Studiophile SP-8S User Guide

Studiophile SP-8S

Users Manual

Rear Panel: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

SP-8S Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

First Things First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

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

Correct Power Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Positioning the Subwoofer in the Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Connecting the SP-8S and Your Main Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Using the SP-8S with Stereo Bass Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Using the SP-8S without Stereo Bass Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Connecting an Additional Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Power Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Setting the HPF Bypass Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Optimizing the Rear Panel Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Setting the Level Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Setting the Phase Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Setting the Subwoofer LPF and the Satellites HPF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Avoiding Problems with Turntables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Replacing the Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Technical Specs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

One Year Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Rear Panel:

1. Power/Standby LED: This LED indicates the power status. If the auto-muting

circuitry is engaged, this LED will be amber if there is no audio signal to the SP-8S, and green when the SP-8S receives a signal. If “Auto-Power” is switched off, then this LED will remain green.

2. “Level” control knob: This knob controls the amplifier level of the SP-8S. The

gain range is from minimum to maximum, labeled “Min” and “Max,” with Min being full attenuation and Max being full volume.

3. Phase control knob: This knob controls phase of the crossover frequencies of

the Subwoofer and the Satellites from 0 to 180 degrees.

4. “Subwoofer” LPF control knob: This knob designates the cutoff frequency of

the SP-8S using a LPF, or low-pass filter. This setting will determine the highest frequency that the SP-8S will reproduce.

5. “Satellites” HPF control knob: This knob determines the HPF, or high-pass

filter cutoff frequency for the Satellite speakers while using the SP-8S’s Stereo Bass Management System. The Satellites control knob is functional only when the HPF Bypass switch is set to Off.

6. Input section: This section provides two balanced XLR inputs and two 1/4”

TRS connectors that may be used for balanced (TRS) or unbalanced (TS) operation. Either XLR or TRS may be used as your audio input. These inputs are designated as “L” and “R” for operation in bass management mode. When bass management is not used, either the L or R input may be used to input signal to the SP-8S.

7. Auto Power On/Off Switch: When this switch is set to “On,” Auto Power

mode is engaged. Switching to “Off” will defeat Auto Power mode.

8. HPF Bypass switch: Switching HPF Bypass to “On” will bypass the Satellites

HPF control knob, effectively defeating the SP-8S’s Stereo Bass Management System. With HPF Bypass switched off, the “Satellites” HPF cutoff frequency control knob is engaged and bass management is operational.

9. Output section: This section provides three balanced XLR outputs labeled

“Extra Sub” and “L” & “R.” The Extra Sub output gives you throughput directly from the inputs for the purpose of connecting an additional subwoofer. The Land R outputs are to be used for connecting Satellite speakers (your left and right mains) when using the Bass Management System.

10. Power cable socket: This socket accepts a standard grounded AC cable.

11. Fuse holder: This fuse holder allows the replacement of a fuse for the purpose

of circuit protection.

12. Power On/Off switch: Switching to “On” will power the SP-8S subwoofer.

Switching to “Off” will power the unit down.

13. Manufacturer’s Label: This section gives the model number and manufacturer

information, including important power requirement information. See section, “Correct Power Operation.”

14. Voltage-Select Switch: Provides 2 selections - 115VAC and 230VAC, and

should be set to match the “house current” (receptacle) voltage of the country/location in which the speaker is used. The 115V setting is correct for the USA andthe 230V setting correct for most of the UK and Europe.

SP-8S Features

The SP-8S is a high-quality subwoofer designed to deliver extremely low frequencies in conjunction with stereo pairs of studio reference monitors such as the M-Audio Studiophile SP-8B or SP-5B. In fact, so many consumers have subwoofers in their home and car entertainment systems that you’re not really mixing accurately without having a sub yourself.

M-Audio’s engineers designed the SP-8S to meet professional quality performance standards and to provide superior value. Your SP-8S is constructed using high-quality components such as the 8-inch mineral filled polypropylene woofer cone. We use only selected grade components throughout the circuit design, placing special emphasis on components within the audio path to assure stable, consistent performance. We’ve built in a unique smooth-clipping circuit to deliver a warm musical sound similar to a vacuum tube. This circuit also provides overload protection for safe and high volume performance.

The SP-8S incorporates a unique Stereo Bass Management System. When subwoofers are added to many systems, all frequencies are routed to both the main monitors and the sub. The problem is that both the main monitors and the sub are still trying to put out the same low frequencies, duplicating the playback of some of the low frequencies and thereby compromising monitoring accuracy.

Our Stereo Bass Management System solves that and delivers optimal fidelity. The SP-8S’s internal crossover network splits the signal at a user-defined crossover frequency, routing everything below it to the internal sub and everything above it to the main outputs. This significantly improves fidelity because the sub and mains aren’t tripping over each other to reproduce the same frequency—and each component only has to reproduce frequencies to which it is ideally suited.

Your SP-8S also features auto-muting circuitry that automatically turns the subwoofer on when it senses a program signal while turning it off to conserve power when no signal is present. Various controls also allow you to adjust the performance of the SP-8S in conjunction with the rest of your system. While the SP-8S is easy to operate, we suggest that you take a few minutes to read the rest of this manual in order to derive optimal audio quality from your new subwoofer. Enjoy!

First Things First

In order to avoid risk of damage and insure optimum performance from your SP-8S Subwoofer, please take time to read this manual before you proceed to unpack and install it.

Unpacking

Remove the SP-8S from the carton carefully, paying extra attention to avoid touching or damaging the speaker cone. If the system is damaged in any way or does not contain all parts, contact your dealer immediately. We recommend that you save the carton in the event that you need to transport or ship the product in the future. Within the SP-8S package you should find:

• This manual

• The SP-8S Subwoofer

• One (1) standard AC Power cable

Correct Power Operation

Since the SP-8S contains its own amplifier, it must be connected to a power outlet using the detachable AC cable provided. Before connecting power, please make sure that the Voltage-Select Switch, located on the the speakers rear panel is set to the appropriate position, as described in the rear-panel features list appearing earlier in this manual.

Note: - WARNING! - Use of improper voltage/ selector switch

combinations may result in hazardous conditions and/or damage

to speaker components not covered by speaker warranty.

Positioning the Subwoofer in the Studio

In theory, the best position for the SP-8S subwoofer is midway between the satellite speakers, with its front facing forward and in the same plane as the fronts of the satellite speakers. However, due to the fact that low bass frequencies are somewhat non-directional, you may locate the SP-8S quite far from this position without any detrimental effect on the sound reproduction.

Each room is different in acoustic properties, so please feel free to experiment with placement. Different positions of the SP-8S in relation to walls will affect its efficiency, as well as the room’s overall influence on the frequency response. You can compensate for this by readjusting the filter settings (see section, “Setting the Subwoofer LPF and the Satellites HPF”).

Connecting the SP-8S and Your Main Speakers

Most applications will utilize the SP-8S’s internal Stereo Bass Management System to realize maximum benefit. There are, however, two possible operational modes that you may use when connecting your SP-8S and your Mains, or “Satellite” stereo speakers, i.e., 1) using the SP-8S with bass management and 2) using the SP-8S without bass management.

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