ARC Audio KS 600.2 Service Guide

ARC AUDIO WARRANTY AND
SERVICE GUIDELINES
KS 300.2
KS 300.4
KS 600.2
CLASS H
FULLRANGE
STEREO AMPLIFIER
ARC AUDIO warrants all new KAR Series Amplifiers against defects in
material and workmanship for a period of ONE (1) YEAR from the original date of
purchase on all over the counter purchases not installed by an AUTHORIZED ARC
AUDIO RETAILER. This warranty is extended to Three (3) YEARS if the product
is originally installed by an AUTHORIZED ARC AUDIO RETAILER and is
accompanied by a valid copy of the original receipt showing a charge for the
installation. This warranty is not transferable and applies only to the original retail
purchaser of the product from an authorized ARC AUDIO retailer. Upon inspection
by ARC AUDIO should services be necessary under this warranty for any reason due
to manufacture defects ARC AUDIO will, at its sole discretion, repair or replace the
defective product with new or similar conditioned product at no charge.
THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER INSTALLATION OR
DAMAGE RESULTING FROM ACCIDNT, MISUSE, ABUSE, IMPROPER
WIRING, OPERATION OUTSIDE OF THE MANUFACTURES
RECOMMENDATIONS OR SPECIFICATIONS, OR AGAINST
INSTRUCTIONS IN OWNERS MANUAL. IN ADDITION ANY PRODUCT
THAT HAS BEEN OPENED, TEMPERED WITH OR MODIFIED, OR IF ANY
SERIAL NUMBERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED WILL NOT BE COVERED BY
ANY PART OF THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY.
All warranty returns should be sent to ARC AUDIO freight prepaid and must
be accompanied by proof of purchase (a copy of the original sales receipt). Direct
returns from consumers or non-authorized retailers will be refused unless specifically
authorized by ARC AUDIO with a valid return authorization number.
All warranty returns should be packed in original packaging and must
be accompanied by a copy of the original sales receipt. Product damaged in
shipment will not be covered under this warranty. The customer or retailer may
choose to have this damage repaired at the normal “Out of Warranty” repair cost.
In no event will ARC AUDIO be liable for incidental, consequential, or other
damages resulting from the use of this product, this includes but is not limited to,
damage of hearing, property or person, damage based upon inconvenience or on loss of
use of the product, and to the extent permitted by law, damages for personal injury.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights, which
vary from state to state. This warranty applies to products sold and used in the United
States of America. In all other countries please contact your distributor
Thank you for purchasing an ARC Audio Hi-Performance Amplifier.
Supplying Enough Power
This ARC Audio amplifier uses a Full Range Class H architecture that significantly
improves efficiently without compromise to the sound quality. Don’t be fooled by the
small size. Class H amplifiers make more power for there size then traditional designs
and offer much lower THD and higher Damping factors then Full Range Class D
designs.
The Laws of Nature
Your amplifier Does NOT make power. It converts power, or current, from your
cars electrical system and turns it into a high power musical energy. If the amp
can't get all the power it needs it will not produce its full output. Your ARC
Audio amplifier will produce Full output for longer then other amps on the
market today. If the Voltage or Current drops too low even our amplifiers will
drop below their rated output. Make sure your vehicle charging system is in
good working order. Any Hi-Performance audio amplifier will increase the
demand on your alternator and battery. If you are unsure have your charging
system tested by a professional technician.
ARC Audio...SOLID CONSTRUCTION for SOUND Car Audio Systems.
Warning
We build all ARC Audio products to play at high volumes for extended periods of
time. Your ears however are not designed for high volume listening. This product
can easily generate volumes that can permanently damage your hearing. We urge
you to limit your exposure to very high volume sound.
You may also find your state has laws governing the volume of an audio system in a
car. Please be aware of all local and state laws in you area.
A properly tuned and operated audio system will deliver years of enjoyment when
used properly.
Installation Instructions
ARC Audio KAR Series Amplifiers are designed for easy installation in your vehicle. To
ensure proper operation of your new purchase, please follow the suggestions we
have listed below:
Warning
Please check the suitability of the installation location before you begin. Do not cut any of
the car’s structure. Pay close attention to what is behind the panels or carpet. Often the
manufacture will hide wires, computers or other electronic devices in the exact areas you
wish to install in.
If you do not have experience with automotive electrical and mechanical systems contact
a professional installer. Paying a qualified installer is almost always cheaper then paying
a dealership to repair your car.
The Ground!!!
Warning: Read this Carefully
The ground wire should be connected directly to the chassis of your vehicle.
Find a clear location close to the amplifier and remove all the paint and sound
deadener. Use a #10 or larger screw to secure it. Never use seatbelt bolts for
grounding.
Remember, the ground must carry the same high current as the positive power
wire.
To reduce the risk of noise, run all signal cables away from any vehicle or power
supply wiring.
Running the Cables
Carefully run the power and signal cables through the passenger compartment
of the vehicle. Always use a rubber grommet to prevent the power wire from
shorting and to reduce the risk of fire. A 4 gauge or larger wire should be used
for power and ground connections. We recommend a fuse be installed on the
power wire within 18 inches of the battery for safety.
Setting the Gains
So you're worried that your 8 Volt output head unit will be too much for the
ARC Audio's 4 Volt input stage.
Don't Be
Locating the Amplifier
The amplifiers must be securely mounted to a solid surface. Please select a dry
location in the trunk or passenger compartment only. Do not mount the amplifier to
any area that may have excessive vibration (like the subwoofer box). Position the
amplifier in an area that receives sufficient airflow for proper heat dissipation.
2
ARC Audio Amplifiers input stage is rated to 4 volts RMS @ 1KHz without
clipping.
Music is very dynamic. Nothing like a 1KHz test tone. It would be rare to see a
peak as high as a test tone. Furthermore, your head unit produces its output at
full volume but when you tune your system you always set the head unit to
70% of maximum volume.
3
Input Section
Because of the wide range of head unit output configurations all ARC Audio amplifiers
have an adjustable input sensitivity or “Gain”. The gain is not a volume or a power
limiting control like a throttle. It makes the amp more sensitive to input from the stereo.
With the gain up the amp will reach full output at a lower volume setting on the deck. At
higher gain settings the amp also becomes more sensitive to noise from the car’s
electrical system. Try to run the gain at the lowest setting possible for you system.
There is no correct gain setting. Because
speakers require different power demands to
reach the same output, the gains most often
need to be used to compensate for these
differences. If you tried to set all the gains at half
way you would probably find the system didn’t
sound very good. Using good judgment and
listening carefully to each speaker is still the
best way to tune a system.
Input Mode Switch
All ARC Audio amplifiers include an input mode switch. This switch controls the signal
being sent to the amplifier sections. Most 2-channel amplifiers can be bridged into a
single channel however if the signal to the channels is not exactly the same the
distortion will increase significantly. The mode switch solves this problem by offering 3
modes of operation.
Stereo
This is simple 2 channel stereo operation. Use this setting for most applications that do
not involve bridging the output.
Bridge (R IN)
On a 2-channel amp only the Right channel input will be split and sent to both outputs.
On a 4 channel the Right RCA Front will be sent to the front outputs. The Left Front RCA
will be sent to the rear outputs. This is a great way of get high power to a component set.
The amplifier now acts like a 2 channel that makes full power at 4 ohms.
L+R SUM MONO
This is the mode for bridging a subwoofer. Both the
left and right channels are combined into a mono
signal that is then split and sent to both output. This
will give you a true mono output.
Crossover Controls
A crossover is a device that removes unwanted frequencies from a speaker or
amplifier. A tweeter can easily be destroyed by bass notes if they are not filtered out.
Likewise a subwoofer will not sound natural if it is playing midrange notes. A
crossover removes these sounds from the speaker. As you might guess, careful
adjustment is need to ensure that all the speakers are playing the right sounds and
that you are left with no
“holes” or low spots in the
frequency response.
Bass Boost
This amp has an adjustable bass boost. On the 4 channel KS 300.4, the Input Source
Select has 3 options. In “4 CH.” or “2 CH” the Bass Boost will be directed to the front
speakers. In “2 CH.BB” The Bass Boost will be sent to all 4 channel equally. Begin your
adjustments at low volume. If you do not hear
any improvement then the woofer does not
need any boost.
Use Bass Boost carefully. The demands on
power output are tremendous. Try to minimize
the use by changing woofer position or the
enclosure size.
AUTO SENSE
The KS 600.2 uses a Patent Pending Auto Sense Turn-on circuit that offers a significant
improvement in reliability over previous designs. Instead of relaying on the music to supply
enough signal to turn the amplifier on. Robert Zeff’s new design detects the IC (chip) used
in the vast majority of stock head units and amplifiers.
When using the auto sense feature the remote input on the power strip becomes a remote
output reversing the remote turn-on connection to turn on the rest of your amplifiers?
INPUT
INPUT
LEVEL
LEFT
SPEAKER
IN
SET SENSE
TO “ON”
L
SET INPUT LEVEL
TO “SPEAKER”
AUTO
SENSE
R
SPEAKER
PERAMP
Output to
next amplifier
TURN ON
OFF
ON
INPUT
KS 600.2
REMOTE
LEVEL - LOWPASS
L
BASS
BOOST
GAIN
INPUT
LEVEL
R
AUTO
SENSE
MIN
MAX
SPEAKER
PERAMP
OFF
ON
FREQ Hz
0
55
15
550
dB
110
330
FREQ
RANGE
X1
X 10
HIGH
LOW
FULL
KS 600.2
GND
TURN-ON
+12V
4 X 30 AMP MAX
BRIDGED
4 MIN
L2
MIN
R2
MIN
BRIDGED (R IN)
L + R STEREO
MONO
POWER
\PROTECT
ARC AUDIO INC., USA
RIGHT
SPEAKER
IN
4
5
Installation Instructions
1.
Disconnect the negative cable from the car battery. Tape up the end
so it is isolated form the battery.
2.
Run an 4 AWG wire from the battery to the amplifier. Plan this part of
the installation carefully. This cable will carry very high current. If it
should short to the body and it is not properly fused it could catch fire.
3.
Connect the power wire to the battery using a fuse capable of the
total current load of all amplifiers connected. Don’t install the fuse
yet. Wait until the end. Locate the fuse as close as possible to the
battery. If the fuse is further that 18 inches (wire length) from the
battery you should reevaluate the wire and fuse placement.
4.
9.
Connect the speaker wires to the amp and speakers (make sure
the amp is off first). Make sure the polarity (+ and-) is correct.
10.
Connect the RCA’s to the amp.
11.
Double check the amplifier controls at this time. Make sure
everything is set correctly for your system.
12.
Now you’re ready to play it for the first time. It is best to leave the
gain all the way down at first. Start with the head unit volume low
and work your way up.
13.
Now you can tune the amp. Take your time and make only one
adjustment at a time. It may take some time to get the system
fully adjusted. During this time the amp is drawing current from
the battery. You should check the battery voltage from time to time
and re-charge it if it gets low. Battery voltage can affect the way
the amplifier performs.
14.
You’re done. Now have fun.
Find the closest clear metal area to the amp for a ground. Sand,
grind or scrape all paint and undercoating from the body and screw
the ground securely to the body.
It is advisable to test the ground with an ohmmeter between the
ground cable and the negative battery cable to insure a good low
resistance connection. Some alloys used in modern cars do not
offer the best ground. If you believe this is the case consult with the
vehicle manufacturer.
5.
Run the speaker wire to the speakers. It is advised that you leave
some extra wire at this point. You can “clean it up” later.
6.
If you haven’t already done so, mount the amp now.
7.
Connect the power and ground to the amplifier.
Only after this step should you install the fuse at the battery.
8.
Connect the remote wire from the head unit to the amplifier. Now
is a good time to turn on the amp for the first time. Make sure it
turns on properly and does not go into protection.
This amplifier is equipped with an advanced diagnostic system
controlled by the microprocessor. In the event that this unit goes
into protection for any reason it will flash the status light found on
the control end of the amplifier. The different sequences indicate
the “Code” for faster trouble shooting.
BLUE FLASHING
NORMAL TURN ON
CODE 11 Red Green Flashing
THERMAL PROTECTION (Turn the volume
down and wait for the amplifier to cool)
CODE 12 1 Flash, Pause, 2 Flashes
SHORT (Turn the amplifier off and check
CODE 13 1 Flash, Pause, 3 Flashes
REPEATED SHORT(Correct the short
for a shorted speaker or wire.)
and leave the amp off for 5 minutes.)
CODE 14 1 Flash, Pause, 4 Flashes
6
OVERVOLT (This is a charging system
failure. DO NOT START THE ENGINE.)
7
KS 300.2 / KS 600.2
BRIDGED 4 OHMS
2 OHM NOT RECOMMENDED
Set to
LOW
Set to
L+R SUM
KS 300.2 / KS 600.4
STEREO FULLRANGE OR HIGH PASS
2 OR 4 OHMS
INPUT
INPUT
L
L
BASS
BOOST
GAIN
R
TURN
ON
FREQ Hz
110
MIN
0
55
MAX
15
550
dB
GND
Set to
STEREO
Set to
HIGH or FULL
HIGH
FREG
RANGE
BRIDGED (R IN)
240
330
X1
X 10
LOW
FULL
3 X 25 AMP MAX
L+R
MONO
ARC AUDIO INC., USA
TURN
ON
FREQ Hz
110
MIN
0
55
MAX
15
550
dB
GND
4 W MIN
L 2W
MIN
R
STEREO
BRIDGED
+12V
BASS
BOOST
GAIN
POWER
FREG
RANGE
HIGH
BRIDGED (R IN)
240
330
POWER
X1
X 10
LOW
FULL
3 X 25 AMP MAX
L+R
MONO
STEREO
BRIDGED
+12V
4 W MIN
L 2W
MIN
R 2W
MIN
R 2W
MIN
ARC AUDIO INC., USA
4 0HMS
MIN.
+
OPTIONAL
SECOND SET
2 OHM STEREO
8
9
KS 300.4
STEREO 4 CHANNEL
HIGH PASS
X1
INPUT
FRONT
(2 CH. IN)
REAR
HIGH
FRONT
FREG
RANGE
FREQ Hz
110
55
550
L
X1
X 10
GND
TURN
ON
FULL
0
REAR
FREG
RANGE
SOURCE
SELECT
HIGH
REAR
GAIN
3 X 25 AMP MAX
+12V
INPUT
FRONT
(2 CH. IN)
REAR
HIGH
LOW FULL
X1
X 10
BRIDGED (F R IN) BRIDGED (F L IN)
LOW
550
REAR
L 2W
MIN
STEREO
BRIDGED
4W
MIN
X1
X 10
FRONT
GAIN
R 2W
MIN
GND
TURN
ON
FULL
0
REAR
FREG
RANGE
SOURCE
SELECT
HIGH
REAR
GAIN
330
HIGH
LOW
FULL
X1
X 10
BRIDGED (F R IN) BRIDGED (F L IN)
FRONT
BASS
BOOST
dB
3 X 25 AMP MAX
+12V
STEREO
240
REAR
15
MAX
MAX
55
LOW
X1
FREQ Hz
110
HIGH
550
330
R
POWER
L + R STEREO
MONO
L+R
MONO
240
MIN
MIN
4 CH. 2 CH. BB L + R
MONO
2 CH.
2 CH. or
4 CH.
FRONT
FREG
RANGE
FREQ Hz
110
55
L
330
FRONT
BASS
BOOST
dB
X1
STEREO
240
15
MAX
FRONT
GAIN
55
LOW
X1
FREQ Hz
110
HIGH
550
330
MIN
MIN
STEREO
240
R
MAX
2 CH. or
4 CH.
KS 300.4
STEREO HIGH PASS
With MONO SUBWOOFER
4 CH. 2 CH. BB L + R
MONO
2 CH.
L 2W
MIN
STEREO
BRIDGED
4W
MIN
POWER
L + R STEREO
MONO
R 2W
MIN
FRONT
FRONT
REAR
REAR
ARC AUDIO INC., USA
ARC AUDIO INC., USA
+
4 0HMS
-
OPTIONAL
SECOND SET
2 OHM STEREO
OPTIONAL
SECOND SET
2 OHM STEREO
10
OPTIONAL
SECOND SET
2 OHM STEREO
11
KS 300.4
2 CHANNEL BRIDGED
STEREO HIGH PASS
X1
INPUT
FRONT
(2 CH. IN)
REAR
FRONT
FREG
RANGE
FREQ Hz
110
55
550
L
X1
X 10
TURN
ON
SOURCE
SELECT
NOT
USED
REAR
GAIN
REAR
3 X 25 AMP MAX
L 2W
MIN
BRIDGED
4W
MIN
FRONT
FREG
RANGE
FREQ Hz
110
550
X1
X 10
R
POWER
FRONT
GAIN
R 2W
MIN
GND
TURN
ON
LOW
FULL
SOURCE
SELECT
NOT
USED
REAR
GAIN
HIGH
330
LOW FULL
X1
X 10
BRIDGED (F R IN) BRIDGED (F L IN)
FRONT
BASS
BOOST
dB
3 X 25 AMP MAX
+12V
BRIDGED
240
REAR
POWER
15
MAX
MAX
L + R STEREO
MONO
55
0
REAR
FREG
RANGE
FREQ Hz
110
HIGH
550
330
NOT
USED
BRIDGED
240
MIN
MIN
STEREO
NOT
USED
LOW
55
L
LOW FULL
X1
X 10
BRIDGED (F R IN) BRIDGED (F L IN)
4 CH. 2 CH. BB L + R
MONO
2 CH.
+12V
INPUT
FRONT
(2 CH. IN)
REAR
HIGH
330
FRONT
BASS
BOOST
dB
X1
BRIDGED
240
15
MAX
FRONT
GAIN
FULL
0
MIN
MIN
MAX
55
LOW
REAR
FREG
RANGE
FREQ Hz
110
HIGH
550
330
NOT
USED
BRIDGED
240
R
GND
NOT
USED
HIGH
KS 300.4
2 CHANNEL BRIDGED
STEREO LOW PASS
4 CH. 2 CH. BB L + R
MONO
2 CH.
L 2W
MIN
STEREO
BRIDGED
4W
MIN
L + R STEREO
MONO
R 2W
MIN
FRONT
FRONT
REAR
REAR
ARC AUDIO INC., USA
ARC AUDIO INC., USA
-
+
12
4 0HMS
-
USE 4 OHM SPEAKERS ONLY
WARNING: THE KS 300.4 WILL
PRODUCE OVER 700 WATTS
IN THIS CONFIGURATION
ARC AUDIO IS NOT
RESPONSABLE FOR
DAMAGED SPEAKERS
4 0HMS
+
13
POWER AND INPUT CONNECTIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
SINGLE BATTERY
FREQ Hz
110
55
FRONT
330
55
FRONT
GAIN
550
LOW
REAR
GAIN
FULL
BASS
BOOST
MIN
MIN
0
MAX
MAX
15
R
GND
HIGH
240
330
X1
X 10
SOURCE
SELECT
LOW
FULL
BRIDGED (F R IN) BRIDGED (F L IN)
FRONT
REAR
4 CH. 2 CH. BB L + R
2 CH.
MONO
dB
TURN
ON
REAR
FREG
RANGE
FREQ Hz
110
HIGH
240
550
L 2W
MIN
3 X 25 AMP MAX
+12V
POWER
RCA CABLE
INPUT
FRONT
(2 CH. IN)
REAR
L
L + R STEREO
MONO
STEREO
2 3/8”
60 mm
BRIDGED
4W
MIN
R 2W
MIN
FRONT
4 AWG.
4 AWG. 18” MAX.
REAR
REMOTE
ARC AUDIO INC., USA
FUSE
8“
205 mm
18” MAX.
REMOTE
4 AWG.
KS 300.2/4
11 1/4”
286 mm
KS 600.2
15 1/2”
390 mm
This is a stock ground wire on the
battery between the battery and
the body. It should be Upgraded to
4 AWG from the factory 8 or 10
AWG.
Battery
POWER AND INPUT CONNECTIONS
OUTPUT POWER (RMS) @1% THD 100HZ 14.4VDC
DUAL BATTERY or BATTERY AND CAPACITOR
FREQ Hz
110
55
FRONT
330
55
FRONT
GAIN
550
LOW
REAR
GAIN
FULL
BASS
BOOST
MIN
MIN
0
MAX
MAX
15
R
TURN
ON
X1
X 10
STEREO
L 2W
MIN
3 X 25 AMP MAX
FULL
REAR
4 CH. 2 CH. BB L + R
2 CH.
MONO
+12V
LOW
BRIDGED (F R IN) BRIDGED (F L IN)
FRONT
KS 300.2
KS 600.2
KS 300.4
180 X 2 WATTS
400 X 2 WATTS
90 X 4 WATTS
HIGH
240
330
SOURCE
SELECT
dB
GND
REAR
FREG
RANGE
FREQ Hz
110
HIGH
240
550
L + R STEREO
MONO
BRIDGED
4W
MIN
POWER
RCA CABLE
INPUT
FRONT
(2 CH. IN)
REAR
L
POWER OUTPUT @ 4 :
R 2W
MIN
POWER OUTPUT @ 2 :
350 X 2 WATTS
POWER OUTPUT @ 1 :
NOT RECONMMENDED
600 X 2 WATTS
NOT RECONMMENDED
175 X 4 WATTS
NOT RECONMMENDED
POWER OUTPUT @ 4: BRIDGED
700 WATTS
1200 WATTS
350 X 2 WATTS
POWER OUTPUT @ 2 : BRIDGED
NOT RECONMMENDED
NOT RECONMMENDED
NOT RECOMMENDED
.01%
.01%
.01%
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION
Battery
REMOTE
4 AWG.
Battery or
Capacitor
4 AWG.
18” MAX.
FUSE
18” MAX.
REMOTE
FUSE
14
FREQUENCY RANGE -3dB
REAR
7Hz-68KHz
7Hz-68KHz
7Hz-68KHz
55Hz-5.5KHz
55Hz-5.5KHz
55Hz-5.5KHz
0-15dB @ 45Hz
0-15dB @ 45Hz
0-15dB @ 45Hz
S/N RATIO (A wtg) ref 1 Watt 4 ohms
>95dB
>96dB
>98dB
SEPARATION
78dB
78dB
76dB
> 8 00
>800
>800
.25V-4.0V
.25V-4.0V
.25V-4.0V
13K OHMS
13K OHMS
13K OHMS
ARC AUDIO INC., USA
4 AWG.
4 AWG. 18” MAX.
FRONT
This is a stock ground wire on the
battery between the battery and
the body. It should be Upgraded to
4 AWG from the factory 8 or 10
AWG.
CROSSOVER RANGE
BASS BOOST
DAMPING FACTOR 25W out 4 ohm
100Hz
INPUT SENSITIVITY (RCA)
INPUT IMPEDANCE
15