Focal Sub Utopia Be User Manual

UTOPIA BERYLLIUM LINE

Subwoofer Utopia Be

User manual / Manuel utilisateur

Français page 9

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Focal -JMlab®, Utopia®, W® and Structure "γ "® are trademarks of Focal-JMlab® - ©Focal -JMlab -SCOS- 040217/4

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Specifications

User manual Sub Utopia Be line

User's precaution

• Do not throw any liquid on the subwoofer surface. Do not expose to dripping or splashing.

• Do not lay down any full liquid container over the subwoofer if it may cause the liquid to flow
into the circuitry.

• Do not expose the subwoofer to humid climate or rain.

• Do not attempt to insert any object inside the subwoofer, in particular through the vent port.

• In case a liquid get into the subwoofer, immediately unplug it from the power grid and let a
professional check it.

• Do not pull on the power cable to unplug it.
The electric cable must not be folded, squashed or tied.

• Do not block up the lower vent port.

• Avoid placing the subwoofer too close to heat sources (radiator, halogen lamps).

• If you move the subwoofer from a cold room into a warm one, you may encounter an internal
condensation phenomenon. We recommend you to wait an hour before using the subwoofer
again.

• Never use any solvents, detergents, alcohol or corrosive products, scrap-pers or scouring powders
to clean the surface of the enclosure. Use a dry cloth to remove dust.

• The ON/OFF switch can disconnect the product from the main supply. It is situated on the
aluminum back plate of the product and it must be always easily accessible by the user.

Breaking-in period

The driver used in the Sub Utopia Be is made up of complex mechanical elements and requires an
adaptation period before it delivers the best of its performances.
They must get adapted to the temperature and humidity conditions of their environment. This
breaking-in period depends upon the encountered conditions and can last several weeks. In order to
shorten this period, we advise you to let your subwoofer operate for about twenty hours at medium
level, playing standard music programs, but with a large amount of bass. Once the components of
the loudspeaker are completely stabilized, it is possible to enjoy the real performances of your self
powered subwoofer.

User's precaution

Sub Utopia Be

Description Bass-reflex subwoofer

Drivers Woofer "W“ 40cm (16")

Cut-off frequency (-6dB) 16Hz

Frequency response
(±3 dB)

Crossover frequency 40 to 160Hz [7]

Inputs XLR &

Outputs XLR LFE line output

Sensitivity Variable LFE

Power Rms 1000W

Phase Variable 0° to 180° [2]

Power mode on / auto /standby [1]

Dimensions (HxWxD) 500x530x590mm - 19.7"x20.9"x23.2"

Net weight (unit) 55kg (121lbs)

Amplifier BASH 1000WRms

20Hz - 160Hz

RCA direct LFE line inputs
XLR &
RCA stereo inputs

XLR stereo line output

Variable stereo

[8]
[4]

[10]

[5]

[9]

[11]

[3]
[6]

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Utopia Beryllium line

User manual Sub Utopia Be line

Congratulation and thank you for purchasing of the Sub
Utopia Be self-powered sealed subwoofer. We are pleased
to share with you our philosophy: “the spirit of sound”.
This high performance subwoofer features the latest tech­nical development from Focal-JMlab in terms of speaker
conception and amplifi cation, whether it is for hi-fi delity
or home theatre systems. In order to make the most of
this subwoofer, we advise you to keep carefully this user’s
manual so that you can consult it later.

Specifications
“ W ”® Subwoofer 40cm (16“)

The exclusive “ W ” cone sandwich technology (glass/foam/
glass) allows an unmatched ratio lightness/stiffness for deep
and strong bass, with no distortion.

Multiferrite magnet

Provides a high level of magnetic energy and the vented
structure improves the cooling of the voice coil.

TFP (Turbulence Free Port)

Reduces dramatically air noises.

Amplifier BASH® 1000 Watts

The BASH
combines very high efficiency and low distortion and a high
quality sound.

Variable active crossover

Allows a precise adjustment of the reproduced bass
bandwidth.

Variable phase

Optimisation of the coupling subwoofer/speakers.

Automatic temporised of the switch on/off

Automatic standby & switch on of the amplifier.

Balanced inputs XLR

Professional-like connections on big lengths possible thanks
to a total immunity towards electromagnetic interference.

Direct input LFE and stereo dissociated

Possible optimisation of 2 adjustments for listening on 2
channels or multi-channels.

Solid MDF panels

5cm-thick panels guarantee an optimum stiffness to
eliminate vibrations and guarantee strong bass.

®

technology (Bridge amplifier/Switch Hybrid)

Specifications p. 2

•

Introduction p. 3

•

Connections p. 4

•

Installation p. 5

•
The “W

•

TFP port (Turbulence Free Port) p. 7

•

BASH

•

International guarantee p. 16

•

®

” cone p. 6

®

amplifier p. 8

"W" Subwoofer

An example of this equipment has been tested and found
to comply with the following European directives and
inter-national standards:

Electromagnetic compatibility

EN 55103

Electrical safety

EN 60065

CAUTION!
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
DO NOT EXPOSE TO RAIN OR
MOISTURE.

The Focal-JMlab guarantee only applies if the
enclosed guarantee card is returned to us
within 10 days of purchase.

Bash

TFP Port

TM

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From
amplifier

Stereo input

When using a two-channels pre-amplifier or an amplifier, equipped with
pre-out or preamp-out line outputs, the Sub Utopia Be must be connected
through RCA stereo inputs “line inputs Right/Left”. Some High End amplifiers
or A/V receivers use Balanced XLR connections for immunity electromagnetic
interference.

Connections

User manual Electra Be line

LFE input

When using a multi-channel amplifier, the single LFE input of the Sub Utopia
Be should be connected to the mono “Subwoofer” RCA or XLR output of
the audio/video amplifier. In that precise case, the electronic crossover of
the Sub Utopia Be will be off. Considering the fact that the audio/video
amplifier already this feature, this configuration is recommended for home
theatre use only.

Dual stereo/Multi-channel connections

To configure the Sub Utopia Be for a dual system where you intend to play
both stereo two channel CD's and multi channel formats, follow first the
“stereo only” set-up.
The phase control acts on both pre-amplifier sections – that of the stereo
inputs and the LFE. It is easer to find the perfect position using the stereo
set-up procedure.
Once you are happy with the stereo set-up, follow the multi-channel set-up,
with the exception of the phase adjustment.
Once the set-up is complete you can enjoy the best of both worlds: whilst
listening to a music CD the Sub Utopia Be will compliment perfectly your
main loudspeakers usefully extending bass deeper. With multi-channel
formats the Sub Utopia Be will continue to extend the response of your
main loudspeakers, but in addition will in the extra information recorded
on the LFE channel.

Chaining subwoofers

See figure for chaining Sub Utopia Be, on Stereo or RCA input/output
balanced XLR connectors only.

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Zone A
Zone B
Zone C

Zone A

Zone B

Zone C

+6dB

+3dB

0dB

20Hz 150Hz

Bass level

User manual Sub Utopia Be line

Positioning

Contrary to conventional hi-fidelity loudspeakers which have to be placed at a reasonable distance
from the walls and the listening area corners, we advise you to place your Sub Utopia Be subwoofer
in a corner of the listening area (fig. 1, 2). If the subwoofer is placed against only one wall or too
far from the walls, the very large wavelength of the bass delivered by the subwoofer will excite the
resonance of the listening room in an unpredictable way. Frequency response linearity will then be
damaged and therefore the sound rendition will be affected (lack of depth, “boomy sound”, poor
bass, difficult or impossible coupling with the other used loudspeakers).
If you put the Sub Utopia Be in a corner, the resonant frequencies of the room will be more linear
and predictable. In such a configuration, you will not only benefit from an optimum perception of
the bass frequency range but the bass level will also be increased by 6dB (fig. 3).
If a particular disposition of the room does not allow to place the subwoofer in a corner, we
recommend you to try different configurations until you find the best possible disposition.
Generally, the subwoofer should be placed along the front wall of the listening room.
Because the bass frequency waves are omni-directional, the sound dispersion will not be affected
if a piece of furniture or an object is placed between the subwoofer and the listening area. It is
then possible to hide the Sub Utopia Be behind a piece of furniture as long as the bass frequency
dispersion is not affected.

Quick set-up
1 - Connect the subwoofer to the power grid (electrical outlet).

2 - Set the power selector to “on”.

Installation

1

3 - Connect the subwoofer to the amplifier.

4 - Set the “crossover” potentiometer to intermediate position (around 100Hz).

5 - Set the “volume” potentiometer to intermediate position.

Please note that the crossover function is not available when the Sub Utopia Be is connected
through the “Line Inputs LFE”.

Fine tune
1 - Adjust the bass level according to the other used loudspeakers. In order to find the appropriate

settings, we advise you to use as many different music styles as possible. Bass must be present
but not too heavy.

2 - Choose the phase selector mode (0° or 180°). The proper setting must make you feel that the

bass level is higher and well balanced.

3 - Adjust the crossing frequency around 100Hz. The more you lower this frequency, the more the

sound appears to be deep and sonorous. The higher the frequency is, the more you will feel a
dynamic bass impact. The right settings are obtained when all these previously stated conditions
are fulfilled.

4 - Re-adjust, if necessary, the volume control of the Sub Utopia Be.

5 - The settings must be adjusted each time that the subwoofer is moved from its initial place.

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The "W"™ cone

User manual Sub Utopia Be line

For more than 15 years the composite cone sandwich technology is a Focal-JMlab exclu­sivity. The “W” process, fi rst initiated in 1995 with the Grande Utopia, provides now a
true optimisation of the frequency response.

Properties of a drive unit membrane

Three parameters are of prime importance: mass, internal damping and stiffness.

• Stiffness allows the cone to behave as a piston over a wide range of frequencies,
especially important at bass frequencies for low distortion.

• Low mass delivers maximum acceleration on transients for the best reproduction of fine detail.

• Internal Damping damps out any ringing or vibrations in the cone structure that
would otherwise color the sound.

Materials

• Paper a light material, though not very rigid, but with reasonable internal damping.
Sound often suffers from a “cardboard” coloration.

• Polypropylene/Plastics a material relatively heavy, but with good internal damping properties.
Not especially stiff and the sound tends to lack detail and precision.

• A simple woven aramid fibres cone (not a sandwich type construction) uses a resin to seal the
cone and bring about the rigidity required, but this tends to lead to a dull plastiky coloration.

The sandwich structure Focal-JMlab

During the mid 1980s, a new type of cone was developed and patented by Focal-JMlab which
combined low mass, stiffness and high internal damping; the “Poly-K sandwich”.
Using woven aramid fibres tissue skins and a core of hollow microspheres of glass mixed with
a resin, this structure exhibited extremely high rigidity and low mass.
The damping could be controlled by the properties of the core.
Since this original construction, the process has been refined and developed to produce a new
generation of aramid fibres sandwich. The major advance in the construction of this cone is the use
of a special structural foam in place of the resin + microballs. This foam is used primarily in the
Aerospace industry; no other foam offers the same high ratio of stiffness/mass.
The name “W” is derived from Verre-Verre (Verre = Glass). The “W” cone uses two very fine
tissues of woven glass that are lighter and thinner than aramid fibres.
In addition, the molecular bond between the foam and the glass tissue is far superior to that of the
aramid fibres. This results in a cone structure which is mechanically more stable and with superior
stiffness. This construction allows us to further optimize the transmission speed of the sound wave
in the cone. This new construction process allows the amount of internal damping in the structure
to be very accurately controlled by varying the thickness of the foam: the thicker the foam,
the higher the damping factor.
The relationship between the thickness of the glass tissues and the foam core allows us to finely
optimize the cone structure depending on the particular application and the frequency area
to reproduce.
The “W” cone produces an extremely transparent and neutral sound free from coloration and
distortions normally associated with loudspeakers.
Its only limitation, the price; more than ten times the price of a quality paper cone.

Analysis using laser interferometry allows the optimization of the “W” cones
in terms of rigidity/damping/mass.

Comparison of the index of rigidity in flexure (expressed in N.mm).
The performance of the “W” cones significantly betters that of other mate­rials for the same mass. In addition, internal damping is also superior.

The hand-made manufacturing of the "W" cone. Our industrial process
is patented.

The concept of the "W" cone has evolved; the sandwich composite uses
a new veil of glass that is more rigid and thicker structural foam to obtain
a more optimised ratio rigidity/damping/lightness.