The amber lighi is lil when t,le sLb$m€r is in slandby mode.
The P(rer Indlebr is lil when lhe s)stem
8. Subr@fervoLumeCdlrol Adjci d1e loudll* of the
10. Vdeo ModeAcli€ LED
13. Ambient Ddve6 Adi@ Swiich
s adi!€.
sub{e€6.
14. lnrbienl DivasAcllve
15. LFE Gain Knob
16. LN Pass
FibrKnob
LED
Back of Conboller
17. Subweler Oubul Righl
18. Sub@ier oLlpLn Lefl
19. SubwierGain Seledor A!l@s tor addi[onaLgain tor ]w inpLi sigmls.
20. LFE Inpd
21. LFEThT
22. Lneln L nelryel Rc,AinpdonneclDts
23. LnelLbd UelerelRcAoulpul
24. Ext Tdgger inpLn ffibl6 vid@ mode un€n
Remote
26. Ambient dn!€rs
27. Vrd6 Bas Conicur Lp/d@n
28 LorBass EO
(Figure
c)
swibh
uddown
jacks
lo €ciwr/ ma n ampliner
+5V
p@nt
is
I SpikeKitinstallation
A SpikeKit is included with
improved
is
shipped with its own
stabilizer bars) installed.
To
begin assembly, unpack ihe
aluminlm
teet. lmportanti
delermined. This
stabilizer bars wilh
onto the bottom ofthe
This will
you
Once
you:
While one
using the supplied allen studs. The
very
sharp. To avoid injury use
perflrmance
bass
cones,
prevent
have found the ideal
(4)
We recommend installing
makes the speakers
the Phillips head machine
cross-threading.
person
the [,'lodeJ VT-3
(as
ifthe'130+lbs
SpikeKit. Cautioni
SpikeKit and inspect
stainless
speaker, use
tilts
steel allen studs,
location for
and holds the speaker to
extfeme care when handling
I Placement
The VT- 3 is a floorstanding
The VT-3 is designed for indoor
sion will nol distort or discolor
To
realize the maximum
#1-6, referring
recordings to
position,
VT-3s. Be sure to have
the diagram in fig.2. Prior
use while
take note
of the changes
towef speaker that requires
use only. As the VT-3
picturc.
the
performance
you
optimize
a tape measure
provide
to
ofwood, speakers
much easier to move,
screws, using a#3 Phillips
yourfingers
speakers are awkward
of the VT-3,
yo(J
and level handy.
to start allthe machine
your
to beginning this
the speaker
are hearing. This will help
optimum
the VT,3 is
all tfle
(1)
allen
head wrench,
only the
speakers,
one side, carefully install the
no stands or mounting hardware
is a magnelically shielded loudspeaker,
you
should invest some time for fine-tuning
placement.
stability and to fifmly
and e,ectronics wasn't
unstabte without the
parts.
stabilizer bars until final
you
to move after the cones are nstalled.
The
SpikeKit includes:
(8)
Phillips
Carefully tum the speakers
screwdriver
screws in their holes before
are rcady to install
and installing them.
process,
we suggest
Each time
you
couple the speakefs
enoughl). Each
SpikeKit
(2)
aluminum
head machine screws
placement
upside down, and
(see
fig 1).
the metal cones. Have
cones flush against the
other than the included
placement
you
select two
you
to find the uttimate
adjustments. Follow
move the
to the floof for
VT-3loudspeaker
(or
stabilizer ba|s,
of the
jnstalling
When
tightening them
Caution: The
or three of
speakers to a new
ptacement
teast
at
(4)
and
speakeF is
attach the
the
someone help
stabilizer bars,
cones arc
SpikeKit.
next to
your
for
a televi-
favorite
the
!
(4)
rubbei
bars
down.
steps
your
'1.
Move lhe
Unlike many
loading ofthe
will
wallto accommodate
speakers wiihin
speakers, the
produce
excellent results
lowfrequency
your
10"-'12"
room's
ofthe front wall.
VT-3s are
drivers. lt
in most situations,
designed to
also loads the
acoustic
be
you
but
sionature.
._-..
placed
ambientor reaFfiring
can
close to
place
the vr-3s
the fiont wall. This
ddvers for
D
optimirm effect. 1O',-12"
as close
placement
as 6" or as far
Y
1.5xD
allows optimum
ipacing
as 24" from th;
2. Determine
For the
The.speakers
lront wall
rough
smoothest response,
and
placement
should
parallel
be arranged
by listenjng
the
to
each other.
position.
distance trom
as sj'mmetrically
The front-firing
the sidewalls
should be different
possible:
as
drivers should
5
tban the distance
Equidistant from
face the listening
the side walls,
area with6ut
f.om the
perpendicular
obstruction
front wall.
to the
from
\v
fuaniture.
times
your
for image focus and depth of sound between the speakerc- Balance this image focus and deplh with apparent stage
width, listening for sound beyond lhe boundaries of the left and right speakers.
completing this step.
Arrange the speakers so that the distance between the listener and the center of the speaker
the distance between the speakers. This configuration
listening by sitting centered behveen the speakers. While listening to the
puts
the listener in the center of the stereo
first
seleciion,
Play
close
all three
your
plane
image. Begin
eyes and listen
recordings
'1.5
is
before
Image Focus: The
is to the ight, and the
Depth of sound:
plane
flat
Determine fine
3.
N,,love the VT-3s no more than l" either toward or away
pa€llel
whether there is an impfovement. lf the overall
tape, and continue
A small degree of
with the depth
the speaker
4. lnstall the metal cones.
Now that
SpikeKit installation above). Once all
speakers are still exactly
5, Adjust spoaker
between
to each other.
is about 1" farther from the front wall than the inside corner).
you
have the speakefs in the besfsounding
To st€rt, adjust
sure).
particular
when
Experiment with the vertical axis by raising and lowerlng
vertical
yourears
on the r€ar stabilizer bar, Likewise,
."'
the h€ight at tho ffont ofthe speaker
to unscrew too
localizability of a
piano
is
The sensation that one musical event occurc behind another.
the speakers
placement
this
toe-in may be necessary to obtain the best image focus. Determine
and width of the soundstage. No more than 10 degrees should
tilt.
by moving the speakers inward or outward
Play
process
where
pafticular
centered between
(e.9.,
the
the same three
you
unlil
you
want them.
musical event in the sound field
piano
recordings
have determined the best balance of
four
them).
is centercd behind the bass and saxophone).
from each other Initially, make sure that the speakers are
again,
performance
cones
are installed, recheck
listening for image focus, stage
is imprcved, mark the
position,
install the metal cones on
the cones as needed to ensure the VT-3 is level and does
your
position, you
are at a lower
posilion,
may notice more ambience and
the height at the rearofspeakers by slowly unsctewing the two
raise
depth
if the improved sound occurs when
(e.g.,
The music
from each other
imaging, depth and soundstage width.
be required
your
measurements,
not rock in any direction
ear level in the listening
jn
the sound 6tage. lf the improvem€nt occufs
your
by slowly unscrewing ihe two melal cones on tho ftont stabilizer bar, Be sure not
much, or the cones may come off.
the bass is to the left, the saxophone
shouldnl
width
position
the toe-in afler
(i.e.,
to
lhe stabilizer
seem confined to a
and depth.
with
piece
a
you
the outside corner of
making sure that the
(use your
position.
Evaluate
masking
of
are satisfied
(refer
bars
level to be
At one
to
metalcones
6ars ars at a higher
position,
raige
points
Final
6.
You may want to r€peat tho sotup
You will find that subtle improv€ments can be made that
Experimentation is
remember that
room furnishings
particular
to rem€mber
proc€dures
the
key to findlng the best
small changes in speaker
play
an important role in absorbing and reflecting soundwaves. Midrange and high frequencies in
position
at som€
arrangements in
point
after
you
your
you
have a chance
to live with the W-3s for a while.
may have overlooked during the initial set-up.
listening envhonmont. Bo
can sometimes have a significant efroct on the sound. ln addition,
will be absorbed by soft furnishings such as sofas, carpets and curtains. A large number of these sofl
furnishings will dr.ill the sound, while a "live" room with few furnishings will brighten the sound.
patient,
have fun, and
I Connections
Before connecting speakers to
receiver to avoid damage to lhe equipment
To minjmize noise
digital cables. Also do not run speaker cables
placed
at right angles where they meet. Do not tie AC
I General Connections
The VT-3 subwoofer amplifiers
amplifiers are
lf the distance between the subwoofer amplifiers and the Controller is
cable
On
connecting top and bottom
fier, or with two amplifiers and two sets of speaker
via their own 500W Dower amDiifiers.
Single Amplifier
To run the
set of binding
Two AmDlitier Method
Complete isolation can be achieved by the use
to
output, as it allows both amp|fiers
task of ddving all the speakers.
You
fier for the rear
Connectlng the subwoofer amplitiers
Connect the fight
D.l.N.
8"pin D.l.N. cable. Be careful not to mis-insert the D.l.N. cable, as the
cable connector is fullv inserted inlo the socket.
near each other at some
(Model
the back of the VT-3's subwoofer amplifier
VT-3s with one external ampliner / rcceiver, simply connect
power
the midrange / high frequency drivers.
will need two amplifiers: A main amplifler for the upper range drivers
cable. Connect the eft VT-3 tower subwoofer amplifier to lhe
pickup,
plugged
X20, which is 20 feet long and couples with the original cable).
Method
posts
"ambient"
VT-3
segregate cables by function. Do not run low level signal cables
directly into lhe AC outlet in the wall. The VT-3 Controller receives
pairs.
(it
doesn't matter which). Leave the shorting straps
drivers. Remove the shorting straps,
tower
your
system, it is very imporbnt that
parallel
place
and Controller are connected via hvo 2o-foolong 8-pin
There are lwo
subwoofer amplifier to the
your
in
to
concentrate
system, separate
power
plale
different ways to connect the VT-3s to
cable. Keep in mind thai the VT-3s' subwoofers
of two separate amplifiers, one lo
The two-amplifler method
all their headroom toward a specific
power
to
cords and speaker cables
there
are
"R
cords or digital cables.
them
pairs
two
Speaker" output from the Conholler with the
"L
you
tun otr the
the maximum
by
together.
greater
of binding
lhe
Speaker" output ffom the Controllerwith the other
pins
lhan twenty feet, NHT offers an extension
posts
speaker
place.
in
provides
(top pair
are smal and can bend easi
cables to e ther the top set or bottom
power
ihe
increased dynamic
group
of binding
power
parallel
lf differeni types of cables
practical
D.l.N
power
(fig.
your
distance and cross them
cables. Only the subwoofer
via the 8-pin D-l.N
A) with metal shorting straps
system:
rear
"ambient" drivers and one
of drivers, sparing
posts),
your
to
power
lo
With
are already biamplified
and a second amp i-
amplifier /
cables, or to!_
a single ampli
range
and
provided
y.
I\,4ake sure the
cable.
powef
thern
8-pin
are
the
-
\g
Note: Both D.l.N.
left
speaket
keeping
I Audio Connections
The VT-3 Contrcllerwas designed for a separate
ln RCAjacks. No speaker level connections arc available with the VT-3 Controller.
Conneci the
you
Effects In
Be
I Power
1. Connect the
2. Connect the
3. Swiich lhe
4. Swtch the
the
are not running a separate subwoofer, like
jack.
carcful to maintain the
Connections
cables
powers
powet
supplies separate,
pre-amp
The Line Ouiputs from the
power
power
power
power
must
be attached to the Controllet in order for
analog
the
or majn
cord to
cord to the left
"Auto"
to
"Auto"
to
audio
ouis
pfoper
the right subwoofer amplifier and an AC walL out
on
on the left
functions
the
your processor
from
left and right
sLrbwoofer amplifier and an AC wall outlet.
the
right speaker.
soeaker.
and the ight speaker
potential
back of
digital noise
processor
or feceiver to the Line Input on the back of the VT-3
a SubTwo,
the
polarity.
Controller connect to the main inputs on
and amplifiers or for a rece iver featu fing
you
powers
generated
can also connect the LFE outpui to the Low Frequency
it
function
to
the digital and rcmate control functions. By
will be
kept
et.
prcpe
out of the critical analog
y.
Irls ls because the
pre-amp
your
receiver or ampljfier.
out and main
controller
path.
lf
I Explanation
Features
of
(see
figure B)
The SUBWOOFER VOLUME control allows
[,4any listeners make the mistake of setting the subwoofer level too high, which can cause excess bloat
and musicali9. A
rhe following
.
YTurn
down t-hdvolume controlon the Coniroller to its lowest
some music
increase the volume on the VT-3 Controller,
balanced
from the subwoofersl
From this
including the subwoofers-
The front
listening or movie viewing,
the size of the sonic space and the size ofthe visualspace
in a large space, for example,
Activating the rear-firing drivers
rear-firing drivers can
ers
reproduces
fer a
mid-bass region tend to deliver this
add mid'bass
The MUSIC / VIDEO MOOE switch dotermines
is flatfor accurate
The blue
ACTIVE switch selects
the
the VIDEO mode. The control of this featur€ is
with
point
panel
prefer
a
punchier,
light
light is on. The AMBIENT DRIVERS ACTIVE switch functions only when the
blue
pfoperly
guidelines
you
are
rest ofthe system,
the
on,
MUSIC / VIDEO MODE switch and
flat
bass
the sound of live instruments. However, when watching movies in a home
"boomie/'
punch
musical reproduction. In the VIDEO mode, the re6ponse ischanged for movie soundtrack
denotes
set-up subwoofer blends in with the othef speakers and does nof call attention to itself. Observe
for volume
familiar with
the volume control on
giving you
be switched off if the enhancement is not desired. Similarly, when listening
response thal does not emphasize any individualfrequencies. Flat bass
sound that emphasizes sounds like explosions and
you
if
so desire.
VIDEO mode. While in VIDEO mode, the ambient drivers are selectable.
between the active and inactive state for the ambient drivers. The ambienl drivers are active
settingl
and set
you
the best of both
your
while
enhances the soundstage, allowing a closer match between sonic and visual spaces.
punch,
you
to adjust the volume ofthe subwoofers rclative to the rest of the system.
position
your
receiver
listening for
will hear improved bass extension, but
your
receiver /
VIDEO
ears tell
you
at the expense of
the operating mode of the VT-3. In the l\4USlC mode, the VT-3's response
present
preamplifier
/
proper
the
preamplifier
BASS CONTOUR
worlds- When watching a movie, lhere is oflen a disparity between
presented
that
events
on both the controller
(counteFclockwise).
volume to a comfortable listening level. Slowly
level balance. When the output of the subwoofers is
you
will control the overall volume of
allow
you.
to
are occurring in a space roughly the size of
flat response. The l\4usic^y'ideo lvlode switch allows
Your eyes tellyou that events are occurdng
gunfire.
and lR remote.
Tum on
should be unaware that it is coming
you
to optimize the VT-3s for music
response more realislically
theater system, many listeners
Subwoofers with more output in the
The AMBIENT DRIVERS
MUSIC / VIDEO MODE switch is in
loss
and
your
audio system. Play
to music, many listen-
of detail
your
system,
your
room.
you
reproductaon.
when
The
pre-
to
ITVIDEO
-
equahzation
fesponse
active only when the VT-3s are in VIDEO mode. The control of this feature is
remote,
No'€: Q referc
quencies,
The LOW BASS EQ
which will leave the low-frequency crossover
bass frequencies wjthout effecting the mid- or upper bass. Rooms with concrete walls and floors tend to support output in
the
tend to
kol of this feature is
The continuously variable LOW PASS X-OVER ADJUSTMENT
will reproduce. The Low Pass Filter is variable between 40Hz
ety of
bass level, experiment with
wise to lighten or thin the lower
contol_
The
the LFE
or
quency
BASS CONTOUR
has a fairly low
rolls off below 35Hz to
to the
high Q means a rclatively nanow mnge
bottom
LFE GAIN control allows for level matching
other devices via the Low Frequency Effects Thru
octave,
provide
room
conditions. Adjustmeot should begin with the indicator
output from
effects channel sent to the VT-3s relative to the
and may require a slight decrease of the LOW BASS EQ level. Rooms of lighter
relatively less
provdes
O, covering
range of frcquencies over which the equalization has an
provides gain,
present
your
on both the
small changes clockwise to warm or thicken the lower midrange/upper
signal
bass boost, which
the range
provide grealer power
continuously adjustable
point
support for the bottom octave and may need an increase in LOW BASS EQ level. The con-
controller and lR femote, and it is active in both the MUSIC and VIDEO modes.
midrange/upper bass. Listening to male vocals will aid in finding
processor
to the VT3
is
continuously
between
of
frcquencies) .
of the subwoofers undisturbed. This is useful in conholling the lowest
between the main left and right inputs and the LFE input. You may
controllef via the Low Frequency Effects In
jack).
40Hz and the high trequency cutoff of the subwooters. The
handling at elevated listening levels. VIDEO BASS CONIOUR is
from
(low
The LFE
total speaker output.
variable from 0 to
-7
detefmines the
+7
to
bass) and
pointing
in the
gain
control allows
dB, centered at 30H2. lt
180H2
pr€sent
etfect
range
"straight up"
+7.5
dB, centered at 60H2. The
on both the Controller and the lR
(low
(upper
neans a broad nnge of tre-
Q
fairly
has a
(wood)
frequencies
of
bass), to accommodate a vari-
position.
you
to set the level
that the subwoofers
ba6s, or counter-clock-
good
a
jack
(and
construction
After adjusting the
setting for this
to a
subwoofer
ofthe
high O,
feed
low fre-
\rlhe
receiver or
controller.
GAIN SWITCH allows
preamplifier
has a low
you
to increase the line-level input
line-level output voltage that limits
sensitivity ofthe Controller by 10d8. This is useful ifyour
your
range
of volume adjustability on the VT-3
The VT-3 has a STANDBY
for 45 minutes,
the system
and off every
the VT-3 controller
is
again, it immediately turns on as soon as a signal is received.
used
time they are used.
MODE feature that is automatic and rcquires no usef adjustments. When no signal is
goes
into Standby l\/ode, and it will use a minimum of
power
There is no need to turn ihe VT-3s on
remain
to
"asleep".
prcsent
When
The VIDEO MODE TRIGGER INPUT is an auxiljary trigger input that
preamplifiers
function, such as DVD of DSS.
was l\rUSlC or stay in VIDEO if it was already
back to MUSIC mode either by
processors
and
have a trigger output
lf
the trigger
the lR remole or by the Conkoller
(+4.sVDC
is
aclive,
in that mode- The system will remain in the
the VT-3
+25
to
VDC) which is enabled when the user selects a video-
processor
I Operation
The VT-3 system
to use common
is an indication
emanating
sustained
equalizer
sense and listen for signs of
that the speaker is running beyond
from the front of any of the speakers, reduce the
high volume levels, not frcm transient sounds or
controls can worcen the
was
designed
to handle a wide range of listening leveis, but every
problem
and
possjble
distress
its
capacity, and
is not recommended-
from the speakers. Noticeable distortion or harsh breakup
the volume should be decreased.
level immediately. Speaker damage
brief musical
I Maintenance
Your VT-3s have been
The VT-3 cabinet
it from the speaker,
cleaned by
moisture.
service
In the event that service is required, do not open the
technician.
may be cleaned using a damp cloth or a mild,
then brush lightly with a soft brush or use a
wiping with a lint-free cloth. Do not expose the tower or
designed for
years
ol trouble{ree operation and
non-abrasive
vacuum on its lowest setting.
Conkoller to direct sunlight,
VT-3 amplifler or Controller.
I Troubleshooting
lf tho VT-3 fails to operate
connections thoroughly.
lf no light is
present,
when both Power Switches are turned on, check the
lf the siatus light on the controller i6 not on, vorify that