Performance Series
Product Info

Go For the Best
Since 1971, BGW has been dedicated to excellence in professional audio amplifier design. Since Universal's Sensurround and the disco craze, the tradition has been to offer the best possible reliability and sound quality - a true "engineer's amplifier."

BGW products are widely accepted and used by sound professionals throughout the world. BGW amplifiers are working day and night in studios from Abbey Road to Warner Brothers. BGW's are in other critical installations such as: Universal Studios, Disney World, the Lincoln Center, the Los Angeles International Airport, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Mirage and Excalibur Hotels, the White House Rose Garden... In fact, BGW has even powered the Pope!

In direct response to customers' desires, the BGW design team has developed the Performance Series, continuing the tradition of excellence while incorporating the latest manufacturing technology. The result:

• Construction which is compact, durable and modular for great reliability in portable and installed applications
• Affordability... all the quality BGW users have come to expect, without the premium price tag
• Exceptional audio performance suitable for the most demanding studio applications
• Impressive, user oriented features

World Class Sound
To achieve remarkable sound quality, the Performance Series utilizes a wide bandwidth (175kHz) class AB output circuit with very low bias and feedback. This approach yields outstanding accuracy and detail which everyone can appreciate.

Despite its compact size (2U), the Performance Series features conventional power supplies, which are free of switching distortion associated with multi-stage circuits used in other compact amplifiers.

In keeping with BGW traditions, a generous array of low profile power supply capacitors provide an uncommonly high amount of stored energy. Having this stored energy just millimeters away from the output terminals allows for incredible transient response and speaker motion control.

Welded Steel Construction
The unique welded steel chassis provides a single rigid frame onto which all components are mounted. The recessed front panel protects the controls, switches and indicators from abuse, while providing adequate cool air intake. The front panel handles are reversible, allowing for easy grip or flush rack mount installation.

All Performance Series amplifiers are compact 2U (3.5") high designs. The PS3 includes rear support brackets for mobile applications. Each PS model shares the same attractive appearance, with a different color accent on its nameplate for easy model identification.

Advanced Thermal Engineering
A massive black-anodized custom heat sink extrusion, with half inch-thick base, serves as a mounting surface for the power transistors and output circuit board. The entire heat sink assembly can be replaced in minutes allowing quick service, if required.

Dual speed forced air cooling is employed in all Perfomance Series amplifiers. Cool air is drawn in through the slots in the front of the chassis. In the all Performance Series models, the fan forces the incoming cool air into the center of the heat sink fins. The heat is forced out the sides and back of the chassis. The large heavy fins on Performance Series heat sinks do not require filters, eliminating frequent filter service required in other designs.

Features Professionals Require
There is a base set of features, without which no amplifier should be called "professional." Each Performance Series amplifier includes active balanced inputs on both XLR and 1/4" TRS phone jacks, ground lift, gold plated five-way binding post outputs and LED indicators for Power, Signal Presence and Clipping/Limiting.

On the higher-powered PS3, a switchable clipping eliminator is included. This advanced optocoupled circuit provides up to 20dB of limiting to keep upstream errors and overambitious operators from damaging precious speaker systems.

Power for Today's Systems
To suit the needs of today's power hungry systems, the Performance Series offers a wide choice of power levels. The model number indicates each channel's approximate wide band FTC power output when operated in dual channel mode with 8 ohm loads. All Performance Series Amplifiers deliver 50% more power into 4 ohm loads. In addition, the PS3 is designed to drive 2 ohm loads under most conditions.

Inside each Performance Series amplifier, the channels are driven out of polarity. This unique approach achieves an additional 10% headroom by utilizing 100% of the power supply's stored energy at all times. Conventional designs rarely use more than 50%.

Built-In Reliability
Generous safe operating area is a strong BGW tradition. While increasing safe operating area requires a greater number of costly output devices, the benefits are worth it: less temperature rise and load on each power transistor, increased reliability and longer life.

The Performance Series uses power transistor technology designed specifically for professional audio. These 200 watt transistors (150 watt in PS1 and PS2) offer greater safe operating area than previously available.

Conservative Design
Only the highest quality components are selected for use in the BGW Performance Series Amplifiers.

BGW Performance Series Models use transformers rated up to 180 degrees C. Most competitors' amplifiers use common 110 degrees C rated transformers in their designs. These advanced high-temp, high current transformers save size and weight and improve long term reliability.

All circuit boards are double-sided FR-4 flame retardant glass epoxy, using plated through-holes.

Before passing Quality Assurance, each BGW amplifier must survive a grueling battery of performance tests, including a shaker table test. Each amp is shipped complete with its individualized performance evaluation. It is common on these reports to see measured power output well in excess of the amp's rating.

Each BGW Performance Series amplifier is covered by a three year parts and labor warranty.

You Deserve a Great Performance
No matter what your application, if your performance is critical, then you deserve BGW Performance Series Power. No other manufacturer gives you as much amplifier for the money as BGW... relied upon throughout the world.

BGW... 30 Years of Innovation.

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