Angstrom Obbligato Rennaisance User manual

Obbligato Rennaisance
Operating Instructions
Congratulations on your choice of The Angstrom Obbligato .
Designed, engineered and manufactured in Canada to exacting
standards, these loudspeakers will give outstanding performance
for years to come. We recommend that you take the time to read
these instructions carefully. They will provide valuable information
that can improve the musical performance of your entire audio
system.
Turn off your Amplifier/Receiver
Turning off your Amplifier Receiver when connecting your
loudspeakers prevents short circuits which can damage your
system. You should NEVER change any connection without turning
off your Amplifier Receiver.
Use dedicated loudspeaker cables
Loudspeakers are normally excited by fairly low voltages (typically less than 40 volts),
but the current they receive, which is measured in amperes, is quite high. Therefore,
the cables that connect your Angstrom loudspeakers to the receiver or amplifier should
be dedicated loudspeaker cables.
Loudspeaker cables are designed to operate with pulsating signals of widely varying
voltage, current and frequency, and should be designed specifically as loudspeaker
cable. When choosing cables, careful considerations should be given to the technical
design of the amplifier receiver, the distance between the amplifier receiver and the
loudspeaker, and last but not least, the impedance of the loudspeaker. We suggest you
consult your reseller to ensure a correct audio match.
We recommend that you ‘bi-wire’ your Obbligatos. Bi-wiring facilitates more sonic detail.
Loudspeakers are normally connected by means of a ‘twin-lead’ cable or wire, (i.e. with
one side for plus signals and one for minus signals).

However, as loudspeakers also consume widely varying currents in the bass, mid-range
and treble, it is advantageous to connect separate cables to the loudspeaker’s
respective inputs. By so doing, the current drawn is distributed across twice the
sectional area, and the cable with current destined for delicate high frequencies need
not simultaneously supply current to more power hungry bass drivers. The result is an
audibly purer musical reproduction with greater precision in the breadth and depth of the
stereo image. These very special cables should be kept as short as possible.
Bi-wiring also makes it possible to select larger diameter cables with particularly good
conducting capabilities to the mid bass, whereas the choice of silver cables for the
treble is a more advantageous one; experience has shown that silver cables ensure a
subtler, more “liberated” reproduction of delicate overtones in the music.
Making the proper connection
Left and right loudspeakers operate together to reproduce audio signals that should
appear in a stereo image with depth, breadth and height.
Both loudspeakers must play in unison, they should also reproduce a positive electrical
pulse as high pressure, and a negative pulse as low pressure. In other words, the
loudspeakers must be correctly ‘phased’ and to this end they are supplied with colour-
coded terminals. “Plus” is marked in red and “minus” in black. The terminals on your
receiver amplifier are colour-coded in the same way.
All quality loudspeaker cables are marked to ensure correct loudspeaker ‘phasing’
during installation. Typically, one of the leads will be colour-coded, marked or will have
a ridge in the insulation. You should connect the lead that is marked to “plus” on the
amplifier and to the “plus” (red terminal) on your Obbligato loudspeakers. The other
lead should be connected to “minus” (black). Gold plated ‘banana plugs’ fit easily into
the holes on the loudspeaker terminals and provide good electrical connection. They
are highly recommended.

Positioning is important
It really does pay to experiment with the positioning of your Obbligatos. The difference
between “acceptable” and “fantastic” audio reproduction is often only a question of a
few simple adjustments to the room’s acoustics, and to the positioning of the
loudspeakers.
In general, loudspeakers should be positioned so that the tweeter drive units are
approximately at ear level when you are seated in your favorite listening position. The
distance between the two loudspeakers should be approximately 80% of the distance
between the loudspeakers and the listening position. The loudspeakers may be turned
slightly inwards. This will give better focus and precision to the audio signals in the
center of the stereo image.
The Obbligato S (stand version) should be mounted on a mass loaded stand. We
suggest the matching Angstrom US-24NC stand.
Ad usting the bass level
These loudspeakers perform best when they are placed somewhere between 80 cm
and 150 cm from the nearest wall. It is also important to remember that loudspeakers
should be allowed to radiate the sound, without hindrance, through the air and towards
your listening position. Therefore, upholstered furniture and similar objects should
never be placed immediately in front of the loudspeakers or in front of the side firing
woofers as this will damp the treble and upper mid-range, muddy the low frequencies
and will render the sound inarticulate. The stereo image will lose its precision.
Some listening rooms are plagued by problems of ‘standing waves’ which cause a
rumbling, distorted low bass response. In this case the Obbligatos should be placed a
good distance (up to 2 metres, 6 feet) away from the end and side walls, s that the
omnidirectional low frequencies are able to be radiated unhindered. By following this
procedure, the bass level is reduced by a few decibels but the output is controlled. The
bass response will be tighter and more dynamic. Experiment, your listening room is the
most important part of the listening puzzle.
The addition of two Angstrom Profondos or two Angstrom Forzas, low frequency
transducers will complete your audio system. The addition of only one of our low
frequency transducers will transform your audio experience from just fantastic to truly
“unbelievable”. Two will bring realism to new heights.
Spikes
Your Obbligato F (floor version) has been fitted with brass inserts, brass carpet spikes
and brass wafers for use on hard floor surfaces.. If you place the Obbligato F on carpet,
we recommend that you replace the brass wafers with the supplied brass carpet spikes.

Loudspeakers must be run in
Just as a new car engine has to be ‘run in’, so do the moving parts of a loudspeaker
before the system is able to perform optimally. The edge suspension of the diaphragms
and the spiders are manufactured from materials that will stand up to many years of
mechanical stress. While the loudspeakers are new, however, these parts are still stiff
and perform sluggishly. They tend to restrict the movement of the diaphragm and the
loudspeakers will not yet perform at their best. A few hours of playing at moderate
levels will remedy this problem and the loudspeakers will begin to deliver a more subtle
and impelling performance.
Loudspeakers will continue to improve in performance until their parts are mechanically
stabilized. After a ‘break in period’ of approximately 200 hours, they will continue to
play optimally for many years providing that they are not over-driven or overloaded.
NB: It is practically impossible to wear out a pair of Angstrom Obbligato loudspeakers.
Only continuous overloading (caused by excessive volume levels and/or amplifier
clipping) will ruin their performance capability and shorten their life.
We welcome your comments
The Obbligato Rennaisance Series is not a mass produced, cookie cutter product. Natural
wood and hand finishing take time and effort to manufacture. No two cabinets are the
same, just as no two trees are the same. Every effort is made to produce a perfect
product and every Obbligato is checked and tested before it leaves our factory.
The Obbligato Rennaisance loudspeaker is covered by a 5 year transferable warranty
from the date of your retail purchase. One year for amplifiers in Low Frequency
Transducers. Please retain your original ‘bill of sale’ as proof of purchase and the
shipping carton in case the loudspeaker must be shipped by common carrier.
We welcome any comments that you may have, be these positive or negative. Your
opinions will help us to produce even better products. Therefore, if you do have
anything to tell us, please write, e-mail or fax us at the following address:
391 Marwood Drive, Unit 6, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada L1H 7P8
Tel: [phone]
e mail: [email protected]
web: www.angstromloudspeakers.com