Solid State Logic S-10-I Owners manual

Soliloquy Model

S10i

Owner’s Manual

Bringing Life to Sound

Contents you should find in the box

Please read this manual carefully before setting up or at-

tempting to listen to your new loudspeakers.

Unpacking Instructions

Each inner box contains one Soliloquy S10i subwoofer with one separately pack­aged cloth grille, IEC power cable and 4 spikes with set screws. Once the sub­woofer is set-up in it’s final position, you may wish to install the grille for a fin­ished decorator look.

Each subwoofer is outfitted with a solid steel plinth and threaded outriggers for the
enclosed custom spikes. These holes have been carefully pre-checked at the fac­tory to assure flawless threading.

On the back of the subwoofer is the self contained power amplifier. This amplifier
offers two ways to connect it to the system. The first is called high-level or
speaker level connections. This refers to connecting the subwoofer speaker input
to the speaker connections on the main amplifier and then connecting the speak­ers to the subwoofer speaker output terminals. The second type of connection is
referred to as line level or low level. This requires taking the subwoofer out of the
preamp / processor and connecting the line input on the back of the subwoofer. In
certain cases you may use a second set of preamp outputs to utilize this connec­tion for a two-channel system. This line level connection is the recommended ap­proach whenever possible.

Before you proceed, inspect your box to insure it contains all items in good condi­tion. If anything is missing, call your dealer for assistance right away.

Otherwise, carefully unpack the speakers. They are heavier than their size sug­gests. That’s because each cabinet panel and all internal braces are a solid 1-inch
thick! Store the boxes (including all inserts and bags) in a safe place. You’ll need
them should you ever require service at our factory. If you move into a new house
or apartment, using this original packaging during transport is the safest way to
move your speakers.

The subwoofer amplifier has several settings that will significantly affect the per­formance of your system. These settings are the crossover adjustment, the phase
adjustment, the gain adjustment and lastly, the full-range switch. We will address
these settings in the chapter regarding Setup, Placement and Voicing.

Setup, placement and voicing

A speaker’s exact position in a room significantly impacts its final performance.
That’s because it’s at the loudspeaker where the otherwise purely electrical signal
passing through the preceding chain of system components is converted into me­chanical energy — the pushing and retracting of the loudspeaker drivers.

Once the signal leaves the controlled environment of amplifier, it suddenly inter­acts with the uncontrolled environment of the room.

To assure that speakers performance remains reasonably uncolored and unaf­fected by the room (and its natural boundaries of walls, floor, ceiling, windows and
furnishings), careful placement is necessary.

Loudspeaker room interaction occurs in the following four main areas:

• reflection;

• absorption;

• diffusion;

• and resonance.

Smooth hard surfaces reflect sound (glass, stone, tiles, mirrors); soft plush sur­faces absorb it (carpet, pillows, overstuffed chairs and couches); and irregularly
shaped hard surfaces scatter it (partially opened blinds, indoor trees).

Most rooms exhibit a natural combination of these qualities. Too little absorptive
materials and a room turns excessively “live” or “bright” (an empty bathroom; a
church with lengthy reverb or hall echo). Too much absorption and a room be­comes acoustically “dead” or “dull” (the equivalent of an anechoic chamber
wherein all reflections are strategically killed for loudspeaker measurements un­tainted by room interaction).

The S10i crossover frequency adjustment is variable from 40Hz to 180Hz. This al­lows your subwoofer to play the lower frequencies that your main loudspeakers
cannot handle as well alone. The crossover setting you choose, should be at the
point where your main loudspeakers exhibit a noticeable reduction in bass output.
Optimum placement for the S10i will depend on the room, but keeping it on the
same plain with the front speakers makes integration easier.

Soliloquy offers a white paper document on the topic of properly placing

your loudspeakers.

Please feel free to contact your dealer or Soliloquy directly to receive your

free copy.

This will help to create a seamless integration between the subwoofer and the
main loudspeakers. If you notice a significant increase in bass output at the cross­over point where the subwoofer engages, that usually means the crossover fre­quency is set too high. The optimum setting for the crossover is achieved when it
sounds like the bass energy is coming from the main speakers. Soliloquy subwoof­ers are optimally performing between 40 Hz and 80Hz when coupled with Soliloquy
main speakers.

The second control is the phase adjustment. If the subwoofer is on the same plain
or wall as your main loudspeakers the phase will be at 0. This indicates the timing
of the woofer is the same as the primary speakers. If the subwoofer were on the
opposite wall from the main speakers the phase setting should be at 180 degrees.
This would indicate that the subwoofer is in opposite time to the main speakers.
Proper adjustment will occur when the bass energy comes from all speakers at the
same time.

Remember this is not a test. Optimum positioning will always depend on where it
sounds best to you. Also remember that the overall performance is only as good
as the weakest component in the system.

Spiking the S10i

For best performance, the S10i must be spiked. For hardwood, tile or
stone floors, spike protectors are available.

Until you have determined the speaker’s final position, do not
Instead, walk the speaker to the chosen location like a trash can, in back-and­forth rocking motions from corner to corner. Be careful not to flatten the

tweeter in the process.

The tips and explanations below will assist you in approximating the optimum loca­tion. You will need to fine-tune it by listening and comparing slight off-sets for best
results.

Once you have settled on the final position, lean the speaker back slightly to lift
the plinth front edge far enough off the ground to install the front spikes. The lock
nuts go above
don’t strip them by attempting to insert the spike at an angle.

With the front spikes installed about half-way and the lock nuts tightened tempo­rarily, tilt the speaker onto the front spikes to repeat the process for the rear
spikes. Once all spikes are securely inserted, adjustments via the knurled tops al­low easy leveling in the left/right and front/aft directions.

Finish off by tightening the lock nuts down firmly onto the baseplate for optimum
performance.

the plinth. Be sure to engage the threads perpendicularly so you

insert the spikes.

Proper speaker care

Your new Model S10i is finished in real wood veneer and should be treated like any
other fine piece of furniture—dusted with a soft non-abrasive cloth, perhaps occa­sionally polished with lemon oil or furniture cream.

The woofer cone may be cleaned/dusted with a soft moist cloth. The tweeter
should never be touched. The grill can be vacuumed, or use a sticky garment roller
to remove pet hairs.

The speaker and speaker cable terminals should be occasionally cleaned with anti­tarnish and conductivity enhancer solutions.

Break-in

Soliloquy products must have an approximate break-in time of 30 hours, prior to
shipping, to insure they are performing to specification when they leave our fac­tory. (Please see the enclosed QA sheet that came with your speakers).

The driver suspensions (the visible butyl rubber surrounds and the invisible
pleated spider cloth suspension behind the woofer cone and tweeter dome) re­quire extended physical movement to reach proper compliance.

This conditioning or break-in process happens naturally by playing music. The
first notable sonic improvements will occur in the first 50 hours. The bass will ex­tend lower and cleaner, and tonal balance will fill out.

Further, but more subtle improvements will occur over the next 150 hours after
which time the sound won’t change and the speakers have settled in.

To hasten break-in, Use fairly heavy bass content recordings and turn the cross­over to 180Hz. This will make the woofer work harder and break-in faster.

Once the break-in process is completed it is important to remember that the
positive (+) and negative (-) connections need to be consistent. Positive (+) will
usually be denoted by a red wire or connector and the negative (-), by a black
wire. Please make sure the connections are the same on the amplifiers and on
the back of the speakers. This will maintain proper phase. If out of phase a sig­nificant reduction in bass response can be heard.

Important Note: The S10 amplifier incorporates a full range switch on

the rear panel. This switch is designed to allow all available frequencies
to run into the driver. Please insure this switch is set to LOW-PASS only
for use with the C driver. You can severely damage the C driver if this
switch is set to FULL RANGE!

Return or Repair Procedures

In case of driver or cabinet damage, you should contact Soliloquy at 919-876­7554 or [e-mail].

If the items require repair or replacement, Do not ship your speakers to
the factory before obtaining a Return Authorization number.

This number must be affixed to the shipping label. It alerts our shipping clerk as to
why this speaker was returned. The RA number is then cross-referenced against
the service log that was started during your initial phone call.

Warranty Service

Your Model 5.3i is warrantied against defects for 5 years from date of purchase
provided you are the original purchaser.

To activate this warranty, you must send in your warranty registration
card or valid proof of purchase, within 30 days after purchase.

Upon receipt, your contact information will be entered into the serial number log to
identify you as the rightful owner of this speaker pair. Without submitting this

card or receipt, you will not be eligible for warranty service!

What is

Damage caused by:

• Amplifiers going DC

• Excessive and prolonged playback levels resulting in melted voice coils or bot-

tomed-out woofers

• Prying fingers pushing in the tweeter or tearing the woofer

• Unauthorized repair work or modifications by a third party

• Exposure to water, fire or the elements

• Damage to the cabinets

Damage caused by any of the above scenarios can likely be repaired. Contact us
to obtain an estimate. For warranty repairs, we pay shipping back to you. For non­warranty repairs, you pay shipping both ways. You need an RA number in either
case.

Because of the weight of Soliloquy products, shipping them may result in cabinet
damage. Cabinet damage can be repaired by a furniture refinisher in your area.

not

covered under warranty

L -Port Configuration

The S10i utilizes a unique porting system designed to eliminate the common prob­lem of port noise created by strong amplifiers and drivers in a small box. This port
design is known as the L-Port and it is configurable to fire forwards into the room
(comes from the factory with this configuration) or backwards towards a corner
(optional configuration). The L-Port can be easily changed to allow increased rear
wall loading.

First, remove the four stabilizing spikes, if installed. On a carpeted surface, roll the
model S10i on it’s side gently and then over on to it’s top. Remove the 14 X 4 Phil­lips screws from the metal plate. Remove the metal baseplate and wooden base or
plenth. Turn the wood base 180 degrees so the L-Port vent is facing the rear of the
subwoofer. Replace the metal plate and align the holes for the wood base to the
cabinet and the metal plate to the cabinet.Insert and tighten the 14 X 4 screws
back into the metal baseplate. Gently roll the sub back over on to the plate and
then install the spikes, once the subwoofer has been positioned.

Amplifier Features

The S10i has an On/Off Auto switch, which allows you three options to control the
power. They are as follows:

Off - The amplifier is off and no signal is present. There will be a red light on the
backpanel.
On— The amplifier power is always on even if no signal is present. The light will
appear green on the backpanel.
Auto— This setting allows the amplifier to turn on or off depending on whether or
not there is a bass signal present. This convenience is very effective for placement
where getting to the controls after setup is difficult.

Note: The auto position may sometimes be slow in activating due to the presence
of bass signals below the sensitivity threshold of the amplifier.

Important Note: The subwoofer has two connection types on the rear

panel, available for connection to your system. The first is Line (Low)
Level. This connection utilizes the RCA inputs and is the recommended
connection type for optimum performance. If you are using small satel­lites and prefer the bass information to not be played by them so as to
prevent damage. A speaker (High) level connection is supplied. This con­nection allows you to wire the speakers to the sub using the supplied
binding posts and then connecting the other set of binding posts to the
speaker jacks on the amplifier. This will blend the woofer to the satellites
by limiting the bass information only to the woofer.

S10i technical specifications

Frequency response: 20Hz to 200Hz

M Woofer: One 10” ribbed, aluminum driver with flow-

through dustcap. Cone is tapered in thickness in
corporating a single roll butyl rubber surround.
Dual 50mm edge wound voice coils, a single layer
iron ferrite vented magnet system and die-cast
aluminum/magnesium basket.

C Woofer: One 10” smooth, aluminum driver with ABS
injection molded dustcap. Cone is tapered in
thickness incorporating a twin-roll butyl rubber
surround. A single 70mm edge wound voice coil,
dual layer iron ferrite vented magnet system and
die-cast aluminum/ magnesium basket.

Amplifier Power: 225 watts into 8 ohms

Amplifier Circuits: Class AB with Discrete Darlington circuits provide

high current while remaining stable into a 2 ohm
load. Filters include a second order active cross
over with Linkwitz-Riley networks, a second order
subsonic filter, continuously variable low-pass and
high-pass filters. Total Harmonic Distortion is less
than .01% with a S/N Ratio of greater than
100db weighted. High level and low level inputs,
Off/On/Auto power modes, high level and line
level outputs, crossover, phase and gain controls
are also included.

Cutoff: 18db per Octave

Crossover: continuously variable from 40Hz—180Hz

Grille: Acoustically transparent double-knit.

Dimensions: 13” W x 18.5” H x 18” D

Weight: 107lb. each

Finish: Santos Rosewood, Satin Black, English Cherry,

Curly Maple

Additional Information

For any questions regarding which driver design or port configuration
would be right for your application, please contact your dealer or Solilo­quy.

Your dealer can also provide you with assistance regarding optimum con­trol settings and placement for your room and your loudspeakers.

Please record your model number, serial number, date of purchase and
the dealer you purchased from, in this box for future reference.

Model: ___________________________________________________

Serial Number: ____________________________________________

Purchase Date: _____________ Dealer: ________________________

Soliloquy Loudspeaker Company, Inc. sincerely appreciates your

choice of the Soliloquy Model 5.3i loudspeaker. All of the employ-

ees at Soliloquy take great pride in the quality of our products.

Like a fine musical instrument, your Soliloquy Loudspeakers will

only improve with age. ENJOY!

Soliloquy Loudspeaker Corporation

2609 Discovery Drive, Bldg. #105

Raleigh, NC 27616

919.876.7554 vox / 919.501.2992 fax

www.solspeak.com