Paradigm Active Owner's Manual

C ongratulations, you are about to experience the incredible sonic performance of
a highly advanced P R A S S . This fully
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powered system utilizes state-of-the-art design technology and sets all new standards
for spectral precision, midrange clarity, low distortion and sound power vs. size.
Please take the time to read this manual. Follow all instructions to ensure proper
installation and operation for maximum listening enjoyment.
Comprehensive R&D has been undertaken to achieve optimum performance of
every individual component part at every design stage. This has enabled P
R D to produce fully powered speaker systems with breathtaking
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high-end sonic abilities!
Use of the finest components and materials along with sophisticated manufacturing
and quality control techniques ensure that this exceptional level of performance will
be maintained for many years.
P R A S have a high quality finish which is both
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attractive and durable. To clean use a damp, soft cloth. Avoid getting any part of the
speaker system wet. Always unplug the AC cord whenever you clean the rear panel.
NOTE!
If your P
R speakers have been transported or stored at temperatures
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below 10°C (50°F) they should be allowed to warm up to normal room temperature
before using, otherwise performance may be affected. This is because of two factors:
1. The surround material used in the bass/midrange drive unit(s) is made of a compound
that may stiffen in colder temperatures.
2. The ferro-fluid used in the high frequency drive unit thickens in colder temperatures.
Although P
R A S sound great "right out of the carton",
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they will sound even better after they are "broken-in". We therefore recommend that you
operate the speakers for several hours before you do any critical listening.
READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY
BEFORE PROCEEDING!
B ,
EFORE OPERATING YOUR POWERED SPEAKERS READ AND FOLLOW ALL
! R
INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS ETAIN THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE
.
REFERENCE
CAUTION!
To protect against electrical shock and risk of fire do not expose to rain or moisture,
do not use powered speakers near sinks, showers, bathtubs, swimming pools, saunas, in
wet basements or near any source of water. Always unplug AC cord before cleaning.
To protect against electrical shock do not remove the amplifier from the speaker
enclosure. There are no user serviceable parts inside. If the unit has been dropped,
damaged, exposed to water or does not operate normally, it must be serviced. Refer
any servicing to your A P R D , who will return
UTHORIZED ARADIGM EFERENCE EALER
the product to P E I ., A S (in the U.S.) or I
ARADIGM LECTRONICS NC UDIO TREAM
D .
ISTRIBUTOR
CAUTION!
These powered speakers have a polarized electrical plug. To protect against electrical
shock do not use with any receptacle, extension cord or any other outlet unless the
metal arms of the plug can be fully inserted so that they are not exposed.
Use only with the AC voltage rating indicated on the rear panel. Do not overload
outlets or extension cords, as this can result in a risk of fire or electrical shock. Install
so that the power cord will not get damaged over time. Unplug the AC cord when
not using it for an extended period of time to prevent damage due to lightning and
power surges.
CAUTION!
P R A speakers have built-in high-power amplifiers. To
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prevent over heating, always provide adequate ventilation to allow for cooling. Do
not place close to any type of heat source, such as furnace registers or in fully enclosed
spaces or near any soft surfaces such as sofas or curtains/drapes that can restrict
ventilation.
YOUR LISTENING ROOM
P R A speakers are designed to provide excellent sonic results in
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a wide variety of domestic settings. It is important to note however, that listening room
construction, dimensions and furnishings all play a part in the quality of sound you will
ultimately achieve. Your listening room will impose it's own character on the performance
capabilities of any speaker system. The extra care you take in setting-up these speakers in
your room will result in greater listening enjoyment. Please consider and try to follow
these guidelines:
'
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a) Concrete floors and walls (i.e. basement rooms) tend to aggravate low frequency
standing wave problems and are less preferred.
b) Rooms where the height, width and length are similar should be avoided as they can
exhibit significant low frequency standing wave problems. This may result in
reduced clarity. If no other room is possible, experiment with speaker placement in
your room to minimize the problem.
c) Mid and high frequencies are affected by the amount of soft furnishings in your
room such as curtains, carpets, sofas, wallcoverings, etc. An excess of such items can
produce a dull sound. The same room without any soft furnishings will produce a
brighter sound. A "normal" quantity of soft furnishings found in most living
situations provides the right acoustic space so that the speaker will sound balanced.
LOCATION OF FRONT SPEAKERS
P R A speakers are designed to allow flexible placement and
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provide a very large "window" of sound into your listening room. To optimize
performance, however, we do suggest that you observe these guidelines:
a) Accurate Timbre: The most accurate timbrel balance will be achieved with the
tweeters at approximately ear level. We recommend P
non-floorstanding models. (See your dealer for more information.)
b) Optimized Imaging: Measure the approximate distance from your listening position
to the speakers. The speakers should be positioned approximately 2/3 of that
distance from each other. (For example, if the listening-position to speakers-position
distance is ≈3m (9ft) then the speakers should be ≈2m (6ft) apart). Turning the speakers
so they are "aimed" toward the listening position can also enhance imaging ability.
c) Bass Performance: As a general rule placing speakers closer to the rear wall increases
low bass output (this is true for front ported, rear ported or sealed enclosures). For
optimal bass performance the speakers should be positioned so that the distance to
the side walls is different than the distance to the rear wall. Avoid corner placement
as this usually produces excessive bass and reduces clarity.
LOCATION OF MATCHED
LEFT/CENTER/RIGHT SPEAKERS
P R A Left/Center/Right speakers are designed to provide
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precisely matched timbrel performance. Left/Right (vertical) and Center Channel
(horizontal) versions are available to allow for greater flexibility in placement. While the
MPORT
Center Channel speaker is designed to provide exceptional timbre matching with all
P R speakers, using three identical A
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"across-the-front" further optimizes timbrel accuracy.
• PLACEMENT FOR THE CENTER SPEAKER:
P R A Center Channel speakers are designed to provide a
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very large listening "window" and therefore allow listeners throughout the room to
hear center channel information with unprecedented clarity and intelligibility.
R A Center Channel speakers are designed for placement directly
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above or below your TV monitor or large screen TV. (See your dealer for more
information and recommendations).
• PLACEMENT FOR LEFT AND RIGHT SPEAKERS:
Placement of R A Left/Right speakers is the same as indicated in the
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previous section - "Location of Front Speakers".
LOCATION OF "ADP" SURROUND SPEAKERS
P R A
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locations with outstanding results.
N : In all cases position the speakers so that the P
OTE
nameplate on front is aimed towards the listening position.
1
• WALL MOUNTED
Position A "ADP" Surrounds vertically with drivers firing toward the front and
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back walls. Place one speaker to either side of the main listening area, 1 meter (3ft) or
more above the floor.*
For mounting this speaker on the wall:
1. Allow ≈8cm (≈2") for amplifier ventilation and access to controls.
2. Have a professional contractor install the speaker to ensure secure mounting.
(For added convenience the speakers may also be placed on shelves or high
furniture (bookcases) as long as there is at least 45cm (18in) of free space on
either side of the speaker. Allow for adequate ventilation.)
™ speaker stands for
REMIER *N : Always use a secondary safety device ie. strap or cable when wall
OTE
mounting.
2
• CORNER MOUNTED
A "ADP" Surrounds can be used on speaker stands and positioned across the
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back corners of the room – forming a triangle with the converging walls. The
speakers output will then be dispersed by the converging walls.
Left/Center/Right speakers
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3
• FREE SPACE MOUNTED
A "ADP" Surrounds can also be used as outlined in #2, but placed as close as
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1m (3 ft) to the listening area, flanking either side.
• AUTO-ON/OFF:
"ADP" Surround speakers can be positioned in various
This innovative feature eliminates the need for a manually operated power switch.
P
ARADIGM
R "P" If no input signal is sensed after a period of time the speaker will switch off
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automatically.
• ALWAYS ON:
In addition, a power switch is provided which may be positioned to allow the speaker
to remain on at all times.
• SPEAKER LEVEL:
min. 45cm (18in / 18po)
This allows you to set the input level of the speaker. Once set, the level control on your
Pre-amp/Processor/Receiver or other source component, is used to adjust loudness
1-3 m (3-9ft / 3-9pi) volume.
NOTE: Speaker can be mounted
on speaker stand (at
• HIGH-FREQUENCY CONTOUR:
approximately ear level),
This allows you to make fine adjustments (±2dB) to the high-frequency balance of the
or on the wall with
mounting bracket
powered speaker system.
(optional extra).
• LOW-FREQUENCY CONTOUR:
This allows you to make fine adjustments (±4dB) to the low-frequency balance of the
powered speaker system.
• HIGH-PASS:
When using P
decrease the A
This increases the maximum playing ceiling of the powered speaker, resulting in
reduced low frequency distortion, improved dynamic range and overall clarity at
high levels.
• LOW LEVEL INPUT:
Allows for connection from the low level outputs of a Pre-amplifier, Processor,
pre-outs of an A/V Receiver, or other suitable low level source. Both normal (RCA)
and balanced (XLR) inputs are provided.
Connection is as shown in the following diagrams. Be sure your source components and
A
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grounding noises which may occur when inserting input connectors.
For optimum sound reproduction the use of high-quality interconnect cable is essential.
We recommend A
min. 1 m (3ft / 3-pi)
• MAIN (RCA) INPUT:
For normal use, switch the Low Level Input switch to the "Main" position and connect
the interconnect cable from your Preamp/Processor or other source component, to the
RCA Input Jack on the speaker.
CONTROL FACILITIES
's auto-on/off simply turns the speaker on whenever there is an input signal.
R A speakers with a subwoofer you can
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speaker's low bass output by switching in it's built-in High-Pass.
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INPUT FACILITIES
CONNECTION
speakers are switched off before making any connections. This will avoid any
S cable. Please see your dealer for more information.
UDIO TREAM
SELECT ONE OF THE TWO LOW LEVEL INPUTS PROVIDED:
F P /P
ROM REAMP ROCESSOR
OR OTHER SUITABLE LOW LEVEL
( ) .
SOURCE TO MAIN RCA INPUT
S L L I " ".
WITCH OW EVEL NPUT TO MAIN
HIGH LOW HIGH SPEAKER LOW LEVEL INPUT
PASS FREQUENCY FREQUENCY LEVEL
SWITCH IN CONTOUR CONTOUR MAIN BALANCED
WHEN USING
SUBWOOFER
-
- 52 50 - 46
0 0 - 54 - 42
- 56 - 38
- 58 - 34
- 60 - 30
- 62 - 24
- 64 - 18
- 66 - 12
68 - - 6
- + - +
4 dB 4 dB 2 dB 2 dB - 70 0
WARNING: AVIS:
WARNING:
POWER CORD LE CORDON DE MISE
SHOCK HAZARD, GROUND IS NOT ATTACHED TO À LA TERRE N'EST PAS ATTACHÉ
DO NOT OPEN! AMPLIFIER CHASSIS AU BOÎTIER DE L'AMPLIFICATEUR
AVIS:
PA R A D I G M ® R E F E R E N C E
RISQUE DE CHOC
ÉLECTRIQUE, NE
PAS OUVRIR!
• ALWAYS ON
® PATENTS PENDING • AUTO ON/OFF
120V
NRTL /C
60Hz
LR 103255
350W
THIS PRODUCT HAS PARADIGM ELETRONICS INC.
BEEN CERTIFIED
MADE IN / FABRIQUÉ AU CANADA
BY CSA