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JL Audio Fathom f112 User Manual

JL Audio Fathom f112
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Owner’s Manual
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JL Audio Fathom f112 Specifications

General IconGeneral
BrandJL Audio
ModelFathom f112
CategorySubwoofer
LanguageEnglish

Summary

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Read the Instructions

All safety and operating instructions should be read before subwoofer operation.

Retain the Instructions

Safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.

Heed Warnings

All warnings on the subwoofer and in the instructions should be followed.

Follow Instructions

All operating and use instructions should be followed.

Water and Moisture

Subwoofer should not be used near water or moisture.

Ventilation

Ensure subwoofer location does not interfere with proper ventilation.

Heat and Flames

Subwoofer should be situated away from heat sources.

Power sources

Connect subwoofer only to the specified power supply.

Power Cord Protection

Route power cords to prevent them from being walked on or pinched.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS (Continuation)

Cleaning

Subwoofer should be cleaned as recommended in operating instructions.

Nonuse Periods

Unplug power cord when subwoofer is unused for long periods.

Lightning and Power Surges

Disconnect subwoofer during electrical storms to prevent damage.

Object or Liquid Entry

Take care to prevent objects falling into or liquids spilling onto the subwoofer.

Damage Requiring Service

List of conditions requiring service by qualified personnel.

Servicing

User should not attempt servicing beyond manual instructions.

Overloading

Do not overload outlets or strips to avoid fire or shock risk.

Grounding

Use the three-prong grounded power cord and do not defeat grounding.

High Sound Pressure Levels Warning

Warning about high sound pressure levels and hearing protection.

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION

JL AUDIO TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDED IN FATHOM SUBWOOFERS

DMA-Optimized Motor System

Improves dynamic motor behavior for reduced distortion and faithful transients.

OverRoll™ Surround

Utilizes available diameter for wider roll to control high-excursions.

W-Cone™

Unit-body cone assembly for stiffness with minimal mass.

Floating-Cone™ Attach Method

Ensures proper surround geometry for excursion control.

Plateau-Reinforced Spider Attachment

High-integrity suspension attachment for enhanced reliability.

Elevated Frame Cooling Technology

Delivers cool air to voice coil to enhance power handling.

Radially Cross-Drilled Pole Piece

Enhances thermal dissipation and power handling via venting.

High-Damping Feedback Circuit

Proprietary circuit for excellent damping factor and transient behavior.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Pre-Unpacking Recommendation

Read next section before unpacking; unpack near final location.

PLACING YOUR FATHOM IN YOUR LISTENING ROOM

Room Modes and Placement

Avoid seating positions in standing wave peaks/dips; experiment with subwoofer placement.

Corner Placement Effects

Corner placement maximally excites room modes, creating strongest output.

Wall Proximity Effects

Placing near walls reinforces bass; pulling away decreases it.

Window Placement

Avoid placing near windows to prevent rattling and sound transmission.

Cabinet Installation Guidelines

Refer to page 8 for guidelines if installing inside a cabinet.

Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for One Fathom

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR BUILT-IN INSTALLATIONS

Clearance Requirements

Maintain specific clearance for cooling and ventilation.

Cabinet Venting

Recommend inclusion of heat vents in custom cabinets for cooling.

Custom Grille Vent Area

Specify minimum vent area for custom grilles to avoid choking output.

Using Two Fathoms

Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Two Fathoms

Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Three Fathoms

Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Four Fathoms

Using Three or Four Fathoms

UNPACKING YOUR FATHOM

Weight and Safety Precautions

Warning about subwoofer weight and advice to enlist help.

Detailed Unpacking Instructions

Step-by-step guide for carton opening and subwoofer removal.

Retain Packaging

Keep all packaging for safe transportation and future service needs.

Front Control Panel

A.R.O.

Automatic Room Optimization control.

Power

Power switch for unit operation.

Input Mode

Input mode selection switch.

Level Mode

Selects between Reference and Variable level modes.

Lights

Controls front panel indicator light brightness.

LP Filter

Low Pass filter selection.

LP freq. (Hz)

Low Pass filter cutoff frequency adjustment.

e.l.f. trim (dB)

Extreme Low Frequency trim control.

phase (deg.)

Phase adjustment control.

Polarity

Polarity selection switch.

Rear Controls and Connectors

Balanced Inputs

XLR and 1/4-inch combo jacks for balanced audio input.

Unbalanced Inputs

RCA jacks for unbalanced audio input.

Output to Slave Connector

Balanced XLR output for connecting to slave units.

IEC-Style AC Connector

Power input for the IEC AC power cord.

Input Mode Switches

Switches for grounding and master/slave operation.

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS IN DETAIL

Power Switch

Explains the three positions of the power switch (On, Off, Auto).

Automatic Room Optimization (A.R.O.)

Describes the one-touch system for optimizing room acoustics.

Calibration Mic. Input

Input for the supplied JL Audio calibration microphone.

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS IN DETAIL (Continuation)

Demo Button

Triggers a tone sequence to demonstrate A.R.O. calibration signals.

Defeat Button

Turns off or "defeats" the A.R.O. calibration system and equalizer.

Calibrate Button

Activates the ARO test sequence for calibration.

Input Mode Indicators

LEDs indicating Master or Slave mode selection.

Level Mode

Selects between Reference (fixed gain) and Variable (adjustable gain) modes.

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS IN DETAIL (Continuation)

Master Level Knob

Controls output level when Variable Level mode is selected.

Lights

Selects indicator light modes (Off, Dim, On).

LP Filter

Determines the operating mode and roll-off slope of the low pass filter.

LP Freq

Sets the cutoff frequency for the internal low pass filter.

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS IN DETAIL (Continuation)

E.L.F. Trim

Adjusts extreme low frequency equalization at 25 Hz.

Polarity

Selects between normal (0 deg) and reversed (180 deg) signal polarity.

Phase

Adjusts subwoofer output timing relative to main speakers.

CONNECTING YOUR FATHOM

Balanced Inputs

Preferred connection using XLR or 1/4-inch TRS for noise rejection.

Technical Notes (Balanced)

Notes on using balanced inputs, including connector pinouts.

CONNECTING YOUR FATHOM (Continuation)

Unbalanced Inputs

RCA inputs for systems without balanced outputs, with optical isolation.

Technical Notes (Unbalanced)

Notes on unbalanced inputs, impedance, and noise minimization.

CONNECTING YOUR FATHOM (Continuation)

Input Mode Switches

Controls grounding (Grounded/Isolated) and system operation (Master/Slave).

Master / Slave Switch

Enables system control of multiple Fathoms from a single master unit.

CONNECTING YOUR FATHOM (Continuation)

Output to Slave Connector

Balanced XLR output for daisy-chaining slave Fathoms.

IEC-Style AC Connector

Power connection and recommendations for electrical circuits.

SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 1: One Fathom to Home Theater Receiver or Home Theater Preamp/Processor

SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 2: Multiple Fathoms to Home Theater Receiver or Home Theater Preamp/Processor

SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 3: One Fathom in Mono to Two-Channel Audio System

SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 4: Two Fathoms in Stereo to Two-Channel Audio System

RECOMMENDED SETUP PROCEDURES

Preparation for Setup Process

Confirms initial system settings on receiver/preamp before setup.

Speaker Size

Set high-frequency speakers to "small" with an 80 Hz crossover.

Speaker Distance

Properly set speaker distances, including subwoofer, for time coherence.

Subwoofer Level

Set subwoofer level in receiver to "0" or middle position.

Tone Controls / Equalizers

Set tone controls to "0" and defeat all equalizer features.

Active Crossover or Bass Management Processor Setup

Settings for low-pass filter frequency and output level.

RECOMMENDED SETUP PROCEDURES (Continuation)

Power Switch

Turn Fathom's power switch to "On" position.

Lights Switch

Turn Fathom's lights switch to "On" position.

Input Mode Indicator Lights

Confirm Master/Slave indicator lights on front panel.

Level Mode Switch

Flip master Fathom's Level Mode switch to "REF".

LP Filter Switch

Set LP Filter switch to "OFF" or "12 dB".

LP Freq. (Hz) Knob

Rotate LP Freq knob to the "80 Hz" position.

e.l.f. trim (dB) Knob

Rotate e.l.f. trim knob to "0".

Polarity Switch

Flip the Polarity switch to "0".

phase (deg.) Knob

Rotate phase knob to "0" degrees.

A.R.O. Defeat Switch

Press A.R.O. defeat switch so red light remains lit.

RECOMMENDED SETUP PROCEDURES (Continuation)

Level Setting

Adjust subwoofer level to blend with other speakers using receiver or Fathom.

Polarity and Phase Adjustment

Adjust polarity and phase for optimal upper bass and midbass response.

Experiment with alternative subwoofer locations

Experiment with subwoofer placement for smoother bass performance.

RECOMMENDED SETUP PROCEDURES (Continuation)

IMPORTANT! ROOM QUIETNESS FOR A.R.O.

Ensure room is quiet, turn off HVAC and noisy appliances during calibration.

Applying Automatic Room Optimization (A.R.O.)

Detailed steps for using the A.R.O. system to tame room modes.

RECOMMENDED SETUP PROCEDURES (Continuation)

A.R.O. Calibration Steps

Steps for positioning microphone, pressing calibrate, and adjusting level.

Extreme Low Frequency (e.l.f.) Trim

Adjust e.l.f. trim to manage low bass extension in small rooms.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I place objects on my subwoofer?

Do not place items on cabinet; no liquids on cabinet.

Is the Fathom magnetically shielded?

Fathoms are not magnetically shielded; maintain distance from TVs.

Should I unplug my subwoofer during a thunderstorm or extended absence?

Unplug during thunderstorms and absences to prevent damage.

CLEANING YOUR FATHOM

Dusting

Use a clean, soft microfiber cloth or feather duster.

Gloss-black models

Cleaning and polishing recommendations for gloss-black finishes.

TROUBLESHOOTING

No sound from subwoofer

Troubleshooting steps for when the subwoofer produces no sound.

The bass level has changed

Checks for changes in level settings or ELF Trim.

Hums or other unusual noises from your Fathom

Addresses hums, noise, and input mode settings.

Bass sounds "muddy” or “too heavy"

Adjustments for muddy bass, including ELF Trim and placement.

Your Fathom is clearly audible outside of your house

Tips for reducing sound leakage outside the listening room.

LIMITED WARRANTY / SERVICE INFORMATION

Warranty Coverage

Explains what is covered and what is excluded under the warranty.

Service Information

How to obtain service, including shipping and proof of purchase.

FEATURES

Specifications

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