QSC CX-Q Series Network Amplifiers User Manual

The term “WARNING!” indicates instructions regarding personal safety. If the instructions are not followed the result may be bodily injury or death.
The term “CAUTION!” indicates instructions regarding possible damage to physical equipment. If these instructions are not followed, it may result in damage to the equipment that may not be covered under the warranty.
The term “IMPORTANT!” indicates instructions or information that are vital to the successful completion of the procedure.
The term “NOTE” is used to indicate additional useful information.

The intent of the lightning flash with arrowhead symbol in a triangle is to alert the user to the presence of un-insulated “dangerous” voltage within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to humans.
The intent of the exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is to alert the user to the presence of important safety, and operating and maintenance instructions in this manual.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING! TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. Elevated Operating Ambient – If installed in a closed or multi-unit rack assembly, the ambient operating temperature of the rack environment may be greater than room ambient. Consideration should be given to ensure that the maximum operating temperature is not exceeded – refer to the Environmental section. Reduced Air Flow – Installation of the equipment in a rack should be such that the amount of air flow required for safe operation of the equipment is not compromised.

Read these instructions.

Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.

Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.

Clean only with a dry cloth.
Do not block any ventilation opening. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus that produce heat.
To reduce the risk of electrical shock, the power cord shall be connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection.

Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from
the apparatus.

Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
The appliance coupler, or the AC Mains plug, is the AC mains disconnect device and shall remain readily operable after installation.

Adhere to all applicable, local codes.
Consult a licensed, professional engineer when any doubt or questions arise regarding a physical equipment installation.

Do not use any aerosol spray, cleaner, disinfectant or fumigant on, near or into the apparatus. Clean only with a dry cloth.
Do not unplug the unit by pulling on the cord, use the plug.

Do not submerge the apparatus in water or liquids.
Keep ventilation opening free of dust or other matter.

Maintenance and Repair

WARNING! Advanced technology, e.g., the use of modern materials and powerful electronics, requires specially adapted maintenance and repair methods. To avoid a danger of subsequent damage to the apparatus, injuries to persons and/or the creation of additional safety hazards, all maintenance or repair work on the apparatus should be performed only by a QSC authorized service station or an authorized QSC International Distributor. QSC is not responsible for any injury, harm or related damages arising from any failure of the customer, owner or user of the apparatus to facilitate those repairs. In the event of malfunction, contact QSC Customer Support for assistance.

FCC Statement

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.

These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Environmental

Life Cycle: 10 years
Service Life: 10 years
Storage Conditions: Temperature from -20 ° C to + 70 ° C, humidity 5% – 85% RH.
Maximum Operating Conditions: -10 ° C to +50 ° C, humidity 5% – 85% RH.

NOTE: Performance may be reduced above 40 ° C.
CAUTION! Environmental Contamination: amplifiers must be installed in an environment where they are provided adequate supply of fresh cooling air that is free from excessive amounts of chemical and/or solid particulate matter contaminants. Excess contamination buildup from environmental factors may cause adverse performance due to high internal voltages experience during operation.

If you wish to discard electronic equipment, please contact your dealer or supplier for further information.

RoHS Statement
The QSC CX-Q Series Ampliﬁers are in compliance with “China RoHS” directives. The following chart is provided for product use in China and its territories:

	QSC CX-Q Series Amplifiers
	(Toxic or hazardous Substances and Elements)
(Part Name)	(Pb)	(Hg)	(Cd)	(Cr(vi))	(PBB)	(PBDE)
(PCB Assemblies)	X	O	O	O	O	O
(Chassis Assemblies)	X	O	O	O	O	O
(O: Indicates that this toxic or hazardous substance contained in all of the homogeneous materials for this part is below the limit requirement in SJ/T11363_2006.) (X: Indicates that this toxic or hazardous substance contained in at least one of the homogeneous materials used for this part is above the limit requirement in SJ/T11363_2006.)

Only suitable for safe use in areas below 2000m above sea level

Only suitable for safe use in non-tropical climates

What’s in the Box

Features

Amplifier Front Panel
Refer to “Ampliﬁer Controls and Indicators” on page 11.

Amplifier Rear Panel
Refer to Figure 1.

WARNING! Dangerous voltage possible on output terminals. Disconnect AC Mains before connecting or disconnecting output wiring.

— Figure 1 — 8-Channel Model Shown

RJ-45 – Q-SYS Q-LAN A / B
Analog Inputs – Mic or Line level, 12V Phantom power, 3-pin Euro-style Connectors
- Inputs 1-4 All CX-Q Models
- Inputs 5-8 for 8-Channel Models only
Outputs – Loudspeaker Connector, 8-pin Euro-style
- Outputs A–D All Models
- Outputs E–H 8-Channel Models only
Cooling fan inlet (do not block)

Product information:
- Serial Number with manufacturer date code: Refer to Figure 7
- Country of origin, “Product of China”.

GPIO Euro-style Connector, 16-pin
AC Power Switch
Locking IEC Power Connection

Rear Rack-mount Brackets
Front Rack-mount Brackets

Installation

The following steps are written in the recommended installation order.

Rack-Mount the Amplifier
The ampliﬁers are designed only for mounting in a standard rack-mount unit. Abnormal mounting positions (e.g., vertical, face-up, face-down) are not supported. The ampliﬁers are 2RU high, and 381 mm (15 in) deep.
Secure the ampliﬁer in the rack with eight screws (not supplied), four in front, four in back. For complete instructions, refer to TD-000050 “Rear Rack Ears Installation Guide” which can be found on the QSC Website (www.qsc.com).

CAUTION! Be sure that nothing is blocking the front or rear ventilation openings, and that each side has a minimum of 2 cm clearance.

Wire Preparation

Use an appropriate wire-stripping tool to remove 7 mm of insulation from Input wiring and 10 mm of insulation from the Output wiring. Do not tin the stripped wire ends.

Inputs
Q-SYS – Connect the ampliﬁer LAN A, and if available, LAN B, to the Q-LAN network (Figure 3). Refer to the Q-SYS Help for network requirements. Analog Inputs are converted to digital audio in the ampliﬁers then routed to the Q-SYS Core over the Q-LAN network. The digital signals show up in Q-SYS Designer at the input component where they can be routed as needed. Refer to the Q-SYS documentation.

Make sure your audio source devices are powered off.
Wire the audio mic- or line-level source to up to eight (8-Channel ampliﬁers) or four (4-Channel ampliﬁers) Euro-style connectors
(supplied). You can use either balanced inputs (Figure 4) or unbalanced inputs (Figure 5).

Plug the connectors into the appropriate receptacles (Routable Inputs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) Figure 4 and Figure 6.

GPIO
Refer to “GPIO” on page 17 for details about the GPIO feature.

Outputs and Output Configuration
The ampliﬁers have one or two sets of four-channel outputs that are conﬁgured independently. The conﬁguration of the ampliﬁer is deﬁned in Q-SYS designer software and is “pushed” into the physical ampliﬁer when the Name and Type of ampliﬁer in the design matches the Name and Type of physical ampliﬁer. Flexible Ampliﬁer Summing Technology (FAST) allows users to power a variety of loads through combining ampliﬁer channels in various ways. Ampliﬁer channels can be combined in BTL Bridged mode for higher voltage needs or Parallel Mode for higher current needs. Figure 7 thru Figure 10 are examples of how the 4 channel ampliﬁer blocks can be combined to drive higher power requirements under different loads. Please reference the power output ratings for more information.

NOTE: The output connector is capable of handling up to 8 AWG for stranded wire.

Use the diagrams shown in Figure 7 thru Figure 10 as a reference for planning your loudspeaker conﬁguration. Refer to Figure 11 for how to connect the wiring based on your conﬁguration.

CAUTION! Before turning the amplifier on, double check your output connections to be sure they are connected properly based on the output configuration specified in Q-SYS Designer.
If you change the output configuration of the amplifier you must change the loudspeaker connections before applying power to
the amplifier!
After a change of the output configuration, the amplifier re-boots and all outputs are muted. You must press the Mute All button in the Q-SYS Amp Output component, Press The Amplifier Mode Button on the front panel of the amplifier.

Figure 7 through Figure 10 are examples of the three types of output conﬁgurations: Separate, Bridged and Parallel. The tables to the right and left of the loudspeaker connections (rear panel of the ampliﬁer) give all the possible conﬁgurations and their connections. The following diagrams show the 8-Channel models. 4-Channel models have outputs A through D only.

Possible Combinations
The table below lists the options available in Q-SYS Designer.

A B = Individual Channels, AB = Parallel Channels, A+B = Bridged Channels

Connect the Loudspeakers

WARNING! There is a potential of having dangerous voltage at the output terminals on the rear of the amplifier. Use caution not to touch these contacts. Make sure the Power switch is off prior to making any connections.

NOTE: The output connector is capable of handling up to 8 AWG for stranded wire.

Connect the loudspeaker wiring to the 8-pin Euro-style connector as needed for your ampliﬁer’s conﬁguration.
Install the female 8-pin Euro-style connector onto the male connector on the rear of the ampliﬁer as shown in Figure 11.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to secure the connector.

IMPORTANT! The CX-Q series of audio power ampliﬁers are high power ampliﬁers designed for installation use in both Lo-Z and Hi-Z applications. Proper wiring class/size is required to ensure safe operation. Based on operating mode, these ampliﬁers are designed for use with the following speaker wiring:

FAST Channel Conﬁguration Mode: Single Channel & Parallel = Class 2 wiring

FAST Channel Conﬁguration Mode: BTL (140 V or 200 V modes) = Class 3 wiring

AC Mains

WARNING! When the AC Power is on, there is a potential of having dangerous voltage at the output terminals on the rear of the amplifier. Use caution not to touch these contacts. Turn off the Power switch prior to making any connections.

Make sure the Power switch on the rear of the ampliﬁer is off.
Connect the IEC power cord to the AC receptacle. (Figure 12)

AC Power On
After connecting the outputs to the loudspeakers, you may turn the ampliﬁer on.

Make sure the output gain settings for all audio-source devices (CD Players, Mixers, Instruments, etc.) are at the lowest output (max attenuation).
Turn on all audio sources.
Turn the power switch, on the back of the ampliﬁer, to ON. The ampliﬁer starts in the state it was in when power was removed. If the ampliﬁer is in Standby or Mute All mode (Ampliﬁer Mode button LED solid red or blinking), press the Ampliﬁer Mode button to change the ampliﬁer to Run mode. Refer to “Ampliﬁer Modes” on page 11 for information on Modes.

You can now bring up the outputs of your audio sources.

NOTE: When the ampliﬁer is not connected to the Q-SYS Core processor, it is in a Fault mode and not operational unless previously conﬁgured for failover or standalone mode as part of a Q-SYS design.

Amplifier Controls and Indicators

Output Channel labels A to H
Output Channel Mute buttons / LEDs (Red)
Output Channel Limiter LEDs (Red)

Output Channel -10 dB below maximum ampliﬁer output (Blue)
Output Channel -20 dB below maximum ampliﬁer output (Blue)
Ampliﬁer Mode button (Green/Red)

Output Channel Select buttons / LEDs (Blue)
Input Channel Clip LEDs (Red)
FAULT LED (Amber)

Input Channel Signal-Present LEDs (Blue)
Input Channel labels 1 to 8
LCD Graphic Display

NEXT button
PREV button
GAIN Knob

ID button
Pinhole Reset

With the exception of the Power Switch, found on the rear panel, all of the following controls are on the front panel. Refer to Figure 13 for location of front-panel controls.

Amplifier Modes

Off Mode

Rear-panel power switch is off, the ampliﬁer is not operable.
The Ampliﬁer Mode button (6) is not illuminated.

Turn the power switch to ON. The ampliﬁer enters the mode in which it was when power was removed – Run, Mute All, or Standby.

Run Mode

From Standby or Mute All mode, press and release the Ampliﬁer Mode button on the front panel. The ampliﬁer is in Run Mode.

The Ampliﬁer Mode button (6) is illuminated green.
The ampliﬁer is fully operable; audio can pass.

Standby Mode

From Mute All or Run mode, press and hold the Ampliﬁer Mode button (6) on the front panel for approximately four seconds.
The Ampliﬁer Mode button illuminates solid red.
The ampliﬁer is not operable; audio will not pass.

Mute All Mode

From the Run Mode, quickly press and release the Ampliﬁer Mode button (6).
The Ampliﬁer Mode button ﬂashes red, all output Mute buttons (2) are red.

The ampliﬁer output is disabled, but the front panel is fully operable.

Controls

SEL Buttons (7)

Output Channel gain can be adjusted from the Q-SYS Designer
software or from the front panel of the ampliﬁer.
Use the SEL button to select one or more than one channel to change gain settings. All selected channels will change at the same time.

If two or more outputs are bridged or in parallel, pressing one button in the group selects all channels in that bridged or parallel group.

NEXT (13) and PREV (14) Buttons

Navigates forward and backwards through the screens.

GAIN Knob (15)

Adjusts the Gain for the selected output channel or channels. At least one channel must be selected.

When one or more channels are selected, turn the Gain knob to jump to the Output Gains screen. After a few seconds with no activity, it returns to the earlier screen.
If there is more than one channel selected, and the gains for those channels are different, the difference is maintained unless the gain is raised or lowered to the limits for both channels.

ID Button (16)

Press this button to display a screen with the ampliﬁer’s network
name. In addition, the ID buttons on the associated Q-SYS Ampliﬁer component and the associated Q-SYS Conﬁgurator item ﬂashes. Press again, or click one of the other ID buttons, to stop the ﬂashing and exit the screen.

Pinhole Reset (17)

Resets the ampliﬁer to its factory default settings.
1. Insert a paper clip or similar tool into the pinhole
2. Press and hold for 3 seconds.
3. Press the ID button to conﬁrm and reset the ampliﬁer. Items reset include:
  - Network settings set to Auto,
  - Ampliﬁer name set to default,
  - Password deleted, and
  - Log ﬁle deleted.

Input and Output Signal Flow
The ampliﬁer’s inputs and outputs are not physically (or electrically) connected in the ampliﬁer giving you the ﬂexibility to use any available source in Q-SYS for the ampliﬁed outputs, and to route the inputs to any output. The inputs and outputs can be connected in your Q-SYS design as shown in Figure 14.

The analog inputs are converted to digital audio in the ampliﬁer

The converted audio is then routed to the Q-SYS Core via Q-LAN (LAN A, LAN B).
The digital signals are brought into the design via the ampliﬁer’s Mic/Line Input component.
From the Mic/Line Input component the signals can be sent for processing and can be sent anywhere within the Q-SYS system.

In the Q-SYS Core digital audio signals (not necessarily from the amp’s inputs) are sent to the Q-SYS Amp Output component.
The digital audio is then sent from the Q-SYS Core via Q-LAN to the ampliﬁer.
Digital signals are converted to analog, ampliﬁed and sent to outputs of the ampliﬁer.

The Q-SYS Amp Output component can have one to eight inputs/outputs depending on the ampliﬁer model and its conﬁguration in Q-SYS Designer Software. The desired conﬁguration is selected in the Q-SYS Designer Properties menu for the ampliﬁer. When the ampliﬁer’s conﬁguration is changed, all of the outputs are placed in a “mute all” state. You can un-mute all by clicking the Mute All button in Q-SYS Designer’s Amp Output component or press and release the Ampliﬁer Mode button on the ampliﬁer’s front panel.

Amplifier Sensitivity
Ampliﬁer sensitivity is set to provide full output voltage swing for the rated power (@8 Ohms), with a 0dBFS PEAK input. This means that MAX DAC Out = MAX AMP Out, with a SINE WAVE (0dBFS = -3dBFS RMS for a sine wave).

0dBFS pk Input on 8k4 = Amp Output of 141Vpk/100Vrms = 1250Wrms @ 8 Ohms
0dBFS pk Input on a 4k4 = Amp Output of 100Vpk/70Vrms = 625Wrms @ 8 Ohms
0dBFS pk Input on a 2k4 = Amp Output of 80Vpk/56Vrms = 400Wrms @ 8 Ohms

For 70V/100Vrms systems, there are required gain adjustments for full output that occur in the High-Z Speaker component. This happens when the Amp Output component is wired to a High-Z Speaker component. In addition, there is an HPF that is automatically applied at 50Hz to avoid transformer saturation. The HPF is user adjustable in the Generic Speaker component.

Limiters
There are several limiters within the CX-Q output:

Speaker Component Limiters – These have controls exposed to the end user. Attack and Release Times in the Peak limiter are hard-coded. All other limiters are set by QSC. Speaker-related limiters are not indicated within the Amp Output block or front panel.
Amp Protection Limiters – These are not adjustable and are meant only to protect the ampliﬁer from unsafe conditions. Amp protection limiters are slow-moving that adjust over longer periods of time. Indicators for this limiter can be found on the individual ampliﬁer channel or the front of the ampliﬁer.
DAC Limiters – These limiters engage approximately 1dB before clipping. It is normal to have some level of DAC clipping during operation. There are no controls over this limiter.

Mutes

Channel Output Mutes are located within each channel strip of the ampliﬁer panel. Activating this button will turn off the output signal of the DAC.
Mute All function, found at the top of the ampliﬁer output panel, will turn off the ampliﬁer switching for all channels.

Gain
There are multiple places within Q-SYS to add gain to your system. Within the ampliﬁer, it is critical to understand that the gain within the Speaker component should typically not be above +10dB. This is due to the dynamic nature of music and the stress that this can put on the output of the ampliﬁer. Speaker component gain above +10dB could trigger the Amp Protection Limiters or DAC Limiters.

Figure 15 shows where gain, muting, and limiting are applied within the signal ﬂow.

3.1024 FIR Taps (4-channel only); 200 FIR Taps (8-channel only) 4. -100 to +20 dB

Speaker Component

Screens

STATUS Screen

Refer to Figure 16

DEVICE – the hostname (network name) of the ampliﬁer. A default name is given at the factory, similar to the example. You may change the name in the Q-SYS Conﬁgurator.
DESIGN – the name of the Q-SYS design currently running on the ampliﬁer. The ampliﬁer must be contained in a running design to operate.
STATUS – displays the current status of the ampliﬁer both in text and color. The following is a list of possible status colors, and some example conditions.
- OK – green – ampliﬁer is operating normally.
- Compromised – orange – audio is passing; however, there may be a non-critical problem. Left unresolved, a compromised state could lead to a fault mode. Examples of Compromised can include issues related to network, output load, AC voltage, etc.
- Fault – red – audio is not passing, or hardware is malfunctioning or mis-conﬁgured
- (ampliﬁer power off, audio streams broken, ampliﬁer fault, loudspeaker short circuit, etc.)
- Initializing – blue – In the process of initialization, and design start. Audio cannot pass.
FIRMWARE – the Q-SYS Designer ﬁrmware version installed on the ampliﬁer.
NOTE: The CX-Q 4- and 8-channel ampliﬁers require Version 8.1.0 or later of Q-SYS Designer.

To Update the Ampliﬁer Firmware:

Install the version of Q-SYS Designer you want to use on your PC.
The ampliﬁer must be connected to Q-LAN and turned on.
Open the Q-SYS design containing the ampliﬁer in the Designer version you just installed.
Select “Save to Core and Run” from the File menu.
The ampliﬁer and any other Q-SYS peripherals in the design are automatically updated.

LAN A / LAN B Screen
Refer to Figure 17

IP ADDRESS – the default IP address is set to AUTO at the factory. You can change this and the other parameters in Q-SYS Conﬁgurator. LAN A is required, and cannot be turned off.
NETMASK – must be the same as the Core’s Netmask.
GATEWAY – must be the same as the Core’s Gateway.
LAN B is not required. When connected, the same type of information as LAN A is displayed.

HEALTH Screen
Refer to Figure 18

FAN RPM – varies depending on the temperature.
PSU TEMP – varies depending on operating conditions. PSU Temp is monitored and can automatically put the amp into limiting or shutdown if safe operating temperatures are exceeded.
AC VOLTAGE – AC Mains voltage
AC CURRENT – AC mains current drawn by the ampliﬁer.
Voltage Rails
- V RAIL 1 = +147VDC +/- 5V typical
- V RAIL 2 = -147VDC +/- 5V typical

STANDALONE OUTPUT GAINS Screen
Refer to Figure 19
The STANDALONE OUTPUT GAINS screens provide a quick overview of all outputs. In addition, when this screen is displayed, you can make gain adjustments from the ampliﬁer’s front panel. There is one screen for channels A–D and one for channels E–H.

Use the NEXT or PREV buttons to access these screens, or press one or more of the SEL buttons to access the screen.

The highlighted background indicates that the Channel is selected by the SEL button.
Channel – the channels display according to the conﬁguration of the ampliﬁer.
Output Gain – the output gain can be controlled in two places: the GAIN knob on the ampliﬁer front panel and with the Gain control in the ampliﬁer’s Output component in the Q- SYS design.
Q-LAN Input Level – the level of the audio signal applied to the Output component in the Q-SYS design. The CX-Q Output component is the connection to the output section of the ampliﬁer.
VOLTS – the voltage applied to that output.
In the example Output B is combined with Output A – (AB or A+B), the slot for Output B is blank.

To Make Gain Adjustments:

Use the SEL button to select one or more output channels. You can select any or all channels.
Use the GAIN knob to make adjustments to the output gain of the selected channels.

NOTE: If the gains were the same when you select multiple channels the gains remain equal as you adjust them. If the gains are different, they keep their relative separation until one reaches a limit. At this point the other channel(s) continue to change until they reach the limit.
NOTE: If you press one or more of the SEL buttons, and do not make any GAIN adjustments, this screen remains visible for a short time then returns to the previous screen.

OUTPUT Screens
Each block of four outputs has a dedicated screen. Figure 20 is an example of Outputs A – D.

Output channel identiﬁers A – D and E – H (not shown).
DAC – when illuminated, this indicates that the signal to the D to A Converter is larger than can be reproduced and a limiter has been engaged to prevent clipping.
PROTECT – when illuminated, this indicates that the ampliﬁer is in Protect Mode. Conditions can include over current, excessive long term average power output, impedance too low.
LIMIT – when illuminated, this indicates the ampliﬁer limiter is active. There are ﬁve conditions that could cause the LIMIT condition:
- Power
- Current
- Voltage
- Temperature
- Loudspeaker Protection is active.
SHORT – when illuminated, this indicates the output is shorted.
- Short circuit detection operates once the desired ampliﬁer output exceeds approximately 30W (varies per mode).
- If the ampliﬁer detects excessive current versus the target output voltage for sustained periods, a warning is activated.
- The affected ampliﬁer channel output signal is then muted for a brief period of time.
- The affected ampliﬁer channel automatically attempts to resume normal operation up to ﬁve times in case the short circuit was due to a temporary connection error.
- If the short circuit remains after ﬁve tries, the ampliﬁer mutes that channel until the user manually changes ampliﬁer operational modes (e.g., places the amp into a mute all or standby) or power cycles the ampliﬁer.
  NOTE: Loads that result in a “near short circuit” condition may activate low impedance warnings.
Displays the temperature, in Centigrade, of the associated channel.

CHANNEL CONFIGURATION Screens

Figure 21 is a graphic representation of the ampliﬁer’s output CHANNEL CONFIGURATION. Inputs (Q) are from Q-SYS, outputs A–D (E–H not shown) represent the ampliﬁer output channels and their conﬁguration.
Text indicating how many channels, and the output conﬁguration. For possible conﬁgurations refer to “Possible Combinations” on page 9 or, the Q-SYS help for the ampliﬁer components.
Status of the ampliﬁer and Q-SYS design indicating the design and amp are in sync.

ROUTABLE MIC/LINE INPUTS

Figure 22 shows the Routable MIC/LINE INPUTS screen for channels 1–4, (channels 5–8 not shown) which displays the status of the physical MIC/LINE INPUTS for the Q models.

Input channels are identiﬁed numerically, 1–4 (and 5–8 not shown)
Input Level – is the Peak Input Level (dBFS) and is the same as displayed in the Q-SYS Mic/Line Input component.
Muted – when illuminated indicates that the Input is muted for the associated channel. This is controlled by the Mute button on the Q-SYS Designer Mic/Line Input component. Input channels cannot be muted from the ampliﬁer interface.
Clip – indicators illuminate when the input to the Mic/Line Input component is too high. Adjust the Preamp Gain on the Mic/Line Input component in Q-SYS Designer.
P12 – phantom power (+12V) is available for microphones (condenser) requiring power. You can turn the phantom power on/off in the Mic/Line Input component in Q-SYS Designer.ows the Routable MIC/LINE INPUTS screen for channels 1–4, (channels 5–8 not shown) which displays the status of the physical MIC/LINE INPUTS for the Q models.

GPIO
There are 16 General Purpose Input Output pins for use in various applications. Figure 23 shows the pin configuration for the connector on the rear of the amplifier. — Table 2 shows the connector pin-out. Figure 24 gives some simple GPIO applications.

— Table 1 —

Examples

Specifications 1

Power Specifications – 4-Channel Models

					CX-Q 2K4					CX-Q 4K4					CX-Q 8K4
					Max Power ²			Continuous Power		Max Power ²			Continuous Power		Max Power ²		Continuous Power
	Configuration		Loads
		100 V		700			350		1000			550		1250		1150
		70 V		700			400		1000			625		1250		1150
Independent Channels (SE)		16 Ω		350			200		500			313		625		625
A, B, C, D		8 Ω		700			400		1000			625		1250		1250
		4 Ω		800			400		1500			625		2400		1250
		2 Ω		600			300		800			400		2750		1250
2 channels combined in		100 V		1400			700		2000			1150		2400		2000
Parallel		70 V		1400			750		2000			1150		2400		2000
AB or CD		8 Ω		800			400		1000			625		1250		1250
Doubles current Best for high power 70 V & 100		4 Ω		1250			750		2000			1250		2400		2250
V		2 Ω		1500			650		2500			1250		4000		2100
3 channels combined in		8 Ω		800			400		1000			1000		1250		1250
Parallel ABC		4 Ω		1250			800		2000			2000		2400		2400
Triples current		2 Ω		1500			1100		3000			2500		4500		3000
		200 V		1500			700		2000			1250		2400		2000
2 channels combined in BTL		140 V		1500			700		2000			1250		2400		2000
Bridged A+B or C+D Doubles voltage		8 Ω		1500			700		3000			1250		4000		2250
Do NOT use for 70 V or 100 V		4 Ω		1400			600		1700			1150		5000		2500
		2 Ω				N/R ³					N/R ³			3000		2000
4 channels combined in		8 Ω		2500			1500		3500			2500		4200		4200
Bridged/Parallel AB+CD,		4 Ω		3000			1600		4000			2500		7000		4500
Doubles current & voltage		2 Ω				N/R ³					N/R ³			8000		4000
		8 Ω		800			400		1000			1000		1250		1250
4 channels combined in Parallel		4 Ω		1250			800		2000			1600		2500		2400
Quadruples currenT		2 Ω		1700			1600		4000			2500		5000		4500
		1 Ω		2500			1500		4000			2000		7000		4500

Speciﬁcations are subject to change without notice.
Max Power
- Max Power data is based on the most potential any single ampliﬁer channel can deliver. This data is most useful for asymmetrical loading of ampliﬁer channel and maximizing power utilization of the ampliﬁer. When utilizing FlexAmp™ power requirements, be sure to take into consideration the power capabilities of the channel AND the capabilities of the Power Supply.
- Continuous Power indicates ampliﬁer output capabilities with all channels driven with the same load without exceeding the capabilities of the power supply.
- Power Spec is based on 1 kHz, 20 msec
N/R = Not Recommended

Power Specifications 1 – 8-Channel Models

					CX-Q			4K8		CX-Q 8K8
	Configuration		Loads		Max Power ²			Continuous Power		Max Power ²			Continuous Power
		100 V		1000			300		1250			600
		70 V		1000			300		1250			600
4 or 8 Independent Channels		16 Ω		500			150		625			300
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H		8 Ω		1000			300		1250			600
		4 Ω		1000			300		1500			600
		2 Ω		800			300		1000			300
Parallel Channels (x2)		100 V		1500			600		2000			1100
AB or CD or EF or GH		70 V		1500			600		2000			1200
Doubles Current		8 Ω		1000			600		1250			1100
Best for high power 70V &		4 Ω		1250			600		2400			1200
100V		2 Ω		1500			600		2500			600
Parallel Channels (x3)		8 Ω		1000			900		1250			1100
ABC, DEF		4 Ω		1500			900		2000			1800
Triples Current		2 Ω		1500			900		2500			1800
		200 V		1500			600		2000			1200
BTL/Bridged Channels (x2)		140 V		1500			600		2000			1200
Doubles Voltage		8 Ω		1500			600		3000			1200
Do NOT use for 70V or 100V		4 Ω		1400			400		1700			600
		2 Ω				N/R ³					N/R ³
BTL/Bridged & Paralleled		8 Ω		2500			1200		4000			2400
Channels (x4) AB+CD, EF+GH		4 Ω		3000			1200		5000			2400
Doubles Current and Voltage		2 Ω				N/R ³					N/R ³
		8 Ω		1000			1000		1200			1200
Parallel Channels (x4) ABCD, EFGH		4 Ω		2000			1200		2400			2200
Quadruples Current		2 Ω		2500			1200		4000			2400
		1 Ω		3000			1200		4000			2400

Speciﬁcations are subject to change without notice.
Max Power
- Max Power data is based on the most potential any single ampliﬁer channel can deliver. This data is most useful for asymmetrical loading of ampliﬁer channel and maximizing power utilization of the ampliﬁer. When utilizing FlexAmp™ power requirements, be sure to take into consideration the power capabilities of the channel AND the capabilities of the Power Supply.
- Continuous Power indicates ampliﬁer output capabilities with all channels driven with the same load without exceeding the capabilities of the power supply.
- Power Spec is based on 1 kHz, 20 msec
N/R = Not Recommended

Peak Voltage Specifications – 4-Channel Models

		CX-Q 2K4		CX-Q 4K4		CX-Q 8K4
Configuration	Loads	Max Peak Voltage	Max Peak Current	Max Peak Voltage	Max Peak Current	Max Peak Voltage	Max Peak Current
	16 Ω	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Independent Channels (SE)	8 Ω	106	13.2	126	15.8	141	17.6
A, B, C, D	4 Ω	80	20.0	110	27.4	139	34.6
	2 Ω	49	24.0	57	28.3	105	52.4

Parallel Channels (x2) AB or CD Doubles Current Best for high power 70 V & 100 V	8 Ω	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	4 Ω	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	2 Ω	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
BTL/Bridged Channels (x2)	200 V	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
BTL/Bridged Channels (x2)	140 V	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

A+B or C+D Doubles Voltage	8 Ω	155		19.4	179		22.4	253	31.6
Do NOT use for 70 V or 100 V	4 Ω	106		26.5	117		29.2	200	50
	2 Ω		N/R			N/R		110	54.8

N/R = Not Recommended
N/A = Not Available
Gray cells = mode or rating n/a

NOTE: Data indicates the maximum voltage and current potential for any amplifier single amplifier channel. The data in the table above has been measured for these specific conditions. N/A indicates data is not available. NR indicates that this configuration is not recommended.

Peak Voltage Specifications – 8-Channel Models

		CX-Q 4K8		CX-Q 8K8
Configuration	Loads	Max Peak Voltage	Max Peak Current	Max Peak Voltage	Max Peak Current
	16 Ω	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Independent Channels (SE)	8 Ω	126		11.2	141		12.5
A, B, C, D	4 Ω	89		15.8	110		19.4
	2 Ω	57		20	63		22.4
Parallel Channels (x2)	8 Ω	126		11.2	141		12.5
AB or CD Doubles Current	4 Ω	100		17.7	139		24.5
(Best for high power 70 V & 100 V)	2 Ω	77		27.4	100		35.4
	200 V	283		7.5	283		10
BTL/Bridged Channels (x2)	140 V	100		10.6	200		14.1
A+B or C+D Doubles Voltage	8 Ω	155		13.7	219		22.4
(Do NOT use for 70 V or 100 V)	4 Ω	106		18.7	117		20.6
	2 Ω		N/R			N/R

N/R = Not Recommended
N/A = Not Available
Gray cells = mode or rating n/a

Operating Specifications

Typical Distortion
8Ω		0.02 – 0.05%	0.02 – 0.05%	0.02 – 0.05%	0.02 – 0.05%	0.02 – 0.05%
4Ω		0.04 – 0.1%	0.04 – 0.1%	0.04 – 0.1%	0.04 – 0.1%	0.04 – 0.1%
Maximum Distortion
4 Ω – 8 Ω		1.0%	1.0%	1.0%	1.0%	1.0%
Frequency Response (8 Ω)		20 Hz – 20 kHz	20 Hz – 20 kHz	20 Hz – 20 kHz	20 Hz – 20 kHz	20 Hz – 20 kHz
	+0.2 dB / -0.7 dB		+0.2 dB / -0.7 dB	+0.2 dB / -0.7 dB	+0.2 dB / -0.7 dB	+0.2 dB / -0.7 dB
Noise
Unweighted output unmuted	>102 dB		>102 dB	>102 dB	>101 dB	>101 dB
Weighted output muted	>106 dB		>106 dB	>106 dB	>104 dB	>104 dB
Gain (1.2 V setting)	33 dB		35 dB	38 dB	35 dB	38 dB
Damping factor	>100		>100	>150	>100	>100
Input impedance >8k balanced and >8k balanced and >8k balanced and >8k balanced and >8k balanced and
	>4k unbalanced		>4k unbalanced	>4k unbalanced	>4k unbalanced	>4k unbalanced
Input Sensitivity
Continuously variable:
Vrms	1.23 mV to 17.35 V		1.23 mV to 17.35 V	1.23 mV to 17.35 V	1.23 mV to 17.35 V	1.23 mV to 17.35 V
dBu	-56 to 27		-56 to 27	-56 to 27	-56 to 27	-56 to 27
dBv	-58.2 to 24.8		-58.2 to 24.8	-58.2 to 24.8	-58.2 to 24.8	-58.2 to 24.8

Controls and indicators (front)
Power Mode • Channel MUTE buttons • Channel SELECT buttons • Channel Input Signal and CLIP LED Indicators
Channel Output and LIMIT LED meters • NEXT, PREV, ID buttons • Control knob • Color Display •Fault Indicator • Pinhole Reset
Controls and indicators (rear)
AC Power Disconnect (Locking IEC C-14)
AC Power Switch
Input connectors
3-pin Euro (green) and Q-LAN Network connectivity
Q-LAN Network connectivity
Output connectors
8-pin Euro (green)
GPIO
GPIO 1-8 = configurable digital/analog, input/output
Relay max = 30 VDC at 1 A (30W maximum). Max voltage 220 VDC at 136 mA.
3.3 V 100 mA max (power cycle to reset)
GPIO 1-4 max = 5 mA in/out, 3.3 V, 127 Ω series resistor
GPIO 5-8 max = 18 mA in/out, 3.3V, 127 Ω series resistor
Cooling Type
Operating temperature range
Forced air cooling, thermally regulated fan speed, side/rear-to-front airflow
Maximum: -10° – 50° C, recommended: 0° – 35° C, performance may be reduced above 40° C
Amplifier and load protection Short circuit, open circuit, over current, over voltage, thermal, RF, DC fault shutdown, active inrush limiting, on/off muting
AC power input Universal power supply 100 – 240 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz with Active PFC

AC power input (China Only)	100 – 240 VAC 50 / 60 Hz		220 – 240 VAC 50 / 60 Hz	100 – 240 VAC 50 / 60 Hz	220 – 240 VAC 50 / 60 Hz
Dimensions (HWD) 3.5 in x 19 in x 16 in
	(89 mm x 483 mm x 406 mm)
Weight,
Net	23 lb (10.4 kg)	25 lb (11.3 kg)	26 lb (11.8 kg)	25 lb (11.3 kg)	26 lb (11.8 kg)
Shipping	27 lb (12.2 kg)	29 lb (13.2 kg)	30 lb (13.6 kg)	29 lb (13.2 kg)	30 lb (13.6 kg)

Heat Loss and Current-Draw Charts
Heat losses are the thermal emissions from an ampliﬁer while it is operating. It comes from dissipated waste power—i.e., real AC power in minus audio power out. Measurements are provided for various loads at idle, 1/8 of average full power, 1/3 of average full power, and full power, with all channels driven simultaneously. For typical usage, use the idle and 1/8 power ﬁgures. This data is measured from representative samples; due to production tolerances, actual heat emissions may vary slightly from one unit to another. Bridged into 8 Ω is equivalent to 4 Ω per channel; into 4 Ω is equivalent to 2 Ω per channel.

Idle
Thermal loss at idle or with very low signal level.

1/8 Power
Thermal loss at 1/8 of full power is measured with a pink noise signal. It approximates operating with music or voice with light clipping and represents the ampliﬁer’s typical “clean” maximum level, withou t audible clipping. Use these ﬁgures for typical maximum level operation.

1/3 Power
Thermal loss at 1/3 of full power is measured with 1 kHz sine. It approximates operating with music or voice with very heavy clipping and a very compressed dynamic range.

Full Power
Thermal loss at full power is measured with a 1 kHz sine wave. However, it does not represent any real-world operating condition.

Current Draw
The amount of AC current an ampliﬁer demands while it is operating. Measurements are provided for various loads at idle, 1/8 of average full power, 1/3 of average full power, and full power, with all channels driven simultaneously. The data shown in the following tables is listed for 100 VAC, 120 VAC and 230 VAC operation. For typical usage, use the idle and 1/8 power data.

Current Consumption

NOTE: Thermal Dissipation minimally varies between 100 and 240 VAC. This data is based on all operating voltages (100-240 VAC). High power applications will see beneﬁts in efﬁciency, power output, and reduced power consumption when operated from 208, 230, 240 VAC mains.

CX-Q 2K4

			120 VAC Mains		230 VAC Mains		Thermal Dissipation
Output Level	Load	100 VAC Current	AC Current (Amps)	Losses (Watts)	AC Current (Amps)	Losses (Watts)	BTU/h	kcal/h
Standby		0.5	0.5	44	0.4	40	150	38
Mute All		0.8	0.7	31	0.5	35	106	27
Idle		1.1	0.9	101	0.6	98	345	87
	100 V /Channel	4.1	3.44	181	1.85	182	618	156
1/8 Rated	70 V / Channel	4.1	3.41	179	1.81	178	611	154
Power (Pink	8 Ω / Channel	4.1	3.44	180	1.98	170	614	155
Noise)	4 Ω / Channel	3.9	3.25	158	1.97	193	539	136
	2 Ω / Channel	4.9	4.09	247	2.27	247	843	212
	100 V / Channel	7.5	6.26	200	3.26	180	683	172
1/3 Rated	70 V / Channel	7.6	6.36	225	3.31	205	768	194
Power (1kHz	8 Ω / Channel	7.9	6.6	252	3.44	233	860	217
Sine Wave)	4 Ω / Channel	8.7	7.24	316	3.75	293	1079	272
	2 Ω / Channel	9.6	7.97	405	4.11	379	1382	348

CX-Q 4K4

			120 VAC Mains		230 VAC Mains		Thermal Dissipation
Output Level	Load	100 VAC Current	AC Current (Amps)	Losses (Watts)	AC Current (Amps)	Losses (Watts)	BTU/h	kcal/hr

Standby		0.6	0.5	45	0.4	45	154	39
Mute All		0.8	0.7	32	0.5	36	109	28
Idle		1.1	0.9	102	0.6	100	348	88
	100 V /Channel	5.2	4.4	196	2.3	217	669	169
1/8 Rated	70 V / Channel	5.3	4.4	199	2.4	191	679	171
Power (Pink	8 Ω / Channel	5.3	4.4	199	2.4	191	679	171
Noise)	4 Ω / Channel	5.6	4.7	231	2.5	220	788	199
	2 Ω / Channel	6.1	5.1	288	2.7	258	983	248
	100 V / Channel	10.7	9	256	4.6	216	874	220
1/3 Rated	70 V / Channel	11.1	9.3	291	4.8	261	993	250
Power (1kHz	8 Ω / Channel	11.1	9.3	291	4.8	261	993	250
Sine Wave)	4 Ω / Channel	11.7	9.7	350	5	320	1195	301
	2 Ω / Channel	12.8	10.7	473	5.5	443	1614	407

CX-Q 8K4

	120 VAC Mains		230 VAC Mains		Thermal Dissipation
Output Level Load 100 VAC Current	AC Current (Amps)	Losses (Watts)	AC Current (Amps)	Losses (Watts)	BTU/h	kcal/hr

Standby		0.8	0.7	79	0.5	83	270	68
Mute All		0.9	0.8	36	0.6	42	123	31
Idle		1.9	1.6	173	0.9	166	590	149
	100 V /Channel	10.4	8.7	370	4.6	340	1263	318
1/8 Rated	70 V / Channel	10.6	8.9	382	4.8	360	1304	329
Power (Pink	8 Ω / Channel	10.4	8.7	370	4.6	340	1263	318
Noise)	4 Ω / Channel	10.6	8.9	382	4.8	360	1304	329
	2 Ω / Channel	11.6	9.7	472	5.3	452	1611	406
	100 V / Channel	21.6	18	533	9.2	453	1819	458
1/3 Rated	70 V / Channel	22.9	19.1	623	9.7	553	2126	536
Power (1kHz	8 Ω / Channel	21.6	18.0	533	9.2	453	1819	458
Sine Wave)	4 Ω / Channel	22.9	19.1	623	9.7	553	2126	536
	2 Ω / Channel	24.8	20.7	828	10.5	738	2826	712

CX-Q 4K8

	120 VAC Mains		230 VAC Mains		Thermal Dissipation
Output Level Load 100 VAC Current	AC Current (Amps)	Losses (Watts)	AC Current (Amps)	Losses (Watts)	BTU/h	kcal/h

Standby		1.0	0.8	44	0.5	42	150	38
Mute All		1.1	0.9	45	0.7	49	153	39
Idle		1.9	1.6	182	0.9	184	621	157
	100 V / Channel	4.8	4.0	150	2.1	123	512	129
1/8 Rated	70 V / Channel	5.0	4.2	172	2.2	138	587	148
Power (Pink	8 Ω / Channel	5.4	4.5	155	2.2	121	529	133
Noise)	4 Ω / Channel	6.2	5.2	236	2.5	195	805	203
	2 Ω / Channel	7.4	6.2	354	3.2	253	1208	304
	100 V / Channel	10.9	9.1	244	4.5	188	833	210
1/3 Rated	70 V / Channel	11.6	9.7	316	4.8	247	1079	272
Power (1kHz	8 Ω / Channel	11.5	9.6	247	4.5	195	843	212
Sine Wave)	4 Ω / Channel	12.6	10.5	423	5.0	259	1444	364
	2 Ω / Channel	15.7	13.1	723	6.0	530	2468	622

CX-Q 8K8

	120 VAC Mains		230 VAC Mains		Thermal Dissipation
Output Level Load 100 VAC Current	AC Current (Amps)	Losses (Watts)	AC Current (Amps)	Losses (Watts)	BTU/h	kcal/h

Standby		1.0	0.9	46	0.6	45	157	40
Mute All		1.1	1.0	49	0.7	54	166	42
Idle		2.1	1.7	197	1.0	194	672	169
	100 V / Channel	10.3	8.6	347	4.5	317	1184	298
1/8 Rated	70 V / Channel	10.6	8.8	378	4.6	327	1290	325
Power (Pink	8 Ω / Channel	10.4	8.6	360	4.5	313	1229	310
Noise)	4 Ω / Channel	12.8	10.7	536	5.1	395	1829	461
	2 Ω / Channel	7.4	6.2	346	3.2	254	1181	298
	100 V / Channel	21.5	17.9	474	9.2	386	1618	408
1/3 Rated	70 V / Channel	21.9	18.2	521	9.2	416	1778	448
Power (1kHz	8 Ω / Channel	21.8	18.2	478	9.1	376	1631	411
Sine Wave)	4 Ω / Channel	26.9	22.4	858	9.9	498	2928	738
	2 Ω / Channel	16.2	13.5	742	6.5	594	2532	638

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Customer Support

Refer to the Contact Us page on the QSC website for Technical Support and Customer Care, including their phone numbers and hours of operation.
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Warranty

For a copy of the QSC Limited Warranty, visit the QSC website at www.qsc.com

© 2022 QSC, LLC. All rights reserved. QSC the QSC logo, and the Q-SYS logo are registered trademarks of QSC , LLC in the U.S. Patent and Trademark ofﬁce and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
http://patents.qsc.com.

Documents / Resources

QSC CX-Q Series Network Amplifiers [pdf] User Manual
CX-Q Series Network Amplifiers, CX-Q Series, Network Amplifiers, Amplifiers

References

User Manual

QSC CX-Q Series Network Amplifiers

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS