ESX VMA700.4 4 Channel Class D Marine Amplifier Owner’s Manual

ESX VMA700.4 4 Channel Class D Marine Amplifier

Specifications

• Model : VMA700.4
• Type : 4-Channel Class D Marine Amplifier
• Frequency Response : 10 – 32000 Hz
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > 50 dB
• Dynamic Range: > 98 dB
• Total Harmonic Distortion : < 0.029%
• Input Sensitivity: 0.4 – 5.6 V

Product Usage Instructions

Mechanical Installation
Ensure proper mounting as per the instructions provided.

Electrical Installation
Before connecting, ensure the following steps:

1. Connect the +12V, REM, and GND terminals properly.
2. For bridged connections, follow the wiring diagram provided.
3. Ensure a minimum 60 A fuse is used for protection.

Fuse Selection Guidelines

Safety Value in Ampere| 0 – 20| 20 – 35| 35 – 50| 50 – 65| 65 – 85| 85 – 105| 105 – 125
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Minimum Cable Cross-Section in mm²| 1.2| 2.5| 4| 6| 10| 16| 20

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

• THE PURCHASED DEVICE IS ONLY SUITABLE FOR AN OPERATION WITH A 12V ON-BOARD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF A WA-TERCRAFT. Otherwise fire hazard, risk of injury and electric shock consists.
• 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.
• 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 cogni-tion 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.
• DO NOT COVER COOLING VENTS AND HEAT SINKS. Otherwise this may cause heat accumulation in the device and fire hazard consists.
• 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 hazard and risk of electric shock consists.
• DO NOT USE THE DEVICE ANY LONGER, IF A MALFUNCTION OCCURS, WHICH REMAINS NOT REMEDIED. Refer in this case to the chapter TROUBLE SHOOTING. Otherwise risk of injury and the damage of the device consists. Commit the device to an authorized retailer.
• INTERCONNECTION AND INSTALLATION SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY SKILLED STAFF ONLY. The interconnection and instal-lation of this device demands technical aptitude and experience. For your own safeness, commit the interconnection and installation to your car audio retailer, where you have purchased the device.
• 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.
• ENSURE CORRECT CONNECTION OF ALL TERMINALS. Faulty connections may could cause fire hazard and lead to damages of the device.
• 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.
• ENSURE NOT TO DAMAGE COMPONENTS, WIRES AND CABLES OF THE WATERCRAFT WHEN YOU DRILL THE MOUNTING HOLES. If you drill the mounting holes for the installation into the body, ensure by any means, not to damage, block or tangent the fuel pipe, the gas tank, other wires or electrical cables.
• 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.
• 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 therefor a appropriate distribution block. Otherwise fire hazard and risk of electric shock consists.
• 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, steering system or other security-relevant components. Otherwise fire hazard consists or the driving safety will be derogated.
• ENSURE NOT TO BEND OR SQUEEZE CABLES AND WIRES BY SHARP OBJECTS. Do not install cables and wires not close-by mov-able 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.
• 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.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

OUTPUT POWER RMS @ 14.4 V

Watts @ 4 Ohms Watts @ 2 Ohms

Watts @ 4 Ohms bridged

| ****

4 x 115

4 x 175

2 x 350

Frequency Range –3dB| 10 – 32000 Hz
Damping Factor| > 50 dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio| > 98 dB
THD+N| < 0,029 %
Input Sensitivity| 0,4 – 5,6 V
FRONT

Crossover modes Crossover frequency

| ****

Full – HP – LP 50 – 500 Hz

REAR

Crossover modes Crossover frequency

| ****

Full – HP – LP/BP 50 – 500 Hz

RCA pre-amplifer inputs| 4 (via cable connector)
Auto Turn- on| yes
Protection class| IP67
Fuse| 1 x 60 A (external, included)
Dimensions| 109 x 51 x 248 mm

INTENDED USE OF THE DEVICE
This product is intended for use in a 12 volt, negative ground watercraft only and acts as an audio signal ampli-fier. Any other use may lead to damage to the product or the product‘s surroundings. The device is protected against powerful water jets (protection class IPX67).

MECHANICAL INSTALLATION

• Avoid any damages on the components of the watercraft’s cables, pipes, tanks or the like.
• Ensure that the chosen location provides a sufficient air circulation for the amplifier. Do not mount the device into small sealed spaces without air circulation or near by heat dispersing parts or electrical parts of the watercraft.
• All cables must be as short as possible to avoid losses and interferences.
• To install the amplifier in the watercraft, use self-tapping screws (not included).

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

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION

BEFORE CONNECTING
For the professional installation of a sound system, car audio retail stores offers appropriate wiring kits. Ensure a sufficient profile section (refer to the table on the next page) and a suitable fuse rating and the conductivity of the cables when you purchase your wiring kit. Clean and remove rust-streaked and oxidized areas on the contact points of the battery and the ground connection. Make sure that all screws are fixed tight after the instal-lation, because loose connections cause malfunctions, insufficient power supply or interferences.

• 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 (refer to the table and the recommendations on the next page) and the same size like the +12V power supply wire.

• REM
  Connect a turn-on signal 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 terminal does not need to be connected.

• +12V
  Connect the +12V terminal with the +12V pole of the vehicle’s battery. Use a suitable cable with a sufficient cross-section (refer to the table and the recommendations on the next page).

• DEVICE FUSE
  Due to it’s construction, the amplifier does not have an internal device fuse. Therefore, use the included fuse (60 A) and holder and install it in the power cable near the 12 volt connection of the amplifier. The distance between the fuse and the amplifier should not be more than 30 cm. Please make sure that the fuse and holder are adequately protected against splash water and the ingress of water.

• ADDITIONAL CABLE FUSE (NOT INCLUDED)
  Install an extra fuse (min. 60 A) for the +12V power cable near the battery to secure the power cable. The distance between the fuse and the battery should not exceed 30 cm. The fuse size must be adapted to the cable cross-section of the installed power cable (see table below).

Note : The fuse on the battery does not protect the amplifier, but the cable between the battery and the amplifier against short circuits.

| Cable length in meters
---|---
0 – 1,2| 1,2 – 2,1| 2,1 – 3,1| 3,1 – 4,0| 4,0 – 4,9| 4,9 – 5,8| 5,8 – 6,7| 6,7 – 8,5
Fuse value in Amperes| 0 – 20| 2,5| 4| 4| 6| 6| 10| 10| 10
20 – 35| 4| 6| 10| 10| 16| 16| 16| 20
35 – 50| 6| 10| 10| 16| 16| 20| 20| 20
50 – 65| 10| 10| 16| 20| 20| 20| 20| 35
65 – 85| 16| 16| 20| 20| 35| 35| 35| 50
85 – 105| 16| 16| 20| 35| 35| 35| 35| 50
105 – 125| 20| 20| 20| 35| 35| 50| 50| 50
| Minimum cable cross-section in mm 2

Recommended minimum cable cross-section to guarantee full amplifier performance:

• Up to a length of 3 m: 16 mm2
• From a length of 3 m: 20 mm2

CAUTION: Only replace defective fuses with new ones that are of the same type and have the same fuse rating.

AUDIO CONNECTIONS

FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION

Note : To get to the controls, you have to unscrew the protective cover over it. Be sure to reattach them after you have made the settings.

• With the FREQUENCY controllers you determine the crossover frequency of the crossover on channel pair FRONT (FR/FL) or REAR (RR/RL). With the crossover frequency, you can determine when frequency range of the audio signal is limited downwards (HP – highpass mode) or upwards (LP – lowpass mode). The controller range is between 50 and 500 Hz.

• With the X-OVER MODE switches you can determine the desired operating mode on channel pair FRONT (FR/FL) or REAR (RR/RL):

• FULL: Bypass mode – Full-range signal, the crossovers are completely bypassed

• HP: Highpass mode – Frequency is limited downwards, adjustable by the controller FREQUENCY

• LP: Lowpass mode – Frequency is limited upwards, adjustable by the controller FREQUENCY

• Use the two INPUT LEVEL controllers to determine the input sensitivity on channel pair FRONT (FR/FL) or REAR (RR/RL). This allows you to adapt the input signal of the head unit to the output signal of the amplifier. The controller range is between 0,4 – 5,6 V.
  Note: Always use the controller with caution. Continuously loud or distorted audio signals could damage your speakers.

• If you only use the FR and FL inputs on the RCA sockets of the INPUT cable connector, set the INPUT MODE 9 switch to the 2CH position. If you use all inputs, set the switch to the 4CH position.

• If your head unit does not have a turn-on line (REM), you can use the automatic turn-on function. Then set the AUTO TURN-ON switch to the ON position. This will cause the amplifier to detect an incoming audio signal when the head unit is turned on and the amplifier turn itself on. As soon as the control unit is turned off again, the amplifier turn itself off.

• Connect the RCA pre-amplifier outputs of the head unit to the RCA sockets of the cable connector INPUT accordingly.

• If the POWER PROTECT LED lights up blue, the amplifier is ready for operation. If the LED lights up red, there is a malfunction. Then refer to the TROUBLESHOOTING section.

APPLICATION EXAMPLES

TROUBLESHOOTING

ATTENTION : All instructions in this troubleshooting refer to the entire sound system and its individual com-ponents. 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 voltage 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 cables 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 am- plifier 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 play- back 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 measur- ing 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 speci- fications 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 volt- age drop (voltage 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 gener- ated 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.

ATTENTION : All instructions in this troubleshooting refer to the entire sound system and its individual com-ponents. 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.

DISPOSAL
Electrical and electronic devices – Information for private households
The Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) contains a large number of requirements for handling electrical and electronic equipment. The most important requirements are summarized here.

1. Separate collection of old devices
   Electrical and electronic equipment that has become waste is referred to as waste equipment. Owners of old devices must collect them separately from unsorted municipal waste. In particular, old devices do not belong in household waste, but in special collection and return systems.

2. Batteries and accumulators as well as lamps
   Owners of old devices must usually separate old batteries and accumulators that are not enclosed by the old device, as well as lamps that can be removed from the old device without destroying them, before handing them in at a collection point. This does not apply if old devices are prepared for reuse with the participation of a public waste disposal authority.

3. Possibilities of returning old devices
   Owners of old devices from private households can hand them in free of charge to the collection points of the public waste disposal authorities or to the take-back points set up by manufacturers or distributors within the meaning of the ElektroG.
   Shops with a sales area of at least 400 m² for electrical and electronic equipment and those grocery stores with a total sales area of at least 800 m² that offer electrical and electronic equipment several times a year or permanently and make it available on the market are subject to the obligation to take back. This also applies to sales using long-distance means of communication if the storage and shipping areas for electrical and elec-tronic equipment are at least 400 m² or the total storage and shipping areas are at least 800 m². In principle, distributors must ensure that they are taken back by providing suitable return options at a reasonable distance from the respective end user.
   The possibility of returning an old device free of charge exists in the case of distributors who are obliged to take it back, among other things, if a new device of the same type that essentially fulfills the same functions is handed over to an end user. If a new device is delivered to a private household, the old device of the same type can also be handed over there for collection free of charge; This applies to sales using means of distance communication for devices in categories 1, 2 or 4 in accordance with Section 2 (1) ElektroG, namely “heat ex-changers”, “display screen devices” or “large devices” (the latter with at least one external dimension of more than 50 centimeters). End users are asked about a corresponding return intention when concluding a purchase contract. There is also the option of returning old devices that are no larger than 25 centimeters in any external dimension to the distributors’ collection points free of charge, regardless of the purchase of a new device, lim-ited to three old devices per type of device.

4. Privacy Notice
   Old devices often contain sensitive personal data. This applies in particular to information and telecommunica-tions technology devices such as computers and smartphones. In your own interest, please note that each end user is responsible for deleting the data on the old devices to be disposed of.

5. Meaning of the “crossed-out” wheeled bin symbol
   The symbol of a crossed-out garbage can, which is regularly shown on electrical and electronic devices, indi-cates that the device in question must be collected separately from unsorted municipal waste at the end of its service life.

Manufacturer information according to § 18 paragraph 4 ElektroG (new)

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, errors and mistakes reserved.

FAQ

Q: What is the purpose of the FREQUENCY controls?
A: The FREQUENCY controls determine the crossover frequency for the FRONT or REAR channels, allowing you to set the point at which the audio signal’s frequency range is limited either downwards (HP – High Pass mode) or upwards (LP – Low Pass mode). The adjustable range is between 50 and 500 Hz.

Q: How do I select between FULL and HP modes?
A: Use the switch to select between FULL mode (bypass) and HP mode (High Pass), where the frequency is limited downwards. Adjust the frequency using the FREQUENCY knob.

Q: What are some application examples for this amplifier?
A: You can use HP or FULL modes in conjunction with the 4CH OFF setting for various audio setups.

References

• Audio Design - The Home Of Car Audio, Navigation And More ...
• ESX - Car Audio Systems

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