Kenwood KAC-8401 Instruction Manual

KAC-8401

4-CHANNEL POWER AMPLIFIER 7 page 2-13

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

AMPLIFICATEUR DE PUISSANCE 4 CANAUX 7 page 14-25

MODE D’EMPLOI

AMPLIFICADOR DE POTENCIA DE 4 CANALES 7 página 26-36

MANUAL DE INSTRUCCIONES

Take the time to read through this instruction manual. Familiarity with installation and operation procedures will help you obtain the best performance from your new power amplifier.

For your records

Record the serial number, found on the back of the unit, in the spaces designated on the warranty card, and in the space provided below. Refer to the model and serial numbers whenever you call upon your KENWOOD dealer for information or service on the product.

Model KAC-8401 Serial number

© PRINTED IN CHINA B64-2573-00/00 (KV/EV)

Safety precautions

2WARNING

To prevent injury or fire, take the following precautions:

•When extending the ignition, battery, or ground wires, make sure to use automotivegrade wires or other wires with a 5 mm2 (AWG 10) or more to prevent wire deterioration and damage to the wire coating.

•To prevent a short circuit, never put or leave any metallic objects (such as coins or metal tools) inside the unit.

•If the unit starts to emit smoke or strange smells, turn off the power immediately and consult your Kenwood dealer.

•Do not touch the unit during use because the surface of the unit becomes hot and may cause burns if touched.

2CAUTION

To prevent damage to the machine, take the following precautions:

•Be sure the unit is connected to a 12V DC power supply with a negative ground connection.

•Do not open the top or bottom covers of the unit.

•Do not install the unit in a spot exposed to direct sunlight or excessive heat or humidity. Also avoid places with too much dust or the possibility of water splashing.

•When replacing a fuse, only use a new one with the prescribed rating. Using a fuse with the wrong rating may cause your unit to malfunction.

•To prevent a short circuit when replacing a fuse, first disconnect the wiring harness.

NOTE

•If you experience problems during installation, consult your Kenwood dealer.

•If the unit does not seem to be working right, consult your Kenwood dealer.

FCC WARNING

This equipment may generate or use radio frequency energy. Changes or modifications to this equipment may cause harmful interference unless the modifications are expressly approved in the instruction manual. The user could lose the authority to operate this equipment if an unauthorized change or modification is made.

Cleaning the unit

If the front panel gets dirty, turn off the power and wipe the panel with a dry silicon cloth or soft cloth.

2CAUTION

Do not wipe the panel with a hard cloth or a cloth dampened by volatile solvents such as paint thinner and alcohol. They can scratch the surface of the panel and/or cause the indicator letters to peel off.

To prevent battery rise

When the unit is used in the ACC ON position without turning the engine ON, it depletes the battery. Use it after starting the engine.

Protection function

There is a Protection function installed in the unit to protect the unit and speakers from various problems. When Protection operates, the indicator informs you of the condition. (Refer to page 5)

Accessories

	Part name	External	Number of
		View	Items
	Self-tapping screws		4
	(ø4 × 16 mm)
	Terminal cover		1
	(Power terminal)
	Speaker level input		1
	cable

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Installation

Self-tapping screw

(ø4 × 16 mm)

Cooling fan

Installation board, etc. (thickness : 15 mm or more)

2CAUTION

•Do not install in the below locations;

(Unstable location, In a location that interferes with driving, In a location that gets wet, In a dusty location, In a place that gets hot, In a place that gets direct sunlight, In a location that gets hit by hot air)

•Do not install the unit under the carpet. Otherwise heat build-up occurs and the unit may be damaged.

•Install this unit in a location which allows heat to easily dissipate. Once installed, do not place any object on top of the unit.

•The surface temperature of the amplifier will become hot during use. Install the amplifier in a place where people, resins, and other substances that are sensitive to heat will not come into contact with it.

•This unit has cooling fans to decrease the internal temperature. Be careful not to block the cooling fan openings when installing the unit. Blocking these openings will inhibit the cooling of the internal temperature and result in malfunction.

•When making a hole under a seat, inside the trunk, or somewhere else in the vehicle, check that there is nothing hazardous on the opposite side such as a gasoline tank, brake pipe, or wiring harness, and be careful not to cause scratches or other damage.

•Do not install near the dashboard, rear tray, or air bag safety parts.

•The installation to the vehicle should securely fasten the unit to a place in which it will not obstruct driving. If the unit comes off due to a shock and hits a person or safety part, it may cause injury or an accident.

•After installing the unit, check to make sure that electrical equipment such as the brake lamps, turn signal lamps and windshield wipers operate normally.

English 3

Controls / Indicator

	(W)
	40
	20
	10
1	2	3	4	5	6

This is a 4 channel amplifier including 2 stereo amplifiers in a body. One amplifier is referred to as amplifier A and the other is amplifier B. This unit is compatible with a large variety of systems by combining the switches and functions described in the following.

1INPUT SENSITIVITY control

Set this control according to the pre-output level of the center unit connected with this unit, or to the maximum power output of the genuine-accessory car stereo.

The sensitivities of amplifiers A and B can be adjusted independently regardless of the position of the input selector switch.

Use the diagram on the right as a guide.

NOTE

For the pre-output level or the maximum power output, refer to the “Specifications” in the instruction manual of the center unit.

2Bch BASS BOOST switch

Setting this switch to "ON" emphasizes the bass.

You can use the BASS BOOST for amplifier B only.

•ON position:

BASS BOOST is +6 dB.

•OFF position:

BASS BOOST is OFF.

3FILTER switch

This switch allows to apply high-pass or low-pass filtering to the speaker outputs.

•HPF (High-Pass Filter) position:

The filter outputs the band of higher frequencies than the frequency set with the FILTER FREQUENCY control.

•OFF position:

The entire bandwidth is output without filtering.

•LPF (Low-Pass Filter) position:

The filter outputs the band of lower frequencies than the frequency set with the FILTER FREQUENCY control.

4OPERATION switch

The amplification methods of the signals input to amplifiers A and B can be selected independently according to the setting of this switch.

•STEREO position:

The amplifier can be used as a stereo amplifier.

•MONO (Lch) position:

Amplifies the signal input from the left side only. Set to this position and make bridged connections to use as a high-power monaural amplifier. (The input right signal is not output.)

5 INPUT SELECTOR switch

This switch selects the input method of the signals to be amplified by amplifiers A and B.

•A B position:

Amplifies both of the signals input to amplifiers A and B.

•A position:

Amplifies only signal input amplifier A with both amplifiers A and B.

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7

6FILTER FREQUENCY control

When the FILTER switch is set to the HPF

(High-Pass Filter) or LPF (Low-Pass Filter) position, the threshold frequency can be adjusted with this control.

7Power indicator

When the power is turned on, the Power indicator lights.

If the Power indicator does not light when the power is turned on, the protection function may be activated. Check whether there is any indication of trouble.

■The protection function is activated in the following situations:

This unit is equipped with a protection function for protecting this unit and your speakers from various accidents or problems that can occur.

When the protection function is triggered, the Power indicator goes off and the amplifier stops operating.

•When a speaker wire may be shortcircuited.

•When a speaker output contacts ground.

•When the unit malfunctions and a DC signal is sent to the speaker output.

•When the internal temperature is high and unit won’t operate.

•When a ground wire of the center unit (cassette receiver, CD receiver, etc.) or this unit is not connected to a metal part serving as an electrical ground passing electricity to the battery's negative - terminal.

English 5

Connection

■ Terminal names

40

8 9 0 ! @

# $ % ^

8 Fuse (40 A)

NOTE

If you can’t find the specified capacity fuse at your store etc., consult your Kenwood dealer.

9 Battery terminal

0 Ground terminal

!Power control terminal

Controls the unit ON/OFF.

NOTE

Controls the unit power. Be sure to connect it with all the systems.

@Speaker output terminals

•Stereo Connections:

When you wish to use the unit as a stereo amplifier, stereo connections are used. The speakers to be connected should have an impedance of 2Ω or greater. When multiple speakers are to be connected, ensure that the combined impedance is 2Ω or greater for each channel.

•Bridged Connections:

When you wish to use the unit as a highoutput monaural amplifier, bridged connections are used. (Make connections to the LEFT channel 9 and the RIGHT channel · SPEAKER OUTPUT terminals.) The speakers to be connected should have an impedance of 4Ω or greater. When multiple speakers are to be connected, ensure that the combined impedance is 4Ω or greater.

2CAUTION

amplifier. Otherwise malfunction may result.

#RCA cable ground lead terminal

When using an RCA cable with a ground lead attached, connect the ground lead to this terminal.

$ LINE IN terminal

%LINE OUT terminal

These jacks output respectively the signals input to amplifiers A and B. They always output the stereo signals regardless of the position of the OPERATION switch.

^ Speaker level input terminals

NOTE

•The genuine-accessory car stereo shall have a maximum power output of no more than 40 W.

•Do not connect the speaker output leads from a power amplifier (Optional) to the speaker level input terminals of this unit, for this may cause malfunction or damage.

•Do not connect cables and leads to both RCA cable input jacks and the speaker level input terminals simultaneously, for this may cause malfunction or damage.

•Connect the power control lead to a power supply which can be turned ON/OFF by the ignition key switch (ACC line). With this connection, shock noise may be generated when the power of the genuine-accessory car stereo is switched ON/OFF.

The rated input of the speakers should be no less than the maximum output of the

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■ Installation procedure

Since there are large variety of settings and connections possible according to applications, read the instruction manual well to select the proper setting and connection.

1.Remove the ignition key and disconnect the negative - terminal of the battery to prevent short circuits.

2.Set the unit according to the intended usage.

3.Connect the input and output wires of the units.

4.Connect the speaker wires.

5.Connect the power wire, power control wire and grounding wire following this order.

6.Install the unit in the car.

7.Connect the negative - terminal of the battery.

2WARNING

To prevent fire caused by a short in the wiring, connect a fusible link or breaker nearby the battery’s positive terminal.

2CAUTION

•If sound is not output normally, immediately turn power off and check connections.

•Be sure to turn the power off before changing the setting of any switch.

•If the fuse blows, check wires for shorts, then replace the fuse with one of the same rating.

•Check that no unconnected wires or connectors are touching the car body. Do not remove caps from unconnected wires or connectors to prevent short circuits.

•Connect the speaker wires to appropriate speaker connectors separately. Sharing the negative wire of the speaker or grounding speaker wires to the metal body of the car can cause this unit to fail.

•After installation, check that the brake lamps, winkers, and wipers work properly.

■ Wiring

•Take the battery wire for this unit directly from the battery. If it's connected to the vehicle’s wiring harness, it can cause blown fuses etc.

•If a buzzing noise is heard from the speakers when the engine is running, connect a line noise filter (optional) to each of the battery wire.

•Do not allow the wire to directly contact the edge of the iron plate by using Grommets.

•Connect the ground wire to a metal part of the car chassis that acts as an electrical ground passing electricity to the battery‘s negative - terminal. Do not turn the power on if the ground wire is not connected.

•Be sure to install a protective fuse in the power cord near the battery. The protective fuse should be the same capacity as the unit’s fuse capacity or somewhat larger.

•For the power cord and ground, use a vehicle type (fireproof) power wring cord with a current capacity greater than the unit’s fuse capacity. (Use a power wiring cord with a diameter of 5 mm2 (AWG 10) or greater.)

•When more than one power amplifier are going to be used, use a power supply wiring wire and protective fuse of greater currenthandling capacity than the total maximum current drawn by each amplifier.

■ Speaker Selection

•The rated input power of the speakers that are going to be connected should be greater than the maximum output power (in Watts) of the amplifier. Use of speakers having input power ratings that are less than the output power of the amplifier will cause smoke to be emitted as well as damage.

•The impedance of the speakers that are going to be connected should be 2Ω or greater (for stereo connections), or 4Ω or greater (for bridged connections). When more than one set of speakers are going to be used, calculate the combined impedance of the speakers and then connect suitable speakers to the amplifier.

2Ω

8Ω 8Ω

2Ω

4 Ω

4 Ω

Combined impedance

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Connection

■ RCA cable or Speaker level input connection

(RCA cable Connections)

RCA cable ground terminal

GND

RCA cable*

#

$

A channel	B channel
Left input	Left input
A channel	B channel
Right input	Right input

(Speaker level input Connections)

Cable Color of the connector

A channel			White
Left			White/Black
A channel			Gray
Right			Gray/Black
B channel			Green
Left			Green/Black
B channel			Purple
Right			Purple/Black

^

CENTER UNIT

(CD receiver, etc.)

Power control wire (Blue/ White)

Genuine-accessory car stereo (No line output center unit etc.)

Car fuse box

Battery

ACC

8 English

* Commercially available parts

■ Speaker wire connection

(Stereo Connections)

@ @

Lead terminal*

40

(Bridged Connections)

@

40

■ Power wire connection

40

90 !

Terminal cover	Lead terminal*
Extension wire*
Battery wire*	Ground wire*

Protective Fuse*

Battery

A channel

Left speaker

A channel

Right speaker

B channel

Right speaker

B channel

Left speaker

A channel Speaker (Bridged)

B channel Speaker (Bridged)

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System examples

■ 4-channel system

(1)

CENTER UNIT

45

(2)

CENTER UNIT

45

■3-channel system

(1)

CENTER UNIT

45

(2)

CENTER UNIT

45

L

R A

L

R B

L

R A

L

R B

L

R A

L

R B

L

R A

L

R B

L	Front Left speaker
A	Front Right speaker
R
L	Rear Left speaker
B	Rear Right speaker
R
2	3
6

L	Left speaker (High pass)
A	Right speaker (High pass)
R
L	Subwoofer (L + R)
B	(Bridged)
R
2	3
6

■ 2-channel system

		L	A	A	L	Left speaker (Bridged)
	CENTER UNIT	R			R
		L	B	B	L	Right speaker (Bridged)
4	5	R			R
				2		3
				6

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■ Tri-mode

					C		L
			L	A	L	(High pass)	Subwoofer
	CENTER UNIT		R		R		(L + R) (Bridged)
					C
		5			C		L
	4		L	B	L	(High pass)	Subwoofer
			R		R		(L + R) (Bridged)
					C
			2		3

●Principle of Tri-mode

Method of frequency band division using a coil and capacitor…in case of 6dB/oct. slope

	Crossover Frequency	Coil (L): Passes low frequencies and blocks high
0 dB			frequencies. (Low pass)
		Capacitor (C): Passes high frequencies and blocks low
-3 dB
				frequencies. (High pass)
L	C	C=	159000	(µF)
	Frequency		fc x R		fc=Cut of Frequency (Hz)
		L=	159 x R	(mH)	R=Speaker Impedance (Ω)
			fc

●Example:

When it is required to set a crossover frequency of 120 Hz using speakers with an impedance of 4 ohms.

Prepare commercially-available coil and capacitor with the closest ratings to the results calculated from the formula above. The capacitor rating should be as close as possible to 331.25 (µF) and the coil rating should be as close as possible to 5.3 (mH).

2CAUTION

•If you wish to bridge-connect a speaker, the speaker impedance must be no less than 4 ohms. Connecting a speaker with an impedance lower than 4 ohms may damage the unit.

•Be sure to connect capacitors to speakers to which high frequencies will be passed. Failure to do so will result in a drop of the combined impedance with the subwoofer.

•Ensure that the withstand voltage and current ratings of the capacitors (C) and coils (L) are sufficient.

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