Totem KIN Sub User manual
CONGRATULATIONS
We sincerely thank you for having granted Totem the special place in your living environment. These
speakers are designed to redene your musical understanding and open up corridors of new experiences.
We hope you not only enjoy but experience Totem as your guide to a new and rewarding listening
environment! You will without a doubt experience a Totem moment.
OUR VISION
Totem Acoustics’ mission is to develop loudspeakers capable of reproducing a truly musical and involving
performance. Our goal is to provide designs that are both affordable and real ‘soul movers’ for the music
lover and surround lover. Music of any period, country or style is accurately and emotionally rendered with
a powerful focus that is yet soul stirring.
Each speaker is a ‘piece de resistance’ that attests to the profound sound staging that can be reproduced
by exible and innovative engineering. Listen and believe...
Discover yours.
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Totem Limited Warranty 3
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User Manual 4
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Unpacking 4
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Product Features / Specications 4
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Safety Instructions 5
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Caution 6
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Warning 6
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Connections 7
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Adjustments 8
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Placement 8
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Grill installation 9
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Care of Subwoofer 9
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Voltage Switch and Protection Circuity 9
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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TOTEM LIMITED WARRANTY ON SUBWOOFERS
Please register online at www.totemacoustic.com within two weeks of the purchase date.
The Totem speakers must be purchased from a TOTEM AUTHORIZED DEALER.
Keep your original bill or receipt obtained from your Totem Authorized Dealer.
Retain the sturdy carton and all packing material; if needed, it will prove invaluable for damage-free
transport or storage.
All Totem products are created with the utmost care and quality in mind. If ever a problem should arise,
Totem’s subwoofers are covered by a two (2) year limited warranty, starting from the date of purchase.
The warranty applies to products in normal home use only. The warranty is void if serial numbers have
been altered or removed. The warranty is void if products show signs of abuse. The warranty is void if the
subwoofer has been tampered with.
The subwoofer requires at least 85-100 hours of actual break-in time period. During this time, refrain
from playing the unit at very loud levels. You will notice a denite gradual improvement as your unit breaks
in. Should servicing be required please contact your Totem Authorized Dealer.
We reserve the right to any future change or modication without notice. If you have any further queries
or require any classications, feel free to contact your Totem Authorized Dealer.
For further assistance, contact your TOTEM AUTHORIZED DEALER or visit the Support
Section of the Totem website at www.totemacoustic.com/support.
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USER MANUAL
KIN SUB
Congratulations on your new Totem subwoofer: KIN Sub
A compact, reference sub designed to seamlessly blend with your Totem speakers in any stereo or home
theatre application.
Please take the time to fully read this manual prior to beginning set-up. The manual will clearly guide you
to achieve the best possible sound that these newly acquired Totem speakers are capable of providing.
UNPACKING
Totem Acoustic keeps to a strict quality control regimen and all factory-sealed products leave our facility
in perfect condition. If there are any damages visible or concealed that has occurred in handling it must
be reported immediately to your Totem Authorized Dealer.
Carefully remove the speaker(s) from the box(es); take caution as the size often deceives the actual weight.
Save all custom cartons and packaging foam for future use. They are rather expensive and may come in
handy for future upgrades.
PRODUCT FEATURES / SPECIFICATIONS
• 8-inch ballistic carbon-ber woofer
• Built-in 150 watt peak RMS high efciency amplier
• Adjustable (50 to 200 Hz)
• Low-pass crossover
• High-pass speaker connections (input & output)
• Line level (RCA stereo & RCA LFE) inputs & output
• Signal sensing auto turn/off button
• Variable volume control 0- 180 phase control
• Frequency response 30 – 200 Hz
• Compression circuit prevents amp. Clipping
• Power indicator LED
• Removable power cord
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SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read instructions: all safety and operating instructions should be read before this unit is operated. If you discover
any damage, please contact your retailer immediately.
2. Follow instructions: all operating and usage instructions should be followed.
3. Heed Labels: all labels on this system should be adhered to.
4. Attachments: do not use attachments not recommended by the product manufacturer as they may create hazard.
5. Water and moisture: do not let water or extreme moisture come in contact with this product. Refrain from using
the unit near any appliance that utilizes water, or in any room that has excessive moisture.
6. Heat/ventilation: This product should not be placed in built in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless
proper ventilation is provided or the manufacturer’s instructions have been adhered to. The product should be
situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves and other products (including ampliers)
that produce heat.
7. To protect the Totem Subwoofer, avoid microphone feedback, continuous and excessive output from electronic
musical instruments or excessive signal distortion.
8. Power sources: this product should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking
label. If you are not sure of the type of the power supply of your home, consult your product dealer or your local
power company.
9. Ground or polarization: this product may be equipped with a polarized alternating current line plug (a plug having
one blade wider than the other) this plug will t into the power outlet only one way. This is a safety feature. If you
are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug. If the plug should still fail to t, contact
your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug.
10. Power cord protection: the power supply cord should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or
pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at the plugs, convenience
receptacles, and at the point where they exit from the product.
11. Overloading: do not over load wall outlet, extension cords, or integral convenience receptacles as this can result
in a risk of re or electrical shock.
12. Objects and liquid entry: never push objects of any kind into the product through openings as the may touch
dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could result in a re or electrical shock. never spill liquid of any
kind on the product.
13. Cleaning: unplug the product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners.
If necessary, use a damp cloth for cleaning.
The lighting ash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral
triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated
dangerous voltage within the product’s enclosure that may be of
sufcient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle, is intended
to alert the user to the presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying
the appliance.
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14. Service: do not attempt to service this product yourself. Opening or removing covers may expose you to
dangerous voltages or other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualied service personnel.
15. Damage requiring service: unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualied service
personnel under the following conditions:
• if the power supply cord or plug is damaged.
• if liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the product.
• if the product has been exposed to rain or water.
• if the product does not operate normally by following operating instructions as an improper adjustment of
other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualied technician to restore
the product to its normal operation.
• if the product has been dropped or damaged in any way.
• if the product exhibits a distinct change in performance despite verifying that all system connections are
correct.
Replacement parts:
If replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specied by
the manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part unauthorized substitutions may result
in re, electric shock, or other hazards.
CAUTION
To prevent electrical shock do not use the electrical plug of your Totem Subwoofer with an extension
cord, receptacle or other outlet unless the blades can be fully inserted to prevent exposure. To
protect against the risk of electrical shock do not use near bathtubs, sinks, swimming pools, saunas,
in wet basements, near other water sources, or rain. If service is required, please refer to your
Totem Authorized Dealer.
WARNING
All connections must be made before the Totem subwoofer is turned on.
Use the GAIN dial and or switch to match the loudness of the subwoofer to main speakers. Generally, the
nal position is set between 9 and 12 o’clock. For optimum performance it is recommended that you do
not turn the unit too loud during a break-in period of about 95 hours.
Use the PHASE dial and or switch to adjust the phase of the Totem subwoofer to your main speakers.
When in phase the system will give a much fuller bass response. If your main speakers become brighter
than usual it means the system is out of phase and needs readjusting. The simplest way to adjust the
phase of your system is to have a second individual to vary the PHASE dial and or switch as you are sitting
in the listening positioning.
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CONNECTIONS
Prior to making any connections make sure the power switch is set to OFF and the VOLUME dial is set to
its minimum value.
Two connections are possible with the TOTEM KIN Sub (low and high levels inputs). The low level connection
is the preferred method to achieve maximum performance. If low-level connections are not possible the
high level option may be incorporated.
low level connection
If connecting from a processor or a preamp, connect using a
pair of RCA interconnects from PRE-OUT (on preampliers
and surround processors) or SUB-OUT (on surround sound
processors) to the LOW LEVEL INPUT terminals on the
subwoofer.
When connecting from a SUB-OUT on a surround sound
processor, only one interconnect is required and should be
used with the RIGHT (LFE) LOW LEVEL INPUT RCA terminals
on the subwoofer.
high level connection
If your receiver or preamp does not have a SUB-OUT or
PRE-OUT, the high level connection may be used. From your
ampliers SPEAKERS OUT, connect both pair of speaker
cables to the KIN Sub high-level input. (It is important to respect +/- polarity and the right/left channel
of your speaker wire). Using a second set of speaker wires, connect the KIN Sub high level out to the
appropriate loudspeaker, once again respecting polarity and channel. Connect the power cord to the
A.C. power inlet on your subwoofer and then directly to the A.C. receptacle on the wall.
Turn the unit on.
Note: The KIN Sub is available for 120V and 230V operation. Make sure that the voltage switch is in the
correct position for your domestic current before connecting it to the A.C. supply.
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ADJUSTMENTS
The VOLUME, FREQUENCY DIALS are used to tune the subwoofer to your speaker, whether set for
surround sound or stereo application. Depending on the placement near a wall or a corner, the nal
position of the dials should blend the TOTEM KIN Sub seamlessly to your system.
Use the Volume dial to match the loudness of the TOTEM KIN Sub to main speakers. Generally, the nal
position is set between 9 and 12 o’clock. For optimum performance it is recommended that you do not
turn the unit too loud during a break-in period of about 100 hours.
Use the PHASE dial to adjust the phase of the TOTEM KIN Sub to your main speakers. When in phase the
system will give a much fuller bass response. If your main speakers become brighter then usually it means
the system is out of phase and needs readjusting. The simplest way is to adjust the phase of your system
is to have someone vary the PHASE dial as you are sitting in the listening position.
The TOTEM KIN Sub is equipped with an automatic standby mode. If the unit does not receive a signal, it
will automatically go into “standby”. This feature eliminates the need to turn the subwoofer off after each
listening session. The TOTEM KIN Sub will automatically resume power one a signal is sent to the sub.
Use the low-pass FREQUENCY dial to adjust the cut-in frequency of the subwoofer (usually between 50
and 70 Hz for Floorstanding speakers and 70 Hz and up for Bookshelf speakers).
PLACEMENT
When using the TOTEM KIN Sub in a stereo setup its ideal location between the main speakers or right
beside them. When the TOTEM KIN Sub is used in a home cinema system it is recommended to place
it in a corner. Be careful not to place the subwoofer too close to the corner, or it will start to sound
congested, causing detail loss. Also make sure not to place the sub equidistant from the two walls in
your corner. As every room is different, experimentation is the key to determining the optimal location
for the Totem subwoofer.
Always keep in mind that frequency response and output level can be signicantly affected / inuenced
by placement all depending on the room’s acoustic properties.
Caution! This subwoofer has electronics built into the cabinet. Do not place the cabinet next to sources
of heat such as furnace registers, radiators, etc. Do not place the unit near sources of excessive moisture,
such as evaporative coolers, humidiers, etc. The power cord should be routed in such a way that it will
not be walked on, pinched, or compressed in any way that could result in damaging the insulation or wire.
When using the TOTEM KIN Sub in a home cinema setup it is recommended to place it in a corner. The
corner location offers the greatest output levels and optimum low frequency extension. Be careful not to
place the subwoofer too close to the corner, or it will begin to sound congested, causing detail loss. Also
make sure not to place the unit equidistant from the two walls in your corner.
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In order to achieve maximum performance your TOTEM KIN Sub requires proper positioning. We suggest
you experiment with the location during your setup to nd where it sounds best while seated in your
listening position.
Wherever the placement choice, the subwoofer must always remain in an upright position with the woofer
facing forward. If unit is stored, shipped or used in any other position for an extended period of time,
damage not covered by warranty.
GRILL INSTALLATION
The TOTEM KIN Sub incorporates a magnetic grill assembly. Simply place the grill in front of the driver
and it will securely attach to the cabinet.
CARE OF SUBWOOFER
This unit does not require any type of regular maintenance. Dust and clean the surface using a soft damp
cloth. Abrasive detergents and solutions may result in damage to the cabinet and woofer.
VOLTAGE SWITCH AND PROTECTION CIRCUITRY
The KIN Sub is equipped with a voltage switch to allow playback in different regions. It is imperative
that the voltage switch be set to reect your local A/C current. If you are not familiar with your A/C
current, please contact your local TOTEM DEALER. To adjust the voltage, remove the protective cover
and move the switch to the appropriate position. For security, please reinstall the safety cover once
the appropriate voltage is selected. Please note that an appropriate power cord (to the voltage/outlet
selected) must be incorporated.
The TOTEM KIN Sub is equipped with a special protection circuitry to provide maximum performance and
reliability. A user serviceable fuse is also located in the detachable power cord receptacle. Should the fuse
need replacement, it is imperative that the replacement fuse be the EXACT same value and size.
Table of contents
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