Avalon Idea, Compas, Transcendent User Manual

IDEA

SERIAL NUMBERS: ________________

HANDCRAFTED BY:
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___________________________
___________________________

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DESIGNED BY NEIL PATEL FOR AVALON ACOUSTICS

This product is certified to meet the requirements of the European Union (EU)
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive (2004/108/EC). Because the
permanent magnets attached to the loudspeaker drivers produce magnetic fields, it is
recommended that the p roduct n ot be pos itione d in ver y close pro ximity to comp uter
monitors or television sets.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 5

2 Unpacking Instructions ....................................................................................................... 6

Introduction ........................................................................................................6

Contents ..............................................................................................................6

2.1 Opening the Crate ..................................................................................................7

2.2 Installing the Grilles ...................................................................................................8

Orientation of the Felt Anti-Diffraction Mask .................................................8

2.3 Replacing Grille Pins .................................................................................................8

3 Wiring Instructions ............................................................................................................... 11

Introduction ........................................................................................................11

Connecting the Speaker to the Amplifier ......................................................11

4 Break-in Period .................................................................................................................... 12

5 Maximizing Performance ................................................................................................... 13

Break-in ................................................................................................................13

Grille Assemblies .................................................................................................13

Speaker Placement and Symmetry ................................................................13

Toe-In ...................................................................................................................14

Apex™ Couplers ................................................................................................14

First Reflection Points .........................................................................................15

Corner Treatment ...............................................................................................15

6 Care of Your Loudspeakers ................................................................................................ 16

Cabinet (Hardwood Finish) ..............................................................................16

Grille Assembly ...................................................................................................16

Drivers ...................................................................................................................16

7 Warranty .............................................................................................................................. 17

In the Event of a Problem .................................................................................17

Warranty Statement ..........................................................................................18

8 Room Acoustics and Speaker Position ............................................................................. 20

Introduction ........................................................................................................20

An Optical Analogy ...........................................................................................21

Basic Room Acoustics .......................................................................................21

8.1 Standing Waves .......................................................................................................22

8.2 Flutter Echo ...............................................................................................................23

8.3 Early Reflections .......................................................................................................24

Avoiding Early Reflections ................................................................................25

8.4 Bass reinforcement ..................................................................................................27

8.5 Summary of Recommendations ............................................................................31

Flutter Echo and Standing Waves ...................................................................31

Speaker Placement ...........................................................................................32

Early Reflections .................................................................................................32

8.6 A Listening Room Example .....................................................................................33

9 Accuracy of Bass Reproduction ........................................................................................ 34

Introduction ........................................................................................................34

9.1 Sensitivity to Time-Related Information .................................................................35

"Fast Bass" ............................................................................................................35

9.2 Rationale ...................................................................................................................36

Anechoic vs. In-Room Frequency Response .................................................36

9.3 Measurements of Audio Equipment .....................................................................37

A Correlation with Amplifier Measurements ..................................................37

Loudspeaker Measurements ............................................................................38

Designing for Accurate Bass Reproduction ...................................................39

Frequency Response Effects ............................................................................40

Listening for Size Distortions ...............................................................................40

Transient Response Effects ................................................................................41

9.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................42

10 Features .............................................................................................................................. 43

11 Specifications .................................................................................................................... 44

12 Notes .................................................................................................................................. 45

1 Introduction

The

IDEA represents a synthesis of our aesthetic and sonic ideals in a sleek

form. Combining the classic proportions of our world renowned cabinetry
with the latest technological innovations in circuit design, the

unfold an expansive presentation in even modest listening spaces,
exemplifying the most sought after characteristics of high-end audio
reproduction.

Transparency and expansiveness in soundstaging are at the heart of the

IDEA’S presentation envelope, while never sacrificing or exaggerating

immediacy and dynamism. The black backgrounds and crisp articulation that
distinguish every A
of musical style within the recording engineer’s reach. Contrasts both
dynamic and harmonic are presented vividly within a panoramic soundstage
built on a foundation of low frequency solidity.

VALON ACOUSTICS loudspeakers are engineered and built to the highest

All A
standards in the audio industry. Handcrafted in Boulder, Colorado by
dedicated craftsmen and technicians, each Idea is measured and matched
creating perfect symmetry and coherency. Before leaving the factory each
of our masterpieces are subjected to a demanding array of quality control
and testing procedures to assure flawless and consistent performance. Our
creations are a work of art in which we take great pride, designing and
building each one exclusively here in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

VALON ACOUSTICS design are on display through each genre

IDEA will

www.avalonacoustics.com

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2 Unpacking Instructions

Introduction

Your A
ensure their safe arrival. It is recommended to save these crates for possible
future use. Due to the weight of the speakers, it will require two persons to
un-crate them and position them for listening. Please arrange for your dealer
or another able bodied person to assist in this project.

The two shipping crate contains the following items:

The grille assemblies and owner’s manual are contained in an outer
compartment on the top of the shipping crates. The Apex™ Couplers and
accessory bag are packed together on the bottom of one of the
loudspeaker cabinets.

The accessory bag contains replacement grille pins, a small bottle of furniture
polish, and two lint-free polishing cloths.

VALON ACOUSTICS loudspeakers were shipped in a heavy-duty crate to

Contents

• two loudspeaker cabinets

• two grille assemblies

• the owner’s manual

• one set of six Apex™ Couplers

• an accessory bag

IMPORTANT: It is imperative that the Apex™ Couplers are utilized, in
order to insure that the bottoms of the loudspeakers are not blocked.
This is especially important on thick carpeting.

6

2.1 Upacking the Speakers

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2.2 Installing the Grilles

The grille assemblies are behind a panel on the outside of the speaker crate.
Remove the screws securing the panel, and then carefully pull the grilles
straight out. The grilles are installed with frict ion fasteners and press into place
on the speaker cabinets. Please see Figure 2.2.

Orientation of the Felt Anti-Diffraction Mask

The grille assembly includes a felt anti-diffraction mask. Should the felt mask
be removed, be sure to note the correct inside-outside orientation when
re-installing it. The tweeter and midrange openings are beveled on the side
that faces the listener (away from the speaker).

Figure 2.2 - To install the grille assemblies.

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2.3 Replacing Grille Pins

The grille pins installed on the grille assemblies are fragile and can be easily
damaged. Should any of the pins break, you may replace them using the
following procedure.

1. Place the grille assembly face-down on a padded surface (a towel or
carpeting).

2. Remove the damaged grille pin by pulling it straight out with a small pliers
or similar tool. Please refer to figure 2.4. Make sure that the complete pin is
removed and that there are no pin fragments l eft in the mounting hole.

Figure 2.4 - Removal of broken grille pin. Check for pin fragments in
the mounting hole.

3. Insert the new grille pin in the grille pin installation tool (see figure 2.5).

Figure 2.5 - Insertion of new grille pin into installation tool.

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4. Carefully pull the grille cloth away from the frame mounting hole. The

mounting hole must be clear of all obstacles during pin installation.

5. Place the exposed end of the grille pin in the open mounting hole. Check

to insure that the grille cloth is not trapped between the pin and frame. Use a
small hammer and gently tap the new grille pin in place. Then, pull the
insertion tool off the new pin and verify that the pin flange is flush with the
surface of the grille. Please refer to Figure 2.6.

WARNING: Grille pin breakage may result if the grille cloth becomes
trapped between the pin and frame during installation.

Figure 2.6 - Installing grille pin into TRANSCENDENT grille frame. Note
that after installation, the grille pin flange is flush with the surface of the

6. Reposition the grille cloth that was pulled away from the frame mounting

hole in step 4. The cloth should lay flat and wrinkle-free.

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3 Wiring Instructions

Introduction

The crossover is encapsulated in a sealed, non-accessible chamber in the
bottom of the speaker cabinet, to minimize the effect of vibration on the
components. The IDEA is equipped with a high-quality binding post for
connecting the speaker cables. Spade lugs are recommended for cable
termination.

Connecting the Speaker to the Amplifier

1. Carefully unscrew the large fastening knob on the binding post, allowing
the fastening plate to expose the posts (see Figure 3.1).

2. Insert the spades from your speaker cables under the terminal plate.

3. Fasten the spades in place by tightening the large fastening knob.

Figure 3.1 - Back view of the speakers showing the connections
from the amplifier to the loudspeaker. Check to insure the
correct polarity (positive lead connected to the (+) terminal
and negative lead connected to the (-) terminal).

Do NOT over-tighten the terminals.

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4 Break-in Period

Your new AVALON ACOUSTICS loudspeakers have an initial break-in period. They
will not perform to their full sonic potential when first installed in your system.
This is partially due to a residual polarization of the dielectric materials used in
the crossover capacitors and internal wiring.
loudspeakers, the electrical signal will gradually anneal these materials.
Similarly, the suspensions of the drivers will reach their optimal mechanical
properties as the speakers are played. Only after the break-in period will the
full performance of your A

The break-in process will occur naturally as music is played through the
system. To reduce the time required, it is recommended that the system be
played continuously, using either a digital source in the repeat mode or an
FM broadcast signal. The recommended break-in procedure is as follows:

• Initial warm-up: three to six hours of quiet music.

• Extended break-in: 200 to 300 hours of loud and dynamic source

material (e.g. Tangerine Dream, Optical Race, RCA 2042-2-P).

During the break-in period, the sonic properties of your loudspeakers may
undergo several gradual shifts as the various components break-in at different
rates. It is therefore suggested that the fine-tuning of the system be delayed
until after the break-in period is completed. However, during the final phases
of the break-in period, the sonic image will open up, the sound-stage will gain
specificity, the bass control and impact will increase, and the overall sound
will have a more relaxed, involving presentation.

VALON ACOUSTICS loudspeakers be realized.

1

As music is played through the

1

A high-voltage test is applied to wiring and capacitors during their manufacture.

This results in a residual polarization of the dielectric materials.

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5 Maximizing Performance

These details are imperative to obtaining optimum results from
your AVALON ACOUSTICS loudspeakers.

The break-in period is critical to maximizing sonic performance and should
take place before other adjustments (see the discussion on page 12). The
break-in should begin with three to six hours of quiet music, followed by 200 to
300 hours of loud and dynamic source material.

The grille assemblies, with their felt anti-diffraction masks, are integral elements
of the loudspeakers' design. Unlike many other products, A
loudspeakers are designed to be used with the grilles in place while listening,
and removing them will degrade the system's performance. It is extremely
important that the felt anti-diffract ion masks make physical contact with the
face of the loudspeakers, as air space between the felt and the speaker face
will adversely affect sound quality.

Break-in

Grille Assemblies

VALON ACOUSTICS

Speaker Placement and Symmetry

Selecting the proper room position for your A
can dramatically improve their performance. The following points highlight
the fundamental concepts in loudspeaker positioning from the in-depth
discussion in Chapter 8, Room Acoustics and Speaker Position (beginning on
page 20):

• Left to right room symmetry aids in producing a balanced sound
stage.

• Image depth is enhanced when the distance to the rear wall is
increased.

• The most even bass response will be attained when the distances to
the side and rear walls are not overly similar.

VALON ACOUSTICS loudspeakers

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Toe-In

Adjusting the toe-in angle of the speakers is useful in tailoring the sound to
best match the characteristics of your system and listening room.

When the speakers are facing straight forward, they tend to create a large,
expansive sound-stage, painted with broad brush strokes. As they are rotated
toward the listening position, the image becomes more compact, with
increased focus, creating a greater sense of intimacy. Pointing the speakers
inward is also helpful in situations where strong reflections from the side wal ls
are a problem.

Start with the loudspeakers facing straight forward, and play either a mono
source, or a stereo source with a distinct center image, through both
channels. Carefully rotate the loudspeakers inward in small increments to
bring the image in precise center focus (small adjustments can be made with
the speaker on Apex™ couplers). Toe-in adjustment is rather delicate, and
experimentation is necessary to achieve the proper angle for your listening
situation. The optimum angle is usually between three and ten degrees
inward.

Apex™ Couplers

Supplied with your A
used to couple the speakers to the floor, thereby minimizing time-smearing
resonance effects. The result is an increase in focus and solidity of the sonic
images.

On hardwood floors, you may protect the floor from the pointed spike using a
large coin, such as a quarter. However, the coupling effect of the Apex™
couplers will be reduced.

Once you have located the proper position and toe-in angle for your A
ACOUSTICS loudspeakers, place the couplers under the speaker bases. It is
easiest to install the couplers with the assistance of a friend. Lean the speaker
forward first, and position two couplers pointing downward, one under each
rear corner. Then lean the speaker backward and place one Apex™ coupler
under the front ce nter of the base.

VALON ACOUSTICS loudspeakers are six Apex™ couplers,

VALON

IMPORTANT: It i s imperative that the Apex™ Couplers are utilized,
in order to insure that the bottoms of the loudspeakers are not
blocked. This is especially important on thick carpeting.

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