Directed Audio 1500X, 4600X, 2300X User Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations for choosing an Xtreme Series power amplifier, by Directed Audio. This high performance product has been designed and engineered by Directed Electronics, the industry leader in high quality automotive security and audio equipment since 1990. With the Xtreme Series power amplifiers, Directed Audio continues to set new standards of performance, reliability, and affordability in the mobile electronics industry.

Featuring high-efficiency MOSFET power supplies and flexible built-in crossovers housed in a rugged, extruded aluminum

extrusion with black chrome trim panels, Xtreme power amplifiers will excite and delight car audio enthusiasts with years of high performance audio reproduction.

Xtreme Series amplifiers come with a two-year limited warranty if sold and installed by an authorized Directed dealer. If not installed by an authorized dealer, Xtreme Series amplifiers are covered by a one-year, parts-and-labor limited warranty. Be sure to retain your original purchase receipt, and refer to the warranty section of this guide for full details about your coverage.

Congratulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Limited Two-Year Consumer Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Installation Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Front Panel Connections/Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Input Wiring Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Crossover Settings and Gain Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Rear Panel Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Speaker connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Bridge Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

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 twoyear 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 1 year from the date of purchase by the dealer as indicated by the date code marking of the product. During this 1-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 1-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.

INSTALLATION GUIDELINES

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.

WARNING

FEATURES

 High-speed MOSFET power supplies  Complimentary bipolar transistor

outputs

 Mono/stereo/mixed mono opera-

tion (1500X mono only)

 2 ohm stereo stable/4 ohm mono

stable (1500X 2 ohm mono stable)

 Built-in 2-way variable crossovers

(1500X LP only)

 +6 or +12 dB switchable bass

boost (4600X switchable +12dB)

 Adjustable input gain  Power/status LED's  Thermal, short-circuit, over-current,

and reverse polarity protection

 Gold-plated RCA inputs  Heavy duty screw terminals accept

up to 8 AWG cables

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 obstruc-

tions 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 spotwelded.

7. Always fuse your power connection within 8 to 10 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 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 2 to 8 ohms. Keep in mind that heat is the long-term enemy of automotive electronics 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.

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