Jensen 5500 Car Amplifier User Manual


 
POWER 5500 5-Channel Amplifier
8
Indicators and Controls
Power Indicator (POWER)
The POWER indicator provides a visual indication that the amplifier is turned
on.
Protect Indicator (PROTECT)
The PROTECT indicator provides a visual indication that a problem exists and
the protection circuitry has protected the amplifier by shutting it down. Turn the
system off and correct the problem before turning the system on again.
Thermal Protection: The amplifier will shut down if its temperature exceeds
a safe operating level. The amplifier will remain off until it cools to a safe
operating temperature. Exercise care, as the exterior of the amplifier may
get uncomfortably hot to the touch before shutting down.
Overload and Short Circuit Protection: The amplifier will shut down if a short
circuit condition
Input Level Control (LEVEL)
The input LEVEL control matches the output of your radio to the input of the
amplifier. After the installation is complete, make sure the input level control on
the amplifier is turned down all the way (counter-clockwise or all the way to the
left). Play a tape or CD (make sure bass and treble settings or Bass EQ are
flat) and turn the volume up slowly until you just start to hear distortion. Back
the volume down just a bit. On the amplifier, slowly turn up the input level
control (clockwise or to the right) until you just start to hear distortion, then
back it down a bit. Now your radio and amplifier levels are matched.
BASS EQ
The Bass EQ is continuously adjustable from 0 to +12dB @ 45Hz. Adjusting
the Bass Boost level allows different subwoofer/enclosure combinations to be
equalized. Use this control to increase the level of low bass available from your
subwoofer/enclosure combination. Ported and Band Pass enclosures should
be limited to about +6dB to +9dB of boost. Sealed enclosures should be able
to accept the full +12dB of boost, if necessary. The full +12dB of boost should
be reserved for special applications since improper use of the Bass Boost
could damage your subwoofers at high volumes.
SUB SONIC
The SUB SONIC filter adjusts the highpass filter for the Subwoofer Channel.
This filter allows you to fine tune the amount of extreme low bass sent to your
subwoofer. For large sealed box subwoofers you may wish to set this at the
minimum of 16Hz. For smaller subwoofers (single 8" or 10"), setting the filter to
about 30Hz will protect the speaker from excessive excursion and distortion.
For ported boxes, the woofer's excursion increases dramatically at about 1/3
octave below the tuning frequency. To protect the subwoofer from damage, the
SUB SONIC filter should be set slightly below the tuning frequency of the box.
For example, if your box is tuned to 40Hz, then the SUB SONIC filter should be
set to approximately 32Hz.
Low Pass Filter (LPF)
The Low Pass Filter for Channel 5 controls adjust the crossover point. Typical
crossover is between 60Hz and 80Hz for ported and sealed enclosures.
Bandpass boxes will typically use a higher crossover setting between 125Hz
and 150Hz. Since musical tastes vary, you should play music that you would
normally listen to in your vehicle, with the above settings as a starting point. If
necessary, set the crossover by ear.
High Pass Filter (HPF)
The high pass filter will limit the low frequencies being transmitted to your
speakers. This can be useful in number of situations. For example, if you
selected the high pass filter and set the crossover to 40Hz, then you would
have an infra-sonic (sub-sonic) filter at 40Hz, which would be useful with
certain enclosure/subwoofer combinations that were tuned between 45Hz and
50Hz. Other uses might include limiting the low frequencies to smaller
speakers (6 1/2", 6 X 9", etc.) by adjusting the crossover to a higher setting
(80–100Hz).
Crossover (FULL/HPF)
The Jensen Power series of amplifiers have built-in low-pass and high-pass
crossover filters for bi-amplifying the system. Adjust the crossover to
accommodate your chosen installation method. Choose FULL when crossover
mode is not active and the amplifier is in « full range” mode. Select HPF (high
pass filter) when the amplifier will be driving full-range or separate speakers,
and you want to limit the « bass” being transferred to these speakers. LPF can
be adjusted for channel 5.