Kicker ZX460 Amplifier Owner's Manual
Contents
1. EXTERNAL SUB AMP AND ZRX MODULES Full Range Speakers 1Q Minimum LEFT FRONT RIGHT FRONT SPEAKER SPEAKER FRONT LEFT REAR RIGHT REAR SPEAKER SPEAKER Full Range Speakers 1Q Minimum KICKER Subwoofer 2Q Minimum SETTING GAIN CONTROLS Each channel pair on the ZX460 is equipped with a variable gain control The gain control is provided for level matching purposes it does not give the amplifier any more power by turning it up its purpose is to adjust the sensitivity of the amplifier in relation to the output level provided by the source Start with the amp gain set to minimum by turning the control counter clockwise Turn the source level up until distortion is barely audible this will be at about 75 80 of full volume Raise the amplifier gain until distortion is just audible The gain is now set correctly Check the level with CD tape and tuner to make sure the adjustment is correct for all sources OPTIONAL ACTIVE SIGNAL PROCESSING MODULES All KICKER amplifiers have a Module Docking Port which allows the use of any KICKER Module These modules greatly increase your amplifier s versatility and cost very little when compared to stand alone units with the same functions Active Crossover Modules These 2 way modules allow you to use separate amplifiers for your subwoofers midbass drivers midranges or tweeters By doing this especially on the subwoofer a clean and undistor2. POJEJ Je UOIJIOJSIG WNWIXEN slepotu jje 03 UOLULUOD SUOIJEIIIISdS 1S Vb X MOL X HS c CXO8L CXO8L CXOCL t X06 rt x 09 Y x 0 09rxZ spem sem spem sem s3em 332 seyoul OUOWW PABPIJA TYZ ouow PabpiJd 75997 OUOW PaBpIJA y 081835 TYL 031915 WZ 031915 TY SUOISUSWUI Jemod paqen J MOd pajen Jemod paqen J MOd Paley J MOd pajes Jamod pajen japolN SNOLLV9I3I93dS ELECTRONICS LIMITED VVARRANTY Stillwater Designs vvarrants this product to be free from defects in material and vvorkmanship under normal use for a period of three 3 years from date of original purchase when installed by an Authorized KICKER Dealer or one 1 year from date of original purchase if not installed by an Authorized KICKER Dealer If this product is labeled B Stock it is vvarranted for one 1 year from date of purchase regardless of place of installation Should service be necessary under this vvar ranty for any reason due to manufacturing defect or malfunction during the vvarranty period Stillwater Designs will replace or repair at its discretion the defective merchandise with equivalent merchandise at no charge Warranty replacements on B Stock merchandise may have cosmetic scratches and blemishes Discontinued products may be replaced vvith equivalent products This warranty is valid only for the original purchaser and is not extended to owners of the prod uct subsequent to the original purchaser Any applicable implied vvarranties are limite
3. within the 9 16 volt operating range If the vehicle s charging system goes over 16 volts the amp will shut off If the voltage gets too low the amp will not operate Using a VOM identify the voltage problem and rectify Ll Alternator noise whistling sound that follows the engine RPM e Make sure that the amp case is not grounded e Make sure that the source has a good ground e Check routing of the RCA cable Try substituting another RCA cable routed in a different location in the vehicle e Check gain setting to make sure that it is not too high N LI Stereo image is unfocused and bass is reduced Check system phasing by turning the balance control from the left to the right If the bass is more prominent when turned to either side check speaker vviring for proper positive and negative connections Reverse connections on one channel if necessary CAUTION When jump starting the vehicle be sure that connections made with jumper cables are correct If improper connections are made it can result in blown amplifier fuses as well as failure in other systems in the vehicle More questions See your Authorized KICKER Dealer or contact KICKER directly at 405 624 8585 or the support section on www kicker com 10 11 SINA AS AWOSL AJAISUES JNdUJ MATZ 02uep quil zNdUJ Jamod payed 91 pa UBlamun GPOOLK lt olde SSION 0 eCUBIS GPL O ZHISZ ZHOL asuodsay Aouenbeu 70 O OqQA9L S L 091915 Uy JEMOd
4. Signal Processing Modules the secret behind the amazing flexibility of KICKER amplifiers TROUBLE SHOOTING Note It is normal for the yellow trouble LED to blink when the amplifier is turned on or off This is a function of the protection circuit looking for trouble LI Red LED power indicator off yellow trouble indicator off With a Volt Ohm Meter VOM e Check 12 Volt terminal e Check Ground terminal e Check for 12 Volts at remote turn on terminal LI Red LED power indicator on yellow trouble indicator off e Make sure there is a module in place and the settings are correct e Check RCA and speaker connections e Test speaker outputs with a known good speaker e Substitute a known good signal source LI Yellow trouble LED on red power indicator off 1 Amp is very hot Thermal protection is engaged Verify that speaker load impedance is not below specified minimums Check area around amplifier for objects which may restrict air flow and proper cooling If this continues to be a problem take vehicle to an authorized Kicker dealer for evaluation 2 Amp is not too hot Overcurrent protection is engaged red power LED blinks every two seconds This indicates that there is a short in the speaker wiring Locate short using a VOM by checking between speaker positive and negative If the amplifier is used in stereo try disconnecting one channel at a time to help isolate which channel is shorted Amp is not too hot Voltage to amp is not
5. d in duration to a period of the express vvarranty as provided herein beginning vvith the date of the original purchase at retail and no vvarranties vvhether express or implied shall apply to this product thereafter Some states do not allow limitations on implied vvarranties therefore these exclusions may not apply to you i This warranty gives you specific legal rights however you may have other rights that vary from state to state WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED WARRANTY OR SERVICE Defective merchandise must be returned to your local Authorized Stillwater Designs Kicker Impulse Dealer for warranty Assistance in locating an Authorized Dealer can be obtained by writing or calling Stillwater Designs direct You can confirm that a dealer is authorized by asking to see a current authorized dealer window decal If it becomes necessary for you to return defective merchandise call the Kicker Customer Service Department at 405 624 8510 for a Return Authorization RA number Package all defective items in the original container or in a package that will prevent shipping damage and return to Stillwater Designs 5021 North Perkins Road Stillwater OK 74075 The RA number must be clearly marked on the outside of the package Return only defective com ponents Non defective items received will be returned freight collect Include a dated proof of purchase from an Authorized Dealer Warranty expiration on items returned without proof of purchase will be det
6. ermined from the manufacturing date code Coverage may be invalidated if this date is greater than one 1 year previous to the date item is sent in Freight must be prepaid items received freight collect will be refused Failure to follow these steps may void your warranty Any questions can be directed to the Kicker Customer Service Department at 405 624 8510 WHAT IS NOT COVERED This warranty is valid only if the product is used for the purpose for which it was designed It does not cover Products purchased from an unauthorized dealer Damage due to improper installation e Items previously repaired or modified by any Damage caused by exposure to water excessive unauthorized repair facility heat chemical cleaners and or UV radiation Items returned from unauthorized individuals or Damage through negligence misuse accident or dealers abuse Repeated returns for the same damage may e Return shipping on non defective items be considered abuse e Products with tampered or missing barcode labels Freight damage e Products returned without a Return Authorization The cost of shipping product to Stillwater Designs RA number HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE Stillwater Designs maintains a goal of 24 hour service for all returns Delays may be incurred if lack of replacement inventory or parts is encountered INTERNATIONAL WARRANTY Contact your International Stillwater Designs dealer or distributor concerning specific procedu
7. ever power up the amplifier without a module installed Never remove or insert a module with the amplifier powered up Failure to follow these precautions can result in damge to your speaker s and or amplifier s which may not be covered under warranty Typical Installations Daisy Chaining Two Amplifiers Adding a KICKER Amplifier and Subwoofer with ZRX Modules to your Factory Stereo Factory Source Speaker Level Out Line Out Converter Midrange Subwoofer To Additional Amps Optional ZRX Specifications Crossover Slope 12dB octave Crossover Points 80Hz low pass 100Hz high pass Subwoofer SPECIAL FEATURES To understand all the different system possibilities think of the KICKER ZX460 as two separate amplifiers in one chassis Amp 1 and Amp 2 each having two channels e When only two RCA cables are plugged into the Amp 1 inputs the ZX460 automatically distributes the left channel to Amp 1 left and Amp 2 left The right input goes to Amp 1 right and Amp 2 right e Plugging in a second set of RCAs automatically switches the ZX460 to discreet four channel operation e Amp 2 has an electronic 24dB octave highpass crossover built in This crossover is the same circuitry used in the SWX amp MRX KICKER Modules and uses the same frequency programming chips The crossover can be bypassed or engaged via a two position slide switch on the amplifier s main circuit board Access to the
8. i4 KICKER ZX460 4 CHANNEL POWER AMPLIFIER Based on the same design philosophy as the original KICKER Amplifier the ZX460 four channel amplifier from Stillwater Designs expands and improves the standards for car audio amplifier performance Features that defined the way an amplifier should be built attention to detail flexibility and pure clean power have been retained and some important new performance reliability features have been added FEATURES amp CONTROLS The design goals for the ZX series four channel amplifier were simple yet crucial build the ultimate amplifiers available for the brutal environment of a vehicle A new heatsink design provides maximum heat dissipation when air flow isn t ideal In addition to the existing forms of protection already in effect thermal overvoltage and reverse polarity a new short circuit protection circuit will allow the amplifier to operate into a variety of loads including 1 Ohm stereo and 2 Ohm mono Gold plated custom tooled speaker and power connectors maximize power transfer and damping To improve the thermal stability sound quality and output power we have upgraded the power supply switching MOSFETs Surface mount devices are used extensively throughout the design to increase reliability Features carried over from the last generation of amplifiers include ZRX Crossover Module included Active Signal Processing Modules are less expensive than outboard signal processors and el
9. iminate the possibility for electrical noises to enter the system RCA output jacks provide a simple method for daisy chaining multiple amplifiers espe cially when the plug in modules are used Optical isolation between the signal and power grounds has proven very effective to keep automotive electrical noises from entering the signal path For the best sound quality possible we have eliminated coupling capacitors from the sig nal path through the use of a DC servo circuit Silent turn on off circuitry eliminates pops to protect your speakers and makes your system ready for competition Multiple amplifiers can be daisy chained without signal degradation because the input impedance is 22 000 Ohms Stillwater Designs recommends that the amplifier be installed at an authorized dealer The length of your KICKER amplifier s warranty is three times as long when installed by an authorized KICKER dealer AMERICA S MUSIC MACHINES MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS The orientation of the amplifier is critical to proper cooling The cooling fins are designed to operate best when the amp is in a vertical position or mounted flat with the fins up It is important to keep the chassis of the amplifier isolated from the metal of the vehicle because the heatsink is connected to signal ground for noise isolation Grounding the heatsink vvill cause a ground loop The plastic inserts in the mounting feet of the amp should remain in place as isolators These inser
10. res for your country s warranty policies STILLUVATER P O BOX 459 e STILLWATER OKLAHOMA 74076 e 405 624 8510 ei j si KICKER components are capable of producing sound levels that can permanently damage your hearing Turning up a system to a level that has audible distortion is more damaging E to your ears than listening to an undistorted system at the same volume level The threshold of pain is always an indicator that the sound level is too loud and may perma I nently damage your hearing Please use common sense when controlling volume FEBRUARY 2000
11. s try to make the junction at 90 degrees This will have the least chance of picking up noise Note in the case where the recommended wire size is larger than the amplifier s connec tor it may be necessary to use a power distribution block or inline connector to adapt down to the size your amp will accept Also remember that the current draw and the wire requirements will be less if the amplifier is used at 4 Ohm stereo Inline fuse used at the battery ZX460 60A IMPORTANT INFORMATION PLEASE READ BEFORE INSTALLING AMPLIFIER Your new KICKER power amplifier is equipped with a ZRX Active Electronic Crossover Module installed in the Module Docking Port You may configure the ZRX to function as a low pass filter 12dB octave at 80Hz or high pass filter 12dB octave at 100Hz by setting the switch on the ZRX as shown is the illustration The ZRX may also be set to bypass in which case your amplifier will function in a full range mode The ZRX affects only the amplifier in which it is installed The amplifier s output RCA jacks carry a full range signal regardless of the settings on the ZRX continued Setting the ZRX Bypass Mode Amplifier reproduces the full frequency range Low Pass Mode Amplifier frequencies 80Hz and lower High Pass Mode Amplifier frequencies 100Hz and higher IMPORTANT OPERATION NOTES An Active Signal Processing Module must be installed in the Module Docking Port in order for the amplifier to operate N
12. switch and the frequency programming chip is through the plastic plug in the bottom plate of your ZX460 ACCESSING THE CROSSOVERS UNDERNEATH THE ZX460 MODULE 1 BUILT IN CROSSOVER FREQUENCY by 1 PROGRAMMING CHIP RVEASS 2 BUILT IN CROSSOVER BYPASS ENGAGE SWITCH The frequency programming chip can be removed and replaced with an IC extraction tool or by removing the bottom cover of the ZX460 and using needle nose pliers SYSTENI DIAGRAMS FOUR CHANNEL USING FOUR INPUTS FOUR CHANNEL USING TWO INPUTS NOTE When four RCA s are plugged NOTE When only two RCA s are plugged in then the amplifier works with in then all four channels automatically four discreet channels derive their signal from those two inputs Full Range Speakers Full Range Speakers 19 Minimut ja Minimum RIGHT FRONT LEFT FRONT PEAKER FRONT SPEAKER SOURCE SOURCE RIGHT REAR inge Speakers jinimum Full Range Speakers 19 Minimum BRIDGED TWO CHANNEL OPERATION STEREO CAUTION Up to 180W available to each channel s speaker load The L R inputs for each channel will have the same information Example Amp 1 L R input get Left signal Amp 2 L R input get Right signal Full Range Speakers s 29 Minimum 4 Y Cables RIGHT KINTERNAL CROSSOVER BYPASSED BI ANIP USING ZRX MODULE Mici Range Speakers 12 Minimum LEFT FRONT h BIGHT FRONT SPEAKER PEAKER SOURCE KICKER Subwoofer 28 Minimum BI AMP USING
13. ted sound is available at much higher listening levels Each module offers a range of selectable crossover frequencies and 24dB octave filtering e SWX 60Hz 80Hz or 100Hz subwoofer midbass or midrange crossover e MRX 175Hz 250Hz or 350Hz midbass midrange crossover e TWX 3500Hz or 4500Hz midrange tweeter crossover specialty Modules e EEM Electronic Enclosure Module When used with KICKER Freeair woofers this module simulates the response of KICKER Competition woofers in a sealed enclosure e EQM Equalization Module Frequency Enhancement and extension module that equalizes frequencies in the low bass region as well as the upper treble regions CRM Center Rear Fill Module This module allows one amplifier to drive a center channel and rear speakers independently at the same time RGX Remote Gain Module An ideal amplifier enhancement module that pro vides a remote gain control function PBM Parametric Bass Module is designed to meet the demand for a remote controllable bass EQ to enhance your bass listening pleasure and to allow you to adjust the bass boost and center frequency from the comfort of the driver s seat KEQ KICKEQ adds adjustable Bass Boost up to 18dB at 40Hz and Treble Boost up to 12dB at 18kHz MMDP Multi Module docking Port Allows the use of two KICKER Active Signal Processing Modules in a single amplifier See your Authorized KICKER Dealer for more high performance Active
14. ts are designed to accept 8 screvvs for mounting 8 Mounting VERTICAL 8 Mounting Screws Screws Q J 0 KLOON _ K B 9 HORIZONTAL Isolation Pads i a as Hd S Bees 2 v Soge Sco Sueos qQ 2 w u Li a DMY s SOOP gt A e os o VVIRING INSTRUCTIONS All power and speaker connectors will accept up to 8 gauge wire It is very important that the screws in the amplifiers terminal strips are very tight An allen wrench is included for this purpose Always make the ground connection first when installing this amplifier and disconnect ground last when removing it from the system Connect the ground wire which is 24 inches or less to a structural chassis member Be sure the connection is to bare metal and securely screwed or bolted It is not recommend ed to run the ground wire to the battery Run a positive wire of the size shown below directly to the positive terminal of the battery and use a fuse of appropriate size within 18 inches of the battery This fuse protects the wire run from the battery Please refer to this wire gauge selection chart for minimal loss at full rated power under test conditions Model Upto4ft 4to7 ft 7 to10 ft 10to13 ft 13to16ft 16 to 22 ft ZX460 8 8 6 4 4 4 When running the signal wires keep them away from all power wires in the vehicle to avoid noise If a signal wire needs to cross power wire
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