Cambridge Soundworks S200, S300 User Manual

S300 and S200 MultiPole Surround Speakers

User Manual

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INTRODUCTION

Thanks for choosing a Newton Series surround

loudspeaker. The S200 and S300 both feature the

finest drivers, precision internal crossover circuitry

and an elegant enclosure design.

The Product Development Team at Cambridge

SoundWorks believes there is no better combination of

audiophile-level attention to detail and reasonable cost.

AFTER UNPACKING

Store the shipping carton and packing material for

future use and transport.

CONTENTS

S300 and S200

1. Two loudspeakers

2. Two No. 10 screws and plastic wall anchors

3. Eight rubber feet

INSPECTING FOR DAMAGE

Examine the speaker system carefully for shipping

damage. If there is any, do not install or use the sys-

tem. Return the speaker to the store where you made

the purchase or call Cambridge SoundWorks at 1-800

FOR-HIFI (1-800-367-4434) for assistance.

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POSITIONING YOUR SPEAKERS

The following suggestions assume you have some

flexibility regarding where you place your speakers.

Don’t be too concerned if your situation and listening

environment dictate the speakers’ position. As long

as each surround speaker is on the left or right half

of the listening space, the speakers are will provide

convincing, lifelike sound.
Mounting: The typical way to position surround speak-

ers is to wall-mount them on a protruding screwhead.

Other methods are to place them on short shelves, to

mount them on short swivel brackets, or to install them

on floor stands.

Notice: The speakers are marked LEFT and RIGHT.

Most often, the speakers will be wall-mounted with the

MultiPole switch panel facing down. In this case,

mount the LEFT speaker on the listener’s left side and

the RIGHT speaker on the listener’s right side (see

diagram A).

You may need to invert the speakers to provide

access to the MultiPole switch (such as when placing

them on small support shelves or floor stands). In this

case, reverse the speakers’ left/right positions (see

diagram B).

Front to Back placement: Place each surround speak-

er to the left or right of the listening area. Try to

position the speakers within two feet of a line centered

on your listening postion (see diagram C).

Height: Place each speaker at least four feet above

the floor, up to seven feet above the floor (see

diagram D).
Note: It is not critical that the left and right speakers

be the same distance from the front speakers or

equal heights.

If you don’t have walls on both sides of your listening

area, try to avoid placing both surround speakers on

a wall behind the listening postion. Sonically, it’s still

better to place one speaker on a side wall and one

speaker on a rear wall. This provides better separation

than two speakers on a wall behind the listeners.

00000000

RIGHT

Newton, Massachusetts

USA

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—

8 Ohms

S200

Multipole“

Surround

Loudspeaker

SPEAKERS ARE LABELED "LEFT" OR "RIGHT"

2 FEET

2 FEET

CENTER LINE OF LISTENING POSITION

WALL MOUNTED - SWITCH FACING DOWNWARD

RIGHT SPEAKER LEFT SPEAKER

7 Ft.

4 Ft.

Back of Speaker

Front to Back Placement

of Surround Speakers

Stand Mounted

Switch Facing Upward

Wall Mounted Height Placement

A.

B.

C.

D.

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Hang the S200 or S300 directly on a wall:

Install a No.10 screw in the wall so that its screwhead

protrudes about 3/8 inch. Cambridge SoundWorks

supplies screws and plastic anchors for your conven-

ience, but it is the installer’s responsibility to insure the

screw is securely mounted.

Apply the soft, self-adhesive feet to back of the speak-

ers. The feet protect the finish of the speakers or the

surface and improve stability if the surface is not per-

fectly flat.

SPEAKER MOUNTING

00000000

RIGHT

Newton, Massachusetts

USA

+

—

8 Ohms

S200

Multipole“

Surround

Loudspeaker

USE THIS KEYHOLE SLOT

TO HANG THE SPEAKER

FROM A SCREWHEAD.

USE THE THREADED

INSERT TO ATTACH

A SWIVEL BRACKET.

(SIDE VIEW)

(BACK VIEW)

APPLY SELF-ADHESIVE FEET TO

BACK OF SPEAKERS.

SWITCH

A small, purpose-built shelf can be used instead of

hanging the speakers from a screwhead. In this case,

we recommend you apply the soft, self-adhesive feet

to bottom of the enclosures. The feet protect the finish

of the speakers or the surface and improve stability if

the surface is not perfectly flat. Apply the feet to the

surface of the speaker opposite the MultiPole switch,

in the pattern shown.

Using The Speakers On A Stand

Cambridge SoundWorks has floor-stands available

for the S200 and S300.

The speakers mount to the stand with the MultiPole

switch on top. For this reason, the positions of the

speaker should be reversed (the speaker marked left

should be placed on the listener’s right side and

vice versa).

Mount the surround speaker to a stand by screwing

the stand’s fastener into the surround speaker’s

threaded insert.

Swivel-brackets (available separately) can be used to

attach the surround speakers to a wall that isn't vertical,

or to the ceiling.

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APPLY SELF-ADHESIVE FEET TO

BACK OF SPEAKERS.

BOTTOM OF SPEAKER

00000000

RIGHT

Newton, Massachusetts

USA

+

—

8 Ohms

S200

Multipole“

Surround

Loudspeaker

ATTACHING SPEAKER TO STAND

NON-VERTICAL/CEILING MOUNTING

RIGHT SPEAKER LEFT SPEAKER

SWITCH

SWITCH

SWIVEL BRACKET FOR NON-VERTICAL

OR CEILING MOUNTING

77

About MultiPole Technology

The MultiPole capability of your S200 and S300 lets
you better enjoy different types of surround programs
at their best. The descriptions that follow assume you
will position your surround speakers to the left and
right of the listening area and not directly behind it.

Dipole Mode: This mode provides everyone in the
listening space with enveloping surround. Most sound
is projected sideways (to the front and rear of the
room), while little is directed at the listeners (see
Dipole in the Multipole Modes diagram). As a result,
the sound is well mixed with room reflections, following
longer paths. In Dipole mode, a listener can be closer
to one surround speaker than the other and still hear
both surround speakers. This characteristic makes it
ideal for smaller rooms, where a listener may be closer
to one surround speaker than the other.

Dipole mode is ideal for use with synthesized surround
decoding modes; the choices on your decoder
labeled “Hall,” “Theater,” “Church,” or similar names.
Also, use it for Dolby Surround programs (the prede­cessor to Dolby Digital and the format supported by
stereo TV programs with surround encoding). Dolby
Surround has a monaural surround channel which is
split between the two surround speakers. Dipole
mode’s dispersion pattern prevents this channel from
“collapsing” towards the closer surround speaker.

Bipole Mode: This mode “fills in the middle”
compared to Dipole mode. Each surround speaker
projects approximately equal amounts of sound to the
sides and at the listening area (see Bipole in the
Multipole Modes diagram). This makes it easier to
hear effects occurring

between

the left and right
surround speakers. Dolby Digital’s separate left and
right rear channels make this possible. The more
Dolby Digital program material you listen to, the more
you will benefit from Bipole mode. In larger listening
spaces, Bipole mode can even rival Dipole mode on
non-Dolby Digital program sources.

Monopole Mode (S300 only): In this mode, the
S300 substitutes a dedicated, front panel-mounted,
direct-radiating two-way system for the front and rear
surround drivers. This precise system directs sound
mostly at the listening area, like the front three speak­ers (see Monopole in the Multipole Modes diagram).
For centrally located listeners, this mode provides the
most precise sonic imaging, both front-to-rear and
side-to-side. Use it for Dolby Digital programs with
abundant multichannel sound effects.

speakers positioned with switch undernea

MultiPole Modes

(S300 only)

88

Use at least 18 gauge speaker cable for short runs

(under 15 feet). Use 16 gauge or heavier speaker

cable for longer runs.

1. Determine how long the speaker cable should be

for each speaker. Cut the speaker cable into the

appropriate lengths.

2. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation from the two individual

conductors in the speaker cable. Twist the exposed

strands of bare wire together

3. Attach any connector plugs (like banana plugs) at

this time.

4. Determine which conductor you will use to connect

the positive terminals of the amplifier and speaker

together. One of the two conductors of a speaker

cable can usually be distinguished by printing or a

ridge on the insulation. Some times the metal of the

conductors has two different colors.

Make The Connections:

1. Unscrew the speaker’s red and black connector

knobs to expose the holes in their threaded shafts.

2. Insert the stripped end of one cable’s “indicated”

conductor into the speaker’s red (+) connector.

Hand-tighten the knob to secure the connection.

Make sure no stray strands of wire are exposed.

If you are using a cable connector plug, connect it

according to its instructions

3. Repeat the procedure for the cable’s other conduc-

tor and the speaker’s black (–) connector

4. Connect the other speaker cable’s conductors to the

other speaker.

5. Connect the opposite ends of the speaker cable to

the speaker outputs of your receiver. Remember to

observe channel and polarity (Left Positive, Left

Negative, Right Positive, Right Negative).

PREPARE THE SPEAKER WIRE

Strip off 1/2"

Twist Bare Wire

SPEAKER WIRE CONNECTION

S200/S300

S200

Multipole“

Surround

Loudspeaker

RIGHT

Newton, Massachusetts

USA

—

8 Ohms

+

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S200:

Dimensions: 7"H x 11"W x 5 3/4"D

Weight: 5 pounds each

S300:

Dimensions: 7"H x 11"W x 5 3/4"D

Weight: 6 pounds each

The S200 and S300 can be safely used with any sur-

round receiver rated above 25 watts per channel.

There is little advantage gained in using more power

than 100 watts per surround channel, but amplifiers

above this power rating can be used so long as the

receiver is not operated at distorted levels.

Warning About Excessive Amplifier Distortion

Operating a receiver (of any power rating) beyond its

maximum undistorted output level creates distortion—

added high-frequency sound not part of the musical

program. Distortion dramatically increases the internal

operating temperature of a loudspeaker and will even-

tually cause the speaker’s failure due to burned or

melted internal parts. While Cambridge SoundWorks

includes the most heat-tolerant parts commensurate

with good acoustic design, the speaker’s Limited

Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship

does not apply to parts that fail from long-term

operation at very high temperatures

Enclosure Cleaning

The speaker enclosures can be cleaned with a

window-cleaning product. Use a soft, lint-free cloth

only. Avoid spraying any cleaner on the grille panels.

Brush or vacuum the grille panels if dust accumulates

on them.

SPECIFICATIONS

Speaker Size Setting in Dolby Digital
Decoders

The S200 and S300 include internal high-pass

networks that prevent them from responding to low-

frequency signals below their operation range.

When connecting either speaker to a Dolby Digital

decoder, set the decoders rear channel size setting to
SMALL. If there is a crossover frequency choice, set

at 100 Hz or lower.

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P81-1700 Rev A