User manual M-AUDIO EX66

[. . . ] Consider the following: conventional 2-way speakers in a stereo setup require that you listen to them in a fairly narrow "sweet spot" (where you position yourself at the apex of an isosceles triangle with the speakers). By contrast, a stereo pair of EX66 monitors provides a wide sweet spot, creating a proper stereo image even when you are not exactly equidistant from each speaker. This means more people in the room can benefit from the EX66s' accuracy and detail without having to fight for the "money" seat. Also, while our MTM configuration gives you a wide horizontal sweet spot, it limits vertical sound diffusion to a cardioid pattern. [. . . ] In any listening environment, what you hear is a mixture of both the direct and reflected sounds. Direct sound arrives at your ears straight from the speaker diaphragms while reflected sounds can bounce off of any hard surface to reach your ears after the direct sound. In general, the direct sound from the speakers is primarily responsible for the image, while reflected sounds contribute mostly to the tonality and timbre of the speakers (richness, leanness, etc. ). Any boundary surface (back wall, side wall, ceiling, etc. ) can cause a reflection, so you should think about reflective surfaces when placing your speakers. To complicate matters, there are so-called "early" reflections (where sound bounces off of nearby surfaces, as opposed to far-away ones) which tend to smear the image because the sound from them reaches your ears very soon after the direct sound. We usually consider early reflections to be those occurring within the first 100 milliseconds or so. As discussed earlier, the vertical array of the EX66's MTM configuration greatly minimizes early reflections above and below the listening position--but you only get this benefit if you position them correctly in a vertical orientation. So, unlike with traditional 2-way designs, you shouldn't have to worry about reflections from the ceiling or mixing console (if your monitors are sitting on top of a large-format mixing desk). In deciding where to place the EX66 monitors, the goal is to excite as few standing waves as possible--but the exact way to do this depends on the specific geometry and setup of your listening environment. Here are a few rules of thumb to get you started: (1) The further away you place your EX66 monitors from horizontal reflecting surfaces (like untreated side walls), the better. Try to achieve symmetry within the room; if the left speaker is 1. 5 meters from the back wall and 2 meters from the side wall, place the right speaker the same way (if possible) in order to give each speaker a similar acoustic environment. We recommend that you place your EX66 monitors a different distance from the back wall than from the side walls. In other words, if your EX66s are 0. 5 meters from the back wall, make sure they're not also 0. 5 meters from the side walls. As discussed earlier, the EX66 contains a bass-reflex port located on the rear panel. We suggest you leave at least 150 mm (about 6 inches) of space between the back wall and the monitor in order to minimize obstructions to air flow. (2) (3) (4) Also, remember that the EX66's narrow vertical cardioid radiation pattern makes it important for you place them so that the tweeters are at the same height as your ears. Figure 5: Optimal Listening Height 5 English Setting up your EX66 Monitors Finally, because of the EX66's wide horizontal radiation pattern, you do not need to "toe in" the speakers. * Unbalanced 1/4" wiring can involve either a two- or threeconductor (TS or TRS) plug. A two-conductor (TS) plug automatically grounds the signal negative input, whereas a three-conductor (TRS) plug, wired to be unbalanced, provides the option of leaving the negative input open or grounded. If you choose to use an unbalanced line, we recommend that you ground the unused negative input (wiring the ring and sleeve of the TRS plug together) 6 EX66 · User Guide If you're using a digital source with a S/PDIF interface, you can feed it directly into the S/PDIF input on the back of one of your EX66 monitors using a high-quality 75 S/PDIF cable. You must set the Input Select switch to either S/PDIF L or S/PDIF R depending on whether that speaker will be reproducing the left or right half of the digital bitstream. Next, run a high-quality 75 S/PDIF cable from the S/PDIF Out jack of that speaker to the S/PDIF In jack of your second EX66 monitor, and make sure the Input Select switch is set to the appropriate setting for that speaker. Now that you've connected your audio signal input, you can power on your EX66 monitors using the following procedure: 1) Connect the supplied AC power cord to the IEC connector . 2) Plug the other end of theAC power cord into a grounded outlet that is configured to correspond with the Voltage Selector switch . 3) Turn the Volume knob all the way down. 4) Flip the Power switch to the On position. You should see the blue LED indicators light up on the front face of the EX66. 5) With the Volume knob still turned down, start playing your audio signal at a normal level. [. . . ] Beethoven suffered from--and Clinton currently suffers from--permanent hearing loss. While Beethoven's complete deafness was likely caused by an autoimmune disorder, former President Clinton's (relatively mild) hearing loss is largely attributed to years of exposure to loud music--and specifically from his playing saxophone in a loud band as a teenager. (In 1997 Clinton was fitted with a hearing aid--which he said he needed in order to make out what hecklers were shouting at him during his speeches. ) Concluding Remarks M-Audio is committed to developing active loudspeaker monitors for those who demand the most accurate and transparent sound. We believe a well-designed speaker should be both revealing and absolutely effortless to work with--making your job easier and more enjoyable. [. . . ]