12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
Whether you’ve been installing audio amplifiers for years or you’re just getting started in the industry, obstacles can always arise during and after the installation process. Especially when you consider the rate at which technology continues to advance and the huge variety of amplifiers in the market. No one amp company is exactly the same and each one brings with it different hardware and software considerations that, if overlooked, could create problems for your install.
So, we’ve identified twelve things that you should avoid during the install process to ensure your audio systems will deliver optimal performance for years to come.
Let’s dive in!
- Blocked airflow
- Damp environments
- High traffic public areas
- Long Cable Runs
- Incorrect Mounting
- Unlabeled Cables
- Sharp Cable Ties
- Missed Product Updates
- Client User Error (Must Be Properly Trained)
- Amp & Speaker Stress
- Overheating Gear
- Overloading Circuits
Blocked Airflow
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
Most professional power amplifiers utilize built-in fans to help cool the internal components and keep them from overheating and shutting down the amplifier. For these units, amplifier manufacturers will provide details regarding the air flow of your unit. The internal fans will pull air, usually from the front of the unit, and push it out the opposite direction. If these air passages become blocked, it makes it difficult for the amp to pull or push air in direction of the blockage. This can cause amps to overheat and shut down to protect the internal components from thermal damage.
That’s why it’s important to avoid blocking the air flow in your amplifiers.
**Note**
It is also recommended to clean or replace amplifier air filters at least once a year to avoid blocked airflow.
Wet Environments
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
As with any electronic device, you should avoid installing amplifiers anywhere near damp or wet environments. Obvious, right?! Well, it’s worth mentioning. Especially for installs in restaurants or bar environments. We’ve seen our fair share of amps sitting on shelves behind the bar. One misplaced beverage could lead to a shocking sound system failure.
High Traffic OR Public Areas
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
While we think our amps look pretty great, it’s not always a great idea to install them in the public eye. Since most people don’t have the slightest clue about professional AV gear or how it operates, it’s best to just hide it away where they won’t be tempted to push buttons, turn knobs, or pull out/trip over cables.
Long Cable Runs
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
Different cables have different length recommendations to maintain optimal audio signal quality. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Balanced Analog Cables (XLR, ¼” TRS) – 50 to 100 feet (15-30 meters)
- Unbalanced Analog Cables (RCA) – 15-20 feet (4-6 meters)
- Cat 5 & Cat 6 Cables – 328 feet (100 meters)
- Fiber-optic Cables – 60 miles (100 km)
For the best possible audio quality, you should adhere to the above standards.
Incorrect Mounting
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
Mounting your professional audio amplifiers correctly is essential to ensuring optimal performance and longevity of the unit. Units that are not mounted correctly can become damaged or frequently experience amp faults and errors. It is important to read your amplifier manufacturer’s owner’s manual thoroughly to ensure you are following proper mounting protocols.
For example, our CONNECTSERIES amplifiers are designed to provide different mounting options depending upon where the unit is being installed. For rack mounting, we include and recommend using rear rack supports for addition product stability in the rack. For surface mounting (tables, walls, etc.), we designed our product with built-in mounting brackets that can be rotated and used to properly secure the unit.
Unlabeled Cables
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
Leaving cables unlabeled during an install can not only cause a headache for the integrator installing the unit but will most definitely create confusion for any future technicians who may need to visit the site and work with the equipment. It only takes a few minutes to label your cable runs and it can save you hours of work down the road.
Here are some cable management tools and techniques that we recommend.
Sharp Cable Ties
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
Another cable management tip that we often see overlooked is flush cutting cable ties. Leaving dangling cable ties can create a confusing and messy rack. Not cutting the ties flush with the locking mechanism can leave behind sharp plastic pieces that could cut anyone who has to work with or around the rack. By flush cutting, you are creating the most clean and safe rack environment.
Possibly a better alternative is to avoid using plastic cable ties at all. There are plenty of great alternatives available, including velcro wraps.
Missed Product Updates
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
It is important to keep your audio amplifiers up-to-date with all of the latest features. Which means, you may need to perform firmware updates on your units from time to time. Be sure to subscribe to your amplifier manufacturer’s email lists and newsletters so that you never miss a new firmware release. Staying up-to-date with the latest firmware will ensure your units are always set up for optimal performance to avoid any unwanted downtime.
You can sign up for LEA updates here.
Client User Error
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
Training your clients on proper system operation is critical to the success of your AV systems. Be sure they know which controls they should be using and which ones to avoid. Set up the systems to be easy for them to use and do thorough training with them. It is also helpful to leave them with any notes, guides, or checklists that will help them successfully operate their systems.
Amp & Speaker Stress
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
When you are designing your audio systems, you need to be very intentional about the type of products and quantity that you are spec’ing. When it comes to matching amps to speakers, a good best practice for 70V/100V systems is to allow 20% headroom above the total wattage that you have calculated for your speakers. For Low Z systems, you’ll want to leave 1.5 to 2 times the continuous power rating as indicated by your speaker manufacturer. This will allow for good dynamic range as well as longer system life as you aren’t constantly running the amplifier or speakers to the maximum all of the time.
Overheating Gear
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
Professional power amplifiers are constantly improving when it comes to energy efficiency. For example, our CONNECTSERIES amplifiers average over 90% efficiency during normal use. That means that less than 10% of the AC power is being dissipated into heat. That’s pretty great! But even 10% heat needs to be addressed in your system design. Especially if you have multiple units in the same rack with other gear. That’s why it is important to look up each amp manufacturer’s AC and Thermal specifications to get a better understanding of how much heat is being created and what kind of AC infrastructure you need to have in place for proper cooling. You also need to be aware of the air flow within each piece of gear in your AV rack. If one unit is pushing air out of the front of the unit and the gear right above it is pulling air from the front, they will just be recycling hot air back and forth which could eventually lead to overheating those units. All of this can be avoiding by reading product manuals and consulting with the manufacturers before install.
Overloading Circuits
12 Things to Avoid When Installing Audio Amplifiers
Professional audio amplifiers will likely require more AC power than most other electronic devices in your rack. You’ll need to consider your AC power draw during the system design phase in order to plan out your overall power consumption and how many circuits you’ll need in order to fulfill those requirements. Consult with your amplifier manufacturer’s AC specifications in order to decide how many circuits are required for your system. In some cases, you may need to consult with an electrician to ensure your venue’s infrastructure has enough available circuits to provide enough AC power to your system.
If you have any questions or feedback about these tips or our CONNECTSERIES amps, feel free to leave them in the comments below or reach out to us on our social media channels.
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