Crown Audio’s new flagship amplifier is the I-Tech HD Series 4x3500HD.
The four-channel I-Tech DriveCore Series 4x3500HD uses Crown’s sixth-generation class-I engine with DriveCore technology to deliver 3.5kW/channel burst into 4Ω or 2Ω, and offers Crown’s most advanced features – including a 4.3-inch TFT LCD with capacitive touchscreen, Harman HiQnet System Architect 2.0 control functionality and Version 5 DSP preset support for JBL Professional’s newly-launched VTX Series V25 plus VerTec Series line array loudspeakers.
The 4.3-inch front-panel LCD touchscreen provides amplifier monitoring and access to key functions with colour-keyed visuals that are similar to the at-a-glance FaderGlow indicators used on Soundcraft and Studer mixing consoles.
The amplifier delivers 1.9kW/channel into eight ohms, 2kW/channel into 4Ω and 4kWinto 4Ω bridged with all channels driven at full bandwidth – and occupies two rack spaces. This power-to-size ratio is made possible by Crown’s DriveCore amplifier IC chip, which combines the amplifier driver stage into the power output stage (along with additional audio-signal functions), to reduce overall size and power-consumption requirements and yield energy-efficient operation that conforms to Harman International’s GreenEdge environmental initiative.
DriveCore technology also gives the I-Tech 4x3500HD the ability to better control and more quickly recover from high-voltage transients, for a highly accurate reproduction of the input signal and better low-frequency response.
A common concern among tour and installed sound professionals is the relative lack of inputs and outputs on DSP-enabled power amplifiers. The I-Tech 4x3500HD provides four analogue inputs, four AES3 digital inputs and four AES inputs over Vdrive, and the ability to select four CobraNet inputs. The amplifier also includes Speakon or banana plug speaker connectors, as well as a Neutrik PowerCon AC input connector to prevent the power cord from coming loose in transit.
The I-Tech 4x3500HD uses a proprietary BSS OmniDriveHD processing engine, offering 192kHz, 32-bit A/D and D/A converters. Crown’s linear phase FIR and IIR filters provide optimised loudspeaker crossover points with improved midrange clarity and off-axis loudspeaker response.
The amplifier is compatible with the Harman HiQnet System Architect and JBL HiQnet Performance Manager sound reinforcement system design software. JBL HiQnet Performance Manager is a refined user interface that facilitates the design of touring and live performance venue sound reinforcement systems. The inclusion of JBL Version 5 DSP preset tunings for VerTec Series loudspeakers interface with the I-Tech 4x3500HD’s FIR filters to improve the loudspeakers’ sound quality and horizontal coverage performance. For enhanced control and monitoring capabilities the amplifier is also compatible with the Powered By Crown iPad/iPhone application.
‘The I-Tech 4x3500HD DriveCore Series offers control, connectivity, DSP and system interfacing capabilities that have never been available in a professional high-power multichannel amplifier before,’ says Brian Pickowitz, Tour Sound Market Manager. ‘We designed it entirely without compromise to be the most flexible and useful multichannel amplifier on the market today.’
‘The I-Tech 4x3500HD will be an integral part of our turnkey system package for the newly-released, VTX Series V25 flagship full-size enclosure as well as a powerful, versatile platform that allows VerTec to achieve it’s full performance potential with V5 processing’, adds Paul Bauman, JBL Professional Tour Sound Senior Manager.
The I-Tech 4x3500HD also incorporates Crown’s LevelMax limiter technology, that combines the operation of the amplifier’s Peak, Thermal and RMS limiters for more effective protection; a front-panel USB port that enables users to load preset amplifier settings or device files and update firmware.
Power-per-channel with all channels driven for 2s is as follows: 1.9kW at 8Ω; 2kW at 4Ω; 2kW at 2Ω; 3.8kW at 8Ω bridged; 4kW at 4Ω bridged.
The Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD DriveCore Series will be available in February 2012.
More: www.crownaudio.com
