Profile 918 - Haut-parleur FOCAL - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL Profile 918 FOCAL

Due to constant technological advances, Focal reserves its right to modify specifications without notice. Images may not conform exactly to specific product.

Central channel placement

Effect channel speakers‘s place

Magnetic disturbance

Conditions of guarantee

International Guarantee

24Thank you for choosing

Focal loudspeakers. We are

pleased to share with you our

“the Spirit of Sound”. These

high-performance speakers

feature the latest technical

developments from Focal

in terms of speaker design,

whether it is for high fidelity

or home theater systems. In

order to enjoy the maximum

of their performance, we

advise you to read this

user’s manual and to keep

it carefully so that you can

PROFILE User manual / manuel d’utilisation

4The Focal-JMlab guarantee only applies if the enclosed guarantee card

is returned to us within 10 days of purchase.

The drivers used in the loudspeaker are complex mechanical devices and require a run-in period before they deliver their

best performance. They must get adapted to the temperature and humidity conditions of their environment. This breaking-in

period depends on the encountered conditions and can last several weeks. In order to shorten this period, we advise you

to let your loudspeakers operate for about twenty hours at medium level, playing standard musical programmes, but with

a large amount of bass.

Once the components of the loudspeakers are completely stabilized, it is possible to enjoy the real performance of your

Aluminum / Magnesium inverted dome tweeter: inverted dome technology is exclusive to Focal. It allows an optimized

energy transfer. Aluminum / Magnesium dome with Poron

surround reveals outstanding performance thanks to a more

dynamic and softer tweeter.

“W” cone (midrange and woofer): technology of “W” composite cone is a Focal patent. “W” means “Verre-Verre”,

because of the 2 glass leafs affixed to both sides of a structural foam. Profile uses the latest “W” cone’s upgrades: new

proportioning of glass leaf, new foam thickness.

Bended, multi-fold MDF cabinet structure: toughness and optimal damping.

(optimum phase crossover): phase optimization for a precise, natural and stable soundstage and image.

Front and rear profiled port tubes: for a vigorous bass reproduction without any distortion effect.

Highly efficient acoustic wadding: excellent internal damping, deeper and tighter bass.

Stainless steel fixing screws: non-corroding, even in humid climate.

Highly reliable input sockets.

The loudspeakers have been engineered to deliver the most faithful sound reproduction, whether they are used for music

or home cinema. In order to enhance their performance, to guarantee a high quality of listening, sound image and tone

balance, it is important to note the following basic rules.

The listening area must be located at the summit of an equilateral triangle whose two other points of insertion

are determined by the position of each speaker. Nevertheless, it is possible to modify these distances to find an ideal

compromise according to the particular disposition of the room (fig. A).

Each loudspeaker must be placed at the same height and on the same floor plan. The tweeter should be at the

same height as the listener’s ear, when the listener is in their usual listening area (fig. B).

Avoid placing the loudspeakers too close to the room’s corners or walls. This will induce some unwanted room

resonance and artificially increase bass response. On the contrary, if the bass level proves to be insufficient, it is possible

to move the speakers closer to the walls to adjust the bass level (fig. C).

To please the perfectionists, we shall give an optimum positioning formula :if A is the distance from the boomer centre

to the closest wall (floor or wall), B the intermediate distance and C the longest distance (A<B<C), the relation B

determines the ideal position of the speakers (fig. D).

The boomer centre is 60cm (24”) from the floor (B=60cm) (mini speaker on a foot), standing 50cm (20”) from

the back wall (A=50cm), the side wall will be ideally 72cm (28”) (C=B

the boomer centre is 30cm (12”) from the floor (column speaker) (A=30cm), 1m (39”) from the back wall (C=1m), the

clearance with respect to the side walls will be B=√AC=54.7cm (22”).

Stylish driver protective caps conjoined to the loudspeaker. Do not remove for optimized performance.

The Profile input sockets ensure reliable multipurpose connections for stripped cables as well as for plugs.

It is imperative to respect the connector polarity of both the loudspeaker and amplifier. The positive terminal “+” must be

connected to the corresponding amplifier’s terminal and the negative terminal “-“ to the negative terminal (fig. E). Stereo

image, soundstaging and bass perception would be seriously compromised if these conditions were not respected.

The sound rendition of the loudspeaker depends strongly upon the listening room’s acoustics, the place of the loudspeakers

and the listening area. These factors can be modified in order to correct or enhance a desired effect.

Should the soundstage be imprecise or not centred, try to move the loudspeakers closer to each other.

Harsh or aggressive sound means that your listening room is probably too reflective. Try to use any absorbing materials

(such as tapestries, sofa, wall coverings, curtains…) combined with reflective materials to absorb or diffuse resonances.

Should the sound be “flat” or muffled, there are too many absorbing materials in the listening room. The sound appears

to be closed-in, with a narrow stereophonic image. Try to find a better compromise between absorbing and reflective

materials within your listening room.

Generally the wall to the rear of the speakers should be made up of reflective materials so that the sound image exhibits

satisfying volume and width. On the contrary the wall on the rear of the listener should be absorbing in order to avoid

reflections damaging the perception of the stereo soundstage. These reflections may limit the impression of depth of the

sound image. Furniture, such as bookshelves should be ideally placed along the side walls in order to diffuse sound waves

and to prevent some frequencies from being amplified, especially in vocal range (it removes “flutter echo”).

7F G H I J K PROFILE User manual

Yours loudspeakers have been engineered to work with stereo systems as well as with home theater systems. If you already

own a pair of stereo Profile loudspeakers and wish to purchase a complete home theater system, it is of the utmost

importance that you use the central and effect loudspeakers of the same product line. It is the sole possible condition to

bring to your system a perfect tonal homogeneity and a realistic and coherent reproduction of tri-dimensional effects within

Central channel placement

Central channel speakers should be placed close to the TV-screen to obtain a proper placement and a realistic reproduction

of the dialog. They could be placed below or above the TV-screen if your TV-unit permits (fig. F).

If a standart projection screen is used, the central channel speaker must be placed under the screen.

If an acoustically transparent projection screen is used, the central channel speaker can be placed behind and at the

bottom of the screen (fig. G).

Effect channel speakers‘s place

The soundtrack mix for a film or music encoded in multichannel format is very complex and allows the listener to benefit

from a wide range of special sound effects, which require the use of effect channel speakers. In order to obtain a realistic

3D soundstage, the placement of the speakers is decisive, even when confronted with a restrictive disposition of the

For enhanced performance, the following elements should be noted.

Avoid placing the effect speakers too far from the listening area otherwise the sound perception will be altered. In

order to obtain surround effects, with great sound density we advise you to place the speakers against the sidewalls on

each side of the listening room (fig. H, I).

Place the effect speakers at a suitable height, slightly above the listener’s ears (fig. J).

The SR 908 dedicated surround speaker is provided with a wall mounting kit (fig. K).

A / V amplifiers include compensation systems, which allows to set the delay applied on each channel. In certain

conditions, the distance between each speaker and the listening area may vary.

The latest high-level film soundtracks are now mixed in 6.1. This system requires the use of one or two central surround

channel speakers (depending on the amplifier) which should be placed behind the listening area. If two effect speakers

are used simultaneously, make sure that they are not too far from each other (less than one meter; 40 inches) in order to

obtain the best results.

Magnetic disturbance

In home theater systems, the magnetic radiation of the loudspeakers must be taken into consideration.

Floorstanding speakers which are fully magnetically shielded, all other loudspeakers generate a magnetic leak that can

interfere with household appliances, some of which are sensitive to this phenomenon. It is strongly advised not to place

front loudspeakers closer than 50cm to your TV screen.

Frame geometry as well as colours can be severely distorted by a magnetic field if the loudspeaker is placed too close

to the TV. In case of problems, some TV screens (or computer monitor) feature a degauss control, but not systematically.

Floorstanding loudspeaker systems include four decoupling spikes (cones) and

should be screwed, if necessary, into the four metal inserts situated on the base of

the loudspeaker. These spikes ensure a better stability for floorstanding speakers,

particularly if the floor is not perfectly flat and smooth. This stability improves

clarity in bass and midrange by decoupling the system from the floor and thus

reducing floor-born resonances.This required stability allows the energy delivered

by the woofer’s cone to be integrally converted into sound. The enclosed spikes

are adjustable in height. After having adjusted the height of the spikes, don’t

forget to lock them with the locknut.

When the use of the spikes proves to be necessary, we advise you to place a

piece of metal (such as a coin) between the floor and the spike in order to avoid

scratching a tiled floor.

Bookshelf speakers can be placed on an optional stand specially developed for

The tweeter is made up of a relatively soft Aluminum/Magnesium alloy and has a “shape memory” that enables it to rapidly

take its initial shape again after slight impacts. However we advise you not to remove the speaker grille in order to keep the

dome protected. If the dome surface is damaged, tweeter performance may be compromised.

As the loudspeaker’s covering materials are strong, scratch and stain-resistant, maintenance is easy and consists only in

cleaning the covering with a dry cloth. If the enclosure is stained, we simply recommend the use of a damp cloth.

Never use any solvents, detergents, alcohol or corrosive products, scrappers or scouring powder to clean the surface of

Avoid placing the loudspeakers near a heat source.

Contrary to what one might think, it is not a too powerful amplifier that might damage a loudspeaker, but rather a lack

of power. Actually if the output level of the amplifier is too high it will saturate and distort which will irremediably damage

The power handling and frequency response of the loudspeakers is good enough to highlight the qualities or weak points

of the amplifiers they are combined with. Let your retailer help you make the right choice, matching your personal taste

Don’t underestimate the importance of the cable: make sure you choose the appropriate section and length. Let your

retailer advise you.

Conditions of guarantee

All Focal-JMlab loudspeakers are covered by guarantee drawn up by the official Focal-JMlab distributor in your country.

Your distributor can provide all details concerning the conditions of guarantee. Guarantee cover extends at least to that

granted by the legal guarantee in force in the country where the original purchase invoice was issued.

Your Focal-JMlab product was developed and manufactured with high-quality materials and components which

can be recycled and/or re-used. This symbol indicates that electrical and electronic equipment must be disposed

of separately from normal garbage at the end of its operational lifetime. Please dispose of this product by

bringing it to your local collection point or recycling centre for such equipment. This will help to protect the

environment in which we all live.Profile 908 Profile 918

Type 2-way bass-reflex bookshelf

" "W" cone mid-bass, 1

" "W" cone mid-bass,1

" "W" cone woofer, 1

Frequency response (±3dB) 50 to 30.5kHz 40 to 30.5kHz

2-way sealed surround loudspeaker,

Drivers 1" Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter

3" "W" cone midrange, 1" voice coil

" "W" woofers, 1" voice coil

’’ "W" cone mid-bass,

Frequency response (±3dB) 65 to 30.5kHz 75Hz to 30.5kHz

Sensitivity (2.83V/1m) 91dB 91dB Nominal impedance 8Ω 8Ω

Minimum impedance 4.2Ω at 150Hz 5.2Ω at 350Hz

Due to constant technological advances, Focal reserves its right to modify specifications without notice. Images may not conform exactly to specific product.

Focal-JMlab - BP 374 - 108, rue de l’Avenir - 42353 La Talaudière cedex - FRANCE The Focal guarantee only applies if this page is returned to us within 10 days of

purchase, to the following address:

In case of purchase of new equipment, what were your former speakers ?

Explain in a few words why you choose Focal...

Your decision for purchasing this Focal model was made according to:

Dealer’s advice Friend’s advice

Visit to an exhibition, show Press article

Listening in auditorium Already own Focal products

Reliability / Quality Documentation

Reputation French produce

Guarantee Quality / Price ratio

Design / Finishes Other

Model: Serial number:

Name of dealer: Town:

Date of purchase: Purchase price:

Your name: Age: Occupation:

Your complete address:

International Guarantee

Now it's possible to register on line : www.focal.com/warranty

: Other music players:

Details of your installation (brand, model):