60 Hz  
340 watts, maximum  
Power Requirements:  
All features and specifications are subject to change without notice.  
 
Staple or clip original invoice here.  
 
Printed in USA  
Part #1111-PA5800  
HA 160-0000-A  
 

Grizzly Paint Sprayer G5354 User Manual
Hamilton Beach Air Cleaner 04152 User Manual
Hans Grohe Plumbing Product Lift M20 User Manual
Healthrider Home Gym HREL20050 User Manual
Honeywell Home Security System K5305 1V5 User Manual
Hotpoint Freezer RZA36G1 User Manual
Hotpoint Washer Dryer WMAQB 721 User Manual
HP Hewlett Packard Computer Drive USB Floppy Drive Key User Manual
Hunter Fan Fan 23970 User Manual
Husqvarna Lawn Mower 2346 XLS User Manual