Balancing Levels

Surround processors have a built-in pink noise genera- tor that is used with a Sound Pressure Level meter to bal- ance the volume levels of the various speakers in the au- dio/video system. (An SPL meter is a required tool for properly setting-up an audio/video system. Radio Shack sells an inexpensive SPL meter with more than adequate accuracy.) Do not try to balance the levels by ear. The frequency range difference between the center and main speakers will affect your perception of the pink noise lev- els and result in improper balancing.

Some processors can be programmed for use with a big or small center speaker. With the VCC-5, the processor should be set for a big center speaker provided that this setting does not remove the bass from the front left and right channels. For very high play back levels the

processor should be bandpass limited to 60-80Hz 6dB per octave. If your processor does not have this option contact your dealer for a X-2 Outboard High Pass Filter at the input of the center channel amplifier.

To achieve the correct balance, the VCC-5’s Prox- imity Compensation must be turned off when the levels are set using the noise generator. Balancing the levels with the Proximity Compensation turned on will not cause any damage, but the level of the center channel will probably be set too high.

Once the speaker levels have been balanced, they should not need to be altered unless the system compo- nents are changed, the speakers are repositioned or the listening area is moved.

To avoid the possibility of a false reading, always turn off the VCC-5’s Proximity Com- pensation when balancing the levels of the various speakers in your audio/video system using test signals and an SPL meter.

Do not change the setting of the Proximity Compensation Switch when the VCC-5 is playing. Mute the system, then make the necessary change.

PROXIMITY COMPENSATION

The VCC-5’s Proximity Compensation circuit is de- signed to help counter the sonic effects of nearby walls and other surfaces.

1.Using good, clear dialog as a source, listen to your system with the VCC-5’s Proximity Compensation both on and off to determine which setting provides more natural and intelligible voices in your particular listening environment.

AMPLIFICATION

To maintain the seamless integration of the VCC-5 with the front left and right speakers, the center channel amplifier should be a close sonic match to the amplifier driving the main speakers. The impedance of the VCC-5 center speaker is 4 ohms so that a high current amplifier is required and it should have at least as much power as the main amplifier. With only one channel of amplification

SERVICE

Should your VCC-5 require service, please follow these procedures.

1.Verify that the problem is in the speaker by substitut- ing a speaker that is known to be working in place of the VCC-5.

2.Contact Vandersteen Audio, describe the problem

2.If you cannot hear a difference between the two set- tings or you cannot decide which setting is better, leave the switch on. In our opinion, the VCC-5 has slightly lower coloration with the Proximity Com- pensation turned on.

3.Once the switch has been set, it needs no further at- tention unless the system is moved into a different environment

needed, you can bridge a good sounding, lower powered stereo amplifier into mono. To prevent system damage from power line fluctuations or other unpredictable phe- nomena, all the amplifiers in an audio/video system should be turned off when the system is not being used. Preamplifiers and CD players however, should be left on due to their lengthy warm-up periods.

and the steps you have taken to isolate the problem to the VCC-5. A Return Authorization is available on our website, www.vandersteen.com, under customer ser- vice .

3.Return the damaged or defective VCC-5 to Vander- steen Audio packed in its original box. Include the filled-out Return Authorization Form with the VCC-5.

Vandersteen Audio

VCC-5 Operation Manual