pedestal subwoofer systems high performance c.o.r.e ...€¦ · of 6200 pedestal subwoofers. the...

8200 THX Ultra 2 and 6200 Pedestal Subwoofer Systems

High Performance C.O.R.E. Technology Subwoofer Components

8200 Pedestal Subwoofer System pictured

Atlantic Technology®Atlantic Technology®

I N N O V A T I V E H O M E T H E A T E R

Instru

ction M

anual

2 8200/6200 Pedestal Subwoofer System

CAUTION:CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover (or back). No user serviceable parts inside. Refer to qual i fi ed per-sonnel.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fi re or electric shock, do not expose this ap pli ance to rain or moisture. This device generates a fair amount of heat. Make sure nothing blocks the ventilation open ings on the top and bottom of the unit.

The lightning fl ash with arrowhead, with in an equi lat er al triangle, is in tend ed to alert the user to the pres ence of uninsu lated “dangerous volt age” with in the prod uct’s en clo sure that may be of suffi cient mag ni tude to con- sti tute a risk of elec tri cal shock to per sons.

The exclamation point within an equi lat er al tri an gle is intended to alert the user to the presence of im por tant operating main te nance (ser vic ing) in struc tions in the lit er a ture ac com pa ny ing the appliance.

For Future ReferenceRecord your speaker and amplifier serial numbers and date of purchase here:Model Number

Serial Number

Date of Purchase

The amplifi er serial number is found on the back panel. The subwoofer serial number is found on the back of the pedestal cabinets.

Table of Contents

Safety Precautions Safety Precautions

Safety Precautions

IMPORTANT NOTEThese instructions are for Atlantic Tech nol o gy Pedes-tal Subwoofer systems using the SA-6200 Mono and SA-8200 Dual Mono Subwoofer amplifi ers. All instructions and in for ma tion pertain to both sys tems. Note that the SA-6200 ampli-fi er only has one set of front mount ed controls and one set of input/output connectors on the back and is designed to work with a pair of 6200 Pedestal Subwoofers.

The unique design of these driv ers and amplifi ers means that they must only be used to geth er, with each other. You should never at tempt to use a different amplifi er with these woofers or dif fer ent woof ers with these amplifi ers.

3 8200 and 6200 Pedestal Subwoofer System4 Features4 PedWoofer Modules4 SA-6200 and SA-82004 THX Ultra 2 Certifi ed (SA-8200),

THX Select Certifi ed (SA-6200)4 Test and Training CD-ROM5 Amplifi er Front Panel6 Amplifi er Back Panel7 Remote Control7 Connecting Your PedWoofers7 Low Level Connection (LO IN)7 Using the Low Level Thruput (THRU)7 High Level Connection (HI IN – SA 8200 only)8 SA-6200 Low Level Connections9 SA-8200 Low Level Connections with One

SubOut/LFE Output10 SA-8200 Low Level Connections with Two

SubOut/LFE Outputs11 SA-8200 High Level Connections12 Remote Control Connections12 Power Connection13 PedWoofer Placement13 When Used As Bases for the 8200/6200 LR Satellites13 Mounting the LR Satellites to the PedWoofers13 When Used As Free-standing Subwoofers13 Dual PedWoofer Placement14 Installing the Feet on the PedWoofer14 System Setup and Operation14 The Low Pass Control14 Bass Management15 The Phase Control15 Parametric Room Equalizer (EQ) 15 Adjusting the Parametric EQ Using a Meter or

Real Time Analyzer (RTA)15 Setting the Parametric EQ Using an SPL Meter16 Satellite Level Setting Using an SPL Meter16 Level Setting Without an SPL Meter16 Setting the Subwoofer Level Without an

SPL Meter or Test Tones16 How Much is Enough?16 Remote Control Functions17 Direct Access Connector17 Care and Feeding of Your PedWoofer System17 PedWoofer Troubleshooting Guide18 Specifi cations19 Program EQ Setting Curves

Copyright © 2003 Atlantic Technology International.

Specifi cations are those in effect at the time of printing. Atlantic Technology reserves the right to change specifi cations or designs at any time without notice. THX and THX Ultra 2 are registered trademarks of Lucasfi lm, Ltd. Dolby Digital, AC-3, Dolby Stereo and Dolby Pro Logic are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

3Instruction Manual

8200 and 6200 Pedestal Subwoofer System

8200 and 6200 Pedestal Subwoofer Systems

Congratulations on your purchase of an Atlantic Technology PedWoofer System. This unique subwoofer will enhance your listening pleasure dramatically, by providing the bass foundation upon which most music and special effects are built. In addition, its fl exible control capability brings new meaning to the terms system and room integration, provid-ing unheard of fi ne tuning capability to optimize its performance (and your enjoyment) and optional Accent Kits to enhance its beauty.

These PedWoofer Systems are capable of delivering very high output levels and wide dynamic range. When properly set up and adjusted they will provide smooth in-room bass response down to 20 Hz, with a peak SPL capability in excess of 105dB in a 3000 cubic foot space (1 set of PedWoofers).

These systems consist of two compact enclosures (Figure 1) that can be used as a base for Atlantic LR satellite speakers (8200 LR or 6200 LR), or used freestanding in a room. A separate dedicated amplifi er (Figure 3) with remote control (Figure 2) power the woofers. There are two ver-sions of the system, one that matches the Atlantic System 8200 and one for the System 6200.

Your Atlantic Technology PedWoofers are designed to acoustically inte-grate with virtually all other brands of loudspeakers on the market. And due to their compact size, unique shape, available Accent Kits, and very fl exible range of adjustment, they are the most versatile and unique high performance subwoofers ever produced.

Figure 3

Figure 1 Figure 2


Features

FeaturesPedWoofer Modules Ultra-long-throw 12" (8200) or 10" (6200) woofer with continu-

ous concave cone formulated from homopolymer, mica, micro-glass spheres, carbon fi bers, and ceramicsThe woofer’s damped surround is a half roll rubber type which allows for very long, linear travel of the cone. Its spider is injection molded from a man-made rubber compound that remains consistent in per-formance over the lifetime of the driver without any degradation due to age, heat, or use.

2.5" (8200) or 2" (6200) 4-layer voice coil drives the cone along with a 12 lbs. (8200) or 10 lbs. (6200) vented magnet structureThis assembly includes a “T” shaped pole piece and Faraday shorting ring that reduces 2nd and 3nd and 3nd rd order harmonic by an order of magnitude rd order harmonic by an order of magnitude rd

over standard woofers. Massive, sealed enclosures for low distortion deep bass output

Sealed woofers are inherently lower in distortion and naturally deliver deep, smooth bass response, with a gradual and predictable roll-off below resonance, ensuring accurate musical bass reproduction along with terrifi c special effects. The 8200 PedWoofer enclosure’s 1-inch thick sides, 3⁄4-inch thick front and rear, combined with extensive internal bracing result in reduced enclosure resonances and lower distortion. The 6200 PedWoofer enclosure is identical except it has 3⁄4-inch thick sides.

SA-6200 and SA-8200 Linear power high current discrete amplifi ers conservatively

rated at 350 watts RMS per channel with short-term peak out-put ability in excess of 550 watts per channelThe fully discrete design utilizes audiophile grade component parts including an independent power supply for each channel with its own custom-wound, low-hum Toroid transformer. The SA-8200 is a two-channel amplifi er and the SA-6200 is a single channel unit.

Servo-control circuitryThis circuit monitors and corrects for anomalies in the woofer’s per-formance. If the servo-circuit detects driver distortion, it immediately sends out a corrective signal to eliminate it, resulting in very high out-put levels at unusually low distortion levels.

Built-in Parametric Equalizer (pages 5 and 13)Designed to fl atten and smooth bass response deviations caused by standing waves at the listening position, in your room. The amplifi ers have a single band of parametric EQ for each channel.

Four Built-in Program Equalizations with Reference setting (pages 7 and 14)We’ve carefully chosen and built in 4 preset bass EQ curves, plus a fl at/THX response setting, to enhance your enjoyment of all program materials.

Wireless Remote Operation (pages 7 and 14)Control the program EQs, volume trim adjustment, and subwoofer muting from your easy chair.

A useful in-room working frequency range of 20 Hz to 150Hz Adjustable (50 Hz to 150 Hz) low-pass crossover (@ 18dB per

octave) with a THX/External setting (pages 5, 12 and 14)Allows for much better bass integration with the satellite speakers while making the woofer less localizable.

Low level inputs, low level thruputs (pages 6 and 7)Thruputs allow daisy chaining of multiple subwoofers, or can act as a return path back to the processor.

Four position Phase Invert switch (pages 5, 12 and 14)Allows precise acoustic matching with satellite speaker systems whose output may be phase reversed. Can also help to compensate for unusual room acoustics that can occur, causing a lack of or too much bass at the listening position.

A convenient front panel mounted Level Control with a click-stop THX/REF input sensitivity setting (pages 5 and 14)

Automatic standby operation with LED indicator (page 12)Features signal sensing turn-on with 7-10 minute turn-off delay.

Heavy-Duty detachable AC power cord and input socket (pages 6 and 12)

Rack Mountable Meets all current UL/CSA and European safety requirements

THX Ultra 2 Certifi ed (SA-8200)THX is a group of performance standards and technologies initially developed by Lucasfi lm Ltd. (of Star Wars fame). These are intended to ensure that what you hear (and see) on your home system, as closely as possible, matches what the director heard and saw during the fi nal pro-duction mix down of the fi lm. THX is intended to enhance all surround formats including the latest discrete multi-channel digital types. Please note that THX is not a surround format itself. For more information, see the THX website at www.thx.com.

THX Ultra 2 standards are based upon a room size of 3000 cubic feet (LxWxH). This doesn’t mean certifi ed components must be used in rooms this exact size. The room sizes simply provide a frame of refer-ence, as they indicate that these systems must deliver a minimum level of performance in the specifi ed area. System 8200 requires 2 pairs of PedWoofers to qualify for Ultra 2 certifi cation.

Test and Training CD-ROMThe enclosed Atlantic Technology/Sencore Test and Training Disc includes lots of useful information. (Sencore is a world famous manufacturer of electronic test and measurement equipment. We strongly support the use of this caliber of equipment in the setup of home surround sound systems). Please take a moment to go over its contents before proceeding with your woofer’s setup. The disc includes room mode calculators, expla-nations of how sound spreads in a room, information about home theater setup, a glossary, and even an explanation of how standing waves “set up” in rooms. Most importantly, there are test tones on the disc intended to be used to set the equalizer and subwoofer level in your system.

5Instruction Manual

LEVEL TRIM display windowIndicates amount of trim adjustment applied above or below the reference volume setting of your PedWoofer. (page 14)

FREQUENCY EQFREQUENCY EQFREQUENCY controlSelects the frequency to be adjusted by the parametric equalizer. (page 13)

WIDTH EQ controlSelects how wide a range of frequencies will be adjusted by the parametric equalizer. (page 13)

ATTENUATION EQ controlReduces the woofer’s output at those frequencies selected by the parametric equalizer. (page 13)

Program Equalization indicatorsLight indicates selected Reference or EQ program. (page 14)

Main Power switchTurns amplifi er on or off. (page 12)

MUTE indicatorLights when amplifi er volume is muted. (page 7 and 18)

ON/STDBY indicatorLights green when the amplifi er is operating and turns yellow when the amplifi er is in standby mode. Turns red to indicate that amplifi er has entered protection mode. (pages 7 and 12)

PHASE controlSets correct PedWoofer phase (0°, 90°, 180°, or 270°) to best match your satellite speakers and room. (pages 12 and 14)

LOW PASS crossover controlSets the low frequency crossover between the PedWoofers and your satellite speakers. A detent is provided for the THX/EXT setting. (pages 12 and 14)

BASS LEVEL controlSets the reference volume level of the connected PedWoofers. A detent is provided for the THX/REF setting. (pages 13 and 14)

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Amplifi er Front Panel

Figure 6

Amplifi er Front Panel

NOTE: Items in gray area are found on SA-8200 amplifi er only


Product Serial NumberWrite this number in the space provided on page 2 for future ref-erence.

Direct Access Remote Control portUse for hard-wired direct access of remote control functions.

Remote Control jacksThe IR IN jack accepts an IR signal from a separately pow-ered system (other than the Atlantic Technology PedWoof-ers) or an IR signal generated by a “whole-house” controller. Use the THRU jack to “daisy-chain” other devices to the sensor. (page 8)

EXT IR Receiver ConnectorUse the EXT IR RCVR input powered port to connect to the Ped-Woofer’s built-in IR receiver when the amplifi er is not in line-of-sight with the remote control. Use the OUT TO SLAVE jack to pass on the received signal to other equipment.

Low Level jacksUse the LO IN jack to connect to the subwoofer or LFE line out from your processor/receiver. Use the THRU jack to pass the sig-nal to the other channel of the amplifi er or to another device. (page 7)

High Level Inputs (SA-8200 only)Use the HI IN binding posts to connect a high level (speaker) out-put from your processor/amplifi er. (page 7)

Speaker OutputsUse the SPEAKER OUTPUT binding posts to connect the ampli-fi er to the PedWoofer. (page 7)

AC InputUse the included power cord to connect your amplifi er to a wall outlet. (page 12)

Amplifi er Back Panel Amplifi er Back Panel

Amplifi er Back Panel

NOTE: Items in gray area are found on SA-8200 amplifi er only

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7Instruction Manual

Remote Control Connecting Your PedWoofersThe Atlantic Technology PedWoofer System is relatively simple to hook up. In all cases, the PedWoofers should be connected to their dedicated amplifier using high quality 2-conductor speaker wire (min. 16ga. for runs of 30ft. or less; 30-100ft. use 14ga; Over 100ft use 12ga.) The remote sensor connector on the back of the PedWoofer is connected to the dedicated amplifi er using the included plug-in connectors and any good quality stranded 3-conductor wire (minimum 20ga; for lengths over 200 ft. use 18ga.).

WARNING: To prevent risk of electrical shock or damage to your equipment, always unplug all component AC cords before pro-ceeding with speaker and component connections! The last step in wiring your system should be plugging in the AC cords!

Low Level Connection (LO IN)We suggest using the low level (RCA jack) subwoofer line out or preamp output if your receiver/processor has one. This jack may be labeled Sub, Subwoofer, or LFE (Low Frequency Effects). Simply connect to the LO IN jack(s) on your SA-8200 or SA-6200 amplifi er with high-quality shielded cables as shown in Figures 9-11. Please consult your processor/receiver manual for further information regarding the use of these outputs.

Using the Low Level Thruput (THRU)If your processor has a single subwoofer output and you are using the SA-8200 Dual Mono amplifi er, connect it using the example in Figure 9 to connect both channels of the amplifi er. We have supplied a short jumper to facilitate this connection method. The THRU jack(s) can also be used to run the low-level signal through the amplifi er and out to another unit, as shown in Figure 8. The signal that comes out of the THRU jack(s) is identical to the input signal.

High Level Connection (HI IN – SA 8200 only)Alternately, if you are connecting the amplifi er through the high level (HI IN) inputs, follow the diagram in Figure 12. If you do, we recommend that you use high-quality speaker wire of at least 18 gauge or heavier. Please consult your audio/video specialist for more specifi c wire information.

You can connect to the HI IN inputs by using a variety of audio type connectors, or by removing 1/2" of insulation from each wire end, twist-ing the individual strands of each conductor together, placing the wire through one of the post holes and screwing down the nut snugly (but use care not to over tighten them).

It’s important to observe polarity while making speaker connections: red (+) terminals on the amplifi er to red (+) on the speaker, black (–) on the amplifi er to black (–) on the speaker. Note that one wire in each pair will be marked by either the conductor color, printing on the wire jacket, a ridge on one side of the wire jacket, or a thread intertwined with the wire strands. By convention, the marked wire is connected to the red (+) terminal.

Connecting Your PedWoofers

Preset Program EQ buttonsSelect from 4 preset equalization settings in any sequence. (page 14)

Reference EQ buttonREF button returns the amplifi er to its fl at/THX EQ settings and returns the volume trim level to 0dB. (page 14)

MUTE buttonMutes the output of the amplifi er. Pressing again returns the ampli-fi er to the previous volume setting

Level TRIM buttonsThe button increases and the button decreases the volume of the PedWoofers above or below the preset reference level in 1dB increments. (page 14)

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Figure 8


SA-6200 Low Level Connections

Figure 9

Connecting Your PedWoofers Connecting Your PedWoofers

WARNINGRISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPENAVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE / NE PAS OUVRIR

9Instruction Manual

Figure 10

SA-8200 Low Level Connections with One SubOut/LFE Output





Figure 11

SA-8200 Low Level Connections with Two SubOut/LFE Outputs




11Instruction Manual

SA-8200 High Level Connections

Figure 12





Figure 13

Remote Control Connections




Power ConnectionConnect the amplifi er’s power cord to an AC outlet only after making all other connections to the PedWoofer system. This will avoid any chance of accidentally activating the subwoofers while wiring. DO NOT PLUG THE AMPLIFIER INTO THE SWITCHED OUTLET OF AN AMPLI-FIER, PREAMPLIFIER, OR RECEIVER. The power demands of the SA amplifi ers is substantial and will exceed the power rating of the switched outlet and may damage the equipment. Be sure that the printed voltage rating on the back of the amplifi er is correct for your location.

The PedWoofer amplifi er system is totally automatic in its operation. Once the main power switch on the front of the amplifi er has been turned on, the automatic on/off circuitry will activate the amplifi er in the presence of an audio signal from your system. After 7-10 minutes with no signal detected from the rest of the system, the amplifi er will return to the Standby mode. When the amplifi er is active, the power LED located on the front will glow green. The power LED will switch to yellow in the Standby mode. Power consumption in Standby mode is negligible.

When you leave for long period of time, (vacation, weekend away, etc.) we recommend shutting off the main power switch on the front panel of the amplifi er.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The amplifi er includes an automatic protec-tion circuit against overheating, overcurrent or short circuiting of the speaker wires. Should any of these conditions occur, the amplifi er will stop operating and the ON/STDBY LED will turn red. If this hap-pens, turn the main power off and check to make sure that there are no misconnections or shorted connections between the amplifi er and the PedWoofers. After waiting 10-15 minutes for the amplifi er to cool, turn the unit back on. If the amplifi er shuts off again, con-tact your dealer or Atlantic Technology for more information.

The amplifi ers generate a fair amount of heat. The louder you play them the hotter they will become. It is very important to make sure nothing blocks the ventilation openings on the top and bottom of the unit. Do not place the amplifi er of thick carpeting as the carpet will block the ventilation holes on the bottom of the unit, restricting airfl ow through the interior.


PedWoofer Placement

When Used As Bases for the 8200/6200 LR SatellitesIf you are using the PedWoofers as pedestals for the 8200 LR please follow the placement guidelines contained in the LR manual. The adjustments provided on the PedWoofer amplifi er can help to correct anomalies caused by less than optimum woofer placement, whereas the LRs usu-ally can’t be fi ne-tuned enough to eliminate the deleterious effects of bad placement, such as in a corner.

The PedWoofers are marked Left and Right from the factory. That’s because our experience has shown that a side-fi ring woofer sounds best with the driver facing towards the center of the room as opposed to fi r-ing outwards towards the side walls. However, if the PedWoofer’s driver is aimed towards a wall or cabinet that is closer than 12 inches, it is best to exchange the left and right PedWoofers so that the drivers are fi ring out towards the side walls. Be sure to complete this step before proceed-ing to “System Setup and Operation” since driver placement will affect the response of the PedWoofers in the room.

Mounting the LR Satellites to the PedWoofersIf you are using the PedWoofers as bases for your system’s LR speakers proceed as follows. Locate the threaded inserts/posts that are included in the hardware package that came in your PedWoofers. There should be four (4) posts in each package. Note that there are also four (4) threaded inserts located in the top of the PedWoofers (see Figure 14). Thread the posts into the inserts by hand, being careful not to strip them or get them cross-threaded. Screw them all the way down until they are fully seated in the inserts. If they are too snug to tighten by hand you can use a small screwdriver. But use care and caution not to over tighten them.

Located in the bottom of the LR satellites are matching Delrin® inserts specially designed to hold the weight of the satellite speakers. Once the loca-tion for each PedWoofer satellite combination is decided, carefully place the PedWoofer in its fi nal position with the spiked feet down and the pins fac-ing up. Carefully lift the satellite speaker (get a friend to help if necessary, as these speakers are heavy) and align it over the PedWoofer with the Delrin cups directly over the pins. Carefully tip the satellite back slightly and lower the rear of the satellite down on the PedWoofer, with the rear pins entering into the Delrin cups. Once the rear pins have begun to enter the cups tip the speaker straight letting the front pins enter their respective cups.

Finally lower the satellite all the way down onto the PedWoofer using care to remove your fi ngers so as not to pinch them between the cabinets. There is supposed to be approximately 1⁄4 inch of space between the two cabinets when they are correctly placed together.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not attempt to move the satellite/PedWoofer combination while they are attached in this manner. Only move them after you have taken the satellite off the PedWoofer.

When Used As Free-standing SubwoofersIf you are using the PedWoofers as stand alone subwoofers, then, gen-erally speaking, the ideal location would be in the front of the room, between the LRs, or close to or in a corner (see Figure 15). Every room has its own unique sound characteristics, and fl exibility in the exact placement of subwoofers is always desirable. The closer a PedWoofer is placed to a wall and especially a corner, the more and deeper the bass response you will hear. However, in some rooms, corner placement can produce too much bass or a “one note” boomy effect. Under such circum-stances the subwoofer may work better away from the wall or corner. You should experiment to fi nd the best position in your room.

Placement

Figure 15

Helpful Hint: A particularly useful experiment is to place the sub-woofer right at the prime listening position (move the couch or chair out of the way and put the sub in its place). Then play something with lots of good bass (preferably music), and walk around the room, listening to the subwoofer’s response. When you locate an area that has ample amounts of well-defi ned bass, you have found a potentially good place to locate the sub.

Dual PedWoofer PlacementWhen two PedWoofers are used you may wish to place them asym-metrically; that is, in slightly different positions in the room (Figure 16). This will reduce common mode room resonances that typically occur with symmetrically placed subwoofers. Another good option is to place the subwoofers in the same corner. Several tests have shown this to be a viable means of producing smooth bass response in many rooms.

Figure 16

Figure 14


Installing the Feet on the PedWoofer

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only install the spikes after you’ve decided on the fi nal location for the PedWoofers. Once the spikes are attached to the PedWoofers it will be much more diffi cult to move them.

In order to ensure stability the Pedwoofers and PedWoofer/satellite com-bination must be used in conjunction with the included feet. To mount the feet carefully turn the PedWoofer upside down and place it on its top on a carpet or some other soft non-damaging surface. You will see four sets of holes with threaded inserts in the bottom of the PedWoofer. Remove the black anodized fl at aluminum feet, the 1⁄4 – 20 round head bolts, and the package of pointed spiked feet from the PedWoofer pack-aging. Place the fl at aluminum foot with the rounded end extended over the side of the PedWoofer. Be sure that the threaded insert in the alumi-num foot is facing up at you, as you’re looking down at the bottom of the PedWoofer (see Figure 17). Line up the two holes in each aluminum foot with the threaded inserts in the bottom of the PedWoofer. Insert the 1⁄4 – 20 screws into the holes and tighten them securely using the included Hex key.

System Setup and OperationThe setup and operation of the 8200 and 6200 PedWoofers is exactly the same except that the SA 6200 single channel amplifi er and its associated controls effect both PedWoofers in the 6200 system while the 8200’s dual channel amplifi er provides controls for each PedWoofer independently.

The LOW PASS ControlWhen used with a complete THX Certifi ed speaker system, the PedWoofer system’s LOW PASS control should be set at 80Hz, unless you are using a proces-sor with a built-in crossover. If your processor is THX certifi ed or has a built-in crossover, bypass the Ped-Woofer amplifi er’s LOW PASS control by setting it to

the THX/EXT setting. All THX certifi ed satellites have been optimized to work with an 80 Hz crossover point.

If your Processor/Receiver has no internal crossover (a fairly rare occur-rence these days) the PedWoofer’s crossover should be used to optimize the performance of the system, by ensuring that the subwoofer and satel-lites produce a cohesive and well integrated sound picture.

Higher crossover frequencies pass more bass to the PedWoofers but can quickly begin to sound boomy. They also make it easier to localize the subwoofer sonically, which is highly undesirable. Higher crossover fre-quencies may be suitable, however, when using very small satellites that have no real low frequency performance. Settings lower than 80Hz should only be employed if you are using larger speakers that have extended bass response. This way, the PedWoofer will only reproduce the very lowest bass frequencies that are in the range where the 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 LOW PASS crossover frequency, smaller speakers means a higher LOW PASS crossover frequency. If necessary, contact the manufacturer of your sat-ellite speakers for their specifi ed low frequency response to determine the appropriate LOW PASS setting on your PedWoofer amplifi er. In the end, however, a little time spent experimenting will generally result in dramatically better bass response.

A Word About Bass, Center Channel Modes, and System Setup: Many Dolby Pro Logic surround processors and surround receivers provide a choice between “Wide” (full fre-quency range) and “Normal” (restricted low frequency) mode for 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.

Bass ManagementToday, many processors and receivers offer Bass Management capa-bility. If yours does it will ask you to choose between Large and Small loudspeakers during the system setup procedure. When speakers are set to Large the processor/receiver assumes that they can produce full fre-quency range sound, including very deep bass at fairly high volume levels. When set to Small it assumes that the speakers are bass limited and feeds

System Setup and Operation System Setup and Operation

Figure 17

After all four feet have been installed carefully remove the spiked feet from their package. USE EXTREME CAUTION, AS THE POINTED SEC-TIONS OF THE SPIKES ARE VERY SHARP. If you are placing the Ped-Woofers on a carpeted surface we recommend using the pointed ends of the spikes. If you are placing the PedWoofers on a hard surface (wood, tile, cement, etc.) we recommend removing the sharp pointed ends of the spikes by unscrewing them from the body of the spike.

Screw the bodies of the spikes onto the aluminum foot using your hand and being careful not to cross thread them. If you are concerned about the pointed ends you can unscrew them from the body of the spike before you install them. Once the spikes have been installed carefully turn the PedWoofers over and place them in their fi nal location. You can adjust for slight discrepancies in level by screwing out the small pointed section of the spike. Unscrew them no more than a total of 5 turns in order to maintain adequate strength in the foot/spike combination

SA-700Servo ControlledSubwoofer Amplifier

Atlantic Technology®



the bass from that channel to the subwoofer. If your processor/receiver offers this choice, all Atlantic Technology satellite speakers should be set to Small, regardless of their size.

For those of you who may have heard otherwise, the choice of Large or Small is not a matter of opinion, preference, taste, or based upon the phases of the moon. So please ignore any and all free and helpful (and many times incorrect) advice and set them to Small. In fact, the vast majority of speakers on the market today should be set to small. As a rule of thumb, if any satellite speaker in your system doesn’t have a 10-inch diameter or larger woofer, it most probably should be set to Small, as far as Bass Management is concerned.

The PHASE ControlA subwoofer operating out of phase with the rest of the system won’t provide optimum low frequency performance. Also, the correct subwoofer phase can help compensate for room acoustic anomalies. There-fore, a PHASE switch that will alter the phase of the PedWoofers is provided on the amplifi er. It has 4 posi-

tions (0°,90°,180°,270°) for added fl exibility. To set the PHASE control, insert the supplied Atlantic Technology/Sencore Test and Training CD in your CD/DVD player and select the broadband bass test tones on Track 16. Have someone sit in the prime listening position to evaluate the sound. Pay particular attention to the transition of bass from the subwoofer to the satellite speakers. You can also listen to a musical source such as a CD or DVD, with strong bass content that spans the range from deep bass to mid bass (a well recorded jazz disc with someone playing a full stand up bass is always a good choice). It’s best not to use a “one note” special effects track like a big explosion or dinosaur stomping to test the subwoofer. Experiment with the position of the PHASE control(s) to get the best transition from sub to satellites. We suggest you unplug the input to one PedWoofer chan-nel at a time to set the PHASE control for the other channel (always turn off the power before unplugging or plugging in any connections). It should be obvious which is the correct setting. In particular, there will be a smoother, more integrated transition between the satellites and the subwoofer when they are properly phased.

Parametric Room Equalizer (EQ) In order to optimize the performance of your PedWoofers the parametric equalizer should be utilized. The built in Parametric EQ(s) allow you to select the frequency you want to adjust, and how wide a band on either side of that frequency you’re going to adjust with it. They are designed specifi cally to remove (turn down) unwanted peaks in the bass. The procedure is fairly simple: the included Atlantic Technology/Sencore Test and Training CD is used along with a SPL meter to defi ne the single largest bass peak at the prime listening position and then reduce it with the Parametric EQ.

The test and setup CD also includes a wealth of general information con-cerning sound reproduction and home theater, in addition to the test tones. Although the test tones can be used to set the EQ “by ear” we very strongly recommend using a Sound Pressure Level meter or a Real Time Analyzer to set the Parametric EQ.

Adjusting the Parametric EQ Using a Meter or Real Time Analyzer (RTA)

IMPORTANT NOTE: During all set up operations except setting the Phase control it will be benefi cial to shut off or disconnect all the speakers except the PedWoofers.

It’s important to complete the preceding steps regarding speaker setup before adjusting the parametric equalizer. Once they’re complete, insert the Atlantic Technology/Sencore Test and Training CD into your CD or DVD player and go to Track 16, which is a full range test signal includ-ing all bass frequencies from 20Hz to 120Hz. Set the BASS LEVEL of a single 8200 PedWoofer to 75dB at the primary listening position. With the 6200 system set the total PedWoofer output to 75dB at the prime listening position. If you are using an RTA, set it to at least 1/6th octave resolution th octave resolution th

and slow response (Use slow response to allow the meter to average the standing waves that build up in the room). Continue using Track 16 to observe the overall response of the PedWoofer. It is highly likely that you will fi nd at least one signifi cant peak (between 20Hz and the crossover point set on the amplifi er or in the processor). Write down the center fre-quency of the peak, how wide the peak is (by noting the upper and lower frequencies where it starts and stops) and how large it is, in dB.

Begin setting the para-metric EQ by adjusting the FREQUENCY control to the approximate cen-ter frequency of the peak. Next adjust the WIDTH control to the approximate width of the peak. Note that the WIDTH control is

calibrated in octaves. An octave is a doubling or halving of any chosen frequency. For example, if the chosen frequency is 40Hz, 1 octave higher would be 80Hz, and one octave lower would be 20Hz. Since the WIDTH control ranges from 0.2 octave to 1.5 octaves you see that you can adjust from a fairly narrow band to a fairly wide band on either side of the center frequency. Next, set the ATTENUATION control to the approximate minus dB value to compensate for the peak. Measure the bass response again and see how much you have reduced the overall peak. You may need to fi ne-tune the controls to smooth the response as much as possible.

Setting the Parametric EQ Using an SPL Meter

If you only have an SPL meter, set the meter to C Weighting and Slow response. Set the PedWoofer(s) output to 75dB at the listening position as outlined above using Track 16 of the test disc. Sit in the prime listening position with a pencil and paper play Tracks 1-15 sequentially to measure the subwoofer response. Take enough time with each measurement to allow the meter to stabilize. Write down the measured level for each fre-quency, covering the range from 20Hz to the crossover point selected on the subwoofer amplifi er or in the receiver/processor. Once again, you will most likely fi nd one or more signifi cant peaks in the bass response. Pro-ceed as detailed above to reduce the largest peak as much as possible.

System Setup and Operation








Remote Control Functions

Satellite Level Setting Using an SPL MeterWhen setting up a complete home theater we strongly recommend that you use a Sound Pressure Level meter to calibrate the individual channel levels. At the time of this writing Radio Shack® has one that is affordably priced (approximately $40) and works well. However, for the best result in setting up the levels and the parametric EQ you would be much better served by using a true audio test instrument with a Real Time Acoustic Analyzer (RTA) such as the Sencore® SP 295.

To calibrate channel levels using an SPL meter, turn on your system, put the Processor/Receiver in the Test Mode and set its main volume con-trol to a moderate volume level. If the volume control has a 0dB setting with minus dB below and plus dB above 0, set the control to 0dB. Sit in the prime listening position, set the SPL meter to the 70dB scale, Slow Response, and C Weighting. Holding the meter in front of you with the microphone pointed up at the ceiling, cycle the test tone from speaker to speaker, setting every speaker (including the subwoofer) to 75dB using the individual channel level adjustments in the Processor/Receiver. In some cases, you may have to use the Processor/Receiver’s main volume control to get the fi rst speaker you set (typically the left front) to 75 dB, but from then on use the receiver’s internal level adjustments to set each channel. These may only be accessible through the Processor/Receiver’s remote control.

As tempting as it may be to set the subwoofer and/or surround speakers higher than 75dB, don’t. Set them to 75dB and see if you can acclimate to the sound as the fi lm maker created it. Try watching several different movies and keep in mind that the goal is to have a system that sounds like you’re actually in the movie. Just like in a well set up movie theater, in most cases, you shouldn’t be consciously aware of the surround speaker’s output at all, much less have so much bass that your furniture moves across the room.

When using the latest discrete digital electronics we recommend setting the subwoofer amplifi er’s BASS LEVEL control to its THX/REF posi-tion and using the Processor/Receiver’s built-in subwoofer level control. Should you have diffi culty achieving the correct subwoofer volume this way or should your Processor/Receiver not have a subwoofer level adjust-ment built in, you can use the subwoofer amplifi er’s main BASS LEVEL control to make this adjustment.

Level Setting Without an SPL MeterIf you cannot use an SPL meter to calibrate the system try to set all the speaker volumes to the same level using the Test Tones. Of course, this will be much more diffi cult without the meter, especially for the sub-woofer.

Setting the Subwoofer Level Without an SPL Meter or Test TonesStart your listening with the subwoofer LOW PASS control set at the cor-rect crossover point (or in the THX/EXT position if you’re using a THX Certifi ed processor or unit with a built-in crossover). Set the PHASE control to 00, and the front panel BASS LEVEL control to the THX/REF position as shown to the left.

Play some music that you know has good bass content, and turn the Processor/Receiver’s level con-trol up until you just

start to hear the subwoofer working. Now, from your normal listening position, determine whether the subwoofer is playing loudly enough and fi lling in the bass frequencies of the music evenly. If adjustment is neces-sary, change the processor’s setting or use the front panel BASS LEVEL control if your processor lacks a subwoofer level adjustment.

How Much is Enough?Sometimes people prefer more bass impact for movies than sounds natural when reproducing music. The PedWoofer amplifi er offers 4 EQ settings plus the LEVEL TRIM to help maximize your enjoyment of dif-ferent source material. Remember however, the most common error people make when setting up their system is to play the subwoofer (and surrounds) too loudly. Although the Home Theater Police will not arrest you for this act, should you desire the most accurate overall reproduction, a well-balanced sound from deepest bass to highest treble is the best way to get it. Have fun. Experiment. Enjoy.

Remote Control FunctionsThere are 4 custom EQ settings that have been programmed into the Ped-Woofer amplifi er (see graphs on back cover). These have been chosen to enhance your enjoyment of both movies and music. These EQ settings are fairly subtle in their effect, as we wanted to make them truly useful with a wide selection of software. They can be accessed by pressing one of the four EQ buttons on your Remote Control.

EQ1 - This EQ was primar-ily designed to enhance music. It reduces midbass frequencies by a small, but noticeable amount. You will fi nd that on many music sources this will make the bass sound tighter and more defined. It should make individual bass notes easier to hear

as well. EQ1 can also be used to remove some overall bass boominess when playing particularly bass heavy material.

EQ2 - This EQ was programmed to enhance the impact and punch of special effects. It increases the bass output centered at 60Hz. Depending upon the source material, EQ2 could also be used to add some warmth to a bass shy music recording.

EQ3 - Another choice primarily intended to enhance movie and video soundtracks. This one uses a more subtle increase of bass output cen-tered at 80HZ with the addition of a very low frequency (subsonic) fi lter. This gives you the option of punching up the mid-bass while at the same time reducing the possibility of overdriving the woofers with extreme low frequencies.





PedWoofer Troubleshooting Guide

EQ4 - We call EQ4 EQ4 - We call EQ4 EQ4 After Dark. At lower volume levels human hear-ing is less sensitive at the frequency extremes (deep bass and very high sounds). In order to compensate when you must play the system at lower volume levels, EQ4 has been designed to raise the overall bass output of the sub slightly. The result will be a fuller and richer sounding bass at low volumes. EQ4 is designed for both music and movies. It can also be used to help compensate for lack of bass at the listening position.

REF - This resets the EQ to fl at response and the also resets the volume trim to 0dB.

LEVEL TRIM and MUTE - The and and buttons let you change buttons let you change the total output level of your subwoofer to compensate for soundtrack variations and your personal preferences. Each push of the button results

in a 1dB change above or below the preset reference set with the BASS LEVEL control. The LEVEL TRIM readout on the amplifier indicates the level of adjustment in dB.

Pressing the MUTE button turns off the volume of the PedWoofers. Pressing it again returns the volume to its previous setting.

Direct Access ConnectorLocated on the rear panel, this port and the corresponding male plug (shipped installed in the port) is for use with a hard wired remote control system using electronic or mechanical switching. Each contact function is labeled. To access the control functions use a normally open connec-tion. Momentary closure will activate each function. The LEVEL TRIM

function will respond in 1dB steps to a single contact closure while con-stant closure will result in continuous steps to the maximum of ± 10dB. The REF EQ and REF volume reset functions each have their own set of contacts.

Care and Feeding of Your PedWoofer SystemThe duraBlac enclosure fi nish can be cleaned with a water dampened cloth and dried with a soft cotton towel. Their duraBlacTM fi nish is a matte lacquer paint that should be treated like any fi ne painted surface. The amplifi er can be wiped with a clean, dry cloth. If necessary, you can clean the front panel with a soft cloth moistened with mild window cleaner or dampened slightly with water.slightly with water.slightly

IMPORTANT: SAVE YOUR BOXES! If you can do so, save the carton, packing pieces and plastic bags that came with your sub-woofer. 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 fi nd such damage, either visible or internal, con-tact your dealer immediately for the proper return procedure.

PedWoofer Troubleshooting GuideOnce your PedWoofers are set up, you should have many years of mainte-nance free enjoyment from your system. However, if you should encoun-ter a problem, refer to the following guide to help fi nd the solution. If the problem persists, please contact your local authorized Atlantic Technol-ogy dealer.

Problem Possible Cause Possible SolutionNo bass output AC power cord unplugged or Plug into a working outlet.

plugged into a non-working outlet.

Input cables not securely Check all connections, then try another connected or defective. input cable.

Audible buzz or hum Input cable not securely connected Check all connections, then try another or defective. input cable.

Ground loop through antenna or Test by disconnecting antenna and/or cable cable TV system input. system input leads. If hum goes away, install

isolation balun(s) at that point.

Weak bass: vague stereo image Input source connected to HI LEVEL Check speaker wire connections and inputs is wired out of phase. reconnect in proper phase.


Specifi cations

AMPLIFIER

RMS Power (before limiting and servo) 350 Watts/Channel

Dynamic IHF Peak Power 550 Watts/Channel

Signal to Noise Ratio (-90dB hum) -97dB @ full output

Total Harmonic Distortion 0.05% @ full output

Frequency Response (typical, in room) SA-8200 = 15-400 Hz ±2 dBSA-6200 = 25-400 Hz ±3 dB

Low Level Input Sensitivity 250mv @ full output, 100Hz

Low Level Input Impedance 22K ΩHigh Level Input Sensitivity 2.5v @ full output, 100Hz

High Level Input Impedance 820 ΩPower Supply Storage 27K microfarads/channel

Toroid Transformer(s) 400VA/Channel

Output Stage Peak Current 40 amps rated/Channel

Dimensions W x H x D (in/cm) 19.0/30.5 (faceplate); 16.875/42.86 (enclosure) x 5.0/12.7 (feet and faceplate) x 14.0/35.56

Weight (lbs/kg) SA-6200 = 22.3/10.12SA-8200 = 38.9/17.64

SUBWOOFER

Driver Type One (1) Glass bead/ceramic/carbon fi ber/polymer cone per pedestal

Driver Size 8200 PED = 12"6200 PED = 10"

SPL (approx. peak output, typical, in room) 8200 PED 1 pair/2 pair (THX Ultra 2) = 117dB/120dB6200 PED 1 pair = 115dB

Dimensions W x H x D (in/cm) 8200 PED = 9.3/23.3 x 29.6/78.8 x 15.6/38.76200 PED = 7.8/19.4 x 26.0/66.0 x 14.3/35.6

Weight (lbs/kg) 8200 PED = 52.0/23.66200 PED = 37.0/16.8

Specifi cations Specifi cations


Program EQ Setting Curves

EQ1EQ2

EQ3 EQ4

REF/THX (fl at)

Note: These graphs represent the response of the amplifi er with-out crossovers. In actual use, the system is not designed to re spond beyond 200Hz.

Program EQ Setting Curves

343 Vanderbilt Avenue Norwood, MA 02062 (781) 762-6300 www.atlantictechnology.com

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