Crown Audio Begins Shipping I-Tech 4x3500HD DriveCore Multi-Channel Amplifier

Crown Audio, Harman Group Company, has brought to market the amplifier of 4 I-Tech 4x3500HD channels of the DriveCore series, featuring Crown's sixth-generation Class I engine with DriveCore technology to deliver 3.500 Watts per channel in two ohms.

Crown Audio has announced the launch of its new flagship: the I-Tech HD series of 4x3500HD DriveCore four-channel power amplifiers. The four-channel I-Tech 4x3500HD features Crown's sixth generation Class I engine with DriveCore technology to provide 3.500 Watts Per Channel, and offers a number of advanced features, including a TFT LCD 4.3 Inch Capacitive Touch Screen, the HiQnet System Architect 2.0 and version control functionality 5 DSP for JBL Professional's newly launched V25 VTX Vertec speaker series.

The Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD offers 1.900 watts per channel to 8 Ohms, 2.400 watts per channel at four ohms and 4.800 watts at eight ohms in bridge mode with all channels running at the full bandwidth of an amplifier measuring only 2U rack in size. This is made possible by Crown's unique chip, DriveCore, developed in collaboration with Texas Instruments. This chip incorporates the amplification stage with a powerful output stage, as well as various signal control functions, that drastically reduce energy consumption requirements, which is in line with the Harman group's GreenEdge initiative, launched in order to create more environmentally friendly products.

Brian Pickowitz, Crown Tour Sound Manager, has indicated that "the I-Tech 4x3500HD DriveCore offers a level of control, Connections, DSP and a user interface that previously did not exist in the market for multi-channel amplifiers for professional use. It has been designed without any compromises, to make it the best multi-channel amplifier on the market. We are confident that customers will immediately recognize the clear advantages of a 4 channels that this amplifier offers for a wide range of live sound and fixed installation applications.”

Analog inputs, Digital and AES

The I-Tech 4x3500HD offers four analogue inputs, four AES3 digital inputs and four AES inputs in VDrive protocol, that can be passed to CobraNet protocol. It is possible to route any of the four inputs to any of the four outputs, which makes the I-Tech 4x3500HD a very flexible amplifier. The connectors are either SpeakON or installation type, and the power socket is a Neutrik PowerCON connector, that prevents the power cord from accidentally disconnecting.

At the internal DSP processing level, the Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD is one of the best achieved products today, thanks to the use of A/D D/A converters with the proprietary 32bit/192kHz BSS OmniDriveHD technology, FIR and IIR filters optimized for crossover response of sound reinforcement systems (mainly those of JBL), greatly improving mid-zone response and off-axis response.

The amplifier is compatible with HiQnet System Architect network technology and JBL HiQnet Performance Manager system management software for sound reinforcement. The inclusion of presets via the JBL VerTec Version system 5 DSP allows the perfect fit between speakers of this brand and the I-Tech 4x3500HD amplifier, and FIR filters can be adjusted according to the specific needs of each space, at the same time this results in improved sound quality. This amplifier is also compatible with Powered By Crown technology for iPad/iPhone, which means that with a simple implementation of a WiFi system it is possible to monitor and control the entire system remotely.

The I-Tech 4x3500HD also incorporates other additional functions, such as LevelMax limiter technology that combines reading and processing peak level data, thermal and RMS to create a natural limitation, More effective, as well as a USB port on the front of the amplifier that allows you to load presets.