Revel C32 User Manual

Revel Performa C32 Loudspeaker

Owner’s Manual

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

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

Please contact Customer Support for information about product shipments.

Part No. 350702-001 | Rev 0 | 12/03

®

™

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

©2003 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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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Documentation Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

About the C32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Highlights • Product Registration

Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Loudspeaker Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Driver Complement • Cabinet • Filter Network • Input Panel

Loudspeaker Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Flush Mounted • On Top of Monitor • Stand Mounted • Adjustable
Spike Footing

Making Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Single-Wired Connections • Bi-Wired Connections • Vertical
Bi-Amplified Connections • Horizontal Bi-Amplified Connections

Optimizing Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Loudspeaker Volume Levels

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Dimensions

Obtaining Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

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DOCUMENTATION CONVENTIONS

This document contains general safety, installation, and operation
instructions for the Revel Performa C32 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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ABOUT THE C32

Thank you for purchasing the Revel Performa
C32 Center-Channel Loudspeaker. With
stunning acoustical precision, the C32
delivers exceptional freedom from coloration
and distortion across a wide dynamic
range, making it the perfect companion
for the Revel Performa F32 and M22
Loudspeakers. Four proprietary transducers,
sophisticated filter networks, and flexible
placement options allow the C32 to serve as
the center channel in the most demanding
home entertainment systems.

A critical aspect of loudspeaker design,
transducers convert electrical signals into
audible sounds, profoundly impacting
loudspeaker performance. Combining
superior form and function, the C32
transducers feature a distinctive design
that provides smoother frequency response.
The woofer and midrange cones are
constructed with Organic Ceramic
Composite material to reduce distortion,
while the spiders are constructed with a
high-strength Nomex blend with optimized
geometry for increased linearity.

A true three-way center-channel, the C32
delivers a broad range of frequencies with
striking detail. Two 5-inch (127mm)
woofers provide high excursion capabilities,
reproducing low frequencies with outstanding
dynamic range. Housed in its own separate
sub-enclosure, a 3.5-inch (89mm)
midrange handles critical mid-band
frequencies with natural tonal balance over
a wide operating range. And, a 1-inch
(25mm) titanium-dome tweeter reproduces
high frequencies well above the audible
spectrum, with wide dispersion for open,
airy treble.

Placement Compensation and High
Frequency Level controls allow the C32 to
deliver stellar center-channel performance,
even when confronted with less-than-ideal
loudspeaker placement and listening room
acoustics. The Placement Compensation

control offers three settings to accommodate
loudspeaker placement in a bookcase or
wall unit; on top of a video monitor or
above a rear projection screen; or placed
on a stand. A separate High Frequency
Level control achieves precise balancing of
high frequencies for optimal timbral balance.

An advanced woofer and midrange motor
structure includes two high-grade
Neodymium magnets placed at the center
of the motor structure, inside the voice coil,
for improved magnetic shielding. Inside
the motor, a black-plated steel shield cup
facilitates heat dissipation for higher power
handling. An integrated aluminum flux­stabilization ring minimizes modulation
inside the motor’s static gap flux field,
greatly reducing distortion. A copper ring
inside the motor’s gap reduces distortion
even further. Both rings are optimally sized
and placed to maintain constant linear
voice coil inductance with forward and
backward motions.

High-order filters at 280Hz and 2.5kHz
optimize loudspeaker on and off-axis
response, helping to ensure smooth octave­to-octave balance and timbral accuracy.
Separate woofer, midrange, and tweeter
filter boards prevent mutual interference
between filter network components,
dramatically reducing distortion over a wide
dynamic range. Removable shorting-straps
and gold-plated binding posts accommodate
single-wired, bi-wired, and vertical or
horizontal bi-amplified connections.

The C32 cabinet is constructed with 0.75­inch (19mm) thick walls and extensive
internal bracing to reduce cabinet-induced
colorations. Rounded baffle edges minimize
diffraction and optimize treble response for
even greater sound enhancement. Two
threaded inserts on the bottom of the
cabinet accommodate spike footing,
providing optimal loudspeaker stability
and positioning. A sonically optimized
grille is also included.

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Since 1996, Revel has stood at the forefront
of loudspeaker design. Backed with
Harman International’s extensive research
and design facilities, the Revel Performa
Series Loudspeakers benefit from cutting­edge tools such as a multi-channel listening
lab for double-blind listening tests; a laser
interferometer for detailed driver and cabinet
analysis; real anechoic chambers for precise
tests and measurements; finite element
analysis for advanced loudspeaker modeling;
and a stereo lithography apparatus for
tight tolerances.

Adding to the proud lineage of Revel’s
Ultima and Performa Series Loudspeakers,
the C32 further solidifies Revel’s reputation
as the leading designer and manufacturer
of high-quality, high-performance
loudspeakers. Each C32 is individually
hand-tuned during manufacturing to
match the production reference standard
within a fraction of a decibel, ensuring
incomparable loudspeaker-to-loudspeaker
consistency. As a result, the C32 is the
obvious choice for unrivaled center­channel performance.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Optimal center-channel performance

• Two proprietary 5-inch (127mm)
Organic Ceramic Composite woofers

• Proprietary 3.5-inch (89mm) Organic
Ceramic Composite midrange

• Proprietary 1-inch (25mm) titanium­dome tweeter

• Separate woofer, midrange, and tweeter
filter boards

• Removable gold-plated shorting-straps

• Gold-plated binding posts

• Placement Compensation control

• High Frequency Level control

• Flexible placement options

• Advanced woofer and midrange motor
structure

• Magnetic shielding

• Large voice coils for wede dynamic
range without compression

• Hand-tuned to match the production
reference standard within a fraction of
a decibel

• Adjustable spike footing

• Elegant cabinet design in real wood
veneer finishes

PRODUCT REGISTRATION

Please register the C32 within 15 days of
purchase. To do so, register online at
www.revelspeakers.com or complete and
return the included product registration
card. The product registration card serves
no warranty purposes. Retain the original,
dated sales receipt as proof of warranty
coverage.

UNPACKING

The C32 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 20 for additional information.

(continued on next page)

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Unpacking (continued)

To unpack the C32:

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 (above).

2. Without allowing the top flaps to
close, stand the packing carton in
an inverted position as shown in
step 2 of Figure 1 (above).

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

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

5. Remove the spike footing attached to
the left pad as shown in Figure 2
(below).

Bottom

Top

Bottom

Top

1

2

3

Figure 1: Unpacking the C32

Figure 2: Packing Materials

Grille

Right Pad

Spike

Footing

Left Pad

Protective

Bag

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Note

While the loudspeaker is upside-down, it
is recommended to position the spike
footing as desired. Refer to the Adjustable
Spike Footing section that begins on
page 11 for instructions.

LOUDSPEAKER OVERVIEW

DRIVER COMPLEMENT

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

1. Tweeter

• 1-inch (25mm) titanium dome

• Large co-polymer surround for
linear operation over a wide
dynamic range

13

3

2

Pedestal Stand

(Optional)

Cabinet

Figure 3: Front View

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

6. Grasping the sides of the cabinet, place
the C32 on its side. Then, place the C32
in the upright position without allowing
the protective bag to become “stuck”
under the bottom of the cabinet.

7. When the C32 is in the upright position,
remove the protective bag.

• Ferrofluid for high-power handling

with reduced compression

• Magnetic shielding to prevent video

monitor interference

2. Midrange

• 3.5-inch (89mm) cone constructed

with Organic Ceramic Composite
cone material

• Die-cast basket to eliminate

coloration from resonances

• True pistonic operation for

increased freedom from coloration

• Two high-grade Neodymium

magnets placed inside the voice
coils for optimal magnetic shielding

• Copper ring inside the motor’s gap

for modulation control and low
distortion

• 1.5-inch (38mm) voice coil wound

on a fiberglass bobbin for high­power handling and low distortion

• Optimized and shielded magnetic

circuits to minimize harmonic
distortion and prevent video monitor
interference

(continued on next page)

8

Driver Complement (continued)

3. Woofers

• Two 5-inch (127mm) cones
constructed with Organic Ceramic
Composite cone material

• Die-cast basket to eliminate
coloration from resonances

• True pistonic operation for
increased freedom from coloration

• Two high-grade Neodymium
magnets placed inside the voice
coils for optimal magnetic shielding

• Copper ring inside the motor’s gap
for modulation control and low
distortion

• Integrated aluminum flux­stabilization ring for modulation
control and low distortion

• 1.5-inch (38mm) voice coils wound
on fiberglass bobbins for low
compression

• Vented center pole for improved heat
dissipation and low compression

CABINET

Reduces cabinet-induced colorations with

0.75-inch (19mm) thick walls and extensive
internal bracing. For even greater sound
enhancement, rounded baffle edges
minimize diffraction and optimize treble
response. Two threaded inserts on the
bottom of the cabinet accommodate spike
footing, which provides adjustable tilt when
the C32 is placed on or above a video
monitor.

The cabinet’s wood veneer 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 and a high­quality furniture polish. If a higher-gloss

finish is desired, a high-quality wax can
also be used.

To clean the cabinet:

1. Apply a high-quality furniture polish
to a soft cloth.

2. Use the cloth to lightly wipe the cabinet
surface.

To clean the grille:

1. Gently vacuum using a soft-bristled
brush vacuum attachment.

CAUTION

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

FILTER NETWORK

Optimize loudspeaker on and off-axis
response with high-order filters at 280Hz
and 2.5kHz, helping to ensure smooth
octave-to-octave balance and timbral
accuracy. Separate woofer, midrange, and
tweeter filter boards prevent mutual
interference between filter network
components, dramatically reducing distortion
over a wide dynamic range. Removable
shorting-straps and gold-plated binding
posts accommodate single-wired, bi-wired,
and bi-amplified connections, while separate
Placement Compensation and High
Frequency Level controls provide precise
balance to compensate for less-than-ideal
listening room acoustics and loudspeaker

placement.