Wāvtech link1000.5plus — 1000W RMS 5-Channel Amplifier

Wāvtech link1000.5plus — 1000W RMS 5-Channel Amplifier

The link1000.5plus is a 5-channel amplifier — four main channels (bridgeable to a stereo pair) plus a fifth channel pair dedicated to a subwoofer with its own bassFREQ processing. Rated at 75W RMS x 4 main plus 300W RMS sub into 4Ω, or 125W RMS x 4 main plus 500W RMS sub into 2Ω.

Key Design Features

Unlike an amplifier where the sub channel is only a processed pre-out, CH5/6 here is a fully powered channel pair with its own bassFREQ section: a parametric EQ (0 to +12dB boost, Fc 30–80Hz, Q 1.5–5) and independent −24dB/octave subsonic and low-pass filters, plus remote level control readiness via the optional linkRC for 0dB to -30dB adjustment.

CH1/2 offers high-pass or full-range filtering; CH3/4 adds band-pass for midbass or midrange duty, with both using −12dB/octave slopes and an x1/x10 multiplier extending the adjustable range up to 500Hz–5kHz. Input channel select allows CH1/2, CH3/4, and CH5/6 to each be set to direct, copy, or up to 3-way sum, so a 2-channel, 4-channel, or 6-channel source can all be matched to the amplifier's five powered channels.

System Application

The link1000.5plus is built for a complete front, rear, and subwoofer system from a single amplifier — a 6-preout source can be wired directly to all three channel pairs, or a 2-channel source can be summed across all five channels using the input select switches and balanced with Level Trim. Because the sub channel is independently powered rather than routed from a shared pre-out, front/rear and subwoofer levels are set and filtered separately.

Adaptive OEM load detect compatibility and Stop-Start vehicle support are included.

Installation Considerations

Power and ground wiring use 4AWG minimum, with a 100A external fuse installed within 18 inches of the battery. Ground runs should be no longer than 2 feet, terminated to bare chassis metal. Minimum nominal impedance is 2Ω per channel, or 4Ω for bridged connections on CH1/2 or CH3/4.

The CH5/6 subsonic filter should be set at or below the enclosure's tuning frequency for ported subwoofer applications to prevent over-excursion.

Specifications

HF Audio Labs Perspective

The link1000.5plus makes sense as a single-amplifier solution for a full front/rear/sub system, particularly where independent subwoofer power and filtering — rather than a shared pre-out — is the deciding requirement. Compared to the link700.4plus, the choice comes down to whether the system needs a genuinely separate, independently powered subwoofer channel or whether summing a 4-channel amplifier's CH5/6 processing into an existing channel pair is sufficient.