A470170 - Car stereo Axton - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL A470170 Axton

Introduction. Page 16

A General Features. 16
B Connections & Controls A470-170 17-18
C Amplifier Location & Mounting 19
D Wiring Tips. 19-20
E Connecting the A470-170 21
F Controls and Adjustments. 22-24
G Troubleshooting. 25
H Specifications 26
Warranty Certificate 38

Index

Introduction. Page 28

Satelliten (Front+Rear) an 2 Ohm (2 x stereo) 4 x 70 W

Subwoofer (mono) an 2 Ohm 1 × 220 W RMS

Frequenzgang (Sub+Front+Rear) 10 - 30.000 Hz

Thank you for purchasing this AXTON quality audio component.

The AXTON amplifier series has been developed for the use with mobile sound systems using 12 Volts negative chassis ground power supply. The amplifiers may be used in combination with almost any brand and type of head unit and speakers in cars, vans, boats etc. and when installed correctly, AXTON amps will produce exceptional results. In order to familiarize yourself with all the special features and controlling options of your brandnew power amplifier, we advise you to read these instructions carefully before attempting the actual installation.

Should you have any difficulty in installing this amplifier in your vehicle, please contact your nearest AXTON dealer.

GENERAL FEATURES AXTON A470-170

5-Channel amplifier for powering a complete car audio speaker system with front and rear satellites plus subwoofer
PWM MOSFET high efficiency switching power supply
A/B amplification technology with dedicated BJT transistors (Bipolar Junction Transistors)
Discrete solid state layout
3 pairs of RCA inputs (Front, Rear, Sub)
Integrated active high-/low pass filtering with 12 dB/oct. cutting slope
Subsonicfilter for channel 5CH 20 - 50Hz with 12dB/oct.
Crossover frequencies independently adjustable for front and rear satellites and subwoofer channel from 40 - 240Hz
Soft start and turn-off delay circuit
Automatic on/off via remote switching from head-units.
Protection circuitry against D.C. offset and shortcircuits at speaker outputs as well as amplifier overload or overheat
Input level/gain adjustable from 0.2 to 9V

Connections & Controls

REAR-PANEL AXTON A470-170

B CONNECTIONS AND CONTROLS A470-170

① GROUND/GND Power connection terminal to chassis ground or negative terminal of car battery (-12 V).
② REMOTE/REM Remote switching contact for the automatic (remote) turn-on/turn-off of the power amplifier from the head-unit's remote (or antenna control) lead.
③ +12V Power connection terminal to positive terminal of car battery.
④ FUSE Fuses for protection of the amplifier-internal electronics against over-load or faulty operation/wrong manipulation.
⑤ L und R (3CH/4CH) Speaker output terminals for channels 3 + 4 ; i.e. one stereo speaker pair in fullrange mode or one single speaker connected in lowpass mode connected in bridged mode (eg. subwoofer). Minimum impedance in bridged mode is 2 ohms!
L und (1CH / 2CH) Speaker output terminals for channels 1 + 2 ; i.e. one stereo speaker pair in fullrange or highpass mode (e.g. subwoofer).
L und (5 CH) Speaker output terminals for subwoofer (2 ohms min. impedance).
⑧ PROTECT LED Lit red when amplifier is in protect mode due to shorted speakers, overtemperature etc.
⑨ POWER LED Amplifier status-LED - located on the side of the amplifier - signalling normal operation - when lit green.
10 AMPLIFICATION MODE SWITCH (5 CH)Depending on the selected switch setting the amplifier for channel 5 operates in Fullrange or Lowpass mode.
LOWPASS FREQ. (5 CH) Crossover filter frequency control for channel 5 allowing the setting of the respective lowpass cutoff frequency between 40 and 240Hz .

SUBSONICFILTER (5 CH) The subsonic filter of the sub channel, adjustable from 20 - 50Hz .
3 INPUT GAIN (5CH) Separate input gain/sensitivity controls for channel 5.
LOWPASS FREQ. (3CH/4 CH) Crossover filter frequency control for channels 3 + 4 allowing the setting of the respective lowpass cutoff frequency between 40 and 240Hz .
15 AMPLIFICATION MODE SWITCH (3CH/4CH) Depending on the selected switch setting the amplifier for channels 3 + 4 operates in Fullrange, Highpass or Lowpass mode.
16 HIGHPASS FREQ. (3CH/4CH) Crossover filter frequency control for channels 3 + 4 allowing the setting of the respective highpass cut-in frequency between 40 and 240Hz
17 INPUT GAIN (3CH/4CH) Separate input gain/sensitivity controls for channels 1 + 2
18 HIGHPASS FREQ. (1CH/2 CH) Crossover filter frequency control for channels 1 + 2 allowing the setting of the respective highpass cut-in frequency between 40 and 240Hz
19 AMPLIFICATION MODE SWITCH (1CH/2 CH) Depending on the selected switch setting the amplifier for channels 1 + 2 operates in Fullrange or Highpass mode.
20 INPUT GAIN (1CH/2 CH) Separate input gain/sensitivity controls for channels 1 + 2
INPUT (5CH) Low-level RCA signal input for connection to head-unit (Sub) pre-out.
INPUT L+R (3CH/4 CH) Low-level RCA signal input for connection to head-unit (Front) pre-out.
23 INPUT L+R (1CH/2CH) Low-level RCA signal input for connection to head-unit (Rear) pre-out.

AMPLIFIER LOCATION & MOUNTING

1 The mounting location of the power amplifier will have a large effect both on its ability to dissipate the heat generated during normal operation through the heat sink and on the possible triggering of its internal overheat protection shut-off circuit. Any mounting position allowing for a good air stream across the cooling fins of the amplifiers heatsink will improve cooling and long-term stability dramatically.
Therefore select a suitable location that is convenient for mounting and accessible for wiring and offers sufficient ventilation for cooling. As your amplifier features no controls for normal operation, it may be mounted away from the dashboard, i.e. under a car seat or in the trunk. However, make sure the unit is not exposed to excessive dust, direct sunlight, humidity, water, oil or other fluids that may enter the amplifier.
The amplifier should be mounted to a solid surface that will ensure a vibration-free mount. Once the location is selected, use the unit as a template for the marking of the mounting holes which should also be pilot-drilled before mounting of the amp is carried out.
3 Secure the amplifier using the four screws. Avoid to let the amplifier get into contact with metal parts of the vehicle. This helps to prevent unwanted ground loops.

WIRING TIPS

Please note: wrong power or signal connections may damage the amplifier and other components connected to it. Therefore, please read this manual carefully before the connection of any power, signal and speaker leads is done.

The wire routing is critical for noise-free performance. For best results, please follow the general wiring guidelines listed below (for details see section B, E, F and G of this manual).

1 For audio signal connections you should always use double or triple shielded quality RCA cables.
2 Signal, speaker and power cables should always be kept as short as possible:

Speaker and power cables may be cut to fit the actual length required.
Shielded RCA/signal cables should never be cut and replaced, as they will loose their protective shielding effect at those points where they have been cut. If the signal cable is too long, make an S-type loop (never a coil loop) in the centre of the cable to take-up the excess length.

3 Never route any low level/signal cable near or parallel to speaker outputs/speaker cables, amplifier power cables or high energy ignition wires.
Use power cable with the recommended cross section (see section E). Small cross sections are reducing the output power, are causing distortions and may be triggering the overheat protection of the amplifier.

5 Make sure you are using a main fuse protection for the +12V power input of the amplifier within max. 30~cm of the car battery and power cables with an amperage adequate cross-section and main fuse (for details see section E: „Connecting").
6 The GROUND/GND cable (-12V) should have the same cross-section as the +12V power cable. Make sure to get a good chassis ground contact, because poor ground contacts are the cause for most power problems with car audio installations.
7 Make sure no power, signal or speaker lines are shorting to chassis ground by using rubber grommets wherever a cable has to pass through any metal part of the vehicle.

Important: Before any wiring, always remove the -12V terminal of the battery to prevent short-circuiting. The last lead to be connected in every installation is always the -12 Volt terminal of the battery. Connect this lead only after having completed and checked all other connections.

CONNECTING A470-170

IMPORTANT: DISCONNECT THE -12V MAIN POWER CABLE FROM YOUR CAR BATTERY BEFORE ANY CONNECTING WORK IS CARRIED OUT!

Recommended Power Cable Cross-Sections and Main Fuse Values (for +12V and Ground cable based on 5m +12 V cable) Model Cross-Section Main Fuse A470-170 20mm^2 60A

It is recommended to connect your amplifier in the following sequence:

1 Make sure your head-unit is turned off and the volume control is in its minimum position.
2 RCA outputs of your head-unit to respective RCA inputs of your amplifier. Sub pre-outs from head-unit should be fullrange signals because lowpass pre-out signals always affect the filtering electronics of amplifier! In case of doubt just 'double' a fullrange front or rear preout by using Y-adaptors.

Remote lead connection from head-unit to amplifier.
4 Speaker cables to respective speakers or passive crossovers. Make sure to maintain polarity! "⊕" to "⊕" and "Θ" to "Θ".

For Mono 1-channel mode use of 4 / 2 -channel models, connect the two terminals and marked with BRIDGE!

Min. impedance for bridged mode is 4 Ohms!

Ground connection to chassis ground or -12 V negative battery pole. If possible keep ground cable as short as possible and make sure the chassis contact is well sanded, i.e. clean from any paint, rust or dirt for maximum contact.
6 +12 V power connection to positive battery pole. Do not forget to install a main fuse within 30 cm of car battery (fire hazard)!!!

Do not connect +12V cable to battery before re-checking every other connection on the amplifier!

Turn-on your head-unit keeping your volume at the lowest setting. The green status LED on front of the amplifier heat sink should light up now. If not, turn-off your head-unit and re-check all wiring to and from the amplifier for missing or faulty connections.

CONTROLS & ADJUSTMENTS

A470-170 5-Channel System Amplifier

The AXTON A470-170 is a powerful 5-channel system amplifier. One single A470-170 allows for an easy-to-install, speaker-dedicated amplification of a complete 5-channel speaker system, i.e. with two stereo pairs of independently controlled satellite speakers (front and rear) and one mono subwoofer.

The integrated, separately adjustable HIGHPASS and LOWPASS crossover filters of the A470-170 enable you to drive the connected speakers in the specific frequency range where they will perform best.

Dashboard, door and rear shelf speakers of 10-16cm diameter will never have a good low-end bass reproduction anyway. Therefore the A470- 170 front and rear satellite channels will only be playing in the midbass and mid/high frequency range. This so-called highpass filtered or HPF amplification mode also puts less electrical and mechanical ,strain' on the speaker units, resulting in an increased power handling capacity. The subwoofer output will only receive lowpass filtered (LPF) signals resulting in the subwoofer only playing in the low-end bass frequency range without any unwanted, booming' into the mid/high frequencies.

CROSSOVER FREQUENCY SETTINGS HIGHPASS FRONT & REAR, LOWPASS SUB

Before you can effect the respective input sensitivity or gain LEVELs you first have to select the system appropriate crossover frequencies. For best results all crossover adjustments should usually be effected by ear.

For appropriate crossover frequency selection, all tone controls (Bass, Mid, Treble, Sub) and all fader and balance controls etc. on the head unit have to be brought to their neutral or center position! The "Loudness" function should also be deactivated.

Depending on the actual cone surface area, voice-coil diameter and the rated power handling of the ,satellites' it is recommended to set the high-pass crossover / cut-in frequency between 40 and 240Hz

If the satellite highpass frequency is set too low, the mid-bass reproduction will be increased, but at the same time the power handling capacity of the satellites will decrease. If the highpass frequency is set too high, the mid-bass reproduction will become, thinner' while the power-handling capacity of the satellites will increase.

As a general guideline, below you find a practice-proven list for appropriate satellite HPF crossover / cut-in frequencies covering the most widely used dashboard, door and rear-shelf speaker diameters:

Front Satellite Speakers HIGHPASS FREQ.

10 cm Coaxials or 2-Way Compos 90-120 Hz
13 cm Coaxials or 2-Way Compos 80-100 Hz
16 cm Coaxials or 2/3-Way Compos 70 - 80 Hz

Rear Satellite Speakers HIGHPASS FREQ.

10 cm Coaxials or 2-Way Compos 100-150 Hz
13 cm Coaxials or 2-Way Compos 120-130 Hz
16 cm Coaxials or 2/3-Way Compos 100-130 Hz

Satellite rule 1 The better sounding satellite system should always be installed in the front of the vehicle.

Satellite rule 2 Based on identical speaker diameters and quality of the front and rear satellites, the crossover cut-in frequency of the front satellites should usually be set lower than the highpass frequency of the rear satellites.

The LPF / LOWPASS SUB cut-off frequency for the subwoofer should usually be set in between 50 and 90Hz . Adjust the LOWPASS SUB control in such a way that the bass reproduction will be precise and rich, while still delivering a good and solid low-end bass.

Subwoofer Generally, setting the LPF lowpass cut-off guideline 1 frequency too low will result in a weak and uncontoured bass response. Setting the LPF control too high tends to give the subwoofer a,booming' sound.

Subwoofer The subsonic filter helps to prevent smaller guideline 2 subwoofoers from being mechanically overdriven at high playback levels (i.e. 8^ and 10^ models). The correct subsonic frequency setting has to be determined empirically. If your subwoofer has sufficient power handling (30cm model), you can set the pot to its 20Hz position.

High- & lowpass When selecting the high- and lowpass frequencies system tip of a sound system, it can be advantageous to leave a gap between the subwoofer LPF cut-off frequency and the satellite HPF cut-in frequencies.

2 Sensitivity Adjustments and System Matching GAIN FRONT, REAR and SUB

To reach a maximum of dynamic response from your individual head unit / amplifier / speaker combination, it is important to set the respective input sensitivity controls (LEVEL) correctly. On the one hand the sensitivity determines the actual signal-to-noise ratio. On the other hand the sensitivity also controls the maximum distortion-free sound pressure level (SPL) possible with your specific car audio system.

It is recommended to effect the sensitivity adjustments and system GAIN matching in the same sequence as listed below:

7 Set all tone controls (Bass, Mid, Treble, Sub) on the head-unit as well as all fader and balance controls to neutral. The „Loudness" option should be in the „Off" position, too.
Set all 3 GAIN controls of the A470-170 to their lowest position.
Turn-on your head-unit and turn-up the volume control to approximately 3/4 of full volume and start playing a well recorded, dynamic piece of music.
Slowly turn up the GAIN control of 5CH until you can just hear distorted bass sounds. Slowly decrease the GAIN SUB control to the point where the distortions have disappeared.
Now you reduce the main volume level on the head-unit to a medium listening level.
Start turning up the FRONT GAIN control (1CH/2CH) clockwise until you have reached a good tonal balance between the front satellites and the subwoofer. A slight attenuation of the bass range should be preferred, as this will be compensated by normal driving noises.

Start turning up the REAR GAIN control (3CH/4CH) clockwise until you feel to you have reached an appropriate, rear fill in the back of the car, so that the overall in-car sound becomes smooth and balanced.
Finally, you may want to do some fine-tuning on the different highpass and lowpass frequencies selected. It is recommended to start fine-tuning with the subwoofer (LOWPASS SUB) frequency. Proceed - if necessary - with the front satellites (HIGH-PASS FRONT) and finish the frequency adjustments with the rear satellites (HIGHPASS REAR).

IMPORTANT: All advice on controls and adjustments of this manual section is based on the assumption that you are also thoroughly acquainted with all the requirements and features of the entire audio equipment - especially the head-unit and the speakers - connected to this amplifier!

TROUBLESHOOTING

Problem Cause

No music signal on loudspeakers and STATUS-LED on amp is red or off connected ● Fuse on amplifier or distributor blown ● Main Fuse on car battery side blown ● Short-circuit on any of the speaker outputs ● DC voltage at speaker outputs ● Amplifier overload ● Amplifier overheated	● + 12 V and/or GROUND (GND/-12V) and/or “Remote” line not (properly)
A high-pitched buzzing sound in- or decreasing with engine speed (inductive interference of on-board electronics)	● Bad ground (GND) contact of amplifier or head unit ● Insufficiently shielded RCA interconnects and/or bad RCA cable routing
Crackling sound in- or decreasing with engine speed	● Insufficient interference elimination of ignition circuitry
Humming installation or parts thereof.	● Sign of ground loop(s), i.e. multiple ground connections of the car audio ● Check also ground connections of all other audio components connected

IMPORTANT! The amplifier's protection circuitry will shut-off the amplifier in case of short-circuit, overload or DC offset at the speaker out-puts or in case of overheat. In case the cause for protection shut-off has been eliminated, the amplifier will operate normally again (LED on). Otherwise the amplifier will continue to switch on and off!

SPECIFICATIONS

AXTON 5-Channel System Amplifier A470-170

Rated power output mono/stereo (at 13.8V)

Satellites (Front+Rear) at 4 ohms (2 x stereo) min. 4 x 50 W RMS

Subwoofer (mono) at 4 ohms min. 1 x 150 W RMS

Rated power output mono/stereo (at 13.8V)

Satellites (Front+Rear) at 2 ohms (2 x stereo) 4 x 70 W

Subwoofer (mono) at 2 Ohms 1 × 220W

Frequency response (Sub+Front+Rear) 10 - 30.000 Hz

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) at 4 ohms < 0.05%

Signal to noise ratio >95 dB

Channel separation >55 dB

Crossover slope highpass and lowpass 12 dB/oct.

Adjustable highpass frequency range 40 - 240 Hz

Adjustable lowpass frequency range 40 - 240 Hz

Adjustable subsonic frequency range 20 - 50 Hz

Recommended cross-section with 5m powercable 20mm^2

Input impedance 47 k ohms

Input sensitivity 0.2 - 9 V

Damping factor >200@4 / 20Hz

Thermal cut-off 85^

Fuse 3× 25A

Recommended main fuse at car battery with 20mm^2 power cable 60 A

Dimensions (W× H× L) 256× 53× 410mm

Introduction

Please keep this Warranty Certificate along with the sales slip/proof of purchase.

Serial No.

Model

Dealer's Address

Limited Warranty

This AXTON product is fully warranted against defective materials or workmanship for a period of 2 YEARS from date of purchase at retail. Warranty will only be granted if the warranty certificate is presented fully completed with model, serial number (if applicable), purchaser's address, purchasing date and dealer stamp together with the original sales slip or proof of purchase.

Date of Purchase

Important!

Dear customer,

thank you for buying this AXTON product. It is recommended to keep the original packing material for any future transporting of the product. Please read the warranty specifications carefully.

Should your AXTON product require warranty service, please return it to the retailer from whom it was purchased or contact the official distributor in your country. Please do not send any product to AXTON, Switzerland. Should you have difficulty in finding an authorized AXTON service-center, details are available from your local distributor or from the manufacturer's address below.

Warranty Limitations

This warranty does not cover any damage due to:

1. Inappropriate use, incorrect installation, audio or mains connection.
2. Exposure to excessive humidity, fluids, heat, direct sunlight or excessive dirt or dust.
3. Accidents or abuse, unauthorized repair attempts and modifications not explicitly authorized by the manufacturer.

This warranty is limited to the repair or the replacement of the defective product at the manufacturer's option and does not include any other form of damage, whether incidental, consequential otherwise.

This warranty will not cover any loss during transportation, transport costs or any other damage caused by transport or shipment of the product.

Address of AXTON, Bohrturmweg 1, CH-5330 Bad Zurzach, Switzerland
manufacturer: Phone (+41) (0) 56/269 64 64, Fax (+41) (0) 56/269 64 66

GARANTIEKARTE