Rockford Fosgate RFA-514 User Manual

PUNCH

AUDIOPHILE

SYSTEM

RFA-414
RFA-514
RFA-614

INSTALLATION & OPERATION

®®

Dear Customer,
Congratulations on your purchase of the world's finest brand of car audio speakers. At

Rockford Fosgate we are fanatics about 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.

Great product and competent installations are only a piece of the puzzle when it comes
to your system. Make sure that your installer is using 100% authentic installation
accessories from Connecting Punch in your installation. Connecting Punch has
everything from RCA cables and speaker wire to Power line and battery connectors.
Insist on it! After all, your new system deserves nothing but the best.

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

To get a free brochure on Rockford Fosgate products and Rockford accessories, in the
U.S. call 602-967-3565 or FAX [phone]. For all other countries, call +001-602­967-3565 or FAX [phone].

PRACTICE SAFE SOUND™

CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE TO SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS OVER

100dB MAY CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. HIGH

POWERED
PRESSURE
AND

If, after reading your manual, you still have questions regarding this product,
we recommend that you see your Rockford Fosgate dealer. If you need further
assistance, you can call us direct at 1-800-795-2385. Be sure to have your serial
number, model number and date of purchase available when you call.

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 serve as
verification of your factory warranty and may become useful in recovering your
product if it is ever stolen.

Serial Number: ________________________________
Model Number:________________________________

AUTOSOUND SYSTEMS MAY PRODUCE SOUND

LEVELS WELL OVER 130dB. USE COMMON SENSE

PRACTICE SAFE SOUND.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ...............................................................................................

Amplifier Accessory Pack.........................................................................1

Technical Design Features .......................................................................2

Design Features........................................................................................ 5

Installation Considerations ....................................................................... 7

Mounting Location...................................................................................8

Battery and Charging................................................................................ 9

Wiring the System .................................................................................... 9

Using the XCard.....................................................................................12

Resistor Chart.........................................................................................13

Installation ............................................................................................. 14

System Diagrams.................................................................................... 18

Rockford Fosgate Accessories................................................................. 22

Troubleshooting ..................................................................................... 26

Dynamic Power Measurements..............................................................29

Specifications.........................................................................................31

Warranty Information.............................................................................33

International Information........................................................................ 34

G

ETTING STARTED

Welcome to Rockford Fosgate! This manual is designed to provide
information for the owner, salesperson and installer. For those of you
who want quick information on how to install this product, please turn
to the

Installation Section

of this manual or refer to the icons listed
below. Other information can be located by using the Table of Contents.
We, at Rockford Fosgate, have worked very hard to make sure all the
information in this manual is current. But, as we are constantly finding
new ways to improve our product, this information is subject to change
without notice.

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Sections marked

INSTALLATION

include “slam dunk”

wiring connections

include recommendations

TROUBLE-

Sections marked

TROUBLESHOOTING

for curing

installation problems

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INTRODUCTION

This manual provides information on the features and installation of
the Punch AUDIO

phile

Systems. We suggest you save this manual

for future reference.
We strongly recommend you have your Authorized Rockford Fosgate

Dealer install the Punch AUDIO

phile

System. If you do choose to
install the system yourself, please be sure to read the entire manual
before beginning.

PACKAGE CONTENTS

RFA-414 RFA-514

(1) Installation & Operation Manual (1) Installation & Operation Manual
(2) 4" Midrange Speakers (2) 5.25" Midrange Speakers
(2) 4" Speaker Grilles (2) 5.25" Speaker Grilles
(2) Speaker Grille Rings (2) Speaker Grille Rings
(2) Speaker Grille Gaskets (2) Speaker Grille Gaskets
(8 Tinnerman Clips (8) Tinnerman Clips
(2) RFA-142x Crossovers (2) RFA-142x Crossovers
(2) 20mm Tweeters (2) 20mm Tweeters
(2) Surface Mount Cups (2) Surface Mount Cups
(2) Surface Mount Baseplates (2) Surface Mount Baseplates
(2) Flush Mount Cups (2) Flush Mount Cups
(2) Flush Mount Baseplates (2) Flush Mount Baseplates
(2) Mounting Brackets (2) Mounting Brackets
(2) 6' 24 gauge speaker wire (2) 6' 24 gauge speaker wire
(16) #8 x .75 Phillips Mounting Screws (16) #8 x .75 Phillips Mounting Screws
(4) 8-32 x .50 Hex Head Bolts (4) 8-32 x .50 Hex Head Bolts
(4) 8-32 Nuts (4) 8-32 Nuts

(1) Installation & Operation Manual
(2) 6.5" Midrange Speakers
(2) 6.5" Speaker Grilles
(2) Speaker Grille Rings
(2) Speaker Grille Gaskets
(8 Tinnerman Clips
(2) RFA-142x Crossovers
(2) 20mm Tweeters
(2) Surface Mount Cups

RFA-614

(2) Surface Mount Baseplates
(2) Flush Mount Cups
(2) Flush Mount Baseplates
(2) Mounting Brackets
(2) 6' 24 gauge speaker wire
(16) #8 x .75 Phillips Mounting Screws
(4) 8-32 x .50 Hex Head Bolts
(4) 8-32 Nuts

– 1 –

TECHNICAL DESIGN FEATURES

◆ Silk Dome

The silk dome used in the AUDIO
ment of the diaphragm and voice coil assembly. The linear movement
or “symmetrical control” of the assembly provides smooth and well
extended high frequency response.

THE RESULT: Smooth response for “audiophile” sound quality.

phile

tweeter allows linear move-

◆ Neodymium Magnets

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 RESULT: An efficient magnet which allows smaller tweeter
construction.

◆ Magnetic Fluid Cooling

Magnetic fluid is a synthetic liquid consisting of microscopic mag­netic particles. The fluid has four times the thermal conductivity as air
which makes it an ideal cooling agent. Magnetic fluid is injected into
the voice coil gap which helps dissipate heat generated by the voice
coil.

THE RESULT: A thermal conductor which allows increased power
handling.

◆ Swivel Mount Design

The tweeter is encapsulated in a variable swivel housing. This design
allows direct dispersion of the tweeter in order to accommodate
various mounting positions. The swivel mount design allows the
tweeter to maximize its sonic potential.

THE RESULT: Precise tweeter imaging regardless of mounting position.

– 2 –

Midrange Features

◆ Nitrile Rubber Surround

The nitrile material is resilient to temperature variations and provides
a consistent support necessary of the linear motion of the speaker
cone, In addition, the inherent damping capabilities eliminates the
transmission of sonic disturbances between the cone and the frame of
the speaker. This greatly improves the clarity of the speaker's midrange
frequency response.

THE RESULT: Improves speaker's frequency response.

◆ Flat Spider

The speaker's linear compliance is balanced through the use of a
“proprietary” flat spider design. A flat spider provides symmetrical
control of the voice coil through its cone excursion. Linear cone
excursion reduces harmonic distortion for improved sound quality.

THE RESULT: Reduces mechanical distortion for better sound quality
.

◆ High Temperature Voice Coil

The voice coil is of a high temperature copper wire construction. The
wire is wound in two layers on a black, anodized, aluminum voice
coil former. The voice coil former dissipates heat away from the voice
coil improving the speaker's thermal stability and improving the
reliability of the speaker.

THE RESULT: Improves reliability by dissipating generated heat.

◆ Vented Pole Piece

The vented pole piece by design, ensures proper ventilation to cool
the voice coil and maintain lower operating temperatures. The vent
on the rear of the magnet reduces back pressure and allows cool air
to circulate in the voice coil gap. The air circulation increases the
thermal power handling of the speaker.

THE RESULT: Improves power handling by cooling the voice coil.

– 3 –

◆ Powder Coat Finish

Powder coating has long been the industry standard for durability in
protective metal finishes. A dry powder (non-aerosol) is electrostati­cally applied to the metal and “baked” on to provide a hard “shell-
like” finish. As an additional benefit, powder coating is the only
finishing process that releases no toxic chemicals into our ozone.

THE RESULT: A durable and “earth friendly” metal finish.

Crossover Features

◆ Optical Compression Circuit

The speaker's linear compliance is balanced through the use of a
“proprietary” flat spider design. A flat spider provides symmetrical
control of the voice coil through its cone excursion. Linear cone
excursion reduces harmonic distortion for improved sound quality.

THE RESULT: Reduces mechanical distortion for better sound quality
.

◆ Series Notch Filter

The Series Notch Filter compensates for the inductive load presented
by the driver (speaker). The filter's primary function is to dampen and
eliminate the effect that driver resonance has on the crossover. The
Series Notch Filter flattens out the inductive load which greatly
improves driver performance by providing a “stable” crossover point.

THE RESULT: Improves driver performance by reducing resonant
peak.

– 4 –

◆ Zobel Network

The Zobel network compensate for the impedance rise presented by
the driver (speaker). The network flattens out the gradual impedance
rise produced by the voice coil which typically results in high
frequency rolloff. The Zobel Network compensates for this natural
rolloff which allows the driver to produce a more linear response up
to the tweeter crossover point.

THE RESULT: Compensates for natural high frequency rolloff of
midrange.

◆ Adjustable Tweeter Level Matching

The RFA-142x utilizes a series power resistor for tweeter level
matching. The factory set tweeter output level is –0dB, however, can
be reduced –3dB to create a smoother transition between the midrange
and tweeter. The ability to level match allows the system to be custom
“tuned” for a particular listener or setup.

THE RESULT: Allows custom setup of tweeter output level.

– 5 –

DESIGN FEATURES

1

6

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2

3

2

7

ACTIVE TWEETER PROTECTION
RFA-142x

®

®®

45

1. Wire Mesh Grille – The Wire Mesh Grille protects the tweeter
diaphragm from foreign objects and curious fingers.

2. Input Terminals – The “+” Terminal indicates the positive/plus
terminal of the speaker. The “–” Terminal indicates the negative/
minus terminal of the speaker. These terminals connect to the
corresponding output of the supplied crossover.

3. Variable Mount Logo – The Diamond “R” logo can be orientated
in its housing to accommodate vertical or horizontal crossover
mounting.

4. Input Screw Terminals – The Input Screw Terminals connect to
the outputs of the amplifier. These terminals accept bare wire or
1/4" spade lugs and are gold-plated to resist corrosion.

5. Output Screw Terminals – The Output Screw Terminals connect
to the input of the tweeter and midrange. These terminals accept
bare wire or 1/4" spade lugs and are gold-plated to resist corro­sion.

6. Surface Mount Cup – This cup is used to “surface mount” the
tweeter on a panel.

7. Flush Mount Cup – This cup is used to recess or “flush mount” the
tweeter into a panel.

– 6 –

INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS

Tools Needed

The following is a list of some of the tools necessary for the installation
of your speakers.

Power Drill with assorted bits #2 Phillips Screwdriver
Tape Measure Hole Saw (2")
Voltmeter

General

1. For safety, disconnect the negative lead from the battery prior to
beginning the installation.

2. Never run wires underneath the vehicle. Running the wires inside
the vehicle provides the best protection.

3. Avoid running wires over or through sharp edges. Use rubber of
plastic grommets to protect any wires routed through metal.

4. Mount the speakers/crossovers away from electrical sources (other
than the amplifier) i.e.., power cables, electronic fuel pumps,
vehicle computers, and other potential noise sources.

5. Mount the speakers/crossovers away from areas of extreme heat or
moisture.

Speakers

1. Make sure there is an area large enough of the speaker to mount.

Warning! Failure to do this can cause damage to the speaker if the
speaker frame is bent during installation.

2. Check to see that the location is deep enough for the speaker(s) and
the location does not interfere with the normal operation of the
vehicle.

3. When mounting the speaker(s) in the door of a vehicle, make sure
the speaker(s) do not interfere with either the door or window
operation.

4. When mounting the speaker(s) on the rear deck of the vehicle, check
the operation of the rear hatch or trunk lid. Make sure the torsion bars
and other moving parts are not obstructed by the speaker(s) instal­lation.

• Please refer to the Specifications section of this manual for proper
mounting diameter and depth of the speaker(s).

Crossovers

1. Make sure there is a flat area large enough for the crossover to mount.

2. For best results, mount the crossover(s) next to the amplifier for a
decorative finish to the installation and provide an easy upgrade (no
new wires to run) for a bi-amp Rockford Fosgate system in the future.

– 7 –

MOUNTING LOCATION

A solid front stage with a good image is one of the most difficult tasks
to achieve in a vehicle. No car has the optimum listening environment.
This makes proper sound staging very difficult to accomplish. Most
speakers tend to be placed where they will fit easily, as opposed to
where they can perform the best.

speakers will have a great effect on the sound quality of your stereo
system. The special care taken to place the speakers will yield many
hours of listening enjoyment in return. Several important recommenda­tions should be followed.

• Place the speakers where they have a
direct path to the listening area.

• For the best integration between the
midrange and tweeter, the tweeter should
be placed less than 2" from the midrange.
(Figure 1)

• If you cannot place the tweeter less than
2" from the midrange, then place the
tweeter more than 7" from the midrange.
Placing the tweeter 2"-7" from the
midrange can cause destructive inter­ference (frequency response problems) which will affect the speaker's
ability to reproduce the frequency range around the crossover
frequency of the system.

• Whenever possible, place the tweeter directly above or below the
midrange as this maximizes the imaging (point source) capability of
the espeakrs. (Figure 2)

The mounting location of your

Figure 1

2" or less

Figure 2-A

Figure 2-B

– 8 –