ADAM AUDIO Sub12 Active Subwoofer User Manual

Sub12 Active Subwoofer
User Manual

Safety Instructions

Please read the following safety instructions before setting up your system.
Keep the instructions for subsequent reference. Please heed the warnings and follow the instructions.
Caution
Risk of electrical shock
Do not open Risque de shock electrique Ne pas ouvrier
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE BACK COVER OR ANY OTHER PART.
NO USER-SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE.
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
Caution: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not open the subwoofer. There are no user-serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.
This product, as well as all attached extension cords, must be terminated with an earth ground three-conductor AC mains power cord like the one supplied with the product. To prevent shock hazard, all three components must always be used.
Never replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified. Never bypass any fuse.
Always switch off your entire system before connecting or disconnecting any cables, or when cleaning any components.
Do not place this unit on an unstable cart, stand or tripod, bracket or table. The unit may fall, causing serious injury and/or serious damage. When cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination.
Do not expose this product to rain or moisture, never wet the inside with any liquid and never pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit. Please do not put any objects filled with liquids (e.g. vases, etc.) onto the speaker.
Check if the specified voltage matches the voltage of the power supply you use. If this is not the case do not connect the loudspeakers to a power source! Please contact your local dealer or national distributor.
Protect the cord from being walked on or pinched.
Always use fully checked cables. Defective cables can harm your speakers. They are a common source for any kind of noise, hum, crackling etc.
Always keep electrical equipment out of the reach of children.
Always unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.
The Subwoofer should be installed near the socket outlet and disconnection of the device should be easily accessible.
To completely disconnect from AC mains, disconnect the power supply from the AC receptacle. Never use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning audio components.
Avoid touching the speaker membranes and do not block the woofer’s ventilation ports.
Never expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures. Never operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.
High SPL’s may damage your hearing! Please do not get close to the loudspeakers when using them at high volumes.
Please note that the diaphragms build up a magnetic field. Do not ply with magnetic items at close range to the diaphragms.
**** Assure free airflow behind the speakers to maintain sufficient cooling.

Introduction

Dear customer,
Thank you for choosing an ADAM Audio Sub12 subwoofer.
ADAM subwoofers are built for maximum quality reproduction and audio perfection.
With the Sub12 you have selected a powerful and precise tool that allows you to both evaluate and enjoy audio recordings. It meets highest expectations in sound quality and craftsmanship.
The Sub12 is a powerful subwoofer designed to extend the low frequency capabilities of any near or midfield monitoring and is an ideal match for ADAM monitors such as the AX- or the SX-Series.
This manual is intended to provide you with information about your new ADAM subwoofer.
It contains important information regarding safety, setting up, handling, and warranty. We request that you read these sections carefully to ensure easy set up and prevent potential problems.
If you have any questions about this or any of our products, please don’t hesitate to contact us – we will be happy to assist you.
For detailed information concerning ADAM’s technologies and products, complete reviews, and a list of worldwide ADAM users and studios, please visit our website: www.adam-audio.com
You are invited to share your experience with our products by joining us on Facebook and also, if you don’t want to miss out on the latest info on ADAM Professional Audio, come and follow us on Twitter!
We hope very much that you really enjoy your new subwoofer and wish you many delightful hours with it.
The ADAM Audio Team

Quick Start

2.1 Important Information for set up
After having unpacked your subwoofer, please allow the system to acclimate to the temperature of the room for approximately an hour.
The subwoofer should be positioned on a firm ground.
When setting up your subwoofer, please make sure to attach the black protective plugs to the subwoofer’s feet in order to prevent damage of your floor surfacing. For hard floors there are also felt pads provided that can be sticked to the underside of the protective plugs. We recommend that you retain the original packaging, as it is the best way to guarantee safe transportation should the need to do so arise.
Please note that the subwoofer will take some break-in time to achieve optimum sonic performance.
2.2 Quick Start
a) Before connecting the subwoofer to your audio components and the power source make sure that the subwoofer, the loudspeakers and your audio source
are switched off and set the level controls fully counterclockwise.
b) Choose your preferred connection as described under 3.
c) Check if the specified voltage matches the voltage of the power supply you use.
If this is not the case do not connect the loudspeakers to a power source! Please contact your local dealer or national distributor.
If the voltages match, use the included power cables to connect the loudspeaker to the AC sockets.
d) Switch on the main on/off switches on the rear panel of the subwoofer.
e) Make sure that the line out level (volume) of your stereo is either at a low level or all the way off. Then, switch on your audio system.
f) Turn on your source of music and adjust the volume carefully.

Connecting the Subwoofer

3.1 Connections
On the rear side of the speaker you can find balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) connectors. For professional use the XLR connectors will be the first choice.
3.2 Input
Connect the left and right line-level signal
from your signal source (audio interface, mixer, etc.) to the LEFT and RIGHT INPUT jacks. Use either XLR (balanced) or RCA (unbalanced) cables. 3.3 Satellite Out
Connect the LEFT and RIGHT SATELLITE OUT jacks to the inputs of the left and right main powered speakers or the inputs of the amps powering the main speakers. 3.4 Sub Out
This balanced output mirrors the input signal enabling you to daisy-chain as many Sub12s in a row as you like. The Sub Level affects the output, so that all Subs in the chain can be levelled at a time. Instead of having one huge subwoofer it often is advisable to incorporate a few smaller ones in the setup to avoid standing waves at very low frequencies. This always needs a little bit of testing, since it is not possible to predict the behaviour of a subwoofer in unknown acoustical conditions.

Subwoofer Placement

It is common knowledge that low frequencies (below about 100Hz) are non- directional, meaning they can hardly be located by the listener. It is, however, a common misunderstanding that therefore the placement of a subwoofer does not matter. It does matter. Due to the fact that every room (geometry, furniture, etc.) is unique, the following descriptions intend to be a first introduction to the subject. The aim is to assist you tackling the most common problems with subwoofers and room acoustics, notably interference and standing waves.
4.1 Distance to satellites
In most set ups it is advisable to place the subwoofer not too far from the satellites to minimize the chance of Interferences. Interference means the superposition of two or more waves resulting in an attenuation/cancellation or enhancement of the specific frequency/frequencies. Furthermore, big refelexion faces in close range of the subwoofer should be avoided if possible.
4.2 Walls/Distance to walls
Generally, every wall in relative close distance to the subwoofer enhances its sound pressure by about 6 dB. For instance, placing the subwoofer in a corner of a room will make it about 18 dB louder. It is likely that this will result in an impairment of the precision of the musical reproduction. Another problem related to the geometrics of the room concerns the so called ‘standing waves’. These are sound waves being reciprocated between reflecting objects, so they ‘stand’ (don’t seem to move) in between these objects. The speaker continues to produce new waves that combines its force with the first wave(s): a vicious circle that results in local imbalances of the particular frequencies.
4.3 Finding the optimum position
Give it a try! The most important tool for finding the best position for your subwoofer are your ears. There are two rather easy ways: You can determine your listening spot first and then compare the sound of the subwoofer at different positions. Another option is to place the subwoofer at the listening position and then move around. Whereever the sound is the best the subwoofer should be positioned.

Controls

On the front side you will find Indicator LEDs for the operating and standby modes. Controls for the satellite filter, phase switch, signal on/continous mode and Sub Level/Filter are located on the rear panel of the subwoofer. The following tips are intended to assist you at using the controls in the best manner.
5.1 LEDs
There are two LEDs on the front indicating either operating or standby mode. In case the subwoofer receives an overload the lower LED will flash red indicating the function of the protective circuit. ****

5.2 Controls on the rear panel
a) Mode
This push button allows you to choose between

• Signal On: woofer starts operation as soon as a musical signal arrives, and stops after 15 minutes without a signal.
• Continuous: the unit is permanently working. We recommend the ”Signal on” position. It minimises power consumption and makes handling very easy.

b) Subwoofer Phase
With the Phase Switch you can alter the phase of the subwoofer relative to the satellites. That means to change the polarity of the bass unit. Depending on the distance between woofer and satellites, either 0° or 180° may be the better position. We recommend to try out what position sounds better within your system.

Controls

5.2 Controls on the rear panel (continued)
c) Satellite Filter
The satellites in a system can be driven full range or with a 85 Hz high pass as recommended by Dolby® laboratories for use in surround setups.
Recommendation: If possible the main signal should go into the Subwoofer. Connect your satellites to the Subwoofer output, either via XLR symmetrical or RCA asymmetrical. In many cases, clarity and dynamic range of the speakers can be improved if they do not reproduce very low frequencies since they do not have to deliver big amplitudes.
Please note: If you alter the frequency it is advisable to check if an alteration of the phase improves the sound quality.
d) Sub Level
This controls the Input Sensitivity from -60dB to +6dB relative to 775mV when used via the balanced XLR input or relative to 250mV when used via the unbalanced Cinch (RCA) input. e) Sub Filter
The upper frequency limit of the unit is variable and can be set to any value between 50 and 150Hz. The 85Hz marker indicates the recommendation of Dolby® labs for surround sound settings. In practice a slightly lower crossover frequency delivers tighter bass response, for typical near-midfield monitors we recommend a 12 or 11 clock position, meaning 70 to 75Hz as upper limit or, to be more exact, -3dB point in the frequency response.
Please note: These settings do not have a precise character, as different satellites and different room acoustics lead to results that cannot be predicted.

Troubleshooting

All ADAM products are designed and manufactured to the highest quality standards.
However, if any problems with your subwoofer occur, we recommend to proceed as follows:
6.1 Problem: The LED shows normal operation (green) but there is either no or only  a distorted audio signal.
Check the volumes of both the subwoofer and your signal source.
Check the wiring. Is the cable defective? Are all cables connected correctly? If possible, check with new cables.
Connect the subwoofer as directly to the signal source as possible (please mind the volume!). Is another part of the signal path (e.g. mixer, audio source) defective?
6.2 Problem: You hear parasitic noises (like humming, buzzing, soughing, cracking).
Please disconnect the signal cables. If the noises disappear, check the signal path.
Make sure that all cables are properly connected, especially the signal cable between the preamp/mixing console/etc. and the sub.
If the noises can still be heard, check for other electrical devices close to the speakers (mobile phones, switching power supplies, etc.). If there is no interfering device the subwoofer will probably cause the problem.

Maintenance

Please switch the subwoofer off before cleaning!
Please note that the diaphragms build up a magnetic field. Do not ply with magnetic items at close range to the diaphragms.
Please make sure that no liquids get inside the cabinet. Do not spray any fluids on the speaker. Do not use a wet cloth for cleaning.
Do not use flammable or acidic chemicals for cleaning.
Do not touch the membrane of the subwoofer.
We recommend using a lint-free, damp cloth for cleaning. The woofer membrane may be dusted using a very soft brush.
Shipping / Packaging
In case you have to send your speakers to any other location, it is of vital importance  that you use the original packaging materials. Experience has shown that it is very difficult to avoid damage if you have to send them without these. ADAM Audio can not be held responsible for damages due to improper packaging.
Environmental Information
All ADAM products comply with international directives on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical / electronicalequipment and the disposal of Waste Electrical / Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
For disposal, please consult your local authorities for further information.

EU Declaration of Conformity

We,
ADAM Audio GmbH
Rudower Chaussee 50, 12489 Berlin, Germany whose registered office is situated at
Ederstr. 16, 12059 Berlin, Germany declare under our sole responsibility that the product:
Sub12
complies with the EU Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 89/336/EEC, in pursuance of which the following standards have been applied:
EN 61000-6-1 : 2001
EN 61000-6-3 : 2001
EN 55020 : 2002
EN 55013 : 2001
and complies with the EU General Product Safety 2001/95/EC, in pursuance of which the following standard has been applied:
EN 60065 : 2002.
This declaration attests that the manufacturing process quality control and product documentation accord with the need to assure continued compliance.
The attention of the user is drawn to any special measures regarding the use of this equipment that may be detailed in the owner’s manual.
Christian Hellinger
Managing Director ADAM Audio GmbH Sven Schmöle
Managing Director ADAM Audio GmbH

Warranty

ADAM Audio GmbH provides a five year limited warranty for this product.
11.1 Terms and Conditions
This warranty is limited to the repair of the equipment or, if necessary, the replacement of parts or the product and return shipping within the country of purchase. This warranty complements any national/regional law obligations of dealers or national distributors and does not affect your statutory rights as a customer.
Neither other transportation, nor any other costs, nor any risk for removal, transportation and installation of products is covered by this warranty.
Products whose serial number have been altered, deleted, removed or made illegible are excluded from this warranty.
The warranty will not be applicable in cases other than defects in materials and/or workmanship at the time of purchase and will not be applicable:
a) for damages caused by incorrect installation, connection or packing,
b) for damages caused by any use other than correct use described in the user manual,
c) for damages caused by faulty or unsuitable ancillary equipment,
d) if repairs or modifications have been executed by an unauthorized person,
e) for damages caused by accidents, lightning, water, fire heat, public disturbances or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of ADAM Audio.
112 How to claim repairs under warranty
Should service be required, please contact the ADAM Audio dealer where the product has been purchased.
If the equipment is being used outside the country of purchase, the international shipping costs have to be paid for by the owner of the product.
Service may be supplied by your ADAM Audio national distributor in the country of residence. In this case, the service costs have to be paid for by the owner of the product whereas the costs for parts to be repaired or replaced are free of charge.
Please visit our website to get the contact details of your local distributor.
To validate your warranty, you will need a copy of your original sales invoice with the date of purchase.

Technical Data

1 = long term IEC 265-8-Wrms / 10 min
2 = nominal IEC 265-8 = Peak Power 5 µsec

Notes……………

ADAM AUDIO GMBH
BERLIN, GERMANY
T +49 30-863 00 97-0
F +49 30-863 00 97-7
INFO@ADAM-AUDIO.COM
ADAM AUDIO UK
EMAIL: UK-INFO@ADAM-AUDIO.COM
ADAM AUDIO USA INC.
EMAIL: USA-INFO@ADAM-AUDIO.COM
www.adam-audio.com
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Sub12 Manual. Version 04.2015 English.
All data subject to change without prior notice.

References

• ADAM Audio - High Precision Studio Monitors from Berlin, Germany

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