PSB Speakers speakers quick start Protecting Your Investment, Case of Problems

V.PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT

A.For full, year-after-year enjoyment from your speakers, you should respect their limits. They will produce room-filling volume in average-sizedrooms—and handle peak momentary levels at those volumes without audible strain. But avoid louder-than-life playback of music or movies, especially in large rooms. Even the most “bullet-proof” speakers can be damaged by excessive volume levels, especially for long periods.

B.When listening to music or movies at very loud volume, you shouldn’t turn up bass or treble all the way or close thereto. This sends tremendously increased, dispropor- tionate power into the speakers, and may well damage them. Some loudness com- pensation (“Loudness”) controls, which boost both bass and treble, can also be trou- blesome at high volume. They are intended only for low-volume listening.

C.Finally, you should be aware that when amplifiers and receivers are pushed to their limits to produce excessive volume levels, they are driven into “clipping” and can do severe damage—especially to tweeters. Often, the damage is done by underpowered amplifiers, which may reach their limits very soon. When such units begin to “clip” the audio waveform, they may generate high-frequency “spikes” of tremendous power. More tweeters have probably been destroyed by this phenomenon than any other. If using your speakers at loud levels, listen carefully for any sign of harsh, gar- bled midrange and diminishing intelligibility—and turn the volume down right away if you detect it.

NEVER TURN UP THE VOLUME ALL THE WAY TO SEE HOW LOUD YOUR SYSTEM WILL PLAY!

D.Recommended Power

We recommend amplifiers and receivers rated from a range of 20-150 watts with our compact systems, 20-200 watts with our tower models. For playing at consistently room-filling volume, a minimum of 50 watts is usually a good idea. As just indicated in the paragraph above, be wary of driving low-powered amplifiers to their limits.

We recommend a maximum of 80-150 watts for sustained program material—as, for instance, with organ pedal tones of long duration, or minutes-long subterranean spe- cial effects in movies.

Be aware amplifiers with equal power rating may not play equally loud. Those with higher dynamic power ratings, better satisfy the power requirements. Some have pro- tective circuitry that curtails power available in demanding situations.

E.Cabinet Care

Cabinets have varying materials and finishes, including wood veneers, vinyl, anodized aluminum and high gloss “poly lacquers” and should be treated as you would furni- ture with similar finishes. Dust lightly with a soft cloth; avoiding abrasives. If neces- sary, wipe carefully with a cloth slightly dampened with glass cleaner to remove heavy soil.

	F.	Grilles and Ports
		A lint brush does a good job of cleaning grilles. Removable grilles can be taken off
		and vacuumed if you prefer. If need be, you can use a lint brush to clean ports.
		Avoid touching speaker diaphragms. Particularly, pushing in the domes will perma-
		nently damage tweeters.
VI.	IN CASE OF PROBLEMS
	A.	Lower power if a speaker begins to sound distorted, or seems to be missing certain
		frequencies, to check first to see whether playing at somewhat lower volume seems
		to clear up the problem. As we noted under “Recommended Power,” it can be espe-
		cially important to turn down the volume right away if you have pushed a low-pow-
		ered amplifier or receiver past its comfortable limits.
	B. Isolate the problem to the electronics or the speakers and, if the speakers, to specific
		speakers. Interchange the speaker wire connections on your amplifier or receiver
		between channels, so that the left speaker is connected to the right channel, or vice
		versa. If the problem shifts to the other speaker, the problem is not in the speaker but
		in the electronics.
	C. Another component—or, very often, a cable or connection problem between compo-
		nents—maybe at fault. If the problem stays in the same speaker, irrespective of the
		channel to which it’s connected—and after changing the connecting wire—chances
		are the speaker itself probably needs service.
	D.	See your dealer if you require service. PSB dealers are equipped to handle almost all
		problems. If you have moved since your purchase, the nearest authorized PSB dealer
		should be able to help you. If the problem is not resolved, please contact us, provid-
		ing the Model name, Serial Number, date of purchase, dealer name, and a full descrip-
		tion of the problem.

We appreciate your purchase, and hope this owner’s guide helps you enjoy the exceptional satisfaction that PSB speaker systems have to offer. We wish you many years of enjoyable listening!

PSB Speakers

633 Granite Court, Pickering, Ontario L1W 3K1, CANADA

e-mail: www.psbspeakers.com • phone: 888-772-0000 • (905) 831-6555 • Fax: 905-837-6357