Harman JBL Synthesis SSW-4 User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
In-Wall Loudspeaker
JBL®SSW-4

2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
About JBL®.................................................................... 3
About Your JBL®Synthesis SSW-4 In-Wall Subwoofer . 3
Product Highlights ...................................................... 3
What’s In The Box....................................................... 3
Unpacking...................................................................... 4
Installation Summary ...................................................... 4
Tools Required............................................................ 4
Speaker Placement..................................................... 4
Cutting The Hole ........................................................ 5
Running The Wire ....................................................... 5
Connections................................................................... 5
Wiring Examples, SDA 8300 To SSW-4 ....................... 6
Installation...................................................................... 7
Painting The Speaker Grille ............................................. 7
Troubleshooting.............................................................. 8
Specifications................................................................. 8
Limited Warranty ............................................................ 9
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Use only attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
2. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the
manufacturer or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use
caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury
from tip-over.
3. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when
the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as when the power-supply
cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus, or the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not
operate normally or has been dropped.
WEEE NOTICE
The Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), which entered
into force as European law on 14/02/2014, resulted in a major change in the
treatment of electrical equipment at end-of-life.
The purpose of this Directive is, as a first priority, the prevention of WEEE, and
in addition, to promote the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of such
wastes so as to reduce disposal. The WEEE logo on the product or on its box
indicating collection for electrical and electronic equipment consists of the crossed-
out wheeled bin, as shown below.
This product must not be disposed of or dumped with your other household waste.
You are liable to dispose of all your electronic or electrical waste equipment by
relocating over to the specified collection point for recycling of such hazardous
waste. Isolated collection and proper recovery of your electronic and electrical
waste equipment at the time of disposal will allow us to help conserving natural
resources. Moreover, proper recycling of the electronic and electrical waste
equipment will ensure safety of human health and environment. For more
information about electronic and electrical waste disposal, recovery, and collection
points, please contact your local city center, household waste disposal service,
shop from where you purchased the equipment, or manufacturer of the equipment.
ROHS COMPLIANCE
This product is in compliance with Directive 2011/65/EU of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain
hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

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English
Congratulations and Thank You for purchasing your new JBL®Synthesis SSW-4 In-Wall Subwoofer. Please take the
time to read the following installation and setup information in order to optimize the performance of your architectural
subwoofer system.
ABOUT JBL®
Since 1946, JBL®has stood at the forefront of loudspeaker design and performance. Backed by Harman International’s
world leading research and design facilities, JBL®loudspeakers benefit from cutting edge resources such as:
• Multiple large anechoic chambers which allow for precise testing and measurements.
• A multi-channel listening lab for double-blind, position independent listening tests.
• A laser interferometer that enables detailed driver and cabinet analysis.
• Finite element analysis, utilized for advanced loudspeaker modeling.
• A stereo lithography apparatus, which rapidly “builds” tooled parts.
ABOUT YOUR JBL®SSW-4 IN-WALL SUBWOOFER
The SSW-4 subwoofer is a dual 8" woofer high performance in-wall subwoofer specifically designed to be used in
conjunction with the JBL®SDA 8300 subwoofer amplifier. It is optimized to offer the best dynamics and frequency
response with use of the JBL®SDA 8300 amplifier, which is specially designed to drive signature reactive load
impedance of the SSW-4.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
• Dual 8" low-profile, long-throw, Klippel-optimized,
metal cone woofers
• Easy installation: run wire to mounting position, cut the hole,
install the subwoofer
• Zero-bezel, magnetically-attached grille
• Gold-plated speaker terminals
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
• 1 x SSW-4 Subwoofer
• 1 x SSW-4 Subwoofer Grille
• 8 x Mounting screws (Size #10, 3.5-inch/90mm length)
• 8 x Mounting screw washers (Size #10, Type A)
• 8 x Mounting isolators

4
UNPACKING
Carefully unpack the subwoofer and accessories. If you suspect damage from transit, report it immediately to your
dealer and/or delivery service. Keep the shipping carton and packing materials for future use.
WARNING: Before you start to set up your amplifier, make sure you read and observe the Important Safety
Instructions found at the beginning of this manual.
INSTALLATION SUMMARY
To install and use your new JBL®SSW-4, follow these steps:
1. Gather the necessary tools
2. Decide where to install the SSW-4 in the room
3. Cut the hole for the SSW-4
4. Run your wire
5. Connect and install the SSW-4
6. Enjoy!
TOOLS REQUIRED
• Stud finder to locate your studs
• Pencil to mark the cut line per the dimension drawings
• Sheetrock knife
• Screwdriver or clutched drill with #2 Philips screwdriver head/bit
Optional:
• Fish tape or stick for running your speaker wire
• Spray paint to paint the grille to better match your décor
The JBL®SSW-4 is extremely easy to install. However, if you are unable to understand and follow the instructions in
this manual clearly and fully, or if you are unsure of your ability to install these loudspeakers properly, please contact
your dealer or a qualified installer.
WARNING: HARMAN International assumes no responsibility for improper installation of hardware or for any personal
injuries or product damages resulting from improper installation or a fallen loudspeaker.
SPEAKER PLACEMENT
Low-frequency sounds are normally omnidirectional, meaning the listener can’t tell where they are
generated from. However, frequencies between 75Hz and 150Hz can be localized, especially at
higher volume levels. Positioning your subwoofer as recommended will provide the most natural
soundstage and imaging from your loudspeaker system. It is recommended that you install your
SSW-4 in-wall subwoofer along the same wall as the front loudspeakers. The SSW-4 subwoofer
is not video-shielded and should not be placed near a video display affected by magnetic fields.
Installing the SSW-4 near a corner will tend to maximize low-frequency output. Be cautious when
installing in a corner, to avoid a “boomy” sound. Also take into consideration any unusual features
of the room, such as an alcove, which may tend to create a localized node that may affect bass
response in that area of the room.
It is also recommended that the speaker be installed so that the bottom of the speaker is approximately 12" from the
floor. This is to help with the low-frequency loading (bass reinforcement). This also helps hide the speaker in a less
visible place. In special circumstances it is acceptable to install the speaker at any height on a wall.
When using two SSW-4 in-wall subwoofer systems, you may need to be concerned about phase, as the sound
waves may cancel each other out. If bass response seems low, try inverting the polarity on one subwoofer – i.e.,
connect the (+) terminal on the amplifier to the (–) terminal on the speaker, and the (–) terminal on the amplifier to the
(+) terminal on the speaker.
NOTE: Remember that these are just guidelines. Since every listening room is different, we at JBL strongly recommend
experimenting with the positioning of your subwoofer prior to cutting the wall to obtain the most pleasing results in
your room. One technique that can help you find the ideal subwoofer location is to temporarily borrow a stand-alone
subwoofer and place it near the main listening location. Then move around the room and determine where you hear the
most pleasing bass performance. This would then be the ideal location for the subwoofer. To be absolutely sure, we
recommend placing your SSW-4 as close as possible to the intended location, and hooking it up to the SDA 8300 and
a source. Then play some music or video clips to make sure it will have the right character. Do not play the SSW-4 too
loudly, or it will vibrate on the wall, possibly marking the wall.
VIDEO
MONITOR

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English
CUTTING THE HOLE
First, use a pencil to mark the hole using the dimension drawing to the right.
Then carefully use the sheetrock knife to cut the hole along your markings. The
hole should just fit between two studs, which the SSW-4 will use for isolation
mount attachment.
RUNNING THE WIRE
CAUTION: REMOVE POWER – You must connect the speaker wires
before the speaker is fully installed. To protect the audio system
and yourself from damage or injury through accidental electrical
shorting and surges during installation, turn all audio system power
OFF before beginning the speaker installation.
At this point, it is a good time to run your wire from the SDA 8300 amplifier
location to the hole that you cut for the SSW-4. Use high-quality speaker wire to
obtain the best performance from your JBL
®
SSW-4.
• For wire lengths of less than 50 ft (15m),
use at least 16-gauge speaker wire.
• For wire lengths between 50 ft and 100 ft (15m – 30m),
use at least 12-gauge speaker wire.
• For wire lengths of greater than 100 ft (30m),
use at least 10-gauge speaker wire.
NOTE: All speaker wires must comply with all local building and safety codes for use in in-wall applications.
Either place the SSW-4 on a flat surface on its face, or have someone hold it while you connect the wires to the
gold-plated speaker terminals at the top end. Push on the speaker terminal to open the wire hole and insert the wire,
positive lead to red, and negative lead to black. Make sure that no stray wire strands touch the other speaker terminal.
CONNECTIONS
Use one side of the wire to connect one of the SDA 8300’s positive (+) output terminal to the positive (red) terminal on
the SSW-4. Most wires have one lead with either printing, periodically spaced plus signs, or a rib to differentiate it from
the other lead just for this purpose. Use the other lead of the pair to connect the associated negative (-) SDA 8300
terminal to the negative (black) terminal on the same SSW-4. It does not matter which set of outputs a single SSW-4 is
connected to.
In general, do not reverse polarities (that is, do not connect the SDA 8300 + output to the SSW-4 – input, or the SDA
8300 – output to the SSW-4 + input) when making connections. In most rooms, doing so will cause poor imaging and
diminished bass response. In unusual rooms or placements however, it might help to do this – see Troubleshooting,
below.
Press down on the post to open the hole; insert the bare end of the wire into the hole and release the post to secure
the wire.
CAUTION: To avoid short circuits that may damage your equipment, be certain that positive and
negative wire strands do not touch each other and do not touch metal parts such as the speaker
frame.
CAUTION: When connecting two SSW-4 subwoofers to one SDA 8300, ALWAYS connect one to one
output of the SDA 8300. NEVER connect two SSW-4s to one SDA 8300 output because either the
amplifier or speaker will be damaged.
14.50in
(368.30mm)
23.50in
(596.90mm)

6
CONNECTING THE JBL SDA 8300 AMPLIFIER TO THE JBL SSW-4 SUBWOOFER MODULE
The JBL SSW-4 Subwoofer is intended for use with only the JBL SDA 8300 amplifier (sold separately).
IMPORTANT! All crossover settings are contained on a DSP preset file that should be downloaded
from the JBL SSW-4 product webpage at www.jblsynthesis.com. Install the file on the SDA 8300 JBL
amplifier per the instructions included with the downloaded file. Use of this file with the JBL SDA
8300 amplifier is the only way to achieve optimal performance and avoid subwoofer damage. Refer to
amplifier’s owner’s manual for further guidance.
Connecting a single SSW-4 subwoofer:
VOLUME
SYNTHESIS
SOURCE
SDA 8300
SSW-4
REAR VIEW
Connecting eight SSW-4 subwoofers:
VOLUME
SYNTHESIS
SDA 8300
SSW-4
Rear View
SOURCE
6
5
8
7
8
76
5
4
2 3
1
2
4
1
3

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English
INSTALLATION
Once the wire is attached to the SSW-4 in-wall subwoofer, place the subwoofer into the opening you have cut in your
wall. The SSW-4 is designed for the terminals to point up as it sits in the wall.
When the SSW-4 is in the wall, tighten the attachment screws at the top and bottom. This will bind the wall to the dog-
leg clamps at the ends of the subwoofer. DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN – at this point, they only need to be firm.
Insert one mounting isolator into each of 8 openings. Next, put one washer onto each included mounting screw, and
insert this assembly into the isolation mount through-hole.
Now tighten the isolator mount screws. This assembly will expand the isolator mount to hold the subwoofer in the wall.
The screws should be firmly tightened enough to expand the isolator mounts, but do not need to be tightened beyond
this point.
After installation, play signal through the subwoofer. If there is any buzzing or rattling coming from the SSW-4, adjust
the mounting screw tightness until it is gone.
PAINTING THE SPEAKER GRILLE
The SSW-4 loudspeaker grille can be painted to match any décor. If you wish to change the color, the satin finish on
the grille will function as a primer coat. Use a high-quality spray paint, and apply a thin coat of color. Paint the grille
separately from the baffle before installing it. After painting the grille, remove and discard the scrim cloth attached to
the back side of the grille. If you choose to paint your grille, you may order an extra scrim cloth by contacting us at the
phone number located at the end of this manual.

8
SPECIFICATIONS
SSW-4
Driver Complement: Dual 8" Polymer-coated Aluminum Cone Rubber-Surround woofers
Frequency Response (-6 dB): 36 Hz – 150 Hz, using the SDA 8300
Required Amplifier: JBL®SDA 8300 Amplifier
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohm
Sensitivity: Variable, using the SDA 8300
Dimensions (H x W x D), with grille: 25-3/8" x 16-1/2" x 4" (645mm x 419mm x 102mm)
Mounting Cutout Size (H x W): 23-1/2" x 14-1/2" (596.9mm x 368mm)
Weight per speaker: 28.4 lb. (12.9kg.)
Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.
TROUBLESHOOTING
SYMPTOM SOLUTION
If there is no sound from any
of the speakers:
• Check that the source/receiver/SDA 8300 is on and playing.
• Check all wires and connections between the receiver/SDA 8300 and
the speakers. Make sure all wires are connected. Make sure none of the
speaker wires are frayed, cut, punctured or touching each other.
• Review proper operation of your receiver/SDA 8300.
If there is no sound coming
from one speaker:
• Check the Balance control and channel output level settings on your
receiver/SDA 8300.
• Check all wires and connections between the receiver/SDA 8300 and
the speakers. Make sure all wires are connected. Make sure none of
the speaker wires are frayed, cut, punctured or touching each other. In
multichannel applications, make sure that your receiver/processor has
been configured to enable all channels that you are using.
If there is low (or no) bass output: • Make sure the connections to the speaker inputs have the correct polarity
(+ and –). If you are using two SSW-4 subwoofers, try inverting the polarity
on one subwoofer.
• In surround modes, make sure your receiver/ processor is correctly
configured. Make sure the subwoofer output of the receiver/processor has
been enabled. See your receiver/ processor’s owner’s manual for further
information on correct speaker configuration in surround modes.
If the system plays at low volumes
but shuts off as volume is increased:
• Check all wires and connections between the receiver/SDA 8300 and all
of the speakers. Make sure all wires are connected. Make sure none of
the speaker wires are frayed, cut, punctured or touching each other. A
shorting satellite speaker could shut the receiver down.
• If more than one pair of main speakers is being used, check the minimum-
impedance requirements of your receiver.
If you are hearing midrange
frequencies (such as vocals) through
the subwoofer:
• Adjust the crossover frequency on your JBL SDA 8300 amplifier to a
lower value.
EXCESSIVE OUTPUT LEVELS
Your JBL® loudspeakers feature custom-designed transducers and high quality network components featuring
high-order filters with steep cutoffs that reduce the potential of damage to individual speaker drivers and help the
loudspeakers maintain their performance even under extreme operating conditions. However, all loudspeakers have
limits when it comes to continuous playback. To extend these limits, avoid playback at volume levels that result in
distorted or strained sound.

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English
LIMITED WARRANTY
JBL loudspeakers are warranted against defects. The duration of a warranty depends on the laws in the country in
which it was purchased. Your local JBL retailer can help you determine the duration and coverage of your warranty.
For more information please visit: JBLSYNTHESIS.COM
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HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated
8500 Balboa Boulevard, Northridge, CA 91329 USA
www.jblsynthesis.com
© 2018 HARMAN International, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
JBL and the JBL logo are trademarks of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated,
registered in the United States and/or other countries.
Features, specications and appearance are subject to change without notice.
For questions, assistance or additional information concerning any of our products,
call us at: [phone] or [phone]. For technical support, submit your detailed inquiry
Part No. 950-0554-001 Rev. A
Торговая марка: JBL
Назначение товара: Пассивная акустическая система
Изготовитель: Харман Интернешнл Индастриз Инкорпорейтед, США, 06901
Коннектикут, г.Стэмфорд, Атлантик Стрит 400, офис 1500
Страна происхождения: Китай
Импортер в Россию: OOO “ХАРМАН РУС СиАйЭс“, Россия, 127018, г.Москва,
ул. Двинцев, д.12, к 1
Гарантийный период: 1 год
Информация о сервисных центрах: www.harman.com/ru тел. [phone]
Срок службы: 5 лет
Товар не подлежит обязательной сертификации
Дата производства: Дата изготовления устройства определяется по двум буквенным
обозначениям из второй группы символов серийного номера изделия,
следующих после разделительного знака «-». Кодировка соответствует
порядку букв латинского алфавита, начиная с января 2010 года: 000000-
MY0000000, где «M» - месяц производства (А - январь, B - февраль, C -
март и т.д.) и «Y» - год производства (A - 2010, B - 2011, C - 2012 и т.д.)
产品中有害物质的名称及含量
部件名称 目标部件
有害物质或元素
铅(Pb) 汞(Hg) 镉(Cd) 六价铬
(Cr(VI))
多溴联茉
(PBB)
多溴二苯
醚(PBDE)
电路板 印刷电路板，电路板上的电子零件（不包括特定电
子零件），内部相关连接线 X00000
框体 外壳，面板，背板等 X 0 0 0 0 0
特定电子零
部件 变压器，保险丝，大型电解电容，电源插座 X 0 0 0 0 0
附件 电线，说明书，包装等 X 0 0 0 0 0
本表格依据SJ/T 11364的规定编制
O：表示该有害物质在该部件所有均质材料中的含量均在GB/T 26572 规定的限量要求以下。
X：表示该有害物质至少在该部件的某一均质材料中的含量超出GB/T 26572规定的限量要求。
在中华人民共和国境内销售的电子电气产品上将印有”环保使用期”(EPuP)符号。
圆圈中的数字代表产品的正常环保使用年限。