Sunfire MK IV User's Manual
Contents
1. pb per Sunfire from his mind amp soul True Subwoofer MK IV User s Manual RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN CAUTION CAUTION TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER OR BACK NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL Safety Instructions 1 Read Instructions All the safety and operation instructions should be read before the Sunfire Component is operated 2 Retain Instructions The safety and operating instructions should be kept for future reference 3 Heed Warnings All warnings on the Component and in these operating instructions should be followed 4 Follow Instructions All operating and other instructions should be followed 5 Water and Moisture The Component should not be used near water for example near a bathtub washbowl kitchen sink laundry tub in a wet basement or near a swimming pool etc 6 Ventilation The Component should be situated so that its location or position does not interfere with its proper ventila tion For example the Component should not be situated on a bed sofa rug or similar surface that may block any ventilation openings or placed in a built in installation such as a bookcase or cabinet that may impede the flow of air through ventilation openings 7 Heat The Component should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators or other devices which produc2. AN fuse Never use a fuse with a current rating more than 6 1 4 amps for the 120 VAC model or more than 4 amps for the 230 VAC model 10 Power Cord 120 VAC model Plug into any 120 Volt 60 Hz outlet with a circuit rating of 10 amps or more a typical home circuit is rated at 15 amps A 230 VAC model Plug into any 220 240 Volt 50 60 Hz outlet with a circuit rating of 6 amps or more Always unplug the power cord before inspecting or changing the Never plug the 120 VAC model directly into 220 240 Volts AC as this will cause catastrophic circuit failure Sunfire User s Manual YY A 7 Installation Observe the following general precautions and read the safety instructions on pages 2 and 3 before using your Sunfire Subwoofer e Never open the cabinet or remove the metal control panel as this might result in an electrical shock to you or damage to the unit e Protect it from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and other direct sources of heat such as heating vents and radiators e __ To prevent fire or shock do not expose the unit to rain or moisture If fluid or a foreign object should enter the unit immediately turn off the power and contact your Sunfire Dealer e Avoid excessive exposure to extreme cold or dust e Do not place heavy objects on top of the unit e Do not place the subwoofer with its control panel against the floor e If you wish to place your woofer so the drivers
3. If your subwoofer is a fair distance away from your other equipment you may use a 15 amp extension cord as long as it has a ground connection NOTE Never remove the ground pin from any power cords This is very dangerous Turn off all components in your system including the subwoofer amplifiers and the preamplifier before disconnecting or connecting cables First remove every connection from the subwoofer to the rest of your system Plug the subwoofer power cord back in and check for the hum If it is still there try plugging it into a different outlet in case it is picking up interference on the AC line If you have followed the above guidelines for the power connections and a hum is still present then there is one very common problem to consider a ground loop introduced by connect ing a cable TV line to a VCR or TV which is then connected to the preamp This can be addressed as follows Disconnect all cables which come from outside the room such as cable TV satellite TV or roof top antennas Make sure that they are disconnected where they first enter the room so they are making no connection to your preampli fier TV or any other component If the hum is caused by the cable TV line then you will need a ground loop isolator This is an inexpensive device fitted in line with the coaxial cable feed If the hum persists disconnect all the source components one at a time from the back of the prea
4. You can set the subwoofer s Bass Level control to OdB and then use the preamplifiers subwoofer level control for normal and routine adjustments Sunfire e User s Manual Connections to a preamplifier using Y cables If your preamplifier does not have a sub LFE output you can use Y cables to send its main outputs to both the subwoofer and your amplifier The subwoofer will play the low frequency range and your front speakers will play the full range Although bass is commonly distributed evenly between left and right channels L R bass movie soundtracks often contain differential L R bass The opening scene in Top Gun for example has loads of L R bass information If this is not preserved the bass in these scenes sounds anemic The Sunfire Subwoofer utilizes differential gain on the left and right inputs to retain both the L R and L R information Therefore systems which do not have a dedicated sub LFE output should use both the left and the right inputs as shown for the greatest bass impact TO FRONT SPEAKERS An alternative connec tion method without using Y cables is shown on the next page If your preamp receiver has a dedicated sub LFE output then only the Left Mono input is used as shown on the previous page 12 Sunfire User s Manual Using the line level high pass outputs If you are using a preamplifier which does not have a sub LFE output you
5. been damaged or B Objects have fallen or liquid has spilled into the Component or C The Component has been exposed to rain or D The Component does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance or E The Component has been dropped or its cabinet damaged 14 Servicing The user should not attempt to service the Component beyond those means described in this operating manual All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel Sunfire User s Manual 15 To prevent electric shock do not use this polarized plug with an extension cord receptacle or other outlet unless the blades can be fully inserted to prevent blade exposure Pour pr evenir les chocs lectriques ne pas utiliser cette fiche polarise avec un prolongateur un prise de courant ou une autre sortie de courant sauf si les lames peuvent tre ins r es a fond sans laisser aucune pariie a d couvert 16 Grounding or Polarization Precautions should be taken so that the grounding or polarization means of the Component is not defeated WARNING THIS SUBWOOFER IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS IN EXCESS OF 110 dB YOU This apparatus does not exceed the Class A Class B whichever is applicable limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications ATTENTION Le pr sent appar
6. can send its een left and right front output das into the subwoofer s Line Level inputs and then n connect the subwoofer s Sunfire High Pass outputs to the Te Subwoner KW inputs of your amplifier The subwoofer will play the low frequencies and your amplifier and front speakers will play the frequency range above the subwoofer s fixed high pass crossover point The signals coming out of the subwoofer s high 2 E pass outputs are not gate affected by any of the controls They are just a copy of the signals going in except that the low bass is filtered out This uses the subwoofer s passive crossover network rather than the active network and controls to TO FRONT SPEAKERS Sunfire User s Manual 3 Using the speaker level inputs If you are using a receiver which does not have a subwoofer output or line level outputs pre outs you can connect its speaker outputs to the subwoofer s Speaker Level nee inputs The front speakers Sunfire L De can still be connected to hesum a nonce your receiver ou The subwoofer s internal amplifier supplies the power to reproduce the low frequency range It receives a sample of the signal going to your front speakers An insignificant fraction of your receiver s power is transferred to the subwoofer There is no need to use the Speaker Level inputs if you are using a separate amplifier and preamplifier Such systems are best connected usin
7. does not exceed the breaker current rating This arrangement will reduce the possibility of an audible hum in your system caused by a ground loop Whenever possible keep the powercords away from the signal cables or speaker wires to prevent any hum or interference being heard in the speakers Choose reliable high quality interconnect cables also called patch cords or RCA cables They should be fully shielded and as short as possible for the job The longest cable in your system will likely be to the subwoofer so choose a good quality brand Some patch cords can be a very tight fit and there is usually a preferred method of getting them off Some have to be removed with a twisting action Be gentle or you may damage the jacks of the subwoofer or your other compo nents Speaker Level connections A The subwoofer s Speaker Level inputs can accept speaker wires with banana dual banana bare wire or spade terminals If you have banana type connectors on your speaker wire make sure that you tighten the binding posts before inserting Make sure that the negative speaker wires never touch the positive wires as this will short out and possibly damage your amplifier or receiver The subwoofer s two negative posts are joined internally common grounded Your amplifier must also be internally common grounded or you cannot use this connection Contact the manufacturer of your amplifier to make sure its outputs a
8. face the floor and ceiling thereby moving up and down use at least 1 1 2 inch high spikes or feet for support They may be attached either with screws or self stick backing This arrange ment will impart substantial house and floor shaking motion e Four extra heavy shock absorbing rubber mounting feet have been included If your woofer tends to wander about slightly while in use place these feet just inside the existing feet positions These shock absorbing mounts will let the woofer rock freely thereby absorbing low frequency rocking energy allowing it to adhere solidly to the floor To move the woofer along the floor rotate it onto one edge and it will slide along easier Heat rise e Allow adequate ventilation around the metal control panel of the subwoofer e Do not let anything come into contact with the panel and keep at least two inches away from any walls The metal control plate serves as the amplifier heat sink and also as a conduit to remove internal heat to the outside and into the atmosphere It can reach temperatures of 60 degrees C which will feel hot to the touch using nerves of flesh and blood as temperature sensors As uncomfortable as it may feel 60 degrees C cannot burn you and in fact is almost cool to copper silicon steel and aluminum the materials from which your woofer is constructed AC Power Considerations Ensure that the unit is plugged into an outlet capable of supplying the
9. its dedicated LFE low frequency effects channel Make sure that all of the bass management options are correctly set The preamplifier may have a way of turning the subwoofer output off entirely so check that it is always on e Check that the preamplifier calibration procedure is correctly adjusted Usually the preamp will send a test tone through all the speakers in your system allowing you to adjust trim the volume of each channel until they are all playing at the same level If the bass is weak only when playing 5 1 surround sources check that your preamplifier is correctly set to decode the 5 1 surround modes such as Dolby Digital or DTS e Some DVD discs have a menu which allows you to select which soundtrack to play Check that the correct 5 1 surround audio soundtrack is selected otherwise it may just play stereo into your preamp and you won t get the true LFE signal into the subwoofer Sunfire User s Manual ra 1 7 Hum Adding any component such as a subwoofer to an existing system will often give rise to a hum which wasn t there before Your first thought may be that the subwoofer has a problem but this is more than likely caused by a ground loop in your system Follow these steps to isolate the main cause of the ground loop hum there may even be more than one cause Try to have all of your equipment on the same electrical outlet or circuit see page 9 for more details
10. unit and remove all the packing material It is important to save all the packing materials and the box in case your subwoofer ever needs to be moved or shipped for repair Make sure that you keep your sales receipt It is the only way to establish the duration of your Limited Warranty and it may come in useful for insurance purposes Please take a moment to fill out and mail the Sunfire Warranty Registration card Also read the serial number located on the control panel and record it here Serial Number Purchased from Features e High power high efficiency amplifier e Very low distortion e Long throw premium quality drivers e Extremely compact size e Automatic signal sensing turn on and standby mode e Line level unbalanced inputs e Speaker level binding post inputs e Line level high pass outputs e Flat Video contour switch e Continuously variable phase control e Continuously variable crossover frequency adjustment e Continuously variable volume level control e Soft clipping circuit allows graceful overload and prevents speaker damage due to clipping e Gold plated inputs and outputs Care To maintain the speaker cabinet s finish first unplug the power cord and then use a soft slightly dampened cloth to clean the surfaces and finish off with a dry cloth To keep the large rubber surrounds soft and supple for 20 years or more treat them with MINK OIL available at most shoe repair stores R
11. T VIDEO CONTOUR 15 Specifications Amplifier Output 2 700 watts rms 3 3 Q impedance High Cut Filter 35 Hz 100 Hz Adjustable Frequency Response 18 Hz 100 Hz Power Line Voltage US model 120 VAC 50 60 Hz International model 230 VAC 50 60 Hz Dimensions 11 x 11 x 11 Weight 48 lbs Finish Black anodize and black lacquer Line power consumption 600 W average 18 Hz to 80 Hz at absolute maximum continuous output 8 watts at idle 2700 W peak time limited basis Output levels Greater than 110 dB peak SPL includes room gain from 18 Hz to 80 Hz A typical Sunfire subwoofer can be expected to best its specified minimum peak SPL by several decibels Total Harmonic Distortion Typically less than 1 10 of the funda mental between 18 to 80 Hz Measurement method is near field dual microphone technique Distortion decreases with decreasing level Input sensitivity for full output 250mVrms from left input with volume control at OdB 60mVrms with volume control fully clockwise 0 75Vrms from right input with volume control at OdB 200mVrms with volume control fully clockwise Input impedance 12 kQ for Line Level inputs 15 kQ for Hi Level inputs Driver Extra large magnet and long throw mechanical design yield very high back emf The result is extraordinarily high operating efficiency that is more acoustic output for each watt of input Internal system g
12. ain 50dB from left input jack to speaker with the Bass Level control at OdB 62dB with the control fully clockwise 40dB from right input jack to speaker with the Bass Level control at OdB 52dB with the control fully clockwise The Sunfire Subwoofer utilizes differential gain on the left and right inputs to retain both L R and L R information 2001 Sunfire Corporation All rights reserved Sunfire Corporation reserves the right to improve its products at any time Therefore specifications are subject to change without notice Manual part number 913 016 00 Rev D 16 Sunfire User s Manual Troubleshooting The Sunfire Subwoofer is expertly designed and built to provide years of trouble free performance Most problems that occur can usually be solved by checking your setup or making sure that the components connected to the amplifier are on and fully operational The following information will help you deal with common problems you may experience during normal use If a problem still persists please contact your Sunfire Dealer for assistance Not enough bass e Check that the input connections are going to the input terminals and not the output terminals In other words the connections from your preamplifier must go to the subwoofer s line level inputs instead of the line level high pass outputs If they are connected to the outputs by mistake the bass will be weak but the subwoofer will still
13. ally be Hence the actual average input power is substantially less than 2 700 watts and is approximately 270 watts for most musical material on the loudest passages A compressor circuit kicks in automati cally if the input signal level reaches a level that would overload the driver This maintains a ceiling on the output without clipping If the input signal is driven even further a soft clipping circuit is enabled This allows the woofer to put more sound into the room to satiate the power hungry user but without distortion or damage to the woofer Thus for explosive scenes in movies this produces extremely high sound pressure levels SPL in your room without the woofer banging against its mechanical stops If you would like more detailed information regarding the subwoofer design please call us and we will send you a copy of our subwoofer technical white paper or you can view it on our website www sunfire com Sunfire User s Manual 5 Control Panel Features 1 Sunfire Corporation Snohomih Washington Sunfire True Subwoofer MK IV oae Nosa P 2 ia e 100 He oa Snossoven rrea a piste i 4 5 re HEPASS FLAT opus 10 9 Power Auto on Indicator This light is bright when the subwoofer is on and dim when the subwoofer is in its standby mode This is controlled by the AUTO ON OFF ci
14. built with care using advanced technology and premium component parts Your unit has been crafted to perform properly for many years Sunfire Corporation offers the following Warranty to you the owner of a new Sunfire product The Sunfire Corporation Warranty for the Subwoofer MK IV is in effect for TWO years from the date of original retail purchase The Sunfire Corporation Warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship The following however are excluded a Damage caused during shipment b Damage caused by accident misuse abuse of operation contrary to the instructions specified in the Sunfire Corporation user s manual c Units where the serial number has been defaced modified or removed d Damage resulting from modifica tion or attempted repair by any person not authorized in writing by Sunfire Corporation The Sunfire Corporation Warranty extends to the original owner or subsequent owner s during the two year warranty period so long as the original dated purchase receipt is presented whenever warranty service is required All implied warranties including warranties or merchantability and fitness for particular purposes are limited in duration to the two year length of this Warranty unless otherwise provided by state law Sunfire Corporation s liability is limited to the repair or replacement at our option of any defective product and shall not in any event include property or any other in
15. cidental or consequential damages which may result from the failure of this product Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and or do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you This Warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state We suggest that you attach your purchase receipt to this Warranty and keep these in a safe place Thank you for your choice of a Sunfire Corporation product Service Assistance We suggest that you read the Limited Warranty completely to fully understand your Warranty Service coverage If your Sunfire Corporation product ever requires service write to us or call Sunfire Corporation Technical Services Department P O Box 1589 Snohomish WA 98290 Tel 425 335 4748 Fax 425 335 4746 You will be directed to an authorized Sunfire Corporation Service Station or receive instructions to ship the unit to the factory Please save the original shipping carton and packing materials in case shipping is required Please do not ship Parcel Post NOTE Before sending in your unit for repair you must call Sunfire for return authorization Include a complete description of the problem indicating how you have it connected the associated equipment in your system and a copy of your purchase receipt Initial
16. correct voltage specified for your model Unplug your subwoofer s power cord from the electrical outlet if it will be left unused for a long period of time NOTE Never remove the ground pin from any power cords This is very dangerous Route the power supply cord so it is not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against it especially at plugs convenience receptacles and the point where it exits from the unit Magnetic Fields We recommend that you place your woofer further than two feet away from your TV VCR tape deck or computer so the speakers magnet won t distort the colors of your TV picture or erase your video tapes audio tapes or computer discs Sunfire User s Manual Connections Please consider the following when setting up your new system Before making or changing any connections ALWAYS make sure that the subwoofer is unplugged from the wall and your other components are turned OFF Also turn down the volume control of the subwoofer and your preamplifier or receiver Tape Deck Preamplifier Power strip Amplifier eo AC outlets on the same circuit breaker Subwoofer J eo This diagram shows all the low power components sharing a power strip which is connected to the same outlet used by the amplifier The subwoofer is connected to an outlet on the same circuit breaker provided that the total system current draw
17. e heat 8 Power Sources The Component should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in these operation instructions or as marked on the Component The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the product s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user of the presence of important operating and main tenance servicing instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance 9 Power Cord Protection Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked upon or pinched by items placed upon or against them paying particular attention to cords at plugs convenience receptacles and the point where they exit the Component 10 Cleaning The Component should be cleaned only as recommended in this manual 11 Non use Periods The power cord of the Component should be unplugged from the outlet when unused for a long period of time 12 Object and Liquid Entry Care should be taken so that objects do not fall into and liquids are not spilled into the inside of the Component 13 Damage Requiring Service The Component should be serviced only by qualified service personnel when A The power supply cord or the plug has
18. eil num rique n met pas de bruits radio lectriques d passant las limites applicables aux appareils num riques de class A de class B selon le cas prescrites dans le r glement sur le brouillage radio lectrique dict par les ministere des communications du Canada A MUST TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION TO PROTECT YOUR HEARING FROM PERMANENT DAMAGE Contents Safety Instructions Introduction Features Unpacking Care Overview Control panel features Installation Connections Location System configurations Adjusting the controls Specifications Troubleshooting guide Limited warranty Service assistance To find out more about this and other Sunfire products please visit our website www sunfire com Sunfire User s Manual YS 3 Introduction Dear Friend Thank you for purchasing my Sunfire True Subwoofer MK IV I hope you enjoy it and the music it makes as much as have enjoyed creating it for you The big breakthrough features of the subwoofer are its uncanny tracking downconverter and its long throw high back electromotive force driver Taken together they provide this subwoofer with as much bass as you could get from several 15 inch drivers mounted in a cabinet the size of a small refrigerator son Unpacking Your Sunfire Subwoofer should reach you in perfect condition If you do notice any shipping damage please contact your Sunfire Dealer immediately Gently lift out the
19. etween the two drivers in a way that depends on the momentary amplitude and the momentary musical spectrum It is normal for one or the other to move more or less than its mate during operation On the driver to the left of the control panel there is a slight bump under which is a pressure cap The bump is normal The driver on the right is absolutely flat and very rugged The one with the slight bump is not quite as rugged and modest care should be taken with it though it is still very strong During installation you should position the driver with the bump towards a protected side The Amplifier The large movement range of the drivers creates greater air pressure inside the box than a conventional woofer Therefore the drive amplifier must be much more powerful than an ordinary woofer amplifier In fact it has to be so powerful that it is almost hard to believe The power amplifier within your Sunfire Subwoofer is capable of delivering over 2 700 watts into a 3 3 ohm resistor the voice coil resistance of the subwoofer s driver When the same full output is applied to the driver however the enormous back electromotive force generated as a consequence of its large motion and giant magnet causes the current flow to be much less than if it were a 3 3 ohm resistor It is this singular property of the driver that allows the woofer to be approximately ten times more efficient than a woofer this size would norm
20. function e If your preamplifier has a single subwoofer LFE output jack make sure it connects to the subwoofer s Left Mono input If the bass is still not enough after checking all the remaining points use a Y cable to connect the preamplifiers single subwoofer LFE output to the subwoofer s right and left inputs e Make certain the woofer is in a corner location firing at 45 degrees into the walls formed by the corner This is not absolutely essential but will maximize the bass output and give the smoothest possible response If you place the unit so one of the drivers is firing into one of the walls leave three inches of clearance between the driver and the wall e Home theater preamplifiers usually have a way of adjusting the level of the subwoofer LFE output either using a remote control or with a small volume knob on the back panel Make sure that this is adjusted correctly e If the preamplifiers subwoofer LFE output has an adjustable crossover frequency make sure that the subwoofer s own crossover point is set higher or part of the bass range will be missing Not enough bass ina 5 1 system e 5 1 home theater preamplifiers usually have a bass management system which allows the bass to be redirected among your speakers For example the bass normally present in the front speakers can be redirected to play in the subwoofer or the subwoofer can play the bass from all the speakers in addition to
21. g the Line Level inputs as shown in the previous diagrams TO FRONT SPEAKERS If you are using the Line Level inputs and there is a excessive amount of noise or hum present using the Speaker Level inputs may yield a lower background noise level Your receiver MUST have common grounded outputs or it will be damaged if connected to the subwoofer s Speaker Level inputs 14 Sunfire User s Manual Adjusting the controls There are two main methods for adjusting the level crossover frequency and phase of the Sunfire Subwoofer to match a system e Bob Carver s preferred method By listening and making the adjustments to suit your taste e Laboratory method By measuring the output and adjusting for a flat frequency response Excellent results can be obtained if you make the adjustments based on simply listening This is Sunfire s preferred method as it allows the system to be voiced based on what sounds the best whereas laboratory flat frequency response can often be clinical and less than exciting The following procedure is for those who prefer a more methodical and scientific approach This excerpt is from The Audio Critic issue 24 page 31 written by contributing editor David Rich and is reprinted here with their kind permission You will need a test CD with low frequency warble tones and a sound pressure level meter The Radio Shack SPL meter will do fine as will the Stere
22. he subwoofer s right input jack If you want to run your main satellite speakers full range use a Y adapter at the preamplifier outputs see page 12 In this way you can send the preamplifiers output signal to your main amplifier and to the subwoofer at the same time 8 High Pass Outputs Line level high pass output signals are available at these jacks These are active whenever a signal is present at the inputs of the subwoofer The high pass crossover is a passive network with a fixed crossover frequency of 70 Hz and a 6 dB per octave slope We recommend using this high pass function with main satellite speakers that are small and not designed to reproduce low frequencies If your main speakers are capable of operating full range then you will not need to use the high pass function To use the High Pass outputs connect the preamp outs of your preamp receiver to the subwoofer s Line Level inputs using good quality RCA type patch cords Then connect a second patch cord from the subwoofer s High Pass outputs to the inputs of your main amplifier see page 13 This will allow your main speakers to operate at frequencies above 70 Hz and the subwoofer to operate at frequencies below 70 Hz 9 Line Fuse The 120 VAC model is supplied with a conservative 6 1 4 amp slow blow type fuse to protect the electronics It is acceptable to use a 6 amp slow blow fuse The 230 VAC model has a 4 amp slow blow fuse
23. inal trim readjust the crossover and volume controls after the phase control has been set Flat Video Contour Switch When this switch is set to FLAT the frequency response extends down to 18 Hz This is the recommended setting for most audio and video applications When set to Video Contour a low frequency roll off is introduced commencing below approximately 30 Hz This setting may be used if your Sunfire User s Manual system or neighbors are disturbed by ultra low bass 6 High Level Inputs Under normal conditions the preferred connection is through the Line Level inputs If this is difficult or not possible in your system then you can use the High Level inputs Also if you experience excessive noise or hum with the Line Level inputs often a simple change to the High Level inputs will result in a lower background noise level Connect to the speaker level output of your amplifier or receiver using speaker wire see page 14 They can accept bare wire banana dual banana or spade connections A 7 Line Level Inputs Connect with RCA type patch cords to the line level outputs of your receiver or preamp Here are two examples Your amplifier or receiver MUST have common grounded outputs or it will be damaged if connected to these High Level inputs If your preamplifier or receiver has a single sub LFE output connect it to the subwoofer s left input jack see page 11 There is no need to use t
24. mplifier until you identify the problem If you are using the subwoofer s Line Level inputs and there is a excessive amount of noise or hum present using the Speaker Level inputs may yield a lower background noise level Ground loop isolators are available for audio lines and video Once you have identified which components are causing a problem you can fit the isolators between the component and the preamplifier The subwoofer won t turn off The subwoofer should turn itself off after approximately fifteen minutes with no audio signal present If not check there is no background hum The subwoofer may sense hum as a small signal and stay on See the above hints to eliminate the hum The subwoofer won t turn on The subwoofer s volume control may be turned down or no signal is received from your preamplifier Check the input connections Check the mode switch on surround systems to be certain that a bass signal is being sent to the subwoofer Audible snap from outlet When the subwoofer is initially plugged into the wall there is an in rush current surge as the power supply capacitors charge up This may give rise to an audible snap from the outlet as the plug is inserted This can be avoided by plugging the subwoofer into a switched outlet or switched power strip rated at 15 Amps or more 18 Sunfire User s Manual Limited Warranty Sunfire Corporation is proud of its products which have been
25. nd phase control to achieve the best bass response Always drive each woofer through the Left Mon input even though you are driving one woofer with a right channel drive and the other with a left channel drive If your preamplifier has a single sub LFE output use a Y cable to split it into two outputs 10 Sunfire User s Manual System Configurations The following pages show some typical connections that you might make in your installation They show how the inputs and outputs of the Sunfire Subwoofer are connected to your preamplifier or receiver Connections to a preamplifiers subwoofer output If your preamplifier has a subwoofer output often labeled LFE for Low Frequency Effects it can be connected to the subwoofer s Left Mono oe input as shown This is the Sunfire simplest and recom ee mended connection A receiver with a sub LFE output can be connected in the same way The subwoofer will play the low frequency range and the other speakers will play the frequency range delivered to them by your amplifier If you have a home theater preamplifier it may have an independent subwoofer volume control Make sure this is correctly adjusted and that the Sunfire Subwoofer s crossover frequency is set to 100 Hz This is by no means an iron clad rule rather it is a good starting point See the crossover frequency control details on page 6 and adjust ments on page 15 ne TO FRONT SPEAKERS
26. ophile test CD Step 1 Disconnect the subwoofer and run the main speaker with a tone in its passband 80 100Hz Measure the level Step 2 Disconnect the main speaker and reconnect the subwoofer Set the subwoofer to its highest crossover frequency Set the level control of the subwoofer to give the same sound pressure level with the same tone you used in Step 1 Sunfire User s Manual Step 3 With both the subwoofer and the main speaker connected measure the level of the tones at the available frequencies Because the crossover is set too high you will have a peaked response Adjust the crossover control to get the smoothest response Step 4 Use the phase control to make the response even smoother It has its biggest effect at the crossover fre quency You can iterate between the crossover and the phase controls Keep your hands off the level control It was set correctly in step 2 Step 5 Listen to the subwoofer Resist all temptations to turn up the level control Play something with really deep bass to confirm that your subwoofer is working Control settings Use this drawing to record some of your favorite settings VOLUME ow N 15 dB E9 BASS LEVEL S MIN N 100 Hz NEHE G CROSSOVER FREQ S 35 Hz Naso NORMAL _ 90 7 S FLAT VIDEO CONTOUR PHASE VOLUME Nasa og r CG BASS LEVEL S MIN D 100 Hz rat 2 crossover rrea S 35 Hz N 180 ara Co PHASE Se FLA
27. rcuit The presence of an audio signal turns the unit on After approximately fifteen minutes of signal absence the subwoofer will go to its standby mode The light will only go off when the unit is unplugged from the wall Volume Control This control lets you match the output level of the subwoofer to the level of your satellite main speakers The subwoofer output will increase as the volume control is rotated clockwise When you have just installed your system turn this down first before turning on your subwoofer This will prevent any loud surprises Crossover Frequency This controls the high frequency cutoff point With the control rotated fully clockwise the subwoofer will repro duce frequencies up to 100 Hz With the control fully counter clockwise the subwoofer reproduces up to 35 Hz 4 5 8 7 6 Rotate the control until the bass sounds natural If the mid bass sounds natural but you want more low bass turn the crossover frequency down a little then turn the volume control up by about the same amount This increases the low bass output while leaving the mid bass output the same Phase Control This control changes the relative phase of the subwoofer with respect to your other speakers Use this control to help blend the subwoofer with the rest of your system This is accomplished by adjusting the control in small incre ments as you listen for the most bass at your listening position As a f
28. re common grounded Sunfire User s Manual H H HW 9 Location Your Sunfire Subwoofer is designed to be placed in a corner and this will produce optimum performance Experiment with at least two corners and then decide which is the best 1 is very good positioning 2 is also excellent but may shake the back wall too much and cause things on or along the wall to rattle too much If this occurs use the 3 position 3 Move the woofer approximately three feet away from the right wall and place it along the back wall as shown This will substantially reduce the rattling of the back wall and will still pressurize the room with lots of bass Although low frequencies are non directional factors such as room reflections standing waves resonance and absorption strongly affect your subwoofer s performance Moving the subwoofer from one corner to another can have a major effect on the bass response AN TV screen computer VCR or magnetic tapes and discs This will reduce the chance of the magnetic fields upsetting the TV screen or erasing your magnetic media Remember to keep it at least two or three feet away from any Also position the control panel so that it is not touching anything and can receive good ventilation Using Two Subwoofers If you wish to use two woofers the sound output will double an increase of 6 dB Locate the woofers with one in each corner and experiment with the location a
29. shipping costs are not paid by Sunfire Corporation return ground shipping costs will be prepaid if repairs were covered by the scope of this Warranty Sunfire User s Manual gt 1 9 Be Gomi Sunfire from his mind amp soul True Subwoofer MK IV Sunfire Corporation P O Box 1589 Snohomish WA 98291 OM Manual part number 913 016 00 Rev D
30. ub a generous amount into the surrounds with a soft cloth about once a year more often if you live in a dry climate If your Sunfire Subwoofer needs servicing please read the Troubleshoot ing section on page 17 If a problem still persists contact your nearest authorized Sunfire Dealer Sunfire User s Manual Overview Your Sunfire Subwoofer is designed to give you the best possible low frequency sound quality for your home theater experience It incorporates a tremen dously powerful built in amplifier and a pair of drivers to produce tight floor rumbling bass down to 18 Hz that you can feel as well as hear The subwoofer has an adjustable high cut filter and a choice of speaker level or line level inputs for easy incorporation into existing systems or as part of a subwoofer satellite speaker combination The Woofer To have lots of bass requires moving lots of air Your Sunfire Subwoofer incorporates two drivers that can move back and forth approximately five times more than a normal subwoofer This gives it a lot of air moving capacity which allows for majestic bass perfor mance Two drivers share the acoustic output Sometimes one driver appears to be moving more than the other They both move the same amount only when operating at the limit of their excursion and power output or when bass requirements and music requirements demand maximum output from the system Otherwise the power is shared b
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