Wilson Audio WATCH Center User Manual

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

Wilson Audio® is a registered trademark of Wilson Audio Specialties, Inc.

Cub®, Sophia®, WATT/Puppy®, MAXX®, X-1/Grand SLAMM®, WAMM®, and Alexandria® are

registered trademarks of Wilson Audio Specialties, Inc.

WATCH Center™, WATCH Surround™, WATCH Dog™, and Duette™ are trademarks of Wilson

Audio Specialties, Inc.

This manual was produced by the Wilson Audio Engineering Department in cooperation with
Sales and Marketing. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Current
Revision 3.0. If you are in need of a more recent manual, please contact your dealer.

The information in this manual is the sole property of Wilson Audio Specialties, Inc. Any repro­duction, in whole or in part, without the expr

ohibited. No material contained her

pr
mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Wilson Audio Specialties, Inc.

ein may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electr

ess written permission of Wilson Audio Specialties, Inc., is

onic or

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TABLE OF C ONTENTS

Section 1 - WATCH Introduction .....................................11

Section 1.1- Applications ..............................................11

Design Considerations ..............................................12

Section 1.2 WATCH Package ..........................................13

WATCH Center ........................................................13

WATCH Surround ....................................................14

WATCH Dog ............................................................15

Conclusion ..............................................................15

Section 2 - In Your Room ...............................................21

Slap Echo ..............................................................21

Standing Waves ......................................................23

Comb Filter Effect ....................................................25

Section 2.1 - Resonance ................................................27

Structural Resonance................................................27

Air Volume Resonance ..............................................28

Section 3 - Inital System Setup ......................................33

System Setup Procedure ..........................................33

Room Shapes ..........................................................34

Zone of Neutrality ....................................................36

Section 3.1 - Choosing a Listening Position....................38

Speaker Placement vs. Listening Position ....................38

Speaker Orientation ..................................................39

Center Channel ........................................................39

Surround Channel ....................................................41

WATCH Dog ............................................................42

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

Section 3.2 - Initial Setup Summary................................42

Section 4 - WATCH Center Channel Setup .......................47

Setup Procedure ......................................................48

Center Channel Spike Assembly ................................48

Section 4.1 - Measured Listening Position ......................50

Room Setup ............................................................50

Center Channel Configurations ..................................51

Section 4.2 - Center Channel on Floor ............................53

Section 4.3- Center Channel on Stand ............................54

Section 4.4 - Center Channel on Custom Stand or Shelf ..56

Section 4.5 -Center Channel Mounted to Ceiling ............59

Custom Made Mounting Bracket Requirements ............59

Mounting Center Channel above Television ..................62

Setup ....................................................................63

Section 4.6 - Center Channel Final Setup........................65

Phase Delay Correction (PDC) - Stand or Floor Mounted65

PDC - Ceiling or Other Custom Location......................66

Speaker Cables........................................................68

Spade Lugs ............................................................68

Connection of the Center to the Power Amplifier ..........69

Center Channel Setup Completed ..............................70

Section 5 - Final System Tuning and Voicing ...................75

Section 5.1 - Left and Right Channels ............................76

Determining Front to Back Distance ............................76

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TABLE OF C ONTENTS

Determining Side to Side Distance ..............................77

Section 5.2 -Integrating the WATCH System....................78

Integrating the WATCH Center....................................79

Image Height ..........................................................80

Center Rotation........................................................80

Resetting the PDC....................................................81

Integrating the Surround Channels..............................82

Integrating the WATCH Dog ......................................83

Section 6.0 - Care of the Finish .....................................87

Removing Protective Film ..........................................87

Dusting the WATCH Center ........................................88

Section 6.1 - Care of the Grilles ....................................89

Section 6.2 - Break-in Period ........................................89

Section 6.3 - Enclosure Technology ................................90

Adhesive ................................................................90

Depth of Design ......................................................91

Section 7 - Troubleshooting ...........................................95

Section 8 -Center Channel Specifications .....................101

Specifications ........................................................101

Dimensions ............................................................101

Section 9 -Geometric Alignment Table ..........................107

Section 9.1 - Center on Floor - No Spacers ................109

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

Section 9.2 - Center on Floor - One Spacer ..................110

Section 9.3 -Center on Floor - Two Spacers ..................111

Section 9.4- Center on Stand - Spike and Nut Only ......112

Section 9.5 -Center on Stand - Spike, Nut, and Diode....113

Section 10 - Warranty Information ................................117

Limited Warranty ....................................................117

Remedy ................................................................118

Warranty Limited to Original Purchaser ......................119

Demonstration Equipment ........................................119

Miscellaneous ........................................................120

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TABLE OF C ONTENTS

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

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S ECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION

Section 1 - WATCH Introduction

If your passion is home theater, and you have sought the full sensory experi-

ence created as your eyes absorb the vision and your skin awakens to the power of

the sound, Wilson Audio has your answer. Introducing WATCH.

While all Wilson speakers are designed to take full advantage of today’s pop-

ular multi-channel formats, WATCH is the first Wilson system designed from the

ground up to excel specifically at home theater performance. Best of all, it comes

in a package as small or as large as you desire.

The fact is, you haven’t truly experienced home theater until you’ve felt the

impact, power, and passion of a film score the way the director intended it, and no

company will deliver this passion like Wilson Audio. That’s why in the past

decade, more blockbuster hits have been mixed, composed, or recorded using

Wilson Audio than any other loudspeaker.

Section 1.1- Applications

For more than 20 years, Wilson Audio loudspeakers have set the standard

for performance in a wide variety of two-channel audio and multichannel home

theater applications. The WATCH (Wilson Audio Theater Come Home) surround

system was designed to offer a more compact and versatile home theater option for

those with limited space. Purchasing a surround system design by Wilson Audio

insures the very best possible integration with your Wilson Audio stereo loud-

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

speakers. The Watch system is designed to integrate with the Sophia,

WATT/Puppy, MAXX and, in many instances, the Alexandria.

Using structural enclosure, speaker driver, and geometric time alignment

technologies developed for the WATT/Puppy, MAXX, and the X-1 Grand SLAMM,

the WATCH system is truly the thoroughbred of its class and is well-suited to

carry on the heritage of Wilson Audio speakers.

One of David Wilson’s most important criteria in speaker development is

that a speaker meets the accuracy and dynamic demands of studio monitoring, ana-

lytical hardware and software evaluation, and, of course, critical music and theater

sound track listening. Therefore, the WATCH has been designed to deliver all of

the speed, dynamics, and musical accuracy to satisfy even the most demanding of

music lovers. The WATCH system will provide years of satisfaction whether listen-

ing to two-channel audio, multi-channel audio, or today’s latest movie sound track

technology.

The WATCH has also been engineered to take full advantage of today’s

multi-channel surround formats, especially the latest AC-3 (Dolby Digital), THX,

and DTS (Digital Theater Systems) formats. The WATCH will provide the speed,

dynamic impact, and realism you have come to expect in a high-performance home

theater system.

Design Considerations

Your WATCH system has been designed to perform all of the specific func-

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S ECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION

tions of a high-performance home theater system. This was a difficult task because

of the many interactions that occur in a home theater environment. Because the

WATCH system was designed in-house and voiced with a variety of Wilson speak-

ers, you can be sure that the driver blend will be excellent whether your system

includes Sophias or Alexandrias. To accomplish this task, David Wilson and his

engineering department used some extraordinary material and enclosure tech-

niques.

Section 1.2 WATCH Package

WATCH Center

Specifically designed to excel at center channel functions, WATCH Center is

extremely dynamic with high sensitivity and strong power handling. Unlike most

center channels, it provides listeners not only with optimal on-axis response, but

also smooth, linear, off-axis response. This is

in part a result of Wilson PDC™ (phase delay

correction), a technology first developed for

Wilson’s WAMM® and X-1 Grand SLAMM

systems, and later applied to the rest of the

Wilson Line. PDC allows for optimal tuning

of a loudspeaker for various listening dis-

tances and heights and gives listeners much

TCH Center

greater control over their sound.

Figur

e 1 - W

A

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

The WATCH Center Channel was designed from the ground up as a center

channel. It is not merely a standard speaker that was tipped onto its side. The

Center Channel was voiced and optimized to truly represent dialogue for movies as

well as music and vocals when used in a multi-channel audio setup.

Of course, WATCH Center lives up to Wilson high standards of cutting edge

design, superior build quality, and stunning sonic performance. WATCH Center is

shielded and is available with a matching stand.

WATCH Surround

WATCH Surround is a perfect example of performance disproportionate to

size. With strong power handling capacity and low end frequency response reach-

ing 45Hz, this speaker will take your surround sound to new heights. Unlike most

surround speakers, WATCH Surround is more than a noisemaker. It brings accu-

racy, dynamics, and emotion to your theater. With it’s gorgeous Mirrorgloss™ fin-

ish, it looks right at home on your wall.

WATCH Surround also minimizes wall/ceiling resonant interactions through

its advanced mounting system. Perhaps the greatest challenge for a mounted

speaker, these interactions cause coloration of sound; accentuating some frequen-

cies and effectively masking others. Using state-of-the-art materials technology

first developed for the X-1 Grand SLAMM, WATCH Surround provides stunning

results.

The Surround wall mounting bracket allows the Surround to be spiked to the

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S ECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION

bracket, further reducing wall interaction and resonance. The Surround can also be

rotated towards the listening position,

offering improved integration with the

front speakers and better imaging.

WATCH Dog

The WATCH Dog has been

designed to integrate well with any of the

Wilson Audio loudspeakers you chose for

your multi-channel system. The bass is

clean, powerful, and uncolored. It offers

speed, dynamics, and clarity that are

often talked about with a subwoofer, but

rarely realized in the design. If you are

looking for that extra bass extension, the WATCH Dog is the only solution to give

you truly high-end audio bass without compromise.

Figure 2 - WATCH Surr

ound

Conclusion

Finally, a home theater, designed from the ground up as multi-channel, that

is truly high-end. Combine the structural and design considerations with the supe-

rior sonic quality and finish, and you find what makes Wilson Audio the leader in

the industry. Wilson Audio delivers a product that maintains the strictest struc-

tural tolerances, durability, and reliability. You will have consistent, repeatable

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

performance, unaffected by climatic conditions, anywhere in the world. You are

about to experience multi-channel audio/home theater like you never thought pos-

sible.

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S ECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

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S ECTION 2 - IN Y OUR R OOM

Note: The following section contains general information on room acoustics
and loudspeaker/room interaction. The concepts outlined below are equally
relevant when dealing with multi-channel audio or home theater. The careful
application of these concepts, as you evaluate the acoustical characteristics of
your own room configuration, will allow you to optimize the performance of
your WATCH Center Channel.

Section 2 - In Your Room

There are three commonly encountered room reflection problems, slap

echo, standing waves, and comb filter effects.

Slap Echo

Probably the most obnoxious form of reflection is called “slap echo.” In slap

echo, primarily mid-range and high frequency sounds reflect off of two parallel

hard surfaces. The sound literally bounces back and forth until it is finally dissi-

pated over time. You can test for slap echo in any room by clapping your hands

sharply in the middle of the room and listening for the characteristic sound of the

echo in the mid-range. Slap echo destroys the sound quality of a playback system

primarily in two ways:

• Adding harshness to the upper mid-range and treble through energy

time storage.

• Destroying the delicate phase relationships which help to establish

sound stage and image localization clues.

Nonparallel walls do not support slap echo, but, rather, allow the sound to

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

diffuse.

Slap echo is a common acoustical problem in the typical domestic listening

room because most of these rooms have walls of a hard, reflective nature, usually

being only occasionally interrupted by curtains or furniture. Slap echo can be con-

trolled entirely by the application of absorptive materials to hard surfaces, such as:

• Illbruck Sonex®

• Airduct board

• Cork panels

• Large ceiling to floor drapes

• Carpeting to wall surfaces

In many domestic listening environments, heavy, stuffed furnishings are

the primary structural control to slap echo. Unfortunately, their effectiveness is

not predictable. Diffusers are sometimes also used to very good subjective effect,

particularly in quite large rooms. Sound absorbent materials, such as described

above, will alter the tonal characteristic of the room by making it sound “deader,”

much heavier in bass tonal balance, less “bright and alive,” and “quieter.” These

changes usually make the room more pleasant for conversation, but sometimes ren-

der it too dull in the high frequencies to be musically involving. Diffusers, on the

other hand, tend to not change the high frequency tonal balance characteristic of

the room. Used properly, they can increase transparency. Used incorrectly, how

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S ECTION 2 - IN Y OUR R OOM

ever, diffusers can rob the system of bass richness and add significant midrange

colorations. A combination of absorptive and diffusive treatments is usually the

best approach.

Standing Waves

Another type of reflection phenomenon is standing waves. Standing waves

cause the unnatural boosting of certain frequencies, typically in the bass, at certain

F IGURE 3 - COMMON ROOM R EFLECTION P ROBLEMS

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

discreet locations in the room. A room generating severe standing waves will tend

to make a loudspeaker sound one way when placed in one location and entirely dif-

ferent when placed in another. The effects of standing waves on a loudspeaker’s

performance are primarily as follows:

• Tonal balance - bass too heavy

• Low-level detail - masked by long reverberation time LF standing

waves

• Sound staging - LF component of image shifted

Standing waves are more difficult to correct than slap echo because they

tend to occur at lower frequencies, whose wave lengths are long enough to be inef-

fectively controlled by absorbent materials such as Illbruck Sonex®. Moving speak-

ers about slightly in the room is, for most people, their only control over standing

waves. Sometimes a change of placement as little as one inch can dramatically

alter the tonal balance of a system because of standing wave problems.

Fortunately, minor low frequency standing waves are sometimes well controlled by

positioning ASC Tube Traps™ in the corners of the room. Very serious low fre-

quency accentuation usually requires a custom-designed bass trap system.

Low frequency standing waves can be particularly troublesome in rooms

constructed of concrete or brick. This rigid and massive construction method

traps the bass in the room unless it is allowed to leak out of the room through

large window and door areas.

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S ECTION 2 - IN Y OUR R OOM

In general, placement of the speaker in a corner will excite the maximal

number of standing waves in a room and is to be avoided for most direct radiator,

full-range loudspeaker systems. Some benefit is achieved by placing the stereo pair

of loudspeakers very slightly asymmetrically in the listening room so that the

standing waves caused by the distance between one speaker and its adjacent walls

and floors are not the same as the standing wave frequencies excited by the dimen-

sions in the other channel.

Comb Filter Effect

A special type of standing wave, noticeable primarily in the midrange and

lower high frequencies, is the so-called “comb filter effect.”

Acoustical comb filtering occurs when sound from a single source, such as a

loudspeaker, is directed toward a microphone or listener at a distance. The first

sound to reach the microphone will be the direct sound, followed by delayed

reflected sound. At certain frequencies cancellation occurs because the reflected

sound lags in phase relative to the direct sound. This cancellation is most apparent

where the two are 180 degrees out of phase. There is augmentation at other fre-

quencies where the direct and the reflected sounds arrive in phase. Because it is a

function of wave length, the comb filter effect will notch out portions of the audio

spectrum at regularly spaced intervals.

The subjective effect of comb filter effects, (such as is shown in Figure 4), is

as follows:

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

F IGURE 4 - COMB FILTER E FFECT

• Added roughness to the sound

• Reduction of harmonic richness

• Smearing of lateral sound stage image focus and placement

Comb filter effects are often caused by side wall reflections. They are best

controlled by very careful speaker placement and by the judicious placement of

Illbruck Sonex® or air duct panels applied to that part of the wall where the reflec-

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S ECTION 2 - IN Y OUR R OOM

tion occurs.

Section 2.1 - Resonance

Resonance in listening rooms is generally caused by two sources:

• The structures within the listening room

• The volume of the air itself in the listening room

Structural Resonance

Structural resonances are familiar to most people as buzzes and rattles, but

this type of resonance usually only occurs at extremely high volume levels and is

usually masked by the music. In many wood frame rooms, the most common type

of structural resonance problem is “booming” of walls and floors. You can test for

these very easily by tapping the wall with the heel of your hand or stomping on the

floor. If it is a wooden floor, this is done to detect the primary spectral center of

the resonance. To give you an idea of what the perfect wall would sound like,

imagine rapping your hand against the side of a mountain. Structural wall reso-

nances generally occur in the low to mid-bass frequencies and add tonal balance

fullness to any system played in that room. They, too, are more prominent at loud-

er levels, but their contribution to the sound of the speaker is more progressive.

Rattling windows, picture frames, lamp shades, etc., can generally be silenced with

small pieces of caulk or with blocks of felt. Short of actually adding additional lay-

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

ers of sheet rock or book shelves to flimsy walls, however, there is little that can be

done to eliminate wall resonances.

Air Volume Resonance

The physical dimensions and volume of air in a room will also support

standing wave modes and resonances at a frequencies determined by the size of the

room. Larger rooms will resonate at a lower frequency and have more complex

(better) modal distributions than will smaller rooms. Air volume resonances, wall

panel resonances, and low frequency standing waves, together, combine to form a

low frequency coloration in the sound. At its worst, it is a grossly exaggerated full-

ness, which tends to obscure detail and distort the natural tonal balance of the

speaker system. Occasionally, however, there is just enough resonance to give a lit-

tle added warmth to the sound, an addition some listeners prefer. Careful place-

ment of loudspeakers in the room can dramatically reduce the speakers’ destructive

interaction with low frequency modes. ASC Tube Traps™ have been found to be

effective in reducing some of these low frequency room colorations. Custom

designed and constructed bass traps, such as perforated Helmholtz resonators, pro-

vide the greatest degree of low frequency control.

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S ECTION 2 - IN Y OUR R OOM

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

32

S ECTION 3 - INITIAL S ETUP I NFORMATION

Section 3 - Inital System Setup

We strongly recommend that you have a Wilson Sudio dealer come to your

home and help you with the set up of the WATCH System. they have been trained

on setting up our systems to provide you with the most satisfying results. However,

if you choose to set up the system yourself, we have provided some instruction that

will allow you to achieve very good performance from the WATCH System.

If you have not read the previous section on room acoustics, do so now. It

will provide you with valuable information for determining the overall best speaker

placements and listening position. It will also allow you to fully evaluate the

acoustical qualities of your existing room and give you some ideas on how you can

improve your overall system performance.

System Setup Procedure

We recommend that you setup your multi-channel system as follows:

• Perform an acoustical analysis of your existing room.

• Find and mark the “Zones of Neutrality” for each of the speakers in

the WATCH system (more specific details are found below).

• Follow the setup procedures outlined in Section 4 and your left and

right channel owner’s manual.

• Perform the final system setup and fine tuning steps outlined in

Section 5.

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

Room Shapes

Standing waves are pressure waves propagated by the interaction of sound

and opposing parallel walls. This interaction creates patterns of low and high

acoustical pressure zones that accentuate and attenuate particular frequencies.

Those frequencies are dependent on room size and dimension.

There are three basic shapes for most rooms: square, rectangular, and L-

shaped (see Figure 5).

A perfectly square room is the most difficult room in which to set up speak-

ers. By virtue of its shape, a square room is the perfect medium for building and

sustaining standing waves. These rooms heavily influence the music played by

loudspeakers, greatly diminishing the listening experience.

Long, narrow, rectangular rooms also pose their own special acoustical prob-

lems for speaker setup. They have the ability to create several standing wave

nodes, which will have different standing wave frequency exaggerations depending

on where you are sitting. Additionally, these long rooms are often quite lean in the

bass near the center of the room. Rectangular rooms are still preferred to square

rooms because, by having two sets of dissimilar length walls, standing waves are

not as strongly reinforced and will dissipate more quickly than in a square room.

In these rooms, the preferred speaker position for spatial placement and midrange

resolution would be on the longer walls. Bass response would be reinforced by

speaker placement on the short walls.

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S ECTION 3 - INITIAL S ETUP I NFORMATION

F IGURE 5 - POSSIBLE PLACEMENT WITHIN VARIOUS
ROOM S HAPES

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

In many cases, L-shaped rooms offer the best environment for speaker setup.

Ideally, speakers should be set up along the primary (longest) leg of the room.

They should fire from the end of the leg (short wall) toward the L, or they should

be along the longest wall. In this way, both speakers are firing the same distance to

the back wall. The asymmetry of the walls in L-shaped rooms resists the buildup

of standing waves (see Figure 5 ).

Zone of Neutrality

The “Zone of Neutrality” is an area in a room where the speakers will sound

most natural. This location is where the speakers interact the least with adjacent

room boundaries. It is important to have a clear working space while determining

the Zone of Neutrality.

The following is a simple method to locate the Zone of Neutrality within

your listening environment:

1. Stand against the wall BEHIND the location where you intend placing

your left and right speakers. Speaking in a moderately loud, normal

toned voice and a constant volume, project your voice out into the room.

2. As you slowly walk out from the wall, (it is helpful to have another listen

er seated in the listening position to aid you in the evaluation), listen to

how the voice “frees up” from the added bass energy and diffuseness

imparted by the rear wall boundary.

3. When you hear the voice “free up” from this artifact, place a piece of tape

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S ECTION 3 - INITIAL S ETUP I NFORMATION

on the floor to mark this location. You will now be entering the outer

edge of the “Zone of Neutrality.” Although this can vary from room to

room, this is usually between 2 and 3 1/2 feet from the rear wall.

4. Continue to walk slowly away from the wall. After some distance, usually

one to two feet, you will hear the beginning of a new artifact - the inter-

action with the opposite wall. This will manifest itself when you hear

your voice again lose focus and it appears to reflect or echo in front of

you.

5. When you begin to hear this artifact, place a piece of tape on the floor

and mark this location. This is the inner edge of the “Zone of Neutrality.”

6. Repeat the procedure with the side walls, positioning yourself with the

zone you have established above. Continue to listen for the point in the

room where your voice loses the added bass energy from the wall behind

you, and continue until there is an obvious interaction with the opposite

wall in front of you. Do each side or speaker location individually.

The Zone of Neutrality for any room runs like a path, parallel to the walls all

around the room. Adjacent to very large windows and open doors, the outer edge

of the Zone of Neutrality moves closer to the wall and becomes wider. If you

extend the inner and outer boundaries of the Zone for the side walls and the front

wall (behind the speakers), they will intersect. You will now have two rectangles on

the floor on either side of the room, which is your Zone of Neutrality for each

channel.

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

Section 3.1 - Choosing a Listening Position

Decide where you want your listening position to be. Please remember that

your WATCH System can fill most rooms with beautiful sound. However, for the

PDC advantage, we want to ensure that you get all the benefits possible with the

propagation delay adjustment features that are built into this design. Listening

positions that are too close to a boundary will deteriorate the overall system per-

formance.

Speaker Placement vs. Listening Position

The location of your listening position is as important as the careful setup

placement of your speakers in your room. The listening position ideally should be

no more than 1.1 to 1.25 times the distance between the left and right channel

tweeters on each speaker. Therefore, in a long rectangular room of 12’ x 18’, if the

speaker tweeters are going to be 9’ apart, you should be sitting 9’11’’ to 11’3’’ from

the speaker. This would be about halfway down the long axis of the room.

Experiment carefully for best low frequency response.

Some people place the speakers on one end and sit at the other end of the

room. Needless to say, this will not yield the finest sound. Carefully consider your

listening position for optimal performance. Our experience has shown that any lis-

tening position that places your head closer than 14” to a room boundary will

diminish the sonic results of your listening.

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S ECTION 3 - INITIAL S ETUP I NFORMATION

Speaker Orientation

Speaker placement and orientation are two of the most important considera-

tions in obtaining superior sound. The first thing you need to do is minimize the

influence of the side walls on the sound of your system. Speakers placed too close

to the side walls will suffer from a strong primary reflection. This can cause out of

phase cancellations, or comb filtering, which will cancel some frequencies and

change the tonal balance of the music. A good place to start is with the speakers

about 18” from each wall and, if you need to move them relative to the side wall,

move them away from the wall, not closer.

Another important aspect of speaker placement is how far to place the

speakers from the wall behind them. The closer to the back wall, the more pro-

nounced the low bass energy and centering of the image will be. However, this

comes at a definite reduction in stage size and bloom as well as a deterioration of

upper bass quality. You must find the proper balance of these two factors.

Remember, if you are partial to bass response or air and bloom, do not overcom-

pensate your adjustments to maximize their effects. Overbalanced systems are

sometimes pleasing in the short term, but long term satisfaction is always achieved

through proper balance.

Center Channel

After determining the general area for the left and right channel, determine

the best place for your WATCH Center Channel. The following center channel

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

configurations are possible:

• Set on the floor with speaker angled up towards the listener.

• Mounted on stand with no rotation.

• Mounted on stand with longer spikes in the front of stand and shorter

spikes in the back allowing the stand and speaker to be rotated up

toward the listener.

• Mounted above TV on a custom made bracket.

• Mounted upside down on ceiling with speaker angled down towardsthe

listener.

Except for the ceiling mounted option, all of the above arrangements will

allow for some fine tuning of speaker placement once the entire system is set up. If

you are mounting the speaker to the ceiling, be sure to choose the location careful-

ly as you will not be able to move the WATCH Center Channel once it is bolted to

the ceiling. A poor placement will lower overall system integration and perform-

ance. As a general rule, the distance from the main left and right tweeters to the

listening position should be the same as the distance from the center channel

tweeter to the listening position. This allows the sound provided by each speaker

to arrive at the ear at the same time. The phase delay correction will be made via

the sliding tweeter module on the WATCH Center Channel.

Our testing has shown that a floor or stand mounted center channel inte-

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S ECTION 3 - INITIAL S ETUP I NFORMATION

grates best when placed centered between the left and right speaker and either

aligned horizontally with the front inner edge of the left and right speakers or

slightly behind the front inner edge. You will want to experiment with the center

channel distances and find the location that offers the smoothest left, right, and

WATCH Center Channel integration. We will step you through this process in

Section 5.

Surround Channel

Wilson Audio has done everything possible to eliminate the boundary inter-

actions caused by mounting a speaker onto the wall. The mounting bracket allows

for significant improvements in detail, speed, and clarity. The WATCH Surround

channels will perform well in almost any location they are placed. The mounting

bracket and the careful design of the WATCH Surround have eliminated most of

the sonic problems encountered when placing a standard speaker too close to a

boundary. Nevertheless, we have performed extensive testing on the WATCH

Surround and found that significant improvement on speaker linearity and integra-

tion can be achieved by careful selection of the surround channel mounting loca-

tion.

We realize that the location of the WATCH Surround channel is generally

set by the architecture of the room. However, if you have some flexibility in the

wall mounting location, we suggest that you perform a zone of neutrality test and

find the area along the wall where your voice sounds the most natural and has the

41

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

least amount of reflections or standing waves. Be sure to listen for room modes and

frequency response peaks or dips.

WATCH Dog

The WATCH Dog will perform very well in any location in the room. In

general, the closer you place theWATCH Dog to a wall or corner, the greater the

augmentation of the bass. However, the increase in bass comes at a cost of per-

ceived speed, dynamics, and bass clarity. We recommend that you experiment with

the placement of theWATCH Dog to find a balance of the above mentioned items.

Section 3.2 - Initial Setup Summary

Ideally, the speakers should not be positioned too far from the listener if

maximum resolution of low level detail is required (near-field monitoring). If pos-

sible, the speakers should be positioned out into the room, slightly asymmetrically

away from side and rear walls. The speakers should be toed-in toward the listener,

It is preferable that the listener, at his seated position, can barely see the surface of

the inner side-panel of the left and right speakers as he faces the speaker. It is rec-

ommended that a distance of 2-3 feet, and possibly more, be maintained between

the left and right speakers and the rear walls. A distance of at least 1 1/2 feet

should be maintained between the front panel of the left and right speakers and

reflective side walls. Use of sound absorbent materials may reduce the space

requirement somewhat. Experiment for each room.

42

S ECTION 3 - INITIAL S ETUP I NFORMATION

Be sure to place the WATCH Center Channel even with or slightly behind

the front inner edge of the left and right speakers.

The WATCH Surround channel should be mounted on the wall in a location

that has the least amount of reflections and standing waves. The location should

have a natural sound if you stand next to it and project your voice into the room.

The WATCH Dog has a great degree of flexibility in its placement. The final

location will be determined by aesthetics and user taste, balancing the quality vers-

es the quantity of bass.

43

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

46

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

Note: Before setting up the WATCH Center Channel study carefully the previ­ous sections on room acoustics and initial setup information. They provide
valuable information on determining the ideal room locations for your speak­ers.

Section 4 - WATCH Center Channel Setup

You will need the following items:

• Supplied hardware kit

• Tape measure

• Known listening position

Note: The WATCH Center Channel is shipped with four set screws, which are
inserted into the threaded holes on the bottom of the Center Channel. If you
are simply placing the Center Channel on a shelf and are not planning on fol­lowing the setup procedure, leave these set screws in place. If you are planning
on mounting the Center Channel to a stand or using any provided spikes to
angle the Center Channel towards the listening position, these four set screws
will need to be removed. Remove the set screws as follows:

1. Carefully set the speaker onto its side.

2. Using the provided 3/16” angled Allen wrench, unscrew the set screws.

Note: You should have two 1 1/2” set screws and two 2” set screws. Save these
set screws as you will need them if you plan on adding rotation towards the
listening position.

3. Proceed to the installation instructions provided.

47

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

Setup Procedure

1. Gently slide the WATCH Center Channel out of the crate. Remove the

plastic outer bag by tilting the Center channel over on one side and open-

ing the bag at the base of the Center channel. Remove the bag.

Note: Do not cut the bag off of the Center channel. You may mark the cabinet
or damage a driving element. Additionally, you will need this bag, if you need
to repackage the Center channel. Save your shipping crates and all packing
materials. They are specifically designed to prevent harm from coming to your
Center channel.

2. Move the Center channel into the desired location.

Note: Be careful not to touch the driving elements when you are moving your
WATCH Center channel!

Center Channel Spike Assembly

The WATCH Center channel comes with two sets of spikes with a diode and

spacers, and two sets of spikes with only the spike and nut. This will allow the

speaker to be tilted to a variety of angles. These spikes provide acoustical isolation

as well as optimal height placement for your speakers. There are three ways of

assembling the spikes (without spacers, with one spacer, or with two spacers), and

your choice will depend on the location of the Center channel and personal tastes.

The spacers are provided to allow for the rotation of the WATCH Center towards

the listener. If the speaker is floor mounted, it will be tilted upward so the drivers

48

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

F IGURE 6 - CENTER C HANNEL S PIKES A SSEMBLY D IAGRAM

are firing toward the listener. If the speaker is mounted above the listening ear

height, it will need to be raised more in the back so the speaker is firing down

toward the listener.

After determining the required rotation for the Center channel, (see

Sections 4.2-4.5), assemble the spikes as follows:

49

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

1. Insert either the short or the long threaded bolt, depending on the

desired height (see Figure 6) as far as it will go into the hole in the bot-

tom of the Center channel. Make sure the Allen key end is accessible.

2. If required, place the corresponding number of spacer discs over the bolt.

3. Screw the acoustical diode onto the bolt until it is roughly half way into

the diode.

4. Screw the spike (with nut) all the way in until it just touches the bolt. Do

not tighten the nut at this time.

5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 with the other spikes.

Section 4.1 - Measured Listening Position

Pulse alignment accuracy of the Center channel has been established and

verified at Wilson Audio’s R&D laboratory. The tables used in this section are a

result of this testing.

Room Setup

The Center channel allows for different listening distances (away from the

speakers) and listening ear heights (measured distances from the floor up to your

ear). See Figure 7 below. For each distance/ear height combination, there is a

unique alignment geometry. To make correct in-home setup of the Center channel

possible without test equipment, Wilson Audio has measured the correct geometric

50

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

PDC (phase delay correction) alignment for different distance/ear height combina-

tions. This information is provided in Section 9. By measuring the ear height and

the distance from the speaker to the listening position, you will be able to align the

system for your listening position.

M EASURE E AR H EIGHT

FROM THE F LOOR

M EASURE L ISTENING D ISTANCE

F IGURE 7 - MEASURED L ISTENING D ISTANCE AND E AR H EIGHT

Center Channel Configurations

The WATCH Center channel has been designed to accommodate most any

mounting location. These locations, in order of preference, are as follows:

1. Center Channel on Stand (Recommended Location)

2. Center Channel on Floor

3. Center Channel on Custom Stand or Shelf

4. Center Channel on Ceiling

The Center channel crossover has been optimized for use with the Center

stand. This is the preferred location. When you mount the Center channel in most

51

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

other locations, you will begin to see more boundary interactions, which may alter

the performance of the speaker. Nevertheless, the WATCH Center Channel will

certainly out-perform any other center channel placed in a given location.

Placing the Center channel in any location other than on the Wilson Audio

WATCH Center stand will require the WATCH Center channel to be rotated

toward the listening position. This will allow the center channel to take advantage

of the phase delay correction technology (PDC). Simply placing the Center on top

of the TV or any other location, without following the directions below, will hinder

the performance of the WATCH Center channel. With the correct PDC you will

find the vocals and dialogue more realistic and satisfying. As with any component

in your system that offers increased resolution and detail, a careful setup is

required.

There are four different setup procedures depending on your Center channel

location. The possible Center channel configurations are as follows:

• Section 4.2 - Center Channel on Floor

• Section 4.3 - Center Channel on Stand

• Section 4.4 - Center Channel on Custom Stand or Shelf

• Section 4.5 - Center Channel on Ceiling

For detailed setup instructions, please proceed to the indicated section for

your particular installation.

52

S PA CERS
( USE ONLY IF INDI-

C ATED IN TABLE)

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

D IODE,SPIKE,

AND N UT

F IGURE 8 - INSTALLING THE S PIKES

S PIKE AND
N UT O NLY

Section 4.2 - Center Channel on Floor

The floor mounted Center channel must be rotated up toward the listening

position. This is done by using a taller spike in the front than in the back of the

speaker (see Figure 8). The default rotation is set by using a combination of a

spike, a lock nut, and an acoustical diode. If required, additional rotation can be

achieved by using the provided 1/2” spacers between the diode and the bottom of

the cabinet (see Figure 6, page 49). The amount of rotation depends on your lis-

tening position.

Set the rotation as follows:

53

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

1. Using provided 3/16” Allen wrench, remove the 4 setscrews from the bot-

tom of the Center channel. Keep these as they are the setscrews needed

to assemble your spikes.

2. Turn to Section 9, page 107. Locate your listening position on the table.

3. Assemble the front spikes with the listed diode/spacer combination.

4. Install the spikes as shown in Figure 8 above.

Note: The material used for the bottom of the WATCH Center channel is a
high density composite. This material is easily cross-threaded when installing
the spikes. Be careful that the spike thread is engaging properly into the bot­tom of the enclosure.

5. Carefully lift the Center channel into the desired location and set it

down.

Note: Four small brass disks have been provided for use as spike pads. Place
these under the spikes to protect the finish of your floors.

6. Turn to section 4.6 for final assembly instructions.

Section 4.3- Center Channel on Stand

1. Set the stands in the desired listening location.

2. Attach the spikes to the bottom of the stand by screwing in the spike and

nut combination until the nut is flush with the bottom (see Figure 9).

54

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

T HREADED S PIKE

F IGURE 9 - INSTALLING THE C ENTER C HANNEL S TAND S PIKES

C ENER S TAND S PIKE

Note: Do not tighten the nut at this time. Wait until the fine tuning has been
completed for the entire system and the speaker has been leveled.

3. Using provided 3/16” Allen wrench, remove the 4 setscrews from the bot-

tom of the Center channel. Keep these as they are the setscrews needed

to assemble your spikes and may be required during final setup.

Note: Four small brass disks have been provided for use as spike pads. Place
these under the spikes to protect the finish of your floors.

4. Bolt the Center channel to the stand using the four 3/8”-16 threaded

socket head capscrews and washer provided (see Figure 10).

Note: Do not over tighten the bolts. A snug fit is all that is required to secure
the Center channel to the stand.

55

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

A NCHOR B OLT

F IGURE 10 - BOLTING THE C ENTER C HANNEL TO THE S TAND

5. Turn to section 4.6 for final assembly instructions.

Section 4.4 - Center Channel on Custom Stand or Shelf

The Center Channel is a shielded speaker, and therefore, could be placed

directly on top of a television. However, this is not recommended due to the weight

of the speaker. In time, damage may occur to your television. We recommend that

you have a custom shelf built that allows the WATCH Center to be bolted securely

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

above the television and rotated down toward the listening position. The require-

ments for this bracket are outlined at the beginning of Section 4. 5 on page 59. The

speaker should be rotated so that the midrange drivers are firing just below the lis-

tening position. Once you have made and mounted the custom bracket, setup the

Center channel as follows:.

1. Lay the Center Channel on its side.

2. Using provided 3/16” Allen wrench, remove the 4 setscrews from the bot-

tom of the Center Channel.

3. Install the 2” threaded setscrews into the threaded holes on the bottom of

the speaker.

F IGURE 11 - INSTALLING THE S ET S CREWS

S ET S CREW
4 PLACES

A LLEN K EY
E ND OF S ET S CREW

57

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

Note: Be sure that the Allen key end of the set screw is facing out.

4. Carefully lift the Center channel and set the threaded setscrews into the

four mounting holes located on the top of the mounted custom shelf.

5. Using the provided 3/8”-16 nut, bolt the Center channel to the mounting

bracket.

6. Turn to section 4.6 for final assembly instructions.

F IGURE 12 - CENTER C HANNEL M OUNTED ABOVE TV

58

ROTATION

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

Section 4.5 -Center Channel Mounted to Ceiling

Note: For a floor or wall mounted Center Channel, a custom mounting bracket

is required. It is important that this bracket be made as instructed so as to be

strong enough to securely fasten the Center Channel to the ceiling or wall.

Custom Made Mounting Bracket Requirements

A ceiling mounted WATCH Center Channel will be mounted upside down

(tweeter beneath the midrange drivers). It will also need to be rotated down

towards the listening position. Due the variation in mounting locations and ceiling

heights, we are unable to determine for you, based solely in listening distance and

measured ear height, the amount of required rotation for your particular setup.

However, we will offer some suggestions that will allow you to achieve the best

performance possible for your particular speaker location. The guidelines are as

follows:

• The bracket must be able support 250 pounds. This more than the

weight of the Center channel but is necessary to maintain correct

safety standards.

• The bracket should angle the speaker down towards the listening posi-

tion. Ideally, the midrange drivers should be firing 15” below the lis-

tening ear height (see Figure 16).

59

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

M IDRANGE D RIVERS

F IGURE 13 - REMOVING THE M IDRANGE

60

H EX K EY E ND OF
“ALL T HREAD”

3/8-16 NUT AND L OCKWASHER.
T IGHTEN UNTIL S NUG

F IGURE 14 - INSTALLING N UT AND L OCKWASHER FROM THE I NSIDE

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

• A good material for the bracket is 1” square tubing. This can be easily

welded together and will provide a rigid, strong support for your

WATCH Center channel.

• The slanted portion of the bracket will require mounting holes whose

location match those on the bottom of the Center channel. The hole

pattern is shown in Figure 15.

F IGURE 15 - INSTALLING N UT AND L OCKWASHER FROM THE I NSIDE

61

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

Mounting Center Channel above Television

Mounting the Center channel above a TV requires a custom made bracket.

This bracket will support the weight of the Center channel and allow it to be rotat-

ed toward the listening position (see Figure 12). This rotation will significantly

improve the performance of your Center channel, improving system integration,

phase delay correction, and providing a correct image height.

The custom made bracket must have four mounting holes as shown in Figure

15. These holes will allow the Center channel to be bolted to the mount. Make sure

that the holes go all the way through the bracket. Also see that the locations are

such that they will allow a nut to be tightened to the bolt that is inserted through

these holes.

The bracket must also rotate the Center channel towards the listening posi-

C ENTER C HANNEL M OUNT
A NGLES S PEAKER D OWN
TOWARDS THE L ISTENER

F IGURE 16 - MOUNTING C ENTER C HANNEL TO C EILING

62

U SER M ADE C USTOM B RACKET

C ENTER C HANNEL B OL

CKET VIA

B RA

AND N UTS ATT

I NSIDE

THE

S PEAKER

TO

F OUR 3/8-16 BOL

ACHED FROM

TS

TS

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

tion. This can be achieved by making a bracket that is higher in the back than in

the front. Because the rotation required for the WATCH Center channel depends

on your listening position, speaker mount height, and listening ear height, we are

unable to provide a table with all of the possible combinations. However, we offer

the following rotational suggestions that will bring you very close to the ideal rota-

tion (assuming a 5 foot mounting height).

Listening Distance Required Rotation

5 - 10 feet 25 degrees

10 - 15 feet 15 degrees

15 - 20 feet 10 degrees

Setup

The Center Channel has four 3/8”-16 threaded holes on the bottom of the

speaker. These holes can be used to bolt the Center channel to a custom made

bracket (not provided) that is attached to the ceiling. Please see above for the

requirements of this custom bracket. Once the bracket is made and mounted, fol-

low these instructions to bolt the WATCH Center channel to the ceiling as follows:

1. Set the Center channel on the floor.

2. Using provided 3/16” Allen wrench, remove the four setscrews from the

bottom of the Center Channel.

63

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

3. Lay the Center Channel on its side and screw the four 3-inch setscrews

one inch into the threaded holes on the bottom of the speaker.

Note: Be sure that the Allen key end of the setscrews is facing out when
screwing it into the enclosure. This will allow for easy installation and
removal in the future.

4. Using the 5/32” T-handled Allen wrench, remove the two midrange driv-

ers. Do not unsolder the leads (see Figure 13).

Note: The material used for the bottom of the Center channel is a high densi­ty composite. This material is easily cross threaded when installing the
setscrew. Be careful that the spike thread is engaging properly into the bot­tom.

5. Screw on the 3/8”-16 nut and lockwasher onto the setscrew from the

inside of the enclosure (see Figure 14).

6. Tighten until snug using the open ended wrench.

7. Replace the midrange drivers.

8. While two people hold the speaker up to the mounting bracket, a third

person bolts the speaker to the ceiling. Use two 3/8”-16 nuts on each

threaded road. This will lock the nuts into place.

Note: The custom mounting bracket should be designed to hold three times
the weight of the Center Channel (250 lbs). This gives an acceptable safety fac­tor of three.

9. Turn to Section 4.6 for final assembly instructions.

64

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

Section 4.6 - Center Channel Final Setup

The final setup work needed before fine tuning and other speaker setup is

performed as follows:

• Set the Phase Delay Correction on the tweeter assembly.

• Connect the speaker cables from the amplifier.

Phase Delay Correction - Stand or Floor Mounted

The phase delay correction is one of the most important elements of the

setup. There are two methods for setting the PDC: one for floor and stand mount-

ed Center channel and one for ceiling or any other custom location. Set up the

PDC as follows:

1. Find your measured listening distance and ear height.

2. In Section 9, locate the table that corresponds to your Center channel

location and front spike combination (i.e. floor mounted center channel

with spike, nut, diode and one spacer).

Note: There is a unique PDC setting for each Center channel location and
front spike combination. Be sure you are reading from the correct table.

3. Read from the table the required offset (1-13).

65

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

4. Using a 3/16” Allen wrench, loosen the 1/4”-20 socket head on tweeter

assembly (see Figure 17 below).

5. Slide the tweeter until the lock down bolt is centered above the alignment

mark on the tweeter mounting bracket.

6. Retighten the socket head capscrews until snug.

Note: When loosening or tightening the screws, be careful that you do not
damage the painted finish.

Phase Delay Correction - Ceiling or Other Custom Location

Because of the large number of unique combinations for your location, we

are unable to provide the exact alignment setting for you. If you have followed the

instructions closely up to this point, you will be able to set the PDC by experiment.

This is done as follows:

• Unhook all the speakers except the Center Channel.

• Using a 3/16” Allen wrench, loosen the 1/4”-20 socket head bolts that

hold the tweeter in place.

• Play a sound track that has female vocal.

• Sit in your listening location and have someone slowly slide the tweet-

er forward and backwards. Listen for the location that the female

vocal is free from any chest or nasal sound. The vocals will be clean

66

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

and clear, free from any veiling of the sound. This is the correct align-

ment position.

• Lock down the tweeter in this position.

T WEETER S LIDES
B ACK AND F ORTH

1/4-20 SOCKET H EAD
C APSCREW

F IGURE 17 - SETTING THE PDC

67

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

Section 4.7 - Connecting Speaker to Amplifier

Speaker Cables

The very high current input terminals located on the rear of your Center

channel loudspeaker are color coded with a small plastic plug so that RED corre-

sponds to positive and black to negative, common, or ground on the amplifier out-

put. Be sure to connect the loudspeakers in phase with each other. We recom-

mend the use of the very highest quality loudspeaker cables, particularly those

designed for high frequency propagation correction and phase linearity. Beware of

“zip cord” type speaker cables which will smear the sound and limit their effective

bandwidth. Also, do not use braided litz type loudspeaker cables as they will cause

an unnatural brightness to the sound, compromise sound staging performance, and

may cause instability, oscillation, and damage in wide bandwidth solid state ampli-

fiers.

Spade Lugs

The spade lugs of some of the high quality cables often used with the Center

channel are angled to reduce pressures on the cable during installation. Avoid the

instinct to push the cable’s spade lug ends all the way into the Center channel’s

68

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

connectors (See Figure 18). Partial insertion of these angled spade lugs will actu-

ally improve the reliability of the connection. Flat lugs may be fully inserted into

connectors before tightening.

F IGURE 18 - SPADE L UG ATTACHMENT

Connection of the Center Channel to the Power Amplifier

1. Turn off the power amplifier(s) and remove the AC power cord from the

wall outlet.

2. Lay out the speaker cables before hooking them up to the WATCH

Center channel. Make sure that there are no kinks, twists, or right-

69

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

angled bends in the cable. If you need to turn corners, attempt to use a

gradual curve as opposed to a severe right-angled bend.

3. Connect the negative (normally black) end of the speaker cable to the

high current speaker binding post with the engraved “-” above it ( see

Figure 19).

Note: Do not over tighten the binding posts. Over tightening can cause the
posts to break off.

4. Connect the positive (normally red) end of the speaker cable to the high

current speaker binding post with the engraved “+” above it.

5. Plug your amplifier(s) AC power cord into the wall outlet.

Note: Always attempt to keep your pair of speaker cables the same length.
This will ensure that the signals arrive at each speaker in the proper time
frame, by traveling the same distance to each speaker.

Center Channel Setup Completed

This completes the initial setup of your WATCH Center channel. Final sys-

tem tuning and voicing should be performed as outlined in Section 5. Section 5 will

evaluate your entire speaker setup and allow you to make small modifications in

speaker rotation and location that will greatly improve the performance of your

multi-channel audio or home theater system.

70

S ECTION 4 - WATCH CENTER C HANNEL S ETUP

R ESISTOR A CCESS

M AIN I N B INDING P OSTS

F IGURE 19 - CENTER C HANNEL C ABLE C ONNECTION

71

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

74

S ECTION 5 - FINAL S YSTEM T UNING AND V OICING

Section 5 - Final System Tuning and Voicing

This loudspeaker placement method was developed by David A. Wilson, for

Wilson Audio Specialties. The purpose of this method is to find optimum loud-

speaker location in any given room within one hour. Participating in numerous

audio/multi-channel/home theater shows with very different and difficult acoustic

environments necessitated this procedure. Currently, all Wilson Audio dealers

employ this setup procedure for their customers in order to quickly and pre-

dictably achieve the best performance from their systems (This procedure can be

used successfully with ANY moving coil speaker system).

Proper system calibration is the most important step in the setup of your

multi-channel/home theater system. The WATCH system offers increased resolu-

tion and overall system performance. This increased resolution allows you to fine

tune your system, thus increasing overall performance, more than any other system

available.

Fine tuning and “voicing” generally involve only small changes in location

and rotation (or toe) of your multi-channel system. With proper calibration you

will find that changes as small as one inch will have an impact on the performance

of your system. The following sections will step you through this fine tuning

process. The setup will be done as follows:

75

WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

• Set up of Left and Right Channels, with all other speakers discon-

nected.

• Add the Center Channel.

• Add the Surround Channels.

• Add the Subwoofer.

Adding one speaker at a time will allow you to easily evaluate the integration

with the system and make the necessary adjustments to fine tune the setup.

Section 5.1 - Left and Right Channels

Determining Front to Back Distance

The proper setup of the left and right channels is crucial for optimum sys-

tem performance. If these speakers are not set up correctly, the entire system will

suffer from poor integration. Please follow these steps carefully:

• Place the speaker in an appropriate location relative to your screen

and listening area. Make certain to remove the grilles and spikes.

• Toe-in the speakers so that you can just barely see the inside edge

when seated in the primary listening position.

• Using removable masking tape, graph off the floor so that you can

accurately move both speakers forward and backward in 1/2 inch

increments.

76

S ECTION 5 - FINAL S YSTEM T UNING AND V OICING

• Place your multi-channel processor into stereo mode.

• Using a piece of full range music (dynamic with a lot of low frequency

information) played at a moderately high level, take notes on the

sound quality. Pay specific attention to upper and lower bass quality,

dynamic contrasts, image height, and focus.

• Move the speakers back or forward in one inch increments and then

1/2 inch increments.

Note: Moving the speakers BACK will generally increase low bass, sharpen
focus, lower image height, and increase dynamics up to the point where you go
too far. In this case the sound will start to lose these qualities in addition to
becoming boomy and slow sounding. Moving the speakers FORWARD will
increase air and bloom, raise image height, and generally increase the sense of
space. Moving too far forward will cause the soundstage to become unnatural­ly high with a lack of focus, dynamics, and low end extension.

• Find the front to back location where the bass is tight, dynamics are

correct, and image is well focused, and you find the best sound stag-

ing.

• Mark this as your final front to back location.

Determining Side to Side Distance

The distance the speakers are from the side walls is very important. This dis-

tance determines the amount of comb filtering you will hear. In effect, you are

“tuning” the comb filter interaction between the speaker and the wall. Perform the

side to side analysis as follows:

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WATCH CENTER C HANNEL O WNER’ S M ANUAL

• Place a piece of tape on the floor parallel to the front edge of the

speaker and again mark off 1/2 inch increments side to side.

• Using only one channel/speaker at a time, you will now determine the

optimum position with regard to the side walls.

Note: A high quality, solo piano recording works well for this step.

• While the music is playing, slowly move the speakers left or right one

inch then 1/2 inch at a time until you achieve the best harmonic

integrity.

You should not need to move the speaker any more than one inch left or

right from the original location. Do this independently for each channel. What

you will hear when the speaker moves into the correct location is a reduction of

hardness and muddied harmonics from the piano.

Note: If you continue moving the speaker past this point, you will begin to
hear again this fatiguing artifact.

When you have determined the optimum location for each speaker, mark it

carefully, and make certain the toe-in is correct. When installing the spikes, the

speakers may shift slightly, but you can move them precisely back to the correct

location again using your tape markers.

Section 5.2 -Integrating the WATCH System

Note: Many processors offer a setup guide that steps you through the integra-

78

S ECTION 5 - FINAL S YSTEM T UNING AND V OICING

tion of each of the speakers, setting speaker distances, delays, and phase rota­tion. These adjustments are made via internal electrical adjustments. We have
found that actual geometric changes, that is, moving the speaker location and
rotation, offer improved results when integrating speakers. We recommend
that you follow the steps outlined below, evaluate your system performance,
and then make adjustments in the processor. Ultimately, you will, of course,
need to make level adjustments via the processor.

Integrating the WATCH Center

The next step in the setup process is to fine tune the location and rotation of

the Center Channel. Do as follows:

• Place the Center Channel centered between the main speakers and

even with the front inner edge. Set the spikes as indicated in Sections

4.2 - 4.5.

• Follow the processor instructions on level adjustment. Adjust the level

on the Center channel so it matches in level with the left and right

channels. Do not be surprised if the Center channel requires 5-7 dB

lower adjustment than the left and right channel.

• Make sure that only the front left, right, and Center channels are con-

nected.

• With the Center channel spiked, put on a multi-channel audio track or

movie scene with which you are familiar.

• Play the selection and listen for the integration with the main speak-

ers. As the audio moves across the three front speakers, listen for

smooth transition from one speaker to the next. You should not hear

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any voids in the soundstage.

• Make 1/2” changes in front to back location until you find the Center

channel location that offers the best integration.

Image Height

Check the image height. Does the dialogue of a movie have the correct

height? Is it too low or too high?

If needed, adjust the amount of rotation until the image height is correct.

On a stand or floor mounted Center channel, raising the front spikes will raise the

image height. Lowering the front spikes will lower the image height. Where possi-

ble, we recommend that you add or remove a spacer to get the correct image

height. This will allow the PDC to be reset using the tables in Section 9.

Center Rotation

Our testing has shown that a stand mounted Center channel, at listening dis-

tances greater than 2-3 meters, requires the front of the Center channel to be

raised about one inch. This is because the effects of comb-filtering are more noti-

cable the further you are away from the Center channel. This combfiltering reveals

itself as a slight nasel sound in the voice. If you notice this in the sound, you

should raise the front spikes of your WATCH Center channel. This can be done by

removing the front spikes and replacing them with the spike assembly as shown in

Figure 20 below. Do as follows:

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S ECTION 5 - FINAL S YSTEM T UNING AND V OICING

• Screw the spike and nut into the diode.

• Screw the 3/4” setscrew into the front spike holes in the stand.

• Thread the spike assembly onto the setscrew.

Resetting the PDC

Once the final rotation has been determined, you will need to reset the PDC.

If you have raised the speaker by adding a diode or 1/2” spacer, read the PDC from

the table that matches your current spike configuration in Section 9. If you have

adjusted the rotation by unscrewing the spike, do as follows:

• Measure the distance you have raised the speaker.

• Slide the tweeter forward 1/2 of the distance you raised the speaker.

D IODE

3/4” SET S CREW

S PIKE

F IGURE 20 - SPIKE A SSLEMBLY D IODE WITH N O S PACERS

N UT

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Note: If you lowered the speaker, then the tweeter will slide back 1/2 of the

lowered distance.

Every system has a unique time and phase character, which can effect the

PDC accuracy. Because of this, you may find that sliding the tweeter forward or

backwards a few positions increases the clarity and correctness of your Center

channel. If you like, experiment with the tweeter position and lock it in position

when you find the location you feel to be most accurate.

Integrating the Surround Channels

• Follow the processor instructions on level adjustment. Adjust the level

on the Surround channels so they match in level with the front chan-

nels.

• Play a DVD that has a scene with something moving around the room.

Listen for the correct spacial imaging. A correctly adjusted Surround

channel will have good imaging characteristics, seamlessly blended,

and should be just as transparent as the front channels.

• Adjust the rotation of the Surround channel until you find the best

integration.

Note: The Surround channel rotates on the upper two spikes. Examine careful-

ly this rotation and the mounting bracket before trying to adjust the angle of

rotation. Be careful when rotating the speaker as it is very heavy and could fall

off of the mounting bracket.

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S ECTION 5 - FINAL S YSTEM T UNING AND V OICING

Integrating the WATCH Dog

The WATCH Dog will perform well in almost any location in the room. In

general, the closer you place the WATCH Dog to a wall or corner, the greater the

augmentation of the bass. However, the increase in bass comes at a cost of per-

ceived speed, dynamics, and bass clarity. We recommend that you experiment with

the placement of the subwoofer to find a balance of the above mentioned items

with which you are satisfied. For complete information on integrating a Wilson

Audio WATCH Dog, please refer to your WATCH Dog owner’s manual.

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S ECTION 6 - CARE OF THE WATCH CENTER C HANNEL

Section 6.0 - Care of the Finish

The WATCH Center loudspeaker is hand painted with WilsonGloss™ paint

and hand polished to a high luster. While the finish seems quite dry to the touch,

final curing and complete hardening takes place over a period of several weeks.

Removing Protective Film

To protect the finish of the WATCH Center during final manufacture, ship-

ment, and setup in the listening room, a removable layer of protective film has

been applied over the finish. It is recommended that this film be left in place until

the speakers are in their final location in the listening room. Once their final posi-

tion has been determined, remove the film by following this procedure:

1. Ensure the speaker surface is room temperature before removing the pro-

tective film. Removing the protective film when the speaker surface is

cold can damage the paint surface.

2. Slowly remove the film from the top down, large sections at a time, gently

pulling the film downward and outward. Tearing the film aggressivley can

damage the paint.

3. Take care in removing the protective film near edges and corners to pre-

vent paint damage in these areas.

4. The protective film should not be left on the painted surface for extended

periods of time nor exposed to heat sources and direct sunlight.

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Dusting the WATCH Center

It is important that the delicate paint finish of the WATCH Center be dust-

ed carefully with the dust cloth, which has been provided. We recommend that the

following procedure be observed when dusting the speakers:

• Blow off all loose dust.

• Using the special dust cloth as a brush, gently whisk off any remaining

loose dust.

• Shake out the dust cloth.

• Dust the finish, using linear motions in one direction parallel to the

floor. Avoid using circular or vertical motions.

Because the paint requires a period of several weeks to fully cure, we recom-

mend that no cleaning fluids, such as glass cleaners, be used during this initial

period of time. When the paint is fully cured, heavy fingerprints and other minor

smudges may be removed with a glass cleaner. Always use the dust cloth. Stronger

solvents are not recommended under any circumstances. Consult your dealer for

further information if required.

To maintain the high luster of the finish, periodic polishing may be

desired over the years. We recommend a nonabrasive carnauba-based wax and a

soft cloth.

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S ECTION 6 - CARE OF THE WATCH CENTER C HANNEL

Section 6.1 - Care of the Grilles

Periodically, you will want to clean the Center’s grilles. This is best done by

using the round brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner hose. Gently vacuum the

front surface of the grille. Be careful not to apply too much pressure. Do not use a

hard plastic attachment against the grille. The grille cloth is stretched tightly over

the grille frame. Too much pressure or use of a hard plastic attachment could

cause the grille material to tear, especially in the corners.

Often Wilson speaker owners desire to change the look of their listening

room by changing the color of their speaker grilles. In addition to basic black,

Wilson Audio offers a variety of grille colors to match most WilsonGloss finishes.

Contact your local dealer for grille cloth samples or to order replacement grilles

for your Center.

Section 6.2 - Break-in Period

All audio equipment will sound best after its components have been broken

in for some period of use. Wilson Audio breaks in all woofers and mid-range driv-

ers for a 12 hour period. All drivers are then tested, calibrated, and matched for

their acoustical properties. In your listening room, expect 25 to 50 percent of

break-in to be complete after two hours of playing music at normal listening levels.

Ninety percent of break-in is complete after 24 hours of playing. Playing a CD on

repeat overnight can accomplish this task quickly. Wilson Audio recommends

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chamber music for this task.

Section 6.3 - Enclosure Technology

Wilson Audio has conducted many hours of research on the impact of mate-

rials on speaker enclosure performance. Through this effort, Wilson pioneered the

use of non-resonant materials, first with the use of mineral filled acrylic in the

WATT, and continuing with the further development of proprietary materials for

X-1 Grand SLAMM and MAXX. Even the best materials are not suited to all

aspects of enclosure construction. Therefore, like all Wilson loudspeakers, the

WATCH Center is constructed of several exotic materials chosen for their specific

performance attributes relevant to different portions of the enclosure.

The Center is constructed using non-resonant, high-density, composites

which are then highly-cross braced to further reduce cabinet resonance. Each of

these composites meets and exceeds the highest of ANSI test standards for its use,

while offering very tight tolerances, high hardness, uniform density, and dimen-

sional stability. In the most critical areas of the enclosure, the WATCH Center

uses our proprietary “X” material, a very dense, strong composite developed for the

X-1 Grand SLAMM. The high hardness of these composites offers excellent

acoustical properties.

Adhesive

Wilson Audio has conducted exhaustive research into the best adhesives to

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S ECTION 6 - CARE OF THE WATCH CENTER C HANNEL

permanently bond our speaker enclosures. This is often an overlooked element

crucial to the proper performance of a loudspeaker. Correct modulus of elasticity,

coefficient of thermal expansion, and natural frequency response are just a few of

the important elements of adhesives.

A highly cross-linked, thermo-set adhesive is used for the construction of

the enclosure. It was also chosen for its excellent bond strength, solvent resist-

ance, hardness, and optimum vibrational characteristics.

Depth of Design

The Center’s compellingly authentic performance and lasting value are

achieved through careful implementation of cutting edge design and engineering

and then executed using the highest performance materials. Wilson Audio’s use of

proprietary enclosure materials and adhesives are employed to achieve truly excep-

tional speaker cabinet performance. The use of these materials in the WATCH

Center result in an enclosure that is inherently inert and non-resonant. All of these

structural aspects are combined, allowing Wilson Audio to deliver a product that

maintains the strictest structural tolerances, durability, and reliability. This also

means that the Center will have consistent, repeatable performance, unaffected by

the climatic conditions, anywhere in the world. Finally, like all Wilson products,

the WATCH Center is hand-crafted with meticulous attention to detail, with an

unwavering commitment to excellence. Thus, the WATCH Center will impart to

her owner beauty and pleasure for many years to come.

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Section 7 - Troubleshooting

S ECTION 7 - TROUBLESHOOTING

One channel is not operating...

Imaging is off-center...

Check the interconnects from source.

Check the connections on the speaker

cables, both at the amplifier and speaker

ends. Watch especially for connectors

touching each other.

Check your connections. When a tweeter

or mid-range driver is not working, or is

out of phase, the imaging will be off.

Double check your connections for red-

to-red and black-to-black.

Play music at a low level and listen to

each driver in each channel. There may

be a driver that is not operating correct-

A chronic lack of bass energy...

ly. If there is a driver that is silent,

please go to the “Driver Out” section of

this troubleshooting guide.

Check the input cable connections on the

enclosure. If one channel is out of phase

(connections reversed), bass will be can-

celled.

and unplug it from the wall.

Note: Turn off your amplifier,

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Driver out or not playing after connec-

tions have been verified:

Amplifier shuts off as soon as it is

turned on:

If the problem is solved:

If there is a driver with no output, poten-

tially the resistor is damaged and needs

replacing. Contact a local Wilson dealer

for replacement parts and service.

Check to see if the speaker cables are

properly secured. Look for frayed ends,

loose connections, or a conductor con-

tacting the amplifier chassis.

Turn the amplifier off and disconnect it

from the AC wall outlet. Disconnect the

preamplifier leads to the amplifier. Now

turn on the amplifier.

There is likely something wrong with

If the problem persists:

If the problem is solved:

96

your preamplifier or interconnect.

Contact your dealer.

Leave the preamp leads disconnected and

continue to the next step.

Turn the amplifier off and disconnect it

from the AC wall outlet. Disconnect the

speaker leads at the main input to the

speaker. Now turn on the amplifier.

Call your Wilson Audio dealer. There

may be a problem with the crossover or

S ECTION 7 - TROUBLESHOOTING

the speaker’s internal wiring.

If the problem persists:

If the problem is solved:

If the problem persists:

Continue to the next step.

Turn the amplifier off and disconnect it

from the AC wall outlet. Disconnect the

speaker cable leads to the amplifier and

turn the amplifier on again.

There is a short in the speaker cables.

Check for frayed ends, holes (from spike

feet), or make sure that the spade lug is

not touching the chassis while it is con-

nected to the binding post.

Call the dealer where the amplifier was

purchased. There appears to be a prob-

lem with this component.

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