Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble II User Manual

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Page 1

Instructions for:

New Ensemble

By Henry Kloss

Contents

Important—Please Read First ................................................................... 1

Unpacking The System ............................................................................. 2

Overview .................................................................................................. 3

Speaker Placement ................................................................................... 3

Hookup Options ....................................................................................... 5

Preparing Speaker Wires .......................................................................... 6

Making Connections ................................................................................. 7

Optimizing The Sound Of Your System .................................................... 8

About Amplifier Power ............................................................................. 9

Finalizing Your Installation ................................................................... 10

10-Year Limited Warranty ...................................................................... 11

Cleaning The Cabinets ............................................................................ 11

Difficulty? ............................................................................................... 12

Page 2

Important – Please Read First

hank you for choosing New Ensemble II. Like all speaker systems, its sound is

very much influenced by its placement in the listening room. Unlike conventional systems, however, it consists of three compact units that can be placed where they sound best without intruding on your living space. There is no need to sacrifice sound quality to decor, or vice-versa.

If you place New Ensemble II in your listening room casually, it will sound at least as good as conventional speakers. However, to achieve even better sound, we urge you to experiment with placement at some length, a process aided by the instructions that follow.

If you have any questions or problems, please consult the store where you purchased the system, or call a Cambridge SoundWorks Audio/Video Consultant toll-free.

Cambridge SoundWorks

1-877-YES-HIFI

(1-877-937-4434)

24 hours a day,

every day

In Canada: 1-800-987-9104

Outside US or Canada:

Tel: 617-332-5936

Fax: 617-527-3194

www.cambridgesoundworks.com

E-mail:

info@cambridgesoundworks.com

Page 3

Unpacking The System

As you unpack your New Ensemble II system, please examine each speaker unit carefully for signs of shipping damage. If there is any damage, do not install or use the system. Consult the store where you purchased the system or call Cambridge SoundWorks at 1-877-YES-HIFI for assistance.

It’s a good idea to save the shipping carton and its inserts in case you have to ship your system later.

All the items shown to the right should be included; inform the store or Cambridge SoundWorks if anything is missing.

Subwoofer

Satellites (2)

Satellite feet (2 strips of 4)

BRID

Page 4

Overview

Read through the guidelines that follow before starting to install your speakers.

First, decide where to place the New Ensemble II speaker units in your listening room. Consider locations where conventional speakers would not fit. New Ensemble II satellites can be located on bookshelves, hung from a wall with No. 10 screws or wall-mounted

Cambridge

SoundWorks

with a variety of swivel adapters available from Cambridge SoundWorks. Floor stands are also available. See page 10, “Finalizing Your Installation.”

Next, consult page 5 and decide which of the different hookup options is best. Prepare the speaker wire and make the connections. Listen to the system and be sure you are satisfied with the placement before concealing the wires.

Cambridge

SoundWorks

45°

Speaker Placement

The satellites

• For music listening, place the satellites to form an equal-sided triangle with your favorite listening position (A, below). Perfectly symmetrical placement is not necessary.

• In a home theater installation, place the satellites so that they

form a 45° angle with your pre-

ferred seat (B), which is how movie soundtracks are mixed. The subwoofer and satellites are not magnetically shielded, and must be at least 18 inches from the TV to prevent picture distortion.

• Have a clear line of sight to the satellites, so that higher frequencies are not blocked.

• The satellites can be placed either vertically or horizontally.

. 3

• If the satellites are across the room from the listening area, their height is usually not critical; they can go down on the floor, up near the ceiling, or most anywhere in between. If they are close to the listening area, however, it is best to have them at or near ear level.

• If you put the satellites in bookshelves or a wall system, place them with their front surfaces flush with the front of the shelves; you can then surround them with books, CDs, etc., as shown below.

• Take advantage of the satellites’ small size and consider locations where regular speakers wouldn’t fit, such as window sills or a mantelpiece.

ORKS

OUND

SHAKESPEARE

The Sun Also Rises

Flush

Page 5

The subwoofer

• Because the ear cannot localize low-bass, the New Ensemble II’s subwoofer does not contribute significantly to the stereo effect. Therefore it need not be particularly close to the satellites, and can be hidden under or behind furniture. Low-bass will appear to emanate from the satellites.

• To start with, simply place the subwoofer on the floor against the wall nearest the satellites. You can experiment with placement using the guidelines which follow.

• The flared output vent on the subwoofer must be at least 2 inches from the nearest surface.

• The strength of low bass depends on how close the subwoofer is to intersecting room surfaces as

shown below. The most bass— results from the unit in a corner on the floor. The least bass results with the unit out in the room away from corners and walls.

• While we usually don’t recommend placing the subwoofer behind the listening area, try it if you’re tight for space.

• Don’t place the subwoofer on the same shelf system as a turntable.

Left Satellite

Right Satellite

Subwoofer

Left Satellite Right Satellite

Subwoofer

A. Least Bass B. More Bass

Left Satellite Right Satellite

Subwoofer

C. Most Bass

Page 6

Hookup Options

The New Ensemble II may be connected to your receiver or amplifier using any one of the three following diagrams. All of the three options are acoustically and electrically identical. Choosing the right connection option minimizes the length of speaker wire you have to use (and possibly conceal).

If you wish to audition your speakers in different positions before deciding on the their final locations, connect your speakers according to Hookup Option (1) and allow ample wire length for experimentation. Afterwards, you can reconnect the wires in the most efficient routing.

OPTION

GE D I

R B

ORKS

OUND

BRID

N U O

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

102.7

LASER DISC

ID R B

ORKS

OUND

OPTION

AMBRIDGE

S K

N U O

S K

AMBRIDGE

N U O

BRID

RKS

OUND

Left satellite

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

102.7

LASER DISC

Receiver or amplifier

Subwoofer

SPEAKERS

–

Receiver or amplifier

Right satellite

Twist bared ends together (see p. 7)

IMPORTANT NOTE

–

SPEAKERS

The complete must be connected ONLY to the Speaker A or Speaker B terminals on your receiver

or amplifier, just like a pair of conventional speakers. DO NOT connect the satellites to one set of terminals and the subwoofer

–

to the other. With many receivers, this would connect the satellites and bass speaker in series, which would do no damage, but could seriously degrade the

New Ensemble II’s

New Ensemble II

system

performance.

Page 7

OPTION

LASER DISC

Preparing Speaker Wires

1. After choosing the connection configuration, cut speaker wire

bridge

Cam

orks

ndW

Sou

Cam SoundWorks

AMBRIDGE

N U O

into four appropriate lengths. We recommend you use a wire cutter/stripper.

2. Separate the two individual leads for a distance of one inch (as shown in C, below) at both ends of each of the four wires.

3. Strip

102.7

/2 inch of insulation from each individual lead end, being careful to apply only enough pressure to cut through the insulation and not the wire strands.

4. Twist the bared wire strands tightly together (D). Be sure that there are no loose strands that could short across the connect-

○○○○○○○○○○○

ing terminals on the speakers or receiver (E).

• The leads in each pair are usually differentiated by a ridge or color stripe down one lead’s insulation, and/or through the use of different color wire (copper and silver). This is important when making connections as described in the next section.

• Use at least 18-gauge wire for runs of up to 50 feet, and at least 16-gauge for longer runs.

–

SPEAKERS

–

1/2"

Page 8

Making Connections

When connecting your system, follow these guidelines:

• Unscrew all of the speakers’ red (+) and black (–) connectors to expose the holes in their threaded shafts. Insert the stripped ends of the wires in the holes. Hand tighten the connectors clockwise as shown in (F and G). Be sure that no stray strands of wire short across the speaker terminals or those on your receiver or amplifer. Alternatively you can attach standard banana plugs to the speaker wires and plug them into the speaker connectors.

• Connect all the speaker units identically by connecting the red (+) and black (– ) terminals on the speaker units to their red and black counterparts on your receiver or amplifier as shown in the system diagrams on pages 5-7. Use the marked/copper leads for interconnecting the red terminals, and the unmarked leads for the black terminals.

Connecting the speakers identically assures that they operate “in phase” (their cones move in and out together). “Out of phase” connections can muddy the stereo effect. Sounds like solo voices,

that should appear to come from a single point between the two satellites, will sound “split” between them.

• When connecting two wires to a single connector, twist the marked (copper) and unmarked (silver) leads for the satellite and subwoofer together as shown in (H), below.

Rear of

–

satellite

–

Underside of subwoofer

–

Page 9

Optimizing The Sound Of Your System

It is almost impossible to find an acoustically ideal placement for a conventional speaker in a listening room. This is because room acoustics affect low-bass differently from the rest of the range of sound. If you place a speaker so the room helps its bass, it is likely to hinder the upper ranges (and vice versa). Thus, placing conventional speakers inevitably entails a sonic compromise, even before proper stereo effect, decor, and convenience are taken into account.

This compromise doesn’t apply to the New Ensemble II. It separates the low-bass from the rest of the range. This means you can place the subwoofer and the satellites differently to take advantage of the room in both the lower and upper ranges. Yet the units are so compact that even when placed optimally, they have little or no visual impact on your living space.

We urge you to take full advantage of the New Ensemble II by trying the speaker units in different locations within your listening room. Of course, if the system sounds satisfactory from the moment you connect it and first turn it on, you may wish to go no further.

But if you wish to see if an improvement can be made, we suggest you experiment with placement using the following guidelines:

• Let your ears be your guide, and trust them. When the New Ensemble II sounds right to you, you’ve found the best placement.

• A small change in placement can have a large effect on the sound. For example, low-bass increases as you move the subwoofer closer to the intersecting room surfaces. The sound will be brighter with the satellites close to the listening area than with them across the room. And the apparent fullness of the sound, a function of mid-bass rather than low-bass, is greater with the satellites against a wall than with them out in the room.

This is not to imply that “more is better,” whether it be bass, brightness, or fullness. The point is that a change can easily be effected simply by moving one or more of the speaker units. And with New Ensemble II, that is easy to do.

• Program material varies greatly, so be sure to listen to a variety of recordings to prevent being misled by unusual characteristics of a particular recording.

• If it is necessary to place the satellites close to the listening area and you find the sound too bright, try placing the units at an angle so that listeners aren’t directly on their axis (I).

balance is usually best with the satellites against a wall. If they are out from the wall and sound too thin, particularly on vocal recordings, try moving them back toward the wall.

Mid-bass and mid-range

• The subwoofer reproduces only the lowest bass, such as bass drum, organ pedals, and the lowest notes of string basses and synthesizers. Refer to the illustration on page 4 for guidance if the low-bass is either too strong or not strong enough. Also, not all recordings have truly low-bass on them, so be sure to make judgments on recordings which do.

• If you’re not happy with what you hear and are having trouble improving it, check with your store, or call a Cambridge SoundWorks Audio/Video Consultant at 1-877-YES-HIFI toll-free.

Page 10

About Amplifier Power

The amount of amplifier or receiver power needed to drive New Ensemble II satisfactorily varies significantly with such factors as the size of the listening room, its acoustics and furnishings, the type of music you listen to, and how loud you like to play it. When surveying a representative variety of listeners and circumstances, we encountered power needs ranging from as little as 25 to as much as 150 watts per channel.

The New Ensemble II system can be used safely to play music with the most powerful amplifiers and receivers designed for home listening. However, use common sense to prevent strong non-musical transients; keep the volume down when connecting or disconnecting components, raising or lowering your turntable’s tonearm, and so on. This will help protect your ears as well as the speaker units.

At high volume levels, if the sound is consistently “grainy” or “gritty”, and/or there is clearly noticeable distortion on deep bass, you may be overdriving your amplifier or receiver. Back- off on the volume control until the symptoms disappear. If this level is not loud enough for you, you may need a more powerful amplifier or receiver for satisfactory results.

If you suspect your amplifier or receiver is inadequate, contact the store where it was purchased or call a Cambridge SoundWorks Audio/ Video Consultant, who will advise you on how much power would be appropriate for your particular circumstances.

Page 11

Finalizing Your Installation

The New Ensemble II satellites can be placed on a shelf, a mantel, or anywhere convenient. Apply the four small dome-shaped feet on the bottom of each satellite. The feet protect the supporting surface and compensate for uneven or slick conditions. If you ever need to remove a foot, gently slide the edge of a knife under one side and slowly peel it off. If you attempt to“pop” it off, you many damage the speaker’s finish.

The satellites may be hung directly on a wall. Apply the dome shaped feet to the back of the satellite to insure a more secure installation. Screw a No. 10 screw into the wall so the head protrudes

about

/8 inch. Plastic anchors may be needed to secure the screws in particularly hard or soft materials. If so, drill the appropriate size holes in the wall and tap in the anchors until they are flush with the surface. The exposed screw head can then fit into the keyhole slot on the rear of the New Ensemble II satellite (see K). If necessary Adjust the the space between the screw head and the wall for the best fit.

Swivel brackets are also available for hanging the speakers and directing their sound towards the listening area. Use the threaded socket to attach these to the speakers (see J). Ceiling brackets (L) are available from Cambridge SoundWorks and can be used for hanging speakers where there are no convenient locations for wall mounting.

NEWE

NSEMBLE II

BY HENRY KLOSS

FOR USE WITH ENSEMBLE AND ENSEMBLE II

CAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS, INC. NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS USA

MADE IN TAIWAN

1-800-367-4434 USA 617-332-5936 (OUTSIDE USA)

00000

6 OHMS

NEWE

NSEMBLE II

BY HENRY KLOSS

FOR USE WITH ENSEMBLE AND ENSEMBLE II

CAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS, INC. NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS USA

MADE IN TAIWAN

1-800-367-4434 USA 617-332-5936 (OUTSIDE USA)

00000

6 OHMS

NEWE

NSEMBLE II

BY HENRY KLOSS

FOR USE WITH ENSEMBLE AND ENSEMBLE II

CAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS, INC. NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS USA

MADE IN TAIWAN

1-800-367-4434 USA 617-332-5936 (OUTSIDE USA)

00000

6 OHMS

Page 12

10-Year Limited Warranty

To the original purchaser, Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc. will warrant the New Ensemble II speaker system to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of ten (10) years from date of purchase. With respect to defects, Cambridge SoundWorks will, at its option, replace the product or repair the defect in the product with no charge to the original purchaser for parts or labor.

This warranty does not extend to any defect, malfunction or failure caused by misuse, abuse, accident, faulty hookup, defective associated equipment or use of the speaker with equipment for which it is not intended.

This warranty is valid only when the speaker is returned to the store where it was purchased. Or, if you bought directly from Cambridge SoundWorks, call for a Return Authorization Number for the unit and return it to the address below, freight prepaid, together with a copy of the original sales slip to establish warranty status. Please do not return New Ensemble II, or any of its parts, to the factory without prior authorization.

This is the sole and express warranty. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, of merchantability, fitness for purpose or otherwise. In no event shall Cambridge SoundWorks be liable for incidental or consequential damages or have any liability with respect to defects other than the obligations set forth above.

To ensure warranty coverage it is incumbent upon the original purchaser to inform Cambridge SoundWorks or any of its Authorized Service Agencies of the defect within the warranty period. The only acceptable method of establishing warranty status is a copy of the original proof of purchase indicating customers name and purchase date.

For warranty information contact:

Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc.

311 Needham St.

Newton, MA 02464

1-877-YES-HIFI

(1-877-937-4434)

www.cambridgesoundworks.com

info@cambridgesoundworks.com

email:

Cleaning The Cabinets

The satellites can be cleaned with a window cleaning product. Use a soft, lint-free cloth only. Avoid spraying the cleaner directly on the speaker grilles to prevent damage to the speaker drivers. Also, avoid getting cleaner on the serial number plate on the rear of each speaker as it may remove the numbers.

Clean the subwoofer with a

damp cloth. Do not use polish.

Difficulty?

If you suspect there’s a problem with your New Ensemble II system, contact the store where you purchased it, or call a Cambridge SoundWorks Audio/Video Consultant who will help you track the problem, which could be in some other component in your system. If together you agree that there is something wrong with your New Ensemble II system, you should return it to the store where you bought it. Or, if you bought directly from Cambridge SoundWorks, we will supply you with a Return Authorization Number for the unit. Please do not return the New Ensemble II system, or any of its parts, to the factory without prior authorization.

® Ensemble and Cambridge SoundWorks are registered trademarks of Cambridge SoundWorks Incorporated

Page 13

311 Needham Street, Newton MA 02464

1-877-937-4434 Fax: 617-527-3194

www.cambridgesoundworks.com

Email: info@cambridgesoundworks.com

P81-1260 0400 A Company