model 1200/5 2 © 2003 Directed Electronics, Inc CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations for choosing a Directed Audio power amplifier from Directed Electronics, the industry leader in high quality automotive security and audio equipment since 1990. Directed Audio power amplifiers continue to set new standards of performance, reliability, and affordability in the mobile electronics industry. Featuring high-efficiency MOSFET power supplies, flexible on-board crossovers, and state of the art audio design, Directed Audio power amplifiers will excite and delight the mobile sound enthusiast with years of high-quality audio reproduction. Directed Audio power amplifiers come with a two-year limited warranty if installed by an authorized Directed dealer. If not installed by an authorized dealer, Directed Audio power amplifiers are covered by a one-year, parts-andlabor limited warranty. Be sure to retain your original sales receipt and refer to the warranty section of this guide for full details about your coverage. TABLE OF CONTENTS Limited Two-Year Consumer Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Installation Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Front Panel Connections/Status LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Rear Panel Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Top Panel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Top Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Speaker Wiring Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Combined Amplifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Parallel Synced Gain Connections/Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 External Synced Bridged Connections/Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Crossover Settings and Gain Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 © 2003 Directed Electronics, Inc 3 LIMITED TWO-YEAR CONSUMER WARRANTY Directed Electronics, Inc. promises to the original purchaser, to replace this product should it prove to be defective in workmanship or material under normal use, for a period of two years from the date of purchase by the dealer as indicated by the date code marking of the product PROVIDED the product was installed by an authorized Directed dealer. During this two year period, there will be no charge for this replacement PROVIDED the unit is returned to Directed, shipping pre-paid. If the unit is installed by anyone other than an authorized Directed dealer, the warranty period will be one year from the date of purchase by the dealer as indicated by the date code marking of the product. During this one-year period there will be no charge for this replacement PROVIDED the unit is returned to Directed, shipping pre-paid. This warranty is non-transferable and does not apply to any unit that has been modified or used in a manner contrary to its intended purpose, and does not cover damage to the unit caused by installation or removal of the unit. This warranty is void if the product has been damaged by accident or unreasonable use, neglect, improper service or other causes not arising out of defects in materials or construction. ALL WARRANTIES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO EXPRESS WARRANTY, IMPLIED WARRANTY, WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, AND DIRECTED NEITHER ASSUMES NOR AUTHORIZES ANY PERSON TO ASSUME FOR IT ANY LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE OF THE PRODUCT. DIRECTED HAS ABSOLUTELY NO LIABILITY FOR ANY AND ALL ACTS OF THIRD PARTIES INCLUDING ITS AUTHORIZED DEALERS OR INSTALLERS. Unit must be returned to Directed, postage pre-paid, with: consumer's name, telephone number, and address, authorized dealer's name and address, and product description. IN ORDER FOR THIS WARRANTY TO BE VALID, YOUR UNIT MUST BE SHIPPED WITH PROOF OF INSTALLATION BY AN AUTHORIZED DIRECTED DEALER. ALL UNITS RECEIVED BY DIRECTED FOR WARRANTY REPAIR WITHOUT PROOF OF DIRECTED DEALER INSTALLATION WILL BE COVERED BY THE LIMITED ONE-YEAR PARTS AND LABOR WARRANTY. Note: This warranty does not cover labor costs for the removal and reinstallation of the unit. BY PURCHASING THIS PRODUCT, THE CONSUMER AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ALL DISPUTES BETWEEN THE CONSUMER AND Directed SHALL BE RESOLVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA LAWS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. 4 © 2003 Directed Electronics, Inc FEATURES Dual high-speed MOSFET switching power supplies. Complimentary bipolar outputs (ch 1-4), and high-current MOSFET outputs (sub channel). Five channel expandable architecture supports single or multiple amp system designs. Thermal, DC offset, reverse polarity, and short circuit protection with status LED. Top-mounted controls are easily accessed for system tuning. Dual continuously variable 12 dB/octave two-way active crossovers (ch 1-4). Continuously variable 24 dB/ octave low-pass crossover (sub channel). Switchable 30Hz, 24 dB/octave subsonic filter and phase invert switch (sub channel). Remote subwoofer level control and switchable 8 dB bass EQ function. Two, four, and six channel input allows full access to source or processor output functions. Master/slave function allows synced bridged or parallel operation with model 750d. Summed stereo full-range RCA output jacks. Gold-plated wire terminals and RCA connectors ensure maximum signal transfer. Rugged one-piece extruded heat sink finished with injection-molded mounting feet. WARNING High-powered car audio systems may produce sound pressure levels that exceed the threshold at which hearing loss may result. They may also impair a driver's ability to hear traffic sounds or emergency vehicles. Use common sense and practice safe listening habits when listening to or adjusting your audio system. © 2003 Directed Electronics, Inc 5 INSTALLATION GUIDELINES 1. Please read this owner's manual carefully before installing this amplifier. 2. Disconnect the battery ground terminal prior to making any electrical connections. 3. Check for any hazards or obstructions such as gas tanks, fuel or brake lines, and wiring harnesses before mounting the amplifier. 4. Pick a mounting location that will provide adequate access and ventilation and protect the amplifier from heat, moisture, and dirt. 5. Avoid sharp metal areas when routing cables to the amplifier, and run RCA cables away from the power cables and other potentially noisy car harnesses. 6. The amplifier should be grounded with a short, heavy gauge wire connected directly to the car at a bare metal surface, preferably scraped body sheet metal. Do not use factory ground locations, seat bolts, or brackets that are spot welded. 7. Always fuse your power connection within eight to ten inches of the battery terminal. Use a fuse or circuit breaker rated slightly more than the on-board fuse(s) of the amplifier(s). The gauge of power wire used should take into account the total current draw of the system, and the length of wire used. IASCA and other auto sound competition organizations have charts available for this; you can also find a chart in the MECP study guide. Minimum wire gauge recommendations for the individual amplifiers are listed on the specification page. Always use the same gauge wire for the amplifier ground that you use for the power wire. Be sure to examine the battery ground cable of the vehicle, and if necessary, upgrade it by adding an additional ground wire that is the same gauge as the amplifier's power wire. Remember, the amplifier can only deliver its rated output when it is not current limited by the power and ground supply wires. 8. This amplifier is designed to drive a speaker load that measures from 28 ohms (sub ch 1-4 ohms). Keep in mind that heat is the long-term enemy of automotive electronics 6 © 2003 Directed Electronics, Inc and the lower your speaker load, the more heat is generated. For low impedance speaker applications or restricted ventilation installations, an external cooling fan may be advisable. 9. Battery and ground connections to the vehicle should be made with crimped ring terminals of the appropriate size (surface area is what counts); soldering the terminals after crimping is also recommended. 10. Due to the high-frequency MOSFET switching power supply, filtering the power cable is not generally required (remember that the amp can't deliver full output if the power supply is restricted). Proper grounding of the signal source is mandatory for the amplifier to reach its performance peak. If the RCA inputs are not grounded adequately via the signal source, electrical noise from the vehicle may be picked up in the system. © 2003 Directed Electronics, Inc 7 FRONT PANEL CONNECTIONS/STATUS LED 1. RCA Input Jacks - Accepts line level outputs from head units or signal processors between 150mV and 8 volts. 2. RCA Sub Input Jacks - Accepts line level outputs from head units or signal processors between 150mV and 8 volts for the subwoofer section of the amplifier. 3. RCA Output Jacks - These pass through RCA jacks can be used to send a signal to a second amplifier. It is the summed stereo output of the one through four channel inputs of the amplifier. 4. RCA Sync Out Jack - This RCA jack sends a synced, or in-phase, gain matched signal to a 750d slave amplifier when connected in the Parallel Synced Gain combination. (Refer to the Combined Amplifiers section of this guide.) 5. RCA Bridge Output Jack - This output sends an out-of-phase signal to a 750d slave amplifier when connected in the External Synced Bridged combination. (Refer to the Combined Amplifiers section of this guide.) 6. Status LEDs - The Power LED will light GREEN to indicate the amplifier is on and operating normally. The GREEN LED will turn off and the Protection LED will light RED when the amplifier has shut itself down due to speaker short circuit, DC offset or overheating. 7. Remote Sub Level Control - Controls the subwoofer amplifier gain controls from a remote location for ease of adjustment during listening. Warning: DO NOT connect a level control knob from other manufacturers to the Remote Sub Level Control of any Directed amplifier. Even though the connectors fit properly, the control knob and connector pin positions may be different and the amplifier will be damaged. FIGURE 1--AMPLIFIER CONNECTIONS 1200/5 FRONT 1 1+2 3+4 234 SUB 1-4 OUT SUB OUT 5 SLAVE SYNC OUT 6 MASTER 7 R POWER L BRIDGE OUT REMOTE PROTECTION 8 © 2003 Directed Electronics, Inc REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS 1. Sub Out Terminals - Connect subwoofers to these terminals. (Refer to the Speaker Wiring Diagrams section of this guide.) 2. Speaker Out Terminals - Connect the speakers to these terminals. (Refer to the Speaker Wiring Diagrams section of this guide.) 3. Power Fuses - These fuses protect the amplifier against internal electrical damage and are meant to protect the amplifier only. All other power connections should be fused at the source. 4. (+) 12 Volt Power - Connect this terminal through a FUSE or CIRCUIT BREAKER to the positive terminal of the vehicle battery or the positive terminal of an isolated audio system battery. WARNING: Always protect this power wire by installing a fuse or circuit breaker of the appropriate size within 12 inches of the battery terminal connection. turns on the amplifier when (+) 12 volt is applied to it. Connect it to the remote turn on lead of the head unit or signal source. If a (+) 12 volt remote turn on lead is not available, Remote Power Adapter (P/N #55000) can be used to supply a remote turn on signal. DO NOT connect this terminal to constant (+) 12 volt. 6. Ground - Connect this terminal directly to the sheet metal chassis of the vehicle, using the shortest wire necessary to make this connection. Always use wire of the same gauge or larger than the (+) 12 volt power wire. The chassis connection point should be scraped free of paint and dirt. Use only quality crimped and/or soldered connectors at both ends of this wire. DO NOT connect this terminal directly to the vehicle battery ground terminal or any other factory ground points. 5. Remote Turn On - This terminal FIGURE 2--AMPLIFIER CONNECTIONS 1200/5 REAR 1 SUB OUT REAR R 2 FRONT R 3 FUSE 40A x 3 456 BATT REM GND L L © 2003 Directed Electronics, Inc 9 TOP PANEL CONTROLS 1. Input Gain Adjustment - Controls amplifier sensitivity and is used to match the input level of the amplifier to the output level ...