ESX QS-TWO Quantum Class D 2-Channel Nano Amplifier Owner’s Manual

ESX QS-TWO Quantum Class D 2-Channel Nano Amplifier

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING ADVICE BEFORE THE FIRST OPERATION!

1. THE PURCHASED DEVICE IS ONLY SUITABLE FOR AN OPERATION WITH A 12V ONBOARD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE. Otherwise fire hazard, risk of injury and electric shock consists.

2. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE ANY OPERATION OF THE SOUND SYSTEM, WHICH DISTRACT YOU FROM A SAFE DRIVING. Do not make any procedures, which demand a longer attention. Perform these operations not until you have stopped the vehicle on a safe place. Otherwise, the risk of accident consists.

3. ADJUST THE SOUND VOLUME TO AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL, THAT YOU ARE STILL ABLE TO HEAR EXTERIOR NOISES WHILE DRIVING. High-performance sound systems in vehicles may generate the acoustic pressure of a live concert. The permanent listening to extreme loud music may cause the loss of your hearing abilities. The hearing of extreme loud music while driving may derogate your cognition of warning signals in the traffic. In the interests of the common safeness, we suggest to drive with a lower sound volume. Otherwise the risk of accident consists.

4. DO NOT COVER COOLING VENTS AND HEAT SINKS. Otherwise this may cause heat accumulation in the device and fire hazard consists.

5. DO NOT OPEN THE DEVICE. Otherwise fire hazard, risk of injury and electric shock consists. Also this may cause a loss of the warranty.
   REPLACE FUSES ONLY WITH FUSE WITH THE SAME RATING. Otherwise fire hazards and risk of electric shock consists.

6. DO NOT USE THE DEVICE ANY LONGER, IF A MALFUNCTION, WHICH REMAINS UNREMEDIED. Refer in this case to the chapter TROUBLESHOOTING. Otherwise risk of injury and the damage of the device consists. Commit the device to an authorized retailer.

7. THE INSTALLATION OF A POWER CAPACITOR WITH SUFFICIENT CAPACITY IS RECOMMENDED. High-performance amplifiers cause high potential voltage drops and need a high power consumption at a high volume level. To relieve the vehicle’s on-board system, it is recommended to install a power capacitor between the battery and the device which works as buffer. Consult your car audio retailer for the appropriate capacity.

8. INTERCONNECTION AND INSTALLATION SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY SKILLED STAFF ONLY. The interconnection and installation of this device demand technical aptitude and experience. For your own safeness, commit the interconnection and installation to your car audio retailer, where you have purchased the device.

9. DISCONNECT THE GROUND CONNECTION FROM THE VEHICLE’S BATTERY BEFORE INSTALLATION. Before you start with the installation of the sound system, disconnect by any means the ground supply wire from the battery, to avoid any risk of electric shock and short circuits.

10. CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE DEVICE. Look for an appropriate location for the device, which ensures a sufficient air circulation. The best places are spare wheel cavities, and open spaces in the trunk area. Less suitable are storage spaces behind the side coverings or under the car seats.

11. DO NOT INSTALL THE DEVICE AT LOCATIONS, WHERE IT WILL BE EXPOSED TO HIGH HUMIDITY AND DUST. Install the device at a location, where it will be protected from high humidity and dust. If humidity and dust attain inside the device, malfunctions may be caused.

12. MOUNT THE DEVICE AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE SOUND SYSTEM SUFFICIENTLY. Otherwise the device and components may get loose and act as dangerous objects, which could cause serious harm and damages in the passenger room.

13. ENSURE NOT TO DAMAGE COMPONENTS, WIRES AND CABLES OF THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU DRILL THE MOUNT-ING HOLES. If you drill the mounting holes for the installation into the vehicle’s chassis, ensure by any means, not to damage, block or tangent the fuel pipe, the gas tank, other wires or electrical cables.

14. ENSURE CORRECT CONNECTION OF ALL TERMINALS. Faulty connections may could cause fire hazard and lead to dam-ages of the device.

15. DO NOT INSTALL AUDIO CABLES AND POWER SUPPLY WIRES TOGETHER. Ensure while installation not to lead the audio cables between the head unit and the amplifier together with the power supply wires on the same side of the vehicle. The best is a areal separated installation in the left and right cable channel of the vehicle. Therewith a overlap of interferences on the audio signal will be avoided. This stands also for the equipped bass-remote wire, which should be installed not together with the power supply wires, but rather with the audio signal cables.

16. ENSURE THAT CABLES MAY NOT CAUGHT UP IN CLOSE-BY OBJECTS. Install all the wires and cables like described on the following pages, therewith these may not hinder the driver. Cables and wires which are installed close-by the steering wheel, gear lever or the brake pedal, may caught up and cause highly dangerous situations.

17. DO NOT SPLICE ELECTRICAL WIRES. The electrical wires should not be bared, to provide power supply to other devices. Otherwise, the load capacity of the wire may get overloaded. Use therefore a appropriate distribution block. Otherwise fire hazard and risk of electric shock consists.

18. DO NOT USE BOLTS AND SCREW NUTS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM AS GROUND POINT. Never use for the installation or the ground point bolts and screw-nuts of the brake system, steer-ing system or other security-relevant components. Otherwise fire hazard consists or the driving safety will be derogated.

19. ENSURE NOT TO BEND OR SQUEEZE CABLES AND WIRES BY SHARP OBJECTS. Do not install cables and wires not close-by movable objects like the seat rail or may be bent or harmed by sharp and barbed edges. If you lead a wire or cable through the hole in a metal sheet, protect the insulation with a rubber grommet.

20. KEEP AWAY SMALL PARTS AND JACKS FROM CHILDREN. If objects like these will be swallowed, the risk of serious injuries consists. Consult promptly a medical doctor, if a child swallowed a small object.

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL                                              QS-TWO

• Channels                                             2
• Circuit                                                Class D Digital

Output Power RMS 13,8 V

• Watts @ 4 Ohms                                2 x 52
• Watts @ 2 Ohms                                2 x 95
• Watts @ 4 Ohms mono bridged         1 x 190

Output Power max.13,8 V

• Watts @ 4 Ohms                               2 x 104
• Watts @ 2 Ohms                               2 x 190
• Watts @ 4 Ohms mono bridged        1 x 380
• Frequency Range –3dB                     10 Hz – 60 kHz
• Damping Factor                             > 140 dB
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio                      > 102 dB
• THD&N @ 5 W RMS                   < 0,007%
• Input Sensitivity                               5 – 0,2 V
• X-Over Modes                                  LP – HP – FULL
• Highpass Filter                                    fixed 80 Hz
• Lowpass Filter                                      fixed 80 Hz
• Start-Stop Capability                              7,5 V
• RCA Inputs / RCA Outputs              yes via harness
• High Level Inputs with EPS              yes via harness
• Auto Turn-On                                  yes (DC / Vox)
• Fullrange Outputs (RCA)                  stereo
• Remote In / Remote Out                yes
• Fuse Ratings                                20 A (external)
• Dimensions                                   85 x 35 x 90 mm

Technical specifications are subject to change! Errors are reserved!

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE
Before you start with the installation of the sound system, disconnect necessarily the GROUND connection wire from the battery to avoid any risk of electric shocks and short circuits.

Avoid any damages on the components of the vehicle like air bags, cables, board computer, seat belts, gas tank or the like.
Ensure that the chosen location provides a sufficient air circulation for the amplifier. Do not mount the device into small or sealed spaces without air circulation near by heat dispersing parts or electrical parts of the vehicle.
Do not mount the amplifier on top of a subwoofer box or any other vibrating parts, whereby parts could loosen inside. The wires of the power supply and the audio signal cables must be as short as possible to avoid losses and interferences.

1. At first you need to find a suitable installation loca-tion for the amplifier. Ensure that enough space for the installation of the cables remains and that they will not be bent and have sufficient pull relief.

2. Keep the amplifier at the chosen mounting location in the vehicle. Then mark the four drill holes with an appropriate pen or marking tool through the designated mounting holes at the amplifier.

3. Lay the amplifier aside and then drill the holes for the mounting screws at the marked locations.
   Please ensure not to damage any components of the vehicle while you drilling the holes. Alternatively (depends on the material of the surface) you can also use self-tapping screws.

4. Then uphold the amplifier to the chosen position and fix the screws through the mounting holes into the drilled screw holes.
   Ensure that the mounted amplifier is tightly fixed and can not come loose while driving.

ELECTRICAL INTERCONNECTION

1. +12V
   Connect the +12V terminal with the +12V pole of the vehicle’s battery. Use a suitable cable with a sufficient cross-section of at least 6 mm2.

2. REM IN/OUT
   Connect a turn-on signal (e.g. automatic antenna) or the turn-on remote signal of your head unit (REM) with the REM IN/OUT terminal of the amplifier. Use therefor a suitable cable with a sufficient cross-section (0,5 mm2). Hereby the amplifier turns on or off with your head unit.
   If you use the AUTO TURN-ON function, the REM IN/OUT terminal does not need to be connected. However, the REM IN/OUT terminal can then connected to the REM terminal of another amplifier to provide a control signal to it (REM OUT function).’

3. GND
   Connect the GND terminal with a suitable contact ground point on the vehicle’s chassis. The ground wire must be as short as possible and must be connected to a blank metallic point at the vehicle’s chassis. Ensure that this ground point has a stable and safe electric connection to the negative “–” pole of the battery. Check this ground wire from the battery to the ground point if possible and enforce it if required. Use a ground wire with a sufficient cross-section of at least 6 mm2 and the same size like the plus (+12V) power supply wire.

4. FUSE
   The amplifier inherently has no internal device fuse. Use the supplied fuse (20 A) with the fuse holder and install it in the power cable between the 12 Volt positive pole of the vehicle battery and the +12V terminal of the amplifier. The distance between the fuse and the amplifier should not exceed 30 cm.

5. ADDITIONAL CABLE FUSE (OPTIONAL)
   Install an extra fuse (20 A, not included) for the +12V power cable near the battery. The distance between the fuse and the battery should not exceed 30 cm.
   NOTE
   Replace defective fuses only with a new one of the same type and with the same fuse rating.
   FUNCTIONAL INSTRUCTIONS
   OPERATING ELEMENTS
   

6. If your head unit does not have a turn-on signal (REM), you can use the automatic turn-on function of the amplifier.
   This works in two ways, which can be set at the AUTO TURN-ON switch:
   VOX: The amplifier then detects a voltage increase in the incoming audio signal when switching on the head unit via the attached RCA cable and then switches on the amplifier. Recommended for the use with the pre-amplifier RCA outputs of the head unit.
   DC: The amplifier then detects a voltage rise to 6 volts when the head unit is turned on by a so-called “DC offset” and then turns on the amplifier. Recommended for the use with the speaker outputs of the head unit.
   Note: As soon as the head unit is switched off again, the amplifier switches itself off.
   The terminal for the amplifier turn-on (page 15, section 2, REM IN/OUT) can now be used to supply additional am-plifiers with a turn-on signal. Simply connect the REM terminals of the two amplifiers and make sure that the other amplifier is in “normal” turn-on mode, which means that the AUTO TURN ON function is disabled.

7. The X-OVER switch selects the desired operating mode:
   LP:
   Lowpass mode: fixed at 80 Hz, frequency is limited upwards.
   Use this switch position if you want to operate a subwoofer in mono mode.
   HP:
   Highpass mode: fixed at 80 Hz, frequency is limited downwards.
   Use this switch position if you want to operate small to medium-sized loudspeakers.
   FULL:
   Fullrange mode: the entire frequency range is amplified.
   Use this switch position if you want to operate medium to large speakers.

8. The LEVEL INPUT controller determines the input sensitivity of the amplifier to adapt to the output signal of the head unit.

   • Turn the LEVEL INPUT controller of the amplifier to the MIN position.
   • Turn the volume controller of the head unit to 80 – 90% of its full setting.
   • Turn the LEVEL INPUT controller clockwise until you hear some distortion.
   • Then turn back the LEVEL INPUT controller slightly until you hear a cleaner sound.
     NOTE
     Do not connect loudspeaker cables with the vehicle’s chassis. Always ensure the correct polarity of all connection.
     

9. Connect the INPUT RCA jacks of the included wire harness with the head unit by using appropriate audio signal cables and plug it into the INPUT / OUTPUT connector.
   
   If your head unit does not have RCA preamp outputs, you can use the amplifier’s high-level inputs as signal input. Simply connect the loudspeaker cables of the head unit to the enclosed wire harness as follows and plug it into into the INPUT / OUTPUT connector:
   
   The OUTPUT RCA jacks of both wire harnesses provide a linear full-range audio signal for driving additional amplifiers.

10. To connect the speaker cables, use the enclosed wire harness and plug it into the SPEAKER OUTPUT connector.. If  you want to operate a subwoofer in mono mode bridged with 4 ohms, use the L+ and R-connections.
    

11. If the POWER/PROTECT is blue, the amplifier is ready for operation. If the POWER/PROTECT  is red, there is a malfunction. Refer in this case to the section TROUBLESHOOTING.

TROUBLESHOOTING

NOTE
All instructions in this troubleshooting refer to the entire sound system and its individual components. The features of your device may not match the functions described in the notes. Then skip this point and move on to the next one.

NO FUNCTION / THE POWER LED IS NOT ILLUMINATED
First check the fuse of the routed power cable on the vehicle battery

The fuse is defective

Replace the defective fuse with an equivalent one, never with a higher value.

• The fuse fails again.
  In this case there appears to be a short circuit between the fuse and the amplifier. To do this, check the + 12V power cable along its entire length from the battery to the amplifier for damage and whether there is a short circuit to ground, e.g. a contact with the vehicle chassis or the body. If necessary, replace the defective power cable.

The fuse is apparently okay
Use a standard 12 volt voltmeter to check the voltage between the + 12V connection and the ground connection on the amplifier.

• There is no voltage.
  Use the voltmeter to check the fuse, which is located close to the vehicle battery, to see whether there is volt-age between the output and ground.
  If there is no voltage there, either the fuse holder or the fuse is defective, although it appears to be okay. If necessary, replace the fuse holder or fuse.

• There is voltage.
  If you operate the amplifier with a pre-amplifier signal (RCA), you must have laid a remote turn-on wire from the head unit to the REM terminal of the amplifier. The AUTO TURN-ON switch must be in the OFF position. However, you can test the AUTO TURN-ON switch to SIG. to see if the amplifier then turns on. If so, there is a problem with the control line..

  • A remote turn-on wire is connected to the REM terminal at the amplifier.
    Use the voltmeter to check whether there is voltage between the REM terminal of the amplifier and ground. The head unit must be switched on.
    There is no voltage.

  • Check the remote turn-on wire from the amplifier to the head unit for a short circuit or damage. If necessary, replace the control line..
    There is voltage.

  • The amplifier is probably malfunctioning or defective. Contact your retailer.
    If you operate the amplifier with the loudspeaker signals (high level mode), the AUTO TURN-ON switch must be switched to DC.

• The AUTO TURN-ON switch is in the DC position, but the amplifier remains off.
  Check the speaker cables from the head unit to the amplifier for short circuits or damage. If necessary, replace the speaker cables or insulate the damaged area.

THE POWER LED IS ON, BUT NO SOUND COMES FROM THE SPEAKERS

Check the following steps:

Low-level mode: Are the RCA cables on the head unit and on the amplifier correctly connected?

• The RCA cables are correctly connected.
  Then an RCA cable could be defective. Check the function of the RCA cables on another audio device. If necessary, replace the defective RCA cables.

High-level mode: Are the loudspeaker cables on the head unit and the high- level inputs of the amplifier or on the high-level cable plug correctly connected?

• The speaker cables are connected correctly.
  A speaker cable could be defective. If necessary, replace the speaker cable or insulate the damaged area.

Are the speaker cables correctly connected between the speakers or the subwoofer at the speaker outputs of the amplifier?

• The speaker cables are connected correctly.
  A speaker cable could be defective. If necessary, replace the speaker cable or insulate the damaged area.

Is the high pass filter or subsonic filter set higher than the low pass filter on the amplifier?
Then slowly turn down the controller for the high pass filter or subsonic filter until the sound can be heard.

Is the input mode switch on the amplifier set correctly?
Check the setting and change the switch position if necessary.

Are the crossover switches on the amplifier set correctly?
Check the settings and change the respective switch position if necessary.

Are the speakers or the subwoofer working?
Hold a standard 9 volt block battery to the terminals of each loudspeaker or the subwoofer.

• A faint cracking sound can be heard.
  The speaker or subwoofer is fine.

• There is nothing to be heard.
  The loudspeaker or subwoofer could be defective. If necessary, replace the defective speaker or subwoofer.

Are the settings on the head unit set correctly?

• Check the fader and balance settings
• Check whether the mute function is activated
• Check whether a high pass or low pass filter is activated
• Check whether playback has been paused
• Check the source settings
• Check whether any existing subwoofer output is activated

DISTORTION OR HISSING NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE SPEAKERS
Check the following steps:

Is a input level controller on the amplifier set too high?
Slowly turn the controller back until you hear a clean audio signal.

Is the Bass Boost controller on the amplifier set too high?
Slowly turn the controller back until you hear a clean audio signal.

Is the loudness function on the head unit set too high?
Deactivate loudness or turn the loudness setting back until you can hear a clean audio signal.

Are the EQ and sound settings on the head unit set too high?
Turn down the settings for Treble, Middle and Bass or deactivate the equalizer until you can hear a clean audio signal.

ENGINE SPEED DEPENDENT NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE SPEAKERS
Check the following steps:

Have the RCA cables been laid separately from the power cable in the vehicle?
If necessary, lay the cables again and make sure that the audio cables are laid separately from the power cable on the left and right in the vehicle.

Is the amplifier’s ground connection correctly connected?
Make sure that the ground connection of the amplifier is not connected directly to the negative pole of the vehicle battery. Select a suitable ground point on the vehicle body for connection. If necessary, use contact spray to improve the conductivity of the connections.

Is the conductivity of the ground cable from the vehicle battery to the body okay?
Make sure that the ground connection of the vehicle battery has a stable and conductive connection to the body. If necessary, use contact spray to improve the conductivity of the connections.

AN ACTIVE OPERATED TWEETER IS DISTORTED OR CRACKED

CAUTION: Tweeters will be damaged if the frequencies are too low. Please note the manufacturer’s information on which frequency setting is recommended. To be on the safe side, pause the playback of the head unit
first. Check the following steps:

Is the crossover mode switch of the relevant channel pair on the amplifier set correctly?
Set the crossover mode switch to the high pass position (HP or HPF).

Is the high pass filter of the relevant channel pair set too low on the amplifier?
First turn the high pass controller fully clockwise. Now start playback on the head unit. Then turn the high pass controller slowly counter-clockwise until you can hear a clean sound from the tweeters and produce a balanced sound together with the woofers/mid-range speakers. Make sure that the woofers/mid- range speakers are set correctly with the respective high pass and low pass controllers.

AMPLIFIER ACTIVATES THE PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT / THE PROTECT LED ILLUMINATES
Check the following steps:

Short circuit on the speaker cables

• First disconnect all speaker cables from the amplifier. Use a multimeter to check the ohmic impedance of each loudspeaker by measuring between its plus and minus lines. With standard loudspeakers the value fluctuates between 3 and 5 ohms. The values for low-resistance subwoofers can be lower.

  • The measurement shows a resistance value of less than 0.5 Ohms
    Then there is a short circuit. Remove the wiring of the affected loudspeaker at its connections. Now use the multimeter to check the ohmic impedance directly at the loudspeaker connections by measuring between the plus and minus connections.
    The measurement shows a resistance value of more than 0.5 Ohms

  • The speaker is fine, so the speaker wire appears to be defective and causing a short circuit. Replace the defective speaker cable.
    The measurement shows a resistance value of less than 0.5 Ohms

  • The speaker appears to be defective and is shorting out. Replace the defective speaker.
    The load impedance of the loudspeakers or the subwoofer is too low

• Compare the ohmic impedance of the connected loudspeaker or subwoofer with the technical specifications of the amplifier. For example, if the amplifier is only designed for 2 or 4 ohm operation, no loudspeaker with less than 2 ohms may be connected.

The cross-section of the power cables is too small

• If the cable cross-section is too small, this leads to an increased ohmic resistance and thus to a voltage drop (volt-age loss). This indicates that the amplifier consumes more power. The increased power consumption results in a significantly higher heat development and the amplifier switches to thermal protection mode. Therefore, observe the recommended cable cross-sections in these instructions and, if necessary, lay power cables with a larger cable cross-section.

The amplifier is overheated

• The heat sink of each amplifier requires sufficient air circulation to be able to dissipate the heat generated during operation. If necessary, change the installation position in favor of better cooling of the amplifier or ensure better air circulation at the installation location.
• Turn off the sound system and wait about half an hour for the amplifier to cool down again. With very hot outside temperatures and strong sunlight, enormous heat develops inside the vehicle. The amplifier then activates its thermal protection circuit to prevent damage. After cooling down, the amplifier works properly again.
  NOTE
  All instructions in this troubleshooting refer to the entire sound system and its individual components. The features of your device may not match the functions described in the notes. Then skip this point and move on to the next one.

Audio Design GmbH
Am Breilingsweg 3 · D-76709 Kronau/Germany
Tel. +49 7253 – 9465-0 · Fax +49 7253 – 946510
www.esxaudio.de · www.audiodesign.de
© Audio Design GmbH, all rights reserved. Technical changes and mistakes reserved.

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