Infinity Intermezzo 2.6 Owners manual
Owner’s Guide
INTERMEZZO™2.6
Read First!
1. Read Instructions. All the safety and operating
instructions should be read before the product is
operated.
2. Retain Instructions.The safety and operating
instructions should be retained for future
reference.
3. Heed Warnings. All warnings on the product
and in the operating instructions should be
adhered to.
4. Follow Instructions.All operating and use
instructions should be followed.
5. Cleaning. Unplug this product from the wall
outlet before cleaning.Do not use liquid cleaners
or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for
cleaning.
6.Water and Moisture.To reduce the risk of fire
or electric shock, do not use this product
outdoors or near water–for example, near a
bathtub,wash bowl, kitchen sink or laundry tub; in
a wet basement; near a swimming pool;or the
like.
7.Accessories. 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.
8. Power Sources. This product should be
operated only from the 230 AC 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.
9. 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.
10. Nonuse Periods. The power cord of the
product should be unplugged from the outlet
when left unused for long periods of time.
11. Overloading. Do not overload wall outlets or
extension cords,this can result in a risk of fire
or electric shock.
12. 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.
13. Servicing. 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.
14.Wall or Ceiling Mounting.The product should
be mounted to a wall or ceiling only as
recommended by the manufacturer.
15. Heat. The product should be situated away
from heat sources such as radiators, heat
registers,stoves or other products (including
amplifiers) that produce heat.
IMPORTANT
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
iii
INTERMEZZO 2.6
iii Important Safety Precautions
1 Technology
2 Unpacking the Product/Included Accessories
3 Placement
4 Controls and Connections
6 Room Adaptive Bass Optimization System
™
(R.A.B.O.S.)
7 Contents of the R.A.B.O.S.Test CD
7 The R.A.B.O.S.Sound-Level Meter (RSLM)
12 What You Measure,What To Do
15 Adjusting the R.A.B.O.S.Equalizer
16 Final System Balance
16 Maintenance and Service
17 Specifications
18 Appendix
19 R.A.B.O.S. Measurement Templates
22 Notes
Table of Contents
INTERMEZZO 2.6 OWNER
’S GUIDE
iv
INTERMEZZO 2.6
1
INTERMEZZO 2.6
Intermezzo Series loudspeakers incorporate several innovative
technologies that, when implemented by exceptional engineering
talent after hours upon hours of subjective listening evaluations,
result in a loudspeaker that realistically and accurately reproduces
the signal source with minimal distortion and coloration.
Ceramic Metal Matrix Diaphragms™(C.M.M.D.)
For decades, loudspeaker engineers have known that the ideal
transducer should be stiff,yet light, and have high internal
damping (damping is a material’s ability to absorb energy).
Infinity’s C.M.M.D. transducer is a significant advance in
transducer technology.Ceramic,a class of material new to
loudspeakers, offers better performance than that of other
materials. Ceramic is stiffer than metals and lighter than plastics
and typical composite materials; it also offers improved damping.
These ceramic-based transducers take us a giant step closer to
the ever-elusive “ideal transducer.”
In tweeters, C.M.M.D.technology offers stiffness and damping
superior to that of traditional metals and soft-dome materials.
In woofer and midrange applications,it offers accurate pistonic
operation over the entire frequency range of the driver,
completely eliminating coloration due to cone breakup and
dramatically reducing distortion.And when ceramic-metal-matrix
transducers are exposed to moisture, sunlight or extreme
temperatures,their performance does not deteriorate.
In addition to ceramic diaphragms,all the transducers incorporate
magnetic shielding and rigid cast-frames that,through our FEA
computer modeling and scanning-laser-vibrometer measurements,
have been optimized to reduce resonances.This ensures minimal
distortion and incomparable performance.
Amplifier
BASH®is an amplifier-power-supply technology that increases
efficiency by reducing power dissipation in the output section.
The BASH topology uses a high-efficiency,fast-response, switchmode power supply that provides the main voltage rails for a
linear Class-AB amplifier. By varying the output of the power
supply with the audio signal being amplified, a constant voltage
drop across the output transistors of the linear amplifier can be
maintained.This means that the power dissipation in the output
transistors is greatly reduced.
The result is an extremely efficient audio amplifier that does not
compromise audio performance.
Room-Friendly Acoustical Design
Driver quality is not the only requirement for exceptional
performance. Infinity’s engineers understand that the room in
which the loudspeaker is placed can greatly affect its
performance.To ensure that Intermezzo Series loudspeakers will
sound exceptional in even the most unexceptional listening
environment,Infinity has developed two ways to solve most roomgenerated problems.The first is its proprietary Room Adaptive
Bass Optimization System™. With a single band of parametric
equalization, the Intermezzo 2.6 can be adjusted to tame any
problematic room bass resonances below 80Hz.
There is a completely different set of room-related problems that
has to do with loudspeaker directivity and that can affect the
reproduction of mid and high frequencies. One characteristic of
forward-facing loudspeakers is that the sound output lessens as
one moves away from the principal axis.This happens both
horizontally and vertically and it means that radiated sounds that
are reflected from the floor, ceiling and side walls will be lower
in amplitude than direct, forward sound.This is usually a good
thing. But, if the dispersion characteristics of the loudspeaker are
different at various frequencies, the sound quality of the reflected
sounds will be very different both from each other and from the
first (i.e.,direct) sound.The ears don’t ignore these differences;
they perceive them as coloration, or as sound quality that’s been
degraded. Intermezzo loudspeakers have been carefully designed
to maintain a directional pattern that is similar at every important
angle, on and off axis.The positive result is that both direct and
reflected sounds arriving at the listeners’ears have similar
timbral signatures.
Completing the Experience
The technology and performance that make Infinity Intermezzo
loudspeakers ideal for music listening also make them the
perfect digital multichannel loudspeaker system.To complete a
home-theater system, Infinity has designed, to the same precise
standards as for Intermezzo 2.6,a matching 3-way center-channel
loudspeaker and a 12," 850-watt powered subwoofer.
We hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to the technology
of Intermezzo loudspeakers.If you would like to further explore
their technology and design, please ask your Infinity dealer
for the C.M.M.D.and R.A.B.O.S.White Papers.The White
Papers can also be downloaded from Infinity’s Web site at
www.infinitysystems.com.
TECHNOLOGY
Unpacking the Product
Finish unpacking the speakers and check the contents.If you
suspect damage from transit,report it immediately to your
dealer and/or delivery service.Keep the shipping carton and
packing materials for future use.
Included Accessories . . .
Grilles (2)
AC Cord
R.A.B.O.S. Kit (1)
Sound-Level Meter R.A.B.O.S.Test CD
Graph Templates Bandwidth Selector
Adjustment Key
Power
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10
-11
-13
-15
-18
U-R
Batt
2
INTERMEZZO 2.6
Bolts (for use with optional wall-mounting bracket)
Decorative
Side Panels
(2)
3
INTERMEZZO 2.6
The Infinity Intermezzo 2.6 is designed to offer excellent
performance in any listening room or home-theater system.
However,the following placement guidelines and suggestions will
start you on your way to achieving optimum performance.
Remember, these are guidelines.We suggest you experiment with
positioning the loudspeakers to determine their ideal placement
in your particular listening room.
The serial number on the rear of the enclosure ends with the
letter "L" or "R".
"L" = Left loudspeaker."R"= Right loudspeaker.
2-Channel or Front Left and Front Right
in a Home-Theater System
Generally,the system should be placed at least three feet away
from the side walls.The Intermezzo 2.6 should be placed on
strong, rigid speaker stands that place the tweeter at ear level.
In 2-channel applications, the two speakers should be equidistant
from your primary listening position.We recommend that the
angle formed between the speakers and the listening area be
between 45° and 60°.For example,if the speakers are 8' apart,
your listening position should be 8' to 12' from each speaker. See
Figure 1.With wider speaker separations, it may be advantageous
to slightly angle the speakers,aiming them toward the listening
area.
When used as part of a home-theater system, you may find that
you achieve excellent performance with the left and right
speakers spread apart even further. Feel free to experiment with
the placement of the speakers to achieve the best possible sound
in your listening room.
Surround Channels in a Home-Theater System
When used as part of a Dolby* ProLogic*,THX®, or discrete 5.1
channel home-theater system, the surround speakers should be
placed at the sides of,and directed toward,the main listening
area. See Figure 2. If there are several rows of seating,place the
speakers, as described above, perpendicular to, or slightly
behind, the last row of seating.
When used as part of a 7-channel music or home-theater system,
place the side speakers at the sides of and directed toward the
main listening area. If there are several rows of seating,place the
speakers, as described above, perpendicular to the middle row of
seating.The rear speakers should be placed along the rear wall
facing the front of the room.Each rear speaker should be about
1/3 of the way into the room, but never to the outside of the
listening area. See Figure 3.
As mentioned earlier, the Intermezzo 2.6 offers several ways to
fine-tune the system for optimum performance in any listening
room.These techniques, as well as Infinity’s exclusive R.A.B.O.S.
system, will be discussed in detail later in this manual.
P
LACEMENT
SOFA
LEFT
SURROUND
RIGHT
SURROUND
TV
FRONT
LEFT
FRONT
RIGHT
➢
➢
CENTER
➢
➢
➢
➢
SOFA
FRONT
LEFT
LEFT
SIDE
REAR
LEFT
FRONT
RIGHT
RIGHT
SIDE
REAR
RIGHT
TV
CENTER
SOFA
LEFT
CHANNEL
RIGHT
CHANNEL
➢
➢
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
F
IGURE
3
Woofer Level Control
R.A.B.O.S. Controls
Center-Frequency Adjustment
R.A.B.O.S.Level
Bandwidth Adjustment
C
ONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS
Rear Panel
Front Panel
4
INTERMEZZO 2.6
High-Pass Filter
Placement Selector
Speaker Input
Power Switch
AC-Cord Input
OFF
ON
SHELF STAND
+
–
HIGH-PASS
FILTER
PLACEMENT
INPUTS
›
F
L
W
CAUTION!
For continued protection
against risk of fire, replace
only with same type fuse
and rating
ATTENTION!
Utilizer un fusible de
recharge de meme
type et calibre
AC FUSE
3A 220V
POWER
220V – 60 HZ 6A
5
INTERMEZZO 2.6
Placement Selector
This control optimizes the performance of the Intermezzo 2.6
based on whether it is placed on a speaker stand or on a shelf.
If you place the Intermezzo 2.6 on a shelf or inside a wall
unit/entertainment center, set this control to “Shelf.”
If you place the Intermezzo 2.6 on a floor stand, set the
control to “Stand.”
High-Pass Filter
When set to “On,”this control limits the low frequencies that the
Intermezzo 2.6 will reproduce and allows you to use your
processor’s/receiver’s bass-management settings for an ideal
blend with a subwoofer.
When set to “Off,”the Intermezzo 2.6 will reproduce the entire
frequency range.Use this setting only if your system does not
include a subwoofer.
(One Channel Shown)
Amplifier/Receiver
Speaker Outputs
RED =
+
BLACK =
–
NO STRIPE =
–
+ –
STRIPE =
+
1. LOOSEN TERMINALS
2. INSERT BARE END;
TIGHTEN TERMINALS
– +
ON OFF
SHELF STAND
CAUTION!
For continued protection
against risk of fire, replace
only with same type fuse
and rating
ATTENTION!
Utilizer un fusible de
recharge de meme
type et calibre
AC FUSE
3A 220V
HIGH-PASS
FILTER
PLACEMENT
+
INPUTS
–
POWER
220V – 60 HZ 6A
CORD
Infinity R.A.B.O.S.is a simple-to-use,yet sophisticated, lowfrequency calibration system. It is designed to work in
conjunction with Infinity Intermezzo self-amplified woofers. Each
woofer contains a parametric equalizer that you will adjust as
indicated by the R.A.B.O.S.test results.Following these
instructions, you will optimize the loudspeakers’response
characteristics to complement their environment.This will
dramatically improve the sound of your system.The optimization
process takes less than 30 minutes.
The R.A.B.O.S. Kit Includes
the Following Components:
• Specialized Sound-Level Meter
• Test CD
• Instructions
• Measurement Templates
• Width Selector
• Adjustment “Key”
What R.A.B.O.S.Does
The Test CD provides specially designed signals you will use
while performing measurements.The sound-level meter provided
is used to “acquire” the information needed for adjustments.You
will create a response plot on the Measurement Template. Using
the Width Selector, you will then determine the appropriate
equalizer settings.The “Key”is used to adjust the parametric
equalizer built into each Intermezzo woofer.After adjustment, the
test sequence is repeated to confirm your settings.
The R.A.B.O.S. Goal
It is a fact of audio that what we hear at low frequencies is
determined as much or more by the listening room than by the
loudspeaker itself.Placement of the loudspeakers and listeners
and the acoustical characteristics of the room surfaces are all
important determinants of bass quantity and quality. In most
practical situations, there is little that can be done about this,
except for patient trial-and-error repositioning of the
loudspeakers and listeners.Usually,the practical constraints of a
living space and the impracticality of massive acoustical
treatment mean that equalization is the only practical solution.
Professional sound engineers routinely employ sophisticated
measurement systems and equalizers to optimize speakers to the
installation.This has never before been practical for the home
audiophile.That’s why R.A.B.O.S.was created.R.A.B.O.S.enables
you to identify the dominant low-frequency response characteristic
of your room. Once you know the problem, R.A.B.O.S. provides the
tools needed to optimize the low-frequency characteristics of the
speakers to the room they are in,exactly as the professional
sound engineers do it.
Performing R.A.B.O.S.Tests
These instructions assume you have already installed your
speakers according to the information provided in the Owner’s
Guide. It is also assumed that all equipment in your entertainment system is interconnected properly and is in good
operating condition.
Preparations
Before beginning R.A.B.O.S. tests, please check the following:
• Make sure all three R.A.B.O.S. controls on the Intermezzo 2.6
are turned fully clockwise.
• Make sure the loudness contour (if any) on your receiver/
processor/preamp is turned off.
• Set the tone controls (Bass and Treble) to their center or
flat positions.
• Bypass all surround and effects features of your receiver/
processor/preamp or set to Stereo Bypass.
• If you are using a multichannel surround processor or receiver,
make sure all bass-management features are properly set.The
Audio channels should all be set to “Small” or “High-Pass”and
the woofer set to “On.”
You must have a CD player in the system.A CD player remote
control is quite convenient but not essential.
For best results,it is recommended that all major furnishings
are in place and that all doors and windows in the listening area
are in their normal positions.That is, if you normally listen to
music with all doors closed, then this is how they should be
during this procedure.
Try to minimize ambient noise while running tests.Turn off all
major appliances and any air conditioning or furnace fans.These
can create significant subsonic noise that may be barely
perceptible but which can wreak havoc on low-frequency
measurements.
Critical information is highlighted with this mark:
Helpful hints are marked with this symbol:
ROOM
ADAPTIVE B
ASS OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM
™
6
INTERMEZZO 2.6
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