NHT 3.3 Speaker User Manual
Contents
1. Ap 105 100 95 90 80 75 70 Frequency Response L 1M in room 60 2 83 volts 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k 65 Audio Precision NHT INC 02 MAR 93 22 42 51 100 so Ap 20 0 5 CLO err 0 05 ore THD N 0 01 2 83 volts 20 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k Limited Warranty Valid Only in the U S A Warranty Period For the period of 5 years for parts and 5 years for labor from date of original purchase the warranty period from an authorized NHT dealer Now Hear This NHT warrants that if our product fails to function properly under normal use due to a manufacturing defect when installed and operated according to the owner s manual instructions enclosed with the unit it will be repaired or replaced with a unit of comparable value at the option of NHT without charge to you for parts or actual repair work Parts supplied under this warranty may be new or rebuilt at the option of NHT What s Not Covered This warranty does not cover any product which is used in any trade or business or in an industrial or commercial application This warranty does not cover the2. Reference Loudspeaker OWNER S MANUAL Now Hear This 527 Stone Road Benicia CA 94510 800 NHT 9993 Thank you for your purchase of the NHT Model 3 3 Tower Loudspeaker You have purchased a world class loudspeaker that will provide you with many years of listening pleasure We at NHT are proud of the Model 3 3 and we believe that you now own one of the best loudspeaker systems currently available Please read through this Owner s Manual prior to installing your new speakers The information provided will help you to obtain maximum performance from your audio system If you have questions or require assistance at any time during the installation or operation of your new speakers please call your NHT Dealer or our Toll Free Customer Hotline at 1 800 NHT 9993 Please retain the Model 3 3 s packaging to protect the speakers in the event that you move or transport them Model 3 3 owners receive our highest level of customer service Your Model 3 3 loudspeaker system has been precisely matched within O 3dB tolerance and we maintain recorded measurements of all 3 3 pairs produced This ensures that we can provide precisely matched replacement parts if necessary Please take a few moments to record the following infor mation in this owner s manual In the event that you misplace your sales receipt this information will help us to provide prompt and accurate service Ownership Record 3 3 Serial Numbers 3 3 Finish Date Purc
3. 4 stainless steel alien studs 1 alien head wrench 8 Phillips head machine screws and 4 rubber feet Important We recommend installing only the stabilizer bars until final placement of the speakers is obtained This makes 2 the speakers much easier to move Carefully turn the speaker upside down or on its back and attach the stabilizer bars with the Phillips head machine screws using a 3 Phillips screw driver fig 1 When installing the bars onto the bottom of the speaker use your fingers to start all the machine screws in their holes before tightening them down This will prevent crossthreading Stabilizer Bars el seal Once you have found the ideal location for your speakers you are ready to install the metal cones Have someone help you Metal Spikes While one person tilts and holds the speaker to one side care fully install the cones flush against the stabilizer bars using the supplied allen studs The speakers are awkward to move after the cones are installed Caution The cones are very sharp To avoid injury use extreme care when handling and installing E Placement The Model 3 3 is a floorstanding tower speaker that requires no stands or mounting hardware other than the included SpikeKit The Model 3 3 is designed for indoor use only As the Model 3 3 is not a magnetically shielded loudspeaker do not place it closer than 18 inches from a television Unshielded magnets placed in cl
4. cabinet or any appearance item or any damage caused to the product resulting from alterations modifications not authorized in writing by NHT accident misuse or abuse damage due to lightning or power surges or being subjected to power in excess of the speaker s published power rating This warranty does not cover the cost of parts which would otherwise be provided without charge under this warranty obtained from any source other than an authorized NHT service location This warranty does not cover defects or damage caused by the use of unauthorized parts or labor or from improper maintenance Altered defaced or removed serial numbers void this warranty Your Rights The liability of NHT will be limited to the purchase price of the product and NHT will not be liable for incidental or consequential damages NHT limits its obligations under any implied warranties under state laws to a period not exceeding the warranty period Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages The above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have other rights which vary from state to state To Obtain Service NHT has appointed a number of authorized service companies throughout the USA should your product ever require service To receive warranty service you will need to pres
5. the back of the speaker will accept raw wire banana plugs or spade plugs Tighten the binding posts by hand as pliers can strip or break them Be sure to wire both the left and right speakers in phase That is the Positive red terminal on the amplifier out put must be connected to the corresponding Positive red terminal on the speaker Likewise with the Negative black terminals All speaker cables have some sort of marking along one or both conductors to help you make the cor rect connections Incorrect speaker phase is indicated by weak bass and the lack of a well defined stereo image To minimize noise pickup segregate cables by function Do not run low level signal cables parallel to power cables speak er cables or digital cables Also do not run speaker cables or digital cables parallel to power cords or parallel to each other If different types of cables are placed near each other at some place in your system separate them by the maxi mum practical distance and cross them at right angles where they meet Do not twist or tie AC power cords and speaker cables E Connection Methods On the back panel of the 3 3 there are two pairs of binding posts fig 3 with a metal jumper strap connecting the top and bottom pairs There are three different ways to connect the 3 3 s to your system full range with a single amplifier biampli fied with two amplifiers and two sets of speaker cable or biwired with one amplifier and two sets of s
6. the volume should be decreased If you can feel any heat emanating from the woofer or tweeter reduce the level immediately Speaker damage most often occurs from sustained high volume levels not from transient sounds or brief musical peaks Excessive boosting of bass treble or equalizer controls can worsen the problem and is not recom mended E Maintenance Your speakers require minimal maintenance under normal use The cabinet may be cleaned using a damp cloth or a mild non abrasive cleaner To clean the grille first remove it from the speaker then brush lightly with a soft brush or use a vac uum on its lowest setting Do not expose the speakers to direct sunlight high temperatures or moisture Do not attempt to clean the actual drivers E Model 3 3 Technical Specifications e System Type 4 way acoustic suspension design Focused Image Geometry In Room Response at 1M 23Hz 26KHz 2dB typical e In Room Response at 2M 23Hz 26KHz 4 5dB typical In Room Low Frequency Cutoff 22Hz at 3dB In Room Low Frequency Useful Limit 19Hz at 6db Distortion at 87dB SPL lt 0 4 35Hz to 20KHz lt 2 5 20Hz to 35Hz Distortion at 97dB SPL lt 1 1 45Hz to 20KHz lt 6 20Hz to 45Hz e Sensitivity 87dB 2 83V at 1M e Impedance 6 ohms nominal 4 3 ohms minimum 10 5 ohms maximum no phase angle over 30 Recommended Amplifier Power 30 Watts to 300 Watts per channel 1000W peak input e Inputs 1 pair of gold plate
7. to fine tune the 3 3 s bass response for a specific listening envi ronment For example it is possible to increase or decrease the vol ume level of the subwoofer sections independently of the upper driver sections to compensate for rooms that tend to under emphasize or over emphasize low frequencies Additionally the SA 3 s low pass crossover allows the user to adjust the rolloff of low fre quencies to the subwoofer sections for further fine tuning of the low bass and mid bass regions Note It is very important that you remove the jumper straps when biamplifying or you will damage your ampli fiers Connect the top pair of binding posts with speaker cable from the main amplifier and the bottom pair of binding posts with speaker cable from the second amplifier If you are biamplifying with two full range stereo amplifiers that are not iden tical make sure that one has an adjustable volume control so that you can match levels between the two Both amplifiers will need to be wired in parallel from the preamplifier so that they both receive an identical line level input signal If you are biamplifying with the SA 3 subwoofer amplifier it may be connected in series or in parallel For more detailed information consult the SA 3 Owner s Manual or your local authorized NHT retailer Biwiring Some audio enthusiasts have found that biwiring can bring about improvements in sound Biwiring is the use of two pairs of speaker cable and one amplifi
8. d 5 way binding posts for woofer input 1 pair of gold plated 5 way binding posts for mid high input e Weight 123 Ibs each Dimensions 42 H x 7 W x 31 D not including grille or stabilizer kit e Finish Italian black satin laminate high gloss mahogany or sycamore laminate Driver Information Subwoofer 12 polymer cone in 70 liter acoustic suspension enclosure Ultra long throw 2 layer voice coil 59 oz magnet in die cast frame 19Hz free air resonance Fc 35Hz Q C 0 65 12dB octave low pass at 100Hz Lower Midrange 6 5 polymer cone in 10 liter anti modal enclosure Long throw 2 layer voice coil 42hfz free air resonance Fc 67Hz OK 0 66 12dB octave high pass at 100Hz 12dB octave low pass at 320Hz Upper Midrange 4 polymer cone in 3 liter anti modal enclosure Fiber composite molded frame 110Hz free air resonance 12dB octave high pass at 320Hz 18dB octave low pass at 3 5KHz Impedance compensation Tweeter 1 fluid cooled aluminum dome 1 4KHz resonance 18dB octave high pass at 3 5KHz Impedance compensation e Crossover Information Top quality low distortion components minimal topology 14 AWG soldered internal wiring 2 terminal biamplifiable with passive network remaining in circuit Specifications are subject to change without notice in accordance with our policy of continuously upgrading the performance of our products E Performance Data Audio Precision NHT INC 30 JUN 93 16 03 39 110
9. e Geometry design This unique technology determines the 21 degree angle that defines the Model 3 3 s unique cabinet as well as the sound radiation pattern of the system e The irregular enclosure shape greatly increases the ratio of direct to reverberant sound reducing side wall reflections and concentrating sound energy in the listening area This greatly minimizes the effects of room acoustics on spectral balance e The exact angles at which the sound from the speakers reaches the ears of centrally located listeners is calculated to create what is known in acoustics as minimum inter aural cross correlation This technique allows the Model 3 3 to prop erly recreate the natural acoustic ambiance and perspective contained in good recordings e The radiating axes of the left and right speakers are crossed providing time intensity trading so that the stereo image remains focused and stabilized for a wider range of listening positions e The cabinet shape also reduces the formation of internal standing waves resulting in smoother midrange response The thick walled and heavily braced cabinet not only provides a solid foundation for the sound producing elements it is also specially designed to provide each driver with the optimal radiating environment for its frequency range creating its own acoustical room With the speaker correctly set up against the front wall the massive overdamped floor loaded woofer always sees a 90 corner the ideal enviro
10. ent your sales receipt showing place and date of original owner s transaction To find the name and address of the nearest authorized NHT service location call or write AB Tech Services 17C Airport Drive Hopedale MA 01747 1 800 225 9847 info abtechservices com Keep this warranty with your sales receipt Record date and place of purchase for future reference
11. er with each pair connected to one set of binding posts on the amplifier some two chan nel amplifiers provide two sets To biwire the 2 9 s connect the top pair of binding posts to the amplifier with one speak er cable and the bottom pair with a second cable The two sets of speaker cable are both connected to the same pair of terminals on the amplifier E Break In Period The Model 3 3 loudspeakers will perform better after they have had a chance to break in Several factors determine how long this process takes and it depends on such variables as room temperature type of music played and volume level You may be aware of subtle changes in sound quality during the first few days of listening as the mechanical parts of the drivers begin to loosen up E Operation The Model 3 3 was designed to handle a wide range of listening levels but every speaker has limits It is important to use common sense and listen for signs of possible distress from the speakers Underpowered amplifiers are most often the cause of speaker damage For example a 60 watt amplifier runs out of power when called upon to produce more than 60 watts and the resulting distortion can damage the speaker If you tend to listen at high volume levels more powerful ampli fiers are preferable because they are less likely to run out of power Noticeable distortion or harsh breakup is an indication that either your amplifier or your speakers are running beyond their capacity and
12. furniture Arrange the speakers so that the distance between the listener and the center of the speaker plane is 1 5 times the dis tance between the speakers This configuration puts the listener in the center of the stereo image Begin your listening by sitting centered between the speakers While listening to the first selection close your eyes and listen for image focus and depth of sound between the speakers Balance this image focus and depth with apparent stage width listening for sound beyond the boundaries of the left and right speakers Play all three recordings before completing this step 3 Determine fine placement by moving the speakers inward or outward from each other Move the 3 3 s no more than 1 2 either toward or away from each other Again make sure that the speakers are parallel to each other Play the same three recordings again listening for image focus stage width and depth Evaluate whether lt D there is an improvement If the overall performance is better E eae Speaker mark the position with a piece of masking tape and continue Centerof oa A Speaker __ moving the speakers in the same direction Evaluate them Plane 5 again Continue this process until you have determined the best balance of imaging depth and sound stage width 4 Install the metal cones Now that you have the speakers in the best sounding position install the metal cones onto the stabilizer bars
13. hased _ Dealer Name Dealer Address E The Model 3 3 Reference Loudspeaker NHT loudspeakers are designed to deliver refined musical sound from attractive and affordable packages Our efforts are guided by the study of human hearing and are optimized for real world use Every NHT speaker undergoes rigorous test ing and quality control at the factory to ensure you years of listening pleasure The Model 3 3 represents the ultimate expression of NHT s design philosophy embodying ideas and innovations that tran scend present limitations on the path towards that elusive goal perfection in the reproduction of sound At NHT we believe that a loudspeaker of this caliber should demand little compromise from the listener That s why every thing we know went into the 3 3 all our technology our experience our listening abilities We admit we can t quite offer you perfection but we can deliver sound beyond anything you have ever heard in your home E Design Goals e Extremely flat smooth frequency response for a new standard in neutral transparent sonics e Ideal impulse response and radiation pattern for state of the art imaging e Extremely low distortion and high power handling for natural dynamics e Optimal wave loading at all frequencies for position insensitivity e Superb transducers for frequency extension to the limits of human hearing E Technology The Model 3 3 incorporates NHT s proprietary Focused Imag
14. nment for the propagation of low frequencies Simultaneously the upper range drivers are located on a narrow front baffle that extends out into the room much like a minimonitor on a stand This configuration minimizes room boundary effects such as side wall reflections resulting in superior imaging and a natural tonal balance E The Model 3 3 and Home Theater With the increasing popularity of home theater systems and the advent of 5 channel music recordings many audio video enthusiasts are building combined entertainment systems for both music and movies When the Model 3 3 is used in a home theater system be sure to augment it with timbre matched speakers to ensure a seamless soundfield The NHT AudioCenter 2 is the appropriate matching center channel speaker while the Models 3 3 2 9 2 5i or 1 5 will function as matching surround speakers Alternately the NHT HDP 2 hybrid dipole surround speaker is a good choice for rooms where a full range dipolar surround speaker is preferred E SpikeKit Installation A SpikeKit is included with the Model 3 3 to provide optimum stability and to firmly couple the speakers to the floor for improved bass performance Each 3 3 loudspeaker is shipped with its own SpikeKit Caution the 3 3 is unstable with out the SpikeKit or at least the stabilizer bars installed To begin assembly unpack the SpikeKit and inspect all the parts The SpikeKit includes 2 aluminum stabilizer bars 4 aluminum cones
15. ose proximity to a television screen can cause discoloration of the picture If you notice picture discoloration move the speakers away from the TV until the problem disappears To realize the maximum performance of the Model 3 3 you should be willing to invest some time for fine tuning adjust ments Follow steps 1 6 referring to the diagram in fig 2 Prior to beginning this process we suggest you select two or three of your favorite recordings to use while you optimize the speaker placement Each time you move the speakers to a new position take note of the changes you are hearing This will help in guiding you to find the ultimate placement for your 3 3 s Be sure to have a tape measure and a level handy 1 Move the speakers within 3 of the front wall Unlike traditional speakers the Model 3 3 is meant to be placed very close to the front wall This placement allows opti mum loading of the low frequency driver and is critical for proper bass performance If bass response is too heavy in your room move the speakers away from the front wall an inch at a time 2 Determine rough placement by listening position For smoothest response the distance from the side walls should be different than the distance from the front wall The speakers should be arranged as symmetrically as possible equidistant from side walls perpendicular to the front wall and parallel to each other The drivers should face the listening area without obstruction from
16. peaker cable Full Range To run the 3 3 s full range with one amplifier receiver simply connect the speaker cables to either the top set or bottom set of binding posts it doesn t matter which one Biamplification Biamplification is the use of two separate amplifiers one to power the bass drivers and one to power the midrange high frequency drivers Biamplification provides increased dynamic range and power output as it allows both amplifiers to concentrate all their headroom toward a HIGH INPUT specific frequency range sparing them the task reproducing full range information To biamplify the 3 3 you will need two amplifiers a main amplifier for the upper range drivers top pair of binding posts and a second ampli fier for the subwoofers bottom pair The main amplifier can be a stand alone stereo amplifier dual monoblock amplifiers or the amplifi er section of an integrated amplifier or audio video receiver that fea tures pre out and main in jacks The second amplifier may be a full range amplifier connected parallel to the main amplifier or for more LOW INPUT flexibility the NHT SA 3 subwoofer amplifier NOM IMPEDANCE 8 OHME Biamplifying with the SA 3 is highly recommended as this configura AA et PI OPE Se tion turns the passive subwoofer section of the 3 3 into a fully adjustable powered subwoofer with onboard bass tuning functions The SA 3 is optimized for low frequency amplification and allows the user
17. refer to SpikeKit Installation above Once all four cones are installed re check your measurements making sure that the speak ers are still exactly parallel to each other If you have hardwood floors or floors with a scratchable surface you may choose not to use the cones because they will pierce the surface Rubber feet are provided and can be used in place of the cones Peel off the adhesive backings from the rubber feet and place them over the holes where the cones would screw in The disadvantage of using rubber feet is that you will not be able to adjust speaker tilt step 5 5 Adjust speaker tilt To start adjust the cones as needed to ensure that the 3 3 is level and does not rock in any direction use your level to be sure Experiment with vertical axis by raising or lowering your ear level in the listening position At one particular vertical position you may notice more ambience and depth in the soundstage If the improvement occurs when your ears are at a lower position raise the height at the front of the speakers by slowly unscrewing the two metal cones on the front stabiliz er bar Likewise if the improved sound occurs when your ears are at a higher position raise the height at the rear of the speakers by slowly unscrewing the two metal cones on the rear stabilizer bar Be sure not to unscrew too much or the cones may come off 6 Final points to remember You may want to repeat the setup procedures at some point after
18. you have had a chance to live with the 3 3 s for a while You will find that subtle improvements can be made that you may have overlooked during the initial setup Experimentation is the key to finding the best arrangement in your listening environment Be patient have fun and remember that small changes in speaker position can sometimes have a significant effect on the sound In addition room furnishings play an important role in absorbing and reflecting soundwaves Midrange and high frequencies in particular will be absorbed by soft furnishings such as sofas carpets and curtains A large number of these soft furnishings will dull the sound while a live room with few furnishings will brighten the sound E Connections Before connecting speakers to your system it is very important that you turn off the power to your amplifier receiver to avoid damage to the equipment Model 3 3 loudspeaker system is compatible with virtually all quality amplifiers Proper wiring of the speakers is essential to good sound At a minimum 14AWG speaker cable is recommended for runs of 10 feet or less with heavier special pur pose cable used for longer runs For specialty cable considerations consult your local authorized NHT retailer For best results use equal length runs of cable for the left and right speakers Prepare your cable by stripping 1 4 to 3 8 of insu lation from the ends and twisting the exposed wire strands tightly The five way binding posts on
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