MTX Audio TA3401 User Manual

Page 4

Feature Setup and Adjustments

1. Selecting The Input Sensitivity Range –

Before you turn on your system, you must select the proper input sensitivity range on your amp using the button

labeled INPUT SENS located in the GAIN CONTROL section of the control panel.

• Setting for aftermarket Source Units: Refer to your aftermarket owner’s manual for line level output

speciﬁcation. If the speciﬁcation is not available, please follow the instructions listed below.

X1 POSITION: 100mV – 1V (Typically for RCA Input)

• Setting for factory (OEM) Source Units: To check the amount of voltage that is present from the source

unit, take a multi meter, or a volt/ohm meter, on the A/C setting, (range from 100mv up to 10 volts) attach the

positive and negative leads directly to any exposed speaker. It will not matter if the polarity is correct, it will

read the same amount of voltage.

X10 POSITION: 1V – 10V (Typically for Speaker Level Input)

Note: It is important not to have the amp set up to receive a low voltage signal and give it a high voltage signal.

Doing this can cause damage to the amp.

2. Adjusting The Mono Gain Control – Before you start setting your amp gains, be sure to defeat all “EQ’s” (“off”

position). You want to set the gain levels properly BEFORE applying any equalization.

Start with the source unit’s volume around 3⁄4 of the way up, and the gain on the amp all the way down

(counterclockwise). Slowly increase the gain clockwise until the speaker starts to distort. Immediately

decrease gain until the distortion goes away. This will be a good reference point on the volume control to

where the signal starts to distort. Remember every CD will be different, use common sense and constantly

listen for obvious distortion and adjust volume accordingly. The gain on the amp has nothing to do with how

much power the amp can produce, just how fast the amp puts out max power. Just like in an automobile, full

throttle is very rarely needed.

3. Adjusting the Low, 24dB @ 40Hz - 200Hz Variable Low Pass X-over Frequency Controls–

• Setting For Subwoofers: Using “L-PASS FREQ” you have control over what frequency you want your

amp to start crossing over your signal. By turning this control all the way counterclockwise you are crossing

the signal over at 40Hz. (Range is counterclockwise 40Hz – clockwise 200Hz) meaning that the amp will send

the woofers 20Hz – 40Hz and then start to taper down as the frequencies get over 40Hz (Octave roll off). The

industry standard for low pass crossover point is right around 90Hz. However by experimenting with the

cross over point (higher or lower) you will ﬁnd what sounds best in this install. The decibel per octave roll off

(dB/Oct) means how fast the ampliﬁer tapers down as the frequencies get higher. This amp uses a 24-decibel

per octave roll off, which is pretty steep, or tapers off fairly quickly from the crossover point. This design

complements both the subwoofer and mid and provides greater musical detail.

4. Adjusting The Variable ThunderEQ – Adjust the Pot clockwise to add the desired amount of bass boost. Keep

in mind that there is 18dB of 40Hz boost available (which is a lot). Begin with a low boost setting (around 3dB)

and try to stay below 6dB whenever possible. Remember that for every 3dB of additional boost you dial in,

you are asking the ampliﬁer to double its power output for this boost region.

5. Remote Subwoofer Level Control (Remote Sub) – Lets say the ampliﬁers gain is set at half way, when the

remote subwoofer level control is plugged in, you now have external control of the gain from zero – half way.

The installation of this level control is NOT necessary to get full power from ampliﬁer.

Note: One Remote Subwoofer Level Control can control two or more ampliﬁers using a mini plug Y adaptor.

6. Prizm EFX – Now that you have completed adjusting all your ampliﬁer settings, you can set the lighting effects

to you personal taste.

• Selecting Colors: You can change the backlit colors simply by turning the Pot labeled PRIZM COLOR located in

the MTX PRIZM EFX section of the control panel left or right. Starting at the most counter clockwise position,

the colors range from RED, GREEN, BLUE, and RED again or any color in between making the combination

unlimited.

• Selecting The EFX Feature: You can switch Prizm EFX lighting to “pulsate” with beat of music. Simply

Depress the button labeled PRIZM EFX located in the in the MTX PRIZM EFX section of the control panel to

turn this feature on or off.