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Related Manuals for JL Audio Fathom IWS-SYS-2
Summary of Contents for JL Audio Fathom IWS-SYS-2
- Page 1 IWS-SYS-1 IWS-SYS-2 Owner’s Manual...
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Page 2: Important Safety Instructions
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence CAUTION of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”... - Page 3 12) Cleaning — The subwoofer and amplifier should be cleaned only as recommended in the operating instructions. 13) Nonuse Periods — The power cord of the subwoofer amp should be unplugged from the outlet when the subwoofer is left unused for long periods of time.
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Page 4: Table Of Contents
Specifications: ............32 behavior and fidelity. INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of a JL Audio Fathom powered subwoofer system. This product has been critically engineered to deliver exceptional performance in your home theater or audio system for many years to come. -
Page 5: Product Overview
PRODUCT OVERVIEW JL Audio Fathom IWS subwoofers combine a state-of-the-art JL Audio subwoofer driver and electronics/amplifier package with a highly optimized enclosure to deliver an exceptional listening experience in your home theater or home audio system. The subwoofer driver in your Fathom subwoofer system is capable of outstanding linear excursion without distress or audible distortion. -
Page 6: Placing Your Fathom Iws In Your Listening Room
PlACING YOUR FATHOM IWS CABINETS IN YOUR lISTENING ROOM: Your listening room or theater is an integral part of your sound reproduction system. The physical dimensions of the room and its furnishings, materials, doors and windows play an important role in defining how your system sounds. When you place a sound source in an enclosed rectangular space, “standing waves”... - Page 7 Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for One Fathom IWS Enclosure M O R E IN T E NS E MO RE I N TEN SE AVOID AVOID CORNER CORNER PLACEMENT PLACEMENT RECOMMENDED SUBWOOFER PLACEMENT ZONES (For Single Subwoofer) COMPROMISED SEATING POSITIONS (Results in weaker, uneven bass performance) CENTERLINE OF ROOM BEST SEATING POSITIONS...
- Page 8 SPECIAl AMPlIFIER CONSIDERATIONS FOR RACK MOUNTING OR CUSTOM CABINET INSTAllATIONS Fathom IWS amplifiers are designed to be “built-in” friendly. All typically needed controls are located on the front panel. A Fathom IWS amp can be easily integrated into an equipment rack or custom cabinetry by following a few simple guidelines.
- Page 9 Using Two Fathom IWS Enclosures Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Two Fathom IWS boxes When using two Fathom IWS boxes, try placement along the front wall near the front left and right speakers, or at the center points of opposing walls as shown at right. Experimentation with listener placement is recommended to achieve the best results –...
- Page 10 Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Three Fathom IWSs Using Three or Four Fathom IWS boxes Research indicates that the smoothest bass response for a large listening area can be achieved using four subwoofers, placing one at the midpoint of each of the four walls (although using two or three subwoofers can be almost as good).
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Page 11: Front Control Panel Layout
Front Control Panel The labeled Figure below depicts the front control panel of a Fathom IWS subwoofer. A.R.O. level Mode lights lP freq. (Hz) phase (deg.) page 12-13 page 13 page 14 page 14 page 15 Power Input Mode Master level lP Filter e.l.f. -
Page 12: Front Panel Controls In Detail
FATHOM REAR CONTROLS (MASTER) Automatic Room Optimization (A.R.O.) A powerful feature of the JL Audio Fathom IWS subwoofers is their innovative Automatic Room Optimization (A.R.O.) technology. This one-touch system serves to eliminate the largest acoustic response peaks in your home theater at the main listening seat, greatly improving the in-room low-frequency response. - Page 13 During the ARO test sequence the Calibrate button’s green LED will blink quickly to alert the user to two special conditions: 1. “JL Audio Microphone NOT Connected”: If you forget to connect the mic before trying to start a Calibration you will get this alert. Press the Calibrate button once to cancel the alert, connect the A.R.O.
- Page 14 Master level Knob The Master Level Knob is used to control the output level of the Fathom IWS when the Variable Level mode is selected on the front control panel. When rotated fully counter clockwise, the Fathom IWS’s output will be fully muted.
- Page 15 E.l.F. Trim The Extreme Low Frequency (“e.l.f. trim”) knob allows the user to apply a certain amount of signal equalization at 23 Hertz (extremely low bass). At full counterclockwise rotation, the signal at 23 Hz is cut by 12 dB. At “0” the equalizer is set flat for zero contribution to the signal.
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Page 16: Connecting Your Fathom Iws(S)
“mono” or single channel Appropriate balanced cables are available from your JL Audio dealer and are device, you can use the Left and Right inputs for the master Fathom IWS and not included with the Fathom IWS. - Page 17 Unbalanced Inputs The Fathom IWS subwoofer amp features individual left and right unbalanced RCA-type input connectors. These are the most commonly used connectors for home audio applications and must be used if your receiver or preamplifier/ processor does not provide balanced outputs. While unbalanced connections are not as noise-immune as a balanced connection, Fathom IWS subwoofers employ optical isolation on the unbalanced inputs to minimize the possibility of noise in your system.
- Page 18 Input Mode Switches: Two switches are located on the rear panel to control unbalanced signal grounding and master/slave operation. “Grounded / Isolated” Switch The “Grounded / Isolated” Input Mode switch affects only the unbalanced RCA inputs and is designed to facilitate a quiet, hum-free connection to your audio or home theater system.
- Page 19 (up to ten Fathom IWSs may be connected in this configuration). Appropriate balanced cables with XLR terminations are available from your JL Audio dealer and are not included with the Fathom IWS. Technical Notes: • The “Output to Slave” signal carries any signal processing selected on the Master Fathom IWS (including the Master Level setting and A.R.O.
- Page 20 PROCESSOR (BALANCED OUTPUTS) RECEIVER / PROCESSOR (UNBALANCED OUTPUTS) SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 1: One Fathom IWS to PRE OUT Home Theater Receiver or FRONT REAR CENTER OUTPUTS Home Theater Preamp/Processor Most home theater receivers and preamp/processors provide a single FRONT REAR (mono) subwoofer output.
- Page 21 SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 2: PROCESSOR (BALANCED OUTPUTS) RECEIVER / PROCESSOR (UNBALANCED OUTPUTS) Multiple Fathom IWSs to Home Theater Receiver or PRE OUT FRONT REAR CENTER OUTPUTS Home Theater Preamp/Processor To greatly simplify using multiple subwoofers in a single home theater FRONT REAR system, Fathom IWSs incorporate a...
- Page 22 SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 3: STEREO ACTIVE CROSSOVER (BALANCED OUTPUTS) STEREO ACTIVE CROSSOVER (UNBALANCED OUTPUTS) One Fathom IWS in Mono to Two-Channel Audio System LOW OUT When connecting a Fathom IWS (or (SUB OUT) LOW OUT (SUB OUT) multiple Fathom IWSs) in mono to a two- LEFT RIGHT channel audio system you will use both...
- Page 23 SYSTEM CONNECTION DIAGRAM 4: Two Fathom IWSs in Stereo to STEREO ACTIVE CROSSOVER (BALANCED OUTPUTS) STEREO ACTIVE CROSSOVER (UNBALANCED OUTPUTS) Two-Channel Audio System When connecting two Fathom IWSs LOW OUT (SUB OUT) in stereo to a two-channel audio system LOW OUT (SUB OUT) you will only use the “Left or Mono”...
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Page 24: Recommended Setup Procedure
RECOMMENDED SETUP PROCEDURES 1) Preparation for Setup Process: ........24-25 2) Apply A.R.O: . - Page 25 On the Fathom IWS’s Front Panel: Please turn off the home theater receiver or preamp/processor to make these adjustm ents. 1. “Power” Switch Flip each Fathom IWS’s “Power” switch to the “On” position. 2. “Lights” Switch Flip each Fathom IWS’s “Lights” switch to the “On” position. If you don’t see any lights on the front panel, you may have forgotten to plug the Fathom IWS in or there may be a problem with the electrical circuit.
- Page 26 XLR cable to the remotely located Slave unit(s). 1) Applying Automatic Room Optimization (A.R.O.) You are now ready to apply the power of JL Audio’s exclusive Automatic Room Optimization system. This system will measure the response of the subwoofer at your primary listening seat and apply a powerful equalizer to tame the peaks caused by room modes, resulting in smoother, more accurate bass performance.
- Page 27 IMPORTANT! MAKE SURE THE ROOM IS QUIET DURING A.R.O. CALIBRATION! TURN OFF ANY NOISY APPLIANCES NEAR THE LISTENING IMPORTANT ROOM (DISHWASHERS, WASHING MACHINES, ETC.) IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO TURN OFF AIR CONDITIONERS OR HEAT PUMPS DURING CALIBRATION. THESE FORCED-AIR-TYPE HVAC SYSTEMS CAN CREATE MODERATE LEVELS OF 15 –...
- Page 28 3) Polarity and Phase Adjustment It is often helpful to have a second person operating these controls so that you can easily hear the changes from the primary listening seat. Listening to familiar source material (preferably music with good upper bass and midbass response), flip the “Polarity”...
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Page 29: Frequently Asked Questions
FREQUENTlY ASKED QUESTIONS Is the Fathom IWS magnetically shielded? Fathom IWS subwoofers are not magnetically shielded. To avoid magnetic distortion with certain television types, place the Fathom IWS at least 3-4 feet (1 - 1.5m) from your screen. Will my electric bill be high if I leave the Fathom IWS in “Auto” mode? When in “Auto”... -
Page 30: Troubleshooting
6-10 of this manual. A.R.O. Calibration attempt gives fast blinking Calibrate light 1. Be sure that the included JL Audio Microphone is properly plugged into the front panel jack. Calibration will ONLY proceed with the JL Audio microphone connected. Connecting any other mic will cause the calibration to fail. -
Page 31: Limited Warranty / Service Information
JL Audio for service. Cosmetic damage due to accident or normal wear and tear is not covered under warranty. -
Page 32: Specifications
O P E N I N G “JL Audio”, “Fathom IWS” and the JL Audio logo are registered trademarks of JL Audio, Inc., “Ahead of the Curve” is a trademark of JL Audio, Inc. Due to continuous product development, all specifications are subject to change without notice.