RUBICON 501/ Power Amplifier Owner’s Manual and Installation Guide 1
Congratulations! You now own the Soundstream RUBICON amplifier, the product of an uncompromising design and engineering philosophy. Your Soundstream RUBICON amplifier will outperform any other amplifier in the world. To maximize the performance of your system, we recommend that you thoroughly acquaint yourself with its capabilities and features. Please retain this manual and your sales receipt for future reference.
Table of Contents Design Features ............................................................. p 4 - 5 Rubicon Amplifier Diagram ............................................. p 6 - 7 Crossover and Phase Adjustments ................................ p 8 Hawkins Bass Control™ Theory and Use ...................... p 9 - 10 Installation: Wiring, Diagram, and BIO Port .................... p 11 - 12 Installation: Mounting .....................................................
DESIGN FEATURES ¨¨ SLA/SH™ ( Speaker Load Adapting / Subwoofer Hyper-Efficient) This new dual function technology currently operates in two different ways in different models. In subwoofer applications the power supply tracks the incoming audio signal and increases or decreases its own voltage level to mirror the input. This design results in enormous low impedance, low frequency stability and maximum efficiency, since no power is wasted maintaining an unnecessarily high voltage level in the power supply.
¨ Output Clipping Indicator indicates clipping on the output stage of the amplifier. Monitoring the clipping indicators allows the user to achieve maximum Sound Pressure Level without clipping the amplifier. ¨ Dynamically Optimized Power Grid™ Power grid is evenly distributed between primary and secondary power supplies, providing greater dynamics and improved RF filtering.
FUSES 1 SOUNDSTREAM GND - + f-----l REMOTE 2 +12v LP XaOVER dB HAWKINS 1 FREQ BOOST r l SUB _ HAWKINS BASS CONTROL SONIC Iv LEVEL PHASE 00~1800 i 1 INPUT 0 Sol/ IN 810 PORT -R 0 I I +l CUP
KEY TO CALLOUTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Power LED - Indicates amplifier power, either in High Power or Auto High Current. Clip Indicators - Indicates the signal output level is too high and the output stage of the amplifier is clipping. Phase Selector - Select between 0 or 180 degrees of output on speaker terminals. Subsonic/Hawkins Bass Control Switch - Selectable subwoofer enhancement circuit. Select “SUB SONIC” to engage the Sub Sonic filter with no boost.
CROSSOVER & PHASE ADJUSTMENTS The RUBICON amplifiers incorporate an on-board staggered electronic crossover. No external electronic crossover is necessary. The low pass portion of the crossover can be set independently of the rest of the system. In many car audio installations, there is a tendency for a “midbass boom.” Because of their interior dimensions, most cars will resonate or ring at these midbass frequencies.
Hawkins Bass Control - Theory and Use SUB . HAWKINS SONIC BASS CONTROL PHASE CP*1800 HAWKINS 1 FREQ BOOST r X*OVER LP HZ HAWKINS 30-70 Hz 4 SUBSONIC 1 J-30 Hz Hawkins Bass Control (parametric) is a unique subwoofer control circuit included with the Soundstream RUBICON501/ amplifier. It is capable of removing subsonic energy in program material while boosting subwoofer frequencies. The circuit consists of two controls. One adjusts the frequency of operation and the other adjusts the range of boost.
Application Subwoofer drivers in general have excellent power handling characteristics over their operational bandwidth. This bandwidth is determined by many factors, including driver design, and enclosure type. It is possible to overdrive any subwoofer FIG. 5 LIMITED EXCURSION driver by sending powerful signals outside of its operational bandwidth. These potentially damaging signals can be removed by adding a subsonic filter.
( INSTALLATION STEP 1 WIRING POWER AND GROUND To ensure maximum output from your RUBICON amplifier, use high quality, lowloss power and ground cables and connections. The RUBICON amplifiers will accept up to 4 gauge power and ground cables. Determine from the chart below the minimum gauge power and ground wire for your application.
REMOTE TURN-ON Connect the “Remote” line to the turn-on lead from the source unit. When +I2 Volts is received, the amplifier will turn on. SIGNAL CABLE Use a high quality cable that will be easy to install and has minimal signal loss to guarantee optimum performance. SPEAKER CABLE The RUBICON amplifiers will accept up to 8 gauge speaker cable. Use a high quality, flexible, multi-strand cable for best performance and longevity.
INSTALLATION STEP 2 INSTALLATION AND MOUNTING AMPLIFIER LOCATION The RUBICON amplifiers employ highly efficient circuitry, a custom-engineered heat sink, and a unique Chassisink construction to maintain lower operating temperatures. Additional cooling may be required if the amplifier is located in a tightly confined area or when driving especially low impedance loads at extremely high levels.
INSTALLATION STEP 3 LEVEL SETTING The input level is adjusted by means of the input level control located on the front of the amplifier. This is a unique dual-stage circuit that adjusts both level and gain. This topology maintains better S/N Ratio even when using sources with minimal output. In the ideal situation, all components in the audio system reach maximum undistorted output at the same time. If you send a distorted signal to an amplifier, it is simply going to amplify distorted information.
TRIDENT PROTECTION CIRCUITRY Your Rubicon amplifier is protected against both overheating and short circuits by means of main power fuses and the following circuits: + Speaker Output Protection + Ground Fault Differential + Smart Power Supply Thermal Rollback & a Thermal Protection Circuit NOTE: If you experience blown main power supply fuses, if is like$ that the amplifier is seeing a dead short, either in the speaker wire or in the speaker itself.
SERVICE Your Soundstream RUBICON amplifier is protected by a limited warranty. Please read the enclosed warranty card for details. SPECIFICATIONS 1 SZMono 4SZMono 2MMono (4 CI BIO Bridged) (2 a BIO Bridged) (1 C2 BIO Bridged) (12.6 Vdc) (14.4 Vdc) (14.4 Vdc) POWER I 5011 I 2ooWxl (800W x 1) THD Signal to Noise Frequency Response Damping Input Sensitivity Input Impedance 4oow x 1 5oow x 1 (1ooowx1) W) Maximum Rated Output 500 wtts co. 1% >90 dB 20 Hz k 0.5 dB to 160 Hz 2 3 dB >200 200 mV to 5.
