Wisdom SC-3 User manual

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Owner’s Manual
SC-3
System Controller

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Table of Contents
Unpacking………………………………………………………………………… 7
Placement & Ventilation…………………………………………………………. 8
Operating Voltage & Special Features…………………………....................... 9-10
Front & Rear Panel……………………………………………………………….. 11-18
Configuration & Calibration………………………………………………………19
Care & North American Warranty ……………………………………………… 20
Obtaining Service ………………………………………………....…………….. 21
Specifications…………………………………………………….........................22
DOCUMENT CONVENTIONS
This document contains general safety, installation and operation instructions for the Wisdom Audio SC-3
System Controller. It is important to read this document before attempting to use this product. Pay
particular attention to:
WARNING: Calls attention to a procedure, practice, condition or the like that, if
not correctly performed or adhered to, could result in injury or death.
CAUTION: Calls attention to a procedure, practice, condition or the like that, if not correctly
performed or adhered to, could result in damage to or destruction of part of or the entire product.
Note: Calls attention to information that aids in the installation or operation of the product.

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Unpacking the SC-3
Please exercise caution when unpacking your new Wisdom Audio SC-3 to ensure
that you do not strain yourself.
CAUTION:
Do not attempt to lift your SC-3 while bending or twisting from the waist. Use your
legs for lifting, not your back.
Always stand as straight as possible and keep the SC-3 close to your body to reduce
strain on your back.
After unpacking your SC-3, keep all packing materials for future transport. In the
event that you need to ship your SC-3, only the original, purpose-designed shipping
carton is acceptable. Any other method of shipping this product runs a significant
risk of damage to the SC-3; damage that would not be covered by the warranty.
Carefully inspect your SC-3 for possible damage due to shipping. If you discover
any, contact your Wisdom Audio dealer immediately.

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Placement Considerations
PRECAUTION
For your protection, review “Important Safety Instructions” and “Operating Voltage”
before you install your SC-3.
Note that adequate clearance for the AC cord and connecting signal cables must be
left behind your SC-3. We suggest leaving at least six inches (15 cm) of free space
behind your SC-3 so all cables have sufficient room to bend without crimping or
undue strain.
If possible, the SC-3 should also be placed in such a way that the power switch on
the rear panel is easily accessible. This switch disconnects power from the unit
completely, resulting in effective disconnection of the SC-3 from the AC mains. You
might think of this as a “vacation switch”, should you wish to turn off your system
completely when you will be away from home for a prolonged period of time. Just
remember to turn it back on again when you return.
Ventilation
Your Wisdom Audio SC-3 contains many active devices and a great deal of signal
processing. It will run quite warm under normal operation. It should not be placed
directly on top of another component that generates significant heat, such as most
power amplifiers. Do not block the vents on the sides of the unit.
Mechanical drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations
where necessary (see “Dimensions” at the end of this manual).

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Operating Voltage
Rated Input: 100 -240 VAC, 50-60 Hz, 0.5 A Max.
For fuse replacement please see Rear Panel #6.
Special Design Features
Advanced Room Correction:Dirac®Room Calibration reduces sound quality
loss due to the listening room and improves the audio performance of your
speakers, thereby providing powerful sound quality improvement. You will
experience improved clarity, tighter bass and a more natural sound. This
sophisticated algorithm brings out the full potential of audio systems.
Multiple Setup Memories: We then went further and provided support for recalling
up to four complete and independent setup calibrations, any of which can be
selected as needed. While a single setup is all that is usually necessary, having the
ability to recall any of multiple setups can solve some otherwise difficult situations.
For example, you might want to have selectable setups for
1. different room conditions (e.g., drapes open vs. closed) 
2. slightly different target curves (e.g., music vs. gaming) 
3. various seating arrangements 
Only you and your dealer can decide whether you would benefit from taking
advantage of any of these possibilities. Most people obtain everything they need
from a single setup; but having the flexibility to address unusual circumstances can
be invaluable.
Bi- or Tri-amplification: People who have wanted to extract the highest
performance from their systems have known for a long time that driving each
section of the speaker directly and separately yields the finest results. Of course,
this requires having a dedicated, active crossover to divide the frequency range
appropriately before the power amplifiers, so that they can then drive the speakers
directly. 
Bi-amplification makes use of two channels of amplification to drive different
portions of a single channel.
The most common instance of “bi-amping” today is in home theater applications,
wherein a dedicated subwoofer handles the deepest

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Special Design Features (Continued)
bass, while the remaining audible range is handled by the various front and
surround speakers. But you can also bi-amplify a full range loudspeaker, driving the
woofer separately from the drivers that handle the midrange and treble frequencies. 
Logically, you can combine these two approaches, and the result is “tri-
amplification.” A “tri-amped” system uses separate amplification for three audible
ranges. In our case, the three ranges are: 
•deepest bass (one or more subwoofers) 
•mid-bass (the woofers in the front and surround speakers) 
•midrange and treble (the planar magnetic panels) 
Since each channel of the amplifier is delivering current into its load only over a
limited range of frequencies, several forms of distortion are reduced as compared to
each channel handling the full range of musical information.
The SC-3 supports up to 16 channels of inputs (all of which could be bi-amplified),
and 32 output channels all with Dirac, and also their own independent user EQ and
channel delay.
System-Specific EQ: Wisdom Audio speakers deliver extraordinary performance
from slim, elegant enclosures. However, we cannot cheat the rules of physics.
Delivering powerful bass from such small enclosures places unusual demands on
both the woofers and the amplifiers used to drive them.
Specifically, equalization is used to compensate for the unusually small enclosure
volume behind the woofer. This approach is used in almost all dedicated
subwoofers today, and we use it in our full range speakers. Doing so allows us to
achieve the bass performance usually associated much larger speakers, but in
elegant enclosures that support modern lifestyle choices.

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Front Panel
1. Power Switch, Standby Indicator and Input Clip Indicator 
1. Power Switch, Standby Indicator and Input Clip Indicator
The SC-3 features a sculpted front panel that conceals two switches under the
flexible ends of the middle section. On the left side, gently pressing the end of the
center section will engage a micro switch under the face of the SC-3, which will in
turn toggle the unit between operate and standby modes. The international symbol
for power is inscribed in this location to designate its purpose. 
The amber LED indicator on the left side of the center section is lit when the SC-3 is
in standby to indicate that it is receiving power; it is off when the SC-3 is either fully
on or when there is no power being supplied to the unit. (When the SC-3 is fully
on, one of the setup memory LEDs will be lit to indicate both power and which
setup memory is being used. Note that if there is no calibration stored in the unit,
setup LED 1 will be flashing blue. If all the LEDS are off, no power is being supplied
to the unit.) 
The SC-3 requires approximately 45 seconds to “boot up” when coming out of
stand- by. The amber LED flashes during this startup process, turning off when it is
complete. One of the Setup Memory LEDs will turn on at this point to indicate
which memory is active).
Finally, if the SC-3 detects input clipping on any of its channels, the Standby LED
will flash rapidly for three seconds. If the clipping continues (at least once per
three-second interval), it will continue flashing. In the unlikely event that you see
this indication, you should turn the system volume down to reduce distortion and
potential damage to your speakers.


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2. Setup Memory LED Indicators 
The Wisdom System Controller incorporates the latest version of Dirac®Live room
correction to enable it to address room- specific problems that would otherwise
compromise performance.
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In most circumstances, a single calibration of the system for the room and your
preferred listening positions is all that is necessary. But the SC-3 provides storage of
up to four complete and independent calibrations to address various situations.
These four LEDs indicate which of the four setup memories is currently active. They
also serve to indicate that the unit is powered up and operating normally. (When the
unit is in standby, only the amber standby LED on the left side of the front panel is
lit; the blue memory LEDs are off.)
The LEDs indicate which of the four-setup memories is active:
•LED 1 on = Setup memory #1 enabled 
•LED 2 on = Setup memory #2 enabled 
•LED 3 on = Setup memory #3 enabled
•LED 4 on = Setup memory #4 enabled
•LED 1 blinking slowly = Dirac®bypassed temporarily 
The bypass mode is available so you can hear the difference room correction has
made on your system. When the room correction is bypassed, the active crossover
and other system-specific circuitry are still engaged. This allows you to easily hear
only what the room correction software is doing for your system. You can cycle
through the available memories and back to bypass mode by pressing the Setup
Calibration Switch to the right of these indicators. (See 3, below.)
3. Setup Calibration Selector Switch
Pressing the right side of the center section of the SC-3 front panel will activate a
micro switch that cycles the unit through the available setup memories.
If only one memory has been set up (which is fairly typical), pressing this button will
toggle Dirac on and off. If multiple setups have been stored, pressing this button
will cycle through the available setups in order, ending in the same bypass mode for
the room correction prior to starting the cycle over again:
•Setup Memory 1 
•Setup Memory 2 (if available) 
•Setup Memory 3 (if available) 
•Setup Memory 4 (if available)
•Bypass Dirac®

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Rear Panel
CAUTION!
Turn off your power amplifiers before attempting to connect anything to your
Wisdom Audio SC-3.
1. 16 Channel Inputs
The SC-3 supports multi-channel/multi-room systems of up to 16 channel
configurations. These 16 balanced audio inputs accept signals from a
preamplifier/processor with balanced outputs via high quality XLR connectors.
The pin assignments of this XLR-type female input connector are:
Pin 1: Chassis ground1
Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal – (inverting)
Connector ground lug: chassis ground
We recommend using one of our WWK-BB2/WWK-BB3 custom high quality
balanced audio interconnect kits to ensure the best audio signal and reliability.
Refer to the operating manual of your balanced-output preamplifier to verify that the
pin assignments of its output connectors correspond to your Wisdom Audio SC-3.

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Using single-ended preamplifiers:
If your preamplifier/processor does not have balanced outputs, the adapter used to
convert from balanced to single-ended should tie Pin 1 and Pin 3 (the inverted
signal) together. This can easily be checked with an ohmmeter: the resistance
between Pin 1 and Pin 3 should approach zero.
CAUTION! The Single Ended to Balanced adapter on the input side of the SC-3 is
wired differently than the appropriate adapter on the output side. Please refer to the
output section of this manual (section 7.) for connecting to Single Ended Amplifiers.
As mentioned above if you have a single-ended unbalanced preamp/surround
processor we recommend purchasing one of our premium custom WWK-
CUSTOM2 and or WWK-CUSTOM3 interconnect kits that can be made with either
balanced and or unbalanced connections.
2. RS232
The RS232 interface allows an external control system such as AMX, Control4,
Crestron, or Savant to control the system. All basic operational modes are supported
(operate, standby, selecting presets).
Connection Specification:
The RS232 DB-9 female connector is wired as a DCE, and connects via straight
cable to a DTE, or via null modem/crossover cable to another DCE.
The Pinout: 
•Pin 2 is the TRANSMIT for data from the SC-3 System Controller to the
control system and carries RS232 signal name RxD.
•Pin 3 is the RECEIVE for data from the control system to the SC-3 and carries
RS232 signal name TxD.
•Pin 5 is the GROUND/COMMON for the pin 2 and pin 3 signals.
•The other pins are not connected; the shell is grounded at the chassis.
Signal names RxD and TxD are named from the point of view of the DTE and that is
why the signal names appear to be backward but are not per the standard. Off the
shelf USB RS232 Adapters plug right into the port and work as expected with no
special configuration. 
Communication parameters are:
•Baud Rate: 9600
•Bits: 8
•Parity: None
•Stop Bits: 1 

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2. RS232 (Continued)
On Startup:
When the SC-3 System Controller is first powered up, it will identify itself to the
external control system via the RS232 port, by sending one of these messages:
•Ready
•ERROR
Depending on whether there is at least one preset that has been calibrated and is
available for use. For proper operation, at least one preset must be saved into the
non-volatile memory.
Commands
•OPERATE - Will bring the unit out of standby and into on state
•STANDBY - Will bring the unit into standby
•EQ1 - Will make Preset 1 Live, will also bring the unit out of standby
•EQ2 - Will make Preset 2 Live, will also bring the unit out of standby
•EQ3 - Will make Preset 3 Live, will also bring the unit out of standby
•EQ4 - Will make Preset 4 Live, will also bring the unit out of standby
•EQOFF - Will make Bypass Live, will also bring the unit out of standby
•STATUS - Will provide a list of current status to the control system
Commands are terminated by either a CR (carriage return) or LF (line feed)
character. Responses to all commands are either OK or ERROR (when trying to
address a non-existent preset). Your Wisdom Audio dealer can help you take
advantage of these design features to maximize your system’s convenience and
versatility.
3. DC Trigger In and Out
These 12v trigger jacks provide compatibility with a wide range of products to
facilitate remote turn-on and turn-off in systems. These 1/8” (3.5 mm) “mini-jacks”
allow other components to bring the SC-3 in and out of standby. Two such mini-
jacks are provided to allow “daisy-chaining” of this turn-on signal with other
components, including additional amplifiers.
The remote trigger input will be operated by any positive-polarity DC signal
between 3–20 volts (only a few milliamps are required), with tip polarity as shown
below
Input Signal: 4-20 volts @ less than 10 mA
Output Signal: 12 volts @ 150mA

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The DC Trigger Input has priority over the front panel switch. Therefore, if a trigger
voltage is present at this input connector, the unit will be forced on and the front
panel switch will be ignored. When the voltage transitions from high to low (off),
the unit will go into standby.
When there is no voltage present at the trigger input (either because the controlling
device is not sending, or because the plug is removed), the front panel switch will
operate the SC-3, as you would expect.
The 12v Trigger Output jack is driven to a “high” state of 12 volts a few seconds
after the SC-3 is turned on, and can source as much as 100 mA of current at 12
volts. This signal may be used in turn to control other components, such as
additional Wisdom Audio SA-series amplifiers. Each Wisdom Audio component has
a short delay built into its DC trigger system to facilitate a staggered turn-on
sequence.
4. Linux Console
Do not use! This is ONLY for internal use.
5. Ethernet & USB
Ethernet: In order to setup an SC-3 by using its Web Interface you must have the SC-
3 connected to your home Network.
USB: Do not use! This is ONLY for internal use.
6. AC Mains Input & Switch
A conventional, 15-ampere IEC standard power cord is used with the SC-3. A high-
quality AC mains cord is included with the product, although the use of the
standardized IEC receptacle means that you may easily substitute another high-
quality AC mains cord if you wish.
WARNING! Your new Wisdom Audio SC-3 has been safety-tested and is designed
for operation with a three-conductor power cord. Do not defeat the “third pin” or
earth ground of the AC power cord.
An AC mains switch is located above the power cord on the rear panel of the SC-3.
This switch may be used to disconnect the unit from the AC mains without having to
actually unplug the SC-3 from the wall outlet.
If you plan to be away for an extended period or have any other reason to turn the

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6. AC Mains Input & Switch (Continued)
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SC-3 completely off, you may either unplug the SC-3 or you may use the AC mains
switch.
DANGER! Potentially dangerous voltages and current capabilities exist within your
SC-3. Do not attempt to open any portion of the SC-3’s cabinet. There are no user-
serviceable parts inside your SC-3. All service of this product must be referred to a
qualified Wisdom Audio dealer or distributor.
We recommend that care be taken to ensure that all AC plugs for the equipment in
the system be wired so as to ensure proper AC polarity. Doing so will minimize
noise in the system.
In the U.S., a simple AC mains tester (found at any hardware store) can test to
ensure that your electrical outlets are wired properly. Elsewhere in the world (for
example, in European Union countries), the AC mains plugs themselves are not
always polarized. Your dealer can test for the proper orientation of the plug in the
outlet. In such a case, it is good practice to mark both plug and outlet to ensure that
all products remain in the proper orientation should it become necessary to
temporarily disconnect the system (as for example, during an electrical storm).
Finally, the Wisdom Audio SC-3 incorporates a fuse block that protects both the live
and neutral (ground) sides of the circuit. If your SC-3 is plugged into an AC outlet
that you know is live (plug a lamp into it as a test), and yet appears to be off, check
the following:
a. Check the AC cord to make sure it is not damaged.
b. Check the AC mains switch to ensure that it is On (the side with the straight
line is depressed, not the “O” side). 
c. If that does not resolve the problem, turn Off the AC mains switch (“O”) and
then disconnect the power cord from the AC mains receptacle. 
d. Using a small screwdriver, gently pry open the fuse block cover at the top
edge of the assembly. (You may be able to do it with just your fingernail.) 
e. Pull out the red fuse block, and check fuse. If blown, please contact your
local Wisdom Audio dealer (or Wisdom Audio) for service.
7. Outputs
These 32 balanced audio outputs carry the room-corrected full-range, high-pass, and
or low-pass portion of the audio spectrum and must be connected to the amplifiers
that drive the loudspeakers and or subwoofers.

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7. Outputs (Continued)
NOTE: We recommend using one of our WWK-BB2/WWK-BB3 custom high
quality balanced audio interconnect kits to ensure the best audio signal and
reliability.
The pin assignments of this XLR-type male output connector are:
These pin assignments are consistent with the standards adopted by the Audio
Engineering Society and are used with the purpose-designed SA Series power
amplifiers from Wisdom Audio. If you elect to use a different amplifier for your
woofers, please refer to the operating manual of your power amplifier to verify that
the pin assignments of its input connectors correspond to your Wisdom Audio SC-3.
If not, wire the cables so that the appropriate output pin connects to the equivalent
input pin, in order to preserve the polarity of the musical signal.
If your power amplifier does not have balanced inputs, the adapter used to convert
from balanced to single-ended must “float” Pin 3 (the inverted signal). This can
easily be checked with an ohmmeter: the impedance be- tween Pin 3 and either the
center pin or the shield skirt on the RCA should be infinite. Tying the output of Pin
3 to ground (as some adapters do) will compromise the performance of the SC-3.
The correct wiring for converting Balanced to Single Ended for the output of the SC-
3 is shown below.
CAUTION! Note that a Balanced to Single Ended adapter for use on the output side
of the SC-3 is different than the appropriate adapter on the input side. Should you
need them, properly wired adapters are available from Wisdom Audio for a nominal
charge
RECOMMENDED: We recommend using our pre-made Custom Interconnect Kits
(WWK-CUSTOM2 and or WWK-CUSTOM3) for the best in audio performance and
reliability.
•Pin 1: Chassis ground
•Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
•Pin 3: Signal – (inverting)
•Connector ground lug: chassis ground

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Configuring your SC-3 and Preparing for Calibration
Prior to setting up your SC-3 please we recommend watching the System Controller
Configuration Tutorials found on our YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjIpZngnJR0
Locating the SC on your network:
1. Device is configured via Ethernet/IP/HTML. Ensure Device is connected to
LAN.
2. The device should always be discoverable at first startup by entering
http://SC.local/wizard.html# into the address bar (This is the same log-on for
both the SC-2 & SC-3, unless your unit has been upgraded to the new firmware
then it is simply:!http://SC.local/wizard.html#) of your web browser (Google
Chrome works best).
3. If you cannot locate the device. The backdoor is to locate its IP address and
access it directly. This can be done by IP search wizards such as Angry IP
Scanner. Look for the MAC Vendor named “IEEE”. The MAC address should
start off with Momentum Data System’s Mac Vendor ID: 70:B3:D5:E4:5X:XX
4. Once the IP address has been discovered use it to access the device, do not
forget to add /wizard.html# to be taken to the Configuration Page. Example
http://192.168.1.10/wizard.html#
System Calibration
We recommend you contact your dealer, or regional Wisdom Audio representative
about purchasing a Factory Calibration & Room Commissioning (2 month advanced
noticed is required).

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Care & Maintenance
To remove dust from the cabinet of your SC-3, use a feather duster or a lint-free soft
cloth. To remove dirt and fingerprints, we recommend a soft cloth.
CAUTION! At no time should liquid cleaners be applied directly to the SC-3, as
direct application of liquids may result in damage to electronic components within
the unit.
North American Warranty
When purchased from and installed by an authorized Wisdom Audio dealer,
Wisdom Audio electronic products are warranted to be free from defects in material
and workmanship under normal use for a period of five years from the original date
of purchase.
During the warranty period, any Wisdom Audio component exhibiting defects in
materials and/or workmanship will be repaired or replaced, at our option, without
charge for either parts or labor, at our factory. The warranty will not apply to any
Wisdom Audio component that has been misused, abused, altered, or installed and
calibrated by anyone other than an authorized Wisdom Audio dealer.
Any Wisdom Audio component not performing satisfactorily may be returned to the
factory for evaluation. Return authorization must first be obtained by either calling
or writing the factory prior to shipping the component. The factory will pay for
return shipping charges only in the event that the component is found to be
defective as mentioned above. There are other stipulations that may apply to
shipping charges.
There is no other express warranty on this component. Neither this warranty nor
any other warranty, express or implied, including any implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness, shall extend beyond the warranty period. No
responsibility is assumed for any incidental or consequential damages. Some states
do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and other states do
not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the
above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights,
which vary from state to state. This warranty is applicable in North America only.
Outside of North America, please contact your local, authorized Wisdom Audio
distributor for warranty and service information.