Parasound 2250 OWNER GUIDE
Parasound 2250 OWNER GUIDE
Parasound 2250 OWNER GUIDE
Two ChannelAmplifier
Two Channel Power Amplifier
OWNER’S GUIDE
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
The lightning flash with the arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert
the user to the presence of “dangerous voltage” inside the product that may constitute a risk
of electric shock.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence
of important operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying the product.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL
1. Read Instructions — Read all the safety and operating instructions before operating this product.
2. Retain Instructions — Retain safety and operating instructions for future reference.
3. Heed Warnings — Adhere to all warnings on the product and in the operating instructions.
4. Follow Instructions — Follow all operating and use instructions.
5. Cleaning — Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
Clean the outside of the product only.
6. Attachments — Do not use attachments that are not recommended by the product manufacturer;
they may be hazardous.
7. Water and Moisture — Do not use this product near water.
8. Accessories — Do not place this product on an unstable cart or stand. The product may fall, causing
bodily injury and damage to the product. A product and cart combination should be moved with care.
Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart to overturn.
9. Ventilation — Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable opera-
tion of the product and to protect it from overheating. These openings must not be blocked or
covered. This product should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless
proper ventilation is provided.
10. Power Sources — Operate this product only from the type of power source indicated on the label.
If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your dealer or local power
company. This product is equipped with a three-prong grounding plug. This plug will only fit into a
grounding power outlet. If you are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician
to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the grounding plug.
11. 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.
12. Lightning — Unplug the unit from the wall outlet for added protection during a lightning storm
and when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of time. This will prevent damage to the
product due to lightning and power line surges.
13. Overloading — Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords. This can result in a fire or electric shock.
14. Inserting Objects into Unit — Never push objects of any kind into this product through any openings;
they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in fire or electric shock.
15. Servicing — Do not attempt to repair or service this product yourself. Opening or removing covers may
expose you to dangerous voltage and other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
16. Damage Requiring Service — Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to quali-
fied service personnel under the following conditions: a) If the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.
b) If liquid has been spilled into the product. c) If the product has been exposed to rain or water. d)
If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. e) If the product has
been dropped or damaged in any way. f) If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance.
17. Replacement Parts — When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used
replacement parts specified by the manufacturer. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, elec-
tric shock, and other hazards.
19. Safety Check — Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician
to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition.
20. Wall or Ceiling Mounting — Mount the product to a wall or ceiling only as recommended.
21. Heat — The product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers,
stoves, and other products (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
Ventilation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Rack Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Warranty Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Congratulations and thank you for your purchase of this precision Parasound audio component.
The Parasound Model 2250 is the latest generation of popular and proven audio power amplifi-
ers dating back to 1981. It has been designed for a wide variety of applications, establishing
a new standard for audio performance, user-friendliness and utility in custom installations.
The versatility of the Model 2250 allows many connection and configuration options, so please
be sure to read this manual thoroughly before you begin installation.
Unpacking
Carefully unpack your Model 2250 and these accessories:
• Detachable AC power cord
• Black trigger wire with a 2.5 mm sub-mini plug at both ends
• Black trigger wire with a 2.5 mm plug at one end, 3.5mm mini plug at the other end
Please inspect the unit now and contact your Parasound Dealer promptly if you see evidence
of shipping damage. Save the carton and packing inserts in case you move or in the event you
need to ship your amplifier for repair. Before you proceed, locate the serial number on the rear
panel or underside of the unit and record it here for future reference:
L
Load AC
Impedance Voltage
Rack Mounting
The Model 2250 front panel occupies only three rack spaces in a standard 19” equipment rack.
For rack mounting, you’ll need to use the Parasound RMK33 rack mounting kit (purchased
separately). We recommend that you use the 8 insulated shoulder washers with the four
mounting bolts which are included with the RMK33. Position these washers on both sides
so they “sandwich” the front panel before the mounting bolts are screwed into the rack rail.
This will eliminate metal-to-metal contact between the Model 2250 chassis, the equipment
rack, and the other components in the rack.
4 REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS AND CONTROLS
Connection Precautions
Disconnect the AC cord before making or changing any input, trigger, or speaker wire connections.
Make sure there is no strain or tension on any wires that could cause them to pull loose.
annel Amplifier
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Speaker Pair A
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R L
In Jacks
Connect the shielded audio cables from your preamplifier or system controller’s output jacks
to the Model 2250’s L and R audio Input jacks. Use only the R channel jack for mono operation.
Loop Jacks
The jacks replicate the audio input signals to facilitate connections of other
Mono power amplifiers
to the same preamplifier or system controller. Loop connection of multiple power amplifiers
is called a “daisy chain.”
Note: You may loop the trigger connections of multiple Parasound power amplifiers without
overloading the surround controller or preamplifier trigger outputs.
Level Input Loop
L L
THX
Ref
r Ground High Pass Filter Bridging
op R R CAUTIO
Mono Mono
To Prevent Electric
THX Flat 20Hz 40Hz Stereo Mono Remove Cover. No
Lift Norm Ref Parts Inside. Refe
Qualified Servi
R (Right) and L (Left) Level Knobs
You can adjust the listening level for each channel by turning its Level knob clockwise to
increase gain or counter-clockwise to reduce gain. The maximum settings correspond to THX
Reference Level where the gain is 28.28: 1 volt at the input jacks corresponds to a 28.28 volts
at the speaker terminals. THX recommends this setting whenever the 2250 is installed with
other THX-certified components.
Note: You may wish to experiment with different gain settings on your preamp or a non-THX
surround controller and on the Model 2250 to find a combination of gain settings where your
system’s background noise is lowest. Sound professionals call these adjustments “gain staging.”
Note: Only the R channel Level knob is used for bridged mono operation.
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS AND CONTROLS continued 5
Mono
High Pass Filter Switch
The High Pass filter can improve the sound in virtually any installation. It’s called a “high pass”
filter because it permits signals higher than 20 Hz and 40 Hz to pass, while preventing signals
below these frequencies from passing.
Input Loop
Speaker Connections
There are separate speaker terminals for two pairs of speakers, labeled Speaker Pair A and
Speaker Pair B.
Each - and + speaker terminal will accept bare speaker wire up to AWG 12, a wire terminated
with a 1/4” spade lug, or with a single banana plug; dual banana plugs which are 3/4” (19mm)
apart may be used for each speaker.
R L R L
Mono Mono
If you use bare wires, remove only enough insulation, about 1/2” (12mm) for each exposed bare
wire to insert through the small hole in the side of the binding post. Before inserting a bare
wire, twist the strands tightly between your fingers to prevent strays that might touch the chas-
sis or another terminal and cause a short circuit. If you have soldering experience you may want
to “tin” the stripped bare wire with solder for a cleaner termination and to prevent the wire
from oxidizing.
6 REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS AND CONTROLS continued
Load AC
Impedance Voltage
For a single pair of 4 ohm or 8 ohm speakers the Load Impedance switch may be set to its 4-8
Ohms position. The Load Impedance Switch must be set to 2-3 ohms whenever the load will be
lower than 4 ohms. Speaker loads below 4 ohms impedance can cause the Model 2250 to over-
heat rapidly and cause audible distortion. These are examples that require the 2-3 ohms setting.
1. Driving two pairs of speakers whose impedances you don’t know.
2. Driving two pairs of speakers with impedances that are lower than 8 ohms. Two pairs of 4
ohm speakers driven simultaneously are a 2 ohm load.
3. Driving a single 4 ohm speaker bridged to mono. This is a 2 ohm load.
4. Driving two 8 ohm speakers bridged to mono. This is a 2 ohm load.
Note: For the coolest possible operating temperature we recommend setting the Load
Impedance switch to 2-3 ohms even if you are using a single pair of 8 ohm speakers.
12V Position
When the Auto Turn On switch is set to its 12V position, the Model 2250 is turned on and off
with an external +9V to +12V DC voltage from your preamp or controller. When the external
voltage ceases the Model 2250 will turn off immediately. The 12V switch position disables the
front panel Power button.
Audio Position
When the Auto Turn On switch is set to its Audio position, the Model 2250 will be turned on
whenever an audio signal is present at its Left and Right Input jacks. After the audio signals
cease the Model 2250 remains on for about ten minutes. This prevents unintended turn-off
during pauses in your music or movies. The Audio position of the Auto Turn On switch also
disables the front panel Power button.
Note: You will achieve more consistent auto turn on operation by using the 12V DC trigger if the
Model 2250 is driving the surround, center, or rear channels. At the beginning of films the surround
channel levels are even lower than the minimum level required by the Audio sensing circuit.
12V In Jack
The Model 2250 12V input uses a 2.5mm sub-mini jack. To trigger the Model 2250, insert the
plug at one end of the provided trigger wire into this jack and the other plug at the other end
into the source component’s trigger output jack.
Some components, including most Parasound Surround Controllers, may use a 3.5mm mini jack
for trigger output, so we have also included a included a 2.5mm jack - 3.5mm plug adapter for
your convenience.
8 REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS AND CONTROLS continued High Pass
275 Two Channel Amplifier L
Parasound Products, Inc.
San Francisco, CA U S A +
Flat 20Hz
Manual Audio Sens 12V Trigger Ground
In Loop
R
Mono Stereo
Audio 12V Max Min Lift Norm + Bridgi
Auto Turn On In Loop Level
Note: If the controller’s trigger output is a + and - terminal, you can cut the 2.5mm plug off one
end of the included trigger wire and attach the bare wires to these terminals. The lead with
the white stripe on it corresponds to the plug’s tip and the unmarked lead corresponds to the
sleeve of the plug.
Note: If the trigger voltage source is DC, the trigger plug tip must be + (positive) and its sleeve
- (negative).
Power Button
Press the Power button once to turn the Model 2250 on, press it again to turn it off. The Power
button is inoperative when the Auto Turn On switch is set to Audio or 12V.
Note: It is normal for the 2250 Protect indicator to flash briefly right after turn on.
Protect Indicator
Protect will illuminate red when the Model 2250 has experienced either an internal or external
fault condition which has also activated its protection circuit to prevent internal damage.
Note: It is normal for Protect to flash for a few seconds right after the unit is turned on.
Hi-Temp Indicator
Hi-Temp will illuminate red when the Model 2250 reaches its maximum safe operating temperature.
If the heat persists the unit will soon shut itself off for protection and will remain off until the
temperature drops. If Hi-Temp appears, the unit has been over-driven at too high a listening level
and/or too low impedance speaker load or has not been provided with sufficient ventilation.
No sound
- Check that AC is live.
- Is the unit on? Check the setting of the Auto Turn On switch.
- Check that input cables and speaker wires are secure at both ends.
- Make sure the control preamp/receiver is switched to the correct input.
- If using Audio Auto turn on feature, increase the sensitivity by turning the sensitivity knob
towards the + position. You may also want to turn the Left and Right gain down to reduce the
Auto turn on volume level.
- Is the Hi-Temp or Protect (or both) illuminated? Check for excessive temperature, short circuited
speaker wires, low impedance speaker load, and inadequate ventilation to remove heat.
Background Hum
- Move the Ground switch to Lift.
- Move audio cables and AC cords away from each other.
- Try different routes for the audio cables and AC cords.
- Make sure insulating shoulder washers are used if unit is rack mounted.
- Try reversing the direction of each other component’s AC plug, one by one.
Overheating
- Remove any external sources of heat.
- Increase ventilation around the Model 2250.
- Reset the Load Impedance switch to 2-3 Ohms.
10 if you require assistance
Call your Parasound dealer first. If the dealer can’t help you with your problem we encourage
you to call Parasound’s Technical Service Department, toll-free at 415 397-7100, Monday –
Friday, 8am – 4pm Pacific time. We can suggest other diagnostic tests you can easily perform.
If we determine that your Model 2250 should be returned to Parasound or an Authorized
Parasound Warranty Center for inspection and possible servicing, we will provide the location
of a warranty center near you or shipping instructions and a Return Authorization number for its
return to Parasound.
Warranty Repair
Read your accompanying Parasound Limited Warranty carefully to understand the applicable rights
and limitations. This section provides instructions for obtaining repairs, both for units covered
under the Parasound Limited Warranty and for units or situations which are outside the Warranty.
Unit is not eligible for repair under the terms of the Parasound warranty if:
1. Unit was not purchased from a Parasound Authorized Dealer or Parasound Authorized Reseller.
2. You are not the original owner. The warranty is not transferable.
3. Unit’s serial number was removed, modified, or defaced.
4. Unit shows evidence of abuse and/or misuse.
5. Unit was modified in any way.
6. A prior repair was attempted by an unauthorized repair station.
12 PARASOUND MODEL 2250 SPECIFICATIONS
Before any home theatre component can be THX Ultra2 certified, it must pass a rigorous series
of quality and performance tests. Only then can a product feature the THX Ultra2 logo, which is
your guarantee that the Home Theatre products you purchase will give you superb performance
for many years to come. THX Ultra2 requirements cover every aspect of the product including
performance and operation.
THX and Ultra2 are trademarks of THX Ltd. which may be registered in some jurisdictions.
All rights reserved.
Notes:
Parasound Products, Inc., 2250 McKinnon Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124
Customer Service 415-397-7100 / Fax 415-397-0144
Technical Dept. service@parasound.com
www.parasound.com