MC² Audio's E100 amplifier, the four-channel 2,800W Class-D model that serves as the flagship of the company's E-Series, is now shipping. It is the company's most powerful four-channel amplifier to date, and the first 4 channel proprietary class-D switch mode amplifier to be developed by MC², which is based in Honiton, Devon, U.K.
The E100 can deliver 2,800W into 4 ohms with all channels driven from a 2U, 11.8kg chassis. Proprietary technologies include a Hybrid Dual Loop Feedback system (HDLF) for load independent, accurate audio reproduction; Active Energy Steering Circuit (AESC); custom drive circuitry; and magnetic components.
Designed to run 2-ohm loads, the E100 can issue more than 3,500W from each of the four channels, making it suitable for running bass applications and allowing for bridging of a pair of channels down to 4 ohms. Bridging a pair of channels via the rear panel switches turns the E100 into a bass amplifier offering 7,400W at 4 ohms and over 5,300W into 8 ohms.
Along with power, the E100's HDLF system corrects errors generated in the switching amplifier stages and the output reconstruction filters, minimizing distortion and maximizing signal to noise ratio, and the AESC custom drive circuitry and magnetic components are designed to cut output device stress, allowing almost continuous duty at full power into extremely low impedances, with high switching speeds maintained and without accelerated output device temperatures.
This results in output stage efficiencies in excess of 91 percent typically and means that the E100 will carry on delivering maximum power into 2 ohms in the most demanding of environments (all channels driven with a very low crest factor of approximately 3), where other amplifiers would have begun to limit considerably, or self protect.
The E100 also achieves a maximum Plug to Plug conversion of 86 percent of the power consumed, as each power converter within the E100 has been optimized for maximum efficiency while a resonant PSU dramatically cuts power semiconductor losses within the main power supply.
The E100 also has a new Power Reduction Circuit (PRC), which acts as a power control limiter on each channel and main power supply, and external control of the amplifier's limiters are provided for each channel on the rear panel – allowing very flexible power limiting up to 6dB of limiting in 2dB steps. The E100 is also equipped with protection systems to cope with fault conditions such as a shorted load, DC on outputs and thermal overload.
The newly-designed front panel displays Power Reduction Circuit, Protection, Bridge and Channel link modes. Each channel's limiter also features a 5-bar LED graph. These represent the amplifier's relative output to the selected limiter threshold, and are accurate to within 0.25dB completely independent of load.
The feature set is completed with optional gain settings of 26, 32 and 36dB on each channel – user selectable by an internal jumper setting – rear panel Channel Link switches, Neutrik XLR female connector inputs and Neutrik Speakon 4-pole outputs and a captive mains cable. An optional EQ/X-over Board is available (common to the E-475).
For more information, please visit www.mc2-audio.co.uk and www.g1limited.com.
