MTX Audio TA3401 User's Manual
Contents
1. of 8 gauge power and ground cables to get the best performance REM This connection turns the amplifier on and off and needs to be connected to a remote Turn on wire from your source unit if you are using a low level input connection Note When numerous amplifiers are used in the same system look into using a relay with a separate power wire connected to an alternative power source to take the strain off the source unit Normal source units can only keep a constant 12 volts to 2 maybe 3 amps This wire should also be run on the away from the RCA cables Double check all the previous connection installation steps in particular the speaker and power wiring Securely mount the amplifier If everything is in order reconnect the vehicles negative battery connection and begin following the feature setup and adjustment steps 1 Selecting The Input Sensitivity Range Before you turn on your system you must select the proper input sensitivity range on your amp using the button labeled INPUT SENS located in the GAIN CONTROL section of the control panel e Setting for aftermarket Source Units Refer to your aftermarket owner s manual for line level output specification If the specification is not available please follow the instructions listed below X1 POSITION 100mV 1V Typically for RCA Input e Setting for factory OEM Source Units To check the amount of voltage that is present from the source unit take a multi meter or a volt o2. L R reversed RCA inputs reversed Speakers wired out phase Not using MTX woofers Excessive output levels Amplifier defective SOLUTION Supply 12V to terminal Supply 12V to terminal Verify ground connection Replace fuse Increase volume on head unit Make speaker connections Turn up gain Apply power to signal processor Replace speakers Lower head unit volume Lower amplifier gain Wire speakers with correct orientation Reverse RCA input Wire with correct of phase Buy MTX woofers Lower volume Return for service
3. PER SAFETY GLASSES Bi Level Inputs Low High Level Input with Smart Engage Both a low and high level signal can be used Be sure to lay the signal wire away from all power cables and vehicle computers Use high quality twisted pair interconnect cables to decrease the possibility of radiated noise entering the system e Using RCA Connections If the source unit has RCA outputs simply attach a signal cable from source unit to amps RCA input This will provide signal to the amp e Using Speaker Level Connections If the source unit does not have RCA outputs a high level signal can be used instead by taking the supplied high level RCA adaptor cables and connecting the bare wire ends to the vehicle s rear speakers wiring Connect the left negative speaker wire to the green with black stripe wire on the supplied high level RCA adaptor Connect the left positive speaker wire to the solid green wire Do the same for the right speaker connection using the purple wire Now plug the RCA connectors located on opposite end of the supplied high level RCA cables into the amp s INPUTS 2 Speaker Wire Connections When installing the speaker wires please take proper measures to protect them For example when connecting the door speakers the speaker wire should run from the amplifier s output terminals under the carpet and through the factory rubber boot loom that protects the wires in the inner door jam If the factory boot cannot be used take oth
4. THOUONDETE TA3401 Owners Manual Thank you for choosing MTX to help reach your ultimate goal with your vehicle Adding MTX amplifiers and matching MTX speakers and subwoofers with StreetWires connections will put you in a better position to hear feel and experience all of the music the artist intended you to hear Primary Ratings Power Output 200 Watts RMS x 1 Channel at 4 Ohms and lt 1 THD N Signal to Noise Ratio 1Watt 72dB Secondary Ratings Power Output 400 Watts RMS x 1 Channel at 2 Ohms and lt 1 THD N THD Noise Distortion 1Watt lt 5 Frequency Response 3dB 20Hz 200Hz Maximum Input Signal 10V Maximum Sensitivity 100mV Dimensions 9 5 8 x 12 11 16 x 2 1 2 245mm x 325mm x 65mm Patented Smart Engage Auto Turn on Patent No US06556683 Patented Adaptive Class D Technology Patent No US06753729 Patented Power Supply US05598325 Input Sensitivity Switch 100mV 1V 1V 10V Crossover Low 40Hz 200Hz 24dB ThunderEO Boost 0 18dB Freq 40Hz Remote Subwoofer Level Control 1 Prizm EFX All MTX amplifiers include backlit adjustment controls on top surface of product e Color The backlit controls offer unlimited colors on the display from RED GREEN BLUE or any color in between e EFX You can switch Prizm EFX lighting to pulsate with beat of music 2 Xtant Technology Cooling XTC thermal regulated turbo charged inner cooler supplies fan forced cool air evenly and constan
5. er measures to protect these wires Sometimes the door has to be completely removed to use the factory boot If this is something that you do not feel comfortable doing please ask a professional to help you When connecting the speaker wires to the amplifier please observe the printed polarity markings on the amplifier s StreetWires connector Failing to wire the speakers in proper phase could result in a loss of bass response and or poor overall sound quality These amps will have two PARALLELED speaker terminals a positive and negative for a single woofer and OPTIONAL second set of positive and negative terminals for a two woofer configuration These amps can drive a minimum of a 2 ohm load Note Please pay attention and make sure the speakers or woofers are the correct IMPEDANCE OHMS BEFORE 3 attaching to the amplifier Power Terminals When installing the power wires please take proper measures to protect them as best you can For example when running the power cable from the vehicle s battery through the firewall use a firewall bushing for protection Continue running the power wire through the interior of the vehicle under the carpet and to the amplifier If this is something that you do not feel comfortable doing please ask a professional to help you Be sure to lay the power wire away from all signal cables When connecting the power wires to the amplifier please observe the printed markings on the amplifier s StreetW
6. hm meter on the A C setting range from 100mv up to 10 volts attach the positive and negative leads directly to any exposed speaker It will not matter if the polarity is correct it will read the same amount of voltage X10 POSITION 1V 10V Typically for Speaker Level Input Note It is important not to have the amp set up to receive a low voltage signal and give it a high voltage signal Doing this can cause damage to the amp 2 Adjusting The Mono Gain Control Before you start setting your amp gains be sure to defeat all EQ s off position You want to set the gain levels properly BEFORE applying any equalization Start with the source unit s volume around 3 4 of the way up and the gain on the amp all the way down counterclockwise Slowly increase the gain clockwise until the speaker starts to distort Immediately decrease gain until the distortion goes away This will be a good reference point on the volume control to where the signal starts to distort Remember every CD will be different use common sense and constantly listen for obvious distortion and adjust volume accordingly The gain on the amp has nothing to do with how much power the amp can produce just how fast the amp puts out max power Just like in an automobile full throttle is very rarely needed 3 Adjusting the Low 24dB 40Hz 200Hz Variable Low Pass X over Frequency Controls Setting For Subwoofers Using L PASS FREQ you have control
7. ires power connector Failing to wire the power cables properly could result in amplifier damage 12V This is the main power input for the amplifier and must be connected directly to the positive terminal of the car battery for the amplifier to operate properly It is important that a main fuse is installed a maximum of 18 from the battery GND This is the ground connection for the amplifier and must be connected directly to the metal chassis of the vehicle for the amplifier to operate properly A properly grounded amplifier can be run harder and longer then a poorly grounded amplifier The ground on the amplifier should be as short as possible and be connected directly to the vehicle s metal chassis Do not connect to factory bolts of ANY kind When attaching the ground to the chassis sand all the paint away from the contact point a grounding block like the StreetWires GT4 should be used whenever possible this piece of equipment has 5 times the surface area a normal screw has The gauge of the power and ground wire is often an overlooked aspect of amplifier installation The more power the amplifier receives the more power it will produce Power cables have a natural resistance and will lose voltage by the time the power makes its way to the amplifier The larger gauge diameter wire will hold more voltage over longer runs Also by having a larger diameter ground wire the amplifier can run more efficiently MTX recommends using a minimum
8. off this terminal must be connected to the source unit s remote or electric antenna wire e 12V The power wire from this connection must be attached to the positive side of the vehicle battery MTX recommends that you have your new Thunder amplifiers installed by an authorized MTX retailer preferably MECP certified If you do decide to do it yourself make sure you have read the instructions carefully and that you have the following tools e Electric drill Phillips bit or Screwdriver e 1 8 bit Wire cutters crimpers e Safety Glasses X acto Knife Disconnect the vehicle s negative battery connection Any deviation from the recommended connection procedures may cause serious damage to the amplifier speakers and or vehicle electrical system Please double check the connections before turning the system on Place your Thunder amplifier at the predetermined mounting location Using a felt pen mark the exact position of the mounting holes on the mounting surface Set the amplifier aside then with a sharp precise blade cut small circles in the carpet and padding around the four marks denoting your mounting holes to expose the metal underneath Use a center punch to make an indentation in the metal to ensure that you drill the exact position for the screws Note Please use common sense and make sure that all vehicle wires gas lines break line etc are clear and will not interfere with the installation ALWAYS WEAR PRO
9. over what frequency you want your amp to start crossing over your signal By turning this control all the way counterclockwise you are crossing the signal over at 40Hz Range is counterclockwise 40Hz clockwise 200Hz meaning that the amp will send the woofers 20Hz 40Hz and then start to taper down as the frequencies get over 40Hz Octave roll off The industry standard for low pass crossover point is right around 90Hz However by experimenting with the cross over point higher or lower you will find what sounds best in this install The decibel per octave roll off dB Oct means how fast the amplifier tapers down as the frequencies get higher This amp uses a 24 decibel per octave roll off which is pretty steep or tapers off fairly quickly from the crossover point This design complements both the subwoofer and mid and provides greater musical detail 4 Adjusting The Variable ThunderEQ Adjust the Pot clockwise to add the desired amount of bass boost Keep in mind that there is 18dB of 40Hz boost available which is a lot Begin with a low boost setting around 3dB and try to stay below 6dB whenever possible Remember that for every 3dB of additional boost you dial in you are asking the amplifier to double its power output for this boost region 5 Remote Subwoofer Level Control Remote Sub Lets say the amplifiers gain is set at half way when the remote subwoofer level control is plugged in you now have external control of the gain f
10. rom zero half way The installation of this level control is NOT necessary to get full power from amplifier Note One Remote Subwoofer Level Control can control two or more amplifiers using a mini plug Y adaptor 6 Prizm EFX Now that you have completed adjusting all your amplifier settings you can set the lighting effects to you personal taste e Selecting Colors You can change the backlit colors simply by turning the Pot labeled PRIZM COLOR located in the MTX PRIZM EFX section of the control panel left or right Starting at the most counter clockwise position the colors range from RED GREEN BLUE and RED again or any color in between making the combination unlimited e Selecting The EFX Feature You can switch Prizm EFX lighting to pulsate with beat of music Simply Depress the button labeled PRIZM EFX located in the in the MTX PRIZM EFX section of the control panel to turn this feature on or off Read this if you want to be a do it yourselfer or give us a call at 800 CALLMTX PROBLEM No LED indication LED on no output Output distorted Balance reversed Bass is weak Blowing fuses CAUSE No 12V at remote connection No 12V at Power connection Insufficient ground connection Blown power fuse Volume on head unit off Speaker connections not made Gain control on amplifier off Signal processing units off All speakers blown Head unit volume set too high Amplifier gain set too high Speakers wired
11. tly through tightly packed bonded fins Fan speed is continuously variable and controlled by amplifier s output load temperature of heatsink and transformers Exhaust of internal heatsink is strategically positioned to cool transformers to maintain maximum performance at all volumes 3 Bi Level Inputs with Smart Engage All MTX amplifiers feature RCA type input connections All MTX amplifiers allow both high level and line level input into the RCA type input connections e Low Level Input All MTX amplifiers feature RCA type input connections Source units with an output signal level of 100mV 10V may be used See Input Sensitivity for proper voltage level setting e High Level Inputs with Smart Engage All MTX amplifiers allow high level inputs through RCA type input connections using provided high level adapters Source units with an output signal level of 100mV 10V may be used See Input Sensitivity for proper voltage level setting e Smart Engage Auto turn on is an auto turn on circuit included within the amplifier A remote turn on wire is not necessary when connecting the amplifiers high level input to a high powered source unit Car Stereo The amplifier will automatically turn on when music is received through this type of connection Note Smart engage is only active on the left input 4 Input Sensitivity The Input Sensitivity switch is used to set the proper input voltage range X1 POSITION 100mV 1V Typicall
12. y for RCA Input X10 POSITION 1V 10V Typically for Speaker Level Input 10 11 Gain Control This feature is used to fine tune the input sensitivity of the amplifier to the source unit s output level Low Pass 40Hz 200Hz Variable X over with 24dB per octave Slope This control allows the user to choose the exact low pass frequency range the amplifier will play for the best possible performance The upper end of the crossover frequency point can be selected from 40Hz 200Hz at 24dB per octave ThunderEO Variable This feature will add up to 18dB of low frequency impact to the audio system The Bass Boost is centered at 40Hz Remote Subwoofer Level Control Remote Sub This port allows the use of the optional remote level control The Remote Subwoofer Level Control is a bass control module that can be installed in any location within the vehicle for remote adjustments StreetWires Connectors All MTX amplifiers include StreetWires connectors for efficient current and maximum voltage transfer Speaker Connection Two sets of speaker terminals are provided for dual woofer applications When connecting a single woofer use only one set of speaker terminals Power Terminals This is the main power connection for the amplifier The power and ground wire size should be the same gauge e GND The ground wire from this connection must be attached to bare metal on the vehicle e REM To turn the amplifier on
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