PMC prodigy User manual

USER GUIDE

Warranty
Please take a few moments to register your new purchase online at
www.pmc-speakers.com (click on ‘Support’ then ‘Product registration’). This
records the purchase of your loudspeakers and provides you, the customer an
opportunity to make suggestions and provide feedback directly to PMC. To
gain your 5 year extended warranty your product must be registered with us
within 10 days of purchase.
Product Support
For product support, accessories or servicing advice, please contact
a PMC authorised retailer – See www.pmc-speakers.com and click on ‘where
to buy’.
IMPORTANT
THE PROFESSIONAL MONITOR COMPANY LIMITED
HOLME COURT, BIGGLESWADE, SG18 9ST, UK
T [phone]
[email protected]
www.pmc-speakers.com
© 2023 PMC. All rights reserved.
Ref No: 1297
PMC Stock Code: 16397
Register now for your
UNRIVALLED
five year extended warranty
YEARS
5

AT HOME
IN THE
STUDIO
It doesn’t matter where you use PMC
loudspeakers; they’ll always make music.

At PMC, music is an obsession: getting as close as possible to what’s being played
and recorded has always been our passion. Our aim is not to impose an additional
character on the music, rather to create a clear window of the artist’s vision,
forming a true emotional connection between the music and listener.
This quest for sonic transparency and neutrality has always been our driving
force, using advanced engineering to reproduce music as vividly and faithfully as
possible. After all, it’s in our name – the Professional Monitor Company – and our
designs are involved in every stage of music-making, from the recording studio to
listening at home.
Put simply, we know exactly how to present music, so you hear what the artist and
engineer intended. Our loudspeakers are where science meets art — we take
care of the science, and you connect with the art.
WHAT DRIVES US

You have joined the elite.
Our loudspeakers can be found in all the world’s best listening environments,
from audiophile living rooms to internationally renowned recording, mastering,
broadcast and post-production studios. Our Emmy-award-winning systems are
used to create everything from smash Hollywood soundtracks to hit albums by
artists including Coldplay, Kraftwerk, Elton John and Adele, as well as audiophile
jazz and classical recordings on Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, Philips and
Harmonia Mundi.
Whether you listen to our speakers in world-class studios in LA, London, Berlin or
Tokyo, or in your favourite listening room at home, you will hear the music exactly
as it was intended.
CONGRATULATIONS
Stevie Wonder UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
Dolby Afrojack Thomas Newman
NETFLIX Kraftwerk EMI Coldplay
elbow Capit Studios Warner Music
Royal College of Music Pinewood Studios
CALVIN HARRIS BBC Apple

General usage guidelines
PMC’s ATLTM
(Advanced Transmission Line)
LaminairTM
Our meticulous attention to detail
Unpacking
Spike installation guide (prodigy5)
Standmounting
Connections - plugging them in
Running in or breaking in
Positioning
Fine tuning for perfect bass
Stereo set up
Surround sound specic set up
Ideal 5.1 surround sound set up
Ideal 7.1 surround sound set up
Service
Specications
Warranty
Inspection
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CONTENTS

GENERAL USAGE GUIDELINES
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Read these instructions and keep them in a safe place for future reference.
Do not attempt to service the equipment. There are no user serviceable parts
inside. Please refer all servicing to PMC authorised personnel.
Clean the cabinet with a dry, lint-free, cloth. Do not use solvents, abrasives, or
waxes.
Floor spikes are sharp; treat with great care during installation and use.
Do not use the Laminair™vent as a grip to lift the loudspeaker as this may result
in damage.
Do not install near heat sources such as radiators, ovens or other equipment
that produce excessive heat.
Do not use the loudspeakers near water or place objects lled with liquid on
them, such as vases.
Ensure the loudspeakers are secure, level and do not tip or fall.
The packing material can pose danger to the young and vulnerable. Ensure
these items are kept or disposed of safely and in accordance with local
legislation.
High volume audio signals, however short their duration, have the potential
to cause hearing damage. Therefore, use these loudspeakers within safe
comfortable limits.
Servicing is required when the loudspeaker is damaged, exposed to moisture,
or exhibits a distinct or sudden change of operation or audio performance.
PMC has made efforts to provide accurate installation information and good
quality xings. PMC will not be held responsible or liable for injuries or property
damage – direct, indirect, or consequential – arising out of use or inability to
use this product safely and properly.
These loudspeakers contain very powerful magnets and therefore may have a
detrimental effect if left near magnetically sensitive items.
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prodigy5 showing ATL in cross-section
with Laminair vent
The source of PMC’s legendary natural,
realistic sound is the Advanced Transmission
Line (ATL) bass-loading, which uses the
energy that the bass unit generates in the
most intelligent and efcient way. The highly
braced cabinet is lined with proprietary
acoustic materials that absorb all but the
very lowest frequencies. These exit from a
front vent, extending the low frequencies
to create the response of a far larger and
more powerful speaker.
It is not just about bass: because the low
end is so clean and clear, it doesn’t mask
the rest of the music, meaning vocals are
beautifully projected and ultra-vivid.
There are other benets too: the bass
extension doesn’t change with volume level
– so even when listening quietly, the bass
sounds rich and well dened. Moreover,
they are less dependent on room effects
to enhance the bass, making it simple to
position where you want them.
The benets:
• More detailed, more natural
• Full, rich sound at any volume level
• Deeper bass from a smaller cabinet
• Ease of positioning

Laminair aerodynamic vent without with
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We even engineer the air in our loudspeakers
to ensure you only hear music that will take
your enjoyment to the next level. In these
high-performance designs air moves in
and out the cabinet under pressure at high
speeds. By introducing F1 aerodynamic
principles in the form of Laminair vents it
dramatically reduces resistance, increases
efciency, and eliminates airow noise. This
provides bass with supreme timing and the
ultimate dynamic range.
prodigy1 showing ATL in cross-section
with Laminair vent
“Nothing else comes
close to the clarity,
timing and dynamics”

All PMC loudspeakers are designed and hand-built in the U.K. using individual
components that are matched to our reference model; this includes the structural
integrity of every cabinet and the testing and recording of each component.
This guarantees it will be within our strict tolerances and ensures your purchase
sounds identical to the original design. Each completed loudspeaker then
undergoes a set of objective and subjective measurements - frequency response
sweeps ensure that the design meets our exacting performance criteria, and
then listening tests are conducted against the reference model using a wide
variety of material, from a benchmark BBC speech test to classical music,
pop and rock.
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OUR METICULOUS
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Computers don’t tell the full story. As well as a
full frequency analysis, we listen to each speaker
we make and run a benchmark BBC speech and
music test on every single one.

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UNPACKING
Please retain your packaging for future use as all PMC
cartons are durable, reusable and can be employed
to safely transport your loudspeakers should they be
relocated or returned for servicing.
Much of the packing is constructed from recyclable
materials, so if you are to dispose of it please do so in an
environmentally friendly manner.
Packing materials can pose danger to animals, the
young and vulnerable. Ensure these items are kept or
disposed of safely.
!

TAKE CARE WHEN UNPACKING – THERE ARE DELICATE
TERMINALS ON THE REAR OF THE CABINET

SPIKE INSTALLATION GUIDE
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Spikes are used to enhance performance of the prodigy5 and allow the
loudspeaker to be levelled perfectly.
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Carefully invert the loudspeaker so that its base is uppermost. Take care not to
damage the top of the loudspeaker when it is upside-down, the use of a soft
cloth or another non-abrasive material is ideal is suggested.
The spikes can then be inserted and screwed into the M8 threaded hole.
Carefully re-invert the loudspeaker.
Once in position, level the loudspeaker by adjusting each spike in turn using a
spirit level on the top of the cabinet to conrm. While this might seem a time-
consuming exercise, it is important both in terms of system performance and
the stability of the loudspeaker.
The nal step is to tighten each knurled collar/nut; this will ensure that the spike
and loudspeaker is as rigid as possible. Do not use tools as this may lead to
overtightening and damage.
Caution: The spikes are sharp,
treat them with care; they
may damage hard ooring
if in direct contact. We have
included *pucks to protect
sensitive or hard ooring.
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STANDMOUNTING
The prodigy1 compact standmount speaker is designed to offer exceptional
clarity while taking up minimal space, and can be used either on a stand or in
conjunction with audio/video furniture.
To realise their optimum performance, use a quality high-mass stand that
positions them at the ideal height and with complete stability.
Your retailer will be able to advice you on the best
stand for you and your speaker setup.

CONNECTIONS
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Caution
To avoid potential damage, please ensure that your power amplier(s) or
receiver is turned off before connecting or disconnecting your loudspeakers.
Cable & connectors
When selecting cables for use with your prodigy loudspeakers, ensure that
their construction is of a high enough standard to withstand the rigors of
everyday use and that they are suitably terminated. While bare wire can be
accommodated by the prodigy series binding posts, we recommend the use
of either spade lugs or 4mm ‘banana’ plugs in order to maintain an electrical
connection of the highest integrity and avoid the possibility of short circuits.
Please consult your dealer for more information regarding cable lengths and
termination options.
Polarity + & –
It is of vital importance to observe the polarity markings and maintain
positive-to-positive and negative-to-negative connections from amplier
or receiver to the loudspeaker. The prodigy terminals are colour-coded to aid in
their identication: positive terminals are red, negative terminals are black.
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NB: DO NOT USE TOOLS TO TIGHTEN THE BINDING POSTS

When loudspeakers are new they will take time to reach their full potential.
It is often debated whether any solid-state equipment, such as CD players
or transistor-based power ampliers change with use, but the characteristics
of mechanical devices such as loudspeakers do alter and improve their
performance signicantly after a short ‘running in’ period.
The science is simple; as the soft material surrounding the dome or woofer
cone is exed it will eventually reach a point where it has optimum compliancy
allowing the drive unit to move more freely. This translates to greater accuracy
and speed of attack in the bass region and the mid and high frequency
produces a far more vivid audio picture. This ‘running in’ period takes
approximately 50 hours of normal use.
50+ hours to run-in
RUNNING IN OR BREAKING IN
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12
11
10
9
8
765
4
3
2
1
50
HOURS

With their unique ATLTM Advanced Transmission Line design, wide dispersion, ultra
low distortion and smooth bass roll-off, PMC loudspeakers are more forgiving of
difcult room conditions and placement constraints than conventional designs
so you will be able to achieve a superb sound throughout the room with little
effort. We do encourage you to spend some time experimenting in your own
room in order to achieve the very best results, remembering that small changes in
location can often inuence system performance.
Room shape, size, construction and interior decoration vary immensely and
therefore inuence sound in different ways. The following guidelines are
suggestions for the starting point to locate your new speakers. Fine-tuning of their
positioning can start from here.
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Positioning
POSITIONING