7.USE OF THE "NORMAL"/"SPECIAL" INPUT SELECTION SWITCH (S-5000 ONLY)
The "NORMAL"/"SPECIAL" Input Selection Switch, found on the back panel of the S-5000, allows for greater flexibility in the use and installation of the S-5000 speaker. Under most conditions, this switch should be set to the "NORMAL" position. However, there are specific conditions where the performance of the S-5000 is improved when set to the "SPECIAL" position, such as when the speaker is placed directly against a room boundary surface (wall, floor, or ceiling).
A. "NORMAL" SWITCH POSITION
When you are using the S-5000 away from walls, the floor, or ceiling, the switch should be set to the "NORMAL" position. This includes placement on stands, risers, in furniture, suspended from ceilings, etc. Unless the speaker is in direct contact with a wall, floor, or ceiling, use the "NORMAL" switch setting. If in doubt, use the "NORMAL" position.
B. "SPECIAL" SWITCH POSITION
When any loudspeaker is in direct contact with a room boundary surface (wall, floor, or ceiling), its frequency response is modified by that contact. Specifically, that contact increases the bass and mid bass output of the speaker. If a speaker (such as the S-5000) is designed for flat frequency response away from room surfaces, placing it against a surface may cause its sound to become "muddy" or "boomy".
If you are locating your S-5000s so that they are in contact with a wall, floor, or ceiling, set this switch to the "SPECIAL" position. This will attenuate the bass and mid bass output of the speaker to compensate for the increased bass produced by the speaker's room location.Feel free to experiment with the switch in both positions to find the one that gives the flattest response in your room.
Use the SPECIAL position if you are optimizing your system's response with a THX or third-octave equalizer and calibrating that equalizer by using a third-octave analyzer. The SPECIAL position will always maximize output and dynamic range, and will play the loudest, regardless of the size of amplifier that you are using.
The reason that you may find that the SPECIAL position gives the best response when you are locating the speaker directly against a wall or directly against the floor or ceiling is because this position is designed to account for the increase in mid bass response that occurs when a speaker is directly against a room surface. This is referred to as 2 pi space, in contrast to a speaker located out in a room, which is known as 4 pi space. The SPECIAL position should be used for 2 pi conditions, and the NORMAL position should be used for 4 pi conditions.
8.USING THE S-5000 WITHOUT SPEAKER GRILLES
If you look on the front baffle and inside the speaker grilles of your S-5000 speakers, you will find some unusually-shaped pieces of foam. Do not remove this foam. This special acoustical foam is an integral part of the speaker and an important element in its performance.
The foam that is located inside the speaker grille is very important. Therefore, any time the S-5000 is used without its speaker grille, it is very important that that foam be replaced. If your S-5000s are being installed behind other cloth grilles in order to conceal them (or behind a THX front projection screen), the regular speaker grilles should be removed.
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