Gibraltar Manual
Contents
1. Sel Sel Important Safeguards Read all of these instructions Save these instructions for future use Unplug from the wall socket before cleaning Do not use near water Do not place on a stand or table it may fall causing injury to a child or adult and damage to the unit The unit should only be operated from the power source indicated on the panel of the amplifier Only use the power cord supplied Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord Position the power cord such that it can not be walked on For added protection during a lightning storm or when not in use for long periods of time unplug it from the wall socket 10 Never spill any kind of liquid on the unit 11 Do not attempt to service the unit yourself as removing the amplifier may expose you to dangerous voltages Refer all servicing to your dealer 12 Unplug the unit from the wall socket and refer servicing to your dealer under the following conditions a When the power cord or plug is damaged b If liquid has been spilled onto the unit c If the unit does not operate properly by following the operating instructions d If the unit has been dropped and damaged e When the unit exhibits a drastic change in performance WO ON DM P GO MA RP Warning This item is heavy To avoid risk of injury take care when handling Design Safety This apparatus is supplied with a detachable mains cord For 230V operation a 5A fuse is fitted in the2. REL Reference Theater Connection Gibraltar s filter operating completely independently of the primary crossover provides for dedicated 1 inputs and crossover function The pure Dolby Labs 1 protocol is observed featuring a dedicated fourth order filter fixed at 120Hz Connection is via either XLR or RCA sockets for the 1 input Gain is adjustable completely independently of the high level connection When both the high and 1 input are employed it is possible to obtain the ultimate performance available from soundtracks as the main speakers are permitted to run full range producing the most natural sound from high quality speakers The REL high level connection extends and supports the main speakers turning them into truly full range devices while the dedicated 1 channel information encoded in the soundtrack is fed to its own REL channel and gain can be perfectly set to extract maximum dynamics from a film Truly the best of all worlds A Tower of Gibraltar Gibraltar is designed to allow multiple units to be used in conjunction either as vertically stacked towers stereo pairs or the ultimate set vertical tower stacks of stereo subs Stacked towers extend and strengthen the performance To render connectivity simple Gibraltar provides both inputs and outputs for all connections Thus a stack of Gibraltar can be connected using only one cable from the main amplifier In a 1 film sound configuration each channel will require a 1 cabl
3. 1 LFE Phono Output Used to connect or daisy chain another REL G Series in tandem Left amp Right Channel Low Level Phono Input Used to connect low level signals to the sub bass system from the output of a preamplifier integrated amplifier or receiver For home cinema use use 1 LFE input Power Pilot Light Power On Off indicator 1 LFE Balanced Input Balanced XLR connector version of 1 LFE Input For use only with fully balanced cables 1 LFE Balanced Output Balanced XLR connector version of 1 LFE Output For use only with fully balanced cables High Level Input Neutrik Speakon Used to connect to the main front amplifier speaker terminals High Level Output Neutrik Speakon Used to connect or daisy chain another REL G Series in tandem Power On Off Switch Use to turn unit on or off 10 IEC Mains Socket Fused mains AC input socket that accepts detachable power cord Remote Control 1 Crossover Used to adjust crossover frequency Variable between 20 90Hz 1 LFE Level Used to adjust output level when using 1 LFE input from a surround sound processor Hi Lo Level Volume control for HI LO input Use to adjust output when using either HI Level or LO Level input Do not use both simultaneously Phase Used to set phase 0 180 degrees Security Used to lock remote settings To extend battery life of the remote always leave the toggle switch in the locked position when not in use Connecti
4. of a concern and the listener optimizer is free to focus virtually exclusively on speed integration and air with Gibraltar taking care of all the slam and output necessary to obtain the desired REL effect 18 REL Theater Reference Home Cinema Applications For Dolby Digital AC 3 or other 5 1 theater systems once the standard set up for two channel outlined above is complete the LFE output from the processor or receiver should be connected to the 1 LFE INPUT and appropriate volume adjustments made using the 1 LFE level control For this configuration you must set the processor to the large or full range setting for the left and right speakers in order for the REL to receive the bass signal via the high level cable In this configuration the REL provides support for both the left and right speakers for two channel listening and support for the LFE when movies are playing Most processors will allow you to defeat the subwoofer output when listening in the two channel mode The effect of this set up is one of greatly increased dynamics in the mid bass range no bass bloat and a greater degree of space and timing from the special audio effects REL Theater Reference 3D Bass While slightly more complicated than the basic REL Theater Reference scheme use of three RELs produces a number of noteworthy benefits and proves the most cost effective method of achieving professional Dolby 5 1 standard bass performance REL Theater Ref
5. phono cable to the LOW LEVEL INPUT jacks on the REL and connect the other end to the outputs of your preamplifier When connecting to a home cinema system where there is a 1 LFE channel output connect a single phono cable between the sub output of the processor receiver and the 1 LFE input jack on the REL 13 Connecting Gibraltar Towers For higher levels of low frequency output you may want to use multiple sub bass systems To facilitate this the Gibraltar uses a rear panel high level connector to daisy chain units when stacked vertically or placed next to each other This connectivity allows for the same amplifier output signal to easily feed multiple sub bass systems Simply use the optional cable Speakon to Speakon to connect from the HIGH LEVEL OUTPUT of the first sub bass system to the HIGH LEVEL INPUT of the second unit When daisy chained each sub bass system retains its autonomy and each will need to have its output level crossover point phase etc adjusted individually This arrangement provides unrestricted flexibility for in room integration and fine tuning of all audio parameters For multi channel home cinema systems the same procedure is followed except a phono to phono cable is also used to connect the first sub bass system 1 LFE OUTPUT to the 1 LFE INPUT of the second unit As is typical for REL both high level and 1 LFE inputs can be used together and adjusted independently offer
6. terminal on the rear of the speaker The purpose of the third center REL is to ensure the center channel can keep up with the scale weight and dynamics the main system now has Location should be anywhere from the opposite corner of the front wall to somewhere in the middle of the front wall listen for best integration with the center channel speaker Some people prefer to use the REL as an actual pediment or stand for their center channel speaker the choice is yours Again this unit need not be an exact duplicate of the primary REL but should be chosen for its acoustic ability to mate seamlessly with your center channel First carefully set up and dial in the primary REL then move to the rear REL and balance this against the main REL Care must be taken to ensure phase is identical on both RELs as accidentally reversing phase of one relative to the other will result in a dramatic reduction in bass output Finally carefully dial in the performance of the center channel sub Hint to make this easier once the primary REL has been dialed in unplug it from the system using the Speakon connection and dial in the rear followed by the center channel REL Genuine sticklers for perfection find it easiest to tune in sections For example connect only the left and right mains and the primary REL Next tune only the rear surrounds and the rear REL Finally listen to and tune only the center channel with the center REL When you have accomplished
7. this task plug all three units in and re check your gain settings as the cumulative effect of hooking all three up will usually result in temporarily excessive output Work carefully and methodically to reduce the settings on primary then rear and finally center channel RELs and in a few minutes balance should be restored However the net result of all your tuning will be a sound that utterly immerses the theater owner in a rich natural wash of bass that suffuses the room effortlessly rather than what is often experienced as too loud a bass balance pushing uncomfortably at the listener Running In Care taken over running in will be rewarded by many years of pleasurable use Both the electronics and the drive unit will benefit from an initial period of carefully controlled use Possible damage may be sustained by running in the unit at too high a volume setting over an extended period On the other hand by taking a little care over this initial period about 24 hours of actual use a longer life with a higher potential eventual performance is assured 20 Care and Polishing The cabinets are best maintained by using a light automotive spray on wax and a microfiber cloth We use a spray on made by a company called Griot s Garage While this may not be available in all markets you can use a similar product Take care not to spray the aluminum badges Do not place objects such as drinks on top of your REL Never use a dry cloth on this fini
8. Power Saving Efficiency All REL Sub Bass Systems are designed for maximum power efficiency both when passing a signal through to its resultant output sound into the room and also when silent REL circuitry is designed for power starvation operation under no signal conditions This means that immediately when there is a gap in the signal the REL is instantly at maximum power saving efficiency yet remains at maximum readiness to respond immediately to a sudden transient signal such as an explosion in a movie even after a long quiet period and regardless of level This compares to some auto power on off systems which remain powered up for a set period of no signal condition up to 10 15 minutes and which need to power up on receipt of a sudden transient thus failing to catch the start of that transient There is also the possibility of the unit remaining inoperative during listening sessions where the overall volume is low It is not necessary to switch off between listening sessions it will not significantly shorten its life by leaving it switched on On the other hand it will not harm sound quality if it is always switched off The power consumption in the quiescent no signal state is negligible It is perfectly safe under all normal domestic circumstances as it is fully protected by internal fuses and an external mains fuse in the fuse holder of the mains input socket with a spare inside this holder 22 G 1 Type Dr
9. determined by rotating the REL from an imagined center point at the rear of the REL As the REL is moved from one side to the other listen for the greatest level of output and bass linearity The REL should be left in the position where it is playing the loudest and lowest Crossover and Level Settings To determine the crossover point take the volume of the REL using the HI LOW Level control all the way down and put the crossover to 25 Hz At this point bring the REL s volume back up slowly to the point where you have achieved a subtle balance i e the point at which you can hear the REL even with the main speakers playing Now bring the crossover point up until it is obviously too high at this point bring it down to the appropriate lower setting For all intents and purposes this is the correct crossover point Once this stage has been reached subtle changes to volume 17 and crossover can be made to provide the last bit of complete and seamless integration With that set up is complete Hint There may be a tendency to set the crossover point too high and the volume of the Sub Bass System too low when first learning how to integrate a REL with the system the fear being one of overwhelming the main speakers with bass But in doing so the resulting set up will be lacking in bass depth and dynamics The proper crossover point and volume setting will increase overall dynamics allow for extended bass frequencies and improve soundstage p
10. e as well but additional units in a tower may be daisy chained to minimize clutter Stacked Gibraltar subs have the ability to effortlessly energize even the largest of salons with huge wavefronts of air from the most delicate cello pizzicato to the most crushing of pipe organs played at triple forte Gibraltar possesses the ability to convey the musical event or film sound spectacularly and with ease In summation Gibraltar delivers performance close to our internal reference unit Studio III at less than half the cost when used singly When used in multiples especially when deployed in vertical towers of stereo sub bass systems Gibraltar s performance is capable of outperforming this standard and in musically relevant terms any other commercially available sub system we know of at the time of this writing REL G 1 Rear Panel Connection Legend O O O BRIDGEND WALES U K WWW REL NET Q aVLIVadic Se 5 O Lo a OUTPUT R D CH VBAL OUTPUT HIGH LEVEL HIGH LEVEL ON OFF 4 St D AC 230V 50Hz FUSE 5 00A 73 O n ie tisv sonz ruse 10000 1000W C ABAL INPUT N 8 9 1 LFE Phono Input Used to connect to the 1 LFE output of a surround sound processor
11. e that crosses over as low as 20 Hz Additionally we have a second filter placed at approximately 250 Hz that gently removes midrange and high frequencies from the mix but allows for maximum speed of the main filter within its operating range Crossover is tunable in 1 Hz increments Gain is adjustable for REL Reference High Level connection preferred or standard low level input from the main preamplifier In high level mode input signal is derived at the end of the amplification chain producing the most natural and full expression of the voice of the main system This allows the REL to blend effortlessly with the main speakers Conventional low level connection is also supported through rear panel RCA jacks Power Corrupts Or so the saying goes Actually a lack of power is frequently what corrupts or limits the pure pistonic performance of a sub REL employs an expensive but in our experience ultimate circuit topology for Gibraltar A linear Class AB power amplifier using 6 MOSFETs for the G 1 and four for the G 2 backed by state of the art power supply and a power transformer with vast over specification Expensive Yes unabashedly so However it is both the finest and most reliable design approach we know of for these virtually military specification amplifiers Execution is absolutely first cabin including subtle touches such as use of telecommunications grade printed circuit boards high current output devices and tight voltage regulation
12. e to the driver Gibraltar s cabinet form is inspired by the design studies of a longtime mentor Franco Serblin founder of Sonus faber The amount of refinement necessary in order to deal with the extreme pressure levels generated by the backwave of our Gibraltar driver was an unanticipated challenge Extremely small variations in the basic shape of the cabinet resulted in evident changes in bass performance Numerous versions of the cabinet were constructed and evaluated using test instruments and in particular the human ear Extensive bracing runs the full internal height of each side panel across the entirety of the crucial top panel and includes a single fore and aft integrating brace much like the spars on a ship that results in an exceptionally quiet cabinet Spacing of these spars is based on Fibonacci multiples ensuring that resonance cancellation is spread across a multitude of frequencies The resulting performance delivers exceptionally low bass replete with weight and authority along with tremendous transient speed The ultimate performance of Gibraltar is only realized through precise cabinet form and precise assembly techniques Divide Very Rapidly and Conquer The input filter topology crossover used in Gibraltar is new and to the best of our knowledge the fastest analog filter ever devised for a sub bass system at about 4 milliseconds rise time We utilize a second order Bessel function for preservation of impulse respons
13. eakon Interconnect 10 Meters Nominal Users Manual Remote Control Batteries AAA x 2 Spikes x 4 Allen Key 2 5mm Closed box front firing woofer 10 in 250mm long throw carbon fiber cone 6dB at 18Hz High Level Neutrik Speakon Low Level stereo phono LFE phono LFE XLR High Level Neutrik Speakon LFE phono LFE XLR 80 dB 450 Watts RMS Ultra High Current Power Supply Yes 0 or 180 degrees Class AB Yes Yes Yes 220 240 volts 110 120 volts for certain markets 5 Amp semi delay 230 volts operation 10 Amp semi delay 115 volts operation 20 x 16 4 x 24 in 508 8 x 417 3 x 610 4 mm 84lbs 38 1kg Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes In the interest of product development REL Acoustics Limited reserve the right to vary these specifications without notice 24 REL Acoustics Limited North Road Bridgend industrial Estate Bridgend CF31 3TP United Kingdom Telephone 44 0 1 656 768 777 Fax 44 0 1 656 766 093 Web www rel net
14. erence 3D Bass produces true full range performance from the three primary zones of reproduction in theater sound resulting in a far more natural and immer sive experience than any single sub can produce 1 The main left and right speakers should be connected to the primary REL using REL Theater Reference connection This unit forms the foundation of your theater system s performance and so should be perfectly matched to one s main speakers 2 Inthe rear corner ideally that which is opposite the primary sub connect a second REL to the rear speakers using REL Theater Reference connectivity The purpose of the rear channel REL is to ensure proper front to rear balance and weight too often virtually all the power and weight in a theater comes from the front and it produces unnatural weighting as well as hot spots By placing a rear REL diagonally opposite bass transects the room on a tangent and has the effect of greatly smoothing overall in room response of your RELs This unit need not be a duplicate of your primary REL instead it should match well with your surround speakers 3 Connect a third REL to the center channel using only the HIGH LEVEL connection This may be easily accomplished by connecting directly to the connection terminals on the rear of the center channel speaker To do so first twist the red and yellow leads together and connect to the positive terminal then 19 connect the remaining black lead to the negative black
15. eries These are not installed but are supplied To install or replace batteries in the remote control unit first remove the bottom aluminum cover by using the supplied 2 5mm allen key to loosen the two visible screws With the bottom cover removed you will see a battery holder which will accept two AAA batteries Follow the images on the holder for proper orientation of the batteries After installing the batteries test the unit by setting the SECURITY switch to UNLOCK and turning one of the knobs If the batteries are installed properly you will see one of the red LEDs on the remote control s front panel illuminate Replace the bottom cover and tighten the two screws using the supplied allen key Battery life can be extended if the SECURITY toggle switch is left in the LOCK position when the remote control is not in use Remote Control Address Selection The remote control unit provides an address selection function to allow multiple sub bass systems to be used in an audio system with a separate remote control for each Additionally if the remote control of the Gibraltar interacts with any other piece of equipment in your system or if other remotes interact with your Gibraltar the address can be changed to avoid unwanted interaction Connecting Up Always switch off your system before disconnecting any wires To increase the versatility of connecting up Gibraltar has two separate stereo inputs A Neutrik Speakon socket and two phono sockets Th
16. he red and yellow wires of each REL separately and connect each pair to the positive speaker terminal of the corresponding amplifier channel Supplied Neutrik Speakon HIGH LEVEL Interconnect Supplied Neutrik Speakon HIGH LEVEL Interconnect Yellow z Left Sub Yellow Red Right Sub Red fj Black Black ly MS COW SF SF L R Amplifier Main Speaker Outputs 12 Dedicated Center Channel Sub Connection e If connecting a single REL as a dedicated center channel sub connect the black wire of the REL to the negative center channel speaker terminal twist together the red and yellow wires and connect this pair to the positive center channel speaker terminal Supplied Neutrik Speakon HIGH LEVEL Interconnect Yellow Red Black C Amplifier Main Speaker Outputs Dedicated Rear Sub Connection e If connecting a REL as a dedicated rear channel sub connect the black wire of the REL to either the left rear or right rear negative speaker terminal connect the yellow wire to the left rear positive speaker terminal connect the red wire to the right rear positive speaker terminal Supplied Neutrik Speakon HIGH LEVEL Interconnect Amplifier Main Speaker Outputs Low level connection via phono connectors is always an option if high level connection is not possible When connecting to the low level inputs in a system in which high level connection is not possible such as if using internally amplified speakers connect one end of a stereo
17. ighest possible level of fidelity Overload Protection All REL Sub Bass Systems are designed as true sub bass speakers They are designed to reproduce those exceptionally deep notes that are felt rather than heard This it will attempt to do at whatever volume level you set If set too high no damage should result because the built in electronics will limit the cone movement This electronic control is called Set Safe It constantly and instantaneously monitors the output from the power amplifier and is totally transparent in operation until required This means it has absolutely no effect on the sound quality of your REL until an overload is detected 21 Ordinarily an overload would cause the power amplifier to go into clipping with resultant loss of control over the drive unit This can cause drive unit damage and always sounds nasty Set Safe detects the point of incipient clipping and gently soft clips the waveform of the signal to ensure actual clipping does not occur This is a necessarily simplified description of what actually happens but in effect Set Safe controls the amplifier and ensures there is minimal risk of amplifier or driver damage caused by over driving Although everything possible has been done to minimize risk of thermal overload failure there can be no defense against deliberate abuse the device Such damage is NOT covered by warranty Please remember your REL is there to supplement your main system not overwhelm it
18. ing the ability to blend both signals to your taste To protect Gibraltar s fine furniture grade cabinetry when stacking optional rails with felt coverings that replace the metal feet are available The kit contains all hardware necessary to attach the rails as well as a Speakon to Speakon cable for daisy chaining 14 Using the Remote Control to Address Multiple Sub Bass Systems The address selection is accessed on the remote control unit by removing the bottom aluminum cover in the same way as outlined in the section Battery Installation Removing the cover will reveal a small rotary switch labeled ADDRESS next to the battery holder Factory setting is position 0 With the remote control unit powered off locked mode this switch can be rotated using a small slotted screwdriver to select one of sixteen possible address positions O through F Once a selection has been made replace the back cover and turn the remote control unit on unlocked mode At this point the remote control will not operate the subwoofer In order to pair the remote control unit with the sub bass system point the remote control unit s emitter at the LED display and hold the PHASE switch for 5 seconds The LED under the CROSSOVER control will flash once and the display on the sub bass system will read followed by a confirmation noting the selected address The sub bass system is now paired with the specific remote control unit a
19. is is to facilitate use with various system configurations The high level unbalanced dual channel stereo input uses a Neutrik Speakon connector which is connected to the power ampilifier s left and right channel speaker terminals This has the advantage of ensuring that the REL receives exactly the same signal as the main speakers This means that the character of the bass from the main system is carried forward into the sub bass This is a very important point and together with REL s Active Bass Controller ABC ensures far superior system integration of the sub bass with the main system There are two RCA sockets for low level connection to the output of a stereo preamplifier or receiver Another single RCA socket connects to the 1 LFE output of a home cinema amplifier or processor 10 HIGH LEVEL and 1 LFE inputs can be used simultaneously The benefits are two fold when used with a home cinema system The low level input reproduces the 1 Sub LFE channel and the high level connection underpins the main front speakers The main front speakers should be set to the large option on the processor See the section REL Theater Refference Home Cinima Applications P 19 for more information Connecting to the Power Amplifier Using the Speakon High Level Input To engage the Neutrik Speakon plug insert fully into socket and rotate clockwise until locked To remove the Neutrik Speakon plug grip body of plug place thumb on chro
20. ive Unit Lower Frequency Response in Room Input Connectors Output Connectors Gain Control Range Power Output Phase Switch Amplifier Type Protection System Fully Electronic with SET SAFE DC Fault Output Short Mains Input Voltage Mains Fuse Dimensions W x H xD Including Feet Net Weight Supplied Accessories Mains Lead Neutrik Speakon Interconnect 10 Meters Nominal Users Manual Remote Control Batteries AAA x 2 Spikes x 4 Allen Key 2 5mm Closed box front firing woofer 12 in 300mm long throw carbon fiber cone 6dB at 15Hz High Level Neutrik Speakon Low Level stereo phono LFE phono LFE XLR High Level Neutrik Speakon LFE phono LFE XLR 80 dB 600 Watts RMS Ultra High Current Power Supply Yes 0 or 180 degrees Class AB Yes Yes Yes 220 240 volts 110 120 volts for certain markets 5 Amp semi delay 230 volts operation 10 Amp semi delay 115 volts operation 22 5 x 18 2 x 26 8 in 571 5 x 462 x 680 3 mm 108 Ibs 49 kg Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 23 G 2 Type Drive Unit Lower Frequency Response in Room Input Connectors Output Connectors Gain Control Range Power Output Phase Switch Amplifier Type Protection System Fully Electronic with SET SAFE DC Fault Output Short Mains Input Voltage Mains Fuse Dimensions W x H xD Including Feet Net Weight Supplied Accessories Mains Lead Neutrik Sp
21. me lever move lever backwards rotate plug anti clockwise quarter turn and withdraw Standard Connection e The standard high level hookup procedure is attach the red wire to the amplifier s right positive speaker output terminal attach the yellow wire to the amplifier s left positive speaker output terminal attach the black wire to whichever of the amplifier s ground output terminals is convenient plug the Speakon connector into the Sub Bass System s high level input Red HIGH LEVEL Input Release Lever Va Le L ei A T O L L L L R Amplifier Main Speaker Outputs 11 Differential or Class D Amplifier Connection For differential i e fully balanced amplifiers using one REL simply use the standard connecting scheme with the exception of connecting the black wire to chassis ground i e a metal bolt or screw preferably not painted or anodized on the chassis of the power amp or receiver not to a negative speaker terminal and then connecting into the HIGH LEVEL INPUT on the REL Please contact your dealer should there be any questions concerning this or any other hookup procedure Supplied Neutrik Speakon HIGH LEVEL Interconnect Black Red Chassis Screw O OO L R Amplifier Main Speaker Outputs Stereo Sub Connection e If connecting two RELs in a stereo configuration connect the black wire of each REL to the negative speaker terminal of the corresponding amplifier channel twist together t
22. nd will not function with a different remote In a system with multiple sub bass systems change each address one unit at a time with the sub bass systems not being changed switched off to avoid inadvertently changing the addresses of multiple units REL Set Up Made Simple REL products are not traditional subwoofers but true Sub Bass Systems A REL is designed to augment the performance of full range speaker systems in order to provide in certain cases linear response down to below 12 Hz Therefore for the moment set aside everything you ve been taught about subwoofers and how they are integrated into a stereo or home cinema system Set up and positioning of REL Sub Bass Systems differs from conventional subwoofers A REL will take advantage of physics and room acoustics to provide deep pressurization as no traditional subwoofer can It is important that you bring to the set up process a willingness to do things a little differently in order to obtain these superior results The end result of your labors will be an utterly seamless integration of true deep bass to a sound system regardless of the main speakers low bass capability Basic set up should take no more than ten to fifteen minutes to accomplish once connected 15 Before You Begin It is helpful to know that you will almost always connect the REL to the input on the rear panel labeled HIGH LEVEL INPUT This connection is made using the supplied 34 10 10 meter
23. plicate the extraordinary performance of the much costlier REL Studio III while reducing size and upgrading appearance Additionally the aim was to balance the virtues of Gibraltar toward speed and power so that multiple units can be coupled together to exceed the Studio s performance The Heart of the Matter Before beginning to refine the cabinet design or assign engineering resources to amplifier layout it was necessary to design and build the ideal driver for this application In its final iteration we selected a particularly tightly wound true carbon fiber material that is extremely strong and lightweight Reducing moving mass produces superlative impulse response a key design goal for Gibraltar This particular driver also needed a long stroke about 1 3 4 in order to generate the volume required to underpin today s high performance main speakers A Rare Occasion Wherein Bigger is Not Better Reducing size while maintaining extremely high levels of output low distortion and lightning fast transient speed influenced the decision to utilize a sealed cabinet Though Studio III successfully employs an exotic variation of a vented enclosure performance in a limited enclosure size is superior with a sealed design Sealing naturally places increasing resistance that acts to progressively limit driver excursion Sometimes referred to as an airspring it is a gentle mechanical aid to the necessary limiting action required to avoid damag
24. roperties Note volume must be adjusted in conjunction with crossover changes In general when selecting a lower crossover point more volume may need to be applied An Alternative Method to Setting up Gibraltar Whereas lesser REL designs make virtually exclusive use of corner positioning Gibraltar may be set up in two different ways 1 Traditional corner loading this method continues to work well especially in smaller and medium sized rooms 2 For large rooms and especially when used in large rooms with state of the art main speakers experimenting with coupling the Gibraltar s in close proximity to the mains yet slightly behind and to the outside of the mains can result in perfect integration with ones main speakers If method 2 is selected the listening cues involve using the same type of repetitive bass transients as are customarily used for all REL set up work Sneakers First experiment with corner placement if for any reason this position seems problematic proceed as follows Carefully draw Gibraltar out from the corner bringing it closer and closer to the main speaker listen carefully for anchor points those points of room boundary reinforcement that inform you that the REL is working efficiently with the room An optimal location within approximately 18 36 of the location of the main speaker should result in perfect seamless coupling Essentially Gibraltar is so powerful that room boundary reinforcement becomes less
25. s cable the bare leads of which connect to the speaker output terminals of the power amplifier The easy and foolproof connection at the REL is done with a Neutrik Speakon connector The purpose of connecting to the speaker output terminals is one of the unique secrets of REL s success By connecting to the high level input on the REL from the amplifier you build forward the sonic signature of your main system including the tonal balance and timing cues of the entire electronics chain In this way the REL is fed the exact signal that is fed to the main speakers When possible the REL should be placed in one of the corners behind the speakers Remember we are dealing with true LOW bass pressurization with RELs Low bass pressurization below 40Hz is best derived from corner placement where the most linear and efficient low bass can be produced High level connection using the enclosed cable with the Neutrik Speakon connector is always the first choice compared with low level connection This connection can be made without affecting the performance of the amplifier because the REL s amplifier input impedance is 150 000 ohms in effect not producing any additional demand whatsoever on the rest of your system When connecting to a home cinema system where a 1 LFE channel output is present connect a single phono cable between the sub output of the processor receiver and the 1 LFE input jack on the REL Setting Up 1 Positioning The optimal po
26. sh Gibraltar employs an advanced filter circuit which provides exceptional performance when coupled to the rest of the signal chain of the Sub Bass System A second order variable low pass filter approximating a Bessel function was chosen for its linear phase response which equates to flat group delay This means that unlike other filter functions the amount of delay the signal is subjected to during processing is constant through the entire pass band which improves the frequency response and allows for better integration of the sub with the main speakers An additional fixed second order Bessel filter follows the variable filter removing unwanted midrange signals that if left unfiltered cause the midrange of the main speakers to become muddy or congested All filtering is performed in the analog domain using high quality components with tight tolerances to ensure the highest possible performance and consistency The amplifier is fully DC coupled to avoid phase shifts and compromises in its low end performance It is inherently stable and will retain its characteristics over very long periods of time important in a unit designed for an exceptionally long working life These amplifiers are designed to withstand reasonable abuse and overloads If in doubt please contact your dealer We believe that the importance of the electronics cabinet and drivers being designed to work in harmony is paramount This belief allows Gibraltar to achieve the h
27. sition for a REL is in one of the corners behind the main speakers This position provides 9 dB of mechanical amplification and allows for the most linear true low bass wave launch owing to the ability to tune the REL to the longest distance in the room in order to produce the longest therefore lowest bass waves The Process To begin the set up process choose a piece of music that has a repetitive bass line that is very low in frequency We recommend track 4 from the soundtrack to Sneakers Columbia CK 53146 This has a repetitive bass drum throughout that gives you plenty of time to move the woofer around but more importantly the venue was quite large for this recording and therefore it has a very deep and large scale bass signature This type of track is perfect for the set up process and should be played at the highest reasonable level expected for system playback 16 Working with a partner one in the listening position and one at the REL manipulating the controls is the most effective and efficient way to set up the REL If working alone the initial steps in the set up can be very effectively carried out from the location of the REL Trying to ignore all other music in the track listen for the bass drum and its effect on the listening room Phase Orientation Once in the corner we need to adjust for phase This may be the single most critical step and because it really is quite simple it is often over thought Keep in mind the righ
28. socket for 115V operation a 10A fuse is fitted Should the fuse need to be replaced use a similar rated fuse approved to ASTA or BSI 362 Do not use without the fuse cover in place Replacement fuse covers are available from your distributor Welcome to the REL Family Thank you for buying a REL Gibraltar Sub Bass System Gibraltar is carefully hand built using the finest materials available and is designed for maximum performance This manual contains important safety information as well as helpful advice and should be carefully studied before connecting the unit Many or most loudspeakers emphasize the mid bass This is the range from 50Hz to 90Hz We at REL believe this is an incomplete approach and that loudspeakers need to be supplemented in the lower frequencies for true full range reproduction All of our designs are true Sub Bass Systems meaning they are designed to reproduce very low frequencies below 30Hz that are felt rather than heard This is because we believe that music is full range as are sound effects on movies and we intend for our products to reproduce all of these sounds not just a narrow band Gibraltar is equipped to allow you to take full advantage of AC3 Dolby Digital DTS MPEG 2 and any other digital sound format that includes a dedicated Low Frequency Effects LFE channel The dedicated LFE input meets the specification for digital 3 2 1 channels usually known as 5 1 The output is nominally flat from 35Hz 90H
29. t phase is whichever position is the loudest or fullest While playing music with true low bass adjust the crossover to a point where the REL and the speaker are sure to share frequencies about halfway up or slightly higher for smaller speakers At this point turn the HI LOW level control up so that both the REL and speaker are roughly equal in volume and then switch using the phase switch from O to 180 phase positions Again whichever position is loudest or fullest is the correct position That is when the position is working in harmony with your main speakers reinforcing bass and not cancelling it Placement The next step is to determine precisely how far out from the corner the sub should be placed to achieve the most efficient output as well as the lowest frequency extension With the REL fully into the corner and pointing straight out along the diagonal coming out of the corner continuing to play the music slowly pull the REL from the corner on the diagonal equidistant from both side and rear wall At a certain point sometimes a matter of only a few inches in rare cases a foot or more the REL will audibly go lower play louder and if it truly locks on to the room and is fully pressurizing it the air around the REL will seem to be energized Stop right there This is the correct position from the corner for the REL Orientation Once the position from the corner has been established the orientation of the woofer must be
30. vity and Functionality High Level Input Connections should be made to the same binding post on main amplifier as the main speakers Red to amplifier main right speaker red terminal yellow to amplifier main left speaker red terminal and black to amplifier main speaker black terminal right or left but not both Plug the Neutrik Speakon plug into the HIGH LEVEL Speakon socket 1 Input This requires a phono to phono cable and is a dedicated true 1 channel This circuit therefore eliminates the normal Natural RollOff Crossover and passes the 1 low level signal through with only the required 120Hz fourth order crossover Single ended or balanced inputs are available Low Level Input This stereo phono input allows for conventional connection to a preamplifier and should be used in the rare event that a high level connection proves incompatible Plug one end into the low level output of the amplifier processor and the other end into the stereo low level inputs on the G 1 Phase Switch Used to set phase Phase Switch on remote control is momentary Refer to display for O or 180 degree status Phase selection affects both high and low level inputs LED Display An LED display is located on the lower front of Gibraltar All functions that are user adjustable via the remote control can be seen here The display reverts to off a few seconds after adjustment Remote Control Battery Installation Gibraltar s remote control unit requires two AAA batt
31. z It has a dedicated input level control which enables users to set the LFE level independently of the processor This is important because not all processors offer control over this significant parameter The LFE channel frequently outputs at levels 10dB higher than the other channels Gibraltar also has high level speaker level inputs with independent level control In high level mode input signal is derived at the end of the amplification chain producing the most natural and full expression of the voice of the main system and allowing the REL to blend seamlessly with the main speakers The high level inputs feature REL D circuitry which allows connection to class D amplifiers without worry of grounding problems Uniquely both the high level and the LFE input can be used simultaneously This means you may set it up for an audiophile sound with your CDs or other stereo signals and instantly revert to using the Sub Bass System as the dedicated LFE component when watching movies This is a feature of real benefit if you wish to play music in stereo mode in the purist audiophile way and in full 5 1 digital mode True flexibility Introduction to the Design of the REL Gibraltar Sub Bass Systems Any design process is a journey Please follow along as we share lessons gleaned from our three year journey culminating in the birth of a new ultra high performance range for REL Acoustics Gibraltar The REL design team s goals for Gibraltar were to re
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