RSL CG23 User manual
CG3 - CG23
OWNER’S MANUAL
SPEAKERS 800-905-5485
t ƌŝƩ ĞŶďLJƉĞŽƉůĞǁ ŝƚŚůŝŵŝƚĞĚĂƩ ĞŶƟŽŶ
spans for those who HATE manuals…
Another Owner’s Manual (Yawn)
t Ğ ǀ ĞƚƌŝĞĚƚŽŵĂŬĞƚŚŝƐŵĂŶƵĂůĂƐĞĂƐLJƚŽƌĞĂĚĂƐƉŽƐƐŝďůĞĂŶĚĂŶƐǁ ĞƌĂůŽƚŽĨƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ ĞdžͲ
cept probably the ones that you’ll have (you can always contact us as we’ll be happy to help.
If you already know about speakers, be our guest and start enjoying your RSL Speakers.
^ŝŶĐĞǁ ĞĚŽŶ ƚŬŶŽǁ ĂďŽƵƚLJŽƵƌƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌĂƵĚŝŽƐĞƚƵƉ ǁ ŚĞƚŚĞƌŝƚ ƐŚŽŵĞƚŚĞĂƚĞƌŽƌƐƚĞƌĞŽ
we’ve tried to cover all the bases. So feel free to skip around reading only what’s of interest.
2
&Ğǁ t ŽƌĚƐŽĨ/ŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ
We’ve been building speakers since 1970. A few years ago, we introduced a home theater sys-
tem that garnered rave reviews for being the best sound value in at its price. We then em-
barked upon a mission to aim for that same level of sound quality at a more affordable price.
dŚĞ' ϯĂŶĚ' Ϯϯ ĂƌĞƚŚĞƌĞƐƵůƚ /ƚƚŽŽŬĂůŽƚŽĨƚĞƐƟŶŐĂŶĚĐŽŵƉĂƌŝŶŐǁ ŝƚŚŽƚŚĞƌďƌĂŶĚƐŽĨ
speakers to make sure that we could offer a product that delivered the highest level of sound
in its class. Along with our recently introduced Speedwoofer 10S subwoofer, we’re now able
to provide speakers that will astonish, especially when considering price. When coupled with
a subwoofer, such as our Speedwoofer 10S, you can expect high-end performance.
Compression Guide Technology -ĐƟŽŶ-Packed History
A 2-ǁ ĂLJƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƵƟůŝnjŝŶŐĂĚLJŶĂŵŝĐǁ ŽŽĨĞƌĂŶĚƐŽŌĚŽŵĞƚǁ ĞĞƚĞƌŝƐŶŽƚƵŶŝƋƵĞ , Žǁ Ğǀ Ğƌ
what make these speakers a game-changer is our exclusive Compression Guide Technology.
It’s why the CG3 and CG23 sound different from the vast majority of speaker systems. While
there are many great speakers on the market, most of them sound like speakers mounted in
boxes and they sound ‘boxy’. With RSL’s Compression Guide Technology, the sound is less like
speakers and more lifelike as if the performance is actually happening in your room. They re-
produce whatever sounds are fed to them and don’t add ‘their take’ on them as many speak-
ers do.
ŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨLJĞĂƌƐĂŐŽ ǁ ĞŶŽƟĐĞĚƚŚĂƚĂůŵŽƐƚĂůůƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ;ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐĞĂƌůLJZ^>ƐͿƐƵī ĞƌĞĚ
from a problem. It was that bass notes, when reproduced by speakers was quite different
from bass at a live performance. When you’d hear bass live, you would hear various details in
the bass as well as feel the impact.
Compression Guide Technology - History -ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ
For example, with a bass guitar, you can feel the pick of the string along with the bass note.
With a kick drum, you could hear the wrap of the mallet against the skin of the drum and your
ďŽĚLJĨĞůƚƚŚĞŝŵƉĂĐƚ , Žǁ Ğǀ Ğƌ ǁ ŝƚŚĐŽŶǀ ĞŶƟŽŶĂůƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐĂůůLJŽƵ ĚŚĞĂƌǁ ĂƐĂŶŝůů-defined
boom. Back then, the only speakers that seemed to get it right were the big, bulky and expen-
sive transmission-line systems., mostly from England.
We needed to know why there was a disparity between live bass and that reproduced by
ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ ŌĞƌƐŽŵĞƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ŝƚďĞĐĂŵĞĂƉƉĂƌĞŶƚƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƉƌŽďůĞŵǁ ĂƐĚƵĞƚŽƚŚĞǁ ĂLJƚŚĞ
woofer was tuned in the enclosure. As was the case then, just as it is now, 2 tuning methods
were used by most speaker companies. In one method the cabinet was completely sealed and
ŝƐĐĂůůĞĚĂĐŽƵƐƟĐƐƵƐƉĞŶƐŝŽŶŽƌĂŝƌƐƵƐƉĞŶƐŝŽŶ /ŶƚŚĞŽƚŚĞƌŵĞƚŚŽĚ ƚŚĞĐĂďŝŶĞƚŚĂĚĂĐĂůĐƵͲ
lated opening called a vent or port. The length, width and height of the port was designed to
reinforce bass at the lowest frequencies.
The problem with both of these methods is that they rely on system resonance to properly
load the woofer. System resonance acts like a spring in that once the note stops, the woofer
ĐŽŶĞǁ ĂŶƚƐƚŽĐŽŶƟŶƵĞǀ ŝďƌĂƟŶŐ dŚŝƐƌĞƐƵůƚƐŝŶǁ ŚĂƚǁ ĞĐĂůůŽǀ ĞƌŚĂŶŐĂŶĚƌĞƐƵůƚƐŝŶŵƵĚĚLJ
bass. We spent years trying to lessen the effects of system resonance. Eventually, we found
ƚŚĞƐŽůƵƟŽŶĂŶĚƚŚĞƌĞƐƵůƚƐǁ ĞƌĞĚƌĂŵĂƟĐ t ĞĐĂůůŝƚŽŵƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ' ƵŝĚĞĂŶĚŝƚǁ ĂƐĂŵĞƚŚŽĚ
of dividing the inside of the speaker enclosure into areas of compression and expansion. As
the sound wave passed through these areas, the effects of resonance were greatly reduced.
We discovered that Compression Guide also paid huge dividends in the midrange and treble
as well. Bookshelf speakers tuned by Compression Guide exhibited much cleaner and trans-
parent sound with both vocals and music. In comparison, other bookshelf speakers sounded
“boxy”. Compression Guide also helped the speakers to image more accurately.
Standard Enclosure Compression Guide Enclosure
3
CG3 - CG23 Features
Exclusive Compression Guide Technology Tuning
^Ɵī <Ğǀ ůĂƌĐŽŶĞƐǁ ŝƚŚƌƵďďĞƌƐƵƌƌŽƵŶĚƐĨŽƌŚŝŐŚĐŽŶĞĞdžĐƵƌƐŝŽŶƐǁ ŝƚŚŽƵƚĚŝƐƚŽƌƟŽŶ-
producing cone breakup.
^ŽŌĚŽŵĞƚǁ ĞĞƚĞƌƐĨŽƌĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚ LJĞƚƐŵŽŽƚŚƚƌĞďůĞƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞ
High quality crossover components. The crossover, being inside the cabinet is not normally
ǀ ŝƐŝďůĞĂŶĚŝƐĂŶĂƌĞĂǁ ŚĞƌĞŵĂŶLJĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐƐŬŝŵƉ dŚĞƌĞƐƵůƚďĞŝŶŐŚŝŐŚĞƌĚŝƐƚŽƌƟŽŶĂŶĚ
ĚĞƚĞƌŝŽƌĂƟŽŶŽǀ ĞƌƟŵ Ğ dŚĞ' ϯ ĂŶĚ' Ϯϯ ƵƐĞŽŶůLJĂŝƌĐŽƌĞĐŽŝůƐĂŶĚƉŽůLJƉƌŽƉLJůĞŶĞĐĂͲ
ƉĂĐŝƚŽƌƐ t ĞĚŽŶŽƚƵƐĞĚŝƐƚŽƌƟŽŶƉƌŽĚƵĐŝŶŐŝƌŽŶĐŽƌĞĐŽŝůƐŽƌĞůĞĐƚƌŽůLJƟĐĐĂƉĂĐŝƚŽƌƐ
Rear gold-plated binding posts accept heavy duty wire or banana plugs.
Luxurious hand-finished black hi gloss enclosures.
ƵŝůƚŝŶŵŽƵŶƟŶŐƉůĂƚĞƐĂƩ ĂĐŚƚŽƚŚĞǁ Ăůůǁ ŝƚŚũƵƐƚĂƐĐƌĞǁ ;' ϯ Ϳ ůƐŽŚĂƐƚŚƌĞĂĚĞĚŝŶͲ
ƐĞƌƚƐĨŽƌǁ ĂůůĂŶĚĐĞŝůŝŶŐŵŽƵŶƚƐ;ŽƉƟŽŶĂůͿƚŚĂƚĂůůŽǁ LJŽƵƚŽĂŝŵƚŚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ
Removable grills with black cloth.
First Steps
Be careful when using sharp objects to open box-
ĞƐ dŚĞŝŶƐĞƌƟŽŶŽĨĂůŽŶŐĂŶĚ ŽƌƐŚĂƌƉŽďũĞĐƚ
such as a blade can damage the components in-
side. Use of chainsaws, machetes, power tools,
explosives, light sabers, and most kitchenware is
not recommended. If in doubt, ask mommy to
help you.
Please take a moment to inspect your speakers
for damage. If you find any damage that you did
not specifically request, please contact us or the
shipping company immediately. All components
have been inspected when leaving our factory,
however damage can occur during shipping.
If possible, we recommend saving all packaging, including boxes, as a convenient means of
re-packaging for moving or for sending your speakers in for service (in the unlikely event
they need it).
dŚĞďĞĂƵƟĨƵůďůĂĐŬĮ ŶŝƐŚĐĂŶďĞĞĂƐŝůLJƐĐƌĂƚĐŚĞĚǁ ŚĞŶƉůĂĐĞĚŽŶĂƐŚĞůĨĂŶĚŵŽǀ ĞĚ
Therefore, we recommend installing the small adhesive feet included with the speakers or
ƉůĂĐĞƚŚĞŵŽŶƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐƐŽŌĂŶĚŶŽŶ-abrasive.
Avoid touching the woofer cone or the dome tweeter as this can cause damage.
Be careful when placing the speakers on stands where they can be knocked over by pets,
children , or jealous neighbors.
4
Table Of Contents
5
/ŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ Ϯ
Compression Guide Technology - History………..………………………………………...……..3
CG3-23 Features..…………………………………………...………………………………………………….4
First Steps…………..……………………………………………………………………………………………...4
ZŽŽŵĐŽƵƐƟĐƐ …………………..…………………………………………………………………6
Placing Speakers………………..………………………………...…………………………………………….7
Placing Subwoofers………………….…………………………..………………………………………….11
Using Two Subwoofers…….……………………………...……………………………………………….12
/ŶƐƚĂůůĂƟŽŶ …………14
^Ğƫ ŶŐƐŶĚK ƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ ………..17
Care And Maintenance…...……………………...…..…………………………………………..……….21
^ƉĞĐŝĮ ĐĂƟŽŶƐ ……22
dƌŽƵďůĞƐŚŽŽƟŶŐ …………23
Warranty….………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..24
The Meaning Of Life…..………………………………………………………………..…………………..25
Do Aliens Really Exist?.....…………….……………………………………………………….………….26
Probably More Than You Want To Know About Room
ĐŽƵƐƟĐƐ
ZŽŽŵĂĐŽƵƐƟĐƐŚĂǀ ĞĂŵĂũŽƌĞī ĞĐƚŽŶƐŽƵŶĚƋƵĂůŝƚLJ /ĨLJŽƵƌƌŽŽŵŚĂƐŐŽŽĚĂĐŽƵƐƟĐĂůƋƵĂůŝͲ
ƟĞƐ Ğǀ ĞŶŵĞĚŝŽĐƌĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐĐĂŶƐŽƵŶĚƉƌĞƩ LJŐŽŽĚ /ŶƚƵƌŶ ŝĨLJŽƵƌƌŽŽŵŚĂƐƉŽŽƌĂĐŽƵƐƟĐƐ
high-ĞŶĚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐĐĂŶƐŽƵŶĚůĂĐŬŝŶŐ ĐŽƵƐƟĐĂůƋƵĂůŝƟĞƐĂƌĞĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞĚďLJƚŚĞĚŝŵĞŶƐŝŽŶƐ
of your room and the amount of sound-absorbing material present.
Room dimensions primarily affect bass response. A room with ideal dimensions will have even-
ly distributed bass throughout the room. The quality of the bass will be natural and not sloppy.
Obviously, you can’t do a heck of a lot about the dimensions of your room. Don’t worry; few
rooms are close to perfect.
dŚĞĂŵŽƵŶƚŽĨĂďƐŽƌƉƟǀ ĞŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůŝŶLJŽƵƌƌŽŽŵĂī ĞĐƚƐŵŝĚĚůĞĂŶĚƚƌĞďůĞĨƌĞƋƵĞŶĐŝĞƐ , ĂƌĚ
ƐƵƌĨĂĐĞƐ ƐƵĐŚĂƐǁ ŽŽĚŽƌƟůĞŇŽŽƌƐ ǁ ĂůůƐ ĐĂŶĚĞŐƌĂĚĞŵŝĚĚůĞĂŶĚƚƌĞďůĞĨƌĞƋƵĞŶĐŝĞƐ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ
ƚŚĞŵƐŽƵŶĚŚĂƌƐŚ ƟŶŶLJ ŽƌŚŽůůŽǁ ŚĂƌƐŚƌŽŽŵ ŚŽǁ Ğǀ Ğƌ ĐĂŶďĞĞĂƐŝůLJĮ džĞĚ D ĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐ
such as carpet, upholstered furniture, pillows, drapes, and wall treatments are all excellent at
ĂďƐŽƌďŝŶŐƵŶǁ ĂŶƚĞĚƐŽƵŶĚƌĞŇĞĐƟŽŶƐ dŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ ƚŚĞƐŽůƵƟŽŶƚŽĂŚĂƌƐŚƌŽŽŵŝƐƚŽĂĚĚŵŽƌĞ
ĂďƐŽƌƉƟǀ ĞŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐ /ĨLJŽƵĐĂŶ ƚĚŽƚŚĂƚ ǁ ŚLJŶŽƚŝŶǀ ŝƚĞĂůŽƚŽĨĨƌŝĞŶĚƐŽǀ ĞƌĂŶĚƚĞůůƚŚĞŵƚŽ
wear thick jackets or heavy sweaters.
D ĂŶLJĂĐŽƵƐƟĐĂůƉƌŽďůĞŵƐĐĂŶŽŌĞŶďĞŵŝŶŝŵŝnjĞĚďLJƚŚĞĐĂƌĞĨƵůƉůĂĐĞŵĞŶƚŽĨLJŽƵƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ
ĂŶĚƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌ /ŶĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ ŵĂŶLJŽĨƚŽĚĂLJ ƐƵĚŝŽ s ŝĚĞŽZĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌƐƉƌŽǀ ŝĚĞƌŽŽŵĐŽƌƌĞĐƟŽŶ
ĐŝƌĐƵŝƚƌLJ ǁ ŚŝĐŚĐĂŶƉƌŽǀ ŝĚĞĂĚƌĂŵĂƟĐŝŵƉƌŽǀ ĞŵĞŶƚŝŶƐŽƵŶĚƋƵĂůŝƚLJ dŚĞƌĞĂƌĞƐĞǀ ĞƌĂůĞdžͲ
ĐĞůůĞŶƚƌŽŽŵĐŽƌƌĞĐƟŽŶƐLJƐƚĞŵƐĨŽƵŶĚŝŶƚŽĚĂLJ Ɛ s ƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌƐĂŶĚƉƌŽĐĞƐƐŽƌƐ dŚĞLJŝŶĐůƵĚĞ
ƵĚLJƐƐĞLJĂŶĚz ĂŵĂŚĂ Ɛz WK ƵĚLJƐƐĞLJƌŽŽŵĐŽƌƌĞĐƟŽŶĐĂŶďĞĨŽƵŶĚŝŶƐĞǀ ĞƌĂůĚŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ
brands of A/V receivers and processors including Denon and Marantz.
6
dŚŝƐ^ĞĐƟŽŶ/Ɛ/ŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ
(Please read it, unless you’re already experienced in placing speakers or
you don’t have a choice of where your speakers can be located.)
Placement
ŽƌƌĞĐƚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƉůĂĐĞŵĞŶƚŝƐĞƐƐĞŶƟĂůŝŶĂĐŚŝĞǀ ŝŶŐƚŚĞďĞƐƚƐŽƵŶĚ /ƚ ƐƐƵƌƉƌŝƐŝŶŐŚŽǁ ŵƵĐŚŝŵƉĂĐƚ
Ğǀ ĞŶĂƐŵĂůůĂĚũƵƐƚŵĞŶƚƚŽĂƐƉĞĂŬĞƌ ƐůŽĐĂƟŽŶĐĂŶŵĂŬĞ t ĞŚĂǀ ĞƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚƚŚĞůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ
ƚŚĂƚŐĞŶĞƌĂůůLJƉƌŽĚƵĐĞƚŚĞďĞƐƚƌĞƐƵůƚƐ ZĞŵĞŵďĞƌƚŚĂƚĞǀ ĞƌLJƌŽŽŵŝƐĂĐŽƵƐƟĐĂůůLJĚŝī ĞƌĞŶƚ Ăī ĞĐƚĞĚ
by its contents, size and shape. While our guidelines can be helpful, always trust your ears as the
final authority. Because every room is unique, there is no single rule that suits every one. If you find
LJŽƵƌƐĞůĨŚĂǀ ŝŶŐĚŝĸ ĐƵůƟĞƐ Ăůǁ ĂLJƐĨĞĞůĨƌĞĞƚŽĐŽŶƚĂĐƚƵƐĨŽƌĂĚǀ ŝĐĞ
Please Note: Even though our diagrams show the speakers on stands, there are other placement
ŽƉƟŽŶƐŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐǁ ĂůůŽƌƐŚĞůĨŵŽƵŶƟŶŐ
Home Theater Placement
RSL CG3s and CG23s can be placed on speaker stands, shelves, or furniture. They include
threaded inserts in the back of their cabinets for wall or ceiling brackets. The CG3s also have
a keyhole bracket. Using this allows you to mount them against a wall using only a screw or
toggle bolt. Please note: when using the threaded inserts, do not over-ƟŐŚƚĞŶƚŚĞďƌĂĐŬĞƚ Ɛ
ŵŽƵŶƟŶŐďŽůƚ If you are going to place the speakers on shelves, or furniture; they should
be placed at the front edge of the surface. The sound should be able to travel freely in all di-
ƌĞĐƟŽŶƐǁ ŝƚŚŽƵƚďĞŝŶŐŽďƐƚƌƵĐƚĞĚďLJůĂƌŐĞƐƵƌĨĂĐĞƐ
WƵƫ ŶŐƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐŝŶƐŝĚĞĂĐĂďŝŶĞƚĐĂŶĚĞŐƌĂĚĞƚŚĞŝƌƐŽƵŶĚƋƵĂůŝƚLJ D ĂŬŝŶŐƐƵƌĞƚŽƉůĂĐĞƚŚĞŵ
ĂƚƚŚĞĨƌŽŶƚĞĚŐĞŽĨƚŚĞĞŶĐůŽƐƵƌĞƐŚŽƵůĚŚĞůƉ /ĨLJŽƵƐƟůůŚĞĂƌĚĞŐƌĂĚĞĚƐŽƵŶĚ ƐƚƵī ƚŚĞ
ŽƉĞŶĂƌĞĂƐƐƵƌƌŽƵŶĚŝŶŐƚŚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌǁ ŝƚŚŽďũĞĐƚƐƐƵĐŚĂƐŬƐŽƌĂĐŽƵƐƟĐĂůĂďƐŽƌďŝŶŐŵĂͲ
ƚĞƌŝĂů t ŚĞŶĐŽŶĐĞĂůŝŶŐƚŚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐďĞŚŝŶĚĐůŽƚŚ ŵĂŬĞƐƵƌĞƚŚĞĐůŽƚŚŝƐĂĐŽƵƐƟĐĂůůLJƚƌĂŶƐͲ
parent. Also, remove each speaker’s grill and place the speaker as forward as possible with-
out actually touching the cloth.
7
Placement —ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ
&ƌŽŶƚůĞŌĂŶĚƌŝŐŚƚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ;ϱ ϭ ϳ ϭ ϳ ϮƐLJƐƚĞŵƐͿ
ŽƚŚƚŚĞZ^>' ϯ ĂŶĚZ^>' Ϯϯ ĐĂŶďĞƵƐĞĚĂƐƚŚĞůĞŌĂŶĚƌŝŐŚƚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ K ŶĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐŚŽƵůĚďĞ
ƉůĂĐĞĚŽŶĞĂĐŚƐŝĚĞŽĨLJŽƵƌƚĞůĞǀ ŝƐŝŽŶĐŽŶƐƟƚƵƟŶŐĂƌŝŐŚƚĂŶĚůĞŌĐŚĂŶŶĞů ' ϯ ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐƐŚŽƵůĚďĞ
ƉůĂĐĞĚǀ ĞƌƟĐĂůůLJĂŶĚ' Ϯϯ ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐĐĂŶďĞƉůĂĐĞĚǀ ĞƌƟĐĂůůLJŽƌŚŽƌŝnjŽŶƚĂůůLJ dŚĞLJƐŚŽƵůĚďĞƉŽƐŝͲ
ƟŽŶĞĚǀ ĞƌƟĐĂůůLJ dŚĞŝĚĞĂůĚŝƐƚĂŶĐĞĂƉĂƌƚĚĞƉĞŶĚƐŽŶŚŽǁ ĨĂƌďĂĐŬLJŽƵƌůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶŝƐ dŚĞ
further back, the further apart they should be. Thick of it as a triangle with the apex at a listener’s
ŚĞĂĚ dŚĞĂŶŐůĞƉŽŝŶƟŶŐƚŽƚŚĞϮƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐƐŚŽƵůĚďĞŝŶƚŚĞŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌŚŽŽĚŽĨϵϬĚĞŐƌĞĞƐ dŚĞƐƉĞĂŬͲ
ers should be as close in height to your seated ear level as possible. If the speakers cannot be placed
at ear level, they should be angled up or down so they point toward the listener’s ears.
To ensure the most accurate sound and best imaging, try to place the front speakers at least two
ĨĞĞƚĂǁ ĂLJĨƌŽŵƚŚĞĨƌŽŶƚǁ ĂůůƐ ƐŝĚĞǁ ĂůůƐ ĂŶĚĐŽƌŶĞƌƐ dŚŝƐŝƐůĞƐƐĐƌŝƟĐĂůŝŶŚŽŵĞƚŚĞĂƚĞƌƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ
because the surround speakers tends to move the image out into the room and around you. If your
ůĞŌĂŶĚƌŝŐŚƚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐĂƌĞĨĂƌĂƉĂƌƚ LJŽƵŵĂLJƚƌLJĂŶŐůŝŶŐƚŚĞŵŝŶƚŽǁ ĂƌĚƐƚŚĞůŝƐƚĞŶĞƌ /ĨLJŽƵ ƌĞ
ŵŽƵŶƟŶŐƚŚĞŵƚŽƚŚĞǁ Ăůů ƚƌLJŶŽƚƚŽƉůĂĐĞƚŚĞƌŝŐŚƚĂŶĚůĞŌĐŚĂŶŶĞůƚŽŽĐůŽƐĞƚŽƚŚĞƐŝĚĞǁ ĂůůƐŽƌ
ĐŽƌŶĞƌƐŽĨƚŚĞƌŽŽŵ D ŽƵŶƟŶŐƚŚĞƌŝŐŚƚĂŶĚůĞŌĐŚĂŶŶĞůƐĐůŽƐĞƚŽƚŚĞƐŝĚĞǁ ĂůůƐŽƌĐŽƌŶĞƌƐŵĂLJĂĚĚ
excess emphasis to the bass and lower midrange and decrease the three-dimensional effect of the
sound.
Left
Front Right
Front
Center Channel
Subwoofer
Left
Rear Right
Rear
8
9
Placement —ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ
Center channel speaker (5.1, 7.1, 7.2 systems)
Placement of your center channel is the most self-explanatory. Either the RSL CG3 or the RSL CG23
ĐĂŶďĞƵƐĞĚĂƐĂĐĞŶƚĞƌĐŚĂŶŶĞů dŚĞ' ϯƐŚŽƵůĚƐƚĂŶĚǀ ĞƌƟĐĂůůLJǁ ŚĞŶƵƐĞĚĂƐĂĐĞŶƚĞƌĐŚĂŶŶĞů
ǁ ŚŝůĞƚŚĞ' Ϯϯ ĐĂŶďĞƉůĂĐĞĚĞŝƚŚĞƌŚŽƌŝnjŽŶƚĂůůLJŽƌǀ ĞƌƟĐĂůůLJ dŚĞĐĞŶƚĞƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌŶĞĞĚƐƚŽďĞĐĞŶͲ
ƚĞƌĞĚďĞƚǁ ĞĞŶƚŚĞůĞŌĂŶĚƌŝŐŚƚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐĂŶĚĂďŽǀ ĞŽƌďĞůŽǁ LJŽƵƌƚĞůĞǀ ŝƐŝŽŶ dƌLJƚŽƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƚŚĞ
center channel as close to your seated ear level as possible. Just as before, it is always a good idea to
ƟůƚƚŚĞĐĞŶƚĞƌĐŚĂŶŶĞůƵƉŽƌĚŽǁ ŶƚŽƉŽŝŶƚƚŽǁ ĂƌĚƐƚŚĞůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ /ĨŵŽƵŶƟŶŐƚŽƚŚĞǁ Ăůů
ƚƌLJƚŽƟůƚŝƚƐŽƚŚĂƚŝƚƉŽŝŶƚƐƚŽLJŽƵƌůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ĞĐĂƌĞĨƵůŝĨƉůĂĐŝŶŐƚŚĞĐĞŶƚĞƌĐŚĂŶŶĞůĚŝƌĞĐƚůLJ
on top of your TV as many TV’s are not designed for this.
Side/rear channel speakers placement (5.1 systems)
In a 5.1 system the two surround channels should be placed along your side walls slightly behind the
ůŝƐƚĞŶĞƌ ƐƐĞĂƟŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ dŚĞũŽďŽĨƚŚĞƐĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐŝƐƚŽƌĞƉƌŽĚƵĐĞƚŚĞƐŽƵŶĚƚŚĂƚǁ ŽƵůĚŽĐĐƵƌ
along side and behind you. Merely placing them directly along side of the listener will not allow
ƚŚĞŵƚŽĐƌĞĂƚĞĂƌĞĂƌŝŵĂŐĞ dŚĞƐĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐƐŚŽƵůĚĨĂĐĞŝŶǁ ĂƌĚ ƚŽǁ ĂƌĚLJŽƵƌƐĞĂƟŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ &Žƌ
ďĞƐƚƌĞƐƵůƚƐ ƚƌLJƚŽƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƚŚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐĂƚLJŽƵƌƐĞĂƚĞĚĞĂƌůĞǀ ĞůŽƌŚŝŐŚĞƌ;ƌŽƵŐŚůLJϱ–ϳ ŌĨƌŽŵƚŚĞ
floor). If they are higher than ear level, make sure to angle them down towards the listener.
Placement —ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ
Side/rear channel speakers placement (7.1, 7.2 systems)
ϳ ϭŽƌϳ ϮƐƵƌƌŽƵŶĚƐŽƵŶĚƐLJƐƚĞŵƐĐŽŶƐŝƐƚŽĨůĞŌ ƌŝŐŚƚ ĂŶĚĐĞŶƚĞƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐĂůŽŶŐǁ ŝƚŚƚǁ ŽƐŝĚĞ
and two rear speakers. Here, the side speakers should be well spread out and placed to the sides
ŽĨLJŽƵƌƐĞĂƟŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ dŚĞLJƐŚŽƵůĚĨĂĐĞŝŶǁ ĂƌĚ ƚŽǁ ĂƌĚLJŽƵƌĞĂƌƐ t ĞƐƵŐŐĞƐƚƉŽƐŝƟŽŶŝŶŐƚŚĞŵ
ƚŽƚŚĞƐŝĚĞƐŽĨLJŽƵƌƐĞĂƟŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶĂƐŝŶŽƵƌĚŝĂŐƌĂŵ ƐĨŽƌƚŚĞƌĞĂƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ ƚŚĞƐĞƐŚŽƵůĚďĞ
ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶĞĚƐĞǀ ĞƌĂůĨĞĞƚďĞŚŝŶĚLJŽƵƌƐĞĂƟŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶŝĨƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ dŚĞƐĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐƐŚŽƵůĚĨĂĐĞĨŽƌͲ
ward towards your television. They should be spaced roughly a few feet apart; not as far apart as
the side speakers (refer to diagram). The rear speakers should be at ear level or elevated a few
ĨĞĞƚĂďŽǀ ĞLJŽƵƌƐĞĂƚĞĚůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJϱ–ϳ ĨĞĞƚĨƌŽŵƚŚĞŇŽŽƌ /ƚŝƐŶŽƚĂƐĐƌŝƟͲ
cal to angle them down as it is with the other speakers.
T
Placing your subwoofer (5.1, 7.1 systems)
Your subwoofer is responsible for all of the bass in your movies and music. These low bass fre-
quencies are non-ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶĂů dŚŝƐŵĞĂŶƐƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌĐĂŶďĞƉůĂĐĞĚŝŶĂǀ ĂƌŝĞƚLJŽĨƉŽƐŝͲ
ƟŽŶƐĂŶĚŝĨƚŚĞƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌŚĂƐĂĨĂƐƚƚƌĂŶƐŝĞŶƚƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞ;ŚĞŶĐĞƚŚĞŶĂŵĞ^ƉĞĞĚǁ ŽŽĨĞƌͿƚŚĞŚƵͲ
ŵĂŶĞĂƌǁ ŝůůƉĞƌĐĞŝǀ ĞƚŚĞďĂƐƐĂƐĐŽŵŝŶŐĨƌŽŵƚŚĞƐĂƚĞůůŝƚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ h ůƟŵĂƚĞůLJ ƚŚĞƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌ
can be placed virtually anywhere in the room. As usual though, we have some placement sugges-
ƟŽŶƐƚŚĂƚǁ ŝůůĞŶŚĂŶĐĞƚŚĞƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞŽĨLJŽƵƌƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌ
ƐŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚŝŶƚŚĞƐĞĐƟŽŶŽŶĂĐŽƵƐƟĐƐ ďĂƐƐĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌŝƐƟĐƐĂƌĞůĂƌŐĞůLJĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞĚďLJLJŽƵƌƌŽŽŵ
ĚŝŵĞŶƐŝŽŶƐ dŚĞŐŽĂůŝƐƚŽŚĂǀ ĞĂŶĞǀ ĞŶĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶŽĨďĂƐƐĂƚĂůůƐĞĂƟŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ dŚĞďĂƐƐ
should not be sloppy or muddy, but clearly defined (for example, you should hear the skin of a kick
ĚƌƵŵ ŶŽƚũƵƐƚƚŚĞŵͿ /ŶĂƉƌŽďůĞŵĂƟĐƌŽŽŵƚŚĞ ďĂƐƐĐĂŶďĞĂůŵŽƐƚŶŽŶ-existent in certain
Ɛŝƫ ŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚŽǀ Ğƌǁ ŚĞůŵŝŶŐŝŶŽƚŚĞƌƐ
10
Left
Front Center Channel Subwoofer
Right
Front
Left
Rear Right
Rear
Left
Side Right
Side
Placement —ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ
Here are guidelines for placing your subwoofer:
1. We recommend that, if possible, the subwoofer be located somewhere in the vicinity of the
front speakers rather than in the rear of your room.
2. Placement near a wall will increase your subwoofer’s bass output. Placement
near or in a corner will increase it even further.
ϯ džƉĞƌŝŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶŝƐĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞĚ dƌLJĂƐŵĂŶLJĚŝī ĞƌĞŶƚƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐĂƐLJŽƵůŝŬĞ
ϰ WůĂLJĂƐŽŶŐŽƌŵŽǀ ŝĞǁ ŝƚŚĂĐŽŶƟŶƵŽƵƐŚĞĂǀ LJďĂƐƐƚƌĂĐŬ ' ĞŶĞƌĂůůLJǁ ĞƉƌĞĨĞƌŶĂƚƵƌĂůďĂƐƐ
ƉĞƌŚĂƉƐĨƌŽŵĂŶĂĐŽƵƐƟĐďĂƐƐŽƌĂŬŝĐŬĚƌƵŵ &ŽƌĞĂĐŚƉŽƐŝƟŽŶLJŽƵĂƌĞƚƌLJŝŶŐ ǁ ĂůŬĂƌŽƵŶĚ
ƚŚĞƌŽŽŵĂŶĚŚĞĂƌǁ ŚĞƌĞƚŚĞďĂƐƐŝƐůŽƵĚĞƌĂŶĚƋƵŝĞƚĞƌ WŝĐŬƚŚĞƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƚŚĂƚƉƌŽǀ ŝĚĞƐƚŚĞ
ŵŽƐƚĞǀ ĞŶĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶĂŶĚďĞƐƚƋƵĂůŝƚLJŽĨďĂƐƐĂŵŽŶŐLJŽƵƌƐĞĂƟŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ ůǁ ĂLJƐƚƌƵƐƚ
your ear; what sounds best to you is the right choice.
ϱ ĂƵƟŽŶ dŚĞĂŵƉůŝĮ ĞƌŽŶƚŚĞďĂĐŬŽĨƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌĐƌĞĂƚĞƐŚĞĂƚĂŶĚŶĞĞĚƐĂŵƉůĞǀ ĞŶƟůĂƟŽŶ
Do not place the woofer directly against a wall; make sure that there is always a few inches of
air space behind the woofer for cooling purposes. Also, be careful when placing the subwoofer
in any kind of equipment enclosure. Make sure that there is air space on the top and sides for
ƉƌŽƉĞƌǀ ĞŶƟůĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƚŽƉƌĞǀ ĞŶƚŽǀ ĞƌŚĞĂƟŶŐ /ĨƚŚĞĂŝƌŇŽǁ ŝƐůŝŵŝƚĞĚ ǁ ĞƐƚƌŽŶŐůLJƐƵŐŐĞƐƚ
ĐƵƫ ŶŐŚŽůĞƐŝŶLJŽƵƌĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚĐĂďŝŶĞƚƚŽĂůůŽǁ ĨŽƌĂĚĞƋƵĂƚĞǀ ĞŶƟůĂƟŽŶ
&ŽƌĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůƐƵŐŐĞƐƟŽŶƐĂďŽƵƚƉůĂĐŝŶŐLJŽƵƌƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌ ƉůĞĂƐĞĐŽŶƐƵůƚLJŽƵƌƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌ Ɛ
owner’s manual.
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Using Two Subwoofers
When two subwoofers can be useful
Using a high quality subwoofer, such as one of our RSL Speedwoofers, should be sufficient to
give you the smile-inspiring impact you want. However, using two subwoofers has certain ad-
ǀ ĂŶƚĂŐĞƐƚŚĂƚǁ ĞŚĂǀ ĞůŝƐƚĞĚďĞůŽǁ dŚŝƐŝƐE K dŽƵƌĂƩ ĞŵƉƚƚŽƐĞůůLJŽƵĂŶŽƚŚĞƌƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌ
;ƵŶůĞƐƐŽĨĐŽƵƌƐĞLJŽƵǁ ĂŶƚĂƐLJƐƚĞŵƚŚĂƚǁ ŝůůƌĞǀ ŽůƵƟŽŶŝnjĞLJŽƵƌŝĚĞĂŽĨƐŽƵŶĚĂŶĚŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐĞ
LJŽƵƌĞĂƌƐƚŽƚƌƵĞŚĂƌŵŽŶŝĐĞŶůŝŐŚƚĞŶŵĞŶƚͿĂƐǁ ĞĚŽŶŽƚƌĞƐŽƌƚƚŽƐƵĐŚƚĂĐƟĐƐ
There are two main reasons for using a second subwoofer. A second subwoofer will greatly in-
crease the bass output and capacity of your home theater system. Let’s say you have a an am-
ƉůŝĮ ĞƌƌĂƚĞĚĂƚϭϬϬǁ ĂƩ ƐĂŶĚLJŽƵǁ ŝƐŚƚŽŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞƚŚĞǀ ŽůƵŵĞŽĨĂƐƉĞĂŬĞƌďLJϯĚď;ĂĐŚĂŶŐĞŽĨ
1db is considered to be the least amount a human ear can detect). You would need to have an
ĂŵƉůŝĮ ĞƌƌĂƚĞĚĂƚĚŽƵďůĞŽƌϮϬϬǁ ĂƩ Ɛ ĚĚŝŶŐĂƐĞĐŽŶĚƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌŶĞĂƌƚŚĞĮ ƌƐƚĐĂŶƉƌŽǀ ŝĚĞ
up to a 6db increase in bass volume, which is like quadrupling the power (that’s huge!). Adding
ĂƐĞĐŽŶĚƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌĂŶLJǁ ŚĞƌĞŝŶƚŚĞƌŽŽŵǁ ŝůůƐƟůůŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞƚŚĞďĂƐƐŽƵƚƉƵƚƐƵďƐƚĂŶƟĂůůLJĂŶĚ
the subwoofers will work more effortlessly.
Using 2 Subwoofers In The Same Corner
The other reason to consider two subwoofers is to achieve a smoother, more consistent bass
ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶŝŶLJŽƵƌŚŽŵĞƚŚĞĂƚĞƌ ƐĞĐŽŶĚƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌŝŶĂĚŝī ĞƌĞŶƚƉŽƐŝƟŽŶĐĂŶĂĐƚƵĂůůLJĮ ůůŝŶ
those areas of bass deficiency (null points). You should be able to move around the room and
ƚƌLJĚŝī ĞƌĞŶƚƐĞĂƟŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ /ŶĂůůŽĨƚŚĞƐĞƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐƚŚĞďĂƐƐƐŚŽƵůĚƐŽƵŶĚƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ďŽƚŚŝŶ
ƋƵĂŶƟƚLJĂŶĚǀ ŽůƵŵĞ
K ŶƚŚĞƉĂŐĞƚŚĂƚĨŽůůŽǁ ƐĂƌĞƐƵŐŐĞƐƟŽŶƐĨŽƌƉůĂĐŝŶŐƚǁ ŽƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌƐŝŶLJŽƵƌŚŽŵĞƚŚĞĂƚĞƌ
12
^ƵŐŐĞƐƟŽŶƐ&ŽƌWůĂĐŝŶŐdǁ Ž^Ƶďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌƐ
zŽƵĂƌĞŶŽƚƉĞƌŵŝƩ ĞĚƚŽƌĞĂĚƚŚŝƐƐĞĐƟŽŶƵŶůĞƐƐLJŽƵĂƌĞĂŵĞŵďĞƌŝŶ
good standing of the Dual Subwoofer Owners Club.
dƌLJƚŚĞĨŽůůŽǁ ŝŶŐƐƵŐŐĞƐƟŽŶƐŝŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽĂƌƌŝǀ ĞĂƚƚŚĞďĞƐƚƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐĨŽƌLJŽƵƌƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌƐ
1.Place both subwoofers towards the front of the room rather than the back.
2. Try placing the subwoofers asymmetrically in the room to create the smoothest, most natu-
ƌĂůďĂƐƐŝŶĂůůƐĞĂƟŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ
ϯ ůƐŽƚƌLJƉŽƐŝƟŽŶŝŶŐďŽƚŚƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌƐŝŶƚŚĞƐĂŵĞƐŝĚĞŽĨƚŚĞƌŽŽŵ dŚŝƐĐĂŶďĞĂŶĞī ĞĐƟǀ Ğ
ǁ ĂLJŽĨĐƌĞĂƟŶŐƐŵŽŽƚŚĞƌďĂƐƐŝŶƐŽŵĞƌŽŽŵƐ
ϰ WůĂĐĞĂŶĚŝŶƐƚĂůů;ƐĞĞŝŶƐƚĂůůĂƟŽŶͿŽŶĞƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌ WůĂLJĂŵŽǀ ŝĞŽƌƐŽŶŐǁ ŝƚŚĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶƚ ƌĞͲ
ƉĞƟƟǀ ĞďĂƐƐ t ĂůŬĂƌŽƵŶĚƚŚĞƌŽŽŵĂŶĚĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞǁ ŚĞƌĞƚŚĞďĂƐƐƐŽƵŶĚƐƚŚĞǁ ĞĂŬĞƐƚĂŶĚ
ƉůĂĐĞƚŚĞƐĞĐŽŶĚƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌĂƚƚŚĂƚůŽĐĂƟŽŶ
ϱ džƉĞƌŝŵĞŶƚ dŚĞŐŽĂůŝƐĂĐŚŝĞǀ ŝŶŐƚŚĞŵŽƐƚĞǀ ĞŶďĂƐƐĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚLJŽƵƌƌŽŽŵ
dƌŝĂůĂŶĚĞƌƌŽƌŝƐŶĞǀ ĞƌĂďĂĚŝĚĞĂ >ĞƚLJŽƵƌĞĂƌƐďĞLJŽƵƌŐƵŝĚĞ ƚŚĞLJŬŶŽǁ LJŽƵƌƌŽŽŵďĞƩ Ğƌ
than this manual does.
ŚĂ t ĞĐĂƵŐŚƚLJŽƵƌĞĂĚŝŶŐƚŚŝƐƐĞĐƟŽŶǁ ŝƚŚŽƵƚĂƵƚŚŽƌŝnjĂƟŽŶ zŽƵŵƵƐƚŶŽǁ ŽƌĚĞƌĂƐĞĐŽŶĚ
subwoofer immediately or there’ll be no desert for you!
Placing 2 Subwoofers Asymmetrically
13
/ŶƐƚĂůůĂƟŽŶ
t ŝƌĞǁ ĞŚĞĂƌ ;dŚŝƐƐĞĐƟŽŶŝƐŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚͿ
Before you start…
dĂŬĞĂŵŽŵĞŶƚƚŽƌĞĂĚƚŚĞƐĞƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĂƟŽŶƐ
1. Always shut off the power to all components before installing!
2. Use quality speaker wire. We recommend two-conductor wire with high quality copper.
zŽƵ ůůĂůƐŽǁ ĂŶƚƚŽŵĂŬĞƐƵƌĞƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƌĞŝƐĂŵĞĂŶƐŽĨĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶŝŶŐƉŽůĂƌŝƚLJ;ŝĚĞŶƟĨLJŝŶŐƚŚĞ
ƉŽƐŝƟǀ ĞĂŶĚŶĞŐĂƟǀ ĞƐƚƌĂŶĚƐͿ
3. All wire has resistance in it. The thicker the wire, the less resistance it has. The less re-
ƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ƚŚĞďĞƩ ĞƌLJŽƵƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐǁ ŝůůƐŽƵŶĚ dŚĞƚŚŝĐŬŶĞƐƐŽĨƚŚĞǁ ŝƌĞƐŚŽƵůĚďĞĚĞƚĞƌͲ
mined by the length of the wire you are using. For longer lengths, heavier wire should be
used. See our table below:
Length of speaker wire (each speaker) Recommended minimum thickness
Up to 15 feet 16 AWG
15 to 30 feet 14 AWG
Over 30 feet 12 AWG
ϰ t ŚĞŶĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŶŐǁ ŝƌĞƚŽĂƚĞƌŵŝŶĂů ƚǁ ŝƐƚƚŚĞǁ ŝƌĞƐƚƌĂŶĚƐƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌƐŽƚŚĂƚƚŚĞLJĂůůĐĂŶďĞ
neatly inserted into the terminal. /ĨƐƚƌĂŶĚƐĂƌĞůĞŌůŽŽƐĞĂŶĚŵĂŬĞĐŽŶƚĂĐƚǁ ŝƚŚƚŚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĂů
or a wire of the opposite polarity, they will cause a short and can severely damage your
speakers and equipment.
Phasing
/ƚ ƐĐƌŝƟĐĂůůLJŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐĂůůǁ ŽƌŬƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ dŽĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚƚŚŝƐ ĂůůƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ
must be wired in phase.
dŚŝƐŵĞĂŶƐ ƚŚĂƚĨŽƌĞĂĐŚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌĂŶĚĨŽƌLJŽƵƌƌĞĐĞŝǀ Ğƌ Ğǀ ĞƌLJƉŽƐŝƟǀ Ğǁ ŝƌĞŝƐĐŽƌƌĞĐƚůLJĐŽŶͲ
ŶĞĐƚĞĚƚŽĂƉŽƐŝƟǀ Ğ;нͿƚĞƌŵŝŶĂůĂŶĚĞǀ ĞƌLJŶĞŐĂƟǀ Ğǁ ŝƌĞŝƐƉƌŽƉĞƌůLJĐŽŶŶĞĐƚĞĚƚŽĂŶĞŐĂƟǀ Ğ;-
) terminal. When this is the case, all of your speakers are considered to be “in phase”. On our
ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ ƚŚĞƉŽƐŝƟǀ Ğ;нͿŝŶƉƵƚƚĞƌŵŝŶĂůŝƐŝĚĞŶƟĮ ĞĚǁ ŝƚŚƚŚĞĐŽůŽƌƌĞĚ ǁ ŚŝůĞƚŚĞŶĞŐĂƟǀ Ğ;-)
ŝŶƉƵƚƚĞƌŵŝŶĂůŝƐůĂďĞůĞĚǁ ŝƚŚďůĂĐŬ z ŽƵƌƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌŽƌĂŵƉůŝĮ Ğƌǁ ŝůůƉƌŽǀ ŝĚĞŝĚĞŶƟĮ ĐĂƟŽŶďLJ
plus (+) and minus (-ͿƐLJŵďŽůƐŽƌďLJĐŽůŽƌƐĂůƐŽ;ĐŽŵŵŽŶůLJƌĞĚĨŽƌƉŽƐŝƟǀ ĞĂŶĚďůĂĐŬĨŽƌŶĞŐĂͲ
Ɵǀ ĞͿ
If you are human like some of us, and you inadvertently connect some wires backwards, you
will hear the results. Having a speaker out of phase significantly degrades sound quality. In a
stereo system, out of phase speakers will sound as if there is a hole in the imaging between
the speakers. Voices can sound as if they are far away from you; coming from behind your
speakers. Incorrect phasing can also significantly diminish bass response. Therefore, it is im-
ƉŽƌƚĂŶƚƚŽŵĂŬĞƐƵƌĞƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƉŽůĂƌŝƚLJŽĨĞǀ ĞƌLJĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶŝƐĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶƚ
14
/ŶƐƚĂůůĂƟŽŶ—ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ
ŽŶŶĞĐƟŶŐƚŚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ
>ŝƐƚĞĚďĞůŽǁ ĂƌĞƚŚĞƐƚĞƉƐĨŽƌǁ ŝƌŝŶŐLJŽƵƌZ^>ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ &ŽƌĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀ ĞŵĞƚŚŽĚƐŽƌƐƵŐŐĞƐƟŽŶƐ
ƉůĞĂƐĞĐŽŶƐƵůƚƚŚĞŝŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶƐƚŚĂƚĐĂŵĞǁ ŝƚŚLJŽƵƌƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌŽƌĂŵƉůŝĮ Ğƌ
ϭ WƌĞƉĂƌĞƚŚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌǁ ŝƌĞ &ŝƌƐƚ ƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞƚŚĞƉŽƐŝƟǀ ĞĂŶĚŶĞŐĂƟǀ ĞƐƚƌĂŶĚƐďLJƐƉůŝƫ ŶŐƚŚĞǁ ŝƌĞ
ŝŶƐƵůĂƟŽŶĚŽǁ ŶƚŚĞŵŝĚĚůĞĂƚůĞĂƐƚĂĐŽƵƉůĞŽĨŝŶĐŚĞƐ E Žǁ ƐƚƌŝƉŽī ĂďŽƵƚĂЪŝŶĐŚŽĨŝŶƐƵůĂƟŽŶ
from each individual wire end to expose the inner copper wire strands. Repeat this process for both
ĞŶĚƐŽĨĞĂĐŚǁ ŝƌĞ E Žǁ ĨŽƌĞĂĐŚƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞǁ ŝƌĞ;ƉŽƐŝƟǀ ĞĂŶĚŶĞŐĂƟǀ ĞͿ ƚǁ ŝƐƚƚŚĞĞdžƉŽƐĞĚĐŽƉƉĞƌ
wire strands together. This will keep the copper strands neat and allow the wires to be easily insert-
ed into the speaker’s input terminals.
Ϯ dŽĐŽŶŶĞĐƚƚŚĞǁ ŝƌĞƐ Į ƌƐƚůŽŽƐĞŶƚŚĞŝŶƉƵƚƚĞƌŵŝŶĂůƐŽŶƚŚĞďĂĐŬŽĨLJŽƵƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐďLJƌŽƚĂƟŶŐ
ƚŚĞŚĞĂĚƐĐŽƵŶƚĞƌĐůŽĐŬǁ ŝƐĞ E Ğdžƚ ŝŶƐĞƌƚƚŚĞƚǁ ŝƐƚĞĚĞŶĚŽĨƚŚĞƉŽƐŝƟǀ Ğǁ ŝƌĞŝŶƚŽƚŚĞŚŽůĞŽĨƚŚĞ
ƉŽƐŝƟǀ ĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĂů ĂŶĚƌĞƉĞĂƚĨŽƌƚŚĞŶĞŐĂƟǀ Ğǁ ŝƌĞ ;E ŽƚĞ ĂůůŽĨŽƵƌƚĞƌŵŝŶĂůƐĂƌĞĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚƚŽĂĐͲ
ĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƚĞďĂƌĞǁ ŝƌĞŽƌďĂŶĂŶĂƉůƵŐƐ Ϳt ŝƚŚďŽƚŚǁ ŝƌĞƐŝŶƐĞƌƚĞĚ ƟŐŚƚĞŶďŽƚŚƚĞƌŵŝŶĂůƐďLJƌŽƚĂƟŶŐ
ĞĂĐŚŚĞĂĚĐůŽĐŬǁ ŝƐĞƵŶƟůƚŚĞǁ ŝƌĞƐĂƌĞǁ ĞůůƐĞĐƵƌĞĚ ŽŶŽƚŽǀ ĞƌƟŐŚƚĞŶ ĞĂďƐŽůƵƚĞůLJĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚŚĂƚ
there are no loose wire strands making contact with the wires or terminals of the opposite polarity.
This will cause a short that can severely damage your components.
Do not allow strands to cause a short
Properly twist wire to eliminate stray strands
15
/ŶƐƚĂůůĂƟŽŶ—ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ
3. With the wires connected to your speakers, connect each wire to the appropriate output termi-
nal on your receiver or amplifier. Repeat this step for each speaker to be hooked up. Your receiver
ŽƌĂŵƉůŝĮ Ğƌǁ ŝůůƐƉĞĐŝĨLJǁ ŚŝĐŚƚĞƌŵŝŶĂůƐĂƌĞĨŽƌǁ ŚŝĐŚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ ZĞŵĞŵďĞƌƚŚĂƚƚŚĞůĞŌĂŶĚƌŝŐŚƚ
ĨƌŽŶƚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐĂƌĞƚŚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐŽŶLJŽƵƌůĞŌĂŶĚƌŝŐŚƚǁ ŚĞŶLJŽƵĂƌĞĨĂĐŝŶŐƚŚĞŵ dŚĞƌŝŐŚƚĂŶĚůĞŌ
ƌĞĂƌĐŚĂŶŶĞůƐĂƌĞƚŚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐŽŶLJŽƵƌůĞŌĂŶĚƌŝŐŚƚĂƐLJŽƵĂƌĞĨĂĐŝŶŐƚŚĞĨƌŽŶƚ ƐďĞĨŽƌĞ ŵĂŬĞ
sure that there are no loose wire strands that can make contact with another wire or terminal.
4. Double check your wiring. In home theater systems there is a lot of wiring necessary, making it
easy to make a mistake (this happens to the best of us). We highly suggest taking an extra moment
ƚŽĐŚĞĐŬĞĂĐŚĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶƚŽŵĂŬĞƐƵƌĞĂůůĐŚĂŶŶĞůƐĂƌĞŝŶƉŚĂƐĞ;ƐĞĞWŚĂƐŝŶŐĂďŽǀ ĞͿ
dŚĞŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟŽŶĂďŽǀ ĞƐŚŽǁ ƐƚŚĞƌĞĂƌŽĨĂƚLJƉŝĐĂůϱ ϭ s ƌĞĐĞŝǀ Ğƌ D ĂŶLJĐƵƌƌĞŶƚƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌƐŚĂǀ Ğϳ ϭ
or 7.2 capability. You can use either a 5.1 or 7.2 A/V receiver with your 5.1 system. We suggest you
ƌĞĨĞƌƚŽLJŽƵƌ s ƌĞĐĞŝǀ Ğƌ ƐŽǁ ŶĞƌƐŵĂŶƵĂů , ŽƉĞĨƵůůLJŝƚǁ ŽŶ ƚƐĞĞŵůŝŬĞŝƚ Ɛǁ ƌŝƩ ĞŶŝŶĂĨŽƌĞŝŐŶůĂŶͲ
ŐƵĂŐĞ /ƚǁ ŝůůƐŚŽǁ LJŽƵLJŽƵƌƌĞĐĞŝǀ Ğƌ ƐůĂLJŽƵƚĨŽƌLJŽƵƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶƐ ^ŽŵĞƉĞŽƉůĞǁ ŝůůĂƐŬ
t ŚĂƚĚŽĞƐƚŚĞ ϭŵĞĂŶŝŶϱ ϭĂŶĚϳ ϭ dŚĞŶƵŵďĞƌĂŌĞƌƚŚĞĚĞĐŝŵĂůƉůĂĐĞŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞƐƚŚĞŶƵŵďĞƌ
of subwoofers. A 5.1 system has 5 speakers plus one subwoofer. A 7.1 system has 7 speakers plus 1
ƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌ dĂŬĞŶĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ Ăϳ ϮƐLJƐƚĞŵŚĂƐϳ ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐƉůƵƐϮƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌƐ /ĨLJŽƵƐĞĞĂŶĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů
ŶƵŵďĞƌĂŌĞƌƚŚĞƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌŶƵŵďĞƌƐƵĐŚĂƐϱ Ϯ ϰ ƚŚĞ ϰ ŝƐƚŚĞŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨŽůďLJƚŵŽƐŽƌ d^ y
speakers.
t ŝƚŚĂϱ ϭƐLJƐƚĞŵ LJŽƵǁ ŝůůĐŽŶŶĞĐƚLJŽƵƌĨƌŽŶƚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐƚŽƚŚĞůĞŌ ƌŝŐŚƚ ĂŶĚĐĞŶƚĞƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐƚŽƚŚĞ
appropriate speaker connectors. Obviously, the surround speakers will be connected to the sur-
ƌŽƵŶĚƚĞƌŵŝŶĂůƐ t ŝƚŚĂϳ ϭƐLJƐƚĞŵ LJŽƵ ůůĐŽŶŶĞĐƚϮĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐƚŽƚŚĞďĂĐŬŽƌƌĞĂƌƚĞƌŵŝͲ
nals.
ůůƉŽƉƵůĂƌďƌĂŶĚƐŽĨƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌƐŚĂǀ ĞĂĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐƵƉƉŽƌƚŶƵŵďĞƌǁ ŚĞƌĞLJŽƵĐĂŶƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞŚĞůƉƐĞƫ ŶŐ
ƵƉĂŶĚĂĚũƵƐƟŶŐLJŽƵƌƐLJƐƚĞŵ ŚĞĐŬƚŚĞŝƌǁ ĞďƐŝƚĞĨŽƌƚŚĞŝƌƐƵƉƉŽƌƚŶƵŵďĞƌ
16
ϱ ϭ ϳ ϭĂŶĚϳ ϮƐLJƐƚĞŵŝŶƐƚĂůůĂƟŽŶ
We bought this receiver
for half off.
/ŶƐƚĂůůĂƟŽŶ—ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ
^Ž ŽŶĞƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƚŚĂƚŝƐŽŌĞŶĂƐŬĞĚ /ŚĂǀ ĞĂϳ ϭŽƌϳ ϮƌĞĐĞŝǀ Ğƌ /ƚŚĂƐϳ ĂŵƉůŝĮ ĞƌƐ ďƵƚ/ŽŶůLJ
have a 5.1 system. What can I use the extra 2 amplifiers for?” Most 7 channel receivers allow
you to use the extra 2 amplifiers to power and control a set of stereo speakers either outside
ŽƌŝŶĂŶŽƚŚĞƌƌŽŽŵ /ŶĂĚĚŝƟŽŶƐŽŵĞƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌƐŚĂǀ ĞĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶƐĨŽƌĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐŝŶ
LJŽƵƌŚŽŵĞƚŚĞĂƚĞƌ dŚĞƐĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶƐĐĂŶďĞƵƐĞĚĨŽƌƚŵŽƐŽĨ d^ yƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ ^Ž
if you have a 5.1 system and wish to add a pair of speakers, you can make your system into a 7
channel system or a 5 channel system with Atmos or DTS:X. Also, even though your receiver
can accommodate 2 subwoofers, it will work just fine with one.
t ĞŚŽƉĞƚŚĂƚƚŚĞĂďŽǀ ĞŚĂƐŶŽƚďĞĞŶƚŽŽĐŽŶĨƵƐŝŶŐĨŽƌLJŽƵ dŚĞďŽƩ ŽŵůŝŶĞŝƐƚŚĂƚĂ
5.1, 7.1, 7.2, or even a 9.2 A/V receiver will work perfectly with your 5.1 system.
17
, ŽŵĞdŚĞĂƚĞƌ^Ğƫ ŶŐƐŶĚK ƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ
;dŚŝƐƐĞĐƟŽŶŝƐŶŽƚĂƐƵďƐƟƚƵƚĞĨŽƌƌĞĂĚŝŶŐLJŽƵƌ s ƌĞĐĞŝǀ Ğƌ ƐŵĂŶƵͲ
al. We’ve been through a few of these ourselves and you have our
sympathy.)
WƌŽƚĞĐƟŶŐzŽƵƌ^ĂƚĞůůŝƚĞ^ƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ
Ɛǁ Ğ ǀ ĞŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚĂďŽǀ ĞŝƚŝƐĞƐƐĞŶƟĂůƚŽŵĂŬĞƐƵƌĞƚŚĂƚďĂƐƐĨƌĞƋƵĞŶĐŝĞƐĂƌĞƉƌŽƉĞƌůLJƌŽƵƚͲ
ed to the subwoofer, not to the satellite speakers. Virtually all A/V receivers provide for this in
their setup menu. Some A/V receivers ask you to select the size of your satellite speakers and
give you a choice of small or large. In the case of RSL CG3s or RSL CG23, you must choose the
ƐŵĂůů ƐĞƫ ŶŐŝŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽĐŽƌƌĞĐƚůLJƉƌŽƚĞĐƚƚŚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ ^ŽŵĞ s ƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌƐǁ ŝůůŚĂǀ ĞLJŽƵ
choose a crossover frequency as well. The recommended crossover frequency is 90-100 Hz. Do
not choose a frequency below 90 Hz. Also, set the impedance of all speakers to 6-8 ohms,
whichever is higher if given the choice. This is correct for your RSL Speakers. The auto setup
using a microphone is useful, however it gets the crossover frequencies wrong and you’ll need
to set them to 90-ϭϬϬ, ĂŌĞƌLJŽƵƌƵŶƚŚĞĂƵƚŽƐĞƚƵƉ
^Ğƫ ŶŐƐŶĚK ƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ—ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ
How much volume is enough?
When matched with the appropriate components, your RSL Speaker Systems can play at a very loud
volume. Your A/V Receiver or amplifier needs to be capable of delivering a sufficient amount of un-
ĚŝƐƚŽƌƚĞĚƉŽǁ Ğƌ ^ƚƌĂŶŐĞĂƐŝƚŵĂLJƐĞĞŵ ƚŽŽůŽǁ ŽĨĂƉŽǁ ĞƌƌĂƟŶŐŽŶLJŽƵƌ s ZĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌŽƌĂŵƉůŝĮ Ͳ
ĞƌŝƐŵŽƌĞůŝŬĞůLJƚŽĚĂŵĂŐĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐƚŚĂŶŽŶĞǁ ŝƚŚĂŚŝŐŚĞƌƉŽǁ ĞƌƌĂƟŶŐ dŚĂƚ ƐďĞĐĂƵƐĞǁ ŚĞŶĂŶ
ĂŵƉůŝĮ ĞƌŝƐĐĂůůĞĚŽŶƚŽĚĞůŝǀ ĞƌŵŽƌĞƉŽǁ ĞƌƚŚĂŶŝƚǁ ĂƐĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚĨŽƌ ŝƚǁ ŝůůƉƌŽĚƵĐĞĚŝƐƚŽƌƟŽŶĐĂůůĞĚ
ĐůŝƉƉŝŶŐ dŚŝƐĚŝƐƚŽƌƟŽŶŝƐǀ ĞƌLJŚĂƌŵĨƵůĨŽƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ
Using your A/V receiver’s setup
Now that you have your system placed and connected you’ll setup up your system with the setup
ŵĞŶƵŝŶLJŽƵƌ s ƌĞĐĞŝǀ Ğƌ WůĞĂƐĞƌĞĨĞƌƚŽLJŽƵƌŽǁ ŶĞƌ ƐŵĂŶƵĂů K ŶĞƐĞƫ ŶŐLJŽƵŵĂLJŶĞĞĚƚŽƐĞƚŝƐ
speaker impedance. If given the choice, set all speakers to 6-8 ohms, whichever is higher. This is cor-
rect for your RSL Speakers.
ůůŽĨLJŽƵƌZ^>ƐĂƌĞĞĂŐĞƌƚŽƉŽƵƌŽƵƚƚŚĞŝƌůŝƩ ůĞŚĞĂƌƚƐĨŽƌLJŽƵƌǀ ŝĞǁ ŝŶŐĂŶĚůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐĞŶũŽLJŵĞŶƚ ůů
they ask in return is for you to properly balance them. There are several methods of balancing your
ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ dŚĞĂƵƚŽƐĞƚƵƉŝŶLJŽƵƌƌĞĐĞŝǀ Ğƌǁ ŝůůƉƌŽďĂďůLJĚŽĂŶĂĐĐĞƉƚĂďůĞũŽď /ŶĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ ĂůŵŽƐƚĂůů
A/V receivers have the ability to play a test tone through each individual speaker. Usually this noise
is either white or pink noise, which sounds like a bunch of hiss. This sound is very handy if you wish
ƚŽďĂůĂŶĐĞƚŚĞƐŽƵŶĚŵĂŶƵĂůůLJƵƐŝŶŐLJŽƵƌĞĂƌƐ ƐŽƵŶĚůĞǀ ĞůŵĞƚĞƌŽƌƐŽƵŶĚůĞǀ ĞůĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶĨŽƌLJŽƵƌ
smart phone.
Using your A/V receiver’s auto setup
D ŽƐƚĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ s ƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌƐŚĂǀ ĞƐŽŵĞƐŽƌƚŽĨĂƵƚŽŵĂƟĐƐĞƚƵƉ dŚĞLJƐƵƉƉůLJĂŵŝĐƌŽƉŚŽŶĞƚŚĂƚLJŽƵ
ƉůĂĐĞĂƚLJŽƵƌŵĂŝŶůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƐ dŚĞŶ ƚŚĞLJƉůĂLJƚĞƐƚƚŽŶĞƐƚŚƌŽƵŐŚĞĂĐŚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌŝŶĚŝǀ ŝĚƵĂůůLJ
;ǁ ŚŝůĞĂĚǀ ŝƐŝŶŐLJŽƵƚŽŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶƐŝůĞŶĐĞĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚŝƐƉƌŽĐĞƐƐͿ dŚĞŶ ƚŚĞƌĞĐĞŝǀ Ğƌǁ ŝůůĂƵƚŽŵĂƟĐĂůůLJĐĂůͲ
culate speaker distance, individual speaker and subwoofer volume, and crossover points. In addi-
ƟŽŶ ŵŽƐƚƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌƐĞŵƉůŽLJƌŽŽŵĐŽƌƌĞĐƟŽŶĞƋƵĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ /ŶŵĂŶLJĐĂƐĞƐƚŚŝƐƌŽŽŵĐŽƌƌĞĐƟŽŶĐĂŶ
ŝŵƉƌŽǀ ĞƚŚĞƐŽƵŶĚǁ ŚĞƌĞƚŚĞĂĐŽƵƐƟĐƐŽĨƚŚĞƌŽŽŵĂƌĞůĞƐƐƚŚĂŶŝĚĞĂů zŽƵƐŚŽƵůĚĞdžƉĞƌŝŵĞŶƚǁ ŝƚŚ
ŝƚŽŶĂŶĚŽī ƚŽĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞǁ ŚŝĐŚƐĞƫ ŶŐƐŽƵŶĚƐďĞƐƚƚŽLJŽƵ
Please refer to your A/V receiver’s manual and how to use its auto setup feature. As handy as this is,
ǁ ĞŶĞĞĚƚŽĐĂƵƟŽŶLJŽƵĂďŽƵƚĂĨĞǁ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ &ŝƌƐƚ ŝƚǁ ŝůůŽŌĞŶƐĞƚƚŚĞĐƌŽƐƐŽǀ ĞƌƚŽƚŚĞǁ ƌŽŶŐĨƌĞͲ
ƋƵĞŶĐLJ ŌĞƌLJŽƵĚŽƌƵŶĂƵƚŽƐĞƚƵƉ ǁ ĞƐƚƌŽŶŐůLJƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚŐŽŝŶŐŝŶƚŽLJŽƵƌƐĞƚƵƉŵĞŶƵĂŶĚ
ƐĞƫ ŶŐĞǀ ĞƌLJĐƌŽƐƐŽǀ ĞƌŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐƚŚĞƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌ ƐƚŽĞŝƚŚĞƌϵϬŽƌϭϬϬ, nj
When balancing your speakers, keep the following in mind:
1. The goal is to create a 3 dimensional sound environment all around you. For this you may need to
increase the volume of your surround speakers anywhere between 2 and 4 db.
Ϯ t ĞƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚƐĞƫ ŶŐƚŚĞĐĞŶƚĞƌĐŚĂŶŶĞůƐƉĞĂŬĞƌǀ ŽůƵŵĞϭ-2 db higher than the auto-setup.
This will help the clarity of dialog.
3. Set the subwoofer strictly by ear. Set the volume control on the subwoofer so that it points to the
ϭϮŽ ĐůŽĐŬƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ WůĂLJƐŽŵĞŵƵƐŝĐǁ ŝƚŚĂĐŽŶƐƚĂŶƚďĂƐƐƚƌĂĐŬ dŚĞŶƐĞƚƚŚĞƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌůĞǀ ĞůŝŶLJŽƵƌ
receiver according to taste.
18
^Ğƫ ŶŐƐŶĚK ƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ—ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ
Balancing your system with a sound level meter
4. When you are done balancing your speakers, play some movie samples to help you make
any final adjustments.
5. Trust your ears above all else.
Double check speaker distances
dŚĞĂƵƚŽƐĞƚƵƉǁ ŝůůĐĂůĐƵůĂƚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌĚŝƐƚĂŶĐĞƐƚŽƚŚĞŵĂŝŶůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ h ƐƵĂůůLJ ƚŚĞƐĞ
ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞŵĞŶƚƐǁ ŝůůďĞĨĂŝƌůLJĂĐĐƵƌĂƚĞ , Žǁ Ğǀ Ğƌ ǁ ĞƐƵŐŐĞƐƚŐĞƫ ŶŐŽƵƚƚŚĞŽůĚŵĞĂƐƵƌŝŶŐƚĂƉĞ
to double check them. Occasionally, we have found them to be inaccurate, especially when
wireless speakers or subwoofers are used in the system.
Using a sound level meter or sound level meter app for your
smartphone
If you have a sound level meter or sound level meter app for your smartphone or tablet, you
can use it to balance your speakers. You will need to choose the appropriate decibel range on
ƚŚĞŵĞƚĞƌ /ĨLJŽƵƌŵĞƚĞƌĂůůŽǁ ƐLJŽƵƚŽĐŚŽŽƐĞƚŚĞǁ ĞŝŐŚƟŶŐ ƐĞƚŝƚƚŽ ǁ ĞŝŐŚƟŶŐ h ƐĞƚŚĞ
ŵĞƚĞƌĂƚLJŽƵƌƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚƐĞĂƟŶŐƉŽƐŝƟŽŶĂƐĐůŽƐĞƚŽĞĂƌůĞǀ ĞůĂƐƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ D ĂŬĞƐƵƌĞƚŽƉŽŝŶƚ
ƚŚĞŵĞƚĞƌƚŽǁ ĂƌĚƐƚŚĞĐĞŝůŝŶŐ dŚĞŶ ƉůĂLJĂƚĞƐƚƚŽŶĞƚŚƌŽƵŐŚĞĂĐŚƐƉĞĂŬĞƌ ŽŶĞĂƚĂƟŵĞ ĂŶĚ
note the reading on the meter. Adjust the volume on each speaker so that they are all similar,
with the surround and rear speakers being slightly louder front speakers. The center channel
ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐŚŽƵůĚďĞĂďŽƵƚϮĚďůŽƵĚĞƌƚŚĂŶƚŚĞƌŝŐŚƚĂŶĚůĞŌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ /ŶƚŚĞĞŶĚ ĂůŝƩ ůĞĞdžƉĞƌͲ
ŝŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶǁ ŝůůLJŝĞůĚƚŚĞďĞƐƚƌĞƐƵůƚƐ dƌƵƐƚLJŽƵƌĞĂƌƐƚŽŵĂŬĞƚŚĞĮ ŶĂůũƵĚŐŵĞŶƚ
19
^Ğƫ ŶŐƐŶĚK ƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ—ŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ
dŽŶĞĐŽŶƚƌŽůƐĂŶĚĞƋƵĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶŽŶLJŽƵƌ s ƌĞĐĞŝǀ Ğƌ
If your receiver has tone controls, we recommend that you set the bass and treble controls on
LJŽƵƌ s ƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌƚŽƚŚĞŇĂƚŽƌŶĞƵƚƌĂůƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ zŽƵƌZ^>^ƉĞĂŬĞƌƐǁ ĞƌĞĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚƚŽƐŽƵŶĚďĞƐƚ
this way. If you must use your tone controls, use the least amount possible..
ŐŽŽĚƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌŚĂƐďĞĞŶĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌĞĚƚŽƌĞƉƌŽĚƵĐĞƚŚĞĞŶƟƌĞďĂƐƐƌĂŶŐĞƚŚĂƚŝƐĐŽŶƚĂŝŶĞĚŝŶ
movies and music. If your A/V receiver has a built-in equalizer to boost the bass, please either use
it sparingly or avoid it all together. Doing this places an enormous load on the subwoofer amplifier,
ƌĞƐƵůƟŶŐŝŶĂůŝŵŝƚŽŶŚŽǁ ůŽƵĚƚŚĞďĂƐƐĐĂŶďĞƉůĂLJĞĚ /ĨLJŽƵŶĞĞĚŵŽƌĞďĂƐƐ ƉůĞĂƐĞƵƐĞƚŚĞǀ ŽůͲ
ume control on the subwoofer instead.
Other audio/video receiver gadgetry
You don’t need us to tell you that today’s A/V receivers are rather complex devices that contain
loads of built-in features. And the list just keeps growing.
t Ğ ĚůŝŬĞƚŽĐĂƵƟŽŶLJŽƵĂďŽƵƚƚŚĞŽǀ ĞƌƵƐĞŽĨƚŚĞĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐƚŚĂƚĂůƚĞƌƚŚĞƐŽƵŶĚ /ĨŵŝƐƵƐĞĚƚŚĞLJ
ĐŽƵůĚĚŽŵŽƌĞŚĂƌŵƚŚĂŶŐŽŽĚ /ƚŝƐĂůǁ ĂLJƐďĞƩ ĞƌƚŽůŝƐƚĞŶƚŽƐŽƵŶĚŝŶĂŵŽƌĞŶĂƚƵƌĂůƐƚĂƚĞƚŚĂŶ
overly processed. Again, we encourage you to experiment by comparing the sound with these fea-
tures turned off and on.
/ĨLJŽƵĚŽŶ ƚǁ ŝƐŚƚŽƌĞĂĚƚŚĞĞŶƟƌĞŽǁ ŶĞƌ ƐŵĂŶƵĂůŽĨLJŽƵƌĂƵĚŝŽ ǀ ŝĚĞŽ
receiver, you’re not alone.
However, we think it’s valuable is to learn about the different surround modes such as DolbyTM PL
(Pro-Logic), Dolby Digital, Dolby True HD, DTSTM, DTS HD Master Audio, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X,
ĞƚĐ ^Žŵ ĞƟŵĞƐ Ă s ŽƌůƵ-Ray disc will present you with choices. Knowing these modes and
ƐĞůĞĐƟŶŐƚŚĞďĞƐƚŽŶĞǁ ŝůůŐŝǀ ĞLJŽƵƚŚĞďĞƐƚƐŽƵŶĚ
D ĂŶLJƵĚŝŽ s ŝĚĞŽƌĞĐĞŝǀ ĞƌƐĂůƐŽŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐŝŵƵůĂƚĞĚŵŽĚĞƐ ǁ ŚŝĐŚĂƌƟĮ ĐŝĂůůLJƐŝŵƵůĂƚĞĂĐŽƵƐƟĐĂů
ĞŶǀ ŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚƐŽĨĐŽŶĐĞƌƚŚĂůůƐ ŶŝŐŚƚĐůƵďƐ ŽƌĐŚƵƌĐŚĞƐ t ĞĚŽŶŽƚƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚƵƐŝŶŐƚŚĞƐĞĂƌƟĮ Ͳ
cial modes.
^Ƶďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌƐĞƫ ŶŐƐ
dŚĞŐŽĂůŽĨĂƉƌŽƉĞƌůLJƐĞƚƵƉƐƵďǁ ŽŽĨĞƌŝƐƚŽƉƌŽĚƵĐĞƟŐŚƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽůůĞĚďĂƐƐǁ ŝƚŚŽƵƚƐĂĐƌŝĮ ĐŝŶŐƚŚĞ
ƚĞĞƚŚĐŚĂƩ ĞƌŝŶŐŝŵƉĂĐƚŵĂŶLJŽĨLJŽƵĞŶũŽLJ dŚĞŵŽƐƚĐŽŵŵŽŶŵŝƐƚĂŬĞƉĞŽƉůĞŵĂŬĞŝƐƐĞƫ ŶŐƚŚĞ
subwoofer to play too loudly. The subwoofer should always blend seamlessly with the satellite
speakers rather than being intrusive. If you desire more bass, try placing the RSL Speedwoofer in a
corner.
20
This manual suits for next models
1
Table of contents
Other RSL Speakers manuals
