ALC2

The ALC2 is a combination of a speaker controller and power amplifier. The ALC units are designed to guarantee the best speaker drive, with maximum sound quality and operating reliability.
The amplifier stage consists of a 2 x 1kW (RMS 2 ohms) Class G design, combined with a conventional power supply with large 210 Joule capacitor bank for dynamic and sustained high power output.

The controller section consist of several stages. On the input stage the SDP circuit and on the output stage the SIS circuit ensure easy, reliable and optimised speaker response.

SDP Speaker Drive Processor™

The SDP circuit can be seen as the “brain” of the amplifier. By means of speaker-specific modules, that are located in 2 front-accessible slots, the characteristics of the connected speaker are loaded into the amplifier. With this, the amplifier is “tailor-made” to the speaker, regardless of the power output specifications of the amplifier. This can be done with either the analogue SDP modules, or the DDP digital drive processor™.
Multiple processing functions are operating at the same time:

• Protection: The speaker is protected against damage from over-excursion and power overload.
• Dedicated filtering: The fixed cross-over settings cater for the best system performance.
• Optimised power response: The SDP module adjusts the RMS and peak values to the speakers capacity, giving maximum system power output.
• System equalising: This circuit equalises the system response, with utilising the maximum component efficiency. This results in higher overall system sensitivity and reduces the need for active filtering while offering efficient amplifier usage (passive system).

The DDP™ also offers level control, mute and a user-controllable 4-band parametric equaliser and (up to) 340ms delay.

By placing the modules in the slots, the SDP circuit is automatically activated, without the need for changing switches/jumpers (“plug&play”). Taking out the modules, bypasses the SDP circuit and converts the ALC into a “standard” stereo power ampli- fier, for use with traditional speaker systems.

SIS Signal Integrity Sensing™

The SIS circuit extends the control-loop of the amplifier to the input terminals of the speaker, by means of two additional (sense) wires, compensating for the influence of speaker cables.
SIS offers cable-length independent damping, resulting in a virtually infinite damping under all conditions (up to an almost immeasurable value of over 10.000).

Furthermore SIS maintains signal level by detecting the amount of signal loss at the end of the cable. As a result of pre-compensation of the self-induction of the cable, non-linear harmonic + intermodulation distortion are reduced substantially by SIS, while offering a more linear frequency response (reduced linear distortion).

SIS offers a significantly tighter and more accurate low and mid response. Without connection of the 2 extra sense wires, the ALC units can also be used as any normal amplifier in combination with non- SIS speaker systems.

ATCM Advanced Thermal and Clip Management™

ATCM has a number of sensors within the ampli- fier, that constantly monitor both operating temperature, in and output signal. For the temperature section of ATCM, the input signal stage is regulated when dangerous temperature increase is sensed; In this way, the amplifier stays in operation, instead of switching into “heat protection”.

The clip limiter section reduces the signal input level to the safest maximum level, when continuous clipping is detected. In this way the high frequency drivers are protected against damage from harmonics and also the amplifier remains cooler. The limiter has a “Soft-knee clipping characteristic” for inaudible, but safe operation.

ATCM offers ease-of-operation and guarantees operation under all conditions.

data port

The Data port located on the back of the unit, is the connection for ALC remote-control function.
Through the 15-pin D-connection to remote processor, function includes indication of operating status; Temperature per channel, bridge/parallel mode, AC power level, output power read-out, impedance check for speaker damage, clip/protect indication, level control, etc.

For cinema application, the Data-port is completely compatible with existing D-pin connected cinema monitors. In that application, the signal in/out connection also caters for reduced set-up and installation time and standardised in/output levels.

operation

The ALC 2 amplifier has in addition a number of user-friendly features, that make the ALC the ideal Alcons speaker companion.
All relevant switches (bridge and parallel input) are conveniently located on the front behind the cover. When switching to bridge-mode, there is no need for using different SDP modules. Furthermore, in bridge-mode, the amp is controlled by only one channel.

The parallel-mode input switch: With this switch, the input of channel 1 is also send to input channel 2. Therefore there is no need for external “loop wires” from link output 1 into input 2.

The ALC features PowerCon™ AC power connection, for quick and efficient exchange of rack mounted ALC’s.

The ALC2-ST is the “stealth” version of the ALC2. It has potentiometers that are located behind the front lid, preventing unwanted changing of gainsettings.