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Describes gold-plated terminals for connecting speakers to channels 1 through 5.
Explains gold-plated terminals for remote turn-on, ground, and battery connections.
The Clarion APA5241 is a 5-channel car audio amplifier designed to enhance your in-car audio experience. It stands out in the market for its unique features and robust performance, offering a versatile solution for various car audio system configurations.
The primary function of the Clarion APA5241 is to amplify audio signals from a source unit (like a car stereo) and deliver them to speakers. It's a 5-channel amplifier, meaning it can power five separate speaker channels. Specifically, it provides continuous power to four channels (channels 1 through 4) and a dedicated, more powerful channel (channel 5) for driving subwoofers. This configuration allows for a comprehensive audio setup, including front and rear full-range speakers, and a subwoofer for deep bass.
A key feature of this amplifier is its unique circuit topology, which provides an additional summed output on channel 5. This summed output is specifically designed to drive one or two subwoofers, ensuring a powerful and clear bass response. The amplifier also incorporates a built-in mode switch, offering convenient design flexibility. With a simple flip of a switch, you can configure the system for 3-, 4-, or 5-channel operation, accommodating different speaker setups without the need for external adapters.
The APA5241 is equipped with integrated 12 dB-per-octave electronic high-pass/low-pass crossovers. These filters are crucial for tailoring the sound of each channel by precisely attenuating frequencies with minimal phase distortion. For channels 1 through 4, you can set high-pass filtering, allowing them to handle mid-range and high frequencies more effectively. Channel 5 is specifically designed for low-pass filtering, ensuring that only bass frequencies are sent to the subwoofer. This built-in crossover functionality eliminates the need for external crossovers and additional cables, making the installation more cost-effective and efficient. The crossover frequencies are selectable at 80, 120, or 180 Hz, allowing you to fine-tune the audio output according to your speaker manufacturer's recommendations and personal preference. Alternatively, channels 1 through 4 can be set to pass all frequencies, with only channel 5 configured for low-pass filtering.
Another notable feature is the variable-gain bass extender circuit, active on channel 5 in all modes of operation. This circuit functions much like an equalizer, providing an adjustable gain (from 0 to +12 dB) fixed at 45 Hz. This allows you to tune the low-frequency audio response, compensating for less-than-ideal subwoofer enclosure designs and producing rich, full bass tones that are often challenging to reproduce in a car audio environment.
The amplifier uses a regulated MOSFET power supply, which ensures superior control of output wattage regardless of input voltage or musical energy content. MOSFETs are chosen for their inherent characteristics that provide superior accuracy, stability, and control. A toroid-coil transformer is also integrated to yield maximum power transfer with minimum heat loss. The circuit design is optimized to keep AM RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) at low levels, preventing unwanted noise even when the volume is high.
The Clarion APA5241 offers a range of controls and input options for flexible system setup and sound customization.
The APA5241 is designed with features that contribute to its longevity and ease of maintenance.
For installation, it is recommended to mount the amplifier on a rigid surface inside the vehicle, avoiding plastic or combustible materials. Adequate ventilation around the amplifier is important to prevent internal circuit damage over time. Wiring precautions include ensuring clean and secure connections, insulating final connections, using the shortest possible ground wire, and connecting the positive power lead via a fuse directly to the battery. It's also important to avoid grounding speakers to the vehicle chassis. If installing multiple amplifiers, consider the vehicle's electrical system capacity and potentially upgrading the alternator or adding a second battery.
The amplifier is designed for ease of setup, with clear instructions for setting gain, using the HP/LP filter, and adjusting the bass extender. Troubleshooting guidelines are provided to address common issues such as no audio, audio cycling on and off, distorted audio, lack of bass punch, blown fuses, and noise with the engine on. These guidelines help users diagnose and resolve problems efficiently, often by checking wiring, settings, or speaker connections.
Power Specifications| maximum power output | 550 watts |
|---|---|
| continuous average power output (channels 1-4) | 35 watts x 4 into 4 ohms |
| continuous average power output (bridged) | 90 watts x 2 into 4 ohms |
| continuous average power output (channel 5) | 100 watts x 1 into 4 ohms |
Performance Specifications| frequency response | 10 Hz to 50 kHz |
|---|---|
| signal-to-noise ratio | 100 dB or better |
| input sensitivity (low-level RCA) | 200 mV to 5 V |
| input sensitivity (speaker-level) | 400 mV to 10 V |
Electrical Specifications| current use | < 45 amps |
|---|---|
| speaker load capacity (channels 1-4) | 2 ohms stereo |
| speaker load capacity (channel 5) | 4 ohms mono |
Weight and Dimensions| dimensions | 230 mm x 47.5 mm x 400 mm |
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