Kicker DX100.2, DX300.2 Owner's Manual

DX

STEREOAMPLIFIER

DX100.2, DX300.2

English Version

Versión Español
Amplifi cador del la Serie DX.2
Manual del Propietario

Deutsche Version
Stereoverstärker der DX.2-Serie
Benutzerhandbuch

Version Française
Amplifi cateur de série DX.2

©2007 Stillwater Designs

2008 DX 100-2 300-2 4in1 a01.indd 1-22008 DX 100-2 300-2 4in1 a01.indd 1-2 1/17/2008 11:19:34 AM1/17/2008 11:19:34 AM

Manuel d’utilisation

DX.2SeriesAmplifi er

>

>

Owner’sManual

TwoChannelModels: DX100.2 / DX300.2

Figure 2

Two Channel Operation (Stereo)

Source Unit

KUNEK
10 - COMA

Congratulations on your

KICKER purchase!

Please record your purchase

information and keep your sales

receipt for validation of warranty.

Authorized Kicker Dealer:

Purchase Date:

Amplifi er Model Number:

Amplifi er Serial Number:

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

Installation

1. Mounting Choose a structurally sound location to mount your Kicker amplifi er. The controls on the

top of the amplifi er need to be accessible for adjustment. Make sure there are no items behind the area
where the screws will be driven. Choose a location that allows at least 4” (10cm) of open ventilation for
the amplifi er. If possible, mount the amplifi er in the climate-controlled passenger compartment. Drill four
holes using a 7/64” (3mm) bit and use the supplied #8 screws to mount the amplifi er.

2. Wiring Disconnect the vehicle’s battery to avoid an electrical short. Then, connect the ground wire to
the amplifi er. Make the ground wire short, 24” (60cm) or less, and connect it to a paint and corrosion free
solid metal area of the vehicle's chassis. Adding an additional ground wire of this same gauge (or larger)
between the battery's negative post and the vehicle chassis is recommended.

The DX amplifi er has dual input sensitivity differential RCA inputs which will receive either high or low
level signals from your car stereo’s source unit. Ideally, when connecting the source unit to the amplifi er,
the DX amplifi er’s input level switch should be set to “LO” and a low-level signal should run from the
source unit’s stereo RCA output to the stereo RCA input on the end panel of the amplifi er using RCA
interconnect cable. If a low-level stereo RCA output is not available on the source unit, the signal can
be delivered to the amplifi er using the high-level speaker outputs on the source unit. Set the input level
switch on the end panel of the amplifi er to “HI”. Crimp and solder RCA connectors to the end of the
speaker wire running from the high-level speaker outputs on the source unit and connect the wire to the
RCA Inputs on the end panel of the amplifi er as shown in Figure 1. Keep the audio signal cable away
from factory wiring harnesses and
other power wiring. If you need to
cross this wiring, cross it at a 90

High-level Speaker Output Wire

To Source Unit

+

degree angle.

Install a fuse within 18” (45cm) of the battery and in-line with the power cable connected to your
amplifi er. If you ever need to remove the amplifi er from the vehicle after it has been installed, the ground
wire should be the last wire disconnected from the amplifi er--just the opposite as when you installed it.
See the chart below for power and ground wire size, and fusing recommendations.

INSTALLATION

ModelDX100.2 1 (ONE) 15 AMPERE FUSE PowerGroundWire 8GA
ModelDX300.2 2 (TWO) 20 AMPERE FUSE PowerGroundWire 8GA

3. Confi guration The following diagrams show the most common confi gurations for your Kicker DX
series amplifi er.

Two Channel Operation (Stereo) DX.2 amplifi ers are capable of operating into a minimum impedance
of 2 ohms per channel in stereo operation. See Figure 2.

Bridged Operation (Mono) DX.2 series amplifi ers are capable of operating into a minimum impedance
of 4 ohms when in bridged operation. See Figure 3.

Stereo and Mono Operation Simultaneously (SAMS) The DX.2 series amplifi ers are capable of
operating into a minimum impedance of 4 ohms mono and 2 ohms per channel in stereo simultaneously
with the use of passive crossovers. See Figure 4.

2

DX.2AMPLIFIER

+

Core Cable

Ground or Shielding

To Amplifi er

Figure 1

L+
L-

R+
R-

(60cm)

24"

(45cm)

Ground

Remote

(45cm)

Turn-On

18"

Fuse

KUNEK
10 - COMA

Source Unit

Bridge Wiring

(60cm)

24"

Ground

Remote
Turn-On

18"

Fuse

L+
L-

R+
R-

Minimum Impedance of 2 ohms per channel in stereo operation

+12V

Battery

Figure 3

Bridged Operation (Mono)

Minimum impedance of 4 ohms while in bridged operation

+12V

+

Figure 4

Battery

Signal In

CONFIGURATION

Signal In

Stereo and Mono Operation Simultaneously (SAMS)

Low Pass

XOVER

Minimum impedance of 4 ohms mono and 2 ohms

per channel in stereo simultaneously

Bridge Wiring

+12V

Battery

(45cm)

KUNEK
10 - COMA

High Pass

XOVER

L+

High Pass

XOVER

(60cm)

24"

Ground

Remote
Turn-On

18"

Fuse

L-

R+
R-

Source Unit

Signal In

Note: To get the best performance from your new Kicker Amplifi er, we recommend using genuine Kicker Accessories and Wiring.

3

2008 DX 100-2 300-2 4in1 a01.indd 3-42008 DX 100-2 300-2 4in1 a01.indd 3-4 1/17/2008 11:19:34 AM1/17/2008 11:19:34 AM

Operation

1. Crossover Switch Use the XOVER switch on the end panel of the amplifi er to set the internal

crossover to OFF, HI or LO. When the switch is set to OFF, a full bandwidth signal will be amplifi ed. Set
the switch to HI if you want the amplifi er’s internal crossover to serve as a high-pass fi lter fi xed at 100 Hz
with an 18 db/octave slope. Set the switch to LO if you want the amplifi er’s internal crossover to serve as
a low-pass fi lter fi xed at 80 Hz with an 18 db/octave slope to power your subwoofers.

2. Input Gain Control The input gain control is not a volume control. It matches the output of the
source unit to the input level of the amplifi er. Turn the source unit up to about 3/4 volume (if the source
unit goes to 30, turn it to 25). Next, slowly turn (clockwise) the gain on the amplifi er up until you can hear
audible distortion, then turn it down a little.

3. Bass Boost Turn the bass boost on to increase bass by 9db at 40 Hz. If you choose to enable the
bass boost it may be necessary to reduce the input gain control on the amplifi er to avoid clipping.

5. Automatic Turn-On Selection The DX series offers three different automatic turn-on modes that can
be selected on the end panel; +12V, DC Offset, and Audio. Using either the DC Offset or Audio mode
causes the REM terminal to have +12V out for turning on additional amplifi ers

Remote Turn-On Set the switch to +12V to use the remote turn-on lead from your source unit. Run
18 Ga wire from the Remote Turn-On Lead on your source unit to the terminal labeled REM between the

OPERATION

amplifi er’s positive and negative power terminals. This is the preferred automatic turn-on method.

DC Offset Turn-On If Remote Turn-On is not an option, the next best setting is DC Offset. The DC
Offset mode detects a 6 volt surge from the HI Level speaker outputs when the source unit has been
turned on.

Signal Sense Turn-On The Audio setting is the fi nal alternative for Automatic turn-on. This is a Signal
Sense turn-on method that detects the incoming audio signal from your source unit and automatically
turns on the amp. This turn-on method will not work properly if the input gain control is not set
appropriately.

Trou bl eShooting

If your amplifi er does not appear to be working, check the obvious things fi rst such as blown fuses, poor
or incorrect wiring connections, incorrect setting of crossover switch and gain controls, etc. There is
a Power Protection LED on the side power panel of your Kicker DX series amplifi er. Depending on the
state of the amplifi er and the vehicle’s charging system, the LED will glow either Red, Yellow or Green.
When the green LED is lit this indicates the amplifi er is turned on and no trouble exists.

Green LED off, no output? With a Volt Ohm Meter (VOM) check the following: 1) +12 volt power
terminal (should read +12V to +16V) 2) Remote turn-on terminal (should read +12V to +16V) 3) Check
for reversed power and ground connections. 4) Ground terminal, for proper conductivity. 5) Check for
blown fuses

Green LED on, no output? Check the following: 1) RCA connections 2) Test speaker outputs with
a “known” good speaker. 3) Substitute source unit with a “known” good source unit. 4) Check for a
signal in the RCA cable feeding the amplifi er with the VOM meter set to measure “AC” voltage.

Yellow LED fl ashing with loud music? The yellow LED indicates low battery voltage. Check all the
connections in your vehicle’s charging system. It may be necessary to replace or charge your vehicle’s
battery or replace your vehicle’s alternator.

Red LED on, no output? 1) Amplifi er is very hot. Thermal protection is engaged. Test for proper
impedance at the speaker terminals with a VOM meter (see the diagrams in this manual for minimum
recommended impedance and multiple speaker wiring suggestions). Also check for adequate airfl ow
around the amplifi er. 2) Amplifi er shuts down only while vehicle is running. Voltage protection circuitry
is engaged. Voltage to the amplifi er is not within the 9-16 volt operating range. Have the vehicle's
charging and electrical system inspected. 3) Amplifi er will only play at low volume levels. Short circuit
protection is engaged. Check for speaker wires shorted to each other or to the vehicle chassis. Check
for damaged speakers, or speaker(s) operating below the minimum recommended impedance.

No output from one channel? 1) Check the balance control on source unit 2) Check the RCA (or
speaker input) and speaker output connections for the channel 3) Swap the RCA (or speaker input)

4

DX.2AMPLIFIER

cable from left to right. If the problem changes sides then you have a bad RCA (or speaker input) cable
or source unit problem. 4) Swap the speaker output wire from left to right. If the problem changes sides
then you have a bad speaker cable, passive crossover network and/or speaker.

 Alternator noise-whining sound with engine’s RPM? 1) Check for damaged RCA (or speaker input)
cable 2) Check the routing of RCA (or speaker input) cable 3) Check the source unit for proper
grounding 4) Check the gain settings and turn them down if they are set too high.

Poor stereo image or reduced bass response? Check system phasing by turning the balance
control from left to right. If there is more bass output when turned to either side, then check your speaker
wiring, passive crossover networks and speaker terminals for proper positive and negative connections.
Reverse a speaker connection from positive to negative on the stereo/subwoofer channel(s); if the bass
improves, the speaker was out of phase.

Please Note: Modern high performance speakers have a lower DC Resistance than what used to be
available. The Kicker Coaxial and Component speakers are rated at four ohms (some DC Resistances
may be as low as 3 ohms) and work with any amplifi er designed to operate at a four ohm load. If you
want to use two Kicker Coaxial or Component speakers on a single channel of your amplifi er wire the
speakers in series. This will improve the sound quality, lower the total harmonic distortion and lessen
the thermal load at the amplifi er. This may prevent an amplifi er from shutting down, due to over-current
protection circuitry.

CAUTION: When jump starting the vehicle, be sure that connections made with jumper cables are
correct. Improper connections can result in blown amplifi er fuses as well as the failure of other critical
systems in the vehicle.

If you have more questions about the installation or operation of your new KICKER product, see the
Authorized KICKER Dealer where you made your purchase. For more advice on installation, click on
the SUPPORT tab on the Kicker homepage, www.kicker.com. Choose the TECHNICAL SUPPORT tab,
choose the subject you are interested in, and then download or view the corresponding information.
Please E-mail [e-mail] or call Technical Services [phone] for unanswered or specifi c
questions.

Performance

Model DX100.2 DX300.2

RMS Power in Watts, all channels driven @14.4
Volts, 4Ω stereo, ≤ 1% THD+N

@ 2Ω stereo, ≤ 1% THD+N 50 x 2 150 x 2

@ 4Ω mono, ≤ 1% THD+N 100 300 x 1

Length: in(cm) 8 3/8 (21.3) 15 (38.1)

Specifi cations common to all models:

Height: in(mm) 2 1/8 (54mm)
Width: in(mm) 8 5/16 (211mm)
Frequency Response, ± 1 db: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >95db, a-weighted, re: rated power

Input Sensitivity:

Selectable Electronic Crossover:

Bass Boost: 9db Bass Boost Switch Fixed @ 40Hz

Model DX100.2

25 x 2 @ 4 ohms, 14.4Vdc, 1%THD, CEA-2006 Watts
Signal to Noise Ratio -84
CEA-2006 (ref: 1W, A-weighted)

Model DX300.2

75 x 2 @ 4 ohms, 14.4Vdc, 1%THD, CEA-2006 Watts
Signal to Noise Ratio -74
CEA-2006 (ref: 1W, A-weighted)

25 x 2 75 x 2

Low Level: 125mV-5V

High Level 250mV-10V

18 db/Octave High Pass Fixed @ 100Hz

18 db/Octave Low Pass Fixed @ 80Hz

PERFORMANCE

5

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