Legacy Helix User manual

Owners Manual For The
Helix
Loudspeaker System

2
Registration
Owners Record 3
The Cabinetry Our Commitment 4
Warranty 5
Setup
Unpacking Your Speakers 6
Speaker Placement 7-8
Speaker Connections 9-12
Wave Launch Processor 13-21
Technology
Designer’s Notes 22
Specifications 23
Table of Contents
Page

3
The serial number is located on the rear of the unit. Record this
number in the space provided below. Refer to this when calling your
dealer regarding this product.
Model: Helix
Serial No: _________________________
Date of purchase: ___________________
Thank you for selecting a Legacy Loudspeaker System. These hand-
crafted instruments will provide you with many years of listening en-
joyment.
Owners Record

4
Handcrafted
Beneath the surface of Helix’s elegant exterior lies rigid MDF
construction. Interlocking joinery maximizes the strength of the
cabinet parts. Polyester fiberfill is selected for internal damping.
A sharp rap on the enclosure will leave you with little more than
bruised knuckles. Each cabinet is impeccably finished on all ex-
posed surfaces with select veneers. The exquisite finish is hand-
rubbed several times to assure a patina at home with the most
elegant decor.
Our Commitment
A great deal of forethought, love and satisfaction is instilled in
each piece of Legacy workmanship. We take pride in getting to
know many of our customers on a first name basis. The re-
nowned “Legacy Satisfaction Guarantee” backs your purchase of
this product.
The Cabinetry / Our Commitment

5
Legacy Audio supports its customers and products with pride. We cheerfully warrant our loud-
speaker products we manufacture from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of seven
(7) years. Electronic components such as internal amplifiers and digital processors are covered for
three (3)years. Please register your product with Legacy Audio. Should you require service Legacy
will require a proof of purchase in order to honor the warranty - so please keep your receipt.
• The warranty applies to the original owner and is not transferable.
• The warranty applies to products purchased from an “Authorized Legacy Dealer”.
• The warranty on active components such as digital processors or internal amplifiers is limited to three
(3) years of coverage.
• The warranty on dealer stock will extend for a maximum of two years from invoice.
The warranty does not cover transportation costs of product to or from the customer, distributor or
dealer, or related shipping damage.
Exclusions from Warranty
The following situations or conditions are not covered by the Legacy Audio warranty:
• Accidental damage, electrical abuse or associated equipment failure.
• Use inconsistent with recommended operating instructions and specifications
• Damage caused by modification or unauthorized service
• Costs associated with the removal and reinstallation of defective products. Consequential damage to
other products.
• Normal wear such as fading of finishes due to sunlight.
Warranty

6
Helix is a large loudspeaker requiring assistance of a dolley, a cord-
less Philips screw driver and two or more physically capable individu-
als to uncrate and locate.
Here are some uncrating tips:
1. Carefully remove screws securing the lid of the crate, and lift
panel away. Locate subwoofer power cord and set aside.
2. Next remove front panel of crate and set aside.
3. Remove side panel of crate as shown.
4. Remove foam from top lid and use as ramp as shown in bot-
tom photo.
5. Helix is setting on four heavy duty casters, allowing is to be
maneuvered on level ground.
6. Take care to avoid damaging floors when locating.
7. Helix is a field serviceable loudspeaker, so it is unlikely that an
entire cabinet would ever need to be returned to the factory.
However, when moving or storing, the crates are extremely
useful for protecting the cabinets.
Unpackin Your Speakers

7
1. A speaker setup (left) that works well with HELIX follows
these ratios:
Distance, d1, between the speakers (center to center) =
Distance, d2, from plane of speaker front to listener.
2. Toe the speakers into the listening area. In most circum
stances crossing speaker axes just slightly behind of the lis
tener’s head works best. This will broaden your sweet spot
horizontally. If dispersing into an L-shaped seating arrange
ment you might find the best results by aiming the left
speaker at the right most seating position, and the right
speaker at the left most seating position.
Speaker Placement

8
Room reflections and resonance typically contribute 85% of the
total energy arriving at the listener’s ears. Often, a loudspeaker
designed to measure well under laboratory conditions, will be-
come blurred, dissonant and placement dependent in the actual
listening room.
The HELIX speaker has a carefully shaped polar pattern. This as-
sures that the wave-launch generated will sum coherently at the
listening position. To the left is an illustration of how our new He-
lix speaker performs.
Conventional speakers (top) beam treble and scatter midrange
about the imaging room, while loading up the corners with boom-
ing, lingering bass.
Legacy’s directivity controlled designs focus the radiation pattern
toward the listeners (bottom). The result is a broader sweet spot
for imaging, markedly greater clarity and a slamming bass line
that is quick and tight
Speaker Placement

9
The Terminal Plate
The four-way HELIX requires the user to
provide three channels of amplification per
speaker. This may be accomplished via three
stereo amplifiers, a combination of mono
blocks and stereo amplifiers, or a single six-
channel amplifier.
HELIX includes an internal 750-watt ampli-
fier to power the subwoofer section. A bal-
anced XLR input feeds the subwoofer, while
three pairs of premium WBT Platinum five-
way binding posts are provided for the mid
bass, midrange and treble inputs.
Your Legacy dealer can assist you with your
specific cabling needs.
Speaker Connections

10
It is advantageous, when practical, to position the amplifiers midway between the HELIX speakers. This
will keep the speaker cable lengths to a minimum.
Speaker Connections