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Where You Headed?
Thank you for choosing Memphis Car Audio! Your choice of Memphis Car Audio
indicates a desire for high quality music reproduction in the automobile. Memphis Car
Audio brings to you over three decades of car audio expertise. So whether you are a daily
driving music lover, or a serious car audio competitor, Memphis Car Audio has the
product for you!
To take full advantage of the Memphis Car Audio gear you have just purchased, please
read and follow the instructions in this manual. As with all of our products, professional
installation by an authorized Memphis Car Audio dealer is highly recommended!
Otherwise, the performance of your new gear may not be satisfactory. In addition to the
installation services and expertise offered by an authorized Memphis Car Audio dealer,
the warranty of this product may be extended when installed by an authorized Memphis
Car Audio dealer. Be sure and ask your Memphis dealer about the MECP extended
warranty program as well.
You’re Headed in the Right Direction with Memphis Car Audio!
INTRODUCTION
The Memphis Car Audio Power Reference Series amplifiers offer high quality audio
reproduction for the audiophile and the everyday listener alike. Full Mosfet design and
12dB per octave crossovers ensure accurate musical reproduction. Both models feature
fully variable crossovers with 18dB per octave slopes, allowing you the ability to tailor
the sound to best fit the speakers and your listening preferences.
When combined with the Power Reference Series Subwoofers and the Power Reference
Co-Axial speakers powered by one of the five Power Reference ClassAB amps, you have
a complete mobile reference system. To further enhance your listening enjoyment,
Memphis Car Audio also offers a wide range of signal processors as well.
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FEATURES
Black textured finish heat sink with black chrome trim and injection molded end plates
1 ohm MONOstable
Low Level Inputs & Outputs
Variable Bass Boost (0-18dB) centered at 45Hz
24dB Subsonic Filter
Fully Variable Low Pass Filters
Protection Circuitry Against Overload, Short Circuit, Thermal, and Reverse Polarity
Platinum finish connections Ensures solid electrical connections that resist corrosion.
Fully Variable Low Pass Crossovers Fully variable crossovers promote installation
ease and save the cost of outboard crossovers. The 12dB per octave slope offers steep
roll-off below the selected frequency.
Protection Circuitry Against Overload, Short Circuit, Thermal, and Reverse These
protection features are designed to protect the amplifier from misuse, as well as from
common causes of amplifier failure.
What do little lights mean?
The blue LED means that the amplifier is on, and should be working normally. If only the
RED LED is illuminated and the blue LED is off, please consult the trouble shooting
section of this manual.
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INSTALLATION
Professional installation by an authorized Memphis Car Audio dealer is highly
recommended! Otherwise, the performance of your new gear may not be satisfactory. In
the event that you decide to do your own installation, please read and follow this manual
very carefully. Failure to do so may compromise the integrity of this product, your
automobile, and possibly void the product warranty.
Amplifiers are generally mounted in the hatch/trunk area of a car or SUV, and under or
behind the seat of most pick up trucks. Select a location that will provide adequate
ventilation for the amplifier. Avoid mounting the amplifier with the fins facing down.
The fins should be facing up, either vertically or horizontally. Secure the amplifier with
the screws provided.
WARNING!
Before securing the amplifier, inspect the mounting location carefully to ensure that you
do not drill into or damage any electrical, hydraulic, fluid, or fuel lines.
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POWER SUPPLY CONNECTIONS
WARNING!
INSTALL THE FUSE AT THE BATTERY LAST!
Use conventional stranded copper wire for all connections. Finish the ends of the wires at
the amp and vehicle connection with the proper size terminals. Poorly made connections,
and /or inadequate wire size will generate excessive heat and may lead to equipment
failure.
The 12 VOLT + connection should be made directly at the positive battery post, using
the wire size recommended below, and fused within 18” of the battery. This fuse is vital,
and is primarily intended to protect the vehicle from damage in case of a dead short. The
fuse value at the battery should be at least the total fuse value of all of the amplifiers being
used.
Wire Gauge : 0 gauge for both the 500.1 and 1000.1 models
Fuse Value : 200 ANL at the battery both the 500.1 and 1000.1 models
The GROUND connection should be made directly to the chassis of the vehicle, as close
to the amp as possible. Make this connection with the same wire size as used for the 12
Volt + connection. Ensure that all dirt, grease, paint, and coatings are removed from
around the connection to the vehicle chassis. Use of a nut, bolt, and toothed type washer
is recommended for attaching the ground wire to the chassis.
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The REMOTE TURN ON terminal should be connected to the source units’ remote turn
on lead or power antenna output wire. When using the power antenna wire, make certain
that this wire does not lose power when any source other than the radio is selected.
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RCA CONNECTIONS
SINGLE AMP INPUT CONNECTION
SPEAKER CONNECTIONS
WIRING SUBWOOFERS
When using a single amplifier to power one subwoofer, the Positive and negative terminal
of the Subwoofers voice coil is connected the positive and negative terminal of the
Amplifier.
CAUTION
Always check your speaker load with a multi-meter before hooking up to the amplifier.
These digital amplifiers are only 1 ohm stable. Any Impedance (load) smaller than 1 ohm
will damage the amplifier. Such Damage is not covered under warranty either, so pay
strict attention to what connections are made to the amplifier.
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SET UP AND ADJUSTMENT
Gain
The gain control is NOT a volume control. The gain control adjusts the amount of signal
required to drive the amplifier to full output. With the gain at maximum (full clockwise
rotation), less signal voltage is required to drive the amp to full output. With the gain at
minimum (full counter-clockwise rotation), more signal voltage is required to drive the
amp to full output.
Low Pass Filter (crossover) or LPF
The low pass crossover, or filter, is designed to remove high frequency information from a
speaker. This is generally used to prevent mid-bass speakers or subwoofers from trying to
reproduce mid and high frequency information that they are not designed to reproduce.
The crossover frequency is adjustable from 50Hz to 350Hz, and uses an 12dB per octave
slope. To engage the LPF, simply slide the switch to the position on the marked LPF.
Frequency selection is made by rotating the dial; clockwise raises the frequency and
counter-clockwise lowers the frequency. Most subwoofers should be set between 80 and
100Hz, depending on how low the mid-bass or midrange drivers are capable of playing.
Bass Boost Boost should be used with discretion, keeping in mind that electronically
enhanced boost places an additional load on the amplifier and the speakers they are
connected to.
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FEATURES AND CONTROLS
TROUBLESHOOTING
Before removing your Amplifier, refer to list below and follow suggested procedure.
Speakers and their wires should be tested first.
No Output:
a. Confirm that all terminal strip connections are firmly connected.
b. Check in-line and built-in fuses. Both “12V”and “RMT” terminals must
have +12 Volts to chassis ground.
c. Confirm that signal source (Car Radio/Deck, EQ, X-over etc.) is
connected and is supplying output signal.
To confirm that Amplifier is working, connect an RCA patch cord to LEFT & RIGHT
low-Level inputs of Amplifier only (Do not connect the other end of the patch cord).
Briefly tap the center pin of each (disconnected) RCA plug on the other(disconnected)
end with your finger. This should produce a noise (feedback) in the speakers.
d. If the Amplifier is hot, refer to section “ PROTECTION CIRCUIT”.
Only One Channel Works:
a. Confirm that speaker terminal strip connections are firmly connected.
b. Check “BALANCE” control on Car Stereo(or signal source) to verify
it is at mid-point.
c. If using RCA Low-Level inputs, reverse the input plugs at the Amplifier
(right to left or vice versa).
If the channel that is silent reverses position, the problem is in the
Car Stereo (EQ, X-over, or other signal source) or connecting cable.
Weak Output
a. Check Input Sensitivity control adjustment.
Noise in Audio
a. If noise is a “whine” that goes up and down with engine speed,
confirm that Amplifier and any other source unit(Radio, EQ,
X-over etc.) is properly grounded.
b. A “clicking” or “popping” noise at a rate that follows engine speed is
generally induced by the vehicles’s ignition system.
Confirm that the vehicle is equipped with resistor plugs and plug wires.
Or, ignition system may need service.
c. Speaker and input wires should not be routed next to wires that
interconnect lights and other accessories/equipment.
d. If above steps do not improve/clear noise interference,
the system should be checked by a professional mobile audio installer.
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SPECIFICATIONS
16-PRD 500.1 16-PRD 1000.1
RMS Pwr 1 Ohm : 500W 1000W
RMS Pwr 2 Ohm : 300W 600W
RMS Pwr 4 Ohm : 150W 300W
THD(Into 4 Ohm) : <0.5% <0.5%
(Into 1 Ohm) : <0.1% <0.1%
Signal/Noise Ratio : >90dB >90dB
Damping Factor
Channel Separation : >60dB >60dB
Frequency Response 0.5dB : 20Hz-20kHz 20Hz-20kHz
Crossover Frequency , LPF : 50Hz-350Hz 50Hz-350Hz
Bass Boost : 0-18dB 0-18dB
Adjustable Sensitivity Range
Low Level : 200-4000mV 200-4000mV
High Level : 0.5-5V 0.5-5V
Input Impedance
Low Level : 10k Ohms 10k Ohms
High Level : 100 Ohms 100 Ohms
Fuse : 30AMP x 2 40AMP x 4
Dimension(W x H x D) : 238x66x285 238x66x365
FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Should your amplifier require service Please consult with the dealer from which it was
purchased, or contact Memphis Car Audio Customer Service: 800-467-2400 or
techsupport@memphiscaraudio.com. Do not attempt to return your amplifier directly to
us without first calling for a Return Authorization Number. Units received without an
accompanying Return Authorization Number will be processed more slowly.
Additionally, you must include a copy of your purchase receipt from an authorized dealer
for consideration of in-warranty service; otherwise repair charges will apply. Units
received without a receipt will be held for 30 days, allowing us time to contact you and
obtain a copy of the receipt. After 30 days, all units will be returned to you, un-repaired.
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