Rockford Fosgate RFA-614, RFA-514, RFA-414 User Manual



AUDIO

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FULL-RANGE SYSTEM

RFA-414, RFA-514, RFA-614

Owner's Manual

®®

Dear Customer,

Congratulations on your purchase of the world's finest brand of car audio
components. At Rockford Fosgate we are committed to musical reproduction
at its best, and we are pleased you chose our product. Through years of
engineering expertise, hand craftsmanship and critical testing procedures, we
have created a wide range of products that reproduce music with all the clarity
and richness you deserve.

For maximum performance we recommend you have your new Rockford
Fosgate product installed by an Authorized Rockford Fosgate Dealer, as we
provide specialized training through Rockford Technical Training Institute
(RTTI). Please read your warranty and retain your receipt and original carton
for possible future use.

To add the finishing touch to your new Rockford Fosgate image, order your
Rockford accessories, which include everything from T-shirts and jackets to
hats and sunglasses.

To get a free brochure on Rockford Fosgate products and Rockford accessories,
please call 602-967-3565 or FAX [phone]. For Canada, call Korbon
Trading at 416-567-1920. For International orders, FAX [phone]
or call 001-1-602-967-3565.

PRACTICE SAFE SOUND™

CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE TO SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS OVER
100dB MAY CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. HIGH POWERED
AUTOSOUND SYSTEMS MAY PRODUCE SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS
WELL OVER 130dB. USE COMMON SENSE AND PRACTICE SAFE
SOUND.

The serial number can be found on the outside of the box. Please record it in
the space provided below as your permanent record. This will become useful
in recovering your product if it is ever stolen and serve as verification of your
factory warranty.

Serial Number: ___________________

Model Number: ___________________

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Specifications ................................................................................... 1

Punch AUDIO

Introduction ...................................................................................... 2

Designs and Features ...................................................................... 3

2X-4 High Pass and Low Pass Crossover .................................. 3

Punch AUDIO

Punch AUDIO

Speaker Placement for Proper Sound Staging ................................ 5

Mounting the RFA-44, 54 and 64 Mid-Range/Woofers .................... 7

Flush Mounting the ND4 Tweeter .................................................... 8

Surface Mounting the ND4 Tweeter ................................................. 9

Wiring the Punch AUDIO

Warranty Information...................................................................... 12

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System Contents............................................... 2

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Mid-Range/Woofers ..................................... 4

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ND4 Neodymium Tweeter ............................ 5

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System ........................................... 10

SPECIFICATIONS

RFA-44

RFA-54

RFA-64

ND4 Tweeter

Diameter: 4" (101.6mm)
Power Handling: 30 Watts
Impedance: 4 ohms
Frequency Response: 94 - 7,000Hz
Sensitivity: 86dB
Resonance: 94Hz
Mounting Depth: 1-27/32" (46.8mm)

Diameter: 5-1/4" (133.4mm)
Power Handling: 50 Watts
Impedance: 4 ohms
Frequency Response: 44 - 6,000Hz
Sensitivity: 86dB
Resonance: 44Hz
Mounting Depth: 2-5/8" (66.7mm)

Diameter: 6-1/2" (165.1mm)
Power Handling: 80 Watts
Impedance: 4 ohms
Frequency Response: 39 - 6,000Hz
Sensitivity: 89dB
Resonance: 39Hz
Mounting Depth: 3-3/32" (78.6mm)

Power Handling: 50 Watts
Impedance: 4 ohms
Frequency Response: 3,000Hz - 20,000Hz
Sensitivity with input of 1
Watt measured at 1 meter: 91dB

2X-4
Crossover

Crossover Network: 2nd Order Symmetrical

Linkwitz-Riley alignment

Crossover Frequency: 4,000Hz Low Pass

4,000Hz High Pass
Impedance Circuits
Tweeter Resonance: 1,500Hz
High Frequency (Zobel): 10kHz
Crossover Slope: 12dB/octave
Tweeter Level Matching: -3dB
Active Tweeter Protection
Circuitry: 100 Watts

Specifications are subject to change.

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PUNCH AUDIOphile SYSTEM CONTENTS

The Punch AUDIO

• 1 pair of 2X-4 crossovers

• 1 pair of AUDIO

• 1 pair of ND4 neodymium tweeters

with flush mount cup

• 1 pair of surface mounting plates

• Speaker grilles

• Assorted hardware

• 16 gauge Perfect Interface hook-up wire

INTRODUCTION

This manual provides information on the features and
installation of the Punch AUDIO
tem. We suggest you save this manual for future
reference.

We strongly recommend you have your Authorized
Rockford Fosgate Dealer install the Punch AUDIO
System. If you do choose to install the system yourself,
please be sure to read the entire manual before begin­ning.

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System contains:

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mid-range/woofers

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Full Range Sys-

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2

DESIGNS AND FEA TURES

This section describes the design and features of each
component in the Punch AUDIO

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System.

2X-4 High

Pass and

Low Pass

Crossover

The 2X-4 Crossover is designed to be the “link” between
the ND4 neodymium tweeters, and RFA-44, 54 and 64
midrange/woofer speakers. This compact 2-way cross­over is designed to conform to the following criteria:

• 2-Way Crossover network centered at 4 kHz.

• Uses Linkwitz-Riley 2nd order transfer function (12 dB/

octave).

• Additional tweeter filtering uses a series notch filter
centered at 1500 Hz to minimize the tweeter's reso­nance peak.

• Also included is impedance compensation equaliza­tion (Zobel network). This flattens out the gradual
impedance rise above 10 kHz.

• Tweeter protection provided through a special com­pression circuit.

This compression technique in the crossover uses an
array of two lamps wired in parallel, whose function is
to monitor the input power to the tweeter. When it sees
a threatening increase in input voltage, it will increase
the resistance. This technique is fast, and virtually
undetectable to the listener. Other manufacturers'
tweeter protection is done via circuit breakers. This
method drastically reduces tweeter output, which is
very noticeable and distracting for the listener.

Input and

Output

Connectors

Mounting

the 2X-4

• Small size is accomplished by using inductors wound
on specially designed ferrite bobbins.

Attaching wires to the 2X-4 is accomplished with the use
of silver plated “screw-lok” terminals to secure both the
input and output speaker wires. The 2X-4 accepts wire
sizes up to 12 gauge.

The 2X-4 is mounted to relatively flat surfaces with sheet­metal screws inserted into the mounting holes on either
side of the enclosure.

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PUNCH AUDIOphile MID-RANGE/WOOFERS

Cone Body

Flat Spider

Design

Voice Coil

The Punch AUDIO

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drivers are designed for opti­mum smooth frequency response. This goal, as with all
Rockford Fosgate products, is achieved by utilizing
“high quality, high-end” component parts.

The “felting stocks” and geometry of the cone body were
selected to provide the smoothest, or flattest, well­extended high frequency response. In addition, these
“precision mass controlled” rigid paper cone bodies are
properly terminated with “highly compliant” nitrile rubber
edges.

The system’s linear compliance is balanced through the
use of a “proprietary” flat spider design for “symmetrical
control” of the voice coil and cone excursion. The linear
suspension of rubber edges coupled with flat spiders
and the use of long 2-layer voice coils results in drivers
which exhibit low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) fig­ures.

To ensure a well controlled high frequency output up to
the 4 kHz transition point of the ND4 tweeter, small voice
coil diameters and vented pole pieces are used. Venting
both reduces back pressure in the voice coil cavity to
reduce “air-rush” noise, as well as allowing for the
circulation of “cooling” air in the voice coil circuit. To
further reduce heat build-up in the voice coil and in­crease long-term power handling, the pole piece and
field plate surfaces are supplied with a black heatsink
finish.

Dust Cap

Powder

Coating

Finishes

The pre-treated cloth dust caps are specially chosen so
as not to interfere with the natural response of the cone
and motor combination. They are sonically neutral and
will not radiate or add undesirable resonance in or out of
the driver passband.

Powder coating has long been the industry standard for
durability in protective metal finishes. As an additional
benefit, powder coating is the only finishing process that
is “earth friendly.” It releases no toxic chemicals into our
air and water supplies.

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PUNCH AUDIOphile ND4
NEODYMIUM TWEETER

The ND4 Neodymium Tweeter is designed for opti­mum smooth frequency response.

Neodymium

Magnets

Ferrofluid

Cooling

Flush Mount/

Surface

Mount

Replaceable

Dome

The high ionic compound of neodymium enables a
smaller tweeter magnet assembly to be used as
opposed to the much larger ferrite magnets that are
commonly used in speaker manufacturing.

The tight tolerances of the neodymium tweeter call for
ferrofluid as the ideal cooling agent, thereby giving the
tweeters increased efficiency and power handling.

The design of the ND4 Neodymium Tweeter enables
you to incorporate the tweeter in either a flush mount
or surface mount installation.

The voice coil in the neodymium tweeter is replace­able if it should ever fail. Please contact your Autho­rized Rockford Fosgate Dealer for more information.

SPEAKER PLACEMENT FOR PROPER SOUND
STAGING

To create an accurate listening environment one must
first have a basic understanding of sound reproduction.
Rockford Fosgate recommends creating a FRONT
STAGE with ambiance or REAR FILL. The main goal is
to create a three dimensional sound stage that exhibits
width, height and depth. In the ideal listening environ­ment the main source of sound is in the front of the
listener. This helps to create a front stage. A front stage
describes the system’s ability to reproduce the presence
of a stage from in FRONT of the listener. Ambiance or
rear fill is the result of sound reflecting off the rear walls
and other surfaces before traveling back to the listener.

A solid front stage with a good image is one of the most
difficult tasks to achieve in an automobile. No car reflects
the optimum listening environment. This makes proper

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sound staging very difficult to achieve. Most speakers tend
to be placed where they will easily fit, as opposed to where
they will sound good. Speaker mounting varies from car to
car. The two basic rules for mounting midrange/woofers and
tweeters are:

1. Keep the speakers close together

2. Keep them as far forward as possible.

Sound waves reflect from walls and other surfaces the same
way light reflects from a mirror. In the ideal listening
environment the enclosed space traps the sound, forcing it
to return to the listener over and over again in a rapidly,
decaying sense of reflections, known as “reverberation.”
Ideally, these reflections give the listeners a sense that a live
performance is taking place, thereby making the car seem
more spacious. This effect makes them feel immersed in the
music, adding warmth and fullness to the tonal quality of the
instruments.

The following diagrams show some examples of how to
mount the tweeter, midrange/woofers and wire the Punch
AUDIO

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system.

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MOUNTING THE RFA-44, 54 AND 64
MID-RANGE/WOOFERS

Screw

Clips

Mounting

Ring

Midrange/
Woofer

Grille

1. Cut the proper size hole for the midrange/woofer.

Exploded View

Cut-Out

Mounting

Hole

• For the RFA-44, cut a 4" (101.6mm) diameter hole

• For the RFA-54, cut a 4-15/16" (125.4mm) diameter hole

• For the RFA-64, cut a 5-27/32" (148.4mm) diameter hole

2. Place the mounting ring over the mounting hole and mark the
location of the mounting holes.

3. Remove the ring. Drill the holes for the screw clips using an1/8" bit.

4. Route the wire through the hole.

5. Install the screw clips over the holes. Place the mounting ring over
the hole.

6. Attach the wires and be sure to observe proper speaker polarity.

7. Place the speaker into the hole and screw into place.

8. Press the speaker grille into the mounting ring.

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FLUSH MOUNTING THE ND4 TWEETER

The following instructions explain how to flush mount the ND4 Tweet­ers.

1. Cut a 2-1/8 inch (54mm) diameter mounting hole.

2. With the key hole pointing up, insert the flushmount cup into the
mounting hole. Bend back the retaining tabs to secure in place.
With the wires inserted through the key hole, insert the tweeter into
the bracket and turn clockwise to lock it in place. Note: Be sure to
observe proper speaker polarity.

Front View

Key hole pointing up

Flush Mount

Tweeter

Cup

Back View

Hook up

wires

Key turned
and locked

Bend out tabs to hold

mounting cup in place

Mounting Hole

Speaker Wires

Bend out

holding tabs

Exploded View

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SURFACE MOUNTING THE ND4 TWEETER

The following instructions explain how to surface mount the ND4
Tweeters.

1. Place the mounting plate on a surface that the tweeter will be
mounted onto. Mark two (2) opposing mounting holes and the
center wire access hole.

2. Drill a 1/4 inch (6.4mm) hole for the wire access. Drill two (2) 1/8
inch (3mm) holes for the mounting screws.

3. Route the hook up wire through the center hole.

4. Place the mounting plate in position by threading the hook-up wires
through the center hole. Mount the mounting plate down using the
provided screws.

5. Attach the hook-up wire to the tweeter.
Note: Be sure to observe proper speaker polarity.

6. Snap the tweeter onto the mounting plate.

ND4

Tweeter

Center Wire

Access Hole

Mounting

Holes

Hook-Up

Wire

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Mounting

Holes

WIRING THE PUNCH AUDIOphile System

The following diagrams show some examples of how to wire the Punch
AUDIO

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system.

ND-4

>

>

+ –

2x-4

2X-4

+ –

>

>

RFA 44/54/64

Tweeter
Output

+ –

Woofer
Output

+ –+ –

Input

>

>

Input

from

Amplifier

Note: With 12 dB per octave (second order filters) an out of phase
condition can exist within the passband. To correct this situation the
tweeters must be wired out of polarity. We recommend hooking it up out
of polarity first and then listening to the system. Next, reverse the polarity
and listen again. Select the one that sounds best. The polarity reversal
can occur at either the tweeter or crossover, whichever is most conve­nient.

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BANDPASSING THE WOOFER

To bandpass the midrange/woofer, it is necessary to add a 400µf
capacitor in series with the woofer.

2x-4

2X-4

Woofer
Output

+ –

400 µf capacitor

+ –

>

>

RFA 44/54/64

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WARRANTY INFORMATION

Rockford Fosgate warrants all loudspeakers to the original purchaser for a
period of two (2) years parts and labor, providing the product was purchased
from an Authorized Rockford Fosgate Dealer. Speakers found to be defective
during the warranty period will be repaired or replaced (with a product deemed
to be equivalent) at Rockford Fosgate's discretion. Repaired or replaced
speakers will cover the balance of the original warranty period only. Warranty
applies only to original purchaser and is non-transferable. Warranty does not
cover abuse or installation error. If a determination is made that the product has
been abused or is out of the warranty period, it will be repaired, exchanged, and
billed. Parts not covered under warranty will be repaired or replaced and billed.
For speaker boxes, please return the speaker only. Serial number must be intact
to obtain warranty. Speakers must be returned prepaid to Grand Rapids,
Michigan.

GENERAL

Electronics and speaker warranties do not cover any appearance item, any cost
or expense related to the removal or reinstallation of the product, any accessory
used in conjunction with the product, damage to the product resulting from
alteration, accident, misuse or abuse, or improper installation. This warranty
does not apply if the parts or labor, which would otherwise be provided without
charge under this warranty, are obtained from any source other than Rockford
Fosgate or an Authorized Rockford Fosgate Service Center.

The warranty is the only express warranty and does not create any implied
warranties. Rockford Fosgate limits its obligations under any implied warranties
under state laws to a period not to exceed the written warranty period. Some
states do not allow limitation on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above
limitation may not apply. This warranty applies only to products sold in the United
States of America or its possessions. For warranty outside the U.S.A., please
contact the nearest Authorized Rockford Fosgate Dealer. This warranty gives
the consumer specific legal rights, and the consumer may have other rights
which vary from state to state.

A defective product must be shipped prepaid to the Authorized Rockford
Fosgate Dealer from which the consumer purchased the product or to the
address below, in the original factory carton or equivalent. Any shipping loss or
damage will be borne by the consumer or the consumer's shipper. A consumer/

dealer returning a product to the factory should call [phone] for a
Return Authorization Number. All shipments shall be clearly marked with the

Return Authorization Number on the outside of the shipping carton.

Rockford Fosgate
Carbonneau Division
609 Myrtle N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 (Receiving-speakers)

CP-8673 (5/93)

Rockford Fosgate

A Division of Rockford Corporation

546 South Rockford Drive

Tempe, Arizona 85281 U.S.A.

In U.S.A., [phone]

In Canada, call Korbon [phone]

In Europe, Fax [phone]