EarthQuake Nova FF12 User manual

Nova
Power From The Heavens
Nova FF12
Front Firing
Powered
Subwoofer
Operation
Manual
&
Technical
Guide
www.earthquakesound.com Sound That Will Move You

WARNING: This product is capable of
generating high sound pressure
levels. You should exercise caution
when operating these speakers. Long
term exposures to high levels of
sound pressure will cause permanent
damage to your hearing. Sound pressure levels
exceeding 85dB can be dangerous with constant
exposure, set your audio system to a comfortable
loudnesslevel.EarthquakeSoundCorporationdoes
not assume liability for damages resulting from the
direct use of Earthquake subwoofers , and urges
userstoplayvolumeatmoderatelevels.
FF12 Front Firing Subwoofer
-2-
Table of Contents
Introduction ..............................................................
Warranty Guideline .................................................
Specifications & Performance ..................................
Product Overview ....................................................
Control Panel Overview ..........................................
Subwoofer Placement .............................................
Connecting Your Subwoofer ...................................
2
3
4
5
6
6
7
DearValuedCustomer,
Welcome to the eclectic world of Earthquake High Fidelity sound systems; you are about to experience the FF12
subwoofer. This system is designed to dramatically enhance your enjoyment of music and films at home, by adding power
and impact to lowfrequencysoundeffects.
EarthquakeSoundCorporation islocatedintheheartofthe Silicon Valley. It specializesinmanufacturinghighend
home and car audio products ranging from the smallest driver to the loudest subwoofer system. In its dedication to
excellence, Earthquake has maintained extensive programs in research and development to provide you with the highest
qualityaudioproducts.
This owners manual is designed to better acquaint you with the Nova FF12 subwoofer system, and to guide you
through the phases of system design and application. It is imperative that you read this manual in its entirety. Simply call 1-
800-576-7944 for EARTHQUAKE technicians and staff to answer any questions you might have in regards to the FF12
subwoofer.
Professor Joseph J. Sahyoun
President & Chief Engineer

-3-
Five (5) Years Limited Warranty
Earthquake warrants the original purchaser that all Factory Sealed New Audio Products to be free from defects in material and
workmanship under normal and proper use for a period of five (5) years from the date of purchase (as shown on the original original sales
receiptwithserialnumberaffixed/writtenonit).
The five (5) year warranty period is valid only if an authorized Earthquake dealer properly installs the product and the warranty
registrationcard is properlyfilled out andsent to EarthquakeSound Corporation. Ifa non-authorized partyinstalls the product,a ninety (90)
daywarrantyperiodwillbeapplied.
(A)Five(5)yearslimitedwarrantyplancoverageguidelines:
!Firstyear:Earthquakepaysforlabor,parts,andgroundfreight(onlyinUSmainland,notincludingAlaskaandHawaii.Shippingtousis
notcovered).
!Second,third,fourth&fifthyear:Earthquakepayslaboronly.Customermustpayforpartsandfreightbothways.
(B)Warning:
Products(sentforrepair)thataretestedbyEarthquaketechniciansanddeemedtohavenoproblem(s)willnotbecoveredbythefive(5)
year limited warranty. Customer will be charged a minimum of one (1) hour of labor (at the ongoing rates) plus shipping charges back to
customer.
(C)Earthquakewillrepairorreplace atouroption alldefectiveproducts/partssubjecttothefollowingprovisions:
!Defectiveproducts/partshavenotbeenalteredorrepairedbyotherthananEarthquakefactory-approvedtechnicians.
!Products/parts are not subjected to negligence, misuse, improper use or accident, damaged by improper line voltage, used with
incompatible products or have its serial number or any part of it altered, defaced or removed, or have been used in any way that is
contrarytoEarthquake'swritteninstructions.
(D)WarrantyLimitations:
Warrantydoesnotcoverproductsthathavebeenmodifiedorabused,includingbutnotlimitedtothefollowing:
!Damagestospeakercabinetandcabinetfinishduetomisuse,abuseorimproperuseofcleaningmaterials/methods.
!Bentspeakerframe,brokenspeakerconnectors,holesinspeakercone,surround&dustcap,burntspeakervoicecoil.
!Fadingand/ordeteriorationofspeakercomponents&finishduetoimproperexposuretoelements.
!Bentamplifiercasing,damagedfinishonthecasingduetoabuse,misuseorimproperuseofcleaningmaterial.
!BurnttracersonPCB.
!Product/partdamagedduetopoorpackagingorabusiveshippingconditions.
!Subsequentdamagetootherproducts.
Awarranty claim will not be valid if the warranty registration card is not properly filled & returned to Earthquake with a copy of the sales
receipt.
(E)ServiceRequest:
To receive product service, contact Earthquake Service Department at [phone] and request an RMA number (Return Material
Authorization).ItemsshippedwithoutavalidRMAnumberwillberefused.Makesureyouprovideuswithyourcomplete/correctshipping
address, a valid phone number, and a brief description of the problem you are experiencing with the product. In most cases, our
techniciansmightbeabletoresolvetheproblemoverthephone,thuseliminatingtheneedtoshiptheproduct.
(F)ShippingInstructions:
Product(s) must be packaged in its original protective box(es) to minimize transport damage and prevent repackaging cost (at the
ongoing rates). Shipper claims regarding items damaged in transit must be presented to carrier. Earthquake Sound Corporation
reservesthe right torefuse improperly packedproduct. Original billof sale mustaccompany product returnedto service. Weencourage
youtoincludewiththepackageawrittendescriptionoftheproblem.Shipproductto:
Earthquake Sound Corp.
2727 McCone Avenue, Hayward, CA 94545.
Tel: [phone].
YouareresponsibleforthecostofshippingtheproducttoEarthquakeSoundCorporation.
(G)DisputesResolution:
Alldisputes betweenclientsandEarthquakeSoundCorporation resultingfromthefive(5)yearlimitedwarrantypolicymustberesolved
accordingtothelaws&registrationofthecountyofAlameda California.
PRODUCTREGISTRATION
This Earthquake product can be registered by returning the Product Registration card attached to this manual. Please also retain sales
receipt,whichrepresentsproofofpurchase.

Specifications & Performance
-4-
SPL vs Freq.
Typical Near Field Measurements
Specifications
Performance
Power: 400 watts
Frequency Response: 25-125Hz
Dimensions
Height: 16-15/16" (430mm) - including 5/8” (15mm) legs
Width: 14-3/16” (360mm)
Depth: 15-3/4" (400mm) - including amplifier controls
Weight: 37 lbs / 16.8 kgs
Power Line Voltage: 115-230~AC / 50/60Hz
Output Levels: Greater than 130dB peak SPL (includes room gain) from 25Hz to 125Hz.

Product Overview
Class "A/B" Amp
!
!
!
!
!
!
400 Watts Class "A/B" high efficiency power amplifier
12dB/Octavevariablefilterfrom40Hzto180Hz
Automatic signal detection circuitry. When "ON", it
automatically turns on the subwoofer when an audio
signalisdetected.Italsoshutsthesubwooferoffafter30
minutesifnosignalisdetected
Highlevel(speaker)audioinputs
Lowlevel(RCA)audioinputs
Fullrangespeakeroutputsthatcanbeusedtopowerup
otherfullrangespeakersinthesystem
-5-
Signal detection circuitry.
W h e n " O N " , i t
a u t o m a t i c a l l y
shuts off the amplifier in
30 minutes if music is not
detected.
0-180° Phase switch for
precision bass response
control.
Variable 12dB per
octave, low pass filter.
R a n g e 4 0 - 1 8 0 H z
Recommended general
settingat2o'clock.
115 / 230V power
connector with
built-in fuse for
maxprotection.
Low level (RCA)
audio input,
in high pass
mode@100Hz.
The 100Hz high pass
output is the perfect
sourcetofeed acenter
channelamp.
Full range speaker
outputs. Connect to
power up other full range
speakers in the audio
system.
High level (speaker)
audio input. In an existing
s y s t e m , y o u c a n
run the speaker wires
(L&R) into the amplifier
foraudioinput.
Volume Control to
balance the subwoofer
output to the system’s
mainspeaker/amplifier.
RED:Standby
GREEN:ON
NOTE:
Do not use both LOW
LEVEL (RCA) and HIGH
LEVEL (SPEAKER)
connections at the
sametime!
AUTO
Min Max
Volume
FF12

Positioning Your Subwoofer
-6-
FF12 Subwoofer
More Bass Output; Least even bass response
FF12 Subwoofer
Moderate Bass Output; More even bass response
FF12 Subwoofer
Lowest Bass Output; Most even bass response
SubwooferPlacement
There is no argument among audio
professionalsthattheloudestbassoutput
from a subwoofer comes from corner
placement. The sound flaring outward
from a room corner focuses low
frequencies giving them no place to go
but toward you. In the case of
subwoofers,thereisnoautomaticpenalty
in giving overall balance for this peak
bass, since your main speakers can be
located elsewhere. It still may be too
much bass for your room or (more
particularly) your favorite listening spot in
the room, but unless you are seated in a
“void” spot, where sound from the sub is
cancelled or diminished by out-of-phase
reflections from elsewhere, there should
beplentyofbassfromcornerplacement.
If you are seated in such a void spot, your
only real choices are to move either the
subwoofer or your listening position until
the bass returns to the point that satisfies
yourlisteningcriteria.Turningup the level
control or changing the crossover point
almost certainly won't help much. But
flipping the phase control 180 degrees
sometimes may make a difference,
especially if the void is a product of
cancellations caused by interaction with
lowfrequenciesfromyour
mainspeakers.
UsingTwoSubwoofers
If you choose the use two woofers, the
sound output will double (an increase of
5dB).Locatethewooferswithoneineach
corner and experiment with the location
and phase control to achieve the best
bassresponse.
Always drive each woofer through the
Left/Mono input even though you are
driving one woofer on a right channel
drive and the other with a left channel
drive. If your pre-amplifier has a single
Sub/LFE output, use a 'Y' cable to split it
intotwooutputs.

Connecting Your Subwoofer
-7-
LowLevel(RCA)InputConnection
1. Locate the LINE IN RCA on the FF12
amplifier.
2. Connect the FF12 to the signal source,
i.e. AV receiver. There is no need to
have both RCAs to the signal source
sincethesubwooferisoftenoperatedin
mono signal. If the receiver does not
have adequate signal level, then you
may want to use both RCA inputs in
ordertoobtainhighersignallevel.
3. If needed, connect the LINE OUT RCA
to another amplifier to drive satellite
speakers (front or rear). The LINE OUT
RCA has high pass filtered signal at
about70Hz(5dB/Octavecutoff).
NOTE:
DO NOT USE HIGH LEVEL AND LOW
LEVELINPUTSATTHESAMETIME!
High Level (Speaker) Input
Connection
The FF12 has a HIGH LEVEL INPUT
connection. For the best performance,
you might consider RCAconnection if it is
available on your source. If not, then high
levelinputwilldo.
1. Since bass is mono, you can connect
the high level input of any of the front
speakers to your FF12. For ease of
wiring, pick the speaker that is closest
to the subwoofer. Simply piggy back a
wire from the speaker to the subwoofer
and you’re up and running. Note: The
high level input for satellite speakers is
fitted with a high pass filter (70Hz). It is
only powered when the main or front
speaker signals are driven into the
HIGH LEVEL INPUT. These terminals
are marked with red and black to
indicatethe(+)&(-)respectively.
2.Adjust the subwoofer low pass filter cut
off to near 100Hz at first, slowly bring
down the crossing point until you
eliminate any emanating vocals from
the subwoofer. An ideal crossing pint
rangefrom55to70Hz.
3.IncasetheFF12 becomes out of phase
with the satellite speaker, flip the phase
switch to correct the problem
(maximum bass is only achieved when
the sub is in phase with rest of your
speakers).
AUTO
SUB / LFE
OUT L. SPKR
+ - + - + -
R. SPKRCENTER
FF12 Amplifier
Plate
Amplifier or
Receiver
Amplifier or
Receiver
FF12 Amplifier
Plate
Front Left and
Right Speakers
SUB / LFE
OUT L. SPKR
+ - + - + -
R. SPKRCENTER
++
_ _
Front Left Speaker Front Right Speaker
AUTO

Sound That Will Move You.
2727 McCone Avenue. Hayward, CA 94545. USA
US Toll Free: 1-800-576-7944 | Tel: [phone] | Fax: [phone]
www.earthquakesound.com