ARC Audio FD600.1, FD1200.1 User Manual
FD600.1
FD1200.1
Congratulations!
Thank you for purchasing an ARC Audio Hi-Performance Amplifier.
ARC Audio amplifiers are conservatively rated and produce more power per channel
than others in there class. Manufactured to the highest standards of quality and
reliability to deliver years of listening enjoyment.
ARC Audio…SOLID CONSTRUCTION for SOUND Car Audio Systems.
Warning
We build all ARC Audio products to play at high volumes for extended periods of
time. Your ears however are not designed for high volume listening. This product
can easily generate volumes that can permanently damage your hearing. We
urge you to limit your exposure to very high volume sound.
You may also find your state has laws governing the volume of an audio system
in a car. Please be aware of all local and state laws in you area.
A properly tuned and operated audio system will deliver years of enjoyment
when used properly.
Supplying Enough Power
The Laws of Nature
Your amplifier Does NOT make power. It converts power, or current, from your cars electrical system
and turns it into a high power musical energy. If the amp can't get all the power it needs it will not
produce its full output. Your ARC Audio amplifier will produce Full output for longer then other amps
on the market today. If the Voltage or Current drops too low even our amplifiers will drop below
their rated output. Make sure your vehicle charging system is in good working order. Any HiPerformance audio amplifier will increase the demand on your alternator and battery. If you are
unsure have your charging system tested by a professional technician.
The Ground!!!
Warning: Read this Carefully
The ground wire should be connected directly to the chassis of your vehicle. Find a clear location close to the
amplifier and remove all the paint and sound deadener. Use a #10 or larger screw to secure it. Never use
seatbelt bolts for grounding.
Remember, the ground must carry the same high current as the positive power wire.
Installation Instructions
ARC Audio FD Series Amplifiers are designed for easy installation in your vehicle.
To ensure proper operation of your new purchase, please follow the suggestions
we have listed below:
Warning
Please check the suitability of the installation location before you begin. Do not cut any of
the car’s structure. Pay close attention to what is behind the panels or carpet. Often the
manufacture will hide wires, computers or other electronic devices in the exact areas you
wish to install in.
If you do not have experience with automotive electrical and mechanical systems contact
a professional installer. Paying a qualified installer is almost always cheaper then paying
a dealership to repair your car.
Locating the Amplifier
The amplifiers must be securely mounted to a solid surface. Please select a dry
location in the trunk or passenger compartment only. Do not mount the amplifier to
any area that may have excess vibration (like the subwoofer box). Position the
amplifier in an area that receives sufficient airflow for proper heat dissipation.
To reduce the risk of noise, run all signal cables away from any vehicle or power supply wiring.
Running the Cables
Carefully run the power and signal cables through the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
Always use a rubber grommet to prevent the power wire from shorting and to reduce the risk of fire.
An 4 gauge or larger wire should be used for power and ground connections. We recommend a fuse
be installed on the power wire within 18 inches of the battery for safety.
Setting the Gains
So you're worried that your 4 Volt output head unit will be too much for the ARC Audio's 2.5 Volt
input stage.
Don't Be
ARC Audio Amplifiers input stage is rated to 2.5 volts RMS @ 1KHz without clipping.
Music is very dynamic. Nothing like a 1KHz test tone. It would be rare to see a peak as high as a test
tone. Furthermore, your head unit produces its output at full volume but when you tune your system
you always set the head unit to 70% of maximum volume.
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Input Section
Because of the wide range of head unit output configurations all ARC
Audio amplifiers have an adjustable input sensitivity or “Gain”. The gain
is not a volume or a power limiting control like a throttle. It makes the
amp more sensitive to input from the stereo. With the gain up the amp
will reach full output at a lower volume setting on the deck. At higher
gain settings the amp also becomes more sensitive to noise from the
car’s electrical system. Try to run the gain at the lowest setting possible
for you system.
There is no correct gain setting. Because speakers require different
power demands to reach the same output, the gains most often need
to be used to compensate for these differences. If you tried to set all the
gains at half way you
would probably find
the system didn’t
sound very good. Using
good judgment and
listening carefully to
each speaker is still the
best way to tune a
system.
Bass Boost
This amp has a fully adjustable bass boost. Both the frequency and the
level of the boost are adjustable. Start with a small increase in the level
control. Then “sweep” the frequency up and down. Listen carefully for an
improvement in the sound of the bass. If you do not hear any improvement then the woofer does not need any boost.
Use Bass Boost carefully. The demands
on power output are tremendous. Try
to minimize the use by changing
woofer position or the enclosure size.
Subsonic Filter
A subsonic filter acts like a crossover but at very low frequencies. It
removes sound that is so low the speaker cannot reproduce it. You see
the cone moving but hear no sound. This can be very hard on your
woofer especially at high power. If
you are using a ported subwoofer
enclosure at high power you should
use a Subsonic Filter to limit cone
movement at very low frequencies.
Speaker outputs
This amplifier is a mono design. Meaning it has only 1 channel. It is
equipped with a single large block terminal for speaker connection.
Crossover Controls
A crossover is a device that removes unwanted frequencies from a speaker
or amplifier. A tweeter can easily be destroyed by bass notes if they are not
filtered out. Likewise a subwoofer will not sound natural if it is playing
midrange notes. A crossover removes these sounds from the speaker. As you
might guess, careful adjustment is need to
ensure that all the speakers are playing the
right sounds and that you are left with no
“holes” or low spots in the frequency
response.
Make this connection carefully and neatly. If the wires ever come in
contact with each other the amp will go into protection.
Know your total ohm load before you make any connections.
Note the ohm load switch. Use the 2
ohm position for any load over 2 ohms.
For any load under 2 ohms switch to
the 1 ohm mode.
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