FOCAL Sub6 Powered Studio Subwoofer User Manual

FOCAL Sub6 Powered Studio Subwoofer

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS !

READ FIRST !

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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.| The exclamation mark in an equilateral triangle warns the user that the manual contains important instructions on how to use and look after the device.
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all the warnings.
4. Follow all the instructions.
5. Risk of electric shock. Do not open. Do not submerge your product in water or expose them to humidity.
6. Only clean with a dry cloth.
7. Do not obstruct ventilation openings. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing the device. Leave a distance of at least 5 cm around the product for proper ventilation.
8. Do not install the device close to a heat source such as a radiator, cooker, heat vents or any other appliance (including amplifiers) that gives out heat.
9. Follow the safety instructions for the power supply cord. This product is a device belonging to Class 1. Only plug in the device using the mains plug provided, which incorporates an earth connection. The device must be plugged into an earthed mains socket.
10. Make sure the power cable can’t be trodden on, crushed or pinched. Take particular care with the plug and the cable connection to the device.
11. Only use accessories recommended by the manufacturer.
12. Only use handling equipment, stands, tripods, mounts or tables recommended by the manufacturer or sold with the device. If using a trolley, take extra care when moving the trolley and device together, to prevent the device from falling off and causing injury.
13. Unplug the device during storms or long periods when it is not in use.

| 14. All maintenance tasks should be performed by a qualified professional. Maintenance is required in case of any kind of damage to the device (damaged cable or plug, spillages or objects inserted into the device, exposure to rain or humidity, if the device malfunctions or overturns, etc.).
15. The product should only be connected to the mains power type shown on the label on the device. If you’re not sure what type of mains electrical supply you have, ask your retailer or your electricity supplier. For devices intended for use with a battery or another power source, see the user manual.
16. Do not use this device in tropical climates.
17. Do not use this device at altitudes of more than 2,000 m.
18. Do not overload wall sockets, extension leads or multiple socket outlets as this could cause fire or electric shock.
19. Do not insert any objects into the device’s ventilation openings. They could come into contact with one of the high-voltage components or short- circuit them and cause a fire or electric shock. Do not spill liquid on the device.
20. Do not attempt to repair this device yourself. Opening it may expose you to hazardous voltages or to other risks. Contact a qualified professional for all maintenance work.| 21. When replacement components are needed, make sure that the maintenance technician uses the components recommended by the manufacturer or components with the same technical features as the original product. Using non-compliant components could cause fires, electric shocks or other risks.
22. After any maintenance or repair work on the device, ask the maintenance technician to test it to check that it works safely.
23. The appliance should only be mounted on a wall or ceiling if the manufacturer allows for this.
24. The On/Off switch on the back of the device cuts off the mains power supply to the device. The user should be able to access it at all times.
25. To avoid damaging your hearing, do not listen to loudspeakers at high volumes for long periods of time. Listening to speakers at high volumes can cause damage to the user’s ears and may lead to hearing problems (temporary or permanent deafness, buzzing in the ears, tinnitus, hyperacusis). Exposure to excessive volumes (over 85 dB) for more than one hour can cause irreparable damage to your hearing.

An example of this equipment has been tested and found to comply with the following European directives and international standards:

Electromagnetic compatibility
EN 55103
EN 61000

USA:
Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

Electrical safety
EN 60065

Canada:
Industry Canada Statement:

This device complies with ISED’s licence-exempt RSSs. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

SOLO6 BE : SPECIFICATIONS

SYSTEM

Frequency response|  | 40Hz – 40kHz
Maximum SPL|  | 113dB SPL (peak @ 1m)
ELECTRONIC SECTION
Input| Type/Impedance
Connector
Sensitivity| Electronically balanced / 10 kOhms
XLR
Adjustable, +4dBu ou -10dBV
LF amplifier stage
HF amplifier stage|  | 150W rms, BASH® technology 100W rms, class AB
Power supply| Main Voltage
Connection| 230V (1.6A fuse rating)
115V (3.15A fuse rating)
IEC inlet and detachable power cord
User controls|  | Input level switch
LF and HF contours (potentiometers)
Power ON/OFF switch, mains voltage selector
Indicator|  | Power on LED
TRANSDUCERS
Woofer|  | “W” cone, Focal 6W4370B 6.5″ drive unit
High frequency|  | Focal TB871 inverted Beryllium dome tweeter with protective grille
Shielding|  | Integral through cancellation magnets or by magnet design
CABINET
Construction|  | 19mm MDF panels with internal braces
Finish|  | Real red veneer on sides
Dimensions (HxWxD)|  | 330mm x 240mm x 290mm – (13″x9.5″x11.4″)
Weight|  | 11kg – (24.2lb)

All specifications are subject to change.

TWIN6 BE : SPECIFICATIONS

SYSTEM

Frequency response|  | 40Hz – 40kHz
Maximum SPL|  | 115dB SPL (peak @ 1m)
ELECTRONIC SECTION
Input| Type/Impedance
Connector
Sensitivity| Electronically balanced / 10 kOhms  XLR
Adjustable, +4dBu ou -10dBV
LF amplifier stage
LF/MF amplifier stage
HF amplifier stage|  | 150W rms, BASH® technology 150W rms, BASH® technology 100W rms, class AB
Power supply| Main Voltage
Connection| 230V (2A fuse rating) 115V (4A fuse rating) IEC inlet and detachable power cord
User controls|  | Input level switch Speaker (left/right) switch LF and HF contours (potentiometers) Power ON/OFF switch, mains voltage selector
Indicator|  | Power on LED
TRANSDUCERS
Woofer|  | 2 x “W” cone, Focal 6W4370B 6.5″ drive unit
High frequency|  | Focal TB871 inverted Beryllium dome tweeter with protective grille
Shielding|  | Integral through cancellation magnets or by magnet design
CABINET
Construction|  | 19mm MDF panels with internal braces
Finish|  | Real red veneer on sides
Dimensions (HxWxD)|  | 250mm x 500mm x 340mm (9.8″ x 19.7″x 13.4″)
Weight|  | 14kg – (30.8lb)
SYSTEM
Frequency response|  | 30Hz – 250Hz
Maximum SPL|  | 116dB SPL (peak @ 1m)
ELECTRONIC SECTION
Input| Type/Impedance Connector Sensitivity| Left, Right, LFE Electronically balanced / 10kOhms Female 3 pins XLR Variable
Output (to satellites)| Type/Impedance Connector| Left, Right Electronically balanced / 50Ohms Male 3 pins XLR
Amplifier| 350 W rms, BASH® technology|
Internal processing and functions| Subwoofer section
Satellite section| Left + Right mono summation
LFE + lo-passed mono sum
24dB/octave variable lo-pass filter
Phase adjustment
Polarity
24dB/octave, defeat able hi-pass filters with selectable frequency
User controls| Sub level (sensitivity) adjustment
Lo-pass frequency adjustment
Phase adjustment
Polarity switch Mute
2.1 bypass (controlled by external footswitch)
Hi-pass frequency selection
Hi-pass defeat
Indicators (LED’s)| Power on Mute Hi-pass defeat
Power supply| Mains voltage
Connection| 230V (T1.6AL fuse rating) or 115V (T3.15AL fuse rating) IEC inlet and detachable power cord
TRANSDUCERS
Subwoofer| “W” composite sandwich cone, high excursion Focal 11W7670, 270mm (10.6”) drive unit
CABINET
Construction| 22mm MDF panels with internal braces
Finish| Real red veneer on sides – Black on body
Dimensions (HxWxD)| 380mm x 344mm x 440mm (15” x 13.5”x 17.3”)
Weight| 23kg (50.7lb)

SOLO6 BE – TWIN6 BE – SUB6

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.

Unpacking
In addition to one loudspeaker and a user manual (such as this one), each Solo6 Be or Twin6 Be carton should contain:

• A power cord.
• A guarantee card.
• A plastic bag containing an information note “Beryllium inverted dome tweeter”, and some adhesive tape to affix on the tweeter in the unlikely event of the dome being damaged.

In addition to one subwoofer and a user manual each Sub6 Be carton include:

• A power cord.
• A guarantee card.
• A grille protecting the drive unit (which it is advisable to remove whenever possible).

Please check that none of these items are missing, and remove all accessories from the carton.

To remove the loudspeaker from its carton without damage, open the end flaps fully and bend them right back. Then remove the upper cushion and lift the loudspeaker out gently. Inspect the speaker for signs of any possible damage. In the unlikely event of this having occurred please inform the carrier and supplier. It is a good practice to keep the packaging in case of future transportation.

Beryllium
Solo6 Be and Twin6 Be use a tweeter with an inverted dome made from pure beryllium, with the capacity to augment the bandwidth to 40 kHz. In its solid form, beryllium is harmless. However, given its nature, certain precautions should be taken to avoid exposure to unnecessary risks:

• The beryllium dome must never come into contact with abrasive materials.
• If the beryllium dome is damaged in any way, you should cover up the entire surface area of the dome using the protective adhesive strip supplied, as soon as possible. You will find the adhesive strip in the plastic packet containing the leaflet for the tweeter with an inverted dome made from pure beryllium. Contact the retailer to have the tweeter dismantled and replaced by trained personnel at the distributor.
• If the dome is broken, any beryllium particles should be carefully collected using sticky tape and then placed in a hermetically sealed plastic bag and sent back to the retailer along with the loudspeaker.
  For more information, please refer to the safe use manual in the box.
  You can also address your questions directly to: beryllium@focal.com

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.

SOLO6 BE – TWIN6 BE – SUB6

Solo6 Be
Solo6 Be is a two-way active loudspeaker (2 internal amplifiers channels), comprising one “W” cone 6.5″ low/ mid unit, loaded with a large cross-section laminar port, and an inverted pure Beryllium dome (fig. A).

Twin6 Be
Twin6 Be is a three-way active loudspeaker (3 internal amplifiers channels), comprising two “W” cone 6.5″ low/ mid units, loaded with two large cross- section laminar ports, and an inverted pure Beryllium dome. The two 6.5″ drive units operate at low frequencies but only one of them (either can be selected) will reproduce the midrange (fig. B).

Sub6
Sub6 is an active subwoofer (1 integral amplifier) designed for professional monitoring systems. It uses a 11″ drive unit equipped with a “W” composite cone, and loaded by a large cross-section laminar port (fig. G).

Sub6 may be used :

• For bass or sub-bass enhancement in stereo + sub setups (2.1 or 2.2). The rear panel of Sub6 allows for the connection of a traditional stereo source (Left In / Right In), while providing hi-passed outputs intended to feed the main speakers (satellites),
• As a LFE channel (Low Frequency Effects) in a multi-channel installation (5.1, 5.2, 6.1…), via a dedicated input of the rear panel.

Installing

Mains voltage
After having unpacked the unit, first check that the operating voltage is correctly set (see location on rear panel). If it is not, adjust the selector to the appropriate position. Also check and if necessary replace the fuse, which rating depends on the operating voltage (please refer to technical specifications).

Solo6 and Twin6 must be earthed using the power cord supplied.

Audio connections: general
The audio signal is to connect to the XLR inlet. This is a balanced input, which use the standard cabling scheme, namely:

Pin 1 = Ground (shield)
Pin 2 = In phase voltage (“hot”)
Pin 3 = Out-of-phase voltage (“cold”)

If the audio source is unbalanced, common practice is to link “cold” and ground pins (pins 3 and 1 respectively).
This is generally achieved within the cable.

Audio connections: Sub6 (fig. G)

Stereo + Sub setup (2.1 or 2.2):
Left IN: this input is indented to receive the signal coming from the left channel of your source (mixing console, or other…).

Right IN: this input is indented to receive the signal coming from the right channel of your source (mixing console, or other…).

Left OUT: this output is intended to connect to the left main loudspeaker of your system. The signal supplied by this output is internally processed through a high pass filter

Right OUT: this output is intended to connect to the right main loudspeaker of your system. The signal supplied by this output is internally processed through a high pass filter.

Multichannel configuration : LFE: this input is intended to feed your Sub6 in a multichannel application (5.1, 5.2, 6.1, …): this channel is dedicated to low frequencies only

Positioning

Solo6 Be and Twin6 Be are designed for near field monitoring and should be placed at a distance between 1 and 3 metres from the listener, pointing towards the listening position. They can be sitting on the console top or placed on appropriate stands. In any way it is recommended that the tweeter is at a height from the floor approximately equivalent to that of the listener’s ears. If required it can make sense to place the speakers upside down so that the previous rule is better fulfilled (fig. C,D).

Solo6 Be could be used vertically or horizontally depending on the environment, preferably pointing towards the listener (fig. C).
+

By design Twin6 Be’s are rather intended for a landscape orientation, though in some situations they could be positioned vertically. As seen in the earlier rear panel description, Twin6 Be has a switch allowing to choose which drive unit is to reproduce the mid frequencies (see below) (fig. E). Consequently it will always be possible, as desirable, to configure the speakers in a “mirror” (ie symmetrical) way (fig. F). As a general rule having the “midrange” driver on the inside of the cabinet results in better imaging.

Optimal positioning of Sub6 may vary depending on the surface, the shape and acoustic properties of the listening room. You are advised to try various locations so to choose the one giving the best possible and most level sound balance. As a rule of thumb the optimal location will often be in a corner of the room.

Running in

As in all brand new loudspeaker the drivers need some run in period: they are mechanical elements demanding a little time to settle and adapt to the climatic environment. This period will vary depending of the working conditions and may take up to a few weeks. Avoid pushing the speakers very hard during their first hours of use, but to accelerate the run-in process it is good practice to operate the speakers at moderate levels for 20 hours or so, with programmers having significant low frequency content. Only once the transducers have come to stabilize will you get the optimum performance.

Solo6 Be/Twin6 Be/Sub6 Controls

Speaker switch (Left/Right) : only for Twin6 Be

This switch allows the user to select which one of the two 6.5″ drivers will reproduce the midrange. By convention, the “Right” position of the switch will select the left hand side driver (when facing the cabinet laying horizontally). Conversely in the “Left” position the right hand side driver (facing the cabinet) will be the one operating in the mid frequencies. It is easy to figure how useful this control is when it comes to get the best possible imaging in any cabinet layout (fig. E,F).

Input switch

The input sensitivity can be adjusted using this two position switch. The +4dBu position is suitable for standard professional audio equipment, while -10dBV position may be used for other types of sources providing a lesser output level.

HF contour

This control allows for a continuous adjustment of the high frequency level; it operates above 5kHz within a ±3dB range (fig. H).

LF contour

This control allows for a continuous adjustment of the low frequency level; it operates below 150Hz within a ±6dB range (fig. I). This adjustment is typically useful to deal with possible excessive level of LF energy resulting from acoustic coupling associated with close reflecting surfaces: mixing console, nearby walls…

Power on indicator
A power on LED is located on the cabinet front panel, near the Focal logo.

Sub6 controls (fig. G)

Level
This adjustment allows to set the sound level of the subwoofer relative to that of the main loudspeakers. It should also be optimized taking into account the actual location of the subwoofer and its acoustic consequences: for example in an angle the 6 dB acoustic gain should be compensated by an equivalent attenuation to maintain the overall balance of the system.

Mute
This switch will turn out the output signal of the subwoofer channel (making it silent does not require to switch the power off). When muting the subwoofer the high pass filters used for the main speakers will remain active.

Hi Pass
This area is dedicated to the setting of the high pass filters intended for the main speakers in a 2.1 configuration.
The “Defeat” switch allows to disable (ie by-pass) these filters. The 75 Hz / 100 Hz switch allows to select the cut-off frequency, in order to optimise the acoustic recombination between the satellites and Sub6.

Lo Pass
This potentiometer adjusts the cut-off frequency of the low pass filter on the subwoofer channel, thus setting the upper frequency range to be reproduced by Sub6. The goal is to achieve the smoothest frequency response of the whole system: sub + satellites.

Polarity
This switch inverts the signal polarity on the subwoofer channel (ie 180° phase shift).

Phase
This potentiometry provides some fine adjustment of the phase on the subwoofer channel. Combined with the polarity switch it can be used to compensate for the spacing between the sub and the main speakers, so to get a coherent sound field through a proper time alignment of the different sources.

2.1 Bypass
This input allows for plugging in a control footswitch (not supplied) via a ¼” jack connector.
Turning it active will :

• mute the subwoofer channel
• defeat the high pass filters in the satellites signal paths. The satellites will then be fed with full range signals.
  This facility allows for instantaneous comparison between the 2.1 configuration (with sub) and the traditional stereo setup (without sub) with the same system.

Power indicator
Power “LED” indicator.

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.

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Waste sorting.
Check the provisions
of your municipality.
Scan the QR code for
disposal information
of packaging
Scan QR code for information on
packaging disposal
www.focal.com
Tel. (+33) 04 77 43 57 00 – Fax (+33) 04 77 43 57 04 – SCCG – 27/06/2023 – v4 – CODO1627

References

• Top-of-the-range speakers and hi-fi equipment | Focal
• Extension de garantie | Focal
• Se connecter à focal-naim

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