JL Audio HD600-4 User Manual
OWNER’S MANUAL
4-Channel Class-D Full-Range 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, 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 - HD600/4 Owner’s Manual
3
PROTECT YOUR HEARING!
Input Sens itivity
Control
(pg. 10)
Power Status
Indicator
(pg. 16)
Filter Mode
Selection
(pg. 11)
Filter Slope
Selection
(pg. 11)
Filter Frequency
Selector
(pg. 11)
Input Sens itivity
Control
(pg. 10)
Filter Mode
Selection
(pg. 11)
Filter Slope
Selection
(pg. 11)
Input Mode
Selection
(pg. 9)
Preouts From
Selection
(pg. 13)
Filter Frequency
Selector
(pg. 11)
Input Voltage
Selection
(pg. 10)
Remote Level
Control
Selection
(pg. 13)
Input Voltage
Selection
(pg. 10)
Rear Preouts
Remote
Level
Control
Front
Inputs
L
R
L
R
+12 VDC Ground Remote
Chassis Ground
Connector
(pgs. 6-7)
Front Left & Right
Channel Input Jacks
(pg. 9)
Left & Right Preamp
Output Jacks
(pg. 13)
Rear Left & Right
Channel Input Jacks
(pg. 9)
Rear
Speaker Outputs
(pgs. 14-15)
Fron t
Speaker Outputs
(pgs. 14-15)
Jack for
Remote Level
Control Knob
(pg. 13)
Remote Turn-On
Connector
(pgs. 6-7)
+12 V Power
Connector
(pgs. 6-7)
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 amplif ier circuitry. For optimum
cooling performance, the vertical heat sinks
located at the sides 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.
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 - HD600/4 Owner’s Manual
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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The JL Audio HD600/4 is a very powerful
and compact four-channel, full-range amplifier
utilizing patented Single Cycle Control™
Class D technology for all channels. This
groundbreaking technology delivers referencegrade sonic performance while requiring
far less current from the vehicle’s electrical
system than a conventional amplifier.
JL Audio’s exclusive R.I.P.S. power supply
design optimizes the output of each channel pair
for any impedance between 1.5 and 4 ohms per
channel (3-8 ohms bridged) allowing you to get
full use of the HD600/4’s performance capabilities
with a wide range of speaker systems.
The tightly regulated power supply design also
means that the HD600/4’s clean power output
capability remains stable over a wide range of
vehicle voltages, resulting in enhanced fidelity.
The HD600/4 flexible, studio-grade signal
processing allows it to be deployed in a wide
range of system applications:
1) As a four-channel (150W x 4) full-range
amplifier, delivering full-range signals to two
separate stereo speaker systems (front and rear,
for example).
2) As a powerful (150W x 4) four-channel satellite
amplifier in a bi-amplified system, delivering
high-passed signals to front and rear speaker
systems. Preamp outputs permit connection of a
separate amplifier to drive the subwoofer system.
3) As a 600W full-system amplifier in
bi-amplified mode with one channel pair
driving subwoofers in low-pass mode (150W
x 2 or 300W x 1) and the other channel pair
driving main speakers in high-pass mode
(150W x 2).
4) As a very powerful (300W x 2) full-range
amplifier, delivering full-range signals to a
stereo speaker system.
5) As a very powerful (300W x 2) two-channel
satellite amplifier in a bi-amplified system,
delivering high-passed signals to a stereo
speaker system. Preamp outputs permit
connection of a separate amplifier to drive the
subwoofer system.
6) As a powerful (300W x 2) two-channel
subwoofer amplifier in a bi-amplified system,
delivering low-passed signals to a dual
subwoofer system. Preamp outputs permit
connection of a separate amplifier to drive the
satellite speakers.
The HD600/4’s flexible input and crossover
sections permit operation with a wide variety of
source units and system configurations. It can be
operated with a single pair of stereo inputs or with
separate inputs for its front and rear channels.
The HD600/4’s preamp output can send pass-
through signals from the Front Inputs only or it
can sum all four input channels to feed a nonfading signal to a separate subwoofer amplifier.
As we said, it’s very flexible.
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 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. 4 AWG is recommended
for wire runs greater than 72 inches (180
cm) in length. Use of 8 AWG power wire is
acceptable for shorter runs, such as from a
power distribution block to the amplifier or
from a trunk-mounted battery. Use a 2 AWG
or 1/0 AWG main power wire with a power
distribution block when additional amplifiers
are being installed with the HD600/4 and
powered from the same main power wire.
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 or interface
processor to the amplifier mounting location.
5) Run speaker wire from the speaker systems to
the amplifier mounting location.
6) Find a good, solid, bare metal grounding
point close to the amplifier and connect the
negative power wire to it using appropriate
hardware. Use minimum 8 AWG power wire,
no longer than 36 inches (90 cm) or 4 AWG
wire up to 60 inches (150 cm) long from the
amplifier to the ground connection point. In
some vehicles, it may be necessary to upgrade
the battery’s ground wire as well. (See page 7
for important notice).
7) Securely mount the amplifier using
appropriate hardware. (See page 8 for detailed
mounting instructions).
8) Connect the remote turn-on wire and the
positive and negative power wires to the
amplifier’s power connector plug. Then insert
the power connector plug into the amplifier’s
power connector receptacle, pushing firmly.
9) Connect the RCA input cables
to the amplifier.
10) Connect the speaker wires to the speaker
connector plugs and insert the plugs firmly
into the speaker connector receptacles.
11) Carefully review the amplifier’s control
settings to make sure that they are set
according to the needs of the system.
12) Install power wire fuse (50A for a
single HD600/4) and reconnect the negative
battery post terminal.
13) 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.
14) Make necessary adjustments to the input
sensitivity controls to obtain the right
overall output and the desired balance
in the system. See Appendix C (pages 18, 19)
for the recommended input sensitivity
setting method.
15) Enjoy the fruits of your labor with your
favorite music.
6 | JL Audio - HD600/4 Owner’s Manual
7
POWER AND TURNON CONNECTIONS
Rear Preouts
Remote
Level
Control
Front
Inputs
L
R
L
R
+12 VDC Ground Remote
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 body during installation.
+12V Battery Connection
You will need to connect a power wire to
the vehicle’s positive battery terminal, using an
appropriate power ring or specialized battery
terminal connector, such as the JL Audio
XB-BTU. This connection must be tight and
corrosion-free to ensure proper connectivity. This
wire MUST be fused appropriately for safety. Any
positive power 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.
Power Wire Requirements
The HD600/4’s “+12 VD C” and “Ground”
connections are designed to accept 4 AWG power
wire. 4 AWG pure copper wire is recommended
for any power wire run longer than 72 inches (180
cm). For runs shorter than 72 inches, 8 AWG pure
copper power wire is acceptable.
If you are installing the HD600/4 with other
amplifiers and wish to use a single main power
wire, use 2 AWG or 1/0 AWG pure copper wire
as a main power wire. 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 HD600/4 with
4 AWG or 8 AWG pure copper power wire.
Please note that lower 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.).
We do not recommend the use of “copperclad aluminum wire” or “CCA” wire because
this wire is significantly less conductive than
pure copper wire. Only use pure copper power
wire, such as JL Audio’s MetaWire™. Tinned
copper wire (silver color) is acceptable as the
tin-plating is only a very minor component of
the wire.
Fuse Requirements
The installation of a fuse on the main power
wire, within 18 wire inches (45 cm) of the positive
battery terminal is vital to protect the wire and
the vehicle from fire in the event of a collision
or short-circuit. The fuse value at each power
wire should be just high enough for all of the
equipment being run from that power wire. Do
not use a fuse with a value that far exceeds the
total fuse rating of the electronics connected to
the wire.
If only the HD600/4 is being run from that
power wire, we recommend a 50A fuse be used.
AGU (big glass fuse). AFS (small blade fuse)
or MaxiFuse™ (big plastic-body fuse) types are
recommended. If other amplifiers are also being
powered from the wire and exceed 80 amps in
total fuse rating, we recommend the use of an
ANL (large-blade) fuse and holder. Please consult
with your JL Audio dealer to make sure that the
wire, fuse holder and fuse rating you have selected
are appropriate for your system’s needs.
If other amplifiers are also being powered from
a main power wire and exceed 80 amps in total
fuse rating, we recommend the use of an ANL
(large-blade) fuse and holder. Each amplifier can
then be fused independently at the outputs of
the power distribution block. Use JL Audio part
XC-FOA-2PAK and appropriate MaxiFuse™ type
fuses with JL Audio distribution blocks.
Please consult with your JL Audio
dealer to make sure that the wire, fuse
holder and fuse ratings are appropriate
for your system’s needs. The safety of
your installation depends on appropriate
power connections and fuse protection.
Ground Connection
The chassis ground connection must be
made using 4 AWG or 8 AWG pure copper
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 with a brass or copper power ring. For
optimal grounding, we recommend the
use of a JL Audio ECS master ground lug
(XB-MGLU). Alternatively, a sheet metal
screw or bolt can be used with a star washer.
The HD600/4’s “Remote” turn-on connector
is designed to accept 18 AWG – 12 AWG wire. 18
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
bottom of the Power Connector Plug, using the
supplied hex wrench. Strip 1/2 inch (12mm) of
wire and insert the bare wire into the receptacle,
seating it firmly so that no bare wire is exposed.
When using smaller wire, 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 using the supplied 2.5 mm hex
wrench, taking care not to strip the head of the
screw and making sure that the wire is firmly
gripped by the set screw.
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 pure copper wire when installing amplifier
systems with main fuse ratings above 60A.
Amplifier Power Connector Plug
To connect the power wires and the remote
turn-on wire to the amplifier, unplug the power
connector plug from the amplifier chassis (pull
back firmly) and back out the set screws on
the connector plug, using the supplied 4 mm
hex wrench for the +12 V DC ” and “Ground”
Turn-On Wire
The HD600/4 uses a conventional +12V remote
turn-on wire, 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
connections and the supplied 2.5 mm hex wrench
for the “Remote” connection. Strip 3/8 inch (10
mm) of insulation from the end of each wire and
insert the bare wire into the receptacle on power
connector plug, seating it firmly so that no bare
wire is exposed. While holding each wire in place,
tighten each set screw firmly, taking care not to
strip the head of the screw.
be connected to +12V via a switch that derives
power from an ignition-switched circuit.
Never make power connections with a “live”
wire. Always disconnect the negative battery
post before making any connections or
adjustments to a 12V power connection!
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