NHT VT-2.4 User manual

Thank
you
for
yourpurchase
oftheNHT
ModelVT-2.4Audio/ Video
TowerLoudspeaket
Pleasetakeafewminutesto
readthrough
thisOwnelsManual
prior
to installing
your
newspeakers.
Theinformation
provided
willhelp
you
toobtain
maximum
pedormance
from
your
audiosystem. lf you have
questions
or needassistanceat anytimeduring
the
installation
oropefationofyour
newspeakers,
please
call
your
NHTDealerorour
Toll-FreeCustomerHotlineat:
1-800-225-9847
Please
retaintheVT-2.4's
packaging
toprotect thespeakers
intheeventthat
you
moveortransportthem.
ModelVT-2.4Specifications
.System
Type:3-wayventeddesign
.DriverComplement:
10"long-throwsubwoofer,
(front)
two5.25'midranges,
1"fluid-cooledaluminum
dometweeter,
(rear)
'1
"iuid-cooledsofr
dometweeter,5.25"
midrange
.Crossover:
125H2
'l2dBloctave
high-passand
low-pass
Front
Divers:2.3KHz12dBloctave
high-passandlow-pass
Rear
Drivers:2.2KHz6dB/octave
high-passandlow-pass
' RosDonse:25Hz -21KHz,
+! 3dB
.Sensitivity:
88db
(2.83V
at
1M)
.lmoedance:
6ohmsnominal
.RecommendedAmplitler
Power: 50wch minimum,250wohmaximum
.Inputs:
I pair ofs-waybinding
posts
forwooferinput
1pair ofs-waybinding
posts
formid/high
input
.Welght:
85
lbs.each
. Dirngnslons:
48"Hx7.82"Wx 18"0
.Finish:
High
gloss
blacklaminate
Sp€cficationsaleslbjsd
b dangewilho(nolic€,
Inaccordancewfi our
pollcy
olcontnuouslyupgradlngbepefomance
ofour
poducts
I Design
NHTspeaker
aredesignedtodeliver
refined,musicalsound
fromattractiveand€fiordable
packag€s.
Outeffortsare
guided
byth6studyof
hum€nhe€ringandareoptimized
forreal-worlduse.Every
NHTloudspeak€rundergoes
rigorous
testingand
quality
control
atthefactorytoensure
youyears
ofli6tening
pleasure.
The
W-2.4,atechnologicalrelativeofNHT'Sflagshipl\4odel
VT-3,representsatrueexpression
ofNHT'Shometheater
design
philo6ophy.
Conceivedasa
solutionforhigh-porformance
multi-usehomeentertainment
systems,theVT-2.4was
designedtoprovide state-of-the-art
reproductionofrecorded
musicandvid€osoundtracks.
Incorporatinginnovative
featufessuchasNHT'S
exclusiveAudio/ Video
Switch
and
internaltweeterheatsinks,the
W-2.4isoptimizedforboth
audiophileand
video
performanc€
andisthe
perfect
additionto6urroundsystemsincorporating
DTS,DolbyDigital@or
Pro-Logjc@technologies.
TheVT-2.4Towers
employthesamemidrangeandhighfrequency
driversasthecompanionVS-
2.4AudiolVideoSatoltito,
which
is recommended
foruseascenterand
surroundspeakersto provide matched
timbreinallfivechannels. ina sealedsub-
separatevented
InsidetheVT-2.4arethreeseparatechambers.
Themidrangeandhighfrequency
driversarehoused
enclosure
andlocatedon a narrow
frontbaffle. The 1ojnchlong{hrowsubwoofer
is housedin a
enclosureandismounted
onthesideofthecabinetforconsistentbassloading.
Inaddition,theW-
2.4incorporatesasetofrear-firingdrivels,inathirdchambef,whichareactivated
inthevideomode.
I Audio/ VideoSwitch
TheAudio/ VideoSwitchon thefrontbaffleof theVT-2.4
(fig.1)
makesit an idealspeakerfor
combinedaudio/ videosystems.The"Audio"
mode
(A)provides
impressiveimagingformusic
playback,
whilethe "Video" mode
(V) activates
a set of rearfiringdriverswhichbroadenthe
-soundfieldhorizontally
fora diffuse,ambient
presentation.
This"smeadng"of the sound
in the
"Video"
modegreatly minimizesthe occurrenceof cognitived/ssonance,a psychoacoustical
phenomenon
whichoccurswhenanonscrcenvisualimageisaccompaniedbyasound
thatis
placed
offscreen
ina precise location.NHT'SAudio/ Videoswitchoptimizesthespeaker
forhometheater
usebyminimizingcognitivedissonance,whichconfusessensory
perception
andcancompromise
the'?ealism"oftheexperience.

I Placement
TheN4odel VT-2.4isa floorstandingloudspeakerthatrequiresnosiandsormounting
hafdwareoiherthantheincluded
SpikeKit.
TheVT-2.4isdesignedforindoofuseonly.
Forbestresults,theVT-2.4sarebestsituated6-18
inchesfromtherearwall
(due
tothereafvent)andatleast30inches
-_
frcmthesidewalls.
The
speakersshouldbe
arrangedassymmetricallyaspossible solhal
thediiversfacelhe|stenrng
v
areawithoutobstruction
ffomfurniture.WiththeVT-2.4sseiup
prope.ly,
theside-firing
woofersfacetotheoutside
(away
fromthe
TV)and thetweetersareat approximatelyearlevel. lf possible, arrange
thespeakerssothatthedistance
betweenthe
listener
and
thecenterofthespeaker
plane
isabout
'1.5
limesthedistance
betweenthetwospeakers
(fig.
2). Tl'isconriguralion
puts
thelistenerinthecenterolthesLereo
image.
Theupper
portion
of theVT-2.4featuresmagneticallyshieldeddrivers,allowing
thespeakersto be placed in close
prcximity
toatelevision
withoutcausing
picture
discoloralion.ldeally,
lhethreefrontspeakersina hometheatersystem
shouldbeplaced atequal
height,equidistant,andatearlevelfromthe
listening
position.
However,itisfrequentlynot
possible
toinstallacenterspeakeratearlevel,asthetopsurface
ofmosttelevisionstendstobe
higherthan
ear
levelin
theseated
position.
Inthiscase,itisadvantageoustotiltoraim
thecenterspeakertowardthe
listening
position-
Experimentationisthekeyto findingthebest
arrangementin your listeningenvironment.
Be patient, havefun,and
rememberthatsmallchanges
inspeaker
position
cansometimeshavea significanleffectonthesound.Forexample,
movingthespeakers
nearertoa roomboundary
(walls,
comers)
willtendtoincreasetheirbassoutput,bul
mayresultin
"boomy"or"muddy"
sound.conversely,
placing
thespeakers
fartherawayfrcmroomboundaries
willtendtodecrease
theirbassoutput,
butmayresultin
greater
articulaiionandbetter
imaging.
In addition,roomfurnishings
playan importantrole in absorbing
and reflectingsoundwaves.
[/idrangeand high
frequenciesin
particular
willbeabsorbedbysoflfurnishingssuch
assofas,carpetsandcurtains.
Alargenumberofthese
softfurnishingswilldull
thesound,whilea "live" rcomwithfew
furnishlngswillbrightenthesound.lfyou
arewillingto
spendsometime
fineluningihepedormance ofyour system,
you
willenioythebenefitsfor
years
tocome.
Lii=Ls=L3
L2 Ls
1.5xD
I SpikeKit Installation
A SpikeKitisincludedwlththe[.4odelVT-2.4io pfovide
optimumstab
liiy
and
tofirmly
couple
the
speakerstothefloorfor
improvedbass
pedormance.
EachVT-2.4loudspeakerisshippedwithiisownSpikeKit.Caution:theW-2.4is unstable
withouttheSpikeKit
(orat leastthestabilizerbars)installed.
Tobeginassembly,unpacktheSp keKit
andinspect alltheparts. TheSpikeKtincludes:
(2)
stabilizerbars,
(4)metal
cones,
(4)
Phillipsheadmachinescrews,
(4)
locknutsand
(4)
rubberfeet.Werecommendinstaling
theconesonlyafter
you
havefoundtheideallocatjonfofthespeakers.Beginbyinstalling
thestabi
izer
bars.Cafefullyturnthespeakerupside
\at
dowaoronitsbackandattachthestabilizerbarswjthihePhilIpsheadmachinescfews,using
a#2Phillipsscrcwdrivef
(fig.3). Nofe, Wheninstalling the bars onto the bottom of the speaker,useyour fingers to start all the machine
screwsin theit holesbefore tightening them down. This will prevent cross threading.
, 'rr,rr"ii""
/
*-Y"/

Beforeinstallingthe cones,lurn the speakers
uprightand position them. When
you havefoundthe perfect
spot,
carelullytiltthespeakers
andscrewintheconeswiththelocknutsonthem.Thespeakers
areawkwardtomoveafterthe
conesare installed. Caution: The cones are very sharp. To avoid injury, use extreme care!when handling and
installingthem.
AdjusttheconesasneededtoensurethattheVT-2.4islevelanddoes
notrockinanydirection.Tighten
the
locknutsagainstthebottomofthestabilizerbartolocktheconesin
place.
lfyou havehardwoodfloorsorfloorswith
Va scratchable
sudace,
youmaychoosenotto usetheconesbecause
theywillpierce thesurface.Rubberfeetare
provided
andcanbeusedin
place
ofthecones.
Installthe
stabilizer
bars,
peel
offtheadhesivebackings
fromtherubber
feet,and
place
themovertheholes
wheretheconeswouldscrewin.
I Connections
Beforeconnecting speakersto your system,it is very important that you tun ofr the power to your amplilier /
receiver to avoid damageto the equipmenL
Ontheback
panel
ofthe
VT-2.4therearetwosetsofbinding
posts(fig.
4)witha metaljumperstrapconnectingthe
top
andbottom
posts. Therearethreedifferentwaysto connect theVT-2.4sto your systemrF|lll-range
witha single
amplifier/ receiver,
Bi-amplifiedwithtwoamplifiersandtwosets
ofspeakerwire,orBi-wired
withoneamplifierandtwo
setsofspeaker
wire.ToruntheVT-2.4sfull-rangewithoneamplifier
/ receiver,simplyconnect
thespeakerwirestoeither
thetopsetorbottom
setofposts(it doesn'tmatter
which
one).
Bi-amplificationistheuseof
twoseparateamplifiers.onetopower the
bassdriversandonetopower
themidrange/ high
frequencydrivers.
Thisconfiguration
prcvidesgreater
dynamic
rangeforbothamplifiers,as
theyaresparcdthetaskof
reproducingtheentire
frequencyrange.Inaddition,bi-amplification
isa great advantage
inhometheatersystems,asit
turnsthe
passive
subwoofer
sectionoftheVT-2.4
into
apowered
subwoofer.NHT'SSA-2
andSA-3subwooferamplifiers
areoptimized
forsubwooferamplificationandfeatureadjustable
volumeandbasstuning
functions,whichallowtheuser
tofine-tunebass
responseforanindividualligteningenvironment.
Noae:
lt is very inpoftant that
you rcmovethe
jumper strapswhenbi-amplifying
oryou wlll damage
your amplifie'sl Io
bi-amplify
theW-2.4,
you
willneedtwoamplifiers,onefortheupperrange
drivers
(toppair
ofbinding
posts)
andone
forthe
subwoofer
(bottom
paif).
Connect
one
pair
ofbinding
posts
wilhspeaker
wirefromoneamplifier,andtheottler
pair
ofbinding
posts
withspeakerwire
fromthesecondamplifier lfyouhaveanaudio/ videoreceiver,
youmayuseitsfrontleftandrightspeaker
outputstodrivetheupper
section,andaseparateamplifierforlhesubwoofers.
ltisimpofianttoachieve
levelmatchingbetween
thetwoamplifiers.
useeithertwoidenlicalampliiers,or
make
sure
thatoneamplifierhasavolumecontrol.Bothampliierswill
. lneed
toreceivean
identi€llinelevelsignalfromtho
preamplifier/processor
or"preouf'jacksof
theAy' receiverlfonlyoneset
Vof 'ore-out
iacksareavailable.usea Y'
splitter
inordertosendthesignaltoboth
€mplifiers.
Formorod€tailodinformation
aboutbiamplification,contaci
your
loc€l
authorizodNHTfetailer.
Some
audioenthusiastshavefoundthatb!
wiringcanb ng aboutimprovementsin
sound.Bi-widngistheuseof
i,vo
pairs
of
spe€kefwireandoneamplifier,witheach
pair
connectedtoone
setofbinding
posts
ontheamplifer
(some
two4hannelampli-
fiers
provide
twosets). To bFwirethe
VT-2.4s,connectthetop
pair
ofbinding
posts
to theamplifierwithonespeaker
wire,andthebotiom
pair
with
a second
wire. Thetwoset6of speakerwire are
bolhconnected
io one
pair
ofterminals
ontheamplifier.
Thel\rodel VT-2.4loudspeaker
system
is compatiblewith virtuallyall qualiiy
High/Mid
Jumper
Straps
Frequency
Input
Low
Frequency
Input
amplifiers-Properwiringofthe
speakers
is
essentialto
good
sound.Ataminimum,14AWG
wireis.ecommended
forruns
of 10feetor less,withheavierspecial
purpose
speakerwirelsed forlongerruns. For specialty
wire
considerations,
consult
your
localauthorizedNHTretailer.For
best
results,
useequal
lengthruns
ofspeaker
wirefor
theleftandright
speakerc.Preparc
your
speakerwirebystripping1/4"to3/8"ofinsulationfromtheendsandtwisiingthe
exposedwire
strandstightly.Thefive-waybinding
posts
ontheback
of
the
speaker
will
accept
rawwire,
banana
plugs,
orspade
plugs.
Tightenthebinding
posts
byhand,aspliers canstripofbreakthem.
V Be sureto wire both the Ieft andright speakers"in.phase.- That is, the Positive(reat)terminalon theamplifier
output mustbeconnectedto thecofiesponding Positive(red)teminal on the speaker. Likewisewith theNegative
(black)
lerminals. All speakerwircshavesomesoft
of marking alongoneor bothconductorsto help
youmakethe
correctconnections.Incorrectspeaker
phase
isindicated
by
weakbass
and
thelack
ofawelldefined siereoimage.

Tominimizenoise
pickup,
segregate
cablesbyfunction. DonotrunlowleveJsignalcables
parallel
to power
cables,
speakercables.ordig;ta,cables.Also,donotrun
speakercablesof digitalcables
parallel
to power cordsorpa.allel
to
eachother.lfdifferenttypesofcablesare
placed
near
each
other
atsome
place
inyour
system,separatethembythe
maximum
practical
distanceandcrossthematfight
angles
where
theymeet. DonottwistortieACpower
cordswith
speakercables. V
I Operation
TheN4odelVT-2.4wasdesignedtohandleawiderangeoflisteninglevels,
but
everyspeakerhas
limits.ltisimportantto
usecommonsenseandlistenforsignsofpossible distressfromthespeakers.Underpowered
amplifiefsaremostoften
thecauseof
speakerdamage-
For
example,a60-wattamplifiefrunsoutofpower whencalleduponto
produce
more
than
60watts,andtheresulting
distortioncandamagethespeakerlfyou tendtolistenathighvolumelevels,more
powerful
amplifiersare
preferable
becausethey
areless
likely
torunoutofpower.
Noticeabledistortionorharshbreakupisanindicationthateither
your
amplifieror
your
speakersarerunning
beyond
theif
capacity,and
thevolume
shouldbedecreased.lfyou canfeelanyheatemanatingfiomthewooferortweeter,reducethe
{evelimmediately.Speakerdamage
mostoftenoccursfromsustainedhighvolumelevels,notfromtransientsoundsor
briefmusical
peaks. Excessive
boostingof bass,trebleor equalizercontrolscanworsen the problem, andis not
recommenoeo.
I Maintenance
Yourspeakers
requireminimalmaintenance
undernormaluse.Thecabinetmaybecleanedusingadampclothoramild,
non-abrasivecleaner Tocleanthe
grille,
firstremove
itfromthespeaker,thenbrush
lightlywith
a softbrushof usea
vacuumon itslowestsetting.Donotexposethespeakersto directsunlight,hightemperatures,or moisture.Donot
attempttocleantheactualdrivers.
v