CARVIN DCM2004L (01) PDF Document

You should inspect your CARVIN DCM2004L for any damage that may have occurred during shipping. If any damage is found, please notify the shipping company and CARVIN immediately.

Save the carton and all packing materials. In the event you have to re-ship your unit, always use the original carton and packing material for the best possible protection.

Save your invoice, as it will be required for warranty service if needed. If you find items are missing, they may have been shipped separately; allow several days for the rest of your order to arrive before inquiring.

WATER AND MOISTURE: The CARVIN DCM2004L should not be used near water (e.g., near a bathtub, kitchen sink, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool). Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure.

POWER SOURCES: The product should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the appliance.

GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION: Precautions should be taken so that the grounding or polarization is not defeated.

POWER CORD PROTECTION: Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the appliance.

SERVICING: The user should not attempt to service the appliance beyond that described in the operating instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.

FUSING: If your unit is equipped with a fuse receptacle, replace only with the same type fuse. Refer to replacement text on the unit for correct fuse type.

The CARVIN DCM2004L is designed to fit a standard 19″ rack. Use four screws, one in each corner, to mount the unit. To prevent sag from the front panel, it is recommended to also support the rear of the amplifier, especially in portable rack cases where shock and vibration are common. 10-32 x .5″ Phillips machine screws are normally used for mounting audio gear. Do not block the front or rear cooling vents.

The red PROTECT LED provides information about the operating status of the amplifier. The LED will illuminate for approximately 3 seconds when the amplifier is first turned on and then will turn off. The PROTECT LED will also illuminate under the following fault conditions:

1. Overheating: If the amplifier’s heat sink is too hot, the unit will shut down. This is caused by inadequate ventilation. The amp will automatically restart after it cools down.

2. Shorted speaker or cable: Check speaker cables for shorts and verify that the speaker is functioning correctly. Reset the amplifier by turning it off for 1 minute.

3. Over-current or low impedance: This is caused by the speaker impedance being below the minimum rating of 4 ohms per channel or 8 ohms bridged. Disconnect the speaker that is causing the overload condition.

If the PROTECT LED remains on without speakers connected and after the amplifier has been off for several minutes, the unit may require service.

CHANNEL LEVEL CONTROL: A precision detente level control is used to adjust the volume levels. To deliver the amps maximum power, the control is turned fully clockwise. For multi-speaker systems, the volume levels can be used to match loudspeakers with different output ratings. The level controls do not affect the power of the amplifier.

CHANNEL SIGNAL INDICATOR, 40% & 80% OUTPUT: The green SIGNAL LED will illuminate when a signal is present at the input of the channel. The yellow 40% and 80% LEDs will start to flash when there is a low input signal. They will become more constantly lit as the amplifier is driven to those output levels.

CHANNEL CLIP INDICATOR: The red CLIP LED indicates when each channel has reached its maximum usable power. A momentary flash of the CLIP LED is acceptable. However, constant flashing or having the LED stay on indicates that the amplifier is being overdriven, which produces audible distortion and can cause damage to the speakers.

Upon rack installation, the rear of the amplifier must be exposed to open air for temperature control. The internal fan exhausts hot air from the rear of the amplifier while pulling cool air through the front cooling vents. The front cooling vents must have an unobstructed air supply. Do not block the vents from the front. The use of internal fans is used to keep the sensitive drivers and the main amplifier cool and to ensure a long life.

The CARVIN DCM2004L features two types of input connectors for each channel: XLR and 1/4″ TRS.

XLR Jack: This is a balanced input. Pin 1 is ground, Pin 2 is positive signal, and Pin 3 is negative signal.

1/4″ TRS Jack: This jack can be used for balanced or unbalanced input signals. For balanced input, use a TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) plug where Tip is positive, Ring is negative, and Sleeve is ground. For unbalanced input, use a standard TS (Tip-Sleeve) 1/4″ plug; the Ring and Sleeve are automatically shorted together by the jack.

PARALLEL INPUTS: This switch internally connects both channels together, eliminating the need for Y-cables. With the switch in the “PARALLEL” position, plug your signal into either CH 1 or CH 2 input, and it will be sent to both amplifier channels.

INPUT GROUND LIFT: This switch disconnects the XLR pin 1 ground from the chassis ground. Use this in the “LIFT” position to help eliminate hum and noise caused by ground loops in your audio system.

LIMITERS: This recessed switch activates the internal limiters for each channel. The limiters help reduce harsh clipping and distortion to protect speakers. The limiters are designed to be sonically transparent and only engage when the amplifier reaches maximum output. You can turn them off for applications where every dB of output is required, but be careful not to overdrive the amplifier, which can damage speakers.

BRIDGE MODE: This recessed switch combines the power of both channels into a single mono output. See the instructions for operating in Bridge Mode for proper setup and connections.

The CARVIN DCM2004L offers two types of speaker outputs:

SPEAKER OUTPUTS (Speakon™ / 1/4″ combo jacks): The speaker connectors feature a combination of both 1/4″ and Speakon™ jacks for your power applications. The left jack is for channel 1 and the right jack is for channel 2. The center Speakon™ jack is for the “Bridge” output only. To connect to the center Speakon™ jack in Bridge mode, the positive lead must be wired to the 2+ terminal and the negative lead to the 2- terminal.

SPEAKER BINDING POSTS: Use wire size 16 or larger. For stereo or normal mono operation, use the red (+) and black (-) posts for each channel. For Bridge mode, connect your speaker across the two red binding posts; CH 1 (left) is the positive (+) terminal and CH 2 (right) is the negative (-) terminal. The minimum impedance is 4 ohms per channel or 8 ohms bridged.

To operate in Bridged Mono mode, follow these steps:

1. Set the BRIDGE switch on the rear panel to the ON (bridged) position.

2. Connect your input signal to the CH 1 input only.

3. Use the CH 1 level control to adjust the output.

4. Connect your speaker using one of the following methods:

– Using the binding posts: Connect the speaker between the two RED binding posts. CH 1 is Positive (+) and CH 2 is Negative (-).

– Using the Speakon™ connectors: Use the center Speakon™ output jack. You will need a special cable wired with pins +2 and -2 connected to your speaker. Or, use a 4-wire Speakon™ cable, connecting the amp’s CH 1 +1 and CH 2 +1 to your speaker’s input.

5. The minimum impedance in Bridged Mono mode is 8 ohms.

1. Check if the AC power cord is securely plugged in and the POWER switch is on. The blue power LED should be lit.

2. Check if the rear fan is turning. The fan runs continuously when the amplifier is on.

3. Check if the red PROTECT LED is on. If it is, the amplifier may be overheated or have a shorted output. Turn the amp off and allow it to cool, and check speaker cables.

4. Check that your input signal source is sending a signal to the amplifier.

Try setting the rear panel GROUND LIFT switch to the LIFT position. This disconnects the audio ground from the chassis ground to help break ground loops, which are a common cause of hum.

Check the MODE switches on the rear of the amplifier. If you intend to operate in stereo, the BRIDGE switch must be in the OFF position. If you are in BRIDGE mode, you must use the CH1 input only and ensure your speaker is connected to the bridge output terminals. Also, check your speaker cables for any possible shorts.

Your CARVIN DCM2004L requires a dedicated circuit breaker. Normally a 2000W amp or larger will require a dedicated 20A circuit to run at its full power if it is driven into a continuous 4 or 2 ohm bridged load. Ensure you have the correctly rated circuit breaker for your power demands.