MartinLogan Speaker User Manual
TM
D Y N A M O
u s e r ’ s m a n u a l
TM
M A R T I N L O G A N
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CONTENTS
Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Installation in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
About the Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Connections and Control Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Before Connecting the Dynamo
2-Channel Mode
Multi-Channel Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2-Channel/Multi-Channel Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2-Channel Using Speaker Level Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2-Channel Mode With 2-Channel Output. . . . . . . . 10
Sub Out—Using Multiple Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
AC Power Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Replacing the Fuse
Break-In
Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Listening Position
Ask Your Dealer
Enjoy Yourself
Installing Dynamo in a Cabinet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Room Acoustics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Your Room
Terminology
Solid Footing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Home Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Frequently Asked Questions & Troubleshooting. .18
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Specifications
Warranty and Registration
Service
Glossary of Audio Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
2 Contents
INSTALLATION IN BRIEF
We know that you are eager to hear your new Dynamo subwoofer, so this section is provided to allow fast and easy
set
up. Once you have it operational, please take the time to
read, in depth, the rest of the information in this manual.
It will give you perspective on how to attain the greatest
possible performance from this most exacting woofer system.
If you experience any difficulties in setup or operation of the
Dynamo, please refer to the Placement, Room Acoustics
and Connections and Control Settings sections.
Should you encounter a persistent problem that cannot
be resolved, please contact your authorized MartinLogan
dealer. They will provide you with the appropriate technical
analysis to alleviate the situation.
WARNING!
• Hazardous voltages exist inside—do not
remove cover.
• Refer servicing to a qualified technician.
• To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not
expose this module to moisture.
• Unplug subwoofer should any abnormal
conditions occur.
• Use only with a grounded outlet.
Step 1: Unpacking
Remove your new Dynamo subwoofer from its packing.
Please note, Dynamo's grill cover should not be used
in the standard down firing configuration. The grill
cover is supplied for use while the Dynamo is orientated in the optional front firing configuration
(see page 14).
Step 2: Placement
Ideally, place the Dynamo in a corner near the front of the
room. This is a good place to start. Please see the Placement
section (page 13) of this manual for more details.
Step 3: Signal Connection
Use the best cables you can. High quality cables, available
from your specialty dealer, are recommended and will
give you superior performance.
Attach your preamplifier/processor outputs through cables
to the signal input area located on the Dynamo’s rear
panel. Please see the Connections and Control Settings
section (pages 6–12) of this manual for more details.
If you plan to connect your Dynamo using speaker level
(high level) inputs, please refer to the 2-Channel Mode
Using Speaker Level Inputs section (page 9) of this manual
for more details.
The lightning bolt flash 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 sufficient magnitude
to constitute a risk of electric shock.
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.
Step 4: Power Connection (AC) (see warning)
Make sure the level knob is set at 0. Plug the Dynamo
subwoofer into a wall outlet. Review the AC Power Connection
section (page 12) of this manual for more details.
Step 5: Setting the Controls
Set the level knob to a medium volume position (12 o'clock).
Set the power switch to ‘Auto’.
Step 6: Listen and Enjoy
Now, you may adjust your system and enjoy!
3Installation in Brief 3
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations! You have invested in one of the
world's premier subwoofers.
The MartinLogan Dynamo represents the extension of
an intensive, dedicated team research program direct
ed toward establishing a world class line of reference
subwoofers using leading-edge technology, without
compromising durability, reliability, craftsmanship or aesthetics.
The Dynamo subwoofer uses a 10-inch high-excursion
aluminum element driver to achieve deep, tight, welldefined bass. A proprietary amplifier is used to drive the
output stage with precision and extremely high efficiency.
Low-pass filtering and phase control have been designed to
make integrating the Dynamo subwoofer with MartinLogan
and non-MartinLogan products both seamless and simple.
The materials in your new Dynamo subwoofer are of the
highest quality and will provide years of enduring enjoyment and deepening respect. The cabinetry is constructed
from the finest composite material for acoustical integrity
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and is finished with an attractive custom coating.
This User's Manual will explain in detail the operation of
your Dynamo subwoofer and the philosophy applied to its
design. A clear understanding will insure that you obtain
maximum performance and pleasure from this most exact
ing subwoofer.
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4 Introduction
Level Knob
Setting the level too high will cause the bass to seem bloated and is the single most common cause of bad sounding
subwoofers. A rule of thumb is that the subwoofer should
not draw attention to itself, but should simply make the
systems low end seem more extended and accurate.
Low Pass Filter Knob
When the Dynamo is connected in multi-channel mode
(via its LFE input), the low pass filter is not active and your
processor handles the bass management. When con
nected in 2-channel mode (via its speaker or line level
left/right input), the low-pass filter is active.
As a general rule the low pass filter should be set at the
option approximately equal to 70% of your speaker’s lowest
frequency response. Example: The MartinLogan Aeon i’s
lowest frequency response is 43Hz. 70% of 43Hz equals
30.1, so you should set the Dynamo’s low pass filter to 30Hz.
Remember, this is a general rule. We advise that once you
try the recommended setting using the formula above, you
should try the surrounding settings to see which sounds best.
ABOUT THE CONTROLS
Red: Energy saving mode and safety mode. If the power
switch is set to ‘Auto’ this indicates the Dynamo detects no
audio signal and has automatically switched into energy
saving mode. Setting the power switch to ‘Standby’ will
force the Dynamo into this mode. This also indicates if the
Dynamo’s temperature has exceeded nominal operating
range. The Dynamo will resume normal play mode when the
temperature-sensor reports a safe operating temperature.
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Green: Play mode. If the power switch is set to ‘Auto’
this indicates the Dynamo detects an audio signal and has
automatically switched into play mode. Setting the power
switch to ‘On’ will force the Dynamo into this mode.
Phase Control Switch
The phase control is entirely dependent on the size and
configuration of your listening environment, the placement
of the unit, and your seating arrangement. Due to the way
bass sound waves develop in different rooms, there is no rule
of thumb for setting phase. For instance, if your room has
a peak at the subwoofer crossover area, you may wish to
set the phase so the actual acoustic outputs of the subwoofer
and main speakers are out of phase. Experiment, try different settings and be patient.
Auto/On/Standby Power Switch
The Auto/On/Standby switch controls Dynamo’s energy
saving feature. When set to 'Auto', the Dynamo will turn
on when a music signal is detected and off when there is
none. The 'On' setting prevents the Dynamo from enter
ing energy saving mode. The 'Standby' setting forces the
Dynamo into energy saving mode. While set to 'Standby’,
the Dynamo will not perform.
Status Light
The Dynamo is equipped with a multi-color LED to indicate
the subwoofers current status. The following list explains the
meaning of the different colors:
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No color: No power. The Dynamo is not plugged in.
Figure 1. Dynamo controls.
About the Controls 5
CONNECTIONS AND CONTROL SETTINGS
Before Connecting the Dynamo
MartinLogan's engineering and design team developed the
Dynamo for easy setup and system integration. Before
beginning to connect your Dynamo, please review the
controls discussed in the last section. An understanding
of these will help speed you along as you connect and
integrate your Dynamo with your system. All signal
connections are done at the signal input section on
the rear connections panel of the Dynamo. Make certain
that all of your connections are tight.
WARNING! Turn your Dynamo subwoofer to
standby before making or breaking any signal
connections!
2-Channel Mode
This setup is recommended if your Dynamo will be used in
a 2-channel system with main speakers playing full range.
When a signal is connected to the Dynamo’s left/right
inputs, the Dynamo’s internal low pass filter is active.
Signal Connection (see figure 2):
1 Connect the left and right outputs of your preamplifier
to the left and right inputs of the Dynamo using quality
RCA interconnects. If your preamplifier only has one set
of outputs you may need to obtain Y adapters from your
dealer.
Recommended Control Settings (see figure 3):
1
Set the low-pass filter switch to the closest option equal
70% of your loudspeakers lowest frequency response.
2 While playing music with bass content, turn the level con
trol up until the music has deep extended bass, being
careful to avoid levels that become overwhelming.
3 Try the phase control in different settings until the best
blending is obtained. If you are using the Dynamo to
augment other MartinLogan products, we suggest you
start with the phase set at 90°.
Figure 2. Signal connection for 2-channel mode.
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6 Connections and Control Settings
Figure 3. Control settings for 2-channel mode.
Multi-Channel Mode
This setup is recommended if your Dynamo will be used in a
dedicated home theater or multi-channel system. When a
signal is connected to the Dynamo’s LFE input, Dynamo’s internal low pass filter is not active. By following this setup, you will
allow your processor to handle most of the bass management.
Signal Connection (see figure 4):
1 Connect the LFE/0.1 subwoofer output of the processor to
the LFE input of the Dynamo using a quality RCA interconnect.
WARNING!
Based on the performance of most processors,
it is recommended that MartinLogan center and
effects type speakers (i.e. Cinema i, Theater i and
Script i) not be run in large, wide or full range mode.
Doing so may potentially damage the speaker if
the processor attempts to drive the speaker beyond
its rated frequency range. This warning also
applies to products from other manufacturers.
It is recommended to run center and effects type
speakers in limited or narrow mode.
Some processors have an option to route the 0.1
channel to your main and/or surround speakers.
We recommend that you do not use this option.
Recommended Control Settings (see figure 5):
1 Use the bass management section of your processor‘s
speaker level setup option to set the subwoofer level at
an appropriate level. Follow the instructions in your pro
cessor manual to fine-tune the subwoofer level.
Figure 4. Signal connection for multi-channel mode.
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2 If your processor offers the option to setup crossovers for a
subwoofer, we recommend that you start with the following
settings—Crossover: 70Hz, High-Pass: 12dB, and LowPass: 24dB. The optimal setting for these options may
vary depending on your room and listening preferences.
3 Adjust the phase control until ideal blending is obtained.
If you hear no discernible difference leave the phase at 0°.
4 Follow the instructions in your processor manual to
fine-tune the subwoofer level.
Figure 5. Control settings for multi-channel mode.
Connections and Control Settings 7
2-Channel/Multi-Channel Mode
Using an A/V processor and the Dynamo’s low pass filters.
This setup is recommended if your Dynamo will be used
in both 2-channel mode and as a LFE (0.1) channel in
a multi-channel mode. By following this setup, you will
allow your processor to handle most of the bass manage
ment while running in multi-channel mode, and relinquish
control of the low pass filter to the Dynamo when running
in a 2-channel mode.
Signal Connection (see figure 6):
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1 Connect the left and right outputs of your preamplifier to
the left and right inputs of the Dynamo using quality RCA
interconnects. If your preamplifier only has one set of
outputs you need to obtain Y adapters from your dealer.
2 Connect the LFE/0.1 output of the processor to the LFE
input of the subwoofer using quality RCA interconnects.
Recommended Control Settings (see figure 7):
1 Set your front speakers for wide, large or full mode in your
processor. Set the center and effects type speakers in
limited or narrow mode (see the warning on page 7).
2
Set the low-pass filter switch to the closest option equal
70% of your loudspeakers lowest frequency response.
3 While playing music with bass content, turn the level control
up until the music has deep bass that is not overwhelming.
4 Try the phase control in different settings until the best
blending is obtained. If you are augmenting MartinLogan
loudspeakers, we suggest you start with the phase set
at 90°.
Figure 6. Signal connection for 2-channel/multi-channel mode.
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5 Use the bass management section of your processor’s
speaker level setup option to set the subwoofer level
at an appropriate level. Follow the instructions in your
processor’s manual to fine-tune the subwoofer level.
6 If your processor offers the option to setup crossovers for a
subwoofer, we recommend that you start with the following
settings—Crossover: 70Hz, High-Pass: 12dB, and LowPass: 24dB. The optimal setting for these options may vary
depending on your room and listening preferences.
8 Connections and Control Settings
Figure 7. Control Settings for 2-channel/multi-channel mode.
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