MartinLogan Speaker manual

D ESCENT i user’s manual TM[...]

Serial Number ___________________________________ Record your serial numbers here for easy reference. You will need this information when filling out your warranty registration. Descent i’s serial number is located near the bottom of the backplate and also on the shipping container. Descent i Settings: Level ______________________________________[...]

Thank you—to you the MartinLogan owner, for loving what we do, and for making it possible for us to do what we love.[...]

4 Contents & Introduction Contents & Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Installation in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Controls and Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Accessing the Control Panel Control Panel Rear Connection Panel . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

Installation in Brief 5 We know you are eager to hear your new MartinLogan subwoofer, so this section is provided to allow fast and easy set up. Once you have your subwoofer operation- al, please take the time to read, in depth, the rest of the information in this manual. It will give you perspective on how to attain the greatest possible performan[...]

6 Introduction C ONTROLS AND C ONNECTIONS Figure 1. Top control panel. The control panel is located behind the inset metal plate located on top of the subwoofer. To access the control panel, gently press the area above the MartinLogan logo. When the spring releases gently pull the metal plate away from the subwoofer. Control P anel Level Setting th[...]

Controls and Connections 7 configuration of your listening environment, the placement of the unit, and your seating arrangement. Due to the way bass sound waves develop in different rooms, there is no rule of thumb for setting phase. For instance, if your room has a peak at the subwoofer crossover area, you may wish to set th e phase so the actual [...]

8 Controls and Connections Sub Out For systems utilizing multiple subwoofers. Connect Sub Out to the LFE Input or Right In / Left In on additional sub(s). Right Out / Left Out Should only be used if con- necting this sub between a pre-amp and amplifier. Connect to the Left In/Right In on the amplifier. The High Pass: Out control filters the output [...]

WARNING! Turn the Master Power switch Off and unplug it before making or breaking any signal connections! 2-Channel Mode This setup is recommended if your subwoofer will be used in a 2-channel only system. When a signal is connected to the subwoofers Left In/Right In, the Low Pass Filter control is active. Signal Connection (see figure 4): 1 Connec[...]

Multi-Channel Mode This setup is recommended if you will use your subwoofer in a dedicated home theater or multi-channel system. When a signal is connected to the subwoofer’s LFE In, the L ow Pass Filter control is NOT active. Your processor handles most of the bass management. Signal Connection (see figure 6—RCA shown): 1 Connect the LFE out o[...]

This setup is recommended if your subwoofer will be used in both 2-channel mode and as a LFE chan- nel in a multi-channel system. By following this setup, you will allow your processor to handle most of the bass management while running in multi-channel mode, and relinquish control of the low pass filter to the subwoofer when running in a 2-channel[...]

This setup is recommended if your subwoofer will be used in a 2-channel only system with full-range front loudspeakers. When a signal is connected to the subwoofer’s Left In/Right In subwoofer’s Low Pass Filter control is ac t ive. Signal Connection (see figure 10): 1 Connect the left and right outputs of your amplifier to the subwoofer’s hig[...]

This setup is recommended if your subwoofer will be used in a 2-channel only system. Signal Connection (see figure 11): 1 Connect the left out/right out from your preamplifier to the Left In/Right In of the subwoofer. Use quality RCA interconnects. 2 Connect the Left Out/Right Out of your subwoofer to the left in/right in of your amplifier. Use qua[...]

Using Sub Out offers an easy way to implement multiple subwoofers in your audio/video system. Note: Additional subwoofers must run as either dedicated 2-channel (stereo) or multi-channel (LFE) subwoofers, but not both. Signal Connection: 1 Connect the first subwoofer to your system using one of the five modes previously described. 2 Connect the Sub[...]

AC Power Connection Figure 15. Descent i’s Master Power switch, Fuse, and AC Power receptacle. Replacing the F use WARNING! The power cord should not be installed, removed, or left detached from the subwoofer while the other end is connected to an AC power source. The IEC cord should be firmly inserted into the AC power receptacle on the rear con[...]

Listening Position Generally, subwoofers have the most output when placed in the corner of a room. However, this can also exagger- ate the subwoofers output making blending difficult. We recommend starting by placing the subwoofer in a corner. It should be placed in such a way that there are 2 inches between the grill and the wall. This will avoid [...]

Y our Room This is an area that requires both a little background to understand and some time and experimentation to attain the best performance from your system. Your room is actually a component and an important part of your system. This component is a large variable and can dramatically add to or subtract from a great sonic experience. All sound[...]

Solid F ooting After living and experimenting with your subwoofer, you may want to use ETC (energy transfer coupler) spikes sup- plied with the subwoofer (see figure 18). With the use of these spikes, the subwoofer will become more firmly planted on the floor and, consequently, bass will tighten and imaging will become more coherent and detailed. I[...]

It had long been the practice of stereo buffs to connect their television to the stereo system. The advantage was the use of the larger speakers and more powerful amplifier of the stereo system. Even though the sound was greatly improved, it was still mono and limited by the broadcast signal. In the late 1970's and early ‘80's two new h[...]

Resulting from an equal and opposite reaction to the cone's movement, strong bass causes all traditional subwoofer enclosures to generate acoustic vibrations. You feel this by touching the cabinet. Although the "physics" of this phe- nomenon actually cause a subwoofer cabinet to resonate or even dance, most subwoofer designers apply [...]

How do I clean my subwoofer? Use a dust free cloth or a soft brush to clean your subwoofer. We recommend a specialty cloth (available through the Xtatic shop at www.martinlogan.com) that cleans better than anything else we have tried. Is it safe to set things on my subwoofer? While your subwoofer is designed with a durable, stain- resistant surface[...]

D IMENSIONAL D RAWINGS Plan View (Top) Front Elevation Back Elevation 22 Dimensional Drawings Side Elevation[...]

General Information 23 System Frequency Response 18–120 Hz ± 3 dB. Anechoic through the LFE effects input. Low Pass Filter Frequencies 30, 35, 45, 55, 65, 80Hz High Pass Filter Frequencies Bypass, 40Hz, 70Hz Phase 0° , 90° , 180° , 270° 25Hz & 50Hz Level ±10dB Power On, Auto, Standby Components 3 × 10” (25.4cm) high-excursion, alumin[...]

24 Glossary of Audio Terms AC. Abbreviation for alternating current. Active crossover. Uses active devices (transistors, IC’s, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Amplitude. The extreme range of a signal. Usually measured from the average to the extreme. Arc. The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge. Bass. The lowest f[...]

Glossary of Audio Terms 25 Inductance. The property of an electrical circuit by which a varying current in it produces a varying magnetic field that in troduces voltages in the same circuit or in a nearby circuit. It is measured in henrys. Inductor. A device designed primarily to introduce induc- ta nce into an electrical circuit. Sometimes called [...]

26 Notes N OTES[...]

Notes 27 N OTES[...]

2101 Delaware Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66046, USA tel 785.749.0133 fax 785.749.5320 www.martinlogan.com ©2006 MartinLogan. All rights reserved. Rev. #110206 ® WARNING! Do not use your Descent i loudspeakers outside of the country of original sale—voltage requirements vary by country. Improper voltage can cause damage that will be potentially ex[...]