803 Diamond - Speaker BOWERS & WILKINS - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL 803 Diamond BOWERS & WILKINS

Welcome and thank you for choosing

Bowers & Wilkins. Our founder, John Bowers, believed that imaginative design, innovative engineering and advanced technology were keys that could unlock the enjoyment of audio in the home. His belief is one that we continue to share and inspires every product we design

The 800 Series Diamond speakers are very high performance products that reward thoughtful installation, so we would suggest that you take some time to read this manual before you begin the installation process. Continue to page 4 →

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1. Positioning your 803 Diamond or 804 Diamond1. Unpac

① ① ④ ④ ①

The 803 Diamond and 804 Diamond are very heavy and we strongly suggest that they are unpacked in the room in which they are to be used by two people working together. It is also a sensible precaution to remove jewellery to negate the risk of scratching the speakers' surface finish.

The table above illustrates the component parts that are packed with the 803 Diamond and 804 Diamond. In the unlikely event that anything is missing please contact the retailer from whom you purchased the speakers.

All grilles attach magnetically. The heavier bass/midrange grille is packed in a separate compartment to prevent movement in transit.

Tweeter diaphragms are very delicate and easily damaged. Any mishandling of the tweeter grille close to the unit may result in the grille being attracted into the diaphragm. For this reason, the tweeter grille is supplied ready fitted and we recommend that you leave it in place.

Once the speakers are close to their final positions the spike or rubber feet can be fitted. This is described in Section 3.

Environmental Information

All Bowers & Wilkins 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). These symbols indicate compliance and that the products must be appropriately recycled or processed in accordance with these directives. Consult your local waste disposal authority for guidance.

General Guidelines

In either stereo or home theatre installations, 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.

The location of room boundaries fundamentally affects the sound of a speaker. As more surfaces come into close proximity, the speaker's bass and lower midrange will become more prominent. At the same time, the speaker's stereo image is likely to become less focussed and portray less depth. The aim when positioning speakers is to find a happy medium between domestic constraints, tonal balance and stereo image quality. Re-visiting and adjusting the position of your speakers following initial installation will probably further improve the sound quality and is usually worthwhile.

>0.5m 1.5m - 3m >0.5m

Stereo Audio Systems

To begin with, the speakers should be positioned between 1.5m and 3m apart and a similar distance away from the listening position. The speakers should be at least 0.5m away from the back wall, and at least 0.5m away from any side walls. It may help the stereo image clarity if the speakers are each angled inward towards the listening position, especially if they are relatively far apart. The diagram above illustrates speaker positioning for stereo audio systems.

0.5m - 1m 0.5m - 1m

Multi-channel Audio-visual Systems

If the speakers are to be used for the front channels in a home theatre system they should be placed closer together than for stereo audio because the surround channels tend to widen the stereo image. Positioning the speakers within approximately 0.5m of the sides of the video screen will also help keep the sound image in scale with the visual image. As with conventional stereo positioning, the speakers should ideally be at least 0.5m away from any side walls. The diagram above illustrates speaker positioning for multi-channel audio-visual systems.

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. Plasma, LCD and OLED screens are not affected by magnetic fields.

With the speaker close to its final position the spike or rubber feet can be fitted. This is described in the following paragraphs:

Using a second person to help, gently lay the speaker on its side as illustrated above. Ensure that the surface it lies on will not damage its finish.

1. Connecting

Technical diagram showing two mechanical assembly steps with no visible text or symbols

The 803 Diamond and 804 Diamond can be fitted with either rubber or spike feet – both are supplied in the accessory pack. We would recommend that the spike feet are used whenever possible. The spike feet are designed to pierce carpet and rest on the floor beneath, both to protect the carpet from indentation and to provide the speaker with a solid foundation.

Note: Spike feet can be used on delicate non-carpeted floors by standing the spikes on coins.

Fit either the spike or rubber feet by screwing them into the four screw holes in the underside of the speakers. In both cases, initially screw the lock nuts fully onto the thread of the feet before screwing them into the speaker. Hand tighten the feet. The diagram above illustrates fitting spike or rubber feet.

Once the spike or rubber feet are fitted, the speakers can be turned upright. Take care not to allow the entire weight of a speaker to rest at an angle on one or two spike feet as it is turned. Also take care that careless handling with spikes fitted does not cause injury.

If the speaker rocks when placed on the floor in its final position, or the thickness of carpet means that the spike points do not reach the under-floor, adjust the relevant feet until the speaker is supported firmly without rocking. Using a 10mm spanner, re-tighten the lock nuts against the underside of the speaker when adjustment is complete.

All connections should be made with the audio equipment switched off.

The 803 Diamond and 804 Diamond speaker terminals accept a variety of cable terminations: 4mm banana plugs, 6mm and 8mm (1/4 in and 5/16 in) spades, or bare wires up to 4mm (5/32 in) diameter.

Important Safety Notice In certain countries, notably those in Europe, the use of 4mm banana plugs is considered a potential safety hazard, because they may be inserted into the holes of unshuttered mains supply sockets. In order to comply with European CENELEC safety regulations, the 4mm holes in the ends of the terminals are blocked by plastic pins. If you are using the products in any country where these conditions apply, you should ensure that any banana plugs cannot be used in an unsafe manner by children or other uninformed persons.

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.

Four-panel diagram showing stethoscope installation in different electrical socket configurations (no text or symbols)

There are two pairs of terminals at the back of each speaker that enable bi-wiring (top). For conventional, single wire connection, fit the supplied link wires to join the like polarity terminals together.

Ensure that the positive terminals on the speaker (red) are connected to the positive output terminal on the amplifier and the negative terminals on the speaker (black) are always connected to the negative output terminal on the amplifier. Incorrect connection will not result in damage but will cause poor stereo imaging and loss of bass. Always screw the terminal caps down fully to prevent rattles.

Note: BI-wiring separates the signal paths to each section of the speaker and can improve both stereo imaging and detail resolution. It also enables the use of different types of cable for each frequency band.

1. Fine Tuning
   

Diagram showing three identical speaker tower configurations with corresponding frequency graphs below, illustrating signal processing or measurement setup.

Before fine tuning, double check that all the connections in the installation are correct and secure.

Moving the speakers further from the walls will reduce the general level of bass. Space behind the speakers also helps to create an impression of depth. Conversely, moving the speakers closer to the walls will increase the level of bass and potentially reduce the impression of depth.

If you want to reduce the volume of bass without moving the speakers further from the wall, fit the foam plugs or, for less severe bass reduction, the foam rings in the port tubes. Fitting a foam plug or ring in a port tube is illustrated above.

If the bass is uneven with frequency, it is usually due to the excitation of resonance modes in the room. Even small changes in the position of the speakers or the listeners can have a profound effect on how these resonances affect the sound. Try positioning the speakers along a different wall. Even moving large items of furniture can have an effect.

1. Running In

If the sound is too harsh, increase the amount of soft furnishing in the room (for example, use heavier curtains), or reduce it if the sound is dull and lifeless. Test for flutter echoes by clapping your hands and listening for rapid repetitions. Reduce flutter echoes by the use of irregular shaped surfaces such as bookshelves and large pieces of furniture.

For the most discerning listening, remove the bass/midrange grilles by gripping around their edges and gently pulling them away from the cabinet.

The performance of your speakers may change subtly during the initial listening period. If they have 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 speakers to achieve their 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.

1. Aftercare

800 Series Diamond cabinet surfaces will usually only require dusting. We recommend you use the cloth supplied with the product. If you wish to use an aerosol or other cleaner, apply the cleaner onto the cloth, not directly onto the product and 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. Avoid touching the drive units as damage may result.

Whenever Bowers & Wilkins speakers are finished in real wood, the finest veneers are selected and treated with an ultra-violet resistant lacquer to minimise changes in colour over time. Nevertheless, like all natural materials, the veneer will respond to its environment and a degree of colour change is to be expected. Colour differences may be rectified by 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. Wood veneered surfaces should also be kept away from direct sources of heat such as radiators and warm air vents in order to minimise the possibility of the wood veneer cracking.

Five labeled diagrams showing different types of wrenches and screwdrivers, with numbered circles indicating each.

>0.5m 1.5m - 3m >0.5m

0.5m - 1m 0.5m - 1m

Diagram showing a speaker tower emitting sound waves from a base, with no text or symbols present.

Technical diagram showing two mechanical assembly steps with no visible text or symbols

Four-panel illustration of a wall socket with black wires and connectors, no text or symbols present

Diagram showing three identical tower-mounted speakers with corresponding frequency graphs below, illustrating signal transmission or measurement.

Image displaying five types of wrenches and screwdrivers with numbered labels (1, 4, 1) for identification.

>0.5m 1.5m - 3m >0.5m

Stereo-Audiosysteme

0.5m - 1m 0.5m - 1m

Technical diagram showing two mechanical assembly steps with no visible text or symbols

Four-panel diagram showing stethoscope installation in different electrical socket configurations (no text or symbols)

Diagram showing three identical speaker tower configurations with corresponding frequency graphs below, illustrating signal transmission or frequency response.

>0.5m 1.5m - 3m >0.5m

0.5m - 1m 0.5m - 1m

Sistemas Audiovisuales Multicanal

Diagram showing a speaker tower emitting sound waves from a base, with no text or symbols present.

Technical diagram showing two mechanical assembly steps with no visible text or symbols

Four-panel diagram showing a plug socket with black wires and connectors, no text or symbols present

Diagram showing three identical speaker tower configurations with corresponding frequency graphs below, illustrating signal transmission or frequency response.

Image displaying five types of wrenches and screwdrivers with numbered labels (1, 4, 1) for identification.

>0.5m 1.5m - 3m >0.5m

Impianti stereo

0.5m - 1m 0.5m - 1m

Impianti audio-video multicanale

Technical diagram showing two mechanical assembly steps with no visible text or symbols

Four-panel diagram showing stethoscope installation in different electrical socket configurations (no text or symbols)

Diagram showing three identical speaker tower configurations with corresponding frequency graphs below, illustrating signal transmission or frequency response.

>0.5m 1.5m - 3m >0.5m

0.5m - 1m 0.5m - 1m

Meerkanalen Audiovisuele Systemen

Technical diagram showing two mechanical assembly steps with no visible text or symbols

Four-panel diagram showing electrical plug connections with stethoscope (no text or symbols)

Diagram showing three identical speaker tower configurations with corresponding frequency graphs below, illustrating signal transmission or frequency response.

Diagram showing five types of wrenches and screwdrivers with numbered labels for identification.

>0.5m 1.5m - 3m >0.5m

0.5m - 1m 0.5m - 1m

Technical diagram showing two mechanical assembly steps with no visible text or symbols

Four-panel diagram showing stethoscope installation in different electrical socket configurations (no text or symbols)

Diagram showing three identical tower-mounted speakers with corresponding frequency graphs below, illustrating signal transmission or measurement.

Image showing five types of wrenches and screwdrivers with numbered labels, likely for educational or technical purposes.

>0.5m 1.5m - 3m >0.5m

立体声音频系统

0.5m - 1m 0.5m - 1m

多声道AV系统

Diagram showing a speaker tower emitting sound waves from a base, with no text or symbols present.

Technical diagram showing two mechanical assembly steps with no visible text or symbols

Four-panel illustration of a plug socket with black wires and connectors, no text or symbols present

Diagram showing three identical speaker tower configurations with corresponding frequency graphs below, illustrating signal transmission or frequency response.

Image showing five types of wrenches and screwdrivers with numbered labels, likely for technical or educational purposes.

>0.5m 1.5m - 3m >0.5m

0.5m - 1m 0.5m - 1m

Technical diagram showing two mechanical assembly steps with no visible text or symbols

Four-panel illustration of electrical plug connections with stethoscope (no text or symbols)

Diagram showing three identical speaker tower configurations with corresponding frequency graphs below, illustrating signal transmission or frequency response.

EU DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

We,

B&W Group Ltd.

whose registered office is situated at

Dale Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2BH, United Kingdom

declare under our sole responsibility that the products:

803 Diamond and 804 Diamond

comply with the EU Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 89/336/EEC, in pursuance of which the following standards have been applied:

EN 61000-6-1 : 2007

EN 61000-6-3 : 2001

EN 55020 : 2002

EN 55013 : 2001

and comply with the EU General Product Safety 2001/95/EC, in pursuance of which the following standard has been applied:

EN 60065 : 2002

This declaration attests that the manufacturing process quality control and product documentation accord with the need to assure continued compliance.

The attention of the user is drawn to any special measures regarding the use of this equipment that may be detailed in the owner's manual.

Signed:

G Edwards

Executive Vice President, Operations

B&W Group Ltd.

Bowers & Wilkins

B&W Group Ltd

Dale Road

Worthing West Sussex

BN11 2BH England

T [phone]

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[e-mail]

www.bowers-wilkins.com

B&W Group (UK Sales)

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B&W Group North America

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B&W Group Asia Ltd

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Copyright © B&W Group Ltd. E&OE

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