CASTLE KNIGHT5 User manual

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The “Knights” series is the new entry level loudspeaker range
from Castle. Whilst still retaining the hand built craftsman
finished real wood veneers, for which Castle products are famous,
value-engineered components and simplified construction
techniques are used in this series without compromising either
build quality or sonic performance.
The stand mount / bookshelf speakers are reflex designs with narrow, deep cabinets and rear
reflex ports. The floor standing speakers feature Castle's own quarter wavelength speaker loading
system – a special form of transmission line in which smooth low frequency extension is achieved
without the usual upper bass “hot” zones found in many reflex loaded speakers. The line
terminates in a port under the speaker and its output unobtrusively augments the main driver
output. All the speakers feature bi-wireable terminals..
The new Knights series retains all the traditional virtues of impeccable design and presentation – a
perfect balance of form and function in a remarkable value-engineered package.
GoodPracticeGuide..................................................................2
UnpackingtheEquipment.............................................................3
Fitting Spikes
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FinalThoughts.......................................................................9
ServiceandWarranty..................................................................9
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4srotcennoCdnaselbaC
Crossovers 5
PositioningyourLoudspeakers .........................................................6
ConnectingyourLoudspeakers.........................................................7
Specifications ........................................................................8
Contents
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Before connecting and using your loudspeakers, please bear the following points in mind:
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Switch off the amplifier and all sources before making connections to your sound system. When you switch on
the system or change sources, set the volume control to minimum and turn up the level gradually.
The position of your volume control is NOT a reliable guide as to the maximum capabilities of your sound
system. Playing the system with extreme settings of volume and tone controls may damage the amplifier and
loudspeakers.
Do not connect loudspeaker terminals to the mains supply.
Ensure that your loudspeakers are correctly wired and are in phase.
Do not subject your loudspeakers to excessive cold, heat or sunlight.
If you are shelf mounting your loudspeakers, make sure they are not placed on the same shelf as your source
components.
Do not place heavy objects on top of loudspeaker cabinets.
The product must not be exposed to dripping and splashing and no object such as a vase of flowers should be
placed on the product.
Lighted candles must not be placed on the product.
If you play the loudspeakers with the grilles removed be careful to protect the drive units from children and pets.
Do not use makeshift stands. Always fit a manufacturer's approved stand using the instructions and the fixings
provided. Your dealer will advise you.
Do not attempt to dismantle the loudspeaker. There are no user serviceable parts inside and you will invalidate
the warranty.
You should site all Castle Knights loudspeakers at least 0.5 m away from TV sets and magnetic storage media. All
Castle centre loudspeakers may be sited close to a TV screen with no adverse effects.
When connecting your loudspeakers, do not run cable across areas of open floor where they may be a source of
danger. Run them safely, around room boundaries if necessary.
Foreword
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Unpacking Your Loudspeakers
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Now you have opened the carton, we hope you are reading this manual.
If you are unpacking the larger loudspeakers remember that these units are heavy. We suggest that you have someone to
assist you.
Lift the loudspeaker carefully out of the packing. Do NOT try and lift the loudspeaker using the cloth bag.
Unpack any accessories carefully.
If there is any sign of damage or if the contents are incomplete, report this to your dealer as soon as possible.
Stand mounting loudspeakers are ready to be connected after unpacking.
Retain the packing for future safe transport of the product. If you dispose of the packing, do so with respect to any
recycling provisions in your area.
The larger loudspeakers will need to be
assembled on their plinths and spike kits.
Ensure you have plenty of unobstructed working space.
Place a soft cloth on the floor to protect the loudspeaker.
Invert the loudspeaker onto the cloth.
Thread a locknut onto each spike and loosely run it up
the thread.
Thread the spikes onto the spike inserts. Tighten them
finger tight.
Thread a spike knob on to the head of each spike.
Place the spacing washers over the holes as indicated.
Place the plinth on the
loudspeaker. Place a washer over each of the four round
head screws. Insert the screws into the threaded holes on
the loudspeaker and tighten securely.
Invert the loudspeaker. Be careful not to damage the
floor with the spikes.
You will probably find that the speaker will wobble with one spike not
contacting the floor. Adjust this spike until all four spikes are on the floor.
With the aid of a spirit level move each spike in and out until the
loudspeaker is level and sitting squarely on all four spikes with no rocking.
Now tighten each locknut securely against the collar in the plinth to secure
the spike.
Thread the knob onto the spike and tighten to secure the assembly.
A spike seat is provided for use on wood or stone floors etc. and should be
placed as shown.
The plinth is an integral part of the design. Do NOT use floorstanding loudspeakers without the plinth properly
attached.
The spacers lift the base of the loudspeaker off the plinth by a precisely calculated amount. This space forms the exit
path for the Quarter Wave transmission line. On no account should these spacers be omitted or substituted as this will
seriously impair the low bass performance of your loudspeakers.
Attaching the Plinth and Spikes to Floorstanding Models
Levelling the Loudspeakers
Attaching the Plinth:
When the speaker is upright:
Important notes on floorstanding loudspeakers:
Spike
Using the Spike Seat
Knob
Spacers
Spike
Locknut
Knob
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Locknut

Choosing Loudspeaker Cable
Preparing Loudspeaker Cable
Connecting Screw Terminals
Specialist audio cable usually offers better performance than general purpose ‘bell’ or
‘zip’ wire.
Choose a cable of suitable diameter – cable that is too thin will limit the dynamics of
the sound and may impair the bass response. Audio cable is polarised, with two cores of
different colours, or often a raised rib or coloured tracer in the case of twin cable.
Before you purchase your cable, we suggest that you give careful thought to the
positioning of your loudspeakers. This is especially the case if you are bi-wiring your
loudspeakers.
Cable lengths to loudspeaker pairs should be the same for left and right channels in
order to equalise the signal transmission. Allow some slack in your speaker cables so you
can alter their position to best advantage, but do not have your cables over-long.
Split the twin cores to a depth of about 40mm. Carefully strip the insulation from each
end, leaving about 10mm of bare wire. If the cable is stranded, lightly twist to gather
any loose strands.
All the loudspeakers use screw terminals.
Unscrew the terminal. Insert the bare end of
the cable into the hole in the base of the
terminal. Tighten securely.
When connecting terminals, make sure you
leave no strands of bare wire that can short
across to adjacent terminals.
As an alternative to bare wire you can use
specialist spade connectors. Your Castle
dealer will be pleased to advise you.
Safe Connection of Terminals
Cables and Connectors
40mm
10mm
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Biwireable Crossovers
A bi-wiring panel has four terminal binding posts.
The upper terminals connect to the treble units, the
lower pair to the bass unit.
As supplied the treble and bass terminal pairs are
connected via removeable straps. This arrangement
facilitates standard single wiring, and advanced bi-
wiring which offers significant performance
advantages. Follow the drawings carefully to see the
correct orientation of the loudspeaker terminals.
Bi-wiring involves the use of two separate cables
between the amplifier and the loudspeakers. One
pair connects to the treble unit the other to the bass
driver.
Using separate cables for treble and bass units in a
Bi-Wiring configuration reduces intermodulation
effects and improves headroom and clarity. To bi-
wire, you will need to install two lengths of twin
core cable between the amplifier and each
loudspeaker.
The bi-wiring principle can be further extended by
bi-amplifying (bi-amping). To bi-amp you will need
two amplifiers per loudspeaker. One amplifier is
connected to the treble terminals and the other to
the bass terminals of the crossover panel. Bi-
amping offers the greatest clarity. Because each
amplifier is working over a narrow range,
intermodulation distortion is virtually eliminated
and acoustic performance optimised.
The amplifiers in the treble and bass sections of a
bi-amped loudspeaker need not be identical but
they must exhibit the same phase characteristics. If
you wish to bi-amp your loudspeakers we suggest
you consult your Castle dealer if you are in any
doubt.
Why Bi-Wire?
Bi-amplifying
Crossover Networks
The Castle Knights Series use bi-wired terminal panels.
As supplied
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In bi-wiring mode
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Positioning Stereo Loudspeakers
Stand Mounting Loudspeakers
The Knight 1 and Knight 2 are designed for stand mounting. The stands should be
sturdy and offer optimum support for the loudspeaker. As an alternative the
speakers may be wall mounted on rigid brackets or placed on rigid shelves.
Ideally the tweeter should be at ear level to a seated listener. If the rear
panels of the speakers are placed close to the walls, the amount of bass will be
increased but the clarity may well suffer - you should experiment until you get the
best result.
The distance between the speakers should be the same as between you and the speakers.
If the loudspeakers are placed too close to the walls, the bass will increase but may be boomy and indistinct. If the
loudspeakers are placed further away from the walls, the inward angle ("toe in") may be increased by up to 30% As personal
taste plays a large role, experiment with different configurations and play a wide range of programme material before finalising
the position of your speakers.
The optimum listening position is in the area broadly known as the ‘sweet spot’. The more extreme the angle, the narrower is
the sweet spot. Castle loudspeakers are designed to cover a medium sonic perspective so there should be no need fo extreme
settings.
700mm
2-4 metres
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Listening
Sweet Spot
Floorstanding:
>200mm
Stand mounted:
>100mm
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Connecting Your Loudspeakers
Choose a suitable length of twin core
speaker cable for each channel, and
prepare the ends. Unscrew each terminal a
few turns.
Connect the red, positive (+) terminal of
the Left loudspeaker to the corresponding
red, positive (+) amplifier terminal.
Connect the black, negative (-) terminals
similarly. Tighten the terminals securely.
Repeat this procedure for the Right
Channel.
If you are standard wiring a bi-wiring
panel, make sure that the binding straps
are securely in place.
Standard Loudspeaker Wiring
L.SPKR
R.SPKR
AMPLIFIER
Left Speaker
Right Speaker
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L.SPKR
R.SPKR
AMPLIFIER
Left Speaker
Right Speaker
To Bi-wire, you will need to install two
lengths of twin core cable between the
amplifier and each loudspeaker.
Some amplifiers have two pairs of
output terminals to facilitate bi-wiring but
this is not essential. The advantages of bi-
wiring are fully retained if your amplifier
has only one pair of loudspeaker terminals
per channel (as in the illustration).
Note:
Bi- Wiring
L.SPKR
R.SPKR
AMPLIFIER
Left Speaker
Right Speaker
Two amplifiers are used. One amplifier is
connected to the treble terminals the
other to the bass terminals.
Bi- Amping
L.SPKR
R.SPKR
AMPLIFIER
L.SPKR
R.SPKR
Phase
It is essential that you strictly observe the colour code when connecting your loudspeakers. Incorrectly connected (out of
phase) loudspeakers suffer from poor bass response and fuzzy imaging. Phase anomalies in high fidelity systems can be
extremely annoying and, especially when the speakers are bi-wired or bi-amped, difficult to pin down. A correctly connected
Castle loudspeaker system will give you deep sonorous bass with pinpoint imaging and clarity.

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Specifications
Function
Format
Operating Mode
Bass Driver
Tweeter
Amplifier power (rec.)
Impedance (Nominal)
Sensitivity (1W@1M)
Nominal Frequency Range
Freq. Fb
Crossover Frequency
Dimensions (HxWxD) (mm)
Height on plinth and spikes
Net weight
Carton size (mm)
Gross weight
Finishes
2 channel
Stand Mount
Reflex
130mm
25mm
15 - 100W
8 Ohms
88 dB
46Hz - 24kHz
55Hz
3 kHz
290 x 165 x 265
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4.5 kg ( 9.9 lbs)
450 x 330 x 370
10.2 kg (22.4 lbs)
2 channel
Stand Mount
Reflex
150mm
15 - 125W
90 dB
380 x 200 x 335
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7.85 kg ( 15.7 lbs)
520 x 400 x 460
17.6 kg (38.7
25mm
8 Ohms
42Hz - 24kHz
40Hz
3 kHz
lbs)
2 channel
Floorstanding
Quarter Wave
130mm
15 - 100W
88 dB
50Hz
760 x 165 x 265
820
10.7 kg (23.5 lbs)
890 x 330 x 450
23.5 kg (51.7
25mm
8 Ohms
38Hz - 24kHz
3 kHz
lbs)
2 channel
Floorstanding
2 x 130mm
25 - 150W
90 dB
45Hz
840 x 165 x 270
900
12.5 kg (27.5 lbs )
970 x 330 x 450
27.1 kg (59.6 lbs)
Quarter Wave
25mm
8 Ohms
36Hz - 24kHz
3 kHz
Knight 1 Knight 2 Knight 3 Knight 4
Parameter
2 channel
Floorstanding
2 x 150mm
25 - 200W
91 dB
30Hz - 24kHz
35Hz
925 x 200 x 335
985
20 kg (44 lbs)
1055 x 280 x 400
22.2 kg (48.8lbs)
Quarter Wave
25mm
8 Ohms
3 kHz
Knight 5
Specially selected Deep Figured Veneers sealed with "natural feeling" semi matt clear lacquer
KNIGHTS SERIES
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Final Thoughts
Looking After Your Loudspeaker
Your Castle Loudspeakers use a specially hardwearing sealed finish. They should not be waxed or treated with
spray polishes which will smear and dim their lustrous finish. Occasionally polish them with a dry or barely
moist cloth to remove dust and finger marks, etc.
Occasionally, remove the loudspeaker grilles and brush them gently with a soft brush before replacing them
carefully.
Never stand objects on your loudspeakers. In particular do not stand flowers etc. on them - they are not
jardinieres!
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Avoid getting any liquid behind the grille. If you accidentally spill liquid on your loudspeakers, take them to
your dealer for attention before using them again.
Do not open the speakers; there are no user serviceable parts inside. Never touch the drive units either with
an object or your hands.
Your Castle loudspeakers have been constructed to the highest standards. From the top grade furniture
construction and finish to the carefully designed and selected acoustic components, the Castle range is a
testament to fine design, fine engineering and fine craftsmanship. Our speakers are built to provide a lifetime of
pleasure to the eye, the ears and through the music they play, the soul. We hope you will derive many years of
good service from our products.
Servicing of Castle products should only be carried out by authorised service agents. If service is required the
equipment should be returned, securely packaged, preferably using original packaging, to your dealer.
In the UK equipment may be returned to the IAG Service Centre. Always telephone before returning any
equipment. A note should be enclosed giving your name, address, telephone number, and a brief description of
the reason for return.
If you require service outside the Warranty period, do not hesitate to contact your dealer.
For technical support, servicing, product queries or information please contact either your local retailer or the
main offices below.
Quality Assurance
Servicing
Service Addresses
UK
IAG Service Dept.
Unit 4
St Margaret’s Way
Stukeley Meadows Industrial Estate
Huntingdon
Cambs
PE29 6EB
England
Tel:[phone]
Fax: [phone]
Asia
IAG
Room 2310 - 2311 Press Building,
Shennan Road C,
Shenzhen,
China
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
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