Crown's dynamic Digital Signal Processing capabilities provide a powerful tool enabling sonically pure signal processing.

After taking what we learned over the last five years from putting tens of thousands of amps in operation all over the globe, along with listening to what you said would benefit you and building on the groundbreaking technology of the I-Tech, we partnered with one of the legendary names in signal processing: BSS. Out of this partnership comes a completely redesigned and upgraded Digital Signal Processing engine, four times faster than before — the OMNIDRIVEHD.

A name you remember, recognize and respect, OMNIDRIVEHD was created by many of the same engineers that gave you the original OmniDrive series. Now it's better than ever — the I-Tech HD gives you the processing power you previously could find only in a stand-alone processor.

We've also made it easier to set up, with custom settings and factory-designed tunings easily loaded and recalled via onboard presets.

So, let's take a look at what makes it work so effectively.

We start with the latest Sharc® processor, a programmable 32-bit processor that employs an enhanced SIMD architecture that extends CPU performance to 400 MHz/2400 MFLOPs, while integrating a variety of memory configurations and audio-centric peripherals.

Next comes the Cirrus Logic 24-bit / 96-kHz Delta-Sigma converter. This gives the I-Tech HD a conversion system that includes digital interpolation, fourth-order delta-sigma digital-to-analog conversion, digital de-emphasis and analog filtering. It also provides a high tolerance to clock jitter.

And, with its delta-sigma modulation, it avoids the limitations of other digital-to-analog converter architectures by using an inherently linear 1-bit digital-to-analog converter. The advantages of this include ideal differential linearity, no distortion mechanisms due to resistor matching errors, and no linearity drift over time and temperature due to variations in resistor values.

We also have our proprietary balanced Sallen-Key 3rd-order D/A output filter, tightly coupled to the Class-I output stage for improved signal-to-noise, making it at least 6 dB quieter than using outboard DSP.

Crown OMNIDRIVEHD Digital Signal Processing:

• Latest programmable 32-bit Sharc® digital processors by Analog Devices
  • Employs enhanced SIMD architecture, extending CPU performance to 400 MHz/2400 MFLOPs
    
  • Integrates variety of ROM memory configurations and audio-centric peripherals
    
• Cirrus Logic 24-bit / 96-kHz Delta-Sigma converters
  
  • Includes digital interpolation, fourth-order delta-sigma digital-to-analog conversion, digital de-emphasis and analog filtering
    
  • Provides a high tolerance to clock jitter
    
• Proprietary balanced Sallen and Key 3rd-order D/A output filter
  
  • Tightly coupled to Class-I output stage for improved signal-to-noise — at least 6 dB quieter than using outboard DSP
  
  
  

The new BSS OMNIDRIVEHD processing offers you all of the original IIR filters that made the original I-Tech so successful, and that provide you with exceptional speaker tuning and processing capabilities. Plus, the OmniDrive HD adds a completely new, audibly superior FIR filter set.

Though other manufacturers offer FIR linear phase filters, none approach the performance of the OMNIDRIVEHD filters co-developed by BSS and Crown. With more than 10dB of additional stop band attenuation, OMNIDRIVEHD provides linear-phase crossovers with greatly improved clarity over older designs. The linear-phase crossovers also let through more of what you want and stop more of what you don't by producing a brick wall filter with no phase anomalies.

I-Tech HD's High Performance Filters:

• IIR filters — A Crown staple providing superb speaker tuning and processing capabilities
  
• FIR filters:
  • Completely new and audibly superior
  • More than 10dB of additional stop band attenuation with greatly improved clarity
  • Provide signal processing and linear-phase crossovers using internal DSP, not external
  • Give you a "brick wall" filter with no phase anomalies

Co-developed with JBL and BSS, the LevelMax™ limiters in the I-Tech HD combine all the latest knowledge about limiter design into an ultra-high-performance, integrated package.

Our Peak Voltage, RMS and Thermal Limiters help provide better power and performance in the I-Tech HD. Our limiters always functioned superbly — and the engineers at Crown, BSS, and JBL figured out how to make them even better. For example, to prevent the output from overshooting the established limit, we put our extremely precise Peak Voltage limiter inside the amp.

The Thermal Limiter also helps provide greater control over the amp's power because it allows users to safely drive the amplifier to full output while assuring them that the amplifier won't shut down.

Plus, in another industry first, we coordinated the Peak, RMS and Thermal Limiters so each one will automatically adjust its behavior based on what another limiter is doing, guaranteeing smooth and accurate response, along with peak SPL without any damage to the loudspeakers.

When combined together, LevelMax™ limiters will easily allow more real-world SPL, while still protecting your loudspeaker investment. And, you can only get them in one place: the I-Tech HD.

LevelMax™ Limiters:

• Provide more SPL while still protecting your loudspeaker investment
  
• Putting Peak Voltage limiter inside amp prevents output from overshooting established limit
  
• Thermal Limiter helps provide greater control over the amp's power:
  • Allows you to safely drive the amplifier to full output
  • Assures your amplifier won't shut down
    
• An industry first: Peak, RMS and Thermal Limiters automatically adjust behavior based on what another limiter is doing:
  • Guarantees smooth and accurate response
  • Provides peak SPL without damage to loudspeakers

Use your laptop to create pre-sets and load them on the USB drive and then, while setting up your racks, just plug in your USB drive. I-Tech HD asks if you want them all, you click "Yes" and you're done. Then, plug into amp No. 2 and literally tell it to be just like amp No 1. And, you only have to use your computer once to create the pre-set files.

You can store only the pre-sets you need on your USB drive and color-code them, and then reconfiguring the racks just got a whole lot easier.

USB Port:

• Reduces 10-minute job per rack to two minutes or less
  
• Uses laptop to create pre-sets
  
• Loads on USB drive
  
• During rack setup, plug in USB drive
  
• I-Tech HD asks if you want them all — click "Yes" and you're done
  
• Plugs into amp No. 2 and literally tell it to be just like amp No. 1
  
• Uses computer once to create the pre-set files

I-Tech HD represents the versatility you expect from Crown, and here's an example: It's the only amp with AES/EBU, CobraNet and analog inputs standard. That gives you three ways to run audio into the amp — an analog audio format and two digital audio formats. This provides you with your choice of today's most widely accepted digital audio formats so you get exceptional audio quality.

The AES/EBU digital audio format lets you control amps on two separate networks, while we completely redesigned the analog input section to provide even better noise and distortion performance.

I-Tech HD Inputs:

• AES/EBU, CobraNet and analog inputs standard
  
• Three ways to run audio through the amp:
  
  • AES/EBU: control amp through software on two separate networks/wires
    
  • CobraNet: control amp on one network/wire
    
    • Delivers audio via Ethernet
      
  • Analog input completely redesigned to provide even better noise and distortion performance
    
• Crown is the only company providing all three inputs

Being versatile means the I-Tech HD gives you a lot of operating freedom — especially with the HiQnet™ protocol, the most successful audio monitoring system ever put into action. With thousands of amplifiers and networks in operation around the world, no one else offers you this kind of networking freedom.

Plus, it's extremely fast, reliable and scalable, so you can add a multitude of devices without slowing it down one bit.

Because HiQnet™ uses real Ethernet hardware, it allows the I-Tech HD to be Internet-compatible. This capability is standard, and means you can easily connect an I-Tech HD to a wireless router and control your system with a laptop or tablet without using any custom hardware or protocols. You could even monitor it from across town or across the world.

Anyone can put an RJ45 jack on an amp — only Crown can offer you this level of monitoring capability.

I-Tech HD Ethernet Connection:

• Features the HiQnet™ protocol, the most successful audio monitoring system ever used
  
• Plug I-Tech HD into any Ethernet connection anywhere in the world
  
• Provides freedom to go anywhere and still monitor amps
  
• Fast, reliable and scalable
  
• Allows Internet-compatibility
  
  • Connect an I-Tech HD to a wireless router
    
  • Control system with laptop or tablet without custom hardware or protocols

Crown Patents:

• Over 50 patents — far more than all other amplifier manufacturers combined
  
• I-Tech HD amp has five patents on technology
  
• Three patents just on power supply

The versatility of our System Architect software is one of the many reasons the I-Tech HD is so easy to program, set up and use.

Listening to our customers helped us develop a new, streamlined graphic user interface that allows you to see only what you intend to use and control, which makes operation and setup when going from show to show simpler than ever. It includes a configuration wizard that speeds up system setup, pre-set manager and features that make system-level changes fast and easy.

For example, once everything is connected, reprogramming all the amps at each setup is a quick matter of pulling up the control panel, and then clicking "Apply to Others." Choose which other amps in the system need the same configuration and you're done.

You'll also find an intuitive interface for filters, which are now assigned into logical blocks for Input System EQ, Input User EQ and Loudspeaker Processing. This makes it very easy to take care of input processing and speaker processing separately.

Our System Architect software enables I-Tech HD amps to operate on a system level, instead of as separate pieces.

Versatility of Crown System Architect software:

• Enables I-Tech HD to operate on a system level instead of as separate pieces
  
• Makes amp easy to program, set up and use and includes:
  
  • Configuration wizard for faster system setup
    
  • Pre-set manager
    
• New, streamlined graphic user interface
  
  • Lets you see only what you intend to use and control
    
• Intuitive interface for filters
  
  • Easier to take care of input processing and speaker processing separately
    
• Makes operation and setup simpler than ever
  
• Makes system-level changes fast and easy

Versatility of Crown System Architect software:

• Intuitive interface for filters
  
  • Easier to take care of input processing and speaker processing separately
    
• Makes operation and setup simpler than ever
  
• Makes system-level changes fast and easy

Another versatile aspect of the I-Tech HD — it offers you a true global power supply. That's because you can plug it in literally anywhere in the world and get a guaranteed level of performance. With Crown's innovative Power Factor Correction technology, the I-Tech HD adjusts to any main's voltage or frequency in a controlled and efficient manner — and in real time — so you can use it in any location with far less hassle.

It's also a switching power supply, helping reduce the I-Tech HD's weight — another area where Crown excels in making your life easier when moving amps from location to location.

Global Power Supply:

• Plug in anywhere in the world
  
• Receive guaranteed level of performance
  
• Innovative Power Factor Correction technology
  
  • Enables real-time adjustment to any main's voltage or frequency in controlled and efficient manner
    
• Use I-Tech HD in any location with far less hassle
  
• Switching power supply helps reduce I-Tech HD's weight

The I-Tech HD is versatile because it represents a huge step forward in amplifier capability, and one of the ways it represents that capability is its full backward compatibility.

That's because the touch of a button in System Architect allows it to work with our previous I-Tech amplifiers. That means the I-Tech HD amp will work seamlessly with your existing I-Tech inventory, helping you save money while pairing up the powerful technology of both the I-Tech and I-Tech HD amps.

I-Tech HD Full Backward Compatibility:

• Select button in System Architect
  
• Works with previous I-Tech amplifiers
  
• Seamless operation with existing I-Tech inventory

For power and performance, we have our own cutting-edge, multi-patented Class-I technology — now in its fifth generation.

It gives you a switching power amp design that's completely original, providing you with greater fidelity at high and low power levels, more efficiency because it produces less waste heat, and more reliability because it's not subjected to excessive heat or stressed to its limits.

Class-I gives you enormous advantages during an event. For starters, you'll have access to full rail voltage all the time. There's no need for a complicated power supply with multiple tiers, so you'll always have power on demand and better fidelity at high and low power levels.

The I-Tech HD also greatly extends the V-I Plane boundaries, which means it can drive speaker loads no other amplifier can. The expanded Voltage and Current capability also means more real power is delivered to your load, regardless of impedance. And damaging flyback events don't occur, since I-Tech HD doesn't require the crude protection methods of yesterday's technology.

And for an amp that generates enormous power, the I-Tech HD is extremely energy-efficient. It recycles the reactive energy generated by the speakers, so it keeps the amp cooler and doesn't generate waste heat, plus the reactive energy is stored until it's needed as power. And, better efficiency means it has smaller heat sinks, so the amp doesn't weigh as much, either.

Our Class-I technology in the I-Tech HD processes twice the amount of information as other switching amps, removes more distortion by processing audio at twice the sample rate, and makes twice as many decisions as other amps to keep performance at its optimum.

Crown Class-I Technology:

• Cutting-edge, multi-patented technology now in its fifth generation
  
• Provides greater fidelity at high and low power levels
  
• More efficient because it produces less waste heat
  
• More reliable because it's not subjected to excessive heat or stressed to its limits

Crown Class-I Technology:

Multiple advantages include:

• Access to full rail voltage all the time
  
• No need for a complicated power supply with multiple tiers
  
• Power always on demand
  
• Better fidelity at high and low power levels.
  
  

Greatly extends V-I Plane boundaries:

• Drive speaker loads no other amplifier can
  
• More real power is delivered to load, regardless of impedance
  
• No damaging flyback events — I-Tech HD doesn't require the crude protection methods of yesterday's technology

Crown Class-I Technology:

Energy-efficient:

• Recycles reactive energy generated by the speakers
  
• Keeps amp cooler and doesn't generate waste heat
  
• Stores reactive energy until it's needed as power
  
• Better efficiency means smaller heat sinks, reducing amp weight
  
  

Class-I technology is twice as good:

• Processes twice the amount of information as other switching amps
  
• Removes more distortion by processing audio at twice the sample rate
  
• Makes twice as many decisions as other amps for optimum performance

Power is of utmost importance — and so is quality. To ensure reliability and performance, we take the time in our production facilities to test and grade all components, and then use graded and matched components in critical-to-performance areas of design.

Graded Components:

• All components tested and graded at production facilities
  
• Amps use only graded and matched components
  
• Ensures reliability and performance

One of the many innovative ways Crown ensures the I-Tech HD provides you with optimal performance is through sweep load monitoring, or SLM.

SLM is a system-level diagnostic tool that lets you quickly and easily see if all the speakers are ready to go by showing you a plot of impedance v. frequency for each speaker connected to each amplifier channel. It also stores reference curves that can be recalled later for comparison.

Sweep Load Monitoring:

• System-level diagnostic tool
  
• Quickly and easily indicates if all speakers are ready
  
• Shows a plot of impedance v. frequency for each speaker connected to each amplifier channel
  
• Stores reference curves that can be recalled later for comparison
  
• Helps ensure optimal performance

The I-Tech HD provides incredible performance, and Crown backs up that performance with our guaranteed warranty — the best in the industry.

You'll see that we show an extensive, thorough list of specifications on our spec sheets, and our guaranteed 3-Year No-Fault Warranty covers every single one of them. Plus, that warranty transfers for three years as well.

This means if something isn't quite right, no matter what it is, Crown will fix it. Our global network of support and service centers will get you back in the game — fast.

Crown 3-Year No-Fault Guaranteed Warranty:

• Covers all specifications on Crown spec sheets
  
• Transfers for three years
  
• If something doesn't work, Crown will fix it
  
• Global network of support and service centers