IMPORTANT SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS -
READ CAREFULLY !
Read Instructions: All safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is operated.
Retain instructions: Safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
Heed Warnings: All warnings on the product & operation instructions should be adhered to.
Follow Instructions: All operating and use instructions should be followed.
Cleaning: Unplug the product from the wall before cleaning. Do not use aerosol or liquid cleaners, just a damp cloth.
DO NOT EXPOSURE THE SPEAKERS TO DIRECT RAINFALL OR SUBMERGE THEM UNDERWATER – PERMANENT DAMAGE WILL RESULT
Damage Requiring Service: The product should be serviced by qualified personnel when:
A.The appliance does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance; or
B.Product has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged.
C.If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions.
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of athena TECHNOLOGIES® speakers! Proprietary technology and high quality manufacturing will allow you to enjoy the most natural and accurate music reproduction for many years. The advice offered in this manual is aimed at helping you maximize and maintain peak performance, and therefore, your listening satisfaction. Please take the time to read all of the instructions contained in this manual to make certain your system is properly installed and functioning correctly.
BREAK-IN PERIOD
We strongly advise that you resist the temptation to play the athena TECHNOLOGIES® speakers to their full capabilities until they have been properly broken in. This process should last approximately 50 to 100 hours of music playback. This can be easily be done by putting your compact disc player on Repeat mode, while playing a CD with a wide dynamic range at average room volume listening levels.
athena TECHNOLOGIES® COMPANY BACKGROUND
athena TECHNOLOGIES® is the newest division of Audio Products International Corp., known throughout the industry as “API”. A Canadian company founded in 1975, The API factory is a modern 165,000 square foot research, development and manufacturing facility located in Toronto, Canada. API is one of the largest speaker manufacturers in the world, distributing products to over 60 countries worldwide. A talented research and development team utilizes advanced computer-based design and sophisticated measurement techniques in its ongoing quest for new and better acoustic technologies. This research is based upon the years of pioneering psycho-acoustic research developed in conjunction with the Canadian “National Research Council” (NRC), to create speakers that achieve high performance in typical home listening environments. Extensive research into every aspect of the speaker is analyzed and evaluated before the design stage begins, a concept that we refer to as a holistic design approach. This method guarantees that the finest components and materials are made and tested with sophisticated manufacturing and quality control techniques to ensure exceptional performance that is superior to speakers costing several times their price.
AMPLIFIER REQUIREMENTS
All athena TECHNOLOGIES® speakers are designed to be extremely efficient. The AS-O6 is designed to be 8 ohm compatible allowing playback on almost any amplifier or receiver on the market. Most amplifiers with a power rating of 20-100 watts per channel will effectively operate the athena TECHNOLOGIES® AS-O6 speakers.
Warning: If an amplifier or receiver is over-driven, the resulting distortion is actually many times greater than its rated power. Over-driven amplifier distortion is called “Clipping”, easily identified by its fuzzy, distorted sound, and can damage any speaker. The volume control of most amplifiers and receivers is a logarithmic type, which means that full power may be reached with the volume control set at as little as the halfway point. Operating the loudness, treble, or bass controls increases power output well beyond rated levels. The warranty on your speakers is therefore void if the voice coils are burned or damaged as a result of overpowering or clipping.
CABINET CARE
Great care and craftsmanship have gone into the construction and finish of the cabinet. Periodically use a soft, dry cloth to remove dust or fingerprints. Do not use paper towel or other abrasive materials as it may damage the finish.
SPEAKER CONNECTIONS
Caution:
*Turn off all power in your audio/video system before proceeding with your installation. Not doing so could result in potential damage to the system.
CONNECTING THE SPEAKERS
On the rear of your athena TECHNOLOGIES® AS-O6 speakers are red and black connectors. Using standard speaker wire, connect the speakers one at a time, and start your process at the Receiver. Connect the speaker wire from the positive (RED +) terminal on the receiver to the positive (RED+) terminal on the speaker. Connect the negative (BLACK-) terminal on the receiver to the negative (BLACK-) terminal on the speaker. To connect the wire to the speaker, completely push the appropriate terminal in, and insert the wire through the hole that appears on the stem of the gold plated terminal. Release the terminal and the internal springs will hold the wire in place. Repeat for the other terminal.
Do this one speaker at a time until your speakers are connected properly. Be careful to correctly match positive and negative, as well as the correct speaker to the correct channel.
NOTE: If you inadvertently reverse one of the connections (i.e, red to black), you will notice a severe lack of bass from your system. This is called wiring the system “Out of Phase”. If this occurs, check the wiring and re-connect as necessary.
MOUNTING THE SPEAKERS
To mount the speaker find a secure mounting location that is not in direct exposure to the elements, such as rain, high winds, or sunlight. The speakers are weather resistant but are not designed to be directly exposed to rain or submerged under water. The speaker bracket needs to be mounted to a secure location, it is advisable to mount the bracket to a solid wall surface, wall stud, or brick. Mounting to aluminum siding, or eavestroughs for example will not provide adequate strength to safely hold the speaker. Use the appropriate hardware necessary to securely hold the speakers weight of roughly
9 pounds. The bracket attaches to the speaker using the two large threaded knobs. Before adjusting the angle of the speaker, make sure you loosen the knobs three or four turns until the teeth are separated. Point the speaker towards the seating area, and then tighten both knobs hand tight only. If you are not confident about the mounting procedures, please contact your authorized athena TECHNOLOGIES® retailer for assistance.
LIMITED WARRANTY POLICY
WARRANTY FOR UNITED STATES AND CANADA (SEE BACK COVER)
WARRANTY OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA:
Product warranties may be legislated differently from one country to another. Ask your local dealer for details of the LIMITED WARRANTY applicable in your country.
NOTE: Please retain the carton and packing material for the athena TECHNOLOGIES® speakers to protect them in the event of a move or if they need to be shipped to a service center. Product received damaged by a service center that has been shipped by the end user in other than the original packaging will be repaired, refurbished and properly packaged for return shipment at the end user's expense.
athena TECHNOLOGIES®, SCT™, and Create Your Sound™, are trademarks of Audio Products International Corp. "Dolby", "Dolby Pro-Logic", and "Dolby Digital" are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing. "DTS" is a trademark of Digital Theater Systems Inc.
