Dayton Audio APA1200DSP 1200 Watt Subwoofer Amplifier User Manual

Dayton Audio APA1200DSP 1200 Watt Subwoofer Amplifier

Safety

WARNING!
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

CAUTION!
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER, NO USER-SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICE TO A DAYTON AUDIO AUTHORIZED DEALER.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

• Read and keep these instructions.
• Heed all warnings and followed all instructions contained within this manual.
• Do not use this unit near water.
• Clean only with a dry cloth.
• Do not block any ventilation openings. Install by the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
• Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for the replacement of the obsolete outlet.
• Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the unit.
• Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
• Unplug this unit during lightning storms or when unused for long periods.
• Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the unit has been damaged in any way, such as when the power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled, objects have fallen into the unit, the unit has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
• Operate the unit only with the voltage specified on the rear. Fire and/or electric shock may result if a higher voltage is used.
• Do not modify, kink, or cut the power cord. Do not place the power cord near heaters and do not place heavy objects on the power cord and/or the unit itself, doing so may result in fire or electrical shock.
• Do not touch the speaker terminals as electric shock may result.
• Ensure that the safety ground terminal is connected to a proper ground. Never connect the ground to a gas pipe, as a severe explosion and/or fire may result.
• Be sure the installation of this product is stable, and avoid unlevel surfaces as the product may fall and cause injury,  property damage, electrocution, and/or fire.
• Note that when the unit is turned off, it is not completely disconnected from the AC power outlet. Do not open the cover.

Front Panel

• LEDs Limiter LED: Lights red whenever the amplifier reaches the configurable voltage limit. The limiter will also be activated (lights up) during the following conditions:  Over load. Over temperature III. Speaker short circuit On LED: Lights green when the device is turned on and operating normally. Standby LED: Lights red when the amplifier enters standby mode.
• LCD Display: Displays status information and menus to allow complete control of the device with the control knob. All parameters found in these menus can also be adjusted with the web GUI after making a network connection.
• Adjustment/Set Control Knob: Rotating the knob moves through the device’s menu or adjusts the currently selected parameter up or down. Pressing the dial once selects a given parameter or advances further into the menu (go forward). Quickly pressing the dial twice returns to the previous page or previous level of the menu (go backward). Long pressing the control knob can bring up extra functions, depending on the menu. For example, long pressing in some menus will allow you to link or unlink channels.

Rear Panel

• Mic In: Microphone input for auto room EQ calibration (Note: Use the microphone that came with the device. The software is calibrated for the included mic, and results WILL VARY if a different mic is used.)
• LAN: Connect your APA1200DSP to a network (via a router or network switch) with a standard ethernet patch cable to enable remote control of all device settings via any web browser of a device on the same network.
• DC12V Trigger: 12VDC input to turn on/off the APA1200DSP with an external control device.
• Power On Setting: There are 3 possible modes for this setting.
• ON: The device will remain on at all times as long as the unit is connected to power and the power switch on the rear of the device is switched on.
• Auto: If the amplifier does not detect an analog input signal greater than the threshold selected in the power saving menu, it will automatically enter standby. If you want to wake up in Auto mode, you can input a music signal over the selected threshold or select the ON mode. NOTE: This mode should not be used if the digital coax connection is used, as the digital coax connection cannot trigger the device out of standby.
• 12V Trigger: Will confirm that there is no audio signal and DC 12V before entering standby. If you want to wake up under 12V triggers, you can input DC12V or select ON.
• Digital Input: Coax Digital Audio Input. (SPDIF)
• Input: Analog RCA x 2 or XLR x 2.
• Input Attenuation Switch: Adjust between -10dbV (900mV max input before clipping) and -4dBV (1.8Vrms before clipping)
• Preamplifier Output: Analog RCA x 2 or XLR x 2.
• Speaker Output: Binding post x 4.
• hm Minimum for Stereo Configuration
• Ohm Minimum for Bridged Configuration
• Power Switch: Turn On/Off the amplifier.
• Power: Connect the included power cord (IEC 60320-C13)

Navigating and Adjusting Parameters with the Onboard GUI
It is possible to adjust most parameters of the APA1200DSP on the unit itself via the display and control knob. For the initial setup of the device, it is recommended to connect to the web-based GUI (see the next section), as the onboard GUI is better for making quick adjustments on the fly, rather than many adjustments at once. For more information about each menu option and parameter type, see the corresponding sections later in this guide.

Instructions:

1. Rotating the dial will move to the next menu option or increase/decrease a value depending on the current context of the menu. The currently selected parameter will be highlighted.
2. Pressing the dial once selects a given parameter or advances further into the menu (go forward).
3. Quickly pressing the dial twice returns to the previous page or previous level of the menu (go backward). For example, if you are in the PEQ menu, you will click the knob once to select a parameter such as frequency. You can then rotate the dial to change this frequency. When you are done, press the dial twice to go back, allowing you to select a different parameter to change.
4. Long pressing the control knob in the menus of volume, LPF, PEQ, HPF, Phase Degree, and limiter will allow you to ‘link’ the A and B channels together, which means that all parameters within the menu will affect both channels. Long pressing again will allow you to ‘unlink’ the channels and create individual settings for each channel.

Onboard GUI Menu Screens
Below is each possible menu screen using the APA1200DSP’s onboard menu system. The leftmost column are ‘main menu’ option, and the following columns are found by pressing the dial while the main menu item is selected. Quickly press the dial twice to go back.

Network Connection and Accessing the Web-Based GUI
The web-based GUI will allow control of all functions of the amplifier through the web browser of any device on the same network (cell phone, laptop, tablet, etc).

Steps:

1. Connect the APA1200DSP to a router or network switch via a standard ethernet patch cable. Plug one end of the patch cable into your router/switch, and plug the other end into the LAN port on the back of the APA1200DSP (The APA1200DSP cannot be attached to your network via Wi-Fi, however Wi-Fi devices, such as a laptop, can wirelessly access the APA120DSP’s web GUI).
   Note:
   The APA1200DSP will work without an external internet connection, meaning the network needs to be established, but it does not require a connection to a service provider.
2. Once the device is connected to the network via ethernet, the web interface can be reached using any device with a web browser on the same network as the APA1200DSP (laptop, cell phone, tablet, desktop, etc). Enter http://APA1200DSP/ into the address bar of your browser to connect to the browser GUI.
   Note:
   If multiple APA1200DSP units are on your network, this link cannot be used, and you must follow the next step to find the unique IP address of each device.
3. The browser GUI can also be accessed by directly entering the IP address of your APA1200DSP into your web browser. This IP address can be found by entering the device info screen using the built-in display as highlighted below. Enter the IP address into the address bar of your web browser.

Network Troubleshooting

• If using the and you cannot make a connection, try following step 3 above to find the IP  address of your device, and connect to your device by entering the IP address into your web browser.
• Make sure that you are using a device that is on the same network as your APA1200DSP to access the interface. The device you are using for access can be connected either through Wi-Fi, like a laptop, or directly to the network with a patch cable like you might do on a desktop PC. In some situations, especially in businesses, there might be multiple Wi-Fi networks in the building, and the one you are connecting to might not be the same actual network as the ethernet port you plugged your APA1200DSP into.
• Try a different ethernet patch cable. Make sure your APA1200DSP is powered on.
• Try resetting your router.
• If your browser is connecting to the web GUI but you are experiencing a delay or the interface is very slow, see the following steps.
• Disconnect any other web browser from the APA1200DSP’s web interface. Only connect one browser at a time to your APA1200DSP for optimal performance.
• If using a wireless device (like a laptop or cell phone) to access the GUI access the APA1200DSP’s interface, make sure that the connection is stable and strong.
• Try restarting the device. Try using the “global reset” option in the presets menu (if you have presets you want to save, save the preset to your PC because presets stored on the APA1200DSP will be reset after pressing “global reset.

Web GUI Overview

These GUI elements will always be present while using the APA1200DSP’s web interface. Enter different menus by clicking menu items on the left side of your screen.

• Menu – Displays all menu options available on the APA1200DSP. Click on the text of each menu item to enter that menu. The “Home” section of the menu can be contracted or expanded by clicking on it.
• Level Meter – Displays input and output levels in dB. If you are not getting any output from your connected speaker, but you see that there is output from the level meter, check the connection from the amp to your speaker. The “M” buttons next to the output label can be used to mute the output of your APA1200DSP.
• Output Mode – Set your device to either “Sub” or “Stereo” mode. Sub – This mode should be used when a subwoofer is attached to the APA1200DSP in bridged mode. This mode allows the Auto EQ function to be used. Stereo -This mode should be used for stereo configurations or any time a speaker is not connected to the APA1200DSP in bridged mode. Auto EQ mode is disabled in this mode.
• System Information – Displays useful information such as the system uptime, current preset, and IP address of the APA1200DSP.

Specifications

• Input Sensitivity Voltage: ………………… 0.316 VRMS @ -10 dBV switch 0.631 VRMS @ -4 dBV switch
• Max Input Level Voltage: …………………. 1.8 VRMS
• Frequency Response: ………………………. 20Hz to 20kHz
• Frequency Deviation (20-20kHz): ……… 3 dB
• RMS Output Power, Stereo: …………….. 410 W x 2
• RMS Output Power, Bridged: …………… 1160 W
• SNR, A-weighted: ……………………………. >96 dB
• THD+N @ Rated Power: ………………….. 0.74%
• Auto-on Sensitivity: ………………………… 10 mVRMS
• Power Consumption: ………………………. Standby: <2 W
• Idle: 17.5 W
• Max: 1600 W
• Weight: ………………………………………….. 16.2 lbs.
• Dimensions: …………………………………… 17″ W x 15″ D x 3.75″ H

Troubleshooting

The volume is much lower than I expect from my speakers or subwoofer

1. If you have just changed the mode from “stereo” to “sub” or vice versa, restart your APA1200DSP.
2. If you have wired your speakers in stereo but you are set to “sub” mode, the speakers will be playing out of phase with each other, which will not sound right and will reduce your bass output in most cases. Make sure you are set to stereo mode if connected in stereo, and sub mode if connected in bridge mode.

My device is entering standby even though there is audio input playing into the device. 

1. The standby feature does not work with digital auto through the COAX port. If using the COAX port, you must turn standby off by setting the ‘AUTO’ switch on the back of your device to “ON” mode.
2. If using analog input and your device is still going into standby, try to increase the level on the source device, and also try using a lower number for your “wake-up signal level” setting in the power saving menu.
3. Make sure that your input source is not sending a high-passed signal into your APA1200DSP. If you must use a high-passed input, it is recommended to disable the standby functionality of your device, because high-passed signals can make auto-on features not work correctly.

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