GAS A1-500.1D MAD A1 Amplifier User Manual
- June 12, 2024
- GAS
Table of Contents
GAS A1-500.1D MAD A1 Amplifier
WE PLAY LOUD!
We know what you want. You want it LOUD, and that’s exactly what we do, what we live for. Vibrations, gut-punches and straight up loud music – that’s what makes us tick. We won’t dress up in fancy words or claim to be something we’re not. We are the NO BULLSH!T car audio brand! Every single product with the GAS logo on it is born out of passion, the same that has driven us for two generations and that will keep us rolling up to your neighbourhood, winning and pushing the limits for many generations to come! It’s up to you to choose your own level of loud, and if you don’t like what we do that’s OK. You are welcome back when you’ve had your first true GAS experience. We don’t exclude, we don’t judge and we do not make up any excuses for who we are. We are GAS and we are proud to be LOUD!
SAFETY
PLAY LOUD & SAFE. Before installing your MAD Al series amplifier, make sure
that you read through the manual thoroughly and follow the instructions. Save
the manual for future usage and reference!
Make sure to pay attention to the instructions when you see this symbol:
Make sure that your vehicle has a 12 VDC voltage negative ground system, that
it can handle an increased power consumption, and that both the alternator and
the power source are healthy and up to the task.
Don’t install the amplifier inside the engine compartment or any other surface
that may be compromised by water or dirt. Your amplifier will produce heat so
make sure it’ll have sufficient air circulation ( 4-Scm open space on all
sides).
Keep the cables inside the vehicle separate from sharp edges or components
that may be affected or take damage. Follow the recommended cable sizes and
always use high quality cables and accessories. Even if you are eager to put
the amplifier to use – take no shortcuts when installing the cables, make sure
that all connectors are protected and secured, and take your time finding the
perfect grounding point.
Don’t drill any holes without checking what lies beneath, and don’t cut
anything without making sure that no important components risk being damaged.
There’s a first time for everything, if you need help – ask a friend or
contact your local GAS AUDIO POWER dealer/installer.
We want you to experience your product’s MAD sound, but we don’t want you to
injure yourself or others. Use common sense, respect high pressure levels and
volume, and follow your local laws and regulations.
UNPACKING
We know you’re excited to dive head first into installing your new amplifier, but before you do: Make sure that the amplifier and all the accessories are included in the packaging.
DIMENSIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
MAD A1-500.1D
- Component Amplifier
- Topology Class D
- Channels Mono
- Input mode 1 Ch
- Power RMS (1 Ohm)* 1x500W
- Power RMS (2 Ohm)* 1x370W
- Power RMS (4 Ohm)* 1x230W
- Frequency response 15-300Hz
- Low Pass Filter 30-300Hz
- Subsonic Filter 15-50Hz
- S/N ratio (A-weighted) >92dB
- Bass EO 0-12dB @45Hz
- Crossover slope 12dB
- Phase shift 0/ 180°
- Power/REM voltage 10-16V
- Input sensitivity 0.5-SV
- T.H.D <0.5%
- Damping Factor >130
- Power Fuse 2x35A
- High level input Yes/ATO
- RCA line out Yes
- CLIP Yes
- Bass Remote Yes/Level/Clip
- Linkable N/A
We take pride in our work! True, honest specifications and power ratings are
an important part of all amplifiers. Listening, measuring and engineering are
essential parts in our workshop. That’s how we make sure to bring you an
awesome product with NO BULLSH!T.
Note: Guaranteed Minimum Certified Power@14.4V>1% THD
FUNCTIONS
The MAD amplifiers are made for the people out there who don’t care about the haters, we are proud to play LOUD! But to play LOUD you’ll need a lot of power, which is why you have bought this awesome A 1 amplifier. We know you’re itching to start building your new sound system, but make sure to read through these pages – so you can get the most out of your subwoofers!
HIGH LEVEL INPUT
HOW TO
A well-built sound system will set you aside from the rest and elevate your vehicle! It’s important that you carefully read the instructions on the following pages. This is to make sure that you install and use the amplifier correctly, so your system is as LOUD as possible!
INSTALL AMPLIFIER
- Make sure your vehicle is up to task. You need a 12VDC negative ground electric system and the power source and the alternator should be fully functional and healthy.
- Better safe than sorry! Find a location that has a normal temperature and is safe from rain, excessive moisture and dirt when you’re going to install your amplifier.
Disconnect and secure the negative terminal from your power source to
eliminate the risk of damaging yourself or the products. Place the negative
terminal in a secure position so that it won’t accidentaly contact the
positive or the negative power source post. Have all the necessary tools ready
and close at hand. Make sure that the needed wiring accessories are prepared.
Your wiring kit should be of the recommended size depending on the specific
amplifier(see the SPECIFICATION chapter). 
It’s time to find the perfect location to place your amplifier! Since the
amplifier produces heat you don’t want to install it where it might get
overheated. Find a place where air can circulate around it to stay cool. Also
leave enough space so it’s easy to connect your cables and reach for the
controls. Don’t bolt the amplifier to your vehicle chassis (if this is your
only option, you need to isolate the amplifier from the screws).
Find the best way to run the cables through your vehicle! This might take some
time, and may vary between different models. Preferably the cables shouldn’t
be visible when you’re finished and they shouldn’t be placed in a way that
they obstruct any of the vehicle’s functions or hinder you from operating the
vehicle safely. It’s also important you don’t run the power cable together
with the signal cable, since this can cause interference.
Grounding is ESSENTIAL! The ground cable must be in direct connection with the
vehicle’s metal frame. So take your time finding the perfect bolt or area for
this. There should be no paint or dirt preventing a clean connection, so
scrape down the area where the ring terminal touches/is in contact with the
frame.
Connect the power cable to the positive power source terminal, preferably
together with the vehicle +12V cable. A fuse holder needs to be placed on the
cable at a 15-25 cm distance from the terminal and before any steel parts.
WARNING! Install the fuses as the absolute final step when the rest of
the installation is complete.
The next step is to run a remote wire from your head unit to the amplifier,
preferably together with the power cable (see illustration below). Use a
separate 14-18 AWG wire for the remote signal. You also need a high quality
RCA signal cable. To make sure there’s no interference, the RCA cable should
be run as far away from the power cables as possible, preferably on the
opposite side of the vehicle (see illustration below).
Use the right speaker cable for the job! Make sure to use the recommended
size, and follow the polarity of the speaker wire from the speaker to the
amplifier. See the SPECIFICATION chapter for recommended cable sizes, or use
this table to find your minimum recommended size for speaker cables:
If you don’t have any RCA outputs on your head unit you can use the high level input function. Use the included HI input cable. This will connect the speaker output of the head unit directly to the amplifier.
We’re almost there! Are you ready? When all cables have been installed with fork terminals and secured with cable ties and wire looms, you’re ready to start up your system.
Follow the instructions on your amplifier and/or in the manual to make sure that each cable is connected to the correct output and input. WARNING! Make sure that any Bass EO function is set to a minimum, that the level/gain is set to a minimum and all crossovers are turned off/set to default.
Install the fuses in the fuse holder and reconnect the negative power source terminal. Be prepared to disarm your vehicle’s alarm and to enter your radio/source unit code.
Time to test it out! Turn the ignition on your vehicle and turn the
source/head unit on. Make sure that the amplifier’s power indicator is on and
shows that there’s power coming all the way through, if not – turn the head
unit off, the ignition off, disconnect the negative power source terminal and
re-check all your connections.
One last thing … We know you are ready to show off your upgraded sound system
to the world, but before you reattach all panels and put the head unit back in
place, do a final check. Make sure that all the speakers have a signal by
playing some really good music, turning the head unit volume up just a bit,
and just slightly turning the level/gain on the amplifier. WARNING! Do not
turn the level/gain more than to just hear the music (read through the HOW TO-
section on setting the level/gain before further use}.
CONNECT SPEAKERS
Make sure you got everything you need when connecting your subwoofers/speakers
to your sound system’s new powerhouse. Go for the classical setup and connect
a great subwoofer to your amplifier, or go the extra mile with TWICE the bass
and performance of your sound system by connecting two subwoofers to your
amplifier!
Make sure to have the correct load on your amplifier, going below specified
impedance will damage your amplifier. Usually you can find the speaker’s
impedance in their manual.
DUAL TERMINAL MONO AMPLIFIER
( NOTE: Both the negative and positive speaker output terminals are
internally connected in parallel, so either wiring setup can be
used.)
TWEAKING & SETTINGS
The devil is in the details. Tweak the settings on your MAD amplifier using the following recommendations and cross the line that separates the average user from the hardcore high-power audio junkie!
LEVEL (GAIN)
Remember that the level/gain setting is not a volume control! It’s there to
let you sync your L.!.1 head unit’s output signal with the amplifier.
Every sound system is different, and there are several ways to set the
amplifier level/gain. To get started you can use your own senses and audio
skills by following the instructions below. On the following page we also tell
you how to set the level/gain with an oscilloscope.
Use your own senses and audio skills
If you are planning to set the level/gain by hand, do so in a quiet
environment. The more experience you have in making this sort of settings, the
easier it is to get a good result. If you haven’t done this before, a tip is
to ask a friend to help you out.
- Set the level/gain to minimum.
- Set the volume on your head unit to 75%.
- Start to play your favourite track that you are really familiar with and knows the sound of by heart, or use the test tones on a sine-wave test CD or digital test track.
- Slowly start to increase the level/gain.
- When you see the orange clip LED turn on and start flickering you will hear that the sound starts to change and you can note distortion. Stop the level/gain adjustment and turn the level/gain down slightly until the clip LED turns off.
- You have now set the level/gain on your amplifier correctly.
Use an oscilloscope tor high precision result
When you are setting the level/gain on your amplifier with an oscilloscope you
are measuring the output power of the amplifier. WARNING! Make sure that the
positive speaker cable is removed from the amplifier.
Set the level/gain to minimum. Start a CD/digital sine-wave test track with
your head unit’s volume level at 75% and set the oscilloscope to AC Volts.
Connect the test probes on the amplifier’s speaker terminals. When you’re
connected, you will see soundwaves on the oscilloscope. The soundwaves should
be moving in a steady pattern with smooth tops and bottoms.
While observing the oscilloscope, start to slowly increase the level/gain
until you start to see irregulations in the soundwaves. When the waveform is
starting to look squared, turn down the level/gain until the waveform is back
to smooth curves (see the graphics below).
Remember – if you use your BASS EO or any other sort of amplitude enhancement functions after setting the level/gain, you will have to do it all over again!
BASS REMOTE
With the MAD A 1-500.10 amplifier, we have included an awesome bass remote.
The included bass remote control makes it possible for you to fine tune the
level of bass from the front seat while listening to your favorite song.
The max level will be determined by how the level/gain knob was set on the
amplifier in the previous stage. It’s therefore very important to set
level/gain control at the correct level without the orange clip LED glowing
orange or start flickering. You can also turn it all the way down to minimum
if you want to reduce the level of bass output to minimum.
When you are setting the level/gain on your amplifier, make sure that the bass
remote knob is positioned on MAX. This bass remote can’t increase the level
above the maximum level/gain setting on the amplifier. It’s a useful tool to
lower the gain and/or turn it back up to fine tune your listening experience.
Always make sure that your full concentration is on the road while you drive.
Do not make detailed adjustments on the bass remote’s setting while driving.
SUBSONIC FILTER & LOW PASS FILTER
The filter functions are used to regulate the maximum and minimum frequencies
each speaker is allowed to reproduce. The first thing you need to do is to
find out the frequency response of each subwoofer you wish to connect to the
amplifier. Don’t allow the filters to pass through lower- or higher
frequencies than your subwoofers can handle.
The different frequency bands reproduce different types of sound:
SUBSONIC:
The subsonic filter is a highpass crossover that let higher frequencies pass
above the set frequency. If you set the frequency at 35Hz, frequencies below
will be attenuated by 12db per octave. That means that the level of the
subwoofer will be 12dB lower at 17Hz compared to 35Hz.
Low-Pass Filter (LPF):
The low pass filter will let the lowest tones pass to your connected
subwoofer and attenuate frequncies with 12db per octave above the set
crossover frequency. If you turn the LPF knob to 8OHz the subwoofer’s level
will be 12dB lower at 16OHz.
The MAD Al mono amplifier is designed to offer you precise adjustment options
so your subwoofers will be able to perform to their fullest. The built-in
filter settings (SUBSONIC and LPF) need to be set correctly depending on what
type of setup you are going to apply. On the next page you’ll find the most
common setting for these filters when connecting the amplifier to subwoofers.
If you want more help/guidance in how to use the filter settings, consult your
local GAS AUDIO POWER dealer.
SubWoofer
Set the SUBSONIC dial to 15Hz and the LPF dial to 80Hz as a starting point.
The main goal is to find a cut off frequency that will blend in perfectly with
the front and rear speakers. Take your time to find the optimal sweet spot for
your LOUD sound system!
The Phase setting can also be used to adjust and optimize the bass by using
the 0 or 180 phase control switch. If you feel that your sound system isn’t
LOUD enough, try changing the Phase switch to see which setting gives you the
best amount of bass.
BASSEQ
If everything is tuned correctly and the level/gain has been set, the BASS EO
should remain in default (OdB). This function will apply level/gain at 45Hz
centre frequency. Be adviced that equing the bass from 0-12 dB is a lot, an
increase of +3dB doubles the output! If used incorrectly, this can permanently
damage your subwoofer.
WARNING! The information below is for experienced users and bass addicts
only, if you are new to the wonderful world of low frequencies, leave the BASS
EO in default mode or consult with your local GAS AUDIO POWER dealer.
If you use the BASS EO, make sure to turn down your level/gain first (to 0)
before you start adjusting it. Start a music track and very carefully turn the
EO dial up until you start hearing distortion, then follow the HOW TO chapter
about level/gain to optimize your system.
Incorrect usage of the BASS EO can permanently damage your subwoofers.
TROUBLESHOOTING
NO POWER
Use a multimeter to measure the voltage on the +12V terminal and the remote
signal termi- nal. Use a multimeter to make sure that you have a negative
ground connection. Check the built-in fuse (if there’s one) on the amplifier.
If there’s no power coming through – Control the power cable’s fuse, if it is
intact – make a full check of the wiring to ensure cable integ- rity. When all
of the above has been tested/looked over, and all is as it should be but
there’s still no power coming through to the amplifier, consult your local GAS
AUDIO POWER dealer.
NO SOUND
Check your head unit to make sure no settings are limiting the amplifier
functions. Check all signal cables. Check all speaker cables. Check all
speakers. When all of the above has been tested/looked over, and all is as it
should be but there’s still no sound, consult your local GAS AUDIO POWER
dealer.
UNWANTED NOISE
Check your negative grounding point and make sure that the surface is clean
(consult the HOW TO instructions). Make sure that your signal cables or
speaker cables are not too close to the power cables. Look over your wiring so
there’s no damage or connection issue.
DISTORTION
Check the speaker cables to make sure that the polarity isn’t reversed on one
channel. Check the settings on the amplifier, make sure that the level/gain is
set according to the instructions. Lower/turn off bass EQ function on the
amplifier if used. Check subwoofers.
PROTECTION
Check all speakers and make sure that no leads or voice coils are damaged.
Make sure all connections are made as they should be and that no leads touch
the amplifier chassis. The amplifier will go into protection if it’s
overheated. As soon as the normal operating temperature is back it will
automatically turn back on. To prevent the amplifier from overheating, make
sure to follow the HOW TO installation instructions and leave enough space
around the amplifier so that the airflow is optimized. The protection mode is
activated if the impedance load’s lower than the amplifier limita- tions. If
the input voltage is lower or higher than the amplifier limited range the
amplifier will go into protection. When all of the above has been
tested/looked over, and all is as it should be but the amplifier is still in
protection mode, consult your local GAS AUDIO POWER dealer.
WARRANTY & DISPOSAL
Our products are made with passion and expertise to give you the products you
need to have an awesome audio powered experience that’s LOUD. All our products
are covered by warranty, depending on the conditions in the country where it’s
sold. The warranty is valid from the date of the original receipt as proof of
purchase (warranty period differs depending on local warranty laws and
policies).
If the amplifier is returned for service, please include the original dated
receipt (or a copy) with the product. Make sure that the amplifier is packaged
properly and secured, preferably in its original packaging. If you have any
questions regarding the terms of warranty, please contact your local GAS AUDIO
POWER dealer/distributor.
The crossed-out wheelie bin symbol means that the product, literature and packaging included must be taken to separate collection at the end of their working life. Don’t dispose of these products as unsorted municipal waste: take them for recycling. For info on your nearest recycling point. check with your local waste authority.
This product has been granted with the CE certification mark to show that the product follows the health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA).
GAS AUDIO POWER
products comply with the relevant provisions of the RoHS Directive for the
European Union. In common with all Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE)
the product shouldn’t be disposed of as household waste. Alternative
arrangements may apply in other jurisdictions.
GAS AUDIO POWER
is a global partner of the European Mobile Media Association, an organization
that focus on promoting the custom made mobile media installations to
consumers.
THE GAS WORLD
You’ve entered the world of GAS. We aim to please, and we’ve made sure to have products made for you. No matter what stage of the LOUD-addiction you might find yourself in, there is a GAS product to fill your need.
Just starting out? The MAD series is made to play LOUD and to be the express lane to a no bullsh! sound system that will make sure everyone can hear you coming!
The MAX series holds products made to deserve the center stage. Powerful, heavy duty and designed to be noticed. We made NO COMPROMISES because we know that you wouldn’t accept it.
The CMP series has been developed for the crucial seconds when the dB-counter starts to tick. AlI CMP products have hand-picked, high quality, COMPETITION GRADE components and they are specially designed to withstand an awesome amount of power.
GAS AUDIO POWER and SHAKY are registered trademarks by Win Scandinavia AB and is protected by relevant laws and jurisdictions such as Copyright and Trademark laws. Winn Scandinavia AB | Elementvägen 15, 70227 Örebro, Sweden | www.winnscandinavia.com Winn Scandinavia AB reserves for possible typos, factual or numeric errors that may have been printed on any products, package designs, user manuals and/or other included accessories.
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