Anchor Bigfoot BIG-8000 User manual

MADE IN USA
SIX YEAR WARRANTY
Bigfoot® Sound System Owners Manual
For System Setup & Operation Videos Visit Our Website: www.anchoraudio.com
A Message from the President
Congratulations on purchasing an Anchor Audio sound system, the choice of thousands
of satisfied customers including the White House, prestigious universities, school districts
nationwide, police and fire departments, and all branches of the U.S. Military. Our products are
made of the finest materials and built with pride in the U.S.
We’ve incorporated the latest technology into your sound system yet kept it simple to use. Just
take a few minutes to review this manual to ensure the maximum enjoyment of your Anchor
system. Or, you can view a demonstration video complete with a trouble shooting section at
www.anchoraudio.com.
Feel free to call our friendly customer support staff at 1-800-ANCHOR1
with any questions. We love to hear from our customers.
Janet Jacobs, President
on behalf of all Anchor employees
CONTENTS
GETTING STARTED
Please check your new unit carefully for any
damage which may have occurred during shipment.
Each Anchor product is carefully inspected at the
factory and packed in specially designed boxes for
safe transport.
Notify the freight carrier immediately of any damage
to the shipping box or product. Repack the unit
in the original box and wait for inspection by the
carrier’s claim agent. Notify your dealer of the
pending freight claim.
NOTE: All damage claims must be made with freight carrier!
RETURNING SYSTEMS FOR SERVICE
OR REPAIR
For service or repair, please contact the dealer
you purchased your system from, call us at 1-800-
262-4671, or visit www.AnchorAudio.com, Contact
Us page. Our tech support team will issue an RA
number for warranted systems, after which, you can
ship the item(s) to Anchor for repair. All shipments
to Anchor Audio must include an RA number and
must be shipped prepaid. C.O.D. shipments and
shipments without an RA number will be refused
and returned at your expense.
IMPORTANT: Save the shipping box & packing materials,
they were specially designed to ship your unit!
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GETTING STARTED............................................................................................................................... 1
BASIC SYSTEM OPERATION / BACK PANEL ........................................................................................... 2
CONNECTING MULTIPLE SOUND SYSTEMS / SYSTEM PLACEMENT ........................................................ 3
USING THE BUILT-IN AIR TRANSMITTER AND WIRELESS AIR COMPANION SPEAKER................................. 4
AIR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.................................................................................................... 5
USING THE BUILT-IN CD/MP3 COMBO PLAYER........................................................................................ 6
OPERATING THE BUILT-IN UHF WIRELESS RECEIVER .............................................................................. 7
OPERATING THE WIRELESS MICROPHONE/TRANSMITTER ...................................................................... 8
OPERATING BLUETOOTH TRANSMITTER................................................................................................ 9
CARING FOR YOUR BATTERY .............................................................................................................. 10
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS...............................................................................................11-12
HAVING TROUBLE WITH YOUR SOUND SYSTEM? / TECHNICAL SPECS / ANCHOR WARRANTY ................ 13

MADE IN USA
SIX YEAR WARRANTY
Bigfoot® Sound System Owners Manual
For System Setup & Operation Videos Visit Our Website: www.anchoraudio.com
2
BACK PANEL OF BIG-8000CU4
WIRELESS RECEIVERS
(see page 5)
POWER SWITCH
UNIVERSAL MIC – INPUT JACKS
Balanced XLR – low impedance, for balanced mic,
powers condenser-type mics.
Unbalanced 1/4” – high impedance, for unbalanced
mics, no phantom power.
AC POWER CORD INLET
LINE OUT – OUTPUT JACK
Balanced 1/4”
Record your presentation or connnect
to another powered sound system
(Daisey-Chaining together
multiple Bigfoot Speakers).
BATTERY LEVEL INDICATOR
CHARGE STATUS INDICATOR
BLUETOOTH RECEIVER
(see page 7)
Power On LED
Green - power on
LINE IN – INPUT JACKS
1/4” and 1/8” (3.5mm) is used to hook
up a portable CD player, iPod, Laptop
or other external audio source.
USB DC OUT - 5V 500 mA
To charge/power external device.
TONE CONTROLS – BASS/TREBLE
CD/MP3 COMBO PLAYER
(see page 4)
BASIC SYSTEM OPERATION
NOTE: Fully Charge Batteries Before First Use!
IMPORTANT: Make all connections with shielded cables to avoid
hum, buzzing or interference.
1. Unfold Line Array
2. Set all Input Levels to minimum & Tone Controls to
flat (middle) setting
3. Plug wired microphone into the MIC 1 or MIC 2 jacks
and/or any audio source into the LINE-IN jacks
4. Switch POWER to ON, Power ON LED will light
5. Slowly increase Level Controls for active Input Jacks
to desired volume
6. Adjust Tone Controls for desired sound quality
OPENING BIGFOOT LINE ARRAY
1. Unhook rubber latch on bottom
2. Carefully move upward to open position
3. Attach both rubber latches
CLOSING BIGFOOT LINE ARRAY
1. Turn POWER to OFF
2. Unlock both rubber latches
3. Fold Array to closed position
5. Close Array latch
IMPORTANT: Latches MUST be locked and grill MUST
face forward for system to work!

MADE IN USA
SIX YEAR WARRANTY
Bigfoot® Sound System Owners Manual
For System Setup & Operation Videos Visit Our Website: www.anchoraudio.com
3
CONTROLLING FEEDBACK
Feedback, a howling noise or shrill sound, is self-generated by the sound system. It’s caused by
a microphone picking up the sound coming from the speaker and then re-amplifying it. Once a
feedback loop starts, it continues until the system is adjusted.
FEEDBACK CAUSES
• Microphone too close, pointing towards or in front of speaker
• Volume setting is too loud for room
• Sound reflecting off hard surfaces
AVOIDING & ELIMINATING FEEDBACK
• Point microphone in a different direction
• Keep microphone away from the sound system
• Place sound system in FRONT of the microphone
• Reduce the sound system volume levels
CAUTION: Feedback can damage your equipment & may be hazardous to hearing.
CORRECT SYSTEM PLACEMENT WRONG SYSTEM PLACEMENT
Warning: If you are reading this warning within a few
feet of the Bigfoot at maximum volume, please step
away from this thunderous beast. Hearing protection is
recommended. Your ears will thank you.

MADE IN USA
SIX YEAR WARRANTY
Bigfoot® Sound System Owners Manual
For System Setup & Operation Videos Visit Our Website: www.anchoraudio.com
Quick System Setup Instruction – Bigfoot main unit with
AIR Companion Transmitter and ALB-9000
1. Follow instructions to set up AIR Companion Transmitter
2. Install 2 AA 1.5V batteries in beltpack
3. Extend antennas for maximum reception
4. Plug in headphones
5. Power on ALB-9000
6. Adjust volume as needed
Bigfoot Main Unit
1. Connect provided external antenna
2. Power on main unit
3. Power on AIR Companion Transmitter
4. Adjust volume knob on back panel
as needed
Bigfoot AIR Companion Unit
1. Connect provided external antennas
2. Power on companion unit
3. Power on AIR Companion Receiver(s)
4. Adjust volume knob on back panel as needed
NOTE: Verify both AIR Companion Transmitter
and AIR Companion Receiver(s) are synchronized
to the same channel. Default frequency setting
is 902.000. This can be changed as needed. See
Changing Frequency below.
1. Wireless Connection 2. Connecting Systems with Assistive Listening Beltpack Receiver(s)
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Bigfoot Main Unit
Bigfoot AIR Companion Speaker
NOTE: Verify both AIR Companion Transmitter
and ALB-9000 are synchronized to the same
channel. Default frequency setting is 902.000.
This can be changed as needed. See Changing
Frequency in Step 1.
- Using pointed edge tool, hold SET button for 2
seconds. Digital display will blink.
- Press UP or DOWN to select the desired frequency.
- Press SET, or wait 10 seconds for selection
to confirm.
Changing Frequencies on AIR Companion
Transmitter and AIR Companion Receiver(s)
USING THE BUILT-IN AIR TRANSMITTER AND AIR WIRELESS COMPANION SPEAKER
4

MADE IN USA
SIX YEAR WARRANTY
Bigfoot® Sound System Owners Manual
For System Setup & Operation Videos Visit Our Website: www.anchoraudio.com
Q: How does the AIR wireless connection work?
A: Simple! The 8000X series (Bigfoot & Beacon) includes a built-in transmitter -
as designated by the X. An 8000R series (Bigfoot & Beacon) includes a built-in
receiver - as designated by the R. The transmitter and receivers operate on the
902 – 928 MHz frequency, with 100 user-selectable channels. When set to the
same channel, the receivers pick up the audio signal from the transmitter.
Q: Can I use multiple AIR receiver speakers in one set up?
A: Yes, absolutely. Any 8000X series can transmit to an unlimited number of AIR
receiver speakers. All units should be set to the same frequency to receive signal.
When setting up your arrangement, be sure to point the systems facing the same
direction – pointing the systems directly at one another may cause distortion. AIR
units can be placed 150 feet (or more in ideal conditions) from the transmitting
main unit.
Q: I am experiencing interference on all channels. Can I connect with a cable
instead of the wireless connection?
A: Yes! All Bigfoot and Beacon AIR units are main units, with either a transmitter
or receiver(s) built-in. Main units can be daisy-chained to one another by using
the line out to line in jack. The units must have charged batteries, and will not
work if batteries are dead.
Q: What is the range of the AIR wireless connection?
A: Each AIR receiver unit can be placed up to 150 feet from the main unit
transmitter. In ideal conditions, you can place the systems further, however,
be aware of physical latency and/or interference. If you are using multiple AIR
systems, be sure to center the main unit between all AIR companions.
Q: I am experiencing interference with my AIR wireless connection, what can I do?
A: Oh no! You have a few options. First, try to change the channel. There are 100
channels to choose from, so be sure to try various frequencies to find a clear
channel. You should also double check that your speakers are close enough
together to have a strong signal. Be sure all your batteries are fully charged.
Additionally, verify your inputs all have a clear signal (such as a wireless
microphone, cables, and Bluetooth). Lastly, you can try adjusting the external
antennas for a better connection. These fixes may not work for everyone, as
there are occasional signals which cannot be avoided (for example being close
to a high-power cell tower). If none of these fixes work, please call us. We are
happy to help!
Q: Since the Anchor Audio Assistive Listening Devices are also on 902 – 928 MHz,
can they work together to create a simple and reliable ADA compliant sound
system?
A: Actually, yes! All 8000X series units will transmit to the AIR companion
speakers as well as the ALB-9000 Assistive Listening beltpack(s). Since all
systems are shipped out by default on the 902.000 channel, simply power on
your transmitter and receivers (beltpacks and AIR wireless companion), and
you instantly have an ADA compliant sound system. Did you know that ADA
requirements mandate compliant assistive listening systems for any theater using
audio amplification or with a capacity of at least 50 audience members? Try this
set up for the easiest solution.
Useful Information
1. AIR Companion Speaker can be placed 150+ ft. from main unit.
2. Main unit must have built-in AIR Companion Transmitter (LIB-8000X series).
3. Main unit can support unlimited number of AIR Companion Speakers.
4. Although AIR has volume control, main unit volume will raise or lower AIR volume.
5. Transmitter may create audible white noise.
6. When using 2+ transmitters, larger channel spacing should reduce interference.
7. Do not place 2+ transmitters close to one another while set to the same channel.
8. Certain high powered cell towers can cause background noise on the sound sys-
tem. We recommend locating the sound system at least 50 feet from the tower or
adjusting locations to minimize the noise.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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