Theva Center - Speaker FOCAL - Free user manual and instructions

Product type	2-way sealed center speaker
Brand	Focal
Model	Theva Center
Category	Speaker
Sensitivity	91 dB
Frequency response	59 Hz - 28 kHz
Low frequency cut-off	51 Hz
Nominal impedance	8 Ω
Minimum impedance	3.8 Ω
Recommended amplifier power	40 - 200 W
Crossover frequency	2,100 Hz
Drivers	2 x 16.5cm Slatefiber mid/bass driver, 25mm TNF inverted dome tweeter Al/Mg
Dimensions (H x W x D)	21.2 x 53 x 26 cm
Net weight	10 kg
Weight with packaging	12 kg
Package dimensions (H x W x D)	32 x 62 x 39 cm
Included accessories	Magnetic grilles, silicone pads
Care and cleaning	Dust with a dry cloth; use a damp cloth for stains. Do not use solvents, detergents, alcohols, or corrosive products.
Operating ambient temperature	Max 35 °C
Warranty (France)	2 years from date of purchase
Recycling	Do not dispose of with household waste. Recycle via collection points.

Frequently Asked Questions - Theva Center FOCAL

How do I connect the Theva Center center speaker?

Use the connectors on the rear of the speaker. They accept bare cables (up to 4mm diameter), spade connectors, or banana plugs. Strictly respect polarity: the connector marked + must be connected to the positive output of the amplifier, and the connector marked - to the negative. Failure to respect polarity degrades the stereo image and bass perception.

Where should I place the Theva Center center speaker in a home theater?

Place the center speaker near the screen, ideally under the TV if the cabinet allows. For a standard projection screen, position it at the foot of the screen. If using an acoustically transparent screen, it can be placed behind the screen, towards the lower half. Ensure to stick the supplied silicone pads before installation on a cabinet. You can also use the included rubber base to tilt the speaker slightly backward.

How to clean the Theva Center speaker?

Maintenance is limited to dusting with a dry cloth. For stains, use a damp cloth. Never use solvents, detergents, alcohols, corrosive products, scrapers, or scouring pads. Avoid proximity to a heat source.

What amplifier power is recommended for Theva Center?

The recommended amplifier power is between 40 and 200 W. Under-powering is more dangerous than over-powering: if the volume is too high, the amplifier clips and can damage the tweeter. Choose a quality amplifier suited to your tastes and budget, with the help of your dealer.

How to install the grille on Theva Center?

Theva speakers are supplied with magnetic grilles. Simply position them on the front: they attach automatically. You can easily remove them to listen to music, which allows you to enjoy the best sound performance.

What to do if my speaker sound is harsh or aggressive?

A harsh or aggressive sound indicates a too reverberant room acoustics. Add absorbent materials like carpets, sofas, wall hangings, or curtains. You can also use reflective materials (furniture) to diffuse resonances. The goal is to balance absorption and reflection.

What is the break-in period for Theva speakers?

Speakers require a period of adaptation to perform optimally. This break-in period varies with temperature and humidity conditions, and can last a few weeks. To speed it up, run your speakers for about twenty consecutive hours. Once stabilized, you will fully enjoy their performance.

How do I register my Focal product for warranty?

To facilitate warranty, register your product online at www.focal.com/garantie. The legal warranty in France is 2 years from the date of purchase. If you have a problem, contact your Focal dealer.

What to do in case of technical problem with my speaker?

In case of a problem, contact your Focal dealer. If the device is under warranty, ship it in its original packaging. The dealer will analyze the fault and, if warranty conditions are met, it will be repaired or replaced. Otherwise, a repair estimate will be provided. Never attempt to repair the device yourself, as opening can be dangerous.

Can the Theva Center center speaker be wall-mounted?

No, the Theva Center center speaker is not designed for wall mounting. It is intended to be placed on a cabinet or shelf. For wall installation, refer to the Theva Surround model which comes with a specific wall mount. Ensure to follow safety instructions and use anchors suitable for your wall.

USER MANUAL Theva Center FOCAL

Line drawing of a speaker with two circular speakers and a central speaker (no text or symbols)

Line drawing of a two-tiered speaker box with two circular speakers and a central button (no text or symbols)

A

x 4

Technical line drawing of a mechanical bracket or mounting bracket (no text or symbols)

B

×1

Simple 3D rectangular block diagram with no text or symbols

C

× 1

D

× 4

Simple line drawing of a rectangular block with two small protrusions and the word 'FOCAL' on its side (no other text or symbols)

E

×1

Simple line drawing of a rectangular prism (no text or symbols)

F

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G

× 1

THEVA CENTER

THEVA SURROUND

THEVA™

Line drawing of a speaker with sound waves and a starburst effect (no text or symbols)

A

Technical line drawing of a speaker chamber with two speakers and a door, showing no text or symbols

F

Diagram of a speaker with an open door and speaker grille, labeled 'F' (no text or symbols on the diagram itself)

B

C

THEVA CENTER

THEVA SURROUND

Diagram of a film strip with two circular objects inside, no text or symbols present

Simple line drawing of a film strip frame with two circular speakers at the bottom (no text or symbols)

D

Technical line drawing of a rectangular enclosure with mounting holes and two separate views (labeled D and E), no text or symbols present.

E

F

Technical line drawing of a rectangular electronic device with mounting holes and internal compartments (no text or symbols)

G

Line drawing of a speaker with visible sound waves and an arrow indicating direction (no text or symbols)

Simple line drawing of a speaker with concentric circles and an arrow indicating sound direction (no text or symbols)

H

THEVA CENTER THEVA SURROUND

Type 2-way closed centre speaker		2-way closed surround speaker
Speaker drivers	2x 6^1/2 " (16.5cm) slatefiber Midrange/Bass 1" (25mm) Al/Mg inverted dome TNF tweeter	6^1/2 " (16.5cm) Slatefiber Midrange/Bass 1" (25mm) Al/Mg inverted dome TNF tweeter
Sensitivity	91dB	89dB
Bandwidth	59Hz - 28kHz	80Hz - 28kHz
Low-frequency cut-off	51Hz	67Hz
Nominal impedance	8Ω	8 Ω
Minimal impedance	3.8 Ω 4.5 Ω
Recommended amp power	40 - 200W	25 - 100W
Crossover frequency	2100Hz	3000Hz
Dimensions (HxWxD)	8^3/8"x20^7/8"x10^1/4" (21.2x53x26cm)	17^1/2"x12^1/2"x4^1/4" (44.3x31.6x10.7cm)
Net weight (with grille)	22.05lbs (10kg)	12.13lbs (5.5kg)
Box dimensions (HxWxD)	12^5/8"x24^3/8"x15^3/8" (32x62x39cm)	22"x18^1/2"x7^1/8" (56x47x18cm)
Net weight (with packaging)	26.46lbs (12kg)	15.43lbs (7kg)

À LIRE EN PREMIER !

INSTRUCTIONS DE SÉCURITÉ IMPORTANTES !

Placement de Theva Center (fig.D, E)

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS!

	CAUTIONRISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCKDO NOT OPEN
The bolt of lightning in an equilateral triangle warns the user that the device has high voltage that could result in a risk of electric shock.	WARNING: To prevent any risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover (or the back) from the device. There are no user-serviceable parts in this device. For maintenance or repairs, contact a qualified professional.	Warning symbol. This symbol is designed to warn the user of the presence of important instructions mentioned in the user manual and relating to the handling, operation and maintenance of the device.
1. Read these instructions.2. Keep these instructions.3. Heed all warnings.4. Follow all instructions.5. Do not use this apparatus near water.6. Clean only with dry cloth.7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.9. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.10. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified 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.	11. Refer all servicing to qualified 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.12. When using the device, the ambient temperature should not exceed 95°F (35 degrees Celsius).13. Do not use this device in tropical climates.14. Do not place naked flame sources, such as lit candles, near the device.15. The appliance should only be mounted on a wall or ceiling if the manufacturer allows for this.16. This product has sharp corners. Handle it with care.17. Do not attempt to repair this device yourself. Opening the device may be dangerous. Contact a qualified professional for all work on the device.18. When replacement components are needed, use only the components specified by the manufacturer or components with identical technical features to those of the original product. Using non-compliant components could cause fires, electric shocks or other risks.19. After any maintenance or repair work on the device, test it to check that it is working safely.20. Turn the source to minimum before connecting the products and turning up the volume. Once the products are in place, gradually increase the volume to a reasonable and comfortable level.	21. To avoid damaging your hearing, do not listen to loudspeakers at high volumes for long periods of time. Listening to loudspeakers at an excessive volume can cause damage to the user's ears and may lead to hearing problems (temporary or permanent deafness, buzzing in the ears, tinnitus, hyperacusis). Exposing your ears to a volume higher than 85dB SPL-LAeq for several hours can irreversibly damage your hearing.(CEI 60417-6044)22. After removing the product from its packaging, keep the packaging out of the reach of children. It could present a suffocation risk.23. Some users who are not self-sufficient enough to use the product on their own without danger. In particular, children under 14 or people with some types of disabilities must be supervised and/or accompanied when using the device.

Please validate your Focal-JMlab warranty, it is now possible to register your product online: www.focal.com/warranty

Thank you for purchasing a Focal product. Welcome to our High-Fidelity world. Innovation, tradition, excellence and pleasure are our values; our one and only aim is to bring you a sound that is rich, pure and true. To get the most out of your product, we recommend that you read the instructions in this booklet, then store it in a safe place to refer to in the future.

Handling (fig. A)

The Theva loudspeakers have sharp corners.

Take care not to injure yourself when handling them.

Grilles (fig. B)

The Theva loudspeakers are supplied with grilles to protect the speaker drivers. They are easy to fit or remove thanks to their magnetic attachment system.

We advise removing them when you are listening to music to get the best performance from your loudspeakers.

Connections (fig. C)

Theva connectors provide reliable, multi-purpose contacts for stripped cables (up to 3/16" - 4mm diameter), fork terminals or banana connectors. It is imperative that you respect the polarity of the loudspeakers. The connector marked "+" must be connected to the positive output on the amplifier, and the connector marked "-" must be connected to the negative terminal. Stereo image and bass perception will be seriously compromised if these conditions are not respected. Choose good quality cables with a cross-section appropriate for their length: your dealer will be able to advise you.

Recommendations for use

The way the loudspeakers behave depends on the room's acoustics, the correct positioning of the loudspeakers within the room and the listener's location.

You can tweak each of these elements to correct or improve a desired effect.

The sound is harsh, aggressive: your room's acoustics are probably too reverberant. Consider using sound-absorbing materials (rugs, sofa, wall coverings, curtains, etc.) and sound-reflecting materials (furniture) to absorb or diffuse resonance.

The sound is “flat”, strangled: there are too many sound-absorbing materials in the room; the sound is soaked up and has no depth. Aim for a better balance between the absorbent and reflective materials within your room.

In general, aim to have a reflective wall behind the loudspeakers so that the sound develops correctly. The wall behind the listening area, meanwhile, will ideally be absorbent to prevent rear reflections from “contaminating” the perception of the stereo image. Furniture can be placed judiciously on the side walls to diffuse the sound waves and therefore ensure certain frequency ranges are not excited, particularly in the midrange (suppression of flutter echoes).

Positioning the Theva Center (fig. D, E)

The central loudspeaker should be placed close to the screen for realistic dialogue reproduction. It can be placed beneath the television if the TV unit allows this.

If a standard projection screen is used, the central loudspeaker must be placed below the screen for optimum results. (fig. D)

If a micro-perforated screen is used, it can then be placed behind and towards the lower half of the screen.

If positioning the loudspeaker on a furniture unit, make sure you stick on the silicone feet before installation. You can also add the rubber base beneath the loudspeaker, in the space provided, to tilt the loudspeaker backwards and thereby slightly lift the soundstage. (fig. E)

Positioning of Theva Surround loudspeakers (fig. F)

The complexity of today's film soundtracks, particularly those mixed in 5.1 or 7.1, allows a very broad diversity of surround effects to be achieved. The choice of where to position the Surround loudspeakers is therefore a deciding factor in achieving a realistic three-dimensional space.

The aim is to achieve sounds that are sufficiently diffused and difficult to locate by applying some basic rules.

Avoid placing the Surround loudspeakers too far back in the listening area, as the perception will be compromised. Opt for a position on the side walls to obtain the most enveloping sound effects.

• Sit in your listening position
• Refer to the positioning diagram (fig. F). It gives you the best position for your 5.1 and 7.1 loudspeakers.

Fixing the Theva Surround to the wall (fig. G, H)

• Stick the feet onto the back of the loudspeaker in the spaces provided.
• Position then fix the wall bracket onto the partition. The height at which the screws will be fixed corresponds to the height of the tweeter. Screws and wall plugs are not supplied. Only use wall plugs suitable for the nature of your partition.
• Connect the cables to the loudspeaker before hanging it on the wall.
• Hold the loudspeaker in front of the wall bracket. Attach the loudspeaker firmly to the bracket by applying pressure to the top of it.

Break-in period

The speaker drivers used in Theva loudspeakers are complex mechanical components which require a certain time to adapt to operate at their best and to become acclimatised to the temperature and humidity of the listening environment. This break-in period varies depending on the climate and may last a few weeks. To reduce the break-in period, we recommend operating the loudspeakers for approximately twenty consecutive hours. Once the loudspeakers' characteristics have totally stabilised, you will be able to enjoy your Theva loudspeakers' performance to the full.

Special precautions

The only maintenance required for the Theva loudspeakers is dusting with a dry cloth. If your loudspeaker becomes dirty, we recommend simply cleaning it with a damp cloth.

Never use solvents, detergents, alcohol-based or corrosive products, scrapers or scourers to clean the surface of a loudspeaker.

Keep the loudspeakers away from sources of heat.

Choosing the right amplifier

It is not an excess of amplifier power that can damage your loudspeakers and speaker drivers but a lack of power. Moreover, if the volume is turned up too high, the amplifier saturates and generates parasite signals that may damage the tweeter. The dynamic capacity and definition of Theva loudspeakers are sufficient to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of whatever amplifier is connected. Your retailer will be able to help you choose the amplifier best suited to your tastes and budget.

Conditions of warranty

All Focal loudspeakers are covered by warranty drawn up by the official Focal distributor in your country. Your distributor can provide all details concerning the conditions of warranty. Warranty cover extends at least to that granted by the legal warranty in force in the country where the original purchase invoice was issued.

BITTE ZUERST LESEN!

Correct elimination of this product.

This marking indicates that within the EU this product should not be disposed of with other household wastes. To prevent any risk to the environment or human health, please recycle them responsibly to encourage the reuse of material resources. To return your used device, please use the return and collection systems available, or contact the retailer where you purchased the product. They can recycle this product safely.