Polk audio PSW550 Manual

SAFETY—PRECAUTIONS

READ FIRST!

1. Read the instructions.

All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is operated.

2. Retain instructions.

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. Water and moisture.

Product should not be used near water—for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, etc.

6. 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 the manufacturer’s instructions, and should use a mounting accessory recommended by the manufacturer.

7. Wall or ceiling mounting.

Product should be mounted on a wall or ceiling only when and as recommended by the manufacturer.

8. Ventilation.

Cooling fins on the rear of the amplifier are provided for ventilation, to ensure reliable operation of the product, and to protect it from overheating. Fins must not be blocked or covered. The fins should never be blocked by placing 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. Heat.

Product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other products that produce heat. If placed near an amplifier, check with manufacturer for applicability.

10. 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.

11. Grounding or 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 this polarized plug.

12. 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.

13. Cleaning.

Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

14. Non use periods.

The cord of the product should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused for long periods of time.

15. Lightning.

For added protection 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 system. This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power-line surges.

16. Overloading.

Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or integral convenience receptacles as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock.

17. 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 fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.

18. Damage requiring service.

Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: a) Power supply cord or plug has been damaged. b) Objects have fallen into, or liquid has spilled into, the product, or c) Product has been exposed to rain or water, or d) Product does not operate normally when following 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 often require extensive work

by a qualified technician to restore the product to its normal operation; or e) Product has been dropped, or enclosure damaged; or f) Product does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance.

19. Attachments.

Do not use attachments not recommended by the product manufacturer as these may cause hazards.

20. Replacement parts.

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

21. Safety check.

Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that product is in proper operating condition.

22. 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.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE. NE PAS UVRIR.

WARNING

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to 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 is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

WARNING

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

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

ATTENTION: POUR ÉVITER LES CHOCS ÉLECTRIQUES INTRODUIRE LA LAME LA PLUS LARGE DE LA FICHE DANS LA BORNE CORRESPONDANTE DE LA PRISE ET POUSSER JUSQU’AU FOND.

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Polk Audio Customer Service: 800-377-7655 (Outside US: 410-358-3600) [e-mail]

For Accessories & Info, Visit: www.polkaudio.com

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FEATURES:

•One 8 inch, long throw, shielded, direct radiating subwoofer driver for deep bass, smooth response and low distortion.

•Downward firing Power Port™ bass port for deep bass and high acoustic efficiency with low distortion.

•High current 100 Watt (RMS),

250 Watt Dynamic, power amplifier.

•Subwoofer volume control, variable crossover control and phase switch allow you to optimize performance to match your audio system, room acoustics, and program material.

•Auto on/off circuit that automatically turns the subwoofer on when it senses a program signal. When no signal is present, the amplifier turns itself off within 15 minutes.

•Unfiltered LFE input for use with low pass filtered subwoofer output jacks.

•Speaker and line level inputs.

•Magnetically shielded for safe placement near TVs and video monitors.

GETTING STARTED

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.

FIGURE 1

6" (15cm)

PLACEMENT

Your PSW Series subwoofer offers many placement options—in an entertainment center, behind furniture, or next to a sofa or chair. It can be placed anywhere in the room, but you will get the best performance from it when it is on the same side of the room as the front satellites. Placing it near a wall or in

a corner will increase bass loudness. Allow at least 6 inches (15cm) of space between any subwoofer driver and a wall or obstruction (FIGURE 1). The subwoofer should only be placed

on its base (FIGURE 2). It may lie on its side, but NEVER LAY THE SUBWOOFER ON THE AMPLIFIER END—THIS WILL DAMAGE THE AMPLIFIER (FIGURE 3).

The PSW550 subwoofer is magnetically shielded for safe placement near your television set. If you notice video distortion or discoloration, immediately move the subwoofer away from the TV and call Polk Audio Customer Service 800- 377-7655 (US & Can), 410-358-3600, 9am-6pm EST, Monday through Friday, or email: [e-mail].

You’ll find an informative article on “Subwoofer Positioning and Adjustment” in the set up section at:

HTTP://WWW.POLKAUDIO.COM/

HOME/FAQAD/

FIGURE 2

OK

CONNECTING THE SUBWOOFER TO THE SYSTEM—GENERAL

If you elect to use the speaker level inputs, use two-conductor 16 gauge

or thicker speaker wires. If you choose to use the line level inputs, use high quality, shielded RCA type interconnect cables. 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 amplifier to the red (+) terminal on your speaker, and the wire from the black (-) terminal of the amplifier to the black (-) terminal on your speaker. Most 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.

FIGURE 3

AMPLIFIER

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Polk Audio Customer Service: 800-377-7655 (Outside US: 410-358-3600) [e-mail]

For Accessories & Info, Visit: www.polkaudio.com

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Strip 1/2" 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. Connect two conductors to the receiver or amp (refer to the owner’s manual supplied with your electronics for assistance with proper hookup). Connect the two conductors on the other end of the wire to the speaker terminals. Repeat for the other channel.

USING PUSH-TAB

Push the plastic tab of one connector to open up the hole. Insert the bare wire into the hole, and release the plastic tab. Repeat this step for the other terminal (FIGURE 4).

Make sure that the two bare wire ends do not touch each other. Such contact could result in an electrical short

and cause your receiver or amplifier to turn off or malfunction.

HOOK-UP OPTIONS

The PSW550 offers a wide range of hook-up and use options. Each option has advantages and potential downsides. The option that is best for you depends on your electronics, main speakers and your personal taste. Read all the options before selecting.

The hook-up method will have a large impact on the “blending” between your main front speakers and the subwoofer. A poor blend will sound unnatural; you will be more aware that the main and subwoofer speakers are two separate units. In a well-blended system, you will not be able to pinpoint the location of the subwoofer in the mix. Experiment with alternate options to find the method that works best for you.

FIGURE 4

HOOK-UP OPTIONS OPTION #1 (FIGURE 5)

This method is preferred for most systems.

Connect the left and right channel speaker output from your electronics to the left and right speaker level INPUT of the subwoofer. Connect the subwoofer left and right speaker level OUTPUT to the corresponding left and right speakers.

When using this option, it is necessary to adjust the settings of your electronics as follows: Front speakers = “LARGE,” subwoofer = “OFF” or “NONE.” This may sound incorrect because you obviously have a subwoofer, but

it will yield the best performance.

The PSW550 has a built-in, adjustable low pass filter to separate the low frequency signals (the bass) from the full range signal. The dedicated “subwoofer output” jacks (sometimes labeled “LFE” or “Low Frquency Effects”) on most receivers also contain a fixed low pass filter. If you connect the subwoofer to the receiver’s LFE Out jack, the two filters will interact and reduce the fidelity of your system. Follow these hook up and receiver set-up/bass management instructions and all of the bass will go to the subwoofer, you will not lose any bass, and you will get the highest possible performance from your system. We promise.

OPTION #1	FIGURE 5
PREFERRED
HOOKUP
This method is the
most popular when
using a receiver
or amplifier.

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Polk Audio Customer Service: 800-377-7655 (Outside US: 410-358-3600) [e-mail]

For Accessories & Info, Visit: www.polkaudio.com

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