ABOUT FCBS
FCBS is short for Floating Control Bus System. It is a communication system that connects up to four PM-15S1s over a dedicated bus line so as to enable synchronized operations amongst them via 2-way data communications.
The FCBS connections can be made with either of the below two types of portable audio connection cable. Prepare the number of connection cables for the number of PM-15S1s to connect.
•Connection cable with monaural ⇔ monaural miniplugs
•Connection cable with stereo ⇔ stereo miniplugs
Resistor connection cables are sold commercially, but they cannot be used with the PM-15S1.
The below figure is an example of four PM-15S1s connected by FCBS. The top PM-15S1 is the master unit of ID 1 and controls the three slave units of IDs 2 - 4. When the master PM-15S1 is operated, the input source, volume level, ATT feature, display and tone control ON/OFF feature of slave PM- 15S1s are interlocked to the master unit.
This function can be applied to various usages such as complete-bi-amp with 2 PM-15S1s, and 5.1ch multi-channel with 3 PM-15S1s.
To turn power to multiple FCBS-connected PM-15S1s ON/ OFF, activate power in the order of lowest to highest ID number and deactivate power in order of highest to lowest ID number.
Master PM-15S1
... ID 1
Slave PM-15S1
... ID 2
FCBS CONNECTION WITH A PM-11S1
The PM-15S1 can be made into a multiple channel system by connecting to the high end PM-11S1 over a FCBS connection. However, because the PM-11S1 is more sophisticated than the PM-15S1, observe the following conditions in completing the FCBS connection between a PM-15S1 and a PM-11S1.
•Only one PM-11S1 may be used, whereas up to a maximum of three PM-15S1s can be connected.
•The one PM-11S1 must be the master unit of ID 1, while the PM-15S1s must be slave units with an ID of 2 to 4.
For a connection example, see Connection Example 2 on pg.
6.In that example, the PM-15S1 used for the front left and right channels is replaced with a PM-11S1, so improved sound quality can be expected from the front channels. (See also the instruction manual of the PM-11S1.) That same example is for a 5.1 channel system, but to use the system as a 2-channel stereo, turn OFF power to the PM-15S1s of IDs 2 and 3. As such, the PM-11S1 can be used on its own.
ABOUT THE BI-AMP MODE
The PM-15S1 is equipped with a bi-amp mode to enable a complete bi-amp connection using two PM-15S1s. This complete bi-amp connection is a high-end technique for enhancing sound quality, proposed by Marantz. With it, the bi- amp supporting speaker system is separated from the preamplifiers that separately drive the low and high speakers. (For more information, see Connection Example 3 on pg. 7.)
The bi-amp mode is engaged by setting the operating mode switch on the rear panel to “BI-AMP”.
In the bi-amp mode, the signals input to the L channel are passed through the input buffer amplifier, split by the input selector and transferred to the left and right volume amplifiers. After that, the signals are sequentially sent to the left and right voltage amplifiers and the left and right power amplifiers, and ultimately output to the speaker output terminals.
The below figure shows example displays in the stereo and bi-map modes.
