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is a brand name of Armour Automotive Ltd.
Mutant Amplifiers - Welcome to the Dark Side . . . 5

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Wiring

Power Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Signal Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Speaker Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Controls & Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Trouble Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Settings & Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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is a brand name of Armour Automotive Ltd.
Mutant amplifiers are the latest creations from the caverns at Mutant HQ.
The range offers the perfect introduction to true Mutant power with feature packed mono,
two and four channel amps. Capable of taking you through ICE adolescence with easy to use
controls; these amps still pump out enough power to turn you into a real bass addict!!!
Since its awakening back in 2004, Mutant Car Audio has been continuously developing and
creating ICE to cater for the markets ever changing needs, from newbie through to pro!
Ever striving to offer a collection of products to suit all desires and budgets, these Mutant
amplifiers are the epitome of value for money.
Please read the following installation instructions to ensure the correct operation of your
amplifier for many years to come.
Before we leave you to enjoy your new purchase, don’t forget to compliment your amps with the
latest in high quality Mutant Accessories, providing you with all that you need to ensure your
amp has the highest quality signal and cleanest power available delivered in abundance.
Regards
The Mutant Crew

WARNING! Mutant Audio Systems can produce sound levels over 135dB. Continuous exposure
to sound pressure levels over 100dB may cause permanent hearing loss.
When driving, please be vigilant for emergency vehicles as warning sirens may not be heard.

YOU CAN HELP PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT!


Please remember to respect local regulations :
Hand in nonworking electrical equipment to an
appropriate waste disposal centre.

PUBLISHED BY ARMOUR AUTOMOTIVE LTD.


© Copyright 2008 by Armour Automotive Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright & trademark
notices. Specifications and design are subject to change without notice

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High Efficiency MOSFET Power Supplies:
Allows the amplifier to work with a higher degree of efficiency enabling the most power with the
lowest current draw.

2Ω Stable:
The amplifier is able to be driven with impedances as low as 2Ω in stereo mode and 4Ω in mono
bridged mode.

Silver-Plated Input & Output Connectors:


Increases current transfer to and from your amplifier and makes the connections more secure.

Variable Bass Boost:


Allows you to fine tune the bass level up to a maximum of +18dB @ 45Hz.

Wire-Free PC Board Layout:


Efficient layout of the internal components makes the amp more effective at generating clean
undistorted power.

Fully Variable Electronic Crossovers:


Variable high and low pass crossovers on all channels allow the maximum system flexibility.

4-Way Protection Circuitry:


Multiple protection circuits including thermal, short circuit and reverse polarity, to protect the
amplifier from potential damage

Soft Turn On/Off Circuitry:


This feature reduces the chance of popping when the amplifier is turned on or off by slowly
ramping the current up or down.

Built-In Hi-Level Input:


Allows the amplifier to accept inputs from a head unit not equipped with RCA outputs (takes
signal input via speaker cables).

Remote Bass Control (MT4001R only):


Allows you to adjust the bass volume by +20dB to suit the music you are listening to from the
dash.

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Length w/ End Caps (mm) 372.0 252.0 372.0

Length w/o End Caps (mm) 292.0 172.0 292.0

Width (mm) 251.8 251.8 251.8

Height (mm) 42 42 42

Weight (g) 3100 1800 3100

Channels 1 2 4

Power RMS 1 x 240 2 x 60 4 x 60


@ 4Ω Stereo (W)
Power RMS 1 x 400 2 x 95 4 x 95
@ 2Ω Stereo (W)
Power RMS N/A 1 x 200 2 x 200
@ 4Ω Mono (W)
Max Power 1 x 480 2 x 120 4 x 120
@ 4Ω Stereo (W)
THD (%) 0.06 0.05 0.03

Damping Factor >200 >200 >200

Frequency Response (Hz) 20-20000 20–22000 20–22000

Fuse Rating (A) 2 x 25A 1 x 25A 2 x 25A

Low Level Input Sensitivity 300mV-8V 300mV–8V 300mV–8V

Input Impedance (KΩ) 20 20 20

Signal to Noise Ratio (dB) >110 >100 >100

Channel Separation (dB) N/A >60 >60

Bass Boost (dB) 0-+12dB @ 45Hz 0–+18dB @ 45Hz N/A

Low Pass Crossover 50-250 @ 18dB/Octave 40–600 @ 18dB/Octave 40–600 @ 18dB/Octave


Frequency (Hz)
High Pass Crossover N/A 40–600 @ 12dB/Octave 40–600 @ 12dB/Octave
Frequency (Hz)
Subsonic Crossover 20-55 @ N/A N/A
Frequency (Hz)

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*MT2404R shown

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is a brand name of Armour Automotive Ltd.
Be sure to carefully read and understand the instructions before attempting to install this
product.

General Considerations:
Before beginning any installation, be sure to follow these simple rules :
1) Be sure to carefully read and understand the instructions before attempting to install the
amplifier.
2) For safety, disconnect the negative lead from the battery prior to beginning the
installation, ensure that you have all necessary radio codes to hand and that you’ve
checked with the vehicle manufacture to be aware of any possible disruption to original
vehicle components (ie. ECU).
3) For easier installation, we suggest you run all wires prior to mounting your amplifier in
place once you have decided the amplifiers’ location.
4) Route all of the RCA cables close together and away from any high current wires.
5) Use high quality connectors for a reliable installation and to minimize signal or power
loss.
6) Think before you drill! Be careful not to cut or drill into gas tanks, fuel lines, brake or
hydraulic lines, vacuum lines or electrical wiring when working on any vehicle.
7) Never run wires underneath the vehicle. Running the wires inside the vehicle provides the
best protection.
8) Avoid running wires over or through sharp edges. Use rubber or plastic grommets to
protect any wires routed through metal, especially the firewall.
9) ALWAYS protect the battery and electrical system from damage with proper fusing. Install
the appropriate fuse holder and fuse on the +12V power wire within 12” (30.5cm) of the
battery terminal.
10) When grounding to the chassis of the vehicle, scrape all paint from the metal to ensure a
good, clean ground connection. Grounding connections should be as short as possible.

Mounting:
The mounting location and position of your amplifier will have a great effect on its ability to
dissipate the heat generated during normal operation. The design of our aluminium heatsink
serves to easily dissipate this heat.
Amplifiers should NEVER be mounted upside down as this will cause the amp temperature to
increase greatly and may cause the thermal protection to cut in.
To maximize the performance of your amplifier, care should be taken to ensure adequate
ventilation.
We recommend mounting the amplifier to a piece of wood and then mounting the wood to
the panel. Do not mount the amplifier directly to car metalwork as there may be a chance of
creating a ground loop and introducing interference into the system.

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Once you have chosen a suitable mounting location for the amplifier remove the two end panels.
This will expose the four holes through which the mounting screws will locate.
Mark the screw hole position with a felt pen or pencil onto the wooden panel and drill with a
1/8th drill bit, then use the supplied screws to secure the amplifier to the wooden panel. Next
mount the wooden panel to the installation surface using the same technique.

Wiring:
Please refer to the diagrams on the following pages to connect your Mutant amplifier to your
battery and existing audio components.
Be sure to only use EITHER the high level or low level inputs. DO NOT use both at once.
Be sure when using the amplifier in tri-mode that you make sure the external high pass and low
pass crossover points are the same (ie Low pass 80Hz and below and High pass 80HZ and
above).

Setting Up:
After installation we suggest you follow the recommendations below for setting up your Mutant
Amplifier.
• Firstly be sure to turn the gain to minimum and also the remote level control to zero.
• Set all crossovers to a suitable point for initial setup. Recommended starting points are
Low pass 80 Hz for subwoofers, High pass 80Hz for midrange speakers and High Pass
4000Hz for tweeters.
• Turn off all bass boosts and turn subsonic filters to minimum where applicable. Next turn
your source level up to around ¾’s maximum volume.
• Next bring the amplifiers gain control for one pair of channels up slowly until distortion
appears. Then reduce the gain of the amplifier slightly so that there is no audible
distortion.
• You can then adjust the crossover frequencies slightly to tailor the sound to your taste.
• Repeat this process for all channels.
• You may then adjust the remote bass level control as desired. Should any distortion
appear at this point you may reduce the Low pass crossover frequency slightly or reduce
the amplifiers gain control or a combination of both until the distortion has disappeared.
• Please note that the gain control is not volume control, it is designed to match the amplifier
to your source unit.
• Please check the sound of your system with more than one type of music as this will give
you the best overall sound under a variety of different music styles. You may find that you
need to keep adjusting the gain and crossover points very slightly to get the best results.

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RCA LINE INPUT :
This allows connection to any head unit that has a RCA outputs.
HIGH LEVEL INPUT :
This allow connection to most head units that have no RCA output via the use of the high level
speaker wires.
INPUT LEVEL ADJUST :
This allows level adjustment of the input signal. Use this control to correctly match the head unit
to the amplifier.
BASS BOOST :
Adjusts the bass output centred @ 45Hz from 0 to +18dB.
CROSSOVER SELECTOR :
Set the appropriate mode of operation. The 3 positions available are OFF, HIGH PASS and LOW
PASS.
CROSSOVER FREQUENCY ADJUST (MT2404R Only):
This adjusts the crossover frequency of the high pass or low pass filter between 40Hz and 600Hz
depending on the Crossover Selector position.
HIGH PASS FILTER (MT1202R Only):
This adjusts the crossover frequency of the high pass filter between 40Hz and 600Hz.
LOW PASS FILTER (MT1202R Only):
This adjusts the crossover frequency of the low pass filter between 40Hz and 600Hz.
SUB SONIC FILTER (MT4001R Only):
This adjusts the crossover frequency of the subsonic filter between 20Hz and 55Hz.
POWER LED :
When illuminated the amplifier is turned on.
PROTECTION LED :
When illuminated this indicates a fault has occurred. Check the troubleshooting section of this
manual.

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Amplifier does not turn on.
• Check power terminals at the amplifier with a multi meter. The +12V terminal should show
12 volts at all times if it does not check the connection at the battery and also check the in
line fuse and the fuses in the amplifier.
• Remote terminal should display 12 volts when the stereo is switched on if it does not check
the voltage at the stereo remote output terminal if there is no output then there is a fault
with your stereo if there is output and the wire is correctly connected then there may be a
break in the wire please check and replace if necessary.
• Check the GND terminal - this should display -12 volts (earth) if it does not please check
the earthing point of the wire. Make sure the wire is not loose and that the metal surface is
clean and free from paint and debris.

Amplifier turns on but no sound:


• Check speaker wires are connected at the amplifier and the speakers. Make sure the
crossover switches and dials are set correctly.
• Make sure the Gain control is set correctly.
• Make sure the speaker wires are not shorted to earth or each other (this should be checked
with a multi meter or alternatively unplug one wire at a time to see if the amplifier turns
on).
• Check that the signal input leads are correctly connected at the amplifier and stereo if
applicable.
• Make sure all external crossovers or equalizers are set correctly.

Amplifier turns on but LED illuminates Red:


• Check that no speaker or signal cables are shorted or pinched behind a panel.
• Check that the amplifier is not extremely hot if it is allow it to cool and ensure that speaker
impedances are correct and that the amplifier has adequate airspace around it.

No output from one channel:


• Check all signal and speaker cables are correctly connected.
• Check balance on stereo.
• Swap the input left and right channels around and see if the problem changes to the other
side if so then the problem is with the signal cable or source unit.
• Swap the speaker outputs round and see if the problem switches sides if so it is a fault with
a speaker or speaker wiring.

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Whining noise from speakers:
This is usually most likely caused by a problem with the signal cables or source unit.
• Re-route the signal cables away from the power cables.
• Check that the source unit has a good earth, renew this if necessary.
• Check that the amplifier has a good earth.
• Make sure that none of the signal cables are damaged in any way.
• Check that the gain control is not turned up to high.

Poor Bass Response:


• Check that speakers are all wired ‘In Phase’. This means that all speakers in the vehicle are
wired with positive terminal from the amplifier to positive terminal of the speaker if even
one is incorrect then bass response and stereo imaging will be dramatically reduced.

Dealer:
(Enter your dealer telephone number here for future reference)

Mutant Tech Support: 0900 1020 119*


*Calls cost 60p per minute. Opening hours 9:00am – 5:30pm Mon-Thurs, 9:00 – 1:30pm Fri. Call cost correct at time of print

Technical @armourauto.com

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is a brand name of Armour Automotive Ltd.
Armour Automotive Ltd warrants this product to be free from defects in material and
workmanship under normal use for a period of 12 months from date of original purchase with
receipt. Should service be necessary under this warranty for any reason due to manufacturing
defect or malfunction during the warranty period, Armour Automotive will repair or replace (at
its discretion) the defective merchandise with equivalent merchandise at no charge. Discontinued
products may be replaced with more current equivalent products. The warranty excludes
damage or abuse caused by customer misuse. All warranties are to be handled by the original
retailer where the goods were purchased.
This warranty is valid only for the original purchaser and is not extended to owners of the
product subsequent to the original purchaser. Any applicable implied warranties are limited in
duration to a period of the express warranty as provided herein beginning with the date of the
original purchase at retail, and no warranties, whether express or implied, shall apply to this
product thereafter.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED WARRANTY OR SERVICE


If you need to make a warranty claim or require service to your Mutant product, please return to
your original dealer with the product and your original bill of sale.

WHAT IS NOT COVERED?


• Damage due to improper/incorrect installation
• Subsequent damage to other components
• Damage due to exposure to moisture, excessive heat, chemicals, and or UV radiation
• Damage caused due to negligence, misuse, accident or abuse. (Repeated returns for the
same damage may be considered abuse)
• Any cost related to the removal or re-installation of the product.
• Damage caused by Amplifier clipping or distortion.
• Any carriage costs incurred.

PRODUCT REGISTRATION
Please register your product online at www.mutant.uk.com/registration to be entered into our
free quarterly prize draw. For prize details please visit www.mutant.uk.com. You will also have
the opportunity to be first to hear of any new Mutant Products.

RECORD YOUR PRODUCT DETAILS HERE:


Why not attach your receipt here so you can find it should you need it!!!

Model number: __________ Date of Purchase: __________

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Should you need to change you system for any reason or want to have different settings for
difference uses (ie. SPL, SQ, Car Show), make a note here of your level and frequency settings
here for future reference.

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is a brand name of Armour Automotive Ltd.
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Woolmer Way, Bordon, Hampshire, GU35 9QE
T: +44 (0)1420 476767 F: +44 (0)1420 477137
www.armourauto.com

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