Viper 500.4 User Manual

200.4  
500.4  
models  
CONGRATULATIONS  
Congratulations for choosing a Viper  
Audio power amplifier from Directed  
Electronics, the industry leader in high  
quality automotive security and audio  
equipment since 1990.  
delight the mobile sound enthusiast with  
years of high-quality audio reproduction.  
Viper Audio power amplifiers come with  
a two-year limited warranty if installed  
by an authorized Viper dealer. If not  
installed by an authorized dealer, Viper  
Audio power amplifiers are covered by a  
one-year, parts-and-labor limited  
warranty.  
With the introduction of Viper Audio  
power amplifiers, Directed Electronics  
continues to set new standards of  
performance, reliability, and affordability  
in the mobile electronics industry.  
Be sure to retain your original sales  
receipt and refer to the warranty section  
of this guide for full details about your  
coverage.  
Featuring high-efficiency MOSFET power  
supplies, flexible on-board crossovers,  
and state of the art audio design, Viper  
Audio power amplifiers will excite and  
TABLE OF CONTENTS  
Limited Two-Year Consumer Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4  
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5  
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5  
Installation Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6  
Wire Connector Plugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7  
Front Panel Connections/Status LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8  
Rear Panel Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8  
Top Panel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10  
Top Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11  
Speaker Wiring Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12  
Crossover Settings and Gain Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14  
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15  
3
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
LIMITED TWO-YEAR CONSUMER WARRANTY  
Directed Electronics, Inc. promises to the  
original purchaser, to replace this product  
should it prove to be defective in workman-  
ship or material under normal use, for a  
period of two years from the date of  
purchase by the dealer as indicated by the  
date code marking of the product  
PROVIDED the product was installed by an  
authorized Directed dealer. During this two -  
year period, there will be no charge for this  
replacement PROVIDED the unit is returned  
to Directed, shipping pre-paid. If the unit is  
installed by anyone other than an autho-  
rized Directed dealer, the warranty period  
will be one year from the date of purchase  
by the dealer as indicated by the date code  
marking of the product. During this one-year  
period there will be no charge for this  
replacement PROVIDED the unit is returned  
to Directed, shipping pre-paid. This warranty  
is non-transferable and does not apply to  
any unit that has been modified or used in a  
manner contrary to its intended purpose,  
and does not cover damage to the unit  
caused by installation or removal of the unit.  
This warranty is void if the product has been  
damaged by accident or unreasonable use,  
neglect, improper service or other causes  
not arising out of defects in materials or  
construction. ALL WARRANTIES INCLUDING  
BUT NOT LIMITED TO EXPRESS  
WARRANTY, IMPLIED WARRANTY,  
WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY,  
FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND  
WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT OF  
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ARE EXPRESSLY  
EXCLUDED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT  
ALLOWED BY LAW, AND DIRECTED  
NEITHER ASSUMES NOR AUTHORIZES  
ANY PERSON TO ASSUME FOR IT ANY  
LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE  
SALE OF THE PRODUCT. DIRECTED HAS  
ABSOLUTELY NO LIABILITY FOR ANY AND  
ALL ACTS OF THIRD PARTIES INCLUDING  
ITS AUTHORIZED DEALERS OR  
INSTALLERS. Unit must be returned to  
Directed, postage pre-paid, with: consumer’s  
name, telephone number, and address,  
authorized dealer’s name and address, and  
product description. IN ORDER FOR THIS  
WARRANTY TO BE VALID, YOUR UNIT  
MUST BE SHIPPED WITH PROOF OF  
INSTALLATION BY AN AUTHORIZED  
DIRECTED DEALER. ALL UNITS RECEIVED  
BY DIRECTED FOR WARRANTY REPAIR  
WITHOUT PROOF OF DIRECTED DEALER  
INSTALLATION WILL BE COVERED BY THE  
LIMITED ONE-YEAR PARTS AND LABOR  
WARRANTY. Note: This warranty does not  
cover labor costs for the removal and rein-  
stallation of the unit. BY PURCHASING THIS  
PRODUCT, THE CONSUMER AGREES AND  
CONSENTS THAT ALL DISPUTES BETWEEN  
THE CONSUMER AND Directed SHALL BE  
RESOLVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALI-  
FORNIA LAWS IN SAN- DIEGO COUNTY,  
CALIFORNIA.  
4
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
FEATURES  
High-speed MOSFET switching  
power supply and complimentary  
bipolar outputs.  
Dual continuously variable 12  
dB/octave  
crossovers.  
two-way  
active  
Four channel architecture supports  
Dual switchable 8 dB bass EQ func-  
up to six channel use.  
tion.  
Thermal, DC offset, reverse polarity  
Summed stereo full-range RCA  
and short circuit protection.  
output jacks.  
Top-mounted controls located under  
illuminated Viper snake logo trim  
piece.  
Gold-plated screw-block plugs and  
RCA jacks ensure maximum signal  
transfer.  
The Viper logo and Viper badge are  
four-way adjustable for a custom  
look.  
Rugged one-piece extruded heat  
sink finished with injection-molded  
mounting feet.  
WARNING  
High-powered car audio  
systems may produce  
sound pressure levels that exceed the  
threshold at which hearing loss may  
result.  
They may also impair a driver’s ability to  
hear traffic sounds or emergency vehi-  
cles. Use common sense and practice  
safe listening habits when listening to or  
adjusting your audio system.  
5
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
INSTALLATION GUIDELINES  
1. Please read this owner’s manual  
carefully before installing this ampli-  
fier.  
terminal. Use a fuse or circuit  
breaker rated slightly more than the  
on-board fuse(s) of the  
amplifier(s). The gauge of power  
wire used should take into account  
the total current draw of the  
system, and the length of wire  
used. IASCA and other auto sound  
competition organizations have  
charts available for this; you can  
also find a chart in the MECP study  
guide. Minimum wire gauge recom-  
mendations for the individual ampli-  
fiers are listed on the specification  
page. Always use the same gauge  
wire for the amplifier ground that  
you use for the power wire. Be sure  
to examine the battery ground  
cable of the vehicle, and if neces-  
sary, upgrade it by adding an addi-  
tional ground wire that is the same  
gauge as the amplifier’s power  
wire. Remember, the amplifier can  
only deliver its rated output when it  
is not current limited by the power  
and ground supply wires.  
2. Disconnect the battery ground  
terminal prior to making any elec-  
trical connections.  
3. Check for any hazards or obstruc-  
tions such as gas tanks, fuel or  
brake lines, and wiring harnesses  
before mounting the amplifier.  
4. Pick a mounting location that will  
provide adequate access and venti-  
lation and protect the amplifier  
from heat, moisture, and dirt.  
5. Avoid sharp metal areas when  
routing cables to the amplifier, and  
run RCA cables away from the  
power cables and other potentially  
noisy car harnesses.  
6. The amplifier should be grounded  
with a short, heavy gauge wire  
connected directly to the car at a  
bare metal surface, preferably  
scraped body sheet metal. Do not  
use factory ground locations, seat  
bolts, or brackets that are  
spotwelded.  
8. This amplifier is designed to drive a  
speaker load that measures from 2  
to 8 ohms. Keep in mind that heat  
is the long-term enemy of automo-  
tive electronics and the lower your  
7. Always fuse your power connection  
within 8 to 10 inches of the battery  
6
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
speaker load, the more heat is  
generated. For low impedance  
speaker applications or restricted  
ventilation installations, an external  
cooling fan may be advisable.  
10. Due to the high-frequency MOSFET  
switching power supply, filtering the  
power cable is not generally  
required (remember that the amp  
can’t deliver full output if the power  
supply is restricted). Proper  
grounding of the signal source is  
mandatory for the amplifier to  
reach its performance peak. If the  
RCA inputs are not grounded  
adequately via the signal source,  
electrical noise from the vehicle  
may be picked up in the system.  
9. Battery and ground connections to  
the vehicle should be made with  
crimped ring terminals of the appro-  
priate size (surface area is what  
counts); soldering the terminals  
after crimping is also recom-  
mended.  
WIRE CONNECTOR PLUGS  
Power and speaker wire connections on  
Viper Audio power amplifiers are  
performed with the use of specially  
designed connectors that allow for ease  
of wire termination and installation  
convenience.  
3. Trim the wire ends so bare wire  
does not protrude from the  
connector after termination.  
4. Always tighten the connector  
screws firmly at least twice, once  
during installation and once more  
before returning the car to the  
customer.  
Poor connections are a common cause  
of poor sound quality or amplifier perfor-  
mance. Making proper wire connections  
is paramount to a reliable, quality sound  
system.  
CAUTION: Over tightening the screws can cause them to  
strip, creating loose connections. Tighten the  
screws twice firmly for a permanent, solid  
connection.  
Please follow these recommendations to  
ensure a problem free installation:  
1. Always use the proper gauge wire  
for the connector.  
2. Cut wires to the minimum length  
necessary.  
7
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
FRONT PANEL CONNECTIONS/STATUS LED  
RCA Input Jacks -  
1.  
Accepts line level  
of the one through four-channel  
inputs of the amplifier.  
outputs from head units or signal  
processors at voltages between  
150mV and 8 volts.  
Status LED  
3.  
- Lights GREEN to indi-  
cate the amplifier is on and oper-  
ating normally, and will be off if the  
amplifier shuts down due to short  
circuit, DC offset, or overheating  
detected by the on-board protection  
circuitry.  
RCA Output Jacks -  
2.  
These pass  
through RCA jacks can be used to  
send a signal to a second amplifier.  
On four, five, and six channel ampli-  
fiers it is the summed stereo output  
FIGURE 1—AMPLIFIER CONNECTIONS 200.4/500.4 FRONT  
1
3
2
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS  
Speaker Out Terminals  
1.  
- Connect  
(P/N #55000) can be used to  
supply a remote turn on signal. DO  
NOT connect this terminal to  
constant (+) 12 volt.  
the speakers to these terminals.  
(Refer to the Speaker Connection  
section of this guide.)  
Power Fuses -  
3.  
These fuse(s) protect  
Remote Turn On  
2.  
- This terminal  
the amplifier against internal elec-  
trical damage and are meant to  
protect the amplifier only. All other  
power connections should be fused  
at the source.  
turns on the amplifier when (+) 12  
volt is applied to it. Connect it to  
the remote turn on lead of the head  
unit or signal source. If a (+) 12  
voltremote turn lead is not avail-  
able, a Remote Power Adapter  
8
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
(+) 12 Volt Power  
4.  
- Connect this  
connection. Always use wire of the  
same gauge or larger than the (+)  
12 volt power wire. The chassis  
connection point should be scraped  
free of paint and dirt. Use only  
quality crimped and/or soldered  
connectors at both ends of this  
wire. DO NOT connect this terminal  
directly to the vehicle battery  
ground terminal or any other  
factory ground points.  
terminal through a FUSE or CIRCUIT  
BREAKER to the positive terminal of  
the vehicle battery or the positive  
terminal of an isolated audio  
system battery.  
WARNING: Always protect this power wire by installing a fuse  
or circuit breaker of the appropriate size within  
12 inches of the battery terminal connection.  
Ground -  
5.  
Connect this terminal  
directly to the sheet metal chassis  
of the vehicle, using the shortest  
wire necessary to make this  
FIGURE 2—AMPLIFIER CONNECTIONS 500.4 REAR  
2
3
5
4
1
FIGURE 3—AMPLIFIER CONNECTIONS 200.4 REAR  
2
3
4 5  
1
9
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
TOP PANEL CONTROLS  
Input Gain Adjustment  
1.  
- Controls  
tweeters. LPF attenuates high  
frequencies and is typically used for  
subwoofers.  
amplifier sensitivity and is used to  
match the input level of the ampli-  
fier to the output level of the signal  
source.  
Crossover Frequency Adjustment  
3.  
4.  
-
Adjusts the crossover point for the  
on board active crossovers.  
Crossover Selection Switch  
2.  
-
Controls the type of filter for the on-  
board active crossovers. FLAT does  
not attenuate any frequencies and  
is for full-range speaker systems.  
HPF attenuates low frequencies and  
is used for mid range speakers and  
Bass EQ Switch  
- Adds an additional  
8 db of boost to the speaker output  
when on.  
FIGURE 4—AMPLIFIER CONTROLS TOP  
3
4
2
1
10  
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
TOP PANEL FEATURES  
Control Panel Cover  
cracking the window.  
The amplifier’s gain and filter controls  
are mounted under the elliptical control  
panel cover. Magnets hold the cover  
snugly and allow easy access.  
2. Apply two of the precut pieces of  
adhesive tape to the corners of the  
window that don't have tape. Make  
sure to apply the tape to the side  
that makes contact with the cover.  
Save the other two precut pieces of  
tape for future use.  
To install the cover  
- Place the  
straight end of the control panel  
cover into the notched end of the  
amplifier’s top panel while  
elevating the curved end. Lower the  
curved end of the cover until the  
magnets make contact.  
3. Turn the illuminated window so the  
Viper snake logo will be in an  
upright position when the cover is  
re-attached to the amplifier. Press  
the window onto the underside of  
the control panel cover using the  
positioning pins for alignment.  
To remove the cover  
- Place a finger  
on the curved end of the cover  
while lifting up the straight end  
with your thumb. When the  
magnets lose contact, lift and  
remove the cover.  
Viper Badge Mounting  
The Viper Badge can be rotated in 90-  
degree increments to accommodate the  
amplifier’s final mounting position.  
Illuminated Window  
Alignment  
1. Determine the final mounting posi-  
tion of the amplifier.  
The illuminated window comes attached  
to the control panel cover with a light  
adhesive tape. An additional supply of  
precut adhesive tape is included in the  
hardware pack.  
2. Determine the position required for  
the badge to be viewed horizontally.  
3. Remove the protective cover for the  
adhesive tape on the under side of  
the badge.  
1. Firmly hold the control panel cover  
while gently pressing against the  
window from the top. If the  
window will not release easily use a  
small flat tool to pry it loose. Pry  
slowly and evenly from several  
points to avoid deforming or  
4. Align the badge guideposts with the  
holes in the amplifier top panel.  
5. Press down firmly until the logo is  
securely attached to the amplifier.  
11  
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
SPEAKER WIRING DIAGRAMS  
Stereo Operation (bottom view four channel shown)  
Bridged operation (bottom view two channel shown)  
NOTE:  
For bridged two-channel operation as shown below, connect the right channel RCA cables to the Front inputs of the  
amplifier, and left channel RCA cables to the rear inputs of the amplifier. For summed subwoofer applications, connect  
the RCA cables per the input jack marking.  
12  
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
Simultaneous stereo/mono operation (bottom view)  
13  
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
CROSSOVER SETTINGS AND GAIN ADJUSTMENT  
Your Viper Audio power amplifier needs to be adjusted carefully to achieve maximum  
performance. These are some guidelines to follow when fine-tuning the amplifier.  
For full-range and simultaneous stereo/mono bass applications, the crossover  
selection switch should be set to FLAT. If the amplifier is driving your subwoofers,  
set the switch to LPF, and for mid-bass/midrange output, set to HPF.  
The crossover frequency control needs to be adjusted to suit your particular system.  
For subwoofer applications, try to keep the setting low enough to prevent the  
image smearing (you should not be able to hear male voices from the subwoofer)  
but not so low as to create a gap between the subwoofer and the mid-  
bass/midrange speakers. For mid-bass/midrange settings, try to keep the setting  
low enough to keep your sound stage in front of you, without overdriving the  
speaker. It will be to your advantage to spend some extra time with this adjust-  
ment, listening to familiar music or system set-up discs to achieve the kind of  
musical reproduction that you prefer.  
The gain adjustment allows you to set proper signal match for clean, quiet ampli-  
fier operation. For full-range and simultaneous stereo/mono bass applications,  
start by playing some music you are familiar with. With the gain adjustment on  
the amplifier in the middle of its rotation, bring up the volume on your head unit  
to the 3/4 volume setting or until you start to hear distortion or clipping. If you  
hear distortion before you reach the 3/4 volume setting of your head unit, reduce  
the gain setting on the amplifier and start to raise the head unit volume again.  
When you can listen to the music at or slightly above 3/4 on your head unit  
without audible distortion, slowly raise the gain of the amplifier until distortion is  
heard, then back off the gain until the distortion is not audible. This setting will  
allow you to reach full output with all but the quietest of source material, while  
avoiding excessive noise in the system.  
The same procedure should be used for adjusting the amplifier when the on-board  
crossover is set to LPF or HPF, but you will also have to take into consideration the  
effect that gain adjustment has on system frequency response and imaging.  
Again, plan on spending some time with music that you know, getting the gain  
and crossover settings the way you like. Test discs and analyzers may help with this  
process, but in the end it's your ears that count - listen to the music!  
14  
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
SPECIFICATIONS  
Viper model 200.4 500.4  
RMS continuous power per channel, All channels  
driven into 4 ohms from 20 to 20,000 Hz, with less  
than 0.08% Total Harmonic Distortion @ 14.4 VDCC  
35  
watts  
75  
watts  
RMS continuous power per channel, All channels  
driven into 2 ohms from 20 to 20,000 Hz, with less  
than 0.1% Total Harmonic Distortion @ 14.4 VDC  
50  
watts  
125  
watts  
RMS continuous power, 2-channel operation, bridged  
into 4 ohms from 20 to 20,000 Hz, with less than  
0.1% Total Harmonic Distortion @ 14.4 VDC  
100x2  
watts  
250x2  
watts  
Dynamic power rating (IHF-202 Standard) bridged  
into 4 ohms  
250  
watts  
600  
watts  
Signal-to-Noise Ratio  
Frequency Response  
Damping Factor @ 4 ohm  
Crossover  
Greater than 95 dB  
20-20,000 Hz 0.5 dB  
Greater than 100  
Switchable high or low pass  
12 dB/octave, continuously  
variable from 50 to 500Hz  
Bass Equalization  
Input Impedance  
Input Sensitivity  
Output Impedance  
+8 dB, centered at 40Hz  
20K ohms  
Variable from 150 mV to 8 volt  
2 to 8 ohms, stereo  
4 to 8 ohms, bridged  
Supply Voltage  
10 to 16 VDC  
Fusing and Power  
25A  
#12  
50A  
#8  
Minimum Cable Requirements (AWG)  
(Per amp, trunk mounted)  
15  
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc  
The company behind this system is Directed Electronics, Inc.  
Since its inception, Directed has had one purpose, to provide customers with the  
finest vehicle security, car stereo products, rear seat entertainment, and accessories  
available. The recipient of more than 20 patents in the field of advanced electronic  
technology, Directed is ISO 9001 registered.  
Directed Electronics, Inc.  
Vista, California 92083  
Directed® is committed to delivering world-class quality  
products and services that excite and delight our customers.  
Directed is a proud member of  
Quality Directed products are sold and serviced throughout North America and around the world  
Call 800 274 0200 for more information about our products and services  
© 2002 Directed Electronics, Inc. - All rights reserved - G46042/44 02/02  

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