Dls RA50 User Manual
How to install and
operate the DLS
Reference series
5-channel amplifier
RA50
Welcome!
This owners manual is written in easy english and
uses a lot of drawings to simply the installation and
use of the above amplifiers.
Your DLS amplifiers must be installed correctly in
order to work well. This manual will show you how
to install the amplifier like a pro. Please read the
entire manual before beginning the installation.
Install the amplifier yourself if you feel confident with
our instructions and if you have the proper tools.
However if you feel unsure, turn over the installation job to someone better suited to it.
Contents
Features…………………………….. 2
Installation…………………….……. 2
Tools and materials needed………. 3
Amplifier installation kit………….... 3
Routing Wires…………………….... 3
Wiring:
Power connection..……………..…. 4
Input and controls………………..... 5
Input wiring..................................... 5
Hi Level Auto start switch............... 6
Input level control.......................... 6
Grand Bass..................………….... 6
Phase control................................. 6
Crossovers (filters)......................... 7-8
RA50 speaker wiring:
Four speakers + subwoofer ……..... 9
Two speakers in bridge mode +
subwoofer.......................................... 10
2-way component set with active
crossover + subwoofer...................... 11
3-way component set with active
crossover to midbass + subwoofer... 12
Testing……………………………….. 13
Troubleshooting……………………... 13
Professional tips…………………….. 14
Specifications………………………... 15
Warranty Service
This amplifier is covered by warranty, depending
on the conditions in the country where it is sold. If
the amplifier is returned for service, please include
the original dated receipt with the product.
For technical assistance ask the shop where the
product was sold or the distributor in your very country.
You can always phone the DLS Helpdesk in Sweden
+ 46 31 84 00 60 or send an e-mail to info@dls.se.
Information can also be found on our WEB-site
www.dls.se
This manual is modified 2005-04-06 for RA50 with
separate sub channel input.
Technical Assistance
The amplifiers include
RCA inputs
High Level input
Variable low pass crossover
Variable high pass crossover
Grand bass feature 0 - +18 dB
Phase shift continously variabel 0-180 degr.
Remote turn on / off
Automatic remote turn on/ off on high level
input without connecting any remote wire
Electronic protection circuitry against
short-circuit, DC offset and thermal overload.
RA50
RA50
4 x 70 Watt RMS in 4 ohm
4 x 110 Watt RMS in 2 ohm
1 x 265 Watt RMS on mono channel (4 ohm load)
All above RMS power ratings at 13,8 Volt DC.
The full specifications can be found on page 15.
Installation
Before you begin installation
Before you begin you need to read the manual, to have
some tools, cables and other material available. There
is one such list of material on the following page.
Amplifier location
Important
Allow air circulation around the amplifier.
The DLS Reference series of amplifiers have a
compact design that allows great flexibility in
mounting. You can mount it under a seat or in the
trunk.
When you select a location, do remember that the
amplifier generates a lot of heat.
Choose a location where air can circulate freely
around the amplifier. Do not cover the amplifier
with carpets or hide behind trim panels.
Do not mount the amplifier in an inverted or upside
down position.
Disconnect Battery
Before starting the installation, always disconnect
the negative terminal of
the battery.
DLS logo on amplifier cooling flange
The DLS logo on top of the amplifier is attached
with two hex. screws. The logo can be removed
and twisted 90 or 180 degrees, and then screwed
back in wanted position. The logo can be mounted
in four different ways to match your installation.
Use a 1,5 mm hex. key for the screws.
Check all locations and placements carefully
before making any cuts, drilling any holes or making any connections.
This is the best way to
mount the amplifier to get
the best cooling.
2
RA50
Tools and material needed
Tools:
Flat and Phillips screwdrivers
Wire cutter
Wire stripper
Electric drill with drills
Crimping tool
Digital multimeter or test lamp
Wire brush, scraper or a piece
of an abrasive sheet to remove
paint for a good ground connection
Grease to protect the ground
connection from oxidation
Material:
Speaker wire: minimum
12 AWG = 4 mm2 for subwoofers
13 – 16 AWG = 1,5-2,5 mm2 for other
speakers
Sheet metal screws for mounting the
amplifier to the amplifier board and the
amplifier board to the car + some extra
for fuse holder, amplifier ground etc.
Electrical insulation tape
½ inch thick plywood or particle board for
the amplifier to be mounted upon.
Routing wires
Stereo
head unit
Amplifier installation kit:
If available,buy an amplifier installation kit. It
contains normally all you need. This is what you
have to buy if you buy the items separately
20- 25 feet = 6- 7.5 meter power cable,
AWG 4 = 21 mm2 or heavier.
1 pc of fuseholder to install close to the
car battery + fuse 80-100 Ampere.
20 feet of AWG 15 = 1,5 mm2 wire for
remote turn on / off cable from radio.
RCA-cable for input from radio.
- 20 feet or 5 meter for trunk installations
-12 feet or 2 – 3 meter for under seat
installations
Two ring crimp terminals –one
for connection to the battery plus and one
for the amplifier ground connection.
Four to eight splicers to connect speaker
cables to high level input cable, if high level
input is used.
Wire ties
Insulating grommet or insulating tube
Professional Tip:
If amplifier installation kits are available with
different size of power cable, chose the most
heavy power cable to improve sound quality and
to allow more amplifiers to be installed now or
later.
If possible use AWG 4 = 21 mm2 cable for best
performance.
This is for cable lengths up to 5 meters.
The ground cable must have the same size.
3
Wiring
RA50
Power connections
Power terminal ( +12V)
Connect the fuse holder as close to the vehicle
battery + as possible, using AWG 4 = 21 mm2 or
heavier cable. Use ring crimp terminal cable to
connect to battery +. Apply silicon grease to the
fuse to prevent corrosion.
Use an 80 A fuse for cable
4AWG (21 mm2).
DLS
Connect with
ring terminal to
battery + terminal
Connect the battery cable from the fuse holder to
the +12 Volt terminal on the amplifier.
Be sure to use a rubber grommet or a plastic
insulating tube where the cable passes the firewall
or other places when it can easily be jammed.
Use ty-wraps to secure to existing cables in the
engine compartment.
DLS FH1 or
FH2B
fuse holder
Remote terminal ( REM )
For RCA cable signal input:
Set the input selector switch to position ”Low level”.
Connect the radio power antenna lead = remote
turn on/off from the car stereo to the amplifier
remote connection. This turns on the amplifier
whenever the car stereo is turned on.
You can either use the built in remote cable in the
RCA cable itself or use a separate cable.
Sometimes a small disturbance may enter the
amplifier coming from the remote voltage , through
the built in remote wire and into the RCA cable.
Thus we recommend to use a separate remote wire
and run the RCA lead separate from remote wire,
power cables and speaker cables.
Insert the cable directly into the amplifier terminal.
If there is no remote voltage available from the stereo, you must connect to the ignition key through
the radio or any accessories fuse.
Set the ”High level auto
start” switch to position
OUT.
Connect to head
unit remote start
terminal or power
antenna lead
Ground Terminal ( GND )
Connect to a good chassis ground. The ground
connection should be clean, unpainted metal to
provide a good electrical connection. Use a wire
brush, a scraper or a piece of an abrasive sheet to
clean the metal. Use a lock washer or two to secure
contact. Protect with silicon grease or by paint
applied afterwards.
Connect with ring
terminal to
chassis ground
Fuses
Use only three 30 ampere
ATC blade type fuses.
30 A
4
For High Level input:
Set the input selector switch to position ”High level”.
We recommend you to connect the remote wire as
described above. The amplifier will produce soft
on / soft off operation this way. If you use a remote
wire, set the switch ”High level auto start” to position OUT.
In the case that there is no remote voltage available
from the car stereo, or you want to simplify the installation, the amplifier can be turned on/ turned
off by the high level input voltage. This is done
when the ”High level auto start” switch is set to IN
- position.
Power Light / Protect light
The power light (green ) comes on when
Power
(Green)
Protect
(Red)
the amplifier is turned on.
The protect light ( red ) comes on
when the amplifier shuts down from
DC offset, overheating, or a short
circuit ( speaker failure)
Input and controls
Input Wiring
Inputs may be low level from the RCA output of the
car stereo, or high level from the car stereo speaker
output. Low level = RCA is to prefer for the best sound
quality.
RA50
Low level input
Use a pair of shielded stereo audio cables with RCA
type jack. Most trunk-mount amplifiers need a 20
feet RCA cable ( appr 5 – 6 meters). Most under
the seat installations require 12 feet ( 2 – 3 meters)
RCA cables. Avoid placing the RCA cable close to
speaker cables, power
cables and remote control
cable. Connect to RCA input
sockets.
Set the input selector switch
to position ”Low level”.
SUB INPUT selector
switch in bottom plate
The amplifier has a separate input for the sub
channel (CH 5). The signal to the sub channel can
either be fed from the input for CH 1 & CH2, or
separate through the SUB IN RCA connector.
There is a switch under the bottom plate.
With this switch in the upper position the sub
channel gets it´s signal from CH1 & CH2 inputs.
With the switch in lower position, the sub channel
(CH5) is fed from the separate SUB input.
This is useful if you prefer to use the separate
subwoofer output coming from many head units. If
your head unit has only one RCA preout, set the
selector to the upper position instead.
Input Mode Selector
CH1 from Input 1
CH2 from Input 2
CH3 from Input 3
CH4 from Input 4
Sub CH5 from
Input 1+2
CH1 from Input 1
CH2 from Input 2
CH3 from Input 3
CH4 from Input 4
Sub CH5 from
SUB INPUT
NOTE!
When using high level
input the selector
must be in it´s upper
position to feed the
sub channel with signal.
High Level Input for ch 1, 2, 3 & 4
Connect left and right speaker wires coming from
the car stereo to the high level input as shown. You
must connect both plus and minus as the inputs
are balanced, connecting plus only gives lower level
and bad sound quality. By changing the polarity of
plus and minus, you can change the phase. The
input signal to the sub channel (CH5) is also
fed from the High level inputs if the SUB INPUT
selector switch is in the upper position.
High level input sockets
Green: Left +
Black: Left -
CH2 CH1
Hi level input
socket on amp.
.
CH4 CH3
Hi level input
socket on
amp.
Hi level input plug.
Hi level input plug.
Black: Right Grey: Right +
Green: Left +
Black: Left Black: Right Grey: Right +
Automatic turn on when using high level input.
With the ”Input selector switch” set to High level
and the ”High level Auto Start” switch set to IN,
the amplifier turns on automatically on high input.
You don´t need to connect a separate remote wire
from your head unit. If you want to use high level
input but use a remote start wire, just set the ”High
level Auto Start” switch to OUT. Read more on
next page.
Hi level / Low level input selector switch
To ensure best possible performance from the
amplifiers a switch is installed to select between Hi
and Low input.
When using High Level input:
Push in the button to position
”High”
When using Low level input:
Push out the button to position
”Low”
5
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