Acoustic Energy Aego-T owner manual Controls and System Setup, Subwoofer Controls

6. Controls and System Setup

Subwoofer Controls

Accompanying the mains and signal input sockets on the subwoofer connection panel are a level control, an auto power switch and a phase reversal switch. Their function and use is described in the following paragraphs.

Subwoofer Level

The level control adjusts the volume of the subwoofer relative to the satellites. Begin with the level control set to around 50%. Detailed subwoofer level adjustment guidelines can be found below.

Subwoofer Phase

The phase switch reverses the subwoofer acoustic polarity. With the switch set to 0° the subwoofer output is in phase with the satellites. With the switch set to 180° the subwoofer output is out of phase with the satellites. Reversing the subwoofer phase can help optimise the sound of Aego-T satellite and subwoofer systems. Further subwoofer phase advice can be found below.

Subwoofer Auto Power

The subwoofer mains power switch incorporates an automatic switch-on/ off function. With the switch set to “Auto” the subwoofer will switch on automatically when an audio signal is present. It will switch off again when no signal has been present for around 10 minutes. With “on” selected the subwoofer remains switched-on permanently.

System Setup

Before listening to your Aego-T system make one final check of the cables and connections. If all appears well begin listening at a relatively low volume to confirm that the system is operating as expected. Only increase the volume if you are happy that the sound at low volume is fundamentally as expected. If you are unhappy, turn the system off and re-check all the cables and connections.

Aego-T systems may take a little time to reach normal operating temperatures and to “run-in”. Your ears too will take some time to adjust to the new sound, so it is unwise therefore to make rapid judgements about the performance of the system.

The most important aspect of Aego-T system setup is the integration of the satellites and subwoofer. Assuming the locations chosen for the satellites are satisfactory, adjusting the subwoofer’s location in the room, its volume level and phase, and the subwoofer filter frequency selected on the audio-visual processor should enable a good end result to be achieved.

Select a few short examples of familiar programme material - both movie and music - to use while adjusting the setup. Listen also from a variety of different positions in the room. Check for balance and consistency of sound - neither too much nor too little bass across the range of programme material and listening positions. Experimentation and careful listening is the key to finding a good subwoofer setup.

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Subwoofer Filter Frequency

The Aego-T satellite and subwoofer are designed to work together with a crossover frequency of 80Hz so the first setup parameter to adjust is to set the audio-visual processor’s subwoofer filter frequency to this value. As you adjust other parameters you may find that moving the filter frequency a little, say 10Hz either way, is beneficial. Adjust other aspects of the setup, particularly subwoofer phase, before selecting a filter frequency higher than 90Hz or lower than 70Hz.

Note: Despite their small size, Aego-T satellites can handle and reproduce full range audio, so the audio-visual processor should be set to treat them as “large” speakers.

Sub-woofer Volume

Setting the subwoofer volume is important in terms of both overall system balance and the demands of different types of programme material. You may find that material with an emphasis on music works better with a lower subwoofer volume than movie material with an emphasis on “effects”. Finding a compromise between the two is a matter of subwoofer volume adjustment in parallel with adjusting its position in the room.

Sub-woofer Location

Broadly speaking, the closer a subwoofer is to the walls of the room (assuming they are solid brick walls) the more bass it will generate in the room (and the lower its volume need be set). Moving the subwoofer closer to the walls however will also tend to reduce the consistency subwoofer volume over the listening room (a corner location being the worst in this respect). Positions closer to the wall with also tend to change the character of the bass produced by the subwoofer - it will emphasise the very lowest signals more. This change in bass character with location is the variable that enables a good compromise position for the subwoofer to be found.

Sub-woofer Phase

Switching the subwoofer phase should be left to last. If a good subwoofer position is proving difficult to find, try again with the phase reversed.

AE12 Rev I 4 8/9/05, 2:35 pm