JL Audio 500/1 Owners Manual
Thank you for purchasing a JL Audio amplifier for
your automotive sound system.
Your amplifier has been designed and manufactured to exacting
standards in order to ensure years of musical enjoyment in your
vehicle. For maximum performance and extended warranty
coverage, we highly recommend that you have your new amplifier
installed by an authorized JL Audio dealer. Your authorized
dealer has the training, expertise and installation equipment to
ensure optimum performance from this product. Should you
decide to install the amplifier yourself, please take the time
to read this manual thoroughly so as to familiarize yourself
with its installation requirements and setup procedures.
If you have any questions regarding the instructions in this
manual or any aspect of your amplifier’s operation, please contact
your authorized JL Audio dealer for assistance. If you need further
assistance, please call the JL Audio Technical Support Department at
(954) 443-1100 during business hours (Eastern Time Zone).
JL AUDIO 500/1
monoblock subwoofer amplifier
owner’s manual
PLANNING YOUR INSTALLATION
It is important that you take the time to read
this manual and that you plan out your installation
carefully.The following are some considerations
that you must take into account when planning
your installation.
Cooling Efficiency Considerations:
Your JL Audio amplifier employs an advanced
type of heat management, called RealSink™.This
feature takes advantage of convection and radiation
effects to remove heat from the amplifier circuitry.
For optimum cooling performance, the vertical heat
sinks located at the back of the amplifier should be
exposed to as large a volume of air as possible.
Enclosing the amplifier in a small, poorly ventilated
chamber can lead to excessive heat build-up and
degraded performance. If an installation calls for an
enclosure around the amplifier, we recommend that
this enclosure be ventilated with the aid of a fan. In
normal applications, fan-cooling is not necessary, but
you still need to follow some basic guidelines:
• Amplifier mounted vertically with heat sink fins
pointing up: Optimum
• Amplifier mounted horizontally,
right side up: Good
• Amplifier mounted horizontally, but upside down:
Fair (not recommended if there is less than 1 inch
(2.5 cm) clearance above the amplifier heat sinks)
• Amplifier mounted vertically with heat sink fins
pointing laterally: Fair
• Amplifier mounted vertically with heat sink fins
pointing down: Poor (not recommended)
If mounting the amplifier under a seat, make sure
there is at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space above the
amplifier heat sink fins to permit proper cooling.
Safety Considerations:
Your amplifier needs to be installed in a dry,
well-ventilated environment and in a manner
which does not interfere with your vehicle’s safety
equipment (air bags, seat belt systems,ABS brake
systems, etc.).You should also take the time to
securely mount the amplifier using the supplied
screws so that it does not come loose in the event
of a collision or a sudden jolt to the vehicle (15 lbs.
of aluminum traveling at 60 MPH will hurt you).
Stupid Mistakes to Avoid:
• Check before drilling any holes in your vehicle to
make sure that you will not be drilling through a
gas tank, brake line, wiring harness or other vital
vehicle system.
• Do not run system wiring outside or underneath
the vehicle.This is an extremely dangerous
practice which can result in severe damage to
your vehicle and person.
• Protect all system wires from sharp metal
edges and wear by carefully routing them,
tying them down and using grommets and
loom where appropriate.
• Do not mount the amplifier in the engine
compartment, under the vehicle, on the roof
or in any other area that will expose the amplifier
circuitry to the elements.
JL AUDIO 500/1 3
Positive
Subwoofer
Outputs
(pg. 10)
Negative
Subwoofer
Outputs
(pg. 10)
Selects
Low-Pass Filter
Frequency for
Amplifier Channel
(pg. 8)
Left and Right
Input Jacks
(pg. 7)
Bass EQ
On/Off
Switch
(pg. 9)
Jack for
Remote Bass
Control Knob
(pg. 10)
Selects Infrasonic
Filter Cutoff
Frequency
(pg. 9)
Input Sensitivity
Control
(pg. 7)
Input Voltage
Range Selector
(pg. 7)
Infrasonic
Filter
On/Off
Switch
(pg. 9)
Signal Sensing
Turn-On
On/Off Switch
(pg. 6)
Amplifier LowPass Filter Slope
Selection/Defeat
(pg. 8)
Parametric EQ
Center Frequency
Control
(pg. 9)
Parametric EQ
Boost Control
(pg. 10)
Parametric EQ
"Q" (Bandwidth)
Control
(pg. 9)
PROTECT YOUR HEARING!
We value you as a long-term customer. For that
reason, we urge you to practice restraint in the
operation of this product so as not to damage your
hearing and that of others in your vehicle. Studies
have shown that continuous exposure to high
sound pressure levels can lead to permanent
(irreparable) hearing loss. This and all other highpower amplifiers are capable of producing such high
sound pressure levels when connected to a speaker
system. Please limit your continuous exposure to
high volume levels.
While driving, operate your audio system in a
manner that still allows you to hear necessary noises
to operate your vehicle safely (horns, sirens, etc.).
SERIAL NUMBER
In the event that your amplifier requires service
or is ever stolen, you will need to have a record of
the product’s serial number. Please take the time to
enter that number in the space provided below.
The serial number can be found on the bottom
panel of the amplifier and on the amplifier packaging.
Serial Number:
_______________________________
INSTALLATION APPLICATIONS
This amplifier is designed for operation in vehicles
with 12V, negative-ground electrical systems. Use of
this product in vehicles with positive ground and/or
voltages other than 12V may result in damage to the
product and will void the warranty.
This product is not certified or approved for
use in aircraft.
Do not attempt to “bridge” the outputs of this
amplifier with the outputs of a second amplifier,
including an identical one.
2 JL AUDIO 500/1
Remote Turn-On
Connector
(pg. 6)
Chassis Ground
Connector
(pg. 5)
+12 V Power
Connector
(pg. 5)
Left and Right
Preamp Output Jacks
(pg. 8)
Selects
Low-Pass or
High-Pass Mode
for Output Filter
(pg. 9)
Selects Output
Filter Cutoff
Frequency
(pg. 9)
Preamp Output
Filter Slope Selector
(pg. 9)
Preamp Output
Mode Selector
(pg. 8)
JL AUDIO 500/1
monoblock subwoofer amplifier
+12VDC Ground Remote
POWER CONNECTIONS
Before installing the amplifier, disconnect the
negative (ground) wire from the vehicle's battery.
This will prevent accidental damage to the system,
the vehicle and your person during installation.
The 500/1's “+12 VDC” and “Ground”
connections are designed to accept 8 AWG 4 AWG power wire. 8 AWG is a minimum
power wire size for this amplifier.
If you are installing the 500/1 with other
amplifiers and wish to use a single main power wire,
use 4 AWG, 2 AWG or 1/0 AWG main power
wire (depending on the overall current demands of
all the amplifiers in the system).This 4 AWG,
2 AWG or 1/0 AWG power wire should terminate
into a distribution block mounted as close to the
amplifiers as possible and should connect to the
500/1 with 8 AWG or 4 AWG power wire.
Please note that smaller AWG numbers mean
bigger wire and vice-versa (1/0 AWG is biggest,
2 AWG is smaller, then 4 AWG, then 8 AWG, etc.).
To connect the power wires to the amplifier,
first back out the set screw on the top of the
amplifier, using the supplied 2.5 mm hex wrench.
Strip 1/2 inch (12 mm) of insulation from the end
of each wire and insert the bare wire into the
receptacle on the front panel of the amplifier,
seating it firmly so that no bare wire is exposed.
While holding the wire in place, tighten the set
screw firmly, taking care not to strip the head
of the screw.
The ground connection should be made using
the same gauge wire as the power connection
and should be kept as short as possible, while
accessing a solid piece of sheet metal in the vehicle.
The surface of the sheet metal should be sanded at
the contact point to create a clean, metal-to-metal
connection between the chassis and the termination
of the ground wire.The use of a star washer to lock
down the connection is advisable.
JL AUDIO 500/1
monoblock subwoofer amplifier
+12VDC Ground Remote
Any wires run through metal barriers (such as
firewalls), must be protected with a high quality
rubber grommet to prevent damage to the
insulation of the wire. Failure to do so may result in
a dangerous short circuit.
Many vehicles employ small (10 AWG 6 AWG) wire to ground the battery to the
vehicle chassis and to connect the alternator's
positive connection to the battery.To prevent
voltage drops, these wires should be upgraded to
4 AWG (or larger) when installing amplifier
systems with total fuse ratings exceeding 60A.
FUSE REQUIREMENTS
It is absolutely vital that the main power
lead to the amplifier(s) in the system be fused
within 18 inches (45 cm) of the positive battery
post connection.The fuse value at each power
wire should be high enough for all of the
equipment being run from that power wire.
If only the 500/1 is being run from that power wire,
we recommend a 50A fuse be used. AGU (big glass
fuse) or MaxiFuse™ (big plastic-body fuse) types
are recommended.
No fuse is required directly before the amplifier
power connection. If one is desired, we recommend
the use of a 50A AGU fuse or MaxiFuse™ type.
IMPORTANT
!
JL AUDIO 500/1 5
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The JL Audio 500/1 is a monoblock subwoofer
amplifier utilizing proprietary and patented Class D
technology. Its frequency response is limited to the
range below 250 Hz. It is not designed
for driving midrange speakers or tweeters.
Every aspect of its operation has been optimized
for low-frequency amplification. For detailed
specifications, please refer to Appendix E (page 21).
TYPICAL INSTALLATION SEQUENCE
The following represents the sequence for a
typical amplifier installation, using an aftermarket
source unit. Additional steps and different
procedures may be required in some applications.
If you have any questions, please contact your
authorized JL Audio dealer for assistance.
1) Disconnect the negative battery post
connection and secure the disconnected cable to
prevent accidental re-connection during installation.
This step is not optional!
2) Run power wire (minimum 8 AWG) from
the battery location to the amplifier mounting
location, taking care to route it in such a way that
it will not be damaged and will not interfere
with vehicle operation. Use 4 AWG, 2 AWG or
1/0 AWG power wire if additional amplifiers are
being installed with the 500/1.
3) Connect power wire to the positive battery
post. Fuse the wire with an appropriate fuse block
(and connectors) within 18 inches (45 cm) wire
length of the positive battery post. This fuse is
essential to protect the vehicle. Do not install
the fuse until the power wire has been
connected to the amplifier.
4) Run signal cables (RCA cables) and remote
turn-on wire from the source unit to the amplifier
mounting location.
5) Run speaker wire from the speaker system to
the amplifier mounting location.
6) Find a good, solid metal grounding point close
to the amplifier and connect the negative power
wire to it using appropriate hardware. Use the same
size power wire as the wire connected to the
“+12V” connection (min. 8 AWG), no longer than
36 inches (90 cm) from the amplifier to the ground
connection point. In some vehicles, it may be
necessary to upgrade the battery ground wire.
(See page 5 for important notice).
7) Securely mount the amplifier using the
supplied screws.
8) Connect the positive and negative power
wires to the amplifier. A fuse near the amplifier is
not necessary.
9) Connect the remote turn-on wire to
the amplifier.
10) Connect the RCA input cables to
the amplifier.
11) Connect the speaker wires to the amplifier.
12) Carefully review the amplifier’s control
settings to make sure that they are set according to
the needs of the system.
13) Install power wire fuse (50A for a single
500/1) and reconnect the negative battery
post terminal.
14) Turn on the source unit at a low level
to double-check that the amplifier is configured
correctly. Resist the temptation to crank it up until
you have verified the control settings.
15) Make necessary adjustments to the input
sensitivity control to obtain the right overall output
and the desired balance between the subwoofer
output and the satellite (mid and high-frequency)
output. See Appendix B (page 14) for the
recommended input sensitivity setting method.
16) Enjoy the fruits of your labor with your
favorite music.
4 JL AUDIO 500/1
AMPLIFIER INPUT SECTION
The 500/1 employs a differential-balanced
input topology that provides the user with a high
degree of input flexibility while retaining superior
noise rejection.This type of circuit also allows the
500/1 to accept high-voltage inputs from factory
source unit outputs without excessive distortion
or noise problems.
1) Input Connections: A standard left/right
pair of RCA type jacks is used for input on
the 500/1.You may run a stereo or a mono
signal into the inputs of the amplifier.The
amplifier's input section automatically sums
stereo signals to mono for the internal amplifier
section and for the “LP” “Filter Mode” of the
“Preamp Output” section.
If you plan to use the “Preamp Output” of the
500/1 to feed a stereo amplifier, you must connect
a stereo signal to the input of the amplifier. A mono
signal into the amplifier will result in a mono signal
out of the preamp output. (It's a great amplifier, but
it doesn't do magic).
The amplifier will operate with only one input
connection (left or right), but will require an
increase in input sensitivity to overcome the loss
of signal. If a mono input signal is to be run, we
recommend that you use a “Y-adaptor” to split the
mono signal into both inputs of the amplifier.
2) Input Voltage Range: A wide range of signal
input voltages can be accommodated by the
500/1's input section (200mV – 8V).This wide
range is split up into two sub-ranges, accessible via
switches located in the “Amplifier Input Section”
of the amplifier.
The “Low” position on the “Input Voltage”
switch selects an input sensitivity range between
200mV and 2V. This means that the “Input Sens.”
rotary control will operate within that voltage
window. If you are using an aftermarket source
IMPORTANT
!
unit, with conventional preamp-level outputs, this
is most likely the position that you will use.
The “High” position on the “Input Voltage”
switch selects an input sensitivity range between
800mV and 8V. This is useful for cer tain highoutput preamp level signals as well as speaker-level
output from source units and small amplifiers.To
use speaker-level sources, splice the speaker output
wires of the source unit or small amplifier onto a
pair of RCA cables or plugs.
The output of the amplifier will decrease for a
given input voltage when the “Input Range” switch
is placed in the “High” position. Conversely, the
output will be higher with the switch in the “Low”
position.While this may sound counter-intuitive, it is
consistent with the descriptions above.
3) Input Sensitivity Adjustment: Located next to
the “Input Voltage” switch, in the “Amplifier Input
Section”, is a rotary control labeled “Input Sens.”.
Once the appropriate “Input Voltage” range has
been selected, this rotary control can be used to
match the source unit's output voltage to the input
stage of the amplifier for maximum clean output.
Rotating the control clockwise will result in higher
sensitivity (louder for a given input voltage).
Rotating the control counter-clockwise will result in
lower sensitivity (quieter for a given input voltage).
To properly set the amplifier for maximum clean
output, please refer to Appendix B (page 14) in this
manual. After using this procedure, you can then
adjust the level of the amplifier by adjusting the
input sensitivity downward, if the amplifier requires
attenuation to achieve the desired system balance.
Do not increase the “Input Sens.” setting for
any amplifier in the system beyond the maximum
level established during the procedure outlined
in Appendix B (page 14). Doing so will result in
audible distortion and possible speaker damage.
IMPORTANT
!
JL AUDIO 500/1 7
TURN-ON OPTIONS
The 500/1 can be turned on and off using two
different methods:
1) A conventional +12V remote turn-on lead.
2) A signal sensing turn-on circuit.
To select between the two modes there is a
switch, marked “Signal Sensing”, located in the
“Amplifier Input Section” of the front panel.
1) Conventional Remote Turn-On Method:
uses a conventional +12V remote turn-on lead,
typically controlled by the source unit's remote
turn-on output.The amplifier will turn on when
+12V is present at its “Remote” input and turn off
when +12V is switched off. If a source unit does not
have a dedicated remote turn-on output, the
amplifier’s turn-on lead can be connected to
+12V via a switch that derives power from an
ignition-switched circuit.To use this method, select
“Off” on the “Signal Sensing” switch in the
“Amplifier Input Section”.
The 500/1's “Remote” turn-on connector is
designed to accept 12 AWG – 8 AWG wire.
12 AWG is more than adequate for this purpose.
To connect the remote turn-on wire to the
amplifier, first back out the set screw on the top of
the amplifier, using the supplied hex wrench. Strip
1/2 inch (12mm) of wire and insert the bare wire
into the receptacle on the front panel of the
amplifier, seating it firmly so that no bare wire is
exposed. Smaller wire than 12 AWG can be used,
but it may be necessary to strip 1 inch of insulation
from the wire and fold the bare wire in half prior to
insertion. While holding the wire in the terminal,
tighten the set screw firmly, taking care not to strip
the head of the screw and making sure that the
wire is firmly gripped by the set screw.
2) Signal Sensing Turn-On Method: A valuable
feature of the 500/1 is its ability to be turned on
and off by the presence or lack of signal at its audio
inputs.This allows you to operate the amplifier
without having to locate a remote turn-on lead at
the source unit.This can be ver y useful if interfacing
the amplifier with some OEM source units that do
not have conventional turn-on leads.
The sensitivity of the signal sensing turn-on circuit
has been designed for high-level (speaker level)
signals, not for low-level (preamp level) signals. Using
this feature with low-level (preamp level) signals is
not recommended.We do not recommend this
method of turning the amplifier on and off as a
default.Whenever possible, use the conventional
remote turn-on lead method.The signal sensing
circuit is designed to detect midrange frequency
signal presence. If the signal feeding the amplifier is
not full-range (for example, if there is an active
low-pass crossover in line before the amplifier),
this circuit will not operate properly.
To activate the signal sensing turn-on feature,
place the “Signal Sensing” switch in the “On”
position.This should only be done if there is no
conventional turn-on lead connected to the
amplifier's “Remote” connector.When in the “On”
position, the signal sensing circuit will monitor the
audio input signal and turn the amplifier on when
signal is present. After about 25 seconds of no
signal, the amplifier will shut off.
Turning on other amplifiers in signal sensing
mode: When the signal sensing circuit is turned on,
the “Remote” Connector on the amplifier may be
used as a remote turn-on source for other
amplifiers in the system. +12V will be present
at the connector when the amplifier turns on in
signal sensing mode and will not be present when
the amplifier turns off.
You cannot use the turn-on output to turn on
processors that are in the signal path before the
500/1. (Signal will not pass through most
processors when they are not powered up,
meaning that the amplifier will not turn on until
that processor is active).
IMPORTANT
!
IMPORTANT
!
6 JL AUDIO 500/1
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