Instruction Manual SP-8000 Subwoofer Preamplifier High Performance Customized Bass Management For Any Freestanding Amplified Subwoofer SP-8000 Subwoofer Preamplifier Your Subwoofer 2 Safety Precautions SP-8000 Subwoofer Preamplifier IMPORTANT NOTE These instructions are for Atlantic Technology Model SP-8000, which must be used with either a powered subwoofer or a subwoofer with external power amplifier. The SP-8000 is a preamplifier controller only, it does not contain a power amplifier. The SP-8000 can be used with virtually any amplified subwoofer system which has either a balanced or unbalanced line-level input. Table of Contents 3 SP-8000 Subwoofer Preamplifier 4 SP-8000 Features 5 6 7 7 4 Preamplifier Front Panel Premplifier Back Panel Remote Control Connecting Your Preamplifier Test and Training CD-ROM Safety Precautions 8 Basic Hookup 9 Remote Control Connections 10 Subwoofer Placement 7 7 9 Input Output Power Connection Single Subwoofers Dual Subwoofers 10 System Setup and Operation 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover . No user serviceable parts inside. Refer to qualified personnel. WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this appliance to rain or moisture. This device generates a fair amount of heat. Make sure nothing blocks the ventilation openings on the top and bottom of the unit. The lightning flash with arrowhead, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electrical shock to persons. The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance. 12 13 13 13 14 15 12 Remote Control Functions Direct Access Connector Care of Your SP-8000 System Troubleshooting Guide Specifications Program EQ Setting Curves The Low Pass Control Bass Management The Phase Control Parametric Room Equalizer (EQ) Adjusting the Parametric EQ Using a Meter or Real Time Analyzer (RTA) Setting the Parametric EQ Using an SPL Meter Level Setting Using an SPL Meter Level Setting Without an SPL Meter Setting the Subwoofer Level Without an SPL Meter or Test Tones How Much is Enough? For Future Reference Record your product's serial numbers and date of purchase here: Model Number Serial Number Date of Purchase The serial number is found on the back panel. Copyright © 2003 Atlantic Technology International. Specifications are those in effect at the time of printing. Atlantic Technology reserves the right to change specifications or designs at any time without notice. THX and THX Ultra 2 are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm, Ltd. Dolby Digital, AC-3, Dolby Stereo and Dolby Pro Logic are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. SP-8000 Subwoofer Preamplifer Instruction Manual 3 SP-8000 Subwoofer Preamplifier Congratulations on your purchase of an Atlantic Technology SP-8000 Subwoofer Preamplifier. This unique unit will enhance your listening pleasure dramatically. Its flexible control capability brings new meaning to the terms system and room integration, providing unheard of fine tuning capability to optimize its your subwoofer's performance as well as increase your own enjoyment. This system consists of a pre-amplifier (Figure 2) with remote control (Figure 1). Your Atlantic Technology SP-8000 preamplifier is designed to acoustically integrate with not only Atlantic's boxed subwoofers but also with virtually all other brands of subwoofer on the market. Figure 1 Figure 2 4 Features SP-8000 Subwoofer Preamplifier SP-8000 Features Test and Training CD-ROM The enclosed Atlantic Technology/Sencore Test and Training Disc includes lots of useful information. (Sencore is a world famous manufacturer of electronic test and measurement equipment. We strongly support the use of this caliber of equipment in the setup of home surround sound systems). Please take a moment to go over its contents before proceeding with your system's setup. The disc includes room mode calculators, explanations of how sound spreads in a room, information about home theater setup, a glossary, and even an explanation of how standing waves "set up" in rooms. Most importantly, there are test tones on the disc intended to be used to set the equalizer awoofer level in your system. Built-in Parametric Equalizer (pages 5 and 13) Designed to flatten and smooth bass response deviations caused by standing waves at the listening position, in your room. Four Built-in Program Equalizations with Reference setting (pages 7 and 14) We've carefully chosen and built in 4 preset bass EQ curves, plus a flat/THX response setting, to enhance your enjoyment of all program materials. Wireless Remote Operation (pages 7, 12 and 13) Control the program EQs, volume trim adjustment, and subwoofer muting from your easy chair. Adjustable (50 Hz to 150 Hz) low-pass crossover (@ 18dB per octave) with a THX/External setting (page 10) Allows for much better bass integration with the satellite speakers while making the woofer less localizable. Low level inputs, low level outputs, balanced and unbalanced (pages 6, 8 and 9) Easily solves compatability issues between balanced and unbalanced components. Four position Phase Invert switch (pages 5, 11 and 12) Allows precise acoustic matching with satellite speaker systems whose output may be phase reversed. Can also help to compensate for unusual room acoustics that can occur, causing a lack of bass at the listening position. A convenient front panel mounted Level Control with a clickstop THX/REF input sensitivity setting (pages 5 and 12) Meets all current UL/CSA and European safety requirements Front Panel Instruction Manual 5 Preamplifier Front Panel Figure 3 2 6 3 4 10 1 5 7 8 9 1 LEVEL TRIM display 6 MUTE indicator Indicates amount of trim adjustment applied (via the remote control) above or below the reference volume setting of your SP-8000. (page 12) 2 Lights when amplifier volume is muted via the remote control. (page 7 and 13) 7 PHASE control FREQUENCY EQ control Selects the frequency to be adjusted by the parametric equalizer. (page 11-12) 3 Sets correct Subwoofer phase (0°, 90°, 180°, or 270°) to best match your satellite speakers and room. (pages 11-12) 8 LOW PASS crossover control WIDTH EQ control Selects how wide a range of frequencies will be adjusted by the parametric equalizer. (page 11-12) 4 Sets the low frequency crossover between the Subwoofers and your satellite speakers. A detent is provided for the THX/EXT setting. (pages 10 and 12) 9 ATTENUATION EQ control BASS LEVEL control Reduces the subwoofer's output at those frequencies selected by the parametric equalizer. (page 11-12) 5 Sets the reference volume level of the connected Subwoofers. A detent is provided for the THX/REF setting. (pages 12) 10 Program Equalization indicators IR RECEIVED indicator Light indicates selected Reference or EQ program as applied via the remote control. (page 11-12) Blinks when command is received from remote control, either via built-in or remote receiver. 6 Back Panel SP-8000 Subwoofer Preamplifier Preamplifier Back Panel Figure 4 1 5 2 INPUT MODEL - SERIAL NUMBER OUTPUT EXT IR RCVR +12 V DATA GND SLAVE IR IN THRU COMMAND VOL + VOL MUTE REF EQ 1 EQ 2 EQ 3 EQ 4 EQ 5 COM OUT TO SLAVE AC INPUT 16 V 50 / 60 Hz Manufactured under license from THX Ltd. THX, THX Ultra2 and THX Select are registered trademarks of THX Ltd. WARNING DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED IN USA, MANUFACTURED IN TAIWAN RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE / NE PAS OUVRIR 4 3 7 1 Product Serial Number Write this number in the space provided on page 2 for future reference. 2 5 Low Level jacks Direct Access Remote Control port Use for hard-wired direct access of remote control functions. A contact closure between "com" and any function will activate that function 3 Use the input jack to connect to the "subwoofer" or "LFE line out" from your processor/receiver. Use the output jack to connect to your subwoofer's input. Use the XLR-type balanced connectors, if possible, to obtain lowest noise and hum. AC Input 7 Remote Control jacks Use the included AC adapter to connect your preamplifier to a wall outlet. (page 9) The IR IN jack accepts an IR signal from a separately powered system or an IR signal generated by a "whole-house" controller. Use the THRU jack to "daisy-chain" to other devices. (page 9) 4 EXT IR Receiver Connector Use the EXT IR RCVR input powered port to connect to a 3-wire 12 volt IR receiver module (xantech,ect.) when the preamplifier is not in line-of-sight with the remote control. Use the OUT TO SLAVE jack to pass on the received signal to other equipment. Remote Control and Connections Instruction Manual 7 Remote Control Figure 5 Connecting Your Preamplifier The Atlantic Technology SP-8000 is relatively simple to hook up. WARNING: To prevent risk of electrical shock or damage to your equipment, always unplug all component AC cords before proceeding with speaker and component connections! The last step in wiring your system should be plugging in the AC cords! Input Connect your system's sub output here; this jack may be labeled Sub, Subwoofer, or LFE (Low Frequency Effects). Simply connect to the Input jack on your preamplifier with high-quality shielded cables as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Please consult your processor/receiver manual for further information regarding the use of these outputs. If possible use the XLR- type input (balanced). 1 2 4 3 Output Connect a high quality shielded cable from here to the input of your subwoofer's amplifier; if possible, use the XLR-type balanced output. 1 Preset Program EQ buttons Select from 4 preset equalization settings in any sequence. (page 14) 2 Reference EQ button REF button returns the preamplifier to its flat/THX EQ settings and returns the volume trim level to 0dB. (page 12) 3 MUTE button Mutes the output of the preamplifier. Pressing again returns the preamplifier to the previous volume setting 4 Level TRIM buttons The button increases and the button decreases the volume of the preamplifier above or below the preset reference level in 1dB increments. (page 13) 8 Connections SP-8000 Subwoofer Preamplifier Basic Hookup Figure 6 INPUT MODEL - SERIAL NUMBER OUTPUT EXT IR RCVR +12 V DATA GND SLAVE IR IN THRU COMMAND VOL + VOL MUTE REF EQ 1 EQ 2 EQ 3 EQ 4 EQ 5 COM OUT TO SLAVE AC INPUT 16 V 50 / 60 Hz Manufactured under license from THX Ltd. THX, THX Ultra2 and THX Select are registered trademarks of THX Ltd. WARNING DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED IN USA, MANUFACTURED IN TAIWAN RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE / NE PAS OUVRIR Connections Instruction Manual 9 Remote Control Connections Figure 7 INPUT MODEL - SERIAL NUMBER OUTPUT EXT IR RCVR +12 V DATA GND SLAVE IR IN THRU COMMAND VOL + VOL MUTE REF EQ 1 EQ 2 EQ 3 EQ 4 EQ 5 COM OUT TO SLAVE AC INPUT 16 V 50 / 60 Hz Manufactured under license from THX Ltd. THX, THX Ultra2 and THX Select are registered trademarks of THX Ltd. WARNING DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED IN USA, MANUFACTURED IN TAIWAN RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE / NE PAS OUVRIR Power Connection Connect the SP-8000's power supply unit to an AC outlet only after making all other connections to your system. You may connect the SP-8000's power supply to a switched outlet on your system's amplifier, preamplifier or reciever, as its power requirements are small. However, you should not connect the subwoofer's power amp to such a switched outlet, as most of them have substantial power requirements, often greatly in excess of the switched outlet's safe capacity. 10 Placement & Setup SP-8000 Subwoofer Preamplifier Subwoofer Placement Single Subwoofers If you are using a single subwoofer, then, generally speaking, the ideal location would be in the front of the room, between the LRs, or close to or in a corner (see Figure 8). Every room has its own unique sound characteristics, and flexibility in the exact placement of subwoofers is always desirable. The closer a subwoofer is placed to a wall and especially a corner, the more and deeper the bass response you will hear. However, in some rooms, corner placement can produce too much bass or a "one note" boomy effect. Under such circumstances the subwoofer may work better away from the wall or corner. You should experiment to the find best position in your room. Figure 8 System Setup and Operation When using the SP-8000, your subwoofer's controls are ...