Focal FPD 900.1 User manual

1
POWER PER CHANNEL:
• 1 X 500W into 4 ohm
• 1 X 850W into 2 ohm
• 1 X 500W into 1 ohm
• Two amplifiers can be Bridged 1 X 1700W into 4 Ohm
• Two amplifiers can be Bridged 1 X 1000W into 2 Ohm
INPUT/OUTPUT CONFIGURATIONS
Because this is a one channel amplifier, if both left and right inputs are used, they are mixed to mono, which is useful
for subwoofers.
CROSSOVER CONFIGURATION
The 24 dB per octave crossover can be adjusted so this amplifier can function as:
1. Full range
2. Low Pass for a subwoofer.
3. Band Pass for a subwoofer or midbass of a 3 way speaker.
4. High Pass for a midbass, midrange or tweeter.
• The amplifier can be used full range with switch in HP position and frequency set to 10 Hz.
HP is always on so it can be used as a subsonic filter.
HP X1 frequency range is 10 Hz to 400 Hz.
HP X10 frequency range is 100 Hz to 4000 Hz.
LP: Adjustment range is 30 Hz to 350 Hz.
Band Pass with switch in LP position and adjusting both HP and LP to desired frequency.
• The remote volume control is always active.
There is a clip distortion light on the remote volume control.
If you see this light on, reduce volume until the light goes out so that you do not damage your speaker.
• Phase is continuously adjustable between 0 degrees and 180 degrees. Adjust by measuring frequency response
at the crossover frequency. Frequency response should be as smooth as possible.
• 40 Hz EQ is adjustable between 0dB and +6dB.
Measure the subwoofer frequency response and adjust EQ to get the smoothest frequency response.
Avoid excess EQ boost because this will make the subwoofer sound “muddy” and cause the amplifier have clip
distortion prematurely.
AUTOMATIC POWER TURN ON/OFF
1. The best way to automatically turn the amplifier power on and off is to use the REM wire from your source radio
connected to the REM amplifier terminal.
2. If your original equipment stereo or source radio has a BTL amplifier then the RCA inputs have an auto turn
FPD 900.1 : ONE CHANNEL AMPLIFIER
Operation / Configuration

2
on sensing circuit. When you connect the high level BTL speaker wires to the RCA input the REM wire is not
necessary.
RCA INPUT, BOTH LOW LEVEL AND HIGH LEVEL.
The amplifier LEVEL control has sufficient adjustment range for both low level and high level input into the RCA
jacks. A factory source radio that does not have RCA output, using the wires that are connected to the speakers, can be
directly connected to the RCA jacks when the amplifier LEVEL control is adjusted to 8V.
SETTING LEVEL
• Set the amplifier LEVEL control to minimum before you turn on the amplifier for the first time.
• For lowest distortion and lowest noise the amplifier LEVEL should be set at the lowest setting that yields
sufficient loudness without distortion. For lowest noise your source radio volume control should be near
maximum that does not cause distortion.
• To find the best amplifier LEVEL setting:
With the amplifier LEVEL at minimum, slowly increase the source radio volume to around 3/4 without distortion.
Then, slowly turn up the amplifier LEVEL control to the maximum desired loudness. Listen very carefully and
turn down the amplifier LEVEL control if you hear any distortion.
SETTING SUBWOOFER HIGH PASS SUBSONIC FILTER:
• A subwoofer should have a high pass filter often called a subsonic filter. The purpose of a subsonic filter is to
limit very low frequencies that your subwoofer can not play loud enough without damage. Removing subsonic
frequencies can allow your subwoofer to play louder.
• For a sealed box the high pass is typically set between 10 Hz and 30 Hz to increase power handling capacity.
• For a vented box the high pass filter must be set 5 Hz lower than the port tune frequency to prevent woofer
damage.

3
ONE AMPLIFIER IN HP, LP OR BP MODE:
40 350
60
85
150
240
300
10 400
15
22
50
115
200
0180 0+6dB 8v 0.2v
HP LP x10 x1 D+BATT
GND REM
IN
R
LP PHASE EQ HP
RANGE
LEVEL SUB
CONTROL
+
+L
OUT
40Hz I
R
E
C
T
M
A
S
T
E
R
RADIO CROSSOVER
HP 50Hz MASTERx1
WOOFER
A1
TWEETER
40 350
60
85
150
240
300
10 400
15
22
50
115
200
0180 0+6dB 8v 0.2v
HP LP x10 x1 D+BATT
GND REM
IN
R
LP PHASE EQ HP
RANGE
LEVEL SUB
CONTROL
+
+L
OUT
40Hz I
R
E
C
T
M
A
S
T
E
R
+–
RADIO
REMOTE SUB CONTROL
LP 20Hz50Hz MASTERx1 SUBWOOFER
A2

4
TWO AMPLIFIERS IN BRIDGED MODE:
TWO FPD 900.1 amplifiers are required.
Amplifier #1 will have “MASTER” switch selected.
Amplifier #2 will have “DIRECT” switch selected.
Crossover and level controls will only function on MASTER amplifier #1.
By selecting “DIRECT” on amplifier #2 all crossover and level controls are bypassed and the LEFT input channel must
be used.
Master Amplifier #1 will receive the source signal on left and right channels.
Master Amplifier #1 RCA “out -” will connect to
direct amplifier #2 RCA “L IN”.
The LEFT input channel must be used.
The (speaker +) will connect to Amplifier #1 (+ speaker).
The (speaker -) will connect to Amplifier #2 (+ speaker).
The (speaker -) on Amplifier #1 will connect to (speaker -) on Amplifier #2.
40 350
60
85
150
240
300
10 400
15
22
50
115
200
0180 0+6dB 8v 0.2v
HP LP x10 x1 D+BATT
GND REM
IN
R
LP PHASE EQ HP
RANGE
LEVEL SUB
CONTROL
+
+L
OUT
40Hz I
R
E
C
T
M
A
S
T
E
R
RADIO
REMOTE SUB CONTROL
LP 20Hz50Hz MASTER
DIRECT
x1
40 350
60
85
150
240
300
10 400
15
22
50
115
200
0180 0+6dB 8v 0.2v
HP LP x10 x1 D+BATT
GND REM
IN
R
LP PHASE EQ HP
RANGE
LEVEL SUB
CONTROL
+
+L
OUT
40Hz I
R
E
C
T
M
A
S
T
E
R
SUBWOOFER
+
–
A3 (2 AMPS BRIDGED)

5
MULTIPLE AMPLIFIERS IN PARALLEL CASCADE MODE:
TWO or more FPD 900.1 amplifiers are required.
• Use this mode when you have several speakers that will use the same crossover and loudness setting and will
have one amplifier on each speaker.
• One example is a dual voice coil subwoofer and you use one amplifier on each voice coil.
• A second example is you have several subwoofers and will use one amplifier on each subwoofer.
Amplifier #1 will have “MASTER” switch selected.
Amplifier #2,3,4.... will have “DIRECT” switch selected.
Crossover and level controls will only function on amplifier #1.
By selecting “DIRECT” on amplifier #2,3,4.... all crossover and level controls are bypassed and the LEFT input channel
must be used.
Master Amplifier #1 will receive the source signal on left and right channel.
Master Amplifier #1 RCA “out +” will connect to
direct amplifier #2,3,4.... RCA “L IN”.
The LEFT input channel must be used.
One speaker + & - will connect to one Amplifier’s + & -.
40 350
60
85
150
240
300
10 400
15
22
50
115
200
0180 0+6dB 8v 0.2v
HP LP x10 x1 D+BATT
GND REM
IN
R
LP PHASE EQ HP
RANGE
LEVEL SUB
CONTROL
+
+L
OUT
40Hz I
R
E
C
T
M
A
S
T
E
R
RADIO
REMOTE SUB CONTROL
LP 20Hz50Hz MASTER
DIRECT
x1
40 350
60
85
150
240
300
10 400
15
22
50
115
200
0180 0+6dB 8v 0.2v
HP LP x10 x1 D+BATT
GND REM
IN
R
LP PHASE EQ HP
RANGE
LEVEL SUB
CONTROL
+
+L
OUT
40Hz I
R
E
C
T
M
A
S
T
E
R
DUAL VOICE COIL
SUBWOOFER
A4 (2 AMPS PARALLEL)
+
–
+
–

6
TROUBLESHOOTING:
> FOCAL SIGN DOES NOT LIGHT
1. Measure the voltage at the amplifier power terminal.
It should be between 12 and 15 volts.
2. Measure the voltage at the amplifier REM terminal.
It should be between 12 and 15 volts.
3. If you are using BTL high level for automatic turn on, try connecting a REM wire.
4. Check your power and ground connections to be correct polarity + and - and they are tight.
5. Check battery connections.
6. Check the fuse in the REM wire.
7. Check fuse at battery.
8. Check fuse inside amplifier.
The fuse is inside the right end cap beside the power terminals.
The recommended ATC fuse size is two 25 amp.
> FOCAL SIGN IS FLASHING
1. Is the amp very hot?
Wait a few minutes for it to cool down.
You need to get more fresh cool air to the amplifier.
Do not cover the amplifier or mount it flush into a hole.
2. If the amp is cold and the Focal sign is flashing, there is an internal fault. The amplifier must then be returned
for service.
> NO SOUND
1. Is the Focal sign light off or flashing?
2. Is the source radio on and is there a sound signal coming from the source radio?
3. Use an ohm meter and measure the speaker wires for short circuit.
4. Check connections for small “wire whisker” that may be shorting between amplifier terminals or speaker
terminals.
5. Use an ohm meter and measure the speaker for short circuit.
6. Double check your connections to the source radio.
7. Are you using the correct source radio wires and are they plugged into the correct amplifier RCA?
8. Double check your connections to the speakers and speaker crossovers.
9. Check that all amplifier switches are in the correct positions for your speaker set up.
> AMPLIFIER BLOWS FUSE WHEN YOU TURN IT ON.
1. Power and ground may be reversed.
Check + and - polarity at amplifier and at battery.
> SUBWOOFER REMOTE VOLUME CONTROL DOES NOT FUNCTION.
1. Check that Remote Volume Control wire is plugged into the amplifier securely.
2. The Remote Volume Control will not function if the amp switch is “DIRECT”. The switch must be in “MASTER”.

7
> SUBWOOFER REMOTE VOLUME CONTROL LED LIGHT.
1. While playing music the LED light should be Green.
Occasional red LED light flash indicates that the amplifier has reached maximum loudness.
2. If the red LED light flashes with the beat of the music,
TURN DOWN THE VOLUME before you damage your speaker.
3. If the red LED light is on continuous,
TURN DOWN THE VOLUME before you damage your speaker.