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6.62 in

168 mm

11.32 in

287 mm

5.53 in

141 mm

2.12 in

54 mm

10.22 in

260 mm

CONNECTION GUIDE

1000W Monoblock Class D Subwoofer Amplifier

with Integrated DSP

with

Thank you for purchasing a JL Audio amplifier for your sound system.

Your amplifier has been designed and manufactured to exacting  

standards in order to ensure years of musical enjoyment. For maximum 

performance, we highly recommend that you have your new amplifier 

installed by an authorized JL Audio dealer. Your authorized dealer has 

the training, expertise and installation equipment to ensure optimum 

performance from this product. Should you decide to install the amplifier 

yourself, please take the time to read this manual thoroughly to familiarize 

yourself with its installation requirements and setup procedures.

If you have any questions regarding the instructions in this manual or any 

aspect of your amplifier’s operation, please contact your authorized JL 

Audio dealer for assistance. If you need further assistance, please contact 

the JL Audio Technical Support Department at [email protected] or 

call (954) 443–1100 during business hours.

Installation Applications 

This amplifier is designed for operation with 12 volt, negative- 

ground electrical systems. Using this product in systems with positive 

ground and/or voltages other than 12V may result in damage to the 

product and will void the warranty. This product is not certified or 

approved for use in aircraft. 

Product Description

This is a monoblock, Class D subwoofer amplifier equipped with the 

second generation of JL Audio’s NexD2™ high-speed switching technology. 

It is engineered to deliver reference-grade audio amplification with 

outstanding efficiency and unprecedented, built-in processing power. 

Instead of traditional analog processing controlled by knobs and switches, 

VXi amplifiers feature an integrated DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The 

amplifier and its integrated DSP are configured using an external device 

(PC, Tablet or Phone), with the appropriate JL Audio TüN™ application 

installed. (See 

What is TüN?

 section for more info.)

Planning Your Installation

It is important that you take the time to read this manual thoroughly 

and that you plan your installation carefully. It is very easy to damage 

expensive vehicle systems in modern automobiles. Never assume that you 

have found appropriate wires without consulting a reliable wiring diagram 

or without analyzing with proper test equipment. If you are uncomfortable 

or unfamiliar with reading diagrams or testing methods, please enlist the 

services of your authorized JL Audio dealer to perform the installation. 

Your authorized dealer has the training, expertise and installation 

equipment to ensure optimum performance from this product. The 

following are some considerations that you must take into account when 

planning your installation. 

Safety Considerations

•  Install your amplifier in a dry, well-ventilated location that 

does not interfere with your vehicle’s safety equipment 

(air bags, seat belt systems, ABS brake systems, etc.).

•  Do not mount the amplifier in the engine 

compartment or in any areas of extreme heat.

•  Securely mount the amplifier so that it does not come 

loose in the event of a collision/sudden jolt or as a result 

of repeated vibrations during normal operation.

•  Check before drilling to make sure that you will not be drilling into 

a fuel tank, gas/brake line, wiring harness, or other vital system.

•  Do not run system wiring outside or underneath the 

vehicle/vessel. This is an extremely dangerous practice, 

which can result in severe damage/injury.

•  Take the necessary precautions when making 

connections to the vehicle’s battery.

•  Protect all system wires from sharp edges by carefully routing them, 

tying them down and using grommets and loom where appropriate.

•  Secure all wiring as needed, using cable ties or wire clamps 

to protect them from moving parts and sharp edges.

Cooling Efficiency Considerations

The outer shell of your JL Audio amplifier is designed to remove heat 

from the amplifier circuitry. For optimum cooling performance, this outer 

shell should be exposed to as large a volume of air as possible. Enclosing 

the amplifier in a small, poorly ventilated chamber can lead to excessive 

heat build-up and degraded performance. If an installation calls for an 

enclosure around the amplifier, we recommend that this enclosure be 

ventilated with the aid of a fan. In normal applications, fan-cooling is not 

necessary. If mounting the amplifier under a seat, make sure there is at 

least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space above the amplifier’s outer shell to permit 

proper cooling.

What is Included 

(1) Amplifier

(1) Power Connector

(1) Analog Input/Pre-Out Harness

(1) Subwoofer Output Connector

(1) JL Audio Badge

(4) Corner Caps

(1) USB A/B Cable (6 ft./1.8 m)

(1) Corner Cap Tool

(2) Black Hex Cap Machine Screws

(1) 2.5 mm Hex Wrench

(2) Silver Thumbscrews

(1) 3 mm Hex Wrench

(1) Connection Guide

JL Audio Badge

To complement the amplifier’s mounting orientation, the logo badge 

includes a recessed key feature allowing it to be affixed at 90 degree 

increments on the amplifier’s top. To install, remove the adhesive backing 

and press the badge at the desired orientation. 

Corner Cap Installation and Removal

The corner caps are designed to conceal the amplifier’s mounting holes 

and hardware. To install, simply press a corner cap into each mounting 

hole. To avoid scratching the amplifier’s chassis during removal, use the 

included, plastic corner cap tool and lift below each cap.

Making Connections

VXi amplifiers utilize removable plugs and harnesses to make the 

following connections: 
•   Power Connector and Subwoofer Output Connector 

To connect the power, ground, remote turn-on and subwoofer output 

wires to the amplifier, back out the set screws on each connector using 

the supplied hex wrenches. Strip back 3/8 inch (10 mm) of insulation from 

the end of each wire and insert the bare wire into the receptacle on the 

power connector plug, seating it firmly so that no bare wire is exposed. 

While holding each wire in place, tighten each set screw firmly, taking 

care not to strip the head of the screw. Install each connector by plugging 

it into the amplifier’s corresponding receptacle, pushing firmly.

•  Analog Input/Pre-Out Harness 

This harness includes connections for Signal Input (RCA plugs), Preamp 

Outputs (RCA plugs), Remote Turn-On Output (wire lead) and Valet Input 

(wire lead). Select either the included black hex cap machine screws or 

the silver thumbscrews to secure the Analog Input Harness connector to 

the amplifier.

Turn-On Mode

VXi amplifiers can be switched on and off using one of three methods, 

configured by the “Turn On Mode” setting in the TüN™ Software Interface. 

Refer to the table below for detailed info and decide which option is best 

suited for your specific system.

Setting

Mode

Function

Connection

Remote

Conventional 

(Preferred)

Turn-on/off controlled by your 

source unit.

Connect your source unit

’s

 

+12V remote turn-on output to 

the Power Connector

s Remote 

Turn-On Input connection.

DC 

Offset

DC Offset 

Sensing 

(Auto)

Automatically turns on by 

detecting the presence of small 

DC signal in OEM audio outputs 

and turns off (within 5 minutes) 

after the signal is removed.

This circuit senses the Analog 

Input 1 only. Note: The sensitivity 

of this circuit is designed for 

high-level (speaker level) signals, 

not for low-level (preamp level) 

signals. Make sure the OEM 

audio outputs contain midrange 

signals.

Signal

Signal 

Sensing 

(Auto)

Automatically turns on by detecting 

full-range OEM audio signals and 

turns off (within 5 minutes) after 

the signal is removed (varies, 

depending on input signal levels).

3

 

 Subwoofer Output Connector

Connect the subwoofer wires to the corresponding terminals.

4

 

 JLid-COMM

 

Connect optional accessories (VXi-BTC, VXi-HUB, etc.) to this port.

5

 

 JLid-CTRL

Connect optional DRC (Digital Remote Controller) wired controllers  

to this port.

6

 

 SD + Reset

Lift the dust cover to access the following utility functions:

Reset Buttons: Use a small pin to perform the following:

Reboot Amp - Press and release the right button.

 

Factory Reset (wipe memory, reboot amp) - Press and hold the left 

button for 7 seconds.

Micro SD Slot: For service/future expansion.

7

 

 USB

 

This USB A/B port permits connection to a computer for configuration 

and tuning, using the TüN™ Software.

8

 

 DIGITAL-In

 

Toslink port accepts 2-channel digital audio signal from any optical  

(S/PDIF) digital output, with a sample rate up to 192 kHz.

9

 

 DIGITAL-Out

Provides a digital audio output (24 bit/96 kHz) that is not susceptible to 

RF interference or noise-generating electrical conditions. By default, this 

is a pass-through audio output, with no signal processing applied, and 

intended for use with other equipment that have an optical (Toslink) 

digital audio input (S/PDIF) port. Using the TüN™ Software Interface, you 

may configure this output’s routing, equalization, output level and DRC 

control functionality.

1

 

 Power Connector

 The VX1000/1i’s “+12 VDC” and “Ground” connections are designed to accept 

up to 2 AWG copper wire. Note: Copper Clad Aluminum (CCA) wire is not 
recommended. 4 AWG is the minimum copper wire size for this amplifier. 

A. 

Run copper wire from the positive (+12V) battery post to the amplifi-

er mounting location. If additional amplifiers are being installed, run 

the appropriate gauge copper wire for the combined, maximum cur-

rent draw, and install a fused distribution block near the amplifiers. 

B. 

An appropriate fuse (sold separately) at the main power wire(s) is 

vital for vehicle safety. This fuse must be installed within 18 inches 

(45 cm) of the battery post connection. If this is the only device con-

nected to this main wire, use a 80 A fuse. Do not install the fuse until 

the power wire has been securely connected to the amplifier. 

C. 

The ground connection should be made to a clean, solid metal 

grounding point using copper wire, and kept as short as possible. 

The metal surface of the grounding point should be sanded to create 

a clean, metal-to-metal connection. For optimal grounding, we 

recommend using a JL Audio ECS master ground lug (XB-MGLU). All 

ground connections (source unit and amplifiers) should be made 
at the same location.

D. 

The remote connection should be made to the source unit’s positive 

(+12V) remote turn-on output. If your source unit does not have a 

dedicated remote turn-on output, consider one of the alternative 

turn-on options. (See Turn-On Mode section for more info.)

2

  

Analog Input/Pre-Out Harness

  The Analog Input Harness accepts the following connections: 
Line-Level Analog Inputs: Two female RCA jacks feed a differential-

balanced input section, providing a high degree of input flexibility, and 

retaining superior noise rejection. This type of input architecture also 

allows the VX1000/1i to cleanly accept any analog audio signal up to 16 

VRMS, without using a line-output converter.
Preamp Outputs: Two female, RCA jacks deliver line-level, analog audio 

outputs (Max 4 V RMS) that are compatible with most types of aftermarket 

equipment. These are configured with the TüN

 Software Interface. 

Remote: This connection provides a positive (+12V) turn-on voltage 

(475 mA limit) to activate other aftermarket equipment (similar to an 

aftermarket head unit’s remote turn-on lead).
Valet: When connected to negative ground, this connection activates the 

Valet Mode Preset and will remain active until the ground connection is 

removed. This preset is configured 

using the TüN

 Software Interface and 

will override any DRC controlled preset.

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