Harman JBL Apex PA454 User manual

JBL Apex powersports
PA454 / PA1254 / PA1502
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OWNER'S MANUAL
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by HARMAN

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURCHASE ...
Your product has been designed to provide you the performance
and ease of operation you expect from JBL. Take time to read this
manual before operating or installing your amplifier. This manual
describes general installation guidelines and operation instructions.
Please note that proper installation of mobile audio components
requires qualified experience with mechanical and electrical
procedures. If you do not have the knowledge and tools to perform
this installation. we strongly recommend consulting an authorized
JBL dealer aboutyour installation options.

JBL APEX
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURCHASE ...
1
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
3
INSTALLATION AND WIRING 4
POWER AND GROUND CONNECTIONS 4
Power/Protect indicators 5
SIGNAL INPUT 5
SPEAKER OUTPUT CONNECTIONS 6
SETTING THE SOUND
11
Setting the input level
11
Crossover filters
11
SPECIFICATIONS
13
TROUBLESHOOTING
15
2

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.., HARMAN
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
, e,x
---
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02X
0 amplifier
@ tie wraps
6) spare fuse
01X
@4X
~ 4X
81X
0 Stainless steel mounting hardware
0 high-level input adapters
0 JBL stickers
@ owner's manual
3
~
(PA 1502 -2X)

JBLAPEX
INSTALLATION AND WIRING
IMPORTANT : Disconnect the vehicle's negative (-) battery
terminal before beginning the installation.
• Wear protective eyewear when using tools.
• Choose a safe mounting location. Check clearances on both sides
of the location. Be sure that screws will not puncture brake or fuel
lines orwiring harnesses, and that wire routing will not interfere with
vehicle operation. Use caution when drilling or cutting.
• When making electrical connections, make sure they are secure
and properly insulated.
• Do not mount the amplifier with the heat sink facing downward, as
this interferes with cooling.
• Using the amplifier as a template, mark the locations of the holes
on the mounting surface.
• Drill pilot holes in the mounting surface.
• Attach the amplifier to the mounting surface with sheet metal
screws (not included).
, ,
I I
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POWER AND GROUND CONNECTIONS
• Power: Connect the +12V power wire to the positive terminal
of the vehicle's battery. Make sure the fuse and fuse holder are
within 18" (457mm) of the battery.
• Ground: Connect the GND wire to the negative terminal of the
vehicle's battery, or to the vehicle's chassis nearthe battery with
a screw. NOTE: If possible, remove any paint from the chassis for
best contact. It's recommended to use a star washer below the
ring connector for a secure connection.
• Remote: Connect the remote turn-on wire to the "Remote Out"
lead of the source unit, if using low-level signal inputs with an
aftermarket stereo.NOTE: Ifyou're using high-level signal inputs
(your vehicle's speakerwires}, the Apex amplifier's 12-volt DC
offset feature will turn the amplifier on when it senses audio signal.
In this case, you will not have to connectthe remote turn-on wire
and can tape or cap it off to prevent the introduction of noise. 4

Ill .
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Power/Protect indicators
The power light will illuminate in green when the amplifier is getting
power and playing. The light will illuminate in red if the amp enters
protect mode in the event of conditions such as over/under voltage,
short circuit. amplifier output circuit failure, or excessive heat.
POWIR
0
PROTfCOON
0
Remote turn-on(to stereo)
Fuse holder
Chassis ground
() ~-~
SIGNAL INPUT
• Line-level inputs: Ifyour source unit offers preamp outputs.
connect to the amplifier's L and Rpreamp inputs using RCA patch
cables.
• High-level inputs: Ifyour audio system's source unit does not
have line-level outputs, use the supplied high-level input adapters
to connect to eitherthe front or the rear speaker output wires of
your source unit. Use solder, butt connectors. or your preferred
splicing method. The 12 volt DC offset feature will turn the
amplifier on when it senses signal
• Input level selection: Ifyou're sending signal to the amplifier
using low-level outputs from your source unit, slide the input level
selector to "LO" Ifusing high-level outputs from your source unit.
slide the selector to "HI."
5
INPUT
LEVEL
111111111
HI LO

JBLAPEX
SPEAKER OUTPUT CONNECTIONS
Connectyour speakers to the amplifier's speaker output wires.
observing proper polarity: connect each amplifier's positive (+) lead
to the appropriate positive (+) speaker terminal. and negative (-) lead
to the appropriate negative(-) speaker terminal. NOTE: Speaker-wire
extensions might be necessary.
• PA454 4-channel operation: Connect the front left speaker leads
(white and white/black) to the front left speaker's + and -terminals.
and the front right speaker leads (gray and gray/black) to the
front right speaker's + and -terminals. Next. connect the rear left
speaker leads (green and green/black) to the rear left speaker's +
and -terminals. and the rear right speaker leads (violet and violeV
black) to the rear right speaker's + and -terminals.
INPUT PA454
LEVEL
FRONT
REAR
□
LEVEL
LEVEL
@ @
HI
LO
0
MIN MAX MIN MAX
0
FRONT -HPF
EAR- HPF
I II
OFF 60 80 120
Rear r gnt (v1oleVblack)
Fron1 left -1wh1te/black) Rear right+ (v,oiet)
Front right+ (gray) Rear left- (green/blac~)
Front ,,ght (gray/black) Rear left + (green)
6

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• PA1254 4-channel operation: Connectthe front left speaker leads
(white and white/black) to the front left speaker's + and -terminals,
and the front right speaker leads (gray and gray/black) to the
front right speaker's + and - terminals. Next, connect the rear left
speaker leads (green and green/black) to the rear left speaker's +
and - terminals, and the rear right speaker leads (violet and violet/
black) to the rear right speaker's + and -terminals.
INPUT PA1254
LEVEL
FRONT REAR
[I
LEVEL LEVEL
©. ©.
HI
LO
0
MIN MAX MIN MAX
0
FRONT-HPF
I
11
OFF 60 80 120
Front left+ (wr-1\eJ
r ro t left -(wh1'0/blac Kl Re,,r right t (V OIE t
F Or>! right j (gray) Reo1 !er -(green/black)
f t r,gllt (gray/black) Rear lei" + (green)

JBLAPEX
• PA1254 3-channel (bridged) operation: Connect the front left
speaker leads (white and white/black) to the front left speaker's +
and -terminals, and the front right speaker leads (gray and gray/
black) to the front right speaker's + and -terminals. Next, connect
the rear left+ speaker lead (green) to the single speaker's +
terminal, and the rear right -speaker lead (violet /black) to the
single speaker's -terminal.
NOTE : To prevent electrical interference or short-circuiting,
terminate the unused speaker leads with a wire cap or electrical
tape.
0
INPUT
LEVEL
[I
HI LO
FRONT- HPF
I 1111
FRONT
LEVEL
@
MIN MAX
OFF 60 80 120
Front left+ (white)
Front left -(white/black)
Front right+ (gray)
Front right-(gray/black)
PA1254
REAR
LEVEL
@
MIN MAX 0
Rear right -(violet/black)
Rear left +(green)
8

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• PA1254 2- ch annel (bridged) oper ation: Connect the front left
9
+ speaker lead (white) to the front single speaker's + terminal,
and the front right -speaker lead (gray/black) to the front single
speaker's -terminal. Next, connect the rear left+ speaker lead
(green) to the rear single speaker's+ terminal, and the rear right -
speaker lead (violet /black) to the rear single speaker's -terminal.
NOTE : To prevent electrical interference or short-circuiting,
terminate the unused speaker leads with a wire cap or electrical
tape
INPUT PA1254
LEVEL
FRONT REAR
cm
LEVEL LEVEL
@. @.
HI LO
0 MIN MAX
MIN MAX 0
FRONT- HPF RE
I Iii I
OFF 60 80 120 60 0
Front left +(white) Rear right -(v,olet/black)
Front right- (gray/black) Rear left+(green)