Acoustic Energy Speaker System Linear Centre User Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL  
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1. Introduction  
Welcome to the Linear Centre. 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 Centre  
performs 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 Centre is a relatively delicate precision engineered product that  
can be damaged by inappropriate handling. Please take care when unpacking  
or moving the speaker not to touch any of the drivers. Damage to a driver  
will at best degrade a Linear Centre’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  
Centre.  
The packaging should be retained for future use.  
3. Installation  
The Linear Centre is intended to be used in a home theatre system located  
either directly above or below the screen. It can be stood either directly on  
a furniture unit, integrated within a screen stand, mounted on a dedicated  
speaker stand or on a wall using appropriate bracket hardware.  
Best results are likely to be gained if the Linear Centre is directly coupled  
to the floor via a dedicated, spiked stand. If the screen stand is to carry the  
Linear Centre it is advisable to de-couple it from the screen with the supplied  
adhesive rubber feet so that its does not disturb the picture. If a wall bracket  
is to be used it should be as rigid as possible and firmly attached to a brick-  
built wall.  
The Linear Centre is magnetically shielded. However, the extreme sensitivity  
of some CRT tubes to low levels of magnetic flux may mean that, in rare  
cases, the shielding may not be sufficient. Should your screen suffer picture  
distortion caused by the proximity of a centre speaker contact your dealer  
installer or Acoustic Energy for advice.  
The following section provides further general advice on Home Theatre  
speaker positioning and room layout.  
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4. Positioning  
Don’t worry if, thanks to the architecture or layout  
of your room, it is not practical to follow each  
requirement or the layout diagram exactly. The  
most important thing is to experiment with the  
different options that are practical and find the one  
that works best.  
The position of the speakers in a home theatre installation will have great  
influence over its performance. 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. Diagram One illustrates an idealised general home  
theatre speaker layout.  
If you are already familiar with the characteristics of your home theatre room,  
and the way speakers perform in it, you may already have a good feel for  
where to position your Linear Centre. However, installing any new speaker  
component provides a good opportunity to review an existing set-up and  
perhaps make improvements.  
Once your Linear Centre is connected (see Section  
5) and working, and you begin to become familiar  
with its performance, it is likely to be worthwhile  
experimenting a little more with its positioning.  
For example, reducing the distance between the  
speaker and the rear wall will increase the level of  
bass and low midrange making the speaker sound  
warmer. The warmth however is likely to be gained  
at the expense of some mid-range clarity.  
The position requirements for a Linear Centre are as follows:  
Between 0.05 and 0.5 metres from the rear wall.  
Generally in-line with the display screen.  
Directly above or below the display screen.  
Diagram One  
Left  
Front  
Right  
Front  
Centre  
Sub-woofer  
Viewing/listening position  
Left  
Surround  
Right  
Surround  
Alternative  
or Extra Left  
Surround  
Alternative or  
Extra Right  
Surround  
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5. Connecting  
Connecting your Linear Centre 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.  
Linear Centre 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 Centre 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  
guidance 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 should be kept as short as possible.  
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 Centre 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 175  
Watts into 8 Ohms per channel is recommended. Linear Centre also offers  
a relatively easy load to the amplifier and does not make unusually heavy  
demands on its power delivery.  
No overload protection systems are fitted to the Linear Centre 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 Centre is at risk of  
damage. In such circumstances the volume must be reduced.  
7. Listening  
8. Specification  
Type: Two and a half-way, reflex loaded, time  
It is wise before listening to your Linear Centre 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.  
aligned speaker.  
Bass/Mid Drivers: 2 x 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  
cooled neodymium magnet system and rear heat  
sink.  
Linear Centre 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  
speaker. 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.  
Filter Network: 3rd order at 3.1kHz, 2nd order at  
275Hz  
Cabinet: 15mm MDF carcass with composite layer  
front panel and driver de-coupling.  
Frequency Response: 60Hz to 28kHz ±3dB  
Frequency Range: 50Hz to 28kHz @ -6dB  
Power Handling: 175W peak programme  
Amplifier Compatibility: 25 - 175 Watts into 8  
Ohms  
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms  
Sensitivity: 91dB for 1 Watt at 1 metre  
Terminals: Gold plated bi-wire binding posts  
Dimensions (H x W x D): 180 x 620 x 200mm  
Weight: 10.5kg (single, unpacked)  
Acoustic Energy reserves the right to modify  
product specifications.  
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9. The Linear Range  
The Linear Centre is part of a range that includes  
Linear One stand-mount speaker, the Linear Three  
floor-stand speaker and the Linear Sub active  
sub-woofer. Linear One, Linear Three and Linear  
Centre incorporate time-aligned drivers to improve  
image quality, depth and focus.  
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  
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 One is a compact two-way stand-mount  
speaker that adds high resolution accuracy to the  
imaging benefits of time alignment.  
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 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.  
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.  
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. MA1107  
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