Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions, as an improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to its normal operation.
eIf the product has been dropped, or damaged in any way.
fWhen the product exhibits a distinct change in performance – this indicates a need for service.
22Replacement Parts – When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorised substitutions may result in fire, electric shock or other hazards.
23Mains Fuses – For continued protection against fire hazard, use fuses only of the correct type and rating. The amplifier is designed to operate with nominal mains supplies in the range 100V to 230V AC, but different types of fuse are used, dependent on the mains voltage. The correct fuse specification for each voltage range is marked on the product.
24Safety Check – Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition.
25Magnetic Fields – the product creates a stray static magnetic field. Do not place any object that may be damaged by this magnetic field (eg cathode ray tube televisions or computer monitors, audio and video tapes and swipe cards) within 0.5m (2 feet) of the appliance. The appliance may cause distortion of cathode ray tube images beyond this distance.
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a B&W ASW Active Subwoofer.
Since its foundation in 1966, the continuing philosophy of B&W has been the quest for perfect sound reproduction. Inspired by the company’s founder, the late John Bowers, this quest has entailed not only high investment in audio technology and innovation but also an abiding appreciation of music and the demands of film sound to ensure that the technology is put to maximum effect.
This subwoofer has been designed for Home Theatre installations and to augment the bass performance of
improves the midrange clarity by reducing the
Please read through this manual fully before using the subwoofer. All sound installations require some planning and experimentation if you are to get the best out of the products used and this manual will guide you in this process.
As the subwoofer is connected to the electricity power supply, it is important that you familiarise yourself with the safety instructions and heed all warnings.
Keep this manual in a safe place for future reference.
B&W products are distributed to over
60 countries worldwide and we maintain an international network of carefully chosen and dedicated distributors. If you have a problem, which your dealer cannot resolve, our distributors will be more than willing to assist you.
Unpacking
(figure 1)
The easiest way to unpack the subwoofer and avoid damage is as follows:
•Open the carton flaps right back and invert the carton and contents.
•Lift the carton away from the product.
We recommend that you retain the packaging for future use.
In addition to this manual, the carton should contain:
1Subwoofer
1Accessory pack containing:
4 Rubber feet
4 Spike feet
4 Lock nuts
1International warranty document
A tour of the subwoofer
(figure 2)
1Power/Standby indicator
2 VOLUME control
3
4 MODE On/Auto/Standby switch
5 Equalisation switch
6
7 Phase switch
8 LINE IN
9 LINE OUT
10 LINK OUT
11 Fuse holder
12 Power input socket
13 POWER on/off switch
Positioning the subwoofer
Because the subwoofer produces only low- frequency sounds, positioning is less critical in some respects compared to
Placing the subwoofer behind the listeners, even in surround sound installations, generally gives inferior imaging, but may be an acceptable compromise if domestic considerations dictate.
As with all speakers, the proximity of room boundaries affects the sound. Bass is generally increased as more surfaces come into close proximity with the speakers. Unlike
If the subwoofer is to be used in a confined space (eg in custom furniture), the space must be ventilated to allow sufficient air to circulate and cool the unit. Ask your dealer for advice.
The subwoofer is supplied with four spike feet. The spikes pierce through carpet pile, giving a firm support directly to the floor surface without crushing the pile.
If the unit is to be placed on a vulnerable surface, such as a wooden floor, either place a protective disc under each spike or fit the four rubber feet in place of the spikes.
When fitting either the rubber feet or the spike feet, first screw the lock nuts fully onto the thread and then screw the feet fully onto the threaded inserts in the base of the cabinet. If the unit rocks, loosen the relevant two opposing feet until the support is firm, then
Check that there are no cables under the carpet that may be damaged by the spike feet.
Do not walk the product on the spike feet as this may cause them to become detached from the cabinet and cause damage.
Take care not to impale yourself with the spike feet when moving the product.
2