Linea Research XiB4 4-Channel DSP 5000 Watt Amplifier

Linea’s XiB4 is a four-channel amplifier suitable for use anywhere a powerful, clean sounding product with inbuilt DSP is required. Equally at home in portable PA, conferencing and contractor environments the XiB4 is the perfect choice in any application where being tamperproof is important.

Remote operation is possible with Linea’s intuitive Podware PC application over BvNet, our installation friendly network. BvNet is an RS485 based system that allows many XiB4 amplifiers to be ‘daisy chained’ over hundreds of meters using low-cost cables and without the need for network switches etc. Integration with other parts of a system is possible using dimple contact closure ports and Linea offer a range of interface units that allow seamless connection to Ethernet and Dante.

The XiB4 also provides extensive fault and status logging including driver integrity monitoring. These facilities are usually only associated with expensive specialized products and this is the first time that they have been made available as standard features for no additional cost.

The advanced 96kHz DSP is fully integrated into the product and provides an array of unique and genuinely useful features. Because all aspects of the DSP algorithms are designed and hand crafted in house by Linea, they are not available on products from any other manufacturer. For example, LIR linear phase crossover filters which are as easy to use as more conventional filter shapes, and have less latency than FIR filters.

Each of the XiB’s four channels can deliver 1,250 Watts RMS in to 2 Ohms continuously, or up to 2,500 Watts in to 4 Ohms for a bridged pair of channels. Unusually these are not, ‘transient’, ‘burst’ or ‘peak’ power figures, they are the power levels that are delivered by all channels simultaneously even when driven with the same dense program material.

With Linea amplifiers there is no need to ration power between channels, you can use all the power you have paid for all the time.

Linea can do this because state of the art components and a finely optimized design results in an amplifier that is more efficient than competitive products. This efficiency gain directly translates in to the generation of less wasted energy (heat). In addition to reducing energy costs high efficiency results in generous power reserves ensuring that pristine sound quality is maintained even under the most extreme conditions.

Key Features

• Four channels of sonically pure Class D amplification
• Unique, precise, 96kHz digital signal processing
• Over-designed switch mode power supply
• 85V to 240V Auto-sensing PSU
• 5,000 watts RMS total output
• Tamper proof front panel
• USB and BvNet network operation
• Powerful grouping & multi‐layer EQ
• Fully designed and engineered in house by Linea Research
• Manufactured in the UK

Technical Specifications

Number of output channels
Four
Total power output, all channels driven
5,000 Watts RMS
Audio inputs
4x Balanced Analogue
Digital Signal Processing
High performance 96kHz DSP on all inputs and outputs
Control, monitoring and system status
USB and BvNet (optimized RS485)
Contact closure ports for voice recall and system shutdown
Power-save modes
Standby after user defined time with fast wake up on audio detection or from a network command
Power Output
Power specification
RMS output all channels driven with continuous program material and a nominal ambient temperature of 40ºC / 105ºF
Crest Factor of 4 (12dB), 2-Ohm nominal load
1,250W per channel
Crest Factor of 2.8 (9dB), 4-Ohm nominal load
800W per channel
2,500W per bridged pair
Crest Factor of 2 (6dB), 8-Ohm nominal load
450W per channel
1,600W per bridged pair
25V line (CV) operation, Crest Factor 4 (12dB)
625W per channel
70V line* (CV) operation, Crest Factor 4 (12dB)
1,250W per channel *can drive 70V line to -2dB max.
2,500W per bridged pair
100V line* (CV) operation, Crest Factor 4 (12dB)
1,250W per channel *can drive 100V line to -5dB max.
2,500W per bridged pair
Audio Performance
Amplifier topology
Linea Research high performance Class D
Amplifier modulation scheme
Low feedback, multiple loops, with feed-forward error correction
Output noise, ref. maximum amplifier output
Better than 106dBA typical, unmuted
Gain (with all the DSP level controls set to 0dB)
27dB
Frequency response, 4 Ohm load
20Hz to 20kHz, +/-0.5dB
Total harmonic distortion, THD
<0.05% typical, 1kHz signal, AES17 filter, 4 Ohm load
Inter-channel crosstalk, worst case combination
better than -80dBr at 1kHz
Slew rate
>25V per microsecond typical
Damping factor (Ref 8 Ohms)
>100 at amplifier output (see Linea’s “Damping factor debunked” white paper)
Maximum analogue input level
+20dBu
Analogue input sensitivity range for full output
0dBu to +20dBu, continuously adjustable
Analogue input (four channels)
Input 10k Ohm, electronically balanced, link directly connected to input
Analogue ground scheme
AES48 standard compliant
Digital Signal Processing
Resolution
40 bits, using Linea Research proprietary algorithms
Sample rate
96kHz throughout
Input processing, per channel
Input signal routing, Delay, Gain, Phase, Mute
EQ: 4th order HPF, 4th order LPF, 8x Parametric, Low and High shelving filters
Output processing, per channel
Source, Delay, Gain, Phase, Mute, up to 8th order crossover filters, intelligent limiter
EQ: 6x Parametric, Low and High shelving filters
Crossover filter types
Bessel
Butterworth
Linkwitz-Riley
Hardman (Like Linkwitz-Riley but with better out of band rejection)
Pre-set management
4 voice pre-sets per channel pair, selected by contact closure
Power Supply
Topology (main power supply)
Linea Research high efficiency Series Resonant
Nominal mains input voltage range
85V to 240V, Power supply automatically detects voltage and configures accordingly
Mains input frequency range
47Hz to 63Hz
Mains inrush current (max for <10ms)
23A at 115V, 46A at 230V
Protections Systems
Under all circumstances the control and protection systems will endeavor to deliver the maximum power possible for a given set of conditions, applying limiters only in extreme circumstances. Muting will only occur when a dangerous situation is detected, normal operation automatically resuming when the condition clears.
System protection
Speaker protection
Excessive power supply current (per channel pair)
Sonically clean audio limiter
Excessive internal temperature (per channel pair)
DC offset protection
Mains voltage within acceptable limits
Internally stored information
Output current within limits (each channel)
Log of temperature over time
Driver impedance within limits (each channel)
Log of protection gain reduction over time
Power throughput within limits (each channel)
Log of output current over time (each channel)
Switch on mains surge
Power cycle count
An inbuilt notification system is provided to indicate problems to remote devices via the network
Physical
Cooling
Vari-speed fans, back to front airflow
Analogue IN and LINK
4x female and 4x male Neutrik XLR
Amplifiers output
4x Neutrik Speakon NL4 connectors
Mains input
Neutrik 20A Powercon
USB
Standard USB ‘B’
Network (BvNet)
RJ45 in with RJ45 daisy chain link
Contact closure and shutdown inputs
RJ45 in with RJ45 daisy chain link
LED indicators
Bright, easily differentiated
Operating temperature range and humidity
0 to +40ºC, (+32 to +105ºF) 0 to 80% RH (non-condensing)
Enclosure
Standard 19” 2U (88mm), 360mm (14”) deep (from rear panel to front rack support)
Optional accessories
Rear rack support kit
Net Weight
9.5kg (20 pounds).