Please help Weird problem with Kicker zx700.5

[thekidran]

If some one could please help me this would be greatly appreciated i have a kicker zx700.5 this is a 5 channel amp and to me i think something is really weird about it. I am using all 5 channels amp 1 and 2 are my front and rear speakers and my third is my sub channel but my problem is when i take my sub input rca jacks out my subs get louder and still stay on now i thought that they should turn off not get louder if any one has any info on this please let me know thanks guys.

[chpthril]

If some one could please help me this would be greatly appreciated i have a kicker zx700.5 this is a 5 channel amp and to me i think something is really weird about it. I am using all 5 channels amp 1 and 2 are my front and rear speakers and my third is my sub channel but my problem is when i take my sub input rca jacks out my subs get louder and still stay on now i thought that they should turn off not get louder if any one has any info on this please let me know thanks guys.

Phil will correct me if I'm wrong, but the ZX700.5 only needs 1 set of RCA's going into amp 1 to power all 4 speaker channels and the sub.

If it's louder and not "clipping" the signal, leave it

[thekidran]

I just don't get it from my alpine radio i have 3 outputs a front rear and sub output i would think that would give me optimal performance out of all my speakers but it seems that with the sub input unplugged i get the best sound tell me what you guys think i just want to make sure the amp is suposed to do this.

[da.bell]

One of the members, Phil (philwsailz), specializes in Kicker equipment. He gets online once in a while and you can PM him so he knows you have a question. However there is others on here that will also be able to help like SP.

[chpthril]

I just don't get it from my alpine radio i have 3 outputs a front rear and sub output i would think that would give me optimal performance out of all my speakers but it seems that with the sub input unplugged i get the best sound tell me what you guys think i just want to make sure the amp is suposed to do this.

In know way can I explain the anomaly you are experiencing, but I'm learning a little about the 700.5 With the 5 channel amp, you wont need that "amp" output going into the ZX700.5. It will work off a single signal and then divide (I know there is some technical mumbo-jumbo to describe this ) up the tones and send them to the correct speakers/sub.

I would recommend that you go over all the settings on the amp(s) just to make sure you are getting the most out of your system. My was a MESS (bad dealer) and after working through it with Phil and Spharis, it is

[philwsailz]

If some one could please help me this would be greatly appreciated i have a kicker zx700.5 this is a 5 channel amp and to me i think something is really weird about it. I am using all 5 channels amp 1 and 2 are my front and rear speakers and my third is my sub channel but my problem is when i take my sub input rca jacks out my subs get louder and still stay on now i thought that they should turn off not get louder if any one has any info on this please let me know thanks guys.

Here, let me see if I can respond in short:

A.
The ZX700.5 has pre-amp signal transfer. If you connect RCA cables to AMP1, and ONLY AMP1, you will provide signal to AMP1, as well as AMP 2 and also to the sub amp.

B.
If when you use two sets of RCA's, (front and rear) the typical setup is for FRONT RCA's to connect to AMP1, and REAR RCA's to amp2. In that exact and only situation, the SUB AMP is getting its signal from the RCA's connected to AMP2.

C. If you have a radio that has subwoofer outputs, these are connected to the SUB AMP input. This is the situation I believe you have, and will allow subwoofer control from the radio.


Very specifically what is happening to you is this:
You have the amp installed as in situation "C" above. When you unplug the RCA cables from the SUB input on the amp, the sub amp is getting its signal from your REAR RCA's, like in situation "B" above.

There are any number of reasons for it to be louder in situation "B", and we need to look to your radio to determine why.
First, what radio are you using?
Second, can you go through the radio's menu settings for the subwoofer, and let us know what the individual settings are? You will be looking for things like lo-pass frequency, (LPF) Gain, bass boost, etc.

Finally, on the amp, there are some switches on the end where the speaker wires come out, and several knobs on the front. Can you let us know where those are set?


I know this sounds like asking a lot, but if you can get us these pieces of information, we can move to a place where we at least understand what is going on, and we probably can tweak things to your ears where it sounds even better to you.

Do some research and get back with us! This will be a good exercise for all of us to go through..

[thekidran]

Thanks you very much phil yes I do have an alpine amp that has a front rear and sub output. Now i realize that amp one can control all of my speakers which i don't mind at all. but for some reason when i just plug in amp 1 i loose my RT Rear speaker i am really confused. Then when i plug into amp 2 on the red side i get that speaker back. All of my wiring is correct i checked like 3 times if it was all correct including polarities. I have both High pass filters on for amp 1 and 2 so sub bass does not get into my front and rear channels. Second my amp 1 and 2 gains are set the same a little above the first tick mark. I forgot to mention that when i plug in amp 2 and that right rear speaker turns on i get engine noise in the rear spekaers. My radio does have a sub control but i don't really care to use it because i have the kicker knob to control my sub levels. If you need any more informations just let me know i really appreciate you taking the time to help me. If you want i could pm my phone number and troubleshoot over the phone thanks

[vanillamack]

Phil:
Never got the answer to this problem. I also have a brand new ZX700.5 experiencing similar issues in my car...

First day performance was brief as the sub channel cut out after 10 minutes of use at way less than 50% volume. I was on my way to work and planned look at it once I got back home. I didn't get that far. That afternoon to start the drive home, as soon as I turned the radio on, there was a loud "pfoomp" noise from the trunk where the amp was mounted. I immediately stopped (as I was just in the parking lot) and opened the trunk. Smoke. The amp was smoking. I freaked out. I yanked the 4 gauge power cable out of the amp to stifle any further electrical arcing.

I am an engineer by trade, so I know my negatives from my positives. Wiring was not an issue as it was all laid with care, of sufficient gauge, and of high quality (Streetwires and Monster used throughout). None of the fuses were blown, so it was not a power surge or battery issue.

I metered my speakers and all came back with good impedances, so the damage appeared to be contained to the amp, amen.

After un-mounting the amp from the rear deck, I noticed a rattling noise inside it. Apparently, whatever went "pfoomp" blew something loose in there. I called Kicker and they said it was a defective product. Ya think?

Fun part 2! I got a new ZX700.5 and this time no smoke. However, I am STILL frustrated with it. I can get all 5 channels to cut out at about 60% volume. This time they cut out but come back on in a few seconds after I lower the volume. Next, the amp tries to make the sub play full-range frequencies instead of just bass. When connected correctly with my 6-channel RCAs, the sub tries to play frequencies it was not intended for. When I unplug the 4 full-range RCAs and just leave the 2 sub RCAs plugged in, the sub immediately plays louder and just the bass. WTF! I've switched the RCAs around on both the headunit and amp to rule out any wiring issues. I then pulled the headunit out and ran some different RCAs to the amp to be sure it wasn't my RCAs that I have already buried under the trim. I didn't really get different performance with them either. I think as a last step I am going to bring my garage boombox over and wire it into the speaker-level inputs on the amp with the goal of ruling out issues with the headunit. It is definitely something with the amp.

Any tips or experience here?

[chpthril]

Phil:
Never got the answer to this problem. I also have a brand new ZX700.5 experiencing similar issues in my car...

First day performance was brief as the sub channel cut out after 10 minutes of use at way less than 50% volume. I was on my way to work and planned look at it once I got back home. I didn't get that far. That afternoon to start the drive home, as soon as I turned the radio on, there was a loud "pfoomp" noise from the trunk where the amp was mounted. I immediately stopped (as I was just in the parking lot) and opened the trunk. Smoke. The amp was smoking. I freaked out. I yanked the 4 gauge power cable out of the amp to stifle any further electrical arcing.

I am an engineer by trade, so I know my negatives from my positives. Wiring was not an issue as it was all laid with care, of sufficient gauge, and of high quality (Streetwires and Monster used throughout). None of the fuses were blown, so it was not a power surge or battery issue.

I metered my speakers and all came back with good impedances, so the damage appeared to be contained to the amp, amen.

After un-mounting the amp from the rear deck, I noticed a rattling noise inside it. Apparently, whatever went "pfoomp" blew something loose in there. I called Kicker and they said it was a defective product. Ya think?

Fun part 2! I got a new ZX700.5 and this time no smoke. However, I am STILL frustrated with it. I can get all 5 channels to cut out at about 60% volume. This time they cut out but come back on in a few seconds after I lower the volume. Next, the amp tries to make the sub play full-range frequencies instead of just bass. When connected correctly with my 6-channel RCAs, the sub tries to play frequencies it was not intended for. When I unplug the 4 full-range RCAs and just leave the 2 sub RCAs plugged in, the sub immediately plays louder and just the bass. WTF! I've switched the RCAs around on both the headunit and amp to rule out any wiring issues. I then pulled the headunit out and ran some different RCAs to the amp to be sure it wasn't my RCAs that I have already buried under the trim. I didn't really get different performance with them either. I think as a last step I am going to bring my garage boombox over and wire it into the speaker-level inputs on the amp with the goal of ruling out issues with the headunit. It is definitely something with the amp.

Any tips or experience here?

1st, it sounds like the gains are set to high, what method did you use to set....by ear or by DVOM.

Next, how many signal pairs are you running to the amp? The ZX will work all 5 chnls with just one LT/RT signal pair plugged into AMP1.

Lets start here and see.

[vanillamack]

I have tried setting the gains by ear and haven't been able to get to the clipping point because the amp cuts out. Right now, the gains are at about 30%. Turning the volume up to 60% results in static then cuts out. A few seconds rest at lower volume brings everything back on.

Gains or not, that shouldn't cause the sub channel to play mids and highs. The lowpass crossover is non-defeatable...it should always only play bass. Mysterious!

[vanillamack]

Oh and to answer the signal pairs question... I have a 6-channel RCA from the headunit plugging in to every port on the amp.

I've tried different methods...unplugging all except the Amp 1 pair, unplugging just the sub pair, plugging just the sub pair by itself. Results are mixed on the subs playing high frequencies. But the premature cut-out persists in any method.

[chpthril]

I have tried setting the gains by ear and haven't been able to get to the clipping point because the amp cuts out. Right now, the gains are at about 30%. Turning the volume up to 60% results in static then cuts out. A few seconds rest at lower volume brings everything back on.

Gains or not, that shouldn't cause the sub channel to play mids and highs. The lowpass crossover is non-defeatable...it should always only play bass. Mysterious!

Oh and to answer the signal pairs question... I have a 6-channel RCA from the headunit plugging in to every port on the amp.

I've tried different methods...unplugging all except the Amp 1 pair, unplugging just the sub pair, plugging just the sub pair by itself. Results are mixed on the subs playing high frequencies. But the premature cut-out persists in any method.

With the gains turned down and prob still exists, sound like a shorted speaker/sub wire maybe.

What is the sub coil's ohms?

Try using just 1 signal pair from the head unit for diagnosing purposes. As stated in Phil's post above, the Zx will transfer over to AMP 2 and SUB. Try disconnecting the sub wire first and see how it performs. Next do this with the speaker channels one at a time to see if one is causing the problem. I would also take this opportunity to check the resistance of each driver loop while they are unplugged. Also look close to make sure you dont have a kitty whisker shorting over from another chnl.

[vanillamack]

Sub is an Elemental Designs 13Ov2. Dual 4 ohm in parallel for a 2 ohm load.

I tried just running a pair of RCAs to Amp 1 and that's it. I think that provided the clearest sound...no highs in the sub...but the cut out still happens.

I can check for a whisker, but doubtful...I've got jacketed spades on all speaker leads.

[chpthril]

Sub is an Elemental Designs 13Ov2. Dual 4 ohm in parallel for a 2 ohm load.

I tried just running a pair of RCAs to Amp 1 and that's it. I think that provided the clearest sound...no highs in the sub...but the cut out still happens.

I can check for a whisker, but doubtful...I've got jacketed spades on all speaker leads.

Your good with the sub at 2ohm. I would still throw the DVOM across at the loops and also to ground, and make sure you dont have a shorted speaker wire. I had the tower speaker pinched under the tower leg, and it would play til you cranked up the volume, then the amp would drop into protect mode, just like you are experiencing.

[vanillamack]

I can check the wires.

Here's another wrinkle that has further frustrated the problem! As I mentioned earlier, I was going to hook up the garage boombox to the speaker-level inputs to make sure it wasn't a headunit problem.

Well.....that worked like a champ. I was able to crank it waaay louder with the 12 yr old boombox than I was with the Alpine headunit. Louder than the point of cutout I experienced before. Loud enough to the point that I had to check the excursion on the fronts to make sure I wasn't pushing them too hard (max RMS on the fronts is 125w while the amp is rated 70w...so it shouldn't be an issue anyway). The only cutout I got was when my wife came into the garage and told me to cut it out as it was shaking the house and too late for that.

So now I'm stumped. No cutout with the speaker level inputs. Flaky frequency response and cutouts with the RCAs wired as they should be. I can understand an amp cutting out at high volume, but why would a headunit cut signal at high volume?? The only thing I can think is that these RCAs are putting out relatively high voltage (4v) from the headunit (one of the reasons I got this particular headunit), but the amp is rated at 5V. So, again, WTF!

My final test (tomorrow, wifey) will be to plug my ipod's headphone jack into an RCA adapter and try running the system off of that. If the system can crank loud off of that, it kinda narrows it down to the headunit.

Either way, I've got some interesting stuff to talk to Kicker tech support tomorrow when they open...