Tannoy Saturn Owners manual

SATURN

by

OWNER’S MANUAL

CONTENTS PAGE

Introduction 2
Amplifier Matching 3
Fine Tuning 4
Bass Tuning 5
Bi-Amping 6
Screening 7
Technical Specifications 8-11

WARRANTY

This equipment has been produced and tested with care and precision. All Tannoy speaker

WARRANTY

systems are built to give first class service and carry a 5-year warranty. Active subwoofers
carry a 1-year warranty.

This equipment has been produced and tested with care and precision. All Tannoy

If the equipment proves to be defective within this period for any reason other than accident,

speaker systems are built to give first class service and carry a 5-year warranty.

misuse, unauthorised modification or fair wear and tear, Tannoy will repair any such defect

Active subwoofers carry a 1-year warranty.

or, at our option, replace it without charge for parts, labour or return carriage. This warranty
is given in addition to the customer's statutory rights.

If the equipment proves to be defective within this period for any reason other than
accident, misuse, unauthorised modification or fair wear and tear, Tannoy will repair

If you suspect a problem with your loudspeakers please contact your local Tannoy dealer

any such defect or, at our option, replace it without charge for parts, labour or return

who will be able to advise on appropriate action.

carriage. This warranty is given in addition to the customer's statutory rights.

If you suspect a problem with your loudspeakers please contact your local Tannoy
dealer who will be able to advise on appropriate action.

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for selecting Tannoy loudspeakers; developed in the UK by our dedicated team
of design engineers they are the choice of discriminating music lovers the world over.
Musical excellence is designed into our loudspeakers from the start. Careful selection of
the very best components combined with strict quality control procedures in the production
process ensures this level of excellence is maintained.

To gain maximum performance from your loudspeakers, please take time to read this
owner's manual in full before installation. Once you have set up your new loudspeakers
please complete and return the registration document - this does not limit your legal rights.

Loudspeakers are electromechanical devices that 'run-in' through use; performance will
therefore improve after an initial period of 24hrs use. Once they have been further run­in over a longer period, there will be clear enhancement of the stereo imaging, mid-band
quality and bass performance characteristics.

We are confident that you will continue to enjoy your new Tannoy loudspeakers for many
years to come.

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AMPLIFIER MATCHING

Consult the enclosed product specification sheet as this clearly shows the acceptable power
range for amplifier matching to your speakers. The high peak power handling of Tannoy
loudspeakers permits responsible use with more powerful amplifiers - please read the
Warranty.

As with all loudspeaker systems, the power handling is a function of voice coil thermal
capacity. Care should be taken to avoid overdriving any amplifier, as this will cause output
overload resulting in 'clipping' or distortion within the output signal. This, if done for any
extended period, will cause damage to the speakers.

Generally an amplifier of higher power that is running hard, but free of distortion, will
do less damage to the loudspeaker than a lower power amplifier continually clipping.
Remember also that a high powered amplifier running at less than 90% of output power
generally sounds a great deal better than a lower powered example struggling to achieve
100%. An amplifier with insufficient drive capability will not allow the full performance of
the loudspeakers to be realised.

CABLE CHOICE

Always use the best quality of cable available within your budget. High quality audio
signals passing from the amplifier to the loudspeaker are unusual in their demands on
the cable. Wide dynamic range and frequency bandwidth information has to coexist with
the ability to transmit peak currents of at least 10amps, without incurring any loss or signal
impairment. This explains why the sound quality of the information reproduced by the
loudspeakers is so dependant on the physical properties of the cables connecting them
to the amplifier.

Technically, we recommend two-core cable with cross section area not less than 1.5 square
millimetres (1.5mm
to use cable with a minimum cross sectional area of 2.5 square millimetres (2.5mm2). In
addition always keep the cable runs the same length for each speaker.

Cable construction can affect the sound quality. Be prepared to experiment to find a cable
that suits your ear and audio system. We do not recommend the use of braided (Litz) or
coaxial cables as these have a high capacitance that may affect the stability of certain
amplifiers.

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) for cable runs of up to 3 metres. For longer lengths you will require

Saturn Range

QUICK SET UP

PLEASE REFER TO THE SPECIFICATION AND INSTALLATION DIAGRAM SHEET SUPPLIED
WITH THIS MANUAL

1. Remove the loudspeakers from all packaging.
Fold the carton flaps right back and invert the carton and contents.
Lift the carton clear of the contents.
Remove all the inner packaging from the product.

(See figure 1)

It is strongly recommended that you store all the packaging to allow protected
transportation in future.

2. Stand mounting or bookshelf speakers should be located securely in an appropriate
position. If wall mounting any speakers, we strongly recommend that you use a
bracket which will support the base of the speaker. Use of a bracket that screws directly
onto the back panel of the speaker can cause too much strain to be exerted on the
fixing point and the panel itself. This may cause panel detachment when in use and
could present the risk of injury.

3. Floor-standing models perform best with carpet piercing spikes fitted. These are supplied,
along with lock nuts, and should be fitted into the threaded holes in the base of the
cabinet. Level the speaker and then tighten the lock nuts firmly but without using undue
force. Spike locating cups are provided in the accessory pack and these may be used
to protect sensitive floor surfaces.

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4. To protect your speakers and amplifier from damage it is important to ensure that the
amplifier is switched OFF prior to connecting or disconnecting any cabling.

* Correct polarity of the cable connections between the amplifier and speakers is
essential. (See figure 2)

* For optimum performance when connecting the system in standard single wire
mode to a speaker terminal panel equipped with full bi-wiring facility, always make
cable connections, with the links fitted, to the HF terminals.

(See figure 2)

* The positive (plus) terminal on the amplifier left channel (marked + or coloured
red) must be connected to the positive terminal on the left speaker. The left speaker
is the one on the left as you look at the stereo pair from your listening position.

* The negative (minus) terminal on the amplifier left channel (marked - or coloured
black) must be connected to the negative terminal on the left speaker.

* Repeat this connection process for the right speaker. Remember that the positive
(+ or red) on the amplifier must be connected to the positive (+ or red) on the
speaker and the negative (- or black) to negative.

* Select a signal source, such as a CD player; switch on the amplifier and slowly turn
up the volume control to check that both loudspeakers are reproducing bass and
treble information.

FINE TUNING

To get best results from your new Tannoy loudspeakers it is worthwhile spending a little
time finding the optimum set-up configuration.
Here are a few tips to help you with this process:

STAND MOUNTING AND BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS

Small speakers should not be placed directly on the floor but can be used on bookshelves
or tables. However, the sound reproduction quality achieved will never be as good when
not ideally positioned. Your dealer can show you a selection of purpose built stands,
designed to realise the full performance potential of your loudspeakers.

Loudspeaker stands should be rigidly built and preferably mass loaded with dry sand. The
optimum listening height will be dictated by the seating in your room, usually between
300mm (12") and 600mm (24") high. Stand mounted speakers will produce their best
stereo image and soundstage if you can just see the top face of the cabinet. Check the
'lift' needed to put the speakers in this position before purchasing your stands.
Refer to the paragraph headed Positioning for stand mounted speaker placement advice.

(See figure 3)

FLOOR STANDING LOUDSPEAKERS

For optimum performance from floor-standing loudspeakers, the design team at Tannoy
recommends that the supplied carpet piercing spikes be fitted. A rigid footing for the
speaker, with a secure interface between the cabinet and the floor, brings about an
improvement in clarity, bass 'speed' and definition.

First level the spikes by eye then hand tighten the lock nuts. Rock the loudspeaker gently
from side to side so that the spikes find their way through the weave of the carpet and
on to the solid surface below. Once fine adjustments have been made to level the
loudspeaker and ensure stability, tighten the lock nuts firmly but without using undue force.
Refer to the paragraph headed Positioning for floor standing speaker placement advice.

(See figure 3)

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