Power Sound Audio T18HT User manual

USER’S MANUAL
T18HT

AVIS:
CAUTION:
FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION AGAINST RISK OF FIRE,
REPLACE ONLY WITH SAME TYPE FUSE AND RATING.
The lightning fl ash with arrowhead symbol is intended
to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “danger-
ous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may
be of suffi cient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric
shock to persons.
The exclamation point symbol is intended to alert the
user to the presence of important operating and mainte-
nance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompa-
nying the subwoofer

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read Instructions - All safety and operating instructions should be read before the
subwoofer is operated.
2. Retain Instructions - The safety and operating instructions should be retained for
future reference.
3. Heed Warnings - Adhere to all warnings on the subwoofer and in the operating instruc-
tions.
4. Follow Instructions - All operating and use instructions should be followed.
5. Water and Moisture - The subwoofer should not be used near water. Examples: near a
bathtub, kitchen sink, in a wet basement, near a swimming pool or similar areas.
6. Carts and Stands - The subwoofer should only be used with a cart or
stand recommended by the manufacturer. When a cart is used, use
caution when moving the cart/subwoofer combination to avoid injury
from tip-over.
7. Ventilation - The subwoofer should be situated so that its location or position does not
interfere with its proper ventilation. Do not place the subwoofer in a cabinet or book-
case that may impede the fl ow or air through ventilation openings.
8. Heat - The subwoofer should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators,
heaters, heat registers, stoves, or any other device that produces heat.
9. Power Sources - The subwoofer should be connected to a power supply only of the
type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the subwoofer.
10. Power Cord Protection - Power supply cords should be routed so they are not likely
to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular
attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point at which they exit
from the subwoofer.
11. Cleaning - The subwoofer should only be cleaned with a dry cloth.
12. Non-Use Periods & Lightning Storms - The power cord of the subwoofer should be
unplugged when left unused for a long period of time or during a lightning storm.
13. Caution - Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug.
A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug
has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are
provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fi t into your outlet, consult an
electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
14. Object and Liquid Entry - Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids
are not spilled onto the subwoofer.
15. Only use attachments/accessories specifi ed by the manufacturer.
16. Damage Requiring Service - The subwofer should be serviced by qualifi ed service
personnell when: the power supply cord or plug has been damaged, objects have
fallen or liquid has been spilled into the subwoofer, the subwoofer has been exposed
to rain, the subwoofer does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a change in
performance.
17. Servicing - The user should not attempt to service the subwoofer beyond what is
described in this manual or manufacturer supplied instructions.

5
Welcome to the Power Sound Audio family.
We are very excited to welcome you to the Power Sound Au-
dio family. We would like to take this time to congratulate you
on your purchase of a T18HT subwoofer. We are confi dent
that the Power Sound Audio subwoofer will meet and possi-
bly exceed your expectations.
WARNING!
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose this equipment to
rain or moisture. To avoid electrical shock, do not remove the driv-
er or amplifier from the enclosure. Please read all warnings on the
subwoofer’s amplifier. There are no user serviceable parts inside
the subwoofer. Please refer all service questions to techsupport@
powersoundaudio.com.
Table of Contents
Unpacking................................................................6
Placement................................................................7
Installation................................................................9
Warranty.................................................................15
Please read before unpacking your subwoofer.
We suggest unpacking your Power Sound Audio subwoofer on a
carpeted fl oor. This will avoid accidental scratches to a hard sur-
face or to the subwoofer as you remove it from the shipping box.
Your Power Sound Audio subwoofer may be very heavy. Please
fi nd assistance when needed, and be sure to use all proper lifting
methods during the unpacking process (and whenever you move
the subwoofer).

6
Unpacking
Unpacking Process
1. Inspect the shipping box for any damage. If you notice any
damage please contact us at [email protected].
2. Carefully cut the straps that secure the subwoofer to the pallet.
3. Open the top of the shipping box. You will see a box that con-
tains the grills, and two spacers. The manual and power cord
are located inside one of the spacers.
4. Remove the grills and spacers.
5. With assistance, lift straight up on the shipping box to reveal
your subwoofer.
6. With assistance, lift your subwoofer out of the shipping box
and place it on a carpeted fl oor or blanket to prevent damage.
7. Remove the plastic bag.
8. Remove and retain the foam packaging, the plastic covering,
and the shipping box.
9. Visually inspect the subwoofer for any damage. If you notice
any damage please contact us at support@powersoundaudio.
com.

7
Placement
Proper placement of your new Power Sound Audio subwoofer is
very important. Bass frequencies are non-directional, meaning
the human ear cannot locate a properly functioning subwoofer
in a typical home theater environment. While there are “rules of
thumb” regarding placement options, every room is a little diff er-
ent. Please remember that each time you move the subwoofer to
a diff erent location you should recalibrate the bass levels.
Corner placement tends to work well, particularly if there are no
large openings into the room near the corner. Another popular
placement option is “nearfi eld”. Place the subwoofer as close
as possible to the key seating positions. For example, place the
subwoofer directly behind the sofa. Every room has its own set of
acoustical challenges, so experiment with diff erent placement op-
tions as much as time allows.
One method that often works well (particularly if the key seating
positions are in close proximity to one another) is to place the
subwoofer in your key seating position and then walk around the
room while a variety of bassy music and movies play through the
system. Mark the top 2 or 3 spots where the bass seems to sound
best, then try the subwoofer in those spots.
If you are using more than one subwoofer, placing them as close
as possible (collocate) to one another will give you the maxi-
mum clean output capabilities, but separating them may give you
smoother overall bass response at your seating positions. Again,
experiment as much as time allows and decide which option
sounds best to you.

8
Corner placement away from large opening
Nearfield placement
Multiple subwoofer placement
Option 1 (collocated)
Option 2
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9
Installation
Your subwoofer was designed for easy installation in a
typical home theater environment. Please read all the
installation instructions to properly optimize your sub-
woofer.
WARNING - Always be sure the power is OFF to any
audio component before connecting or disconnecting
any wires or cables. This includes your receiver, proces-
sor, and subwoofer.

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1 32 4 5 6
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AMPLIFIER CONNECTIONS AND CONTROLS
XLR INPUT & LOOP OUTPUT
The subwoofer XLR INPUT consist of a three pole female XLR connector. Push on the steel
latch lock to remove the XLR cable from the amp.
The LOOP OUTPUT consists of a three pole male XLR connector. This output is typically
used to connect another subwoofer to the system. The LOOP OUTPUT can be used as an
INPUT.
7
POWER SELECTOR SWITCH
OFF/12V = The subwoofer amplifi er is OFF and can only be activated if a 12V source is con-
nected to the 12V trigger.
AUTO = Automatically activates the subwoofer amplifer when a signal is sent from your
receiver or processor. If a signal is not present, the subwoofer amplifi er is put into SLEEP
mode. The subwoofer amplifi er will draw a negligible amount of current while in SLEEP.
ON = Turns on the subwoofer and leaves it on.
1
GAIN CONTROL
The GAIN control is used to adjust the output level of the subwoofer. This control should be
set to achieve a similar acoustic level as your loudspeakers. Proper calibration procedures
should be used to adjust the level of your subwoofer.
3
LED INDICATORS
SLEEP = The subwoofer amplifi er is in SLEEP mode. The subwoofer amplifi er will enter
SLEEP mode after 13 minutes without a signal.
POWER = The subwoofer is on.
OFF = The subwoofer is in OFF/12V mode.
2
CROSSOVER CONTROL
The CROSSOVER control is used to minimze the output of the subwoofer above the cross-
over’s setting. The crossover frequency is variable from 40Hz to 150Hz, and includes an LFE
mode when turned fully clockwise.
5
8INPUT SELECTOR SWITCH
The INPUT SELECTOR SWITCH activates the corresponding input connection.
RCA INPUTS
The subwoofer RCA INPUTS consist of LEFT/LFE and RIGHT RCA jacks. Only use the
LEFT/LFE connection if you are using a receiver or processor with an LFE or subwoofer out-
put. You can use a Y-connector on the subwoofer if the amplifi er doesn’t power up in AUTO
mode at low levels. (Please make sure to recalibrate if you use a Y-connector.)
9
MASTER POWER SWITCH
The MASTER POWER SWITCH is a basic on/off rocker switch.
ON = Provides power to the subwoofer amplifi er
OFF - Disconnects power to the subwoofer amplifi er.
11
AUX OUTLET
The speakON connector is a locking two conductor connector. DO NOT USE THIS OUTLET.
PLEASE KEEP THE PLASTIC PLUG INSTALLED.
12
POWER CORD CONNECTOR
The IEC AC CONNECTOR is where you connect the provided power cord.
13
6
DELAY CONTROL
The DELAY control is used to acoustically align the subwoofer with the main speakers. The
delay setting is variable from 0ms to 16ms.
10 12V TRIGGER
The 12V TRIGGER will turn on the subwoofer amplifi er when a 12V signal is sent from an
AVR with a 12V output. The POWER SELECTOR SWITCH must be in the OFF/12V for the
trigger to work properly.
4
ROOM SIZE CONTROL
The ROOM SIZE control is used to shape the lower end of the subwoofers response to
compensate for excessive room gain.

12
WARNING - Always be sure the power is OFF to any audio com-
ponent before connecting or disconnecting any wires or cables.
This includes your receiver, processor, and subwoofer.
CONNECTING YOUR SUBWOOFER
PRE OUT
FRONT
SUBWOOFER
CENTERREARSIDE
RECEIVER/PROCESSOR
Connecting your new subwoofer is relatively easy as long as you are
using a modern DD/DTS 5.1 or 7.1 receiver or processor. Simply connect
the subwoofer preout (RCA) on the rear panel of your receiver/processor
to the LEFT/LFE INPUT (RCA) on the subwoofer amplifi er. If you have a
two channel stereo system please contact Power Sound Audio to discuss
the best option to connect your new subwoofer.

13
SETUP PROCEDURES
RECEIVER/PROCESSOR BASS MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
Once the subwoofer is connected to your receiver or processor you
should enter the “set up” menu and set all of your speakers to “small”. If
they give you options for the crossover frequency e.g., 40hz, 60hz, 80hz,
100hz, start with 80hz. This will reroute all of the bass from your main
speakers to the subwoofer.
TURNING THE SUBWOOFER ON FOR THE FIRST TIME
Please set the GAIN to minimum, the CROSSOVER control to 150Hz,
and the DELAY to 0ms. Flip the MASTER POWER SWITCH to ON
and move the POWER SELECTOR SWITCH to ON. The power LED
should now glow green. While listening to a bass heavy material, slowly
increase the GAIN control until the overall bass levels sound natural to
you. This will give you a starting point for the GAIN control.
GAIN SETTING
Setting bass levels in your home system is usually accomplished in one
of three ways: automatically by your receiver or processor, manually with
your receiver or processors built-in test tones (or a test disc) and an SPL
meter, or by ear.
Auto-level adjustment
Your receiver or processor will automatically adjust the output level of
your subwoofer. You may need to adjust the GAIN on the subwoofer if
it is too low or too high for the receiver or processor to correct. Please
see your receiver or processor’s manual for instructions on automati-
cally setting the GAIN on your subwoofer.
Setting bass levels using a SPL meter
This method tends to result in the most accurate bass volume. Simply
hold the SPL meter about ear high while sitting in your key seating
position. Activate the receiver or processor’s calibration test tones and
watch the meter as the tones move from speaker to speaker. Unless
your receiver or processor’s manual specifi es otherwise, set all speak-
ers, including the subwoofer, to the same output level.
Setting bass levels by “ear”
The best way to adjust the GAIN on your subwoofer is to use familiar
bass heavy material. Use the receiver or processor’s remote control to
manually adjust the bass levels to your preference. While it is human
nature to want to really “HEAR” the bass from your brand new sub-
woofer, setting the levels to a more natural level will sound best in the
long run.

14
SETUP PROCEDURES
DELAY SETTING
The DELAY control is used to properly blend the main speakers with the
subwoofer through the crossover region. The goal is to adjust the DELAY
control so the subwoofer driver moves in unison with the main speaker
drivers through the crossover region. Think of it as a “timing delay” for
the subwoofer driver.
When experimenting with the DELAY setting the idea is to get the output
from the subwoofer perfectly “in time” with the output from the rest of
your speakers, primarily the left and right front speakers. If you have an
SPL meter it is easy to optimize the DELAY setting. Set the SPL meter
in your key seating position and play several “bassy” music tracks. While
the music is playing SLOWLY turn the DELAY control and watch the SPL
meter (you may need a friend for this). The highest reading is usually
indicative of the best DELAY setting. If you don’t have an SPL meter,
you can repeat the above process but simply use your ears to determine
when the bass seems loudest. In this scenario, sit in your key seating po-
sition and have a friend SLOWLY turn the DELAY control. When the bass
sounds loudest to you....you have the correct DELAY setting!
CROSSOVER SETTING
The CROSSOVER control is an adjustable low pass fi lter. Output at
frequencies above the crossover setting are minimized. This control is
typically set to the fully clockwise position (150HZ/BYPASS) and your
receiver or processor performs all of the proper fi ltering. Please contact
us if you need help adjusting the CROSSOVER control.
ROOM SIZE SETTING
The ROOM SIZE control is an adjustable bass shelf attenuation fi lter.
The large setting will provide zero attenuation to the native frequency
response of the subwoofer. The small setting will provide the maximum
amount of available attenuation. This control is typically set to the user’s
preference for deep bass and their room environment. In many sce-
narios the more the control is oriented to SMALL the “tighter” the bass
may sound. Please experiment with this control as time allows as every
room is a little diff erent. Please contact us if you need help adjusting the
ROOM SIZE control.

15
Warranty
Power Sound Audio warrants its products to be free from
original manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship
for a period of 5 years from the original date of purchase.
The warranty applies to the product and not the end user. If
the product is transferred to another party, we ask that the
new owner contact us with their information so we can up-
date our records.
Power Sound Audio will repair or replace any defective part
with a new or refurbished part, free of charge, during the
warranty period. If the product under warranty has been dis-
continued and cannot be repaired, Power Sound Audio will
replace the original product with a product of equal or greater
value, either new or refurbished.
This warranty does not cover cosmetic damage, damage
from improper use, accidents, abuse, misuse, acts of God,
or unauthorized modifi cations.
Please contact us if you need warranty service.
Warranty Department
[email protected]