Infinity CASCADE FIFTEEN User Manual

ENGLISH

CASCADE

™

Compact Powered Subwoofer

CASCADE™MODEL FIFTEEN

Owner’s Guide

(230V)

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS READ FIRST!

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock,

do not remove cover (or back).

No user-serviceable parts inside.

Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.

CAUTION: To prevent electric shock,

do not use this (polarized) plug with

an extension cord, receptacle or other outlet

unless the blades can be fully inserted to

prevent blade exposure.

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol,
within an equilateral triangle, is intended to

“dangerous voltage” within the product’s
enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute
a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the appliance.

General:

1. Unpacking.Check the product carefully.If it has been dam-

aged in transit,report the damage immediately by calling your
dealer and/or the shipping company that delivered it.

2. Connections. Whenever changing, connecting or discon­necting signal or power cables etc., always turn off all equip­ment.This prevents transients from entering the equipment and
prevents electrical energy from reaching you.Keep all connec­tions out of the reach of children.Before moving the unit,be
certain to disconnect any interconnection cords with other
components, and make certain that you disconnect any powe­red units from the AC outlet.

3. Read Instructions. All the safety and operating instructions
should be read before the product is operated.

4. Retain Instructions.The safety and operating instructions
should be retained for future reference.

5. Heed Warnings. All warnings on the product and in the oper­ating instructions should be adhered to.

6. Follow Instructions. All operating and use instructions
should be followed.

7.Water and Moisture. The product should not be used near
water – for example,near a bathtub,washbowl, kitchen sink,
laundry tub, in a wet basement,or near a swimming pool,and
the like. No naked flame sources such as lighted candles
should be placed on the apparatus.

8.Accessories. To ensure proper operation and to avoid the
potential for safety hazards,place the unit on a firm and level
surface.When placing the unit on a shelf,be certain that the
shelf and any mounting hardware can support the product’s
weight. Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand,
tripod, bracket,or table.The product may fall, causing serious
injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the product.
Use only with a cart, stand,tripod, bracket,or table recom­mended by the manufacturer,or sold with the product.Any
mounting of the product should follow the manufacturer’s
instructions,and should use a mounting accessory recom­mended by the manufacturer.

9.Wall or Ceiling Mounting. The product should be mounted
on a wall or ceiling only when and as recommended by the
manufacturer.

10. Cleaning. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before
cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners.Use
a damp cloth for cleaning.

11.Attachments. Do not use attachments not recommended
by the product manufacturer,as they may cause hazards.

12. Replacement Parts. When replacement parts are
required,be sure the service technician has used replace­ment parts specified by the manufacturer or that have the
same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized sub­stitutions may result in fire, electric shock or other hazards.

alert the user to the presence of uninsulated

Attention should be drawn to the environmental aspects of
battery disposal.

13. Safety Check. Upon completion of any service or repairs
to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety
checks to determine that the product is in proper operating
condition.

14. Feet/Spikes. When positioning,or moving this product
ensure that is lifted rather than dragged across any floor/
mounting surface.This will avoid any damage to the floor/
mounting surface.Attention! Products and/or product feet
constructed of rubber or plastics may, in seldom cases, react
chemically and discolor treated or non-treated wooden sur­faces if positioned without protection.

15.Warranty. The following conditions may result in a void
product warranty:

a. the manufacturers serial number is removed or forged.
b. if repairs and/or modifications and/or other treatments/

tunings have been carried out by non-authorized personnel
or accessories/supplements are attached, which are not
approved by manufacturer/importer.

16.Warranty.The following items are not covered by the
product warranty:

a. Damage caused by inappropriate handling despite clear

instructions provided in the owners manual.

b. Damage to mechanical parts (such as record-/playback

heads, moving rubber and plastic parts and fuses) as well

as results of normal wear and tear.
c. Damage caused by external action or influence.
d. Damage caused by missuse by user.
e. Damage caused by excessive electrical mains supply

voltage or lightning strike.
f. Damage caused by fire, water or smoke.
g. Damage known to buyer prior to purchase.
h. Damage caused by professional employment of home

entertainment products (e.g. for catering trade, restau-

rants, public address or infinite loop announcement use

etc.)

17. Specifications.All product specifications/features are
subject to change without notification.

Passive Products:

18.Amplifiers: Amplifiers used to drive these units must

deliver a sufficient output power.A lack of output power may
lead to amplifier-clipping,which causes damage not covered
by guarantee.

Active (Powered) Products:

19.Ventilation. Slots and openings in the cabinet are provid-

ed for ventilation and to ensure reliable operation of the
product and to protect it from overheating, and these open­ings must not be blocked or covered.The openings should
never be blocked by placing the product on a bed,sofa, rug,
or other similar surface.This product should not be placed in
a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless
proper ventilation is provided or the manufacturer’s instruc­tions have been adhered to. Make certain that the proper
space (more than 10cm) is provided both above and below
the unit for ventilation. If the amplifier will be installed in a
cabinet or other enclosed area, make certain that there is
sufficient air movement within the cabinet,with means pro­vided for hot air to exit and for cool air to be brought in.

Do not obstruct the ventilation slots on the top of the unit or
place objects directly over them.Remember,power amplifiers
generate heat, and the heatsink fins and ventilation slots that
form part of the cabinet are specially designed to remove
this heat. Placing other electronic equipment near these
heat-dissipation systems may possibly affect the long term
reliability of both your amplifier and the objects placed
above it. Do not place CDs,record jackets, owner’s manuals
or other paper on top of or beneath the unit or in between
products containing amplifiers in a stack.This will block the
air flow,causing degraded performance and a possible fire
hazard.

20. Power Sources. This product should be operated only
from the type of power source indicated on the marking
label. If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your
home, consult your product dealer or local power company.
For products intended to operate from battery power,or other
sources,refer to the operating instructions.

21. Grounding or Polarization.This product may be equipped
with a polarized alternating-current line plug (a plug having
one blade wider than the other).This plug will fit into the
power outlet only one way.This is a safety feature. If you are
unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the
plug. If the plug should still fail to fit, contact your electrician
to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety pur­pose of the polarized plug.

22. Power-Cord Protection. Power-supply cords should be
routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched
by items placed upon or against them, paying particular
attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles,and the
point where they exit from the product.To avoid safety haz­ards, use only the power cord supplied with your unit.If a
replacement cord is used,make certain that it is of a similar
gauge.We do not recommend using extension cords with this
product.As with all electrical devices, do not run power cords
under rugs or carpets or place heavy objects on power
cords. Damaged power cords should be replaced immediate­ly,by a qualified service technician, with cords meeting fac­tory specifications.When disconnecting the power cord from
an AC outlet,always pull the plug; never pull the cord.

23. Non-use Periods. The power cord of the product should be
unplugged from the outlet when left unused for long periods
of time.

24. Lightning. For added protection for this product during a
lightning storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for
long periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet and discon­nect the antenna or cable system.This will prevent damage to
the product due to lightning and power-line surges.

25. Overloading. Do not overload wall outlets,extension
cords, or integral convenience receptacles,as this can result
in a risk of fire or electric shock.

26. Damage Requiring Service. Do not attempt to service this
product yourself, as opening or removing covers may expose
you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Unplug this prod­uct from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified ser­vice personnel under the following conditions:

a.The power-supply cord or the plug has been damaged; or
b. Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into,the

product; or
c.The product has been exposed to rain or water; or
d.The product does not operate normally when following the

operating instructions.Adjust only those controls that are

covered by the operating instructions, as an improper

adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will

often require extensive work by a qualified technician to

restore the product to its normal operation; or
e.The product has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged;

or
f. The product does not appear to operate normally or

exhibits a marked change in performance.

27. Object and Liquid Entry. Never push objects of any kind
into this product through openings,as they may touch danger­ous voltage points or short-out parts that could result in a fire
or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.
The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing
and no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be
placed on the apparatus.

28. Heat. The product should be situated away from heat
sources such as radiators,heat registers, stoves or other
products (including amplifiers) that produce heat.Avoid
installation in extremely hot or cold locations,the use of
apparatus in moderate climates,in an area that is exposed to
direct sunlight or near heating equipment.When positioning
the product in its final location, make certain that it has ade­quate ventilation on all sides,as well as on the top and
bottom.

ii

CASCADE MODEL FIFTEEN

CASCADE MODEL FIFTEEN OWNER

S GUIDE

’

Table of Contents

ii Important Safety Precautions

1 Unpacking the Subwoofer

1 Placement

2 Controls and Connections

3 Connections

4 Operation

™

5 Room Adaptive Bass Optimization System

6 Contents of the R.A.B.O.S.Test CD

6 The R.A.B.O.S. Sound-Level Meter (RSLM)

6 RSLM Placement

7 Initial System-Level Setting

7 Setting the Subwoofer Test Level

7 Performing Low-Frequency Measurements

9 What Does a Parametric Equalizer Do?

9 Completing the Measurement Template

(R.A.B.O.S.™)

ENGLISH

10 Using the Width Selector

11 Level

11 What You Measure,What to Do

14 Adjusting the R.A.B.O.S.Equalizer

15 Final System Balance

16 Maintenance and Service

17 R.A.B.O.S. Measurement Templates

19 Specifications

CASCADE MODEL FIFTEEN

iii

Infinity Cascade™Model Fifteen

The Infinity Cascade Model Fifteen continues Infinity’s long­standing commitment to accurate sound reproduction.Our
advanced drivers, high-powered amplifier and proprietary Room
Adaptive Bass Optimization System,
braced enclosure, combine to deliver uncompromising bass
performance in any stereo or multichannel home theater.In
addition, the slim profile allows for easy integration into any
residential environment.

™

along with a rigid, well-

Unpacking the Subwoofer

If you suspect damage from transit,report it immediately to
your dealer. Keep the shipping carton and packing materials for
future use.

PLACEMENT

Since the installation of a subwoofer can be somewhat more
complicated than installing full-range speakers,it is essential
that you read this section very carefully prior to connecting the
subwoofer to your system. Should you have questions relating to
your installation, it is advisable to call either your dealer or
Infinity’s Customer Service Department for advice.

The performance of the subwoofer is directly related to its
placement in the listening room and how you align the sub­woofer with its satellite speakers.Setting the volume of the
subwoofer in relation to the left and right speakers is also of
critical importance because it is essential that the subwoofer
integrate smoothly with the entire system. Setting the sub­woofer’s volume level too high will result in an overpowering,
boomy bass. Setting the volume level too low will negate the
benefits of the subwoofer.

SUB

RIGHT­CHANNEL

SPEAKER

PRIMARY
LISTENING
AREA

Here are several additional facts on installation that may prove
useful. It is generally believed by most audio authorities that
low frequencies (below 125Hz) are nondirectional and, there­fore,placement of a subwoofer within any listening room is not
critical.While in theory it is true that the larger wavelengths of
extremely low frequencies are basically nondirectional, the fact
is that, when installing a subwoofer within the limited confines
of a room, reflections,standing waves and absorptions generat­ed within the room will strongly influence the performance of
any subwoofer system.As a result, the specific location of the
subwoofer becomes important, and we strongly recommend that
you experiment with placement before choosing a final loca­tion.

Placement will depend upon your room and the amount and
quality of bass required (for example, whether or not your room
permits placement of the subwoofer near either satellite).

Figure 1.This example shows the subwoofer positioned behind
the right-channel satellite speaker to re-create the actual
location of bass instruments in an orchestra and/or add impact
to movie soundtracks.

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CASCADE MODEL FIFTEEN

CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS

Rear Panel

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0 Line-Level Inputs

1 Line-Level Outputs

2 Power Indicator

3 Subwoofer Level (Volume) Control

4 Crossover Adjustment

5 Phase Switch

‚

6 Normal/LFE Selector

7 Power Switch

Bass Optimization Controls (see page 5)

8 R.A.B.O.S.Selector

⁄

9 Center-Frequency Adjustment

A Bass Optimization System Level

Adjustment

B Bass Optimization System Bandwidth

Adjustment

ENGLISH

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CASCADE MODEL FIFTEEN

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CONNECTIONS

If you have a Dolby* Digital or DTS®receiver/
processor with a low-frequency-effects (LFE)
output:

SUBWOOFER OR
LFE OUTPUT

• Set Normal/LFE Switch to LFE.

If your receiver/processor has subwoofer
outputs for the left and right channels:

• Set Low-Pass Switch to On.

• Set Normal/LFE Switch to Normal.

NOTE: In this case, you do not need to use a Y connector. Simply
connect the LFE output on your receiver/processor to either the
left or right input on the subwoofer.

The Cascade Model Fifteen also includes a set of line
outputs.These outputs allow you to “daisy-chain”one
Model Fifteen to multiple Model Fifteen subwoofers.
Simply connect the first subwoofer as described above
and then run a subwoofer cable from the line output(s)
to the line input(s) on the next sub.

NOTE: This line output is before the R.A.B.O.S. circuit.
Each sub-woofer’s R.A.B.O.S.controls must be
individually adjusted during the R.A.B.O.S. setup.

SUBWOOFER OR
LFE OUTPUT

NOTE: Some receivers have a single subwoofer output (do not
confuse this with a single LFE output as described to the left).
In that case, it is recommended that you use a Y connector (not
included) to maximize performance.

OR

3

CASCADE MODEL FIFTEEN

OPERATION

Power On

Plug your subwoofer’sAC cord into a wall outlet.Do not use the
outlets on the back of the receiver.

Initially set the Subwoofer Level (Volume) Control 3 to the
“min”position.

Turn on your sub by pressing the Power Switch 7 on the
rear panel.

Auto On/Standby

With the Power Switch 7 in the ON position, the Power
Indicator LED 2 will remain backlit in red or green to indicate
the On/Standby mode of the subwoofer.

RED = STANDBY (No signal detected,Amp Off)
GREEN = ON (Signal detected,Amp On)
The subwoofer will automatically enter the Standby mode after

approximately 10 minutes when no signal is detected from your
system.The subwoofer will then power ON instantly when a
signal is detected. During periods of normal use, the Power
Switch 7 can be left on.You may turn off the Power Switch 7
for extended periods of nonoperation,e.g.,when you are away
on vacation.

Adjust Gain

Turn on your entire audio system and start a CD or movie
soundtrack at a moderate level.Turn up the Subwoofer Level
(Volume) Control 3 about halfway. If no sound emanates from
the subwoofer, check the AC-line cord and input cables.Are the
connectors on the cables making proper contact? Is the AC
plug connected to a “live”receptacle? Has the Power Switch
7 been pressed to the “On”position? Once you have
confirmed that the subwoofer is active, proceed by playing a
CD, record or cassette.Use a selection that has ample bass
information.

ENGLISH

Crossover Adjustments

NOTE: This control will have no effect if the Normal/LFE
Selector Switch 6 is set to “LFE.”If you have a Dolby Digital
or DTS processor/receiver, the Crossover Frequency is set by
the processor/receiver. Consult your owner’s manual to learn
how to view or change this setting.

The Crossover Adjustment Control 4 determines the highest
frequency at which the subwoofer reproduces sounds. If your
main speakers can comfortably reproduce some low-frequency
sounds, set this control to a lower frequency setting,between
50Hz and 100Hz.This will concentrate the subwoofer’s efforts
on the ultradeep bass sounds required by today’s films and
music. If you are using smaller bookshelf speakers that do not
extend to the lower bass frequencies,set the Crossover
Adjustment Control to a higher setting, between 120Hz and
150Hz.

Phase Control

The Phase Switch 5 determines whether the subwoofer
speaker’s piston-like action moves in and out with the main
speakers, 0˚, or opposite the main speakers,180˚. Proper
phase adjustment depends on several variables such as room
size, subwoofer placement and listener position.Adjust the
phase switch to maximize bass output at the listening position.

Set the overall volume control of the preamplifier or stereo to a
comfortable level.Adjust the Subwoofer Level (Volume) Control
3 until you obtain a pleasing blend of bass. Bass response
should not overpower the room but rather should be adjusted
so there is a harmonious blend across the entire musical
range. Many users have a tendency to set the subwoofer volume
too loud, adhering to the belief that a subwoofer is there to
produce lots of bass.This is not entirely true.A subwoofer is
there to enhance bass,extending the response of the entire
system so the bass can be felt as well as heard. However,
overall balance must be maintained or the music will not sound
natural.An experienced listener will set the volume of the
subwoofer so its impact on bass response is always there but
never obtrusive.

CASCADE MODEL FIFTEEN

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