Testing Procedure

Introduction The design criteria of the Lab.gruppen amplifier are to reliably reproduce and amplify music program with maximum fidelity and efficiency. There are unique aspects of the design that enable this. In some cases the good old fashioned bench test falls short in documenting the incredible performance of the amplifiers. Different power amplifier topologies have different overall efficiency. For example every amplifier design has its own efficiency at every momentary output voltage from zero to clip. For this reason a sine wave cannot be used for evaluation of the thermal behavior. Instead, a noise signal with the same spectral density and dynamic behavior as worst case audio signal must be used. Rave/Dance program material is real world worst case for a power amplifier. This type of music can often overload the input of the amp and often go on continuously for many hours, without stopping. It makes a great real world test signal. This document aims to simply point out the main things to be aware of when putting the amplifiers through their paces. First a "Quick-guide" list is presented, followed by more thorough explanations for the individual bullets. Max.-output voltage bench testing quick guide: 1. Use a 1kHz burst signal (33,3ms ON / 66,6ms OFF). A standard continuous testsignal will possibly activate the Automatic Fuse Saver (AFS) which limits the max.-output voltage. 2. At high-frequencies (above 10kHz) use a burst signal to avoid engaging the Very High Frequency (VHF) protection circuit. Otherwise you will not be able to verify the true max.-output voltage at VHF's. 3. A 22kHz (min 24dB/oct.) low pass filter should be placed in series with the audio analyzer to avoid measuring above audible HF-content in the output signal. 4. Be aware of the gain-switch setting (recommended 32dB) 5. Set the MLS switches to 0dB, otherwise max.-output voltage will not be achieved. 6. Notice the output polarity when measuring. 7. Make sure to use balanced connections and cables throughout in the test-setup.

Max.-output voltage bench testing extended explanations: When conducting a bench test there are seven main areas to be cognizant of: 1. If a sinusoidal signal is used to determine maximum power output it is most likely that a protection circuit called the Automatic Fuse Saver (AFS) will engage. In fact the only instances users have ever reported it engaging are during tests with sine wave generators. The AFS is designed to detect and then limit excessive mains current draw to avoid blowing mains-fuses during performance. The steady high draw that a full-scale test tone generates is sufficient to engage the protection, which subsequently limits the mains current draw to a safe level and hence a reduced output is seen. This has never been recorded during a music program test. To measure max.-output power, use an oscilloscope together with a burst signal. Recommended is a 1kHz signal with 33,3ms on-time followed by 66,6ms off-time - and so on. This will give you the true max.-output power. 2. All Lab.gruppen amplifiers are equipped with a VHF (Very High Frequency) protection circuit. This circuit detects and mutes the amplifier if there is too much high frequency energy on the amplifier output. This is a problem that often is caused by self-oscillation in the audio distribution system before the amplifier. During normal operation, with music material, the amplifier will not experience continuous VHF energy, hence causing the amplifier going into protection. However the amplifier will still amplify transient peak-VHF signals in the music at maximum output power. The attack frequency at which the protection engages against such continuous sine waves at maximum voltage, is model dependent and falls between 10kHz and 20kHz. Above the attack frequency the VHF sensitivity threshold point increases at 6dB / octave. The following chart shows the VHF protection operation area:

There is a delay - or hold time - before VHF-protection sets in, which is dependent on both amplitude and frequency. Higher frequency and/or higher voltage results in a shorter hold-time to trick the VHF protection. This makes it possible for the amplifier to amplify all transients and high frequency bursts that exist in normal music while still protecting the HF drivers from destruction if too much non musical high frequency energy occurs at the input. The use of an oscilloscope together with a burst signal will stop the VHFprotection engaging, and thereby enable the measurement of the amplifier at maximum output voltage across the entire audio frequency spectrum. 3. Most Lab.gruppen amplifiers have switch mode circuits in the power supply and/or in the amplifier stage. Some fractions of the switching signals can be found on the output of the amplifier. To prevent this HF content from interfering with the meaningful and desired audio measurements, a 22kHz (min 24dB/oct.) low pass filter should always be connected in series with the audio analyzer. Signals above 22kHz are handled according to EMC regulations, and not considered as music-signal. 4. The Lab.gruppen amplifiers are extremely flexible when integrating into any system. There is a multiple position gain switch on the rear panel that allows the user to define the input to output gain of the amplifier, from 41dB to 20 dB. During a bench test it is critical to be aware on the gain structure of the amplifier. It is suggested that this is set to unity on all amps (32dB). 5. Many Lab.gruppen models feature the Matching Load System (MLS). Via a set of switches on the rear panel of the amplifier the user is able to control power transfer into specific speaker loads. Prior to bench testing, these switches should be set in their maximum settings (0 dB) otherwise maximum power output may not be obtained. 6. Channel B is always polarity reversed on the input, but polarity compensated by feeding the minus pin on the channel B output with the output voltage (output on pin 1- in opposite phase). Channel A is connected in normal polarity mode. By having channel A and B operating in opposite polarity, the energy storage in the power supply is more efficient. This is significant for signals below 100 Hz and improves power bandwidth. 7. Be sure to use balanced inputs on all measurement equipment (also oscilloscope probes).

Listening Tests Once the bench test has been completed typically the listening test follows. What follows are items that should form the basis of every fair listening test. 1. A fair listening test should always be a blind-test, so that the visual design or the brand name does not influence the test results in a subjective way. ABX tests are preferable as they switch between the two test objects with the switching pattern of ABB or ABA. A listener who cannot say if X is A or B is not qualified to say if A is better/worse then B. 2. The gain of amplifiers can differ from 20 to 40 dB. For this reason all channels must be adjusted exactly to the same gain with a high-resolution AC voltmeter, preferably a dB-meter with resolution better than 0.1 dB. If this adjustment is not made, the amplifier with the highest gain will win. 3. Phase has to be checked as many US manufactures still use pin 3 as hot in the XLR-connector. The Audio Engineering Society (AES) standard defines pin 2 as hot. If one of the test amplifiers reverses the phase on the input stage and is used in an active system, the frequency response in the crossover region will be destroyed. 4. The purpose of clip limiters is to prevent serious clipping in the power amplifier. Clip limiters always reduce the peak power of the amplifier. The problem with clip limiters is that even at low listening levels there can be transients which trigger the clip limiter. Yet the user is unaware because the indicator is to slow to indicate it. For this reason and for the reasoning that all clip indicators per manufacture will light at different rates it is important to set all amplifiers with or without clip limiters engaged. To run one amplifier with and one without, will only compare the sound of the clip limiter itself and not the amp.