AV receivers APart

A six zone multi-source / multi-zone 100 V mixing amplifier that can be used stand-alone or as the core of an expandable sound system APart introduces the MA246: an amplifier that brings a new dimension to 100 V zone mixing amplifiers. This 6-zone unit can be used stand-alone, or as the core of an expandable sound system.

Because the MA246 offers independent source selection for zones 1 and 2-6, it can be used as a multi-source zoning system. Zone 1 is a fully independent pre-amplified zone and allows the installer to use an external power amplifier to amplify it. It is especially useful for large areas that require many speakers, like factory production areas. This has the particular advantage that the installer can use the external amplifier to suit his power needs for that particular zone.

Zones 2 to 6 can be individually volume controlled using the integrated speaker volume controls. Zones number 5 and 6 are 70-volt outputs, these are compatible with 100-volt speakers, but by nature, these outputs will have a slightly reduced output level, meant for the 'quiet' zones in a multi-zone system.

MA246 has four balanced inputs on Euroblock. Microphone input 1 is optimized to be used with our MICPAT-6, a selective 6-zone paging microphone, designed especially for use with the MA246. This microphone is the master microphone. Maximum five of these microphones can be switched in parallel on this single input. If you want to prevent the backgroundmusic from interrupting in the other zones when paging one or more zones with the MICPAT6, use an external 100V power amplifier (e.g. a PA2240BP or PA240P). In that case the external amplifier will power the paging message, while the MA246 will power the background music in the other zones. All the switching is done automatically!

Microphone inputs 2 - 4 are designed to be used with our MICPAT-2 (2 zone groups) microphone or any other microphone depending on the application. On the MA246, you can preset 2 paging groups to be paged with mic 2 – 4.

Further the MA246 is equipped with 4 line inputs that can be selected via a rotary switch. As said before, Zone 1 can have a different line source selected compared to zones 2 - 6

There are 6 different priority levels on the MA246. When any priority has been activated, integrated 24VDC supply output (max 0.6A) can switch priority relays of loudspeaker attenuators or other devices.

In case of mains power failure, the MA246 can be powered via the 24V DC power input. If an external 24V UPS is connected to the unit, the amplifier will automatically switch to it.

Professional installers will also appreciate the possibility to use an external amplifier as a paging amp. Suppose zones 2 and 3 should not receive paging messages, meaning there should always be background music. In this situation, the installer can use an external amplifier for paging. When a paging call is sent out, zones 2 and 3 will stay connected to the internal amplifier and will continue to receive background music. The other zones will hear the paging message. The MA246 will disconnect these zones from the internal amp and will send the paging message to the external amp. When paging is finished, these zones will be switched back automatically to the internal amp. To learn more about selective paging with the MA246, check page 6 of this technical sheet.

When required, it is even possible to use a 2-channel amplifier (e.g. the PA2240BP) as external amplifier, with one channel assigned to power zone 1 of the MA246, while the second channel of the external amplifier is used to power paging messages.

MA246 is available with a built-in tuner (MA246R), with tuner and CD-player + memory stick and SD/MMC slot for audio, MP-3 and WMA playback (MA246MR).