B&W SIGNATURE DIAMOND - Haut-parleurs B&W - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL B&W SIGNATURE DIAMOND B&W

45 47 EU Declaration of Conformity50 Technical Specifications 51

Owner’s manual Dear customer, Thank you for choosing B&W and welcome to the Signature Diamond. There are numerous examples in the B&W canon of speakers that have set a new benchmark or defined a new breed. The Signature Diamond is destined to become another such landmark. Please read this manual fully before unpacking and installing the product. It will help you to optimise its performance. B&W maintains a network of dedicated distributors in over 60 countries who will be able to help you should you have any problems your dealer cannot resolve. An important motivation behind the Signature Diamond’s birth was a celebration of our 40th anniversary. Its design glances both backwards, over our heritage, and forwards towards future advances in speaker technology and performance. The Signature Diamond is both a distillation of our design lineage, and a uniquely innovative expression of our most advanced technologies. It would be easy simply to list the technologies incorporated within the Signature Diamond – almost every one we know is represented – but one unmistakable mark of a fine speaker is that it exceeds the sum of its parts to perform with an indefinable magic. In large part, the magic is a result of how a speaker’s engineering elements are arranged and combined – how the whole is designed. Because of this, and in light of the Signature Diamond’s celebratory nature, we invited our long-term design collaborator Kenneth Grange to work with our in-house team on its conception and development. The “architecture”, aesthetic and material choices of the Signature Diamond are his and as such he can take much credit for its magic.

are conditioned to change the World from others’ perspective, so for Kenneth, a brief that put him in the position of “customer” was an unusual experience.

The path he followed has two strands. First, he developed an enclosure aesthetic – intersecting tubular forms – that he’d been drawn to previously, but had never had an opportunity to pursue. Second, he chose an emphasis on fine materials and finishes to be an inherent aspect of the Signature Diamond’s personality. What better material, for example, than solid Italian marble to enclose a diamond dome tweeter? The Signature Diamond is then both a personal statement and a genuinely exciting example of the industrial designers’ and speaker engineers’ craft. We hope you will enjoy listening to it as much as Kenneth and we enjoyed creating it.

Environmental Information

B&W products are designed to comply with international directives on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment and the disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The crossed wheelie bin symbol indicates compliance and that the products must be appropriately recycled or processed in accordance with these directives. Consult your local area waste disposal organisation for guidance on how to dispose of this equipment in a proper manner.

Unpacking and Handling

Signature Diamonds are both heavy and relatively delicate and must be unpacked from their cartons carefully. Figure 1 illustrates the unpacking procedure. Due to the weight and relatively delicate nature of the Signature Diamond we recommend that unpacking be carried out by two people working together. It is preferable to unpack the speakers close to the position in which they are to be used. Never carry or hold a speaker by its tweeter enclosure. Try to avoid touching any part of either drive unit.

Kenneth Grange CBE RDI is without doubt one of the most eminent in the field of consultant industrial designers. More than that, he was one of the first. His work crosses product sectors from transport (he was responsible for the latest iteration of the classic

London taxi cab and that long-lived icon of British Rail, the Inter City 125 train), through to consumer electronics where, in addition to B&W, he has contributed to products from Kodak, Kenwood, Parker Pens and many others. Most of us will at some time have used a product on which Kenneth made a mark. He was the first industrial designer ever to be honoured with a one-man exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum and he holds five University Honorary Doctorates, including one from the Royal College of Art, London, where he is currently a Visiting Professor.

Spike (or rubber) foot fitting and speaker cable connecting may be carried out during the unpacking procedure when the still part-packed speaker is first laid on its side. See Figure 1 to identify the appropriate stage in the unpacking procedure. The protective bag around the speaker must be cut to gain access to its underside.

Kenneth’s design brief from us for the Signature

Diamond was one of the most liberating, yet challenging, a designer can receive. We asked him to follow his instincts and design the speaker he’d always wanted. Designers rarely design for themselves; they

Due to the weight and relatively delicate nature of the

Signature Diamond we recommend that installation be carried out by two people working together.

Check in the carton for: 1 Accessory pack containing: 5 Spike feet 5 Rubber feet 5 lock nuts (10mm across flats) 1 Allen key

Speaker Installation

The Signature Diamond is intended to be floor mounted only. It is important to ensure that the speakers stand firmly on the floor 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.

The spike feet are best fitted to the underside of the speaker when it is laid on its side during unpacking or later for connection. Identify the five tapped holes in the underside of the plinth (see Figure 3) and screw a spike foot into each one. Once the spike feet are fitted and the speaker is returned to the upright position, it may rock on the floor. To minimise rocking, unscrew the spikes that do not touch the floor until the speaker rests firmly without rocking then lock the nuts against the plinth. It may be more convenient to fit and adjust the spike feet after speaker positioning has been optimised. If there is no carpet and you wish to avoid scratching the floor surface, use either a protective metal disc (a coin perhaps) between the spike and the floor or use the supplied rubber feet. Fit the rubber feet and level the speaker in the same manner as with the spike feet.

Adjustment of speaker position following initial installation will probably further improve the sound quality and is usually worthwhile. To begin with, the speakers should be positioned between 2.0m and 3.0m apart at two corners of an equilateral triangle completed by the listening area at the third corner. Ideally, the speakers should be at least 0.5m away from the back wall, and at least 1.0m away from any side walls. They should be angled inward so that they point at, or just in front of, the listening position. Figure 2 illustrates this arrangement. Try to ensure that the immediate surroundings of each speaker are similar in acoustic character. For example, if one speaker is adjacent to bare walls while the other is adjacent to soft furnishings and curtains, both the overall sound quality and the stereo image are likely to be compromised.

Stray Magnetic Fields

The speaker 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 from the speaker. LCD and plasma screens are not affected by magnetic fields.

All connections should be made with the equipment switched off. There are two linked pairs of terminals on the underside of the Signature Diamond. To access the terminals, the speaker must be laid carefully on its side. This may be as part of the unpacking procedure.

The terminals can accept bare-wires, spade connectors or the custom right-angle plugs attached to the terminal link cables.

For conventional connection, the terminal links should remain in place (as delivered) and just one pair of terminals connected to the amplifier. For bi-wire connection, the terminal links should be removed and each pair of terminals connected to the amplifier independently. Bi-wiring can improve the resolution of low-level detail. If the speakers are to be bi-wired, the right-angle plugs may be removed from the link cables using the Allen key supplied and attached to the connection cables. Figure 5 illustrates this use of the plugs. Once the connections have been made, the cable clamp should be tightened down on the cable using the two wing nuts. The speaker may then be returned to the upright position. When standing the speaker upright, take care that its weight is not borne by only one or two spike feet. Figure 4 illustrates conventional and bi-wire connection and use of the cable clamp. Ensure that the positive terminals on the speaker (marked + and coloured red) are connected to the positive output terminal on the amplifier and the negative terminals on the speaker (marked – and coloured black) are connected to the negative output terminal on the amplifier. Incorrect connection can result in poor imaging and loss of bass. 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 to avoid attenuation of high frequencies.

Before fine tuning, make sure that all the connections in the installation are correct and secure. Moving the speakers further from the walls will generally reduce the volume of bass. Space behind the speakers will also help to create an aural impression of depth. Conversely, moving the speakers closer to the walls will increase the volume of bass. If the bass seems uneven with frequency, this will most probably be due to resonance modes in the listening room. Even small changes in the position of the speakers or the listening position can have a profound effect on how these resonances affect the sound. Try moving the listening position or locating the speakers along a different wall. The presence and position of large pieces of furniture can also influence resonance modes. If the central image lacks focus, try moving the speakers closer together or angling them inward so that they point at a location further in front of the listening position. Figure 2 illustrates speakers angled inwards. Varying the degree of inward angle can often be an extremely effective mode of fine tuning. If the sound is too bright, increasing the amount of soft furnishing in the room (heavier curtains for 3

example) may help balance the sound. Conversely, reducing the amount of soft furnishing may help brighten a dull sound.

Some rooms suffer from “flutter echoes” – echoes that bounce between parallel room boundaries. Flutter echoes can colour the sound of the speakers in the room. Test for flutter echoes by standing in the middle of the room and clapping your hands. Flutter echoes can be reduced by placing irregular shaped items or non-reflective surfaces, bookshelves, rugs or pictures for example, on one of the offending walls or floor.

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.

exposing all the veneer surfaces equally and evenly to sunlight until the colour is uniform. This process can take several days or even weeks, but may be accelerated by careful use of an ultra-violet lamp.

This product has been designed and manufactured to the highest quality standards. However, if something does go wrong with this product, B&W Group Ltd. and its national distributors warrant free of charge labour (exclusion may apply) and replacement parts in any country served by an official B&W distributor. This limited warranty is valid for a period of five years from the date of purchase or two years for electronics including amplified loudspeakers.

Terms and Conditions

The warranty is limited to the repair of the equipment. Neither transportation, nor any other costs, nor any risk for removal, transportation and installation of products is covered by this warranty.

This warranty is only valid for the original owner. It is not transferable.

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.

This warranty will not be applicable in cases other than defects in materials and/or workmanship at the time of purchase and will not be applicable:

d. for damages caused by accidents, lightning, water, fire heat, war, public disturbances or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of B&W and its appointed distributors,

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. Avoid touching the drive units, especially the tweeter, as damage may result.

Please be aware that, like all natural materials, the wooden cabinet of the speaker will respond to its environment. Keep the product away from sources of direct heat such as radiators and warm air vents to avoid the risk of cracking. The wood is treated with an ultra-violet resistant lacquer to minimise changes in colour over time, but a degree of change is to be expected. This effect may be particularly noticeable where areas kept in shadow change more slowly than other areas. Colour differences may be rectified by 4

a. for damages caused by incorrect installation, connection or packing, b. for damages caused by any use other than correct use described in the user manual, negligence, modifications, or use of parts that are not made or authorised by B&W, c. for damages caused by faulty or unsuitable ancillary equipment,

e. for products whose serial number has been altered, deleted, removed or made illegible, f.

if repairs or modifications have been executed by an unauthorised person.

This guarantee complements any national/regional law obligations of dealers or national distributors and does not affect your statutory rights as a customer.

How to claim repairs under warranty

Should service be required, please follow the following procedure: 1

If the equipment is being used in the country of purchase, you should contact the B&W authorised dealer from whom the equipment was purchased.

If the equipment is being used outside the country of purchase, you should contact the B&W national distributor in the country of residence who will advise where the equipment can be serviced. You

can call B&W in the UK or visit our web site to get the contact details of your local distributor.

To validate your warranty, you will need to produce this warranty booklet completed and stamped by your dealer on the date of purchase. Alternatively, you will need the original sales invoice or other proof of ownership and date of purchase.

Free-mounted diamond dome tweeter with Nautilus™ tube loading

Kevlar® brand fibre cone bass/midrange Flowport™ 2-way vented-box system 1x ø180mm (7 in) woven Kevlar® cone bass/midrange 1x ø25mm (1 in) diamond dome high frequency -6dB at 32Hz and 33kHz 40Hz - 28kHz ±3dB on reference axis

Within 2dB of reference response

Horizontal: over 50o arc Vertical: over 10o arc

2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m)

<1% 80Hz - 100kHz <0.5% 110Hz - 100kHz

Recommended amplifier power Max. recommended cable impedance Dimensions

50W - 120W into 8Ω on unclipped programme 0.1Ω Height: 930mm (36.6 in) (not including feet) Width: 230mm (9.1 in) Depth: 375mm (14.8 in) (including grille and terminals) 25kg (55 lb)

Dale Road Worthing West Sussex BN11 2BH England T +44 (0) 1903 221 800 F +44 (0) 1903 221 801 info@bwgroup.com www.bowers-wilkins.com

B&W Group (UK Sales)

T +44 1903 221 500 E uksales@bwgroup.com B&W Group North America T +1 978 664 2870 E marketing@bwgroupusa.com B&W Group Asia Ltd T +852 2 869 9916 E info@bwgroup.hk

Copyright © B&W Group Ltd. E & OE Kevlar is a registered trademark of DuPont

Nautilus and Flowport are trademarks of B&W Group Ltd. Printed in England.