JL Audio IWS-SYS-1 User's Manual
Contents
1. Lights off dim on IMPORTANT LP Filter off 12dB 24dB JL AUDIO Fathom IWS im dB phase deg JL AUDIO Fathom IWS E L F Trim The Extreme Low Frequency e l f trim knob allows the user to apply a certain amount of signal equalization at 23 Hertz extremely low bass At full counterclockwise rotation the signal at 23 Hz is cut by 12 dB At 0 the equalizer is set flat for zero contribution to the signal At full clockwise rotation the signal at 28 Hz is boosted by 3 dB The E L F Trim feature is useful for tailoring the Fathom IWS s very low frequency output for your particular room Adding some boost can make certain material more exciting Using the cut function can help to compensate for room or boundary gain in the low frequencies Room boundaries and the room s finite limited size naturally cause very low frequencies to be boosted relative to other parts of the signal As such using the E L F Trim feature to cut the lowest frequencies can help to tame bloat or unnatural sounding low bass in small to medium sized rooms and can also reduce unwanted vibrations in the room or throughout the house The E L F function affects frequencies 2 to 3 times higher than the 23 Hz specification This frequency tapering effect may reduce the overall output of the subwoofer and require the user to increase the Main Level control after adjusting the E L F Trim Polarity The Polarit2. Unbalanced Input Mode Subwoofer IEC Style AC Inputs Switch Output s Connector page 17 page 20 page 19 Isolated Grounded Switch page 18 i i A 2 L AUDIO O f JL AUDIO O SUBWOOFER ve notuse ny other subwoofer system ish Wea ne teow O O Balanced Output to Inputs Slave Connector page 16 page 19 JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Page 11 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS IN DETAIL Power Switch The Power switch determines the operational readiness of the Fathom IWS system and should be the only switch used to turn the Fathom IWS amp on and off Do not use a power strip switch switched outlet or any other external switch as these may result in undesirable and potentially damaging transient pops Do not unplug the Fathom IWS s AC power cord while the unit is turned on The power switch has three positions On The Fathom IWS amp is fully powered at all times Front panel lights are on unless they have been turned off via the Lights switch Off The Fathom IWS s power amplifier is powered down In this state a negligible current draw will exist for operating the main power relays All front panel lights are off Auto The Fathom IWS amp will power up when an audio signal is present at any of its inputs and will power down the internal amplifier if no signal has been detected at its inputs for thirty 30 minutes When dormant the Fa
3. c amn BACK PANEL FRONT PANEL JL AUDO FRONT E R C SIDE GRILLE FRONT WALL OPENING
4. BeOC ELECTRIQUE RISK OF ELEaae JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Page 19 PROCESSOR BALANCED OUTPUTS RECEIVER PROCESSOR UNBALANCED OUTPUTS PRE OUT FRONT T REAR CENTE 00 O00 FRONT R REAR i l A l AT r7 at aa Wy OUTPUTS SUB LEFT FRONT RIGHT FRO FATHOM REAR CONTROLS MASTER WARNING TURN OFF THE Fathom IWS AND ALL OTHER EQUIPMENT IN THE SYSTEM BEFORE MAKING OR CHANGING ANY CONNECTIONS Page 20 SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 1 One Fathom IWS to Home Theater Receiver or Home Theater Preamp Processor Most home theater receivers and preamp processors provide a single mono subwoofer output When connecting a mono subwoofer output to your Fathom IWS you will only use the Fathom IWS s Left or Mono input Two connection types are available for connecting the Fathom IWS to your home theater system balanced XLR or 1 4 inch TRS connector and unbalanced RCA type connector Balanced connections provide superior noise rejection and ensure proper grounding between components If your receiver or processor has balanced outputs we highly recommend that you use them In the connection diagram at left balanced connections are shown as solid lines unbalanced connections are shown dotted You will only use one of these input c
5. 0 00 0c eee e cece eee eee ee 24 25 2 APPlY AR O asn yansa sie tase tie omens sot A eBay hates Ae oases 26 27 3 Eevel Settings ise eeano e ns are ia ae o beara gen Ea E aa 27 4 Polarity Phase Adjustment 0 cece cece cee eee ee 28 5 Adjust BLE TAMA er AEA SERESA weed bear ie ES ANE eee a8 28 PREPARATION FOR SETUP PROCESS Please confirm the following system settings before beginning the setup process This will ensure a neutral starting point and an effective setup of your subwoofer system On your Home Theater Receiver or Preamp Processor Before beginning setup of your Fathom IWS subwoofer system we recommend that you set your receiver or preamp processor as follows 1 Speaker Size In the speaker setup menu of your receiver or preamp processor set up all of your high frequency speakers as small with a crossover point of 80 Hz This will send ALL bass to the Fathom IWS s 2 Speaker Distance In the speaker setup menu properly set all speaker distances to the primary listening seat including the subwoofer s distance Use a tape measure to determine these distances time coherence is important If multiple Fathom IWSs are being used average their distances to the primary listening seat and use that number to set the subwoofer distance 3 Subwoofer Level Set the subwoofer level in the receiver or preamp processor 0 or its middle position 4 Tone Controls Equalizers Set all tone controls to 0
6. IN STEPS 2 4 FOR FUTURE REFERENCE IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IF YOU MOVE YOUR PRIMARY LISTENING SEAT IN THE FUTURE YOU WILL NEED TO RUN A R O AGAIN ANY PARTICULAR CALIBRATION IS UNIQUE TO THAT PARTICULAR SUBWOOFER POSITION IMPORTANT AND LISTENING SEAT POSITION COMBINATION SIMPLY FOLLOW THE STEPS ABOVE TO CREATE A NEW CALIBRATION CURVE Page 28 JL AUDIO Fathom IWS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Is the Fathom IWS magnetically shielded Fathom IWS subwoofers are not magnetically shielded To avoid magnetic distortion with certain television types place the Fathom IWS at least 3 4 feet 1 1 5m from your screen Will my electric bill be high if I leave the Fathom IWS in Auto mode When in Auto mode the Fathom IWS amplifier is only powered up when a significant signal is detected on the inputs When powered down only housekeeping circuits remain on which draw negligible amounts of power from the wall less than 10 watts Should I unplug my subwoofer during a thunderstorm or extended absence YES You should unplug your Fathom IWS during or before thunderstorms This will prevent any possible damage from voltage spikes due to lightning In these conditions it s a good idea to unplug all of your audio video components If you are going to be away from home for several days it is also a good idea to unplug your home theater components to prevent damage from unexpected storms or power line conditions JL
7. RMS short term 2000 watts RMS short term Grille Dimensions H Height x W Width x D Depth 17 25 inches x 20 inches 438 mm x 508 mm Wall Opening Dimensions W Width x H Height Amplifier Dimensions H Height x W Width x D Depth Height Dimensions DO NOT include feet 14 5 inches x 17 25 inches 368 mm x 438 mm 3 5 in x 17 4 in x 17 9 in 89 mm x 442 mm x 455 mm Amplifier Net Weight 35 Ibs 15 9 kg 43 Ibs 19 5 kg Cabinet Finish Black Texture Coated Black Texture Coated Grille Finish White paintable CUSTOM ELECTRONIC DESIGN amp INSTALLATION MERN MEMBER ASSOCIATION Member JL Audio Fathom IWS and the JL Audio logo are registered trademarks of JL Audio Inc Ahead of the Curve is a trademark of JL Audio Inc Due to continuous product development all specifications are subject to change without notice Printed in USA 2010 JL Audio Inc U S PATENTS 5 734 734 5 949 898 6 118 884 6 229 902 6 243 479 6 294 959 6 501 844 6 496 590 6 441 685 5 687 247 6 219 431 10369 North Commerce Parkway Miramar Florida 33025 USA SKU 011310 04 2010 6 625 292 D472 891 D480 709 Other U S amp Foreign patents pending For more detailed information please visit us online at www jlaudio com M M I a2 2 A M f o Ss co
8. are using multiple Fathom IWSs in a master slave configuration you will only need to address the unit designated as Master to perform A R O calibration for the entire subwoofer system Note that all front panel signal processing is defeated during A R O calibration regardless of the knob settings Normal operation is restored once calibration is complete a Set the Main Power switch to the ON position and be sure the Fathom IWS s indicator lights are switched ON via the Lights switch b Remove the calibration microphone from its protective pouch and connect its cable to the mini XLR jack on the Fathom IWS s front control panel NOTE A R O Calibration is only possible when the included JL Audio test microphone is plugged in to the Fathom IWS front panel The Calibrate feature is disabled with no microphone plugged in to prevent accidental loss of settings c Connect the microphone to the other end of the mic cable and temporarily place the mic in the primary listening seat If you have a microphone stand you can place the microphone at head height and position in the primary listening seat d On the Fathom IWS s control panel press the Calibrate button The green light on the Calibrate button will flash slowly indicating that calibration will begin in 5 seconds Page 26 JL AUDIO Fathom IWS IMPORTANT MAKE SURE THE ROOM IS QUIET DURING A R O CALIBRATION TURN OFF ANY N
9. do not reinforce one another The two most obvious areas to avoid are those near the exact center of the room and those close to any of the room s walls Just as your listening seat can be in a peak or dip region so can your subwoofer When placed in a room corner a subwoofer maximally excites the room s mode structure creating the strongest output with the fewest dips When the subwoofer is pulled away from a corner or wall the room modes are excited less which can alter the sound at your listening seat Be sure to experiment with both your listening seat position and subwoofer position to find the best solution Careful experimentation usually leads to a superior sounding system Use our setup suggestions illustrated on the opposing page and the following pages to get you started If you cannot avoid placing your sofa against the back wall or your subwoofer in a less than optimal position all is not lost Your Fathom IWS s Automatic Room Optimization A R O System can dramatically improve these less than ideal situations We recommend that you begin by placing your Fathom IWS enclosure in the front of the room near the front left or right speaker but not directly in the corner of the room Because the IWS enclosures are built into the walls you cannot move them later if the corner loaded bass turns out to be too strong Please refer to the following illustrations for further placement ideas We recommend that you avoid placing t
10. from the outlet when the subwoofer is left unused for long periods of time 14 Lightning and Power Surges We recommend that you disconnect the subwoofer amp from the electrical outlet during electrical storms and or recurring power interruptions to prevent damage due to power surges 15 Object or Liquid Entry Care should be taken so that objects do not fall into and liquids are not spilled onto the subwoofer enclosure Do not expose the subwoofer to dripping or splashing from liquids Do not place objects filled with liquids on top of or near the subwoofer or amplifier For example flower vases beverages liquid fueled lamps etc 16 Damage Requiring Service The subwoofer should be serviced by qualified service personnel when a the power supply cord or plug has been damaged b objects have fallen or liquid has been spilled into the subwoofer c the subwoofer has been exposed to rain d the subwoofer does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance e the subwoofer has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged f the subwoofer driver s cone and or suspension has been physically damaged 17 Servicing The user should not attempt to service the subwoofer beyond what is described in the operating instructions All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel 18 Overloading Do not overload wall outlets extension cords or outlet strips as this can result in a ri
11. switch in the Isolated mode If with all system components connected and turned on but no source material playing you hear a continuous low frequency hum through your Fathom IWS flip this switch to the Grounded position and evaluate the difference in the noise level Use whichever switch position provides the least hum or noise IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE THAT CHANGING ANY COMPONENT IN THE OPTIMIZED SYSTEM RECEIVER AMPLIFIER DVD PLAYER CABLE OR SATELLITE BOX ETC COULD ALTER THE SIGNAL GROUNDING SCHEME AND CAUSE HUM TO APPEAR IN YOUR PREVIOUSLY QUIET SYSTEM IF YOU ADD OR CHANGE AN UPSTREAM COMPONENT IN YOUR HOME THEATER SYSTEM YOU MAY NEED TO REVISIT THIS INPUT MODE SETTING ON THE Fathom IWS SUBWOOFER FOR OPTIMUM NOISE PERFORMANCE CABLE amp SATELLITE BOXES ARE PARTICULARLY TROUBLESOME IN THIS WAY Master Slave Switch The Fathom IWSs are designed to easily accommodate the implementation of multiple subwoofers in your home theater system through a Master Slave connection chain This method allows you to utilize the signal processing features of one Fathom IWS to centrally control multiple Fathom IWSs in the room Master Slave functionality also makes it possible for the A R O system to optimize the response of a multiple subwoofer installation The Fathom IWS ships with this switch in the Master position If you are using a single Fathom IWS you will use the Master position and you need not concern yourself
12. with this section any further If your installation incorporates two or more Fathom IWS amplifiers you will designate one Fathom IWS as the Master and all others in the system as Slave via the Master Slave switch on the rear amplifier panel of each Fathom IWS LED s on the front panel of the Fathom IWS are provided to indicate whether the Master or Slave mode is selected for a given subwoofer From the Fathom IWS operating in Master mode the Output to Slave signal carries any signal processing selected on the Master Fathom IWS including the Master Level setting and A R O processing to further Fathom IWSs operating in Slave mode Slave subwoofer signal processing and level controls will be inoperable In this mode the user does not have to worry about level crossover and other settings for the slave subwoofers Technical Notes e Selecting the Slave position defeats all user definable signal processing and the master level control Because of this there are some special situations in which you may want to operate a single Fathom IWS in Slave mode If you are utilizing outboard signal processing and level matching controls activating the Slave mode will prevent anyone from affecting system parameters with the manual controls on the Fathom IWS Page 18 INPUTS Unbalanced INPUTS Balanced IMPORTANT INPUT MODE Master Slave Ou
13. 1 4 inch TRS connector and unbalanced RCA type connector Balanced connections provide superior noise rejection and ensure proper grounding between components If your preamplifier or active crossover offers balanced outputs we highly recommend that you use them In the connection diagram at right balanced connections are shown as solid lines unbalanced connections are shown dotted You will only use one of these input connection methods not both NOTE If desired additional Fathom IWSs can be connected in Slave mode to each Fathom IWS connected as shown on this diagram See Connection Diagram 2 on page 23 for slave connection explanation WARNING JL AUDIO Fathom IWS STEREO ACTIVE CROSSOVER BALANCED OUTPUTS LOW OUT SUB OUT ici FATHOM REAR CONTROLS MASTER cf lo L So o To obs DA MAA FATHOM REAR CONTROLS MASTER Ed STEREO ACTIVE CROSSOVER UNBALANCED OUTPUTS WARNING TURN OFF THE Fathom IWS S AND ALL OTHER EQUIPMENT IN THE SYSTEM BEFORE MAKING OR CHANGING ANY CONNECTIONS Page 23 RECOMMENDED SETUP PROCEDURES 1 Preparation for Setup Process 0
14. AUDIO Fathom IWS Page 25 RECOMMENDED SETUP PROCEDURES continued Subwoofer System Setup Once you have set the controls on your home theater receiver or preamp processor and on your Fathom IWS s to the settings recommended on pages 24 25 you are ready to begin setting up your Fathom IWS for optimum performance In some systems the Fathom IWS amplifier will be installed away from the listening environment For these cases the ARO microphone cable will not be IMPORTANT long enough to perform the Calibration To facilitate Calibration with the Fathom IWS amplifier in the listening room the Fathom IWS subwoofer enclosure includes front mounted speaker terminals standard banana jacks see figure These terminals will allow the user to temporarily connect the amplifier to the enclosure for Calibration even after the enclosure is permanently installed in the wall cavity If your system has a Master Slave configuration you only need to have the amplifier designated as Master located in the listening room You must runa temporary XLR cable to the remotely located Slave unit s 1 Applying Automatic Room Optimization A R O You are now ready to apply the power of JL Audio s exclusive Automatic Room Optimization system This system will measure the response of the subwoofer at your primary listening seat and apply a powerful equalizer to tame the peaks caused by room modes resulting in smoother more accurate bass performance If you
15. AUDIO Fathom IWS Page 29 TROUBLESHOOTING No sound from subwoofer 1 Verify that Fathom IWS amp is plugged in turned ON amp that front panel lights are ON If the Fathom IWS amp will not power up check the circuit breaker that feeds its outlet 2 Test subwoofer using DEMO button on front panel of amp if sub emits demo tones the subwoofer s internal circuitry is fine and an input problem is likely Check the input cable connections at the Fathom IWS amp and at the receiver preamp processor 3 Verify that your receiver s subwoofer settings have not changed 4 If your other speakers play but the Fathom IWS does not try changing the cable that connects the Fathom IWS to the system 5 If the problem persists call your dealer or JL Audio Technical Support for assistance The bass level has changed 1 Make sure your level settings on the Fathom IWS amp and in your receiver preamp processor have not changed 2 If you are using the Fathom IWS s Master Level knob to set the subwoofer level confirm that the Level Mode switch is set to Variable 3 Verify the position of the ELF Trim knob Hums or other unusual noises from your Fathom IWS 1 See Input Mode discussion on page 20 of this manual especially if any upstream components cables etc have recently changed 2 Turn off the Fathom IWS disconnect all its input and output signal cables turn the Fathom IWS back on Ifthe noise dis
16. Do not cover the amplifier heatsink with tablecloths curtains etc 9 Heat and Flames The subwoofer and amplifier should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators heat registers stoves fireplaces or other devices which produce heat Do not place candles on top of or near the subwoofer or amplifier 10 Power sources The subwoofer should only be connected to a power supply of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the product 11 Power Cord Protection Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on 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 subwoofer Page 2 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 to the presence of important operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying the product JL AUDIO Fathom IWS 12 Cleaning The subwoofer and amplifier should be cleaned only as recommended in the operating instructions 13 Nonuse Periods The power cord of the subwoofer amp should be unplugged
17. ER SERVICEABLE PARTS PRODUCT IN WHICH DISASSEMBLY REPAIR AND OR MODIFICATION HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED BY UNAUTHORIZED PARTIES WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY If you need service on your JL AUDIO product All warranty returns should be sent to JL AUDIO freight prepaid through an authorized JL AUDIO dealer and must be accompanied by proof of purchase a copy of the original sales receipt Direct returns from consumers or non authorized dealers will be refused unless specifically authorized by JL AUDIO with a valid return authorization number Warranty expiration on products returned without proof of purchase will be determined from the manufacturing date code Coverage may be invalidated as this date is previous to purchase date Return only defective components Non defective items received will be returned freight collect Customer is responsible for shipping charges and insurance in sending the product to JL AUDIO Freight damage on returns is not covered under warranty Always include proof of purchase sales receipt For Service Information in the U S A please call JL Audio customer service 954 443 1100 during normal business hours Eastern Time JL Audio Inc e 10369 North Commerce Parkway Miramar FL 33025 International Warranties Products purchased outside the United States of America are covered only by that country s distributor and not by JL Audio Inc Page 31 F FAT FI O MNA IVS FEATURES Unbal
18. ERY GOOD IDEA TO READ THE NEXT SECTION BEFORE IMPORTANT UNPACKING YOUR FATHOM IWS UNPACKING THE SUBWOOFER NEAR ITS FINAL LOCATION IS RECOMMENDED JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Page 5 PLACING YOUR FATHOM IWS CABINETS IN YOUR LISTENING ROOM Your listening room or theater is an integral part of your sound reproduction system The physical dimensions of the room and its furnishings materials doors and windows play an important role in defining how your system sounds When you place a sound source in an enclosed rectangular space standing waves are created resulting from the relationship between the sound s wavelength and your room s dimensions In other words standing waves result from sound energy that is trapped in the room as it bounces back and forth between opposing walls Standing waves in the room create acoustic peaks and I I ing to install Fath dips where the sound is either louder or softer based solely on your physical SE he a Sa inal ee IWS amplifier inside a cabinet please refer position in the room Energy also builds up at the room s boundaries creating to the guidelines on page 8 exaggerated bass response at certain frequencies These fundamental room resonances are called room modes The moral of this mode story is to try and avoid seating positions in standing wave peak or dip regions It is highly recommended that you place your listening chairs in areas where modal peaks and dips are moderate and
19. EnA TH O Mv WH IWS SYS 1 IWS SYS 2 Owner s Manual JL AUDIO khead e amp the Curve IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WARNING TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN CAUTION TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE AMP PANEL OR SPEAKER NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL 1 Read the Instructions All safety and operating instructions should be read before the subwoofer is operated 2 Retain the Instructions The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference 3 Heed Warnings All warnings on the subwoofer and in the operating instructions should be followed 4 Follow Instructions All operating and use instructions should be followed 5 Water and Moisture The subwoofer should NOT be used near water for example near a bathtub washbowl sink laundry tub in a wet basement near a swimming pool etc 6 Ventilation The subwoofer amplifier should be situated so that its location or position does not interfere with its proper ventilation For example the subwoofer amplifier should not be situated on a bed sofa rug or similar surface that may block airflow over the heatsink fins If placing the subwoofer amplifier in a built in installation ensure that airflow to the heat sinks are not impeded
20. In the connection diagram at right balanced connections are shown as solid lines unbalanced connections are shown dotted You will only use one of these input connection methods for the Fathom IWS designated as the master not both The remaining Fathom IWSs in the system will be configured as Slave units FATHOM REAR CONTROLS SLAVE via their Input Mode switches Using balanced XLR cables you will connect TO ADDITIONAL FATHOMS the master Fathom IWS s Output to orc el Slave to the Left or Mono balanced input of the first slave Fathom IWS That slave unit s Output to Slave connector will feed the Left or Mono input of the next slave unit via another balanced XLR cable Subsequent slave units will be connected in the same manner IMPORTANT Connections between the Master and Slave Fathom IWSs and between Slave Fathom IWSs are via balanced XLR cables ONLY WARNING TURN OFF THE Fathom IWS S AND ALL OTHER EQUIPMENT IN ere THE SYSTEM BEFORE MAKING OR CHANGING ANY CONNECTIONS JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Page 21 SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 3 One Fathom IWS in Mono to Two Channel Audio System STEREO ACTIVE CROSSOVER BALANCED OUTPUTS STEREO ACTIVE CROSSOVER UNBALANCED OUTPUTS Au gut When
21. OISY APPLIANCES NEAR THE LISTENING IMPORTANT ROOM DISHWASHERS WASHING MACHINES ETC IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO TURN OFF AIR CONDITIONERS OR HEAT PUMPS DURING CALIBRATION THESE FORCED AIR TYPE HVAC SYSTEMS CAN CREATE MODERATE LEVELS OF 15 20 HZ NOISE THAT MAY INTERFERE WITH CALIBRATION e Within 5 seconds of pressing the Calibrate button return to your primary listening seat and hold the microphone in your normal seated head position at the approximate height of your ears f A noise sequence will be played through the Fathom IWS that sounds like hashy static like when your old FM radio was between stations The sequence will last approximately 3 minutes During this process the A R O system is taking a frequency response measurement at your seat and correcting the problems it finds The A R O system also compensates for any before amp after level differences so that your subwoofer will have a similar perceived loudness after the calibration process When A R O is finished calibrating the Calibrate button will light and stay on indicating a successful calibration Should you wish to run a new calibration simply repeat the steps above To clear the A R O s settings i e return them to flat amp turn off the Calibrate light press and hold the Demo button and then press the Defeat button Please note that you must perform this button sequence quickly If you hold the Demo button for more than 2 seco
22. alanced cables with XLR terminations are available from your JL Audio dealer and are not included with the Fathom IWS Technical Notes e The Output to Slave signal carries any signal processing selected on the Master Fathom IWS including the Master Level setting and A R O processing to further Fathom IWSs operating in Slave mode e From Fathom IWSs operating in Slave mode the Output to Slave signal is an exact buffered replica of the balanced input signal making this method of signal distribution preferable to using Y adapters or splitters e Use only shielded connection cables with high quality XLR connectors for Master Slave connection Never use unbalanced cables with adaptors IEC Style AC Connector The IEC style AC cord receptacle receives the heavy gauge 6 ft 1 8 m long power cord included with your Fathom IWS subwoofer Your Fathom IWS should only be powered from a 120 V AC 60 Hz outlet Do not use any AC power cord other than the one supplied with the Fathom IWS The Fathom IWS subwoofer is a very powerful device and can draw a lot of current If too many components are connected with a Fathom IWS subwoofer to one electrical outlet you risk tripping a household circuit breaker during very demanding program material If this happens split the Fathom IWS and other components between two AC electrical circuits If possible for maximum performance dedicate an AC circuit to each Fathom IWS
23. anced Inputs Stereo or Mono two RCA jacks Input Impedance of 10k Ohms Balanced Inputs Stereo or Mono two female XLR jacks Input Impedance of 10k Ohms Output To Slave Balanced one male XLR jack Input Modes Master or Slave Level Modes Reference fixed gain or Variable from full mute to 15dB over reference gain Power Modes Off On or Automatic Signal Sensing Light Modes Off On or Dim Low Pass Filter Mode Off 12 dB per octave or 24 dB per octave Low Pass Filter Cutoff Frequency Variable from 30 Hz 130 Hz Polarity 0 or 180 degrees Phase Variable from 0 270 degrees E L F Trim Variable from 12 dB to 3 dB at 23 Hz Automatic Room Optimization A R O with included laboratory grade calibration microphone defeatable Specifications IWS SYS 1 Fathom IWS home subwoofer IWS SYS 2 Fathom IWS home subwoofer Enclosure Type Single Sealed Enclosure Two Sealed Enclosures Driver s 13 5 inch nominal diameter 13 5 inch nominal diameter in each of two enclosures Frequency Response anechoic 26 Hz 101 Hz 1 5 dB 3dB at 25 Hz 112 Hz 10dB at 22 Hz 150 Hz 26 Hz 101 Hz 1 5 dB 3dB at 25 Hz 112 Hz 10dB at 22 Hz 150 Hz Effective Piston Area 98 26 sq in 0 0634 sq m 196 51 sq in 0 1268 sq m Effective Displacement 1473 cu in 2 41 liters 294 6 cu in 4 82 liters Amplifier Power 1000 watts
24. and defeat all equalizer features On your Active Crossover or Bass Management Processor If you are using an active crossover or bass management processor we recommend that you set it as follows before beginning setup of your Fathom IWS subwoofer system please turn off all Fathom IWSs in the system prior to making these adjustments 1 Low Pass Filter Frequency Select a low pass filter frequency of 80 Hz 12dB octave slope 2 High Pass Filter Frequency Select a high pass filter frequency of 80 Hz 12dB octave slope 3 Low Pass Subwoofer Output Level Set the subwoofer output level to 0 or its middle position Page 24 JL AUDIO Fathom IWS oo off on auto master slave ref variable Automatic Room Optimization m p Power 5 z Input Mode Level Mode O LP Filter X O S Polarity co max 0 180 d T as Ao os ras jeg calibration mic demo defeat calibrate LP freq Hz elf trim dB phase deg Master Level On the Fathom IWS s Front Panel Please turn off the home theater receiver or preamp processor to make these adjustm ents 1 Power Switch Flip each Fathom IWS s Power switch to the On position 2 Lights Switch Flip each Fathom IWS s Lights switch to the On position If you don t see any lights on the front panel you may have forgotten to plug the Fathom IWS in or there may be a problem with the electrical circuit 3 Inpu
25. appears the noise is being caused elsewhere in your system reconnect cables one at a time to help locate the problem Bass sounds muddy or too heavy 1 Try decreasing the 23 Hertz level using the ELF Trim control Muddy bass can sometimes be caused by too much low frequency output in a moderately sized room 2 Decrease the overall subwoofer level 3 Verify your receiver s subwoofer settings 4 Try a different main listening seat location Changing your seating location can have a HUGE effect on how your system sounds See the placement discussion on pages 6 10 of this manual A R O Calibration attempt gives fast blinking Calibrate light 1 Be sure that the included JL Audio Microphone is properly plugged into the front panel jack Calibration will ONLY proceed with the JL Audio microphone connected Connecting any other mic will cause the calibration to fail 2 If calibration fails with the JL Audio microphone properly connected try running calibration again with the microphone placed 6 feet away from the Fathom IWS speaker enclosure If calibration fails again the microphone or microphone cable is bad and will need to be replaced Contact JL Audio Customer Service Page 30 JL AUDIO Fathom IWS WARNING JL AUDIO Fathom IWS LIMITED WARRANTY SERVICE INFORMATION JL AUDIO warrants this product to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of three 3 years from the original date of p
26. aterial preferably music with good upper bass and midbass response flip the Polarity switch from 0 to 180 and listen for differences The correct setting will sound most natural with the best upper bass punch and articulation If both sound similar choose 0 Once Polarity is set use the same music material to audition different Phase control settings and choose the one that further enhances the upper and midbass response If you can t hear a difference set the control to 0 gt 4 Extreme Low Frequency e Lf Trim Use the e l f trim control to adjust the extreme low bass extension of the Fathom IWS This control allows 12 dB of cut or 3 dB of boost at 28 Hertz and is particularly useful when using a Fathom IWS or two in a small to medium sized home theater Since smaller enclosed spaces help to boost the level of the lowest bass frequencies smaller theaters can be overwhelmed by the strong low bass output of the Fathom IWS subwoofer This can create a thick or bloated character in the lower bass region Turning down the e l f trim knob cuts the extreme low bass level and alleviates this condition Feel free to experiment and listen to a variety of demanding material until you find the best match for your room and your tastes Your Fathom IWS is now optimized for maximum bass performance at your listening seat Congratulations IMPORTANT WRITE DOWN ALL SETTINGS PERFORMED
27. ce coil alignment Plateau Reinforced Spider Attachment U S Patent 6 118 884 This high integrity suspension attachment relieves stress from the spider material at high excursions for enhanced reliability High Damping Feedback Circuit U S Patent 6 441 685 This proprietary discrete control circuit design allows our Class D switching amplifiers to maintain an excellent damping factor for improved transient behavior and fidelity JL AUDIO Fathom IWS PRODUCT OVERVIEW JL Audio Fathom IWS subwoofers combine a state of the art JL Audio subwoofer driver and electronics amplifier package with a highly optimized enclosure to deliver an exceptional listening experience in your home theater or home audio system The subwoofer driver in your Fathom subwoofer system is capable of outstanding linear excursion without distress or audible distortion This reference quality driver enables your Fathom to reproduce powerful low frequency events with stunning impact and unprecedented accuracy To get the most from this long excursion driver platform prodigious amounts of controlled power are needed Our electronics engineering team conducted an intense analysis of typical program material and its dynamic demands in order to balance current draw and actual output power requirements relative to the system s impedance characteristics After careful study a pair of precisely engineered switching amplifiers employing patented feedback technolog
28. cks are provided for systems without a dedicated mono subwoofer connection This typically applies to two channel audio equipment INPUTS Unbalanced INPUTS Balanced Technical Notes e When balanced outputs are not available on the signal source you must use the RCA type unbalanced inputs Fathom IWSs feature optical isolation circuitry on the unbalanced inputs to minimize the likelihood of ground loop induced noise Unbalanced input impedance is 10 kohms e Connections are industry standard for unbalanced signal cables as follows RCA type connection Tip Positive Sleeve Negative IMPORTANT IF NOISE EXISTS AFTER CONNECTION Fathom IWS AMPS ALLOW FOR GROUNDING OR ISOLATION OF THE UNBALANCED INPUTS IMPORTANT PLEASE REFER TO THE INPUT MODE SWITCHES SECTION ON PAGE 20 OF THIS MANUAL FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON MINIMIZING NOISE JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Page 17 Input Mode Switches Two switches are located on the rear panel to control unbalanced signal grounding and master slave operation Grounded Isolated Switch The Grounded Isolated Input Mode switch affects only the unbalanced RCA inputs and is designed to facilitate a quiet hum free connection to your audio or home theater system This feature is included to deal with the signal grounding issues often encountered in home theater systems when several components from different manufacturers are interconnected The Fathom IWS ships with this
29. connecting a Fathom IWS or LEFT RIGHT multiple Fathom IWSs in mono to a two channel audio system you will use both 7 the Left or Mono and the Right inputs Summing circuitry in the Fathom IWS s input section will sum the stereo signals to mono We strongly recommend that you use a high quality active crossover to divide your preamplifier s signals prior to connection to the Fathom IWS and to the amplifier driving your main speakers This will allow you to filter low frequencies out of the signals driving the main speakers resulting in better performance If you are not using an active crossover and are comfortable running your main speakers full range you can split your preamplifier s output signals using appropriate Y connectors in place of the active crossover shown in the diagram Two connection types are available for connecting the Fathom IWS to your two channel audio system balanced XLR or 1 4 inch TRS connector and unbalanced RCA type connector Balanced connections provide superior noise rejection and ensure proper grounding between components If your preamplifier or active crossover offers balanced outputs we highly recommend that you use them In the connection diagram at left balanced connections are shown as solid FATHOM REAR CONTROLS MASTER lines unbalanced connections are shown dotted You will only use one of these input connection methods not both NOTE If desired additiona
30. e Fathom IWS s built in low pass filter Off defeats the low pass filter completely removing this circuit from the signal path 12 dB sets the roll off slope of the low pass filter to a 12 dB per octave slope Butterworth alignment 24 dB sets the roll off slope of the low pass filter to a 24 dB per octave slope Linkwitz Riley alignment The 24 dB setting more aggressively attenuates high frequencies above the LP Frequency setting see below If you are using the Fathom IWS s built in low pass filter experiment with the LP Filter slope setting to achieve the best transition to your satellite speakers If you prefer to use the filters and bass management features in your receiver or preamplifier defeat the on board filter by selecting the Off position If the Fathom IWS enclosure is placed close to the listening position it may be very easy to localize the sub s output Experiment with the low pass filter to make the subwoofer less easy to localize LP Freq The Low Pass LP Frequency selector knob allows the user to choose the roll off frequency of the Fathom IWS s internal low pass filter The frequency is variable between 30 Hz full counter clockwise to 130 Hz full clockwise This knob does not affect the input signal in any way if the LP Filter switch is set to Off 80 Hz is a commonly used filter frequency and usually serves as a good starting point for adjustments Page 14 dim on
31. he Fathom IWS enclosures near windows to prevent rattling and sound transmission to the outside world Page 6 JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for One Fathom IWS Enclosure MORE INTENSE Ly Ly MORE INTENSE AVOID CORNER PLACEMENT AVOID _ CORNER PLACEMENT SMOOTHER YAHLOOWS NN RECOMMENDED ra SUBWOOFER PLACEMENT ZONES For Single Subwoofer COMPROMISED SEATING POSITIONS Results in weaker uneven bass performance ne ee BEST SEATING POSITIONS Most accurate bass performance APPROX 1 3 OF TOTAL ROOM LENGTH AWAY FROM BACK WALL COMPROMISED SEATING POSITIONS More intense but less accurate bass performance CLOSE TO BACK WALL OF ROOM JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Page 7 SPECIAL AMPLIFIER CONSIDERATIONS FOR RACK MOUNTING OR CUSTOM CABINET INSTALLATIONS Fathom IWS amplifiers are designed to be built in friendly All typically needed controls are located on the front panel A Fathom IWS amp can be easily integrated into an equipment rack or custom cabinetry by following a few simple guidelines 1 Allow adequate clear space around the Fathom IWS amp s side mounted heatsinks for adequate cooling Also allow space behind the amp for connector clearance 2 The Fathom IWS amp ships ready to be mounted in a standard equipment rack Rack Ears 3 The Fathom IWS amplifier also includes table top hardware Special front panel end covers that
32. idely considered as reference standards for linear behavior and high output We have also focused our efforts to create powerful amplifier and signal processing technologies specifically aimed at delivering exceptional low frequency performance Your Fathom combines these core disciplines within a compact beautifully crafted package to deliver an unparalleled listening experience We sincerely thank you for your purchase and invite you to read this manual thoroughly in order to achieve the highest level of performance with your Fathom IWS subwoofer system Enjoy Page 4 JL AUDIO TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDED IN Fathom IWS SUBWOOFERS DMA Optimized Motor System DMA is JL Audio s proprietary Dynamic Motor Analysis system aimed at improving dynamic motor behavior As a result of DMA optimization loudspeaker motors remain linear in force over an extreme range of excursion and also maintain a highly stable fixed magnetic field over a wide power range This leads to vastly reduced distortion and faithfully reproduced transients or put simply tight clean articulate bass Concentric Tube Suspension U S Patent 5 734 132 amp 6 095 280 The suspension technology of the Fathom IWS driver permits high linear excursions within a very shallow frame design Floating Cone Attach Method U S Patent 6 501 844 This assembly technique ensures proper surround geometry in the assembled speaker for better excursion control and dynamic voi
33. l Fathom IWSs can be connected in Slave mode to the Fathom IWS connected as shown on this diagram See Connection Diagram 2 on page 23 for slave connection explanation WARNING TURN OFF THE Fathom IWS AND ALL OTHER EQUIPMENT IN WARNING THE SYSTEM BEFORE MAKING OR CHANGING ANY CONNECTIONS Page 22 JL AUDIO Fathom IWS SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 4 Two Fathom IWSs in Stereo to Two Channel Audio System When connecting two Fathom IWSs in stereo to a two channel audio system you will only use the Left or Mono inputs of each Fathom IWS The Input Mode switch on each Fathom IWS will be set in the Master position We strongly recommend that you use a high quality active crossover to divide your preamplifier s signals prior to connection to the Fathom IWS and to the amplifier driving your main speakers This will allow you to filter low frequencies out of the signals driving the main speakers resulting in better performance If you are not using an active crossover and are comfortable running your main speakers full range you can split your preamplifier s output signals using appropriate Y connectors in place of the active crossover shown in the diagram Two connection types are available for connecting the Fathom IWSs to your two channel audio system balanced XLR or
34. n 2 seconds without touching the Defeat button the Demo tones will start Should this happen simply wait for the Demo sequence to end and try again Calibrate Button During the ARO test sequence the Calibrate button s green LED will blink quickly to alert the user to two special conditions 1 JL Audio Microphone NOT Connected If you forget to connect the mic before trying to start a Calibration you will get this alert Press the Calibrate button once to cancel the alert connect the A R O microphone and try again 2 Inappropriate Sound Level for A R O Calibration Since the A R O sequence is completely automatic this alert likely indicates a problem with the microphone Press the Calibrate button once to cancel the alert Ensure that the JL Audio microphone is properly connected and try again For further help please refer to Troubleshooting on page 33 Input Mode Indicators The Input Mode indicator LEDs show the input mode either Master or Slave selected by the switch on the Fathom IWS s back panel unless the Lights switch is set to off For further details see page 20 Level Mode The two position Level Mode switch allows you to select between the following modes Reference In this mode the Master Level control knob has no effect on the Fathom IWS s output level Use this setting if you will primarily be controlling the subwoofer level via your receiver or preamplifier process
35. nds without touching the Defeat button the Demo tones will start Should this happen simply wait for the Demo sequence to end and try again You can perform a new calibration by following the normal procedure outlined above 2 Level Setting Using familiar music or movie material with deep bass content adjust the subwoofer level to blend with the other speakers using your receiver or preamp processor s subwoofer level control This method is more immune to tampering than using the Fathom IWS s Master Level knob think toddlers or curious visitors In the unlikely event that the subwoofer level control in your receiver or preamp processor cannot be turned up enough to level match the Fathom IWS return that control to 0 Then flip the Fathom IWS s Level Mode switch to Variable and with 0 as your reference point REF mode gain and Variable 0 gain are identical use the Master Level control to level match the subwoofer with the other speakers MAKE NOTE OF THIS SETTING FOR FUTURE USE For more detailed information on your Fathom IWS s level setting controls please refer to the Level Mode and Master Level sections on pages 15 16 of this manual JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Page 27 3 Polarity and Phase Adjustment It is often helpful to have a second person operating these controls so that you can easily hear the changes from the primary listening seat Listening to familiar source m
36. nnect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help TABLE OF CONTENTS Important Safety Instructions 0 ec e cee ee ene 2 3 Introdtiction pini rer EEEE EGER ieee led by he ER EACE S EATA 4 Product Overview taioe bog aa i E EAE OE S T EE TEO 5 Placing your Fathom IWS in Your Listening Room 04 6 10 Front Control Panel Layout 0 0 0 0 ccc cece eee need 11 Rear Control and Connector Panel Layout 0 0 c eee eee eee 11 Front Panel Controls in Detail 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 15 Connecting your Fathom IWS s 20 0 6 16 23 Recommended Setup Procedure 0 cece cece cee eee 24 28 Frequently Asked Questions irena cece cece cece cece eee eens 29 Troubleshooting onnciwnvassc roxanne trie wells ioe we weg dew ys tay 30 Limited Warranty Service Information 0 0 0 cece eee eee 31 Specifications e sasea a i dal Ak vaineude a E wile gabe hee 32 INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of a JL Audio Fathom powered subwoofer system This product has been critically engineered to deliver exceptional performance in your home theater or audio system for many years to come As a company we are intensely committed to core research into high performance loudspeaker and amplifier technologies JL Audio s long excursion subwoofer driver designs are w
37. o Button The Demo button triggers a 20 second long tone sequence that briefly demonstrates the sound of the Fathom IWS subwoofer The Demo function is useful for showcasing the output capability of the Fathom IWS and to verify that the Fathom IWS or multiple Fathom IWSs are operational during system troubleshooting The Demo button is also used in combination to clear return to flat the A R O equalizer settings To clear the A R O s settings amp turn off the Calibrate light press and hold the Demo button and then press the Defeat button Please note that you must perform this button sequence quickly If you hold the Demo button for more than 2 seconds without touching the Defeat button the Demo tones will start Should this happen simply wait for the Demo sequence to end and try again Defeat Button If Demo or Calibrate is pressed while the defeat function is active Defeat is automatically canceled No other front panel controls will alter the A R O Defeat state The Fathom IWS s Defeat setting is stored in non volatile memory and will not change even if power is disconnected The Defeat button is also used in combination to clear return to flat the A R O equalizer settings To clear the A R O s settings amp turn off the Calibrate light press and hold the Demo button and then press the Defeat button Please note that you must perform this button sequence quickly If you hold the Demo button for more tha
38. onnection methods not both WARNING JL AUDIO Fathom IWS SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 2 PROCESSOR BALANCED OUTPUTS RECEIVER PROCESSOR UNBALANCED OUTPUTS Multiple Fathom IWSs to Home Theater Receiver or Home Theater Preamp Processor To greatly simplify using multiple FRONT T REAR CENTER 000 OUTPUTS subwoofers in a single home theater SuB LEFT FRONT _RIGHT FRO FRONT R REAR pius system Fathom IWSs incorporate a 7 Master Slave signal distribution system This allows control of all the Fathom IWSs l in a system from a single Master unit First you will select one of the Fathom IWS subwoofers as the Master via its upper Input Mode switch Generally you will designate the Fathom IWS closest to the receiver preamp as the master In some cases for example when the control panel of certain units is difficult to access you may prefer to designate the one which is easiest to access as the master Two connection types are available for connecting the master Fathom IWS to your home theater system balanced XLR or 1 4 inch TRS connector and FATHOM REAR CONTROLS MASTER unbalanced RCA type connector Balanced connections provide superior noise rejection and ensure proper grounding between components If your receiver or processor has balanced outputs we highly recommend that you use them to connect to the Fathom IWS designated as the master
39. or For those of us with small children or overenthusiastic teenagers this mode of operation will prevent direct manipulation of the Master Level Variable In this mode the Master Level control knob determines the output level of the Fathom IWS subwoofer This mode is also useful when level matching the Fathom IWS subwoofer to a pair of stereo speakers in a two channel system Page 13 Master Level Knob The Master Level Knob is used to control the output level of the Fathom IWS when the Variable Level mode is selected on the front control panel When rotated fully counter clockwise the Fathom IWS s output will be fully muted When at the 0 or straight up position the Variable gain level matches the Reference level setting When turned fully clockwise the Fathom IWS s output level is 15 dB higher than the Reference setting Lights The Lights selector switch allows the user to select one of three indicator light modes Off turns off all of the front panel LED s at all times Dim sets all of the front panel LEDs to a low brightness level when the Fathom IWS is turned on On sets all of the front panel LEDs to full brightness level when the Fathom IWS is turned on IMPORTANT WHEN TROUBLESHOOTING OR CALIBRATING THE A R O FEATURE MAKE SURE THAT THE LIGHTS SWITCH IS SET TO DIM or ON LP Filter The Low Pass LP Filter selector switch determines the operating mode of th
40. or Four Fathom IWSs Page 10 Using Three or Four Fathom IWS boxes Research indicates that the smoothest bass response for a large listening area can be achieved using four subwoofers placing one at the midpoint of each of the four walls although using two or three subwoofers can be almost as good Experimentation with subwoofer and listener placement is recommended to achieve the best results the benefits can be substantial High resolution measurements and professional system calibration are recommended for the best possible results amp system performance JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Front Control Panel The labeled Figure below depicts the front control panel of a Fathom IWS subwoofer A R O Level Mode Lights LP freq Hz phase deg page 12 13 page 13 page 14 page 14 page 15 Power Input Mode Master Level LP Filter e l f trim dB Polarity page 12 page 13 page 14 page 14 page 15 page 15 ref variable i off imjon off 1248 2448 A 3 r S 0180 deg iria laaa 7 so 7 90 a i big e i A oo 2 e Sn raster sav rate ng LP freq Hz elf trim dB phase deg JL AUDIO Rear Controls and Connectors The labeled Figure below depicts the rear panel of a Fathom IWS subwoofer
41. ounter clockwise rotation and 270 degrees full clockwise rotation are possible Speaker subwoofer and listening seat positions vary greatly in home theater installations Since physical positioning of speakers relative to the room boundaries and each other greatly affects the perceived quality of sound output sometimes it is helpful to delay the subwoofer output This is exactly what occurs when you turn the Phase control beyond 0 degrees Once your Fathom IWS has been placed in your listening room to give you the smoothest overall sound and after you have determined the optimum Polarity switch position see preceding section experiment with the position of the Phase control Using familiar source material with good mid and upper bass content adjust the Phase control and listen for better defined mid bass and a smoother transition between the subwoofer and satellite speaker systems If no single setting sounds better than another leave the Phase control at 0 degrees Page 15 CONNECTING YOUR Fathom IWS Balanced Inputs If your home theater receiver or preamplifier processor provides balanced outputs the Fathom IWS amp s balanced inputs are the preferred connection Balanced connections are used extensively in professional studios and sound reinforcement applications for a number of very good reasons Besides ensuring proper grounding between components balanced signal transmission is designed to cancel induced cable noise from the s
42. rate button and then hold the microphone at ear height in your main listening seat during the test A noise sequence will be played through the Fathom IWS subwoofer and the room response will be automatically measured analyzed and equalized to eliminate the single largest acoustic room response peak at your listening seat For detailed instructions on the A R O setup procedure refer to pages 29 30 Calibration Mic Input This input is for connecting the supplied JL Audio calibration microphone to the Fathom IWS subwoofer Connect one end of the supplied cable to the microphone and the other end to this jack prior to using the A R O system The A R O system is specifically calibrated to this microphone and its connection scheme is specific to the supplied microphone The calibration sequence will not operate when a different microphone is connected or if no microphone is connected Page 12 IMPORTANT Power off on auto PROCESSOR BALANCED OUTPUTS RECEIVER PROCESSOR UNBALANCED OUTPUTS ouTPUTS FRONT RIGHT FR FATHOM REAR CONTROLS MASTER m Automatic Room Optimization calibration mic demo defeat calibrate JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Automatic Room Optimizatio demo defeat demo defeat calibrate Optimization i Input Mode OO master slave Level Mode ref variable JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Dem
43. replace the rack ears and rubber feet are included with the IWS amp To use the amp on a table top simply remove the hex screws that attach the rack ears and then install the covers The rubber feet screw into threaded holes in the bottom of the amplifier case 4 While the Fathom IWS amp generally runs only warm during spirited operation we do recommend that adequate heat vents are included in any custom cabinet which encloses the Fathom IWS amp A pair of 3 inch 7 5 cm diameter vents near the bottom of the cabinet and near the top of the cabinet will allow cool air to circulate over the heatsinks of your Fathom IWS amp keeping it cool and happy End Covers Page 8 JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Using Two Fathom IWS Enclosures When using two Fathom IWS boxes try placement along the front wall near the front left and right speakers or at the center points of opposing walls as shown at right Experimentation with listener placement is recommended to achieve the best results the benefits can be substantial High resolution measurements and professional system calibration are recommended for the best possible results amp system performance JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Two Fathom IWS boxes UL I Page 9 Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Three Fathom IWSs Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options f
44. sk of fire or electric shock 19 Grounding This subwoofer is supplied with a three prong grounded power cord Precautions should be taken so that the grounding means of the subwoofer are not defeated Defeating the grounding prong on the subwoofer power cord could increase the risk of electric shock and could result in permanent damage to the subwoofer s electronics THIS SUBWOOFER IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HIGH SOUND WARNING PRESSURE LEVELS PLEASE EXERCISE RESTRAINT IN ITS OPERATION TO PROTECT YOUR HEARING FROM PERMANENT DAMAGE JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Page 3 FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT NOTE This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits of Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed in accordance with the instructions may cause harmful interference to radio communications However there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver Co
45. t Mode Indicator Lights If you are using a single Fathom IWS confirm that its Input Mode indicator light is on the Master position If not you will need to access the Input Mode switch on the rear panel of the Fathom IWS If you are using multiple Fathom IWSs in a Master Slave configuration confirm that the unit connected directly to your receiver or preamp processor is indicating Master on its Input Mode lights and that all other units are indicating Slave on their Input Mode lights If not you will need to access the Input Mode switches on the rear panels of the Fathom IWSs 3 Level Mode Switch Flip the master Fathom IWS s Level Mode switch to the REF position 4 LP Filter Switch If your home theater receiver processor is handling bass management speakers set on small or if you are using an outboard crossover bass management processor flip the master Fathom IWS s LP Filter switch to OFF If not select the 12 dB position 5 LP Freq Hz Knob Rotate the LP Freq knob to the 80 Hz position 6 e 1 f trim dB Knob Rotate the e l f trim knob to 0 7 Polarity Switch Flip the Polarity switch to 0 8 phase deg Knob Rotate the phase knob to 0 degrees 9 A R O Defeat Switch Press the A R O defeat switch so that the red light in the switch remains lit JL
46. thom IWS will draw a very small amount of current lt 10 watts to power its signal sensing circuitry Front panel lights will turn off when the Fathom IWS powers down and light when the Fathom IWS powers up unless they have been turned off via the Lights switch In the unlikely event that the Auto feature is not sensitive enough for a particular system use a Y cable adaptor to split the incoming signal into both RCA or XLR inputs on the Fathom IWS This will increase the input sensitivity by 6 dB Please be aware that ifthe Auto sensitivity is too high or if there is significant noise on the input cable the Fathom IWS may not turn offas desired If this happens remove the Y cable adaptor or look for the noise source in the upstream components Automatic Room Optimization A R O A powerful feature of the JL Audio Fathom IWS subwoofers is their innovative Automatic Room Optimization A R O technology This one touch system serves to eliminate the largest acoustic response peaks in your home theater at the main listening seat greatly improving the in room low frequency response Calibration of the A R O system is fully automated Please consult the next section of this manual for details on how to use the A R O system Using the included JL Audio calibration microphone the A R O calibration procedure takes less than three minutes In brief you will connect the included microphone to the Calibration Mic input press the Calib
47. tput to Slave Balanced JL AUDIO Fathom IWS IMPORTANT PLEASE REFER TO THE SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAMS IMPORTANT ON PAGES 26 29 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON USING THE INPUT OUTPUT CONNECTIONS Master Slave Output to Slave alanced B Output to Slave Connector If you are operating more than one Fathom IWS subwoofer in one home theater system you will designate one Fathom IWS as the Master see page 20 and then feed signal from it to the remaining Slave Fathom IWSs via this balanced XLR output The Output to Slave cable can be connected to the Left or Mono balanced XLR input on the next Fathom IWS When a Fathom IWS is in Slave Mode its Output to Slave connection can be used to pass signal to further Fathom IWSs operating in Slave mode The Output to Slave connector is designed to be used as follows 1 From the Master Fathom IWS s Output to Slave connector to the first Slave Fathom IWS s Left or Mono XLR balanced input 2 From the first Slave Fathom IWS s Output to Slave connector to the second Slave Fathom IWS s Left or Mono XLR balanced input 3 From the second Slave Fathom IWS s Output to Slave connector to the third Slave Fathom IWS s Left or Mono XLR balanced input Etc etc up to ten Fathom IWSs may be connected in this configuration Appropriate b
48. urchase Damage caused by the following is not covered under warranty accident misuse abuse product modification or neglect failure to follow installation instructions unauthorized repair attempts misrepresentations by the seller This warranty does not cover incidental or consequential damages and does not cover the cost of removing or reinstalling the unit s or shipping the unit s to JL Audio for service Cosmetic damage due to accident or normal wear and tear is not covered under warranty This warranty is not transferable and applies only to the original purchaser of the product from an authorized JL AUDIO dealer Warranty is voided if the factory applied product serial number is removed or defaced Should service be necessary under this warranty for any reason due to manufacturing defect or malfunction JL AUDIO will at its discretion repair or replace the defective product with new or remanufactured product at no charge Any applicable implied warranties are limited in duration to the period of the express warranty as provided herein beginning with the date of the original purchase at retail and no warranties whether express or implied shall apply to this product thereafter Some states do not allow limitations on implied warranties therefore these 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 WARNING THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS NO US
49. urrounding environment particularly important with long cable runs The bottom line is that your system will be far less likely to exhibit hamming or other extraneous noises if you use balanced connections The Fathom IWS subwoofers feature individual left and right balanced input connections with XLR combo jacks These special jacks accept either a three pin male XLR connector or a tip ring sleeve TRS 1 4 inch 6 3 mm connector for compatibility with a wide range of equipment For systems with a mono subwoofer or LFE channel connection only the jack labeled Left or Mono will be used This applies to most modern multi channel receivers and preamplifier processors Separate left and right input jacks are provided for systems without a dedicated mono subwoofer connection This typically applies to two channel audio equipment Appropriate balanced cables are available from your JL Audio dealer and are not included with the Fathom IWS Technical Notes e Do not use the balanced inputs with unbalanced signals via adaptors The unbalanced inputs of the Fathom IWS are optically isolated and preferable in situations where only an unbalanced signal source is available Balanced input impedance is 10 kohms e Input connectors are configured according to Audio Engineering Society recommendations for balanced signal cables as follows XLR Connection Pin 1 Shield Pin 2 Positive Pin 3 Negative TRS connection Tip Positi
50. ve Ring Negative Sleeve Shield IMPORTANT IF YOUR RECEIVER OR PREAMPLIFIER PROCESSOR DOES NOT HAVE XLR OR 1 4 INCH TRS BALANCED OUTPUTS PLEASE REFER TO THE UNBALANCED INPUTS SECTION ON PAGE 17 FOR INPUT CONNECTION INFORMATION DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONNECT UNBALANCED OUTPUTS TO THE Fathom IWS S BALANCED INPUTS VIA ADAPTORS Page 16 The Left and Right inputs on the Fathom IWS are internally summed to a single mono channel Since the Fathom IWS is inherently a mono or single channel device you can use the Left and Right inputs for the master Fathom IWS and then distribute the summed mono signal to additional slave Fathom IWSs in the system IMPORTANT JL AUDIO Fathom IWS Unbalanced Inputs The Fathom IWS subwoofer amp features individual left and right unbalanced RCA type input connectors These are the most commonly used connectors for home audio applications and must be used if your receiver or preamplifier processor does not provide balanced outputs While unbalanced connections are not as noise immune as a balanced connection Fathom IWS subwoofers employ optical isolation on the unbalanced inputs to minimize the possibility of noise in your system For systems with a mono subwoofer or LFE channel connection only the RCA type jack labeled Left or Mono will be used This applies to most modern multi channel receivers and preamplifier processors Separate left and right RCA type input ja
51. y were created These advanced designs are capable of unclipped output voltages equivalent to 1000 watts System 1 and 2000 watts System 2 of RMS power when referenced to the nominal loudspeaker impedance allowing us to take full advantage of each driver s full excursion envelope The beautiful cabinet enclosing the workings of your Fathom is also the result of careful engineering To contain the pressures created by the Fathom driver we utilized CNC cut cabinet grade baltic birch plywood with extensive internal bracing features and advanced assembly techniques Your listening room is the other enclosure that affects the way your bass will sound All rooms create a specific sonic signature which must be effectively managed to achieve well balanced low frequency performance To aid in this process the Fathom includes an extensive set of signal processing tools aimed at optimizing your Fathom s performance within your listening space These features include JL Audio s exclusive Automatic Room Optimization system As you can see from this brief introduction there is a lot of technology in this in wall subwoofer The contents of this manual will explain the features guide you through the setup and tuning of your Fathom subwoofer and help you achieve your ultimate low frequency listening experience If you require assistance we urge you to contact your authorized JL Audio retailer for expert setup advice and service IMPORTANT ITIS A V
52. y switch allows the user to select between normal 0 deg and reversed 180 deg signal polarity The Polarity switch will primarily affect the small frequency range around the crossover point between your subwoofer and satellite speakers Unlike the Phase control which effectively adds time delay the Polarity switch produces an instantaneous reversal of the signal s amplitude peaks For example if at a given reference point a sine wave has an amplitude peak by flipping the phase switch you instantly convert that peak into a trough or amplitude dip Because the effect of the Polarity switch is immediate it compliments the operation of the Phase control and cannot be replaced by it When placing your Fathom IWS in the room experiment with the Polarity switch before adjusting the Phase control Either position of the Polarity switch may provide a smoother transition between your Fathom IWS subwoofer and the satellite speakers Use source material with good mid and upper bass content for evaluation Phase The Phase control knob allows the user to adjust the timing of the subwoofer output relative to the main speakers The Phase control will primarily affect the small frequency range around the crossover point between your subwoofer and satellite speakers The Phase control s labels are referenced to 80 Hz since this is the most common crossover point between satellite speakers and a subwoofer Phase settings between 0 degrees full c
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