Avalon Acoustics AVALON ASCENDANT User's Manual
Contents
1. Frequency Response Effects As you listen to music images of the instruments that created the sounds are elicited For instance one can tell the approximate size of a drum from the sound it produces On a high resolution playback system finer details can be heard i e is the head made of plastic or calfskin Is the player using light sticks or heavy ones A relatively broad band emphasis or de emphasis of a given frequency range can tend to exaggerate or diminish the relative size of the instruments playing in that range A useful tool for evaluating these distortions of size is a recording of a small group of unamplified acoustic instruments made with a simple microphone set up Listening for Size Distortions Play a recording of this type with the volume adjusted to achieve a natural playback level As you listen create a mental image of the players based on sounds being recreated Then ask yourself Does this sonic image correspond to the musical instruments that generated these sounds Is the portrait a natural one or are certain elements distorted Does a stand up bass sound like the correct size or is it exaggerated sounding like it is ten feet tall or as if the strings are the size of ropes A speaker with excessive in room bass response can create these effects On the other hand a speaker system with rolled off bass can shrink the size of instruments turning the same stand up bass into a cello sized instrument 5 Below2. integrity This high level of performance is retained in virtually any listening situation The Ascendant has been specifically designed to elicit the finest possible performance from any amplifier tube or solid state due to its easy to drive nature Similarly interaction with the room has been minimized allowing ease of placement in a wide variety of listening environments Your Ascendant loudspeaker was designed and built to the highest standards of workmanship and performance These standards are preserved through the test of time by careful attention to component quality and meticulous testing of each unit before leaving the factory As a new owner of this Avalon Acoustics product you can be assured that you possess one of the few great loudspeakers the audio industry has to offer 2 Unpacking Instructions Introduction Your Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers were shipped in a heavy duty crate to ensure their safe arrival It is recommended to save this crate for possible future use Due to the weight of the speakers it will require two persons to un crate them and position them for listening Please arrange for your dealer or other friend to assist in this project Contents The shipping crate contains the following items Two loudspeaker cabinets Two grille assemblies The owner s manual One set of six Apex Couplers An accessory bag The grille assemblies and owner s manual are contained in an outer compartment on the
3. Apex Couple Sui On ds ee regan eae el elie 14 First Reflection Points necies sec c cce egies o Mien ates 15 Corner Tr Mii ahs EE pes Gane aay AE adas 15 6 Care of Your Avalon Loudspeakers scecccscccccccccccccccccsccccceccesccesccsesesccesseecsecsescees 16 Cabinet Hardwood Finish 0 00 0 ccceec ence nee cene ee eee ene ene eens ene eneeeeaenes 16 Grille Assembly A IS 16 DAS A is es ae A A eee 16 A A ARO 17 Warranty Statement adi caia E 17 In the Event ota Problems snaaks a aa tia 18 8 Room Acoustics and Speaker POSIGO M65 Vie no edvetedveteses suds aaa 19 Introducton lt fos ja eee e tk OS tah O eA 19 Aw Optical Analogy ciao td ts 20 Basic Room A COUStIS cias billetera idad 20 Sle Standing Waves de 21 8 2 Flutter ECho 000 aia 22 8 3 Farly Reflector oni a delice se bane econ a ada 22 Avoiding Early Reflections ccceceeceec ence nent e nee ne ea eeeee ene eneeneneeneeee es 22 8 4 Bass r einiorcement msi ented ven Suse chts valet ses Mavis tev evier ole picie ee sin dd soviet 24 8 5 Summary of Recommendations 0 cece cece eee ence ene eens eens ne en eee ene ee enene ea 26 Flutter Echo and Standing Waves cccccceecee cence eee eee eee e een ene eae eaenaees 26 Speaker Placement isisi ornis r retken Enna ais 27 Early Reflections Ghote le 27 8 6 A Listening Room Example cccce scence cence need ono nn ne nee eens eee EEE 28 9 Accuracy of Bass Reproduc
4. about 200 Hz virtually every woofer operates as a minimum phase device This means that the responses in the time domain and the frequency domain are inextricably linked and that the one generates the 33 other Thus two woofers with the same frequency response will necessarily exhibit the same time phase response However many crossover networks display non minimum phase response and will thereby alter the phase response of the woofer in the speaker system Transient Response Effects A speaker with poor transient response will store energy releasing it after the initial musical transient has passed This causes a loss of detail and obscures important musical information Also associated with poor transient response is a narrow band resonance which can emphasize specific notes When listening for the low frequency transient accuracy of a speaker it will be useful to utilize a broad variety of recordings Try playing a rock or jazz group and listen to the interplay between the drummer and the bassist Is it easy to distinguish the kick drum from the bass or is there a blurring of low frequency detail caused by the speaker s time smear To listen for narrow band low frequency resonances use a recording with the bass line played by a synthesizer As you listen to the bass line are the individual notes of equal level or are some of them more prominent than others Electronic instruments can be more useful for this test since acoustic ins
5. and 8 4 Furthermore there are typically three reflective surfaces near each speaker the floor the rear wall and the side wall Each of these surfaces produces its own reflection and hence additional bass reinforcement 12 10 31 62 100 316 2 1000 Hz Figure 8 3 Change in frequency response resulting from placement of speaker 3 3 feet from a reflective surface relative to an anechoic environment 12 y 12 10 31 62 100 316 2 1000 Figure 8 4 Same conditions as above except speaker is 6 6 feet from the reflecting surface Note how the reinforcement now occurs at a lower frequency 24 By properly selecting the distances to each surface we can extend the in room bass response of the speaker much deeper than its anechoic response Please see Figure 8 5 This is because the bass reinforcement provides a boost which is complementary to the bass roll off that would be present in an anechoic chamber 12 Figure 8 5 Anechoic response and in room response with the speaker placed 4 6 feet from the rear wall and 3 0 feet from the side wall Note how the bass response is extended by the room reinforcement Conversely improper placement of the loudspeakers can result in uneven frequency response This results in diminished bass quality Please refer to Figure 8 6 12 10 31 62 100 3162 1000 Hz Figure 8 6 Uneven frequency response caused by improper placement of the speakers In this case the speaker is 2 0 fe
6. appropriate Drapery or fabric wall hangings are quite effective on the walls Bookshelves also work well by breaking up the flat surfaces Carpeting should eliminate potential problems between the floor and ceiling 8 3 Early Reflections Another situation that can reduce the subjective quality of reproduced sound is the presence of early reflections By early reflections we are referring to reflected sound waves that reach the listener within 10 to 20 milliseconds of the direct signal from the loudspeaker When a reflected sound reaches the listener more than 40 milliseconds later than the direct sound the reflection is heard as a discrete echo However if the reflected sound arrives within around 20 milliseconds of the direct sound the ear brain system integrates the two sounds so that only one sound is heard This integration is done in such a way that spatial information is preserved providing an acoustical picture of the physical space that created the reflections However the source recording also contains ambient information that portrays the original recording site Early reflections in the listening room will tend to obscure the ambient information in the recording leading to a loss of dimensionality or spaciousness Secondary arrivals within the first 10 milliseconds are especially problematic becoming less troublesome as the arrival time lengthens to 20 milliseconds or so Avoiding Early Reflections The speed of sound is
7. at least one surface in an opposing pair of surfaces needs to be made less reflective and or non parallel e Low Frequency Absorption If a problem exists with standing waves it is the low frequencies that will need to be addressed Remember that the absorption spectrum of different materials and objects is not uniform That is some items will absorb only high frequencies and some objects may only absorb the middle frequencies At low frequencies 26 about the only common item that can absorb a meaningful amount of energy is heavily upholstered furniture Another effective means of absorption is the use of sonic traps e High Frequency Absorption and Room Symmetry Since flutter echo is a high frequency effect it becomes much easier to manage potential problems in this area Almost any item attached to the walls will be less reflective at high frequencies than the bare walls themselves Draperies wall hangings paintings bookshelves and other items will normally be present in the room and will usually eliminate any possible problems If flutter echo is still audible a fabric wall hanging provides an effective and attractive cure Additionally it is desirable to maintain a degree of left right symmetry in the room to preserve a balanced acoustic space For example if your listening room has full length draperies along the right wall and the left wall is bare slap echo will not be a problem Nonetheless the sound stage may be som
8. cards must be completed and mailed to Avalon Acoustics within seven days of date of purchase otherwise this warranty is null and void Avalon Acoustics may at its option require from the purchaser valid proof of purchase dated copy or photocopy of dealer s original invoice If this product is used in a commercial or industrial application then special warranty exclusions may apply Contact your dealer or Avalon Acoustics for commercial warranty policies 18 8 Room Acoustics and Speaker Position Introduction The listening room forms the final link of the playback system as important as any other component in the chain Just as an otherwise superb system is handicapped by an inferior pre amplifier for example so can a well matched system be hindered by poor room acoustics It is not necessary to listen to your system in a specially designed sound chamber in order to enjoy it In fact a dedicated listening room usually requires additional sound treatment due to a lack of other items in the room that can help provide proper acoustics However attention to the listening environment can greatly increase your system s performance Listening in a properly set up room can be a startling experience Due to the limitations of the two channel format and the listening environment the illusion of actually being transported to the recording site cannot usually be achieved However an uncanny sense of realism can be created Perhaps it is
9. distortions This is because directional and spatial information is provided by inter aural time and phase differences During the period of man s evolution the ability to accurately determine the direction and distance of sound sources conferred a survival advantage hence our present day aural acuity This sensitivity to time related information is apparent in the terms used to describe the quality of a system s bass reproduction Many of the terms refer to temporal properties A system with poor low frequency transient response is described as boomy heavy sluggish or slow When the transient response is 39 cc accurate the bass is characterized as tight clean quick or fast Fast Bass The term fast bass would seem to be an oxymoron After all it is the slowness of a note that makes it a low frequency Nonetheless the term provides an accurate description of our subjective impression Many people have erroneously ascribed fast bass to the use of a light diaphragm or the use of a powerful energizing system See note 1 In fact it is not how fast the diaphragm can be set into motion that imparts a speaker with fast bass Rather it is how fast that motion can be stopped how quickly the stored energy can be dissipated that results in the sensation of fast bass 1 The acceleration of an object is equal to the force exerted upon it divided by the ma
10. exposed end of the grille pin in the open mounting hole Check to insure that the grille cloth is not trapped between the pin and frame Use a small hammer and gently tap the new grille pin in place Then pull the insertion tool off the new pin and verify that the pin flange is flush with the surface of the grille Please refer to Figure 2 6 WARNING Grille pin breakage may result if the grille cloth becomes trapped between the pin and frame during installation Figure 2 6 Installing grille pin into Ascendant grille frame Note that after installation the grille pin flange is flush with the surface of the grille 6 Reposition the grille cloth that was pulled away from the frame mounting hole instep 4 The cloth should lay flat and wrinkle free 10 3 Wiring Instructions Introduction The crossover is encapsulated in a chamber in the bottom of the speaker cabinet minimizing the effect of vibration on the components The Ascendant is equipped with a high quality binding post for connecting the speaker cables Spade lugs designed for 10 screws are recommended for cable termination Connecting the Speaker to the Amplifier 1 Place the speaker in its approximate location 2 Connect the speaker wires to the binding post on the speaker back see Figure 3 1 Check to insure the correct polarity positive lead connected to the post and negative lead connected to the post WARNING Do NOT over tighten the screws 3 Be
11. factors in determining subjective quality Nevertheless anechoic frequency response is by far the most prevalent measurement used to characterize speakers A Correlation with Amplifier Measurements A striking parallel exists in the measurement of audio amplifiers The power output and distortion of an amplifier is invariably measured into an eight ohm resistor It is widely acknowledged that this standard is far removed from the actual conditions in which the amplifier will be used One doesn t listen to resistors one listens to loudspeakers and the load that the speaker presents to the amplifier is nearly always highly reactive varies with frequency The eight ohm resistive load has developed as a standard because it somewhat approximates a speaker load is easily reproducible by different testing facilities and it represents something of a lowest common denominator That is while everybody recognizes that a different load should be used for amplifier testing nobody can agree as to what that alternative should be In the last decade there has been a growing awareness of the importance of an amplifier s capability to drive a real world loudspeaker This is the reason we have seen the emergence of amplifiers with high current output capabilities and a lack of current limiting or similar protection circuitry The ability to drive reactive loads has been accepted as having a higher correlation with audible qualities than the traditional measuremen
12. low sound pressures is established in the room This irregular distribution of sound level is caused by cancellation and reinforcement between the reflected and direct sound waves At high frequencies this pattern of high and low sound pressure levels within the room becomes too finely spaced to be discerned However when the dimensions of the room are comparable to the wavelengths of the musical notes there will be obvious changes in the intensity of certain bass notes in different locations within the room Additionally the existence of the standing wave implies a resonant condition where 39 66 acoustic energy is stored in the room This energy storage can result in heavy muddy or slow bass Since the presence of standing waves is caused by parallel reflective surfaces practically every listening room suffers from this problem to some degree However several factors are working in our favor here First as the room size increases the affected frequencies become lower and thereby less audibly apparent Second the presence of shelving or furniture against the walls will break up the large surfaces reducing the magnitude of the problem Third upholstered furniture can absorb a significant amount of bass diminishing the build up of resonant energy Fourth typical wall construction is not completely reflective at low frequencies However in some cases audibly objectionable standing waves will still be present in the lis
13. the listening room The answer in large part comes in the form of the digital computer It is possible to create a mathematical model of a listening room and predict the response of a given speaker in that room With the computer model it is quite easy to change the position of the speaker in the room or other parameters of the model In this way a composite picture can be created of a wide variety of rooms and speaker locations This enables one to design the speaker so that it interfaces properly with the listening environment and provides correct bass response in real world environments The accuracy of the computer model must also be tested in the physical world using pink noise warble tones and time delay spectrometry for verification The final and most important check is the listening test Theory and measurements become useless if they do not agree with what our ears tell us Even the best measurement methods provide little more than a simplified one dimensional translation of what is in reality an extremely complex multi dimensional experience Again the goal is the recreation of a musical event and the faithfulness of that recreation can only be determined through listening 3 Since an anechoic chamber which performs accurately to low frequencies is extremely large and expensive other measurement methods are also commonly used These include near field measurements when the microphone is extremely close to the driver and ha
14. MUSICAL MASTERPIECES ASCENOANT Serial Numbers Handcrafted by VVVVVVVV This product is certified to meet the requirements of the European Union EU Electromagnetic Compatibility EMC Directive 89 336 EEC Because the permanent magnets attached to the loudspeaker drivers produce magnetic fields it is recommended that the product not be positioned in very close proximity to computer monitors or television sets Table of Contents TNtKODUCUON soseri vives coases senon eee iii 5 2 Unpacking Instructions sisirin enna vacevesees ii dvetsanceaderssesdeeessesss 6 Introduction tcs 6 Contents A E ets ta 6 2 1 Opening the O OAO a eek cae ee cles sestteclin EA a aa a siden s epee alc 7 2 2Installing the Grille an aa idea 8 Orientation of the Felt Anti Diffraction Mask oooooocooocconcnconconconcnncrnonnrnnnos 8 2 3 Replacing Grille PS E A as 9 3 Wiring INS tru Cu ON scort ano den 11 Introduction ae ee ne e a A o e aat 11 Connecting the Speaker to the AmplifleT oooooococccncnccccccnnncnncncnccncnnncnanncions 11 4 Break in Periodici sscd sciences cevsws evened A a 12 5 Maximizing Performance scscccsscscccscccccccccccccccccseesessessssessensesesseseeseeseesesseseesesseneess 13 Break MAA A coud Valse vue vay habs A 13 Grille Assemblit tucan di td lada 13 Speaker Placement and SymMIMetIY ooooooccoccoconconcnnonnononnonno ne eeneeaeeaeneeneenes 13 To MM tri A tide EREE EE ated aie e bea 14
15. approximately one foot 30 cm per millisecond Therefore to preserve the natural soundstage on your recordings there should be no reflected sounds arriving at the listening position with a path length less than ten feet 3 meters longer than the direct path from speaker to listener see Figure 8 1 This means that if the speaker or listener is placed closer than about five feet to a wall or other surface that surface should be covered with sonically absorbent material Since the floor is within five feet of the speaker it is best to have a carpeted floor to absorb floor reflections A thick dense carpet and pad will absorb lower frequencies more effectively than a thin one Due to their complex structure carpets and pads of natural materials such as wool and jute will exhibit a more uniform absorption over the frequency spectrum than synthetic materials will 22 It is not necessary to acoustically treat the entire room to achieve good results Strategic treatment of specific locations can realize considerable benefits Remember that when sound waves reflect from a flat surface the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence just as a mirror reflects light waves Therefore the most important location for sound absorbing material is the point where the sound waves reflect to the listener see Figure 8 2 Reflected sound Direct Sound Figure 8 1 The reflected sound must travel further than the direct sound and the
16. best described as if the front half of your listening room has been removed so that it now opens out into the recording site To optimize your equipment set up and the listening room acoustics requires a basic understanding of the principles that affect the propagation of sound in the room Also we will discuss the way in which our brain interprets spatial cues and how the room acoustics can affect our sonic perceptions 19 An Optical Analogy Let us use an optical analogy to aid our understanding of acoustics Imagine that you are in a room that is lit only by a candle in its center There is a uniform amount of light cast in all directions Ifa large mirror is held closely to candle one half of the room becomes darkened while the other half receives twice as much light This is because there are effectively two candles now illuminating that half of the room the real candle and the virtual or reflected candle The energy that had been sent to both sides of the room has now been concentrated in one side only If we repeat the same experiment using a large piece of black cloth instead of a mirror the results will be somewhat different The side of the room behind the cloth is darkened just as before but the level of light on the side of the candle remains unchanged This is because the light is absorbed by the cloth rather than being reflected back into the room Thus we can see that the energy can either be absorbed or reflected A si
17. cture the very finest possible equipment and therefore reserves the right to make changes in design and improvements upon its products without necessarily assuming an obligation to retrofit such changes upon its previously manufactured models The above warranty is the sole warranty given by Avalon Acoustics and is in lieu of all other warranties All implied warranties including warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose shall be strictly limited in duration to three years from the date of shipment from our factory and upon the expiration of the warranty period three years Avalon Acoustics shall have no other obligation of any kind whether express or implied including but not limited to merchantability Further Avalon Acoustics shall in no event be obligated for any incidental or consequential damages as a result of any defect or any warranty claim whether express or implied Some states do not allow exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or limitations on how long implied warranties last so the above limitations and exclusions may not apply to you Avalon Acoustics does not authorize any third party including any dealer or sales representative to assume any liability for Avalon Acoustics or make any warranty for Avalon Acoustics The unit must not have been altered or improperly serviced or repaired The serial number on the unit must not have been altered or removed Warranty registration
18. et from both the side and rear walls In order to take full advantage of the bass reinforcement to provide the most uniform and extended bass response the anechoic response of the speaker must be known The Ascendant is designed so that proper bass reinforcement occurs when the speaker is placed between two and five feet from one of the walls side or rear and between three and ten feet from the other wall The measurements are made from the wall to the center of the woofer cone The exact distances are not overly critical although the two distances should not be within about 20 of each other For example if the distance to the side wall is four feet then the distance to the rear wall should be at least five feet 25 10 31 62 100 316 2 1000 Hz Figure 8 7 In room response when the speaker is placed 2 3 feet from the side wall and 3 9 feet from the rear wall a ies pas i RPeaAwowarw Dp Figure 8 8 In room response when the speaker is placed 3 6 feet from the side wall and 6 6 feet from the rear wall 8 5 Summary of Recommendations Now that we have looked at some of the common problems of listening rooms as well as their remedies let us summarize our findings and recommendations Flutter Echo and Standing Waves These situations are the result of the room having parallel reflective surfaces The potential problems are independent of the audio system and need to be addressed at the source This means that
19. ewhat distorted and it could be beneficial to place a fabric hanging or tapestry on the wall opposite the draperies e Parallel Surfaces Although it is not generally possible to make the walls non parallel the same effect is achieved by breaking up the large flat surfaces with furniture and shelving Speaker Placement Although your Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers may be placed in a wide variety of positions relative to the walls of the room it is still wise to experiment a bit to achieve optimal results The suggested minimum distances for the Ascendant are two feet from one wall side or rear and four feet from the other all distances are measured to the center of the woofer cone This will provide the proper degree of bass reinforcement as well as minimize early reflections The suggested maximum distances for the Ascendant are five feet from one wall side or rear and ten feet from the other As the distance from the speaker to the nearby walls increases early reflections become less of a problem and the sound stage becomes more spacious However regardless of the absolute numbers used the most even bass response will be attained if the distances from the side wall and the rear wall are not overly similar Early Reflections When arranging the furnishings in your listening room remember that reflective objects should not be within a five foot radius of either the speaker or listener to avoid early reflections This suggests the
20. gin listening o rare lols HANDCRAFTED IN USA CE Figure 3 1 Bottom view of the speakers showing the connections from the amplifier to the loudspeaker Check to insure the correct polarity positive lead connected to the post and negative lead connected to the post 11 4 Break in Period Your new Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers have an initial break in period They will not perform to their full sonic potential when first installed in your system This is due to a residual polarization of the dielectric materials used in the crossover capacitors and internal wiring See note 1 As music is played through the loudspeakers the electrical signal will gradually anneal these materials Similarly the suspensions of the drivers will reach their optimal mechanical properties as the speakers are played Only after the break in period will the full performance of your Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers be realized The break in process will occur naturally as music is played through the system To reduce the time required it is recommended that the system be played continuously using either a digital source in the repeat mode or an FM broadcast signal The recommended break in procedure is as follows Initial warm up three to six hours of quiet music Extended break in 200 to 300 hours of loud and dynamic source material During the break in period the sonic properties of your loudspeakers may undergo several gradual shif
21. hms 3 6 ohms minimum 28Hz to 25kHz 1 5 dB anechoic 50 to 200 watts Two position binding post 37 high 10 wide 13 deep 75 pounds each 36 Notes 37
22. ith high quality speakers 10 Features Advanced light weight driver diaphragm materials minimize energy storage and time domain distortion Each driver individually tested and matched for optimum performance Smooth wide polar response for superlative imaging capabilities Moderate impedance characteristic allows for ideal interface with any amplifier Star grounding techniques eliminate signal modulation Crossover circuitry is hard wired with surface only conductors eliminating deleterious sonic effects of printed circuit boards Easy to use binding post on back of speaker Careful crossover control of all magnetic field interaction Proprietary magnetics technology increases energy transfer and reduces noise floor Polypropylene capacitors used exclusively to minimize energy storage Proprietary damping circuit controls the tweeter s electrical parameters reducing interaction with the amplifier Constrained mode damping system absorbs cabinet vibrations Three and one quarter inch thick front panel supplies acoustically inert wave launch platform Acoustically engineered grille assembly decreases edge diffraction effects Distinctive faceted cabinet design provides optimal polar characteristics 35 11 Specifications Driver Complement Impedance Frequency Response Recommended Amplifier Power Wiring Methods Dimensions Weight I Proprietary composite dome tweeter 2 7 Nomex Kevlar composite cone woofer 4 o
23. ith perfectly flat anechoic frequency response will exhibit a low frequency boost in a normal listening environment a loudspeaker with a gradual bass roll off in an anechoic chamber can exhibit more accurate in room frequency response Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers are carefully designed taking these factors into account When placed in a variety of representative positions in the room Avalon loudspeakers will produce deep accurate and unexaggerated bass response with complete freedom from stored resonant energy 30 9 3 Measurements of Audio Equipment It should be recognized that measurements are not the final arbiter of sound quality of audio components Often times a measurement standard has evolved because it is easily performed or because it is easily repeatable or it has shown some link to certain audible characteristics Unquestionably it is the latter criterion which is the most important one After all the listener is not concerned with how a piece of audio equipment measures he is only concerned with the faithful recreation of the original musical event On the other hand measurement techniques that correspond to audible effects are an invaluable tool to the designer However it is the degree of correlation with the subjective experience which is important and anechoic bass response does not have a high correlation with musical accuracy in the listening room In room frequency response and transient accuracy are both significant
24. ke these points more clear an example of a room layout is given in Figure 8 9 illustrating the principles we have given TAPESTRY Figure 8 9 Example listening room The area around the speakers is free of objects that would produce early reflections A tapestry is hung opposite the draperies to absorb the reflection from the side wall and to help maintain left right symmetry The area behind the listening position contains items which help break up standing waves and flutter echoes Heavily upholstered sofas will help avoid low frequency standing waves while a carpet absorbs early reflections from the floor 28 9 Accuracy of Bass Reproduction Introduction We have all had the experience of listening to speakers with poor bass quality Perhaps the bass was muddy or ill defined Possibly the bass was exaggerated or bloated These distortions are distracting and keep us from enjoying the full measure of the performer s intent Concerning the reproduction of low frequencies Avalon Acoustics pursues a different design goal than most other speaker manufacturers Specifically we believe that the complete absence of stored resonant energy is of paramount sonic importance First we will discuss some of the technical aspects of bass reproduction and perception and then explain how this relates to the listening experience 9 1 _ Sensitivity to Time Related Information The human ear brain system is extremely sensitive to time related
25. lf space measurements when the speaker under test is buried with its front baffle flush with the ground facing upwards Both of these methods are equivalent to anechoic measurements below the frequency at which the speaker baffle appreciably changes the acoustic load to the woofer typically between 100 and 200 Hz Note that these conditions are also non representative of an actual listening situation 4 Since this discussion is concerned with the reproduction of low frequencies we will not delve deeply into the high frequency variations between the anechoic response and the in room response of a loudspeaker 32 Briefly the interaction of the dispersion pattern of the speaker with the reflective surfaces in the room and the variation of both with frequency creates an in room frequency response that may vary markedly from the anechoic response 9 4 Listenin ualities We have seen how many speaker systems store resonant bass energy resulting in ringing and poor transient accuracy Now we will turn our attention to the listening experience and describe how these measurable properties correlate with our subjective impressions There are two main factors which affect subjective low frequency accuracy frequency response and transient response At low frequencies these two descriptions are different aspects of the same event 5 Nevertheless for the purposes of this discussion we will treat these two topics separately as much as is possible
26. milar situation occurs with sound waves although we must account for the much greater wavelengths of audible frequencies Of course no material is a perfect absorber or an absolute reflector Furthermore the sonic absorption coefficient of a given material usually varies with frequency Basic Room Acoustics The great majority of all listening rooms are rectangular with parallel surfaces The walls and ceiling are typically hard surfaces which are acoustically reflective These large areas are the predominating factors in the overall room acoustics although the other items in the room furnishings carpeting wall hangings doorways etc will also play a role Without going into excessive detail there are four primary areas of potential concern 1 Standing waves 2 Flutter echo 3 Early reflections 4 Bass reinforcement The first three items are problems that should be reduced or eliminated The last item bass reinforcement needs to be matched to the entire system for proper tonal balance 20 8 1 Standing Waves The parallel surfaces of most listening rooms can lead to a potential problem in the low frequencies A sound wave can be repeatedly reflected from opposing surfaces back and forth If the distance between the surfaces is an integral multiple of one half the sound wavelength a standing wave will be set up This means that the incident and reflected waves combine with each other so that a stationary pattern of high and
27. peaker face will adversely affect sound quality WARNING Be extremely cautious positioning the felt in the tweeter area as the titanium domes are thinner than a human hair and are easily damaged Speaker Placement and Symmetry Selecting the proper room position for your Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers can dramatically improve their performance The following points highlight the fundamental concepts in loudspeaker positioning from the in depth discussion in Chapter 8 Room Acoustics and Speaker Position beginning on page 19 Left to right room symmetry aids in producing a balanced sound stage Image depth is enhanced when the distance to the rear wall is increased The most even bass response will be attained when the distances to the side and rear walls are not overly similar 13 Toe in Adjusting the toe in angle of the speakers is useful in tailoring the sound to best match the characteristics of your system and listening room When the speakers are facing straight forward they tend to create a large expansive sound stage painted with broad brush strokes As they are rotated toward the listening position the image becomes more compact with increased focus creating a greater sense of intimacy Pointing the speakers inward is also helpful in situations where strong reflections from the side walls are a problem Start with the loudspeakers facing straight forward and play either a mono source or a stereo source wi
28. possibility of a dual purpose room with one end devoted to music reproduction and the other end for another use such as a study or office In this way the area behind the listener will contain items that will reduce problems with standing waves and or flutter echo while the zone around the speakers remains relatively free from reflective objects If you wish to achieve an even more spacious sound stage it may be useful to place a sonically absorbent material on the side and rear walls near the speakers This can be particularly effective at the points where the sound wave is directly reflected to the listening position a mirror can be used to determine these points as illustrated in Fig 8 2 As the distance to the wall becomes smaller the suppression of these reflections becomes more important Early reflections will tend to diminish the soundstage in the direction of the reflections i e early reflections from the side walls tend to reduce sound stage width while early reflections from the back wall will reduce image depth We have found that a strong sense 27 of depth enhances the feeling of involvement when listening due to the three dimensional solidity of images Therefore it is more important to have a greater distance from the speakers to the rear wall than to the side walls Typically this is easier to achieve if the speakers are placed along the short wall of the listening room 8 6 A Listening Room Example In order to ma
29. r will void warranty In the Event of a Problem In the unlikely event of a problem with your Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers the component most susceptible to failure is one of the driver units If driver replacement is required have your dealer contact Avalon Acoustics The individual performance curves of the drivers in each pair of loudspeakers are kept on file at the factory This enables Avalon Acoustics to supply an exact replacement unit ensuring continued operation at the highest level of performance The defective driver must then be returned to the factory for inspection to determine the status of the warranty claim This on site replacement of the driver units eliminates the time and expense of shipping the entire speaker to the factory for repair All warranty claims must be made through an authorized Avalon Acoustics dealer or distributor Warranty Statement 1 Avalon Acoustics warrants the materials workmanship and proper functioning of this product for a period of three years provided that the completed registration card is returned to Avalon Acoustics within seven days of the date of purchase If the registration card is not returned to the factory within the seven day period this warranty is null and void The warranty period is in effect from the date that the product leaves our factory If any defects are found in the materials or workmanship of this Avalon Acoustics product or if the product ceases to properly function
30. refore reaches the listener at a later time Direct Sound Reflected sound Figure 8 2 The sound is reflected at the same angle that it struck the surface i e Angle X Angle Y Since light waves obey this same rule a mirror can be used to find the point that can be acoustically damped to avoid early reflections 23 8 4 Bass reinforcement By bass reinforcement we mean the effect of the room boundaries on the propagation of sound It is widely known that speaker placement relative to the floor and walls can affect the relative amount of bass that the system produces To make this interaction more clear let us refer to the optical analogy of the candle Similarly to the way that the mirror reflected the light of the candle so can the surfaces near the loudspeaker reflect the sound waves back into the listening room However when the path length difference of the reflected wave is short relative to the wavelength of the sound the reflected wave is substantially in phase with the original wave When this condition is met the coupling coefficient between the speaker diaphragm and the air increases and the speaker efficiency increases This changes the actual frequency response of the speaker and is not attributable to standing waves or other room resonances By selecting the distance from the speaker to the reflective surface we can determine the frequency at which the bass reinforcement takes effect Please see Figures 8 3
31. se see Figure 2 2 Orientation of the Felt Anti Diffraction Mask The grille assembly includes a felt anti diffraction mask Should the felt mask be removed be sure to note the correct inside outside orientation when re installing it The tweeter opening is beveled on the side that faces the listener away from the speaker 1 Remove screws and crate cover 2 Lift grilles straight up 3 Remove bag and align pins with grille pin holes push straight in Fig 2 2 To install the grille assemblies 2 3 Replacing Grille Pins The grille pins installed on the grille assemblies are fragile and can be easily damaged Should any of the pins break you may replace them using the following procedure I Place the grille assembly face down on a padded surface a towel or carpeting 2 Remove the damaged grille pin by pulling it straight out with a small pliers or similar tool Please refer to figure 2 4 Make sure that the complete pin is removed and that there are no pin fragments left in the mounting hole Figure 2 4 Remove grille pin Check for pin fragments in the mounting hole 3 Insert the new grille pin in the grille pin installation tool see figure 2 5 Figure 2 5 Insertion of new grille pin into installation tool 4 Carefully pull the grille cloth away from the frame mounting hole The mounting hole must be clear of all obstacles during pin installation 9 5 Place the
32. ss of the object Since a loudspeaker is used above its fundamental resonance it operates in what is known as the mass controlled region In this region high acceleration large driving force and or small driven mass does not imply extended high frequency response or fast transient response Instead high acceleration confers high efficiency 29 9 2 Rationale There is an old saying There s no such thing as a free lunch There are many trade offs in speaker design as in almost any area one can think of In this case the trade off is between transient response and anechoic frequency response the speaker s frequency response in an anechoic chamber Almost all manufacturers have chosen to sacrifice transient response for improved anechoic frequency response At Avalon Acoustics we have chosen to pursue a goal of complete freedom from resonances and stored energy to ensure transient accuracy Although this results in a slight sacrifice in one traditionally measured area we feel that the resulting gain in areas not traditionally measured results in audibly superior overall performance Anechoic Frequency Response vs In Room Frequency Response It must be remembered that very little listening actually takes place in anechoic chambers Placement of the speakers in a real world listening room will boost the bass response of the speaker as explained in Section 8 Room Acoustics and Speaker Placement beginning on page 19 Since a loudspeaker w
33. ssembly may be removed from the cabinet and gently vacuumed to remove dust If the felt insert is removed please note the inside outside orientation when re installing it The hole for the tweeter is beveled on the side toward the listener to provide optimal dispersion characteristics Drivers The drivers woofers and tweeter require no regular maintenance Do not attempt to clean the tweeter dome as it is easily damaged If desired you may remove dust from the woofer cone by using a small soft dusting brush 16 T Warranty Your Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers are warranted against defects in workmanship and materials for a period of three years provided that the enclosed registration card is returned to the factory within seven days of the purchase date Ifthe registration card is not returned within the seven day period this warranty is null and void and you will not be notified of future updates In the unlikely event that you did not receive the registration card with your loudspeakers please contact the factory immediately so that we may send you a replacement card The warranty period is effective from the date that the product leaves the factory This warranty is not transferable to subsequent purchasers within the original three year period A complete statement of warranty is given below Please take the time to fill out and return the enclosed warranty registration card Removal of drivers by anyone other than an authorized deale
34. st Reflection Points Since the ear brain system tends to integrate the sounds arriving within a 10 millisecond time window it is important to control the early reflections arriving from the side walls to the listening position A hard surfaced wall can produce a strong frequency dependent reflection that can interfere with the reproduced sound stage as well as change the perceived tonal balance of the system Therefore damping these first reflection points is strongly recommended Please refer to Section 8 3 Early Reflections beginning on page 22 for further information Corner Treatment It is important to control the first reflections of low frequency sound which normally occur at the comers behind the loudspeakers These reflections can cause significant distortions in phase and amplitude resulting in muddy bass definition and smeared bass transients Placing DAAD s available from Acustica Aplicata at the room comers can significantly control these bass colorations and restore the quickness of bass transients 15 6 Care of Your Avalon Loudspeakers Cabinet Your Ascendant loudspeakers are finished with a high quality furniture lacquer This is a modern finish which is beautiful yet durable and requires only minimal attention The speaker should be dusted with a soft non abrasive cloth Using the supplied furniture cream_or equivilent and a lint free polishing cloth carefully wipe the cabinet Grille Assembly The grille a
35. t into a load resistor The cynic will also note that a resistive test load produces the most impressive measurements for use in advertisements 31 Loudspeaker Measurements Returning to loudspeakers a similar situation has developed Although nobody listens to music in an anechoic chamber loudspeaker measurements are commonly performed in them 3 Although various proposals have been made for performing low frequency measurements in a more realistic setting there has been no agreement as to what that setting should be Loudspeakers continue to be measured in a test chamber that is equivalent to the absence of any room at all There is a developing appreciation that this traditionally performed measurement is not an accurate predictor of the performance actually attained in the listener s room Certainly in room frequency response is more important than anechoic response in determining a speaker s tonal accuracy Placement of the speaker within a room will cause changes in the frequency response compared to the anechoic conditions at lower frequencies the speaker s output is modified by the acoustic loading presented by the walls and floor However when making measurements it is difficult to separate the effects of a room s bass reinforcement from standing waves and other resonances associated with that room Designing for Accurate Bass Reproduction How then does one arrive at the goal of a loudspeaker that provides tonal accuracy in
36. tening room This can be noted by large variations of the intensity of certain bass notes in different areas of the room Another indicator is an unevenness of loudness of different bass notes This is sometimes what is actually on the recording so be sure that this is consistently a problem on a variety of recordings If you wish to reduce or eliminate standing waves that may exist in your room it will be necessary to reduce the low frequency reflectiveness of at least one of the parallel opposing surfaces The most effective method is to use DAAD s available from Acustica Aplicata Experimentation will be needed to determine the optimal locations 21 8 2 Flutter Echo These same parallel reflective surfaces can also produce a different audible problem If there is little absorption at higher frequencies a musical transient containing high frequencies such as a hand clap or the strike of a percussion instrument can be heard bouncing repeatedly between the surfaces Called flutter echo or slap echo these multiple reflections can obscure musical detail The situation is analogous to standing between two parallel mirrors when the outline of your reflection becomes more difficult to discern due to the additional reflected images present Again it is only necessary to reduce the reflectiveness of one of the surfaces in each pair of surfaces to eliminate flutter echo Since we are concerned with the high frequencies any soft material is
37. th a distinct center image through both channels Carefully rotate the loudspeakers inward in small increments to bring the image in precise center focus small adjustments can be made with the speaker on Apex couplers Toe in adjustment is rather delicate and experimentation is necessary to achieve the proper angle for your listening situation The optimum angle is usually between three and ten degrees inward Apex Couplers Supplied with your Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers are six Apex couplers used to couple the speakers to the floor thereby minimizing time smearing resonance effects The result is an increase in focus and solidity of the sonic images On hardwood floors you may protect the floor from the pointed spike using a large coin such as a quarter However the coupling effect of the Apex couplers will be reduced Once you have located the proper position and toe in angle for your Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers place the couplers under the speaker bases It is easiest to install the couplers with the assistance of a friend Lean the speaker forward first and position two couplers pointing downward one under each rear comer Then lean the speaker backward and place one Apex coupler under the front center of the base IMPORTANT It is imperative that the Apex Couplers are utilized in order to insure that the bottoms of the loudspeakers are not blocked This is especially important on thick carpeting 14 Fir
38. tion cccceccccecccccccccccccccccccccssscceeeseceeseeseesesseseesecsensecs 29 Anechoic Frequency Response vs In Room Frequency Response 665 30 9 3 Measurements of Audio Eg iPpMEnt sssr nnne ne daa hares 31 A Correlation with Amplifier Measurements ecesceeeeeeee erent enenenees 31 Measures ansia 32 OA Listening Qui eo eee eye ba e 33 Frequency Response Effects cccccceccesceceeteceeneneeeseneecesuescecseaeenens 33 Distortions jcc ke held oes ee SA nd ita 33 A gia ath atley aa code oc tee raat theta 34 12 1 Introduction Your new Avalon Acoustics Ascendant loudspeakers represent a true breakthrough in the development of moving coil loudspeakers intended for accurate music reproduction Upon initial listening the immediacy and presence of a live performance becomes instantly apparent The intent is to closely reproduce the original musical event as opposed to creating a spectacular sonic character which can impress upon first listening but fail to satisfy over a long period of time The Ascendant accomplishes this goal by providing the transparency and clarity which is lacking in many dynamic designs Overall smoothness is achieved without depressing the high frequency response a technique used in some products Low frequencies are rendered realistically and controlled as opposed to a larger than life perspective which can impress but compromises definition and harmonic
39. top of the shipping crate The Apex Couplers and accessory bag are packed together on the bottom of one of the loudspeaker cabinets The accessory bag for Hardwood finished loudspeakers contains replacement grille pins a small bottle of furniture polish and two lint free polishing cloths IMPORTANT It is imperative that the Apex Couplers are utilized in order to insure that the bottoms of the loudspeakers are not blocked This is especially important on thick carpeting 2 1 Opening the Crate The crate features a one piece top assembly which is fastened to the crate bottom with screws around the lower perimeter To unpack remove the screws and lift the upper portion of the crate straight up this will require two people Next slide each speaker part way off of the crate base so that the plastic bag can be unfastened from the enclosure bottom Stand the speaker up and the bag can be slid off the top Please refer to Figure 2 gt A 1 Remove screws y a a 3 Slide speaker then undo bag 4 Stand speaker up remove bag fF X Be Figure 2 1 To unpack the loudspeakers 2 2 Installing the Grilles The grille assemblies are behind a panel on the outside of the speaker crate Remove the screws securing the panel and then carefully pull the grilles straight out The grilles are installed with friction fasteners and press into place on the speaker cabinets Plea
40. truments have resonances of their own which can hide flaws in the speaker unless you are intimately familiar with the instrument and the recording Similarly an electric bass that has been recorded by miking its speaker amplifier will exhibit the resonances of its speakers which are inevitably considerable masking defects in the loudspeaker under evaluation 6 9 5 Conclusion Most loudspeakers have been designed to perform well in the frequency domain when measured in an anechoic test chamber We have seen how this design paradigm produces audible bass distortion and exaggeration While these exaggerations may sometimes seem impressive in the short term they quickly prove to be distracting from the musical intentions of the composer At Avalon Acoustics we design all of our speakers to minimize resonance and stored energy thereby ensuring transient accuracy As you listen to music on Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers your enjoyment of the music will grow as you hear the full measure of low frequency detail without exaggeration and come close to the heart of the artist s intent 6 There is a technique known as direct injection where the signal from an electric instrument is connected directly from the amplifier to the recording console bypassing the speakers In this instance an 34 electric bass will prove to be a consistent low frequency source The difference between direct injection and miking of the speaker amplifier is easily audible w
41. ts as the various components break in at different rates It is therefore suggested that the fine tuning of the system be delayed until after the break in period is completed However during the final phases of the break in period the sonic image will open up the sound stage will gain specificity the bass control and impact will increase and the overall sound will have a more relaxed involving presentation 1 A high voltage test is applied to wiring and capacitors during their manufacture This results in a residual polarization of the dielectric materials 12 5 Maximizing Performance These details are imperative to obtaining optimum results from your Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers Break in The break in period is critical to maximizing sonic performance and should take place before other adjustments see the discussion on page 12 The break in should begin with three to six hours of quiet music followed by 200 to 300 hours of loud and dynamic source material Grille Assemblies The grille assemblies with their felt anti diffraction masks are integral elements of the loudspeakers design Unlike many other products Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers are designed to be used with the grilles in place while listening and removing them will degrade the system s performance It is extremely important that the felt anti diffraction masks make physical contact with the face of the loudspeakers as air space between the felt and the s
42. within the appropriate warranty period from the date of factory shipment the unit will be repaired or replaced by Avalon Acoustics or its authorized agent after receiving authorization from the factory or dealer 2 Purchaser must return the product packaged in the original shipping carton freight prepaid to Avalon Acoustics 2800 Wilderness Place Boulder Colorado 80301 303 440 0422 17 Avalon Acoustics reserves the right to inspect any products which are the subject of any warranty claim prior to repairing or replacing Final determination of warranty coverage lies solely with Avalon Acoustics Any products which conform to this warranty shall be repaired or replaced by Avalon Acoustics as soon as possible following receipt of the product and claim but in no event later than 30 days after receipt of the product Out of warranty claims will be billed for labor materials return freight and insurance as required Any product for which a warranty claim is accepted will be returned to the purchaser and cost of shipping and insurance will be factory prepaid within the boundaries of the USA Units to be shipped outside of the USA will be shipped freight collect only This warranty gives specific legal rights The purchaser also has implied warranty rights and may also have other rights which vary from state to state This warranty is extended to the authorized reseller and any purchaser from him for value Avalon Acoustics strives to manufa
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