HARMAN’s Crown Audio in Elkhart, Ind., is shipping its new flagship I-Tech HD 4x3500HD DriveCore Series 4-channel power amplifier. The 4-channel I-Tech 4x3500HD incorporates Crown’s sixth-generation Class-I engine with DriveCore technology to deliver 3,500 watts per channel burst into 2 ohms, and offers a 4.3-inch TFT LCD with capacitive touchscreen, exclusive HARMAN HiQnet System Architect 2.0 control functionality and V5 DSP preset support for JBL Professional’s newly-launched VTX Series V25 plus VERTEC Series line array loudspeakers.
The Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD delivers 1,900 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 2,400 watts per channel into 4 ohms and 4,800 watts into 8 ohms bridged with all channels driven at full bandwidth from a two-rackspace amplifier, which is made possible by Crown’s exclusive DriveCore amplifier IC chip. The DriveCore chip combines the amplifier driver stage into the power output stage (along with additional audio-signal functions) to dramatically reduce overall size and power-consumption requirements and yield energy-efficient operation that conforms to HARMAN International’s GreenEdge environmental initiative.
The I-Tech 4x3500HD provides four analog 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 Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD’s proprietary BSS OmniDriveHD processing engine employs 32-bit/192kHz AD/DA converters for sonic clarity and the ability to precisely tailor the amplifier’s audio output. Crown’s exclusive linear phase FIR and IIR filters provide optimized 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. The inclusion of JBL VerTec V5 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 incorporates Crown’s LevelMax limiter technology, which combines the operation of the amplifier’s Peak, Thermal and RMS limiters, and a front panel USB port that enables users to load preset amplifier settings or device files and update firmware.
