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PowerLight 2 Series

Professional Power Amplifiers

PowerLight2 Amplifier
View PL2 Rear Panel     View PL2A Rear Panel     


PL218 | PL224 | PL230 | PL236 | PL218A | PL224A | PL230A | PL236A


PowerLight 2 Series Amplifiers are no longer in production
Please refer to the PowerLight 3 Series Amplifiers for equivalent replacements.
QSC Audio will continue to support and service these products.


The PowerLight® 2 Series is a high performance line of amplifiers designed exclusively for the touring and live sound professional. Four models range in power from 900 watts to 1850 watts per channel, all in two-rack space chassis that are only 14" deep and 21 lbs.

Each of these models are available in two versions: a base model and an "A" version. Base models are ideal for systems using external signal processing. For those looking for integrated solutions, "A" versions offer internal analog signal processing. Full DSP capabilities may also be added to any model with the addition of the DSP-3 Module.

With PowerLight technology, PowerLight 2 amplifiers take your sound to a whole new level. Not only does it give you tighter bass and clean transparent highs, PowerLight also cuts waste heat, boosts reliability and gets rid of unwanted noise and hum. PowerLight is a revolutionary switching power supply technology that provides ample current to the audio power circuitry by charging the supply rails 230,000 times a second through an ultra-low impedance circuit. So unlike amplifiers that use conventional supplies, the audio signal is never starved prematurely and remains crisp and clean.

Through continued improvement and innovation, QSC's new PowerLight 2 offers features not found in any other professional audio amplifier.

FEATURES

  • PowerLight Switching Technology for improved audio performance
  • High-efficiency Class H output circuits lower AC current consumption and cooling requirements by over 40% (PowerLight 224, 230, & 236)
  • Increased airflow for improved thermal performance
  • DataPort for remote computer control or the addition of external DSP modules
  • Detented gain controls with 1 dB steps for precise calibration
  • Removable knobs with lock-out security plate prevents unauthorized tampering
  • User defeatable clip limiters and selectable low-frequency filter (5, 30, or 50 Hz)
  • 1/4" TRS*, XLR, and 3-pin detachable terminal block input connectors
  • Neutrik Speakon® and "Touch Proof" binding post outputs
  • "Locking" IEC power cable remains secure on the road
  • Personalized badging available

PowerLight 2A built-in signal processing
  • Selectable input sensitivity/voltage gain (+4 dBu, 32 dB, or 26 dB)
  • Adjustable two-way 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley crossover with low-frequency delay for driver time alignment
  • Adjustable high frequency attenuation
  • Independent power limiters on each channel with adjustable threshold, attack and release times
  • Adjustable CD Horn equalization
* Base models only
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POWERLIGHT2 SERIES

  • PL218
  • PL224
  • PL230
  • PL236
  • PL218A
  • PL224A
  • PL230A
  • PL236A

DOCUMENTS

PL2 Users Manual (PDF 2.7MB)
PL2A Users Manual (PDF 2.8MB)
PL2 Specifications (PDF 528K)

HI-RES IMAGES

PL2 Front
PL2 Rear
PL2A Front
PL2A Rear

RESOURCES

Large PL2 rear panel image
Large PL2A rear panel image

ACCESSORIES

Handle: 2RU

DataPort Accessories:
DSP-3 | DSP-4 | DPX-4 | DDI-3


RoHS Compliant
RoHS Compliant
* PL2 "A" models are not compliant

 
PowerLight 2
PL2 SPECIFICATIONS PL 218 PL 224 PL 230 PL 236
  STEREO MODE, Both Channels Driven
8 ohms FTC 20 Hz-20 kHz 0.03% THD 310 W 440 W 575 W 725 W
8 ohms EIA 1 kHz 1% THD 350 W 475 W 625 W 800 W
4 ohms FTC 20 Hz-20 kHz 0.05% THD 525 W 715 W 900 W 1100 W
4 ohms EIA 1 kHz 1% THD 600 W 825 W 1050 W 1300 W
2 ohms EIA 1 kHz 1% THD 900 W 1200 W 1500 W 1850 W
  BRIDGE MONO MODE
16 ohms FTC 20 Hz-20 kHz 0.1% THD 650 W 900 W 1200 W 1500 W
8 ohms FTC 20 Hz-20 kHz 0.1% THD 1100 W 1500 W 2000 W 2400 W
4 ohms EIA 1 kHz 1% THD 1800 W 2400 W 3000 W 3700 W
Noise (20 Hz-20 kHz) -107 dB -108 dB -107 dB -107 dB
Input Sensitivity @ 8 ohms 1.23 Vrms 1.16 Vrms 1.17 Vrms 1.23 Vrms
Input Sensitivity @ 4 ohms 1.15 Vrms 1.10 Vrms 1.07 Vrms 1.07 Vrms
Voltage Gain 32 dB 34 dB 35 dB 3 6dB
Output Circuitry AB 2-Tier Class H 2-Tier Class H 2-Tier Class H
Power Requirements
(1/8 power pink noise @ 4ohms)**		 8A* 8A* 9A* 10A*
  ALL MODELS
Distortion (SMPTE-IM) Less than 0.01%
Distortion (typical)
10 dB below rated power:20 Hz-20 kHz
Full rated power:5.0 kHz and below
Less than 0.015% THD
Less than 0.01% THD
Frequency Response 20 Hz-20 kHz, ± 0.2 dB; 8 Hz-100 kHz, +0, -3 dB
Damping Factor Greater than 500
Input Impedance 6k ohms unbalanced, 12k ohms balanced
Cooling Variable-speed fan, rear-to-front air flow
Connectors (each channel) Input: 1/4" TRS, 3-pin XLR and 3-pin detachable terminal blocks (1 each per channel)
Output: Neutrik Speakon® and touch-proof binding post
Controls Front: AC switch, Ch.1 and Ch.2 gain knobs
Rear: DIP switch for Ch.1 and Ch.2; clip limiter on/off, LF filter on/off, LF filter, freq select-30 or 50 Hz; inputs parallel or stereo; bridge mode
Indicators PARALLEL INPUTS: Orange LED
BRIDGED: Yellow LED
PWR-ON: Green LED

 CLIP/PROT: Red LED(1 per channel)
LEVEL -10 dB: Amber LED(1 channel)
LEVEL -20 dB: Green LED(1 per channel)
SIGNAL -35 dB: Green LED(1 per channel)
Amplifier Protection Full short circuit, open circuit, thermal, ultrasonic, & RF protection. Stable into reactive or mismatched loads.
Load Protection On/off muting, DC-fault power supply shutdown
Dimensions 19" (48.3cm) rack mounting, 3.5" (8.9 cm) tall (2 rack spaces),
14" (35.6 cm) deep (from front mounting rails)
Weight 21 lbs (9.5 kg) net, 27 lbs (12.3 kg) shipping


PowerLight 2A
PL2A SPECIFICATIONS PL 218A PL 224A PL 230A PL 236A
  STEREO MODE, Both Channels Driven
8 ohms FTC 20 Hz-20 kHz 0.05% THD 310 W 440 W 575 W 725 W
8 ohms EIA 1 kHz 1% THD 350 W 475 W 625 W 800 W
4 ohms FTC 20 Hz-20 kHz 0.07% THD 525 W 715 W 900 W 1100 W
4 ohms EIA 1 kHz 1% THD 600 W 825 W 1050 W 1300 W
2 ohms EIA 1 kHz 1% THD 900 W 1200 W 1500 W 1850 W
  BRIDGED MONO MODE
8 ohms FTC 20 Hz-20 kHz 0.1% THD 1100 W 1500 W 2000 W 2400 W
4 ohms EIA 1 kHz 1% THD 1800 W 2400 W 3000 W 3700 W
Noise (20 Hz-20 kHz) -103 dB -103 dB -103 dB -103 dB
Input Sensitivity @ 8 ohms 2.57 Vrms (26 dB)
1.28 Vrms (+4 dBu)
1.28 Vrms (32 dB)		 3.05 Vrms (26 dB)
1.20 Vrms (+4 dBu)
1.53 Vrms (32 dB)		 3.84 Vrms (26 dB)
1.22 Vrms (+4 dBu)
1.93 Vrms (32 dB)		 3.95 Vrms (26 dB)
1.24 Vrms (+4 dBu)
1.98 Vrms (32 dB)
Input Sensitivity @ 4 ohms 2.37 Vrms (26 dB)
1.18 Vrms (+4 dBu)
1.18 Vrms (32 dB)		 2.79 Vrms (26 dB)
1.10 Vrms (+4 dBu)
1.39 Vrms (32 dB)		 3.41 Vrms (26 dB)
1.08 Vrms (+4 dBu)
1.71 Vrms (32 dB)		 3.45 Vrms (26 dB)
1.09 Vrms (+4 dBu)
1.73 Vrms (32 dB)
Voltage Gain 26, 32, or 32 dB 26, 32, or 34 dB 26, 32, or 35 dB 26, 32, or 36 dB
Output Circuitry AB 2-Tier Class H 2-Tier Class H 2-Tier Class H
Power Requirements
(1/8 power pink noise @ 4ohms) ** 		8A* 8A* 9A* 10A*
  ALL MODELS
Distortion (SMPTE-IM) Less than 0.01%
Distortion (typical)
10 dB below rated power:20 Hz-20 kHz
Full rated power:5.0 kHz and below
Less than 0.025% THD
Less than 0.025% THD
Frequency Response 20 Hz-20 kHz, ± 0.2 dB; 8 Hz-65 kHz, +0, -3 dB
Damping Factor greater than 500
Input Impedance 6k ohms unbalanced, 12k ohms balanced
Input Clipping 10 Vrms (+22 dBu)
Cooling Variable-speed fan, rear-to-front air flow.
Connectors (each channel) Input: 3-pin rubber isolated XLR and 3-pin detachable terminal blocks (1 each per channel)
Output: Neutrik Speakon® and touch-proof binding post
Controls (rear)
Input Configuration
Mode
DataPort Input Signal
Gain Sensitivity
Stereo or Parallel
2 Channel, Bi-amp, or Bridge-mono
Pre-processing, Post-processing, or Off
26 dB, +4 dBu, or 32 dB
Controls
Subaudio Filter (ea. channel)(side)
Clip Limiter (ea. channel)
5 Hz (off), 30 Hz, or 50 Hz
On or Off
Crossover Controls (side)
Frequency
Low-frequency Delay Enable (Ch. 1 only)
Low-frequency Delay (Ch. 1 only)
High-Frequency ch. attenuation (Ch. 2 only)
CD Horn equalization (Ch. 2 only)
Range of 85 Hz to 2500 Hz. Configured with SIP resistor.
On or Off. Active only in bi-amp mode only.
Range of 0.14 to 6.5 msec. Configured with SIP resistor.
Range of 0 to -15 dB in 1 dB steps. Active only in bi-amp mode.
Range of 0 to +14 dB boost in 2 dB steps. Active only in bi-amp mode.
Power Limiter Controls (side)
Power Limiter Enable (ea. channel)
Power Limiter Mode (ea. channel)
Power Limiter Threshold (ea. channel)
Power Limiter Speed (ea. channel)


Power Limiter Tracking
On or Off
Average or Peak attack and release mode
Range of 0 to -15 dB in 1 dB steps
Fast: 1-8 msec. of attack (depending on limiter mode) and 20 msec release
Medium: 10-80 msec of attack (depending on limiter mode) and 200 msec release
Slow: 180 msec - 1.6 sec of attack (depending on limiter mode) and 4 sec release
Ch.1 tracks Ch. 2, Ch. 2 tracks Ch. 1, or Off
Indicators Front: Power: Green LED; Bridged: Yellow LED; Parallel: Orange LED;
Biamp: Blue LED; Clip: Red LED (1 per ch.); Level -10: Orange LED (1 per ch.);
Level -20: Green LED (1 per ch.); Signal -35: Green LED (1 per ch.)
Rear: Stereo: Green LED; Parallel: Orange LED; Biamp: Blue LED; 2CH mode:
Green LED; Bridged: Yellow LED; DP Pre Processing: Blue LED; DP Out: Green LED;
DP Post Processing: Yellow LED; Gain 26dB: Orange LED;
Input Sensitivity +4dBu: Green LED; Gain 32dB: Yellow LED
Side: LF filter engaged: Green LED (1 per ch.); Power Limiter Activity:
Yellow LED (1 per ch.)
Amplifier Protection Full short circuit, open circuit, thermal, ultrasonic, and RF protection.
Stable into reactive or mismatched loads
Load Protection On/off muting, DC-fault power supply shutdown
Dimensions 19" (48.3 cm) rack mounting, 3.5" (8.9 cm) tall (2 rack spaces),
14" (35.6 cm) deep (from front mounting rails)
Weight 21 lbs (9.5 kg) net, 27 lbs (12.3 kg) shipping
*at 120 VAC, both channels driven; multiply current by 0.5 for 230V units
** Note: 1/8 power is representative of current draw with typical music program material with occasional clipping

All Specification Subject to Change Without Notice.

PowerLight is a registered trademark of QSC Audio Products, LLC
Speakon is a trademark of Neutrik

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