MK Sound V-125THX, MX- Operation Manual
operation
manual
MX-SERIES: MX-150THX
V-SERIES: V-125THX
Miller & Kreisel Sound Corporation
10391 Jefferson Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232 USA
(310) 204-2854 FAX (310) 202-8782
© 1995 MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORP.
THX®powered subwoofers
Manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm and THX are registered trademarks of
Lucasfilm Ltd.
THX subwoofers
page 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS................................................................................................3
2. INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................4
3. WHERE TO PLACE YOUR SUBWOOFER .....................................................................4
4. OPERATION WITH THX COMPONENTS........................................................................4
CONNECTING THE SUBWOOFER TO A THX CONTROLLER........................................................... 4
TESTING THE SUBWOOFER (THX)..........................................................................................................6
5. CALIBRATING THE SUBWOOFER (THX)......................................................................6
OPERATION OF THE "LOW PASS FILTER" AND "BASS LEVEL" SWITCHES ....................................... 6
SETTING SUBWOOFER LEVEL (THX)...................................................................................................... 7
USING TWO SUBWOOFERS (THX) .......................................................................................................... 7
6. OPERATION WITH A NON-THX CONTROLLER ...........................................................7
OPERATION OF THE "LOW PASS FILTER" SWITCH .............................................................................7
OPERATION OF THE THE "BASS LEVEL" SWITCH ................................................................................. 8
WIRING WITH A NON-THX CONTROLLER............................................................................................... 8
USING THE SUBWOOFER WITH THE M&K LP-1S, HP-80 OR VF-80 HIGH-PASS FILTERS ............. 10
TESTING THE SUBWOOFER (NON-THX) .............................................................................................. 10
SETTING SUBWOOFER LEVEL (NON-THX) .......................................................................................... 11
USING TWO SUBWOOFERS (NON-THX) .............................................................................................. 11
7. SATELLITE/SUBWOOFER PHASING TEST ................................................................11
8. FINE-TUNING THE PLACEMENT OF YOUR SUBWOOFER .......................................12
SPECIAL METHOD FOR PLACING THE SUBWOOFER........................................................................ 13
9. USE OF SPIKED FEET WITH "MX" SUBWOOFERS ...................................................14
10. TROUBLESHOOTING ...................................................................................................14
IF YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE EXTERNAL FUSE ............................................................................ 15
11. IF YOU NEED SERVICE ................................................................................................16
12. SPECIFICATIONS..........................................................................................................16
13. CABINET MAINTENANCE ............................................................................................16
WIRING DIAGRAMS
FIGURE 1 ONE SUBWOOFER TO A THX CONTROLLER....................................................5
FIGURE 2 TWO SUBWOOFERS TO A THX CONTROLLER.................................................5
FIGURE 3 ONE SUBWOOFER TO A SURROUND CONTROLLER (NON-THX) ..................8
FIGURE 4 TWO SUBWOOFERS TO A SURROUND CONTROLLER (NON-THX) ...............8
FIGURE 5 ONE SUBWOOFER TO AN AMP OR PREAMP (NON-THX)................................ 9
FIGURE 6 TWO SUBWOOFERS TO AN AMP OR PREAMP (NON-THX)............................. 9
THX subwoofers page 3
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
The lightning flash with arrowhead,
within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user of the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure
that may be of sufficient magnitude to
constitute a risk of electric shock to
persons.
TO PREVENT THE RISK OF ELECTRIC
CAUTION:
SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR
BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO
QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the
user of the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
1. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. READ INSTRUCTIONS - All safety and operating instructions should be read before this product is operated.
1
2. RETAIN INSTRUCTIONS - The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
3. HEED WARNINGS - All warnings on this product and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.
4. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS - All operating and use instructions should be followed.
5. ATTACHMENTS - Do not use attachments not recommended by the product manufacturer as they may cause hazards.
6. WATER AND MOISTURE - Do not use this product near water - for example, near a bath tub, wash bowl, kitchen sink,
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 accessories recommended
or laundry tub; in a wet basement; or near a swimming pool; and the like.
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 SOURCE - This product should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label.
If you are unsure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local power company.
9. OVERLOADING - Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock.
10. LIQUID ENTRY - Never spill any liquid of any kind on the product.
11. SERVICING - Do not attempt to service this product yourself. Opening or removing covers, including any over bottom or
side speaker drivers, may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all service to qualified service personnel.
12. DAMAGE REQUIRING SERVICE - Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified personnel
under the following conditions:
a. When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.
b. If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into this product.
c. If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. Adjust only 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.
d. If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way.
e. When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance - this indicates a need for service.
13. REPLACEMENT PARTS - When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement
parts specified by the manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions
may result in risk of fire, electric shock, or other hazard.
14. 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.
15. HEAT - This product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
products (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
THX subwoofers
page 4
2. INTRODUCTION
Congratulations! Your new M&K THX® subwoofer truly represents the state-of-the-art in subwoofer
performance. The new dimension of deep and powerful bass it provides will both thrill and excite you.
We strongly encourage you to read this owner's manual, as there is a great deal of information
provided here to help you get the best possible performance.
If you have any questions about your subwoofer, please contact your M&K Home THX
or call the M&K factory directly at (310) 204-2854, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time. We will be
more than happy to help you with any question, no matter how simple or complex it may be.
For more details on the installation and calibration of your Home THX Audio system, please refer
to the THX Installation & Operation Manual.
THIS OWNER'S MANUAL HAS TWO SETS OF SET-UP INSTRUCTIONS.
ONE SET IS FOR USING THE SUBWOOFER WITH A THX CONTROLLER.
THE OTHER SET IS FOR USE WITH NON-THX PROCESSORS.
To operate it with a THX controller, see Section 4 below.
To use it with a non-THX controller, see Section 6 (page 7).
Audio dealer,
3. WHERE TO PLACE YOUR SUBWOOFER
Your subwoofer will deliver excellent performance located virtually anywhere in your room. Unless
you are next to the subwoofer, you will not hear it as a separate source of sound. In fact, its deep bass
will appear to come from your other speakers. Therefore, there is no
either between your Satellite or L/C/R speakers or in any specific location in the room.
You can significantly improve and fine-tune your subwoofer's performance by experimenting with
its placement in the room. For more detailed placement information, please see Section 8 (page 12).
Your subwoofer is magnetically shielded, so you can locate it close to a television without picture
distortion occurring from magnetic deflection of the TV's electron beam.
Wherever you put the subwoofer, you must allow room for ventilation of its heatsink and backplate.
The subwoofer's power amplifier is mounted on the backplate, and it generates heat. Therefore:
1. Do not place the subwoofer against a wall. Leave at least 3 inches clearance for the heatsink.
2. Do not place the subwoofer close to baseboard heaters or forced air heating outlets.
DO NOT PLUG THE SUBWOOFER INTO AN AC OUTLET
UNTIL ALL SYSTEM WIRING IS COMPLETE
need
to place your subwoofer
4. OPERATION WITH THX COMPONENTS
CONNECTING THE SUBWOOFER TO A THX CONTROLLER
The "INPUT" RCA terminals on the subwoofer connect it to the outputs of your THX controller. All
of the input connections and controls for the subwoofer are located on its large metal backplate, which
can be found on the back panel of the subwoofer cabinet.
To connect the subwoofer, run a shielded RCA - RCA interconnect cable from the SUBWOOFER
THX subwoofers page 5
OUTPUT jack on your THX controller to the "LEFT/MONO" "INPUT" jack on the subwoofer's
backplate. See Figure 1 below.
Some THX controllers have a pair of stereo subwoofer outputs, while others have a single mono
output. Your subwoofer is compatible with both types. If your THX controller has stereo subwoofer
outputs, use a stereo shielded cable, connecting it to the LEFT and RIGHT "INPUT" terminals on the
subwoofer. If your THX controller has only a single mono subwoofer output, use a mono cable and
connect it to the subwoofer's "LEFT/MONO" "INPUT" jack. See Figure 1 below.
Do not use a Y-connector to connect the signal to both the LEFT and RIGHT inputs of the
subwoofer. These inputs are summed to mono in the amplifier input stage, and if they are combined,
the result will be too much gain and bass level.
FIGURE 1- WIRING ONE SUBWOOFER WITH A THX CONTROLLER
SUBWOOFER OUT
THX
CONTROLLER
BASS LEVEL
REFERENCE
+3 dB
+6 dB
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
AVIS:
RISQUE DE CHOC
ELECTRIQUE. NE PAS OUVRIR
Manufactured under license
from Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm and THX are
registered trademarks
of Lucasfilm Ltd.
CAUTION:
DISCONNECT SUPPLY CORD
BEFORE CHANGING FUSE.
REPLACE FUSE ONLY
WITH SAME TYPE.
ATTENTION:
DEBRANCHER AVANT DE
REMPLACER LE FUSIBLE.
UTILIZER UN FUSIBLE
DE RECHANGE
DE MEME TYPE.
Made in U.S.A.
MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORPORATION
10391 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 310/204-2854
.
VARIABLE
THX
LEFT/MONO
INPUT
RIGHT
PHASE
+
120 VAC 50/60 Hz
LOW PASS
FILTER
80 Hz
24 dB/OCTAVE
THX
4 AMP
T
SLOW-BLOW
FIGURE 2 - WIRING TWO SUBWOOFERS WITH A THX CONTROLLER
use a Y-connector if
your controller has
only one subwoofer
output jack
LEFT/MONO
VARIABLE
+6 dB
THX
INPUT
PHASE
LOW PASS
FILTER
+
80 Hz
24 dB/OCTAVE
THX
RIGHT
REFERENCE
BASS LEVEL
+3 dB
+6 dB
VARIABLE
THX
LEFT/MONO
INPUT
THX CONTROLLER
SUBWOOFER OUT
REFERENCE
BASS LEVEL
+3 dB
PHASE
LOW PASS
FILTER
+
80 Hz
24 dB/OCTAVE
THX
RIGHT
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
AVIS:
RISQUE DE CHOC
Manufactured under license
from Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm and THX are
registered trademarks
of Lucasfilm Ltd.
CAUTION:
DISCONNECT SUPPLY CORD
BEFORE CHANGING FUSE.
REPLACE FUSE ONLY
WITH SAME TYPE.
ATTENTION:
DEBRANCHER AVANT DE
REMPLACER LE FUSIBLE.
UTILIZER UN FUSIBLE
DE RECHANGE
DE MEME TYPE.
Made in U.S.A.
MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORPORATION
10391 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 310/204-2854
.
ELECTRIQUE. NE PAS OUVRIR
If you have two subwoofers, do not use a Y - connector to feed both inputs on each subwoofer.
Connect the interconnect cable to the LEFT/MONO "INPUT" only. Run the Left interconnect cable
to the Left subwoofer and the Right cable to the Right subwoofer. See Figure 2 above.
120 VAC 50/60 Hz
4 AMP
T
SLOW-BLOW
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
AVIS:
RISQUE DE CHOC
ELECTRIQUE. NE PAS OUVRIR
Manufactured under license
from Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm and THX are
registered trademarks
of Lucasfilm Ltd.
CAUTION:
DISCONNECT SUPPLY CORD
BEFORE CHANGING FUSE.
REPLACE FUSE ONLY
WITH SAME TYPE.
ATTENTION:
DEBRANCHER AVANT DE
REMPLACER LE FUSIBLE.
UTILIZER UN FUSIBLE
DE RECHANGE
DE MEME TYPE.
Made in U.S.A.
MILLER & KREISEL SOUND CORPORATION
10391 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 310/204-2854
.
120 VAC 50/60 Hz
4 AMP
T
SLOW-BLOW
THX subwoofers
page 6
TESTING THE SUBWOOFER (THX MODE)
Once all of the interconnect cables are in place, you are just about ready to plug in the subwoofer.
Set the "LOW PASS FILTER" toggle switch to the "THX" position and the "BASS LEVEL" toggle switch
to the "THX" position.
Set the "SUBWOOFER PHASE" switch to the "+" position. If your THX controller has a
SUBWOOFER (OFF/ON) switch on its front panel, rear panel, or remote control, set it to ON. (See
the controller's manual for details).
Plug the subwoofer's AC cord in. The red LED on the back panel should illuminate.
Play some program material that has good bass content through your system. Carefully advance
the system volume control. You should hear the subwoofer operate. If you think the subwoofer isn't
working, walk up to the speaker and listen to it from a distance of a foot or less.
If you confirm that it is not working, unplug the subwoofer and check all of your connections before
trying it again. If you have a problem that you cannot solve, contact your dealer or the M&K factory.
When your system wiring is complete and the subwoofer is plugged into the wall, leave it plugged
in, even when the system is turned off. The normal mode of operation for the subwoofer is to remain
plugged in 24 hours a day. Among other things, this means that you don't have to walk over to the
subwoofer to turn it on every time you want to use the system.
DO NOT PLUG THE SUBWOOFER INTO A SWITCHED OUTLET ON ANOTHER COMPONENT. IT CAN DRAW UP
TO 400 WATTS FROM THE AC LINE. IT MUST BE PLUGGED INTO A SOLID AC LINE.
5. CALIBRATING THE SUBWOOFER (THX)
On the back panel of the subwoofer, three toggle switches allow you to select various modes of
operation. Two are described here. A description of the function of the third toggle switch can be
found in section 7, SATELLITE & SUBWOOFER PHASING TEST (page 11).
OPERATION OF THE "LOW PASS FILTER" SWITCH (THX)
When using the subwoofer with a THX controller, this switch should be set to the "THX" position.
When using the subwoofer with a standard stereo system or a surround sound processor that is not
THX-certified, this switch should be set to the "80 Hz 24 dB/OCTAVE" position.
The THX mode bypasses the internal crossover of the subwoofer and fixes its gain to a standard
setting. The THX controller contains the crossover and sets the rolloff point of the signal fed to the
subwoofer to 80 Hz (with a Linkwitz-Riley characteristic).
OPERATION OF THE "BASS LEVEL" SWITCH (THX)
When using the subwoofer with a THX controller, this switch should be set to the "THX" position. The
controller sets the output level of the subwoofer, so this switch disables the subwoofer's level control.
For the MX-150
system. For the V-125
THX, this position provides the proper sensitivity for when one subwoofer is used in the
THX, this position is proper when two subwoofers are used in the system.
The "CALIBRATED" level control mark is referenced to the level set by the "THX" switch. On the
MX-150
THX, both levels are identical. If you set the MX-150THX switch to "VARIABLE" and the level
control to "CALIBRATED," its output level is the same as when you set the switch to "THX."
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