Adam Tensor Gamma User manual

Tensor
Gamma
Semi-active Version
Operation Manual / Bedienungsanleitung
English / deutsch

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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 Gamma (Semi-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
3.1 Important Information for setup ........................7
3.2 Spikes and plates ...............................................7
4. Connecting the speakers ...................................8
5. Speaker Placement ............................................9-10
5.1 Room acoustics .................................................9
5.2 Speaker positioning ...........................................9
5.2 Speaker positioning (continued) ........................10
6. Speaker Adjustment ..........................................11 -14
6.1 Standby switch / Overload display ....................11
6.2 Control panel .....................................................11
6.3 Impedance linearization .....................................12
6.4 Tweeter Level .....................................................12
6.5 Parametric Equalizer ..........................................12
6.6 Equalization .......................................................13
6.7 Raising or lowering the bass section .................13
6.8 Bass Gain ...........................................................14
6.9 LED Dim .............................................................14
7. Troubleshooting .................................................15
7.1 No or distorted signal ........................................15
7.2 Parasitic noises .................................................15
8. Maintenance ......................................................16
9. Shipping / Packaging ........................................16
10. Environmental Information ................................16
11 . EU Declaration of Conformity ............................17
12. Limited Warranty ...............................................18
12.1 Terms and Conditions ........................................18
12.2 How to claim ......................................................18
13. Technical Data ...................................................19

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Tensor Gamma (Semi-active Version) Manual / english
1. Introduction
Dear customer,
Thank you for choosing the ADAM Audio Tensor Gamma loudspeaker.
ADAM loudspeakers are built for maximum quality reproduction and audio perfection. With
the Tensor Gamma 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 Gamma is a four-way ported semi-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 two
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
The accessories consist of (see fig.):
• 2 dustercloths,
• 2 pair of white gloves,
• 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 one of the two white boxes.
X-ART Tweeter
X-ART Midrange
Bassmidrange
Frontpanel
Sandwindow
Bass
Backpanel
(Controls)

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Tensor Gamma (Semi-active Version) Manual / english
3.1 Important Information for setup
The Gamma has a total weight of approximately 54 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.
We recommend to wear the white gloves. They provide a white PVC dotted cove-
ring on the inside allowing extra grip.
Each unit is wrapped in a special sheath that is open at the bottom. 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. Furthermore, we recommend not to damage
the package and to retain it. The original packaging is the best guarantee for safe
transportation (see 9.).
3.2 Spikes and Plates
The speakers are intended to be floor mounted only. They must stand firmly on
the floor.
If you choose to use the spikes to optimize floor decoupling, please proceed as
follows:
Take one speaker 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
make sure the spikes are either fully screwed in or firmly fixed by the nuts.
If you wish to use the plates, put them on the floor according to the desired
position of the loudspeaker. Using the plates is strongly recommended whenever
the spikes might damage the surface of the floor.
3. Unpacking / Setup

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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) Connect your stereo to the loudspeakers using their Bi-wiring Terminals (WBT).
We recommend using high quality cables to guarantee optimal performance.
b) 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.
c) 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.
d) 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.
e) 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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Tensor Gamma (Semi-active Version) Manual / english
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
Gamma 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

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The ideal positioning of your loudspeaker is pretty much bound to the specific acoustics
of your room. We hope the following hints will prove to be helpful for your set up.
a) General Recommendations:
Avoid any obstructions between the speakers and your ears – you should be able
to see the loudspeakers completely. Furthermore, avoid setting up your loudspeak-
ers close to objects that reflect sound waves too intensely.
The listening position should not be right in front of a wall.
b) Distances
Recommended minimum distance between loudspeakers and walls:
to the side: 1 meter or more, to the back: 0.5 meters or more.
Recommended minimum distance between the loudspeakers: 2 meters.
Recommended minimum distance to the listening spot: 2 meters.
Generally speaking, the listening distance should correspond to the distance be-
tween the loudspeakers.
c) The Stereo Triangle
In stereo applications, the optimum listening position
should be at the top of an imaginary equilateral triangle
with the two loudspeakers being placed at the other
two points of this triangle. The loudspeakers should be
aligned with the listener’s position.
5. Speaker Placement