Velodyne CHT-R SERIES User manual

DSP-Controlled Home Theater Subwoofer
CHT-8R
CHT-10R
CHT-12R
CHT-15R
SERIES
USER’S MANUAL

Enjoy.
Thank you for choosing a Velodyne. Our passion for high
performance, low-distortion bass is the driving force behind
our worldwide reputation in audio and technical innovation.
We are pleased to bring the Velodyne sound experience
to your home.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Congratulations ........................................................1
Installation ............................................................2
Rear Panel Connections .................................................4
Rear Panel Connections — Detailed Explanation .............................6
Interconnect Cables ....................................................8
Usage ...............................................................9
Care of Your Subwoofer ................................................13
Troubleshooting and Service.............................................13
Specications ........................................................14
Other Velodyne Products ...............................................15

www.velodyne.com CHT-R Series User’s Manual - 1
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations on your purchase of a Velodyne Classic Home Theater (CHT™-R) subwoofer. This system
represents the state-of-the-art in low frequency reproduction. Read and follow the instructions below to insure
safe and proper system operation.
Note: Do not leave unit in direct sunlight or use in high humidity environments!!!
Warning!
To prevent re or shock hazard, do not expose this equipment to rain or moisture. To avoid electrical shock, do
not open speaker enclosure or amp chassis cover. Please observe all warnings on the equipment itself. There
are no user serviceable parts inside. Please refer all service questions to your authorized Velodyne dealer.
Prior to Installation:
Please unpack the system carefully. Please save the carton and all packaging materials for future use. Record
the serial number in the space provided on the warranty card for future reference.
Product Features
• DSP-controlled
• Four selectable presets for customized listening mode
• Night-mode setting
• Mute control
• Built-in 160 watt (RMS) power amplier (CHT-8R)
• Built-in 185 watt (RMS) power amplier (CHT-10R)
• Built-in 200 watt (RMS) power amplier (CHT-12R)
• Built-in 1000 watt (RMS) power amplier (CHT-15R)
• Adjustable (40 to 120 Hz) low-pass crossover with Subwoofer Direct setting
• Speaker-level inputs and outputs
• 85 Hz high-pass crossover
• Line-level inputs
• Signal sensing auto turn on/o with bypass option
• Variable volume control
• Selectable phase control (0, 90, 180, or 270 degrees)
• Dual staggered low-pass crossover; 12 dB/octave initial, 24 dB/octave ultimate
• Anti-clipping circuit
• Over excursion protection
• Slot loaded design
• Dual staggered low-pass crossover; 12 dB/octave initial, 24 dB/octave ultimate
• Anti-clipping circuit
• Over excursion protection
• Slot loaded bass reex design

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2 - CHT-R Series User’s Manual
INSTALLATION
Your new subwoofer system provides for a number of installation options. Read all the installation information
below in order to determine which installation option is best for your system. Remember to perform all installation
procedures with system power turned o.
Figure 1. CHT-R Rear Panel Connections

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Figure 2. CHT-15R Rear Panel Connections

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REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS
Figure 1 shows the connections on the rear panel of the CHT-8R, CHT-10R and CHT-12R.
Figure 2 shows the connections on the rear panel of the CHT-15R.
Following are brief descriptions of the connections described in Figure 1 and 2. More detail on these connections
can be found on the next page.
(1) LOW-PASS CROSSOVER
Use this knob to select the high-frequency range at which you wish to cut o the signal to the subwoofer.
When the knob is turned all the way to the left, the Subwoofer Direct feature is invoked and the subwoofer
plays all frequencies up to 200 Hz.
(2) VOLUME Control
This control allows you to balance the output from the subwoofer to the main speakers in your system.
This control should be set to achieve similar volume level from between both the main speakers and
subwoofer. When pressing volume up or down, the speed at which the power light blinks indicates
subwoofer volume - the faster the blinking, the louder the unit plays. After the volume is changed (up
or down), there will also be 2 sets of center LED blinks. Slower blinks represent tens and faster blinks
represent ones. If the LED blinks 3 times, pauses, then blinks 6 times, this means that the volume is set
at 36. The volume range is from 1 to 99.
Note: Volume is also controllable by using the supplied remote, when defaults are restored. The de-
fault is 35 out of 100.
WARNING: Some manufacturers preset their receivers with the Sub-Out channel signal at a
minimum level. It is very important to verify that your receiver Sub-Out channel is set to
the same output as your front right and left channels. Refer to your receiver manual for the
individual channel level adjustment procedure. If your receiver Sub-Out channel is set too low,
the subwoofer may appear to have a weak output, it may sound noisy or distorted, and the
Auto-On/Off feature may not work properly.
(3) AUTO ON/OFF Switch
The Auto-On/O feature allows the subwoofer to turn itself o when not in use.
- With the Auto-On/O switch set to ACTIVE, the subwoofer will monitor its input, and if there is no
signal present for approximately 15 minutes, it will shut down and go into standby mode. As soon
as a signal is present again, the subwoofer will immediately turn itself back on.
- With the Auto-On/O switch set to INACTIVE, the auto-on/o feature is bypassed. The subwoofer
will remain on until the power switch is turned o.
WARNING: If the Sub-Out channel signal level from your receiver is too weak, this feature
will not operate properly. See Volume Control section (above).

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(4) LINE OUTPUT
Connect these jacks to the LINE IN preamp input to use the CHT-R’s internal high pass crossover. See
below for a more detailed explanation of this crossover.
(5) LINE INPUT/LFE Input
Connect these jacks to the LINE OUT preamp output, LFE output, or subwoofer output jacks of your
receiver/processor. If using the LFE output from your receiver or processor, plug the single cable into the
“L”– LFE input or, for more signal, use a “Y” connector and feed the signal into both “R” and “L” inputs.
(6) HIGH PASS CROSSOVER Switch
This switch selects the frequency for the high pass crossover. This crossover is functional on both line
and speaker-level outputs. Smaller speakers with limited low frequency output may perform better using
the higher 100 Hz setting that will reduce the low frequencies sent to them. Larger speakers with greater
low frequency output may be able to handle the 80 Hz setting without strain.
(7) SPEAKER LEVEL INPUT Terminals
Connect these input terminals to the speaker output terminals of your amplier or receiver. If you use
this method of connection, when you go to the receiver speaker set up menu, make sure you select the
large speaker option.
(8) SPEAKER LEVEL OUTPUT Terminals
Sends a crossed-over speaker-level signal to the front speakers. See below for a more detailed
explanation of this crossover.

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REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS
Your new subwoofer is equipped with both speaker-level and line-level inputs. Use the RCA/Phono type “INPUT”
jacks when connecting your subwoofer to a pre-amp, signal processor, or line-level crossover. The “SPEAKER
LEVEL INPUT” jacks connect directly to the speaker outputs of an integrated amplier or receiver. Your amplier
section will notice no additional loading eects when you use these inputs because of their high impedance.
Note: Do not use both the RCA/Phono “INPUT” connections and “SPEAKER LEVEL INPUT” connections
simultaneously.
Low-Pass Crossover
Both sets of inputs sum the left and right channels together and the resulting signal is passed through an
adjustable low-pass crossover before being amplied. The crossover control allows you to adjust the upper
limit of the subwoofer’s frequency response from 40 to 120 Hz. The subwoofer’s response will begin rolling o
above the frequency you set this control to.
You should set the crossover frequency to obtain a smooth and seamless transition from the subwoofer to the
main speakers in your system. If your main speakers are smaller units with limited low frequency output, you
may wish to choose a higher frequency (such as 100 -120 Hz) than you would with larger speakers which have
greater low frequency output. With larger speakers, you might start with this control set lower, such as 80 Hz.
Subwoofer Direct
Subwoofer Direct is a setting on the low-pass crossover knob and will allow frequencies up to 200 Hz into the
subwoofer. See below for a more detailed explanation of this feature.
Speaker Level Output/Line Level Output
When connected in this fashion, your satellite speakers will be crossed over at 80 Hz. This removes the lower
bass from your satellites, enabling them to do a better job reproducing high frequencies and giving your
receiver’s amp more headroom (up to 50% more power). You may also connect your satellites directly to your
receiver or amplier along with the subwoofer if you wish to bypass this crossover.
Caution!!!
To avoid damage to your main amplier, be sure to maintain correct polarity when making all connections.
Red (positive) to red, and black (negative) to black. Be sure that all connections are tight, and that there
are no loose strands or frayed wires.
Power Switch
The master power switch is located on the lower right half of the unit. This rocker style switch is the main on/o
for the unit. This switch should be set to position 1 for on (up), 0 for o (down).

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A Word About Your Receiver’s Crossover and the CHT-R Crossover
Your Velodyne CHT-R subwoofer is designed to operate using the full range audio signal for input when using
the built-in crossover (controlled by the dial on the back panel). Many home theater processors/receivers (Dolby
Digital®, DTS®, THX®) have a “subwoofer out” jack that performs this same function and are designed to be
used with a powered subwoofer.
In these installations, you may want to bypass the crossover in either the processor or the Velodyne subwoofer.
In some cases, you may want to use BOTH crossovers. To do this, you can use both your processor’s crossover
and the one internal to the Velodyne sub. You should stagger the frequencies (i.e., 120 Hz subwoofer, 80 Hz
processor) for best results.
To bypass the subwoofer’s internal crossover when the unit is being fed a low pass signal from another
crossover, simply locate the knob marked “LOW-PASS CROSSOVER” on the rear panel of the subwoofer and
turn it counterclockwise to the “DIRECT” position. This will eliminate the internal crossover from the signal path.
Note: If not using an external crossover, you should use the built-in crossover for optimal
performance. When using a single RCA sub out from the processor, it does not matter
which line level input (L/R) is used.

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8 - CHT-R Series User’s Manual
INTERCONNECT CABLES
When installing your new Velodyne subwoofer using the line-level connections, you should always use shielded
phono cables. There are many decent cables available today, most any of which will work perfectly well. We do
recommend that you keep the length of cable as short as possible to avoid any potential noise problems.
When using speaker level connections, use a quality speaker cable that mates well with the connectors (at least
14-gauge). Be very careful to avoid any loose or frayed strands that could result in a short, causing a dangerous
condition and possible damage to your unit. Cables of extremely large size are typically not required. Extremely
large gauge wire may not properly t in the binding posts, resulting in a poor connection and possible short
circuits.
Placement
True subwoofers operate at extremely low frequencies, which are primarily omni-directional. While it is
recommended that the subwoofers be placed on the same plane as the satellitespeakers, room and system
conditions often dictate otherwise. Keep in mind that frequency response and output level can be drastically
inuenced by placement, depending on the acoustic properties of your listening room. Typically, the optimum
location for a subwoofer is in a front corner of your listening room. This location will usually oer the greatest
output levels and optimum low frequency extension. The worst location for a subwoofer is typically far away
from any walls, close to the center of your room and near an opening or door way. Avoid these locations when
possible. When using a pair of Velodyne subwoofers in stereo, it is preferable to place each subwoofer near the
satellite of the same channel. Typically, a minimum distance of one to two feet from your TV to the subwoofer
will be adequate to avoid anymagnetic interference.
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, humidiers, 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.

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USAGE
This section addresses day-to-day usage of your CHT-R subwoofer.
Remote Control
Figure 3 shows the remote control, enabling you to easily choose whatever listening mode you desire.
Figure 3. Remote Display
POWER - This button forces your CHT-R unit into standby mode. The woofer will not play and the LED will turn
o. The unit will remain in this mode until the POWER button is pressed again. To fully deactivate (i.e. power
down) the unit, turn o the power switch on the back panel.
MUTE - This button mutes the subwoofer. The light on the subwoofer will blink slowly if the unit is muted. To
unmute the subwoofer, press the MUTE button again.
PHASE - These buttons allow you to optimize the subwoofer performance for the location andyour listening
position. Select the switch position at which you hear the most bass. The light will blink according to the
following schedule:
0 degrees 1 blink
90 degrees 2 blinks
180 degrees 3 blinks
270 degrees 4 blinks

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LIGHT - If you wish, you can deactivate the power light on your CHT-R unit. To do this, press the LIGHT button
on your remote. The light will turn o. To reactivate the light, press the LIGHT button again.
NIGHT - Night mode limits the maximum output of the subwoofer for later night listening or to be more
considerate of close neighbors. Press the night button to turn the night mode feature on or o. Night mode,
when active, is indicated by the reduced intensity of the light.
VOLUME CONTROL - This control allows you to balance the output from the subwoofer to the main speakers
in your system. This control should be set to achieve similar volume level from between both the main speakers
and subwoofer. When pressing volume up or down, the speed at which the power light blinks indicates
subwoofer volume - the faster the blinking, the louder the unit plays. Slower blinks represent tens and faster
blinks represent ones. After the volume is changed (up or down) there will also be 2 sets of center LED blinks. If
the LED blinks 3 times, pauses, then blinks 6 times, this means that the volume is set at 36. The volume range
is from 1 to 99.
Note: The volume can also be adjusted via the buttons on the back panel of the subwoofer. These buttons have
the same eect as pressing the up and down volume buttons on your remote.
WARNING: Some manufacturers preset their receivers with the Sub-Out channel signal at a minimum
level. It is very important to verify that your receiver Sub-Out channel is set to the same output as your
front right and left channels. Refer to your receiver manual for the individual channel level adjustment
procedure. If your receiver Sub-Out channel is set too low, the subwoofer may appear to have a weak
output, it may sound noisy or distorted, and the Auto-On/Off feature may not work properly.
PRESETS - There are four presets, consisting of Movies, R&B – Rock, Jazz – Classical, and Games. As a preset
is chosen, the light ashes the corresponding number of times. The presets provide the following characteristics
for bass reproduction:
Movies: Maximum output and impact for explosions and other action adventure movie content.
R&B – Rock: Provides the driving bass found in today’s rock music.
Jazz – Classical: The tightest, cleanest, lowest distortion bass.
Games: Maximum loudness available for the impact of video games.

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The following table indicates musical style and which preset is recommended for it.
Musical Style Suggested Preset
Action Adventure Movies Movies
Country – Rock R&B – Rock
Country – Soft Jazz – Classical
Folk Jazz – Classical
Indie Music R&B – Rock
Pop R&B – Rock
Rock R&B – Rock
Alternative Rock Jazz – Classical
Blues Jazz – Classical
Broadway and Vocalists Jazz – Classical
Children’s Music Jazz – Classical
Christian and Gospel Jazz – Classical
Classic Rock R&B – Rock
Classical Jazz – Classical
Dance and DJ R&B – Rock
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal R&B – Rock
Latin Music R&B – Rock
Miscellaneous Jazz – Classical
Movies – Non-Action Adventure Jazz – Classical
New Age Jazz – Classical
Opera and Vocal Jazz – Classical
R&B R&B – Rock
Rap and Hip-Hop R&B – Rock
Soundtracks R&B – Rock or Jazz – Classical
Video Games Games

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Each preset has its own characteristics with respect to subsonic lter, volume dierential and a equalization
(EQ) in order to optimize the listening mode for the preset.
The following table shows the settings for the various presets:
Preset
Subsonic Filter
Frequency
EQ
Frequency
EQ
Level
Volume
Dierential
Movies 24 Hz 37 Hz +4 dB +8 dB
R&B - Rock 27 Hz 52 Hz +3 dB +5 dB
Jazz - Classical (Reference) 24 Hz N/A N/A N/A
Games 34 Hz 62 +4 dB +4 dB
:
RESTORE DEFAULTS – This feature allows you to restore default settings for your CHT-R Subwoofer. By
pressing Presets in EXACTLY the following order on the remote, the unit’s power light will blink three times
indicating that you have restored defaults.
1. Movies
2. R&B – Rock
3. Jazz – Classical
4. Games
5. Games
6. Jazz – Classical
7. R&B – Rock
8. Movies
When you press the presets in the above order, the power light will blink three times indicating that you have
restored defaults. The default preset is Jazz/Classical, and the unit’s volume is reset to level 35 (out of 100).

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CARE OF YOUR SUBWOOFER
Do not use any harsh detergents or chemicals to clean the cabinet. Abrasives, detergents, or cleaning solutions
will damage the nish on the cabinet. We recommend using a damp cloth to clean the front, back and sides.
Use a soft cloth with a good quality furniture polish to clean the hand-rubbed, black lacquer, painted top.
During normal conditions, the subwoofer may be left on continuously without any problems. If you plan to leave
the unit unused for an extended period of time, we recommend that you turn o the unit by the master power
switch on the rear panel.
TROUBLESHOOTING AND SERVICE
Before seeking service for your subwoofer, please re-check all systems. Following is a simple
troubleshooting guide to assist you.
1. Verify that the unit is plugged in and power outlet used is active.
2. Is the power switch on?
3. Is unit receiving an input signal from your source?
4. Have all controls on subwoofer (volume, crossover, phase, etc.) been properly set?
5. If unit has been running at high levels, one of the protection circuits may be engaged. Has the built-in
amplier overheated?
6. Has the power button been depressed on the remote?
7. Is the remote non-responsive? We recommend replacing the batteries in the remote. If the protection
circuitry is active, the unit may cycle on and o until operating parameters return to normal. Under more
serious conditions, the unit may shut o completely. Normal operation will return upon cooling, but you
may be required to turn the power o and then on again to reset the unit.
The following conditions require service by a qualied technician:
1. The power cord has become damaged.
2. The unit does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance.
3. The unit has been exposed to water.
4. Some part of the cabinet or circuitry is physically damaged.
Thank You for Purchasing a Velodyne CHT-R Series Subwoofer Product!

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SPECIFICATIONS
Model CHT-8R CHT-10R CHT-12R CHT-15R
Cabinet (H/W/D)
(cm)
15” x 12” x 15.75”
37.5 x 30 x 39
16” x 15” x 17.75”
40 x 37.5 x 44
18” x 15” x 19”
45 x 37.5 x 47.5
21” x 18.4” x 20.75”
52.5 x 46 x 52
Frequency Response 35 Hz - 140 Hz
(+/-3dB)
28 Hz - 140 Hz
(+/-3dB)
25 Hz - 140 Hz
(+/-3dB)
23 Hz - 140 Hz
(+/-3dB)
High-Pass Crossover 80 Hz or 100 Hz
(6dB/octave slope)
80 Hz or 100 Hz
(6dB/octave slope)
80 Hz or 100 Hz
(6dB/octave slope)
80 Hz or 100 Hz
(6dB/octave slope)
Low-Pass Crossover 40 Hz - 120 Hz
(12dB/octave, 24dB ultimate)
40 Hz - 120 Hz
(12dB/octave, 24dB ultimate)
40 Hz - 120 Hz
(12dB/octave, 24dB ultimate)
40 Hz - 120 Hz
(12dB/octave, 24dB ultimate)
Amplifier (Class A/B)
(Class D for CHT-15R)
350 watts Dynamic
/160 watts RMS power
375 watts Dynamic
/185 watts RMS power
400 watts Dynamic
/200 watts RMS power
1000 watts Dynamic
/1000 watts RMS power
Woofer 8” forward firing 10” forward firing 12” forward firing 15” forward firing
Magnet 40 oz. 40 oz. 55 oz. 70 oz.
Voice Coil 2” two-layer copper 2” two-layer copper 2” two-layer copper 2” two-layer copper
Input Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level
Outputs Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level Line-level and speaker-level
Warranty Two years (parts and labor) Two years (parts and labor) Two years (parts and labor) Two years (parts and labor)
Shipping Weight (approx.) 44 lbs. (20 kg) 55 lbs. (25 kg) 61 lbs. (28 Kg) 75 lbs. (34 Kg)
Specications are subject to change without notice.