Cadence Q DRIVE User Manual

Thank you for purchasing a Cadence Q Series amplifier. Over the past years, the technology used to create audio amplifiers has grown
by leaps and bounds. We have tens of thousands of satisfied customers still using our first generation Ultra Drive amplifiers which are
more than 10 years old. Our competition is satisfied with just continuing to build the same units year after year without thought for
improvement, but not Cadence. We consider it our mission to use our expertise in developing the latest technologies and to bring you
the absolute best sounding, most powerful amplifiers on the market and of course at a reasonable price. We are very proud to introduce
this third generation of Q Series amplifiers featuring C-FORCE technology, "ARVA" and "ADR" circuitry. You will be amazed at the
quality and power that these new amps offer . Y ou will "Boom-Harder!" with Q Series amplifiers.

We have spared no expense in designing these amplifiers, creating the most rugged, reliable, powerful and best performing amplifiers.
In fact we are so sure of the quality we backup every Q Seriesamplifier with our exclusive two-year warranty which exemplifies our
commitment to excellence in car audio musical reproduction. (See enclosed warranty card for details.)

Please read this installation guide carefully for proper use of your Cadence power amplifier. Should you need technical assistance
during or after your installation please call our technical-line between 9:30 am and 5:00 PM EST at 732/370-5400. Read this entire
guide fully before attempting your installation.

WARNING: BE AWARE! Use of this amplifier at extreme high volumes for extended periods of time may cause hearing loss and or
hearing damage. During periods of prolonged high volume levels it is recommended that you use ear safety devices. Playing Cadence
amplifiers at high volume levels while driving will impair your ability to hear necessary traffic sounds. While driving always keep your
sound volume at reasonable levels. We at Cadence want you listening for many years to come.

When installing the amplifier, secure it tightly. An unmounted amplifier in your car can cause serious injury to passengers and damage
to your vehicle if it is set in motion by an abrupt driving maneuver or short stop.

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All the terminals on the amplifier are solid brass and gold plated for high conductivity and
minimum impedance loss. The power and ground terminals are extra large and capable of
accepting 4-8 gauge wire. The speaker terminals can accept 16 gauge wire. When wiring the
amplifier, be sure to strip just enough wire that fits into the terminal so that bare wires do not
touch each other, or the amplifier chassis and cause a short circuit.

Q Series amplifiers feature our unique IC controlled protection circuitry. This sophisticated
circuit constantly monitors the heatsink internal temperature and various voltages, adjusting
the amp automatically and protecting it from dangerous conditions. The 2 LEDs located on
the input side of the amplifier provide indication of the amplifier status, the Power LED will
light when the amplifier is receiving proper power, ground and remote voltages and the IC
monitoring sequence indicates the amp is functional. In case the amplifier encounters a
diagnostic condition as listed below, the second LED will light indicating a Diagnostic
condition. When a diagnostic condition is sensed the amplifier will then turn into a self
preservation mode and if the cause of the diagnostic condition is not corrected will eventually
shut off. There are certain critical diagnostic conditions which will turn the amplifier off
immediately.

A narrow "Q" shelving equalization circuit is included in the amplifiers. The equalization
system is preset at 45Hz. The boost control allows you to add up to 12dB of Bass Drive effect.
Utilize the Bass Drive to tailor your bass response to your systems needs. Please keep in
mind that by adding Bass Drive you are adding stress on your speakers. Make sure your
speakers can handle the extra power output! It would be foolish to add 12dB of gain to low
excursion 8" and 10" Subwoofers .

Cadence Q Series amplifiers feature our proprietary ADR, Active Dynamic Regulated power
supplies. 100% HexFET devices are utilized in the power supply for high speed (100KHz)
switching frequencies. The power supplies are capable of supplying the main amplifier with a
considerable amount of reserve voltage for peak "high demand" situations. The ADR circuit
provides full bandwidth power for authoritative bass response, high current output into low
impedance loads and increased headroom. The ADR is supplied with power via a high speed,
high temperature capacitance bank and 100% pure copper rails on the PCB enabling fast
transient response to musical demands.

1. Speaker short circuit.

2. Input Overload.

3. Thermal overload.

4. Reverse Polarity.

To reset the amplifier , you must first diagnose what caused the problem, correct the fault and
restart the system. See the Trouble Shooting page for further det ails.

The Q Series amplifiers feature an anti-thump, mute and delay circuit. This eliminates
irritating and speaker damaging turn-on and turn-off transients normally experienced with
less expensive amplifiers.

The audio output section of the Q Series amplifiers feature Japanese studio grade, high
current BiPolar audio transistors. Unlike other manufacturers who use a host of different type
transistors, not originally designed for audio output, ie: power supply transistors, motor
control transistors to produce the audio signal, (You can only imagine what they sound like.)
Cadence uses only true audio transistors. These transistors were designed and engineered
to produce music. That’s why Cadence amplifiers sound better. They are cleaner with lower
distortion, higher current capable and more reliable. We challenge you to test listen a
Cadence amplifier and hear the difference yourself.

Cadence Q Series amplifiers feature "ARVA" circuitry in their power supply. This circuit
constantly monitors the output stage and under high current demands will adjust the power
supply rail voltages so that enough power is available for peak situations. The "ARVA" also
improves the damping factor of the amplifier when playing low impedance mono loads.
Cadence Q Series amplifiers have tighter sounding bass reproduction thanks to this unique
circuitry.

CadenceQ Series amplifiers are rated and regulated to 13.8 volts and below. Increasing

voltage to 14.4 volts will increase the power output of the amplifier in the same proportion.
Maximum input voltage is 14.4 volts while the minimum voltage is 12 volts.

DO NOT EXCEED 14.4 INPUT VOL TAGE.
Cadence Q Series amplifiers are not competition style amplifiers!

Cadence amplifiers incorporate many outstanding protection circuits to help protect the
amplifier from being damaged during operating conditions.

Thermal Protection: When the amplifier reaches an unsafe operating temperature of 80
degrees Celsius the amplifier will turn off. Once the amplifier cools down, simply reset the
amplifier by its Remote connection, (turn the amplifier off and then on again once you have
given the amplifier a chance to cool down) and the amp will once again begin to play.

If you live in a hot climate we suggest installing additional cooling fans in your trunk to exhaust
the hot air which can build up in the trunk this will help keep the ambient temperature in the
trunk as low as possible so that your amps work flawlessly and without any musical
interruption.

Speaker Short Circuit Protection: Should your speakers short circuit due to voice coil burn
out, or should the amplifier sense an impedance too low to handle, the Protection LED will
light, indicating a diagnostic condition. Turn off your system, disconnect one speaker at a time
and try to determine which speaker might be faulty. Correct the condition and restart the
amplifier. You must reset the amplifier by turning off and then on by the Remote power for
proper operation after correcting a diagnostic condition.

Clipping or total shutdown may also be a result of a bad ground connection or loose ground. If
you find that your speakers and speaker wires are not shorted, please check your ground
connection.

Input Overload Protection: This circuit will either shutdown the amplifier completely or
make the amplifier spurt on and off indicating that it is in a diagnostic condition. Turn the
system off and reduce the gain on the amplifier or volume from your head unit, this should
result in a corrected condition.

DC Offset Protection: Should any DC voltage try to enter the amplifier via the speaker
terminals it will cause the amplifier to shut down and not operate until this condition is
remedied. This circuit will also protect damaging high DC voltages from reaching your
speakers should your amplifier ever miss-function.

Before you begin with your installation disconnect the NEGATIVE (-) terminal from your car's
battery. This safety precaution will avoid possible short circuits while wiring your amplifier.
Cadence amplifiers operate on 12-volt negative ground systems only.

It is recommend that you layout your sound system design on paper first. This will help you
during the installation so that you will have a wiring flow chart and not miss-wire any of your
components.

Mount the amplifier in the trunk or hatch area of your vehicle. Never install an amplifier in the
engine compartment or on the firewall. Please be sure to leave breathing room around the
amplifier heatsink so that it can dissipate the heat it produces efficiently . The amplifier can be
installed either horizontally or vertically .

When mounting the amplifier on the trunk floor, be sure to watch for your gas tank, gas lines
and electrical lines. Do not drill or mount any screws where they might penetrate the gas tank
of your car.