REVELL Performa C52 Owner's Manual

Revel Performa C52 Loudspeaker

Owner’s Manual

®

®

REVEL Performa C52
OWNER’S MANUAL

2

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

©2005 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.

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]

Part No. 353735-001 | Rev A | 02/05

REVEL Performa C52
OWNER’S MANUAL

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

About the C52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Highlights • Product Registration

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

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

Driver Complement • Cabinet • Filter Network • Input Panel

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

Flush Mounted • On Top of Monitor • Stand Mounted •
Adjustable Spikes

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

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

Optimizing Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Loudspeaker Volume Levels

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Dimensions & Weight

Obtaining Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

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

Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

REVEL Performa C52
OWNER’S MANUAL

4

DOCUMENTATION CONVENTIONS

This document contains general safety, installation, and operation instructions for the Revel
Performa C52 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.

5

REVEL Performa C52
OWNER’S MANUAL

ABOUT THE C52

Thank you for purchasing the Revel
Performa C52 center-channel loudspeaker.
The C52 delivers exceptional freedom from
coloration and distortion across a wide
dynamic range, making it the perfect
companion for the Revel Performa F52 and
F32 front loudspeakers. Four proprietary
transducers, sophisticated filter networks,
and flexible placement options allow the
C52 to serve as the center channel in the
most demanding home entertainment
systems.

The C52 features advanced woofer and
midrange motor structures that include
two high-grade Neodymium magnets
placed at the center of the motor
structures, inside the voice coils, for
improved magnetic shielding. Inside the
motors, black-plated steel shield cups facili­tate heat dissipation for higher power han­dling. Integrated aluminum flux stabiliza­tion rings minimize modulation inside the
motor static gap flux fields, greatly reduc­ing distortion. Copper rings inside each
motor gap reduces distortion even further.
Both rings are optimally sized and placed
to maintain constant linear voice coil
inductance with forward and backward
cone motions.

Combining superior form and function,
the C52 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
C52 delivers a broad range of frequencies
with striking detail. Two 8-inch (203mm)
woofers provide high excursion capabilities,
reproducing low frequencies with spectacular
dynamic range. Housed in its own separate
sub-enclosure, a 5.25-inch (133mm)

midrange handles critical mid-band
frequencies with natural tonal balance over
a wide dynamic range. A 1-inch (25mm)
aluminum dome tweeter, incorporating a
custom designed wave-guide, blends
perfectly with the midrange and reproduces
high frequencies well above the audible
spectrum.

High-order filters at 235Hz and 2kHz
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
bi-amplified connections.

Placement Compensation and High
Frequency Level switches allow the C52 to
deliver stellar center-channel performance,
even when confronted with less-than-ideal
loudspeaker placement and listening room
acoustics. The Placement Compensation
switch 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 switch achieves precise balancing of
high frequencies for optimal timbral
balance.

The C52 cabinet is constructed with

0.75-inch (19mm) thick walls and extensive
internal bracing to reduce cabinet-induced
colorations. Rounded baffle edges minimize
diffraction and optimize off-axis response
for smoother high-frequency reproduction.
Two threaded inserts on the bottom of the
cabinet accommodate adjustable spikes,
providing optimal loudspeaker stability
and positioning. A sonically optimized
grille is also included.

REVEL Performa C52
OWNER’S MANUAL

6

About the C52 (continued)

Since 1996, Revel has stood at the forefront
of loudspeaker design. Backed with Harman
International’s extensive research and
design facilities, all Revel Loudspeakers
benefit from cutting-edge tools.

•A multi-channel listening lab allows
for double-blind listening tests.

•A laser interferometer enables
detailed driver and cabinet analysis.

• Multiple large anechoic chambers
provide precise tests and measurements.

• Finite element analysis produces
advanced loudspeaker modeling.

•A stereo lithography apparatus helps
to achieve tight tolerances.

Adding to the proud lineage of Revel’s
Ultima and Performa Series Loudspeakers,
the C52 further solidifies Revel’s reputation
as the leading designer and manufacturer
of high-quality, high-performance
loudspeakers. Each C52 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 C52 is the
obvious choice for unrivaled center-channel
performance.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Optimal center-channel performance

• Two proprietary 8-inch (203mm)
woofers with Organic Ceramic
Composite cones

• Proprietary 5.25-inch (133mm)
midrange with Organic Ceramic
Composite cone

• Proprietary 1-inch (25mm) aluminum
dome tweeter incorporating a propri­etary wave-guide

• Separate woofer, midrange, and tweeter

filter boards

• Placement Compensation switch

• Adjustable calibrated tweeter level

• Flexible placement options

• Advanced woofer and midrange motor
structures

• Magnetic shielding

• Large voice coils for wide dynamic
range without compression

• Gold-plated binding posts

• Removable gold-plated shorting straps

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

• Adjustable spikes

• Elegant cabinet design in real wood
veneer finishes

PRODUCT REGISTRATION

Please register the C52 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 C52 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.

Note

When unpacking, save all packing materials
for possible future shipping needs.

7

To unpack the C52:

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
Fgure 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.

3. Lift the packing carton off of the
loudspeaker as shown in step 3 of
Figure 1. Use caution to avoid damag­ing the loudspeaker cabinet. At this
point, the loudspeaker will be upside­down.

4. Leaving the protective end pads on,
place the speaker on one end (one end­pad will be on the floor under the
speaker; the other will be at the top).

5. Remove the grille and the top end pad.

6. Carefully turn the C52 until it is resting
on the end where you just removed the
end pad.

7. Remove the remaining end pad and
the protective bag.

REVEL Performa C52
OWNER’S MANUAL

Figure 1: Unpacking the C52

Right Pad

Left Pad

Protective

Bag

Grille

Spikes

Figure 2: Packing Materials

8. (Optional) If you plan to install the
spikes, lay the speaker down so the
bottom is facing upward (the holes for
the spikes will be exposed).

Remove the spikes from the left pad
and attach them to the bottom of the
loudspeaker. Refer to “Adjustable

Spikes” on page 12 for detailed installa­tion instructions.

Top

Bottom

1

Length: 29.19 inches (74.14cm)
Width: 18.44 inches (46.83cm)
Depth: 16.63 inches (42.23cm)

2

Carton Dimensions

Bottom

3

Top

REVEL Performa C52
OWNER’S MANUAL

8

LOUDSPEAKER OVERVIEW

DRIVER COMPLEMENT

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

1. Proprietary 1-inch (25mm) aluminum
dome tweeter incorporating a propri­etary wave-guide

2. Proprietary 5.25-inch (133mm)
midrange with Organic Ceramic
Composite cone

3. Two proprietary 8-inch (203mm)
woofers with Organic Ceramic
Composite cones

CABINET

Reduces cabinet-induced colorations with

0.75-inch (19mm) thick walls and extensive

internal bracing. Rounded baffle edges
minimize diffraction and optimize off-axis
response for smoother high-frequency
reproduction. Two threaded inserts on the

Figure 3: C52 Loudspeaker (Front View)

The numbers in Figure 3 (above) correspond with the
numbered items in the “Driver Complement” section.

bottom of the cabinet accommodate spikes,
which provide adjustable tilt when the C52
is placed on or above a video monitor.

The cabinet’s wood veneer finish does not
require routine maintenance. Cabinet
surfaces that have been marked with dust,
fingerprints, or other dirt can be cleaned
using a soft cloth and a high-quality
furniture polish. Use a high-quality wax
for a higher-gloss finish.

• To clean the cabinet, apply furniture
polish to a soft cloth; then use the cloth
to lightly wipe the cabinet surface.

• To clean the grille, gently vacuum
using a soft-bristled brush vacuum
attachment.

CAUTION

To prevent cabinet damage, do not use
any cloth containing 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 235Hz
and 2kHz, 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 switches provide precise
balance to compensate for less-than-ideal
listening room acoustics and loudspeaker

13

2

Pedestal Stand

(Optional)

3

Cabinet