Clarion APX400 User Manual
INTRODUCTION
The Clarion APX400.4M is a full-featured four-channel amplifier. It comes
with the following features:
• Full frequency response with low distortion and exceptional signal to noise
performance
• Advanced circuit design features bridgeable and mixed mode operation for
use in a variety of 4, 3 or 2 channel systems
• Independent front and rear, low-pass/high-pass electronic crossovers each
with a 12dB per octave slope and full adjustment range (from 55Hz to 550Hz
Front and 55Hz to 5.5kHz Rear) to aid in audio system design
• Variable bass boost circuit to reinforce low frequency signals that may be
lost due to subwoofer box design
• Adjustable input level controls with ground loop isolation accepting a wide
range of input signals
• Remote turn-on with “soft start” muting to prevent turn-on “thump”
• Pulse-Width Modulated (PWM) MOSFET power supply with low AM RFI
and protection circuits for overheating and speaker shorts
• 2 ohm load capacity to drive a variety of speaker systems
• Gold-plated input/output connectors and an external automotive type fuse
• Aluminum heat sink for efficient heat dissipation
• Low profile, compact size for space limited installations
ABOUT THE MANUAL AND WARRANTY
To start enjoying your new Clarion four-channel amplifier, please read the
instructions listed in this manual. Keep all instructions for future reference.
Please fill out and send in the enclosed warranty card to protect your purchase
and aid in warranty service. Also, save your original sales receipt as proof of
purchase.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Description • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1
Input Connections and Audio Controls • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1
Connections for Power and Speakers • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 3
Applications • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4
Installation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9
Mounting Precautions • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9
Wiring Precautions • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •9
Setting the Gain • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 11
Setting the Crossover • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 11
Setting the Bass Boost • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 11
Final System Checks • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •12
Troubleshooting • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •12
Product Specs • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •13
Notes • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •13
DESCRIPTION
The Clarion APX400.4M 4-channel marine amplifier is an excellent choice for
creating a variety of multi-channel sound systems. It features built-in system
design flexibility that allows you to create a 2, 3 or 4 channel amplifier with a
flip of a switch. You can also configure the front or rear amplifier sections for
a mixed mode operation to drive a set of satellite speakers and/or subwoofer.
The built-in 12dB per octave electronic crossover lets you custom tailor the
sound of the front and rear channels, using two independent filters with
adjustable crossover frequencies for high-pass or low-pass filtering.
The amplifier also uses an unregulated MOSFET power supply for superior
control of output wattage. A toroid-coil transformer yields maximum power
transfer with minimum heat loss. Careful circuit design keeps AM RFI at low
levels, so you won’t hear unwanted noise when the level is cranked up.
Protection circuits safeguard the amplifier against overheating, speaker shorts,
or improper load conditions that may occur.
All connections and controls are on the end panels and are easy to understand.
We use gold-plated RCA and barrier connectors to ensure the best electrical
connection for your system. Included are external automotive type fuses that
are easy to replace.
INPUT CONNECTIONS AND AUDIO CONTROL
The front panel of the APX400.4M contains connections for RCA Inputs and
Audio Control as shown below.
The Input Connections are gold-plated RCA Jacks and are labeled as FRONT
Figure 1-
1. Front RCA Input Jacks
2. Rear RCA Input Jacks
3. Front Gain Control
4. Rear Gain Control
5. Bass Boost Control
6. Rear Channel Input Selector
7. Front Input Mode Switch
8. Rear Input Mode Switch
9. Speaker Level Inputs
10. Front Frequency Control
11. Front X-Over Mode Switch
12. Rear Frequency Control
13. Multiplier Switch
14. Rear X-Over Mode Switch
1
RIGHT, FRONTLEFT, REAR RIGHT and REAR LEFT. The Gain Controls
provide a wide adjustment range to accommodate output levels from any brand
of source unit.
• Gain Controls - Seperate Front and Rear Gain Controls allow you to set the
nominal operating level of the amplifier. The amplifier’s range, 250mV to
2.5V for RCA inputs or 500mV to 5V for speaker level inputs, can
accommodate input levels from virtually any brand of source unit.
• Bass Boost Control - The amplifier also features a “high-Q” (i.e. narrow
frequency band) Bass Boost circuit. It acts much like an equalizer, with
adjustable gain (from 0 to +18dB) fixed at 45Hz. Use this feature to tune lowfrequency audio response to compensate for a less than ideal subwoofer
enclosure design. The added boost produces rich, full bass tones that are
normally difficult to reproduce in the car audio environment. Note: If Bass
Boost is undesired, set Bass Boost to 0dB.
High-pass/Low-pass Filter Controls
• Freq (Hz) Controls - The front crossover frequency is fully adjustable
between 55Hz and 550Hz. The rear crossover frequency is fully adjustable
between 55Hz and 5500Hz (via the Rear Crossover Frequency Multiplier) for a
wide range of crossover points. Use this feature, along with your speaker
manufacturer’s recommended crossover frequencies, to quickly design a more
advanced system (see Applications on page 6.) NOTE: If either of the X-Over
Mode Switches is set to OFF, varying the Freq (Hz) Control will produce no
effect.
• Rear X-Over Frequency Multiplier Switch - When engaged, this switch
increases the crossover frequency of the rear channels by a factor of 10.
Example: If the Freq (Hz) dial is set for 240Hz, pushing in the multiplier
Switch changes the setting to 2400Hz.
• X-Over Mode Switches - These switches are equipped with 12dB per octave
electronic filters for precise frequency attenuation with minimal phase
distortion. The steep crossover slopes keep midrange tones out of the
subwoofer and thereby eliminating an unnatural “nasal” tone quality in the
audio system. Each filter is activated by sliding the X-Over Mode Switch to
either LP or HP.
• Input Mode Switches - These switches allow you to set the input mode for
front and rear channels. Stereo input allows full left and right stereo operation.
Right (bridged) input allows single channel input for bridged operation. This is
especially useful in high-powered systems when using the APX400.4M as a
bridged 2 channel amplifier. L + R (sum mono) allows a stereo input to be
summed into a mono output.
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• Rear Channel Input Select - This switch allows you to use a 2 channel input
to drive all 4 channels of this amplifier.
• Speaker Level Inputs - These provide connections for a high-level stereo
source. In addition, these connections are provided for installations where the
source unit’s RCAoutputs are unavailable.
WARNING: When using the speaker (high-level) inputs, the Black wire must
be grounded at the Radio. Failure to do this will result in noise and improper
operation.
CONNECTIONS FOR POWER AND SPEAKERS
The rear panel of the APX400.4M contains power and speaker connections as
shown below.
Figure 2-
1. Left Front Speaker Output
2. Right Front Speaker Output
3. Remote Turn-on Input
4. Ground Input
5. Battery + 12V Input
6. 40 Amp Fuse
7. Left Rear Speaker Output
8. Right Rear Speaker Output
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