Avalon Acoustics OPUS Ceramique Loudspeaker User manual

Serial Numbers ____________________
Handcrafted by:
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This product is certified to meet the requirements of the European Union (EU)
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive (89/336/EEC). Because the
permanent magnets attached to the loudspeaker drivers produce magnetic fields,
it is recommended that the product not be positioned in very close proximity to
computer monitors or television sets.
M usic al M aster piec es

Table of Contents
1 Introduction....................................................................................... 5
2 UnpackingInstructions........................................................................... 6
Introduction .................................................................................................6
Contents......................................................................................................6
2.1 Opening the Crate ...............................................................................................7
2.2 Installing the Grilles ............................................................................................8
Orientation of the Felt Anti-Diffraction Mask .....................................................8
2.3 Replacing Grille Pins............................................................................................9
3 WiringInstructions............................................................................... 11
Introduction .................................................................................................11
Connecting the Speaker to the Amplifier............................................................11
4 Break-inPeriod................................................................................... 13
5 MaximizingPerformance ........................................................................ 14
Break-in......................................................................................................14
Grille Assemblies..........................................................................................14
Speaker Placement and Symmetry....................................................................14
Toe-In.........................................................................................................15
Apex™ Couplers ..........................................................................................15
First Reflection Points....................................................................................16
Corner Treatment..........................................................................................16
6 CareofYourLoudspeakers ...................................................................... 17
Cabinet (Hardwood Finish).............................................................................17
Grille Assembly............................................................................................17
Drivers........................................................................................................17
7 Warranty ......................................................................................... 18
In the Event of a Problem ...............................................................................18
Warranty Statement.......................................................................................19
8 RoomAcousticsandSpeakerPosition............................................................ 21
Introduction .................................................................................................21
An Optical Analogy.......................................................................................22
Basic Room Acoustics ...................................................................................22
8.1 Standing Waves ..................................................................................................23
8.2 Flutter Echo .......................................................................................................24
8.3 Early Reflections.................................................................................................25
Avoiding Early Reflections.............................................................................26
8.4 Bass reinforcement..............................................................................................28
8.5 Summary of Recommendations..............................................................................31
Flutter Echo and Standing Waves.....................................................................31
Speaker Placement ........................................................................................32
Early Reflections ..........................................................................................32
8.6 A Listening Room Example ..................................................................................33

9 AccuracyofBassReproduction...................................................................34
Introduction .................................................................................................34
9.1 Sensitivity to Time-Related Information ..................................................................35
"Fast Bass" ..................................................................................................35
9.2 Rationale...........................................................................................................36
Anechoic vs. In-Room Frequency Response.......................................................36
9.3 Measurements of Audio Equipment ........................................................................37
A Correlation with Amplifier Measurements ......................................................37
Loudspeaker Measurements ............................................................................38
Designing for Accurate Bass Reproduction ........................................................39
Frequency Response Effects............................................................................40
Listening for Size Distortions..........................................................................40
Transient Response Effects .............................................................................41
9.4 Conclusion.........................................................................................................42
10 Features..........................................................................................43
11 Specifications.....................................................................................44
12 Notes .............................................................................................45

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1 Introduction
The Opus Ceramique was conceived as an alternative to our award winning original
Opus. Designed specifically for moderate sized listening rooms, the Ceramique presents
a taught and coherent soundfield, free of stored energy. Staging of exceptional clarity and
harmonic structure is achieved through innovations in crossover technology and the use of
low mass drivers, all utilizing the same ceramic diaphragm material.
“Purity of musical communication”, was the touchstone phrase that we kept foremost in our
minds while designing the Ceramique; to bring the listener closer to the intent of the
musicians while preserving the sonic illusion of the performance. The recovery of ambient
spatial information within an extremely quiet background transports the listeners into the
acoustic space in which the recording was made. Dynamic contrasts blossom from a “black”
background, filling the performance with a visceral realism. All of these virtues from a
transducer of modest size, able to project a palpable soundstage well beyond the boundaries of
the listening room.
Meticulous engineering employing proprietary electronic and acoustic measurements with the
extensive use of CAD modeling has provided us with the ability to predict and manipulate the
most ubiquitous of variables. Dynamic testing has yielded unsurpassed octave-to-octave
energy balance, without compression, under the most demanding program conditions.
Proprietary construction methods utilizing precision components have led to our defining
achievement of low noise ambiance retrieval and soundstage focus, revealing the most subtle
detail of the recording site and the artists performance.
Built entirely by hand, our craftsmanship demands comparison not with the audio industry,
but with the finest cabinet makers of the 18th and 19th centuries. Modern materials,
assembled to the most stringent tolerances, have created a “classic” that will endure the test of
time. Individually crafted, we treat each pair of loudspeakers as a unique work of art unto
itself.

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2 Unpacking Instructions
Introduction
Your Avalon Acoustics loudspeakers were shipped in a heavy-duty crate to ensure their safe
arrival. It is recommended to save this crate for possible future use. Due to the weight of the
speakers, it will require two persons to un-crate them and position them for listening. Please
arrange for your dealer or other friend to assist in this project.
Contents
The shipping crate contains the following items:
•
two loudspeaker cabinets
•
two grille assemblies
•
the owner’s manual
•
one set of six Apex
‘
Couplers
•
an accessory bag
The grille assemblies and owner’s manual are contained in an outer compartment on the top
of the shipping crate. The Apex
‘
Couplers and accessory bag are packed together on the
bottom of one of the loudspeaker cabinets.
The accessory bag contains replacement grille pins, a small bottle of furniture polish, and two
lint-free polishing cloths.
IMPORTANT: It is imperative that the Apex™ Couplers are utilized, in order to insure
that the bottoms of the loudspeakers are not blocked. This is especially important on
thick carpeting.

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2.1 Opening the Crate
The crate features a one-piece top assembly which is fastened to the crate bottom with screws
around the lower perimeter. To unpack, remove the screws and lift the upper portion of the
crate straight up (this will require two people).
Next, slide each speaker part way off of the crate base so that the plastic bag can be
unfastened from the enclosure bottom. Stand the speaker up and the bag can be slid off the
top. Please refer to Figure 2.1.
Figure 2.1 - To unpack the loudspeakers.
1. Remove screws.
2. Lift case.
3. Slide speaker,
then undo bag.
4. Stand speaker up,
then remove bag.
`
`

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2.2 Installing the Grilles
The grille assemblies are behind a panel on the outside of the speaker crate. Remove the
screws securing the panel, and then carefully pull the grilles straight out. The grilles are
installed with friction fasteners and press into place on the speaker cabinets. Please see Figure
2.2.
Orientation of the Felt Anti-Diffraction Mask
The grille assembly includes a felt anti-diffraction mask. Should the felt mask be removed, be
sure to note the correct inside-outside orientation when re-installing it. The tweeter and
midrange openings are beveled on the side that faces the listener (away from the speaker).
Figure 2.2 - To install the grille assemblies.
1. Remove screwsand panel fromtop of crate.2. Pull grillesstraight out.3. Push grille pins straightinto grille pin sockets.

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2.3 Replacing Grille Pins
The grille pins installed on the grille assemblies are fragile and can be easily damaged.
Should any of the pins break, you may replace them using the following procedure.
1. Place the grille assembly face-down on a padded surface (a towel or carpeting).
2. Remove the damaged grille pin by pulling it straight out with a small pliers or similar tool.
Please refer to figure 2.4. Make sure that the complete pin is removed and that there are no
pin fragments left in the mounting hole.
3. Insert the new grille pin in the grille pin installation tool (see figure 2.5).
Figure 2.4 - Removal of broken grille pin. Check for pin fragments in the mounting
hole.
Figure 2.5 - Insertion of new grille pin into installation tool.

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4. Carefully pull the grille cloth away from the frame mounting hole. The mounting hole
must be clear of all obstacles during pin installation.
5. Place the exposed end of the grille pin in the open mounting hole. Check to insure that the
grille cloth is not trapped between the pin and frame. Use a small hammer and gently tap the
new grille pin in place. Then, pull the insertion tool off the new pin and verify that the pin
flange is flush with the surface of the grille. Please refer to Figure 2.6.
WARNING: Grille pin breakage may result if the grille cloth becomes trapped between
the pin and frame during installation.
6. Reposition the grille cloth that was pulled away from the frame mounting hole in step 4.
The cloth should lay flat and wrinkle-free.
Figure 2.6 - Installing grille pin into Opus Ceramic grille frame. Note that after
installation, the grille pin flange is flush with the surface of the grille.