Features

Overview: Kicker KX Series amplifiers combine a small footprint and sleek design with ample power to drive your car's speakers and subwoofers. New technology onboard lets you easily set the gain and maximize the output. KX amplifiers feature FIT2 (Fail-Safe Integration Technology) circuitry to let you connect the amp to virtually any radio.

Power Output: The KXA800.5 is a 5-channel amplifier designed to power up to two pairs of speakers and one or more subwoofers in your vehicle. The full range speakers are driven by Amp 1 and Amp 2, and the subwoofer is driven by the Sub Channel Amp. The amplifier provides the following power output:

• Amp 1 and Amp 2:
  • 50 watts x 4 RMS at 4Ω stereo (≤1% THD+N, 14.4V)
  • 100 watts x 4 RMS at 2Ω stereo (≤1% THD+N, 14.4V)
  • 200 watts x 2 RMS at 4Ω bridged mono (≤1% THD+N, 14.4V)
• Sub Channel:
  • 200 watts x 1 RMS at 4Ω mono (≤1.5% THD+N, 14.4V)
  • 400 watts x 1 RMS at 2Ω mono (≤1.5% THD+N, 14.4V)
  • +/- 10% (of 2Ω operation) x 1 RMS at 1Ω mono (≤1% THD+N, 14.4V)

Gain Matching: The Kicker KXA800.5 makes it easy to set the input gain through a procedure called Gain Matching. The goal is to match the output of the source unit to the input level of the amplifier. The amp features self-illuminating gain control knobs for the front, rear, and sub channels that indicate when the amplifier is clipping, allowing you to properly set the gain. Kicker recommends setting the gain using test tones for best results.

SHOCwave: The SHOCwave (Sub Harmonic Octave Creation) feature can restore low frequencies that are lost due to compression in digital music files or in older recordings. Using the KXARC remote, you can adjust the SHOC level until the low frequencies are satisfactory. For the effect to work properly, the subwoofer channel must be operating with a full-range signal.

KXARC: The amplifier includes the KXARC wireless remote control that connects via Bluetooth. Not only can you adjust the amplifier gain, you can also set the phase (0° or 180°), control the SHOCwave feature, and monitor the amplifier's output for clipping. The remote features a rotary dial with a push button action to activate the indicated selection. The KXARC is powered by a CR2450 cell battery, and can control up to four amplifiers simultaneously.

Controls: The controls for the amplifier are located on the side of the amplifier behind a protective drop-down door. A 4mm Allen wrench is provided for gaining access to the controls. There are separate controls for Amp 1 (front channels), Amp 2 (rear channels), and the Sub channel. The controls include:

• Gain Control: The rotary Gain Controls let you match the output of the source unit to the amplifier. When setting the Gain, you should turn the source unit up to about 3/4 of the maximum volume, adjust the gain until the LED on the Gain Control illuminates (or audible distortion can be heard), and then back the gain down slightly.
• Crossovers: The amp has rotary controls for setting the crossovers for Amp 1, Amp 2, and Sub channel. The crossovers have a 24dB/octave slope.
  • Amp 1: The Amp 1 crossover can be set to high-pass, low-pass, or full-range (off) operations. The cutoff frequency can be set between 10Hz and 500Hz or between 100Hz and 5000Hz with the 1x/10x range switch set to 10x.
  • Amp 2: The Amp 2 crossover can be set to high-pass, low-pass, band-pass, or full-range (off) operations. The high-pass cutoff frequency can be set between 10Hz and 500Hz or between 100Hz and 5000Hz. The low-pass cutoff frequency can be set between 40Hz and 500Hz or between 400Hz and 5000Hz with the 10x range switch setting.
  • Sub Channel: The Sub channel offers a 40-500Hz Low-Pass filter, and a 10-80Hz Subsonic filter. The Subsonic filter provides a cutoff point for lower frequencies that could potentially damage your speakers. These low frequencies may cause over-excursion in the drivers and waste amplifier power.
• KickEQ Bass Boost: The KickEQ Bass Boost features a rotary control to set the level between 0dB and 18dB at a center frequency of 40Hz. Separate KickEQ controls are provided for Amp 1, Amp 2, and the Sub channel.
• Fader/Sub Input: You can feed an audio signal to the amplifier with three sets of inputs (front, rear, and sub), two stereo inputs (front and rear), or a single stereo input. The Fader button should be set to On for two sets of inputs, and Off to drive all channels with a single input. The Sub Input button should be set to Amp2 if the sub channel is being fed the signal from the rear channels, or Sub if there is a dedicated sub channel input.
• Radio Detect: If you are sending a high-level input signal to the amplifier, but the amp cannot detect it, the Radio Detect feature adds a load resistor to the inputs to tell the source unit that speakers are present. Radio Detect should not be used when using low-level inputs.

Auto Turn-on: The amplifier has three Auto Turn-on modes: +12V, Signal Sense, and DC Offset. The preferred auto turn-on method is to run an 18-gauge wire from the remote turn-on lead of the source unit to the Remote (REM) terminal on the amp. When a +12V signal is detected on the wire, the amplifier will turn on. If your source unit lacks a remote turn-on lead (a factory head unit, for example), you can choose to turn on the amplifier via the signal sense or DC Offset method. When the incoming audio signal from the source unit is detected, the amplifier automatically powers up. When a 3V DC offset is detected on the source unit's speaker outputs, the amplifier automatically turns on. You can select the Auto Turn-on method via a 3-way switch.

Radio Detect: This Kicker amplifier is equipped with a Radio Detect function that works with some factory radio systems. If you have connected Hi-level inputs to the amplifier, but the source unit cannot detect an audio system present, or will not play audio out of one or more speakers, you may need to engage the Radio Detect feature. Pressing in the Radio Detect button activates a load resistor at the amplifier's inputs to help the head unit detect that there are speakers present. The Radio Detect feature should not be used if you are using low-level inputs because the input signal level is greatly reduced.

Connections: The KXA800.5 has set screw terminals for power, ground, and turn-on lead (REM). The power and ground terminals will accept up to 4-gauge wire (4-gauge is recommended), and the turn-on lead will accept up to 8 gauge (18-gauge recommended). The set screws can be loosened/tightened with the supplied 3mm Allen wrench. The speaker outputs are set-screw terminals as well, and capable of accepting up to 8-gauge speaker wire. Three pairs of RCA jacks are provided -- one pair each for the front (Amp 1), rear (Amp 2), and Sub input signals. The RCA inputs will receive either high or low level signals from your source unit. If you are using a high level signal, you can connect the source unit's speaker wires to optional Kicker KiSL speaker-to-RCA adapters, or splice the speaker wires to a male RCA plug.

External Fuse: The amplifier does not include a built-in fuse, therefore an external fuse should be placed on the power wire, within 18" of the battery. It is recommended that a 4-gauge amplifier wiring kit and a 100A external fuse be used when installing the amplifier.

Certified Power: Each amplifier is tested when it comes off of the assembly line. Tests are run for Total Harmonic Distortion, Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Protection Circuit, and Total Power Output. A Certified Power certificate with model and serial number is included with each amp with the measured power output figure, and a pass/fail grade for the other tests.