Bowers & Wilkins 683, 600 owner manual Limited Warranty, Fine Tuning, Running-inPeriod, Aftercare

independently. Bi-wiring can improve the resolution of low-level detail. Figures 3a and 3b illustrate conventional and bi-wire connection.

Ensure that positive terminals on the speaker (marked

+and coloured red) are connected to the positive output terminal on the amplifier and that negative terminals on the speaker (marked – and coloured black) are connected to the negative output terminal on the amplifier. Incorrect connection can result in poor imaging and loss of bass.

Ask your dealer for advice when selecting speaker cable. Keep its total impedance below the maximum recommended in the speaker specification and use a low inductance cable to avoid attenuation of high frequencies.

Fine Tuning

Before fine tuning, make sure that all the connections in the installation are correct and secure.

Moving the speakers further from the walls will generally reduce the volume of bass. Space behind the speakers will also help to create an aural impression of depth. Conversely, moving the speakers closer to the walls will increase the volume of bass. If you want to reduce the volume of bass without moving the speakers further from the wall, fit the foam plugs in the port tubes as illustrated in Figure 4.

If the bass seems uneven with frequency this will most probably be due to resonance modes in the listening room. Even small changes in the position of the speakers or the listening position can have a profound effect on how these resonances affect the sound. Try moving the listening position or locating the speakers along a different wall. The presence and position of large pieces of furniture can also influence resonance modes.

If the central image lacks focus, try moving the speakers closer together or angling them inward so that they point at a location just in front of the listening position. Figure 2b illustrates speakers angled inwards.

If the sound is too bright, increasing the amount of soft furnishing in the room (heavier curtains for example) may help balance the sound. Conversely, reducing the amount of soft furnishing may help brighten a dull sound.

Some rooms suffer from “flutter echoes” – echoes that “bounce” between parallel room boundaries. Flutter echoes can colour the sound of the speakers in the room. Test for flutter echoes by standing in the middle of the room and clapping your hands. Flutter echoes can be reduced by placing irregular shaped items or non-reflective surfaces, bookshelves, rugs or pictures for example, on one of the offending walls or floor.

Ensure that the speaker stands firmly on the floor. Use carpet piercing spikes if appropriate and adjust them to take up any unevenness.

Running-in Period

The performance of the speaker will change subtly during the initial listening period. If the speaker has been stored in a cold environment, the damping

compounds and suspension materials of the drive units will take some time to recover their correct mechanical properties. The drive unit suspensions will also loosen up during the first hours of use. The time taken for the speaker to achieve its intended performance will vary depending on previous storage conditions and how it is used. As a guide, allow up to a week for the temperature effects to stabilise and

15 hours of average use for the mechanical parts to attain their intended design characteristics.

However, longer run-in periods (as long as a month) have been reported and there is evidence to suggest that this has little to do with the speaker changing and more to do with the listener getting used to the new sound. This is especially so with highly revealing speakers such as these where there may be a significant increase in the amount of detail compared with what the listener has previously been used to; the sound may at first appear too “up front” and perhaps a little hard. After an extended period of time the sound will seem to mellow, but without losing clarity and detail.

Aftercare

The cabinet surfaces usually only require dusting. If you wish to use an aerosol or other cleaner, remove the grille first by gently pulling it away from the cabinet. Spray aerosols onto the cleaning cloth, not directly onto the product. Test a small area first, as some cleaning products may damage some of the surfaces. Avoid products that are abrasive, or contain acid, alkali or anti-bacterial agents. Do not use cleaning agents on the drive units. The grille fabric may be cleaned with a normal clothes brush whilst the grille is detached from the cabinet. Avoid touching the drive units, especially the tweeter, as damage may result.

Limited Warranty

This product has been designed and manufactured to the highest quality standards. However, if something does go wrong with this product, B&W Group Ltd. and its national distributors warrant free of charge labour (exclusion may apply) and replacement parts in any country served by an official B&W distributor.

This limited warranty is valid for a period of five years from the date of purchase or two years for electronics including amplified loudspeakers.

Terms and Conditions

1The warranty is limited to the repair of the equipment. Neither transportation, nor any other costs, nor any risk for removal, transportation and installation of products is covered by this warranty.

2This warranty is only valid for the original owner. It is not transferable.

3This warranty will not be applicable in cases other than defects in materials and/or workmanship at the time of purchase and will not be applicable:

3