Bowers & Wilkins 803 Diamond Owner's Manual page 7

5. Fine Tuning
Before fine tuning, double check that all the
connections in the installation are correct and secure.
Moving the speakers further from the walls will
reduce the general level of bass. Space behind the
speakers also helps to create an impression of depth.
Conversely, moving the speakers closer to the walls will
increase the level of bass and potentially reduce the
impression of depth.
If you want to reduce the volume of bass without
moving the speakers further from the wall, fit the foam
plugs or, for less severe bass reduction, the foam rings
in the port tubes. Fitting a foam plug or ring in a port
tube is illustrated above.
If the bass is uneven with frequency, it is usually due to
the excitation of resonance modes in the room. Even
small changes in the position of the speakers or the
listeners can have a profound effect on how these
resonances affect the sound. Try positioning the
speakers along a different wall. Even moving large
items of furniture can have an effect.
If the sound is too harsh, increase the amount of
soft furnishing in the room (for example, use heavier
curtains), or reduce it if the sound is dull and lifeless.
Test for flutter echoes by clapping your hands and
listening for rapid repetitions. Reduce flutter echoes
by the use of irregular shaped surfaces such as
bookshelves and large pieces of furniture.
For the most discerning listening, remove the bass/
midrange grilles by gripping around their edges and
gently pulling them away from the cabinet.
6. Running In
The performance of your speakers may change subtly
during the initial listening period. If they have 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 speakers to achieve their intended performance
will vary depending on previous storage conditions
and how it is used. As a guide, allow up to a week
for the temperature effects to stabilise and 15 hours
of average use for the mechanical parts to attain their
intended design characteristics.
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