Velodyne CHT-R SERIES, CHT-8R, CHT-10R, CHT-12R, CHT-15R User Manual

USER’S MANUAL

SERIES

DSP-Controlled Home Theater Subwoofer

CHT-8R

CHT-10R

CHT-12R

CHT-15R

Enjoy.

Thank you for choosing a Velodyne. Our passion for high

performance, low-distortion bass is the driving force behind

our worldwide reputation in audio and technical innovation.

We are pleased to bring the Velodyne sound experience
to your home.

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CHT-Q Series User’s Manual - i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Congratulations ........................................................ 1

Installation ............................................................2

Rear Panel Connections ................................................. 4

Rear Panel Connections — Detailed Explanation .............................6

Interconnect Cables ....................................................8

Usage ............................................................... 9

Care of Your Subwoofer ................................................ 13

Troubleshooting and Service .............................................13

Specications ........................................................14

Other Velodyne Products ...............................................15

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CHT-Q Series User’s Manual - ii

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations on your purchase of a Velodyne Classic Home Theater (CHT™-R) subwoofer. This system
represents the state-of-the-art in low frequency reproduction. Read and follow the instructions below to insure
safe and proper system operation.

Note: Do not leave unit in direct sunlight or use in high humidity environments!!!

Warning!

To prevent re or shock hazard, do not expose this equipment to rain or moisture. To avoid electrical shock, do

not open speaker enclosure or amp chassis cover. Please observe all warnings on the equipment itself. There

are no user serviceable parts inside. Please refer all service questions to your authorized Velodyne dealer.

Prior to Installation:

Please unpack the system carefully. Please save the carton and all packaging materials for future use. Record
the serial number in the space provided on the warranty card for future reference.

Product Features

• DSP-controlled

• Four selectable presets for customized listening mode

• Night-mode setting

• Mute control

• Built-in 160 watt (RMS) power amplier (CHT-8R)

• Built-in 185 watt (RMS) power amplier (CHT-10R)

• Built-in 200 watt (RMS) power amplier (CHT-12R)

• Built-in 1000 watt (RMS) power amplier (CHT-15R)

• Adjustable (40 to 120 Hz) low-pass crossover with Subwoofer Direct setting

• Speaker-level inputs and outputs

• 85 Hz high-pass crossover

• Line-level inputs

• Signal sensing auto turn on/o with bypass option

• Variable volume control

• Selectable phase control (0, 90, 180, or 270 degrees)

• Dual staggered low-pass crossover; 12 dB/octave initial, 24 dB/octave ultimate

• Anti-clipping circuit

• Over excursion protection

• Slot loaded design

• Dual staggered low-pass crossover; 12 dB/octave initial, 24 dB/octave ultimate

• Anti-clipping circuit

• Over excursion protection

• Slot loaded bass reex design

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CHT-R Series User’s Manual - 1

INSTALLATION

Your new subwoofer system provides for a number of installation options. Read all the installation information
below in order to determine which installation option is best for your system. Remember to perform all installation

procedures with system power turned o.

Figure 1. CHT-R Rear Panel Connections

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Figure 2. CHT-15R Rear Panel Connections

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CHT-R Series User’s Manual - 3

REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS

Figure 1 shows the connections on the rear panel of the CHT-8R, CHT-10R and CHT-12R.
Figure 2 shows the connections on the rear panel of the CHT-15R.

Following are brief descriptions of the connections described in Figure 1 and 2. More detail on these connections

can be found on the next page.

(1) LOW-PASS CROSSOVER

Use this knob to select the high-frequency range at which you wish to cut o the signal to the subwoofer.

When the knob is turned all the way to the left, the Subwoofer Direct feature is invoked and the subwoofer

plays all frequencies up to 200 Hz.

(2) VOLUME Control

This control allows you to balance the output from the subwoofer to the main speakers in your system.

This control should be set to achieve similar volume level from between both the main speakers and
subwoofer. When pressing volume up or down, the speed at which the power light blinks indicates

subwoofer volume - the faster the blinking, the louder the unit plays. After the volume is changed (up

or down), there will also be 2 sets of center LED blinks. Slower blinks represent tens and faster blinks
represent ones. If the LED blinks 3 times, pauses, then blinks 6 times, this means that the volume is set
at 36. The volume range is from 1 to 99.

Note: Volume is also controllable by using the supplied remote, when defaults are restored. The de­fault is 35 out of 100.

WARNING: Some manufacturers preset their receivers with the Sub-Out channel signal at a
minimum level. It is very important to verify that your receiver Sub-Out channel is set to
the same output as your front right and left channels. Refer to your receiver manual for the
individual channel level adjustment procedure. If your receiver Sub-Out channel is set too low,
the subwoofer may appear to have a weak output, it may sound noisy or distorted, and the
Auto-On/Off feature may not work properly.

(3) AUTO ON/OFF Switch

The Auto-On/O feature allows the subwoofer to turn itself o when not in use.

- With the Auto-On/O switch set to ACTIVE, the subwoofer will monitor its input, and if there is no
signal present for approximately 15 minutes, it will shut down and go into standby mode. As soon

as a signal is present again, the subwoofer will immediately turn itself back on.

- With the Auto-On/O switch set to INACTIVE, the auto-on/o feature is bypassed. The subwoofer

will remain on until the power switch is turned o.

WARNING: If the Sub-Out channel signal level from your receiver is too weak, this feature
will not operate properly. See Volume Control section (above).

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(4) LINE OUTPUT

Connect these jacks to the LINE IN preamp input to use the CHT-R’s internal high pass crossover. See

below for a more detailed explanation of this crossover.

(5) LINE INPUT/LFE Input

Connect these jacks to the LINE OUT preamp output, LFE output, or subwoofer output jacks of your

receiver/processor. If using the LFE output from your receiver or processor, plug the single cable into the
“L”– LFE input or, for more signal, use a “Y” connector and feed the signal into both “R” and “L” inputs.

(6) HIGH PASS CROSSOVER Switch

This switch selects the frequency for the high pass crossover. This crossover is functional on both line

and speaker-level outputs. Smaller speakers with limited low frequency output may perform better using

the higher 100 Hz setting that will reduce the low frequencies sent to them. Larger speakers with greater
low frequency output may be able to handle the 80 Hz setting without strain.

(7) SPEAKER LEVEL INPUT Terminals

Connect these input terminals to the speaker output terminals of your amplier or receiver. If you use

this method of connection, when you go to the receiver speaker set up menu, make sure you select the
large speaker option.

(8) SPEAKER LEVEL OUTPUT Terminals

Sends a crossed-over speaker-level signal to the front speakers. See below for a more detailed

explanation of this crossover.

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CHT-R Series User’s Manual - 5

REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS

Your new subwoofer is equipped with both speaker-level and line-level inputs. Use the RCA/Phono type “INPUT”
jacks when connecting your subwoofer to a pre-amp, signal processor, or line-level crossover. The “SPEAKER
LEVEL INPUT” jacks connect directly to the speaker outputs of an integrated amplier or receiver. Your amplier
section will notice no additional loading eects when you use these inputs because of their high impedance.

Note: Do not use both the RCA/Phono “INPUT” connections and “SPEAKER LEVEL INPUT” connections

simultaneously.

Low-Pass Crossover

Both sets of inputs sum the left and right channels together and the resulting signal is passed through an
adjustable low-pass crossover before being amplied. The crossover control allows you to adjust the upper
limit of the subwoofer’s frequency response from 40 to 120 Hz. The subwoofer’s response will begin rolling o

above the frequency you set this control to.

You should set the crossover frequency to obtain a smooth and seamless transition from the subwoofer to the
main speakers in your system. If your main speakers are smaller units with limited low frequency output, you

may wish to choose a higher frequency (such as 100 -120 Hz) than you would with larger speakers which have
greater low frequency output. With larger speakers, you might start with this control set lower, such as 80 Hz.

Subwoofer Direct

Subwoofer Direct is a setting on the low-pass crossover knob and will allow frequencies up to 200 Hz into the

subwoofer. See below for a more detailed explanation of this feature.

Speaker Level Output/Line Level Output

When connected in this fashion, your satellite speakers will be crossed over at 80 Hz. This removes the lower
bass from your satellites, enabling them to do a better job reproducing high frequencies and giving your
receiver’s amp more headroom (up to 50% more power). You may also connect your satellites directly to your
receiver or amplier along with the subwoofer if you wish to bypass this crossover.

Caution!!!

To avoid damage to your main amplier, be sure to maintain correct polarity when making all connections.

Red (positive) to red, and black (negative) to black. Be sure that all connections are tight, and that there
are no loose strands or frayed wires.

Power Switch

The master power switch is located on the lower right half of the unit. This rocker style switch is the main on/o
for the unit. This switch should be set to position 1 for on (up), 0 for o (down).

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A Word About Your Receiver’s Crossover and the CHT-R Crossover

Your Velodyne CHT-R subwoofer is designed to operate using the full range audio signal for input when using

the built-in crossover (controlled by the dial on the back panel). Many home theater processors/receivers (Dolby
Digital®, DTS®, THX®) have a “subwoofer out” jack that performs this same function and are designed to be

used with a powered subwoofer.

In these installations, you may want to bypass the crossover in either the processor or the Velodyne subwoofer.

In some cases, you may want to use BOTH crossovers. To do this, you can use both your processor’s crossover
and the one internal to the Velodyne sub. You should stagger the frequencies (i.e., 120 Hz subwoofer, 80 Hz

processor) for best results.

To bypass the subwoofer’s internal crossover when the unit is being fed a low pass signal from another
crossover, simply locate the knob marked “LOW-PASS CROSSOVER” on the rear panel of the subwoofer and

turn it counterclockwise to the “DIRECT” position. This will eliminate the internal crossover from the signal path.

Note: If not using an external crossover, you should use the built-in crossover for optimal

performance. When using a single RCA sub out from the processor, it does not matter
which line level input (L/R) is used.

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CHT-R Series User’s Manual - 7

INTERCONNECT CABLES

When installing your new Velodyne subwoofer using the line-level connections, you should always use shielded
phono cables. There are many decent cables available today, most any of which will work perfectly well. We do
recommend that you keep the length of cable as short as possible to avoid any potential noise problems.

When using speaker level connections, use a quality speaker cable that mates well with the connectors (at least

14-gauge). Be very careful to avoid any loose or frayed strands that could result in a short, causing a dangerous
condition and possible damage to your unit. Cables of extremely large size are typically not required. Extremely
large gauge wire may not properly t in the binding posts, resulting in a poor connection and possible short

circuits.

Placement

True subwoofers operate at extremely low frequencies, which are primarily omni-directional. While it is
recommended that the subwoofers be placed on the same plane as the satellitespeakers, room and system

conditions often dictate otherwise. Keep in mind that frequency response and output level can be drastically
inuenced by placement, depending on the acoustic properties of your listening room. Typically, the optimum
location for a subwoofer is in a front corner of your listening room. This location will usually oer the greatest

output levels and optimum low frequency extension. The worst location for a subwoofer is typically far away

from any walls, close to the center of your room and near an opening or door way. Avoid these locations when

possible. When using a pair of Velodyne subwoofers in stereo, it is preferable to place each subwoofer near the
satellite of the same channel. Typically, a minimum distance of one to two feet from your TV to the subwoofer
will be adequate to avoid anymagnetic interference.

Caution!
This subwoofer has electronics built into the cabinet. Do not place the cabinet next to sources of heat
such as furnace registers, radiators, etc. Do not place the unit near sources of excessive moisture, such

as evaporative coolers, humidiers, etc. The power cord should be routed in such a way that it will not

be walked on, pinched, or compressed in any way that could result in damaging the insulation or wire.

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USAGE

This section addresses day-to-day usage of your CHT-R subwoofer.

Remote Control

Figure 3 shows the remote control, enabling you to easily choose whatever listening mode you desire.

Figure 3. Remote Display

POWER - This button forces your CHT-R unit into standby mode. The woofer will not play and the LED will turn

o. The unit will remain in this mode until the POWER button is pressed again. To fully deactivate (i.e. power
down) the unit, turn o the power switch on the back panel.

MUTE - This button mutes the subwoofer. The light on the subwoofer will blink slowly if the unit is muted. To
unmute the subwoofer, press the MUTE button again.

PHASE - These buttons allow you to optimize the subwoofer performance for the location andyour listening

position. Select the switch position at which you hear the most bass. The light will blink according to the
following schedule:

0 degrees 1 blink
90 degrees 2 blinks
180 degrees 3 blinks

270 degrees 4 blinks

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CHT-R Series User’s Manual - 9

LIGHT - If you wish, you can deactivate the power light on your CHT-R unit. To do this, press the LIGHT button

on your remote. The light will turn o. To reactivate the light, press the LIGHT button again.

NIGHT - Night mode limits the maximum output of the subwoofer for later night listening or to be more

considerate of close neighbors. Press the night button to turn the night mode feature on or o. Night mode,

when active, is indicated by the reduced intensity of the light.

VOLUME CONTROL - This control allows you to balance the output from the subwoofer to the main speakers
in your system. This control should be set to achieve similar volume level from between both the main speakers
and subwoofer. When pressing volume up or down, the speed at which the power light blinks indicates
subwoofer volume - the faster the blinking, the louder the unit plays. Slower blinks represent tens and faster

blinks represent ones. After the volume is changed (up or down) there will also be 2 sets of center LED blinks. If

the LED blinks 3 times, pauses, then blinks 6 times, this means that the volume is set at 36. The volume range
is from 1 to 99.

Note: The volume can also be adjusted via the buttons on the back panel of the subwoofer. These buttons have
the same eect as pressing the up and down volume buttons on your remote.

WARNING: Some manufacturers preset their receivers with the Sub-Out channel signal at a minimum
level. It is very important to verify that your receiver Sub-Out channel is set to the same output as your
front right and left channels. Refer to your receiver manual for the individual channel level adjustment
procedure. If your receiver Sub-Out channel is set too low, the subwoofer may appear to have a weak

output, it may sound noisy or distorted, and the Auto-On/Off feature may not work properly.

PRESETS - There are four presets, consisting of Movies, R&B – Rock, Jazz – Classical, and Games. As a preset
is chosen, the light ashes the corresponding number of times. The presets provide the following characteristics

for bass reproduction:

Movies: Maximum output and impact for explosions and other action adventure movie content.

R&B – Rock: Provides the driving bass found in today’s rock music.
Jazz – Classical: The tightest, cleanest, lowest distortion bass.

Games: Maximum loudness available for the impact of video games.

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The following table indicates musical style and which preset is recommended for it.

Musical Style Suggested Preset

Action Adventure Movies Movies

Country – Rock R&B – Rock

Country – Soft Jazz – Classical

Folk Jazz – Classical

Indie Music R&B – Rock

Pop R&B – Rock

Rock R&B – Rock

Alternative Rock Jazz – Classical

Blues Jazz – Classical

Broadway and Vocalists Jazz – Classical

Children’s Music Jazz – Classical

Christian and Gospel Jazz – Classical

Classic Rock R&B – Rock

Classical Jazz – Classical

Dance and DJ R&B – Rock

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal R&B – Rock

Latin Music R&B – Rock

Miscellaneous Jazz – Classical

Movies – Non-Action Adventure Jazz – Classical

New Age Jazz – Classical

Opera and Vocal Jazz – Classical

R&B R&B – Rock

Rap and Hip-Hop R&B – Rock

Soundtracks R&B – Rock or Jazz – Classical

Video Games Games

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CHT-R Series User’s Manual - 11

Each preset has its own characteristics with respect to subsonic lter, volume dierential and a equalization
(EQ) in order to optimize the listening mode for the preset.

The following table shows the settings for the various presets:

Preset

Subsonic Filter

Frequency

EQ

Frequency

EQ

Level

Volume

Dierential

Movies 24 Hz 37 Hz +4 dB +8 dB

R&B - Rock 27 Hz 52 Hz +3 dB +5 dB

Jazz - Classical (Reference) 24 Hz N/A N/A N/A

Games 34 Hz 62 +4 dB +4 dB

:

RESTORE DEFAULTS – This feature allows you to restore default settings for your CHT-R Subwoofer. By
pressing Presets in EXACTLY the following order on the remote, the unit’s power light will blink three times

indicating that you have restored defaults.

1. Movies

2. R&B – Rock

3. Jazz – Classical

4. Games

5. Games

6. Jazz – Classical

7. R&B – Rock

8. Movies

When you press the presets in the above order, the power light will blink three times indicating that you have

restored defaults. The default preset is Jazz/Classical, and the unit’s volume is reset to level 35 (out of 100).

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CARE OF YOUR SUBWOOFER

Do not use any harsh detergents or chemicals to clean the cabinet. Abrasives, detergents, or cleaning solutions
will damage the nish on the cabinet. We recommend using a damp cloth to clean the front, back and sides.

Use a soft cloth with a good quality furniture polish to clean the hand-rubbed, black lacquer, painted top.

During normal conditions, the subwoofer may be left on continuously without any problems. If you plan to leave

the unit unused for an extended period of time, we recommend that you turn o the unit by the master power

switch on the rear panel.

TROUBLESHOOTING AND SERVICE

Before seeking service for your subwoofer, please re-check all systems. Following is a simple

troubleshooting guide to assist you.

1. Verify that the unit is plugged in and power outlet used is active.

2. Is the power switch on?

3. Is unit receiving an input signal from your source?

4. Have all controls on subwoofer (volume, crossover, phase, etc.) been properly set?

5. If unit has been running at high levels, one of the protection circuits may be engaged. Has the built-in

amplier overheated?

6. Has the power button been depressed on the remote?

7. Is the remote non-responsive? We recommend replacing the batteries in the remote. If the protection
circuitry is active, the unit may cycle on and o until operating parameters return to normal. Under more
serious conditions, the unit may shut o completely. Normal operation will return upon cooling, but you
may be required to turn the power o and then on again to reset the unit.

The following conditions require service by a qualied technician:

1. The power cord has become damaged.

2. The unit does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance.

3. The unit has been exposed to water.

4. Some part of the cabinet or circuitry is physically damaged.

Thank You for Purchasing a Velodyne CHT-R Series Subwoofer Product!

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CHT-R Series User’s Manual - 13

SPECIFICATIONS

Model CHT-8R CHT-10R CHT-12R CHT-15R

Cabinet (H/W/D)
(cm)

Frequency Response 35 Hz - 140 Hz

High-Pass Crossover 80 Hz or 100 Hz

Low-Pass Crossover 40 Hz - 120 Hz

Amplifier (Class A/B)
(Class D for CHT-15R)

Woofer 8” forward firing 10” forward firing 12” forward firing 15” forward firing

Magnet 40 oz. 40 oz. 55 oz. 70 oz.

Voice Coil 2” two-layer copper 2” two-layer copper 2” two-layer copper 2” two-layer copper

Input Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level

15” x 12” x 15.75”

37.5 x 30 x 39

(+/-3dB)

(6dB/octave slope)

(12dB/octave, 24dB ultimate)

350 watts Dynamic

/160 watts RMS power

16” x 15” x 17.75”

40 x 37.5 x 44

28 Hz - 140 Hz

(+/-3dB)

80 Hz or 100 Hz

(6dB/octave slope)

40 Hz - 120 Hz

(12dB/octave, 24dB ultimate)

375 watts Dynamic

/185 watts RMS power

18” x 15” x 19”

45 x 37.5 x 47.5

25 Hz - 140 Hz

(+/-3dB)

80 Hz or 100 Hz

(6dB/octave slope)

40 Hz - 120 Hz

(12dB/octave, 24dB ultimate)

400 watts Dynamic

/200 watts RMS power

21” x 18.4” x 20.75”

52.5 x 46 x 52

23 Hz - 140 Hz

(+/-3dB)

80 Hz or 100 Hz

(6dB/octave slope)

40 Hz - 120 Hz

(12dB/octave, 24dB ultimate)

1000 watts Dynamic

/1000 watts RMS power

Outputs Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level

Warranty Two years (parts and labor) Two years (parts and labor) Two years (parts and labor) Two years (parts and labor)

Shipping Weight (approx.) 44 lbs. (20 kg) 55 lbs. (25 kg) 61 lbs. (28 Kg) 75 lbs. (34 Kg)

Specications are subject to change without notice.

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VELODYNE PRODUCTS

110V

DD® Series

DD-10
DD-12
DD-15
DD-18
Digital Drive 1812 Signature Edition

DLS™-R Series

DLS-3500R

DLS-3750R

DLS-4000R
DLS-5000R

DPS™ Series

DPS-10
DPS-12

MiniVee

SMS™-1

SPL

SPL-800R
SPL-1000R
SPL-1200R
SPL-1500R

SubContractor™ Series

SC-1250
SC-8
SC-10
SC-12
SC-15
SC-IW

SC-IF/IC

®

™

-R Series

VRP Series

VRP-1000
VRP-1200

VX™ Series

VX-10

230V

DD® Series

DD-10
DD-12
DD-15
DD-18
Digital Drive 1812 Signature Edition

CHT-R Series

CHT-8R
CHT-10R
CHT-12R
CHT-15R

SMS™-1

SPL-800i

™

SPL

SPL-800R
SPL-1000R
SPL-1200R
SPL-1500R

-R Series

SubContractor™ Series

SC-1250
SC-8
SC-10
SC-12
SC-15
SC-IW

SC-IF/IC

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CHT-R Series User’s Manual - 15

FOR YOUR RECORDS

DATE/PLACE OF PURCHASE: PRODUCT MODEL: PRODUCT SERIAL NUMBER:

NOTE: If you need to le a warranty claim for your product, you will still need to submit to Velodyne the original

sales invoice or other proof of ownership and date of purchase.

Please validate your product warranty by completing the warranty registration online within 30 days at:

velodyne.com/warranty-subwoofers

For detailed warranty information, please visit us online at:

velodyne.com/warranty-subwoofers

The warranty information indicated above refers to products purchased in the United States and Canada only.
If you purchased your product outside of the United States or Canada, please consult your local authorized
Velodyne dealer for warranty registration and information.

16 - CHT-R Series User’s Manual

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SERIES

Velodyne Acoustics, Inc.

63CHT-R_RevC_MAY2012

345 Digital Drive

Morgan Hill, CA 95037

www.velodyne.com

408.465.2800 voice

408.779.9227 fax

408.779.9208 service fax

Service E-mail: [e-mail]

Product E-mail: [e-mail]

Technical E-mail: [e-mail]