ACI Force XL Owners manual

The Force XL

Powered Subwoofer

Owner's Manual

Contents:
Guarantee/Warranty	…2
Specifications	…4
Setup	…4
Placement	…6
Hookup: HT	…7
Hookup: Stereo	…8
Placement Diagrams	…11
Other System Considerations	…13
Avoiding Damage	…14
Troubleshooting	…15
Warranty Registration	…16

Audio Concepts, Inc.

901 So. 4th Street La Crosse, WI 54601

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Website: www.audioc.com Email: [e-mail]

All Right Reserved 2006

Sound that Satisfies…Since 1977

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Audio Concepts, Inc.

Our Guarantee and Warranty

Satisfaction Guaranteed:

We’re sure you’re going to love your new Audio Concepts, Inc. (ACI) products! In the unlikely event that you are not satisfied, please contact us within 30 days of receipt of your ACI products for a hassle-free return.

Simply follow these procedures:

1.Return Authorization: Call us at [phone] or email [e-mail] , within 30 days of receipt of your ACI products for a return authorization number. Boldly mark the return authorization number on the outside of the box. Include a brief note stating your name, address and daytime telephone number, along with a short description why the products are being returned.

2.Returning:We request that you return the ACI products to us in their original packaging and include packaging materials, manuals, etc. Ship by the most economical means (preferably UPS) and insure the products for the invoice purchase price. The customer is responsible for return shipping. Please note: ACI can not accept C.O.D. returns.

3.Credit:Upon receipt and inspection, we will issue a refund for the invoice purchase price and invoiced UPS Ground service only. Please note this return policy is in effect only if the ACI products are in new condition, in their original packaging, without drilled holes, disassembled or any other modifications.

Speaker Manufacture’s Warranty:

ACI’s Five Year Standard Warranty and One Year Total Assurance Guarantee

For five years from receipt, Audio Concepts, Inc. will, at its option, repair or replace factory defective components. This warranty excludes products that have been abused, modified, or disassembled in any way. This warranty does not apply to products, which have been damaged in shipping. Audio Concepts, Inc. liability is limited only to the replacement of defective parts. No other liabilities or obligations are expressed or implied.

For the first year of ownership, ACI also provides a unique Total Assurance Guarantee, (TAG). TAG from ACI not only covers everything included in our standard five year warranty, but we will also pay for shipping to ACI and back to your front door. TAG is limited to shipping destinations in the Continental U.S.

The ACI Five Year Standard Warranty and One Year Total Assurance Guarantee are fully transferable from the original owner to a secondary owner provided that the original owner notifies ACI, by phone call or by filling out the on-line form: www.audioc.com/order/warranty_transfer.htm No warranty will be transferred absent this notification.

Simply follow these procedures:

1.Return Authorization: Call us at [phone] or email [e-mail] for a return authorization number. If the warranty repair is during the first year of ownership, additional instructions will be given to you at that time. Boldly mark the return authorization number on the outside of the box. Include a brief note with your name, address and a daytime telephone number, along with a short description why the products are being returned.

2.Returning:Carefully repack defective ACI merchandise in their original packaging. Ship by the most economical means (preferably UPS) and insure the products for their full retail value. The customer is responsible for return shipping (unless the first year TAG applies). Please note: ACI can not accept COD or Freight Collect returns.

3.Replacement: Audio Concepts, Inc. will inspect and determine the cause of failure and will pay return shipping on the defective goods replaced or repaired.

Please ship any returns to the following address:

Audio Concepts, Inc., 901 So. 4th Street, La Crosse, WI 54601 [phone]

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IMPORTANT NOTICE

All new speakers require a minimum of 60 hours break-in-time before they begin to sound the way they are supposed to. A speaker's performance improves significantly once broken in. It is critical that you have at least 60 hours on your speakers before you evaluate them. Don't worry if your speakers do not sound perfect the first time you play them. This is normal until they are broken in. If you are having difficulty getting enough hours on your speakers and your 30 day return privilege is getting near, call us. We will work with you. Please give us the courtesy of breaking the speakers in before you determine they don't sound right.

Many of our customers break their speakers in by:

A)Leaving them on at moderate listening levels when they are not home.

B)Leaving them on at moderate listening levels while they sleep.

C)Running pink noise through them.

These methods are not convenient for everyone and we understand this. But please know that you are not giving yourself, your speakers or us a fair chance if you do not break them in before critical evaluation.

THANK YOU!

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The Force XL Powered Subwoofer

Thank you for your order and congratulations on becoming the owner of an ACI speaker system. The Force XL powered subwoofer(s) will provide you with many years of listening pleasure!

ACI’s Force XL is a compact, yet potent subwoofer. The Force XL is based on the subwoofer technology of our legendary Titan series. An extreme excursion 10" driver is powered by our proprietary amplification using special circuitry to essentially cut the required box volume in half!

Many subwoofers do a respectable job with explosions, shotguns, and crashes. The market is loaded with black boxes and tubes that beg to be "hidden". The Force XL is different. Compact, yet attractively built to compliment your fine furniture. The Force XL will rattle your china. More importantly, it will allow a seamless and completely transparent blend with your main speakers. Your sound stage will be enhanced, not degraded. Instruments like acoustic and electric bass, piano, and percussion will come through with vivid realism.

The internal enclosure is constructed of ¾” non-resonant high-density fiberboard with extensive internal bracing. The mounting for the downfiring woofer is 1.25" thick for additional resonance control and stability. For even higher output levels, multiple Force XL units may be stacked.

Many subwoofers add unacceptable colorations and actually degrade the performance of otherwise fine speakers. The Force XL is adaptable for use with virtually any satellite, electrostatic or ribbon speaker. If you are satisfied with your present speakers but just want more bass power and extension, the Force XL(s) may be the perfect answer. If you own speakers from manufacturers such as B&W, KEF, Apogee, Quad, Thiel, Magnaplaner, Martin Logan, Wilson, etc., you’ll find your listening pleasure greatly enhanced with the Force XL subwoofers.

Specifications

Frequency Response: 20-250Hz, +3db, system Q <.6

Crossover: Dual adjustable Low-Pass: 35-250 12db/octave filters for 24db/octave total

High Pass Outputs: Second order, 12db/octave, filters set at 100Hz for left & right output. Line-level, RCA

outputs

Sensitivity: Adjustable

Dimensions: 15 3/4” tall, 13 3/4” wide and 13 3/4” deep (allow 2” additional depth for rear mounted amp)

Weight: 51 lbs

Special Circuitry: Protection Circuitry, Woofer Behavior Control, Theater-Direct Input

Woofer: (downward firing) Proprietary 10”, ultra long throw woofer

Rec. RMS Power: Built in amp delivers 250 watts RMS < .5% THD distortion.

Force XL Subwoofer Setup

Integrating a sub is a process that requires following ordered steps. You’ll find it easy in some rooms/systems, and very time consuming in others. The key is to eliminate each variable one at a time. It really helps to have a test CD with sinewave or warble tones. That’s why we include just such a disc, free with purchase of our subs. Use of the setup CD is optional. Please refer to the attached directions for the test CD.

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The electronics of the Force XL performs the following functions:

Input Level: This controls the volume of the Force XL when using the Right and or Left inputs. The volume needs to be set at the same volume as your main speakers to get a seamless blend. When using the Theater input, the volume on the subwoofer is bypassed and will be controlled by your processor/receiver.

Lowpass Filters A & B: Each filter has a 12db/oct roll off and is used to set the upper cutoff point of the subwoofer. Normally, you will set both filters at the same frequency for a 24db/oct roll off. In some systems it may be advantageous to be able to independently adjust these filters for the optimum blend.

Phase Control: The phase is variable from 0- 180 degrees. Correct phase is dependent on positioning of the sub relative to the main and the listening position. The correct phase setting will yield the greatest level of bass.

Left & Right Line Level Inputs: Use either or both of these inputs. You will need to set the Input Level and Lowpass Filters A & B.

Theater Input: Connect to this input from your sub output on your receiver, preamp or processor. Set Lowpass Filters A & B to 250Hz. Input Level is bypassed and volume is controlled from your system's subwoofer volume control.

Left & Right High-Pass Outputs: Works with the line level inputs, they cut the frequency of your main speakers off at 100Hz with a 12db roll off. Rarely used we suggest using the optional passive high-pass filters instead.

LED Light: It is red for a few seconds as the amp warms up. The light will turn green when the amp is ready, even if there is no signal going to the amp.

On/Off Switch: Used to turn the amp on and off. Normally the amp is left on all the time. When not playing, it draws about the same about of power as a nightlight.

Power Cord: The cord is non-detachable and can be plugged into any standard two-prong outlet.

Miscellaneous:

∙A limiter and current sensing feedback circuitry protect the driver from being overdriven and reduce distortion.

∙The discreet outputs of the amplifier deliver over 250 watts RMS to the woofer with extremely low distortion.

∙A temperature switch monitors the output devices. In the event of excess heat the switch will shut down the circuitry to prevent damage. Once the heat sinks cool the power will be restored. Because the electronics have been designed and "tuned" to the woofer and cabinet, the Force XL offers incredible performance in relatively small cabinet.