Atlantic Technology CTS 2 PBM - Manual (Page 5)

Compact l^aaiac
By Atlantic Technology
video level and an audio level if you find yourself falling into this
camp. Remember however, the most common error most people
make is to play the subwoofer too loudly. Of course, the Bass
Police wall not arrest you for this act. But should you wish for the
most accurate overall reproduction, a well balanced sound from
bass to highest treble is the best way to get it. Have fun.
Experiment. Try it. You’ll like it.
When two subwoofers are used, whether for regular Dolby Pro
Logic, Dolby Digital AC-3, DTS, or pure music reproduction
they should be placed asymmetrically; that is, in slighdy different
positions on each side of the television. This will help to attenuate
room resonances that are common to symmetrically positioned
subwoofers. You can also try placing the subwoofers in the same
corner, if you wish. Experiments have shown this to be a viable
means of producing smooth bass response in many rooms.
Using the Subwoofer Lo-Pass Control
With the System Two, the Lo-Pass control should be set at one
third of its range to begin with. The goal is to optimize the
performance of the system by ensuring that the subwoofer and
satellites produce a cohesive and well integrated sound “picture.”
The low frequency response of the System Two satellites has been
optimized to work with approximately a 90 Hz crossover point.
This provides maximum performance and smooth integration
with a dedicated subwoofer.
In general, higher crossover frequencies pass more bass but can
tend to sound boomy and are more easily locahzed to the
subwoofer. Higher crossover frequencies may be suitable,
however, when using very small satellites that have no real low
frequency performance. Settings lower than 90Hz should be
employed if you are using larger speakers that have extended bass
response. This way, the subwoofer will only reproduce the very
lowest bass frequencies that are in the range where the large main
speakers begin to roll off. It’s generally undesirable to have the
main speakers and the subwoofer overlap too much. Larger
speakers means a lower Lo-Pass crossover frequency, smaller
speakers means a higher Lo-pass crossover frequency. Consult the
manufacturer’s specified low frequency response for your main
speakers to determine the appropriate low-pass setting on your
subwoofer.
The Phase Invert Mode
A subwoofer operating out of phase with the rest of the system
will not provide optimum low frequency performance. Also, the
correct subwoofer phase can enhance room acoustics. Since there
is so much variation in the industry regarding phase, and no
standards have been established, a switch that will reverse the
phase of the subwoofer is provided on the subwoofer amplifier’s
rear panel. Listen to a monaural musical source with strong bass
content. (For example, you can use the mono switch on an EM
tuner or preamp, or use a Y-connector on the outputs of one of
your source components to get a mono signal.) Experiment with
the position of the phase switch to get the most extended bass. It
should be obvious which is the correct setting. In particular, there
will be a smother more integrated transition between the satellites
and the subwoofer when they are properly phased.
A Word About Center Channel Modes
Many Dolby Pro Logic surround processors and surround
receivers feature a “Wide” and “Normal” mode tor the center
channel speaker. Atlantic Technology recommends that the center
channel be operated in the Normal mode when using a powered
subwoofer. The center channel speaker will sound more dynamic
and the intelligibility of the system will generally be improved
when in the “normal” mode. With the newer discrete digital
systems (Dolby Digital AC-3, etc.) most controllers provide the
option of operating the front and rear speakers in a limited
bandwidth (Small) or full range (Large) setting. When using a
subwoofer with Adantic Technology speakers we recommend
setting such a controller to the Small position for all the speakers
in the system.
Care and Feeding of Your Subwoofer
The System Two PBM is constructed from 3/4" Medium
Density Fiberboard. MDF is a non-resonant material ideal for
speaker system enclosures. The outside of the woofer is layered
with a high quality Black Oak finished vinyl laminate. To clean
the cabinet you may use a soft cloth either dry or slightly
dampened with clean water. Be careful not to wet the cabinet or
allow any water to enter the cabinet seams.
Avoid placing your speakers in direct sunhght or near a source of
heat that may, over time, damage the finish.
Important: Save Your Boxes! If you can do so, save the carton,
packing pieces and plastic bags that came with your subwoofer.They
will be useful in case you move or have to ship your subwoofer for any
reason. In any case, save all packing materials until you are certain
that the system has suffered no damage in shipment If you fnd such
damage, either visible or internal, contact your dealer immediately for
the proper return procedure.