Orion Car Audio MaxxBass User Manual

MaxxBass

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Congratulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Why Use MaxxBass

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Why is MaxxBass

Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

What is MaxxBass

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

How does MaxxBass

Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

MaxxBass

Signal Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Installation/Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

MaxxBass

Outline and Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Wiring Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Wiring Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

MaxxBass

Processor Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

CONGRATULATIONS

Thank you for choosing Orion audio equipment. At Orion we proudly design, engineer and manufacture audio products for aftermarket car audio. Our award winning engineering team utilizes innovative technology to consistently deliver Absolutely State of the Art performance, sound quality, reliability, and value. This Orion product reflects our commitment to offer you unparalleled versatility and quality for years of dependable service and listening enjoyment.

SERVICE

Do not attempt to service Orion products yourself. Performing exploratory surgery on your audio equipment yourself will void the warranty. Many parts of your Orion gear are custom built to our specifications. Our factory parts are not made available to anyone else nor are they for sale. Our goal is to make sure that your Orion will always sound as good as the day it was purchased. Contact your authorized Orion dealer about obtaining any warranty service through Orion. (See Warranty on back cover).

(Record listing for Model, Serial Number, and Purchase Date)

Model _____________________

Serial Number _______________

Purchase Date _______________

CAUTION

The extended use of a high-powered audio system may result in hearing loss or damage. While Orion systems are capable of "Concert Level" volumes with incredible accuracy, they are also designed for you to enjoy more reasonable levels all of the sonic subtleties created by musicians. Please observe all local sound ordinances.

WHY USE MAXXBASS

Orion will introduce the first MaxxBass®processor to the automotive market. The MaxxBass®processor is ideal for improving the perceived bass response in door mounted speakers without upgrading the speakers or amplifiers.

MaxxBass

provides subwoofer like performance with perceived bass

response to 30-40Hz on door mounted speakers. The MaxxBass®Processor is

recommended in two configurations. (Please see Wiring Configurations for more details.)

1) Front Stereo Configuration One MaxxBass

Processor is used between the front channel source and front speaker amplifier to increase the bass response on only the front speakers. This is recommended to improve bass imaging in high performance systems with rear mounted subwoofers.

2) Dual Stereo Configurations For systems without rear subwoofers, the user may prefer to use two

MaxxBass

Processors, one for the front speakers and one for the rear speakers. Although not nearly as good bass performance as using a high performance subwoofer, this configuration will provide close to subwoofer like performance without the space requirements of a high performance subwoofer. This is a practical alternative for bass performance where a subwoofer system can not be added.

WHY IS MAXXBASS®BETTER

MaxxBass®is NOT a bass boost technology. Bass boost technologies try to

compensate for lack of bass frequency range by equalizing or increasing the relative volume of the frequencies near the speaker limit.

 This increases amplifier and speaker excursion limits, which can

damage the system at high levels.

 This destroys the intended frequency balance of music.

MaxxBass uses psychoacoustics to extend the perceived bass frequency response.

 It is proven to provide up to 1.5 octaves of increased bass range.

 It does not change the frequency balance of the music and sounds

more natural than large bass boosts.

 It does not require more amplifier power and speaker excursion.  It has been proven over many years of use in professional audio

recording.

WHAT IS MAXXBASS

MaxxBass®is a patented technology, which extends the bass frequency range

by allowing listeners to perceive bass frequencies more than an octave below the physical limitations of speakers systems. In cars MaxxBass

allows door mounted speakers that typically drop off below 70-100Hz to play down another octave or more.

This is accomplished using the science of psychoacoustics on how we perceive sound. By building audio systems optimized for how we hear sound, significant performance improvements can be obtained. This is analogous to designing and building televisions that only display red, green and blue dots. When we view these displays our visual perception combines these dots to make a full color spectrum without needing to reproduce all the necessary color frequencies.

Unlike other bass technologies MaxxBass

delivers more perceived bass while

simultaneously reducing the likelihood of damaging speakers and amplifiers.

MaxxBass

also delivers this extended bass without any perceived distortion.

MaxxBass

technology has been used for years in mastering most of the

world's most popular music.

HOW DOES MAXXBASS®WORK

MaxxBass®uses advanced digital signal processing based on the proven

psychoacoustic Phenomenon of the Missing Fundamental. A basic description and a MaxxBass®Signal Flow diagram are provided for interested users.

MaxxBass

first implements a crossover at the MaxxBass®Frequency. The

MaxxBass®Processor allows the choice of 60Hz, generally suggested for 6-

6.5" drivers, and 80Hz suggested for 4-5.25" woofer drivers.

The low pass filter (LPF) output of the crossover extracts the bass signal which is below the bass frequency response of the system. This is the signal to be reproduced psycho-acoustically and only this signal receives the MaxxBass

processing. It is significant to note that unlike bass boosts, MaxxBass®does not add or change the processing of higher frequencies that can be reproduced by the system. MaxxBass

does not change the artist's sound mix.

MaxxBass®uses a patented digital signal processing algorithm to calculate

precise harmonic content information which is added back into the LPF signal. The combined LPF and harmonics output is high pass filtered, thus removing the original bass signal. The processed signal is then added back into the original HPF signal and the final output provides a signal that sounds like the original, but no longer has un-reproducible low frequencies.

MAXXBASS®SIGNAL FLOW

FEATURES

 Selectable MaxxBass®Frequency Setting of 60Hz and 80Hz

 Green LED clip/Red LED power indicator signal

 Gold 2 Channel in/2 channel buffered full-range out RCA

connectors

 4-pin locking power plug

 Input connector for outboard MaxxBass®Intensity controller

 Remote and on-box intensity controls

 Intensity adjustment from 0 to full effect

 -18dB/octave high pass filter output at 60/80Hz

 Defeatable -24/dB octave low pass filter at 100Hz on the input

Input

Cross-

Over

60/80 Hz

LPF

HPF

Output

Input Signal Example

MAXXBASS

Harmonics

Processed Signal Example

LPF +

Harmonics

HPF

60/80 Hz

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