Samson Sub120 Setting up the SUB120, Operating the SUB120, Configuring Your Speaker System

Setting up the SUB120

CONFIGURING YOUR SPEAKER SYSTEM

Before you start plugging in cables, you should take a minute and decide how you want to interface your new subwoofer. There are several ways you can interface the SUB120 and two specific categories should be consid- ered. First, Stereo vs Mono operation, and second, whether High (powered) or Low (line) level inputs and outputs will be used.

Common Sub Operation

In most cases, a common sub ( mono) bass operation is desired. This is true for several reasons, but mostly because low frequencies produced by a subwoofer tend to be non-directional. Since low frequency waves take so much space to actually develop, you can’t tell if the sub-bass is coming from the left or right side. Unless of course you’re in a very large room. Because of this phenomena, just about all sub-bass material is mixed in mono.

SAMSON

SAMSON

Stereo Sub Operation
Two SUB120’s can be used in stereo in larger control
rooms for increased low end. In addition, two
SUB120’s can be used in stereo, even in smaller con-
trol rooms, to help minimize standing waves. By using
two subwoofers at lower power, you can achieve a
more even response throughout the room.	SAMSON

SAMSON

SAMSON

Placing the SUB120

Because the low frequencies reproduced by the SUB120 are non-directional, you can position the unit almost anywhere. It is however, a good idea to keep the SUB 120 away from corners. Ideally the SUB120 should be positioned in the middle, and up close to, the wall you are facing in the mixing position.

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Operating the SUB120

SUB120 Control Panel

The SUB120’s control panel provides the connections and user interface to the SUB120’s internal electronic crossover and power amplifier section. The internal amplifier is a 120 Watt power amplifier capable of producing incredible bass output. The SUB120 employs an electronic crossover that adjusts the high frequency cutoff point for the subwoofer, and also, a high- pass output for your satellite speakers. You will achieve a tremendous bene- fit in sound quality by running your satellites speakers from the SUB120’s High-Pass outputs. The reason for this is that when your satellite speaker receives the filtered output from the SUB120, it will no longer be looking at the frequency below the crossover point. Let’s say your satellite speaker has a natural frequency roll-off at 70 Hz, and you are sending full range signal (as low as 20Hz) to the satellite amplifier and speaker. Even though the speaker can only reproduce 70Hz and up, the amplifier is still outputting 20-70Hz, which is wasted power and ulti- mately turns into heat. By using the SUB120’s High-Pass output, the satellite amplifier and speaker never see the frequencies lower than what’s set by the Sweep frequency. This means you’ll have more power dedicated to

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