User manual B&W CDM SNT

[. . . ] Their mailing addresses can be found on the web site or by calling B&W direct. To bi-wire, remove the links by loosening the terminal caps and use a separate 2-core cable from the amplifier to each pair of terminals. When biwiring, incorrect connection can also impair the frequency response. Keep the total impedance below the maximum recommended in the specification and use a low inductance cable to avoid attenuation of the highest frequencies. [. . . ] Otherwise position it directly above or below the screen, whichever is closest to ear level. If the centre speaker is behind an acoustically transparent screen, position the left and right front speaker as nearly as possible at the same height. If the centre speaker is above or below the screen, the height of the left and right speaker should be between the height of the centre speaker and the centre of the screen. For greatest realism in home theatre installations it is important to balance the speakers and adjust the acoustic image to match the size of the screen. With smaller screens it may be more realistic to have the left and right speakers closer together than you might for audio alone. Adjust the levels of the three front speakers to get a smooth transition of sounds as they pan across the screen. Adjust the level of the surround speakers so that, except for special effects, your attention is not unduly attracted to them. Sit in all likely listening positions when deciding on the optimum levels. Consult your decoder manual for further information on how to set the levels. Stray magnetic fields The speaker drive units create stray magnetic fields that extend beyond the boundaries of the cabinet. We recommend you keep magnetically sensitive articles (television and computer screens, computer discs, audio and video tapes, swipe cards and the like) at least 0. For this reason, the CDMTMSNT is only suitable for use as a centre speaker when using either projection, plasma or LCD screens which are not affected by stray magnetic fields. Home Theatre As a surround speaker: There are two main ways of presenting surround information. Older movie soundtracks, where the surround information was recorded on only one channel, benefited from a very ambient, allenveloping presentation from the surround speakers, with little attempt to portray precise imaging to the sides and rear. 1 channel recordings of both movies and audio have discrete left and right surround channels, which can convey more precise imaging. However, images to the sides and rear are not generally as precise as can be obtained from the front. Sustained tones can be more readily positioned between the speakers than percussive sounds, which have a tendency to collapse towards the speakers. It is also difficult to maintain image position for all listeners if the listening area is a significant proportion of the area between the five speakers. Image stability depends on getting the right balance between all five speakers and the "hot spot" effect is even more marked than for 2-channel audio. With this in mind, your success in recreating the producer's intentions for the surround field will depend to a great extent on domestic constraints ­ how free you are to position the speakers in an ideal position and how large an audience you want to cater for, relative to the size of the room. [. . . ] The performance of the speaker will change subtly during the initial listening period. If the speaker has been stored in a cold environment, the damping compounds and suspension materials of the drive units will take some time to recover their correct mechanical properties. The drive unit suspensions will also loosen up during the first hours of use. The time taken for the speaker to achieve its intended performance will vary depending on previous storage conditions and how it is used. [. . . ]