Polk Audio PSW505 User Manual

O W N E R ’ S
M A N U A L

PSW505

P O W E R E D
S U B W O O F E R

ENGLISH

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

EAD BEFORE OPERATINGEQUIPMENT

R

. Read theseinstructions.

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2. Keep theseinstructions.
. Heed all warnings.

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4. Follow all instructions.
. Do not use this apparatus nearwater.

5

. Clean onlywith dry cloth.

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7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Installin accordance with the

anufacturer’s instructions.

m

8. Do not install near any heatsources such as radiators, heat registers,stoves,

r other apparatus (including amplifiers) thatproduce heat.

o

. Do not defeat the safety purposeof the polarized or grounding-typeplug. A polarized plug has two

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blades with one widerthan the other. A grounding type plug has two bladesand a third grounding

rong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for yoursafety. If the provided plug does not

p
fit into your outlet,consult an electrician for replacementof the obsolete outlet.

0. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularlyat plugs,

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convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

11. Only useattachments/accessories specifiedby the manufacturer.

2. Use only with the cart, stand,tripod, bracket, or

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table specified by themanufacturer, or sold with

he apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution

t
when moving the cart/apparatus combinationto

void injury from tip-over.

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13. Unplug this apparatusduring lightning storms
r when unused for long periods of time.

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4. Refer allservicing to qualified service personnel. Servicingis required when the apparatushas

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been damaged in any way,such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid hasbeen spilled

r objects have falleninto the apparatus, the apparatushas been exposed to rain or moisture,

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does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

15. WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electricshock, this apparatus should notbe exposed to rain

or moisture and objectsfilled with liquids, such as vases, should not be placed on this apparatus.

16. To completely disconnect this equipment from the mains, disconnect the power supply cord plug

from the receptacle.

17. The mainplug of the power supply cord shall remain readily operable.

WARNING: Listen Carefully

Polk Audio loudspeakers and subwoofers are capable of playing at extremely high volume levels,
which could cause serious or permanent hearing damage. Polk Audio, Inc. accepts no liability for
hearing loss, bodily injury or property damage resulting from the misuse of its products.

Keep these guidelines in mind and always use your own good judgment when controlling volume:
You should limit prolonged exposure to volumes that exceed 85 decibels(dB).

For more about safe volume levels refer to the Occupational Health andSafety Administration (OSHA)
guidelines at www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/noise/standards_more.html.

Product Disposal—

ertain international, national

C
and/or local laws and/or reg­ulations may apply regarding the

isposal of this product. For further

d
detailed information, please
contact the retailer where you
purchased this product or the Polk
Audio Importer/Distributorin your
country.A listing of Polk Audio
Importer/Distributorscan be
found on the Polk Audio website
www.polkaudio.com
or by contacting Polk Audio
at: 5601 Metro Drive,
Baltimore, Maryland 21215,
USA—Phone: [phone].

2 Polk Audio Customer Service 800-377-7655 (Outside USA & Canada: 410-358-3600)

-

+

-

+

R L

RECE IVER

SUB-OUT

-+-

+

RCA CABLE

FRONT

FRON T

CHAN NEL

FRON T

CHAN NEL

LINE IN

L

R

LFE IN

(FILTERED)

(UNFILTERED)

SUBWOOFER

+ LEFT – – RIGHT +

+ LEFT – – RIGHT +

SPEAKER LEVEL INPUT

SPEAKER LEVEL OUTPUT

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Caution: Subwoofers are heavy. Exercise caution when unpacking your subwoofer.

Please inspect your loudspeaker carefully. Notify your Polk dealer if you notice
any damage or missing items. Keep the carton and packing material. It will
do the best job of protecting your speaker if it needs to be transported.

Your system includes a detachable power cord that’s packaged separately from
the cabinet. Insert female end into the receptacle on the amplifier plate and insert
the polarized AC plug into a wall outlet (or power strip) as per the safety instructions
found on the inside cover of this manual. We do not recommend connecting the
subwoofer’s AC power cord to your receiver’s switched outlet.

Figure 1

18" - 24"
(46cm - 61cm)

PLACING YOUR SUBWOOFER IN A ROOM

Your PSW Series subwoofer is not magnetically shielded. Do not place near video moni­tors. (LCD, DLP and Plasma televisions are not affected by magnetism.) Allow at least
18" (45cm) of space between your subwoofer and any television, but if you do notice
video distortion or discoloration, immediately move the subwoofer away from the TV.

Your PSW Series subwoofer offers many placement options: in an entertainment center,
behind furniture, or next to a sofa or chair. You may place your subwoofer anywhere in
the room, but you'll enjoy the best performance when it’s on the same side of the room
as your system's front speakers (Figure 1). Placing your subwoofer near a wall or in
a corner will increase its loudness. When placing your subwoofer in the room, always
place your subwoofer on its base feet side down (Figure 2). If you can at all avoid it,
do not place your subwoofer next to an open door.

We do recommend placing your subwoofer in different locations within your room
to learn what produces the best sound quality for your listening environment. For

more information on subwoofer placement, go to www.polkaudio.com/education/

article.php?id=20.

OPTION #1—
Receivers that include a “Sub Out” feature—the most common hookup method
with Dolby

• Connect a single RCA cable from the “SUB OUT” of your receiver to the LFE input of

• Connect all speakers directly to the receiver. When using method #1, adjust

• Depending on your speakers’ bass output capabilities, set the crossover frequency

®

Digital receivers.

the subwoofer. This connecting method bypasses the subwoofer’s internal filter and
relies on the filter built into your receiver. Make no other signal connections.

Do not use speaker wire to make the connection to the subwoofer.

your receiver’s speaker configurations as follows: Set Front, Center and Surround
speakers to “small.”

on the receiver to 80Hz for tower and bookshelf speakers (speakers with a woofer
5 1/4" in diameter or larger) and 100-120Hz for satellite speakers.

Receiver Settings:

• Front, Center, and Surrounds = “SMALL”

• Subwoofer = “ON,” or “YES,” or “PRESENT”

Figure 1

AMPLIFIER

Figure 2

Consult your receiver’s owner’s manual for speaker configuration.

Option 1
CONNECTING THE SUBWOOFER TO THE SYSTEM—HOOKUP OPTIONS

Important Note: Use only one of these options.

Never combine hookup options.

Customer Service Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 9AM-5:30PM EST [e-mail] 3

RIGHT +

(FILTERED)

(

UNFILTERED)

SUBWOOFER

Option 2

LINE IN

L

R

(FILTERED)

(UNFILTERED)

SUBWOOFER

POWER AMPLIFIER

PRE-AMP OR PROCESSOR

Y CABLES

FRONT

CHANNEL

FRONT

CHANNEL

+ LEFT – – RIGHT +

+ LEFT

RIGHT +

Dolby Digital Speaker Set Up Settings

Front Speakers = Large
Center Speaker = Small
Rear Surround Speakers = Small
Subwoofer = No

OPTION #2—
Two channel or Dolby®Pro Logic receiver with no “Sub Out.”

If you elect to use the speaker level inputs, use two-conductor 16 gauge
or thicker speaker wires. See your Polk dealer for wire recommendations.

Note that one of the speaker input terminals on the rear of the speaker is marked
red (+) and the other black (-). Make certain that you connect the wire from the red
(+) terminal of your receiver to the red (+) terminal on your speaker, and the wire
from the black (-) terminal of the receiver to the black (-) terminal on your speaker.
Speaker wire has some indication (such as color coding, ribbing, or writing) on one
of the two conductors to help maintain consistency. If your subwoofer doesn't seem
to produce much bass, it is most likely that one of the speaker wires is connected
backwards. Double check all connections for correct polarity.

Strip 1/2" (12mm) of insulation from each of the two conductors on both ends
to expose the bare wire. Twist the exposed wire of each conductor to form
two un-frayed strands.

Note: Do not use the line or LFE input in this configuration.

• Connect the left and right front speaker outputs of your receiver to the
speaker level inputs of the powered subwoofer using speaker wire.

• Then, connect the left and right front speakers using speaker wire
from the speaker level outputs from the powered subwoofer.

• Connect the Center Channel Speaker directly to the center channel
output from your receiver.

• Connect the Rear Surround Satellites directly to the rear or surround
channel outputs from your receiver.

Receiver Settings:

• Front speakers = LARGE

• Subwoofer = “OFF” or “NO”

• Center and Surrounds= SMALL

Option 3

To use Banana Plugs (US only):

Unscrewthe binding post lug nuts
completely to expose the binding
post plugs (plastic plugs inserted

Loosen hex nut.

Insert speaker wire
through hole.

into the binding posts). Carefully
pry out the binding post plugs to
expose banana plug holes. Screw
the lug nuts back on the binding
posts and insert banana plugs.
(This is for US owners only.)

Tighten hex nut.

Figure 3

Do not insert insulated
section of speaker wire.

OPTION #3—
Receivers with full-range (unfiltered) Left and Right “Pre Out” jacks
(this is the least commonly used hookup).

• Connect the left and right preamp output from your receiver to the left
and right LINE LEVEL input of the subwoofer. Do not use speaker wires.

• When using method #3, it is necessary to adjust the settings on your
receiver as follows:

Receiver Settings:

• Front speakers = LARGE

• Subwoofer = “OFF” or “NO”

4 Polk Audio Customer Service 800-377-7655 (Outside USA & Canada: 410-358-3600)