Paradigm Surround/ Rear speakers Fine Tuning, Troubleshooting Guide, Bi-wiring and Bi-amping

Other Connection Options

DO NOT attempt to bi-wire or bi-amplify unless you have removed the jumper bars.

Standard Connection for Speakers with Two Input Terminals (Fig. 3)

Leave the jumper bars attached and connect using either set of input terminals following the instructions given under “Standard Connection” on page 5.

Bi-wiring and Bi-amping

Removing the jumper bars gives separate access to each frequency section of the speaker, which then allows for two optional connection configurations:

1) Bi-wire Connection (Fig. 4)

Bi-wiring can improve clarity and openness, with less grain and more solidity to the bass. Two cables are required for each speaker that you bi-wire.

2) Bi-amp Connection (Fig. 5)

To bi-amplify, two power amplifiers are required. Connection can be either vertical or horizontal. Connect your speakers to one amplifier at a time.

IMPORTANT! When bi-amping, always use amplifiers with identical gain. If uniform gain is not maintained, the speaker system’s frequency balance will be incorrect when horizontally bi-amped; and when vertically bi-amped the speaker-to-speaker balance will be incorrect. To prevent problems, use identical amplifiers (Brand and Model), in identical operating modes (single channel or bridged).

Passive bi-amping offers a dramatic improvement in clarity, openness and detail, with much better bass solidity and definition. The presentation of music and movie soundtracks is simply more intelligible and transparent.

With passive bi-amping, the speaker’s internal passive crossovers remain connected. An external electronic crossover is not required and cannot be used (there is no direct electrical access to individual drive units). This saves expense and setup difficulties. Passive bi-amping optimizes your speakers to achieve the best possible high-end performance.

Horizontal Bi-amplification(Fig. 5) dedicates one amplifier to your speakers’ mid/low-frequency inputs and another to their high-frequency inputs. This configuration can maintain better clarity when listening at loud levels—if low-frequency demands cause amplifier clipping, distortion will still be kept away from high-frequency drivers.

Vertical Bi-amplification(not shown) dedicates one amplifier to each speaker. This configuration provides complete channel separation which optimizes your system’s imaging ability.

FINE TUNING

Once you have your speakers positioned in the room, and have set speaker distances and speaker level calibration with your Processor or A/V Receiver, it’s time for a little fine tuning. Since Paradigm® Reference speakers are designed to provide exceptional high-end performance in a variety of room settings, fine tuning is simply a matter of making slight adjustments to speaker placement in the room. To fine tune your front speakers, center channel, and subwoofer refer to the Owners Manual included with those speakers.

Fine tuning Surround and Rear speakers is a matter of making adjustments that may be required for a particular multichannel music or movie program. If necessary, adjust your Processor or Audio/Video Receiver levels to ensure that there is a cohesive overall soundstage.

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

PROBLEM		SOLUTION
No Sound	Make sure receiver, preamp or amplifier is plugged in and turned on. Check power outlet at the wall is working.
	Are headphones plugged in, or is system on Mute?
	Re-check all connections.
No Sound from One or	Check your balance control or VC-150 Volume Control (if using).
	Check that all power cords are properly plugged in and functioning.
More Speakers
	Swap a non-working speaker with one that works to determine if the problem is with the speaker or something else (i.e. wiring, amplifier).
Lack of Bass or	One or more speakers may be connected out of phase (their polarity is reversed).
Dislocated Image	Re-check to ensure that each speaker’s cable is connected with correct polarity: red (+) to red (+) and black (-) to black (-).

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