VIBE sound PULSE CBR 12A Active Bass Reflex Subwoofer Enclosures Owner’s Manual

VIBE sound PULSE CBR 12A Active Bass Reflex Subwoofer Enclosures

Congratulations on purchasing your VIBE amplifier. Please read this manual in order to fully understand how to get the best results from this product and ensure that all advice on how to look after the product is followed. Thank you for buying VIBE, we hope you enjoy listening to your product as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Attention

An aftermarket audio amplifier will place an additional load on the vehicles charging system. Most modern vehicles have sufficient capacity in the charging system as not all the electrical components of the vehicle will be switched on at once. Check the fuse rating of the amplifier and use this as the peak current requirement. Generally the continuous current draw will be a third of the peak current.

Warning During the normal use of this amplifier the heatsink may become very hot. Please do not touch during or immediately after use. Please ensure that when installing this product the heatsink will not come into contact with any materials that may be damaged by heat such as upholstery or plastics.

Limited Warranty

All VIBE products carry a full 12 month warranty, valid from the date of the original receipt and proof of purchase. The online warranty card should be completed within seven days of the original purchase date. The original receipt and packaging should be retained for this twelve month period. If the product develops a problem any stage during the warranty period, it should be returned to the point of purchase in it’s original packaging, and complete with no items missing. If the store is unable to repair the product it may have to be returned to VIBE. A full description of VIBE’s warranty information can be found on our website:
www.vibeaudio.co.uk

What Is Not Covered

• Damage to product due to improper installation.
• Subsequent damage to other components.
• Damage caused by exposure to moisture, excessive heat, chemical cleaners and / or UV radiation.
• Damage through negligence, misuse, accident or abuse. Repeated returns for the same fault may be considered abuse.
• Any cost or expense related to the removal and / or re-installation of the product.
• Damage caused by amplifier clipping or distortion.
• Items repaired or modified by any unauthorised repair facility.
• Return shipping on non defective items.
• Products returned without a returns authorisation number.
• Damage to product due to use of sealant.

International Warranty

Contact your international VIBE dealer or distributor concerning specific procedure for your country’s warranty policies. www.vibeaudio.co.uk/warranty

Warning VIBE equipment is capable of sound pressure levels that can cause permanent damage to your hearing and those around you. Please use common sense when listening to your audio system and practice safe sound.

Copyright
All content included in this manual such as text, graphics, logos, icons, images and data, are the property of Midbass Distribution Limited t/a VIBE Technologies Limited (herein referred to as “VIBE”, “us” or “we”) and its affiliate or their content and technology providers, and are protected by United Kingdom and International copyright laws. All rights reserved. VIBE TV, VIBE Arcade, Bass Box, Optisound, Cinesound, BlackAir, BlackBox, Space, LiteAir, SLICK, BlackDeath, Bubonic, Reaper, Anti-VIBE, FastPlug, BlackHole, QB69, VIBE Turbo Port, Vibe TurboVent, Pressure Board, Super Driver, VIBE Pulse, VIBE Power, VIBE Digital, VIBE MAG Plugs, Ferrite Loaded, VIBE Solid Core, VIBE OCC, VIBE FLAT, ICC, Bass Enhance, Bass Enhance+, QBass, SpeedBass, PowerBass, N-Wedge, Box Grip, ARBSS, Supercar Series and all stylised representations of product names, or the abbreviations of product names, as logos are all trademarks of VIBE. Graphics and logos are trademarks or trade dress of VIBE Technologies Ltd or its subsidiaries. VIBE’s trademarks and trade dress may not be used in connection with any product or service that is not VIBE’s, in any manner that is likely to cause confusion among customers or in any manner that disparages or discredits VIBE. All other trademarks not owned by VIBE or its subsidiaries that appear in this manual are the property of their respective owners, who may or may not be affiliated with, connected to, or sponsored by VIBE or its subsidiaries.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED AT LAW, VIBE IS PROVIDING THIS MANUAL AND ITS CONTENT ON AN “AS IS” BASIS AND MAKES
NO (AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL) REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS MANUAL OR THE INFORMATION, CONTENT, MATERIALS OR PRODUCTS INCLUDED IN THIS MANUAL INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN ADDITION, VIBE DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL IS COMPLETE OR CURRENT, AND THAT ALL SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS MANUAL ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. VIBE RECOMMEND CAUTION WHEN LISTENING TO MUSIC REPRODUCED THROUGH VIBE EQUIPMENT. VIBE EQUIPMENT IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SOUND AND SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS THAT CAN PERMANENTLY DAMAGE HEARING OF YOU AND THAT OF OTHERS. FOR SAFE AND ENJOYABLE LISTENING, THE SOUND SHOULD BE CLEAR WITHOUT DISTORTION AT A COMFORTABLE VOLUME. BY USING ANY VIBE EQUIPMENT, YOU AGREE TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WHEN LISTENING TO MUSIC AT HIGH VOLUMES THROUGH EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE PURCHASED. USE OF ANY VIBE EQUIPMENT CONSTITUTES AGREEMENT TO THIS DISCLAIMER. Except as specifically stated in this manual, to the fullest extent permitted at law, neither VIBE nor any of its affiliates, directors, employees or other representatives will be liable for damages arising out of or in connection with the use of this manual or the information, content, materials or products included. This is a comprehensive limitation of liability that applies to all damages of any kind, including (without limitation) compensatory, direct, indirect or consequential damages, loss of data, income or profit, loss of or damage to property and claims of third parties. For the avoidance of doubt, VIBE does not limit its liability for death or personal injury to the extent only that it arises as a result of negligence of VIBE, its affiliates, directors, employees or other representatives.

Mounting Guidelines

Your VIBE amplifier is designed with a swift installation routine in mind. Please mount the amplifier in a dry location on a solid surface. NEVER mount the amplifier upside down as this will cause the amplifier to over heat and will eventually damage the amplifier.Before fixing the amplifier in place please ensure that there is sufficient air flow around the exterior of the casing, at least two inches is sufficient to allow effective cooling.

Power Connections

Low Level Input Connections

High Level Input Connections

NOTE: When using high level input it is not necessary to connect the remote turn on wire.

Power Cable

• At least 10 gauge cable or Rapid Fit kit should be used for the power connection to the amplifier.
• The power cable should be taken directly from the battery. Rubber grommets should be used when passing through any bulkheads to prevent the cable from becoming chaffed or cut.
• It is vital that a fuse / circuit breaker (of at least equal value to the one fitted in the amplifier) is placed inline with the power cable and is no further than 18 inches away from the battery.

Ground Cable

• At least 10 gauge cable should be used for the ground connection to the amplifier.
• The amplifier ground should be connected directly to the chassis of the vehicle, to bare metal.
• The cable length should be kept to an absolute minimum.
• It is not recommended that you connect the ground cable to the vehicles seatbelts anchor point.

Auto Turn On (High level Input Only)

• The Powerbox amplifiers feature an auto turn on circuit called Autosense.
• This circuit allows the amplifier to switch on and off without a remote turn on wire when using high level input, for low level input (RCA) it will still be necessary to connect the remote turn on wire from the headunit.
• When the connected source (headunit) is turned on the amplifier will turn on automatically, after the connected source (headunit) is turned off the amplifier will shut down.
• It will be necessary to connect an RCA plug to the speaker output of yout headunit, please ensure correct polarity or a loss of bass will result
  Centre pin : Positive
  Outer pin : negative

RCA Cables

• Please take extra care when running these cables from the source to the amplifier. Ensure that they are placed away from all items that can generate any interference, wiring harnesses etc.
• It is recommended that the RCA cables should be run on opposite sides of the car to the previously installed power cables if possible, to avoid the cable picking up interference.

Terminals And Connections

High / low-level input

For connection to either the speaker output of your source (head unit) this is to be used if the source (head unit) does not have a low-level output or connection to any source (head unit) with a low-level output. This is your RCA output from the source (head unit). If using high-level input, it will be necessary to connect an RCA plug to the speaker output of yout head unit, please ensure correct polarity or a loss of bass will result.

• Centre pin: Positive
• Outer pin: negative

Gain control

This control is used to match the input signal of the source to the amplifier. See the setup section for more details.

Remote level control port

For connection to the optional remote level control for the amplifier.

Power / protect LED

If the amplifier is operating normally, the GREEN LED will illuminate.
If the amplifier is in protection mode the RED LED will illuminate.

Low Pass Filter (LPF)

This control is used to set the crossover frequency for the amplifier when LPF is selected. The frequency is adjustable between 30Hz and 150Hz.

Power terminals

Used to connect DC power to the amplifier. See the power connections section for more details.

Installation

The most common place to mount a bass enclosure is in the luggage compartment of the vehicle. Where in the luggage compartment it is mounted will have an effect on the sound produced, allowing the user to tailor the sound to suit their musical tastes. For example, if the enclosure is mounted facing the rear bumper the bass produced willbe noticeably deeper than if it is fired into the rear seat. Do not be afraid to experiment with positioning as a little time and effort can yield great improvements in sound.

NOTE: When you have chosen your mounting position, please ensure that the enclosure is securely mounted and cannot move or come into contact with objects in the luggage area. Damage to the enclosure or subwoofer caused by these objects will not be covered under warranty. It is also advisable to use additional luggage straps to secure the enclosure.

Set Up Section

Gain Control Setting
To correctly set the gain control of the amplifier to match that of the source (headunit) use the following setup routine:

• Turn the gain control to minimum on the amplifier.

• On the headunit set all crossovers to flat and both bass and treble to zero.

• Turn up the source (headunit) to approximately 3/4 volume.

• Very slowly turn up the gain on the amplifier until distortion can be heard in any of the speakers or until the volume reaches an uncomfortable listening level when this is
  reached turn down the gain control slightly.

• Do not increase the level so much that the subwoofers are driven into distortion as this will cause damage to the product that will not be covered under warranty

The gain control is now set

Crossover Setting
All VIBE active enclosures come with a built in frequency control. This will allow you to set the frequency at which the crossover filter will take affect. It is variable from 30 Hz – 150 Hz. 30 Hz will produce only low frequencies, very deep bass. Whilst 150 Hz will produce low and higher punchy bass frequencies. In the correct set up the bass should not be overly prominent, although some users may wish to have a bigger bass presence.

To set this correctly follow the following routine:

• Firstly set the gain control correctly as described above.
• Play a known piece of dynamic music through the entire system.
• Use the frequency control to blend the frequencies from the subwoofer into the rest of the vehicle so that the bass coming from the enclosure disappears or blends in with the rest of the car speakers.

The crossover is now set

Run In Procedure

• VIBE recommends that you follow the run in procedure for the subwoofer detailed below.
• When your subwoofer is used for the first time, naturally like most brand new items it is very stiff and rigid. It will take time for the moving parts of the subwoofer to loosen up before the subwoofer is ready to deliver it’s full potential.
• For the first 30 hours it is recommended that you play the subwoofer initially at low to medium volumes and gradually increase the volume as time progresses.
• As a guide if you listen to your subwoofer for one hour every day it will take a month to run in.

Troubleshooting

The Amplifier Will Not Power Up

• Check for good ground connections. Ensure that the ground cable is connected directly to bare metal and not a painted surface
• Using a multimeter ensure that the remote (REM) terminal has at least +12v DC.
• Using a multimeter ensure that the Battery voltage is at least 12v DC and below 16v DC.
• Check all fuses.
• Check that the protection light is not illuminated, if it is illuminated try turning the amplifier off for a short period of time and then turn back on.

Protection LED Is Illuminated

• Check for shorts on all cables
• The amplifier is designed to shut down once automatically when the temperature reaches 80°C, if the amplifier heatsink is very hot this may be the reason for the amplifier shutting down.
• Remove the signal cables and try to restart the amplifier, if the amplifier will not restart then it is possible that the amplifier has been damaged. This damage may have been as a result of abuse or failure to follow the advice in this manual.

Blown Fuses

• Check both positive and ground cables for shorts.
• Check that the positive wire is connected to the +12V terminal of the amplifier
• Check that the negative wire is connected to the GND terminal of the amplifier
• Check that the correct external fuse is fitted. CBR12A 1 x 20 amps : CBR12TA 1 x 30 amps Distorted Sound
• Reduce the gain until the sound is no longer distorted.

UK Technical Enquiries

Call 09067031420
Calls cost 50p per minute. Call costs correct at date of publication (01/02/12) Hours of business 9.00am – 5.30pm GMT Monday – Friday.
All calls are recorded for training purposes.
MIDBASS Distribution
PO Box 11000 B75 7WG

International Technical Enquiries
For international technical support please contact the distribution agent for your country. Please visit www.vibeaudio.co.uk for more details.

Specification

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References

• British Audio - Vibe

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