METAS XT CENTER 31 - Speaker HECO - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL METAS XT CENTER 31 HECO

Dear HECO Customer, Congratulations on your fine new loudspeakers and thank you very much for choosing HECO! You have made an excellent choice. The high-quality speakers produced by HECO are renowned all over the world. Please study the instructions and information below carefully before using your new loudspeakers. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT CONNECTING YOUR HECO METAS XT LOUDSPEAKERS Please always use a good quality loudspeaker connection cable from an audio dealer. To prevent impairment of sound quality, we recommend cables with cross-sections of at least 2.5 mm² for lengths up to 3 m and at least 4 mm² for lengths above 3 m. Always turn off the amplifier or receiver before connecting or disconnecting loudspeaker cables. Place the loudspeakers in their planned positions and cut the cables to the right length. The cables for both channels should always be exactly the same length. Strip 10 – 15 mm of insulation from the ends of the cables. Twist the ends – this is much better than tinning them with solder – insert them in the terminals and tighten the terminal screws firmly (fig. 1). Loudspeaker cables with CE-compliant banana or single-pin plugs (4 mm) or forked fittings can also be used. For good sound it is imperative that the cables must be connected in such a way that the speakers are “in phase”. This means that the black negative terminals on the speakers (-) must be connected to the negative (-) terminals on the amplifier, the red positive (+) speaker terminals to the positive (+) amplifier terminals. To make this easier one wire of most speaker cables is marked with a coloured strip or a ridge in the insulation. Before switching on the system double-check all your connections and make sure that the terminal screws are tight and that there are no short circuits caused by stray wire filaments – this could cause serious damage to your amplifier! HECO METAS XT - BI-WIRING AND BI-AMPING Connector panel on the Heco Metas XT loudspeakers: The connector panels on the Metas XT speakers are equipped with 5 terminal screws, enabling biwiring/bi-amping in addition to conventional connection to an amplifier. The upper terminals are connected to the treble and mid-treble side of the crossover and the lower terminals to the bass side. An additional connector terminal enables a 2 dB treble boost option. Bi-wiring means using separate cables to carry the high and low audio frequencies. Bi-amping takes this idea one step further and uses separate power amplifiers as well as separate cables for high and low frequencies. Bi-amping in particular produces an additional improvement in sound reproduction quality. For conventional connections, metal bridges are installed as standard to make the +2 dB treble adjustment active. The bridge can be switched to the linear setting by unscrewing the corresponding terminals. (Fig. 2) The terminals have to be removed for bi-wiring and bi-amping mode. Fig. 3 and fig. 4 show the connection to the amplifier(s). The right treble setting depends on the room, the positioning of the speakers and, of course, personal taste. The +2 dB setting is recommended for rooms with heavy upholstered furniture and curtains, for example, which have a muffling effect. THE HECO METAS XT 301, 501 AND 701 IN STEREO MODE In the ideal configuration the speakers and the listening position should form an equilateral triangle. When the left and right speakers are the same distance from the listening position their sound arrives at the same time, resulting in a harmonious, natural music reproduction.

There should be a clear line of sight between the loudspeakers and the listening position. Any soundabsorbing or reflecting obstacles in the path will distort the sound. When you install the loudspeakers the following distances should be maintained: Metas XT 501, 701: at least 20 cm away from the rear wall and at least 30 cm from the side walls. This will prevent excessive emphasis of the bass range. Metas XT 301: shelf loudspeakers should also be as free-standing as possible, the distance to the sides and rear to walls and items should be at least 10 cm, the tweeters should be located at ear height. You should use the supplied spikes when setting the speakers up. This isolates them from the supporting surface, preventing unpleasant resonance effects. You can choose between metal and hard rubber spikes for the standing speakers, while the enclosed hard rubber spikes are used for the shelf speakers. The spikes are screwed into the threaded bushes on the bottom of the speaker. The HECO Metas XT loudspeakers are ideal for use with the Metas XT Sub 251A active subwoofer. Fig. 5 shows a method of connection. Please also refer to the subwoofer’s and your amplifier’s operating instructions. HECO METAS XT 301, 501 AND 701 AS A FRONT OR REAR LOUDSPEAKER The front loudspeakers are positioned at ear height on the left and right as equidistant from the television as possible. The rear loudspeakers are placed at ear height or a little above on the left and right besides or better behind the listening position. Metas XT 301: if possible, the cross-over frequency for the front and rear channels should be adjusted to approximately 80 Hz in the AV receiver’s set-up. Otherwise all the recommendations made in the previous chapter also apply.

HECO METAS XT CENTER 31

The Metas XT Center 31 loudspeaker visually and acoustically ideally matches the other Metas XT models. The loudspeaker is placed immediately on or under the television set. Otherwise please adhere to the general recommendations outlined in the previous chapters.

HECO METAS XT SUB 251A

The Metas XT Sub 251A active subwoofer visually and acoustically ideally matches the other loudspeakers in the Metas XT series. Please refer to the separate operating instructions supplied with this product.

CONNECTING TO AN AV RECEIVER

Figs. 6 and 7 show two different methods of connecting to AV receivers. Fig. 6: AV receiver without subwoofer output. Fig. 7: AV receiver with subwoofer output. HOW TO AVOID DAMAGE TO YOUR VALUABLE SPEAKERS All HECO loudspeakers are designed and built for optimum sound reproduction with the tone controls in the central position – i.e. with “linear” amplifier output. Turning up the bass and treble controls too far delivers more power to the woofers and/or tweeters, and at high volumes this can actually destroy the speaker units!

If the output of your amplifier is significantly higher than the rated power handling capacity of your speakers extremely high volumes can physically destroy your speakers. This doesn’t actually happen often but you should be aware that it is possible. Weak amplifiers with low output ratings can actually be more dangerous for your speakers at medium volumes because weak amplifiers may overload much faster than powerful ones and this causes measurable and audible distortion, which is extremely dangerous to your loudspeakers. Always turn the volume down immediately as soon as you hear distortion! If you like listening to loud music make sure that your amplifier can deliver at least as much power as the speakers’ power-handling rating. THE SOUND YOU CAN’T HEAR... Amplifiers, tuners and CD players can all produce inaudible high-frequency signals – and this doesn’t only apply to cheap products. If your tweeters fail at low or medium volumes you should have a qualified technician check your system components for dangerous inaudible signals. SPECIFICATIONS Metas XT 701 Configuration: Power-handling capacity: Impedance: Frequency response: Recommended amplifier output: Efficiency (1W/1m): Dimensions (WxHxD): Accessory: 3-way bass reflex 180 / 300 W 4 – 8 ohms 25 – 42 000 Hz 30 – 300 W 91 dB 200 x 1080 x 310 mm metal spikes Configuration: Power-handling capacity: Impedance: Frequency response: Recommended amplifier output: Efficiency (1W/1m): Dimensions (WxHxD): 2-way bass reflex 90 / 150 W 4 – 8 ohms 32 – 42 000 Hz 30 – 150 W 90 dB 200 x 355 x 290 mm Metas XT 301 SUBJECT TO TECHNICAL CHANGE.

The equipments are checked and tested continously during the entire production process. In case you have problems with your HECO HiFi equipment, kindly observe the following:

1. The guarantee period commences with the purchase of the component and is applicable only to the original owner.

2. During the guarantee period we will rectify any defects due to faulty material or workmanship by replacing or repairing the defective part at our discretion. Further claims, and in particular those for price reduction, cancellation of sale, compensation for damages or subsequential damages, are excluded. The guarantee period is not altered by the fact that we have carried out guarantee work.

3. Unauthorized tampering with the equipment will invalidate this guarantee.

4. Consult your authorized dealer first, if guarantee service is needed. Should it prove necessary to return the component to the factory, please insure that • the component is packed in original factory packing in good condition • the quality control card has been filled out and enclosed with the component • your enclose your receipt as proof of purchase. 5. Excluded from the guarantee are: • Illuminates • Wear parts • Shipping damages, either readily apparent or concealed (claims for such damages must be lodged immediately with forwarding agent, the railway express office or post office). • Scratches in cases, metal components, front panels, etc. (You must notify your dealer directly of such defects within three days of purchase.) • Defects caused by incorrect installation or connection, by operation errors (see operating instructions), by overloading or by external force. • Equipments which have been repaired incorrectly or modified or where the case has been opened by persons other than us. • Consoquential damages to other equipments. • Reimbursement of cools, without our prior consent, when repairing damages by third parties.