Adam Tensor Beta User manual

Tensor
Beta
Active Version
Operation Manual / Bedienungsanleitung
English / deutsch

2
Please read the following safety instructions before setting up your system.
Keep the instructions for further reference. Please heed the warnings and
follow the instructions.
Caution: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not open the
loudspeaker. There are no user-serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing
to qualified service personnel.
This product, as well as all attached extension cords, must be terminated with
an earth ground three-conductor AC mains power cord like the one supplied
with the product. To prevent shock hazard, all three components must always
be used.
Never replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified. Never
bypass any fuse.
Always switch off your entire system before connecting or disconnecting any
cables, or when cleaning any components.
Do not place this unit on an unstable cart, stand or tripod, bracket or table. The
unit may fall, causing serious injury and/or serious damage. When cart is used,
use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination.
Do not expose this product to rain or moisture, never wet the inside with any
liquid and never pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit. Please do not put
any objects filled with liquids (e.g. vases, etc.) onto the speaker.
Check if the specified voltage matches the voltage of the power supply you
use. If this is not the case do not connect the loudspeakers to a power source!
Please contact your local dealer or national distributor.
Caution
Risk of electrical shock
Do not open
Risque de shock electrique
Ne pas ouvrier
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE BACK COVER OR ANY OTHER PART.
NO USER-SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE.
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
Safety Instructions

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Tensor Beta (Active Version) Manual / english
Protect the cord from being walked on or pinched.
Always use fully checked cables. Defective cables can harm your speakers. They
are a common source for any kind of noise, hum, crackling etc.
Always keep electrical equipment out of the reach of children.
Always unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.
The loudspeaker should be installed near the socket outlet and disconnection of
the device should be easily accessible.
To completely disconnect from AC mains, disconnect the power supply from
the AC receptacle. Never use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning
audio components.
Avoid touching the speaker membranes and do not block the woofer’s
ventilation ports.
Never expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures. Never
operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.
High SPL’s may damage your hearing! Please do not get close to the
loudspeakers when using them at high volumes.
Please note that the diaphragms build up a magnetic field. Do not ply with
magnetic items at close range to the diaphragms.
Assure free airflow behind the speakers to maintain sufficient cooling.
Safety Instructions

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Table of contents
Safety Instructions .............................................2-3
1. Introduction .......................................................5
2. Front and Rear View / Accessories ...................6
3. Unpacking / Setup ............................................7-8
3.1 Important Information for setup ........................7
3.2 Setup .................................................................7
3.2 Setup (continued) ..............................................8
4. Connecting the speakers ...................................9
5. Speaker Placement ............................................1 0 -11
5.1 Room acoustics .................................................10
5.2 Speaker positioning ...........................................10
5.2 Speaker positioning (continued) ........................11
6. Speaker Adjustment ..........................................12-15
6.1 Standby switch / Overload display ....................12
6.2 Control panel .....................................................12
6.3 Controls .............................................................13
6.4 Parametric Equalizer ..........................................14
6.5 Equalization .......................................................14
6.6 Raising or lowering the bass section .................15
6.7 LED Dim .............................................................15
7. Troubleshooting .................................................16
7.1 No or distorted signal ........................................16
7.2 Parasitic noises .................................................16
8. Maintenance ......................................................17
9. Shipping / Packaging ........................................17
10. Environmental Information ................................17
11 . EU Declaration of Conformity ............................18
12. Limited Warranty ...............................................19
12.1 Terms and Conditions ........................................19
12.2 How to claim ......................................................19
13. Technical Data ...................................................20

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Tensor Beta (Active Version) Manual / english
1. Introduction
Dear customer,
Thank you for choosing the ADAM Audio Tensor Beta loudspeaker.
ADAM loudspeakers are built for maximum quality reproduction and audio perfection.
With the Tensor Beta you have selected one of the most ambitious compact loudspeaker
systems available. It combines many of the groundbreaking ADAM innovations in the
areas of amplifier and transducer technologies while furthermore distinguishing itself
by utilizing only the finest materials and the most fastidious workmanship. With the
TENSOR series, ADAM brings loudspeakers into your home that give you access to the
sonic authenticity of the most sought after professional studio monitors.
This version of the Tensor Beta is a five-way ported active system that uses the new
X-ART tweeter and an X-ART midrange speaker, ensuring full compatibility with the
latest expanded high frequency resolution media formats plus three HexaCone©-bass/
midrange drivers.
This manual is intended to provide you with information about your new ADAMs. It
contains important information regarding safety, setting up, handling, and
warranty. We request that you read these sections carefully to ensure easy set up and
prevent potential problems.
If you have any questions about this or any of our products, please don’t hesitate to
contact us – we will be happy to assist you.
For detailed information concerning ADAM’s technologies and products, complete
reviews, and a list of worldwide ADAM users and studios, please visit our website:
www.adam-audio.com
You are invited to share your experience with our products by joining us on Facebook
and also, if you don’t want to miss out on the latest info on ADAM Professional Audio,
come and follow us on Twitter!
We hope very much that you really enjoy your new loudspeakers, and wish you many
delightful hours with them.
The ADAM Audio Team

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2. Front and Rear View / Accessories
Every pair of ADAM Tensor Betas is delivered in four boxes. The two larger ones contain
the bass units, and are attached to a wooden pallet to avoid shifting of cargo during
transportation. Two slightly smaller boxes contain the upper (tweeter/midrange) units
of your loudspeaker system as well as a white box housing the accessories.
The accessories consist of:
• 2 dustercloths,
• 2 pair of white gloves,
• 6 oblong sandbags (3 per loudspeaker),
• 2 Speakon interconnect cables (to
connect the bass and the tweeter/
midrange units),
• 2 AC power cables,
• 8 spikes (4 per loudspeaker), 8 plates (on which the spikes can stand), and 8 nuts
(for adjusting the spikes),
• 1 screwdriver to adjust the controls (see 6.)
Please note that the accessories come in two white boxes. The spikes, plates and
counternuts can be found in only one of these boxes.
Sandwindow
Speakon®-
Connectors
Bass
Backpanel
X-ART Tweeter
X-ART Midrange
Bassmidrange
Frontpanel
Bass

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Tensor Beta (Active Version) Manual / english
3.1 Important Information for setup
The Tensor Beta has a total weight of approx. 77 kg; the tweeter/midrange
unit weights approx. 30 kg, the bass unit approx. 47 kg. Therefore we strongly
recommend to unpack and set up the loudspeakers not by oneself. ADAM
Audio is not liable for any damage of the loudspeakers or other items or any injuries
which might occur due to improper setting up. We ask you to be very careful.
3.2 Setup
a) Start by opening the slightly smaller boxes which contain the tweeter/midrange
units. Take out the white boxes in which you find the accessories (see 2.). We re-
commend to wear the white gloves. They provide a white PVC dotted covering on
the inside allowing extra grip.
b) Remove the four plastic grips on the lower sides of each of the big boxes. Now,
you can lift the upper part of the box off of the tray and the contents to expose the
loudspeaker units.
c) Remove the pads (four at the sides, one on top).
d) Start the setup by taking out one of the bass units.
e) Each unit is wrapped in a special sheath that is open at the bottom. You may either
remove the sheath first then lift the unit from its box, or vice versa. In any case, we
would recommend keeping the sheath, as it will prove useful when the loudspeaker
is being transported. Moreover, it is ideal for dust protection if the loudspeakers
will not being used for some time.
f) If you choose to use the spikes to optimize floor decoupling, please proceed as fol-
lows: Take one of the bass units out of the box and put it carefully on solid ground
(to avoid scratches, use a soft cloth).
Take four of the spikes and screw them into the designated holes at the base. On a
level floor make sure that all four spikes are screwed in to the same depth.
Please see that the spikes are either fully screwed in or firmly fixed by the
nuts.
3. Unpacking / Setup

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g) If you wish to use the plates, put them on the floor according to the desired posi-
tion of the loudspeaker. Using the plates is strongly recommended whenever the
spikes might damage the surface of the floor.
h) Pick up the bass unit and place it on the desired spot. Please make sure that it is
standing solidly!
i) Take three of the six sandbags and put it into the recesses on the top of the bass
unit. The sandbags should be evenly spread and flattened if necessary.
j) Take the upper (tweeter/midrange) unit out of the box and place it centered on the
bass unit respectively on the overlying sandbags. Please ensure that the upper
unit stands steady and firm on the base!
k) Repeat instructions to assemble the second loudspeaker in the same manner.
3. Unpacking / Setup

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Tensor Beta (Active Version) Manual / english
After having unpacked and set up your loudspeakers, please allow the system
to acclimate to the temperature of the room. Please do not connect the
speaker for approximately an hour.
Before connecting the loudspeakers to your audio components and the power
source make sure that both the loudspeakers and your audio system is switched
off!
a) Use the provided Speakon-cables to connect the bass units with the upper units.
After you have plugged it in turn the plug to the right until it locks.
b) Connect the loudspeakers with your audio components using one XLR cable per
loudspeaker. The male plug goes into the loudspeaker, the female plug into your
audio component.
We recommend using high quality cables to guarantee optimal performance.
c) Check if the specified voltage matches the voltage of the power supply you use.
If this is not the case do not connect the loudspeakers to a power source! Please
contact your local dealer or national distributor.
If the voltages match, connect the loudspeaker via the included power cables to
two AC sockets.
d) Switch on the main on/off switches on the rear panel of the loudspeakers. The
ADAM logo begins to glow. Now, switch on the standby switch, located to the right
of the logo at the front. The writing ‘ADAM TENSOR’ will begin to glow and the ‘OL’
(overload) indicator will flash a few times.
e) Make sure that the line out level (volume) of your stereo is either at a low level or
all the way off. Then, switch on your audio system.
f) Turn on your source of music and adjust the volume carefully.
Please note that the loudspeakers will need a few days to achieve optimum sonic
performance.
4. Connecting the speakers

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The proper positioning of your loudspeakers is of extreme importance to the sound
quality. Since every room is unique, we can only offer general recommendations
concerning room acoustics and the placement of your loudspeakers. Your Tensor Beta
features several controls for fine-tuning them to your room acoustics and personal
sound preferences.
5.1 Room Acoustics
Room acoustics come down to essentially three aspects:
a) Reverberation: The ‘sound’ of a room is too some extend a result of its reverberati-
on, i.e. to how the sound waves are reflected. Soft furniture (like carpets, curtains,
or sofas) tends to absorb sound waves, especially higher frequencies. Hard materi-
als like stone or glass reflect sound waves almost entirely. In general, reverberant
rooms are rather unforgiving in terms of authentic music reproduction due to the
great number of reflections.
b) The room dimensions: The volume of a room is the second important aspect of its
acoustics. The same loudspeaker will sound different in different sized rooms with
similar sonic characteristics. Therefore, the size of your room partly determines
the positioning of your loudspeakers.
c) The listening distance: The distance between the listener and the sound source
is the third crucial aspect in loudspeaker positioning. If this distance is either too
great or too small, the sound will be compromised.
5 . 2 Speaker Positioning
Placing the loudspeakers too close to walls can compromise their sound.
Especially in reverberant rooms, you should adhere as closely as possible to these
distances; otherwise, the lower frequencies in particular may distort the overall
sonic characteristics.
We recommend experimenting – the best method for finding the ideal positioning
of your loudspeakers is using your ears. Listen to your ADAMs from different
positions – try out several different set-ups. You may be surprised at the differences
you’ll hear!
5. Speaker Placement