Atlantic Technology IWTS-8 SUB, SA-350 User Manual

InWall Subwoofer System

I

NNOVATIVE

H

OME

T

HEATER

SA-350 Mono Subwoofer Amplifier

SA-700 Dual Mono Subwoofer Amplifier

For use with Atlantic Technology IWTS-8 SUB Woofer Module Only

I n s t r u c t i o n M a n u a l

Atlantic Technology

I

NNOVATIVE HOME THEATER

LEVEL TRIM

EQ 1 2 3 4 THX

I

O

®

MUTE

ON/STDBY

LOCATION EQ PHASELOW PASS

75 1.0 -10

25 125 0.2 1.5 -200dB

FREQUENCY WIDTH ATTENUATION

75 1.0 -10

25 125 0.2 1.5 -200dB

90 180 80

0 270

90 180 80

0 270

50 150

THX / EXT

50 150

THX / EXT

BASS LEVEL

MIN MAX

THX / REF

MIN MAX

THX / REF

Subwoofer 1

Subwoofer 2

SA-700
Servo Controlled
Subwoofer Amplifier

SA-700 pictured

This manual covers installation and operation of SA-350 Mono and SA-700

Dual Mono Subwoofer Amplifiers. Installation of the 8 SUB Woofer Module

is covered separately by an instruction sheet included with the woofer.

Atlantic Technology

®

2

Safety Precautions

IMPORTANT NOTE

InWall Subwoofer System

Features

These instructions are for Atlantic Technology InWall
Subwoofer systems using the SA-350 Mono and
SA-700 Dual Mono Subwoofer amplifiers. All instructions and
information pertain to both systems. Note that the SA-350
amplifier only has one set of front mounted controls and one
set of input/output connectors on the back and is designed to
work with a single 8 SUB woofer module.

The unique design of these drivers and amplifiers means that
they must only be used together, with each other. You sh ou l d

never attempt to use a different amplifier with these woofers or
different woofers with these amplifiers.

Safety Precautions

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove

the cover (or back). No user serviceable parts inside. Refer to quali­fied personnel.

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

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 electrical shock to
persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle

is intended to alert the user to the presence of im­portant operating maintenance (servicing) instruc­tions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

For Future Reference

Record your speaker and amplifier serial numbers and date of pur­chase here:

Model Number

Serial Number

Date of Purchase

The serial number is found on the back of the speaker near the con­necting terminals.

8 SUB Woofer

■

Ultra-long-throw 8" Coated Composite Molded Graphite
polymer cone drivers with vented 8 pound motor structure
and 1-3/4" high temperature, 4 layer voice coil

A massive magnetic motor assembly and high temperature parts
combined with a bumped out rear plate and compliant suspen­sion allow very long travel capability for the cone. The result is
amazing bass performance from a relatively small footprint. One
of the most powerful 8" subwoofer drivers ever designed, the mo­tor assembly is much more consistent with 15" woofers!

■

Sealed enclosure design provides for low distortion deep
bass output

This design is inherently low in distortion and naturally delivers
deep, smooth bass response with a gradual and predictable roll­off below resonance, ensuring accurate musical bass reproduc­tion along with terrific special effects.

SA-350 and SA-700

■

Linear power high current discrete Class G amplifier con­servatively rated at 350 watts RMS per channel with short
term peak output ability in excess of 550 watts

The fully discrete design utilizes audiophile grade component
parts including an independent power supply for each channel
with its own custom-wound, low-hum Toroidal transformer. Class
G design means each of the power supplies is dual mode in op­eration, one for long term operation and the second for short
term very high power peaks. High peak current delivers excep­tional driver control.

■

Servo-control circuitry

This circuit monitors woofer performance. If the servo-control
detects driver distortion it immediately regains control and elimi­nates it, resulting in very high output levels at unusually low dis­tortion levels.

■

Built-in Parametric Equalizer (pages 5 and 13)

Designed to flatten and smooth bass response deviations caused
by standing waves at the listening position in your room.

■

Four Built-in Program Equalization and one Reference
setting (pages 7 and 14)

We’ve carefully chosen and built in several preset bass EQ curves,
plus a flat/THX response setting, to enhance your enjoyment of
all program materials .

■

Wireless Remote Operation (pages 7 and 14)

Control program EQs, volume trim adjustment, and full
subwoofer muting from your listening position.

■

A useful in room working frequency range of 20 Hz to 150Hz

Instruction Manual

■

Adjustable (50 Hz to 150 Hz) low-pass crossover (@ 24 dB
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. May 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 click­stop 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)

■

Meets all current UL/CSA and European safety requirements

Table of Contents

4 InWall Subwoofer Systems

5 Amplifier Front Panel
6 Amplifier Back Panel
7 Remote Control
7 Connecting Your Subwoofer

7 Low Level Connection (LO IN)
7 Using the Low Level Thruput (THRU)
7 High Level Connection (HI IN)
8 SA-350 Low Level Connections
9 SA-700 Low Level Connections with one

10 SA-700 Low Level Connections with two

11 SA-700 High Level Connections
12 Power Connection

12 System Setup and Operation

12 The LOW PASS Control
12 Bass Management
12 The PHASE Control
13 Parametric Room Equalizer (EQ)

THX Ultra Certified (SA-700 only)

THX is a group of performance standards and technologies devel­oped by Lucasfilm 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
final production mixdown of the film. 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.

THX Ultra standards are based upon a room size of 3000 cubic feet
(LxWxH). This doesn’t mean certified components must be used in
rooms this exact size. The room sizes simply provide a frame of ref­erence, as they indicate that these systems must deliver a minimum
level of performance in the specified area.

13 Adjusting the Parametric EQ Using a Meter or

13 Level Setting Using an SPL Meter
14 Level Setting Setup Without Using an SPL Meter
14 Setting the Subwoofer Level Without an SPL Meter

14 How Much is Enough?

14 Remote Control Functions
14 Direct Access Connector
15 Care and Feeding of Your Subwoofer
15 Subwoofer Troubleshooting Guide
15 Specifications
16 Program EQ Setting Curves

SubOut/LFE Output

SubOut/LFE Outputs

Real Time Analyzer (RTA)

or Test Tones

Introduction

3

Test and Training CD-ROM

The 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, explanations of how sound spreads
in a room, information about home theater setup, a glossary, and
even an explanation of how standing waves “setup” 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.

Copyright © 2001 Atlantic Technology International.

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

4

InWall Subwoofer Systems

InWall Subwoofer Systems

InWall Subwoofer System

Congratulations on your purchase of an Atlantic Technology InWall
Subwoofer System. This unique “invisible subwoofer” will enhance
your listening pleasure dramatically, by providing the bass founda­tion upon which most music and special effects are built. In addi­tion, its flexible control capability brings new meaning to the terms
system and room integration, providing unheard of fine tuning ca­pability to optimize its performance and your enjoyment.

The InWall Subwoofer System is capable of delivering very high
output levels and wide dynamic range. When properly set up and
adjusted it will provide smooth in-room bass response down to ap­proximately 25 Hz, with a peak SPL capability in excess of 105dB
(using two dual woofer modules and the SA-700 amplifier, in a 3000
cubic foot space).

Figure 1

Figure 2 Figure 3

The system consists of in-wall enclosures (Fig. 1) designed to be
installed in your walls before the sheetrock is put up, a dual 8 inch
woofer driver assembly (Fig. 2) and a separate dedicated amplifier
and remote control (Fig. 3-4) to power the woofers. There are two
versions of the system, a single sub assembly paired with an SA-350
mono amplifier and two subwoofer assemblies paired with the SA­700 dual mono amplifier. The combination two subwoofer assem­bly/SA-700 system is THX Ultra certified.

Your Atlantic Technology powered subwoofer is designed to
smoothly integrate with virtually all other brands of loudspeakers
on the market. And from its premium gold plated connectors to its
very flexible range of adjustment, this is one of the most versatile
and unique high performance subwoofers ever produced.

Atlantic Technology

®

EQ1 EQ2 EQ3

EQ4 REF

TRIM

MUTE

Figure 4

Atlantic Technology

I

NNOVATIVE HOME THEATER

LEVEL TRIM

EQ 1 2 3 4 THX

I

O

®

LOCATION EQ PHASELOW PASS

75 1.0 -10

25 125 0.2 1.5 -200dB

FREQUENCY WIDTH ATTENUATION

75 1.0 -10

MUTE

ON/STDBY

25 125 0.2 1.5 -200dB

90 180 80

0 270

90 180 80

0 270

50 150

THX / EXT

50 150

THX / EXT

BASS LEVEL

MIN MAX

THX / REF

MIN MAX

THX / REF

Subwoofer 1

Subwoofer 2

SA-700
Servo Controlled
Subwoofer Amplifier

Instruction Manual

Amplifier Front Panel

Figure 5

1

Amplifier Front Panel

5

432

LOCATION EQ PHASELOW PASS

75 1.0 -10

25 125 0.2 1.5 -200dB

FREQUENCY WIDTH ATTE NUATION

75 1.0 -10

25 125 0.2 1.5 -200dB

87 9 1110

Atlantic Technology

I

NNOVATIVE HOME THEATER

®

EQ 1 2 3 4 THX

I

O

5 6

LEVEL TRIM

MUTE

ON/STDBY

NOTE: Items in gray area are found on SA-700 amplifier only

1

LEVEL TRIM display window

Indicates level of trim adjustment applied above or below the
reference volume setting of your subwoofer. (page 14)

2

FREQUENCY EQ control

Selects the frequency to be adjusted by the parametric
equalizer. (page 13)

3

WIDTH EQ control

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

4

ATTENUATION EQ control

Reduces the selected frequencies by the parametric equalizer.
(page 13)

5

Program Equalization indicators

Light indicates selected Reference or EQ program. (page 14)

6

Main Power switch

Turns amplifier on or off. (page 12)

BASS LEVEL

90 180 80

0 270

50 150

THX / EXT

90 180 80

0 270

50 150

THX / EXT

7

ON/STDBY indicator

MIN MAX

THX / REF

MIN MAX

THX / REF

Subwoofer 1

Subwoofer 2

SA-700
Servo Controlled
Subwoofer Amplifier

Lights green when the unit is active and yellow when ampli­fier is in standby mode. Turns red to indicate that amplifier
has entered protection mode. (page 12)

8

MUTE indicator

Lights when amplifier volume is muted. (page 7)

9

PHASE control

Sets correct subwoofer phase (0°, 90°, 180°, or 270°) to best

match your satellite speakers and room. (pages 12 and 14)

10

LOW PASS crossover control

Sets the low frequency crossover between the subwoofer and
your satellite speakers. A detent setting is provided for THX/
EXT operation. (pages 12 and 14)

11

BASS LEVEL control

Sets the reference volume level of the connected subwoofer(s).
A detent setting is provided for THX/REF operation. (pages
13 and 14)

6

Amplifier Back Panel

Amplifier Back Panel

Figure 6

1 432 5 6

InWall Subwoofer System

Atlantic Technology

I

NNOVATIVE HOME THEATER

MODEL - SERIAL NUMBER

ATTENTION: use specified speakers only

DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED IN USA,
MANUFACTURED IN TAIWAN

®

VOL+

OUTPUT

COMMAND SUBWOOFER 1

VOL–

EQ1

EQ2

MUTE

THRU THRUIR IN LO IN HI IN

EQ3

EQ4

EQ5

COM

+ ––+

SUBWOOFER 2

7 8 9

NOTE: Items in gray area are found on SA-700 amplifier only

Product Serial Number

1

Write this number in the space provided on page 2 for future
reference.

2

Direct Access Remote Control port and IR port connector
(included, not shown)

Use for hard-wired direct access of remote control functions.

3

Remote Control jacks

Use the IR IN jack to connect a remote sensor to the amplifier
when line of sight with the remote control is not possible.
Use the THRU jack to connect other devices to the sensor.
(page 8)

4

Low Level jacks

Use the LO IN jack to connect to the subwoofer line out from

9

your processor/receiver. Use the THRU jack to pass the signal
to the other channel of the SA-700 or to another device.
(page 7)

SPEAKER

+– +–

THRULO INHI INSPEAKER

AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE / NE PAS OUVRIR

5

High Level Inputs

Use the HI IN binding posts to connect a high level (speaker)

8

OUTPUT

WARNING

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

output from your processor/amplifier. (page 7)

6

Subwoofer Outputs

Use the SPEAKER OUTPUT binding posts to connect the

7

amplifier to the 8 SUB Module(s). (page 7)

10

AC Input

Use the included power cord to connect your amplifier to a
wall outlet. (page 12)

AC INPUT

120 VAC

50 / 60 Hz

1300W max

10

Connecting Your Subwoofer

Instruction Manual

Remote Control Connecting Your Subwoofer

The Atlantic Technology InWall Subwoofer System is simple to hook

Figure 7

1

3

Atlantic Technology

EQ1 EQ2 EQ3

EQ4 REF

TRIM

MUTE

®

2

4

up, offering several connection methods for maximum flexibility.
Study the system diagrams starting on Page 8. Once you have found
the example which most closely matches your system, hook up your
subwoofer(s) as shown in that diagram. In all cases, the 8 SUB
Module(s) connect to the amplifier using the SPEAKER OUTPUT(s),
with high-quality speaker wire, as outlined in the High Level Con­nection section below.

WARNING: To prevent risk of electrical shock or damage to your equip­ment, always unplug all component AC cords before proceeding 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-350 or SA-700 amplifier
with high-quality shielded cables as shown in Figures 8-10. Please
consult your processor/receiver manual for further information.

7

1

Preset Program EQ buttons

Select from 4 preset equalization settings. (page 14)

2

Reference EQ button

REF button returns the amplifier to its flat/THX EQ settings
and returns the volume trim level to 0dB. (page 14)

3

MUTE button

Mutes the volume of the amplifier. Pressing again returns the
amplifier to the previous volume setting

4

Level TRIM buttons

The ▲ button increases and the ▼ button decreases the vol-

ume of the subwoofer above or below the preset reference level
in 1dB increments. (page 14)

Using the Low Level Thruput (THRU)

If your processor has a single subwoofer output and you are using
the SA-700 Dual Mono amplifier connect it using the example in
Figure 9 to connect both channels of the amplifier. We have sup­plied a short jumper to facilitate this connection method. The THRU
jack(s) can also be used to run a low level signal through the ampli­fier 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)

Alternately, if you are using the SA-700 with dual 8 SUB Modules,
you may use the high level (HI IN) inputs by following the diagram
in Figure 11. If you do, we recommend that you use high-quality
speaker wire of at least 16 gauge or larger. Please consult your au­dio/video specialist for more specific information.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You can use the HI IN input on the SA-350 to
connect one high level input from a single channel source. For stereo
(2 channel) hookup, please contact Atlantic Technology for further
information.

You can connect to the HI IN inputs by using a variety of connec­tors, or by removing 1/2" of insulation from each wire end, twisting
the individual strands of each conductor together, placing the wire
through one of the post holes and screwing down the nut tightly.

It’s important to observe polarity while making speaker connections:
red (+) terminals on the amplifier to red (+) on the speaker, black
(–) on the amplifier 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.

8

Connecting Your Subwoofer

SA-350 Low Level Connections

Figure 8

InWall Subwoofer System

Sub Out/LFE

Atlantic Technology

INNOVATIVE HOME THEATER

MODEL - SERIAL NUMBER

ATTENTION: use specified speakers onl y

DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED IN USA,
MANUFACTURED IN TAIWAN

®

VOL+

VOL–

OUTPUT

MUTE

additional

subwoofer

amplifier

additional

audio/video

devices

Direct

Access

Remote

Control

COMMAND SUBWOOFER 1

THRU THRUIR IN LO IN HI IN

EQ1

EQ2

EQ3

EQ4

EQ5

COM

+ ––+

THRULO INHI INSPEAKER

+–

SPEAKER

OUTPUT

+– +–

WARNING

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE / NE PAS OUVRIR

AC INPUT

120 VAC

50 / 60 Hz

1300W max

+–

Connecting Your Subwoofer

9

Instruction Manual

SA-700 Low Level Connections with one SubOut/LFE Output

Figure 9

Sub Out/LFE

Atlantic Technology

INNOVATIVE HOME THEATER

MODEL - SERIAL NUMBER

ATTENTION: use specified speakers onl y

DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED IN USA,
MANUFACTURED IN TAIWAN

Must

connect

jumper

(supplied)

®

COMMAND SUBWOOFER 1

VOL+

VOL–

THRU THRUIR IN LO IN HI IN

MUTE

EQ1

EQ2

EQ3

EQ4

EQ5

COM

+– +–

SPEAKER

OUTPUT

AC INPUT

120 VAC

50 / 60 Hz

1300W max

+–

OUTPUT

–+

+ ––+

SUBWOOFER 2

THRULO INHI INSPEAKER

WARNING

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE / NE PAS OUVRIR

––+

+

10

Connecting Your Subwoofer

InWall Subwoofer System

SA-700 Low Level Connections with two SubOut/LFE Outputs

Figure 10

Sub Out/LFESub Out/LFE

Atlantic Technology

INNOVATIVE HOME THEATER

MODEL - SERIAL NUMBER

ATTENTION: use specified speakers onl y

DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED IN USA,
MANUFACTURED IN TAIWAN

®

COMMAND SUBWOOFER 1

VOL+

VOL–

THRU THRUIR IN LO IN HI IN

MUTE

EQ1

EQ2

EQ3

EQ4

EQ5

COM

+– +–

SPEAKER

OUTPUT

AC INPUT

120 VAC

50 / 60 Hz

1300W max

+–

OUTPUT

+ ––+

–+

SUBWOOFER 2

THRULO INHI INSPEAKER

WARNING

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE / NE PAS OUVRIR

––+

+

Instruction Manual

SA-700 High Level Connections

Figure 11

Connecting Your Subwoofer

11

Atlantic Technology

INNOVATIVE HOME THEATER

MODEL - SERIAL NUMBER

ATTENTION: use specified speakers onl y

DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED IN USA,
MANUFACTURED IN TAIWAN

+

–

®

–

COMMAND SUBWOOFER 1

VOL+

VOL–

MUTE

EQ1

EQ2

EQ3

EQ4

EQ5

COM

+

OUTPUT

–+

+

THRU THRUIR IN LO IN HI IN

–

–

+ ––+

SUBWOOFER 2

THRULO INHI INSPEAKER

SPEAKER

OUTPUT

+– +–

+

WARNING

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE / NE PAS OUVRIR

AC INPUT

120 VAC

50 / 60 Hz

1300W max

+–

+

–

–

+

12

System Setup and Operation

InWall Subwoofer System

Power Connection

Connect the power cord to an AC outlet only after making all other
connections to the subwoofer. This will avoid any chance of acci­dentally activating the subwoofer while wiring. DO NOT PLUG THE

SA-350 OR SA-700 INTO THE SWITCHED OUTLET OF AN AM­PLIFIER, PREAMPLIFIER, OR RECEIVER. The power demands

of these amplifiers 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 amplifier is correct for
your location.

The InWall Subwoofer System is totally automatic in its operation.
Once the main power switch on the front of the amplifier has been
turned on, the automatic on/off circuitry will activate the subwoofer
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 ampli­fier will return to the Standby mode. When the sub is in operating
mode, the power LED located on the front of the amplifier will glow
green. The LED will switch to yellow in the Standby mode and power
consumption in this mode is negligible. When you leave for a longer
period of time, (vacation, weekend away, etc.) we recommend shut­ting off the main power switch on the front panel of the amplifier.

System Setup and Operation

Since this is an in-wall system we assume that you already have the
woofer modules installed in your room as per the guidelines pro­vided with the InWall Enclosure. Generally speaking, the closer the
subwoofer is placed to 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. Should
you find this to be the case in your room after installation, the built
in parametric EQ can be used to improve the situation.

The LOW PASS Control

When used with a complete THX Certified speaker system, the
InWall Subwoofer System LOW PASS control should be set at 80Hz

unless you are using a processor with its own built-in crossover. If your
processor is THX certified or has a built-in crossover, set the subwoofer
amplifier’s LOW PASS control to the THX/EXT setting. All THX certi-

LOW PASS

80

50 150

THX / EXT

satellites produce a cohesive and well integrated sound “picture.”

Higher crossover frequencies pass more bass but can quickly begin
to sound boomy. They also make it easier to localize the subwoofer,
which is highly undesirable. Higher crossover frequencies may be
suitable, however, when using very small satellites that have no real

fied satellites has been optimized to work
with an 80 Hz crossover point.

If your Processor/Receiver has no internal
crossover (a fairly rare occurrence these

days) the subwoofer’s crossover should be
used to optimize the performance of the
system, by ensuring that the subwoofer and

low frequency performance. Settings lower than 80Hz should be
employed if you are using larger speakers that have extended bass
response. This way, the subwoofer will only reproduce the very low­est bass frequencies that are in the range where the large 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. Consult the manufacturer’s
specified low frequency response for your main speakers to deter­mine the appropriate LOW PASS setting on your subwoofer. 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 re-

ceivers provide a choice between “Wide” (full frequency 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 Management

Many newer processor/receivers offer Bass Management capability.
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
frequency 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 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.

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 all the free and helpful
(and many times incorrect) advice and set’em 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 i nch diameter or larger woofer it most pro bably sh ould be
set to small, as far as Bass Management is concerned.

The PHASE Control

A subwoofer operating out of phase with the rest of the system won’t
provide optimum low frequency performance. Also, the correct
subwoofer phase can enhance room acoustics. Since there is some
variation in the industry regarding phase, a PHASE switch that will

PHASE

90 180

0 270

alter the phase of the subwoofer is provided on
the amplifier. It has 4 positions (0
for added flexibility. 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
Tracks 22. Have someone sit in the prime listen-

°

, 90°,180°,270°)

Instruction Manual

Operation

13

ing position to evaluate the sound.

Pay particular attention to the deep
bass as well as 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 usually 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

25 125 0.2 1.5 -200dB

FREQUENCY WIDTH ATTENUATION

control(s) to get the most extended bass and the best transition from
sub to satellites. 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.

band on either side of the center frequency, depending upon how
wide the peak is. Next, set the ATTENUATION control to the ap­proximate –dB value to compensate for the peak. Measure the bass
response again and see if you have significantly reduced the overall

Parametric Room Equalizer (EQ)

In order to optimize the performance of your InWall subwoofer the

peak. You may need to fine tune any or all of the controls to smooth
the response as much as possible.

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 specifically 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 meter to define 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
concerning sound reproduction and home theater, in addition to
the test tones. Although one set of tones is intended for setting the EQ

“by ear” we very strongly recommend using a Sound Pressure Level
(SPL) meter or a Real Time Analyzer to set the Parametric EQ.

Level Setting Using an SPL Meter

If you only have an SPL meter, set the meter to “C” weighting and
“Slow” response then use Track 22 to set the BASS LEVEL to 75dB.
Next use Tracks 1-21 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 frequency, cov­ering the range from 20Hz to the crossover point selected on the
subwoofer amplifier or in the receiver/processor. After you have de­fined the peak, proceed as outlined above to reduce it.

When setting up a complete home theater we strongly recommend
that you use a Sound Pressure Level meter. At the time of this writ­ing Radio Shack® has one that is very affordably priced (approxi­mately $40) and works well. However, for the best result in setting

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

It’s important to complete all the preceding steps regarding speaker
setup before setting the parametric equalizer. Once they are com­plete, insert the Atlantic Technology/Sencore Test and Training CD
into your CD or DVD player and go to Track 22, which contains bass
frequencies from 20Hz to 120Hz. Set the BASS LEVEL of a single
subwoofer channel to 75dB at the primary listening position. If you
are using an RTA, set it to at least 1/6
response. Continue using Track 22 and measure the response of the
sub using at least a 1/6

th

octave resolution (Use slow response to
allow the meter to average the standing waves that build up in the
room). Chances are that you will find at least one significant peak
in the subwoofer’s range (between 20Hz and the crossover point set
on the sub or in the processor). Write down the center frequency of
the peak, how “wide” the peak is (by noting the upper and lower
frequencies where it starts and stops) and how high it is, in dB.

Begin setting the Parametric EQ by adjusting the FREQUENCY con­trol to the approximate center 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 fre-

th

octave resolution and slow

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) like the Sencore® SP 295.

To use an SPL meter, turn on your system, put the Processor/Re­ceiver in the Test Mode and set its main volume control 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. Next, sit in the
prime listening position, set the SPL meter to the 70dB scale, Slow
Response, and C Weighting. Now, holding the meter pointed up and
in front of you, let the system cycle its test tone from speaker to
speaker. Check the meter and set every speaker (including the
subwoofer), to 75dB using the individual level settings in the Pro­cessor/Receiver. You may have to use the Processor/Receiver’s main
volume control to get the left front speaker to 75 dB but from then
on use the receiver’s internal level adjustments. These are almost
always 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, set them to 75dB and see if you can ac­climate to 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.” In most cases, you shouldn’t be consciously aware of the
surround output at all.

LOCATION EQ

75 1.0 -10

quency 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 a from a fairly nar­row band to a fairly wide

14

Remote Control Functions

InWall Subwoofer System

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

make individual bass notes easier to hear as well. EQ1 can also be

Level Setting Without an SPL Meter

If you decide not to use an SPL meter try to set all the speaker levels
the same using the Test Tones. Of course, this will be much more
difficult without the meter, especially for the subwoofer.

used to remove some “boominess” from the bass when playing par­ticularly bass heavy material.

EQ2

of special effects. It consists of an increase in the bass response cen­tered around 60Hz. Depending upon the source material, EQ2 could

Setting the Subwoofer Level Without an
SPL Meter or Test Tones

Start your listening with the subwoofer LOW PASS control set at the
correct crossover point (or in the THX/EXT position if you’re using
a THX Certified processor or unit with a built-in crossover). Set the

PHASE control to 0°, and the front panel BASS LEVEL control to the

THX/REF position

PHASELOW PASS

90 180 80

0 270

50 150

THX / EXT

Receiver’s level control 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 filling in the
bass frequencies of the music evenly. If adjustment is necessary,

BASS LEVEL

MIN MAX

THX / REF

as shown to the left.

Play some music that
you know has good
bass content, and
turn the Processor/

also be used to fill in a bass shy music recording.

EQ3

soundtracks. This one uses a more subtle increase of bass output
centered at 80HZ with the addition of a very low frequency filter.
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.

EQ4

quency extremes (deep bass and very high sounds) at lower vol­ume levels. In order to compensate during those times 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 levels. EQ4 is de­signed to enhance both music and movies. It can also help if you
have a low bass problem at the listening position.

REF

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. Since you have the 4 EQ settings
plus the LEVEL TRIM, it’s now a snap to adjust the subwoofer to
compensate for any variations in the source material. Remember
however, the most common error people make when setting up their
system is to play the subwoofer (and surrounds) too loudly. 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.

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

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

Direct Access Connector

EQ1

EQ1 EQ2 EQ3

This EQ was designed to en­hance music. It actually reduces the
midbass of the subwoofer by a

EQ4 REF

TRIM

small but noticeable amount. You
will find that with most music this
tends to make the bass sound
tighter and more defined. It should

This EQ was programmed to enhance the impact and “punch”

Another choice primarily intended to enhance movie and video

We call EQ4 “After Dark.” Our ears are less sensitive to the fre-

This resets the EQ to flat response and the volume trim to 0dB.

TRIM

LEVEL TRIM and MUTE

and ▲ buttons let you change the

The ▼

total output level of your subwoofer

MUTE

to compensate for soundtrack
variations and your personal pref­erences. Each push of the button re-

Remote Control Functions

There are 4 custom EQ settings that have been programmed into
your subwoofer amplifier (see graphs on back cover). These have
been chosen to enhance your enjoyment of both movies and music.
These EQ settings are fairly subtle, as we wanted to make them truly
useful with a wide selection of software. They are accessed by using
the four EQ buttons on your Remote Control.

Located on the rear panel, this port and the corresponding male
plug (included and 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 connection. Momentary closure will activate each
function. The LEVEL TRIM function will respond in 1dB steps to a
single contact closure while constant closure will result in continu­ous steps to the maximum of + or – 10dB. The REF EQ and REF
volume reset functions each have their own set of contacts.

Instruction Manual

Care and Feeding of Your Subwoofer

Specifications

15

IMPORTANT: Save Your Boxes! If you can do so, save the carton,
packing pieces and plastic bags that came with your subwoofer. They
will be useful in case you move or have to ship your subwoofer for

certain that the system has suffered no damage in shipment. If you
find such damage, either visible or internal, contact your dealer im­mediately for the proper return procedure.

any reason. In any case, save all packing materials until you are

Subwoofer Troubleshooting Guide

Once your subwoofer is set up, you should have many years of main­tenance free enjoyment from your system. However, if you should
encounter a problem, refer to the following guide to help find the

Problem Possible Cause Possible Solution

No 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

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.

solution. If the problem persists, please contact your local autho­rized Atlantic Technology dealer.

isolation balun(s) at that point.

Specifications

RMS Power (before limiting and servo) 350 Watts/Channel
Dynamic IHF Peak Power 550 Watts/Channel
Signal to Noise Ratio (-90dB hum) -97dB @ full power
Total Harmonic Distortion 0.05% @ full output
Frequency Response (typical, in room) 20-150 Hz ±3 dB
Low Level Input Sensitivity 250mv @ full output, 100Hz
Low Level Input Impedance 22K Ω
High Level Input Sensitivity 2.5v @ full output, 100Hz
High Level Input Impedance 820 Ω
Power Supply Storage 27K microfarads/channel
Toroidal Transformer(s) 400VA/Channel
Peak Output Stage Current 40amps rated/Channel
Dimensions W x H x D (inches) 19.0 (faceplate); 16.875 (enclosure) x 5.0 (feet and faceplate) x 14.0
Weight (lbs) SA-350 = 22.3; SA-700 = 38.9

K

K

K

K

K

Program EQ Setting Curves

EQ1

100

95

90

85

80

SPL (dB)

75

70

65

60

10 50 100 500 1

Sound Pressure Level

Frequency (Hz)

EQ3

100

95

90

85

Sound Pressure Level

EQ2

100

95

90

85

80

SPL (dB)

75

70

65

60

10 50 100 500 1

Sound Pressure Level

Frequency (Hz)

EQ4

100

95

90

85

Sound Pressure Level

80

SPL (dB)

75

70

65

60

10 50 100 500 1

Frequency (Hz)

REF/THX (flat)

100

95

90

85

80

SPL (dB)

75

70

65

60

10 50 100 500 1

Sound Pressure Level

Frequency (Hz)

80

SPL (dB)

75

70

65

60

10 50 100 500 1

Frequency (Hz)

Note: These graphs represent the response of the amplifier withour
crossovers. In actual use, the system is not designed to respond be­yond 200Hz.

Atlantic Technology

I

NNOVATIVE HOME THEATER

®

343 Vanderbilt Avenue Norwood, MA 02062 [phone] www.atlantictechnology.com

010-1700