Planet Audio PA300 User Manual

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l~ucJio®

PA300

DIGITAL

Congratulations on your purchase
of

It has been designed, engineered
and manufactured
highest level
quality, and will afford you years
listening pleasure.

Thank you for making
Planet Audio your choice
audio entertainment!

BASS

PROCESSOR

a Planet Audio signal processor.

to

bring you the

of

performance and

for

car

of

USER'S

page CONTENTS

MANUAL

2 Why use the DIGITAL BASS

PROCESSOR?
About the PWM Subsonic Filter

2

Where

2

mobile audio system?

do

I place the PA300

3 Installation

Important note

3

connecting this unit
Controls and features

4

Power and remote level control

6

connections
Audio connections

7

Specifications

8

to

read before

to

your system

in

my

Troubleshooting

8

PA300 User's Manual - page 1

Why

use

the

DIGITAL BASS

PROCESSOR?

The

Planet

Audio

PA300 DIGITAL
BASS PROCESSOR
mobile audio component designed
restore and enhance the bass frequ­encies present

It is like an acoustic magnifying lens.
The flexible control system permits

to

identify the bass frequency as

you
a "center frequency" around which
maximum enhancement will occur.
This is similar to the central frequency
selected

The range of frequencies enhanced
can be very narrow or relatively wide.
By using the "Effect Range" control
you can decide if you want a particular
bass frequency
than usual or a wider range of frequen­cies

in

a parametric equalizer.

to

be boosted.

is

a specialized

in

your music.

to

punch much harder

to

About
PWM

Any device that increases the level
the deep bass can increase the rumble
and incur the risk of damaging your
speaker system.

That's why we decided
PWM Subsonic Filter
Generally, setting this filter
(which will eliminate frequencies below
33Hz) will ofter protection for most
speaker systems.

You may also want
set the Subsonic filter
quency, as this sometimes has the
effect of making the sound louder and
cleaner.

Where
in

The PA300
system AFTER the audio source (like
a head unit) and AHEAD
crossovers, equalizers or amplifiers.
Please see the example on page 7
this user's manual.

the

Subsonic

do I

my

mobile

built-in

Filter

in

to

experiment and

to

place

audio system?

is

placed

in

a mobile sound

to

include a

the PA300.

to

33Hz

a higher fre-

the

PA300

of

any

of

of

Installation

Choose a mounting location where the
unit will not distract or otherwise

a location

to

contact

or

excessive

to

to

interfere with the driver's ability
control the vehicle.

Use only the installation parts and
hardware provided with the unit
ensure proper installation. Using other
parts can cause malfunction and
possible damage

Avoid installing the unit
which

is

subject
direct sunlight, hot air from such
sources as heaters or exhaust lines,
or where it will be subject
with dust, dirt, moisture
vibration.

to

this product.

in

to

high temperatures,

IMPORTANT:
connect this unit

Before

to

your audio

you

system ...•

The volume control
determines the
device. In

your audio equipment, you must ensure

that the setting
within the acceptable

range

If

the
may
amp
amplifier can handle it, the bass
may
bass distortion which can damage your
speakers.

If

you have

a

lower
enhancement

- you can always increase

order

of

that device.

output

damage the

or

other

be

great enough to cause high

any

level first

on

the

PA300

output

voltage

to avoid damaging

you

have selected is

input

voltage

level is

set

too high,

input

stage

of

device. Also, even

doubts, always select

and

see

if

the bass

you

achieve

is

enough

it

more.

of

the

you

the

if

boost

the

PA300 User·s Manual - page 2

This unit features balanced RCA (line
level) inputs. This circuitry allows it
handle very high input

to

15V rms) but still minimize

up
induced noise.

Its basic function is
voltage level
range you have selected. You set the
output level using the 4-position Bass
Output Control switch on the front
panel. The maximum output level the
PA300 can produce is 10V rms.

of

Signal

to

boost the

the bass frequency

to

voltages

PA300 User's Manual - page 3

Controls and

1l1!f!.'4!1oCESSOR

features

REMOTe

CONTROl.

o

1

)

Controls and features, continued

® POWER CONNECTIONS

Connect this unit as you would any
audio component.
however, you should make sure the
ground connection is very secure, not
too long, and made
wire. This will help ensure that the
PA300's bass enhancement activities
do not introduce engine or alternator
noise into your audio signal.

KNOB ILLUMINATION

The PA300 is designed
on

and off remotely using the
power connection. When the head unit
or other triggering device is turned on,
the PA300's three knobs will be
illuminated.

In

particular,

of

a heavy gauge

to

be turned

REMOTE

® REMOTE LEVEL CONTROL

This remote control is intended
mounted under the vehicle dash near
the driver
the PA300. It has

@)

~

to

allow fingertip control

two

controls:

PWM SUBSONIC FILTER

This control
set a cutoff point for the bottom
end
order
other low frequency noise which
can damage your audio system.

BASS GENERATION
CONTROL

Use this control
level

PA300 creates. This control
offers boost and cut from the
voltage level selected using the

Bass Output Level selector.

is

used primarily

of

the lower frequencies

to

minimize rumble and

to

of

bass generation the

adjust the

to

be

of

to

in

CD

VOLUME LEVEL CONTROL

Use this
presented
components. Be careful
conservatively so it does not damage
the attached equipment.

to

control the boost level

to

your attached audio

to

set it

® SPECTRUM RANGE CONTROL

This control allows you
whether
generation
of
frequency
the central frequency.

or

not you want the bass

to

frequency around the center

occur over a wide range

or

to

to

determine

be tightly focused at

® CENTER FREQUENCY CONTROL

Use this control
frequency for the bass enhancement
processing.

PA300 User's Manual - page 4

to

set the center

@ BALANCED

®

UR

AUDIO OUTPUTS

UR

AUDIO INPUTS

® REMOTE CONTROL CONNECTOR

(j) FUSE

1

J

PA300 User's Manual - page 5

Power

Please note that this unit contains an internal ON/OFF switch, which is activated
when the head unit is turned on. For this reason,
your head unit must have a remote-turn on lead.

and Remote Level Control connections

in

order to use this crossover,

Audio connections

Always install immediately after the audio source unit, ahead
such as equalizers, crossovers and amplifiers. The systems shown below is

- your system may vary. Always use high-quality cables for best audio results.

of

all

other audio components

an

example

PA300 Remote Control

RED

wire

3A

FUSE

Making

Connect the following wires:

+12V:

Use a minimum 16GA wire and connect it directly

to

the vehicle's
the
with

GND

Use a minimum 16GA wire and connect it to a
clean, solid chassis ground point as close to the
crossover as possible.

REM (Remote):

Use a minimum 16GA wire and connect it

Remote Turn-On lead

power

8+

terminal

3A

inline fuse within 18 inches

(Ground):

connections

(+)

battery terminal or

of

one

of

of

your head unit.

the

amplifiers,

connect

of

the battery.

to

to

also

the

o

o

Chassis ground point

to

REMOTE TURN-ON

terminal

of

head

BLUE

wire

unit

.--

'

______

--,

o

o

o

100m~I'!

HEAD

UNIT

AUDIO OUTPUTS

AMP 2:

SUBWOOFER

AMP1:
MIDS

I

~

~

~

$

Midrange speakers

EQUALIZER

CROSSOVER

SUBWOOFER

OUTPUTS

~~~

¢~

CROSSOVER

LlRINPUTS

MIDRANGE
OUTPUTS

PA300 User's Manual -

page

6

PA300 User's

Manual

-

page

7

Specifications

PA300 DIGITAL BASS PROCESSOR

Powerful

low

frequency enhancement system

for

•

bass afficianados

Plul1~t

l

....

ucJio®

Input voltage level
Output voltage level

Frequency response

THO

Signal~to~noise

Balanced input noise rejection
Input impedance
Output impedance
Power

supply type

Fuse rating

All

specifications subject

ratio

to

change without notice.

15V

rms

10V

peak

(maximum)

10Hz ~ 100kHz (+/-2dB)

0.003%
130dB
>60dB

10k

ohms

150

ohms

PWM
3A

Troubleshooting

If you experience operation or performance problems with this product, compare your

installation with the electrical wiring diagram on the previous pages. If problems persist,
read the following troubleshooting tips which may help eliminate the problems.

SYMPTOM POSSIBLE REMEDY

r------

Unit will not

power

up.

r---

Sound is very
distorted.

Check that Battery

ICheck that all

i (11-16V) is present.

Check that fuse
Check that input level and output level are set correctly. Input level should

match the
sensitivity

(+)

and

Ground connections are

wires

are properly connected

is

not

blown.

output

of

of

the source unit,

the audio unit connected

not

reversed.T

and

that adequate voltage

and

output

to

level should match the

the Bass Generator's outputs.

Volume level is
very low.

Engine noise
(alternator

whine)

PA300 User's Manual - page 8

Check that input level
match the
sensitivity

Verify that the ground connection
heavy gauge wire.

Check that the Battery
Try connecting to

output

of

and

output level are set

of

the source unit,

the audio unit connected to the Bass Generator's outputs.

(+)

wire

is

power

from a different

correct/yo

and

output

level should match the

is

secure, near the unit,

not

unnecessarily long.

point

in the vehicle.

Input level should

and

uses a