Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 2 User manual

BeoLab 2
Guide

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 accom-
panying this unit.
DOLBY, DOLBY DIGITAL, PRO LOGIC
are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation.

3
Contents of the Guide
Before you start…
4Cautions
NOTE! Read this before you start setting
up your BeoLab 2.
Connect your speaker system
6Speaker connections
6Connection to the mains
7Setup examples
– Dolby Digital system
– Dolby Pro Logic system
– Stereo system
Adapt BeoLab 2 to your setup
8Setting the SETUP switch
8Placement guidelines
9Setting the POSITION switch
Daily use
10 Switching on and off – indicator
10 Loudspeaker protection
10 Cleaning BeoLab 2
This Guide describes how to
connect the BeoLab 2 subwoofer,
and adapt it so that it functions
optimally in your speaker setup.
Likewise, the Guide provides
guidelines for how to place the
BeoLab 2.

4
We recommend that you follow
this procedure when setting up
the BeoLab 2 subwoofer:
– Read and abide by the cautions
on these two pages.
– Disconnect your system from
the mains.
– Connect your speaker system as
described in Connect your
speaker system.
– Set the SETUP switch and the
POSITION switch to the correct
settings as described in Adapt
BeoLab 2 to your setup.
– Place BeoLab 2 according to the
guidelines in Adapt BeoLab 2 to
your setup.
– Finally, connect your system to
the mains.
To make a neat cable installation,
we suggest that you run the
cables through the enclosed cable
cover.
Before you start…
Cautions
■The BeoLab 2 subwoofer is intended for
use with Bang & Olufsen active (Power
Link) loudspeaker systems only – it cannot
be used with other speakers.
■Make sure that the BeoLab 2 is placed
and connected in accordance with the
instructions in this Guide.
■Do not in any way block the free
movement of the BeoLab 2 speaker units,
and do not apply any force to them, as this
may result in permanent damage!
■Place your BeoLab 2 on the floor on its
black rubber foot.
■The BeoLab 2 is designed for indoor use
in dry, domestic environments only, and for
use within a temperature range of 10–40º C
(50–105º F).
■Remember that all speakers in a setup
must be connected to a mains outlet, and
that they are designed to be connected to
the mains at all times, as this allows them
to switch on automatically.
Leave enough space for the speaker units to
move – both in front and to the sides of
BeoLab 2.
Use the top hole as a carrying ’handle’ when
you lift BeoLab 2.
Take care not to damage the speaker units,
and never lift BeoLab 2 by gripping its sides!
A
B
Bottom view of BeoLab 2 showing the
location of the product identification label (A).
If you wish to adjust the black rubber foot,
place BeoLab 2 upside down and use the two
adjustment screws (B).

5
OUT OUT
POSITION
CORNER
WALL
FREE
3
2
1
SETUP
IN
Mains cord bracket Mains lead socket
Power Link
output sockets
Power Link
input socket
POSITION switch SETUP switch
Overview of the socket and switch panel.
Rear view of BeoLab 2 showing the location
of the socket and switch panel.
Cable cover: Use the enclosed tool to seal
the cable cover when you have placed both
the mains cord and the Power Link cable
inside it.
For safety reasons you must fasten the
mains lead behind the mains cord bracket.

6
You gain access to the BeoLab 2
socket panel through the hole on
the rear.
For reference, when locating the
sockets, use the overview on the
previous page and the graphics
imprinted on the socket panel.
For specific information about the
other speakers and units in your
Bang & Olufsen system, please
refer to the Guides enclosed with
these systems.
You might find it easier to
“thread” the cables into the
enclosed cable cover before you
connect them, as shown on the
previous page.
Speaker connections
Connect the BeoLab 2 to your system using
the enclosed 8-pin Power Link cable.
On the next page you can see examples of
three different setups: two surround sound
setups, and a stereo setup. In each
example it is explained which sockets to
use.
Dolby Digital system: The system has a
dedicated SUBWOOFER socket, and all
speakers are connected directly to your Bang
& Olufsen system.
Dolby Pro Logic system: This system has no
dedicated subwoofer socket. The front set of
speakers is connected to BeoLab 2, and
BeoLab 2 is connected to your Bang &
Olufsen system. The rear set of speakers is
connected directly to your Bang & Olufsen
system.
Stereo system: The left and right speakers are
connected to BeoLab 2, and BeoLab 2 is
connected to your Bang & Olufsen system
Remember to set the L • R • LINE switch to the
correct setting on each of your front and rear
speakers.
Connection to the mains
Connect the enclosed mains cord to the
socket marked ~.
Connect your speaker system
OUT
RL
OUT
IN
OUT
RL
IN
Looping the signals through from
speaker to speaker: To avoid cables running
from both front speakers to BeoLab 2,
you may choose to loop the signal through
from speaker to speaker.

7
Setup examples
Dolby Digital system:
> Connect one end of the cable to the socket
marked IN on BeoLab 2, and the other end
to the socket marked SUBWOOFER on your
Bang & Olufsen system.
> Connect your front set of speakers to the
sockets marked FRONT on your Bang &
Olufsen system.
> Connect your rear set of speakers to the
sockets marked REAR on your Bang &
Olufsen system.
Dolby Pro Logic system:
> Connect one end of the cable to the socket
marked IN on BeoLab 2, and the other end
to one of the sockets marked FRONT on your
Bang & Olufsen system.
> Connect your front set of speakers to the
sockets marked OUT on BeoLab 2.
> Connect your rear set of speakers to the
sockets marked REAR on your Bang &
Olufsen system.
Stereo system:
> Connect one end of the cable to the socket
marked IN on BeoLab 2, and the other end
to one of the speaker sockets on your Bang
& Olufsen system.
> Connect your left and right set of speakers
to the sockets marked OUT on BeoLab 2.
RL
RL
IN
SUBWOOFER
REAR REAR
FRONT FRONT
'Dolby Digital system'
RL
RL
OUTOUT
IN
FRONT
REAR REAR
'Dolby Pro Logic system'
RL
OUTOUT
IN
'Stereo system'

8
BeoLab 2 can be placed almost
anywhere in a room. However, the
most natural sound and best
stereo/surround sound experience
is obtained if BeoLab 2 is set up
according to the guidelines on
these two pages.
To adapt to the sensitivity of the
speaker system connected to
BeoLab 2, it has a SETUP switch
with three settings.
To filter out the natural bass
change obtained if a loudspeaker
is placed e.g. in a corner, as
compared to a more freestanding
position, BeoLab2 has a POSITION
switch with three settings as well.
Setting the SETUP switch
Use the SETUP switch to adapt the output
from BeoLab 2 to the sensitivity levels of
the different BeoLab speakers.
The switch has three settings (1, 2, and 3),
and which switch setting to choose
depends on your speaker setup. The table
to the right shows which setting to use
with the different models of BeoLab
speakers.
If, for example, you have a pair of BeoLab 1
speakers connected to BeoLab 2, you
should set the SETUP switch to 1, and so
on…
If you have a Dolby Digital system, and
therefore no speakers are directly connected to
BeoLab 2, we recommend that you set the
SETUP switch to 3.
Placement –guidelines
Placement is flexible and easy with
BeoLab 2. Due to its relative small size it
can easily be integrated in most home
environments, and may be placed almost
anywhere you wish in the room.
However, to obtain the most natural sound
you should place BeoLab 2 on the floor in
the front half of the room, and with the
front speaker unit facing your listening
position.
Adapt BeoLab 2 to your setup
BeoLab Penta, BeoLab 8000, BeoLab 6000,
BeoLab 4500, BeoLab 4000
BeoLab 1
BeoLab 2500
3
2
1
SETUP
If you connect BeoLab Penta to BeoLab 2,
we recommend that you set the INPUT LEVEL
switch on the BeoLab Penta to its middle
position.
L R
Ideally BeoLab 2 should be placed at about
the same distance from your favourite
listening position as the front set of speakers,
that is, the left, (centre) and right speakers.
If possible, you should choose a placement
between the two front speakers.

9
Setting the POSITION switch
Use the POSITION switch to ensure that the
bass response suits the placement of
BeoLab 2, and thus the surroundings.
Which switch setting to choose depends on
the distance from BeoLab 2 to the walls
and corners of the room.
The POSITION switch has three settings:
CORNER: Use this setting if BeoLab 2 is placed
in a corner – shown by the dark grey areas
in the illustration.
WALL: Use this setting if BeoLab 2 is placed
closer than approx. 50 cm (20”) to a wall,
and no closer to a corner than approx.
150 cm (60”) – shown by the medium grey
areas along the walls in the illustration.
FREE: Use this setting if BeoLab 2 is placed
more than approx. 50 cm (20”) from the
wall – shown by the light grey area in the
illustration.
The dimensions mentioned are guidelines only.
You may, of course, set the switch to any of
the three positions you prefer.
CORNER
WALL
FREE
~50 cm
20"
~150 cm
60"
Never place BeoLab 2 behind your listening
position. We recommend that you avoid
placing any of your loudspeakers in the area
inside the thin dotted line.

10
When Beolab 2 is connected to
the mains, the stand-by indicator
lights up in red, indicating that
BeoLab 2 is in stand-by and ready
to be used.
BeoLab 2 is designed to be left in
stand-by mode when not in use,
i.e. the power should not be
switched off at the mains.
Please note: BeoLab 2 is designed
to protect itself if the active
speaker unit becomes overheated.
The loudspeaker protection circuit
may become active after a period
of playing at a high volume level.
Switching on and off –indicator
When you switch on your Bang & Olufsen
system, BeoLab 2 switches on
simultaneously. The red stand-by indicator
light turns green, indicating that BeoLab 2
is switched on.
When you switch off your system, or mute
the sound, the red indicator light appears
immediately, indicating that BeoLab 2 is
not in use.
Loudspeaker protection
If the active speaker unit becomes
overheated, BeoLab 2 will instantly reduce
the sound level. Once the situation has
stabilised, the sound level is slowly
returned to normal. If the speaker is
played constantly at such a high level,
BeoLab 2 will eventually mute the sound
completely.
Should BeoLab 2 mute the sound, the
indicator light turns red.
To restore the sound:
> Disconnect BeoLab 2 from the mains.
> Allow the active speaker unit time to cool
off.
> Reconnect BeoLab 2 to the mains.
Should the problem persist, please contact
your Bang & Olufsen retailer.
Cleaning BeoLab 2
Clean the surfaces of BeoLab 2 using a
soft, lint-free cloth which you have wrung
firmly in a solution of lukewarm water
containing a few drops of e.g. dish
washing detergent.
The speaker units may be cleaned with a
vacuum cleaner, set to the lowest level.
Never use alcohol or other solvents to clean
any part of your BeoLab 2!
Daily use
Indicator