CHAPTER 2 – UNPACKING THE S4800 SYSTEM
All components of the S4800 sys- tem have been very carefully packed for maximum protection against damage.
As with any superior audio product, it is advisable to keep the original packing materials in case it is necessary to transport the S4800 system.
Because of the bulk and weight of this loudspeaker, at least two peo- ple are required to unpack it in the following manner: Open the front as well as the top of the carton. Slowly
and carefully “walk” the loud- speaker in its Styrofoam™ end pads out of the carton. Two people may then lift the system out of the end pads.
The four spiked feet are pre- installed in the bottom of the S4800 in four locations. Four metal coast- ers are packed in the end pads. These are to be placed between the feet and the floor for further protection of floor coverings. See Figure 6.
Figure 6. Inserting spiked feet.
CHAPTER 3 – SELECTING CABLE
Speaker wire and interconnecting cables are critical components in any audio system. With a system such as the S4800, they assume a new level of importance.
S4800 loudspeakers are internally wired with high-quality copper Monster Cable, specially designed for JBL. The same care that was given to the selection of internal system wiring should be afforded to the selection and application of the cables that will connect S4800 loudspeakers to other system components.
It is advisable to use high-quality wire, such as Monster Cable, and to select the highest-grade wire available from the manufacturer. Many manufacturers produce audiophile cables worth consider- ing for the S4800. As with all elec- tronics and associated compo- nents, however, every manufacturer offers products of varying quality to suit a range of budgets and applications.
We recommend using an audio- phile-quality speaker wire of not less than 16 gauge for connections up to 15 feet (5 meters) as a mini- mum requirement. If your connec- tions will be longer, heavier-gauge wire is recommended. JBL special- ist dealers have the experience and knowledge to recommend suitable speaker wire to best complement a particular system.
The amount of speaker wire required will depend on the dis- tance between the loudspeakers and amplifier(s), how many ampli- fiers will be used, and the method you select for connecting the amplifier and loudspeakers (passive or bi-wire; see Chapter 6). For maximum signal purity, it is advisable to locate the amplifier(s) as close as possible to the loud- speakers, even if this means that a longer distance will be needed between the amplifier(s) and preamplifier.
Both the left and right speaker/ amplifier connections should be the same length. If the distance between one speaker and the amplifier(s) is greater than the other speaker and amplifier(s), use the longer length for both connections.
For bi-wire connections, the same type of wires may be used for both the low-frequency and high- frequency sections to reduce wire effects (resistance, inductance, etc.) and to avoid intermodulation of low and high frequencies in the wires. Specialized wires for low- frequency and high-frequency sections may yield excellent results. Whatever wires are used, be sure that the low-frequency wires are as short as possible, and the left and right wires for each section are the same length.
