Slim Bass 8 - Subwoofer Wharfedale - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Powered Subwoofer
Brand	Wharfedale
Model	Slim Bass 8
Driver Size	8 inches
Amplifier Power (RMS)	150 W
Amplifier Power (Peak)	300 W
Frequency Response	30 Hz - 150 Hz
Crossover Frequency	40 - 150 Hz (adjustable)
Dimensions (W x H x D)	350 x 250 x 200 mm
Weight	8.5 kg
Enclosure Type	Bass reflex (front-firing port)
Amplifier Type	Class D
Inputs	RCA (L/R) line-level, LFE
Outputs	RCA line-level pass-through
Controls	Volume, Crossover, Phase (0/180°), Auto Power On/Off
Power Supply	AC 110-240V, 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption	200 W (max), <0.5 W standby
Finishes	Black vinyl, White lacquer
Placement	Floor-standing, near wall or corner
Safety Features	Overcurrent protection, thermal shutdown, magnetically shielded driver
Cleaning Instructions	Wipe with dry cloth; do not use solvents or water
Spare Parts & Repairability	Amplifier module replaceable; driver available as spare
Warranty	2 years (depending on region)
Included Accessories	Power cable, user manual

Frequently Asked Questions - Slim Bass 8 Wharfedale

Where is the best place to position the Slim Bass 8?

For optimal performance, place the Slim Bass 8 in a corner or near a wall to reinforce bass. Avoid placing it directly against furniture that may cause rattling. Experiment with placement to minimize standing waves.

How do I connect the subwoofer to my AV receiver?

Use a subwoofer cable to connect the LFE or RCA output on your AV receiver to the corresponding input on the Slim Bass 8. Ensure the receiver's subwoofer output is enabled.

What crossover frequency should I set?

Start with the crossover set to 80 Hz (THX standard). Adjust lower (e.g., 60 Hz) if your main speakers handle deep bass, or higher (e.g., 100 Hz) if they are small. The subwoofer's crossover control should match or be set higher than the receiver's.

What does the phase switch do and how should I set it?

The phase switch (0° or 180°) aligns the subwoofer's output with the main speakers. Set it to the position that gives the fullest bass at your listening position. Usually 0° works, but if bass sounds weak, flip to 180°.

Why is the subwoofer not turning on?

Check that the power cable is securely connected and the wall outlet is active. The auto power feature may leave the subwoofer in standby if no signal is detected. Try disabling auto power or play audio at moderate volume to trigger wake-up.

Can I use the Slim Bass 8 with a stereo amplifier?

Yes, if your stereo amplifier has a pre-out or subwoofer output. Alternatively, use a high-level (speaker wire) input adapter (not included) to connect to the amplifier's speaker terminals.

How do I clean the subwoofer?

Unplug the subwoofer. Use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe the cabinet. Do not use water, solvents, or abrasive cleaners. For the driver grille, use a vacuum with a brush attachment.

What should I do if the subwoofer produces humming noise?

Humming often results from a ground loop. Ensure all audio components share the same power outlet. Use a ground loop isolator on the RCA cable if needed. Also, avoid coiling the subwoofer cable near power cords.

Is the Slim Bass 8 magnetically shielded?

Yes, the Slim Bass 8 features a magnetically shielded driver, allowing placement near CRT TVs or other sensitive equipment without interference.

Can I replace the driver or amplifier myself?

The amplifier module is designed to be replaceable by a qualified technician. The driver can be replaced if you have the correct spare part. Contact Wharfedale support for instructions and parts availability.

USER MANUAL Slim Bass 8 Wharfedale

Front view of a rectangular electronic device with two side connectors and a central label (no text or symbols on the device itself)

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

CAUTION!

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK)

NO USER-REMOVEABLE PARTS INSIDE

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL

ADVERTISSEMENT: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE-NE PAS OUVRIR

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.

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OF ELECTIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

Read these instructions.

Keep these instructions.

Heed all warnings.

Follow all instructions.

Do not use this apparatus near water.

Clean only with 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 amplifiers) that produce heat.

Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarised or grounding plug. A polarised plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into you 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.

Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

Unplug the apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

Refer all servicing to qualified 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 exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

CAUTION: These servicing instructions are for use by qualified service personnel only. To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not perform any servicing other than that contained in the operating instructions unless you are qualified to do so.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture. The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and that objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall not be placed on apparatus.

No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the apparatus.

Do NOT place heavy objects on top of loudspeaker cabinets. If you play them with the grilles removed be careful to protect the drive units from children and pets.

DO NOT change any connections to the subwoofer or your system without first switching off the power.

DO NOT use your amplifier or receiver at its maximum volume setting. This will produce high levels of distortion which may damage your loudspeakers and subwoofer. Allow your amplifier a little headroom so that it can operate without stress.

DO turn down the volume control on your amplifier or receiver before turning the equipment on or off. This will protect your subwoofer against switching 'thumps' and other spurious signals.

IAG-WHARFE

This marking indicates that this product should not be disposed with other household wastes throughout the EU. To prevent possible harm to the environment or human health from uncontrolled waste disposal, recycle it responsibly to promote the sustainable reuse of material resources. To

return your used device, please use the return and collection systems or contact the retailer where the product was purchase. They can take this product for environmentally safe recycling.

This equipment is a Class II or double insulated electrical appliance. It has been designed in such a way that it does not require a safety connection to electrical earth.

INTRODUCTION

Drop the bass! SLIM BASS 8 is a compact, active subwoofer from Wharfedale. Featuring a custom engineered, 200mm (8") long throw driver and high-power built-in amplifier, capable of 400W peak power output, SLIM BASS 8 is set to deliver a new dimension to your home cinema experience with astounding bass impact, without breaking the bank.

Designed to be placed in tight spaces, under your sofa for instance, or against a side wall in an apartment or bedroom, this technologically advanced subwoofer has a depth of a mere 30cm, so you can find the space for it to spur your home cinema experience. Limited space, but unlimited bass!

INSTALLATION

Unpacking

Carefully unpack the subwoofer.

Retain all the packing materials so that your subwoofer can be repacked and shipped without damage.

If you dispose of the packing, do so with regard to all recycling provisions in your area.

Power Connection

This subwoofer is set to operate for the mains voltage marked on the amplifier panel. Before connecting check that this voltage is correct for your mains supply.

If you move to an area with a different mains supply voltage, please consult your Wharfedale dealer to arrange the conversion of this product.

Positioning the Subwoofer

SLIM BASS 8 is designed for placement in tight spaces. For instance, close to your chair or sofa (or underneath if space allows). The unit may be placed almost anywhere in the room, we also recommend that it be placed in front of the listener and as central to the listening position as possible. There should be a mains outlet within easy reach.

We suggest you initially position the subwoofer about 20cm (8 inches) from the wall. Placing the unit close to the wall will enhance the bass; placing it across the corner of the room will increase the bass further, possibly at the expense of be sound with no loose floorboards, etc. Experiment with locations and sources before making a final decision.

Note: due to the positioning of the heat-sink, it is important to that cooling air can flow around the subwoofer. Please keep adequate space between the heat-sink and surrounding materials such as carpet and fabrics etc.

Multi-Channel Room Placement

The diagram shows the Dolby Labs recommended positions for multi-channel operation. For 5.1 channel operation use the satellites in the front and surround positions with the Subwoofer in the LFE position.

If you have a 7.1 channel processor/amplifier you can enhance the system further by buying one of the larger loudspeakers from the Wharfedale range to use as front channel speakers and use the satellite units as back channels.

If you have any queries, your Wharfedale dealer will be pleased to advise you.

Before Connecting the Subwoofer

• Level the subwoofer taking care to make sure it sits squarely on all its feet.
- Switch off you amplifier and all connected source units at the mains.
• Unplug the power cords to all system components if necessary.
• Make sure the subwoofer is disconnected from the mains and that the ON/OFF switch is OFF.
• Before re-connecting your system to the AC power supply, check that all the connections are properly made.
• Check that all speaker terminals are done up tightly.
- Ensure that there are no strands of wire shorting adjacent speaker terminals.
- Signal cables should be properly terminated and fully screened to minimise hum. If you connect your subwoofer via low level signals inputs, the cable between your control unit or processor and the subwoofer could be quite long so screening is particularly important. Consult your dealer if in doubt.

CONNECTING THE SUBWOOFER TO THE SYSTEM

Control Panel of the SLIM BASS 8

1 Auto Sense Switch
2 Phase Switch
3 Crossover Frequency Control
4 Volume Control

5 Line Level Input/LFE Input
6 Mains Power Fuse
7 IEC Mains Input Socket
8 Mains Power Switch

A/V Processor Connections

Your subwoofer has been designed for optimum performance with a digital processor. If your A/V processor has a line level or LFE subwoofer output you should use this connection. You will need to purchase a single screened RCA phono lead from your dealer. Connect this lead to the LFE input of the subwoofer as shown.

Alternatively, you may use a split mono lead from the processor to Line Inputs of the subwoofer. In this case the input level at the subwoofer will be slightly higher.

Stereo Line Output Connections

If your amplifier has a spare preamplifier output or a stereo subwoofer output, connect the subwoofer as shown. You will need a stereo screened RCA phono cable.

Pre Out - Main in Connections

If you use a stereo pre and power amplifier, or an amplifier where the pre and main amplifier cab be separated, connect the subwoofer as shown. There are two alternative methods.

You will need two screened RCA 'Y' adaptors and two single RCA phono cables.

Remove the Pre-Main links on your amplifier. Connect the socket (common) of an RCA 'Y' adaptor to the left Channel Pre Out socket on the amplifier and the other leg to the Left Channel Main In socket. Connect the remaining plug on this combination to the Left Channel Line Level input on the subwoofer. Repeat this for the Right Channel.

OPERATING YOUR SUBWOOFER

Check that all connections to the subwoofer have been properly made and that the main volume control is at minimum. Plug the supplied power cord into the mains socket on the rear panel.

Initial Settings

Volume Control: Set the subwoofer volume control to the minimum before proceeding.

Crossover Control: Adjust frequency to integrate SLIM BASS 8 subwoofer with your system requirement.

Phase Switch: The Phase switch should be initially set to 0°.

Switching On

Plug in the mains plug and switch the power on. Now switch the subwoofer on with the rest of your system. When switched on, the power indicator light will glow and the subwoofer will be operational.

OPERATING YOUR SUBWOOFER

Basic Tuning

Volume Setting: Play a programme with extended bass and set the system volume to a resonal level. Adjust the subwoofer volume control to produce the desired level of bass. The bass should be even and an extension of the main loudspeakers. Do not set the control too high or you will swamp the sound with too much bass and clarity and definition will suffer.

Phase Switch: If the bass is indistinct or lacks depth, the Phase switch may need adjustment. Set the switch to 0° and listen carefully to some music with extended bass. If there is insufficient bass output from the subwoofer set the Phase switch to 180°. Select the position which produces the most natural, extended bass.

Crossover Adjustment: This adjusts the blend between the subwoofer and the main speakers and enables the system to be set up for optimum bass performance. The higher settings are for use with small bookshelf loudspeakers, the lower setting for large floorstanding models. If you choose too low a setting with small speakers, there will be a 'hole' in the bass response; too high a setting with large speakers will result in the upper bass becoming bloated. Again the subwoofer should be an extension of the main loudspeakers.

Auto-Sense Switch: This feature reduces the power consumption when there is no music signal. When the Auto-Sense Switch is on, the amplifier will be activated immediately once an audio signal is detected at the inputs, and it will turn into the mute status when no signal is detected for about 20 minutes, which lowers the power consumption. This feature can be made invalid by setting this switch to off.

Mains Operation

When the system is not in use for extended periods, we suggest you switch off the subwoofer to protect it from switching noises caused by domestic appliances, etc. The best practice is to switch the complete system on and off from a central point. Bear in mind that if you play the system with the subwoofer switched off you will get no bass!

Always turn the main volume control to minimum when you switch the system on or off.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Before investigating a problem, always switch off the system at mains.

If your system is not working properly please work through this checklist before returning a unit to your dealer.

Symptom	Possible Cause
No Sound	System not switched on; Speaker cables shorting terminals out; Wrong source selected
Sound lacks bass content	Subwoofer not switched on
Lack of bass reproduction	Subwoofer phase incorrect; Subwoofer crossover control too low
Excessive bass distortion at low volumes	Subwoofer set to high; LFE level set too high; Subwoofer incorrectly wired
Excessive or distorted bass at high levels	System level set too high; Bass control set too high; Subwoofer too close to room corners
Distorted / rattling sound at high levels	System level set too high; Objects too close to subwoofer
Popping or thumping from the subwoofer	System level set too high; Subwoofer level set too high; LFE level set too high
Television picture colour is distorted	Subwoofer too close to TV. (Switch off system and TV, move units away, wait for 15 minutes, switch on.)

Specifications

General Description	Active Dynamic-Drive IB subwoofer system
Design philosophy and core technology	1x (8")200mm cone long-throw
Transducer complement	200mm long throw bass driver
Input sensitivity	200mv for maximum output
Amlifier Power Output	200W
Peak Power Output	400W
Peak SPL	108dB
Frequency response (+/-3dB)	35Hz - 120Hz
Bass extension (-6dB)	30Hz
Crossover frequency	100Hz - 150Hz
Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N)	≥85dB
Special features	phase inversion
	high pass output
	low pass filter frequency adjustment
	auto on/off
Cabinet volume	17.2L
Dimension (HxWxD) mm(on spikes)	(170+19)x601x305)
Carton Size (LxWxH) mm	710X415X295
Net weight	11.0kg
Gross weight	12.5kg
Finish	Black
Power requirements (depending on region)	AC 100-120V~ 50/60Hz, or 220-240V~ 50/60Hz
Standard accessories	power cord, user manual, certificate

Subwoofer Maintenance

Subwoofer should only ever be cleaned with a soft dry cloth to remove fingermarks, etc.

Never touch sunwoofer drive units as they can be damaged by improper handling.

Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean a subwoofer grille. Brush it carefully by hand with a soft brush.

When cleaning the floor under a subwoofer, switch it off, unplug it from the mains supply then lift it clear of the floor and move it to another location. Replace the subwoofer after cleaning.

SERVICING

Should a fault occur with you subwoofer, please pack it correctly, using the original packing, so you can ship it safely. Product for service should be returned to the appointed dealer from whom you purchased the product. If you experience difficulties or there is no Wharfedale dealer in your area, contact the Wharfedale distributor for your country or the office below.

UK

IAG Service Dept. 13/14 Glebe Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 7DL, UK

Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail]