PMC teenty sub User Manual

user guide

No.

Hand built by

Date

IMPORTANT

Warranty Certicate

Please take a few moments to complete the warranty card at the back of this

booklet (or register at www.pmc-speakers.com) as this not only records the

purchase of your loudspeakers, but also provides you with an opportunity to make

suggestions and provide feedback directly to PMC.

Product Support

For product support, accessories or servicing advice, please contact

a PMC authorised dealer/distributor. See www.pmc-speakers.com and click on

‘Where to buy’.

Company Details

THE PROFESSIONAL MONITOR COMPANY LIMITED

HOLME COURT, BIGGLESWADE, SG18 9ST

T 0870 4441044 F 0870 4441045

email: sales@pmc-speakers.com web: www.pmc-speakers.com

PMC stock code: 14838 Ref. no - 677

This document should not be construed as a commitment on the part of PMC. The information it contains is

subject to change without notice. PMC assumes no responsibility for any errors within this document.

CE Conformity: PMC active loudspeakers conform to EC Directive LVD2006/95/EC and EMC 2004/108/EC.

WEEE European directive: PMC is a member of a National Compliance scheme and has gained the

associated certication of compliance from the Environment Agency with the registration WEEE/GJ0101WU.

WEEE EU Directive

This symbol on the product, and in or on its packaging, indicates that this product must not be disposed

of with other household waste. It is the responsibility of the owner to dispose of waste equipment via a

designated collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment. The recycling

of waste equipment is an attempt to conserve natural resources and ensures that it is recycled in a manner

that protects human health and the environment. For more information about where to dispose of waste

equipment for recycling, please contact your local waste/recycling authority or the dealer from whom you

purchased the product.

A message from Peter Thomas –

Peter Thomas

Owner & Chief Designer

“

Our sole aim while designing loudspeakers is to recreate the true essence of an artist’s

intention, combining the ultimate level of sonic resolution with solid engineering principles.

We believe that the same loudspeaker can be used throughout the entire audio chain,

from composer to studio or lm stage, post-production or mastering and then, nally,

the consumer. Our unswerving passion for getting it right has made this goal possible.

Thank you for choosing PMC products. It is now time for you to read the user guide,

install your new twenty series speakers, and realise just how much you’ve been missing.

Over more than two decades PMC has

earned an unrivalled reputation for creating

the world’s nest professional loudspeakers.

Simply put, our loudspeakers provide a

reference for the world’s highest prole

productions and events. They are found at

every stage of the creative process, from

conception to recording and broadcast

and, of course, in the home.

Our client list reads like a who’s who of the

sonically aware, with Prince, Elbow,

Stevie Wonder, Coldplay, Brian May,

Universal, EMI, Sony, Pinewood Studios,

Dreamworks, Capitol Studios and the BBC

among the makers of movies and music

who use our products.

Our loudspeakers were also used in the

production of Titanic, Spiderman III, Iron

Man 2, Finding Nemo, Pirates of the

Caribbean III, and during broadcasts of the

London Olympics, 2012.

EMI

Stevie Wonder

BBC

Tony Bennett

Prince

Coldplay

UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP

elbow

Thomas Newman

Royal College of Music

Brian May

Warner Music

Kraftwerk

Pinewood Studios

Capitol STUDIOS

Google

ESPN

Sony

JVC Studios

PMC: the authority for quality sound.

Congratulations - You have joined the elite

User guide

Contents

Tip

General usage guidelines

Introduction

Advanced Transmission Line - How it works

System description

Unpacking and care

Resonance absorbing plinth installation guide

Connections

Positioning and alignment

Operational controls

User EQ options

Integration - Initial setup settings

Running in

Specications

Service

The twenty series range

Our meticulous care and attention

Warranty on-line

Warranty certicate - part 1

Warranty certicate - part 2

Help us improve - Your comments

Inspection certicate

Read these instructions and keep them in a safe place for future reference.

Heed all electrical safety warnings, including any on the loudspeaker itself.

Tip

Do not use the loudspeakers near water.

Tip

We have provided a high quality Microber cloth for cleaning. This is ideal as the cabinet

should only be cleaned with a dry, lint-free, cloth. Do not use solvents, abrasives, waxes

or liquids as they may be detrimental to the nish.

Tip

Floor spikes are sharp and should be treated with great care during installation and use.

Tip

Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, ovens, other equipment that

produce excessive heat, or in unventilated softs or enclosures.

Tip

Unplug this product from both source and power during electrical storms or when unused

for extended periods of time.

Tip

Packing material can pose danger to the young and vulnerable.

Ensure these items are kept or disposed of safely.

Tip

High volume audio signals, however short their duration, have the potential to cause

hearing damage. Use care when setting the system volume level to ensure playback

sound pressure levels remain within safe comfortable limits.

Tip

Do not attempt to service the equipment. There are no user serviceable parts inside.

Please refer all servicing to PMC authorised personnel.

Servicing is required when the apparatus is damaged, exposed to moisture,

or exhibits a distinct or sudden change of operation or audio performance.

PMC has made efforts to provide accurate installation information and good quality

xings. PMC LTD will not be held responsible or liable for injuries or property damage -

direct, indirect or consequential - arising out of use or inability to use this product safely

and properly.

Tip

The twenty subwoofer contains very powerful magnets and therefore may have

a detrimental effect if left in close proximity to magnetically sensitive items such as;

CRT (tube style) televisions or monitors and media such as oppy discs, cassettes

and videotapes.

General usage guidelines

Tip

Thank you for choosing the PMC twenty active subwoofer. This guide provides installation and

operating instructions.

This active subwoofers can be used in a 2.1 conguration with twenty series speakers to gain

extra bass extension and headroom, or they can be used to reproduce a low frequency effects

(LFE) channel in a surround system. Numerous congurations are possible, some of which are

illustrated in this guide.

The electronics built into the subwoofer cabinet include an ultra-low distortion Class-D power

amplier, with DSP-based gain, ltering, and bass management functions when the signal is

routed via the twenty sub. Balanced stereo analogue and AES3 digital inputs are accepted to

feed the subwoofer system, and these input signals are also passed through to the analogue and

digital outputs for connection with other devices. The outputs can be unprocessed or high-pass

ltered, and with xed or variable gain.

The input source, analogue input sensitivity, gain trim, and overall volume are all adjustable, as are

the subwoofer’s low-pass lter slope and frequency. Additionally, the phase can be adjusted and

a single parametric equaliser is provided to assist with in-room alignment. The analogue and digital

outputs can be high-pass ltered, if required, to feed satellite speakers in a 2.1 conguration.

This subwoofer builds upon PMC’s world-class design pedigree, combining the nest drivers

available with the unique

(Advanced Transmission Line) bass loading principle, sophisticated

Class-D amplication, and ultra-precise DSP control. PMC’s unique

technology uses

contemporary materials to provide optimised absorption of unwanted low-midrange energy

within the cabinet, while extending bass output signicantly with negligible harmonic distortion.

The two long-throw bass drivers employed in the twenty subwoofer are a bespoke PMC

design using natural materials, with an ultra-light and ultra-stiff doped-paper cone to deliver

unparalleled transient response. The twenty sub cabinet has a small footprint, making it more

convenient and easier to place than typical cube-shaped designs.

Introduction

Tip

A further advantage of the ATL design

approach is greater bass extension and

higher SPL capability compared to typical

ported or sealed designs of a similar size –

even if similar drivers were used.

Moreover, the very consistent bass driver

loading brings the welcome benet that

the frequency response remains consistent

regardless of listening level, and analytical

auditioning can be conducted without

needing high replay volumes just to achieve

an optimal bass response. This is a unique

and very valuable characteristic of PMC’s

Advanced Transmission Line.

PMC’s unique

(Advanced Transmission

Line) enclosures have taken loudspeaker

design to the highest level, using sophisticated

cabinet construction, proprietary drive units,

and patented absorption materials and

techniques. The benets are enormous

compared to the relatively simple sealed and

ported designs currently available elsewhere.

PMC’s innovative approach places the bass

drivers near one end of a long cavity (the

Advanced Transmission Line). This cavity

is heavily damped with acoustic material

specied carefully to absorb the upper bass

and higher frequencies radiating from the rear

of the bass driver. The lowest frequencies are

allowed to pass down the line and emerge

from the large rear vent which acts essentially

as an extra bass driver.

An important benet of the

approach is

that the air pressure inside the cabinet, which

loads the bass driver, remains consistent.

This helps to maintain control of the driver

over a wide frequency range and signicantly

reduces LF distortion. Consequently,

the upper bass detail is not masked by

harmonic distortion and the result is PMC’s

characteristically fast, attacking bass, and

outstanding clarity.

Advanced Transmission Line How it works

Advanced Transmission Line

‘No other bass loading technology provides such resolution and tonal accuracy at all volume levels’

Tip

System description

The twenty active subwoofer has a powerful

DSP engine, operating at a xed sample rate

of 96kHz.

The two balanced analogue inputs are

conditioned by an adjustable low-noise gain

stage prior to A-D conversion to optimise the

signal-to-noise ratio. The converter is a very

high quality delta-sigma device, producing

a 24-bit, 96kHz output. The left and right

channels are summed to drive the subwoofer

speakers, but passed on as separate signals

to the analogue outputs.

The AES3 digital input accepts sample rates

up to 192kHz, and is sample rate converted

to 96kHz automatically. Either channel, or a

sum of both, can be selected to drive the

subwoofer, and both are passed on to the

digital output.

The DSP engine provides the system volume

control, low-pass ltering, parametric

equalisation, and phase alignment for the

subwoofer, as well as high-pass ltering bass

management options for the analogue and

digital outputs. It also provides non-invasive

excursion limiting to protect the drivers.

The DSP system generates three sets of outputs.

In addition to the digital output, there are

two separate D-A converters. One converter

provides the analogue outputs, while the

other feeds a 400W Class-D power amplier

connected to the loudspeaker(s).

The analogue and digital outputs are always

available and can be formatted to provide

either full range or high-pass ltered signals,

which can be used for satellite speakers or other

destinations. The output level can be xed, or

follow the system volume control setting.

XLRs Adjust level

for optimal

conversion

24-bit

converison

at 96kHz

AES3 XLR or RJ45

32-192kHz

Sample rate

conversion

to 96kHz

Volume,

roll-off, PEQ,

phase and

protection

Conversion

to analogue

Power amp

Analogue

Inputs

Gain

Stage

A/D

DSP

DAC

AMP

SRC

Digital

Input

DAC XLRs

Analogue

Outputs

AES3 XLR and RJ45

Digital

Output

Subwoofer

Tip

The PMC twenty active subwoofer is packed in a heavy-duty protective carton. Please retain the

carton to ensure that the loudspeaker can be transported safely if the need arises in the future. If you

dispose of the packaging please do so in an environmentally responsible and safe way.

What’s in the Box?

• The twenty sub is heavy. Please take care when lifting from the carton.

• Do not attempt to use the loudspeaker if the packaging has been water-damaged.

• Please Note: This unit must be earthed

Care and Service

In normal usage PMC speakers should provide many years of trouble-free operation, but in the unlikely

event that you suspect damage or failure has occurred do not attempt to repair the unit yourself.

There are no user-serviceable parts inside. Contact your dealer for advice and a service return

address.

Clean the cabinets with a dry and lint-free cloth, and avoid the use of solvents as they may damage

the nish of the unit.

Unpacking and care

1x twenty sub

1x twenty sub plinth with 4 cork isolators

1x Grille

4x M8 spikes, nuts and washers

4x M8 countersunk bolts

1x AC mains power cable

2x RCA - XLR phono adapter

1x Cleaning cloth

1x User Guide

+ 25 hidden pages

PMC teenty sub User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual