JL Audio 500-1v2 User Manual
OWNER’S MANUAL
monoblock subwoofer amplifier
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.
2 | JL Audio - 500/1v2 Owner’s Manual
3
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
high-power 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
th e w ar ran ty.
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.
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 ty pe 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’s outer shell 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 appropriate
hardware so that it does not come loose in the
event of a collision or a sudden jolt to the vehicle.
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.
4 | JL Audio - 500/1v2 Owner’s Manual
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+12VDC Ground Remote Preamp Output Section
Infrasonic Filter
“Q” Center Freq. Boost (dB)
Amp LP Filter
Advanced
Bass
Control
Amplifier Input Section
Subwoofer Output
MONO OUTPUT ONLY
Left Output Right Output Left Ch. Right Ch.Filter Freq. (Hz) Filter Freq. (Hz)Infrasonic Freq. (Hz) Remote Bass Port
Full Range | Amp Filter | Out Filter
Output Mode Filter Slope Mode
Mode | Slope
Input Voltage Input Sens. Signal Sensing
12dB | 24dB
Filter Mode
LP | HP
Bass EQ
Off | On
Off | 12dB | 24dB Low | High Off | OnOff | On
40
45
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200 15
18
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60 40
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0.7
1.1
1.6
2.7
4.3
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25
304060
75
80 0
+4
+10
+13
+15
500 /1v2
Monoblock Subwoofer Amplifier
IMPORTANT
!
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The JL Audio 500/1v2 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 B (page 15).
TYPICAL INSTALLATION SEQUENCE
The following represents the sequence
for a typical amplifier installation, using an
aftermarket source unit or OEM Interface
processor (like the CleanSweep® CL441dsp).
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 4 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 2 AWG or 1/0
AWG power wire if additional amplifiers
are being installed with the 500/1v2.
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 systems to
the amplifier mounting location.
6) Find a good, solid metal grounding point
close to the amplif ier and connect the
negative power wire to it using appropriate
hardware. Use minimum 4 AWG power wire,
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
appropriate hardware.
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 500/1v2) 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 controls to obtain the right
overall output and the desired balance
in the system. See Appendix A (page 14)
for the recommended input sensitivity
setting method.
16) Enjoy the fruits of your labor with your
favorite music.
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 500/1v2’s “+12 VD C” and “Ground”
connections are designed to accept 8 AWG -
4 AWG power wire. 4 AWG is a minimum power
wire size for this amplifier.
If you are installing the 500/1v2 with other
amplifiers and wish to use a single main power
wire, use 2 AWG or 1/0 AWG main power wire
(depending on the overall current demands of
all the amplifiers in the system). This 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
500/1v2 with 4 AWG power wire.
Note: that smaller AWG numbers mean bigger
wire and vice-versa (1/0 AWG is the largest,
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 4 AWG wire 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.
Any wires run through metal barriers (such as
firewalls), must be protected with a high quality
insulating 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 500/1v2 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.
6 | JL Audio - 500/1v2 Owner’s Manual
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IMPORTANT
!
Amplifier Input Section
Subwoofer Output
MONO OUTPUT ONLY
Slope
Input Voltage Input Sens. Signal Sensing
|
24dB Low | High Off | OnOff
80
100
200
IMPORTANT
!
IMPORTANT
!
TURNON OPTIONS
+12VDC Ground Remote Preamp Output Section
Infrasonic Filter
“Q” Center Freq. Boost (dB)
Amp LP Filter
Advanced
Bass
Control
Amplifier Input Section
Subwoofer Output
MONO OUTPUT ONLY
Left Output Right Output Left Ch. Right Ch.Filter Freq. (Hz) Filter Freq. (Hz)Infrasonic Freq. (Hz) Remote Bass Port
Full Range | Amp Filter | Out Filter
Output Mode Filter Slope Mode
Mode | Slope
Input Voltage Input Sens. Signal Sensing
12dB | 24dB
Filter Mode
LP | HP
Bass EQ
Off | On
Off | 12dB | 24dB Low | High Off | OnOff | On
40
45
556580
100
200 15
18
223045
55
60 40
45
556580
100
200
0.5
0.7
1.1
1.6
2.7
4.3
20
25
304060
75
80 0
+4
+10
+13
+15
500 /1v2
Monoblock Subwoofer Amplifier
IMPORTANT
!
The 500/1v2 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 turnon 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 500/1v2’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 amplif ier,
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 500/1v2 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
very 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
am pli fi er’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
500/1v2. (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).
AMPLIFIER INPUT SECTION
The 500/1v2 employs a differential-balanced
input topology that provides the user with a high
degree of input f lexibility while retaining superior
noise rejection. This type of circuit also allows
the 500/1v2 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 500/1v2. 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” in
“Full-Range” or “HP” mode 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” like the
JL Audio ECS model XB-CLRAICY-1F2M 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 500/1v2’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 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 certain high-output 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 or use the
JL Audio ECS Speaker Wire to RCA adaptor
(XB-CLRAIC2-SW).
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 correct
as described.
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