Adcom GSP-560 User manual

/DCOM
details you can hear
GSP-560
Surround Sound
Processor/Amplifier
OWNER’S MANUAL

THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
ARE REQUIREMENTS OF UL AND CSA SAFETY REGULATIONS
Warning: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose
this unit to rain or moisture.
H
CAUTION
m
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE-NE PAS OUVRIR
The graphic symbol of a lightning flash with an arrow
point within a triangle signifies that there is dangerous
voltage within the unit and it poses a hazard to anyone
removing the cover to gain access to the interior of the
unit Only qualified service personnel should make
any such attempt.
The graphic symbol of an exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle warns a user of the device that it is
necessary to refer to the instruction manual and its
warnings for proper operation of the unit
Do not place this unit on an unstable cart, stand, tripod,
bracket, or table The unit may fall, causing serious
injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the
unit Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table
recommended by the manufacturer, or sold with the
unit Any mounting of the device should follow the man¬
ufacturer’s instructions, and should use a mounting ac¬
cessory recommended by the manufacturer.
Read all the safety and operating instructions before connecting or using
this unit
Retain this notice and the owner’s manual for future reference
All warnings on the unit and in its operating instructions should be adhered to
All operating and use instructions should be followed
Do not use this unit near water, for example, near a bathtub, washbowl,
kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool
The unit should be installed so that its location or position does not interfere
with its proper ventilation For example, it should not be situated on a bed,
sofa, rug, or similar surface that may block the ventilation openings, or
placed in a built-in installation, such as bookcase or cabinet, that may
impede the flow of air through its ventilation openings.
The unit should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat
registers, stoves, or other devices (including amplifiers) that produce heat
The unit should be connected to a power-supply outlet only of the voltage
and frequency marked on its rear panel
The power-supply cord should be routed so that it is not likely to be walked
on or pinched, especially near the plug, convenience receptacles, or where
the cord exits from the unit
Clean unit only as recommended in its instruction manual
The power-supply cord of the unit should be unplugged from the wall outlet
when it is to be unused for a long period of time
Care should be taken so that objects do not fall, and liquids are not spilled,
into the enclosure through any openings
This unit should be serviced by qualified service personnel when
A The power cord or the plug has been damaged; or
B Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled, into the unit, or
C The unit has been exposed to rain, or liquids of any kind, or
D The unit does not appear to operate normally, or exhibits a
marked change in performance; or
E The device has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged
DO NOT ATTEMPT SERVICING OF THIS UNIT YOURSELF.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
ATTENTION
POUR PREVENIR LES CHOCS ELECTRIQUES NE PAS UTILISER
CETTE FICHE POLARISEE AVEC UN PROLONGATEUR, UNE PRISE
DE COURANT OU UNE AUTRE SORTIE DE COURANT, SAUF SI LES
LAMES PEUVENT EIRE INSEREES A FOND SANS EN LAISSER AU-
CUNE PARTIE A DECOUVERT
CAUTION
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT USE THIS POLARIZED PLUG
WITH AN EXTENSION CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET UN¬
LESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE
EXPOSURE
CAUTION
POWER LINES
Any outdoor antenna must be located away from all power lines.
OUTDOOR ANTENNA GROUNDING
If an outside antenna is connected to your tuner or tuner preamplifier, be
sure the antenna system is grounded so as to provide some protection
against voltage surges and built-up static charges. Section 810 of the
National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA No. 70-1984, provides information with
respect to proper grounding of the mast and supporting structure, grounding
of the lead-in wire to an antenna discharge unit, size of grounding
conductors, location of antenna discharge unit, connection to grounding
electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode.
a. Use No.10 AWG (5.3 mm 2 ) copper, No.8 AWG (8.4 mm 2 ) aluminum,
No. 17 AWG (1.0 mm 2 ) copper-clad steel or bronze wire, or larger, as a
ground wire
b. Secure antenna lead-in and ground wires to house with stand-off
insulators spaced from 4-6 feet (1.22-1.83 m) apart.
c. Mount antenna discharge unit as close as possible to where lead-in
enters house.
d. Use jumper wire not smaller than No.6 AWG (13.3 mm 2 ) copper, or the
equivalent, when a separate antenna-grounding electrode is used. See NEC
Section 810-21 (j).
EXAMPLE OF ANTENNA GROUNDING AS PER NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE INSTRUCTIONS
CONTAINED IN ARTICLE 810 - RADIO AND TELEVISION EQUIPMENT
POWER LINES
STANDOFF
INSULATORS, b
POWER SERVICE GROUNDING
ELECTRODE SYSTEM
(e g interior metal water pipe)
ANTENNA
LEAD-IN WIRE
TO EXTERNAL ANTENNA
TERMINALS OF RADIO RECEIVER
BONDING JUMPER, d
GROUND WIRE, a,b
GROUND CLAMPS
OPTIONAL ANTENNA GROUNDING
ELECTRODE DRIVEN 6 FEET (2 44 M) INTO
THE EARTH IF REQUIRED BY LOCAL
CODES SEE NEC SECTION 810-21 <f)
NOTE TO CATV SYSTEM INSTALLER
This reminder is provided to call the CATV system installer’s attention to
Article 820-22 of the National Electrical Code that provides guidelines for
proper grounding and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be
connected to the grounding system of the building, as close to the point of
cable entry as practical

INTRODUCTION
Congratulationson your decision to purchase the ADCOMGSP-560 Surround Sound Ffpc^s^^plifier '^ think you\/e
made a wise choice TheGSP- 560 i s t hefirstproductofitstypetocombineadvancedDolbyProLogicdecoding y,
simplified controlsand award winning amplification, Inshort, t heGSP-560bringsaudiophilest a ndardstotheworldofhome
theater.
Enjoy your movies'
A NOTE ON YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL
In a hurry 7 The QUICK S TABTSection will soon have you up and running However, we strongly recommend that you
lefer^ TL expanded i n structions in EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW to "fine tune" you, system for enhanced
enjoyment once everything is working.
If you're more pat, entorwantmore background, start ^EVEPYTHINGYOUNEEDTOKNOW.Y^ be rewarded with
a much better understanding of how the GSP-560 works and what its capabilities are
This unit is manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation. It is additionally licensed under one or more of
the following patents. U.S. number 3,959,590; Canadian numbers
1 004 603 and 1,037,877 “Dolby,” "Pro Logic,” and the double-D
symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.
1

FRONT and REAR PANELS
We carefully designed the GSP-560 with your enjoyment in mind Controls are at a minimum and we've arranged them in
functional groups so that their use is almost intuitive The rear panel also benefits from the same design goals Take a
moment to familiarize yourself with them You’llfindreferencestothecircledIDnumbersthroughouttherestofthismanual
GSP - 560 FRONT PANEL DIAGRAM
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2

GSP - 560 REAR PANEL DIAGRAM
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3

GSP - 560 REMOTE CONTROL
0 Power On/Off
© Muting
© Surround
0 Delay
© Tape Monitor
® Bass EQ
© Rear/Center Reset
0 Balance Check
© Volume - Up/Down
0 Subwoofer Level - Up/Down
© Center Level - Up/Down
© Rear Level - Up/Down
QUICK START
1) Unpack the GSP-560 carefully MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE THE REMOTE CONTROL FROM THE BOX. Put the
foam cocoon and other packing materials back in the carton and save it if at all possible
2) Select a stable, vibration-free location forthe GSP-560 as close as possible to your other audioand video components.
REMEMBER THAT THE GSP-560 HAS THREE HIGH CURRENT AMPLIFIERS INSIDE! Make sure you have
enough air space for proper ventilation.
3) Turn off all the other components in your system. That means everything. And don’t plug the GSP-560 into the AC
outlet yet
4) If your system’s control center (a receiver, integrated amplifier, or preamplifier) has connections designed for an
external signal processor, follow these steps. If not, go to QUICK START Paragraph 5 below.
a) Connect your control center's Processor Out jacks to the GSP-560's “Main Input” jacks © These are to the far
left of the jack array on the GSP-560's rear panel.
b) Connect your control center’s Processor In jacks to the GSP-560's “Line Outputs - Front” © jacks
c) Activate the control center's Processor loop by engaging the appropriate switch
5) If your control center does not have external processor connections, use the tape jacks instead
a) If you have a tape deck connected to your control center’s Tape In and Tape Out jacks (sometimes marked Play
and Record respectively), remove these connections.
b) Connect your control center’s Tape Out jacks to the GSP-560’s “Main Input” jacks © These are to the far left of
the jack array on the GSP-560’s rear panel.
c) Connect the GSP-560's “Line Outputs - Front” © to your control center’s Tape In jacks.
d) Reconnect your tape deck to the GSP-560’s “Tape In” © and “Tape Out” © jacks
4

e) Put the Tape Monitor switch on your control center to the “In” or active position
f) Use the GSP-560’s “Tape Monitor” pushbuttons (©on the front panel and ©on the remote controller) as needed
to play or monitor a tape
6 ) If you have a center channel speaker
a) Connect the speaker to the GSP-560’s “Speaker Outputs - Center” binding posts © Make sure you connect
the “+” or red terminal on the GSP-560tothe"+” terminal on the speaker Then connect the GSP-560’s or black
terminal to the terminal on the speaker
b) Make sure the “Center Mode” switch © on the rear panel is in either the “Wide” or “Normal” position (See
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW for details)
7) If you do NOT have a center channel speaker, make sure that the “Center Mode” switch ©is in the “Phantom”
position
We strongly suggest a center channel speaker You’ll find it makes dialog more intelligible and increases system
flexibility (Again, see EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOWior details )
8) Connect the two rear speakers to the “Speaker Outputs - Left Rear” © and “Speaker Outputs - Right Rear” ©
binding posts respectively Observe the same polarity continuity (“+" to “+” and to outlined in Paragraph 6a
above
9) Make sure the “Master Volume” control on the GSP-560 © and the gain control on the control center are turned
down
10) Plug the GSP-560 into an AC outlet and turn it on by pressing the “Power” switch O Then turn the other system
components on
11) Turn your control center’s gain control to the position you normally use for comfortable listening.
12) Turn the GSP-560's “Master Volume” © control clockwise to about 10 o’clock. THIS ISN’T A HARD AND FAST
RULE—you’ll know if you need to move this adjustment up or down a bit higher after you’ve started Step 14 below
13) Verify that you’re in Dolby Pro Logic mode by making sure that the appropriate LED (the one to the left of “Dolby Pro
Logic Surround”) is lighted If some other mode is indicated, press the “Surround” pushbutton © until the Dolby
ProLogic LED lights
14) Activate the GSP-560’s Balance Check circuit by pressing the “Bal Check” pushbutton Q on the front panel
15) Adjustthe GSP-560’s center and rear channel outputs so thatthe sequential “rushing water” noise is equally loud when
heard through each speaker Sit in yourfavoritechairand use the remote control forthese adjustment (See Paragraph
15 in EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW for details.)
16) Turn off the sequential test tone by pushing the “Bal Check”© control again
17) Remember that the GSP-560’s “Master Volume” control is now the volume control for the entire system If you
inadvertently move your control center’s gain adjustment after you've gone through the balancing process outlined
in Paragraph 15 above and detailed in Paragraph 15 of EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW, you’ll have to
rebalance for optimal listening
18) Select your source material and enjoy 1
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
This section uses thesame paragraph numbersas the preceding QUICK STARTsechon We hope you find the additional
information useful and enjoyable
1) PACKING MATERIAL
As part of ADCOM’s quality control procedures, your GSP-560 was carefully inspected for physical imperfections and
electrical performance before it leftour plant In the event of physical damage, notify your ADCOM dealer immediately
and request help in filing a written damage claim
5

THE RIGHT TO A CLAIM AGAINST A COMMON CARRIER CAN BE FORFEITED IF THE CARRIER IS NOT
NOTIFIED PROMPTLY IN WRITING AND IF THE SHIPPING CARTON AND PACKING MATERIALS ARE NOT
AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. SAVE ALL PACKING MATERIALS UNTIL THE CLAIM HAS BEEN SETTLED.
The foam cocoon and carton were specifically designed to protect your GSP-560 Even though space is often at a
premium in today’s homes, we recommend that you save the packing materials in case you need to ship the unit
anywhere in the future
2) INSTALLING
The GSP-560 is heavier than you might expect due to the high capacity toroidal transformer and large heat sink
assembly forthe power amplifiers A stable supporting surface is necessary We won’t go into the endless and mostly
unproven theories about extraneous vibrations and their deleterious effects on audio/video components except to
say that the more massive and firmly anchored the supporting surface is, the less likely you’ll be to experience any
problems.
Proper airflow is important. Don’t block the ventilation slots on the bottom plate and top cover of the unit. The feet
will insure enough air space below the GSP-560 for adequate circulation DO NOT STACK OTHER UNITS ON TOP
OF THE GSP-560. We recommend 4" of open space above the GSP-560 to allow for cooling.
3) SAFETY
Turning off system components before initial installation and connection avoids the nasty buzzes, thumps and other
sounds of electronic distress that occasionally accompany hooking up components Remember to give any power
amplifiers sufficient time to fully discharge their power supplies before you begin your connections. 30 seconds after
turn-off is usually sufficient.
4-5) UNE LEVEL CONNECTIONS
Patience and common sense will help to avoid almost all of the errors you might make during the initial installation
RemembertoconnectLeftChanneltoLeftChannelandRightChanneltoRightChannel.etc. The jacks on all ADCOM
products follow conventional color coding: White for Left Channel and Red for Right Channel. Most interconnect
cables observe this general guideline the connectors on each end of the cable are usually color coded.
We’ve received many questions about the sonic attributes of premium interconnect cables We do suggest that you
make sure any cable you use is a “low capacitance” design (Most are ) Your ADCOM salesperson will be happy
to make cost-effective recommendations based on individual component characteristics and system complexity
6) CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKER CONNECTIONS
The “Center Mode” switch © has three positions, The bottom two, “Wide Spectrum” and “Normal,” are important
here
“Wide Spectrum” sends afull range signal to thecenter channel speaker Use this position when yourcenter channel
speaker is capable of extended bass reproduction and is acoustically similar to your main left and right speakers
“Normal” restricts bass output (below 100 Hz) to the center channel speaker and redirects it to the main left front
andrightfrontfullrangespeakers Use this position when you've chosen asmallercenterchannelspeakerthat might
not be capable of extended bass reproduction Under these circumstances, “Normal" reduces speaker distortion
and improves center channel clarity
NOTE: The center channel speaker is an essential component in a Dolby Pro Logic equipped home theater system.
It should be placed as close to your TV screen as is physically possible and must be magnetically shielded to prevent
image distortion and possible damage to your picture tube.
In conjunction with Dolby Pro Logic’s “adaptive matrix” decoding, the center channel speaker improves coherency
by anchoring the soundfield to the screen's image Dialog, for example, always appears to be coming from your TV
regardless of where you’re sitting in the room
6

’re not using acenter channel speaker, P^^the “CeiTter Mode”^swtch
If you' _ . , t
channel image.
l. It allows you to benefit
Ttowever/the "Phantom” position is not as effective
The “Phantom”'
from the improvea ®C 8 waa**Hra«ww« —- ■ »; • ™ -y . . m ■ , mnv „ aboLrt room
® using a ^ i." .*»#^ d ^antordharaisl sneaker. Your ADCOMdealer
ratherthdrt being
will be pleased tp' v -
■ !'• >'•' a , Wir**'*^^.' 1 **!*^ *" ■ * ' ‘ »‘U
bUMt WWOlWCnMI MW rwn * * •* ‘
RearsDeakersarS^^S^^I^W8?»prou«efKX)dedmaterial. HoweverTherearoutputofthe
that rear speakers, at least when reproducing Pro Log.c
much lower than iSSfeOrm* higher than 7 kHz
•• ; . • onterKithat suf round speakers can be inexpensive “afterthoughts" in a home theater
This has , h case Whi | e Pr0 Logic processed' rear channel information doesn't contain
eCed^so?X'KSStpS shouid have falriy flat frequency response over the required
ba^dwk^^xper^vOsp'eakers usually exhibitvety uneven or “peaky” fesponsethat can alter the effects intended
by the creators ofDofby SurroundeftcOded material.
Another araument against very inexpensive surround speakers is that the GSP-560 is designed with two operating
Another argument againsx ^ ry £ full-bandwidth signals to the rear channels. Here,
.«* your ADCOM deafer will show^u
appropriate choices.
VOLUME CONTROL POSITION i
Nothing ,0 add here except to point bo, tha, thi, is a ^dard saf^^um
speakers and, of course,'
10) INmAL TURN-ON
When you plug the o^erem^mn^olterf^i'tojms tte
' unr 0 a n°The “Powerlndlcator LED” ©changes froSi yellow (standby status) to red (fully operational status.)the
red LEDonthe “MasterVolume”control©turnson, and all processor ardamplifierste^^are^uy energ^nJt^A^e^
ampimer inputs, iwic «.« __ s^^hh/ maifi .notion or degrade sonic performance.
When the GSP-560 isturned off, the relays open immediately to mute all line outputs, including the internal connections
to the power amplifiers. This protects against any transient pops that may be unsettling.
7

11) S OME NOTES ON VOLUME CONTROL USE
Once you’ve connected the GSP-560, a major functional change occurs in your system
The volume control of your original control center (preamplifier, integrated amp, or receiver) no longer adjusts total
system vo ume Instead, that control now adjusts onlyfront channel levels—the sound going to the left front and riqht
front speakers If you turn it down all the way, you'll still have output from the center and rear channels Turninq it up
all the way overshadows the center channel and therefore defeats the main benefit of Pro Logic decoding Continued
use of this control will also alter the relative contibution of the rear channels to the overall soundfield, thereby reducinq
the system s ability to recreate the sonic experience intended by the soundtrack’s creators
In effect, the level control on your system’s original control center SHOULD BE SET ONCE THEN IGNORED The
best way of doing this is to turn your control center’s gam control to the position you previously associated with
comfortable to slightly loud listening. All subsequent adjustments will be done via the GSP-560’s front panel “Master
Volume control Q or the pushbuttons on the GSP-560’s hand held remote controller ©
12) I N I TIAL LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
Because the GSP-560’s “Master Volume” control increases or decreases levels to ALL outputs simultaneously it
is the new level control for the entire system
However, you still must adjust the relative levels of the center and rear channels (subwoofer, too, if you are usinq one)
before you’re completely ready.
To do this, turn the “Master Volume” control ©to about 10 o’clock. THIS ISN’T A HARD AND FAST RULE _ y ou’ll
know if you need to change this adjustment a bit after you've started the procedure detailed in Paragraph 15 below
13) S ELECT DOLBY PRO LOGIC MODE
Without going into endless details, the Pro Logic decoding 1C in the GSP-560 is designed to accurately recreate the
original soundfield intended by the creators of the Dolby Surround encoded media you will be playing
14) I N TRODUCTORY NOTES ON THE BALANCE CHECK CIRCUIT
The Balance Check circuit does exactly what its name implies. An internal signal generator interrupts the normal
audio information and sends a test tone to all loudspeakers sequentially. The test tone is a filtered broadband signal
close in overall balance to the normal distribution of tones encountered in real life
D°NOT PLAY ANY OTHER SOURCE THROUGH THE GSP-560 WHEN USING THE BALANCE CHECK
CIRCUIT: if you need to check balances when playing a source, simply put the source on "Pause, ’’ go through the
balance check routine explained in Paragraph 15, then resume playing the source
15) U S ING BALANCE CHECK
e goal of the balance check circuit is to enhance the spatial accuracy of your playback system by matching the
acoustic levelsof all system speakers in your room as closely as possible Once you’ve done this, any level differences
rom left to center or from center to rear, etc , are differences intended by the creators of the original soundtrack not
some unwanted aberration caused by the acoustics of your room
BECAUSE EVERY ROOM IS ACOUSTICALLY DIFFERENT AND THE RELATIVE CHANNEL-TO-CHANNEL
LEVELS WILL CHANGE AS YOU MOVE AROUND THE ROOM, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU
PERFORM THIS CHECK FROM YOUR FAVORITE CHAIR USING THE GSP-560’S HAND HELD REMOTE
CONTROLLER.
a) Press the “Bal Check” button on the hand held remote controller © The tone generator will “step" through all
speakers sequentially beginning with the left front After approximately two seconds of left front output the tone
will shift to the center channel ’
b) Use the “Center Level Up/Down” pushbuttons © to adjust center channel output to match left channel volume
as closely as possible.
8