Please read the enclosed warranty card for details.
4 iI
POWER (8 R Bridged)(4 R Bridged)
Class A
5.2(1/2W x 1)
Class A
10.2
Stereo
(12.6 Vdc)(14.4 Vdc)
ll4W
25Wx2
(5OW
RUBICON
2RStereo
x 21oow x2
x 1)
(2OOW
1oow x2250W x 2
(2OOW
amplifier is protected
x 1)
x 1)
1 R Stereo
(2 Q Bridged)
(14.4 Vdc)
250W x 2
(SOOW
(SOOW
x 1)
x 1)
112 R Stereo
(1 Q Bridged)
(14.4
(SOOW
(1OOOW
Vdc)
25Qw x2
xl)
500W x2
x 1)
by a limited
l/4 R
Stereo
(l/2 n
Bridged)
(14.4 Vdc)
250W x 2
(SOOW
x 1)
5OOWx2
(1OOOW
x 1)
warranty.
Maximum
Rated
output
500
Watts
1000 Watts
SOUNDSTREPJVl
THD
Signal to Noise
Frequency Response
Stereo Separation
Damping
Input Sensitivity
Input Impedance
co.1
>I00 dB
20 Hz to 20
>90
>200
300
1 Ok
Hawkins Bass Control
Sub Sonic Filter: No
Hawkins Bass Control: 0
variable from
30
to
70
boost,
Hz.
High Pass filter from
to
+9
dB Boost; Boost and Sub Sonic filter,
Dimensions (W x D x H)
RUBICON
RUBICON
Class A 5.2:
Class A 10.2:
13.0” X 9.8” X 2.25”
15.0” X 9.8” X
%
dB
mV
to 5.0 Volts
Ohms
2.25”
kHz *
0.5
13
to
dB
30
RUBICON
Hz.
Class A
5.2
102
Power Amplifiers
SOUNDSTREAM
T
E
C
H
120 Blue Ravine Road . Folsom. California 95630 USA
N
SOUNDSTREAM TECHNOLOGIES
ph 916.351.1288 l fax 916.351.0414
0
revA-4B3@8
L
0
G
I
E
S
’
Owner’s Manual
and
Installation Guide
Conaratulations!
Table of Contents
You now own a Soundstream
an uncompromising design and engineering philosophy. Your Soundstream
RUBICON
To Maximize the performance of your system, we recommend that you thoroughly acquaint yourself with its
manual and your sales receipt for future reference.
Soundstream amplifiers are the result of American innovation and the highest quality control standards. When properly installed, they will provide you
with many years of listening pleasure. Should your amplifier ever need service or replacement due to theft, please record the following information which
will help protect your investment.
Model and Serial #
Dealer’s Name
Date of Purchase
Installation Shop
Installation Date
CLASS A amplifier will outperform any other amplifier in the world.
Ultra Low-Impedance Output Capablility: The RUBICONI 0.2 and
5.2 are designed for optimal performance into loads as low as
l/4
ohm stereo (1 or
I/2
ohm mono).
l/2
or
Fully Balanced6-pin DIN Input for professional-quality performance
and noise cancellation. The 6-pin DIN plug carries (*) signal information for Left and
the Soundstream BLT /
Rlight
channels, audio ground, and * 15 Vdc to operate
BLT4
Balanced Line Transmitters and Bal-
anced X.0 crossovers.
RUBITM(_Rapid-&e Banched _/mpulse)
4
This new proprietary power supply topology eliminates “power sags” during low frequency reproduction
by rapidly increasing the duty cycle, stabilizing the power supply and
allowing it to deliver the power required when reproducing low frequencies. Also, greater reserve gate power is stored for low voltage conditions that occur during extreme conditions.
4
STACTTM (STabilized
Apex
orrent _Topology)
Reduces power supply
stress by 50%. Typical designs degrade the stereo image due to phase
reversal of even-order harmonic distortion that occurs between the in-
verted channels. In the STACT design, inversion is done at the power
amplifier drive stage. Since the fully symmetrical
power
amplifier pro-
duces no even-harmonic distortion itself and all preamplifier circuitry is
run completely in-phase, no even harmonic distortion phase reversal
occurs.
TridentTM
4
1.
Output protection against short circuits or improper loads.
Protection Topology
provides three types of protection:
2. Ground fault detection: Shuts down the amplifier when a significant
voltage (> Welts) fluctuation occurs between electrical (turn-on lead)
and battery ground.
3. Thermal Protection: Puts the amplifier into thermal rollback or shuts
the amplifier down in extreme thermal conditions.
+
Hawkins Bass Control - Fully adjustable subwoofer equalizaton circuit
providing frequency and boost
(‘KY’)
adjustment for optimum subwoofer
performance. A frequency tracking subsonic filter protects woofers from
potentially
harmfull
low frequency information and maximizes output in
a usable range.
Output Clipping Indicators indicate clipping on the output stage of
the amplifier.
Monitoring the clipping indicators allows the user to achieve
maximum Sound Pressure Level without clipping the amplifier.
Dynamically Optimized Power Grid
TM.Power grid is evenly distrib-
uted between primary and secondary power supplies, providing greater
dynamics and improved RF filtering.
Auto High
CurrentTM
automatically matches the amplifier to the load
being driven allowing greater system flexibility, greater output, higher
reliability, and high efficiency 1 ohm (stereo) operation.
ChassisinkTM All transistors are ideally located and sandwiched be-
tween the circuit board and the heatsink to provide cool efficient amplifier operation.
Differentially Balanced RCA Input eliminates ground loop related
noise in the audio.
Flexible Dual Input Level Control allows 300 mV to 5 V input sen-
sitivity. Separate Left and Right level controls allow user to optimize
system level control.
Symmetrical Discrete Balanced Class A Drive Boards Auto-adjust
for linear performance while driving low impedance loads.
Removable Front Spoiler allows for stealth installation of RCA,
Bal-
anced Line, Speaker and Power wiring.
Harmonic Bass Alignment
4
TM
The 2nd and 3rd order harmonic peaks
are critically aligned to fundamental peaks at low frequencies. This
produces tighter, more accurate bass reproduction.
4
Drive Delay
llTM
Amplifier section powers up 2 to 3 seconds after the
power supply eliminating turn-oncand off pops. The turn off process is
reversed: Amplifier section turns off first, followed by the power supply.
4
SLEEPING BEAUTY
The Class A 5.2 aka SLEEPING BEAUTY is an amplifier like no
other.
It will produce
deliver 500 watts into a 2, 1 or
l/4
of a watf x 2 at 4 ohms stereo but will
l/2
ohm mono load.
We do not
recommend running high impedance loads (3-4 ohm stereo) since
the output will be minimal.
5
Hawkins Bass Control -
Theorv
and Use
Hawkins Bass Control (parametric) is a unique
subwoofer control circuit included with the
Soundstream
HAWKINS
FREQ
BOOST
Q
plifiers. It is capable of removing subsonic energy
in program material while boosting subwoofer frequencies. The circuit consists of two controls. One
adjusts the frequency of operation and the other
adjusts the range of boost. With both controls ad-
HAWKINS30-70 Hz
SUBSONIC 13-30 Hz
FIG. 1 BASS CONTROL
The frequency control (Hz) adjusts
justed fully counter-clockwise, no boost is applied
and the amplifier is flat in response down to 20 Hz.
the starting point of the subsonic filter. On the
RUBICON
Class A 10.2
and 5.2, the high pass filter has two dB
frequency ranges. When the bass
control switch is set to “SUB SONIC”,
the high pass filter frequency can be
adjusted from 13 Hz up to a maximum of 30 Hz. In this setting, no
boost “Q” control is available. This
control is useful for setting the lowest frequency that your subwoofer will
see (see figure 1). When the bass
control switch is set to “HAWKINS
BASS CONTROL”, the high pass fil-
ter frequency can be adjusted from
30 Hz to a maximum of 70 Hz. In
this setting, there is an available
boost control of 0 to +9
dB
-20
-25'
-3010
Frequency (Hz)
FIG. 4 VARIABLE BOOST
dB.
I
L
50100
!
200
tentially harmful low frequencies can
RUBICON
Class A 10.2 and 5.2 am-
, o
5
0
+
1::
_20
-241
I
‘3010
dB
The Boost control adjusts the amount
II I
I
illll
50
100
100
Frequency {Hz)
FIG. 2 VARIABLE “Q”
Frequency (Hz)
FIG. 3 VARIABLE HIGH PASS
50
2
of level applied at the set frequency. This
is adjustable from flat
(OdB)
to +9
dB.
(See figure 2)
When the Boost is set to 0, Hawkins
acts as a sub-sonic filter only. (See
figure 3) The simple act of removing
po-
improve system output by as much as
3
dB.
(see figure 4)
Application
Subwoofer drivers in qeneral have ex-
I I IIII
I
cellent power handling characteristics
over their operational bandwidth. This
bandwidth is determined by many
-5
fat- dB-lob
tors, including driver design, and enclosure type. It is possible to overdrive
any subwoofer driver by sending powerful signals outside of its operational
Frequency(Hz)
FIG. 5 LIMITED EXCURSION
50
100
bandwidth. These potentially damaging signals can be removed by adding a subsonic filter. Figure 5 shows the
effectiveness of the Hawkins Bass Control on woofer excursion in a vented
enclosure. The woofer travels 7.5 mm at 10 Hz. With Hawkins Bass Control
properly adjusted, this excursion can be reduced to less than 1 mm. This is
of great benefit to lowering woofer distortion and increasing output.
Adjustment
An easy method of optimizing your existing subwoofer enclosure with
Hawkin’s
1.
2.
3.
“Hz” control is as follows.
Adjust frequency and boost control to full CCW position.
Set the bass control switch to “HAWKINS BASS CONTROL”.
While listening to music with strong bass content at a moderate level,
slowly adjust frequency control clockwise. Listen for a reduction of bass
response. Now, rotate frequency control slightly backwards. This serves
the purpose of removing the “subsonic” bass energy.
With Soundstream’s Hawkins Bass
Control, the boost and frequency control can provide virtually any
combina-
tion of boost and cut to suit your de-,,
signs. So, Hawkins Bass Control can
provide the “tailoring” needed for any
type of “assisted” design and any woofer
in any type of installation.
‘,”
o
-5
I
/
I/
-lo
1::
-25
-30 Lc_.__.__-
I___~L___1IL1_1Il_____________I
Frequency (Hz)
10
FIG. 6 VARIOUS SElTlNGS
/I/I
I III II
50
100
I
200
8
9
~INSTALLATI~N
STEP
I
SELECTING THE SPEAKER OUTPUT MODE
The
RUBICON
any one of the following modes:
Stereo
and right channels) or for Mixed Mono operation (stereo left and right channels
plus bridged mono for a subwoofer).
Summed Mono: Use this mode to get a bridged mono output while using both
the left and right inputs and gain controls.
Bridged Mono: Use this mode to get a bridged mono output while using only
the right channel input and gain control (for use with a singular mono input).
Please follow the wiring schemes below for the correct operation:
Class A 10.2 and 5.2 amplifiers have the ability to operate in
(STACT/Mjx&
‘+dONO
BRIDGED
-
L+
Mono): Use this mode for either stereo operation (left
__ - --_
/
\
- R+
\
\
//’
iiON
-
R+
,J’
SUMMED MONO
-
L+
)
(
The RUBICON
a standard Unbalanced RCA signal input, or a Balanced “Pro Audio” style input
signals with the use of the Soundstream BLT Balanced Line Transmitter or some
other balanced line audio source. Before installing your system, you should
decide upon which signal type you wish to run. There are advantages to both:
The
300
S/N Ratio, we recommend that the input level controls be set as far down as
possible (rotated counter-clockwise), while maintaining an acceptable level of
output.
When using the Unbalanced RCA input, the RIGHT channel input signal switch
this input configuration, we suggest that the left channel input signal switch be in
the “UNBAL” position as well.
channel
system noise due to the installation.
INSTALLATION STEP 2
Class A
ADVAMAGES
RUBICON
mVrms
MUST be in the “UNBAL” position. Also, when first installing the amplifier using
lation noise with both switches in the
amplifiers’ signal inputs accept a wide range of input level: from
to 5.0 Vrms for both Balanced and Unbalanced inputs. For the best
inout
signal switch to the “BAL”
10.2 and 5.2
1. Most preamplifier
source units have
Unbalanced RCA outputsI2.
(Industry Standard).characteristics.
I
2. No Interface module is
necessary.
I
Using the “Unbalanced” RCA Input
If vou
amplifiers have the ability to accept either
/
exDerience
I.
Improved Signal to Noise Ratio
(S/N Ratio).
Excellent noise cancellation
3. Immune to noise radiated in
the car audio environment.
alternator wine or other instal-
“UNBAL”
position,
Dosition.
This should remove any
try
movina the LEFT
)
I
I
I
-
L+
,-
/
STEREO
- R+
Using the “Balanced” RCA Input
When using the Balanced
“BAL” position. Also, we recommend that when using this input configuration, the
input level controls be set to the “minimum” position (rotated counter-clockwise).
‘.
The system gain should then be
other other balanced line audio
gram below:
6-pin
DIN audio input, both switches MUST be in the
.
adjusted on the BLT Balanced Line Transmitter,
source. For the pin configuration, see the dia-
t
BALANCED
I
+ 75 Volts
-
Right Signal
+ Right Signal
Shield
-75
van
- Left Signal
+
Leff Signal
11
INSTALLATION STEP
3
WIRING
POWER AND GROUND
To ensure maximum output from your
loss power and ground cables and connections. The
accept up to 4 gauge power and ground cables.
the minimum gauge power and ground wire for your application.
I
RUB/CON ClassA 5.2
RUB/CON
EXTERNAL
Like all audio components, the RUBICON amplifiers must be fused near the
battery. A fuse or circuit breaker must be located within 18” of the battery. This will
prevent a fire in the event of a shorted cable.
correct fuse value.
INTERNAL
The
RUBICON
event of a blown power supply fuse(s), replace with the correct value fuse found in
the chart below.
plied.
Class A
This may result in amplifier damage and
10.24
CIRCUIT
amplifiers are fused with an automotive-type or Maxi-fuse. In the
Never
BREAKERS AND FUSES
replace the
RUBICON
up
to
4
or 8 gauge
gauge only
fuse
with a higher value than what is sup-
amplifier, use high quality,
RUBICON
Determine from the chart below
10’
See the chart below to determine the
will
void the warranty!
amplifiers will
up
to
20’
4
gauge only
4
gauge
only
low-
RUB/CON Amplifier Fuse Values
Battery Fuse / Circuit
Breaker
80
1
I
amp
100 amp
wss
RUB/CON
Class
A 5.2
A 10.2
Amplifier
1
60
amp
[
80
amp Maxi-fuse
Fuse
Maxi-fuse
SAMPLE WIRING DIAGRAM
)
INSTALLATION STEP 4
)
AMPLIFIER LOCATION
The
RUBICON
heat sink, and a unique Chassisink construction to maintain lower operating
temperatures.
tightly confined area or when driving especially low impedance loads at extremely
high levels.
I
When mounting the amplifier, it should be securely mounted to either a panel in
the vehicle or an amp board or rack that is securely mounted to the vehicle. The
mounting location should be either in the passenger compartment or in the trunk
of the vehicle, away from moisture, stray or moving objects, and major electrical
components. To provide adequate ventilation, mount the amplifier so that there
are at least two inches of freely circulating air above and to the sides of it.
amplifiers employ highly efficient circuitry, a custom-engineered
Additional cooling may be required if the amplifier is located in a
MOUNTING THE AMPLIFIER
a.
Using the amplifier as a template, mark the holes on the mounting surface.
b.
Remove the amplifier and drill the holes for the mounting screws.
C.
Secure the amplifier to the mounting surface using the supplied hardware.
WIRING
a.
Run and connect the audio signal and remote turn-on cables to the ampli-
fier from the source unit.
b.
Carefully run the positive cable from the amplifier to a fuse or circuit breaker
within 18” of the battery.
C.
Connect the fuse or circuit breaker lead to the battery. Leave the circuit
I
I
breaker off or the fuse out until everything is bolted down.
d.
Secure the ground cable to a solid chassis ground on the vehicle.
necessary to sand paint down to raw metal for a good connection.
e.
Double check each and every connection1
f.
Re-connect the fuse or circuit breaker.
It may be
-L+
R-t
POWER
Power up the system, there may be a 2-3 second delay from the time the source
unit is turned on to the time that the amplifier turns on, which is normal. Once the
amplifer LED is on and the source unit is playing, you should have sound coming
from the speakers.
UP
13
INSTALLATION STEP 5
The input levels are adjusted by means of the individual channel input level
controls located on the front of the amplifier. This is a unique dual-stage circuit
that adjusts both level and gain.
when using sources with minimal output.
In the ideal situation, all components in the audio system reach maximum
undistorted output at the same time. If you send a distorted signal to an amplifier,
it is simply going to amplify distorted information. The same holds true if an
outboard processor or crossover begins to distort before you have maximum
output from the amplifier. By setting all components to reach clipping at the same
time, you can maximize the output of your system. For the
follow these steps for setting the input levels:
1.
Turn the amplifiers’ input levels to minimum position (counter-clockwise)
2.
Set the source unit volume to approximately
3.
While playing dynamic source material, slowly increase the amplifiers’ input
level until a near maximum undistorted level is heard in the system.
The clipping indicators on the top of the amplifier let you know when the output of
the amplifier is reaching its maximum level, and has begun to clip.
Once the amplifier is installed and the proper levels set, place the front spoiler in
position, and secure it on using the supplied hardware.
This topology maintains better S/N Ratio even
3/4
of full volume.
RUBICON
amplifiers,
TRIDENT PROTECTION CIRCUITRY
Your
Rubicon
by means of main power fuses and the following circuits:
*
Auto
Speaker Output Protection
+
+ Ground Fault Differential
+
Smart Power Supply Thermal Rollback and a Thermal Protection Circuit
T
NOTE: If you experience blown main power supply fuses, it is
thaf
the speaker itself.
DO NOT increase values beyond the original fuse
void your
amplifier is protected against both overheating and short circuits
High Current power supply
the amplifier is seeing a dead short, either in the speaker wire or in
Rectijl
the problem before blowing multiple fuses!
value1
warrant and may damageyour amplifer.
TROUBLESHOOTING
PROBLEMCAUSE
No
Sound and power LED is not
lit
No sound, power LED is lit.
Repeatedly blow amp fuse;
frequent activation of Smart
Power
Supply
Circuit
Not
enough input sensitivity while Be sure both Left and Right input signal
using the Balanced Input
Very little output, or output isMake sure that
muffled.
Left and Right “Clip” indicators
lighting
1. No power or ground at the amp.
2. No remote turn-on signal
3. Blown fuse near the battery
1. NO signal input
2. The AlRBASS/Accessory switch is in the
“IN” position. Remove
the switch to the
1. Speaker or leads may be shorted
2. Verify proper speaker load
3. Verify adequate amp ventilation
switches are set to the “BAL” position.
crossvers aren’t engaged
Output signal level is too high and the amplifier
output is clipping. Reduce the level either at
the source or at the input level controls.
the
cover and move
“0l.F
position.
both
the L.P and the
like9
Doing so
HP
will
14
Alternator whine while using
Unbalanced RCA inputs
The Class A 5.2 a.k.a.
SLEEPlNG
low.
BEAUTYoutput is ohm stereo) Rewire the amplifier to a
1. Make sure the Right Input Signal Switch is
in the “UNBAL” position.
2.
Try the Left Input Signal switch in the “BAL”
and
“UNBAL”
position: leave the switch in the
quietest setting. This will not effect the
performance of the amplifier.
Your load on the amplifier is too high (3-4
lower impedance load.
15
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