ALTEC LANSING 621 User Manual

®

Volume Down

Power On
Indicator

Volume Up

Power On/Off

The lightning flash with arrowhead, within an
equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user
to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous
voltage” within the product’s enclosure that
may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a
risk of electric shock to persons.

Caution: To prevent the risk of electric

shock, do not remove cover (or back).
No user- serviceable parts inside. Refer
servicing to qualified service personnel.

The exclamation point within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the appliance.

Safety Instructions

CAUTION

To prevent electric shock do not use this (polarized) plug with an
extension cord, receptacle or other outlet unless the blades can be fully
inserted to prevent blade exposure.

WARNING

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT
EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

Connecting the Power Cord (AC Wall Socket)

Long slot is neutral
(ground) side.

Insert the wide blade
into the ground side
slot.

Read Instructions — All the safety and operating instructions should be read before
the appliance is operated.

Retain Instructions — The operating instructions should be retained for future
reference.

Heed Warning — All warnings on the appliance and in the operating instructions
should be adhered to.

Follow Instructions — All operating and use instructions should be followed.
Water and Moisture — The appliance should not be used near water – for example,

near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a
swimming pool, etc.

Outdoor Use — Warning: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose
this appliance to rain or moisture.

Location — The appliance should be installed in a stable location.
Ventilation — The appliance should be situated so that its location or position does

not interfere with its proper ventilation. For example, the appliance should not be
situated on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface that may block the ventilation
openings; or placed in a built-in installation, such as a closed bookcase or cabinet
that may impede the flow of air through the ventilation openings.

Heat — The appliance should be situated away from heat sources such as
radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appliances (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.

Power Sources — The appliance should be connected to a power supply only of the
type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the appliance.

Power-Cord Protection — Power-supply cords should be routed so that they are not
likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them. Pay
particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where
they exit from the appliance.

Grounding or Polarization — The precautions that should be taken so that the
grounding or polarization means of an appliance is not defeated.

Cleaning — The appliance should be cleaned only with a polishing cloth or a soft
dry cloth. Never clean with furniture wax, benzene, insecticides or other volatile
liquids since they may corrode the cabinet.

Non-Use Periods — The power cord of the appliance should be unplugged from the
outlet when left unused for a long period of time.

Lightning Storms - Unplug the apparatus during lightining storms.
Object and Liquid Entry — Care should be taken so that objects do

not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure through openings.
Accessories - Only use attachment acessories specified by Altec Lansing

Technolgies, Inc.

Damage Requiring Service — The appliance should be serviced by
qualified service personnel when:

• The power-supply cord or the plug has been damaged.

• Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the appliance.

• The appliance has been exposed to rain.

• The appliance does not appear to operate normally or exhibits
a marked change in performance.

• The appliance has been dropped or the enclosure damaged.

Servicing — The user should not attempt to service the appliance. Servicing should
be referred to qualified service personnel or returned to the dealer or call the Altec
Lansing service line for assistance.

The FCC Wants You to Know
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. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined
by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:

a) Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
b) Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
c) Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
d) Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

FCC Warning
Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user
authority to operate the equipment under FCC Rules.

One Year Limited Warranty

Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. warrants to the end user that all of its speaker

systems are free from defects in material and workmanship in the course of normal
and reasonable use for a term of one year from the date of purchase.

This warranty is the exclusive and only warranty in effect relative to Altec Lansing
speaker systems and any other warranties, either expressed or implied, are invalid.
Neither Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. nor any authorized Altec Lansing
Technologies, Inc. reseller is responsible for any incidental damages incurred in the
use of the speakers. (This limitation of incidental or consequential damage is not
applicable where prohibited.)

Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. obligation under this warranty does not apply to
any defect, malfunction or failure as a result of misuse, abuse, improper installation,
use with faulty or improper equipment or the use of the computer speaker systems
with any equipment for which they were not intended.

The terms of this warranty apply only to speaker systems when such speakers are
returned to the respective authorized Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. reseller
where they were purchased.

Under the terms of this warranty the original consumer purchases has certain legal
rights and may have other rights which vary worldwide.

Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. is a leader in the design, manufacture, marketing
and support of high quality multimedia personal computer and home entertainment
sound systems. As manufacturers of multiple award-winning systems for both
design and sound quality, our products are at the forefront of emerging
technologies.

INTRODUCTION

CONNECTIONS

Welcome to the extraordinary world of Altec Lansing high fidelity sound.

The 621 is an amplified multimedia speaker system delivering 200
watts of total system power especially designed for a variety of personal
audio devices such as MP3 players, DVD players, CD players, cassette
players, personal computer systems, gaming consoles and various
other video/audio sources.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

·200 Watts total system power; 100 Watts true RMS.

·Front-firing, wooden subwoofer features a 6.5"

(165 mm) driver for extended low frequency response.

·Separate Subwoofer volume control for fine-tuning

system balance and overall system low volume/high
volume performance.

·2 Satellite speakers each designed with a 1" (24 mm)

tweeter and 3" (75 mm) full range driver delivering crisp,
clear high and smooth mid-bass.

·Separate wired Digital Controller including power on/off

and volume control, allows optimum speaker placement
without worrying about control access.

·2 audio inputs to allow mixing of audio signals from

two audio sources

·Dual angle Satellite stands for optimum audio

positioning.

·AAC1 Y-Adapter included for easy connection

to gaming consoles.

Do not insert the power plug into an AC outlet until all connections are
made.

To insure first-time operation as expected, please follow the setup
sequence below carefully in the order indicated:

1. Connect the orange plug from the 621 right satellite to the jack
marked RIGHT at the rear of the subwoofer.

2. Connect the brown plug from the 621 left satellite to the jack marked
LEFT at the rear of the subwoofer.

3. Connect the gray DIN plug from the System Controller unit into the
DIN jack on the Subwoofer. Note that the DIN plug has an arrow. The
arrow should be faced to the right for correct insertion into the DIN jack
on the subwoofer. Please insert this plug securely.

4. Turn off the audio source device (computer sound card, portable
music system, etc.). Shut computer systems down using the
manufacturer's recommended procedures.

5. Connect the lime green audio plug from the MAIN INPUT at the rear
of the Subwoofer to the 3.5mm output jack on your audio source.

6. Optional: Connect a second audio source to the AUX INPUT at the
back of the Subwoofer. See How To Enhance Presentations With
Dialogue and Other Uses For The AUX (Auxiliary) Input below.

7. Connect the power cord (at back of Subwoofer) to an AC Wall socket.

8. The unit is now ready to operate. Turn on the audio source device.

Note: Always turn on your audio source device before turning on your

Altec Lansing 621 Speaker System. If you turn on the speaker system
before turning on the audio source, you will hear a loud POP sound
when the audio device is turned on.

9. Turn on the Altec Lansing 621 Speaker System.
See USE OF CONTROLS below.

The satellite speakers are magnetically shielded to prevent color
distortion on video displays. However, the subwoofer is not magnetically
shielded and should not be placed in close proximity to a computer
monitor, television or computer hard drive.

IMPORTANT

If you experience any difficulties with your speaker system, check the
Troubleshooting section of this Guide. The answers to most setup and
performance questions can be found there. If you cannot find the
information you need, please call our customer service team for
assistance before returning the speakers to your retailer under their
return policy. We’re available 7 days a week for your convenience:

Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 12:00 midnight
Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

1-800-ALTEC-88 (1-800-258-3288)

Color Coding: Notice that the input jacks on the subwoofer are

color coded to prevent errors. The plugs that are inserted into these
jacks have matching colors. As an example, the left front speaker
satellite has a brown connecting plug. The plug is inserted into the left
front jack with the brown color strip marking. All other connections are
made in the same way.

USE OF CONTROLS

Power On/Off

The Power On/Off button is located on the System Controller unit.
Press the POWER button to turn on the speaker system. Push it again
to turn the unit off. A green LED power indicator on the base of the
controller will glow to show power is on.

Volume Control

A Volume Up button and a Volume Down button are located on the
System Controller unit. Repeated pressing of the buttons changes the
volume setting by increments.

Subwoofer Level Control (Bass Level)

With the Subwoofer in the desired location, the Subwoofer Level control
is used to mix the volume level of the Subwoofer with the Satellite
speakers. Mixing is usually done by playing a wide variety of music and
speech and adjusting the control until a natural sound is obtained. See
PLACEMENT OF SPEAKERS below.

Main Input and the AUX (Auxiliary) Input

Both inputs are equal. One input can be used for the computer output
and the other as described in How To Enhance Presentations With
Dialogue below. Make connections as described in step 5
(CONNECTIONS) above. Do not put the AC power plug into the wall
outlet before all connections are made.

PLACEMENT OF SPEAKERS

SPECIFICATIONS

All stereo information is heard from the satellite speakers. The
Subwoofer contains no stereo information and sound is non-directional.
As a result, the Subwoofer does not necessarily have to be placed in any
particular relationship to the Satellites. Placing the Subwoofer on the
floor close to the wall or corner of a room provides maximum bass
efficiency.

WARNING: The Subwoofer is not magnetically shielded. The

Subwoofer should NOT be placed near video display devices such as a
TV or computer monitor. The subwoofer should NOT be placed near
computer hard drives. Position the subwoofer at least 2’ (.6 m) away
from computer hard drives, or any other media that uses magnetic
encoding.

The Satellite speakers are magnetically shielded and can be placed close
to a video display (TV, computer monitor) without distorting the video
image. Best stereo effect is obtained by placing the speakers as far
apart as their wiring allows.

HOW TO ENHANCE
PRESENTATIONS
WITH DIALOGUE

The 621 output jack (step 5, CONNECTIONS) is connected to a
computer sound card. A CD player or other audio source can be plugged
into the unused input (AUX INPUT). Mixing of the computer audio output
with another audio source can be accomplished by using the Volume
Control or On/Off switch on the second audio source. A typical example
may be as follows:

Total System Power 200 watts
Frequency Response 35 Hz - 20 kHz
Inputs 2 (Main and Auxiliary)
Signal to Noise Ratio @ 1 kHz input > 65 dB
Crossover Frequency 100 Hz

System THD (distortion) < 0.1 % THD @ -10 dB

full scale input voltage

Input Impedance 10k ohms

Satellite Amplified Speakers

Drivers (per satellite) 1" tweeter (24 mm)

3" mid-range (75 mm)

Subwoofer

Speaker Drivers 6.5" (165 mm)

Power Requirements

USA/Canada/and applicable
Latin American countries 120v 60 Hz AC
Europe/United Kingdom
applicable Asian countries
Argentina, Chile and Uruguay 230v 50 Hz AC
ETL / cETL / CE / NOM / IRAM Approved

A lecturer may want to interject dialogue into a multimedia presentation.
If the lecturer has a wireless FM microphone system the output of the
microphone receiver can be connected to the unused input on

the 621. When the lecturer wishes to make a comment, he either turns
on the microphone switch to speak or he can raise or lower the
microphone volume control to mix his voice with the computer audio
program. Any other audio device can operate in the same manner.

Note: Microphone location in relation tho the speakers is important.

Position the microphone so that the speakers are located between the
microphone and the audience, or so that the microphone is behind the
speakers. If the microphone is placed in front of the speakers, feedback
will result.

OTHER USES FOR
THE AUXILIARY INPUT

You may elect to hook up your Stereo system or Stereo TV to the
Auxiliary input so that your speakers may be used for these devices
when your primary audio device is not in use. You can also connect your
modem audio-out to the second input.