Bowers & Wilkins CT SW10, CT SW12, CT SW15 Installation and Setup Manual

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Contents

Wiring Diagram - 1

English - 2

Français - 4

Deutsch - 6

Español - 8

Português - 11

Italiano - 13

Nederlands - 15

Ελληνικά - 17

Русский - 20

Český - 22

Polski - 24

简体中文 - 26

繁體中文 - 28

한국어 - 30

Wiring Diagram

Figure 1.

Diagram showing subwoofer connected to a CDA-2HD amplifier using NL4FX (4-pole) cable in bridge tied-load mode.

Figure 2.

Diagram showing subwoofer connected to a CDA-2HD amplifier using NL2FX (2-pole) and NL4FX (4-pole) cables in bridge tied-load mode.

English Installation and Setup Manual

Carton Contents

Check subwoofer carton for:

1 Accessory pack containing:

• 4 x M6 spike feet
• 4 x M6 rubber feet
• 4 x Lock nuts (10mm across flats)
• 1 x Two-pole Neutrik Speakon plug

The CT SW10, 12 and 15 are designed both for Home Theatre installations and to augment the bass performance of 'full range' speakers in 2-channel audio systems. All audio installations require some thought in installation if they are to reach their full performance potential and this manual will guide you through the process. Keep this manual in a safe place for future reference.

Subwoofer Installation and Positioning

The CT SW Series subwoofers are intended to be installed either within existing or custom designed home theatre system cabinetry close to, or on, the floor.

If the subwoofer is to be installed within cabinetry, it is important to ensure that the cabinetry is capable of carrying the weight and that it is structurally reliable. Significant vibration of the cabinetry panels may seriously affect the subjective performance of the audio system. Screw-in rubber feet are supplied for attachment to the underside of the subwoofer in order both to protect the cabinet finish and to reduce vibration.

If the subwoofer is to be installed free-standing on the floor, it is important to ensure it stands firmly using the spike feet supplied whenever possible. The spike feet are designed to pierce carpet and rest on the floor surface. Initially, screw the lock nuts onto the spikes enough to leave the nuts floating just above the carpet when the spikes are resting on the floor beneath. Screw the spikes fully into the threaded inserts in the base of the cabinet. If the cabinet rocks when placed on the floor, unscrew the spike that does not touch the floor until the cabinet rests firmly without rocking. Finally, lock the nuts against the cabinet. It may be more convenient to fit and adjust the spike feet after speaker positioning has been optimised.

The ear poorly perceives the source location of low-frequency sound, so the position of subwoofers in the listening room is generally less critical compared to full-range speakers. That said, however, best results are usually obtained if the subwoofer is placed between the left and right speakers or in the vicinity of one of them. If two subwoofers are used, it is best to put one near the left and one near the right speaker. Placing a subwoofer behind the listening position, even in multi-channel surround sound installations, generally results in inferior imaging but may be an acceptable compromise if domestic considerations dictate.

As with all speakers, the proximity of room boundaries affects the sound of a subwoofer. Bass volume increases as more surfaces come into close proximity with the speaker. Unlike full-range speakers, however, the overall system balance can be corrected by adjusting the volume level of the subwoofer. The more boost gained from the room, the lower the volume can be set and the less hard the subwoofer has to work; but there is a down side. Subwoofers positioned near corners often generate more low-frequency room resonances, making the bass more uneven with frequency. There is no substitute for experimentation as all rooms behave differently, so the subwoofer should be tried in a variety of positions before a final decision is made. A piece of music with a bass line ascending or descending the musical scale is useful for assessing the smoothness of the bass response. Listen for exaggerated or quiet notes.

Using multiple subwoofers in a single installation can improve performance in the following ways:

• Maintains stereo separation to the lowest frequencies.
• Smoothes out the effects of low-frequency room resonances.
• Enables a higher maximum sound output.

In the case of two subwoofers used in a 2-channel audio system, stereo separation will only be improved if each channel has its own subwoofer located close to the appropriate satellite speaker.

Stray Magnetic Fields

The subwoofer drive units create stray magnetic fields that extend beyond the boundaries of the cabinet. We recommend you keep magnetically sensitive articles (CRT television and computer screens, computer discs, audio and video tapes, swipe cards and the like) at least 0.5m (20 in) from the speaker. LCD and plasma screens are not affected by magnetic fields.

Grilles

The CT SW Series subwoofers are fitted with magnetically attached fabric grilles which may be removed if desired. Take care not to damage the drive units when removing or replacing the grilles.

Connecting the Subwoofer

All connections should be made with the equipment switched off.

The CT SW10, 12 and 15 have a pair of binding post connection terminals and one Neutrik Speakon connection socket on their rear panels. The binding post terminals provide quick and easy connection of stripped wires while Speakon sockets provide a more secure and reliable connection method.

If the binding post terminals are to be used, connect the positive cable to the red terminal and the negative cable to the black terminal. Incorrect connection can result in poor imaging and loss of bass. Figure 1 illustrates use of the binding post terminals.

If the Speakon option is to be used, disassemble the Speakon plug as shown in Figure 2. Connect the + terminal from the speaker to the + terminal of the right channel (R). Connect the - terminal from the speaker to the - terminal of the left channel (L) on the amplifier. The two terminals for a bridged pair of speakers area marked by 1- and 2+.

In bridge mode, both amplifiers in the zone combine to make a mono output of double the power. Once the plug is reassembled, it can be inserted into the socket and locked by twisting clockwise.

Ask your dealer for advice when selecting speaker cable. Keep its total impedance below the maximum recommended in the speaker specification and use a low-inductance cable.

Running-in Period

The performance of the speaker will change subtly during the initial listening period. If the speaker has been stored in a cold environment, the damping compounds and suspension materials of the drive units will take some time to recover their correct mechanical properties. The drive unit suspensions will also loosen up during the first hours of use. The time taken for the speaker to achieve its intended performance will vary depending on previous storage conditions and how it is used. As a guide, allow up to a week for the temperature effects to stabilise and 15 hours of average use for the mechanical parts to attain their intended design characteristics.

However, longer run-in periods (as long as a month) have been reported and there is evidence to suggest that this has little to do with the speaker changing and more to do with the listener getting used to the new sound. This is especially so with highly revealing speakers such as these where there may be a significant increase in the amount of detail compared with what the listener has previously been used to; the sound may at first appear too 'up front' and perhaps a little hard. After an extended period of time the sound will seem to mellow, but without losing clarity and detail.

Aftercare

The cabinet surfaces usually only require dusting. If you wish to use an aerosol or other cleaner, remove the grille first by gently pulling it away from the cabinet. Spray aerosols onto the cleaning cloth, not directly onto the product. Test a small area first, as some cleaning products may damage some of the surfaces. Avoid products that are abrasive, or contain acid, alkali or anti-bacterial agents. Do not use cleaning agents on the drive units. The grille fabric may be cleaned with a normal clothes brush whilst the grille is detached from the cabinet.

Do not use the subwoofer as a table. When in use, objects left on top of the subwoofer are liable to rattle. In particular, avoid the risk of liquids being spilled (e.g. from drinks or vases of flowers).

If the system is taken out of use for a long period, disconnect the subwoofer amplifier from the mains supply.

Neutrik® and the names of Neutrik® products referenced herein are either trademarks and/or service marks of Neutrik®.