Kicker 44KXMA1200.2 Owner's Manual

Automatic Turn-On Selection: The KXM series offers three different automatic turn-on modes that can 
be selected on the end panel; +12V, DC Offset, and Audio. Using either the DC Offset or Audio mode 
causes the REM terminal to have +12V out for turning on additional amplifi ers.

•  

Remote Turn-On: Set the switch to +12V to use the remote turn-on lead from your source unit. Run 18 gauge wire 
from the Remote Turn-On Lead on your source unit to the terminal labeled REM between the amplifi er’s positive 
and negative power terminals. This is the preferred automatic turn-on method. 

•  

DC Offset Turn-On: If Remote Turn-On is not an option, the next best setting is DC Offset. The DC Offset mode 
detects a 3V DC offset from the HI-Level speaker outputs when the source unit has been turned on.

•  Signal Sense Turn-On: The Audio setting is the fi nal alternative for Automatic turn-on. This is a Signal Sense turn-on 

method that detects the incoming audio signal from your source unit and automatically turns on the amp. This turn-
on method will not work properly if the input gain control is not set appropriately.

Radio Detect: The RCA inputs on KICKER KXM amplifi ers are capable of receiving either Hi or Low-level 
signals from your source unit. If you are using Hi-Level inputs, but your source unit cannot detect an audio 
system present or refuses to play audio out of one or more speakers, you may need to set Radio Detect 
to ON. This will activate a load resistor at the amplifi er’s inputs and tell the source unit there are speakers 
present. Do NOT use Radio Detect if you are using a Low-Level input signal; doing so will greatly reduce the 
input signal.

Fader Switch (400.4 Only): Depress the fader switch if you are running two sets of inputs (front and 
rear for example) to the amplifi er. Leave the fader switch OFF if you want to drive all channels from a single 
stereo input.

Input Gain Control with Gain Matching: The input gain control is not a volume control. It matches the 
output of the source unit to the input level of the amplifi er and features Gain Matching to prevent clipping 
the input. For a quick setup, turn the source unit up to about 3/4 volume (if the source unit goes to 30, 
turn it to 25). KICKER recommends using the test tones at www.kicker.com/support/ to reach the most 
accurate and best performing settings. Next, slowly turn (clockwise) the gain on the amplifi er up until you 
see the Gain LED light up or hear audible distortion, then turn it down a little. If the GAIN knob’s backlight 
comes on, the input is still clipping. For full instructions on Gain Matching, please see the next page.

Crossover Switches with Frequency Multiplier: Use the XOVER switches on the end panel of 
the amplifi er to set the internal crossovers of AMPS 1 & 2 to OFF, HI-PASS, LO-PASS, or BAND-PASS 
(AMP 2 only). When the switch is set to OFF, a full bandwidth signal will be amplifi ed. Set the switch to 
HP if you want the amplifi er’s internal crossover to serve as a high-pass fi lter. Set the switch to LP if you 
want the amplifi er’s internal crossover to serve as a low-pass fi lter. Set the switch to BP when a specifi c 
frequency range is required. Never change the crossover switches with the audio system on!

Set the 1X/10X frequency multiplier switch to the setting that is appropriate for your application. A setting 
of 10X will set the range of the AMP 1 crossover to 100–5,000Hz, and the crossover of AMP 2 to 
100–5,000Hz.

2017 KXM Stereo Amps Rev G.indd   6

1/16/2017   4:00:06 PM