Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 1 User manual

BeoLab 1
User’s guide

Legal notice:
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of
electric shock, do not remove
cover (or back).
No User-serviceable parts
inside. Refer servicing to
qualified service personnel.
WARNING: To prevent fire or electric
shock, do not expose this appliance to
rain or moisture.
This symbol indicates that a
dangerous voltage constitut-
ing a risk of electric shock is
present within this unit.
This symbol indicates that there
are important operating and
maintenance instructions in the
literature accompanying this
unit.

Contents of the Guide
How to set up the BeoLab 1
loudspeaker
4 Before you start…
NOTE! We urge you to read this part before
you start assembling your loudspeakers.
Assemble the column and base
plate
5 Assembly
5 Rubber Feet – adjustment
Connect your loudspeakers
6 …to a Bang & Olufsen product
7 …to a non-Bang & Olufsen product
7 …to the mains
7 Running the cables – cable cover,
cable clamps
Adapt the BeoLab 1 to its
surroundings
8 Setting the Speaker Position switch
(Bass Alignment)
Daily use
10 Switching on and off – indicator
10 Loudspeaker protection
10 Cleaning the BeoLab 1
The BeoLab 1 loudspeaker is
separated in two boxes: one
containing the loudspeaker column,
and the other the base plate.
This User’s guide describes how to
assemble the BeoLab 1 loudspeaker
column and base plate, how to
connect the BeoLab 1 loudspeaker,
and how to adjust it to your
surroundings. Likewise, the guide
gives some advice on how to place
the BeoLab 1.

4How to set up the BeoLab 1 loudspeaker
We recommend that you follow this
procedure when setting up the
BeoLab 1 loudspeaker:
1 Finish unpacking and assemble
the column and base plate as
described on page 5.
2 Disconnect your Bang & Olufsen
system from the mains.
3 Connect your loudspeaker as
described on pages 6–7.
4 Set the L•R•LINE switch and
the Speaker Position switch to
the correct setting on each
BeoLab 1 as described on pages
8–9.
5 Lift the assembled BeoLab 1 off
the packing materials, and place
it. As for the placement of each
speaker, please refer to pages
8–9.
6 Connect both loudspeakers (and
your system) to the mains – and
enjoy!
Before you start…
Here we have a list of things which should
be considered before setting up the
BeoLab 1:
• Make sure that the BeoLab 1 is set up
(placed and connected) in accordance with the
instructions in this Guide.
• Always place your BeoLab 1 on a firm and
stable surface.
• The BeoLab 1 is designed for indoor use in
dry, domestic environments only, and for use
within a temperature range of 10–40°C (50–
105°F).
• Remember that all speakers in a setup need a
connection to a mains outlet, and that they, in
order to switch on automatically, are designed
to be connected to the mains at all times.
• Do not turn the power on for any units in
your system, until after you have all the cables
plugged in (pages 6–7).
• On the top of the BeoLab 1 is a small recess.
This is for ventilation of the powerful BeoLab 1
amplifiers. Do not cover up this recess (and do
not use it as ‘a carrying handle’ when moving
your BeoLab 1 loudspeaker).
• Do not attempt to open your BeoLab 1.
Leave such operations to qualified service
personnel.
Bottom view of the BeoLab 1 showing access
to the panel with the sockets and switches.
The use and purpose of the sockets and
switches is described on pages 7–9.

5
Assemble the column and base plate
To prevent the column from being
scratched, we recommend that you
do not remove the foamy wrapping
completely. Just un-wrap it at the
bottom-end of the column to get
access to the screw holes, socket
panel, etc.
Due to the weight of the base
plate, it is packed in a separate box.
Open the box with the base plate,
find the bag with the screws and
the Allen key, then assemble the
column and base plate as
illustrated.
Assembly: While the BeoLab is still lying on
the packaging, lift it up at the base-end and
place an extra piece of packaging material
underneath.
Fix the base plate into place. The groove for the
cables must point downwards (A), and the base
plate guiding pin will engage the corresponding
hole in bottom part of the column. Fasten the
base with the six screws provided.
Rubber feet adjustment: To compensate for an
uneven floor surface the BeoLab 1 base plate
has been fitted with six adjustable rubber feet
(indicated by the little arrows).
Adjust if appropriate, but wait until you have
raised and placed the loudspeaker.
A
BeoLab 1 front

6Connect your loudspeakers
You gain access to the BeoLab 1
socket panel through the base
plate.
So, connect the cables (and set the
two switches) while the BeoLab 1
is still lying on the packaging.
The setting of the L•R•LINE
switch is explained on this page,
and the setting of the Speaker
Position switch is explained on
pages 8–9.
Use the overview on the next page
and the graphics imprinted on the
socket panel for reference, when
locating the sockets and switches.
Note: To make a neat installation,
we suggest that you run the cables
through the cable cover as
explained on the next page.
…to a Bang & Olufsen product
Connect the BeoLab 1 to your audio (or
video) system using the enclosed 8-pin
Power Link cable:
• Plug one end of the cable into one of the
sockets marked POWER LINK on the BeoLab 1,
and the other end into any one of the two
sockets marked POWER LINK on the audio
or video system (please refer to the Guide
for the system in question).
• The switch marked L•R•LINE must be set
to either Lor R:
Lfor the left-hand speaker/sound channel;
set the switch to its utmost left position.
Rfor the right-hand speaker/sound channel;
set the switch to its middle position.
Looping the signals through from speaker
to speaker…
To avoid cables running from both loud-
speakers to your system, you can loop the
signal through from speaker to speaker:
• Connect one BeoLab 1 loudspeaker to your
system as previously described, e.g. the left-
hand speaker.
• Make a connection from the first BeoLab 1 to
the other one, using the second Power Link
socket.
You may connect more than one pair of
BeoLab 1 speakers to your system (as many
as ten pairs, in fact). You just have to run a
Power Link cable from speaker to speaker.
Remember though, to set the L•R•LINE
switch to the proper position for the left-
and right-hand speakers, respectively.
LR
LR

7
…to a non-Bang & Olufsen
product
The phono socket marked LINE must be
used instead of the Power Link sockets if
the BeoLab 1 is to be connected to a non-
Bang & Olufsen product (using e.g. a cable,
part no. 6270595). The signal must be on a
regulated low-voltage level.
• Connect one speaker to each of the sound
channels.
• The switch marked L•R•LINE must, in this
case, be set to LINE on both speakers (set the
switch to its utmost right position).
…to the mains
Connect the enclosed mains cord to the
socket marked POWER, but do not connect
it to the wall socket yet.
Running the cables
You might find it easier to “thread” the
cables into the enclosed cable cover before
you connect them to the BeoLab 1.
Cable cover: Use the enclosed tool to “zip up”
the cable cover when you have placed both the
mains cord and the Power Link cable inside it.
1 POWER LINK 2
POWER
L R LINE
SPEAKER POSITION
FREESTANDING
AGAINST WALL
IN CORNER
25 cm / 10"
L•R•LINE
switch
Power Link
connections
Connection to
the mains
LINE
connection
Speaker Position
switch
Cable clamps: For safety reasons you must
fasten the cables and cable cover with the two
clamps, as shown.

8Adapt the BeoLab 1 to its surroundings
The BeoLab 1 can be placed almost
anywhere in your room. However,
the most natural sound and best
stereo perspective is obtained if
the BeoLab 1 is set up according to
the guidelines on these two pages.
To filter out the natural bass boost
obtained if a loudspeaker is placed
e.g. in a corner – compared to a
more freestanding position – the
BeoLab 1 has a three-position
switch referred to as the Speaker
Position switch.
Note: As the Power Link cable
carries both the left and the right
sound channel it is important that
you remember to set the
L•R•LINE switch to the correct
setting on each of the loudspeakers
(further explained on p. 6).
Setting the speaker Position
switch
The purpose of the Speaker Position switch
is to ensure that the bass level suits the
placement of the BeoLab 1, and thus the
surroundings. Which switch position to
choose depends on the distance from the
BeoLab 1 to the walls and corners of the
room.
The Speaker Position switch has three
settings:
• FREESTANDING: This is the neutral setting,
i.e. no filtering at all. Use this setting if the
BeoLab 1 is placed more than 40 cm from
the wall (shown by the large lightest grey
area in the overview on the next page).
However, we recommend that you do not
place the BeoLab 1 more than approx. 1 m
away from the wall as this gives a lower
bass output.
• AGAINST WALL: The next level of filtering. Use
this setting if the BeoLab 1 is placed closer
than 40 cm to a wall, and no closer to a
corner than 130 cm (shown by the light grey
areas along the walls in the overview).
• IN CORNER: This is the setting with the most
filtering. Use this setting if the BeoLab 1 is
placed in a corner (shown by the darkest
grey areas in the overview).
The examples, and the dimensions shown,
are meant as guidelines only. You may, of
course, set the switch to any of the three
positions you prefer.
How to measure? The measurements are
both ‘taken’ from the edge of the BeoLab 1
bottom plate which is placed closest to the
wall (the zone along the walls of the room is
approx. the width of the BeoLab 1 bottom
plate).

9
~ 40 cm
16"
~ 130 cm
51"
IN CORNER
AGAINST WALL
FREESTANDING
L
R
LR
LR
LR
~ 3 m
10'
~ 3 m
10'
Example 1: The loudspeakers are placed in one
end of the room (but not against the wall), and
not near the side walls. Thus, the Speaker
Position switch should be set to FREESTANDING
on both the left- and right-hand loudspeaker.
Example 2: One loudspeaker is placed against
the wall, and the other is placed in a corner of
the room.
Speaker L: Should be set to AGAINST WALL.
Speaker R: Should be set to IN CORNER.
Example 3: As in example 2, one loudspeaker
is placed against the wall, and the other is
placed in a corner. The shape of the room has
no influence on the settings.
Speaker L: Should be set to AGAINST WALL.
Speaker R: Should be set to IN CORNER.
Placement/listening position. To obtain the
most natural sound and best stereo perspective
set up your favourite listening position
according to the guidelines shown here.
Speaker Position:

10 Daily use
When you have finished setting up
your BeoLab 1, connect your entire
Bang & Olufsen system to the mains.
The stand-by indicator lights up in
red, indicating that the BeoLab 1 is
in stand-by, ready to be used.
As the BeoLab 1 speakers are
designed to be left in stand-by mode
when not in use, i.e. the power
should not be switched off at the
switch on the wall.
Please note: The BeoLab 1 is
designed to protect itself if the loud-
speaker units or the amplifiers
become overheated. The loud-
speaker protection circuits will
become active after a period of
playing very loud music, etc. at a
high level.
Switching on and off –indicator
When you switch on your music system, the
BeoLab 1 loudspeakers switch on simul-
taneously. The red stand-by indicator light
turns green, indicating that the speakers
are switched on.
When you switch off your system, or mute
the sound, the red indicator light appears
immediately, indicating that the BeoLab 1
speakers are not in use.
If the BeoLab 1 speakers are connected to a
non-Bang & Olufsen system – via the phono
socket (LINE) – they switch on automatically
when a signal is received from the system.
They switch off automatically a few
minutes after the signal has disappeared.
Loudspeaker protection
If the loudspeaker units become overheated,
the BeoLab 1 will instantly reduce the sound
level. When the situation has stabilised, the
sound level is slowly returned to normal. If
the loudspeaker is played constantly at such
a high level, the BeoLab 1 will eventually
mute the sound completely.
If the amplifier units become overheated,
the BeoLab 1 will reduce the sound level
and mute.
Should the BeoLab 1 mute, the sound will
fade and the indicator light turn red.
To restore the sound:
• Disconnect the BeoLab 1 from the mains.
• Allow the loudspeakers and amplifiers time
to cool off.
• Reconnect the BeoLab 1 to the mains.
Should the problem persist, please contact
your Bang & Olufsen dealer.
Cleaning the BeoLab 1
Clean the surfaces of the BeoLab 1 using a
soft, lint-free cloth which you have wrung
firmly in a solution of lukewarm water
containing a few drops of for example a
dish washing detergent.
The front speaker cloth may be cleaned
with a vacuum cleaner, set to the lowest
level.
Note: Never use alcohol or other solvents to
clean any part of your BeoLab 1!
Indicator