R480FRD - Car stereo Rodek - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL R480FRD Rodek

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INSTALLATION GUIDE

R2175FRD R480FRD

2-Channel & 4-Channel Full Range Digital Power Amplifiers

RoDEK

INHALTSVERZEICHNIS / CONTENTS

Seite Page

1. TECHNISCHE MERKMALE 4
2. EINGÄNGE - AUSGÄNGE - BEDIENUNGS- ELEMENTE ....5
3. GENERELLES ZUR MONTAGE ....8
   3.1 WAHL DES EINBAUORTES ....8
   3.2 MONTAGE DES VERSTÄRKERS ....8
4. VERKABELUNG & ANSCHLUSS ....8
   4.1 VERLEGEN DER CINCH- & REMOTE-KABEL .....9
   4.2 ANSCHLUSS DER LAUTSPRECHER-KABEL .....9
   4.3 ANSCHLUSS DER POWER-KABEL .....9
   4.4 ERSTE FUNKTIONSPRÜFUNG....10
   4.5 MINIMALE LASTIMPEDANZ....10
5. EINSTELLUNG DER INTEGRIERTEN FREQUENZWEICHEN....10
   5.1 EINSTELLTIPS .... 10
   5.2 WÄHLEN DES BETRIEBSMODUS .....10
   5.3 HOCHPASS FÜR KOMPONENTEN UND KOAXIAL SYSTEME 10
   5.4 TIEFPASS FÜR SUBWOOFER SYSTEME .....11
   5.5 ANPASSUNG DER EINGANGSEMPFINDLICHKEIT .11

6. TECHNISCHE DATEN ....12

7. TECHNICAL FEATURES 14

8. INPUTS-OUTPUTS-CONTROLS....15
9. AMPLIFIER MOUNTING .....18
   3.1 MOUNTING LOCATION ....18
10. ELECTRICAL WIRING .....18
    4.1 ROUTING RCA INTERCONNECTS & REMOTE LEAD 18
    4.2 CONNECTION OF LOUDSPEAKER CABLES .....19
    4.3 CONNECTION OF POWER CABLES .....19
    4.4 POWERING UP THE AMP 19
    4.5 MINIMUM IMPEDANCE LOAD ....19
11. CROSSOVER SETTINGS ....20
    5.1 SELECTING THE OPERATION MODE....20
    5.2 HIGHPASS FOR COMPONENT AND COAXIAL SPEAKERS....20
    5.3 LOWPASS FOR SUBWOOFER SYSTEMS .....21
    5.4 ADJUSTING INPUT SENSITIVITY .....21
12. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS .....22
13. WARRANTY 23
14. GARANTIEBESTIMMUNGEN .....23
15. GARANTIE-KARTE/WARRANTY-CARD .....24

R480FRD 1 2 3 4 6 4 3 2 1 LINE INPUT MIN MAX FULL_HI_LOW POWER PROTECTION 50Hz X-OVER FREQ 50Hz X-OVER FREQ FULL_HI_LOW MIN MAX LINE INPUT 1CH 2CH GAIN 1/2CH 3/4CH GAIN 3CH 4CH R480FRD

REAR PANEL R480FRD 7 8 9 +12V GND REM POWER INPUT SPEAKER OUTPUT 1CR MOND 2CR MOND 3CR MOND 4CR R480FRD

B

2. BEDIENUNGSELEMENTE R2175FRD & R480FRD

and thank you for choosing a RODEK full range digital car audio power amplifier!

To maximize the performance of your complete car audio system, it is recommended that you acquaint yourself thoroughly with the capabilities and features of this amplifier. Therefore read this manual carefully, before attempting the installation of this multichannel amplifier and retain the manual and your purchasing/installation receipts for future reference.

■ Full range digital amplifier for a compact and user friendly realization of a powerful car audio system.
■ MOSFET power supply for high power output and best stability into low impedance loads
■ Versatile integrated electronic crossovers with filter slopes of 12dB/oct.. Independently selectable operation mode: highpass, lowpass and fullrange. Fully variable crossover frequency range in between 50Hz – 250Hz for highpass and lowpass sections
■ CNC machined power input and speaker output blocks
■ Adjustable input sensitivity, fully variable from 0.2 V to 6V
■ Advanced Protection Circuitry, sensing overload, short-circuits at the speaker outputs, DC voltage at the outputs and overheating of power electronics

1. RCA inputs (1/2 CH, 3/4 CH, left and right channels). Line inputs for connection with RCA line-outs of the head-unit. 3/4CH RCA inputs only applicable for R480FRD
2. Input gain control. LEVEL adjustment for channels 1/2 CH and 3/4 CH. Used to match the RCA line output voltage of the head-unit to the amplifier input section. 3/4CH gain control only applicable for R480FRD
3. Operation mode selector, slide switch to select highpass, fullrange or lowpass operation of the active crossover for channels 1/2CH or 3/4CH, second operation mode selector only applicable for R480FRD
4. Highpass / lowpass crossover frequency control, to adjust the cut-in or cut-off frequency of channels 1/2CH, or 3/4CH in case of the R480FRD
5. Remote lowpass level input (only applicable for R2175FRD). To connect the wire from the lowpass level remote with the amplifier

6. Operation LED's, POWER is lit blue when power is on - PROTECTION LED is lit red when the amplifier enters protection mode because of malfunction, overheating or shortcut on speaker cable leads

7. "+12V" for connection to the positive terminal of car battery

8. "GND" for connection to chassis ground or negative terminal of car battery
9. "REM" for the automatic (remote) turn-on / turn-off of the power amplifier from the head-unit's remote or antenna control lead
10. Speaker terminal output block, for connection of loudspeaker wires
11. Fuses (not shown as located on the bottom panel side)

3. AMPLIFIER MOUNTING

4. ELECTRICAL WIRING

Before you attempt the installation of your new RODEK amplifier, it is recommended to map out the complete audio system and the respective wiring required. Please note that - because of possible interference problems with the existing car electrics and electronics - especially the routing of the signal cables and the chassis ground connection will have a profound impact on the performance of your amplifier and system. Use only quality installation material and if you have only little or no experience with complex car audio installations, we strongly recommend you to consult your nearest authorized RODEK dealer/installer.

3.1 MOUNTING LOCATION

The mounting location should be carefully selected. In the interest of passive driver and passenger safety, the amplifier must be securely mounted, and special precautions must be taken to allow sufficient cooling. A clearance of at least 5cm to all sides of the amp must be considered. Make sure there is no wiring harness, fuel tank etc. behind or below the mounting surface that may be damaged by the drilling of the holes for the amplifier mounting screws. The above mentioned clearance of at least 5cm to all sides of the amplifier is necessary not only for proper cooling, but also because the crossover and input gain controls must remain accessible. The amplifier must NOT be mounted directly to the chassis ground of the vehicle, this may cause ground loops and the result will be a loud humming noise.

IMPORTANT! Disconnect the negative battery terminal (-12V) before you start any wiring work! The power supply of the car audio system must be disconnected until the entire wiring installation is completed.

The recommended minimum power cable cross-section of the main power supply cable is 20mm ^2 . Using main power cables with small cross sections can result in unnecessary over-heating of the amplifier circuitry, distortion at high volume levels and might even cause the thermal protection circuitry to shut-off the amplifier.

■ Use rubber grommets when running cables through any metal or sharp plastic, to prevent accidental shorting or shearing. Make sure the cables do not interfere with normal operation of the vehicle.
■ The music signal cables (RCA interconnects) should be kept far away from any potential sources of electrical interference e.g. electronic vehicle management systems (engine computers, relays etc.) fuel pumps, wiring harnesses etc.!

4.1 ROUTING RCA INTERCONNECTS & REMOTE LEAD

Carefully run the RCA audio signal interconnect(s) and the remote wire from the head-unit to the amplifier. The audio signal cables must be routed completely separate from the power cables. Use only double or triple shielded high quality interconnects!

Connect the remote wire lead to the remote output of the head-unit and to the remote input terminal of the amplifier. Finally connect the plugs of the RCA interconnects to the respective outputs of the head-unit and the RCA input sockets of the amplifier.

4.2 CONNECTION OF LOUDSPEAKER CABLES

Connect the loudspeaker wires to the speaker terminals of the amplifier. Use good quality wires of 1.5mm ^2 to 2.5mm ^2 cross-section. You will need a set of Allen wrenches for the connection of the wires!

When baring wires, remove approximately 6-8mm of the insulation and after axially twisting the wires; insert the bare ends into the corresponding speaker terminal output on the amplifier and tighten the terminal screws. Be sure to maintain correct polarity ("⊕" to "+"; "⊖" to "-").

4.3 CONNECTION OF POWER CABLES

Run the positive power cable ("+12 V") directly from the positive terminal of the car battery to the amplifier. For protection of your car audio system and your entire car against electrical fire hazards from a short-circuit of the main power cable with chassis ground, you must insert a main fuse (holder) within the first 30cm of the battery. The fuse type/value should be matching the limitations of your main power cable and the requirements of your car audio amplifiers. Preferably a 60 Ampere main fuse for this amplifier with an appropriate power cable cross-section.

Now you route the ground cable to the amplifier. It is best to keep the ground cable ("-12V") as short as possible, i.e. to find a chassis contact very close to the amplifier. The ground power cable must have the same cross-section as the positive power cable. Keep in mind that audible interferences and problems originating in the power supply of the amplifier, are mostly based on a bad ground contact. So a good (and clean) grounding to the vehicle chassis is absolutely crucial, to obtain best performance of your amplifier.

4.4 POWRING UP THE AMP

Close the electrical circuit of the power supply by inserting the main fuse, or re-attaching the negative battery pole. When you turn on your headunit, the blue status LED of your amp should now be illuminated, to show that your amp is operating flawlessly. If the red (PROTECT) LED is lit, one or more cables are not connected properly—in such a case please double check all previously described steps how to connect your amplifier.

4.5 MINIMUM IMPEDANCE LOAD

The output stages of the RODEK full range digital amplifiers are designed to give you very high output power into 4 or 2 Ohms loads in normal stereo configurations. In bridged mode, the minimum impedance load is 4 Ohms. Do not connect speakers with a lower impedance as recommended above!

5. CROSSOVER SETTINGS

The 2-channel and 4-channel RODEK fullrange digital amplifiers feature integrated electronic crossovers. You can select three different amplification modes, by adjusting the "X-OVER slide switch. The active crossover enables you to either highpass or lowpass the incoming music signal, or to bypass the active crossover section. Therefore – before you attempt to set any crossover frequencies, you must select the appropriate operation mode for each channel pair of your RODEK amplifier, depending on the speaker system that is connected and driven by the amp. This makes sure, that each speaker system will only be working in the frequency range it can handle properly. For example select HIGHPASS (HI), when the speaker system connected to either 1/2CH or 3/4CH is a component- or coaxial type. Or select LOWPASS (LOW) in case of a subwoofer system – and finally, FULL(range) if you want to amplify the full spectrum of the music signal. In such a case, the necessary filtering must be controlled by an external device, such as a DSP head-unit with an integrated active crossover, or an external electronic crossover.

■ Before you start adjusting the crossover of the amplifier, set all tone controls (i.e. Bass, Treble), fader/balance and loudness of your head unit to their respective neutral or center position.

5.2 HIGHPASS FOR COMPONENT AND COAXIAL SPEAKERS

Please take a look at the chart below, featuring recommended high-pass cross-over frequency settings for coaxial- and component speaker systems of different sizes. Individually adjust the highpass crossover frequency for each channel pair driving satellites speaker systems accordingly. The most important factor for this crossover frequency adjustment is the reproduction of mid-bass frequencies and the resulting mechanical power-handling of the speaker system. This setting is always a compromise, where you need to find a highpass crossover point, that will suit your personal listening preferences and – at the same time – also considers the mechanical cone excursion capabilities of your speakers best.

Satellite speaker system, front door mounted, recommended highpass frequency

10 cm Coaxial- or Component System 90 Hz

13 cm Coaxial- or Component System 80 Hz

16 cm Coaxial- or Component System 70 Hz

Satellite speaker system, rear mounted, recommended high-pass frequency

10 cm Coaxial- or Component System 100 Hz

13 cm Coaxial- or Component System 120 Hz

16 cm Coaxial- or Component System 130 Hz

5. CROSSOVER SETTINGS

5.3 LOWPASS FOR SUBWOOFER SYSTEMS

To drive a subwoofer system, the integrated electronic crossover must be set to operate in lowpass mode. Set slide-switch of the corresponding channel pair and its operation mode selector under X-OVER to LOW, under X-OVER.

Now you can set an appropriate lowpass crossover frequency. For this purpose, you must turn o your headunit and set the input gain of the sub-channel to approx. to half ("noon" position), so you can hear the subwoofer playing loud enough. Ideally, the low-pass cut-off frequency should be set between 60 to 90 Hz – and this setting has to be entirely determined by ear. Try to find a lowpass crossover frequency setting, that gives you a "full-bodied" bass reproduction with enough impact in the upper bass range.

Note: If the lowpass crossover frequency is set too low, the played music will have a tendency to sound extremely soft and low-end heavy!

5.4 ADJUSTING INPUT SENSITIVITY

To reach a maximum noise-free dynamic headroom from your individual head unit/amplifier/speaker combination, it is important to set the respective input gain controls correctly. The input level settings determine the actual signal-to-noise ratio, and they are also responsible for obtaining the maximum distortion-free SPL (sound pressure level) from your specific setup. The input gain setting always starts – if applicable – with the input gain adjustment of the subwoofer system!

Set all input gain controls to their minimum position and turn-on your head-unit. Increase the volume of your headunit to approximately 3/4 of full volume, while playing a dynamic track of music from a CD. Slowly increase the input gain of the channel pair driving your subwoofer system. Now open the input gain control up to a point, where you can just about hear distorted sounds from your sub. Reduce the volume level of your head unit to a "normal" listening level and "add" all the remaining channel pairs, by increasing the input gains of all other channels. You should be aiming for a balanced sound reproduction, with a slight emphasis of the bass. The second input gain adjustment after the sub has been set, is always the speaker system installed in the front doors of your vehicle. The last input gain setting to be approached, is the speaker system installed in the rear of the car.

Rated Power Output (RMS)

All channels driven simultaneously

@ 13.8 V into 4 Ohms (THD<0.1%) 2 x 130 W 4 x 70 W

Rated Power Output (RMS)

All channels driven simultaneously

@ 13.8 V into 2 Ohms (THD<0.1%) 2 x 197W 4 x 103 W

Rated Power Output

All channels driven simultaneously

@ 13.8 V into 4 Ohms (THD<1%) 2 x 167 W 4 x 76 W

Rated Power Output Bridged (RMS)

All channels driven simultaneously

@ 13.8 V into 4 Ohms (THD<1%) 1 x 359 W 2 x 168 W

Damping Factor @ 4 Ohms Load

All Channels > 150 > 150

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-Filter Weighted)

All Channels @ full rated power output > 95dB > 95 dB

Frequency Response (-3dB)

Operation Mode set to FULL,

All Channels driven simultaneously 10 Hz – 25 kHz 10 Hz – 25 kHz

Channel Separation (All Channels) >55 dB >60 dB

Input Sensitivity (All Channel Pairs) 200 mV - 6 V 200 mV - 6 V

Integrated Crossover

Highpass Filter (12dB/oct. slope) 50 Hz – 250 Hz 50 Hz – 250 Hz

Lowpass Filter (12dB/oct. slope) 50 Hz – 250 Hz 50 Hz – 250 Hz

Mini ATC Fuses 2 x 25 A 2 x 25 A

Dimensions (W x D x H) 335 x 213 x 34 mm 335 x 213 x 34 mm

22

7. WARRANTY 8. GARANTIEBESTIMMUNGEN

Thank you for purchasing this RODEK full range digital amplifier. It is advisable to keep the original packing material for future transporting of the product. Please read the warranty specifications below carefully.

Should your RODEK product require warranty service, please return it to the retailer from whom it was purchased, or the distributor in your country. Please do not send any product to RODEK Inc. U.S.A. Should you have difficulty in finding an authorized RODEK service center, details are available from your local distributor or from the ACR warranty certificate.

This RODEK amplifier is fully warranted against defective materials or workmanship for a period of TWO YEARS from date of purchase at retail. Warranty work will not be carried out unless this warranty certificate is presented fully completed with model, serial number, purchaser's address, purchasing date and dealer stamp together with the original sales slip!

WARRANTY LIMITATIONS

This warranty does not cover any damage due to:

1. Improper installation, incorrect audio or mains connection(s).

2. Exposure to excessive humidity, dirt & dust, organic fluids, heat, sun rays etc.

3. Accidents or abuse

4. 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 or otherwise. The warranty does not cover any transport costs or damages caused by transport or shipment of the product.

Limited Warranty: 24 Months

Model:

POWER AMPLIFIER RODEK R2175FRD POWER AMPLIFIER RODEK R480FRD

Serial Number:

Date of purchase:

Your name:

Your address:

City:

State: ZIP or Postal Code:

Country:

Your phone number:

Dealer's address & stamp

Exclusive distribution for Europe and Asia