JL Audio J2500.1 User's Manual
Contents
1. make sure there is at least 1 inch 2 5 cm of space above the amplifier s outer shell to permit proper cooling Safety Considerations Your amplifier needs to be installed in a dry well ventilated environment and in a manner which does not interfere with your vehicle s safety equipment air bags seat belt systems ABS brake systems etc You should also take the time to securely mount the amplifier using appropriate hardware so that it does not come loose in the event of a collision or a sudden jolt to the vehicle Stupid Mistakes to Avoid e Check before drilling any holes in your vehicle to make sure that you will not be drilling through a gas tank brake line wiring harness or other vital vehicle system e Do not run system wiring outside or underneath the vehicle This is an extremely dangerous practice which can result in severe damage to your vehicle and person e Protect all system wires from sharp metal edges and wear by carefully routing them tying them down and using grommets and loom where appropriate e Do not mount the amplifier in the engine compartment under the vehicle on the roof or in any other area that will expose the amplifier circuitry to the elements J 500 1 4 22 09 11 24 40 AM PRODUCT DESCRIPTION The JL Audio J2 500 1 is a monoblock subwoofer amplifier utilizing Class B technology Its frequency response is limited to the range below 125 Hz It is not designed for driving midran2. ER CONTROL The J2 500 1 employs a 12dB octave low pass LP active filter for its internal channel This feature is designed to attenuate frequencies above its filter frequency so that the system s subwoofers do not reproduce any audible midrange content The low pass filter in the J2 500 1 is fully variable between 40 Hz and 130 Hz via the LP Filter Frequency control knob The 12 o clock position corresponds to 80 Hz and is a good starting point for system tuning 40 130 LP Filter Frequency Hz OUTPUT POLARITY CONTROL The J2 500 1 includes a switch to quickly reverse the polarity of its audio output This is very useful for establishing a smooth transition between the subwoofers and main speaker systems Choose the position that results in the strongest midbass and the best up front bass presence Reversed Normal Output Polarity J 500 1 4 22 09 11 24 43 AM PREAMP OUTPUTS The J2 500 1 incorporates a preamp output section designed to make multiple amplifier systems easy to set up This section consists of a pair of RCA type jacks marked Preamp Outputs Preamp Outputs LEFT RIGHT The Preamp outputs deliver the same signal that is being fed to the inputs If the input signal are full range the preamp outputs will be full range This signal is not affected by the bass boost or LP Filter processing selected for the amplifier BASS BOOST CONTROL The J2 500 1 incl
3. OWNER S MANUAL J 500 1 500W Monoblock Subwoofer Amplifier Thank you for purchasing a JL Audio amplifier for your automotive sound system Your amplifier has been designed and manufactured to exacting standards in order to ensure years of musical enjoyment in your vehicle For maximum performance we highly recommend that you have your new amplifier installed by an authorized JL Audio dealer Your authorized dealer has the training expertise and installation equipment to ensure optimum performance from this product Should you decide to install the amplifier yourself please take the time to read this manual thoroughly so as to familiarize yourself with its installation requirements and setup procedures If you have any questions regarding the instructions in this manual or any aspect of your amplifier s operation please contact your authorized JL Audio dealer for assistance If you need further assistance please call our Technical Support Department at 954 443 1100 during business hours J2_500_1_MAN_CH indd 1 4 22 09 11 24 38 AM PROTECT YOUR HEARING We value you as a long term customer For that reason we urge you to practice restraint in the operation of this product so as not to damage your hearing and that of others in your vehicle Studies have shown that continuous exposure to high sound pressure levels can lead to permanent irreparable hearing loss This and all other high power amplifiers are capable of
4. ation 6 Find a good solid metal grounding point close to the amplifier and connect the negative power wire to it using appropriate hardware Use minimum 4 AWG power wire no longer than 36 inches 90 cm from the amplifier to the ground connection point In some vehicles it may be necessary to upgrade the battery ground wire See page 5 for important notice 7 Securely mount the amplifier using appropriate hardware 8 Connect the positive and negative power wires to the amplifier 9 Connect the remote turn on wire to the amplifier 10 Connect the RCA input cables to the amplifier 11 Connect the speaker wires to the amplifier 12 Carefully review the amplifier s control settings to make sure that they are set according to the needs of the system 13 Install power wire fuse 60A for a single J2 500 1 and reconnect the negative battery post terminal 14 Turn on the source unit at a low level to double check that the amplifier is configured correctly Resist the temptation to crank it up until you have verified the control settings 15 Make necessary adjustments to the input sensitivity controls to obtain the right overall output and the desired balance in the system See Appendix A page 10 for the recommended input sensitivity setting method 16 Enjoy the fruits of your labor with your favorite music J2_500_1_MAN_CH indd 4 5 JL Audio POWER CONNECTIONS Before installing the amplifier disconnect the negativ
5. chase date Non defective items received will be returned freight collect Customer is responsible for shipping charges and insurance in sending the product to JL Audio Freight damage on returns is not covered under warranty For Service Information in the U S A please call JL Audio Customer Service 954 443 1100 9 00 AM 5 30 PM Eastern Time Zone JL Audio Inc 10369 North Commerce Pkwy Miramar FL 33025 do not send product for repair to this address International Warranties Products purchased outside the United States of America are covered only by that country s distributor and not by JL Audio Inc Printed in China J2500_1 CH 04 2009 J2_500_1_MAN_CH indd 16 4 22 09 11 24 47 AM
6. ction mode Do not chassis ground any speakers connected to this or any other JL Audio amplifier Doing so will cause the amplifier to go into protection To connect the speaker wires to the amplifier strip 1 2 inch 12 mm of insulation from each speaker wire and insert them into their appropriate connector observing correct polarity Then tighten each connector using a Phillips screwdriver Ea iMPORTANT Do NOT attempt to bridge two J2 500 1 s together or combine their output to a single load in any manner Doing so will damage the amplifier s a IMPORTANT Before reconnecting the battery ground and turning the system on verify that all control settings on the amplifier are set according to the needs of the system POWER INDICATOR LED PROTECTION CIRCUITRY The multi color Power LED on the J2 500 1 also serves as a status indicator for certain fault conditions Its operation is as follows 1 Red Amplifer is turning on 2 Green Amplifier is on operating normally 3 Yellow Protection mode activated due to one of the following Shorted outputs too low of a load impedance or thermal overload too hot Once the fault condition is corrected the amplifier will return to normal operating mode and the LED will turn green again For information on troubleshooting this amplifier refer to Appendix C pages 12 13 O Power SERVICING YOUR JL AUDIO AMPLIFIER If your amplifier fail
7. ded wired remote control knob Full mute to 0 dB range Dimensions LxWxH 13 20 x 9 60 x 2 15 335 mm x 244 mm x 55 mm Due to ongoing product development all specifications are subject to change without notice 11 4 22 09 11 24 46 AM APPENDIX C TROUBLESHOOTING How dol properly set the input sensitivity on my amplifier Please refer to Appendix A page 10 to set the input sensitivity for maximum low distortion output My amplifier doesn t turn on Check the fuse not just visually but with a continuity meter It is possible for a fuse to have poor internal connections that cannot be found by visual inspection It is best to take the fuse out of the holder for testing If no problem is found with the fuse inspect the fuse holder Check the integrity of the connections made to each of the 412VDC Ground and Remote terminals Ensure that no wire insulation is pinched by the terminal set screw and that each connection is tight Check to make sure there is 12V at the Remote connection of the amplifier In some cases the turn on lead from the source unit is insufficient to turn on multiple devices and the use of a relay is required To test for this problem jump the 12VDC wire to the Remote terminal to see if the amplifier turns on If this does not work proceed to the next step My amplifier s output fluctuates when I tap on it or hit a bump Check the conn
8. e ground wire from the vehicle s battery This will prevent accidental damage to the system the vehicle and your person during installation 1 12VDC Remote Ground J J The J2 500 1 s 12 VDC positive and Ground ground connections are designed to accept 4 AWG power wire 4 AWG is a minimum power wire size for this amplifier If you are installing the J2 500 1 with other amplifiers and wish to use a single main power wire use 2 AWG or 1 0 AWG main power wire depending on the overall current demands of all the amplifiers in the system This 2 AWG or 1 0 AWG power wire should terminate into a distribution block mounted as close to the amplifiers as possible and should connect to the J2 500 1 with 4 AWG power wire Note that smaller AWG numbers mean bigger wire and vice versa 1 0 AWG is the largest 2 AWG is smaller then 4 AWG then 8 AWG etc To connect the power and ground wires to the amplifier strip 1 2 inch 12 mm of insulation from each wire and insert the bare wire into the the appropriate terminal block positions on the J2 500 1 Use a Phillips screwdriver to secure the wire via the screw on the top of each terminal The Ground connection should be made using 4 AWG wire and should be kept as short as possible while accessing a solid piece of sheet metal in the vehicle The surface of the sheet metal should be sanded at the contact point to create a clean metal to metal connectio
9. ections to the amplifier Make sure that the insulation for all wires has been stripped back far enough to allow a good contact area inside the terminal block Check the input connectors to ensure that they all are making good contact with the input jacks on the amplifier 12 JL Audio J2_500_1_MAN_CH indd 12 13 My amplifier turns on but there is no output Check the input signal using an AC voltmeter to measure the voltage from the source unit while an appropriate test tone is played through the source unit disconnect the input cables from the amplifier prior to this test The frequency used should be in the range that is to be amplified by the amplifier example 50 Hz for a sub bass application or 1 kHz for a full range high pass application A steady sufficient voltage between 0 2 and 8 0 volts should be present at the output of the signal cables Check the output of the amplifier Using the procedure explained in the previous check item after plugging the input cables back into the amplifier test for output at the speaker outputs of the amplifier Unless you enjoy test tones at high levels it is a good idea to remove the speaker wires from the amplifier while doing this Turn the volume up approximately half way 5V or more should be measured at the speaker outputs This output level can vary greatly between amplifiers but it should not be in the millivolt range with the source unit at half volume If you are
10. ge speakers or tweeters It has been optimized for low frequency amplification For detailed specifications please refer to Appendix B page 11 TYPICAL INSTALLATION SEQUENCE The following represents the sequence for a typical amplifier installation using an aftermarket source unit or OEM Interface product Additional steps and different procedures may be required in some applications If you have any questions please contact your authorized JL Audio dealer for assistance 1 Disconnect the negative battery post connection and secure the disconnected cable to prevent accidental re connection during installation This step is not optional 2 Run power wire minimum 4 AWG from the battery location to the amplifier mounting location taking care to route it in such a way that it will not be damaged and will not interfere with vehicle operation Use 2 AWG or 1 0 AWG power wire if additional amplifiers are being installed with the J2 500 1 3 Connect power wire to the positive battery post Fuse the wire with an appropriate fuse block and connectors within 18 inches 45 cm wire length of the positive battery post This fuse is essential to protect the vehicle Do not install the fuse until the power wire has been connected to the amplifier 4 Run signal cables RCA cables and remote turn on wire from the source unit to the amplifier mounting location 5 Run speaker wire from the speaker systems to the amplifier mounting loc
11. he amplifier circuitry For optimum cooling performance this outer shell should be exposed to as large a volume of air as possible Enclosing the amplifier in a small poorly ventilated chamber can lead to excessive heat build up and degraded performance If an installation calls for an enclosure around the amplifier we recommend that this enclosure be ventilated with the aid of a fan In normal applications fan cooling is not necessary Remote Turn On Connector pg 6 12V Power Chassis Ground Speaker Outputs Fuses Connector Connector pg 9 pg 5 pg 5 m rues 12VDC Remote Ground Speaker Output Mono Made in China Left amp Right Output Polarity Input Sensitivity Bass Boost Preamp Output Jacks Switch Control Control pg 8 7 pg 6 pg 8 Remote 3 Left amp Right pa Power Protection Filter Level Port Preamp Input Jacks pg 8 pg 6 Preamp Amplifier Outputs Inputs remote Suteuts Inputs Level LEFT LEFT Port O Q Q Reversed Normal Output Polarity RIGHT RIGHT Status Indicator pg 9 pg 7 Frequency Selector O min max 40 130 Off 12dB Input Sens LP Filter Frequency Hz Bass Boost 15A 15A 15A 15A 0 o ecoj CJ CJ ij d Ll o JO500 1 JO500 1 J2_500_1_MAN_CH indd 2 3 JL Audio i IMPORTANT Mounting the amplifier upside down is strongly discouraged If mounting the amplifier under a seat
12. installation instructions unauthorized repair attempts misrepresentations by the seller This warranty does not cover incidental or consequential damages and does not cover the cost of removing or reinstalling the unit s Cosmetic damage due to accident or normal wear and tear is not covered under warranty Warranty is void if the product s serial number has been removed or defaced Any applicable implied warranties are limited in duration to the period of the express warranty as provided herein beginning with the date of the original purchase at retail and no warranties whether express or implied shall apply to this product thereafter Some states do not allow limitations on implied warranties therefore these exclusions may not apply to you This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state If you need service on your JL AUDIO product All warranty returns should be sent to JL Audio s Amplifier Service Facility freight prepaid through an authorized JL Audio dealer and must be accompanied by proof of purchase a copy of the original sales receipt Direct returns from consumers or non authorized dealers will be refused unless specifically authorized by JL Audio with a valid return authorization number Warranty expiration on products returned without proof of purchase will be determined from the manufacturing date code Coverage may be invalidated as this date is previous to pur
13. n between the chassis and the termination of the ground wire The use of a star washer to lock down the connection is advisable Any wires run through metal barriers such as firewalls must be protected with a high quality insulating grommet to prevent damage to the insulation of the wire Failure to do so may result in a dangerous short circuit Ey iMPORTANT Many vehicles employ small 10 AWG 6 AWG wire to ground the battery to the vehicle chassis and to connect the alternator s positive connection to the battery To prevent voltage drops these wires should be upgraded to 4 AWG or larger when installing a J2 500 1 FUSE REQUIREMENTS While the J2 500 1 has four 15A ATC fuses on its power connection panel these do nothing to protect the vehicle from a dangerous short circuit in the power wire They only protect the amplifier It is absolutely vital that the main power lead to the amplifier s in the system be fused within 18 inches 45 cm of the positive battery post connection The fuse value at each power wire should be high enough for all of the equipment being run from that power wire If only the J2 500 1 is being run from that power wire we recommend a 60A fuse be used AFS or MAXI type fuses are recommended J 500 1 4 22 09 11 24 41 AM REMOTE TURN ON The J2 500 1 is turned on and off using a conventional 12V remote turn on lead typically controlled by the source unit s remote turn
14. on output 12VDC Remote Ground The amplifier will turn on when 12V is present at its Remote input and turn off when 12V is switched off If a source unit does not have a dedicated remote turn on output the amplifier s turn on lead can be connected to 12V via a switch that derives power from an ignition switched circuit 18 AWG wire is more than adequate for the remote turn on connection To connect the remote turn on wire to the amplifier strip 1 2 inch 12 mm of insulation from the wire and insert it into the Remote receptacle on the power connector Tighten the connector down using a Phillips screwdriver AMPLIFIER INPUTS The J2 500 1 only offers low level preamp level input connections via a single pair of RCA type jacks that are compatible with a wide range of aftermarket source units and processors If you wish to use speaker level signals you will need to employ a line output converter not included 1p Amplifier its Inputs 7 LEFT Rev O oO T RIGHT You may run a stereo or a mono signal into the inputs of the amplifier The amplifier s input section automatically sums stereo signals to mono for the internal amplifier section The amplifier will operate with only one input connection left or right but will require an increase in input sensitivity to overcome the loss of signal If a mono input signal is to be run into the RCA jacks we recommend that you use a Y adapt
15. or to split the mono signal into both the Left and Right inputs of the amplifier a IMPORTANT If you plan to use the preamp outputs to feed a stereo amplifier you must connect a stereo signal to the input of the amplifier A mono signal into the amplifier will result in a mono signal out of the preamp output J2_500_1_MAN_CH indd 6 7 JL Audio INPUT SENSITIVITY GAIN ADJUSTMENT Located next to the input connectors is a rotary control labeled Input Sens This rotary control can be used to match the source unit s output voltage to the input stage of the amplifier for maximum clean output min max 40 Input Sens LP Filter Fi Rotating the control clockwise will result in higher sensitivity louder for a given input voltage Rotating the control counter clockwise will result in lower sensitivity quieter for a given input voltage To properly set the amplifier for maximum clean output please refer to Appendix A page 12 in this manual After using this procedure you can then adjust the level of the amplifier by adjusting the input sensitivity downward if the amplifier requires attenuation to achieve the desired system balance Do not increase the Input Sens setting for any amplifier in the system beyond the maximum level established during the procedure outlined in Appendix A page 12 Doing so will result in audible distortion and possible speaker damage LP FILTER CROSSOV
16. producing such high sound pressure levels when connected to a speaker system Please limit your continuous exposure to high volume levels While driving operate your audio system in a manner that still allows you to hear necessary noises to operate your vehicle safely horns sirens etc SERIAL NUMBER In the event that your amplifier requires service or is ever stolen you will need to have a record of the product s serial number Please take the time to enter that number in the space provided below The serial number can be found on the bottom panel of the amplifier and on the amplifier packaging Serial Number INSTALLATION APPLICATIONS This amplifier is designed for operation in vehicles with 12V negative ground electrical systems Use of this product in vehicles with positive ground and or voltages other than 12V may result in damage to the product and will void the warranty This product is not certified or approved for use in aircraft Do not attempt to bridge the outputs of this amplifier with the outputs of a second amplifier including an identical one PLANNING YOUR INSTALLATION It is important that you take the time to read this manual and that you plan out your installation carefully The following are some considerations that you must take into account when planning your installation Cooling Efficiency Considerations The outer shell of your JL Audio amplifier is designed to remove heat from t
17. reading sufficient voltage check your speaker connections as explained below Check to ensure that the speaker wires are making a good connection with the metal inside the terminal block The speaker wire connectors are designed to accept up to 8 AWG wire Make sure to strip the wire to allow for a sufficient connection with the metal inside the terminal block J 500 1 13 4 22 09 11 24 47 AM INSTALLATION NOTES Use this diagram to document your amplifier s switch and control positions Preamp Amplifier Remon Outputs Inputs Level LEFT LEFT Port O O cq e Reversed Normal Output Polarity min max 40 130 Off 12dB Input Sens LP Filter Frequency Hz Bass Boost J 500 1 RIGHT RIGHT 14 JL Audio J 500 1 15 J2_500_1_MAN_CH indd 14 15 4 22 09 11 24 47 AM LIMITED WARRANTY AMPLIFIERS USA JL Audio warrants this product to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one 1 year from the original date of purchase This warranty is not transferrable and applies only to the original purchaser from an authorized JL Audio dealer Should service be necessary under this warranty for any reason due to manufacturing defect or malfunction JL Audio will at its discretion repair or replace the defective product with new or remanufactured product at no charge Damage caused by the following is not covered under warranty accident misuse abuse product modification or neglect failure to follow
18. s 2 Turn off all processing bass treble loudness EQ etc on the source unit processors if used and amplifier Set fader control to center position and subwoofer level control to 3 4 of maximum If connected set the amplifiers Remote Bass Control at maximum full clockwise 3 Turn the Input Sens control all the way down 4 Set the source unit volume to 3 4 of full volume This will allow for reasonable gain overlap with moderate clipping at full volume 5 Using the chart on this page determine the target voltage for input sensitivity adjustment according to the nominal impedance of the speaker system connected to the amplifier outputs 6 Verify that you have disconnected the speakers before proceeding Play a track with an appropriate sine wave within the frequency range to be amplified at 3 4 source unit volume 7 Connect the AC voltmeter to the speaker output connectors of the amplifier Make sure you test the voltage at the correct connectors and 8 Increase the Input Sens control until the target voltage is observed with the voltmeter 9 Once you have adjusted the amplifier to its maximum low distortion output level reconnect the speaker s The Input Sens controls can now be adjusted downward if the amplifier requires attenuation to achieve the desired system balance a IMPORTANT Do not increase any Input Sens setting for any amplifier channel or channel pair in the
19. s or malfunctions please return it to your authorized JL Audio dealer so that it may be sent in to JL Audio for service There are no user serviceable parts or fuses inside the amplifier The unique nature of the circuitry in the JL Audio amplifiers requires specifically trained service personnel Do not attempt to service the amplifier yourself or through unauthorized repair facilities This will not only void the warranty but may result in the creation of more problems within the amplifier If you have any questions about the installation or setup of the amplifier not covered in this manual please contact your dealer or technical support JL Audio Technical Support 954 443 1100 9 00 AM 5 30 PM Eastern Time Zone Monday Friday J 500 1 4 22 09 11 24 45 AM APPENDIX A Input Sensitivity Level Setting Following the directions below will allow the installer to adjust the input sensitivity of each amplifier channel pair simply and easily in just a few minutes using equipment which is commonly available in installation bays Necessary Equipment e Digital AC Voltmeter e CD with a sine wave test tone recorded at 0 dB reference level in the frequency range to be amplified for that set of channels 50 Hz for subwoofer channels 1 kHz for a midrange application Do not use attenuated test tones 10 dB 20 dB etc The Nine Step Procedure 1 Disconnect the speaker s from the amplifier s speaker output connector
20. system beyond the maximum level established during this procedure Doing so will result in audible distortion and possible speaker damage It will be necessary to re adjust the Input Sens for the affected channels if any equalizer boost is activated after setting the Input Sens with this procedure This applies to any EQ boost circuit including source unit tone controls or EQ circuits EQ cuts will not require re adjustment Nom Impedance Target AC Voltage 40 37V 30 35 5V 20 31 5V J2_500_1_MAN_CH indd 10 11 JL Audio APPENDIX B J2 500 1 Specifications General Specifications Recommended Fuse Value 60A Recommended Fuse Type ANL at battery 4x 15A ATC fuses on amplifier chassis Input Section Low Level Input Single ended with RCA jacks Low Level Input Range 200mV 4V RMS Amplifier Section Amplifier Topology Class B Monaural with complementary bi polar outputs Power Supply PWM switching type unregulated Rated Power with less than 1 THD 14 4V supply 340W RMS x 1 40 420W RMS x 1 30 500W RMS x 1 20 Frequency Response 10 100 Hz 1 dB Crossover Section Low Pass Filter 12 dB octave with continuously variable cutoff frequency selection from 40 130 Hz Non defeatable Preamp Outputs 2 Channel pass through with unity gain RCA type jacks Bass Boost Single band with 45 Hz center frequency adjustable from 0 to 12cB Remote Level Control Via inclu
21. udes a single band boost only bass equalizer controlled by a rotary knob marked Bass Boost This control has a boost range of 0dB full counterclockwise to 12dB full clockwise and is centered at 45 Hz Off 12dB Bass Boost REMOTE LEVEL CONTROL The J2 500 1 includes a remote level control that can be mounted in the front of the vehicle This control allows the owner to adjust the overall subwoofer level to taste To connect the remote bass control knob insert its plug into the jack labeled Remote Level Port on the amplifier and route the cable and control to the desired location in the front of the vehicle Remote Level Port OK Care should be taken to securely mount this control in a manner that does not interfere with vehicle operation When setting the amplifier s input sensitivity the Remote Level Control should be unplugged or at full clockwise rotation maximum level J2_500_1_MAN_CH indd 8 9 JL Audio SPEAKER OUTPUT Speaker connection to the J2 500 1 is straightforward and takes place at the far right of the power speaker connection panel A o single positive connection and a single CE negative connector labeled Speaker Output Mono connection are available via a 40 130 Off 12dB LP Filter Frequency Hz Bass Boost Ey IMPORTANT Speaker loads below 2 nominal are not recommended and will cause the amplifier to enter into a prote
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