Ultimate Sound TA4600 User manual

MOBILE POWER AMPLIFIERSMOBILE POWER AMPLIFIERS
Ultimate Sound, Inc.
138 University Parkway
Pomona, CA 91768
Toll Free: 888-909-9988
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
TA4600TA4600
4 X 250 WATT
4 CHANNEL AMPLIFIER
4 X 140 WATT
4 CHANNEL AMPLIFIER
TA4320TA4320
2 X 250 WATT
2 CHANNEL AMPLIFIER
TA2300TA2300
2 X 165 WATT
2 CHANNEL AMPLIFIER
TA2160TA2160
2 X 600 WATT
2 CHANNEL AMPLIFIER
TA2700TA2700
ii
INTRODUCTION
I. Description
This device is a high power, audio amplifier. Use it responsibly. Very
loud music can cause permanent hearing loss. This amplifier is intended
for installation in vehicles with a 12-Volt, negative ground electrical
system. Attempting to connect or operate the amplifier in another type of
electrical system may cause damage to the amplifier or the electrical
system.
II. About This Manual
Read the Instructions-
Be sure that you have read all operating instructions and understand all
safety precautions before installing and operating the amplifier. We
recommend that you have your TATA series amplifier installed by a
specialist.
Follow the Instructions-
The instructions are intended to help you safely obtain the best
performance from the amplifier. Carefully follow all installation and
operating instructions.
Save the Operating Manual-
Keep the manual in a safe place after installing the amplifier. You may
have questions later.
Text Conventions used in this Manual-
Bold-
Headings and important information.
Bold, Underlined-
Very important information.
"Bold"-
As labeled on the amplifier, or quoted from elsewhere in this
manual.
III. Safety and Operating Precautions-
Caution!
This symbol warns the user of a potential risk or hazard if instructions are
not followed.
⇒This arrow symbol points to a specific instruction for avoiding a
potential hazard.

1
1. Installation
1.1 Installation-Mounting the Amplifier
Step 1-Disconnect the negative (-) battery cable before mounting the
amplifier or making any connections. Check the battery and alternator
ground (-) connections. Make sure they are properly connected and free of
corrosion
Step 2-Choose a mounting location for your amplifier. Find a location
on a flat surface away from heat and moisture. Be sure the mounting
location and the drilling of pilot holes for mounting will not present a
hazard to any wires, control cables, fuel lines, fuel tanks, hydraulic lines,
or other vehicle systems or components. Common mounting locations are
under the front passenger seat, or in the trunk area. Choose a location
with unimpaired air circulation. The amplifier will dissipate heat more
efficiently if mounted vertically.
Step 3-Use the supplied screws. Place the amplifier in the mounting
location, and mark the positions of the holes with a marker, pen or pencil.
Carefully drill the mounting holes in the marked positions.
Caution!
⇒Check carefully before drilling any pilot holes.
Step 4-Use the supplied mounting screws to securely fasten the amplifier
to the mounting surface.
1.2 Installation-Power Connections
Step 1-Run a power cable from the battery to the amplifier mounting
location. Use rubber grommets to protect the cable anywhere it has to go
through metal.
TA4600, TA4320, TA2700, TA2300TA4600, TA4320, TA2700, TA2300 -Use #8 AWG or larger power
and ground cable.
TA2160TA2160 -Use #10 AWG or larger power and ground cable.
Step 2-Connect one end of an in-line fuse holder to the power cable.
Connect the other end of the fuse holder to the positive battery post with
20 cm (or less) of the same cable. This fuse location will protect the
system and the vehicle against the possibility of a short circuit in the
power cable. Be sure to use a fuse and fuse holder adequate for the
application. Do not place a fuse in the holder at this time.
The maximum fuse rating for each amplifier in the TATA series is:
TA4600TA4600 -- 2 X 30 Amp TA4320TA4320 -- 40 Amp
TA2700TA2700 -- 2 X 30 Amp TA2300TA2300 -- 30 Amp
TA2160TA2160 -- 20 Amp
2
POWERPOWER
+12V RMT GND+12V RMT GND
Caution!
⇒Bridging fuses or replacing a fuse with one of a higher rating may
cause damage to the amplifier and the vehicle's electrical system.
Step 3-Run a remote turn on cable from the switched +12V source you
will be using to turn on the system components. This may be a toggle
switch, a relay, or your source unit’s remote trigger wire, or power
antenna trigger wire. Run this lead to the amplifier mounting location.
Use #18 AWG wire or larger.
Step 4-Locate a secure grounding connection as
close to the amplifier as possible. Make sure the
location is clean and provides a direct electrical
connection to the frame of the vehicle. Connect
one end of a short piece of the same size cable as
the power cable to the grounding point. Run the other end of the cable to
the amplifier mounting location.
Step 5-connect the ground cable to the screw terminal labeled
“POWER, GND”.
Step 6-Connect the power cable to the amplifier at the screw terminal
labeled “POWER, +12V”.
Step 7-Connect the remote turn on cable to the screw terminal labeled
“POWER, RMT”.
1.3 Installation-Speaker Connections
Step 1-Run #16 AWG or larger connecting wire from your speakers to
the amplifier mounting location. Keep speaker wires away from power
cables and amplifier input cables. Use grommets anywhere the wires have
to pass through holes in the metal frame or sheet metal. Connect to the
speakers according to the type of terminals on each speaker.
Step 2-Strip 3/8" of insulation from the end of each wire and twist the
wire strands together tightly. Make sure there are no stray strands that
might touch other wires or terminals and cause a short circuit.
Step 3-Crimp spade lugs over the wire ends or tin the ends with solder to
provide a secure termination.
Step 4-Connect the wire ends to your amplifier as follows:

3
SPEAKER TERMINALS
Follow the (A/B/C/D+) (A/B/C/D-), channel and polarity markings,
making sure they match the channel and polarity of the connections at
the speakers.
MULTIPLE SPEAKER CONNECTION
PARALLEL-Each additional speaker decreases the load impedance
for the amplifier. The amplifier delivers more current and works
harder.
(+)
(-)
+
-
(+)
(-)
4 Ohm 2 Ohm
PARALLEL CONNECTION USING 4 OHM SPEAKERS
A
M
P
L
I
F
I
E
R
O
U
T
P
U
T
(A+) (A-) (B+) (B-)
( + ) ( - )
BRIDGE
SPEAKER
(C+) (C-) (D+) (D-)
( + ) ( - )
BRIDGE
SPEAKER
4
(A+) (A-) (B+) (B-)
( + ) ( - )
BRIDGE
SPEAKER
SERIES-Each additional speaker increases the load impedance for
the amplifier. Impedances higher than 8 ohms are rarely used for car
audio.
1.4 Installation-Self-Bridging, 2+1 Mode
BRIDGED MONO-
Connect a 4Ωohm speaker to the
terminals marked “(+), BRIDGE, (-)”,
making sure they match the polarity
of the connections at the speakers.
Caution!
⇒Speaker or multiple speaker loads
totaling less than 4 ohms are not
recommended for “Bridged” or
“2+1 Mode”, and may damage the amplifier.
TA4600, TA4320TA4600, TA4320--
Set the “MODE” switch to “2CH, 3CH”, or “4CH” and connect the
speakers accordingly. For “3CH” operation, bridge the “C” and “D”
channels.
2+1 MODE-(TRI-MODE)
Simultaneous stereo and mono operation, “2+1 Mode”, requires a passive
crossover to send low frequencies to the mono speaker and higher
frequencies to the stereo speakers. The following table lists the
component values for a 6 dB/Octave crossover at common frequencies
using 4 ohm speakers for stereo and an 8Ωspeaker for mono(subwoofer):
FREQUENCY INDUCTOR CAPACITOR
80 Hz 16 mH 470 uF
100 Hz 7.5 mH 330 uF
120 Hz 7.5mH 330 uF
150 Hz 7.5 mH 220 uF
(+)
(-)
+
-
(+)
(-)
4 Ohm 8 Ohm
SERIES CONNECTION USING 4 OHM SPEAKERS
A
M
P
L
I
F
I
E
R
O
U
T
P
U
T

5
HIGH LEVELHIGH LEVEL
2+1 MODE WIRING DIAGRAM-
Use 100 Volt, non-polar capacitors, and connect them in series with the
stereo speakers as shown in the diagram. Connect the inductor in series
with the mono speaker as shown in the diagram. Be sure the inductor is
rated to handle the power of your amplifier.
1.5 Installation-Input
Connections
Low Level, High Impedance, Gold Plated RCA
Input Jacks-
For connecting to a source providing preamp level
outputs. Use heavy duty RCA patch cords designed for
mobile applications . Run the patch cables carefully,
maintaining as much distance as possible from power,
speaker, and accessory wiring. Make sure the RCA
plugs fit tightly for a secure connection.
Speaker Level Input Connector-
Use the supplied wiring harness to connect the speaker
outputs from the source unit(AM/FM/CD/DVD or Cassette)
to the “HIGH LEVEL” input.
Wiring Harness Color Code-2 Channel
White Wire AChannel Positive( + )
White/Black Wire AChannel Negative( -)
Gray Wire BChannel Positive( + )
Gray/Black Wire BChannel Negative( -)
Black Wire Ground
No Other Connection
(+)
(-)
(+)
(-)
(+)
(-)
(A+)
(A-)
(B+)
(B-)
CAPACITORSINDUCTOR
AA
BB
INPUTINPUT
6
Wiring Harness Color Code-4 Channel
White Wire Channel A Positive( + )
White/Black Wire Channel A Negative( -)
Gray Wire Channel B Positive( + )
Gray/Black Wire Channel B Negative( -)
Green Wire Channel C Positive( + )
Green/Black Wire Channel C Negative( -)
Violet Wire Channel D Positive( + )
Violet/Black Wire Channel D Negative( -)
Black Wire Ground
No Other Connection
1.6 Installation-Check all Connections
Recheck all connections before reconnecting the negative(-) battery cable.
Insert the correct value fuse in the fuse holder at the battery before
attempting to turn on the system.
2. Operation
2.1 Operation-Input Level adjustments
Adjust the input level for the marked channel(s) with a small
screwdriver through the opening marked “LEVEL”. Turn
CW(clockwise) to increase the level, CCW(counterclockwise)
to decrease. Amplifiers will run cooler and produce less
system noise at lower level settings.
Consult an experienced installation specialist for assistance in balancing
the levels in multi-amplifier systems, or systems with signal processing
accessories.
LEVELLEVEL
MIN MAXMIN MAX
HIGH LEVELHIGH LEVEL

7
POWERPOWER
PROTECTPROTECT
LPFLPF
40-24040-240
BASS-BOOSTBASS-BOOST
ON OFFON OFF
2.2 Operation-Built-in Crossovers
CROSSOVER FILTER SELECTION
The TATA series amplifiers have built-in low-pass and
high-pass crossover filters for bi-amplifying your
system. Select " LPF, FULL or HPF" by moving
the position of the slide switch for each pair of
channels. "LPF" selects the low pass filter. "HPF"
selects the high pass filter. Selecting "FULL" defeats the crossover
functions
FREQUENCY ADJUSTMENT
After selecting the crossover function, adjust the low pass or
high pass frequency control with a small screwdriver through
the opening marked “LP/FREQ.” or "HP/FREQ.". Turn
CW to set to a higher frequency, CCW to set to a lower
frequency.
Turning the “BASS BOOST” switch to “ON” increases the level
of frequencies around 45Hz by 12dB.
2.3 Operation-Protection Circuits and
L.E.D. Indicators
“POWER.” L.E.D. INDICATOR-Provides a visual indication
that the amplifier is turned on.
“PROTECT” L.E.D. INDICATOR-Provides a visual
indication that a problem exists and the protection circuitry has
protected the amplifier by shutting it down. Turn the system
off and correct the problem before turning the system on.
THERMAL PROTECTION-The amplifier will shut down if its
temperature exceeds a safe operating level. The amplifier will remain off
until it cools to a safe operating temperature. Exercise care, the exterior of
the amplifier may get uncomfortably hot to the touch before shutting
down.
X-OVERX-OVER
LPF- FULL- HPFLPF- FULL- HPF
8
FUSEFUSE
15A15A
15A
OVERLOAD AND SHORT CIRCUIT PROTECTION-The amplifier
will shut down if a short circuit condition exists, or if electrical current
demands exceed safe levels.
FUSE PROTECTION-A blown fuse indicates a problem that
should be corrected before the fuse is replaced. Always replace
with the same value fuse. Never substitute a larger value fuse.
2.4 Operation-Location of Terminals,
Controls and LED indicators
TA4600, TA4320TA4600, TA4320
1. RCA input jacks 2. High level input 3. Input level adjust
4. Crossover select 5. Low pass freq. 6. High pass freq.
7. Bass boost 8. Mode 9. Power L.E.D.
10. Protection L.E.D.
1. Power terminals 2. Fuse(s) 3. Speaker terminals
A/B CHANNELS
INPUT LEVEL HPF LPF
MIN MAX 40 240 40 240
A
BX-OVER BASS-BOOST MODE
LPF FULLHPF
POWER
ON OFF
HIGH LEVEL
2CH 4CH3CH
BASS-BOOST
ON OFF
40 240
LPF HPF
40 240
X-OVER
LPF
FULLHPF
LEVEL
MIN MAX
INPUT
PROTECT
C
D
C/D CHANNEL
4 7 8
1 23 569 105 6 3 1
7 4
FUSE
30A 30A
POWERSPEAKERSPEAKER
BRIDGEDBRIDGED
+12V RMT GND ( A+ ) ( A- )( B- ) ( B+ )
( + ) ( - )
( C+ ) ( C- ) ( D- )( D+ )
( + ) ( - )
1 3 32

9
TA2700, TA2300, TA2160TA2700, TA2300, TA2160
1. RCA input jacks 2. High level input 3. Input level adjust
4. Bass Boost 5. Low pass freq. 6. Crossover select
7. High pass freq. 8. Power L.E.D. 9. Protection L.E.D.
1. Power terminals 2. Fuse(s) 3. Speaker terminals
+12VPOWER RMTGND SPEAKER
( A+ )( A- )( B- )( B+ )
FUSE
15A
BRIDGED
( + ) ( - )
312
HIGH LEVEL
L
R
MIN MAX
INPUT LEVEL
BASS-BOOST
ON OFF 40 240 LPFFULL HPF
LPF X-OVER HPF
40 240 PROTECTPOWER
8 2 1 3 4 5 6 7 9
10
Features and Specifications:
TA4600TA4600 TA4320TA4320 TA2700TA2700 TA2300TA2300 TA2160TA2160
4 CHANNEL
POWER
AMPLIFIER
4 CHANNEL
POWER
AMPLIFIER
2 CHANNEL
POWER
AMPLIFIER
2 CHANNEL
POWER
AMPLIFIER
2 CHANNEL
POWER
AMPLIFIER
2ΩΩ Stable Yes
Bridgeable Yes, 4Ω
Tri-mode Yes
Terminals Gold plated RCA jacks, speaker and power terminals
Soft Start Yes
Inputs RCA line level inputs, High level inputs
Crossover Low Pass, High Pass, 12dB/Octave, 50-250Hz.
Bass Boost +12dB @ 45Hz
Protection Thermal, short-circuit, DC offset, fuse
Power
Supply Pulse Width Modulated, MOSFET power supply, +12V/Negative Ground
RMS/Max
Power, 4ΩΩ,
THD<0.05
%
4 X
85/170
Watts
4 X
50/100
Watts
2 X
200/400
Watts
2 X
85/170
Watts
2 X
50/100
Watts
RMS/Max
Power, 2ΩΩ,
THD<0.2%
4 X
125/250
Watts
4 X
70/140
Watts
2 X
300/600
Watts
2 X
125/250
Watts
2 X
80/165
Watts
Bridged
RMS/Max
Power, 4ΩΩ
2 X
250/500
Watts
2 X
140/280
Watts
600/1200
Watts 250/500 Watts 165/330 Watts
Signal to
Noise Ratio -90dBA -90dBA -90dBA -90dBA -90dBA
Frequency
Response 10Hz. –
30kHz 10Hz. - 30kHz 10Hz. - 30kHz 10Hz. - 30kHz 10Hz. - 30kHz
Separation -60dB -60dB -60dB -60dB -60dB
Input
Sensitivity 100mV –
1.5V 100mV - 1.5V 100mV - 1.5V 100mV - 1.5V 100mV - 1.5V
Fuse 2 X 30A 30A 2 X 30A 30A 15A
These specifications are subject to change in the continuing effort to
improve the product.

11
Troubleshooting:
Condition Possible Cause Possible Solution
No sound Low or no remote turn
on voltage, or no remote
turn on connection
Check the remote turn on
connection and the voltage at
the amplifier and source unit
Blown fuse(s) Check all system fuses
Wiring problems Recheck all connections
Check for short circuits
Blown speakers Check speakers on another
amplifier
Amplifier
shut down Protection circuit protecting against
overheating or overload
Check for adequate ventilation
Check load impedance(2 ohm
stereo, 4 ohm bridged)
Check speaker wiring for short
to the vehicle chassis
Reduce input level
Distortion Input level not properly
adjusted
Speaker damage
Readjust amplifier input level
Check speakers on another
amplifier
Poor bass
response Speakers out of phase
Recheck speaker wiring
Reverse polarity of one channel
Ticking
noise Radiated noise from spark plug wires Reroute amplifier input wiring
Install a noise filter
Whining
noise Alternator noise caused by poor grounding of
amplifier, source, other
component, battery, or
alternator
Check all ground connections
Install a noise filter on the
source unit’s power cable
Install a coupling transformer
in the signal path to improve
ground isolation for the signal
path