Acoustic Energy Speaker Linear One User Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL  
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1. Introduction  
Welcome to the Linear One. Perhaps more than  
any other hi-fi product, speakers are sensitive to  
installation so please take a little time to read  
this manual and to follow, as far as practical,  
the installation guidelines it contains. Careful  
installation will help ensure that your Linear Ones  
perform optimally. Should you have any questions  
not covered here we are happy to try and answer  
them either by telephone or email. Contact  
information can be found in Section 11.  
2. Handling  
The Linear One is a relatively delicate precision engineered product that can  
be damaged by inappropriate handling. Please take care when unpacking or  
moving the speakers not to touch either of the drivers. Damage to a driver  
will at best degrade a Linear One’s performance and at worst result in its  
complete failure.  
The enclosure surfaces should also be handled sympathetically. Any cleaning  
should only require a soft cloth, slightly dampened if necessary. Be wary of  
using any polishes or solvent based cleaning agents.  
Following this introduction, the Manual is divided  
into sections covering handling, installation,  
positioning, amplifier compatibility, connection,  
listening, matching products, specifications,  
warranty and contact information. We recommend  
that you read at least the first five of these sections  
carefully before installing and using your Linear  
Ones.  
The packaging should be retained for future use.  
3. Installation  
The Linear One is intended to be used mounted on speaker floor-stands  
relatively clear of room boundaries. Alternative mounting arrangements  
such as wall brackets are possible although these may result in reduced  
performance. If wall brackets are to be used they should be as rigid as  
possible and firmly attached to brick-built walls.  
The construction style, rigidity and dimensions of the floor-stands are of  
critical significance to the performance of the Linear One. Stands should  
broadly follow the specification below. Your retailer or distributor will be able  
to offer advice.  
Recommended Floor-stand Specification.  
Construction Style:  
Mass Loading:  
Direct coupled multi-pillar.  
Preferred.  
Overall height:  
0.50 - 0.65 m (Linear One top panel to be just  
below head height when seated).  
Top plate Dimensions  
Minimum width:  
Maximum width:  
Minimum depth:  
Maximum depth:  
140 mm  
190 mm  
190 mm  
250 mm  
Top plate interface:  
Floor interface:  
Direct coupled tri-point or damped-compliance.  
Floor spikes (M6 minimum).  
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4. Positioning  
that each speaker of the pair is located in a similar  
acoustic environment (different environments  
would be, say, a curtained area and a solid wall).  
The acoustic character of the side walls of the room  
in the area where the main reflection between  
speakers and listening position will occur should  
also be similar. Diagram One illustrates a typical  
layout.  
The position of speakers within the listening room is likely to have more  
influence over their performance than any other aspect of their installation.  
It is worth spending some time experimenting both with the finer points of  
speaker positioning, as well as the larger scale issues of room layout.  
If you are already familiar with the acoustic characteristics of your listening  
room, and the way speakers perform in it, you may already have a good feel  
for where to position your Linear Ones. However, installing any new hi-fi  
component provides a good opportunity to review an existing set-up and  
perhaps make improvements.  
Once your Linear Ones are connected (see Section  
5) and working, and you begin to become familiar  
with their performance, it is likely to be worthwhile  
experimenting a little more with their positioning.  
The position requirements for a pair of Linear Ones installed in an average  
sized and furnished listening room (say 4m x 5m) are as follows:  
Between 0.3 and 1.0 metres from the rear wall.  
1.0 metres from side walls.  
Reducing the distance between the speakers and  
the rear wall will increase the level of bass and  
low midrange making the speakers sound warmer.  
The warmth however is likely to be gained at the  
expense of some mid-range clarity and stereo image  
focus and depth. Increasing the toe-in angle of the  
speakers may regain some image focus but again  
this is likely to be at a cost of image width and  
openness. Learning through experimentation how  
Linear Ones behave in your room will help you find  
the optimum solution.  
Between 2.5 and 3.5 metres apart.  
Clear of corners.  
Angled inward towards the listening position.  
Don’t worry if, thanks to the architecture or layout of your room, it is  
not practical to follow each requirement. The most important thing is to  
experiment with the different options that are practical and find the one that  
works best.  
While it is often the first instinct to position a pair of speakers against the  
shorter wall of a rectangular room, it is often the case that a position against  
the longer wall will produce better results. This is because the long wall  
position tends to result in less prominent reflections from the side walls of the  
room. However, whether used against the long or short wall, it is important  
The Linear One is magnetically shielded and can be  
used in relatively close proximity to CRT screens.  
Diagram One  
0.5 metres from  
back wall  
angle  
inward  
3.0 metres  
Reflection  
region. Keep  
similar each  
side.  
Listening position  
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5. Connecting  
Connecting your Linear Ones to an amplifier is  
fundamentally a simple process, however, there are  
some choices to be made and issues to consider  
concerning connection mode, connectors and  
cable type.  
Conventional [single wire] connection  
Conventional connection requires that the shorting links remain in place  
between the high and low frequency terminals. Simply connect the speaker  
cable to either pair of terminals ensuring correct connection polarity as  
described below.  
Each Linear One is fitted with two pairs of  
binding-post terminals - one pair each for the  
low frequency and high frequency drivers. Two  
pairs of terminals enables Linear Ones to be  
connected conventionally (single wire), bi-  
wired or bi-amplified. As supplied, the high and  
low frequency terminals are connected together  
by metal shorting links ready for conventional  
connection.  
Bi-Wire Connection  
Bi-wiring separates the low and high frequency connections and can provide  
enhanced sound quality. A second set of cables (or alternatively, a multi-way  
bi-wire cable) is required. The shorting links should be removed and stored for  
any subsequent single wire use.  
The two cables for each speaker should be connected in parallel to the  
amplifier terminals. At the speaker, one cable should connect to the high  
frequency terminals and one to the low frequency terminals. Ensure correct  
connection polarity as described below.  
The terminals can accept either stripped wires,  
spade connectors, or 4mm plugs. Each of these  
termination methods is potentially equally effective  
and the choice is likely to be influenced by type of  
speaker cable used. Your dealer, distributor or cable  
manufacturer will be able to offer advice.  
Bi-Amplifier Connection  
Bi-amplifier connection adds a second power amplifier to the system so that  
high and low frequency sections have dedicated amplifiers. Significantly  
enhanced sound quality is possible. One stereo amplifier should be connected  
to the high frequency terminals of each speaker and a second stereo amplifier  
connected to the low frequency terminals. The shorting links should be  
removed and stored for any subsequent single wire use. Ensure correct  
connection polarity as described below. Follow the amplifier manufacturer’s  
guidence on connecting the amplifier input signals.  
The shorting links must be removed for bi-amplifier connection. Failure  
to do so will likely result in damage to the amplifiers.  
Connection Polarity  
It is important when connecting speakers to ensure that each terminal is  
connected with the correct polarity. Positive speaker terminals should always  
be connected back to amplifier positive terminals, and negative speaker  
terminals connected back to amplifier negative terminals. Performance will be  
seriously degraded if connections are made with incorrect polarity.  
Take care when connecting cables not to touch the negative and positive  
terminals together and “short-circuit” the amplifier. Make connections with  
the amplifier switched off.  
Choice of cable type will be influenced by the characteristics of other  
components in your hi-fi system and your dealer or distributor will be able to  
advise. Even so, there are some simple guidelines to consider:  
Cable runs to each speaker should be kept as short as possible  
consistent with each being of equal length.  
Short cable runs are especially important if the cable is of relatively small  
cross-sectional-area.  
If the cable is advertised as “directional” care should be  
taken to ensure that its orientation is as recommended.  
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6. Amplifiers  
The Linear One is a relatively high sensitivity speaker that does not require a  
generously rated power amplifier for adequate volume levels to be achieved  
in an average listening room. A minimum of 25 and maximum of 120 Watts  
into 8 Ohms per channel is recommended. Linear Ones offer a relatively easy  
load to the amplifier and do not make unusually heavy demands on its power  
delivery.  
No overload protection systems are fitted to the Linear One so it is possible  
to cause damage through over-driving. Such damage can occur whatever  
the power rating of the amplifier and is not covered by any warranty. If ever  
the sound at high volumes becomes distorted your Linear Ones are at risk of  
damage. In such circumstances the volume must be reduced.  
7. Listening  
8. Specification  
Type: Two-way, reflex loaded, time aligned  
It is wise before listening to your Linear Ones to make one final check of the  
cables and connections. If all appears well begin listening at a relatively low  
level to confirm that the system is operating as expected. Only increase the  
volume if you are happy that the sound at low levels is fundamentally as  
expected. If you are unhappy, turn the system off and re-check all the cables  
and connections.  
speaker.  
Bass/Mid Driver: 130mm pressed alloy cone with  
32mm thermally bonded voice coil. Shielded high-  
power long-throw magnet system.  
HF Driver: Pre-coated textile dome with ferro-fluid  
Linear Ones may take a little time to “run-in”, and similarly the system will  
also perhaps take some time to reach normal operating temperatures. It is  
unwise therefore to make rapid judgements about the performance of the  
speakers. Your ears too will take some time to adjust to the new sound, so  
revisiting the system set-up, speaker positioning especially, is best left for a  
few days.  
cooled neodymium magnet system.  
Filter Network: Symmetrical 3rd order at 3.5kHz.  
Cabinet: 15mm MDF carcass with composite layer  
front panel and driver de-coupling.  
Frequency Response: 50Hz to 28kHz ±3dB  
Frequency Range: 30Hz to 28kHz @ -6dB  
Power Handling: 120W peak programme  
Amplifier Compatibility: 25 - 120 Watts into 8  
Ohms  
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms  
Sensitivity: 89dB for 1 Watt at 1 metre  
Dimensions (H x W x D): 363 x 192 x 260mm  
Weight: 7 kg (single, unpacked)  
Acoustic Energy reserves the right to modify  
product specifications.  
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9. The Linear Range  
The Linear One is part of a range that includes  
the Linear Three floor-stand speaker, the Linear  
Centre centre channel speaker and the Linear Sub  
active sub-woofer.  
10. Warranty  
Your Acoustic Energy speakers are guaranteed against original defects in  
materials, manufacture and workmanship for 3 years from the date of  
purchase.  
Linear One, Linear Three and Linear Centre  
incorporate time-aligned drivers to improve image  
quality, depth and focus.  
Under this warranty Acoustic Energy agrees to repair any defect or, at the  
company’s discretion, replace the faulty component(s) without charge for  
parts or labour. This warranty does not imply any acceptance by Acoustic  
Energy or its agents for consequential loss or damage and specifically  
excludes fair wear and tear, accident, misuse or unauthorised modification.  
Linear Three  
Linear Three is a true three-way floor stand speaker  
that builds on the performance of the Linear One  
with wider bandwidth, higher power handling and  
enhanced detail resolution.  
This warranty is applicable in the United Kingdom only and does not in any  
way limit the customer’s legal rights. Claims and enquiries under the warranty  
for Acoustic Energy products purchased outside the UK should be addressed  
to the local importers or distributors. If you have reason to claim under the  
warranty please contact your dealer in the first instance.  
Linear Centre  
Linear Centre is a centre channel speaker designed  
to combine with the Linear One or Three for  
perfectly matched audio-visual systems.  
Please retain all original packaging materials for possible future use. We  
suggest that you complete details of purchase now and keep this information  
in a safe place for future reference.  
Linear Sub  
Linear Sub is an active sub-woofer perfect for  
enhancing Linear One bass performance or  
handling the low frequency effects channel in  
Linear audio-visual systems.  
Name:  
Address:  
Dealer:  
Purchase Date:  
Serial Numbers:  
11. Contact  
Acoustic Energy Limited  
16 Bridge Road  
Cirencester  
Gloucestershire GL7 1NJ  
UK  
Tel:  
+44 (0)1285 654432 (Sales)  
+44 (0)1285 656890 (Technical)  
+44 (0)1285 654430  
Fax:  
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Acoustic Energy Limited, 16 Bridge Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1NJ.  
Tel: +44 (0)1285 654432 (Sales), +44 (0)1285 656890 (Technical). Fax: +44 (0)1285 654430  
Manual Part No. MA1101  
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