most wear to the electronic components in an amplifier results from the inrush of current from the wall into a cold part. Once the unit is left on, the voltages and temperatures stabilize, resulting in better sound and component life. The electric bill will not reflect a huge price difference, as electronics at idle do not use much electricity (other than Class A amplifiers and tube amps).
9.Too Much Rear Ambience Driver Level. Turn down the rear driver if system is too bright.
10.Room Effects: Boomy Bass, Harsh Highs. Not many audiophiles realize how important their room acoustics are to the overall soundfield. No matter how good the speaker system and driving electronics, the room will have great influence over the final sound, whether for better or worse!
Rooms can add or subtract bass response, but correct tuning and placement can ameliorate these problems. See BASS TUNING section above.
Harsh highs can be created by echoes resulting from large wall surfaces with unbroken surfaces. If you can hear any echo when clapping your hands, you will need to use some room treatment products.
Many books have been written about room acoustics, and there is not enough space in this manual to give detailed information on how to do it right. However, the general rule is to use 50% absorptive/50% reflective ratios when covering the room’s surfaces, such as carpeting, drapes, stuffed furniture, bookshelves filled with books, records, etc. It is helpful to damp the first reflection points, which are the boundary surfaces halfway between the listener and the speaker cabinets. This includes the ceiling, walls, and floor. Hard plaster ceilings will reflect treble energy back down towards the listener, and should be treated with acoustic tiles (the soft and porous type) or damping pads made from foam or fiberglass. The walls can have a decorator rug, drapes, or diffusers at the first reflection point, and the floor can use carpeting.
We have used artificial plants and trees to diffuse the echo in our very large sound room, and found that this works better than simply absorbing the high frequency reverberation. Diffusion works better than absorption in larger rooms, but consult your Dealer for more information on room treatment. If your budget allows, contact Rives Audio (www.rivesaudio.com) to design your listening room. This company designs recording studios, concert halls, and home listening rooms to professional standards, they designed our listening space and a before/after comparison was simply astounding! Many audiophiles who continue to change components, looking for that “elusive” sound of live music, have not adequately addressed their listening rooms. Please optimize your room before making a judgment call on the “sound” of the
CARE FOR THE FINISH
Only Windex and a soft cloth should be used to remove fingerprints from the veneer. If you want a higher gloss, use spray wax such as Pledge on a soft rag and apply to the finish. Never spray wax or Windex on the veneer itself, as the overspray may stain the grill cloth and/or transducers.
Happy Listening for all of us at Von Schweikert Audio!
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