Paradigm OM-576 Owner's Manual

OWNERS MANUAL OM-576

Paradigm Electronics Inc. In Canada: 205 Annagem Blvd., Mississauga, ON L5T 2V1•In the U.S.: MPO Box 2410, Niagara Falls, NY 14302

PARADIGM®REFERENCE SUBWOOFERS

Thank you for choosing Paradigm®Reference subwoofers and congratulations!

You will soon experience the stunning difference that these state-of-the-art high-end
subwoofers will make in your music and home theater system.

Comprehensive R&D, leading-edge design, use of the finest materials and sophisticated
manufacturing and quality control techniques provide vastly superior performance for each
component part at every stage of design. Paradigm

®

Reference subwoofers will provide you

with stunning high-end sound and unparalleled listening pleasure for many years to come.
To achieve all of the exceptional sound that these subwoofers are capable of requires care

in installation and operation. Please take the time to read this manual in its entirety and
follow all instructions. If you have further questions, contact your Authorized Paradigm

®

Reference Dealer or visit the Q&A page in the Tech Support section of our website at

www.paradigm.com

Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Important Safety Instructions . . . 2

Unpacking Instructions . . . . . . . . 3

Subwoofer Placement and

Connection (pictorial) . . . . . . . . . . 4

Your New Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . 4

Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . 4

Room Acoustics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Subwoofer Placement . . . . . . . . . 5

Subwoofer Connection . . . . . . . . 6

Fine Tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RECYCLING AND REUSE GUIDELINES FOR EUROPE

In accordance with the European Union WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive effective August
13, 2005, we would like to notify you that this product may contain regulated materials which, upon disposal,
according to the WEEE directive, require special reuse and recycling processing. For this reason Paradigm

®

Electronics Inc. (manufacturers of Paradigm®speakers and Anthem™Electronics) has arranged with our distributors
in European Union member nations to collect and recycle this product at no cost to you. To find your local distributor
please contact the dealer from whom you purchased this product or go to our website at www.paradigm.com.

Please note that the product only falls under the WEEE directive. When disposing of packaging and other shipping
material we encourage you to recycle through the normal channels.

DIRECTIVES EUROPEENNES SUR LE RECYCLAGE ET LE TRAITEMENT DES DECHETS

Dans le respect de la directive WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment) mise en place par les institutions
Européennes à compter du 13 Août 2005, nous souhaitons vous informer que ce produit peut contenir des matières
devant faire l’objet d’une procédure de recyclage ou de traitement approprié des déchets. Dans cette optique,
ParadigmMDElectronics Inc (fabricant des enceintes ParadigmMDet des électroniques AnthemMC) avec ses Distributeurs
agréés dans l’Union Européenne, ont mis en place une procédure de collecte et de retraitement gratuite. Pour en
savoir davantage sur cette procédure veuillez contacter votre revendeur, ou notre Distributeur dans votre pays (vous
en obtiendrez les coordonnées sur simple demande ou en consultant notre site internet www.paradigm.com).

Notez que seul le produit fini est concerné par cette directive et ses obligations. S’agissant de son emballage et
de ses accessoires de transport nous vous recommandons de les recycler selon les procédures mises en place par
votre commune ou votre département.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO

NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE
PERSONNEL.

The lightning flash with arrowpoint within an
equilateral triangle warns 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.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle
warns users of the presence of important operating
and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature
accompanying the appliance.

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE, AND
OBJECTS FILLED WITH LIQUIDS, SUCH AS VASES, SHOULD NOT
BE PLACED ON THIS APPARATUS.

CAUTION: TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE
OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT.

CAUTION: FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION AGAINST RISK OF FIRE,
REPLACE THE FUSE ONLY WITH THE SAME AMPERAGE AND
VOLTAGE TYPE. REFER REPLACEMENT TO QUALIFIED SERVICE
PERSONNEL.

WARNING: UNIT MAY BECOME HOT. ALWAYS PROVIDE ADEQUATE
VENTILATION TO ALLOW FOR COOLING. DO NOT PLACE NEAR A
HEAT SOURCE, OR IN SPACES THAT CAN RESTRICT VENTILATION.

1

WARNING

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

2

1. Read Instructions – All the safety and operating instructions should

be read before the product is operated.

2. Retain Instructions – The safety and operating instructions should

be retained for future reference.

3. Heed Warnings – All warnings on the product and in the operating

instructions should be adhered to.

4. Follow Instructions – All operating and use instructions should be

followed.

5. Cleaning – Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning.

Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp, soft cloth
for cleaning.

6. Water and Moisture – Do not use this product near water – for

example, near a bath tub, wash bowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub; in a
wet basement; or near a swimming pool; and the like.

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 a
cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table recommended by the manufacturer,
or sold with the product. Any mounting of the product should follow
manufacturer’s instructions and should use a mounting accessory
recommended by the manufacturer.

8. Ventilation – Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for

ventilation and to ensure reliable operation of the product and to
protect it from overheating, and these openings must not be blocked or
covered. The openings should never be blocked by placing the product
on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface. This product should not be
placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless
proper ventilation is provided or the manufacturer’s instructions have
been adhered to.

9. Power Sources – This product should be operated only from the type

of power source indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of
the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or
local power company. For products intended to operate from battery
power, or other sources, refer to the operating instructions.

10. Grounding and Polarization – This product may be equipped with a

polarized alternating-current line plug (a plug having one blade wider
than the other). This plug will fit into the power outlet only one way.
This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into
the outlet, try reversing the plug. If the plug should still fail to fit,
contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat
the safety purpose of the polarized plug.

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 from the product.

12. Lightning – For added protection for this product during a lightning

storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of
time, unplug it from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or
cable systems. This will prevent damage to the product due to
lightning and power-line surges.

13. Overloading – Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or

integral convenience receptacles as this can result in a risk of fire or
electric shock.

14. Object and Liquid Entry – Never push objects of any kind into this

product through openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points
or short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Do not
expose this apparatus to dripping or splashing, and ensure that no
objects filled with water, such as vases, are placed on the apparatus.

15. Servicing – Do not attempt to service this product yourself as

opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or
other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.

16. Damage Requiring Service – Unplug this product from wall outlet

and refer servicing to qualified personnel under the following
conditions:

• When power supply cord or plug is damaged.

• If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into product.

• If the product has been exposed to rain or water.

• If the product does not operate normally by following the operating
instructions. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the
operating instructions as an improper adjustment of other controls
may result in damage and will require extensive work by a qualified
technician to restore the product to its normal operation.

• If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way.

• If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance – this
indicates a need for service.

17. Replacement Parts – When replacement parts are required, be sure

the technician has used replacement parts specified by the
manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part.
Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, or other
hazards.

18. 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.

19. Wall or Ceiling Mounting – The product should be mounted to a

wall or ceiling only as recommended by the manufacturer.

20. Heat – The product should be situated away from heat sources such

as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other products (including
amplifiers) that produce heat.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS

INSTRUCTIONS DE DÉBALLAGE

3

SUBWOOFER PLACEMENT AND CONNECTION

(pictorial)

POSITIONNEMENT ET RACCORDEMENT DES CAISSONS

(illustrations)

Fig. 1a

Fig. 1b

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 2

4

Break-In

Although your Paradigm

®

Reference subwoofer will sound great “out of
the carton” it will sound even better when broken in. Allow it to operate
for several hours before you listen critically.

Cleaning

Paradigm®Reference subwoofers have a durable premium finish. To clean,
use a damp soft cloth. Do not use a strong or abrasive cleaner. Avoid
getting any part of the subwoofer system wet. Do not place wet objects
(drinking glasses, potted plants, etc.) on top of the subwoofer—if allowed
to soak in, even a small amount of water may permanently damage the
subwoofer enclosure.

YOUR NEW SUBWOOFER

The ‘Watts’ (W) rating indicated on the rear panel is the maximum AC
power your subwoofer will draw when producing its maximum power
output. However, the actual wattage draw will vary with the bass
content of the program material—more if there is a lot of deep bass, less
when there is not as much bass.

Although generally not required for typical music and movie program
material, if the bass content of your program material is very loud and
more continuous in nature, we recommend connecting subwoofers with
higher wattage ratings (i.e. 1500 W) to dedicated AC circuits.

POWER REQUIREMENTS

When using two subwoofers, placing one in the front of the room and the
other in the rear of the room (Fig. 2) usually provides the best bass
performance and sonic integration. Consult the “Fine Tuning” section of
this Owners Manual for more information on adjusting phase settings. If
those locations are not possible, or if you want to experiment with placement
options using two subwoofers, the following procedure will be a helpful
guide to achieving better bass performance. Refer to “Subwoofer Connection”

(below)

then proceed as follows:

1. Temporarily turn all speakers off (either by turning your amplifier off

or disconnecting them).

2. Connect and place one subwoofer in the central area of your listening

room. Follow directions for connection, as outlined in the following section.

3. At a moderately loud level, play music or a video soundtrack with
extended bass that is repetitive or continuous.

4. Walk around your room and note where the bass sounds louder and
where it sounds quieter.

5. Place the first subwoofer within a louder bass area of your room; then
place the second subwoofer within a quieter bass area of your room.

6. Connect both subwoofers and switch all speakers back on; and switch
the amplifier on, or reconnect it.

7. Follow “Fine Tuning” instructions, page 7, to optimize your system's
overall bass performance.

(See your Dealer for connection instructions using two subwoofers.)

THE ADVANTAGES OF USING TWO SUBWOOFERS IN YOUR LISTENING ROOM

NOTE: The preceding is only a guideline. You may want to use a
bass test disc and SPL meter to more accurately determine the bass
characteristics of your listening room

(see your Dealer for more information)

.

Remember that room acoustics vary, which means that it may take
some experimenting with subwoofer placement to achieve the best
subwoofer performance.

You are about to experience the astonishing bass performance of a state­of-the-art Paradigm

®

Reference subwoofer. These subwoofers incorporate
highly advanced patented technology and set all new standards for deep
bass extension, ultra-low distortion and sound power output and provide
unprecedented bass articulation and slam.

It is important to note that just as the amount of soft furnishings has a
decided impact on mid and high frequencies, those below 150 Hz are
dramatically affected by the room itself—its size, shape, as well as by
physical boundaries throughout the room. Experimenting with subwoofer
placement and control adjustments is the best way to achieve optimal

bass performance in any room. Keep in mind the following guidelines when
deciding on best subwoofer placement:

• Concrete floors and walls tend to aggravate low-frequency standing
wave problems and are less preferred.

• Rooms where height, width and length are similar should be avoided as
they can exhibit significant low-frequency standing wave problems.
This may result in reduced clarity. If no other room is possible,
experiment with subwoofer placement to minimize acoustic problems.

ROOM ACOUSTICS

SUBWOOFER PLACEMENT

SAFETY PRECAUTION: Before proceeding with this section,
be sure to read and follow all safety precaution notices
at the beginning of this manual.

Bass is less and less directional as it goes down in frequency. For best
sonic integration, locating your subwoofer between your front speakers or
beside one of them and close to the back wall will usually provide the best
bass performance. If this location is not possible your subwoofer may be
placed anywhere in the room without affecting the stereo image of your
front speakers or the soundstage of your multichannel speaker system.

Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b on page 4, highlight how bass output is generally
affected by room placement. When seated in a typical listening area of
your room, placing the subwoofer inside the “shaded” areas will typically
result in bass performance as follows:

Fig. 1a: Corner placement provides the most bass, but sometimes at the

expense of accuracy.

Fig. 1b

:

A subwoofer placed near a wall usually provides a good balance

of quantity and accuracy.
Controls are provided to align your subwoofer’s output to the other speakers

in your system, see “Fine Tuning,” page 7.

5