ESI SW10K User Manual

Powered Studio Monitoring Subwoofer

User’s Guide

ESI SW10K eXperience

INDEX

1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................4

2. Basics & Installation.................................................................................................................... 4

Unpacking / Handling................................................................................................................................................4

Connection.................................................................................................................................................................4

Comments..................................................................................................................................................................6

3. Technical Data.............................................................................................................................. 6

Rear Panel..................................................................................................................................................................6

4. General Information....................................................................................................................8

ESI - Copyright © 2008

Revision 1, December 2008

www.esi-audio.com

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ESI SW10K eXperience

1. Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the ESI SW10K eXperience.
A subwoofer is an essential ingredient for many monitoring setups. Although many studio monitors

such as our nEar04, nEar06, nEar05 eXperience or nEar08 eXperience provide sufficient bass
frequency response, adding a SW10K eXperience subwoofer will help you to provide a better
picture of the low frequencies in your mix. Wheather you are producing classical 2.1 sound or 5.1 /

7.1 surround sound productions, SW10K eXperience will easily become an important part of your
monitoring setup.

2. Basics & Installation

For optimal performance of SW10K eXperience, read the instructions in this manual thoroughly
and carefully before you are using the speakers.

Unpacking / Handling

To remove the monitor from the carton its best to turn the package carefully upside down on the
floor or on a table and then lift the carton vertically up slowly to leave the monitors resting in the
packaging foam. Make sure that you don’t grab the speaker driver unit on the front to avoid
damage. Now check the monitor for signs of damage that might have occurred in shipping. In the
unlikely event of this, please contact the reseller of the product immediately. Be careful when you
remove the packaging foam. Please keep all packing materials.

Connection

High quality balanced or unbalanced audio cables are recommended for input connection. The
monitors typically connect to the line level output of a mixing console, to a computer audio card or
a professional bass management amplifier. Make sure the power of the monitor is switched off
before you connect any audio cables. Also turn down the volume initially.

XLR balanced connection

Connect male side of XLR balanced cables to the
balanced inputs of SW10K eXperience – as show
on the picture on the right. Make sure the power
cable is connected as well.

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ESI SW10K eXperience

TRS balanced / unbalanced connection

Connect male side of TRS balanced or
unbalanced cable to the TRS inputs of SW10K
eXperience – as show on the picture on the
right. Make sure the power cable is connected
as well.

Satellite speaker connection

If your source device has its own base management, you would typically connect the satellite
speakers directly to them rather than to SW10K eXperience. This is the standard procedure if you
connect SW10K eXperience and your satellites to any surround capable amplifier with separate
outputs. Refer to the following diagram for a 2.1 setup:

In a 5.1 or a 7.1 setup, the other surround speakers will also be connected to the source directly
although the diagram does not show that. If your source device is only stereo and / or does not have
its own base management, the satellites are connected to the outputs on the right side of the back
panel of SW10K eXperience using balanced XLR cables. Refer to the following diagram:

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ESI SW10K eXperience

Comments

Please make sure to not place any obstacles that may block the flow of air or that could generate
sound reflections (especially highly reflective material including glass or metal) in front of the
speakers. Also, don’t put plants in pots on top or too close to your monitoring speakers.

3. Technical Data

Please note that technical specifications are subject to change without any prior notice. The specs
given in this manual are up-to-date at the time of the creation of this document.

Rear Panel

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ESI SW10K eXperience

1. XLR inputs – these connectors accept balanced XLR input connections. The XLR input is wired

like this:

INPUT SIGNAL XLR CONNECTIONS

+ PIN 2

- PIN 3

Shield PIN 1

2. TRS inputs – these jacks accept TRS input connections, either balanced or unbalanced. For
balanced connections, a 3-conductor TRS plug is necessary. The TRS input is wired like this:

INPUT SIGNAL TRS CONNECTIONS

+ Tip

- Ring

Shield Sleeve

Unbalanced wiring works with either a 2- or 3-conductor TRS connector. A 2-conductor TRS plug
(or sometimes also just called TS plug) automatically grounds the minus signal input, whereas a 3­conductor TRS plug wired unbalanced provides the option of leaving the minus open or grounded.
We recommend that you ground the unused input.

3. bar code label – this label contains the product serial number bar code.

4. subwoofer crossover control – this controls a 2nd order (12dB/octave) low-pass filter with upper

limit between 50Hz and 250Hz. You can adjust the crossover frequency for the actual SW10K
eXperience subwoofer output here. If you are not using any satellites connected to SW10K directly,
set this to 250Hz. Don’t confuse this with the satellite crossover control (11).

5. volume control knob – use the volume control knob to set the proper input level from the sound
source.

6. power switch – when you push the power switch, SW10K eXperience will be turned on, and
–surprise– it will be turned off when you push the power switch again.

7. power port with ext. fuse – use this connector to plug in the detachable 3-circuit line cord that
connects to the power outlet.

8. phase control – the purpose of this control is to match the phase of the satellite cut off frequency
to the phase of the upper frequency limit of the subwoofer. Adjust the phase control for maximum
sound pressure at cross over frequency in order to make sure that the subwoofer and satellites are in
phase at cross over frequency. This allows you to get the maximum sound pressure and most
accurate sound quality after setup.

9. foot switch connector – this connector allows you to connect a foot switch that you can use to
mute the subwoofer sound. This is helpful if you want to make A/B comparison of the sound with
and without subwoofer and you can quickly control it with a simple pedal.

10. XLR outputs – these connectors provide a balanced XLR signal for left and right channel. If
you are not using an amplifier with its own bass management, you will need to connect your
satellite speakers to these outputs accordingly.

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ESI SW10K eXperience

11. satellite crossover control – this allows you to adjust the crossover frequency for the output to

the satellites connected to SW10K eXperience via the XLR outputs (10). Don’t confuse this with
the subwoofer crossover control (4).

4. General Information

Trademarks

ESI, nEar, SW10K and SW10K eXperience are trademarks of EGOSYS, Inc. and ESI Audiotechnik
GmbH. Other product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies.

Correspondence

For technical support inquiries, contact your nearest dealer, local distributor or ESI support online at
www.esi-audio.com.

Disclaimer

All features and specifications subject to change without notice.
Parts of this manual are continually being updated. Please check our web site www.esi-audio.com

occasionally for the most recent update information.

Declaration of Conformity (for the European Union)
The product described in this manual is manufactured in China by ESI Audiotechnik GmbH,

Brennerstraße 48, D-71229 Leonberg, Germany. The product is labelled with the CE mark and

conform to the protection requirements of the European Electromagnetic Compatibility Standards
and Directives. The product is designed and constructed such that electromagnetic disturbances
generated do not exceed levels allowing radio and telecommunications equipment and other
equipment to operate as intended, and, the product has an adequate level of intrinsic immunity to
electromagnetic disturbance to enable operation as specified and intended.

The product is marketed as ESI SW10K eXperience studio monitoring speaker.
With reference to regulations in the directives 73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC, the equipment listed above

is covered by this certificate and labelled with the CE mark conforms to the following standards:
EN60065 Safety requirements for mains operated electronic and related

apparatus for household and similar general use.

EN55103-1 & EN55103-2 Product family standard for audio, video, audio-visual and

entertainment lighting control apparatus for professional use.

This declaration is made by Claus Riethmüller (Managing Director).

Leonberg, Germany 22.12.2008

_____________________ ______________ ___________________________
City Date Signature

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