Krell Industries MASTER REFERENCE SUBWOOFER manual

MR S MASTER REFERENCE SUBWOOFER OWNER ’S REFERENCE[...]

Master Reference Subwoofer Owner’ s Reference, v 00.1 Krell Industries, Inc. 45 Connair Road Orange, CT 06477 -3650 USA TEL 203 -79 9 -9954 F AX 203 - 891 - 2028 E-MAIL krell@kr ellonline.com WEBSITE http://www .krellonline.com This product complies with the EMC dir ective (89/ 336/ EEC) and the low-voltage directive (73/ 23/ EEC). W ARNINGS Do n[...]

1 continued 䊳 iii Overview This owner’ s refer ence is written to assist you with the seamless integration of the Master Reference Subwoofer into your audio/video system. Due to the size and weight of the subwoofer , ther e are special placement and installation issues that r equire your attention. In addition, to use the pr ogrammable electron[...]

iv (Overview continued) SECTION FOUR: Connections and Configurations, pages 30 - 41 This section provides information on connecting and configuring the Master Reference Subwoofer befor e playing music. Connections. Integrating the Master Reference Subwoofer with other components in your system using CAST , balanced, or single-ended connections, as [...]

v List of Illustrations Figure 1, page 1 6 Master Reference Subwoofer Placement Options Figure 2, page 1 8 Master Reference Subwoofer Fr ont Panel Figure 3, page 20 Master Reference Subwoofer Back Panel ( Power ) Figure 4, page 21 Master Reference Subwoofer Back Panel ( Inputs and Outputs ) Figure 5, page 25 Master Reference Subwoofer Remote Contr [...]

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1 A Letter fr om Dan D’Agostino Dear Audio Enthusiast, Thank you for your purchase of the Master Refer ence Subwoofer . The Master Reference Subwoofer is the r esult of my ongoing quest for designing r eference caliber audio components. I have been designing audio amplifiers for high performance audio systems for more than thirty years. The Maste[...]

About Kr ell This section describes the Krell Legacy , Kr ell’ s revolutionary CAST technology , and defines key terms used in this refer ence. The Kr ell Legacy “I design every Krell component to set the standard for workmanship, style, and performance.” Dan D’Agostino High-end audio is a demanding pursuit—an ongoing quest for excellence[...]

continued 䊳 3 From the first Kr ell product — the KSA - 1 00 — to the present, Dan D’Agostino has continually “pushed the envelope” of performance in his search for gr eater amplifier power and now , subwoofer power . His exploration of technologies, driven by his never -ending quest to elevate the standard of excellence, has r esulted [...]

( SECTION ONE: About Krell continued ) Revolutionary Kr ell CAST T echnology The Master Reference Subwoofer is designed with Curr ent Audio Signal T ransmission circuit technology , termed CAST . This circuitry is a r evolutionary method of connect- ing analog audio components for unparalleled sonic performance. The innovative use of the new Krell [...]

continued 䊳 5 CAST and Krell Curr ent Mode Combined CAST technology combined with Krell Curr ent Mode circuitry take signal transmission to the next evolutionary level. Krell Curr ent Mode is the technology developed to transfer the musical signal within a component, used in Kr ell components since 1 995. Krell has now added CAST technology , a n[...]

( SECTION ONE: About Krell continued ) Ensuring Maximum Performance The function of the Master Reference Subwoofer is to reproduce, with unprecedented authority and fidelity , the lowest reaches of the audio spectrum, thereby extending the low frequency capabilities of even the finest music and home theater systems. The Krell Master Refer ence Subw[...]

continued 䊳 7 Active Motion Control is a unique cir cuit topology developed by Krell specifically for the Master Reference Subwoofer . An instrument grade accelerator , mounted to one of the drivers, relays information about the driver’ s position to the Active Motion Control cir cuit, where it is compared to the musical waveform at the amplifi[...]

( SECTION ONE: About Krell continued ) 8 ( Drivers continued) Tw o 80 oz. strontium ferrite magnets ar e affixed to the custom-made, cast mag nesium speaker frame. The magnet assembly has been contoured to pr oduce a powerful, focused, magnetic field. A robust, doped (r einforced) paper cone, chosen for its high strength and low weight, is af fixed[...]

continued 䊳 9 T otally Balanced Operation Balanced circuits ensur e optimum signal to noise ratios, signal preservation, and accuracy of delivery under every condition; however , the primary benefit of balanced circuitry is loudspeaker contr ol. The Master Reference Subwoofer finesses the low frequency range with totally balanced operation fr om [...]

( SECTION ONE: About Krell continued ) (T otally Balanced Operation continued) The Output Stage. In the output stage of a conventional amplifier , loudspeaker control is accomplished by driving the positive speaker terminal only . Each Master Reference Subwoofer uses two Kr ell Current Mode circuit paths, one to drive the positive and one to drive [...]

( SECTION ONE: About Krell continued ) continued 䊳 11 Configurations A method of configuring multiple Krell pr eamplifiers, amplifiers, and associated components and synchronizing their stand-by/ operational modes. Using Krell Link in/out connections and MIDI cables, the remote capabilities of the linked components are contr olled by one componen[...]

( SECTION ONE: About Krell continued ) 12 Current Audio Signal T ransmission (CAST ) is a pr oprietary Krell circuit technology for connecting analog components, in which the audio waveform is transmitted between components in the current rather than the voltage domain. The speed and band- width that CAST provides yield astounding levels of accurac[...]

13 A proprietary Kr ell circuit topology in which the audio gain stages operate in the current domain. Kr ell Current Mode provides speed and bandwidth performance that is not possible with less sophisticated voltage designs. A proprietary full-function cr ossover designed for the Master Reference Subwoofer . The crossover is comprised of two secti[...]

14 Unpacking and Placement This section describes the procedur es for safely unpacking and placing the Master Reference Subwoofer . Unpacking Each Master Reference Subwoofer shipping crate measur es 26 in. ( 66 cm) wide x 32 in. ( 8 1.3 cm) high x 35 in. ( 88.9 cm) deep and contains one Master Reference Subwoofer . The combined weight of the crate [...]

15 continued 䊳 In the packing crate you will find: 1 Master Reference Subwoofer In the space underneath the subwoofer , you will find: 1 power cord 1 remote contr ol 2 AAA-size 1 .5 volt batteries for the remote contr ol 1 T -1 0 T orx wr ench for the remote contr ol To Remove the Subwoofer from the Packing Crate : 1. Remove all accessories from [...]

( SECTION TWO: Unpacking and Placement continued ) 16 Scenario 1: Stereo 12 4 3 Scenario 2: Home Theater , Rear Projection 14 8 3 67 2 5 Scenario 3: Home Theater , Front Pr ojection 15 8 2 67 4 3 1 Left Loudspeaker 2 Right Loudspeaker 3 Master Reference Subwoofer 4 Optimum Listening Position 1 Left Front Loudspeaker 2 Center Speaker 3 Master Refere[...]

1 17 Placement Before you install the Master Refer ence Subwoofer , review the following guidelines to choose the location for the subwoofer . This facilitates a clean, tr ouble-free installation. Make sure the Master Refer ence Subwoofer , in addition to other items (amplifiers, other system components, furniture) in the listening room, does not e[...]

18 SECTION THREE Featur es This section provides illustrations of the Master Refer ence Subwoofer front panel, back panel, and remote contr ol, and descriptions of front panel, back panel, and r emote control featur es. Fr ont Panel Description See Figure 2. The Master Reference Subwoofer fr ont panel provides power on and subwoofer status displays[...]

continued 䊳 19 1 Power Button Use this button to switch the Master Reference Subwoofer fr om the stand-by to the operational mode. 2 Power LED The blue power LED illuminates when the Master Reference Subwoofer is in the operational mode and flashes when any remote contr ol key is pressed. 3 Stand-by LED The red stand-by LED illuminates when the b[...]

( SECTION THREE: Features continued ) 20 Figure 3 Power 6 Power Switch 7 AC Input Specification 8 IEC Power Connector Figure 4 Back Panel Remote Connections 9K r ell Link In and Out 10 12 VDC In and Out 11 12 VDC LFE In 12 RC-5 In 13 RS-232 Inputs 14 Left and Right CAST Inputs 15 Left and Right Balanced Inputs 16 Left and Right Single-ended Inputs [...]

continued 䊳 21 BY-PASS OUTPUT RIGHT BY-PASS OUTPUT LEFT HIGH-PASS OUTPUT LEFT HIGH-PASS OUTPUT RIGHT INPUT LFE INPUT RIGHT INPUT LEFT RS-232 IN LFE IN OUT 12VDC OUT IN KRELL LINK IN RC-5 NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE CAST PAT. PENDING Master Reference Subwoofer 24 25 23 22 20 21 16 14 15 9 10 11 12 13 17 19 18 Figure 4 Master Reference Subwoof[...]

( SECTION THREE: Features continued ) Back Panel Description See Figures 3 and 4. The Master Reference Subwoofer back panel pr ovides input and output connections, r emote connections, and power . Back panel featur es and their descriptions follow . Power 6 Power Switch Use this switch to power the Master Reference Subwoofer fr om off to the stand-[...]

continued 䊳 23 12 RC-5 In The Master Reference Subwoofer is equipped with an RC-5 input that makes custom installation easy and secure by accepting baseband RC-5 input commands from har dwired remote contr ollers. The RC-5 input can be used, for example, when the subwoofer’ s IR sensor ( 5 ) is obscured from dir ect view . 13 RS-232 The Master [...]

(Inputs continued) 19 LFE Single-ended Input The Master Reference Subwoofer is equipped with a low fr equency effect ( LFE ) single-ended input. This input is connected to a surround pr eamp/processor , for use with Dolby 5. 1 and DTS encoded software. Outputs 20 Left and Right CAST High-pass Outputs The Master Reference Subwoofer is equipped with [...]

continued 䊳 25 Power 26 Power Key Operation Keys 27 CAST Key 28 Phase Key 29 Preset Key 30 Thtr (Theater) Key 31 Save Key 32 Unit Key 33 All Key 34 Mute Key Filter Selection Keys 35 Section Sub Key 36 Section High Key Menu Keys 37 Menu Key 38 Enter Key Filter Parameter Keys 39 T ype Key 40 Slope Key 41 Freq(uency) Key 42 Level Key Level Adjust Ke[...]

( SECTION THREE: Features continued ) Remote Contr ol Description 26 Battery Installation and Removal The Master Reference Subwoofer contr ol uses two AAA-size 1 . 5 V olt batteries. Batteries are included with the shipment. T o install the batteries: 1. Remove the backplate, using the supplied T - 1 0 T orx wr ench. 2. Install the batteries, follo[...]

continued 䊳 27 Remote Contr ol Functions See Figure 5. The Master Reference Subwoofer r emote control provides power , subwoofer functions, and menu and programming options, as well as stand-by and operational mode commands for components connected through Kr ell Link. Remote control features and their descriptions follow . Power 26 Power Key Use[...]

( SECTION THREE: Features continued ) (Operation Keys continued) 32 Unit Keys Use these keys to assign an ID to each component when multiple subwoofers are installed in a configuration. For instructions on assigning an ID, see Optional Configurations , on page 48, for more information . 33 All Key Use this key to control all subwoofers at once, for[...]

29 Filter Parameter Keys 39 T ype Key Use this key to select the filter profile desir ed. The front panel display (4) shows the current selection. See Step III. Configure the Programmable Electronic Crossover , on page 36, for filter options and instructions. 40 Slope Key Use this key to adjust the slope of the high-pass or low-pass filter . The fr[...]

Connections and Configurations See Figures 3 and 4. Overview This page outlines the connections ( Steps I and II ) and configurations ( Steps III through VI ) for the Master Reference Subwoofer . These instructions let you set up your subwoofer for optimum performance. Detailed instructions begin on page 31. Krell r ecommends that you configure you[...]

continued 䊳 31 Connections and Configurations The remote contr ol is the main input device for the Master Reference Subwoofer . All initial setup and subsequent system configuration adjustments must be made through the r emote control or via the RS-232 port. For maximum performance, the Master Reference Subwoofer must be connected to other compon[...]

Factory Defaults The Master Reference Subwoofer is shipped with the following default settings. Low- and High-pass Filters Filter BUTTERWOR TH Frequency 10 0 HZ Slope 6 DB / OCT . Level 0 Default Menu Functions Mute ALL LFE OFF Unit ID UNIT 0 CAST CAST NONE LED LED ON AC Mains AC OFF ( SECTION FOUR: Connections and Configurations continued ) 32 Swi[...]

continued 䊳 33 3. Connect the cables from the left and right Kr ell CAST 4-pin inputs (1 4) on the back panel to the left and right main preamplifier or pr ocessor outputs. For bal- anced or single-ended operation, connect the interconnect cables fr om either the left and right balanced (1 5) or the single-ended inputs (1 6) on the Master Referen[...]

( SECTION FOUR: Connections and Configurations continued ) 34 ( Step II. Connecting the Master Reference Subwoofer to Y our System continued ) 7. Plug the AC power cord into the IEC connector on the subwoofer back panel. Plug the other end into the AC outlet. IMPORT ANT The CAST and LFE inputs must be enabled through the menu to be operational. T o[...]

continued 䊳 35 C. Choosing Stereo, LFE, or Ster eo/LFE Y our Master Reference Subwoofer can operate in stereo mode, low fr equency effect (LFE) mode, or stereo/LFE mode. For optimum subwoofer performance, Kr ell r ecommends using the stereo/LFE combination. The connections and configurations described above in Connecting the Master Reference Subw[...]

( SECTION FOUR: Connections and Configurations continued ) 36 Step III. Configure the Pr ogrammable Electronic Crossover This section explains how to configure the subwoofer’ s two sections, the low-pass (sub) and high-pass filters, by selecting the appropriate filter pr ofile (Butterworth, Bessel, or Linkwitz- Riley), and adjusting the slope, fr[...]

continued 䊳 37 3. Low-pass Filter Level a. Press the level key (42). b. Use the adjust keys (43) to select the desired level setting (in 1 dB incr e- ments). Level range is ± 6 dB. Note See Step IV . Match the High-pass and Low-pass Filter Levels , on page 38, for more information on level matching. D. Select the High-pass Filter Press the secti[...]

( SECTION FOUR: Connections and Configurations continued ) 38 Step IV . Match the High-pass and Low-pass Filter Levels This section explains how , once the programmable electr onic crossover has been configured, to match the high-pass and low-pass filter levels using the Master Reference Subwoofer’ s built-in noise generator . Step A describes mu[...]

Notes Y ou can switch the low-pass filter on and off using the mute key , to help compar e the filter levels. Every time you adjust the level, the front panel display shows the numeric value of the level. After three seconds of inactivity , the screen becomes blank. Y ou have adjusted the high-pass filter . Y ou can also use a sound pr essure level[...]

( SECTION FOUR: Connections and Configurations continued ) 40 C. T o End Noise Generation 1. Press the menu key (37) to select the main menu. 2. Press the up adjust key (43) to select NOISEGEN . 3. Press the enter key (38), then pr ess the up adjust key to select NOISE OFF . 4. Press the enter key to end noise generation and r etur n to the main me[...]

41 To save a setting configuration to a preset: 1. Press the save key (31). 2. Press the pr eset number to which the settings will be assigned. The front panel display (4) shows SA VING then SA VED . Note If you press save then decide you do not wish to save, press the save key again before pressing the preset key . Recalling Presets 1. Press the p[...]

SECTION FIVE 42 Operation This section explains how to manually power on your system and subwoofer for operation and explains the importance of powering on in the appropriate or der . After the subwoofer is connected with your system, you can power on the subwoofer for operation. The order in which you power on your system is critical. T o avoid th[...]

If Y ou Wish to T urn Y our System Off : Tu rn your system off if it will not be used for a long period of time. It is critical that you turn off your system in the following order . 1. Press the power button (1) to r etur n the Master Reference Subwoofer to the stand-by m ode. The r ed stand-by LED illuminates (2). 2. Move the power switch (6) on [...]

44 SECTION SIX Optional Connections This section describes three optional connections for the Master Refer ence Subwoofer . Krell Link connections (9) allow you to synchr onize subwoofer operation with other Krell components that have Kr ell Link in and out connectors. The RS-232 port (1 3) allows you to connect the subwoofer to a computer -based c[...]

continued 䊳 45 3. Connect one end of a MIDI cable to the Krell Link out connector , on the control component back panel. 4. Connect the other end of a MIDI cable to the Krell Link in connector , on the back panel of the next component. 5. To link another component, connect another MIDI cable to the Krell Link out connector on the back panel of th[...]

(S ECTION SIX: Optional Connections continued ) 46 RS-232 The RS-232 port (1 3) allows you to send operational instructions directly into the Master Reference Subwoofer fr om a computer -based control system, pr oviding integrated control of all subwoofer functions. This featur e also allows the Master Reference Subwoofer to r eport operational sta[...]

continued 䊳 47 SECTION SEVEN Optional Configurations Five optional configurations are available on the Master Refer ence Subwoofer , to further customize subwoofer operation. Instructions for optional configurations follow . AC Mains Menu This option allows the Master Reference Subwoofer to be power ed on from an AC wall receptacle with a dedicat[...]

(S ECTION SEVEN: Optional Configurations continued ) 48 Mute Menu This option allows you to customize the mute key to mute all subwoofer outputs or only selected outputs. Also see Step IV . Match the High-pass and Low-pass Filter Levels, on page 38, for more information on mute key configuration. 1. Press the menu key (37). 2. Use the adjust keys ([...]

49 Exit Menu This option allows you to exit the menu mode. 1. Press the menu key (37) or use the adjust keys (43) to select the exit menu. The front panel display (4) shows EXIT . 2. Press the enter key (38). Y ou exit the menu mode.[...]

50 W arranty Each Krell Master Refer ence Subwoofer has a limited warranty of five years for parts and labor on circuitry , for all sections except the loudspeaker driver assemblies. The loudspeaker driver assemblies have a warranty of one year , for defects due to man- ufacture only . Should this pr oduct fail to perform at any time during the war[...]

51 Krell is not r esponsible for any damage incurred in transit. Krell will file claims for damages as necessary for units damaged in transit to the factory . Y ou ar e r esponsible for filing claims for shipping damages during the return shipment. Krell does not supply r eplacement parts and/or products to the owner of the unit. Replacement parts [...]

To contact the Krell Service Department TEL 203-799-9954, Monday-Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 PM EST FA X 203-799-9796 E-MAIL service@krellonline.com WEBSITE http://www .krellonline.com Retur n Authorization Pr ocedur e If you believe there is a pr oblem with your component, please contact your dealer , distributor , or the Kr ell factory to discuss the [...]