Harman Kardon
PA5800
Multichannel Amplifier
PA5800
Power
Owner’s Manual
Introduction
1
Congratulations! As the owner of a
Harman Kardon PA5800 Multichannel
Power Amplifier, you have at your com-
mand a unique product. The PA5800 has important information that will help you
been carefully designed to deliver the best to make certain that the amplifier is
possible sonic performance, along with
outstanding industrial design that
matches other Harman Kardon products
or complements any interior design.
In order to fully enjoy the performance of
your amplifier, please take a few minutes
to read this owner’s manual. It contains
Description an d Features
The Harman Kardon PA5800 is a flexible,
state-of-the-art audio power amplifier
designed to deliver high performance for
use in home theater or music reproduc-
tion applications. The following are
among its many features:
properly connected to the rest of the
equipment in your system.
■ Designed and manufactured in the
United States
If you have any questions about this
product or its installation and operation,
please contact your retailer or custom
installer. They are your best sources of
product information.
■ High-current output capbility
■ Ultrawide bandwidth design
■ Low negative feedback
You may also contact Harman Kardon
via the World Wide Web at:
http://www.harmankardon.com.
■ Low harmonic and intermodulation
distortion
■ Massive heat sinks for quiet convec-
Welcome to the Harman Kardon family.
We wish you many years of listening
pleasure!
tion cooling
■ High-current power supply
■ Remote turn-on/turn-off circuitry
with select Harman Kardon prod-
ucts or through optional acces-
sories
Safety Information
2
replaced immediately with cords meeting
factory specifications.
exposed to direct sunlight or near
heating equipment.
Important Safety Information
Verify Lin e Voltage Before Use
Your new Harman Kardon PA5800
amplifier has been factory-configured for
use with 120-volt AC line current.
Connecting the amplifier to a line volt-
age other than that for which it is
intended can create a safety and fire haz-
ard, and may damage the amplifier.
■ Avoid moist or humid locations.
Han dle th e AC Power Cord Gen tly
When disconnecting the power cord from
an AC outlet, always pull the plug, never
pull the cord. If you do not intend to use
the amplifier for a considerable length of
time, disconnect the plug from the AC
outlet.
■ Do not obstruct the ventilation slots on
the top of the unit or place objects
directly over them. Remember, power
amplifiers generate heat, and the heat
sink fins and ventilation slots that
form part of the cabinet are specially
designed to remove this heat. Placing
other electronic equipment near these
heat-dissipation systems may possibly
affect the long-term reliability of both
your amplifier and the objects placed
above it.
If you have any questions about the volt-
age requirements for your specific model,
or about the line voltage in your area,
contact your selling dealer before plug-
ging the unit into a wall outlet.
Do Not Open th e Cabin et
There are no user-serviceable compo-
nents inside this product. Opening the
cabinet may present a shock hazard, and
any modification to the product will void
your guarantee. If water enters the unit,
or any metal object such as a paper clip,
wire or staple accidentally falls inside the
cabinet, disconnect the unit from the AC
power source immediately and consult
an authorized warranty station.
Clean in g
Verify AC Circuit Capacity Before Use
High power output of your amplifier may
require heavy current draw under full
load conditions. To ensure proper perfor-
mance and avoid potential safety haz-
ards, we recommend that it be connected
to a circuit with 20-amp capacity.
Connecting multiple amplifiers to the
same circuit, or connecting the amplifier
to a circuit used by other heavy-power
devices, such as high-wattage lights, may
cause circuit breakers to trip. It is always
a good idea to avoid using any audio
equipment on the same AC circuit as
equipment with motors, such as air con-
ditioners or refrigerators. This will lessen
the possibility of power variation and
electrical start-up noise affecting your
sound system.
When the unit gets dirty, wipe it with a
clean, soft and dry cloth. If necessary,
first wipe the surface with a soft cloth
slightly dampened with mild soapy water,
followed by a fresh cloth with clean
water. Wipe immediately with a dry cloth.
Never use benzene, thinner, alcohol or
any other volatile cleaning agent. Do not
use abrasive cleaners, as they may dam-
age the finish of metal parts. Avoid spray-
ing insecticide near the unit.
In stallation Location
■ To ensure proper operation and to
avoid the potential for safety hazards,
place the unit on a firm and level sur-
face. When placing the unit on a shelf,
be certain that the shelf and any
mounting hardware can support the
amplifier’s weight.
Movin g th e Un it
Before moving the unit, be certain to dis-
connect any interconnection cords with
other components, and make certain
that you disconnect the unit from the AC
outlet.
■ Make certain that the proper space is
provided both above and below the
unit for ventilation. If the amplifier
will be installed in a cabinet or other
enclosed area, make certain that there
is sufficient air movement within the
cabinet. Consult with your dealer or
installer for more information.
Do Not Use Exten sion Cords
To avoid safety hazards, use only the
power cord supplied with your unit. If a
replacement cord is used, make certain
that it is of a similar gauge. We do not
recommend using extension cords with
this product. As with all electrical devices,
do not run power cords under rugs or
carpets or place heavy objects on power
cords. Damaged power cords should be
■ Do not place the unit directly on a car-
peted surface.
■ Avoid installation in extremely hot or
cold locations, in an area that is
Unpacking and Installation / Rear Panel Connections
3
To minimize the size of the carton in
storage, you may wish to flatten it.
Carefully remove any staples used to
close carton seams; carefully slit the tape
on the bottom and collapse the carton.
Other cardboard inserts may be stored in
the same manner. Packing materials that unit, or in between multiple amplifiers in
cannot be collapsed should be saved
along with the carton in a plastic bag.
When positioning the amplifier in its
final location, make certain that it has
adequate ventilation on all sides, as well
as on the top and bottom. Do not place
CDs, record jackets, owner’s manuals or
other paper on top of, or beneath the
Unpacking and Installation
The carton and shipping materials used
in protecting your new amplifier were
specially designed to cushion it from the
shocks and vibration of shipping. We
suggest that you save the carton and
packing materials for use in shipping if
you move or if the unit ever needs repair.
a stack. This will block the air flow, caus-
ing degraded performance and a possible
fire hazard. If the unit is to be enclosed
in a cabinet or rack, make certain that
there is adequate air circulation, with
means provided for hot air to exit and for
cool air to be brought in.
Rear Panel Connections
WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD - DO NOT OPEN
AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE - NE PAS OUVRIR
MODEL NO. PA5800
SERIAL NO.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC
HARMAN KARDON
SHOCK. DO NOT OPEN
NORTHRIDGE
CALIFORNIA, USA
MADE IN USA
E160812
596D
LISTED
AUDIO SYSTEMS
POWER AMP
TRIGGER IN
CHANNEL ONE (FRONT RIGHT)
SPEAKER
CHANNEL TWO (SURROUND RIGHT)
SPEAKER
CHANNEL THREE (FRONT CENTER)
SPEAKER
CHANNEL FOUR (SURROUND LEFT)
SPEAKER
CHANNEL FIVE (FRONT LEFT)
SPEAKER
1
2
3
4
5
IN
IN
IN
IN
IN
4 OHMS
4 OHMS
4 OHMS
4 OHMS
8 OHMS
AC INPUT
AC 12OV/60Hz 340W
¡
™
£
¢
¡ Speaker Outputs: Connections from these terminals should be made to the appropriate speakers in your system.
™ Audio Inputs: Connect the outputs of the PT2500, ADP303 or other surround processor, preamplifier or decoder to
these jacks.
£ AC Power Cord: Connect this plug to a wall-mounted AC outlet. Due to the current draw of the PA5800, it is NOT
recommended that the accessory outlets on the back of the audio/video components be used to power this
product.
¢ Remote Amp Trigger In: Connect this jack to the matching trigger output on a PT2500 or other compatible device
to have the PA5800 automatically turn on when the device is activated. See page 4 for additional details.
Note: To assist in the installation of this product, the numbers used in this diagram appear in the manual to guide you to
rear panel connections.
Installation and Connections
4
Note: When making any connections
between source components, proces-
sors or preamplifiers and the PA5800, If the PA5800 is not used with a compati-
or when making any connections to
speakers, be certain that both the
input device and the PA5800 are
turned off. To ensure that there will
be no unwanted signal transients that
Rem ote Turn -On Usin g an Extern al AC-
to-DC Con verter
Connect the outputs of the PT2500 or
your surround processor to the audio
inputs of the PA5800 ™. To simplify
installation, it is best to follow the mark-
ings on the rear panel by connecting the
Front Right output of the PT2500 to the
Front Right input on the PA5800, follow-
ing the same pattern for each channel.
ble Harman Kardon product, it is still
possible to activate the unit for auto-
matic turn-on.
To control the amplifier in this manner
can damage equipment or speakers, it you will need a small AC-to-DC power
is always best to unplug all equipment
from AC power outlets before making
any connections. Modern electronic
converter capable of delivering a 6- to
12-volt DC signal. The DC voltage should designed for use in Bridged configu-
terminate in a standard 3.5mm mono
Important Note: The PA5800 is not
ration. Do not connect the same input
or speaker to more than one channel.
products often have a “standby” mode miniplug. This type of converter may be
that may be activated even though the
product may appear to be turned off.
obtained as a “Power Adapter” from
many electronics retailers. Consult your
dealer for further information.
To ensure that the high-quality signals
produced by the PA5800 are carried to
your speakers without loss of clarity or
resolution , we recommend that you use
high-quality speaker cable. Many brands
of cable are available, and the choice of
cable may be influenced by the distance
between your speakers and the amplifier,
the type of speakers you use, personal
preferences and other factors. Your dealer
or installer is a valuable resource to
consult in selecting a proper cable for
connections between your amplifier and
speakers.
Power Control Connections
Plug the AC adapter into a switched out-
let that will be activated when you wish
to have the amplifier turn on. This may
be the switched outlet at the rear of an AV
receiver or other audio equipment, an AC
outlet that is part of a current sensing
control unit activated by a preamp or
surround processor or a switched AC wall
outlet.
The Harman Kardon PA5800 amplifier
features a built-in remote turn-on system
that will automatically turn on the
amplifier when another device in the
system is switched on. To activate this
system, this amplifier must be used in
conjunction with a Harman Kardon
PT2500, other compatible Harman
Kardon products or other approved
devices.
Connect the 3.5mm miniplug from the
power converter to the Remote Amp
Trigger in ¢ jack on the rear of the
PA5800.
NOTE: Before making any connections
to remote trigger outlets, it is critical that
both the PA5800 and the triggering
device be turned off. For additional safety,
it is best that these connections be made
while both products are unplugged from
AC power sources.
Regardless of the brand or type of cable
selected, we recommend that you use a
cable constructed of fine, multistrand
copper with a gauge of 14 or smaller.
When specifying cable, remember that
the lower the number, the thicker the
cable.
Audio System Connections
As a general rule, avoid running any
input signal or speaker wire connections
next to or parallel with AC power cords.
This may cause undesired hum or other
interference that will greatly degrade sig-
nal performance.
Rem ote Turn -On with Com patible
Harm an Kardon Products – in cludin g
th e PT2500
Connect one end of the accessory cable
supplied with the PT2500 to the Remote
Amp Trigger in ¢ jack on the rear of the
PA5800. Connect the other end to the
jack on the PT2500 that carries the same
identification.
Cable with a gauge of 16 may be used for
short runs of less than ten feet. We do not
recommend the use of cables with an
AWG equivalent of 18 or higher due to
the power loss and degradation in perfor-
mance that will occur.
When making connections with RCA-
type plugs on interconnect cables, make
certain to gently but firmly insert the
plugs into the jacks on the rear of the
PA5800. Loose connections can cause
intermittent sound and my damage your
speakers.
Installation and Connections
5
Cables run inside walls should have the
appropriate markings to indicate listing
with UL (“CL-2/CL-3”), CSA (“FT-4”) or
appropriate safety agency standards that
may be required in your area. Questions
terminal. Making certain that you
observe polarity by connecting the nega-
identical, even though one speaker may
be physically closer to the amplifier than
the other. Do not coil any excess cable, as
this may become an inductor that creates
frequency response variations in your
system.
tive ( ) wire to the black terminal and
-
+
the positive ( ) wire to the red terminal,
pass the exposed wire through from the
about running cables inside walls should top of the slot until the wire is visible
be referred to your installer or a licensed
electrical contractor who is familiar with
the NEC and/or the applicable building
or electrical codes in your area.
from the bottom end. Holding the wire in
place, twist the cap back so that the con-
nection is secured. Do not overtighten or
use tools, as this may damage the plastic
terminal cap or break the delicate wire
strands and decrease system perfor-
mance.
Connect the wires to the speakers, again
being certain to observe proper polarity.
Remember to connect the negative or
black wire to the matching terminal on
the speaker. Similarly, the positive or red
wire should be connected to the like ter-
minal on the speaker.
Con n ection s to Speakers
The final step of the installation process
is to connect the amplifier to your speak-
ers using high-quality cable. A pair of
binding posts is provided for each chan-
nel output. These posts will accept bare
wire or banana-type plugs.
Important Note: When making
speaker wire connections, be certain that
none of the strands from one lead touch
any other lead. This will cause a short
NOTE: While most speaker manufactur-
ers adhere to an industry standard of
using black terminals for negative and
circuit and may damage you amplifier or red ones for positive, some manufactur-
Note that one conductor of the speaker
cable will have no markings or an indi-
cation of “-” for negative polarity, and
the other will have a red line, brand-
name markings, a colored thread or
some other positive-polarity indication.
speakers. Damage from short circuits
caused in this manner is not covered by
the product warranty.
ers may not adhere to this configuration.
To ensure properly phased connections
and optimal performance, consult the
identification plate on your speaker ter-
minals, or the speaker’s manual to verify
polarity. If you do not know the polarity
of your speaker, ask your dealer or
Connections may also be made using
standard 4mm OD banana plugs. Before
using a banana-type jack, make certain
that the plastic screw caps on the PA5800
are firmly tightened by turning them
clockwise until they are snug against the
The wire with the positive indication
should be connected to the red terminals
on both the PA5800 and your speakers.
installer for advice before proceeding, or
consult the speaker’s manufacturer.
The negative wire should be connected to chassis. This will ensure that the maxi-
the black terminal on the PA5800 and
the speakers.
mum surface area of the plug is in con-
tact with the jack. Once the wire has been
attached to the banana plug following
the plug manufacturer’s instructions,
simply insert the banana plug into the
hole provided on the rear of the colored
screw caps on the terminal posts. Be cer-
tain to observe proper polarity.
If bare wire is used for connections, strip
approximately 3/4” (20mm) of insula-
tion from the end of each wire and care-
fully twist the strands of each conductor
together. Be careful not to cut the indi-
vidual strands or twist them off; for opti-
mal performance, all strands must be
used.
Finally, run the cables to the speaker
locations. It is highly recommended that
the length of cable connecting any pair
of speakers be identical. For example,
make certain that the cable length con-
necting left and right front or left and
right rear (surround) speakers is
Next, loosen the knobs of the speaker
output terminals far enough so that the
cap moves back on its threads past the
U-shaped groove at the back end of the
Operation
6
Operation of the PA5800 is simple. There
are no controls to adjust once the instal-
lation is complete.
To place the unit in operation, simply
depress the power switch. Note that the
ring surrounding the power switch will
glow green. There may be a short pause
between the time the power switch is
turned on and power is applied to the
speakers. This is intentional, and this
feature protects your speakers from dam-
Finally, turn on the PT2500 or other
device used to trigger the remote amp
trigger, such as a wall-mounted AC
adapter. The PA5800 will respond to the
trigger signal by automatically turning
on, and the ring surrounding the power
switch will turn green. There will be a
short pause after the signal is applied
and the indicator changes color, and the
power will be applied to the speakers.
This pause is intentional to protect your
speakers from damage as the amplifier
stabilizes.
After all connections have been made to
the amplifier’s inputs and speaker termi-
nals, connect the amplifier’s power cord
to an AC outlet. Make certain that the
PA5800 power switch is in the off position age as the amplifier stabilizes.
before plugging in the power cord.
You are now ready to enjoy the finest
At this point you are almost ready for lis-
tening. First, turn on the source compo-
nents and processor in your system. It is
always a good idea to turn on your
amplifier last. This avoids the possibility
of any turn-on pops or transients from
other equipment being amplified and
sent to your speakers, where they may
cause damage. Always start with a low
volume level on your controller or pre-
amp to avoid damage to your speakers.
sonic performance available. All volume
and level adjustments are made at your
preamp, controller or surround processor.
Once your system is turned on, you are
ready to enjoy the finest sonic perfor-
mance available. There are no controls
to adjust. All volume and level adjust-
ments are made by your preamp, con-
troller or surround processor.
To turn the unit off, press the front panel
power switch.
For Automatic Operation
Before proceeding, make certain that the
connection between the PA5800 and
PT2500 or other trigger source has been
properly made as outlined previously. At
this point the triggering unit should be
turned off.
At the conclusion of your listening ses-
sion, there is no need to manually turn
off the PA5800. When the PT2500 or
other triggering device is turned off,
removing power from the trigger jack,
the PA5800 will return to the standby
mode.
Manual Operation
If the unit is not being used with the
automatic, remote turn-on system and
the AC power plug is connected to a live
outlet, the ring surrounding the power
switch will glow red. This is your indica-
tion that the unit is functional.
Plug the PA5800 into a live AC power
source. The ring surrounding the power
switch will glow red. Press the Power
switch once and note that the ring will
turn to amber. This is your indication
that the PA5800 is in standby mode.
Important Note: If you will not be
using your audio system for an extended
period of time, such as during a vaca-
tion, it is always a good idea to turn the
unit off using the power switch. This will
prevent the automatic turn-on circuits
from accidentally turning the system on
during your absence.
Service Information / Troubleshooting
7
If your installation has followed the pro-
cedures in this manual, you should enjoy out only by an authorized Harman
It is important that any repairs be carried connection or thermal overload, the
Harman Kardon PA5800 will place itself
in a “protect” mode to prevent damage
to the amplifier. When this happens, the
ring surrounding the power switch will
flash and alternate between red and
amber.
many years of trouble-free operation and
high-quality listening enjoyment. The
PA5800 does not contain any user-ser-
viceable parts. If you suspect a problem
that may require service assistance, con-
tact your dealer, installer or an autho-
rized Harman Kardon service depot.
Kardon service agent to ensure proper
service and preserve the protection of
your Limited Warranty. It is a good idea
to keep your sales slip or receipt in a safe
place (along with this manual) so that it
will be available to verify the purchase
date for warranty claims.
When this occurs, IMMEDIATELY turn off
the unit using the power switch and cor-
rect the problem. Then turn the unit
You may also contact Harman Kardon
via the World Wide Web at:
In put/ Output Protection
Under some conditions, such as a shorted back on. If the unit continues to go into
http://www.harmankardon.com.
speaker wire, DC voltage on an input
a protect mode, contact your dealer or
installer for assistance.
Troubleshooting Chart
The items listed below are a brief guide to minor problems that may arise with audio equipment such as the PA5800. Before taking a
unit in for service, you should check to see if any of these hints solve the problem. If these solutions do not rectify the problem or if
the problem reoccurs, contact your dealer or an authorized Harman Kardon
service depot for assistance.
DIAGONSIS
TROUBLESHOOTING HINTS
PROBLEM
• Power Switch turned off.
(No Power Light LED)
• Turn on Power Switch.
Amplifier will not turn on.
• Remote trigger cable not properly
connected.
• Verify connection of trigger cable
at both ends.
• Inputs not connected to
proper jack.
• Check input connections.
• Check speaker connections.
Amplifier turns on, but no audio from
one or more channels.
• Speakers not connected properly.
• Improper settings or output levels
from processor or controller.
• Check the settings on your preamp,
processor or controller.
Audio plays, then cuts off.
• Amplifier shorted (LED flashes
amber).
• Check speaker connections for
short circuit.
Technical Specifications
8
5 x 80 watts @ 8 ohms
Power Output:
FTC: 20 - 20kHz, .03% THD, All Channels Driven
5 x 110 watts @ 4 ohms
FTC: 20 - 20kHz, .03% THD, All Channels Driven
±
73 Amps
High Current Capability:
Frequency Response:
Signal to Noise:
0.22 Hz - 160 kHz -3 dB at 1 watt
Less than 110 at rated power 80 watts
Less than 0.03% at rated output
THD/IMD:
<5Hz 160kHz
Power Bandwidth:
Input Impedance:
˜
33K Ohms
1 volt for rated output
6 - 12 volts DC
20K Ohms
Input Sensitivity:
Remote Trigger Voltage:
Remote Trigger Impedance:
Dimensions (HxWxD):
17-3/8 x 6-1/8 x 15-1/2 inches
165 x 440 x 394 mm
30 lbs/27.3 kg
Weight:
120VAC, 50 Hz / 60 Hz
340 watts, maximum
Power Requirements:
All features and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Staple or clip original invoice here. ▼
Printed in USA
Part #1111-PA5800
HA 160-0000-A
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