These days, car audio enthusiasts seem to pay too much attention to power ratings when it comes to car audio amplifiers. While power is important, integration features and sound quality are far more important than pushing your speakers to their limits and beyond. Wavtech, a relatively new brand in the car audio industry, knows that integrating an amplifier in a vehicle can be challenging. As such, they’ve designed the new Link700.4plus four-channel amplifier to simplify the process while sounding great and delivering the power enthusiasts want. Let’s check it out!
Wavtech link700.4plus Specifications
This link700.4plus is, as mentioned, a four-channel amplifier. Each channel is rated to produce 100 watts of power into four-ohm loads. When driving two-ohm loads, power output increases to 175 watts per channel. Crucially, each channel pair is bridgeable to drive a four-ohm load with an impressive 350 watts of power. Wavtech specifies the signal-to-noise ratio as being -80dBA referenced to 1-watt of output. Finally, the amplifier’s frequency response is <10 Hz to over 43 kHz with a tolerance of 3 dB. These specifications comply with the ANSI/CTA-2006-D standard, so you know the numbers are realistic and can be trusted.
Physically, the link700.4plus measures 5.51 inches wide, 11.38 inches long, and a mere 1.73 inches tall. Power and speaker connections are made via terminal blocks on the right end panel of the amp. The power connections will accept 4-AWG cables, and the four pairs of speaker connections will accept 12-AWG wiring. Two jumpers on the end panel beside the power block enable DC offset and signal detection turn-on activation.
Audio Processing Features
At the other end of the amp, we find the four sets of high-quality chassis-mounted RCA jacks. Just above the jacks are Phoenix connectors for speaker-level inputs. The RCA connection will accept up to five volts in the low range and 10 volts in the high range. The speaker inputs will accept 20 and 40 volts, respectively, making this amp directly compatible with even the most powerful factory-installed amplifiers. A switch under the RCA jacks allows your installer to select between balanced and unbalanced topology for the RCA connections. Wavtech has included clipping indicators on the top panel, so your installer will know when any pair of channels is maxed out.
You may have noticed a third pair of RCA inputs on this amp. The amp has several signal-summing options, including summing the inputs from the three inputs together, which would be used to integrate this amp with a three-way speaker system. The design team includes a level trim on channel pairs 3/4 and 5/6 to let your installer fine-tune the relative level of the summed channel pairs.
Another key feature of the amp is that load resistors are integrated into the speaker-level inputs. Wavtech describes their loading as “Adaptive Loading for OEM Systems.” In short, the built-in resistors and capacitors negate the need for external processors when fed speaker-level signals. The circuitry also works with factory-installed source units that have speaker sensing circuitry. If not required, jumpers near the inputs bypass the resistor networks.
Top Panel Controls
We could write an entire spotlight on just the top panel controls of the Wavtech link700.4plus. Aside from each channel pair having a gain control and gain range selector, each also includes a 12 dB/Octave high or low-pass filter. The crossovers are adjustable from 50 to 500 Hz, or 500 to 5000 Hz when the x10 multiplier switch is enabled. Only the high-pass filter on channels 1/2 and the low-pass filter on channels 3/4 have the multiplier. This would let you use the first pair of channels for tweeters and the second for midrange speakers with a bandpass crossover.
Returning to the end panel, the third pair of RCA jacks is labeled as an output. This output can power another amplifier with the signal from channels 3/4 or from the high-level inputs to channels 5/6.. The amp can deliver up to 10 volts of signal on this output.
The last feature on the top panel is the bassFREQ parametric equalizer. This single-band EQ has level, frequency and Q-factor adjustments. There is also an adjustable infrasonic filter with a -24dB/Octave slope that’s adjustable from 10 to 50 hertz. So, if you want to add a little rumble to an audio signal that’s been filtered, or add some boom to a high-power subwoofer system, your installer has all the controls they might need. The bassFREQ processing can be applied to channels 3/4 or to the RCA outputs to feed a high-power subwoofer amplifier like the link750.1plus or the link1500.1plus.
Additional Key Features
The amp is compatible with start/stop-equipped vehicles. Specifically, the amp is rated to operate down to seven volts. This means the amp won’t shut off or go into protection mode when the battery voltage dips. While we’re talking about operating voltages, the maximum is 16 volts.
The amp features an RJ45 jack for the optional linkRC remote level control on the input panel. The linkRC can be set to control the level of channels 3/4 when running a subwoofer or the preamp outputs to feed another amplifier. The adjustment range when the linkRC is connected is 0 to -30 dB, meaning it won’t affect the maximum gain settings.
The amp will roll back maximum power if the chassis overheats. This is called active thermal power management and keeps the amp playing (although at a lower maximum level) should it get too hot. Finally, the amp includes intelligent fault protection features for over- and under-voltage, over-current, and short-circuit protection. Many low-cost and low-quality amplifiers don’t include these features. All of this adds up to a solution that offers exceptional value for the buyer.
Upgrade your Vehicle with the Wavtech link700.4plus Today!
If you are shopping for a high-quality, high-power four-channel amplifier to upgrade your vehicle, visit an authorized Wavtech retailer today and ask about the link700.4plus. The included integration features are a must-have if you plan on using this with the factory-installed radio. You can find an authorized Wavtech retailer using the Dealer Locator tool on the Wavtech website. For more information on the impressive range of amplifiers, integration products and subwoofers available from Wavtech, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
