Hifionics Colossus User Manual

COLOSSUS

AMPLIFIER

SERIES

COLOSSUS HIGH PERFORMANCE AMPLIFIER SERIES

The Hifonics Colossus has been designed to a very high level of performance, with features unavailable in any other product. The Colossus has variable crossovers built in, with added touches such as Subsonic Filter, Parametric Bass Equalization,

Phase Shift, Balanced Line Input and a Remote Level Control Module that allows bass control from reach of the drivers seat. To insure years of listening pleasure, all amplifiers have a built in diagnostic mode that will detect shorted speaker leads, low

impedance, dangerous high temperatures, DC shorts and will shut down the amp to help prevent serious damage. A new feature for this series is the Clipping LED indicator. This indicator is located on the amplifier end panel and Bass Remote Control Module. This LED alerts the user when the amp reaches soft clipping and allows the user to correct the settings prior to reaching hard clipping and shutting the amp down.

INDEX PAGE

General Installation Procedure..........................................................................................................................................................1

Amplifier Feature Descriptions.........................................................................................................................................................2

COLOSSUS Dual-Mono Block Amplifier Applications....................................................................................................................3

Single and dual sub applications, independent and bridged mode applications

Setting Up Systems After Installation For Best Performance..........................................................................................................4

Troubleshooting And Diagnostics....................................................................................................................................................5

Features And Specifications..............................................................................................................................................................6

Product Warranty...............................................................................................................................................................................7

Check out our videos of new products,

events and technical tutorials at

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The contents of this manual may not be reproduced or copied without the written consent of MAXXSONICS USA, Inc.

GENERAL INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

System Design

The success of any car stereo system relies on several factors, such as the system design, execution of the installation, and system setup. Please remember that any system is only as good as its weakest link.

Please remember that higher power systems are not necessarily useful purely for high sound pressure levels, but also to establish a headroom capability, to reproduce musical peaks cleanly without distortion. Lower power amplifiers will clip earlier than their more powerful cousins, and cause loudspeaker failure when overdriven, due to the harmonics generated by a clipped signal, thus overheating voice coils.

Amplifiers should be mounted with the fins running horizontally for best convection cooling, to minimize overheating. Purchase the best quality RCA cables you can afford, for reliability and less engine noise interference in the audio system.

Installation

WOOD

It is highly recommended that the amplifier be mounted to a board of MDF or other solid structure using the 4 mounting screws provided. Avoid mounting the amplifier to metal as this can introduce noise and other unwanted issues. When mounting the amplifier, ensure that it is mounted HORIZONTALLY, as shown in the diagram above, for optimal heat dissipation. Mounting amplifiers to speaker enclosures is not recommended as this can cause damage to the amplifier components. When choosing a location for mounting the amplifier, ensure that you check for clearance from wires, gas tank, electrical devices and brake lines etc.

General:

Run the wiring so that RCA cables are at least 18“ away from power and speaker cables. Keep RCA cables away from electrical devices in the vehicle that can cause electrical noise, such as electric fuel pumps, emission control modules and other on-board electronic modules.

H F

Power and ground connections(see the features matrix on page 6 for proper gauge cables per amplifier):

Use a sufficient gauge power cable and ground cable using the chart below as reference to what size wire you require. Colossus amplifiers require at least 2 gauge power wire. In a multi amplifier system, add the total value of the manufacture recommended fusing to get your total system amperage. Some applications may require multiple runs of power wire to meet the system requirements. In multi amplifier systems it is advisable to mount a large enough fuse right at the battery, and run one or multiple +12 volt power cables to a fused distribution block near the amplifiers. It is then a simple matter to connect the +12 volt terminal of each amplifier to the distribution block. During this process, please ensure that the main power fuse is removed to avoid shorting the electrical system. The main fuse must be within 12” of the vehicles battery.

Ground each amplifier with as short a ground lead as possible directly to the vehicle chassis using at least 4 gauge wire or equivalent to the size of the amplifiers’ power wire. Use a ground distribution block, if you wish, but it is extremely important to keep the main ground lead from this distribution block to the chassis as short as possible , not more than 12“. The ground connection integrity to the chassis is very important, and the best way to achieve a good, solid electrical and mechanical contact is to use a large round crimp lug, crimped and soldered to the ground cable. The next step is to scrape the paint off the vehicle chassis , slightly larger than the ground lug, at the connection point. Drill a clearance hole in the chassis, the same size as the lug hole, and use a bolt, spring washer and nut to securely fasten the ground lug. Use petroleum jelly to coat the bolt/lug connection, to prevent oxidization with time.

TIP: Use the same approach when installing head units, equalizers or any audio equipment for that matter - run short individual grounds from each piece directly to

the vehicle chassis, to minimize ground loops and system noise. All power, ground and speaker connections should be crimped and soldered for reliability. Make sure that none of the cable insulation can chafe against exposed metal in the vehicle, causing short circuits to the chassis.

WIRE LENGTH

SYSTEM AMPERAGE

35-50

50-65

68-85

85-105

105-125

125-150

7-10 ft. 10-13 ft. 13-16 ft.

16-19 ft. 19-22 ft. 22-28 ft.

NOTE: This Matrix is a general rule

WIRE GAUGE

of thumb. Please refer to the manufacturers specific requirements. Colossus specifications can be found on page 6.

Safe connection sequence:

After all cables are run, connect speaker wires to the speakers and amplifiers, then run and plug in RCA cables. Next, connect all power, ground, and remote turn on leads. Now connect all +12 volt cables to the amplifier/s and distribution blocks and fuse holders. Finally, connect the main +12 volt cable to the battery, with the main fuse removed, and we are almost ready to power up the system.

Your Electrical System:

The Hifonics Colossus is a 3200wrms amplifier. Your stock electrical system is not capable of providing the required Voltage and Amperage to this amplifier. You should contact a reputable battery and alternator store or manufacturer for the proper upgrades to successfully power this model amplifier. Ignoring this warning and attempting to run the Colossus on your stock electrical system without the necessary upgrades can cause damage to your amplifier and may void your Warranty. For more information on upgrading your electrical system, please review the Car Audio 101 Tutorials located on our YouTube page at www.youtube.com/maxxsonicsusainc.

AMPLIFIER FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS

The Hifonics Colossus is capable of 4, 2 & 1 Ohms stereo per channel, or 4 & 2 Ohms mono bridged operation.

A POWER LED indicates the powered up and turned on condition. All HiFonics amplifiers feature a comprehensive diagnostic system, with

speaker lead short circuit, thermal over load and amplifier DC faults The input sensitivities for rated output powers are variable from 0.2 volt to 9 volts.

indicated by the PROTECT LED’s. The Colossus features a new clipping

led indicator that changes colors as the severity of the clipped signal

increases. All crossovers are fully variable in their respective ranges. Crossover filter slopes are 24 dB/octave for mono filters.

CONTROL FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS

SUBSONIC: The variable Subsonic filter is fully adjustable from 15Hz to 35Hz. LOW PASS FILTER: The low pass filter is fully adjustable from 35Hz to 250Hz. PARAMETRIC BASS EQ:

BOOST: The bass boost is fully adjustable from 0dB to 10db. BANDWIDTH: The bandwidth is fully adjustable from narrow to wide. FREQUENCY: The frequency is fully adjustable from 30Hz to 100Hz.

BALANCED INPUT: Accepts balanced line inputs from 0.2 volts to 18 volts for an optional balanced line driver. LINE INPUT: Accepts unbalanced RCA inputs from 0.2 volts to 9 volts. LINE OUTPUT: The unbalanced RCA outputs are identical to the signal supplied to the amplifier. LEVEL: The input level control allows you to match the amplifier input sensitivity to the output level of the RADIO/CD source from 0.2 Volts to 9

volts when using unbalanced (RCA) and 0.2 volts to 18 volts with the balanced input.

PHASE SHIFT: The Phase Shift is fully adjustable from 0 to 180 degrees. SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS: The amplifier has built-in monitoring devices and protection circuits that monitor all vital functions of the amplifier.

The diagnostics light do not come on to indicate there is a failure, they come on when they detect an improper operation. THERMAL: The amp has an internal temperature sensor that will automatically shut off the amp if it reaches dangerous temperature levels and the LED will be Amber in color. DC PROTECT (Short Circuit): In the unlikely event the amp should internally fail, the amp will shut down to prevent a DC voltage output to the speakers or sub and the LED will be Red in color. Clipping: While adjusting the amplifier the LED may light up Green indicating Pre-Clip, Amber indicating Soft-Clip or Red indicating Clip. These indicators give the user a chance to identify incorrect settings or high distortion before it is damaging to the equipment allowing them to correct the volume or settings. REMOTE: The Colossus has a DIN cable remote level jacks labeled INPUT. The Remote Module plugs into the INPUT jack and allows you to adjust the Level Control.

INPUT

OUTPUT

L L

R R

BALANCED

INPUT

+12V GND

LEVEL

9V 0.2V

POWER

PHASE

0 180

BOOST

0 10dB

BANDWIDTH

PARAMETRIC EQ

REM

FREQ

30 100Hz

HFR-G1

REMOTE

L-CH R-CH

BRIDGED

SUB

SONIC

15 35Hz

LPF

35 250Hz

DIAGNOSTICS

RED - SHORT CIRCUIT

AMBER - THERMAL

RED - CLIP

AMBER - NEAR CLIP

GREEN - PRE-CLIP

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