JL Audio f212 User Manual
Owner’s Manual
f212
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
AMP PANEL OR SPEAKER. NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER
SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
1) Read the Instructions — All safety and operating instructions should be
read before the subwoofer is operated.
2) Retain the Instructions — e safety and operating instructions should be
retained for future reference.
3) Heed Warnings — All warnings on the subwoofer and in the operating
instructions should be followed.
e lightning ash with arrowhead
symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is
intended to alert the user to the presence
of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within
the product’s enclosure that may be of
su cient magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock to persons.
e exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle is intended to alert the
user to the presence of important operating
and maintenance instructions in the
literature accompanying the product.
4) Follow Instructions — All operating and use instructions should
be followed.
5) Water and Moisture — e subwoofer should NOT be used near water – for
example, near a bathtub, washbowl, sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement,
near a swimming pool, etc.
6) Ventilation — e subwoofer should be situated so that its location or
position does not interfere with its proper ventilation. For example, the
subwoofer should not be situated on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface
that may block air ow over the heatsink ns. If placing the subwoofer in
a “built-in” installation, ensure that air ow to the heat sink at the rear of
the subwoofer is not impeded. Do not cover the subwoofer heatsink with
tablecloths, curtains, etc.
9) Heat and Flames — e subwoofer should be situated away from heat
sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, replaces, or other devices
which produce heat. Do not place candles on top of or near the subwoofer.
10) Power sources — e subwoofer should only be connected to a power supply of
the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the subwoofer.
11) 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 the subwoofer.
Page 2 | Fathom f212
12) Cleaning — e subwoofer should be cleaned only as recommended in the
operating instructions.
13) Nonuse Periods — e power cord of the subwoofer should be unplugged
from the outlet when the subwoofer is le unused for long periods of time.
14) Lightning and Power Surges — We recommend that you disconnect the
subwoofer from the electrical outlet during electrical storms and/or recurring
power interruptions to prevent damage due to power surges.
15) Object or Liquid Entry — Care should be taken so that objects do not fall
into and liquids are not spilled onto the subwoofer enclosure. Do not expose
the subwoofer to dripping or splashing from liquids. Do not place objects
lled with liquids on top of, or near the subwoofer. For example: ower
vases, beverages, liquid-fueled lamps, etc.
16) Damage Requiring Service — e subwoofer should be serviced by quali ed
service personnel when:
a. the power-supply cord or plug has been damaged
b. objects have fallen or liquid has been spilled into the subwoofer
c. the subwoofer has been exposed to rain
d. the subwoofer does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked
change in performance
e. the subwoofer has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged
f. the subwoofer driver’s cone and/or suspension has been
physically damaged
WARNING
17) Servicing — e user should not attempt to service the subwoofer beyond
what is described in the operating instructions. All other servicing should be
referred to quali ed service personnel.
18) Overloading — Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or outlet strips
as this can result in a risk of re or electric shock.
19) Grounding — is subwoofer is supplied with a three-prong, grounded
power cord. Precautions should be taken so that the grounding means of the
subwoofer are not defeated. Defeating the grounding prong on the subwoofer
power cord could increase the risk of electric shock and could result in
permanent damage to the subwoofer’s electronics.
THIS SUBWOOFER IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HIGH SOUND
PRESSURE LEVELS. PLEASE EXERCISE RESTRAINT IN ITS OPERATION TO
PROTECT YOUR HEARING FROM PERMANENT DAMAGE.
Page 3 | Fathom f212
FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
NOTE: is equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits of Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. ese limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in
a residential installation. is equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment o and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit di erent from that to which the
receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Important Safety Instructions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Introduction:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Product Overview: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Placing your Fathom in Your Listening Room: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Unpacking your Fathom: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Front Control Panel Layout: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Rear Control and Connector Panel Layout: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Front Panel Controls in Detail: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-17
Connecting your Fathom(s): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18-25
Recommended Setup Procedure: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26-30
Frequently Asked Questions: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Cleaning Your Fathom: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Troubleshooting: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Limited Warranty / Service Information: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Speci cations: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of a JL Audio Fathom powered subwoofer
system. is product has been critically engineered to deliver exceptional
performance in your home theater or audio system for many years to come.
As a company, we are intensely committed to core research into
high-performance loudspeaker and ampli er technologies. JL Audio’s longexcursion subwoofer driver designs are widely considered as reference standards for
linear behavior and high output. We have also focused our e orts to create powerful
ampli er and signal-processing technologies speci cally aimed at delivering
exceptional low-frequency performance. Your Fathom combines these core
disciplines within a compact, beautifully cra ed package to deliver an unparalleled
listening experience.
JL AUDIO TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDED
IN FATHOM SUBWOOFERS
DMA-Optimized Motor System
DMA is JL Audio’s proprietary Dynamic
Motor Analysis system aimed at
improving dynamic motor behavior. As a
result of DMA optimization, loudspeaker
motors remain linear in force over an
extreme range of excursion and also
maintain a highly stable xed magnetic
eld over a wide power range. is leads
to vastly reduced distortion and faithfully
reproduced transients... or put simply:
tight, clean, articulate bass.
OverRoll™ Surround
(U.S. Patent #5,687,247 and #5,949,898)
e OverRoll™ surround spans over
the driver’s mounting ange, utilizing
available diameter wasted in conventional
speakers. is allows the use of the wider
roll necessary to control high-excursions
without sacri cing precious cone area.
W-Cone™ (U.S. Patent #6,496,590)
e W-Cone™ is a unit-body cone
assembly that delivers astonishing cone
sti ness with minimal mass.
Floating-Cone™ Attach Method
(U.S. Patent #6,501,844)
is assembly technique ensures proper
surround geometry in the assembled
speaker for better excursion control and
dynamic voice coil alignment.
Plateau-Reinforced Spider Attachment
(U.S. Patent #6,118,884)
is high-integrity suspension attachment
relieves stress from the spider material at
high-excursions for enhanced reliability.
Elevated Frame Cooling Technology
(U.S. Patent #6,219,431 and #6,229,902)
Delivers cool air, through slots directly
above the top-plate, to the voice coil of the
speaker. is enhances power handling
and sound quality by minimizing
dynamic parameter shi s and power
compression.
Radially Cross-Drilled Pole Piece
(U.S. Patent #6,243,479)
is innovative venting system greatly
enhances thermal dissipation and power
handling by directing air ow onto the
voice coil former, working in conjunction
with the Elevated Frame technology.
High-Damping Feedback Circuit
(U.S. Patent #6,441,685)
is proprietary, discrete control circuit
design allows our Class D switching
ampli ers to maintain an excellent
damping factor for improved transient
behavior and delity.
Page 4 | Fathom f212
We sincerely thank you for your purchase and invite you to read this
manual thoroughly in order to achieve the highest level of performance with
your Fathom subwoofer system. Enjoy.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
JL Audio Fathom subwoofers combine a state-of-the-art
JL Audio subwoofer driver and electronics/ampli er package within
a highly optimized enclosure to deliver an exceptional listening
experience in your home theater or home audio system.
e subwoofer driver in your Fathom subwoofer system is capable of
outstanding linear excursion without distress or audible distortion. is
reference-quality driver enables your Fathom to reproduce powerful lowfrequency events with stunning impact and unprecedented accuracy. Derived
from JL Audio’s legendary W7 design platform, the Fathom f212 drivers o er
peak-to-peak excursion capabilities well in excess of 3 inches (76 mm), to
comfortably handle the dynamics of the most demanding program material.
To get the most from this long excursion driver platform, prodigious amounts
of controlled power are needed. Our electronics engineering team conducted
an intense analysis of typical program material and its dynamic demands in
order to balance current draw and actual output power requirements relative to
the system’s impedance characteristics. A er careful study, a pair of precisely
engineered switching ampli ers employing patented feedback technology were
created. e advanced ampli er design in the F212 is capable of unclipped output
voltages equivalent to 3000 watts of RMS power when referenced to the nominal
loudspeaker impedance, allowing us to take full advantage of each driver’s full
excursion envelope.
e beautiful cabinet enclosing the workings of your Fathom is also the result
of careful engineering. To contain the pressures created by the Fathom driver, we
utilized solid, CNC-cut, MDF material with extensive internal bracing features
and advanced assembly techniques.
Your listening room is the other enclosure that a ects the way your bass will
sound. All rooms create a speci c sonic signature, which must be e ectively
managed to achieve well-balanced low frequency performance. To aid in this
process, the Fathom includes an extensive set of signal processing tools aimed
at optimizing your Fathom’s performance within your listening space. ese
features include JL Audio’s exclusive Automatic Room Optimization system.
As you can see from this brief introduction, there is a lot of technology in this
compact subwoofer. e contents of this manual will explain the features, guide
you through the setup and tuning of your Fathom subwoofer and help you achieve
your ultimate low-frequency listening experience.
IMPORTANT
If you require assistance, we urge you to contact your authorized
JL Audio retailer for expert setup advice and service.
IMPORTANT! IT IS A VERY GOOD IDEA TO READ THE NEXT SECTION
BEFORE UNPACKING YOUR FATHOM. UNPACKING THE SUBWOOFER NEAR
ITS FINAL LOCATION IS RECOMMENDED.
Page 5 | Fathom f212
PLACING YOUR FATHOM IN YOUR LISTENING ROOM:
Your listening room or theater is an integral part of your sound reproduction
system. e physical dimensions of the room and its furnishings, materials,
doors and windows play an important role in de ning how your system sounds.
When you place a sound source in an enclosed rectangular space, “standing
waves” are created, resulting from the relationship between the sound’s
wavelength and your room’s dimensions. In other words, standing waves result
from sound energy that is trapped in the room as it bounces back and forth
between opposing walls. Standing waves in the room create acoustic peaks and
dips where the sound is either louder or so er, based solely on your physical
position in the room. Energy also “builds up” at the room’s boundaries, creating
exaggerated bass response at certain frequencies. ese fundamental room
resonances are called room “modes.”
e moral of this mode story is to try and avoid seating positions in standing
wave peak or dip regions. It is highly recommended that you place your listening
chairs in areas where modal peaks and dips are moderate and do not reinforce
one another. e two most obvious areas to avoid are those near the exact center
of the room and those close to any of the room’s walls.
Just as your listening seat can be in a peak or dip region, so can your
subwoofer. When placed in a room corner, a subwoofer maximally excites the
room’s mode structure, creating the strongest output with the fewest dips. When
the subwoofer is pulled away from a corner or wall, the room modes are excited
less, which can alter the sound at your listening seat.
Be sure to experiment with both your listening seat position and subwoofer
position to nd the best solution. Careful experimentation usually leads to a
superior sounding system. Use our setup suggestions (illustrated on the opposing
page and the following pages) to get you started.
If you cannot avoid placing your sofa against the back wall or your
subwoofer in a less than optimal position, all is not lost. Your Fathom’s
Automatic Room Optimization (A.R.O.) System can dramatically improve
these less-than-ideal situations.
We recommend that you begin by placing your Fathom in the front of the
room, near the front le or right speaker. Placing it directly in the front corner
of the room will produce the maximum number of peaks and the minimum
number of dips in the bass response. is can be advantageous because the
Fathom’s A.R.O. system can correct the primary peak very e ectively, whereas
dips in response cannot be corrected via equalization. Dips in response can only
be minimized via careful subwoofer and listener placement.
Placing the Fathom near solid walls will reinforce bass response and pulling
it away from solid walls will decrease bass. Increasing the distance between the
subwoofer and the walls may help to smooth upper bass response in some rooms.
We recommend that you avoid placing the Fathom near windows to prevent
rattling and sound transmission to the outside world.
If you are planning to install your Fathom
inside a cabinet, please refer to the
guidelines on page 8.
Page 6 | Fathom f212
Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for One Fathom
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Page 7 | Fathom f212
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR BUILT-IN INSTALLATIONS
Fathom subwoofers are designed to be “built-in” friendly. All typically
needed controls are located on the front panel above the woofer. A Fathom can
be easily integrated into custom cabinetry by following a few simple guidelines.
1) Allow 4 inches (10 cm) of clear space behind the Fathom’s amp panel for
adequate cooling and connector clearance.
2) On all other sides (except the bottom), allow at least 2 inches
(5 cm) clearance for adequate ventilation.
3) While the Fathom generally runs only warm during spirited operation, we do
recommend that adequate heat vents are included in any custom cabinet which
encloses the Fathom. Pairs of 3 inch (7.5 cm) diameter vents over the full cabinet
height (8 vents total, see diagram) will allow cool air to circulate over the amp
panel of your Fathom f212 subwoofer system keeping it cool and happy.
4) Your Fathom f212 subwoofer is capable of moving substantial quantities
of air. If the front of the f212 is covered by a custom grille, the grille
must have AT LEAST 170 square inches (1100 sq. cm.) of vent area. is
grill area is equal to the woofer cone area for the f212 and will ensure
that the Fathom’s output is not choked by the custom cabinet.
Rear-view of cabinet install:
2 in. min .
VENT
VENT
VENT
VENT
VENT
VENT
VENT
VENT
2 in.
min.
Page 8 | Fathom f212
Using Two Fathoms
When using two Fathoms, try
placement near the front corners of the
room, at diagonally-opposite corners
of the room, or at the center points of
opposing walls as shown at right.
Experimentation with
subwoofer and listener
placement is recommended to
achieve the best results – the
bene ts can be substantial.
High-resolution measurements
and professional system calibration
are recommended for the best possible
results & system performance.
Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Two Fathoms
Page 9 | Fathom f212
Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Three Fathoms
Using Three or Four Fathoms
Research indicates that the
smoothest bass response for a large
listening area can be achieved using
four subwoofers, placing one at
the midpoint of each of the four
walls (although using two or three
subwoofers can be almost as good).
Experimentation with
subwoofer and listener
placement is recommended to
achieve the best results – the
bene ts can be substantial.
High-resolution measurements
and professional system calibration
are recommended for the best possible
results & system performance.
Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Four Fathoms
Page 10 | Fathom f212
Unpack this box close to where the
subwoofer will be placed. e subwoofer
is PACKED upside down. is box must be
ipped over CAREFULLY to remove the
subwoofer and minimize e ort.
IMPORTANT
UNPACKING YOUR FATHOM
Now that you have determined your Fathom’s position in the room, you can
proceed with unpacking it near its intended location.
D
C
A
B
IMPORTANT: DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE FATHOM SUBWOOFER,
PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE UNPACKING AND POSITIONING IT TO
PREVENT INJURY. IF POSSIBLE, ENLIST THE HELP OF A SECOND PERSON TO
FACILITATE THE PROCESS. TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF INJURY, BEND YOUR
KNEES AND LIFT WITH YOUR LEGS, NOT YOUR BACK.
Detailed instructions on unpacking the subwoofer:
1. Place the carton on the oor near its intended location in the room.
2. Open the top of the carton (observe markings on carton) and remove the manual,
calibration microphone and power cord.
3. Temporarily remove the split-foam packing inserts.
4. Untie and loosen the protective cloth cover to make later removal easier (do not
remove at this time). When you open the cloth cover, you are looking at the
bottom of the subwoofer cabinet.
5. Replace the split-foam inserts to protect the subwoofer’s cabinet
while unpacking.
6. Gently ip the box on its side, folding back the carton aps to the outside.
7. Holding the carton aps back, gently ip the carton onto its top (open end).
8. Pull the carton straight up until it clears the subwoofer and place to one side.
9. Remove the one-piece foam insert and place in the carton.
10. Remove the plastic bag and place in the carton.
11. Tilt the subwoofer forward (toward its grille) to remove the rear split-foam insert
rst. en tilt the subwoofer in the opposite direction (towards its ampli er
panel) to remove the remaining split-foam insert. Place both split-foam inserts
in the carton.
12. Remove the protective cloth cover and place in the carton.
IMPORTANT
IMPORTANT! PLEASE RETAIN ALL PACKAGING FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION
OF THE SUBWOOFER AND FOR ANY FUTURE SERVICE NEEDS.
Page 11 | Fathom f212
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