M-300 - Phil Jones
Contents
1. 1868 N OVERLOAD 68 9 M MN oum 3 MASTER VOLUME LIMITER ds m pane FX SEND OUTPUT epe em P ieee MOO PHIL JONES BASS w PHIL JONES BASS wi doa m I uiarni VOLTAGE oureurs Ty o mu WARNING 2 W E o o THIS EQUIPMENT ee 110 120 220 240 DANGER ELECTRIC SHOCK OUTPUTS o oscowecreonensueney NS NV V cover AC INPUT 1000WATTS MAXIMUM cervical x PARTS INSIDE MAXIMUM LOAD 40 REFER TO MANUAL 4 MODEL M 300 SERIALNO 000001 PRE AMP OUT 1 PASSIVE BASS INSTRUMENT INPUT JACK CHANNEL ONE High sensitivity input 200mV For bass instruments featuring non active electronics Especially suited for older vintage basses This input jack is precisely matched to high impedance pickups enabling them to faithfully reproduce the true frequency and dynamic range of the instrument 2 INPUT LEVEL SENSITIVTY CONTROL CHANNEL ONE Just as no two basses are alike the same goes for players with different styles and technique This is a fine tuning adjustment 10dB to get the precise match between your instrument and the M 300 pP Phil Jones Bass 3 5 BAND GRAPHIC EQUALIZER CHANNEL ONE This is a dedicated bass instrument equalizer designed to give you precise tone control of your instrument It is2. BASS INSTRUMENT AMPLIFIER OWNER S MANUAL pP Phil Jones Bass CONTENTS Read First Page 2 General Overview amp Introduction Page 3 Protection Circuits Page 4 Front amp Back Panel Overview Page 5 Front amp Back Panel Description Page 6 Getting Started Page 11 Power Graph Page 15 Matching Speakers Page 16 Amplifier and Speaker Power Page 17 Routine Care amp Maintainance Page 18 Service Information Page 18 Warranty information Page 19 Specifications Page 20 pP Phil Jones Bass Thank you for purchasing the M 300 A great deal of dedication and passion went into designing and building this no compromise high performance amplifier It was concieved to be a dedicated amplifier for the conessieur bassist Reading this manual will enable you to get the best performanc
3. equipment Maximum power rating is 500 watts 23 XLR DIRECT OUTPUT GROUND LIFT SWITCH If you are in a location with grounding problems using this switch may eliminate noise when connected to a sound reinforcement or recording console through the DI output socket 24 XLR DIRECT OUTPUT SOCKET This is an ultra low impedance 2000 balanced line out for use with recording or PA mixing consoles This output is not controlled by the master volume output control Changing the input level control will however vary the DI output 25 AC POWER INPUT FUSE Uses slow blow 1 inch fuse 26 IEC POWER INPUT SOCKET Connects the amplifier to AC power supply Always use a grounded plug and make sure the AC cable is more than 10A rating at 250volt AC We recommend that you always use the PJB high current AC cable included with this amplifier as it was designed to withstand high current demand that the M 300 needs pP Phil Jones Bass 27 AC INPUT VOLTAGE SELECTOR Switches the amplifier to run on either 110 115volt or 220 240volt AC power Never try to run the amplifier on a 220 240volt supply when switched to 110 115volt This can possibly cause major damage to the amplifier 28 LOUDSPEAKER OUTPUTS NEUTRIK SPEAKON CONNECTORS The M 300 amplifier will work on any load from 160 down to 40 which is the safe maximum load for this amplifier The Speakon sockets are in parallel so connecting two 8Q speakers will result in a 4Q t
4. a very powerful tone processor which with a little understanding will give you the greatest benefit in getting the most out of your instrument and sound system 4 PASSIVE BASS INSTRUMENT INPUT JACK CHANNEL TWO 5 INPUT LEVEL SENSITIVTY CONTROL CHANNEL TWO 6 5 BAND GRAPHIC EQUALIZER CHANNEL TWO 7 LIMITER ON OFF SWITCH Sends signal through limiter or bypass 8 MASTER VOLUME CONTROL This is the master volume control and it controls how much power you send to your speakers When setting up your tone or plugging in your instrument you should keep this control at a low level to avoid damaging your hearing or your speakers 9 TUNER OUTPUT JACK This output signal doesn t control by the master volume 10 POWER ON OFF LAMP This high power LED will illuminate blue when the power is switched on 11 INPUT OVERLOAD INDICATOR CHANNEL ONE 12 ACTIVE BASS INSTRUMENT INPUT JACK CHANNEL ONE Lower sensitivity input 500mV for basses with onboard electronics Input matched for low signal to noise ratio and optimum transfer function of electrical signal from modern high end basses 13 INPUT OVERLOAD INDICATOR CHANNEL TWO 14 ACTIVE BASS INSTRUMENT INPUT JACK CHANNEL TWO 15 LIMITER INDICATOR This L E D Light Emitting Diode will light up when the signal is being compressed This will vary on how hard the instrument is played and how the threshold is adjusted 16 COMPRESSION ADJUSTMENT LEVEL This will vary the level the l
5. of 3dB above the set threshold the increase in level is actually 1dB So dynamic range of your instrument is reduced First set up the limiter by having the compression control 16 set fully clockwise Now switch on the limiter 7 Start playing and turn control 16 anti clockwise You will see the blue light start to come on and that is the indication that the limiter is now working Set this control to suit your taste POWER AMPLIFIER MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT RMS 8 ohm 300W 4 ohm 450W The above is the minimum power available from the M 300 In reality amplifier power can vary somewhat due to variations of the AC voltage supply Variations can occur due to supply and demand of the region For example on a hot day it is possible that voltages drop dramatically due to mass usage of air conditioners in the region Also no such speaker has true constant impedance The impedance of a speaker will vary with frequency PJB speakers are rated at their minimum impedance load Power measurements on PJB amplifiers are done with constant sine wave signal at full power across a static load resistor This 18 the harshest environment for the amplifier and in real circumstances it would not be subjected to such a hard workout Although the M 300 can work on speaker loads down to 20 it is not advisable to do so on a continual basis at high power levels since there is more heat generated If the weather is hot there may not be enough cooling from t
6. at buildup before the unit goes up on smoke The other is the excursion capability of the cone The cone will move in and out further not only with volume increase but also as you play lower notes An open B or E string will cause the cone to move more than an open G string at the same volume level Also boosting the bass EQ will cause greater excursion on the speaker cones PJB bass instrument speakers were developed with a focus to overcome the problem of power compression and this is one of the reasons they outperform competitive products both in sound quality and power handling The M 300 is rated conservatively with ratings of distortion that are lower than the loudspeakers themselves Many other amplifiers may have power ratings that are similar but in fact may well have higher distortion ratings If the M 300 were to be rated this way it will yield far greater power levels than specified If the M 300 is to be used on speakers other than PJB take great caution since these speakers may not live up to the true power levels the M 300 can provide So if you hear your speakers distorting at high sound levels you should immediately back off on the volume Playing at a lower level will save your speakers from blowing playing louder will most certainly cause them damage A Note On Amplifier Power Ratings For each watt a transistor amplifier delivers to a speaker it will approximately develop one watt in heat dissipation So at high power levels a
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8. e from it and it will give you many years of service READ THIS FIRST e Before using the M 300 please read ALL the instructions e On reciept of product check for any signs of physical damage arising from shipping If any damage is visible contact your dealer e Keep all original packing e Never use this product in the vicinity of water If the M 300 were to get wet it could kill you by electrocution e The output power of this amplifier can generate enough sound pressure levels from your speakers to cause PERMANENT hearing damage to you and anyone else who is close to it Take caution with how much volume is used If you suffer from ears ringing this is an indication that you may be damaging your hearing e Do not use this amplifier in a way that would compromise its ventilation system Never block the air intake or fan output Do not locate this amplifier near any heat source e This amplifier must be connected only to a power source specified in this manual e For safety do not leave the amplifier plugged into a power source for long periods of time when not in use Do not let any liquid or foreign objects fall into any openings on the amplifier e Never use this amplifier if it has 1 suffered any physical damage 2 been subjected to any liquids rain or moisture 3 damaged cables connected to it If any of the above occurs the amplifier should be examined by qualified service personel e Always operate this a
9. elector is set to the correct voltage in your country 110 120volt USA Japan or 220 240volt Europe Australia Connect the speaker or speakers to the M 300 using the Speakon connectors Speakon connectors are far superior in delivering amplifier power to the speakers than standard 1 4 inch jacks because they can handle much higher electrical current For best results with this amplifier you should use PJB loudspeaker cabinets and PJB cables ALWAYS USE A HIGH QUALITY GROUNDED AC POWER CABLE NEVER USE THIS AMPLIFIER WITH THE GROUND CONNECTION REMOVED We recommend you use PJB cables Matching the M 300 to PJB Loudspeakers The M 300 will work on loudspeakers from 160 to 30 with ease It is not recommended to run on 20 loads at full power during the hotter summer months The amplifier needs a constant flow of cool air to maintain an optimal working temperature If it does not get the proper cooling it needs it is possible for the amplifier s thermal protection circuits to operate and turn off the amplifier The protection circuits work on temperature and current workings in the amplifier s output transistors and power supply AC power can vary from region to region and time of day due to electricity demand Also because the amplifier uses force air cooling the operating temperature of the amplifier will vary somewhat due to the room temperature you are playing in These factors alone could determine the amplifier to switch off Before tur
10. er out This causes some fundamental notes the ones you feel more than hear to ring out louder than others and some note not to be heard at all Here is an indication of where fundamental bass frequencies are showing open string s approximate frequencies and acoustic wavelength F string B string E string A string D string G string C string This may give you some indication of the offending notes frequencies that may be booming or resonating louder or quieter than others For example if your speakers are 5 feet from a wall the open A string may sound lack of weight That could be because the path length of the reflected sound off the wall from your speaker is exactly corresponding to half a wavelength on the open A string causing at that particular note a cancellation Note that the position of where you place your speakers will ultimately affect your tone Placing a speaker with the back close to a wall will help to reinforce the lower notes Placing the speaker in a room corner will further enhance the low notes Unfortunately for bass players low frequencies are always very difficult to control with room acoustics The reproduced wavelengths of the notes you are playing often correspond to the room dimensions in which case the reflected sound off the walls interferes with the sound from the speaker So the graphic EQ is by far your best weapon of choice in killing standing waves that develop in the room From about 250Hz upwa
11. he internal fan so the amplifier could momentarily cut out as the amp s heat protection circuits kick in A Note on Amplifier Power and Speaker Power Handling Very often loudspeakers and amplifier power ratings are totally misunderstood by the non technical user for good reason This is a complex and involving topic that will only be touched upon in this manual First the ear 18 not capable of telling how much power is going to a loudspeaker Secondly loudspeakers have different power ratings at each and every frequency The amplifier will produce different power levels if the frequency changes even if the volume is the same Finally we hear sound based on a logarithmic scale So in order to perceive a note twice as loud in theory we need 10 times the power to produce the perceived doubling of volume In reality another parameter comes into this already complex equation It s called Power Compression which are losses in the loudspeaker units due oP Phil Jones Bass to heating up and reducing efficiency of converting the amplifier s electrical power to acoustic energy Loudspeakers are complex devices and very inefficient converters of electrical energy especially when it comes to reproducing bass frequencies More than 90 of amp power goes to heating up the speakers and that is why the Power Compression factor is a major one Two limiting factors determine the power handling of a bass speaker One is the ability to withstand the he
12. imiter threshold The compression ratio is 3dB to 1 Adjust this to suit your playing style and output power of instrument 17 HEADPHONE OUTPUT JACK pP Phil Jones Bass This jack accepts 1 4 inch stereo headphone jacks When a headphone is connected to the jack the speakers are automatically shut off The M 300 features a high performance headphone amplifier This output is optimized for standard headphone impedance of 30 40 but will work on practically any type of headphones 18 FX SEND OUTPUT JACK This jack sends the signal to an effects processing unit It can also be used to send the signal to a tuner 19 FX RETURN INPUT JACK This jack accepts the signal from an effects processing unit Plugging this jack in only will disrupt the signal path in the 300 20 POWER ON OFF SWITCH This switches the main power on and off in the amplifier When the M 300 is switched on there will be a slight delay while the protection circuits give the amplifier a soft start so there is no thumping sound to the loudspeakers 21 SPARE FUSE HOLDER This is not connected to the circuit It simply is a spare fuse should you ever need one If you replace the main fuse be sure to put a backup in its place Always use the correct current rating fuse Always keep a backup fuse available You never know when you may need it 22 IEC POWER OUTPUT SOCKET This is a non switched socket to provide power for effects units or other ancillary
13. long with your sales receipt Depending on the complexity of the repair work your dealer may return the defect unit to PJB service center for repair or replacement Phil Jones Bass 8559 Page Ave St Louis MO 63114 USA Tel 314 814 3383 Fax 636 536 1338 www philjonesbass com support philjonesbass com Serial Number Date Purchased Dealer oP Phil Jones Bass SPECIFICATIONS Frequency Response Passive and Active input 20Hz 40KHz 1dB Low Cut Filter 24dB Octave at 20Hz High Cut Filter 12dB Octave at 40KHz Maximum Output Power LOAD Q OUTPUT Watts RMS 8 300 4 450 Signal to Noise Ratio Better than 88 dB EQ off Input Gain on Full Volume on Full Impedance Passive Input gt 5MQ 22pF Active Input gt 100KQ 22pF FX Return 75 FX Send lt 4 7KQ Pre Amp Out 2 Bal Line Out 2000 Levels Passive Input 20mV 2 5V Active Input 50mV 5V Return Typical 1V FX Send Typical 1V Pre Amp Out 1 2V Bal Line Out Typical 600mV Compressor Limiter Gain 048 Compression Ratio 3dB 1dB EQ Section 50 160 630 2 5K 12KHz at 18dB Protection Circuits 1 AC line filter 2 Slow blow Fuse 3 AC Transformer auto cut off at 105 C Auto reset at 60 C 4 Transistor Thermal Protection auto cut off at 90 C 5 Loudspeaker Short Circuit Protection 6 DC Output Protection 7 Turn on protection 2 second delay Phil Jones Bass NOLLOS LOW
14. mplifier with the correctly rated fuse e Never use this amplifier without proper grounding WARNING If you are using PJB speakers on your M 300 take great care with the volume control Unlike conventional speakers PJB speakers are capable of generating great output levels over 140 dB at close proximity more than 100 times the threshold of pain Never allow your instrument to feedback at high output levels This can cause instant deafness and it could be permanent Do not use PJB speakers for loud playing lead guitar Their much higher acoustic output can destroy your hearing forever oP Phil Jones Bass FEATURES Two Active Passive inputs Two 5 Band Graphic EQ Optical Limiter Headphone Output Pre amp Output Balanced Line Output with ground lift Dual AC Voltage 120 240V Operation Sophisticated protection circuitry Special Soft Clipping 500watt Amplifier Ultra low noise pre amplifier circuit The M 300 has six protection circuits to prevent it from being damaged l Transformer Over Heat Protection A heat sensing circuit breaker will disconnect the transformer from the power source should the temperature reaches 105 C Soft Start Speaker Protection When the amplifier is switched on the amplifier will turn on after a 2 second delay This ensures that no transient thump is sent to the speakers at start up Current Limiting Protection Should the current exceed 7 amperes in any of the output transistors
15. n amp can generate a lot of heat Not all amplifiers rated at the same power have the same actual power If a manufacturer rates an amp with a maximum power of 500 watts what exactly does that mean It could run for 3 minutes before it goes up in smoke or it could run all day long effortlessly It depends on the quality size and design of the amplifier and its components The size of the amplifiers internal power supply the type amp quantity of transistors that are used in the output stage along with solid construction will have a major effect on manufacturing cost A cheap amplifier may be designed to last a few years before it dies It may cost more than its worth to give it an overhaul In essence you get what you pay for Your M 300 is built to last for a very long time running day after day at continuous high power levels From AC input to speaker output the M 300 has more than adequate components to deliver pure power to your speakers with sonic purity pP Phil Jones Bass Taking care of your M 300 The M 300 will give years and probably decades of reliable service if it is cared for Use a cover or road case when transporting or storing the amplifier The M 300 was built to be as rugged as possible However you should handle it with care Keep it away from moisture heat and dust Clean with a soft damp cloth such as a moist towel Do not use chemicals or solvents to clean it From time to time the unit may need to be cleaned i
16. nge without notice owing to our relentless pursuit of perfection All PJB owners manuals can be downloaded form our website in PDF files pP Phil Jones Bass Warranty information The M 300 has a warranty period of 2 years starting from the date of purchase The buyer must complete and return the enclosed warranty card within 14 days of purchase This warranty covers defect in materials or workmanship that occurs in normal use Within warranty period PJB will repair or replace the defect unit free of labor and parts charge It is the buyer s responsibility to use the amplifier strictly according to instructions written in this manual This warranty is not transferable it is provided to original owner only Damage defects caused by the following conditions are not covered by this warranty Improper handling neglect or failure to operate the unit in compliance with the instructions given in user manual Connection or operation of the amplifier in any way that does not comply with the technical or safely regulations applicable in the country where the product is used Repairs or modifications by anyone other than authorized PJB service agent Damages defects caused by force majeure or any other condition that is beyond the control of PJB Ifthe unit s serial number is defaced or removed Should you need any warranty service on the M 300 please bring it back to the dealer from whom you purchased the amplifier a
17. ning on make sure your loudspeaker is connected to the M 300 The M 300 speaker outputs are pro audio industry standard Neutrik Speakon connectors because they can work at higher power levels than the usual 1 4 inch jacks It is strongly recommended that you use PJB speaker cables They are high current low resistance dedicated speaker cables for bass instrument amplification There is also available a PJB Speakon to 1 4 inch jack cable for those who are not using PJB speakers Keep volume down before plugging in your instrument Use the passive jack for basses without onboard electronics only Set the input level to match your instrument When the red light blinks momentarily you are just below clipping distortion so back off a little on this control Keep this control set and then bring up the master volume to about 1 3 up The EQ circuits should be first flat What you are hearing now is the exact sound of your bass The Graphic EQ This is a 5 band EQ that covers the full spectrum of a bass and beyond This is used to fine tune your bass tone to perfection Often playing in different venues will cause your bass to sound different This is partially due to the acoustics of the hall influencing the low frequency waves that are coming from your speaker Bass waves are large and room oP Phil Jones Bass dimensions heavily influence them when the walls reflect the sound waves causing them to collide by adding together or canceling each oth
18. nternally since airflow is constantly running through the amplifier Dust can build up inside over long periods of time Your service agent should check the amplifier every 2 5 years for dust build up and cleaned carefully with compressed air We recommend this procedure performed by qualified professional service personnel only Many perishable PJB parts are available as replacements such as handles feet casters grills etc These are available from your authorized PJB dealer or direct from PJB Service at a PJB Service Center Your amplifier has very sophisticated circuitry which should only be serviced by a fully trained technician This is one reason each unit has the printed warning label on the back PJB customers may obtain service from an authorized PJB Sales amp Service Center It is important that you have your copy of sale as your proof of purchase Simply present you bill of sale along with the defective unit to an authorized PJB Service Center to obtain service They will handle the necessary paperwork and repair Remember to transport your amplifier in the original PJB packaging Should the M 300 ever need to be serviced service technicians will appreciate its modular construction using multi pin plugs and Integrated Circuit sockets So any repairs can be done quickly with ease and speed keeping repair labor costs low PJB is dedicated to ongoing research on bass amplification As a result specifications are likely to cha
19. otal load We recommend that you use PJB high current speaker cables which are dedicated high current low resistance cables Using inferior cables will greatly impair the performance of your system 29 PRE AMPLIFIER OUTPUT JACKS These are used for driving a second amplifier such as another M 500 or the PJB M 5000 slave amplifier and even a Tuner You can run a shielded cable from this socket to the line input of another M 500 with both graphic EQ and parametric EQ bypassed to give double the amplifier power The master volume controls the level out of these jack sockets Its own buffer amplifier circuit isolates each output jack The benefit is that each output 18 independent from each other Even a faulty cable connected to one will not affect the other Most brands use paralleled outputs to save costs AIR INTAKE FORCED AIR COOLING SYSTEM The M 300 is capable of providing more than 500 watts without distortion This is only possible by using a forced cooling system Never block these vents as this will greatly impair the performance and reliability of this amplifier AMPLIFIER COOLING FAN OUTPUT The M 300 has a fan that will turn on automatically when heat sink temperature over 75 C in order to give you a quiet environment It will turn off when the heat sink temperature blew 60 C Never block the airflow output of this fan oP Phil Jones Bass GETTING STARTED Before switching on power Check that the voltage s
20. rds the graphic EQ is just controlling your overtones on the strings bearing in mind that even the 60Hz control will alter the second harmonic on an open B string The amount of control per frequency band is up to 36dB 18dB You should try to avoid using excessive boosting of EQ on the lower frequency ranges 50Hz as this will reduce amplifier headroom and possibly damage your speakers since the amplifier may force them to move beyond their physical capability If you hear large amounts of distortion coming from your speakers when you boost the lower bands you should immediately back off on the EQ If you cannot get enough low end weight for your taste maybe you need more speakers If you are playing 5 or more strings on your bass beware that the lowest notes can cause great stress on your speakers if you do not have enough of them Low frequencies only propagate well from large surface areas which is why upright acoustic basses are a lot bigger then violins The same goes for speakers more cone area means better coupling of oP Phil Jones Bass low frequencies So if you really want ground shaking lows from your B E or even F strings consider using a lot more speakers Setting up the Limiter Although a limiter is not essential to bass amplification it can be a useful tool in smoothing out the character of your instrument or playing style The M 300 limiter has a preset compression ratio of 3 to 1 For each additional increase
21. the amplifier will shut down Switch off the amplifier and check your speakers are connected properly and that your cables are not faulty If every thing is OK switch the amplifier back on Transistor Over Heat Protection If the amplifier reaches an internal temperature 90 C the amplifier will turn off to protect the output transistors Short Circuit Protection If you have a faulty speaker or faulty speaker connections the amplifier will shut down Switch power off and press reset button on back panel DC Output Protection The M 300 is a DC coupled design that offers the best performance If a fault occurs internally in the amplifier it will shut down and protect your speakers from any lethal DC current Be aware that DC current can destroy any loudspeaker This circuit will also prevent any catastrophic damage to the amplifier If the fuse blows there 18 a spare fuse located in the back panel to replace it Please remember to keep a spare fuse always You never know when you may need it Although we pride ourselves on the excellence of performance and build quality we put safety first We always use UL approved power transformers in our amplifiers and all components have voltage and current ratings well beyond their operating range pP Phil Jones Bass FRONT amp BACK PANEL OVERVIEW PASSIVE PASSIVE 1 50Hz 160Hz 630Hz 25KHz 12KHz T 50Hz 160Hz 630Hz 25KHz 12KHz TUNER POWER INPUT LEVEL jie
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