During the initial design stages of our new power amplifier series, we asked you what you wanted in an amplifier that would best suit your integration projects. You asked for something affordable and with ample power for rooms larger than a small classroom or conference room. An amplifier that could fit into limited or confined spaces within credenzas, equipment racks, and lecterns. You also wanted the capability to mount an amplifier in a plenum ceiling to save installation space, as well as prevent theft. We listened and incorporated all of these requests into our new XTRA Series of power amplifiers.

After making key refinements to the design and incorporating several new features into our HPA Series power amplifiers, we decided to rename these amplifiers the XTRA Series. We've enhanced the performance of these professional grade amplifiers, doubling the output to 200 watts rms. They are ENERGY STAR® qualified power amplifiers that conserve energy and reduce costs. The XTRA Series features an Extron exclusive, highly efficient, advanced Class D amplifier design with CDRS, a patented technology from Extron that eliminates EMI emissions, a common characteristic of Class D design that can cause interference with other A/V equipment.

XTRA Power

The XPA 1002 is a two channel amplifier that provides 100 watts rms per channel into 4 ohms and 60 watts rms per channel into 8 ohms. It is ideal for delivering voice or program audio content to stereo speakers, or two sets of 8 ohm ceiling speakers in a dual zone application. The XPA 2001 provides 200 watts rms for high impedance 70 volt and 100 volt speaker systems in voice reinforcement and distributed audio applications. Both XTRA Series amplifiers are designed to deliver ample power output for speaker systems in meeting rooms, boardrooms, lecture halls, and commercial environments.

XTRA Performance

We wanted the XTRA Series to be true professional grade amplifiers that met the practical needs of commercial A/V applications while providing the sonic performance that would distinguish these amplifiers in the market. In our research and development, we were able to achieve an amplifier design with 105 dB signal-to-noise ratio and THD of less than 0.05% for the XPA 1002 two channel amplifier, and 100 dB signal-to-noise ratio and less than 0.1% THD for the XPA 2001 70 volt and 100 volt models. This translates to ultra-low noise performance so that each amplifier in the series faithfully reproduces sound and voice material with exceptional fidelity and dynamic range.

The Extron XTRA Series consumes less than 1 watt in standby and just 10 watts when idle, less than similar conventional amplifiers.

Amplifiers Engineered for Efficiency

XTRA Series amplifiers have been engineered to deliver energy, thermal, and space efficiency. The combination of all three has enabled us to offer an amplifier that draws less power, runs at cooler temperatures, and consumes much less rack space than many similarly powered amplifiers.

XTRA Efficient Operation

The XPA 1002 and XPA 2001 are ENERGY STAR qualified amplifiers. As such, they are energy efficient products that conserve energy and reduce costs. In order to earn the ENERGY STAR, an audio product must feature a standby mode that draws less than 1 watt of AC power. The XPA 1002 and XPA 2001 draw just 10 watts when idle, and less than 1 watt of power when in standby mode.

With an Extron exclusive auto-standby feature that automatically enters the amplifiers into standby after one hour of inactivity, XTRA Series amplifiers exceed ENERGY STAR qualification requirements.

The XTRA Series also offers significant energy efficiency when under load. At 1/8th rated output into 8 ohms, an XTRA Series amplifier's operating efficiency is 58%, up to five times that of similar power amplifiers.

Therefore, the XPA 1002 and XPA 2001 are remarkably efficient under load, when idle, and in standby, so that operating costs can be greatly reduced in many A/V systems where the amplifiers are left on around the clock. As the first professional A/V manufacturer to introduce amplifiers with ENERGY STAR qualification, Extron is pleased to lead the way in offering products for innovative, energy efficient A/V systems that optimize energy performance today and into the future.

A key design criterion for our XTRA Series amplifiers was to deliver plenty of power without dissipating wasted heat. Excess heat leads to large heat loads within equipment racks and requires higher energy costs in order to cool equipment racks. Our new amplifiers are designed for racks and enclosed spaces where forced air cooling is not available nor desired due to fan noise or other issues.

To validate our design, we used IR thermography to show how hot a conventional two channel amplifier of similar output is, compared to the two channel XPA 1002. The amplifiers were fed a 1 kHz sine wave test signal, placed under a 4 ohm load, and operated at 1/8th of their rated output power per channel. After one hour, we used a high resolution, infrared thermal imaging camera to capture the thermographs below. The result is clear: the Extron XTRA Series power amplifiers operate much cooler with an operating temperature measured at 38˚ C (100.4˚ F), compared to a highly recognized conventional power amplifier of similar output which measured at 74˚ C (165.2˚ F).

INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWS AMPLIFIER HEAT OUTPUT

Conventional Amplifier

Extron XTRA Series Amplifier

XTRA Thermal Efficiency

The XTRA Series features a Class D amplifier design that is highly efficient. This means that these amplifiers deliver far more of the incoming power to the outputs and produce far less heat than similar power amplifier designs.

Because Extron Class D amplifiers produce little heat, the XPA 1002 and XPA 2001 do not require internal fans for cooling, and can be installed in credenzas and lecterns without the need for an external fan to provide forced air circulation. This is a particularly appealing design feature because it allows integrators to build sound systems with the amplifier installed in airflow-restricted spaces where most traditional power amplifiers can’t be located. The low heat dissipation of the XTRA Series amplifiers also makes them ideal for rack-mount installations. Traditional power amplifiers are notorious for their ability to "cook" neighboring equipment in a rack. The XPA 1002 and XPA 2001 can be located in close proximity with other equipment without the concern of heating them and possibly shortening their lifespan. XTRA Series amplifiers in a rack installation also offer additional energy savings with reduced utilization of rack fans and air conditioning.

A 1U, half rack width XTRA series amplifier occupies as little as one quarter the space of a similar conventional 2U, full rack amplifier.

XTRA Space Efficiency

A thermally efficient amplifier allowed us to eliminate fans as well as heat sinks. This, combined with an Extron-designed compact power supply, enabled us to significantly reduce the size of the chassis and offer an amplifier that would save valuable rack space. Most 200 watt amplifiers have an enclosure that is 1U or 2U high and spans an entire rack width. However, the XTRA Series features a very compact enclosure that occupies 1U and just a half rack width of space, as little as one-fourth the size of comparable amplifiers. These space efficient amplifiers reduce costs associated with equipment racks and space allocation.

XTRA Clean Output

As mentioned, Extron Class D audio power amplifiers offer very high efficiency, which leads to low heat generation and a long operating lifespan. Conventional Class D amplification designs are known to create EMI - Electromagnetic Interference emissions, which can impact sensitive A/V equipment situated nearby, particularly wireless microphones. This EMI is emitted from speaker cables connected to the outputs. EMI emission in Class D amplifiers is the direct result of the switching ripple, or the high frequencies at which the power transistors are rapidly switched on and off, in order to achieve very low power dissipation and high efficiency.

The XTRA Series features patented Extron CDRS™ - Class D Ripple Suppression technology, which greatly improves EMI performance by eliminating the switching ripple. This is accomplished by steering the switching ripple away from the audio output and into an area where it cannot lead to EMI emissions. Therefore, the XPA 1002 and XPA 2001 can be situated near other A/V equipment without creating interference.

With the removal of the steering ripple from the audio output waveform, the signal is pure, and on par with that of a conventional linear amplifier. The result is a Class D amplifier design with dramatically improved audio performance. With CDRS, the XTRA Series amplifiers deliver high quality reproduction of music and voice, and also the efficiency of a Class D amplifier.

Plenum Rated

In classrooms, boardrooms, and other environments, it may not be practical to install A/V equipment racks due to cost, aesthetics, and floor space constraints. The XPA 1002 and XPA 2001 are UL 2043 rated to conform to heat and smoke release tests for plenum environments, so that they can be installed above a drop ceiling where the space is often used as a return plenum.

For plenum installations, the XTRA Series features a built-in power supply with a modular power connection. This connection is replaced by a qualified electrician and fitted with the optional Flexible Conduit Adapter Kit, part # 70-228-02, so that the amplifiers are directly hardwired for AC power to a local junction box, via wiring encased in flexible metal conduit. Installing amplifiers above a drop ceiling offers an opportunity for integrators to conserve equipment space within the room and achieve a clean, streamlined installation free of visible cable runs. In addition, an amplifier installed above the ceiling is concealed from view, greatly minimizing the possibility of theft.

The XTRA Series power amplifiers are plenum rated and can be mounted above the ceiling, when installed with the optional Flexible Conduit Adapter Kit.

Amplifiers Built for XTRA Performance, Efficiency, and Integration

With the Extron XTRA Series of power amplifiers, we addressed your requests for an integrator-friendly power amplifier through a highly efficient, compact, plenum rated design. We also added professional grade performance, ENERGY STAR qualification for very low power consumption, and proprietary CDRS technology, all of which allow the XTRA Series to stand alone in the industry.

An XTRA Series amplifier occupies just a 1U, half rack width of space and dissipates very little heat, making it ideal for tight spaces in equipment racks, credenzas, and lecterns. Limited external ventilation is required.

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