Mobile Solutions PT-9A User manual

LINE OUT
PT-9A
POLARITY +
POLARITY -
LOW BATTERY
CD LINE
SIGNAL
ON OFF
POWER
Version 3.0
Many “Real World” Uses:
Check Speaker Connecons
Check Absolute Speaker Polarity
Check Passive Crossover Phase Shi
Check OEM Amplier Outputs
Idenfy Channel (No more drill baeries)
Check for Speaker Mounng Leaks
.......and so much more!
PT-9A Polarity Tester
Professional Speaker Calibration and Polarity Test Instrument
User Manual
Mobile SolutionS uSA
2120 E. 6th Street, Suite 10
Tempe, AZ 85281
email - sales@mobilesoluons-usa.com
www.mobilesoluons-usa.com

PT-9A Polarity Test Instrument
The PT-9A is an essenal tool for mobile electronics installaon. With proper use, it should aid you in achieving opmum
performance from any mul-speaker mobile audio system. Please read the user manual carefully and follow the instruc-
ons provided.
What is the Overall Goal?
The goal of any audio system with mulple speakers is to reproduce sound energy so that the phase between all speakers
is complimentary (rather than destrucve). This means all speakers in the system need to be working together. The PT-9A
allows the install technician to verify the absolute phase of each speaker in the system, both individually and as a group
using a combinaon of internally generated pulses and pulses from the test CD.
Simple GREEN or RED light pulses on the front of the instrument indicate the overall condion of the speaker(s) being
evaluated in real me while installed in their nal posion(s) in the vehicle. It can’t get much more accurate than that!
About the Internal Pulse Generator
The PT-9A features an internal pulse generator output that simultaneously processes speaker pulses through the built-in
microphone located on the front of the instrument. This allows the unit to be enrely self contained. The internal generator
provides evenly spaced, posive (pressure) pulses to both the line level jack and speaker level outputs for the duraon of
me the unit is on. The LINE LEVEL signal is sucient to drive signal processor and amplier inputs. The SPEAKER LEVEL signal
is sucient to drive a speaker directly. To use the internal pulse generator, be sure the signal switch is in the LINE posion.
Alternavely, the PT-9A can use only the built-in microphone to “hear” pulses generated by an external source, such as the
test CD provided. The test CD uses a sequence of 3 posive pulses followed by one negave pulse. Whenever the CD plays
the pulse track (Track 3), the speakers in the system will follow this pulsing sequence. To use only the built in microphone
and pulses from an external source, be sure the signal switch is in the CD posion.
LINE OUT SPEAKER
- +
PT-9A
POLARITY +
POLARITY -
LOW BATTERY
CD LINE
SIGNAL
ON OFF
POWER
Built-in Microphone (Front of Instrument)
Polarity Indicators
Green = Positive (Pressure)
Red = Negative (Vacuum)
Signal Switch
Power Switch
Low Battery Indicator
(Illuminates Yellow when
9.6v battery requires
replacement)
Line Level Pulse Generator
(Active when the Signal Switch
is in the LINE position)
Speaker Level Pulse Generator
(Active when the Signal Switch is
in the LINE position)
Front Panel Layout

Noise Free Testing Zone
It’s very important that this instrument is used in an environment where there is not a high level or external ambient noise.
Oen mes an installaon bay can contain a high level of noise during a producve day, so you may choose to close the ve-
hicle doors and ask others nearby to minimize unnecessary noise. This will only help the accuracy of the built-in microphone.
Operating Instructions (Internal Pulse Generator)
1) Move the Power Switch of the test instrument to the ON posion.
2) Move the Signal Switch of the test instrument to the LINE posion.
3) Choose either the LINE OUT RCA connector or the SPEAKER connectors. If choosing LOW LEVEL RCA, proceed to step 4)
If choosing SPEAKER connectors, proceed to step 8.
Speaker Level
4) Connect the supplied test leads to the SPEAKER connector jacks. Connect the RED
probe to the + jack and connect the BLACK probe to the - jack. You should begin to
hear a faint high frequency pulsing sound spaced in about 1 second intervals.
5) Posion the instrument about 10 inches (25.4cm) in front of the speaker.
6) All of the internal pulses from the instrument are posive, so your speaker should
be pulsing “out” and illuminang the GREEN light on the instrument. If it is lit RED,
this means the speaker is wired backward. Switch wiring and test again. *If GREEN
and RED are lit AT THE SAME me it may indicate a leaky speaker mount.
7) Repeat for other individual speakers as needed.
Note - if using in an OEM audio integraon applicaon where you are pulsing the
wires in a factory head unit or amplier harness to nd the speaker locaons, you
may want to use smaller “backprobe pin” type leads and clip onto the PT-9A test
leads with an aligator clip as shown in the photo. This will eliminate any unneces-
sary damage to high density OEM wiring and connectors in the plug.
Line Level
8) Connect one RCA audio cable to the instrument. This can be the input cable to a signal processor or amplier. Test one
channel at a me.
9) Make sure the processor or amplier is turned on so signal can pass through the component to the speaker(s) connected
on that channel. You should begin to hear a faint high frequency pulsing sound spaced in about 1 second intervals.
10) Posion the instrument about 10 inches (25.4cm) in front of the speaker(s) you want to test.
11) All of the internal pulses from the instrument are posive, so your speaker(s) should be pulsing “out” and illuminang
the GREEN light on the instrument. If it is lit RED, this means the speaker is wired backward, a phase shi switch on the
device in engaged, or there is a phase shi through a passive crossover network. Switch wiring, check sengs, and test
again. *If GREEN and RED are lit AT THE SAME me it may indicate a leaky speaker mount.
12) Repeat for other individual speakers or channels as needed.

Operating Instructions (with Test CD)
1) Insert the test CD into the source unit. Press play and advance to Track 3. (En-
gage the REPEAT mode if available). Set volume where pulses are just audible.
2) Move the Power Switch of the test instrument to the ON posion.
3) Move the Signal Switch of the test instrument to the CD posion.
4) Posion the instrument about 10 inches (25.4cm) in front of the speaker(s)
you want to test.
5) The sequence of the test CD is 3 posive pulses, than 1 negave pulse. Your
speaker(s) should be pulsing “out” and illuminang the GREEN light three
mes, then RED one me. If it is lit opposite (3 RED, 1 GREEN), this means
the speaker is wired backward, a phase shi switch on the device in engaged,
or there is a phase shi through a passive crossover network. Switch wiring,
check sengs, and test again. *If GREEN and RED are lit AT THE SAME me
it may indicate a leaky speaker mount.
6) Repeat for other individual speakers or channels as needed.
Test CD Tracks
Tracks 1-5 are test tracks for use with various instruments, including your ears. These tracks are helpful when making the
nal adjustments to the audio system BEFORE doing any kind of equalizaon.
Tracks 1 & 2: Le Channel Pink Noise (1) and Right Channel Pink Noise (2)
Use tracks 1 & 2 for tesng le and right balance with both your ears and an SPL meter. .
Track 3: Polarity Pulses
This track contains polarity pulses to be used in conjuncon with the Phase Test Instrument. The sequence is three POSITIVE
pulses followed by one NEGATIVE pulse. When wired correctly and responding in absolute phase, speakers in the system
tested with the instrument should show three GREEN lights followed by one RED light.
Track 4: Correlated L+R Channel Pink Noise
Use this track in conjuncon with a RTA (Real Time Analyzer) to test frequency response.
Track 5: Zero Data (0 bits)
Use this track to check the system’s noise oor. Play this track with the volume on the source unit all the way up; you should
not hear any hiss. If there is any hiss in the system it oen is an indicaon of excessive gain adjustment. To remedy this, try
turning the gain control on the amplier(s) down to a level where the hiss is acceptable and play the system to evaluate
overall impact on maximum volume.

Test CD Tracks (Cont)
Tracks 6 through 18 are test tracks at specic frequencies sine wave at 0dB, -5dB and -10dB levels. One common use is to
test resonance, vibraons and speakers break-up during x-over adjustment and level seng. -5 and -10dB tracks can be
used to set gain for ampliers. (Please note that extended play of these test tones can damage speakers permanently - use
cauon at high volumes).
Track 6: 40 Hz Sine Wave - Use this track to test resonance or vibraons from the Subwoofer
Track 7: 40 Hz Sine Wave (-5dB) - Use this set signal processor or amplier gains (crical listener)
Track 8: 40 Hz Sine Wave (-10dB) - Use this set signal processor or amplier gains (non-crical listener or bass head)
Track 9: 100 Hz Sine Wave - Use this track to test Midbass speakers and Subwoofer
Track 10: 400 Hz Sine Wave - Use this track for Midbass and Midrange speakers
Track 11: 1 kHz Sine wave - Use this track for Midrange speakers
Track 12: 1 kHz Sine Wave (-5dB) - Use this set signal processor or amplier gains (crical listener)
Track 13: 1 kHz Sine Wave (-10dB) - Use this set signal processor or amplier gains (non-crical listener)
Track 14: 4 kHz Sine Wave - Use this track for Tweeters
Track 15: 4 kHz Sine Wave (-5dB) - Use this set signal processor or amplier gains (crical listener)
Track 16: 4 kHz Sine Wave (-10dB) - Use this set signal processor or amplier gains (non-crical listener)
Track 17: 8 kHz Sine wave - Use this track for Tweeters, parcularly if the high pass crossover is above the previous 4kHz track
Track 18: Sine Sweep 20 Hz to 12 kHz - Use this track to check for overall system frequency response. Addionally, the Sine
Sweep track is useful for pinpoinng any troublesome resonant panels in (or on) the vehicle.
To purchase additional Test CD’s, please contact Mobile SolutionS uSA
sales@mobilesoluons-usa.com or visit us on the web - www.mobilesoluons-usa.com