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Please Note: These instructions cover multiple models. Parts of the following instructions may not apply to your installation or model.
Indoor Placement of a Powered Subwoofer
Your powered subwoofer can be placed in many convenient locations in your home, but must be placed on the floor. Do not attempt an installation that would elevate the subwoofer above floor level. You should experiment with various placements. Room Acoustics can produce large apparent differences in the sound for small changes in the placement location and adjustments to subwoofer controls. For example, directing the woofer of a forward firing sub toward one’s typical listening position and adjusting the low pass filter to 150 Hz can make the sub very directional. This means you perceive exactly where the sub is located within the room. This is not a desirable result for the most realistic audio experience.
The common thinking regarding subwoofer placement and performance is to position and adjust the subwoofer in such a way that the subwoofers low frequencies encompasses the entire room with deep powerful bass and provides the most realistic imaging experience. The amount of bass perceived increases as you move the subwoofer closer to an intersecting wall surface and the highest level of bass results are realized from placement in a corner, but should be no closer than 3" from the wall surface. The floor and corner placement (loading) are actually an important part of the subwoofer’s design. Attempt to place the subwoofer in or near the corner closest to your system's receiver to ensure the shortest possible wire or cable runs, which will result in superior performance.
Powered Subwoofer Installation
Important: When you make connections, make sure that the power switches of all components, including subwoofer, are OFF.
- First, plug the power cord of the powered subwoofer into a standard AC wall outlet (110 volt AC outlet capable of supplying at least 250 Watts)
- Then you must connect your powered subwoofer to your receiver to obtain an audio signal. Important: Use Option 1 or Option 2, but not both.
Option 1. Connection with RCA audio cable - The simplest connection type - This connection employs a left/right audio RCA cable. To use this option, your receiver should include a subwoofer output jack, which is typical of receivers equipped with Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 decoding. Locate the subwoofer output jack on the back of your receiver. Using a standard RCA audio cable, connect the subwoofer output on the back of your receiver to the line-in on the back of the subwoofer. The line-out featyre can be used if you choose to install an additional subwoofer to your system. If your receiver has a designated powered subwoofer output with only one RCA output, the solution is to purchase a "Y" splitter. This is a RCA cable connection with one male end and two female ends.
Option 2. Connection with speaker wire - Connect speaker wires from the receiver’s front left and right speaker outputs to the subwoofer’s speaker level-In connections. Connect left channel to left input and right channel to right input. You have the option of connecting your main speakers to the speaker B outputs on your receiver if it is so equipped; otherwise, you have the option of connecting your main speakers using the connections on the subwoofer. This will send the audio signal to the main speakers while funneling the low bass frequencies to the subwoofer. To take advantage of this option, connect your main speakers to the right and left outputs on the subwoofer. Be sure you take care to maintain proper signal polarity by connecting the red wire to the red terminal, and black wire to the black terminal.
- Once you have done this correctly, push the power switch on the unit to the ON position and you will see the LED light turn on. Some models also feature an auto signal sensing feature for your convience. When the subwoofer is set in the Auto-On mode it is not nessary to power your subwoofer completely off when not in use. In AUTO ON, the subwoofer stands by until it detects an audio signal input, then the Subwoofer turns on automatically. A few minutes after audio input signals cease, the Subwoofer automatically returns to standby mode. The subwoofer has been designed in a way that you can leave the Auto-On feature active without causing any harm to your subwoofer.
- At this point the powered subwoofer should be powered on and ready for use. You can then adjust the level control and low pass frequency (crossover) control on the back of the unit to a desired level of sound. It should not be necessary to set the level control to maximum volume to achieve a well balanced installation.
Troubleshooting Tips
- If you believe you hear obvious distortion or knocking sounds, immediately lower the volume level of your receiver. Those sounds often indicate that either the receiver or the subwoofer is being over driven and damage can result in playing CD's and DVD's at high volumes. You should avoid turning the bass or treble to maximum levels, and refrain from using the Loudness button when the volume level is high. This can lead to costly loudspeaker failure. Distorted or unnatural sound can also indicate poor connections. Check the connections.
If you experience a hum when plugging the power cord into an electrical outlet, it may be an electrical interferance that you are experiencing. A trick to try is to buy an adapter that changes the 3 prong power plug on the powered subwoofer to a 2 prong power plug.
You should also invest in a set of quality RCA cables that are shielded from electrical interference.