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9

Bridge Mode

The Servo 120 provides a rear-panel switch that allows it to be used in a Bridge
mode.  When this switch is placed in the “Off” (left) position, the Servo 120
functions as a true stereo amplifier, where both of the two independent amplifier
channels (left and right) can receive different input signals and produce
independent output signals.  However, when the switch is placed in the “On”
(right) position, both amplifier channels process only the signal present at the left
input, thus producing a single output signal with a true 120 watt output (into 8
ohms).

The illustration on the left shows how this works.  In bridge mode, the polarity
(phase) of the right output signal is reversed relative to that of the left output
signal.  Both channels then process the same signal, with the speaker load
connected so that power is derived from both channels.  The effective voltage
swing seen by the load is thus doubled so that the power output is doubled.

When using the Servo 120 in Bridge mode, be sure to connect each
loudspeaker as shown in the illustration below (and as silkscreened on the rear
panel), with the red (+) terminal of the left channel connected to the positive
input of the speaker and the red (+) terminal of the right channel connected to
the negative input of the speaker.  Do not use the black ground-) output
terminal of either channel (the speaker load must “float” away from the
amplifier chassis).

BRIDGE

OFF

ON

BRIDGE

OFF

ON

F

U

S

E

F

U

S

E

SERVO 120 STEREO AMPLIFIER

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

!

SAMSON

BALANCE

RIGHT

LEFT

M0N0

BALANCE

AC INPUT

USA & CANADA 115V~60HZ 200W

EUROPE & UK 230V ~ 50HZ 300W

USA & CANADA

2.5A/125V (115V)

EUROPE & UK

1.5A/250V (230V)

+RIGHT

GROUND

LEFT+

MONO (8

)

-

+

+

-

WARNING: Bridge mode is to be used only when the Servo 120 is

connected to an 8 ohm speaker load.  Use of Bridge mode with speaker

loads of 4 ohms or less can result in severe damage to the unit due to

excessive heat and current limiting and will void your warranty!

INPUT

LEFT(+)
OUTPUT

RIGHT(+)
OUTPUT

Summary of Contents for Power Amplifier Servo 120

Page 1: ... OWNERS MANUAL S T U D I O AMPLIFIER S E R V O 1 2 0 ...

Page 2: ...4 Guided Tour 5 Front Panel 5 Rear Panel 6 Setting Up and Using the Servo 120 Amplifier 7 The Servo 120 Protection Circuitry 8 Bridge Mode 9 Appendix A Linearity vs Frequency Sweep 10 Appendix B Power Output vs THD 11 Specifications 12 ...

Page 3: ...dio experience in your own home try connecting your home hi fi amplifier s auxiliary outputs to the Servo 120 s inputs thus using your hi fi amp as a preamplifier and then connect your existing speakers to the Servo 120 s outputs If you fall in love with the sound as we re sure you will you might want to substitute a professional pre amplifier for your existing hi fi amp and from there you may wel...

Page 4: ...h push spring terminal output connectors Convection cooling no fan makes for whisper quiet operation even in critical listening environments such as recording studios Unique bipolar circuit design that continuously keeps DC output during idling at or near 0 volts thus keeping idle speakers at their 0 point This serves to minimize heat overload problems by effectively preventing the Servo 120 from ...

Page 5: ...n on page 7 in this manual for more information 5 Protection LED This goes on for approximately five seconds whenever the Servo120 is powered on and fades slowly when the amp is powered off When lit 0 volts DC are provided to all connected speakers thus muting them and preventing any thump from occurring For a complete description of the conditions under which this light goes on see the section en...

Page 6: ... connected to both the left and right input jacks when operating the Servo 120 in Bridge mode use the left input jack only see page 7 in this manual for more information The Servo 120 accepts input levels of any strength but needs at least 4 dBu to achieve maximum power 5 Unbalanced Inputs Connect incoming signal to these unbalanced RCA type jacks Stereo signals should be connected to both the lef...

Page 7: ... the same power strip that other audio devices such as a mixing console are connected to You can then turn on all devices at once with the single power strip on off switch with no danger of damaging connected speakers by generating thumps 6 Press the front panel Speaker on off switch so that it is in in its down position and then press the front panel Power switch in order to turn on the Servo 120...

Page 8: ...o guard against this problem make sure the Servo 120 receives adequate ventilation on all sides see page 5 for more information in extreme environmental conditions you may also want to consider the use of cooling fans Severe overcurrent conditions This occurs whenever the signal being input to the Servo 120 rises to a level above 20 THD Total Harmonic Distortion Shorted speaker cables This will oc...

Page 9: ...d is thus doubled so that the power output is doubled When using the Servo 120 in Bridge mode be sure to connect each loudspeaker as shown in the illustration below and as silkscreened on the rear panel with the red terminal of the left channel connected to the positive input of the speaker and the red terminal of the right channel connected to the negative input of the speaker Do not use the blac...

Page 10: ...ty vs Frequency Sweep 10 Linearity 0 dB Ref vs frequency sweep 10 Hz 50 kHz 5 0000 4 0000 3 0000 2 0000 1 0000 0 0 1 000 2 000 3 000 4 000 5 000 10 100 1k 10k 50k Ap AUDIO PRECISION Servo 120 LEVEL dBr vs FREQ Hz 0dB ref ...

Page 11: ...60 W vs Total Harmonic Distortion 80 000 73 000 61 000 56 000 48 000 40 000 32 000 21 000 15 000 8 000 200 0u 0 000 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 1 000 20 100 1k 10k 50k Ap AUDIO PRECISION Servo 120 THD N LEVEL W vs FREQ Hz THD Watts ...

Page 12: ...z 7 kHz rated output power 03 3 Signal To Noise Ratio 22 Hz 22 kHz bandwidth dB below rated output power 105 dB 4 Frequency Response 10 Hz 20 kHz 0 0 5 dB 3 Hz 65 kHz 0 3 0 dB 5 Input Sensitivity 4 dBu to achieve rated power Level control set to maximum 6 Crosstalk adjacent channels 75 dB 1 kHz 7 Output DC Offset Voltage 50 mV DC Servo Controlled 8 Headphone Output Level 15 mW into 8 Ω 1 THD N 9 D...

Page 13: ...avelength for Samson Technologies Corp Copyright 1997 Samson Technologies Corp Printed June 1997 Samson Technologies Corp 575 Underhill Blvd P O Box 9031 Syosset NY 11791 9031 Phone 1 800 3 SAMSON 1 800 372 6766 Fax 516 364 3888 ...

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