SPENDOR AC1 Home Theatre User Guide

SPENDOR AC1 Home Theatre

Product Information

The Spendor Theatre products are loudspeakers that deliver film soundtracks and reproduce music with outstanding clarity and realism. This advanced set-up guide is for the Spendor AC1, AC2, DC1 centre channel products and the AW1 & DS1 wall mount products. To attain the best performance, Spendor recommends that these products be installed by a Spendor Authorised Retailer/Installer.

Loudspeaker Placement for DS1 in Stereo (2.0) or Stereo & Subwoofer (2.1)

To achieve optimum playback in a dedicated stereo set up, mount the DS1 on the wall so the LPZ HF Unit is level with your ears when you are seated. Place the left and right channel loudspeakers on the listening wall, anywhere from 1.8m to 3m (5’10- 9’10) apart and 0.8m (2’6) to 1.2m (3’9) from the floor, measured from the bottom of the cabinet. If possible, locate the speakers at least 0.5m (1’7) away from the side walls. The main seated listening position should be between 2m (6’6) and 3m (9’10) away from the loudspeakers.

Loudspeaker Placement for 5.1 Systems

Place the left and right channel loudspeakers on either side of the video screen, anywhere from 1.8m to 3m (5’10-9’10) apart and 1.5m (4’11) from the floor (which roughly corresponds to the height of your ears when you’re seated on a sofa or chair). If possible, locate the loudspeakers at least 0.5m (1’7) away from the side walls. The main seated listening position should be between 2m (6’6) and 3m (9’10) away from the loudspeakers. If possible, locate the centre loudspeaker at the same height as the left and right loudspeakers (1.5m/4’11) from the floor. If you must place the centre loudspeaker above or below a video screen, we recommend placing it no more than 0.5m (1’7) above or below the centre of the left and right loudspeakers. If placing the left and right surround channel loudspeakers on the walls directly to the sides of the listening position isn’t possible, you can mount them on the rear wall. Locate the loudspeakers directly to the left and right sides of the listening position, between 1.8m (5’10) and 3m (9’10) apart and 3m apart.

Product Usage Instructions

1. Read the advanced set-up guide thoroughly before beginning installation.
2. For optimum performance, Spendor recommends that these products be installed by a Spendor Authorised Retailer/Installer.
3. To achieve optimum playback in a dedicated stereo set up, mount the DS1 on the wall so the LPZ HF Unit is level with your ears when you are seated.
4. Place the left and right channel loudspeakers on the listening wall, anywhere from 1.8m to 3m (5’10- 9’10) apart and 0.8m (2’6) to 1.2m (3’9) from the floor, measured from the bottom of the cabinet. If possible, locate the speakers at least 0.5m (1’7) away from the side walls. The main seated listening position should be between 2m (6’6) and 3m (9’10) away from the loudspeakers.
5. Place the left and right channel loudspeakers on either side of the video screen, anywhere from 1.8m to 3m (5’10-9’10) apart and 1.5m (4’11) from the floor. If possible, locate the loudspeakers at least 0.5m (1’7) away from the side walls. The main seated listening position should be between 2m (6’6) and 3m (9’10) away from the loudspeakers.
6. If possible, locate the centre loudspeaker at the same height as the left and right loudspeakers (1.5m/4’11) from the floor. If you must place the centre loudspeaker above or below a video screen, we recommend placing it no more than 0.5m (1’7) above or below the centre of the left and right loudspeakers.
7. If placing the left and right surround channel loudspeakers on the walls directly to the sides of the listening position isn’t possible, you can mount them on the rear wall. Locate the loudspeakers directly to the left and right sides of the listening position, between 1.8m (5’10) and 3m (9’10) apart and 3m apart.

INTRO

Thank you for purchasing Spendor Theatre products. When properly installed, these loudspeakers will bring out the best in all your entertainment; delivering film soundtracks as their creators intended them to sound and reproducing music with outstanding clarity and realism. This guide is for the Spendor AC1, AC2, DC1 centre channel products and the AW1 & DS1 wall mount products. To get the most out of your new loudspeakers, please read this guide thoroughly before you begin installation. To attain the best performance, Spendor recommends that these products be installed by a Spendor Authorised Retailer/Installer.

LOUDSPEAKER PLACEMENT FOR DS1 IN STEREO (2.0) OR STEREO & SUBWOOFER (2.1)

LEFT AND RIGHT CHANNEL LOUDSPEAKERS: Place the left & right channel loudspeakers on the listening wall, anywhere from 1.8m to 3m (5’10”- 9’10”) apart and 0.8m (2’6”) to 1.2m (3’9”) from the floor, measured from the bottom of the cabinet. This roughly corresponds to the height of your ears when you’re seated on a sofa or chair, to be level with the HF unit.

• If possible, locate the speakers at least 0.5m (1’7”) away from the side walls.
• The main seated listening position should be between 2m (6’6”) and 3m (9’10”) away from the loudspeakers.
• For optimum playback in a dedicated stereo set up, mount the DS1 on the wall so the LPZ HF Unit is level with your ears when you are seated.

SUGGESTED LEFT & RIGHT LOUDSPEAKER PLACEMENT IDEALLY, THE HF UNIT SHOULD BE LEVEL WITH YOUR EARS IN THE SEATED POSITION

LOUDSPEAKER PLACEMENT FOR 5.1 SYSTEMS

LEFT AND RIGHT CHANNEL LOUDSPEAKERS
Place the left & right channel loudspeakers on either side of the video screen, anywhere from 1.8m to 3m (5’10”- 9’10”) apart and 1.5m (4’11”) from the floor (which roughly corresponds to the height of your ears when you’re seated on a sofa or chair). If possible, locate the loudspeakers at least 0.5m (1’7”) away from the side walls. The main seated listening position should be between 2m (6’6”) and 3m (9’10”) away from the loudspeakers.

CENTRE CHANNEL LOUDSPEAKER
If possible, locate the centre loudspeaker at the same height as the left & right loudspeakers (1.5m/4’11”) from the floor. If you must place the centre loudspeaker above or below a video screen, we recommend placing it no more than 0.5m (1’7”) above or below the centre of the left and right loudspeakers. Keeping the loudspeakers within this window will maintain consistent tonality between all 3 front loudspeakers.
SUGGESTED LEFT, CENTRE & RIGHT FRONT LOUDSPEAKER PLACEMENT

LEFT & RIGHT SURROUND CHANNEL LOUDSPEAKERS
The left & right channel surround loudspeakers should be placed on the walls directly to the sides of the listening position, between 1.5m (4’11”) and 2.1m (6’10”) off the floor and 0.6m – 1.8m (1’1”-5’10”) behind the listening position. If placing the loudspeakers on the walls directly to the sides of the listening position isn’t possible, you can mount them on the rear wall. Locate the loudspeakers directly to the left and right sides of the listening position, between 1.8m (5’10”) and 3m (9’10”) apart and 3m apart.
SUGGESTED SURROUND LOUDSPEAKER PLACEMENT

LOUDSPEAKER PLACEMENT FOR 6.1 & 7.1 SYSTEM

The surround back loudspeakers in a 6.1 or 7.1 channel system should be placed on the rear wall of the listening room at the same height as the left and right surround loudspeakers. Place the loudspeakers from 1.3m (4’3”) to 2.7m (8’10”) apart. N.B. You can use any Spendor A-Line, D-Line and Classic models in your Theatre system, for front left and right channel duties or rear surround duties. To achieve the best performance or to talk about adding subwoofers, Spendor recommends you consult with your Spendor Authorised Retailer/Installer for more detailed advice.SUGGESTED 7.1 CHANNEL LOUDSPEAKER PLACEMENT

LOUDSPEAKER CONFIGURATION

AV AMPLIFIER/RECEIVER SETTINGS
If you are using the Manual Setup Mode in your AV amplifier; select whether loudspeakers are present, their reproduction capacity for low bass frequencies and the loudspeaker size.

• Front: Set the front loudspeaker size.
• Large: Use the large loudspeaker setting that can reproduce very low bass frequencies.
• Small: Use the small loudspeaker setting that has insufficient playback capacity for very low bass frequencies.
• Centre: Set the presence and size of the centre loudspeaker.
• Large: Use the large loudspeaker setting that can reproduce very low bass frequencies.
• Small: Use the small loudspeaker setting that has insufficient playback capacity for very low bass frequencies.
• None: Select when a centre loudspeaker is not connected.
• Subwoofer: Set the presence of a subwoofer.
• Yes: Use a subwoofer.
• No: Select when a subwoofer is not connected

N.B. Subwoofers are specially designed to produce the lower frequencies, including the lower register of the bass and the entirety of the sub-bass band frequency. If you know your loudspeaker’s frequency range, set the crossover point roughly 10 Hz above the lowest frequency your loudspeakers can handle cleanly. The most common crossover frequency recommended as a good starting point (and the THX standard) is 80 Hz.

• Surround: Set the presence and size of the surround loudspeakers.
• Large: Use a large loudspeaker that can reproduce very low bass frequencies.
• Small: Use a small loudspeaker that has insufficient playback capacity for very low bass frequencies.
• None: Select when the surround loudspeakers are not connected. Surround.
• Back: Set the presence, size and number of surround back loudspeakers.
• Large: Use a large loudspeaker that can reproduce very low bass frequencies.
• Small: Use a small loudspeaker that has insufficient playback capacity for very low bass frequencies.
• None: Select when the surround back loudspeakers are not connected.

N.B. For all other AV amplifier/receiver settings, please refer to the owners manual for that product or for more detailed advice, Spendor recommends you consult with your Spendor   Authorised Retailer/Installer.

RUNNING-IN

Your Spendor loudspeakers will benefit from a period of ‘running-in’. During this period, the stresses in the suspension system will relax and stabilise. This period is dependent on many factors and can vary from days to weeks depending on how often and how loud you play your loudspeakers. This is not a cause for concern; your loudspeakers will improve as you use them during this initial period. It is extremely important for the loudspeakers to be properly ‘run in’ before you try and optimise the position, so don’t subject them to an extended testing session as soon as you’ve unboxed and connected them to the rest of your system. It is unlikely you will want to do this at any extreme volume but be careful not to push them too hard straight away. Let them ease in and don’t ask too much of them. Check the power handling advice for your product.

CONNECTIONS
Set your amplifier to minimum volume and switch off the power. The amplifier output marked RIGHT should be connected to the loudspeaker on the right, and the amplifier output marked LEFT should be connected to the loudspeaker on the left. These instructions should be read in conjunction with your amplifier owner’s manual. Connect a twin conductor cable to the terminals on the rear of the loudspeaker.
Please refer to the instructions supplied with the DS1 for the correct way to wire the Neutrik speak ON plug. The positive (+ or red) terminal on your loudspeaker must be connected to the positive (+ or red) terminal on your amplifier. The negative (- or black) terminal on the loudspeaker must be connected to the negative (- or black) terminal on your amplifier

Check the connections periodically to make sure they are secure. Some Spendor loudspeakers can be bi-wired or tri-wired. Loudspeaker cables can have a noticeable effect on sound quality. Choose a good quality cable with high purity conductors and low-loss insulation. Ask your dealer for advice on cables and connection options to suit your system
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References

• Spendor

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