JBL SAM3HA, SAM3VA manual Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on purchasing this JBL Synthesis® Three Array™ home theater speaker. This product represents the synthesis of everything that JBL has learned about the emotional power of audio and video in sixty years of preemi- nence in the field. It sets new benchmarks in the use of “high technology” and provides you with the experience of being in some of the world’s greatest movie houses and concert halls, right at home! JBL’s Synthesis Three Array speaker systems feature the following:

THX ULTRA2™-LICENSEDHOME AUDIO SYSTEM: When used with a THX® controller and amplifiers, your speaker system will deliver a state-of-the-art THX home theater experience to your living room. You will hear in your home exactly what the director and sound engineer heard in the recording studio. The system will reproduce the audio flawlessly and without distortion.

ULTRAHIGH-FREQUENCYCOMPRESSION DRIVER: 1" (25mm) Pure-titanium compression driver with aluminum edge-wound voice coil and 2" (51mm) neodymium motor assembly, mounted in a constant-directivity horn for extended high-frequency response to exceed SACD™ and DVD-Audio specifications.

High-Power Compression Horn: Horns are commonplace in movie theaters across the world, because of their high power handling and well-defined high-frequency output. The horns employed in SAM3 have very low dis- tortion, and a well-controlled directivity, to put the dialogue at the center of the screen and the effects all around you.

ACCURATE MID-BASSDRIVERS AND SUBWOOFERS: The 6-1/2" (165mm) mid-bass drivers incorporate many of JBL’s patented technologies – such as Symmetrical Field Geometry™ (SFG), Symmetrical Inductance Modulation (SIM) and Vented Gap Cooling™ (VGC) – as well as unique cone and dome materials, to provide tight, smooth midrange sound without harshness, stridency or listener fatigue. From two to as many as four 12" or 15" (305mm or 380mm) high-power subwoofers complete the experience with earth-shattering, deep bass.

COMMON VOICING: Synthesis Three Array uses common voicing across the front three channels. Since identical drivers are used, each speaker has the same tonal qualities, thus as a sound is panned from one side to the other, there will be no change in timbre.

MAGNETIC SHIELDING: All front speakers are magnetically shielded, allowing you to place them near video mon- itors without generating interference or distorting the picture.

DUAL “INSIDE” NEODYMIUM, SHIELDED MOTOR STRUCTURE: The magnetic material is placed at the center of the motor structure, INSIDE the voice coil diameter. This inverted dual-magnet configuration improves magnetic shielding even further, reducing the extraneous magnetic field, and offers increased acoustic output.

DEEP-ANODIZEDCONE AND DOME MATERIAL: The special deep-anodized aluminum cone and dome material, together with the motor features, helps to reduce midband distortions to very low levels (approximately 50dB to 60dB below the fundamental signal driven at 100dB output).

TWO-STAGEPHASE PLUG: The phase plug is a key element in this compression driver. The accuracy of the phase plug geometry is most important to achieve a wide and flat frequency response. The pressure distribution in the phase plug is manipulated by adjustments to the number and width of the slots and even the plug inside streamline is opti- mized to achieve a coherent pressure front across the operating range at the exit of the phase plug.

SYMMETRICAL INDUCTANCE MODULATION (SIM): The flux-stabilizing ring and copper gap ring are also opti- mized for size and position, to help minimize or eliminate “asymmetrical inductance modulation.” Minimizing this asymmetrical inductance modulation leads to even further distortion reduction and improved vocal clarity.

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