QB 12 - Subwoofer Q ACOUSTICS - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL QB 12 Q ACOUSTICS

This symbol indicates that there are important operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying this unit. This symbol indicates that dangerous voltage constituting a risk of electric shock is present within this unit.

CAUTION TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK)NO USER-REMOVABLE PARTS INSIDEREFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL Read these instructions. Keep these instructions. Heed all warnings. Follow all instructions. Do not use this apparatus near water. Clean only with dry cloth. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including ampliers) that produce heat. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wider blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not t into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus. Use only attachments/accessories specied by the manufacturer. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specied by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/ apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time. Refer all servicing to qualied service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

Warning: To reduce the risk of re or electrical shock, do

not expose this product to rain or moisture. The product must not be exposed to dripping and splashing and no object lled with liquids such as a vase of owers should be placed on the product. No naked ame sources such as candles should be placed on the product.

Warning: The mains power switch for the subwoofer is

the device used to disconnect the unit from the mains supply. This switch is located on the rear panel. To permit free access to this switch, the apparatus must be located in an open area without any obstructions, and the switch must be freely operable. Caution: Changes or modications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate this device. Service: Equipment for servicing should be returned to the supplying dealer, or to the service agent for your area. The addresses of the main Service Agents for the UK are listed in this manual. Third parties: In the unlikely event that you pass this product on to a third party, include these operating instructions with the product. Important notice to UK users The appliance cord is terminated with a UK approved mains plug tted with a 3A fuse. If the fuse needs to be replaced, an ASTA or BSI approved BS1362 fuse rated at 3A must be used. If you need to change the mains plug, remove the fuse and dispose of this plug safely immediately after cutting it from the cord. Connecting a mains plug The wires in the mains lead are coloured in accordance with the code: Blue: NEUTRAL; Brown: LIVE. As these colours may not correspond to the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows: The BLUE wire must be connected to the terminal marked with the letter N or coloured BLUE or BLACK. The BROWN wire must be connected to the terminal marked with the letter L or coloured BROWN or RED. To completely disconnect this apparatus from the AC Mains, disconnect the power supply cord plug from the AC receptacle. Where the MAINS plug or an appliance coupler is used as the disconnect device, the disconnect device shall remain readily operable.4 5 Introduction Thank you for purchasing Q Acoustics. This manual is intended to take you through setup and installation and will help provide optimum performance from the product. Please read the instructions, important safety information and warnings carefully before installation and use, to ensure the safe and satisfactory operation of this product. The Q Acoustics Q B12 subwoofer is designed to meet the highest expectations of dedicated 2-channel audiophiles and discerning movie enthusiasts. It features a dedicated class D power amplier and 305mm (12 inch) driver. In the carton you will nd: - Q B12 Subwoofer - Owner’s manual. - A mains power cord or cords to suit the country of sale. - 4 spikes, locking nuts and spike covers. Check the product carefully. If any items are damaged or missing, report this to your dealer as soon as possible. We hope you enjoy the Q Acoustics experience. For any additional info not contained within this manual, support questions and/or requests, please visit our on-line Knowledge Base Portal at www.qacoustics.co.uk/faqs ENGLISH (EN)4 5 Thread the locking nut onto the spike and screw all four spikes into the threaded inserts on the subwoofer. If you have a wood or stone oor push a spike protector over each spike before turning the speaker upright. When the speaker is the right way up adjust all the spikes until the loudspeaker is level and stable. ENGLISH (EN) Preparation Lift the speaker from the carton by holding the cabinet. Do not touch the driver unit or use the protective bag to lift it. The Q B12 is very heavy - get assistance to lift it if necessary. Spikes are sharp. Exercise care! Never place a spiked loudspeaker where it can cause damage! Always move your loudspeakers by lifting them - never drag them!6 7 Positioning Bass frequencies are substantially omni-directional. Although this means that you can position the subwoofer almost anywhere, the stereo image will still benet from positioning the subwoofer in line with the front loudspeakers and as central to the listening position as possible. This may not be feasible in a multichannel system. If you place the subwoofer too close to a wall the bass will be reinforced, therefore in some locations the bass may be boomy and indistinct. The POWER Switch is the means of disconnecting this apparatus from the mains supply and is mounted on the control panel. When positioning the subwoofer ensure the oor is sound with no loose oorboards etc. The air movement from the subwoofer at high volumes is substantial - do not place it close to soft furnishings or objects that may rattle. Do not place objects of any kind on the unit. ENGLISH (EN) All the loudspeakers may be operated close to TV monitors with no ill- effects with the exception of the Q B12 which should not be operated within 500mm of TV screens monitors or other magnetically sensitive equipment. Plasma and LCD screens are unaffected.6 7 Controls and Connections ENGLISH (EN) LEVEL CROSSOVER

• AUTO RIGHTLEFT / MONO With this switch set to AUTO, when not in use the subwoofer shuts down to save power and switches on when it senses a signal. This can be over-ridden by switching ON. The Phase Switch (2) changes the phase of the subwoofer so that it works in phase with the rest of the speakers in the system. Place the subwoofer more than 1 metre away from the front speakers and switch the phase between 0° and 180°. When the subwoofer sounds louder and fuller then it is in phase. The Crossover Control (3) changes the pitch at which the subwoofer starts to work. It is recommended that the crossover point is set to the ‘AV’ setting on the dial when used with a Q Acoustics system. If you are using the subwoofer with a non Q Acoustics system then you can change the crossover point to suit your system. The Level Control (4) increases or decreases the volume of your subwoofer in relation to the other speakers in the system. Start with the volume at 0 on the dial then turn it up slowly until you can hear it. The subwoofer should be heard as part of the overall sound and not overpower the rest of the system. There is no rule for setting the volume on your subwoofer so experiment with different music and lms to set it to your tastes. The Line Level Input-LFE (6) is Q Acoustics preferred AV connection to the amplier. Connect the subwoofer to the output on your AV amplier or DVD player. Use R and L if your amplier output is split left and right.

AV8 9 Multi-Channel AV System ENGLISH (EN) For Stereo System connection, see next section. Connections For a typical AV system set-up you will need a single RCA phono interconnect. As this cable is likely to be quite long, make sure you get a good quality fully screened cable. Your Q Acoustics dealer will be happy to supply you with a suitable interconnect. Connect the SUBWOOFER OUTPUT on the AV amplier to the L/Mono Line input on the subwoofer, pushing the plugs rmly home to ensure a good contact. Setting Up Check that all system connections are properly and securely made. Ensure that the subwoofer is switched off. Set the controls to the following default settings: Level Approximately half Crossover Fully clockwise (AV setting) Phase invert 0° Auto on AUTO or ON Plug the supplied power cord into the subwoofer and then into an AC supply socket. Switch on the power at the supply socket and then switch the POWER switch on the subwoofer to ‘ON’. The Status light on the subwoofer amplier panel will glow and the subwoofer is operational. Check the settings on your AV amplier to make sure that the subwoofer is set to ‘ON’ or ‘YES’. The subwoofer level on the AV amplier should be set at its default position or 0dB. You should already have set the speaker sizes and positions for all the other speakers in your system. If you have the option to set the crossover frequency on the other channels make sure this is set appropriately to your speakers. Finally, set the distance (or delay) setting that is correct for the subwoofer position you have chosen. REAR LS RIGHT LEFT FRONT LS RIGHT LEFT CENTRE LS AV AMPLIFIER

SUBWOOFER LINE IN LEFT / MONO RIGHT10 11 ENGLISH (EN) Play some stereo music you are familiar with and experiment with the PHASE setting and LEVEL controls until you hear a seamless blend between the front speakers and the subwoofer. If you can hear the subwoofer standing out it’s too loud! Always bear in mind that the human ear’s sensitivity to bass varies enormously with the volume level, hence the need for a wide range of programme material and sound levels. Many Home Theatre ampliers have distance settings which build in a time delay depending on the distance of the speaker from the optimum listening position; the sweet spot. The location of the subwoofer is one of the most important aspects of any Home Theatre system, therefore getting these settings correct will give a signicant improvement to the system’s overall performance. Do not adjust to more than +/-0.5m from the original measured distance. If it has not been possible to discern any improvement in the tone, try swapping the PHASE switch position on the Q B12 and repeat the exercise. Then re-check the sound with some stereo music again to make sure an improvement has been noticed. If the Q B12 is subsequently moved relative to the other speakers reset the amplier’s subwoofer distance setting to the new value and repeat the exercise. Once you are happy the optimum setting has been achieved the sound should be full, warm and integrated, with no individual speaker being dominant. If the subwoofer is triggered on by appliances switching on and off, re-route the input signal cable before taking further measures. Multi-Channel AV System10 11 When running loudspeaker cables be especially careful not to run them across open oor areas where they could be a source of danger. Run loudspeaker cables around room boundaries whenever possible. Line level signal cables should be run away from mains cables. Never run line level signal cables parallel to power cables especially on long runs. If the subwoofer is triggered on by appliances switching on and off, re-route the input signal cable before taking further measures.

FER LINE IN LEFT / MONO RIGHT CENTRE LS12 13ENGLISH (EN) Placement: The Front and Centre speakers should be in line. If this is not possible, consult your processor manual for guidance on adjusting relative centre / front delay times. If you have a 5.1 system, the listening seat can be closer to the rear wall. As always, be prepared to experiment. Bass Management: AV processors offer the choice of ‘Large’ or ‘Small’ for the speakers. If you choose ‘Large’ the speaker receives the full frequency. Choose ‘Small’ and the bass is sent to the Subwoofer. We recommend you choose ’Small’ for bookshelf speakers wherever they are used in the system. The oorstanding should be set to ‘Large’. The subwoofer option should be enabled (set to ‘ON’ or ‘YES’) Levels: When the basic system parameters have been established, put your processor into the ‘setup’ routine. Set up each individual speaker so that the level is the same at the listening position as all the others. If your processor enables you to adjust the delay times, follow the instructions closely as this will profoundly affect the nal result. When you play a movie you may think the rear channels are too soft - they aren’t! You may however have to adjust the subwoofer level both at the processor and at the subwoofer. Once set, do not re-adjust these levels. LFE: The LFE channel sends all the bass sound effects to the subwoofer. If speakers are set to ‘Small’ , system bass from those channels is also sent to the subwoofer. If you play the system at extreme levels and / or have the subwoofer level set too high you may overdrive the subwoofer with unpleasant sonic results. If this occurs, reduce the level immediately. Phase: If your speakers are incorrectly wired the bass will be blurred and thin. In this case, check the wiring carefully. If your speaker wire has a tracer along one core, consistently use the striped core to connect all the positive (RED) terminals. In this way the system will always be in phase. Always follow the instructions in your AV processor manual! Above is the Dolby Labs recommended layout for 7.1systems. The 6.1 layout is the same except a single central speaker replaces the two back units. The 5.1 layout has no back speakers

º12 13 ENGLISH (EN) Connect a good quality stereo RCA phono lead to the L and R inputs on the Q B12 and connect the other end to the PRE OUT sockets on the rear of the amplier. The subwoofer will automatically add the L and R signals together so that no information is missed. If you wish to use two subwoofers then you can run a single RCA phono cable to each subwoofer and thus have a stereo subwoofer system. Ensure that the L output on the amplier goes to the left hand side subwoofer and R to the right hand side to preserve the stereo image of the main speakers. The subwoofers will need to be placed close to their respective main speakers and the set-up will need to be done separately for each subwoofer. Stereo System FRONT LS RIGHT LEFT STEREO AMPLIFIER

SUBWOOFER LINE IN LEFT / MONO RIGHT14 15 ENGLISH (EN) Setting Up Check that all system connections are properly and securely made. Ensure that the subwoofer is switched off. Set the controls to the following default settings: Level Approximately half Crossover Minimum (50Hz) for large oorstanders and halfway (100Hz) for bookshelf or small speakers Phase invert 0° Auto on AUTO or ON Plug the supplied power cord into the subwoofer and then into the AC supply socket. Switch on the power at the supply socket and then switch the POWER switch on the subwoofer to ‘ON’. The Status light on the subwoofer amplier panel will glow and the subwoofer is operational. Play some music you are familiar with and experiment with the PHASE setting and LEVEL control until you hear a good blend between the front speakers and the subwoofer. If you can hear the subwoofer standing out it’s too loud! Always bear in mind that the human ear’s sensitivity to bass varies enormously with the volume level, hence the need for a wide range of programme material and sound levels. Once you are happy with the sound you can then ne tune the performance by using the remaining controls. CROSSOVER: The crossover control determines the frequency above which your subwoofer output begins to diminish. This should be set so that it corresponds with the frequency your main speakers begin to produce a strong output by themselves. The adjustment allows for a smooth handing over between subwoofer and main speaker output. If this setting is too low there will be a ‘hole’ in the sound where certain frequencies are weak, conversely if it is too high there will be an exaggeration of certain frequencies producing an overpowering bass. You can get an idea of the correct setting from your main speakers’ specication sheet. Look for the lowest frequency that the speaker produces (the “-3dB point”) under the “Frequency Response” heading. Room positioning has a dramatic effect on low frequency reproduction of both the subwoofer and your main speakers so don’t be worried if you nd you require a setting which does not correlate with the specied low frequency point of your main speakers. Stereo System14 15 Aftercare Cabinet Care Clean cabinets only with a lightly dampened cloth. Do not use solvent based cleaning materials. Never use abrasives of any kind. The cabinet surfaces will usually only require light dusting. Should an aerosol or other cleaner be used, apply the cleaner onto the cloth rst and not directly onto the product. Test a small area rst, as some cleaning products may damage the nish. Avoid products that are abrasive, or contain acid or alkaline agents. Do not use any cleaning materials on the drive units and avoid touching them as damage may result. Grilles Grilles should only be cleaned using a soft brush when necessary. Drive Units Do not touch the drive units as they are easily damaged when exposed. ENGLISH (EN)16 17 ENGLISH (EN) Warranty Q Acoustics subwoofers are warranted free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase. During the warranty period Q Acoustics will, at its option, repair or replace any product found to be faulty after inspection by the company or its appointed distributor or agent. Misuse and fair wear and tear are not covered by warranty. Goods for repair should in the rst instance be returned to the supplying dealer. If this is not possible contact Q Acoustics or their appointed distributor for your area to determine the correct warranty procedure. If possible, the original packaging should be used to return the product as damage sustained during transit to the repair centre is not covered by the warranty. The warranty does not in any way affect your legal rights. Warranty can be extended to 2 years by registering your product at www.qacoustics.co.uk/register. For service information contact: support@qacoustics.co.uk Q Acoustics Woodside 2, Dunmow Rd Bishops Stortford, Herts, UK CM23 5RG16 17 ENGLISH (EN) Specications Active Subwoofer Enclosure type: Bass unit (mm): Peak Amplier Power: Continuous Amplier Power: Frequency range: Cabinet dimensions (WxHxD): Weight: Q B12 Innite bafe 305 mm High-excursion driver (12.0 in) 440W 220W 28 Hz - 300 Hz 400 x 400 x 446 mm (15.7 x 15.7 x 17.6 in) 426 mm (16.8 in) incl. spikes

21.5 kg (47.4 lbs)52 PB

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