XTZ SA-1 - Page 21

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Introduction
For optimal performance, you should calibrate your system to ensure proper level matching between all speakers
and the proper setting of all controls (including crossover frequency, phase, and any channel delays your
receiver/processor may o󰀨er). This procedure will vary depending on system conguration and the information
below is provided as a basic guide to assist you. Refer to the owner’s manual for your receiver/processor for
information on performing the steps required to enter their setup mode and adjust any applicable settings.
After all connections have been made, turn on the AC power to your system, starting with the rst piece of
source equipment in the signal chain (such as a CD or DVD player), then power on any dedicated equalizer,
then power on your receiver/processor/amplier(s), and last but not least, power on the subwoofer-/s. You will
need to enter your receiver’s/processor’s setup mode and adjust any applicable speaker settings to properly
match your system conguration
Receiver/Processor
With Automated
Setup & Calibration
Function
After you have veried all speakers are connected and you have measured distances of each to the listening
position, perform the auto-setup routine on your receiver/processor (if available). Many newer home theater
receivers/processors combine a measurement microphone and an automated setup routine to assist you with
proper setting of speaker levels, crossover frequency, speaker delay and phase. Consult the owner’s manual
for your receiver/processor for further instructions on how to perform the setup routine. After the auto-setup
routine is complete, verify the nal settings the receiver/processor selected to ensure there are no erroneous
settings (e.g. the settings should match your system conguration). Some settings to verify may include:
- Number of speakers (e.g. 7.1 or 5.1 system, etc.)
- Type/size of speakers (e.g. small or large front/surround and subwoofer set to yes/on)
- Crossover point should be similar for identical speakers (e.g. if your system using 3 of the same speak-
ers for all front channels, verify the receiver/processor selected the same crossover point for all these
channels)
- Crossover frequency should be selected. We recommend 80Hz for the satellite speakers to start with.
Higher or lower crossover point may yield better results in your system depending on your speaker
setup
- Note: some receivers do not have an adjustable frequency, instead there is only a choice of “small” or
“large”. In this case, we recommend choosing “small”.
- Gain settings for each channel should be reasonably close (e.g. if the speakers are placed at even
distances, the gain setting for each channel should typically be within a couple dB from channel to
channel). If the receiver/processor gain trim setting for the subwoofer channel is a large value (e.g. +12
or -12dB) you may need to increase or decrease the subwoofer’s volume to achieve a better match.
- Low subwoofer gain/trim settings (on your receiver/processor) effect the operation of the “AUTO ON/
OFF” signal sensing circuit. If your receiver/processor gain is set to a low values (e.g. attenuating the
signal -6dB or more) this reduces the signal available to properly “turn on” the subwoofer when using
the “AUTO ON/OFF” feature. If your subwoofer turns off unexpectedly when watching movies at low
volumes, you may wish to increase the receiver’s/processor’s subwoofer gain trim, and manually
reduce the volume using the subwoofer’s “VOLUME” control to maintain proper balance.
- Polarity/phase; This should be adjusted for smoothest frequency response near the crossover point.
- EQ settings; if your receiver/processor allows you to see the EQ settings for each channel, verify that
it is not adding any extra “limiter”, or “HPF” to the subwoofer channel, and that it is not adding a high
level of boost (e.g. >+3dB) or cut (e.g. -10db).
NOTE:
In some installations, automated room eq algorithms may make undesired changes to the subwoofer signal
settings trying to obtain what they believe is the best room response curve. In some systems these changes
have been known to degrade the overall sound quality of the subwoofer. If using a receiver/processor with
automated room EQ- function, we advise you listen to the system rst with the EQ disabled, then again with
the EQ enabled, to determine if the changes are benecial.
Receiver/Pre-amp
Without
Automated Setup
Older receivers and/or music preamps may not provide an automated setup function. With these systems,
optimal calibration usually requires some type of test equipment be utilized to provide test tones and take
measurements to properly calibrate your system. Some equipment you may use for this includes:
- One of our measurement systems Room Analyzer II / II Pro. They are excellent tools to use when opti-
mizing and setting up subwoofer/-s or other speakers in a system.
- Test signal source; pink noise and/or sine wave of various frequencies (CD, DVD, your receiver/pre-
amp, or external measurement equipment)
- SPL meter
- RTA or other frequency response measurement tool (optional)
- Start with a quiet room free of excess background noise (e.g. people talking, kids playing, dogs bark-
ing, etc.).
- Verify that subwoofer control settings match illustrations for your type of system configuration
- Set any receiver/pre-amp speaker settings to an appropriate starting point (e.g. crossover). We recom-
mend 80Hz crossover as a good starting point.
- Start playing a test signal with energy in the subwoofer crossover region (e.g. full bandwidth pink noise)
through all speaker as you measured from the first speaker