RBH Sound MS-8.1 User manual

SUBWOOFER
OWNERS MANUAL

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
BREAK IN PERIOD
FEATURES
SETUP SUGGESTIONS
AMP CONTROLS/SETUP
AMPLIFIER DIAGRAM
CARE & CLEANING
SPECIFICATIONS
WARRANTY
1
2
1
3
4 & 5
6
6
7
8

INTRODUCTION
ongratulations on your purchase of an RBH Powered Subwoofer! Your
subwoofer is the result of many years of research and development
dedicated to producing powerful, accurate bass in home audio and audio/
video systems.
This manual contains operating procedures and specications for both powered
and non-powered RBH subwoofers. We recommend that you thoroughly
read through the material contained in this manual before connecting your
subwoofer. This will ensure that you have an understanding of how to setup
and operate your subwoofer for optimum performance.
BREAK IN PERIOD
lan on giving your subwoofer 10-15 hours of playing time to adequately
break in. As the subwoofer breaks in the driver suspension will loosen
up. The result will be an increase in low frequency response, improved denition
and detail.
1

FEATURES
t the heart of our powered subwoofers is a proprietary aluminum cone
driver.* The special aluminum cone material combines stiffness, low
mass and self damping properties producing superior denition and accuracy
of bass frequencies. A powerful magnet, extended voice coil and bumped back
plate give the driver high excursion capability allowing high output capability
and accurate dynamic reproduction.
All RBH powered subwoofers incorporate discrete class A/B analog power
supply ampliers ensuring low distortion, high current output and proven reli-
ability. Variable crossover, adjustable phase control and auto on/off are also
used for convenience and easy integration with other speakers. Connectivity
is made easy by allowing the subwoofer to be connected by either intercon-
nect (line level) or speaker wire (high level).
Cabinets are constructed from MDF and braced internally. Sophisticated
computer modeling and measurement techniques are used extensively in the
RBH loudspeaker design process.
TAV™ stands for Tuned Aperiodic Vent. This technology allows a
smaller cabinet volume to be used for low frequency response without the
need for large passive radiators and multi thousand watt ampliers. By us-
ing TAV™ Technology, your subwoofer is able to incorporate two woofers in
a relatively small enclosure with increased performance. TAV™ bridges the
gap between vented and sealed enclosure subwoofers, providing better low
frequency extension and efciency than a similar sized sealed system. TAV™
technology shifts the vent tuning to a much lower frequency than would oth-
erwise be possible in a small vented enclosure and also improves transient
response. The model 1212-SE and MS-10.1 offer TAV™ Technology.
2
* Except A-10S

SETUP SUGGESTIONS
lacement of the subwoofer will largely determine quality, quantity and
extension of the bass frequencies within your listening room. Bass
frequencies are reinforced by close room boundaries. Placing the subwoofer
in a corner will make the subwoofer sound louder and boost the very lowest
frequencies. Placing the subwoofer away from walls will provide the least
reinforcement, making the bass sound subjectively thinner than if the woofer
were close to a wall. Good results can usually be obtained by placing a
subwoofer along a wall 1-3 feet from a corner. We recommend that you
experiment with subwoofer placement and the sub-amplier controls to achieve
the proper bass balance.
It is important that the signal being sent to the subwoofer be a non-boosted or
“at” signal. To be sure of this, check the settings on your receiver or pre-amp
to determine that any “bass boost” or “super bass” is set to off. Also, make
sure that the bass attenuation knob is set to the straight up or “at” position.
Your subwoofer can now reproduce the bass frequencies the way that they
were originally recorded. Use the subwoofer volume control and the individual
subwoofer level control within the receiver or pre-amp to adjust the subwoofers
volume if necessary. However, once set, the volume controls should not need
to be altered as the subwoofers volume will correlate with the master volume
control of your receiver or pre-amp.
The model 1010-SE comes with stabilizing feet. To install, place each foot
so that the center hole of the foot is over each pilot hole on the bottom of
the cabinet. Use the supplied screws to attach, noticing that the pilot hole is
drilled on an angle. This is done so that the foot will be pulled in tight against
the speaker cabinet. Install either the supplied spike or rubber mount as
necessary into the threaded insert.
For more setup directions, please refer to #2 and #5 under Amplier Features.
3

AMPLIFIER CONTROLS AND SETUP
1. Level Control: For an initial setting turn the level control up one quarter of
a turn (9 O’clock position). The level control may be adjusted while playing
to match the subwoofer level with the rest of the system.
2. Crossover Frequency Control: The variable crossover frequency
control allows you to set the crossover point of the subwoofer anywhere
from 40-180 Hz. Try an initial setting of the control at the medium setting.
Increasing the crossover frequency will allow more mid-bass output from
the subwoofer. Decreasing the frequency will allow deeper bass from the
subwoofer.
3. Auto Signal Tracking: The subwoofer amplier uses “smart” signal
tracking circuitry. Once the power cord is plugged in and the switch set to
auto, the amplier automatically turns on when a signal is detected at the
preamplier or high level inputs. Important ! The volume control should
be at the minimum setting (all the way counter clockwise) before plugging
the subwoofer into a 120V AC wall socket.
4. Phase Control: This control changes the phase of the subwoofer. Chang-
ing the phase will change the way the subwoofer and main speakers interact
with each other at the crossover frequency. Varying the phase position
may result in more or less mid bass depending on the phasing between
the main speakers and the subwoofer. Generally, the phase is left at the
0° position.
4

5. Lowpass Switch: This switch allows the ampliers internal crossover to
be defeated when using an external crossover, or when the crossover is
not needed. This switch should be in the “on” position when the signal sent
to the subwoofer is not from a previously crossed-over source. The switch
should be set to “off” when the signal sent to the subwoofer is coming from
a source that already uses a crossover, such as the subwoofer pre-out
from a receiver or pre-amplier. This will ensure that the subwoofer is not
receiving a signal that is running through two crossovers.
6. Line Output: These RCA terminals are for “daisy chaining” to another
subwoofer or amplier. A full-range signal is sent through these terminals.
7. Line/LFE Input: These RCA terminals are for the line level input signal
coming from a processor or preamplier labeled “subwoofer” or “LFE”. DO
NOT connect power amplier/speaker level signal to these inputs.
8. High Level Input: These binding post terminal connectors are for the
amplier/speaker level input from an amplier or receiver. Most often, the
line input will be used (#7). Important! Use either the Line Input or the
High Level Input. DO NOT use them both simultaneously.
9. High Level/Speaker Output: This is a 100 Hz high pass crossover for
your satellite/main speakers. The crossover limits the low frequencies (be-
low 100 Hz) from going to your satellite/main speakers. You may use this
crossover only when using the High Level Input terminals. Connect your
main speakers (using the proper polarity) to the terminals labeled “High
Level Out”.
AMPLIFIER CONTROLS AND SETUP
5

AMPLIFIER DIAGRAM
CARE & CLEANING
These diagrams correspond with pages
4 and 5 entitled Amplier Features
o maintain the subwoofers appearance, we recommend an occasional
application of furniture grade polish to the wood surface of the cabinet.
To clean dust from the grille cloth, use a vacuum with a brush attachment.
6
1
2
3
4
5 6 7
8
9
123 4 5 6789
AC Series Amplier
CT Series Amplier
TS/Signature Series Amplier

SPECIFICATIONS
7
FREQUENCY RESPONSE CROSSOVER (HZ)
SENSITIVITY
AMPLIFIER POWER (WATTS) DRIVE UNITS HIGH PASS DIMENSIONS
WEIGHT
CT SERIES
MS-8.1
MS-10.1
AC SERIES
A-10S
MC SERIES
TS-10AN
TS-10AP
TS-12AN
TS-12AP
SIGNATURE SERIES
1010-SEN
1010-SEP
12-SE
1212-SE
35HZ-160HZ ± 3DB
22HZ-180HZ ± 3DB
30HZ-180HZ ± 3DB
30HZ-180HZ + 3DB
30HZ-180HZ ± 3DB
27HZ-180HZ + 3DB
27HZ-180HZ ± 3DB
24HZ-180HZ + 3DB
20HZ-180HZ + 3DB
24HZ-180HZ + 3DB
18HZ-180HZ + 3DB
N/A
N/A
N/A
87DB 1W/1M
N/A
89DB 1W/1M
N/A
90DB 1W/1M
N/A
N/A
N/A
200
250
150
N/A
200
N/A
200
N/A
350
300
400
2) 8” ALUMINUM WOOFERS
2) 10” ALUMINUM WOOFERS
1) 10” KRAFT PULP WOOFER
1) 10” ALUMINUM WOOFER
1) 10” ALUMINUM WOOFER
1) 12” ALUMINUM WOOFER
1) 12” ALUMINUM WOOFER
2) 10” ALUMINUM WOOFERS
2) 10” ALUMINUM WOOFERS
1) 12” ALUMINUM WOOFER
2) 12” ALUMINUM WOOFERS
50-160
50-160
40-180
N/A
40-180
N/A
40-180
N/A
40-180
40-180
40-180
100 HZ
100 HZ
100 HZ
N/A
100 HZ
N/A
100 HZ
N/A
100 HZ
100 HZ
100 HZ
13H X 11W X 13D
14H X 13W X 17D
17H X 15W X 18D
14H X 14W X 16D
14H X 14W X 17D
18H X 16W X 18D
18H X 16W X 20D
30H X 13W X 18D
30H X 13W X 19D
18H X 15W X 18D
18H X 15W X 18D
35 LBS.
40 LBS.
45 LBS.
40 LBS.
45 LBS.
50 LBS.
55 LBS.
78 LBS.
85 LBS.
60 LBS.
65 LBS.
MODEL

WARRANTY
our RBH Sound subwoofer is covered by a limited warranty against
defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ve years on the
woofer and one year on the amplier from the original date of purchase. This
warranty is provided by the authorized RBH Sound dealer where the subwoofer
was purchased. Warranty repair will be performed only when your purchase
receipt is presented as proof of ownership and date of purchase. Defective
parts will be repaired or replaced without charge by your dealer’s store or the
location designated by your dealer that is authorized to service RBH products.
Charges for unauthorized service and transportation cost are not reimburs-
able under this warranty. This warranty becomes void if the product has been
damaged by alteration, misuse or neglect. The warrantor assumes no liability
for property damage or any other incidental or consequential damage what-
soever which may result from the failure of this product. Any and all warran-
ties of merchantability and tness implied by law are limited to the duration of
this express warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an
implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you. Some
states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential
damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
8

RBH Sound, Inc.
976 N. Marshall Way • Bldg. 2, #4 • Layton, Utah • USA • 84041
[phone] • [phone] • FAX [phone] • www.rbhsound.com Copyright © 2003, RBH Sound, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
It is the policy of RBH Sound to continuously incorporate improvements into
products. All specications are subject to change without notice.

REDEFINING THE WAY YOU EXPERIENCE SOUND