Velodyne Acoustics 1012XII User Manual

"Ifyou k

"... it's safe to say that when it comes to woofin , done right,
Velodyne's bigger models are probably the safest bet there is."

"... we

this jun ior varsity Velodyne."

now

subwoofers, you

just

sat there marvelling at the

know

about

sheer

Veladyne."

power

and

majesty of

~

8

10/1012XII

-Corey Greenberg
Home Theater Technology
Face Off: Comparison of five subwoofers
Model Tested: VA-1012X

Velodyne

1070 Commercial St. Suite #101

Web Site: http//www.velodyne.com

E-mail: [e-mail]

/F

ebruary 1995

Aco

ustics, Inc.

San Jose

408.436.7270 voice

408.436.7276 fax

,'

CA 95112

Owner's Ma

Velod

AudiolVideo SubwQofer

ne

nu

System

al

@ Printed on recycledpaper.

SPECIFICAnONS VA-810XII

VA·1012X1I

A

IIiiiiII

•• • • •

A

Caution

To reduce the risk ofelectric shock,00 not r
se rvicing

toqualified service

Th e lighting
"dangerous

01

electric shock to pe

The exclama
maintenance (servicing) instructions in theliterature

1. ReadInstructions -- Allsafetyandooera

2. RetainInstructions--Thesafetyandoperating inst

3. HeedWamings .- Allwamingsonmesubwooteraro intheoperatinginstructions shouldbe adheredto.

4. Follow Instructions --Alloperatingard use instructionsshouldbe followed.

5. Waferand Moisture - The

6. carts and Stands--Thesubwoclershouldbeusedonly

7. Wallor Ceiling Mounting-- The subv.oofershouldbe mountedtoa wallorceilingonlyas recommended by the

8. Ventilation- Thesubv.ootershouldbe situatedso

9. Heat- Thesubv.oofershouldbes;tuatedawayfromheatsourcessuchasradiators,beatregisters,stoves,orother

10 Power

11.

12. "caution:To preventelectrical

13. Clearing -- 'The subv.oofer should be cleaned only as recommerd ed by

14.

15. Olject and

16. DamageReqJiringService--

17. 5ervdrg - The

flash with arrowhe ad symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated

voltage"'Nithin the product's enclosure that

tion point symbol is intended to alert the

kitchensink, laundrytub,in a wet basement,neara swimming

mamJlacturer.

verrtilation.For
theventilationqJenings;orplacedina
of air

subwoofers that produce heat.

ructioflS

inst

Power

by

~enns

thepointatwhichtheyexitfrom thesubwoofer.

leschocs
jusqu'

Non..ise

IorYJ

enclosure.

a.
b.

c. The subwoolerhas been exposed to rain.

d. The su
e.

InstIUCllons.

exarrote, thesobwoolershouldro tbesituatedona

lt1rou

gh the

Sources--Thesubv.oofershouldbeconnectedtoapowersupplyonlyofthetypedescribed intheoperating

or as marked on the subwooler.

~ord

P

rotectioo

placeduponoragainstmern,

e1

ectriques,introduirelame Iaplus large delafichedans Iabornecorrespondante de la prise el pousser

au fond:

Periods--Thepowercordofthe

pe

roo

of time.

lXlud

The power-supply cordorplug has been damaged.

OJjects havefallen or

b'M:xJf

The subv.oolerhas beendrcpped or damaged.

personnel

rsons.

subwoote

ventilation

ooenros.

- Power-supplycordsshouldberoutedsothattheyarero tlikelytobewalkedonorpinched

shod< , matchw'de bladeof plug to w'de slot, fUllyinserted." "A

Er1Iry

- careshouldbe takenso thatotiects dorot falland liquidsare rot spilledonto the

Thesebwootershould be servicedby qualified servicepersonnelwhen:

lQJ

er

does

rot aroea r to operate m rmally or

use

rsrouklnot

emov

e cover (or

.

trq

instructionsshouldbereadbeforethesubwcoferis operated.

rshouldnotbe used near water - for example,near a bathtub,washbowl,

built-in

iflStallationsuchasabookcaseorcabinetthatmayimpedethe flow

paYing

particularatterrtiontocordsatplugs,convenience

suowoot

idhas

been

spilled into thesubwoofer.

atterrpt

toservicethe

back

). Nouser-serviceablepartsinside. Refer

may

be of sufficient magnibJde tocons1itule a risk

user

to the pre

accomp

anying the subwoo fer.

ructons

shouldbe retainedfor futurereference.

witha cartorstand recommerdedby themanufacturer.

mat

~

s

locationor poston does not interfere

er shouldbeunpluggedfromtheoutletwtlen leftunusedfora

Slbwooler

serc

e of important operating and

pool or the like.

bed

,sofa,rug,orsimilarsurfacethatmayblock

receptacles,

tterrt

lt1

e manufacturer.

exl1iJit

s a marked charge in performance.

beycrowhat is

descrt>ed

in the

'-\1th ~ proper

ion: Poureviter

opern

and

ting

Cabi net (incl.

Freq

High Pass C

L

ow

Amplifier

oofer

W

Ma

gnet

Voice Coil 2"

Pa

ssive

Inpu ts

Ou tputs

W arr

Weight

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

uency

Respon

Pas s Cros

Radiator

anty

leg

s) 15.5' x 14.8' x1

rossove

sover

se

r

35hz-2

80hz or 100hz

40hz - 120 hz (6 dB/

Cla ss

8" f

orwar

55 oz.

10' do

Line-level

Line-le vel

One year (parts

44 Ibs. (approx.)

4.8'

(H

,W

00hz +/-3 dB

(6

dB/oct

ave) ..

octave

AlB ,

100

watts,

250

d firing 10' forw ard firing

wnw

ard firing 12" down ward firin g

&

speaker

-level.

&

speak

er-level .....

& l

abor)

17.5' x16.5 ' x16

,D)

35hz-200hz

, 24

dB

ulti

watts

peak

55

2"

58 Ibs. (approx.)

mate)

0l

.5'

+/- 3 dB

....

FOR YOUR RECORDS. . .
DATE PURCHASED _
OEALER _
SERIAL# _

'NOTE: Please completeandreturnyour warranty card withinten(10) days.

..

..

All other servicing shook! be referred to quafifiedservice

personnel

.

several minutes when there is no longer any signal at the inputs.

If you plan to leave the \{A-810/1012XII unused for an extended

period of time,we recommendthat you turnoff the unitby the master
power switch on the rear panel .

Troubleshooting & Service

Before seeking service for
re-check all systems. Following is a simple troubleshooting guide to
assist you.

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

2. Is

3. Is auto turn on/off set properly?

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

5. Have all controls on subwoofer (volume, crossover, phase,

etc.) been properly set?

6. If unit has been running at high levels, one of the protection

circuits may be engaged.

If the protection circuitry is active, the unit may cycle on and off until
operating parameters return to normal. Under more serious condi­tions , the unit may shut off comp)etely. Normal operation will return
upon cooling, but you may be required to turn the power off and then
on again to reset the unit.

The following conditions require service by a qualified 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

switch on?

Has

the built-in amplifier overheated?

Has

the speaker's voice coil started to heat up?

you

for

your

VA-810/1012XII subwoofer, please

purchasing a Velodyne!

Congratulations!

Cong ratulations on your purchase of a Velodyne VA-810/1012XII
subwoofer system. This system represents the state of the art in
accurate low frequency reproduction. Read and follow the instruc­tions below to insure safe and proper system operation.

Warning!

To

prevent
rain or moisture . To
enclosure or
equipment
refer

Prior to installation

Please unpack the system carefully. Remove all staples used to
seal the carton as they can scratch the cabinet. Please save the
carton and all packaging materials for future use. Record the serial
number
reference.

fire or shock hazard, do

avoid

electrical shock, do not open

amp

chassis cover. Please observe all warnings on the

itself. There are no user serviceable

all

service questions to

in the space provided on the warranty card for future

your

not

expose this equipment to

pans

inside . Please

authorized Velodyne dealer.

speaker

Product Features & Controls

• Built-in 100 watt (RMS) power amplifier

• Adjustable (40 to 120hz) low-pass crossover with bypass option

• Selectable (80 or 100hz) high-pass crossover

• Line-level inputs

• Speaker-level inputs
tions

• Signal sensing auto turn on/off with bypass option

• Variable volume control

• selectable phase control (0 or 180 degrees)

• Detachable power cord (available on some versions)

• Magnetically shielded for video use

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

• Gain compression circuit to protect woofer from over excursion

• Input overload protection

& outputs

& outputs with 5 way binding post connec-

Installation

Yournew VA-810/1012XIIsubwoofersystem 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
powe r turned off.

Inputs

Your new VA-810/1012XIIsubwoofer isequippedwith both speaker­level and line-level inputs. Use the LINE-IN jacks when connecting
your subwoofer to a pre-amp, signal processor, or line-level cross­over.

The

FROM AMPLIFIER jacks connect directly to the speaker
outputs of a integrated amplifier or receiver. Your amplifier section
will notice no additional loading effects when you use these inputs
because of their high impedance.

Note

00

not use both LINE-IN

neously.

Volume control

This control allows you to balance the output from the subwoofer to
the main speakers in your system. This contr.olshould be set to
achieve similar volume level from both the main speakers and
subwoofer.

and

FROM

AMPLIFIER

inputs simulta-

same channel.
Keep in mind that frequency response and output level carl be
drastically influenced by placement depending on the acoustic
properties of the listening room. Ty pically the VA-810/1012XII will
sound louder when placed next to a wall or in a corner.

Caution!

The VAseries sub woofers have amplifiers built into the cabinet. 0 0
not

place the cabinet next to sources of heat such as furnace

registers, radiators, etc. The

power

cord should be routed in 'Such

a way that it will not be walked on, pinched, or compressed in any

way.

Regardless of whereyou install your VA-81 0/1012XIIsubwoofer, it
must remain in an upright position (passive radiator facing down­ward) . Using, shipping, or otherwise storing the VA-810/1012XII
subwoofer in any other position for an extended period of time may
result in damage to the unit not covered by warranty.

The

VA-810/1012XII Subwoofer is magnetically shielded to reduce
magnetic emission from its cabinet to increase the number of
possibl e locations available for placement. However, this shielding
maynot beadequatefor all installations.Certaintypes of televisions
are particularly sensitive to stray magnetic fields . If your television
produces distorted colors after installation of your VA-810/1012XII
subwoofer, simply increase the distance between your television
and the VA-810/1012XII until normal color and operation is re­turned.

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 amplified. 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 off 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.
frequency output.

Ifyour main speakersaresmaller units withlimited low

~

/I)

U

may wish tochoose a higherfrequency (such

Care

Do not use any harsh detergents or chemicals to clean the cabinet.
Abrasives, detergents, or clean ing solutions may damage the finish
on the cabinet. We recommend using a damp cloth to clean the
cabinet.

During normal conditions, the VA-810/1012X II subwoofer may be
left on continuously without any problems. The unitisequipped with

a signal sensing turn on/off that will automatically turn on the unit
when a signal is prese nt at the inputs and turn off the unit after

of

oot

er

Figu re 2 : Installation using speaker-level (from amplifier) inputs

....

~

,6E\ . -

'

,'QW

:-t

.

.. E:::H

,,--

w

'

- -'-.-l~O @~r-""'

iHiHi)

~

'.

MA IN

(s p ea ke r

INTEGRATED

:::J.

11Th.

-

-.'0JI--T T

....

~~:

Ii)

- - -

OUTPUT

-leve

AMP I

[lID]

;;

~

o

l

~

"'

_ . ---'

(iHi)

Ii)

@@

~,

RECE

S

l )

IVER

li

SATE

.

ACl.

@

,!n

LLITE

~

V~od

- -- -- -

~~I:':.

SPEAKERS

yn

':.

-::.r:="

___ I

as 100-120hz) than you would with larger speakers which have
greaterlow frequency output. With larger speakers, you mighi start

e

with this control set lower, such as 80hz.

A bypass switch is also provided if you wish to use an external
crossover. If you are not using an external crossover, we recom­mend that you use the one provided within the unit for optimum
performanc e.

Phase adjust

This control allows you the ability to compensate for having the
subwoofer in a different location than the main speakers. Ideally,
you will have the sound from the subwoofer reach the listening
position the same time as the sound from the main speakers,
However,ifthe distance from the listening position to the subwoofer
and thedistance from listeningpositionto themain speakers differs ,
the sound from each will reach your ears at a different time.

This control allows the signal to be delayed 180 degrees so the
output of the subwoofer will blend in to that of your main speak ers
without any cancellation.

ment

Interconnect cables

When installing your VA-810/1012XII using the line-level inputs/
outputs , you should use standard shielded phono cables. Always
keep the lines as short as practical to minimize noise.

When using the speaker-level inputs/outputs, use the same quali ty
speaker cable to your subwoofer as you run to your satellites.

'/ac

em

ent

The VA-81 0/1012XII operates at very low frequencies which are

primarily non-directional. While it is recommended that the sub­wooferbe placed on the same plane as the satellite speakers, room
and system conditions often dictate otherwise. See your dealer for
help in placement.

' When using a pair of VA-810/1012XII subwoofers in stereo, it is

preferable to place each subwoofer adjacent to the satellite of the

Auto

turn

on

switch

The auto turn on switch allows the user to bypass the auto turn on
function ifdesired. When set in the "auto"mode with main poweron,
the VA-1008/121Owillturn itself on when an input signal is present.

If no signal is present, after several minute s the unit will shut itself
off. When set in the "on " mode, the auto turn on/off function is
bypassed and the unit will be on whenever the main power switch
is on.

High

pass

crossover

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 prefer the
higher 100hz se
them. Larger speakers with greater low frequency output may be
able to handle the 80hz setting without strain.

Power

The masterpowerswitch is located on the right half ofthe unit. This
rocker style switch isthe main

switch

lli

switch

ng which will reduce the low frequencies sent to

onloff for the unit. This switch should

con tin ued.

..

be set to position 1 for on (up), 0 for off (down).

ac

hable

Det
Allows for easy replacement should the original be damaged.

power cord

(available on some versions)

amplifier and speaker. Combining both an external crossover and the
one internal to the subwoofer may result in low output and increased
noise. In these cases,to optimizeyour subwoofer performance you
should bypass the internal crossover in your

Velodyne subwoofer .

Line-lev

Figure 1 shows connection to a pre-amplifier's main outputs and
returning them to your amplifier inputs.

When installed in this fashion, your satellite speakers will be
crossed overat 80/1
amplifier and speakers thus. enabling them to do a better job
reproducing highfrequencies.By utiliZingthis method ,you will have
a bi-amplified system , gaining improved power and headroom for
your system.

.:

~

r----:OU

T-_

@@

PRE·AMP

MAIN OUTPUT S

RIGHT

el

connection

OO

hz,which removes the lowerbass from your

Figure 1: Installation using line-l evel (line in) inputs

~

.

.-

~

cilllJ

MA IN IN PUTS

RIGHT LEFT

...

........

.'o:l,ut:l •

:

'j~~.~:I ~

IH I O H PA•• 100

'_

.~

L

~

@ @

LEFT

J

.01

IJJ

,.-out--tu,-

@@

..

@@

Vel

~~E~-:z=.

i •

AMP

odyn

LIFI ER

e

••

1

MAIN OUTPUTS

RIGHT LEFT

To bypass the crossover within the subwoofer, simply locate the
switch marked "out / in" on the back panel of the subwoofer and set
to the "out" position. This will eliminate the internal crossover func­tion.

Note
If not using an external crossover, you should use the built-in
crossove r for optimal performance.

Subwoofer out from

AN

Processor

From thelow pass output of yoursignal processor Install into right or

left RCA line in connector in the back of the subwoofer or use a "Y"
connector adapter into both right and left RCA line in connectors in
the back of the subwoofer.

Speaker-level connectio n

Figure 2 shows an easy way to connect your VA·810/1012XII
subwoofer directly to your receiver or integrated amplifier.

When connected in this fashion, your satellite speakers will be
crossed over at 80/1OOhz, which removes the lower bass from your
speakers thus, enabling them to do a better job reproducing high
freque ncies.

TO SATELLITE S

A

word

about
The Velodyne subwooferis designedto operate using the fullrange
audio signal for input when using the built-in crossover. Some
surround sound processors/receivers, including the
systemwith their .1 channeloutput,have a "subwooferout"jackthat
isalreadycrossed overanddesignedto beusedwith aconventional

subwoofer

outputs

PEAK

ERS

Dolby

AC3

You may also connect your satellites directly to your receiver or
amplifieralong with the subwooferif youwish to bypass the internal
high-pass crosso ver.

Caution

To avoid damage toy
polarity when m
(negative) to black. Be sure that all connections are tight,
there are no loose strands or frayed wires. cootmuec .

!

our

main amplifier,be sure to maintain correct

aki

ngall connections. Red(positive)to red,

and

and

black

that