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SA-500.1
Power Amplifier
NOTE: Before installing your new component, please read this manual
carefully as it will inform you of the product specifications, proper
installation and correct operating procedures for your unit. Also included
in this manual are guidelines on how to service and care for your new
Cary Audio Design product.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: The triangle with the lightning flash symbol
displayed on the unit advises the user of dangerous un-
insulated voltage inside the product’s enclosure.
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not
remove the cover. There are no user-serviceable parts
inside; it is recommended that only qualified personnel
service this component.
ALERT: The triangle with the exclamation point symbol on the component suggests that the owner refer to important
operating and maintenance instructions in the owner’s manual.
1. OWNER’S MANUAL: Before powering up the equipment, read all safety and operating instructions and follow
them as instructed. Retain the safety and operating instructions for future reference.
2. ATTACHMENTS: Use only those attachments recommended by the unit manufacturer, as others may cause
hazards.
3. ACCESSORIES: Do not place the unit on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The unit may fall,
causing injury to a person or damage to the unit. Mount the unit according to the manufacturer’s instructions
with the suggested mounting accessory.
4. WALL OR CEILING MOUNTING: Mount the unit to a wall or ceiling only in the manner recommended by the
manufacturer.
5. WATER AND MOISTURE: Do not use the unit near water (for example, near a swimming pool, bath tub, wash bowl,
kitchen sink, or laundry tub) or in a damp environment (like a basement or outside in the rain).
6. OBJECT AND LIQUID ENTRY: Do not push objects of any kind into the unit through openings as they could touch
dangerous voltage points and short-out parts, possibly resulting in a fire or electric shock. Avoid spilling liquid of any
kind on the unit. If water or any metal object (such as a paper clip, coin, or staple) accidentally falls inside the unit,
disconnect it from the AC power source immediately and contact Cary Audio Design for further instructions.
7. HEAT: Position the unit away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other units (including
amplifiers) that produce heat.
8. VENTILATION: Slots and openings in the cabinet create ventilation to protect the component from overheating.
These openings on the top and bottom panels must remain unobstructed. Allow at least 6 inches (16cm) of clearance
above the unit and an opening behind the unit for airflow. Do not place the unit on a bed, sofa, rug, built-in
bookcase, or rack without adequate ventilation.
9. GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION: As a safety feature, the unit may be equipped with a polarized alternating
current line plug in which one blade is wider than the other. This plug will fit into the power outlet only one way. If you
cannot insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug. If the plug still will not fit, contact a licensed
electrician to update your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug.
10. POWER SOURCES: Operate the unit only from the power source indicated on the marking label. If you are
unsure of the type of power supplied to your home, consult your unit dealer or local power company.
11. POWER CORD PROTECTION: Arrange power supply cords so that they do not suffer from foot traffic or pinching
by items placed on or against them. Pay close attention to cords where plug enter the AC outlet and where they
exit from the unit.
12. LIGHTNING: For added protection during a lightning storm or when the component is idle for long periods of time,
unplug the unit from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable system. This will help protect the unit from
lightning and power line surge damage.
13. POWER LINES: Do not locate an outside antenna system in the vicinity of overhead power lines or other electric light
or power circuits. When installing an outside antenna system, take extreme care to avoid touching the power lines or
circuits; contact with them could be fatal.
14. OVERLOADING: Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or integral convenience receptacles as this
increases the risk of fire or electric shock.
2
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
15. REPLACEMENT PARTS: When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used
replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or those having the same characteristics as the original parts.
Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock or other hazards.
16. SAFETY CHECK: Upon completion of any service or repairs to the unit, ask the service technician to perform
safety checks to ensure the unit is in proper operating condition.
17. IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:
Before connecting a new product to your audio or home theater system, turn off all other equipment
(preferably unplugging them from the AC power source). Many audio components feature automatic
turn-on circuits that may activate during an installation, potentially causing damage to electronic
components and/or speakers. This type of damage is not covered by product warranties, and Cary
Audio specifically disclaims responsibility for any such damage.
Power Cord: The removable power cord provided with your player was specifically
designed for use with this product, but other AC cords may be used. Consult your dealer
for advice on AC power cords and high quality wire in your system.
Wiring: Cables running inside walls should have the appropriate markings to indicate compliance and
listing by the UL, CSA or other standards required by the UL, CSA, NEC or your local building code.
Questions about cables inside of walls should be referred to a qualified custom installer, a licensed
electrician, or low-voltage contractor.
18. RECORDING COPYRIGHT: Recording of copyrighted material for other than personal use is illegal without permission
of the copyright holder.
19. NOTE TO CATV SYSTEM INSTALLER: This reminder is provided to call the CATV system installer's attention to
article 820-40 of the NEC, ANSI/NFPA 70, which provides guidelines for proper grounding and, in particular, specifies
that the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry
as practical.
20. FCC INFORMATION FOR USER:
CAUTION: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by Cary
Audio Design could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions it may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
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Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from where the receiver is
connected.
21. OUTDOOR ANTENNA INSTALLATION/SAFE ANTENNA AND CABLE CONNECTION:
If an outside antenna or cable system is connected to the
equipment, be sure the antenna or cable system is grounded in
order to provide protection against built-up static charges and
voltage surges. Article 810 of the National Electrical Code,
ANSI/NFPA 70 (in Canada, Part 1 of the Canadian Electrical Code)
provides information regarding proper grounding of the mast and
supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna
discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna
discharge unit, connection to grounding electrodes and
requirements for the grounding electrode.
Outside antenna system should be located well away from power
lines, electric light or power circuits and where it will never come
into contact with these power sources if it should happen to fall.
When installing an outside antenna, extreme care should be taken to avoid touching power lines, circuits
or other power sources as this could be fatal. Because of the hazards involved, antenna installation should
be left to a professional.
3
WELCOME
PRODUCT FEATURES
Thank you for purchasing the SA-500.1 power amplifier.
The introduction of the SA-500.1 solid-state power amplifier represents an all new amplifier
design. It embodies a new modular approach that ensures consistency in performance, and
ease of manufacture and serviceability. In implementing the new design, we have dramatically
improved performance and current-handling capacity over our previous models while still
maintaining the highest levels of sonic quality.
The SA-500.1 is a 500 watt monoblock amplifier into 8 ohms, (1000 watts into 4 ohms), with
balanced and single ended inputs. The amplifier exhibits very high current capability, is stable
into low impedance loads, and features 3 dB of dynamic headroom.
When we designed the SA-500.1 power amplifier, one of our primary goals was to create a
product that would give years of consistent and reliable use without any maintenance. To achieve
that goal we took a hard look at the design and choice of components. For example, we use
high-precision metal film resistors in almost all our circuitry, even in places where their use is not
required. We have overbuilt the output stage and increased the heat dissipating capabilities of
the amplifiers by as much as 50% over our previous designs. The changes encompass almost
every part of the design, down to the choice of thickness of the chassis sheet metal. The
monolithic front end brought major advantages to the amplifier design with improved
temperature stability, low offset, and a substantial reduction of all types of distortion across the
full frequency spectrum.
Cary Audio Design has been known for over two decades as a producer of some of the finest and
most musical tube amplifiers in the world. Based on this heritage we have paid special attention
to the sonic qualities of these new solid-state amplifiers, voicing them to have the proven
attributes of the “Cary Sound” and testing them hundreds of hours with many different speakers.
In our quest to dramatically improve them over our previous efforts we compared them to some
of the best of the competition, often at much higher price points. This took months of research
and development time but we would not rest until we were satisfied that we had surpassed our
previous models by a wide margin. The improvements in the power supply have brought gains in
bass performance, which is now much more visceral and controlled even into difficult loads.
Reducing the noise floor, increasing the isolation between the channels, and especially
redesigning the sensitive front end of the amplifier has improved imaging, sound staging and
depth retrieval. The midrange is now more lifelike and palpable. One area of which we are
particularly proud is what we have achieved in transparency, and the way images now hang in
three dimensional space. The amplifiers were designed to be equally at home in a high-
performance music system or a home cinema setting.
4
WELCOME
The SA-500.1 power amplifier features include:
Single-ended RCA or XLR balanced inputs
500 Watts/8 ohms; 1000 Watts/4 ohms
Remote trigger (works with +3.3 to +24 Volts DC)
Overbuilt power supply employs a massive 1500 kVA power transformer and in excess
of 82,000 uF of capacitance
Protection against short circuits, device failures, miswiring, and internal faults.
Thermal as well as DC offset protection
Matched output transistors
Stable with mismatched, reactive or unusual loads
Soft start circuit prevents “Brown outs” when amplifier is turned on
High quality RCA (gold plated) and XLR input connectors
High-quality, heavy-duty speaker output connectors
Our goals in designing these new amplifiers were quite extensive, and we believe we met or
exceeded all of them. As a company we strive to be on the cutting edge of our industry, which
requires a lot of research and dedication on our part to bring you the best products possible. We
are confident that the SA-500.1 is a superb amplifier that will meet the tests of musical accuracy,
dynamic performance, and long-term reliability.
5
WELCOME
UNPACKING AND INSTALLATION
Unpacking
Your Cary Audio Design product was shipped in a carton particularly designed to protect its
contents, and special care has been taken to prevent damage during shipping.
Carefully remove your new component from its packing carton and examine it closely for signs of
shipping damage. If shipping damage is discovered, document the damage with photographs,
contact the transport carrier immediately, and retain the packing as evidence.
We strongly recommend saving all original packing cartons to protect your component for
storage or future shipping.
Power Requirement
The SA-500.1 is designed to operate from AC mains current. The specified AC voltage is either 110-
120 volts or 220-240 volts AC at 50-60 Hz.
Cables
The speaker cables from the output posts of the SA-500.1 power amplifier to the speaker system
can be any length, as your speaker set-up requires. Select speaker cables of sufficient size to
preserve the outstanding performance capabilities of your SA-500.1 power amplifier. Heavy gauge
#14 wire is suitable for distances up to 10 feet, #12 for 25 feet. Most audio dealers will have
proper speaker cable in stock for this purpose. Consult your Authorized Cary Audio Design dealer
for advice about wire.
Interconnects
Signal input connections are made via the input jack on the rear of the SA-500.1 power amplifier,
either single-ended or balanced. The interconnect cables from the output of the processor can be
any convenient length your installation set-up requires. The choice of a high quality interconnect
cable is important. Once again, your audio dealer will have the proper cables in stock for this
purpose.
Warranty Card
If you are the original purchaser of this unit and you purchased it in the United States, fill
out the enclosed warranty registration card and return it to Cary Audio Design within 15 days of
your purchase. Warranty restrictions apply. Consult the warranty section of this manual for
details. Please keep a copy of the original sales receipt from your Authorized Cary Audio Design
dealer to validate the warranty if necessary.
WARNING
Do not touch the speaker output binding posts during normal operation. You
may be shocked. Do not short-circuit the speaker output binding posts.
Damage may occur or the fuse may blow. Do not parallel or “bridge” the
speaker output binding posts as this will damage the amplifier.
6
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating the SA-500.1 amplifier is a simple procedure since each unit is designed for long-
term stability in virtually any home operating situation. However, if the unit is operated outside
the parameters outlined in this owner’s manual, damage may occur. Please read this manual
carefully before operating your new SA-500.1.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
................................................................................................................................................
Circuit Type
Solid State, Class A/B
................................................................................................................................................
Power Output
1 x 500 Watts @ 8 Ohms from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
1 x 1000 Watts @ 4 Ohms from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
................................................................................................................................................
Frequency Response 10 Hz to 50 kHz +/- 0.1 dB
................................................................................................................................................
Signal-to-Noise Ratio >100 dB, “A” Weighted
................................................................................................................................................
Input Impedance
30K Ohms – Unbalanced ( RCA jacks)
30K Ohms - Balanced (XLR)
................................................................................................................................................
Voltage Gain 28 dB
................................................................................................................................................
AC Power 117/234 Volts AC @50-60 Hz
................................................................................................................................................
Break-in Time 100 Hours of playing time
................................................................................................................................................
Finish
Black epoxy coated steel chassis.
Silver anodized aluminum faceplate. (Black Optional)
................................................................................................................................................
Weight 65 lbs
................................................................................................................................................
Dimensions 7.5” H x 17.7” W x 19.5” D
................................................................................................................................................
Audio Input 1 RCA jack, 1 XLR jack
................................................................................................................................................
Audio Output 1 pair Heavy-Duty, gold-plated binding posts
................................................................................................................................................
THD Less than 0.05% at rated output
................................................................................................................................................
Damping Factor Greater than 400 from 10Hz to 20 kHz
................................................................................................................................................
Remote Trigger
3.3-24v DC at 5mA or greater
7
CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS
FRONT PANEL
POWER BUTTON
The Power Button performs no function when the amplifier is powered off with the rear
panel Master Power Switch.
When the rear panel Master Power Switch is powered on, the SA-500.1 is in Standby mode.
Pressing the front panel Power Button when the rear panel master panel switch is powered
on will activate the power amplifier. When the SA-500.1 is activated, the LED above the
power button lights blue.
Note: When the status of the SA-500.1 changes, relay clicks may be audible. This is
normal.
8
CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS
REAR PANEL
1. UNBALANCED (RCA) INPUT JACK
Provides unbalanced audio input from source.
2. BALANCED (XLR) INPUT JACK
Provides balanced audio input from source.
Note: Please use balanced OR unbalanced connectors. Do NOT use both.
Never make or break connections to the SA-500.1 unless the SA-500.1 and all
associated components are powered off.
9
CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS
Do not connect the outputs of the SA-500.1 to the outputs of other amplifiers or to a
speaker switchbox or volume control with a common ground. If you are unsure, check
with Cary Audio or the manufacturer of the device. Failure to follow this can damage
your amplifier and void its warranty.
3. FUSE HOLDER
Use only 8A (120v) or 4A (240v)
4. AC POWER CONNECTOR/ MAIN POWER SWITCH
Connect to AC mains using the included power supply cord. Turn the main power switch on
before use.
5. REMOTE TRIGGER INPUT
Enables the SA-500.1 to be controlled by an external device with a 3.3V DC minimum to
24V DC maximum trigger output. Connect the trigger output of the external device to the
TRIGGER INPUT of the SA-500.1 power amplifier. The SA-500.1 will automatically respond
when the external device is powered on and off. When the controlling device is turned on,
the amplifier will turn on after a delay. This delay is intentional and serves to protect the
speakers while the unit stabilizes. During start-up, you may hear a relay clicking. This is
normal.
6. SPEAKER OUTPUT CONNECTORS
Provide audio output for the speakers. Output connectors can accept bare speaker wires or
most spade and banana connectors. When using bare speaker wires, loosen the connector,
insert the wire into the receptacle, and tighten the connector. The same procedure should
be used for spade connectors.
CONNECTING TO A SUBWOOFER
The subwoofer should be connected to the preamplifier or processor through its low level inputs.
Do not under any circumstances connect the amplifier to a subwoofer through its high
level (speaker) inputs. There is a potential of damaging the amplifier using this type
of connection due to differences in grounding schemes used by some subwoofer
manufacturers.
Failing to observe the following precaution will void your warranty.
10
SERVICE AND CARE
CARE AND CLEANING
Unplug the unit from the wall outlet. Clean the cabinet housing and front panel of the SA-
500.1 with a soft cloth and a glass cleaner (such as Windex). Removing the cover during
cleaning is not advised. The frequency of cleaning will vary based on the cleanliness of the
environment and the number of hours the SA-500.1 is operated.
FACTORY SERVICE
Careful consideration has been given to the design of your SA-500.1 to keep maintenance
problems to a minimum. Any problems or requests for service should be referred to our Customer
Service Department at 919.355.0010. Do not return the SA-500.1 to the factory without a return
authorization number (RA) from the Customer Service Department.
Refer to the next section for details about returning equipment to Cary Audio Design.
Should the unit be lost or damaged in shipment, Cary Audio Design will assume no
responsibility if the shipping company refuses to pay for damage due to your improper packing
or lack of insurance. Please use the original shipping carton for shipping the player.
NON-WARRANTY REPAIRS
Cary Audio Design will provide repair service for its products charging on a time and expense
basis. Please call Cary Audio Design at 919.355.0010 for more information about out-of-
warranty service and repair fees.
SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS
In the event that the owner needs to return the unit to Cary Audio Design for service or repair
of a possible defect, he must follow the following steps:
1. Contact Cary Audio Design at 919.355.0010 to obtain a Return Authorization
(RA) number prior to shipping; include this number with the package.
2. Submit a copy of the original sales receipt; blank receipts will not validate the limited
warranty for service by Cary Audio Design. The original sales receipt must contain
the following information:
the authorized Cary Audio Design dealer’s name
the date of purchase
the unit’s sales price
the buyer’s name and address
3. Describe in detail the problem.
4. Note the unit’s model number and serial number.
5. Ship or deliver:
with all freight and insurance charges prepaid and in its original packing
container or equivalent, ship the component to:
Cary Audio Design - 1020 Goodworth Drive, Apex, NC 27539
11
LIMITED WARRANTY
Cary Audio Warrants to the original United States purchaser for use in the United States
the Following Cary Audio Products for the Periods Indicated:
1. Power Amplifiers, Integrated Amplifiers, Surround Sound Processors, and Preamplifiers have
a three (3) year parts and labor warranty from the date of the original purchase from Cary
Audio.
2. CD or SACD players, DVD players, or Music Servers have an eighteen (18) month parts and
labor warranty from the date of the original purchase from Cary Audio.
3. Vacuum tubes, if any are used in the component, are offered a 90-day exchange policy
against defects with the exception of the CAVT 300B vacuum tube that has a one (1) year
exchange policy from the date of the original purchase from Cary Audio.
What is Covered and What is Not Covered
Except as specified below, this warranty covers parts and labor to correct all defects in materials and
workmanship. The following are not covered by the warranty:
1. Damage, deterioration, malfunction or failure to meet performance specifications resulting
from:
a. Accident, acts of nature, misuse, abuse, neglect or unauthorized product
modifications
b. Improper installation, removal or maintenance, or failure to follow instructions
supplied with the product.
c. Repair or attempted repair by anyone not authorized by Cary Audio to repair the
product.
d. Any shipment of the product (claims must be presented to the carrier).
e. Any cause other than a product defect.
2. Cleaning, initial set-up, check-ups with no defects found, or charges incurred for installation,
removal or reinstallation of the product.
3. Any product, on which the serial number has been defaced, modified or removed.
4. Batteries.
5. Accessories, including but not limited to, batteries, cables, mounting hardware and brackets,
cleaning accessories, antenna and detachable power cords.
6. Warranty is void if purchase was made from anyone other than an authorized Cary Audio
dealer.
Who May Enforce the Warranty?
This warranty extends to products purchased directly from Cary Audio or an authorized Cary Audio
dealer. Purchasers should inquire of the dealer regarding the nature and extent of the dealer’s
warranty, if any.
To obtain such warranty service, the original purchaser must complete and send in the Warranty
Registration Card within 15 days of purchase.
12
LIMITED WARRANTY
What Will We Pay For?
We will pay for all labor and material expenses for items covered by the warranty. Payment of
shipping charges is discussed in the next section of this warranty.
How You Can Get Service?
In the event that the owner needs to return the unit to Cary Audio for service or repair of a possible
defect, he must follow the following steps:
1. Contact Cary Audio at 919-355-0010 to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA)
number prior to shipping; include this number with the package
2. Submit a copy of the original sales receipt; blank receipts will not validate the limited
warranty for service by Cary Audio. The original sales receipt must contain the following
information:
a. The authorized Cary Audio dealer’s name
b. The date of purchase
c. The unit’s sales price
d. The buyer’s name and address
e. Describe in detail the problem.
f. Note the unit’s model number and serial number.
3. Deliver by either of these methods:
a. With all freight and insurance charges prepaid and in its original packing container
or equivalent, ship the component to Cary Audio, 1020 Goodworth Drive Apex, NC
27539.
b. Hand-deliver the product to Cary Audio (address noted above) or the nearest
authorized service facility.
Limitation of Implied Warranties
All implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purchase, are
limited in duration to the length of this warranty.
Exclusion of Damages
Cary Audio’s liability for any defective product is limited to repair or replacement of the product at
Cary Audio’s option. Cary Audio shall not be liable for damage to other products caused by any
defects in Cary Audio products, damages based upon inconvenience or loss of use of the product, or
any other damages, whether incidental, consequential, or otherwise.
13
LIMITED WARRANTY
How State Law Relates to the Warranty
Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and/or do not allow the
exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions
may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from
state to state.
International Purchasers (Export Markets)
Cary Audio warrants its merchandise to purchasers within the United States exclusively for use
within the United States. It provides no other warranties, expressed or implied. If you are living
outside of the United States, please consult your local dealer or distributor to determine the details
of your local warranty.
14
CARY AUDIO DESIGN
1020 Goodworth Drive, Apex, NC 27539
phone 919-355-0010
fax 919-355-0013
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