Revel C12 User Manual

Revel Concerta C12

Loudspeaker

Owner’s Manual

®

™

2

REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

3 Oak Park, Bedford, MA, 01730-1413 USA

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

www.revelspeakers.com

Customer Service:

Telephone: [phone]

Sales Fax: [phone]

Service Fax: [phone]

Product Shipments

16 Progress Road
Billerica, MA 01821-5730 USA

Part No. 354235-001 | Rev A | 11/04

“Revel,” “Concerta,” and the Revel logo are registered trade­marks of Harman International Industries. U.S. patent numbers
and other worldwide patents issued and pending.

©2004 Harman Specialty Group.All rights reserved.

This document should not be construed as a commitment on
the part of Harman Specialty Group.The information it con­tains is subject to change without notice. Harman Specialty
Group assumes no responsibility for errors that may appear
within this document.

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REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Documentation Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

About the C12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Highlights • Product Registration

Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Loudspeaker Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Driver Complement • Cabinet • Filter Network • Input Panel

Loudspeaker Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

On Top of Monitor • Adjustable Tilt Foot • Flush Mounted • Stand

Mounted

Making Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Connections

Optimizing Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Loudspeaker Volume Levels

Obtaining Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

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REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

DOCUMENTATION CONVENTIONS

This document contains general safety, installation, and operation instructions for
the Revel Concerta C12 Center-Channel Loudspeaker. It is important to read this
document before attempting to use this product. Pay particular attention to safety
instructions.

WARNING Calls attention to a procedure, practice, condition, or the like

that, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could result in
injury or death.

CAUTION Calls attention to a procedure, practice,

condition, or the like that, if not correctly
performed or adhered to, could result in damage to or
destruction of part or all of the product.

Note Calls attention to information that is essential to highlight.

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REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

ABOUT THE C12

Thank you for purchasing the Revel Concerta
C12 Center-Channel Loudspeaker. The C12
delivers an impressively clear soundfield
with excellent acoustical accuracy across a
wide dynamic range, making it the perfect
complement to the Revel Concerta F12 and
M12 Loudspeakers in surround sound
home theaters. Four proprietary
transducers, sophisticated filter networks,
and flexible placement options allow the
C12 to serve as a full-frequency center­channel in the most demanding home
entertainment systems.

A three-way center-channel, the C12 deliv­ers an expansive range of frequencies with
impressive accuracy. Two 6.5-inch
(165.1mm) woofers provide high excursion
capabilities, reproducing low frequencies
with outstanding dynamic range. Housed in
its own separate sub-enclosure, a 4-inch
(101.6mm) midrange handles critical mid­band frequencies with natural tonal bal­ance over a wide operating range. Also, a
1-inch (25mm) dome tweeter with a propri­etary waveguide reproduces high frequen­cies well above the audible spectrum, with
wide listening room dispersion.

Combining superior form and function,
the C12 transducers’ unique design pro­vides smooth frequency response. The
woofer, midrange and tweeter cones are
constructed with Organic Ceramic
Composite material to reduce distortion.
The spiders are constructed with a high­strength Nomex/cotton blend with opti­mized geometry for increased linearity. The
woofers and midrange include ceramic
magnets for improved magnetic shielding.

High-order filters at 500Hz and 2.8kHz
optimize loudspeaker on-axis and off-axis
response, helping to ensure smooth octave­to-octave balance and timbral accuracy.
The rear input panel features gold-plated
binding posts to accomodate connections.

The C12 cabinet is constructed with medi­um-density fiberboard (MDF) walls and
internal bracing to reduce cabinet-induced
colorations. The cabinet features an
attached adjustable tilt foot which creates
an optimal dispersion tilt angle toward the
listening area. Threaded inserts on the
bottom of the cabinet accomodate screws
for secure mounting to an optional
pedestal stand for optimal acoustical
placement. Optional rubber bumper pads
for the bottom of the cabinet are also
included.

Since 1996, Revel has stood at the forefront
of loudspeaker design and performance.
Backed by Harman International’s exten­sive research and design facilities, the
Revel Concerta Series Loudspeakers benefit
from cutting-edge development tools. A
multi-channel listening lab provides for
double-blind listening tests. A laser inter­ferometer enables detailed driver and cabi­net analysis. Multiple large anechoic
chambers provide for precise tests and
measurements. Finite element analysis
allows for advanced loudspeaker modeling.
A stereo lithography apparatus aids in
achieving tight tolerances.

Adding to the proud lineage of Revel’s
Ultima and Performa Series Loudspeakers,
the Concerta C12 further solidifies Revel’s
reputation as the leading designer and
manufacturer of high-quality, high-per­formance loudspeakers. The C12 provides
outstanding center-channel performance
for all home theater applications.

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REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

HIGHLIGHTS

• Optimal center-channel performance

•Two proprietary 6.5-inch (165.1mm)
Organic Ceramic Composite woofers

•Proprietary 4-inch (101.6mm) Organic
Ceramic Composite midrange

•Proprietary 1-inch (25mm) Organic
Ceramic Composite dome tweeter

• Gold-plated binding posts

• Advanced woofer and midrange motor
structure

• Magnetic shielding

• Large voice coils for wide dynamic
range without compression

• Adjustable tilt angle foot

• Elegant cabinet design in vinyl finishes

PRODUCT REGISTRATION

Please register the C12 within 15 days of
purchase. To do so, register online at
www.revelspeakers.com or complete and
return the included product registration
card. Retain the original, dated sales
receipt as proof of warranty coverage.

UNPACKING

The C12 requires special care and handling
during unpacking. Pay particular attention
to the precautions that appear in this section
and to other precautions that appear
throughout this owner’s manual.

When unpacking, save all packing materials
identified in Figure 2 at the bottom of the
next page for possible future shipping
needs. Refer to the Obtaining Service section
on page 13 for additional information.

To unpack the C12:

1. Place the packing carton upright on a
soft towel or carpeted floor and fully
open the top flaps as shown in step 1
of Figure 1 (page 7).

2. With the top flaps folded back, careful­ly roll the carton over, as shown in step
2 of Figure 1 (page 7).

3. Lift the packing carton off of the
loudspeaker as shown in step 3 of
Figure 1 (page 7). Use caution to avoid
damaging the loudspeaker cabinet. At
this point, the loudspeaker will be
upside-down.

7

REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

Unpacking

(continued)

4. Remove the left and right pads and the
grille identified in Figure 2 (right).

5. Remove the Owner’s Manual,
Warranty Card and rubber pad feet as
identified in Figure 2 (right).

6. Grasping the sides of the cabinet, place
the C12 on its side. Then place the C12
in the upright position.

Bottom

Top

Bottom

Top

1

3

2

Figure 1: Unpacking the C12

Figure 2: Packing Materials

8

REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

LOUDSPEAKER
OVERVIEW

DRIVER COMPLEMENT

The numbers in Figure 3 (above) corre­spond with the numbered items in this sec­tion.

1. Woofers

2. Tweeter

3. Midrange

CABINET

Reduces cabinet-induced colorations with
thick MDF walls and internal bracing. An
adjustable tilt foot is shipped attached to
the cabinet to provide an optimum tilt
angle when the C12 is placed on or above
a video monitor.

The cabinet’s vinyl finish does not require
routine maintenance. However, cabinet
surfaces that have been marked with
fingerprints, dust, or other dirt can be
cleaned using a soft cloth.

1

1

2

3

Figure 3: C12 Loudspeaker Front View

The numbers in Figure 3 (above) correspond with the
numbered items in the Driver Complement section that
begins below.

CAUTION

To prevent cabinet damage, do not use
a cloth made with steel wool or use
metal polish to clean the cabinet.

Do not use any cleaning products or
polishes on the cabinet or grille.

FILTER NETWORK

Optimize loudspeaker on-axis and off-axis
response with high-order filters at 500Hz
and 2.8kHz, helping to ensure smooth
octave-to-octave balance and timbral
accuracy. Gold-plated binding posts
accommodate heavy speaker cables.

INPUT PANEL

The numbers in Figure 4 (page 9) corre­spond with the numbered items in this sec­tion.

1. Input Connectors

Provide input connections from the
associated power amplifier. One “posi­tive” and one “negative” gold-plated
binding posts are available. Refer to
the Making Connections section that
begins on page 11 for additional infor­mation.

2. Adjustable Tilt Foot

Provides an adjustable tilt angle if the
C12 is mounted on top of a monitor or
shelf for optimum sound quality.
Adjust until desired tilt angle is
achieved. See page 10 for more infor­mation.

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REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

LOUDSPEAKER
PLACEMENT

Loudspeaker fidelity depends on the following
three factors:

1. Loudspeaker accuracy

2. Listening room acoustics

3. Loudspeaker placement

Advanced Revel design features allow the
C12 to achieve stunning acoustical
precision with exceptional freedom from
coloration and distortion across a wide
dynamic range. As a result, experimenting
with loudspeaker placement will have the
most significant impact on the C12’s
performance.

The bulleted items that begin below
indicate important placement considera­tions for the C12.

In general, it is recommended to:

• Aim the C12 directly toward the
primary listening position

• Remove all obstructions between the
C12 and the primary listening position

• Align the front edge of the C12 with
the front edge of your TV screen.

The C12 is magnetically shielded to
minimize any effect on CRT video moni­tors. However, stray magnetic fields may
affect large CRT monitors located in close

proximity to the C12. These magnetic
fields decrease rapidly with distance, so
moving the C12 farther away from the
monitor will reduce interference. It is
important to confirm that the C12 is suit­able for use with the intended CRT moni­tor.

Note

DLP, LCoS and Plasma display devices are
not affected by magnetic fields.

ON TOP OF MONITOR

The C12 loudspeaker can be placed on top
of a video monitor or a shelf as shown in
Figure 5 (below). If desired, use the tilt foot
to create a proper tilt angle. The loud­speaker should be tilted to align the tweeter
with the listener’s head.

1

2

The numbers in Figure 4 (above) correspond with the
numbered items in the Input Panel section that begins on
the previous page.

Figure 4: C12 Loudspeaker Rear View

Figure 5: On Top of Monitor

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REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

Adjustable Tilt Foot

The adjustable tilt foot is attached to the
rear of the cabinet identified in Figure 4
(page 9). Use the tilt foot to achieve the
proper tilt angle when the C12 is placed on
top of a video monitor or shelf as shown in
Figure 6 (right).

To use the tilt foot:

1. Turn the foot knob counterclockwise to
loosen and extend the tilt rod to create
a tilt angle as shown in Figure 6
(right).

2. Slide rod down while tilting the C12
until desired tilt angle is achieved.

3. Turn knob clockwise to lock rod into
place.

For best results, the C12 should be tilted so
the front of the speaker is facing directly
toward the listener’s head.

FLUSH MOUNTED

The C12 loudspeaker can be placed in a
bookcase or wall unit as shown in Figure 7
(right).

STAND MOUNTED

The C12 loudspeaker can be mounted on a
pedestal stand as shown in Figure 8 (right).
The bottom of the C12’s cabinet has
threaded inserts to accomodate secure fas­tening to the stand which serves to elevate
the tweeter to the listener’s ear level. The
optional Revel pedestal stand is available
at authorized Revel dealers.

Note

For pedestal assembly instructions, refer to
the Revel Performa Pedestal 32/50a
Assembly Instructions that are included with
the pedestal stand.

Rear of C12

Rear of C12

Extended
Tilt Foot

Adjustable
Foot Knob

Figure 6: Tilting the C12

Figure 7: Flush Mounted

Figure 8: Stand Mounted

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REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

CAUTION

Loudspeakers placed on stands or on
top of video monitors may fall if tipped
or improperly positioned. To avoid this,
anchor the loudspeaker and stand using
the same procedures and hardware used
to anchor bookcases, wall units, and
other furniture. Harman Specialty
Group assumes no responsibility for
improper selection and installation of
hardware or for any personal injuries or
product damages resulting from improper
installation or a fallen loudspeaker.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

The C12 input panel features gold-plated
binding posts. The binding posts accept
either bare wires or banana plugs.

CAUTION

•Never make or break connections
unless all system components are
powered off.

Before making connections, note the
following:

• Use high-quality loudspeaker cable
with a maximum total loop resistance
of 0.07Ω or less (for each wire run).
Refer to the table on the next page to
determine the appropriate maximum
wire gauge.

Note

The optional Performa Pedestal 32/50a is
available at authorized Revel dealers.

If not using a pedestal stand, four black
rubber pads, measuring .750-inches
(19.0mm) by .160-inches (4.0mm), are also
included to serve as a protective bumper
between the bottom of the cabinet and
your monitor or shelf. If desired, apply to
the four bottom corners of the cabinet
before placing on your monitor or shelf.
The pads are adhesive-backed, press firmly
to attach to cabinet.

To attach to a pedestal stand:

1. Assemble the pedestal stand.

2. Place the C12 on its side on a soft towel
or carpeted floor.

3. Locate the four threaded inserts on the
bottom of the cabinet. These inserts are
identified in Figure 9 (below).

4. Fasten the C12 to the pedestal stand
with screws.

5. Make sure the four screws are evenly
threaded to achieve a level balance.

6. When all screws have been tightened,
stand the mounted C12 (and stand) in
the upright position.

Threaded

Inserts

Figure 9: Threaded Inserts

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REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

Maximum Wire Gauge

Gauge Length Length
(AWG) (Feet) (Meters)

687 27

769 21

858 18

943 13

10 34 10

11 27 8

12 22 7

13 17 5

14 14 4

15 11 3

16 9 3

17 7 2

18 5 2

Note

High loop resistances that exceed 0.07Ω
(for each wire run) will cause the filter
network to mis-terminate, resulting in
considerable degradation of sound quality.

• Make all connections observing the
proper polarity, positive-to-positive (+)
and negative-to-negative (-).
Connections that do not observe the
proper polarity will cause poor stereo
imaging and diminished bass response.

If desired, contact an authorized Revel
dealer for information about the suitability
of power amplifier components before con­necting the C12 to the associated power
amplifier.

• Review the owner’s manuals for associ­ated audio components to determine
their connection procedures.

Figure 10: Connections

The C12 can be connected to the associat­ed power amplifier outputs as shown in
Figure 10 (above).

To make connections:

1. Connect one pair of loudspeaker wires
to the desired C12 input connectors.
Then, connect the same pair of
loudspeaker wires to the desired power
amplifier outputs.

• Contact an authorized Revel dealer

for assistance setting the associated
multi-channel controller or receiver
for the appropriate crossover.

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REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

LOUDSPEAKER VOLUME LEVELS

High-order filters include steep cut-offs to
reduce potential damage from “out-of-band”
frequencies. Combined with carefully
selected transducers and filter network
components, this approach helps the C12
to maintain its performance under
extreme operating conditions.

However, all loudspeakers have limits
when it comes to continuous playback. To
extend these limits, avoid playback at
volume levels that distort or strain sound.

CAUTION

To avoid damage, reduce volume level
immediately if loudspeaker sound is not
clean and clear.

OBTAINING SERVICE

To obtain warranty or non-warranty serv­ice, contact your authorized Revel dealer.
Refer to the included Revel Warranty Card
for warranty information.

OPTIMIZING
PERFORMANCE

To optimize the C12 for best performance:

1. Set the associated multi-channel
controller or receiver for an 80Hz
crossover (or higher), even if the loud­speaker setup does not include a sub­woofer. In its absence, the associated
multi-channel controller or receiver
will use bass management to route
frequencies below 80Hz to the front left
and right channels, without losing
center-channel low-frequency informa­tion.

• The C12 must be used with at least

an 80Hz crossover.

• Selecting the appropriate crossover

based on accurate in-room response
measurements will result in decreased
distortion, accurate timbre, and
increased dynamic capabilities.

2. Begin playback of a familiar multi­channel music or film source. Make
sure to set the associated multi-channel
controller or receiver to a mode that
uses the center channel.

• It is recommended to listen to well-

recorded dialogue from more than
one film source, as sound quality
varies from film to film.

3. Listen from the primary listening
position, increasing volume to a
comfortable level.

Specification Value Definition

14

Sensitivity

Impedance

90dB SPL with 2.83V @
1m (2 pi anechoic)

6Ω (nominal), 3.7Ω (min­imum @ 130Hz)

Indicates the amount of power the associated power ampli­fier must deliver to drive the loudspeaker at reasonable vol­ume levels. Conservatively-rated specifications indicate
moderate sensitivity, meaning that a massive power ampli­fier is not required to drive Revel loudspeakers to reason­able volume levels in large listening spaces.

Indicates whether the loudspeaker presents a “difficult” or
“easy” load on the associated power amplifier. Combined
with moderate phase angles, a minimal impedance
specification of 3.7Ω allows a reasonably designed power
amplifier to drive Revel loudspeakers.

In-Room Response

±1.5dB from 85Hz to
15kHz

Indicates sound quality in context with other specifications.
A breakthrough measurement, this specification closely
correlates to sound quality in a single curve – a long-standing
goal of loudspeaker engineers.

In-room response is measured through the use of large
anechoic chambers. The speaker’s response is measured
every 10 degrees horizontally and vertically for a total of
72 response measurements.

The in-room response curve is a prediction of how the
speaker would measure in a typical room. Research and
observation reveals that ubiquitous “on-axis” response
curves cannot distinguish between two loudspeakers with
radically different sound qualities.

Low-Frequency
Extension

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

-10dB @ 50Hz, -6dB @
60Hz, -3dB @ 72Hz

Indicates the low-frequency response of the loudspeaker.
Studies have shown that the –10dB specification best
correlates to controlled listening tests. At low frequencies,
most loudspeaker and listening room combinations
demonstrate significant “ room gain,” which produces an
increase in levels as frequencies decrease. Unlike the –3dB
specification, the –10dB specification reflects the steepness
of low-frequency roll-offs.

Filter Network

Three-way, high-order @
500Hz and 2.8kHz

Indicates the acoustical characteristics of the filter network.
Steep filters indicate an optimized filter network that
produces minimal acoustical interference, low distortion,
and expansive dynamic range.

Height

• 9.13 inches (23.19cm)

• 21.13 inches (53.67cm) (with optional Revel pedestal stand)

Depth

• 9.38 inches (23.83cm) (not including grille and tilt foot)

• 10.14 inches (25.76cm) with grille (not including foot)

• 10.37 inches (26.34cm) (without grille, including foot )

• 11.13 inches (28.27cm) (including both grille and foot)

Weight

32 pounds (14.5kg) (including grille)

SPECIFICATIONS

REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

Width

20.88 inches (53.04 cm)

15

A

About the C12, 5

Adjustable Tilt Foot, 8, 10

amplifier outputs, 12

Attaching the C12 to stand, 11

B

Binding Posts, 5, 6, 8, 11

C

C12 Loudspeaker Front View, 8

C12 Loudspeaker Rear View, 9

Cabinet, 5, 6, 7, 8

cabinet rubber pads, 11

cabinet threaded inserts, 11

CAUTION, 4, 8, 11, 13

Coloration, 14

Compression, 6

Cone, 14

Connections, 11, 12, 14

Making, 11

D

Depth, 14

Distortion, 5, 8, 9

Documentation Conventions, 4

Driver Complement, 8

Dynamic Range, 5, 6, 9

F

Filter Network, 5, 8, 14

Flush Mounted, 10.

H

Height, 14

Highlights, C12, 6

How to create proper tilt angle,

10

I

Impedance, 14

Input Connectors, 8, 12

Input Panel. See Input

Connectors

L

Listening Room Acoustics, 9

Loudspeaker Overview, 8, 14

Loudspeaker Placement, 9

Low Frequencies, 5

Low-Frequency Extension, 14

M

Magnetic Shielding, 5, 6

Maintenance, 8

Maximum Wire Gauge, 12

Midrange, 5, 6, 8

Monitor Placement, 9, 10

Motor Structure, 6

N

Note, 4, 9, 10

O

Obtaining Service, 13

Off-Axis Response, 5, 8

On-Axis Response, 5, 8

Optimizing Performance, 13

Organic Ceramic Composite, 6

P

Packing Materials, 7

pedestal stand, 10, 11

pedestal stand, attach to, 11

Product Registration, 6

R

rubber pads, cabinet, 7, 11

S

Safety Instructions, 4

Sensitivity, 14

setting receiver crossover, 13

Specifications, 14

Stand Mounted, 10

T

Table of Contents, 3

Threaded Inserts, Cabinet, 11

tilt foot, adjustable, 10

Tilting the C12, 10

transducers, 5, 8

Tweeter, 5, 6, 8

U

Unpacking the C12, 6, 7

V

Voice Coil, 6

Volume Levels, 13

W

Weight, 14

Woofer, 5, 6, 8

INDEX

REVEL Concerta C12

Owner’s Manual

3 Oak Park, Bedford, MA, 01730-1413 USA | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone] | www.revelspeakers.com

Customer Service: Telephone: [phone] | Sales Fax: [phone] | Service Fax: [phone]

Part No. 354235-001 | Rev A | 11/04