Volume 6.indd

BRAD APICELLA’S
2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
SOLAR FLARE
EDITION
TOYOTA AVALONS
13 DUB
‘
WITH MICKEY AVALON
BLACK LABEL BAGGERS WITH PAUL TRACY / NEW PUNCHWEAR LINE
ROCKFORDFOSGATEFANATICS
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03
06
09
FACEBOOKFANATICS
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04
07
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Brad Bryant
The only way to go! Never let me down! Iʼve been a Rockford Fosgate fanatic since the mid
80ʼs with 11 full blown systems best audio on the planet!!!
Tj Sidney Shelley
Strongest amp I ever owned!
Riaaz Van Hessin
Itʼs been a part of me since 1994!
Ryan Beal
I have a 93 Probe Gt. I am running all Fosgate. I have always used your products. Love them,
stand behind them.
Michelle Boyle
I LOVE my Fosgate system!
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11
1 ROBERT COPPINGER / FLORIDA
2 GABE HAMILTON / ARIZONA
3 JERIMIE TOY / FLORIDA
4 NINA HUDSON / MISSISSIPPI
5 MATTHEW PALUMBO / WASHINGTON
6 SUSAN HOLLINGSWORTH / CALIFORNIA
7 TANO ROCKFORD / SWITZERLAND
8 MIKE GILMAN / ARIZONA
9 AUDIO RHYTHM / SOUTH CAROLINA
10 STEVE MAHER / WASHINGTON
11 JOHN LIAUDAITIS / NORTH CAROLINA
W
elcome to the 6th edition of Volume. From all of us here in Tempe, Arizona, let me say Thank You! Our supporters are some of
the most passionate audio fanatics around and it is because of you that our employees are committed to providing the finest
performing mobile audio products on the planet.
As with most of Rockford’s team members, I am what we call a SUPER USER. Meaning I am always looking to take the Rockford
Fosgate audio experience with me, regardless of the mode of transportation-a notion that’s gaining some traction.
Recently, I attended an off-road event and the crowd was eagerly waiting for the next group of Jeeps to come crawling through the
boulder-ridden canyon. Before the sound of scraping drivetrains and squealing tires, you could hear it… music. The crowd erupted
with cheers for the approaching driver. A 4-wheeled beast emerged from the canyon, system cranked; it was incredible. All everyone
talked about was the Jeep with the “big” stereo!
At a local motorcycle gathering, the usual Harley crowds were showing up with bikes of all types; baggers, bobbers, full customs. Then
you hear it over the low growl of big pipes and high horsepower: music… loud, clear, clean. The onlookers literally swarmed the bike;
some dancing, everyone blown away by the sound of this two-wheeled concert, all smiling. These moments happen every day. People
have an emotional connection with music and a brand, their brand, our brand: Rockford Fosgate.
Seeing our products help infuse these events with extra energy and excitement is truly inspiring and keeps us motivated to continue
creating stellar audio experiences for your favorite vehicles.
This year, we are proud to announce several new products that allow you to take the Rockford Fosgate experience beyond your car,
truck or SUV and to places that a side by side, motorcycle, boat or RV may go. Products like our new Power amplifiers bring ultra-high
performance in a small, easy to install package, and the new BMW direct-fit speakers give Bimmer drivers a drop-in replacement that
is pure Rockford Fosgate. And for the Harley-Davidson lovers, we’ve added specific audio kits including mounting plates and harnesses
for a straightforward installation.
Thank you again for your passion and support. Enjoy Volume 6.0!
Bill Jackson – President / CEO
ON LOCATION AT
PAUL YAFFE’S BAGGER NATION
VOLUME 6.0
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05
VOLUMECONTENTS
2
TO THE FANATICS
LETTER FROM PREZ
5
‘61 IMPALA
MICKEY AVALON
10
HOW TO
SPEAKER INSTALL TIPS
11
‘13 AVALONS
DUB EDITION
15
TEST & REVIEW
P2D212 SUBWOOFER
17
‘08 LEXUS LS460L
JOB DESIGN
21
INSIDE LOOK
POWER AMPS
23
DEALER SPOTLIGHT
PROLINE CAR STEREO
25
HOW TO
BATTERY/CHARGING SYSTEM
27
‘06 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
BRAD APICELLA
11
17
27
31
TEST & REVIEW
P600X4 AMPLIFIER
33
MODIFIED MOTORCYCLES
BLACK LABEL BAGGERS
38
HOW TO
SYSTEM DESIGN
41
PUNCH WEAR
2014 PRODUCT LINE
FOLLOW US
3
VOLUME 6.0
33
S
T
N
E
V
E
STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY
AUG 4TH – AUG 10TH
Sturgis, SD
Rockford Fosgate is the Official
Motorcycle Audio Sponsor of Sturgis
JAN 4TH – MAY 3RD
17 STOPS IN 13 STATES
Rockford Fosgate is the Official Car
Audio Sponsor of RCH Racing
SX - SUPERCROSS
UPROAR FESTIVAL
AUG 13TH – OCT 5TH
37 STOPS IN 27 STATES
Rockford Fosgate is the Official
Audio Sponsor of Uproar Festival
FEB 18TH – MAR 26TH
25 STOPS IN 9 STATES
Visiting Over 175,000 Students
HIGH SCHOOL NATION - SPRING TOUR
HIGH SCHOOL NATION - FALL TOUR
SEP 15TH – OCT 16TH
25 STOPS IN 17 STATES
Visiting Over 175,000 Students
MAR 26TH – MAR 30TH
MUD JAM STEREO COMPETITION,
OBSTACLE COURSES & MORE
Jacksonville, TX
HI LIFTER MUD NATIONALS
SAND SPORT SUPER SHOW
SEP 19TH – SEP 21ST
MAY 2014 – AUG 2014
12 STOPS IN 11 STATES
Rockford Fosgate is the Official Car
Audio Sponsor of RCH Racing
MX - MOTOCROSS
rockfordfosgate.com ‡
THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SAND
SPORTS EXPO
OC Fair & Event Center / Costa Mesa, CA
VOLUME FEATURE
5
VOLUME 6.0
Infamous for his
tough life on the
streets of Los
Angeles and crazy
music tours, L.A.
based rapper
Mickey Avalon has
never been shy
about his wild
lifestyle. Sit with
Mickey for five
minutes today, and
he’ll break down
his newest addiction
for you — Cars!
Mickey has a style all of his own, and
unlike just about every other rapper out
there he’s not rambling on about all his
money, cars, houses and jewelry. Instead,
Avalon’s lyrics hit sharp and strong with
descriptions of his hard knock life, deep
inner demons, and sensual scenarios with
a satirical twist. Nothing is stopping his
stubborn ass from cutting the tracks HE
wants to cut and distancing himself from
any major record label in order to maintain
independence and control.
Mickey’s “do it my way” attitude has spilled
over into his new-found love of collecting and
building cars. Much like his music, he goes
strictly with what he feels and likes. When his
’61 Impala got jacked from a local mechanic’s
shop, it was buddy Misha at Divine 1 Customs
that had an ace up his sleeve.
Misha and Mickey haven’t known each other
long, but seem to be a killer combo. Misha’s
reach into the car world conveniently helped
replace Mickey’s stolen ’61 bubble-top
Impala with an even better body to start with,
this time having Divine 1 handling all the
work in-house. A strategy was agreed upon,
and the crew went full-force into the project
like a band hitting the stage.
Now, you’d think with Mickey’s background
as a musician, the audio system would be
a top priority, but it took some convincing
from Misha to prove that sound ‘sets the
soul’ for the ride. Rockford Fosgate was the
obvious choice to match up the hard-hitting
sounds of one artist with another.
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VOLUME 6.0
An avid LA Kings fan, Mickey paid tribute via the exterior by
using Kings colors for paint, and completed the exterior with
fresh wheels, tires and engine work. Next, Divine 1 audio expert
Sean Murphy went into full effect throwing together a winning
interior arrangement that would later give the car its new name:
“Peepshow”. The front doors sliced off a set of PUNCH Pro PPS4-8
8” mid-range speakers with a complimentary set of PUNCH Pro
PP4-T 1.5” tweeters. This set up gets juiced up on its own
dedicated PUNCH P500X2 500 watt 2-channel amp.
Slide back a few feet and the rear deck stacks up (2) PUNCH Pro
PPS4-6 6” mid-ranges and (2) PUNCH Pro PP4-T 1.5” tweeters,
all running off a second PUNCH P500X2 500 watt 2-channel ampli-
I was so stoked to get the
“
Rockford product into the ’61,
but it was even better getting
some close ass Fosgate friends
I know I’m going to roll with
for life.
”
-MICKEY AVALON
fier. Just enough power in the cabin to match Mickey’s mashed
up lifestyle. Murphy got a little squirrely in the boot bringing to
the main-stage (2) PUNCH P3 12” woofers firing up through the
rear deck, with only a teaser window visible into the amps and
enclosure for a hot side view of the big bolt-on subs. A stacked
line up of rough metal with a backbone of polished knobs gives
Peepshow a sexy, powerful look - in typical Mickey Avalon fashion,
it screams “sexy cool”. A single PUNCH P1000X1BD 1000 watt
mono amp adds the power to Peepshow’s punch making her a
true force to be reckoned with.
Misha and the crew at Divine 1 hit the nail on the head transforming Mickey’s Impala as well as his views on just how much a well
put together system means to a car. “It’s all about stance, paint,
TECH SPECS | 1961 CHEVROLET IMPALA
SOURCE UNIT: (1) RFX5000 / RFXMR5BB
AMPLIFIERS: (2) Punch P500x2, 2-Channel Amp
(1) Punch P1000x1bd, Mono Amp
SUBWOOFERS: (2) Punch P3D212, P3 12” Dual 2-Ohm Subwoofer
SPEAKERS: (4) Punch Pro PP4-T, 1.5” Tweeters
(2) Punch Pro PPS4-8, 8” Speakers
(2) Punch Pro PPS4-6 - 6” Speakers
shoes, and now sound,” Mickey explains. “I was so stoked to get the
Rockford product into the ’61, but it was even better getting some
close-ass Fosgate friends I know I’m going to roll with for life. I want
to develop all the building skills myself and get more hands on in my
future builds,” he continues, “but first, I need to get a little ‘hands-on’
in my new girl, Peepshow.” Roll on Mickey…..Roll on.
the way that I roll,
“Ain’t nothing personal baby, yeah that’s
electric gigolo…”
-MICKEY AVALON,
lyrics from Electric Gigolo
SPEAKER UPGRADE OPTIONS
Every vehicle presents their own unique obstacles when
upgrading speakers; location, mounting depth, forward
clearance, or even the vehicle’s factory wiring. Most
installations are pretty straight forward, but some can be
more involved.
01
02
03
05
Fig. 01-04 Some speakers will fit right into the factory speaker openings and use the factory grilles
and brackets. Fig. 05 Others fit with the help of a mounting bracket, or with minor modifications,
such as drilling new screw holes, cutting a small area of metal, or covering any gaps as a result of
the speaker being larger or smaller than the factory opening. Beyond upgrading the speakers, this
is a good opportunity to think about other upgrades. With the doors taken apart you can add sound
deadening material, Dead SkinTM, to silence panel vibration and reduce road noise or upgrade that
factory wiring to help ensure you get maximum performance out of your audio upgrades.
06
07
10
Fig. 06-10 In some instances, direct speaker replacements might not be available to meet desired
08
04
09
performance expectations which will then require an adaptor to mount a round speaker in an
oval opening or switch from a coaxial to component speaker. Component systems are made
up of separate mid-bass, tweeters, and crossovers. The component mid-bass will install in your
factory speaker locations, but if your vehicle wasn’t equipped with a factory component system,
the tweeters sometimes require custom installation. Depending on where you choose to mount the
tweeters, this could involve modifying the door panels or dash. In some vehicles, you can mount
them on the sail panels or a-pillar.
TIPS
Rockford’s product development team has gone to great
lengths to ensure every full range product is easy to integrate
into a wide range of applications with technologies like
FLEX FIT to match to a variety hole mounting patterns, DDC
(Discreet Dual Clamp) for simple and secure tweeter mounting,
and ICC (Integrated Concealed Crossover) eliminating an
external crossover that would need to find a home in your
vehicle. Beyond these great technologies the development
C UTO UT TE M P LATE
team also added features to help every level of installer. Like
Multi-OEMTM Adapters
D O W N L O A D S
semi-tac adhesive on the back of the crossovers to help keep
it in position when mounting or zip tie tracks on the in-line crossovers to add mounting flexibility. In most models of Rockford’s full
range products included a set Multi-OEMTM adapter plates. Other helpful resources like speaker cutout templates can be found at:
rockfordfosgate.com
VOLUME 6.0
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VOLUME FEATURE
2013 DUB EDITION TOYOTA AVALON
DUB magazine crystallized at the turn of the century with a fist-full of hundreds and a promise from
a couple eager lads to share their love and passion with the rest of the world. More than a decade later, DUB
personifies more than just words on paper and powerful pictures.
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VOLUME 6.0
2013 DUB EDITION TOYOTA AVALON
It’s about vibe, dedication and a commitment to the hard work needed to achieve that long sought after end
goal. Myles Kovacs and Haythem Haddad continue to head the company they created and live the lifestyle
that lured them in.
VOLUME 6.0
12
Branching out, DUB has now reached hundreds of millions through print, digital media and most intimately
with the DUB Show Tour hitting cities like yours across
the nation. What a perfect place for Rockford Fosgate to
team up with Toyota and DUB to showcase the all-new
Avalon in what might just get you seeing “DUB-BLE”.
Whether it’s been for a feature article with the hottest
musician, sports star, celebrity or even a live event touring
across the country, DUB and Rockford have been working together for years as the choice of champions. It only
made sense that Toyota sent hot off the assembly line, not
only one but two Avalons looking for a face lift. DUB came
strong, injecting their style and flare resulting in anything
but your average set of ‘grocery getters’.
This build had DUB setting out to enhance the fresh pair
of Avalons that were already oozing luxury, with some
subtle body styling, unique opposing paint schemes,
and of course 22” Dropstars wheels. Inside the Diamond
White Pearl sedan is a combination of black leather and
Ultrasuede, set off by white stitching, piping and trim. RF
integrated into the factory radio with their 3Sixty.3
Interactive Signal Processor adding a wide range of tuneability. Compliment that with a speaker setup featuring
a set of POWER TIT-S 1” tweeters plus a set of POWER
T1675-S 6.75” component speakers in the front doors and
a set of POWER T165 6.5” full-range speakers for the rear
doors. The same elegant blend of black leather and white
accents was added to the custom subwoofer enclosure
and amp rack for the (2) POWER TOD212 12” subwoofers and (1) POWER T1000-4ad 4-channel amplifier plus
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VOLUME 6.0
(1) POWER T1500-1bdCP mono amp. All of this
is sitting pretty under a plexiglass Avalon
logo accented with LED lighting molded in the
trunk lid. Without a doubt this is enough to rock
any jock, or bump bottomless bass on any rapper’s latest cut. On the flip is a fine Brandywine
exterior with a plush cream interior version of
these yin and yang Avalons for a slightly different
flavor. Featuring most of her fair skinned twin’s
same audio components except for the rear door
speaker setup received a set of POWER T1693
6”x9” 3-way full range speakers.
WHETHER IT’S BEEN FOR A FEATURE
ARTICLE ON THE HOTTEST MUSICIAN,
SPORTS STAR OR CELEBRITY…OR A LIVE
EVENT TOUR ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
FOSGATE HAS BEEN THE CHOICE
OF CHAMPIONS WORKING WITH
DUB FOR YEARS.
DUB President and co-founder Myles Kovacs
spoke directly about this build, “We really wanted
to get Rockford in on such an outstanding premiere
showcasing the newly redesigned Toyota Avalons.
It was a perfect match in class and style. My first
amps ever were Rockford. We wanted to make
sure this system ‘hit’, and I knew I could count
on RF to provide a LOT of bass that our market
craves. Quality/Sound/Looks/Hit... RF delivers
great merchandise that’s dependable and people
love ‘em for that.”
These Avalons are turning heads and opening
eyes thanks to the new styling from the crew at
DUB. Both can be seen on the DUB Show Tour
across the country, so make sure to check the
website for a stop near you. Fosgate and DUB
look to continue the long tenured relationship
with some future builds already on the drawing
table, so keep eyeing future articles for updates
on their latest projects or tour dates in your neck
of the woods!
TECH SPECS | 2013 TOYOTA AVALON
PROCESSOR: (1) 3Sixty.3, 8-Channel Interactive Signal Processor
AMPLIFIERS: (1) Power T1000-4ad, 4-Channel Amp
(1) Power T1500-1bdCP, Mono Amp
SUBWOOFERS: (2) Power T0D212, T0 12” Dual 2-Ohm Subwoofer
SPEAKERS: (1) Power T1T-S1, 1” Tweeter Kit
(2) Power T1675-S, 6.75” Component System
(2) Power T165, 6.5” Component System
(1) Power T1693, 6”x9” 3-way Component System
VOLUME 6.0
14
REVIEW // P2D212 SUBWOOFER
Text & Measurement by Garry Springgay; originally published online 2013 by PAS Magazine
Ever since the first Punch woofer was built almost thirty years ago, Rockford Fosgate has been an industry leader in
subwoofer technology and performance. These days, the venerable Punch series of woofers has been expanded to three
separate series of products, each with their own attributes. This time we’re looking and listening to a woofer from the
mid P2 series - specifically the P2D2-12. As you may have guessed from the model number, this is a dual, two-ohm voice
coil, 12-inch woofer. The P2D2-12 has a continuous power rating of 400 Watts and a suggested retail price of $169.99
(USD).
FEATURES
// Each P2 woofer is built on a unique, heavy duty, stamped
steel basket that Rockford calls ‘StampCast.’ Built into
the basket is an innovative mounting system known as
‘FlexFit.’ The basket is made with a special slot-mounted
frame pattern to allow fine-tuned adjustments of the
woofer position. A diamond-cut, cast aluminum trim ring
is included with the woofer to give the final installed version
a classy, finished look.
// Magnetic energy to power the P2D2-12 comes from a
double-stacked ferrite magnet assembly, weighing in
at 72.8 ounces. The magnetic energy is focused in the
narrow gap surrounding the 2.25-inch, four-layer copper
voice coils, which are wound on an aluminum former to
maximize heat dissipation. Additional cooling is provided
by vent openings under the spider which allow cool air to
enter and hot air to be expelled, thus improving long term
power handling and durability. A pair of mirror-imaged
poly cotton spiders are used to keep the coil centered in
the gap and provide the precise amount of compliance
required.
// Embedded in the spiders are 16 AWG tinsel leads for
maximum current transfer at low impedances. Two pairs of
nickel-plated, spring loaded terminals are mounted on
QUICK TECH SPECS
15
>
Power Handling
>
Frequency Range
>
Sensitivity
>
Nominal Impedance
VOLUME 6.0
opposite sides of the basket, which accept up to 10 AWG
cables.
// This moving assembly drives a Kevlar-reinforced pressed
paper pulp cone with an inverted dustcap. Through a clever
concept Rockford calls ‘VAST’ (or Vertical Attach Surround
Technique), the effective cone area of the P2 woofer is
greater than a typical 12-inch woofer – which means
more bass output! Rather than taking up the valuable
cone diameter with a standard flat glue landing, the VAST
method uses a tall-profile Santoprene surround that
requires less space and attaches to the specially formed
basket. The result is a woofer with exceptional excursion
capabilities and more cone area. A molded soft rubber
magnet cover trims the bottom of the woofer and protects
the motor assembly.
// Earlier this year, Rockford Fosgate announced that all
new woofers are tested and verified using state-of-theart Klippel analyzers and specially trained and certified
personnel to ensure the highest level of product quality
and consistency.
LISTENING
// After my usual woofer breakin period, I mount the
P2D2-12 in a 1.25-cubic foot sealed enclosure (roughly
in the middle of the recommended sealed
enclosure sizes), and connect it to my
listening room reference system. With
the subwoofer amplifier crossover set at
100 Hz with a second order slope, I begin
400 Watts RMS / 800 Watts “Peak”
my listening session. First up is Donald
20 Hz – 300 Hz
Fagen’s classic Ruby Baby. This track has
an exceptionally well recorded kick drum,
86.2 dB/SPL @ 1.0 W (1.0V @ 1 ohms)
synthesizer, and bass guitar. The Punch
(2) 2 ohms coils
woofer reproduces everything nicely, with
THIELE-SMALL PARAMETERS
lots of authority and excitement. Next up is Take the A-Train from
a DMP Big Band disc called Carved in Stone. The stand up bass in
this track is in the forefront and has plenty of natural overtones.
Playback of this complex track is very good, with a hint of ring
from the Punch woofer. At this point, I lower the crossover point to
80 Hz. Switching to some hip-hop and Billy Idol’s Prodigal Blues,
the woofer really comes into its forte, with strong, deep bass
that begged you to turn it up. I listen to the woofer for a couple of
hours and play everything from classical, to hip-hop and country.
Regardless of the music, the Punch woofer handles everything in
stride, and sounds good doing it. I won’t say it’s the most accurate
woofer I have ever heard, but it certainly is exciting and fun to listen
to. It’s also not perfect from an audiophiles perspective, but very
few woofers at this price range are, and of them, none could hold
a candle to the P2D2- 12 in terms of authority and output. Then
I put the woofer in a 1.75-cubic foot vented enclosure, because
that configuration is also listed in the manual. The vented design
really increases the already impressive output significantly, but at
the expense of a certain amount of control and articulation. The
bottom end is immensely strong, but seems to lack a bit of the
detail and tightness I observed in the sealed enclosure. From my
personal perspective, I prefer the woofer in the sealed enclosure.
But if you’re willing to give up a little bit of SQ for a whole lot of
SPL, maybe the vented enclosure is your choice.
MODEL=ROCKFORD FOSGATE PUNCH P2D2
12” SUBWOOFER
PARALLEL COILS
>
Revc = 0.95 ohms
>
Fo= 27.215 Hz
>
Sd= 0.056 M²
>
Vas= 80.1 Liters or 2.828 Ft³
>
Cms= 0.179 mm/N
>
Mmd= 182.556 g
>
Mms= 190.176 g
>
BL= 7.195 T·M
>
Qms= 5.341
>
Qes= 0.597
>
Qts= 0.537
>
Levc= 0.425 mH
>
No= 0.262%
>
SPLo= 86.194 dB
>
EBP= 45.6
ON THE BENCH
// After letting the woofer cool and normalize, I remove it from the
enclosure and measure the Thiele-Small parameters. Comparing my results to the somewhat limited published
numbers, I found them to be spot-on or very close. The following parameters were measured on the sample I
tested, with the voice coils in parallel.
CONCLUSION
// Almost thirty years have passed since the legendary Punch woofer rolled off the assembly line. That’s a long
time ago in today’s rapidly changing world. But while technologies have changed and materials have improved
for performance that’s better than ever, when it comes to the sheer enjoyment a Rockford Fosgate woofer
brings to your ride, some things haven’t changed at all.
VOLUME 6.0
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VOLUME FEATURE
oto
Photography: Mr. Nobutaka Korem
17
VOLUME 6.0
T
here's no better way to celebrate your company's 10-year
anniversary than by building a demo vehicle that exemplifies
your best work. JobDesign™, a business in Fukuoka-ken, Japan
that makes body modification kits, planned on building a 2008
Lexus LS460L demo car with the intention of bringing it to the
USA. Their sister company, Platinum VIP, would use the car to
promote the sales of their automobile kits by debuting it at
SEMA.
After the body modifications and paint were finalized
on the car, it was handed over to Tseng Respect, an authorized
Rockford Fosgate dealer – also in Fukuoka-ken – to install a
“VIP Audio System”. Respect first routed signal from the source
direct to a 3Sixty.3 interactive signal processor. From there,
the signal is connected to a Punch P600X4 where listeners
are treated to the ultimate sound quality experience with a
pair of Power T5652-S 6.5” component systems. The midrange
is positioned down low and forward in the door, while tweeters
are located in the A-pillars. The system is driven in bi-amp
mode to optimize power delivery.
A second Punch P600X4 amp drives speakers in the
trunk. Why the trunk? Well, the car is designed for display at
outdoor events, so passers by are treated to music while gazing
at all the equipment in the cargo area. Respect wanted something loud to get the attention of Car Audio Fanatics walking by,
so they decided on two Punch Pro PP4-T 1.5" 4-ohm tweeters,
and two Punch Pro PPS4-6 6.5" 4-ohm midrange.
For bass, the trunk also holds two Power T2D212 T2
dual 2-ohm subwoofers. Each woofer has it’s own dedicated
Punch P1000X1bd 1,000 watt mono amplifier. Since the system
produces a whopping 3,200 watts, an RFC10HB 10-farad hybrid
capacitor keeps electrical current stabilized.
TECH SPECS | 2008 LEXUS LS 460L
PROCESSOR: (1) 3Sixty.3, 8-Channel Interactive Signal Processor
AMPLIFIERS: (2) Punch P600X4, 600 Watt 4-Channel Amplifier
(2) Punch P1000X1bd, 1,000 Watt Mono Amplifier
SUBWOOFERS: (2) Power T2D212, T2 12” Dual 2-Ohm Subwoofer
SPEAKERS: (1) Power T5652-S, 6.5” Component System
(2) Punch Pro PP4-T, 1.5” 4-Ohm Tweeter
(2) Punch Pro PPS4-6, 6.5” 4-Ohm Midrange
ACCESSORIES: (1) RFC10HB, 10-Farad Hybrid Capacitor
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VOLUME 6.0
Additional information about these shops can be found at www.tseng-respect.com & www.jobdesign.co.jp
BROC
TICKLE
RCH TEAM
CAREY HART
RICKY CARMICHAEL
BROC TICKLE
JOSH HILL
JOSH
HILL
rockfordfosgate.com ‡
INSPIRATION
When we first introduced the subcompact-sized PBR amplifiers,
we discovered they were becoming the solution to a lot of
new applications, and our new customers were teaching us a
lot. Custom motorcycle shops and off-road enthusiasts were
introducing us to a whole new world of fellow fanatics, people
who use their imagination and skills to build totally original radical
machines. We got fired up to take all our best stuff and make some new
amplifiers that matched that level of creativity and excessive performance.
That’s when we started exploring the possibilities of pushing the extreme
limits of our abilities and setting a new standard in power density and
performance.
PHILOSOPHY
We approached the additions to the POWER amplifier line-up with the goal
to make the ultimate amplifier regardless of size. Simply put, take the best
Rockford has to offer in amplifier technology and put it all together in a brand
new scaled down mechanical package.
STRATEGY
Rockford’s fanatics let us know we hit a home run with the PUNCH Boosted
Rail amplifiers. The question was asked, “Can we do more?” Combining fan
cooled heatsink with our high-efficiency topologies sounded like a pretty good
answer, leaving the potential for a huge step-up in performance. We cherrypicked our entire amplifier catalog and pulled together a list of the most
successful, most requested features, and we topped it off with some application
driven features - dual fan forced induction cooling, top-mount controls and quick
connect terminals. With this set of challenging guidelines, we set off down the path
to make it happen.
MILESTONEs
The T500X1BR was developed first. Since we had an established track record with
the PBR500X1, we pursued a side-by-side comparison
with a mocked-up T500X1BR
prototype to judge the relative increase in
performance we could gain by adding dual fans
and the new extruded heatsink design. What
we discovered with our initial experiments
was more than encouraging, and the positive
results gave us the green light to continue
developing the 2-channel and 4-channel
models. Now that we had a successful
validation of thermal performance, we moved
on to the unknown electrical and mechanical
design challenges of incorporating full-range
Class AD in an extremely compact package.
We decided to tackle the more challenging
4-channel T400X4AD. It was a struggle just
to fit all the parts inside the amplifier chassis,
but after countless iterations of board layouts
and mechanical designs, we were finally able
to perform above our expectations on the test
bench and of course in car installations.
CHALLENGES
Switching amplifiers are notoriously difficult to execute with
acceptable signal-to-noise ratio measurements. Add to that
multiple channels, compact dimensions, and a powerful switchmode power supply and the problems compound. Also unique
to switching amplifiers is the unusual character of the noise floor,
which can contain heterodyning whistles and aliasing tones
that are particularly grating on the ears. Similar to ‘hum’ in a
home audio amplifier, you may find that even though an amplifier
has impressive A-weighted S/N bench measurements, it is
impossible to ignore the hum in the noise floor signature. In these
new T400X2ad and T400X4ad Class AD amplifiers we
addressed the problem with a new approach to suppress
crosstalk, extensive noise immunity considerations in
the schematic, and hundreds of man-hours and multiple
4 Ohm 60 Deg Cap
iterations put into the circuit board layout. The results are
4 Ohm 30 Deg Cap
the cleanest, quietest full-range Class AD amplifiers we
4 Ohm 0 Deg Res
have ever produced.
4 Ohm
30 Deg Ind
WHAT SETS IT APART
The Constant Power Class AD amplifiers break the
conventional rules of audio amplification with identical
power ratings at 2Ω and 4Ω. The 4Ω power rating of
an amplifier indicates how much peak output voltage
capability it has, which in turn defines its’ dynamic
headroom potential. The extra voltage headroom in
the Class AD amplifiers is due to the
Constant Power circuitry, which allows
the safe use of higher voltage power
supplies that could ordinarily destroy
an output stage in marginal loading
conditions. Listeners will notice that
these amplifiers seem louder than their
power rating would imply.
WHAT MAKES IT
DIFFERENT
These amps have all the bells and
whistles, plus the best technologies
Rockford has to offer. The recently
patented
C.L.E.A.N.
level
setup
combined with Rockford’s patented
High efficiency circuit topologies,
Boosted-Rail and Constant Power plus
fan cooling. There is nothing left out of
these amplifiers.
W
502
W
483
W
481
W
486
4 Ohm 60 Deg Ind
W
510
2 Ohm 60 Deg Cap
W
751
2 Ohm 30 Deg Cap
W
715
2 Ohm 0 Deg Res
W
709
2 Ohm 30 Deg Ind
W
711
2 Ohm 60 Deg Ind
W
780
4 Ohm 60 Deg Cap
W
936
4 Ohm 30 Deg Cap
W
768
4 Ohm 0 Deg Res
W
707
4 Ohm 30 Deg Ind
W
737
4 Ohm 60 Deg Ind
W
846
2 Ohm 60 Deg Cap
W
1253
2 Ohm 30 Deg Cap
W
992
2 Ohm 0 Deg Res
W
925
2 Ohm 30 Deg Ind
W
967
2 Ohm 60 Deg Ind
W
1033
DEALER
T
H
G
I
L
T
O
SP
PROLINE CAR STEREO
790 Utica Ave, Brooklyn NY 11203
CONTACT: 718-778-4900
WEBSITE: www.prolinenyc.com
YEARS IN BUSINESS: 30
SOCIAL MEDIA:
“Een Draght Mackt Maght” or “In Unity There is Strength”.
This is the official motto of Brooklyn, and it perfectly describes
the eclectic and international mix of talent that works together
at Proline Car Stereo in New York. A complimentary mix of styles,
languages and backgrounds, the Proline team strives to reach a
common goal of unmatched professionalism. But come on buddy,
this is Brooklyn…you know they have to throw some New York
style and flair in there as well or fuhgeddaboudit!
For a car audio shop, a 30 year run is pretty much
unheard of. But William Sullivan founded the shop way back in
the day, establishing a well-respected business and eventually
bringing on partner Shef Sadik to crank things up. Now with
Proline a recognizable brand name, two locations and eyes on
additional real estate, Shef builds off the momentum he’s created
and the customer base that has grown to love him. Ask around
town and Proline’s reputation is built on service, reliability and
quality - the same three pillars that are preached in weekly staff
meetings as the foundation of a successful business. Shef takes
his customer relationships seriously striving to follow Williams’
teachings to make sure everybody that leaves the store is happy
with a wide smile on their face.
“People don’t want frustration, they want solutions,”
Shef says. “We go so far beyond to make sure our entire staff
is knowledgeable about anything new in the industry. This way
we can figure out an answer to any situation. It also allows us to
come up with some pretty creative ideas that end up blowing
people’s minds.”
One such project was a recent build on an over the top
2002 Escalade. The customer was looking to push the limits on
what was possible, so Proline connected with Rockford Fosgate
to overload every available square inch of space with speakers
to create something more rare than a Bigfoot sighting. All told,
Proline created customized mounting for 110 speakers, 20
subs, 16 amplifiers, 18 batteries, 8 alternators, a 32” iMac and a
partridge in a pear tree! This is just an example of the kind of
progressive thinking that turns heads and burns memories in the
brains of customers and fans nationwide.
OUR CUSTOMERS COME IN ASKING
“SPECIFICALLY
FOR ROCKFORD PRODUCTS AND
RF SEEMS TO HAVE SOMETHING FOR ANY BUDGET.
THEY BELIEVE IN THE QUALITY OF THE BRAND AND
THE IMAGE FOSGATE REPRESENTS.
-Shef
”
REMEMBER...THERE’S
“THAN
BROOKLYN!”
-Shef
“You can’t wait for technology to get to you, you have
to go find the next thing out there and get on top of it,” Shef
explains. “You gotta keep adapting with the times or you’re just
going to get left behind.”
Even as dashboards get more intense straight out of the
factory, this install army prides itself on learning every new car
setup so when a confused customer rolls in looking for a way to
upgrade what they already have, class starts and an education is
given. Calculations and creativity breed concept—then effort and
exertion turn into excellence.
Proline’s maximized shop floor space has been described
as “organized chaos”, but cleanliness is a top priority leading to
an organized look and high volume sales. Speaking of sales, each
employee’s vehicle doubles as a designated sound laboratory so
any potential customer can climb inside and test out the system
components, playing their own music if they choose. Nothing
beats a live, in-car test of what you’re looking to buy. Seals the
deal almost every time.
Proline does well with all Fosgate products, but
consistently burns through Pro Series mids and P3 woofers. “Our
customers come in asking specifically for Rockford products
and RF seems to have something for any budget,” Shef details.
“They believe in the quality of the brand and the image Fosgate
represents. I’ve seen everyone from the 16 year old kid with his
NO BETTER PLACE
first ride asking specifically for Rockford components, to the
later years, accomplished audio aficionado making sure he has
Rockford in his Bentley or Rolls.”
Shef’s message seems to be getting out to his market.
He relies heavily on social media, referrals from happy clients and
live events to interact with his trusted home town of Brooklyn.
Our crew can’t wait to meet up and support him again at the next
demo day or car show scene, as long as there is a large NY pie on
hand to keep us fueled up!
CHARGING SYSTEMS
Modern charging systems are more complex than when an
alternator and regulator just simply charged an electrical
system at 14.4VDC. Today, most are computer controlled and
have the ability to factor in typical loads, trip duration, average
engine RPM, battery temperature and much more. These vehicle monitoring features don’t
leave much voltage for additional accessories such as a high performing audio system.
UNDERSTANDING THE ELEMENTS
BATTERIES
Lead Acid (wet-cell) batteries use an electrolyte solution and emit
flammable gases that must be ventilated when charging. They are
economical and readily available. However, for car audio these have
significant performance limitations, such as a high internal resistance
(limited instantaneous current to amps) and can be damaged if
discharged too deeply.
Gel-Cell batteries use an electrolyte additive to create a thick gel
consistency, allowing it to be completely maintenance free. They can
be mounted in virtually any orientation (except upside down), and
because they do not outgas (unless overcharged) are safe to use in enclosed spaces. These batteries typically cost and weigh more.
For car audio gel-cell batteries are a good alternative, but it’s critical to use a temperature sensing, voltage regulated charger
between 13.8 and 14.1 VDC.
This diagram illustrates how an alternator, battery and accessories work in a
vehicle (headlights, windshield wipers, audio amplifiers, etc.)
AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries contain electrolyte in a sponge like glass fiber mat. They are spill proof and less expensive
than comparable gel-cells. AGM batteries have a low internal resistance (typically below 0.01 ohms) and work well in quick/high
discharge conditions making them an excellent choice for car audio. AGM batteries are sensitive to over voltage charging and should
be used with a temperature sensitive voltage regulated charger limited to 14.4 and 14.6 volts at 68° F.
CAPACITORS
Energy Storage Capacitors are electrical repositories rated in Farads. Unlike batteries, capacitors do not produce their own energy.
In typical music playing systems, capacitors prevent rail sag and muddy bass by improving current delivery to amplifiers. When
selecting capacitors, look for low ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) ratings and follow the rule-of-thumb of 1-Farad per 1,000 Watts
RMS of amplifier power.
APPLICATION RECOMMENDATIONS
“DAILY DRIVER” VEHICLES
Alternators are the most important component here. If the alternator has enough capacity for the vehicle and audio system, capacitors
will help stabilize amplifier demands. If an underpowered alternator is used, do not add batteries, as this will only make things worse.
Alternators should handle all but the most extreme current demands. Typical factory alternators provide up to 30% of additional
capacity over the vehicle’s electrical needs. If the system is to be played with the “engine off”, additional batteries can be used, but
will create an extra load on the alternator.
“SPL” VEHICLES
Batteries are the most important component of the electrical supply chain. It’s common to use a dedicated battery bank - not
connected to the vehicle’s charging system - and charged with an external 110V charger. This means the alternator in a pure SPL
vehicle can be left stock, since it will be used only to charge the “starting battery”. There should be enough batteries installed to
supply maximum current for the system while minimizing voltage drop.
TIPS
When grounding multiple batteries or capacitors, use a single ground point attached to bare metal to minimize ground loops. See
grounding How-To previously published in Volume 2.0. With multiple batteries, use similar construction to minimize electrical
resistances and voltage losses (never parallel batteries of dissimilar chemistry/construction).
There are several factors needed when calculating how much battery capacity or capacitor storage is required, so there is no
simple way of calculating it. However you’ll find “Average Current”, “Maximum Current” and “Suggested Alternator” now under the
SPECIFICATIONS of all 2014 amplifiers on www.rockfordfosgate.com.
25
VOLUME 6.0
CAR AUDIO
FOR FANATICS
ITHs part of who you are.”
M
S
Y
D
A
R
B omething that become
“It’s s
3URGXFWFXVWRPL]HGE\FXVWRPHUDQGLVQRWUHSUHVHQWDWLRQRIDFWXDOSURGXFW
rockfordfosgate.com ‡
VOLUME FEATURE
" THAT'S THE GREAT THING ABOUT ROCKFORD, THE SUPPORT
THEY GIVE YOU IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST AND YOU COULD FEEL THEY
WERE JUST AS PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS BUILD AS I WAS. "
YEARS AGO, BRAD APICELLA WAS ASKED,
"WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU
GROW UP?" BRAD SIMPLY REPLIED, "WHY
DO I HAVE TO GROW UP?"
Fast forward to today; Brad and his dad, Frank, have found their passion in the
business of specialty cars. The specialty car business is just that, “a specialty”.
But it’s the challenge that Brad loves, trying to locate the perfect car for their
client - wherever that may be. Stepping into his office/warehouse in Arizona
will make any true car lover feel like a kid in a candy store; Ferraris over here,
911’s over there, classic cars spread about and even some trucks mixed in. It’s
no surprise he has a seemingly hard time calling what he does “work”. “It’s just
an amazing view coming to work everyday.” Brad states. “Not a bad place to get
to hang out at.” So it only made sense that when this young buck was looking
for a project to relax and blow off steam, cars were once again at the center of
his attention…the time has come for his first build!
VOLUME 6.0
28
Most early twenty-somethings will tell you how they know
everything already and to just get
out of their way, but this aspiring
Jedi was smart enough to enlist
a trusted friend and experienced
builder, CJ ‘Yoda’ Silvey, to help
guide him through the process of
turning his vision into a reality.
There’s nothing unfamiliar about the term “Chevy Lowrider”,
but usually it brings thoughts
of Impalas, Monte Carlos, or even a
Caprice. Well, Brad has always had
a thing for trucks; so a few years
back he scooped up a 2006 regular
cab Silverado in hopes of putting it
through a Hulk-ish transformation. A
mean ‘Flo Green’ was the first color
concept, but after some counseling
from Master CJ, a fresh take on the
original factory Dark Ming Blue metallic paint was concocted layering a classic flame paint job over
the dark blue base with the bright
green highlights. The combination
portrays the perfect balance between
reserved physicist, Dr. Banner, and
his inner mean-green self… “Don’t
make me angry. You wouldn’t like
me when I’m angry.”
Brad bombarded the
Rockford Fosgate tech support
department with phone calls,
making sure each product decision
was perfect and well thought out.
“They spent hours on the phone
with me,” Brad reflected. “That’s the
great thing about Rockford - the
support they give you is the
absolute best and you could feel
they were just as passionate about
this build as I was.” The transformation was now underway. A facelift
of this Chevy came with upgraded
LED headlights and a new set of
teeth with a riveted mesh grille.
Hefty new wheels and tires were
locked into place, just outside of
the upgraded brakes and bagged
suspension. Now to give those teeth
bite, the interior was painted and
detailed to match the exterior, and a
serious assault of Rockford POWER
products were inserted. Dropping
the body to the ground eliminated
"THE ARMY OF SUBS IS REVEALED TO
BESTOW A BLAST OF BASS THAT WILL
RATTLE YOUR FILLINGS AND REGISTER ON
THE RICHTER SCALE!"
29
VOLUME 6.0
some bedspace and the possibility for any super
sized subs. Not to worry, as there’s strength in
numbers; (4) POWER T1D210 10” subwoofers in a
custom plexiglass blow-through bandpass enclosure to bring the heat. A woofer setup such as this
called for the largest RF amp available, a POWER
T2500-1bdCP 2500 watt mono amplifier capable
of lighting up Las Vegas! A set of POWER T1462
4”x6” coaxial speakers in the rear factory location sing in harmony with the seldom seen in a
car M2 Marine Grade 8” coaxial speakers; all run
off a POWER T800-4ad 800 watt 4-channel amp.
Normally, traditional 6.5” speakers would get used
for the front doors but there is nothing normal or
traditional about this beast. Now don’t think this
project was all brawn and no brains. The intelligent
Rockford 3Sixty.3 Interactive Signal Processor was
put in place to direct the downloads that come
from the removable in-dash Samsung tablet. Master CJ’s attention to detail is seen throughout from
custom sculpted speaker rings to a painstaking
perfectly detailed sub enclosure and meticulously
trimmed out truck bed to give it gusto. A remote
controlled Tonneau cover keeps the alter ego under wraps but with the push of a button the army
of subs is revealed to bestow a blast of bass that
will rattle your fillings and register on the Richter
Scale! Oops!…Sorry.
This Chevy has placed or won just about
everywhere it has been, motivating Brad to think
about the next build on the horizon. Rumor has it
another truck has been purchased for transformation,
this time a classic looking for modernization. We
just hope this beast plays nice with the newbie
back in the shop!
TECH SPECS | 2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
PROCESSOR: (1) 3Sixty.3, 8-Channel Interactive Signal Processor
AMPLIFIERS: (1) Power T800-4ad, 4-Channel Amp
(1) Power T2500-1bdCP, Mono Amp
SUBWOOFERS: (4) Power T1D210, T1 10” Dual 2-Ohm Subwoofer
SPEAKERS: (2) Marine M282, 8” M2 Speakers
(2) Power T1462, 4”x6” Coaxial Speakers
VOLUME 6.0
30
REVIEW // P600X4 AMPLIFIER
Text & Measurement by Garry Springgay; originally published online 2013 by PAS Magazine
Rockford Fosgate has been a leader in car audio since its original amplifier was produced in 1973. For the last four
decades, the company has continued to refine and develop better technologies to keep them at the top of the car audio
industry. This year at the 2013 WCES show in Las Vegas, Rockford demonstrated once again that they are not satisfied
with sitting on their laurels. The top selling Punch lineup of amplifiers were introduced with some innovative and very
useful features. To explain what they’ve done and how these features can benefit you, we are taking a close look at the
new four-channel Punch P600X4, which sells for $449.99 in the U.S.
FEATURES
// Fundamentally, the P600X4 isn’t much different from the
Punch amplifiers from years past. The amp is a traditional
Class-AB design, rated at 75 watts per channel at four
ohms, and 150 watts per channel at two ohms. The amp
can also be bridged to two channels, where power is
rated at 300 watts by two channels. The amplifier is very
thoughtfully designed and engineered in Tempe, Arizona.
Manufacturing occurs in Thailand in a plant that builds
nothing but Rockford amplifiers all day. As they have for
the better part of twenty years, the Punch amp utilizes
a custom-tooled cast aluminum heat sink and smooth,
black-anodized brushed aluminum top cover – the front
part of which is removable to access the amps top mounted
controls. The result is a look that is reminiscent of a home
audio product.
the sonics of a good Class AB amp. The second benefit is
a reduction of the overall footprint, allowing the amp to
fit in smaller spaces. With heat sinks on three sides, the
amp connections sit on the remaining edge and the topmounted controls (gain, crossover settings and Punch EQ,
available for both front and rear channels).
// But here’s where the new Punch amps separate
themselves from the rest of the pack. One of the most
important and misunderstood aspects of installing an
amplifier is gain setting. Some companies advocate
simple but very general settings, while others insist you
need sophisticated equipment like signal generators and
oscilloscopes to do it correctly. Rockford has developed
a simple and very accurate way of accomplishing the
optimum gain setting for your specific source unit and
// The P600X4’s heat sink is designed to allow the heat
amp. Each Punch amplifier is now equipped with input
generating transistors to be mounted on three sides
and output clip indicators, for use in what Rockford calls
instead of the conventional two. This provides a couple of
a “C.L.E.A.N.” setup (Calibrated Level Eliminates Audible
distinct advantages: first, because the transistors are on
Noise). Included in the box is a special set-up CD; you simply
three sides, heat is dissipated more evenly over the surface
play the appropriate track in your head unit, and increase
of the heat sink. This provides better heat transfer and the
the volume setting until the ‘Input Clip’ lights up on the
amp stays cooler longer, which is important when enjoying
front of the P600X4 and go down one click. Then you simply
adjust the gain controls on the
amplifier until the multicolor
output clip indicators turn blue.
That’s it, you’re done. If you want
TECHNICAL DATA
to tweak it for some gain overlap
THE FOLLOWING POWER MEASUREMENTS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED USING INDUSTRY STANDARD METHODS (1 KHZ @
1.0% THD+N – BATTERY VOLTAGES SHOWN +/- 0.2 V).
and really get it perfect, there
are additional tracks on the disc,
ACTUAL MEASURED POWER
ACTUAL MEASURED POWER
or you can just adjust it to your
MANUFACTURERS
@ 1.0% THD+N
@ 1.0% THD+N
RATED POWER
favorite music.
@ 12.6 V BATTERY
@ 14.4 V BATTERY
31
75 X 4 @ 4 Ω
97 X 4 @ 4 Ω
127 X 4 @ 4 Ω
150 X 4 @ 2 Ω
156 X 4 @ 2 Ω
206 X 4 @ 2 Ω
300 X 2 @ 4 Ω
318 X 2 @ 4 Ω
420 X 2 @ 4 Ω
VOLUME 6.0
TECHNICAL DATA
THE FOLLOWING POWER MEASUREMENTS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED USING INDUSTRY STANDARD
METHODS (1 KHZ @ 1.0% THD+N – BATTERY VOLTAGES SHOWN +/- 0.2 V).
// Another feature added to the 2013 Punch amps
is the ability to accept high-level OEM speaker input
signals right on the RCA connections. You can even
use the DC signal found on these outputs to turn
the amplifier on when no remote-on-wire exists.
A special output jack on the amp can be connected
to additional Punch amps to turn them all on. This
makes the Punch amp a good choice when building a
system to integrate with an OEM head unit. Of course,
a wired Punch level control is available (PLC2, sold
separately) to provide remote level control and input
level clip indication.
LISTENING
// I have listened to literally hundreds of Rockford
Fosgate amplifiers. The Punch P600X4 is a shining
example of why so many audiophiles and critical
listeners choose these products. As I usually do,
my listening session has the front channels driving
a set of high-end bookshelf speakers, with the rear
channels crossed over at 80 Hz driving a pair of 10inch subwoofers. From a sonic perspective, the amp
is very musical and virtually transparent. Stereo
imaging is excellent; there is no audible noise of any
kind. From one end of the spectrum to the other, it
simply makes things louder, which is exactly what a
good amp should do. Of course the crossover and EQ
functions work as expected, but for my listening I just
set the front channels to a flat response and enjoy the music.
>
Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to 2 V output
(CEA-2006A) (1 W @ 4 Ω)
-86.3 dBA
>
Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to full output
-107.3 dBA
>
THD+N at rated 4 ohms power
>
CEA-2006A rated 4 Ω power (min. power per ch.
developed over the entire intended audio
bandwidth)
0.048%
>
Maximum Efficiency at full 4 Ω power per ch.
70%
>
Maximum Efficiency at full 2 Ω power per ch.
64.2%
>
Efficiency at 10 watts per channel, 4 ohms
18.4%
>
Idle Current
>
Input Sensitivity
>
Maximum Current at full 2 Ω power per ch.
>
Frequency Response
(-3 dB) 10 Hz – 105 kHz
>
High Pass Crossover
55 Hz – 250 Hz -12 dB/
Oct
>
Low Pass Crossover
55 Hz – 250 Hz -12 dB/
Oct
>
Subsonic Filter
None
>
Punch EQ Boost
+18 dB @ 40 Hz
+15 dB @ 14 kHz
123 W
2.3 A
180 mV – 13.9 V
34.8 A
ON THE BENCH
// On the test bench, the P600X4 easily outperforms its advertised specifications. Power is abundant and the amp
even exceeds its rated power numbers at a battery voltage of 12.6 volts. The frequency response is nice and flat
and remains that way over 100 kHz! When I measure the Punch EQ, I note that the control not only provides
the usual bass boost at 45 Hz, but also includes a treble boost at about 14 kHz, which is nice when listening
at lower levels or overcoming vehicle road noise. Attention to detail is seen in areas like common mode
ratio rejection from the balanced front end. Stereo separation is also better than most sources can
muster, making the amplifier a treat to listen to.
CONCLUSION
// As the years go by, Rockford Fosgate continues to show that they are real enthusiasts,
developing products to meet their customer’s needs and exceed their expectations.
The new level setting process is one example of this innovation. If you’re looking
for old school performance combined with a healthy dose of 2013 technology,
the $449 Punch P600X4 should definitely be on your audition list.
VOLUME 6.0
32
VOLUME FEATURE
""T hey have to perform...
i mean, i like winning show titles,
but these bikes are built to ride."
-PAUL TRACY
I magine living at speeds well over 100mph for most of your
life. Hell, much of that was spent upwards of 200! When the
time came in your life to sit back and relax a little bit, just
how long would it take before you started to get antsy?
VOLUME 6.0
34
That pretty much explains the life of renowned racer
Paul Tracy. PT was living fast n’ furious on and off the track long
before Vin or any of the other drifter characters figured out how
to kick the clutch on their new Nissans. After a standout
open-wheel racing career, this Canuck grew roots in the Southwest, raising a family and playing with his toys while living
“semi-retired”. Maybe it was the summer sun, or just the ADD, but
Paul got crackin’ on a new plan to combine his longtime love of
Harleys into his next big project. Pow! Black Label Baggers was
born…
It’s nothing new; in fact, it seems to be quite trendy
to be a bike builder these days. PT stands out because he’s got
nothing to prove. “I know what I like and I go with that,” he
explains.
The long swept lines and giant front wheels might
seem more suited for a futuristic art piece than your daily
ride,
riide
d , but make no mistake about it - they work. Having spent
so
so many
man
a y years around racecars, it’s no surprise that PT’s Black
Label
Lab
Lab
La
be
el Baggers is known for low, sleek style with an emphasis on
horsepower
ho
orrssep
e ower and functionality. “They have to perform,” says Paul.
“I
“I mean,
mea
ean, I like winning show titles, but these bikes are built to
ride.
rriide
de.”
Paul’ss sshop
hop master, Pat, has over 20 years of fiberglass
experience
e pe
ex
peri
rience and is able to create fender and bag compartments
ri
rie
35
VOLUME 6.0
that are completely unique. But if you still want to tweak things
out a bit, Paul has no problem putting Pat to work bringing your
one-off idea to fruition- and talk about attention to detail. What
can some custom fiberglass do to a bike like yours, you wonder?
Well, we thought you’d never ask!
Starting off with our fiery redhead, BLB created a
custom fairing to house two sets (yes, I mean FOUR total) of M2
Marine Grade 6.5” speakers sucking their juice from a PUNCH
"All the listed gear is lean and
mean, able to fit in the tight
spacing yet durable enough to
withstand the harsh effects of the
outdoor environment."
-PAUL TRACY
Boosted Rail PBR300X4 300 watt 4-channel amplifier. Most
quitters finish here, but the custom saddlebags give plenty of
room for a pair of PUNCH P3 Shallow 8” subwoofers driven by a
PUNCH Boosted Rail PBR300X1 300 watt mono amplifier.
All the listed gear is lean, mean and able to fit in the
tight spacing, yet durable enough to withstand the harsh effects
of the outdoor environment. (FYI the PUNCH P3 shallow sub
only has a 2.7” mounting depth!) Stuck in the center of the
fairing setup is a double din head unit and some masterfully
placed gauges that permanently read: “kick ass”.
The baby brother bike in blue just had to be different,
TECH SPECS | BLACK LABEL BAGGERS
RED BIKE
AMPLIFIERS:
(1) Punch PBR300X4, Boosted Rail 4-Channel Amp
(1) Punch PBR300X1, Boosted Rail Mono Amp
SUBWOOFERS:
(2) Punch P3SD4-8, 8” P3 Shallow Subwoofer
so it got loaded up top with even more output, including a set
of two PUNCH Pro 6” speakers backed by two PUNCH Pro 1.5”
tweeters. In the middle is an iPad mini with stereo integration
and display software built in for the bike gauges. Way back in
the bags we see a set of M2 Marine Grade 8” speakers capable
of some over the top full-range output. The power plant for
these barkers is a pair of the new POWER T400X2AD 400 watt
2-channel amplifiers as seen in their new 4.3”x7” micro design.
As if the amazing fiberglass paneling or the rake and
paint of these bikes didn’t make them cool enough, Black Label
Baggers just announced a partnership with Precision Billet for
a line of one-off pieces you’ll
be able to see on your next
run.
Rockford takes pride
in relationships like the one
BLUE BIKE
it shares with Paul Tracy and
Black Label Baggers, and
AMPLIFIERS:
will continue to support and
(2) Power T400X2AD, 2-Channel Amp
develop products for these
unique
q
applications.
pp
Besides,
SPEAKERS:
it gives us all a reason to
(2) Punch Pro PPS4-6, 6” Speakers
hang out at Sturgis, see you
(2) Punch Pro PP4-T, 1.5” Tweeters
there!
(2) Marine M282, M2 8” Speakers
SPEAKERS:
(2) Marine M262, M2 6.5” Speakers
VOLUME
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36
2013 ACHIEVEMENTS
LUCAS OIL OFF ROAD
RACING SERIES
RANK
LOCATION
2nd Place
Firebird Raceway, AZ
3rd Place
Firebird Raceway, AZ
2nd Place
Glen Helen, Ca
3rd Place
Glen Helen, Ca
3rd Place
Reno, NV
2nd Place
Las Vegas, NV
rockfordfosgate.com ‡
SYSTEM DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS
Building an audio system doesn’t need to be a complex
endeavor. By learning the fundamentals of system design
you’ll easily be able to configure your own system that
sounds as great as it looks.
AUDIO BASICS
Sound is simply air vibrations picked up by our ears. High-pitched sounds vibrate at a faster rate, and low-pitched sounds vibrate at
a slower rate. Music is nothing more than a mass of complex sounds arranged in a series of complementary tones.
01
Cathedral Grand Organ
Synthesizer
Organ
Accordian
Flute
Soprano Sax
Alto Sax
Tenor Sax
Baritone Sax
Bass Sax
Piccolo
Soprano Clarinet
Alto Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
Oboe
English Horn
Bassoon
Trumpet & Comet
French Horn
Trombone & Euphonium
Tuba
Xylophone
Cymbals
Harp
Snare Drum
Tom-Toms
Kick Drums
Chimes
Timpani
Guitar
Double Bass
Cello
Viola
Fig. 01 Illustrates the human hearing range of
20 Hz (Hertz) to 20 kHz (Kilo-Hertz), with lower
frequencies appearing on the left side and higher
frequencies on the right. We overlaid several
musical instruments – including a piano – to
illustrate the range of frequencies each instrument
is capable of playing.
In its simplest form, there are three types of
speakers needed to reproduce the audible
frequency range: Tweeters, Midrange, and Woofers.
For more complex systems, there are additional
Subwoofer and Mid-bass ranges, but for now we’re
going to keep it simple and stick to three.
High-Frequency Range (2.5kHz to 20kHz)
Violin
Soprano Voice
Alto Voice
Tenor Voice
Baritone Voice
Bass Voice
A0 B0 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 A1 B1 C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 A2 B2 C3 D3 E3 F3 G3 A3 B3 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 A5 B5 C6 D6 E6 F6 G6 A6 B6 C7 D7 E7 F7 G7 A7 B7 C8
Piano Note
21,240.0
14,160.0
7,080.0
27.5
30.9
32.7
36.7
41.2
43.7
49.0
55.0
61.7
65.4
73.4
82.4
87.3
98.0
110.0
123.5
130.8
146.8
164.8
174.6
196.0
220.0
246.9
261.6
293.6
329.8
349.2
392.0
440.0
493.8
523.2
587.3
659.3
698.5
784.0
880.0
987.7
1,046.5
1,174.7
1,318.5
1,396.9
1,568.0
1,760.0
1,975.3
2,093.0
2,349.3
2,637.0
2,794.0
3,136.0
3,520.0
3,951.1
4,186.0
20.6
Frequency
Tweeters are designed to reproduce the high
frequency range, consisting of symbols, synthesizers
and higher order harmonics.
Since higher
frequencies vibrate faster, they produce smaller
wavelengths (a 3kHz tone is 4.5 inches / 114
mm long). Their small size allows voice coil and
diaphragm components to be compact. However, as
wavelengths become shorter, their sound becomes
more directional, so a tweeter is the most sensitive
speaker to place within the vehicle.
Mid-Frequency Range (200Hz to 2.5kHz)
Midrange speakers are designed to reproduce this
frequency range, consisting primary of vocals and
Woofer
Tweeter
Midrange
instruments. This is the most dominant speaker
due to the range of frequencies. Placement within
Subwoofer Range
Midbass Range
Crossover Range
the vehicle is more forgiving due to wavelength
size (a 500Hz tone is 27 inches / 68.6 cm long), but the distance to your ears should be equalized for a proper sound stage, which
we’ll cover soon.
Low-Frequency Range (20Hz to 200Hz)
Woofers are designed to reproduce this frequency range. They have much larger voice coil and cone sizes corresponding to the longer
wavelengths they produce. Placement within the vehicle is typically not an issue and perceived to be omnidirectional due to large
wavelength size (a 50Hz tone is 270 inches / 6.86 meters long).
MOBILE AUDIO SYSTEMS
With typical car audio systems, our goal is to achieve a sound stage that originates in front of the
listener. Sit in the driver’s seat and imagine a live concert performing on the vehicle’s dash. The
sound should originate from across the horizon and reach to the far left and far right of the dash,
with the depth ideally reaching far beyond the interior of the vehicle. Fig. 02 Illustrates the width
and depth of a definitive sound stage. Another factor to consider is “imaging” which is the ability to
reproduce instruments and vocals in their correct locations on the sound stage. Fig. 03 illustrates
installations and their effect on imaging. If you don’t want to physically relocate speakers you can
manipulate the localization effect using signal processors like the time delay feature in 3Sixty.3.
A G E
S T
E
AG
ST
D E P T
H
02
WID
TH
VOLUME 6.0
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SYSTEM DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS
03
Single Amplifier vs. Multiple Dedicated Amplifiers
Coax vs. Component
For the front seats, determine if your vehicle is better apt
to support a pair of “coaxial” speakers, where the tweeter
is mounted in front of a midrange speaker and installed
as one unit, or a “component system” where the midrange
and tweeter are separate. Although coaxial speakers
are easier to install, component systems typically offer
better sound quality. For the rear seating row(s), it’s
most practical to utilize coaxial speakers due to space
limitations in doors.
Amplifiers take low audio signal from the source unit and “boost” them up to overcome road noise and make them easier to hear,
resulting in better sound clarity. A 3-Channel System uses a 2-channel amplifier with speakers wired to the left and right channels,
and a woofer wired in bridged/mono. Note: This type of system requires passive crossovers. A 4-Channel System uses a 4-channel
amplifier with front speakers wired to the front channels, and rear speakers wired to the rear to retain fader control. A woofer with
a passive crossover can be wired to the front channels to retain constant bass regardless of rear fader control. A 5-Channel System
uses a 4-channel amplifier for both front and rear channels to retain fader control, but uses dedicated mono amplifier(s) to power
woofer(s). Multiple amplifiers provide better dynamic range (sound quality) and are more versatile, but are costly to implement over
single amplifier designs.
Standard vs. Compact Amps
Depending upon your vehicle type and space will determine what size of amplifier is used. Most cars, trucks and SUVs have ample
room for installing traditional amplifiers. However single cab trucks and sub-compact cars (think SMART car) are limited in space
and may benefit from compact amplifiers. Electrically sensitive vehicles like hybrid/electric cars may also benefit from the “current
sipping” advantages of compact amps. Rockford Fosgate’s newer lines of compact Punch/Power series amps are perfect since they
require little space and current. Keep in mind their dynamic output is lower than traditional amps.
Woofer Size
Typical car audio woofers range in size from 8” to
15”. Determining what size and how many to use
is up to you. It’s easy as measuring the maximum
Height, Width & Depth available (or space you
want to sacrifice) for woofers. Use our Woofer
BoxWizard at www.rockfordfosgate.com/rftech
to determine the amount of cubic feet/liters
available. One or two woofers are adequate for
most systems. The charts in Fig. 04 illustrate
the amount of airspace needed for Rockford
Fosgate woofers.
Rockford Fosgate Sealed Enclosures
8”
Woofer Size
04
10”
12”
15”
Vb (Cubic Feet)
0.23 – 0.50
0.50 – 0.75
0.75 – 1.25
1.58 – 3.0
Vb (Liters)
6.5 – 14
14 – 21.2
21.2 – 35.4
44.7 – 85
Rockford Fosgate Vented Enclosures
Woofer Size
8”
10”
12”
15”
Vb (Cubic Feet)
0.65 – 1.0
0.75 – 1.50
1.75 – 2.0
2.5 – 3.5
Vb (Liters)
18.4 – 28.3
21.2 – 42.5
49.5 – 56.6
70.8 – 99
Power vs. Loudness
How loud you design a system is of personal preference, and low frequencies are the primary factor of how loud a system plays.
Loudness is defined as a psycho-physical sensation perceived by the human ear/brain, whereas SPL (Sound Pressure Level) is a
logarithmic quantity measured with test equipment. An amplitude change of 1 dB is the minimum detectable sound adjustment
perceived by ear, with 3 dB being the most recognizable change. An increase of power and/or woofers used in a system equates to
more “loudness”. Typical vehicle electrical systems can only support around 500 to 600 watts of amplifier power, so keep this in mind
when building your system. The chart in Fig. 05 illustrates how power, woofer cone area and loudness relate to SPL.
To Equalize or Not
If the built-in equalizer on the radio provides adequate tone control, then there’s no need for an additional equalizer. However, if you
desire more customization of the audio signal, a signal processor with more control over the sound like the 3Sixty.3 may be needed
for your desired taste.
39
VOLUME 6.0
SYSTEM DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS
05
Decibel Increase
+3 dB
+6 dB
+10 dB
Perceived loudness by human hearing
1.23 times louder
1.5 times louder
Twice as loud
Watts needed if using same woofers
2 times the power
4 times the power
10 times the power
Cone area required using same power
2 Woofers
4 Woofers
10 Woofers
Matching Amplifiers to Speakers
Once you determine the type and quantity of speakers needed for your system, how much “amplifier power” should you buy? Look at
the speaker’s RMS power handling (sometimes labeled “Pe”) and sensitivity ratings (labeled “Sensitivity” or “SPL”), then use the chart
below in Fig. 06 for the minimum and maximum power needed. Remember to abide by amplifier impedance recommendations and
divide your power output by the number of speakers. For example, if an amplifier channel produces 100 Watts, but you have two
speakers connected to that channel, each speaker will “see” 50 Watts within the same frequency range.
For example, if a woofer is rated to handle 100 Watts RMS, the formula (100W x 0.30 = 30W) would result in our speaker needing 30
Watts minimum. The maximum would be equivalent to the woofer RMS power handling, which would be 100 Watts. If a midrange
or tweeter is rated to handle 50 Watts
RMS, the formula (50W x 0.20 = 10W)
Suggested Power
Subwoofers
Midrange/Tweeters
would result in our speaker needing
10 Watts minimum. The maximum
Minimum Watts
30% of Speaker RMS
20% of Speaker RMS
would be equivalent to the midrange
or tweeter RMS power handling, which
Maximum Watts
100% of Speaker RMS
100% of Speaker RMS
would be 50 Watts.
06
MARINE AUDIO SYSTEMS
Rockford Fosgate continues to expand its product line for marine audio systems. However, in watercraft installations, system design
is less about imaging/staging and more about convenience. Speakers are typically placed in direct path of listeners in the boat. This
is common because most boats are “open air” with nothing to reflect sound. The exception is the woofer, as it’s usually placed to
“boundary load” under the bow or in a compartment where low frequencies can reverberate to emphasize bass. An experiment you
can try at home to illustrate this effect is to place a woofer enclosure in the middle of a room and listen to it. Now move the enclosure
under a coffee/kitchen table and listen to the result. Low frequency waves reflecting off the table give the impression that it’s louder.
MOTORSPORTS AUDIO SYSTEMS
Rockford Fosgate also continues its development of application specific products, like the recent release of compact Punch and Power
series amplifiers. In motorcycle, golf cart, and ATV/UTV, or side-by-side installations, system design is also less about imaging/staging
and more about convenience. The compact size and efficient power supply requirements make the compact Punch and Power amplifiers
perfect for use in current limited installations.
EXAMPLE SYSTEM DESIGNS
You can download good/better/
best system designs from our
RFTECH Knowledge Base.
Enter Answer ID “11” in the
search box or use the QR Code.
SUMMARY
Audio systems don’t have to be complicated, and simplifying the goal can reduce headaches when building one. Keep the system
basic using just three ranges of speakers (low/mid/high). Optimize the front using component speakers, and if rear speakers are
needed, stick to coaxial types. For bass, measure available space and work backwards to determine what size and quantity of woofers
can be used, with one or two being adequate in most systems. Of course there are several opinions on what’s “best”, but these
guidelines will help narrow your choices. Rockford Fosgate offers three product lines under PRIME, PUNCH and POWER series to meet
your system needs. Refer to the Buyer’s Guide section of this magazine for more info.
VOLUME 6.0
40
PUNCHWEAR
TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN
41
VOLUME 6.0
POP-STANDARD
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OTHER ROCKFORD FOSGATE MERCH CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT:
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VOLUME 6.0
44