HHB comm CIRCLE STUDIO MONITORS User Manual

OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS

CIRCLE STUDIO MONITORS

2

CONTENTS

Circle Studio Monitors

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

CIRCLE 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Key features (passive and active) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Key features (active only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Active Circle 5 rear panel (fig. 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Passive Circle 5 rear panel (fig. 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

CIRCLE 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Key features (passive and active) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Key features (active only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Active Circle 3 rear panel (fig. 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Passive Circle 3 rear panel (fig. 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

CIRCLE 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Key features (active) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Active Circle 1 sub-woofer rear panel (fig. 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

LOUDSPEAKER CONNECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Circle 5 and Circle 3 active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Circle 5 and Circle 3 passive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Circle 1 active sub-woofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

5.1 mode - method 1 (fig. 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

5.1 mode - method 2 (fig. 7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

B mode (fig. 8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

C mode (fig. 9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

LOUDSPEAKER POSITIONING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Stereo loudspeaker placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Suggested stereo loudspeaker placement (fig. 10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Surround loudspeaker placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Suggested surround speaker placement (fig. 11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

TECHNICAL DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

3

HHB Circle studio monitors are designed and built
with HHB’s customary attention to detail. More
than 20 years’ experience and a number of unique
innovations have combined to produce studio
monitors capable of performing in the most
demanding professional environments. The Circle 5
and Circle 3, available in both active and passive
versions, together with the Circle 1 sub-woofer, are
perfect for use in a variety of stereo and surround
sound professional monitoring applications.
Extremely responsive, they deliver every
performance with power and clarity.

The HHB Circles are a true family in every sense ­both in character and appearance. Great
consistency in their design and manufacture has
resulted in a distinctive Circle sound, uniformly
matched across the entire range, enabling Circle 3s
and 5s to be freely combined in any surround setup
without detrimental effect to the reproduced sound.
Striking purple cones or grilles and a durable black
paint finish on all models further strengthen the
family resemblance.

INTRODUCTION

Circle Studio Monitors

With their high quality audio components and low
distortion filters, the HHB Circle studio monitors
are full of features. The cone on the Circle 5 is
formed from an injection moulded polymer , with
varying thickness across its diameter, for a grain­free texture and minimal cone distortion. And with
controls for master volume on the active Circle 3
and 5, along with mode switching, input sensitivity,
LF boost and phase controls on the Circle 1, all
Circle monitors are fully adaptable for every studio
or project installation.

Whether you possess a stereo pair of loudspeakers
or an entire surround sound system, the HHB Circle
studio monitors are simple to set up and simple to
use. With their many flexible options, they offer a
tailor-made solution for any monitoring application.
These operating instructions for the Circle monitors
explain the fundamentals of loudspeaker connection
and positioning, providing clear and simple
information for monitor installation - whatever your
requirements.

4

PRECAUTIONS

Circle Studio Monitors

The active HHB Circle loudspeakers are simple to
install, but like all electrical equipment, care must
be taken to ensure reliable, safe operation. The
following points should always be observed:

• This equipment must be earthed. In a situation
using multiple speakers the mains power should
be derived from a central set of outlets that
have a solid ground connection. Should a
problem exist with hum loops, the ground
connections on the XLR input connectors should
be disconnected, not the mains earth
connection. The mains earth connection must
NEVER be removed from these speakers.

• Ensure the speakers are the correct voltage for
the available mains supply.

• All mains wiring should be installed and checked
by a qualified electrician.

• To prevent fire or electric shock hazard do not
operate this equipment outside, or expose to
rain or moisture. Do not operate when
disassembled or if the cabinet is damaged,
exposing the internal electronics.

• When replacing the fuse in the active Circle 5,
Circle 3 and Circle 1, use only the correct rating
of fuse - a 2A slow blow type for the Circle 5A
and Circle 1A, or a 630mA slow blow type for
the Circle 3A. The fuses used must conform to
local safety regulations.

• As the performance of a new loudspeaker will
improve after the first few hours of use due to
the bedding in of the cone materials and
suspensions, it is recommended that new
speakers should be driven at a moderate level
for a few hours before critical listening is
attempted.

BEWARE - HHB Circle studio monitors are capable
of producing high sound pressure levels. Be
careful not to monitor at high volumes for long
periods as this could cause hearing damage.

SERVICE

Circle Studio Monitors

Should a HHB Circle monitor require service, it
must be taken or sent to an HHB authorised
dealer. Please retain the original packing for
possible future use, and ensure the unit is suitably
protected during transit. The manufacturer cannot
accept responsibility for damage caused during
transportation. In order to register ownership it is
essential that you complete and return the user
registration card supplied with this product. All

Please record the following details:

Serial number: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Date purchased: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

components used in HHB Circle studio monitors are
guaranteed against faulty materials or
workmanship for a period of one year from the date
of purchase. This warranty will become void if the
product has been misused, modified or tampered
with in any way. HHB shall not be liable for any
consequential or incidental damages due to the
failure of this product. In the unlikely event of a
product failure please contact your local dealer.

Dealer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5