XTZ XTZ 99 W12 DSP User manual

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XTZ 99 W12 DSP
A
ctive subwoo
f
er with inte
g
rated DSP
(Digital Sound Processor)
User manual
© 2007 XTZ AB , www.xtz.se

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Table of contents
Page:
Contents 3
About XTZ 4
Technical presentation 5
Preparations 7
Practice of sound / Installation and placement tips 8
Mounting 10
Functional reference 11
Quick reference 13
Functions/ Area of usage/ Sound adjustment 14
Technical explanations 23
Technical specifications 25
Service & Support 26

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Contents
Contents
Congratulations of your purchase of the XTZ DSP
Powered Subwoofer!
W
hen combined with surround audio/video
electronics, you will experience sound of motion
pictures or music records much deeply and
naturally. Now when you watch your favourite
movie or listen to your reference music CDs, you
will hear and feel the sound surrounding
you in the
same way as originally intended by mastering
engineers.
XTZ Home Theatre Speaker Systems are modular,
so you can select only the components you need to
enhance your current system or create a totally ne
w
one. The DSP Powered Subwoofer combines a 300-
watt continuous power amplifier, heavy-duty 12"
woofer, and a DSP with absolutely the best
technology to find today.
99 W12 DSP is a very complex product, so read the
manual carefully before using it.
If you want to start quickly read first the chapter
"Quick reference"
WARNING!
DSP technology makes it possible to adjust the
sound in a way that is impossible with analogue
technology. If it’s used in a careless way it can
produce extreme power from amplifier to the driver
that can cause damage on both driver and
amplifier.
Read the manual before using the product and use
all possibilities carefully.

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About XTZ
Philosophy
Our reference and starting point is to recreate a
natural sound, taking into account
that acoustics
always is a matter of taste.
With advanced DSP technology we can reach this
goal without compromises. It gives us full freedom
to adjust the sound to our own taste, music styles
and most important to
different rooms still
preserving the highest quality of sound.
Getting the same functional flexibility and
achieving the same precision is not possible
w
ith
traditional analogue technology.
XTZ Goal
Our main goal is to provide the bes
t
value
for money.
Our concept:
- Cut down the numbers of middlemen
- Put more money on product quality
and less on advertising.
- Manufacture cost-effective in large volume
- Provide perfect technical solutions
Contact
Website: www.xtz.se
E-mail: [email protected]

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Technical presentation
Why buy an active
subwoofer with
integrated DSP?
To find an acoustically acceptable
listening room is
a big problem. Normally you can not change your
living room that much and you need to accept a lot
of losses in the sound quality. This is a known fact,
but many brands do not touch that issue because it
is not easy to solve this problem with traditional
analogue technology.
It’s impossible to construct a normal analogue
subwoofer to sound perfect in every room.
Every room has unknown and unique acoustical
characteristic that affects the sound quality.
The
biggest problems are in the low-frequenc
y
spectrum. A normal (not acoustically treated) room
have severe resonances and deeps in spectrum
caused by so called standing waves. Dependent on
listening position it produces wrongly balanced
sound.
The frequency response of a good loudspeaker
should be in the range of ± 3dB, but a normal
room
can have variations of ± 15dB. This leads to the
conclusion that even a very good loudspeaker can
sound poorly in a "bad" room. And the fact is that
the most regular rooms have strong acoustical
problems.
To build a perfect listening room is extremel
y
expensive.
With the DSP technology we can create a good
balanced sound in every room.
Amplifier
We have equipped the XTZ W12 DSP
with a ver
y
powerful amplifier with 400 Watts
and a big
cooling flange for effective cooling. For professional
use (studio, PA etc.), it is equipped with a balanced
input. The terminal connectors are gold-plated and
very solid.
To achieve a high power and a long durability, the
amplifier is built with a large ring-coil transformer,
large electrolyte capacitors, and has MosFet
transistors in the power stage.
The woofer/ driver
The XTZ W12 DSP
is equipped with a powerful and
well-sounding 12" woofer. The cone has an
aluminium frame for maximal stiffness
and strong
magnet, but at the same time a low weight, which
contributes to the high efficiency.
To gain high power patience, we have chosen a
larger diameter on the coil. The driver is equipped
w
ith rubber suspension for high strength, flexibilit
y
and to gain a longer peak-to-peak excursion.
The diaphragm is one of the type "non pressed
papers" which gives a very stiff yet light driver. The
b
asket is founded in aluminium. This combination
of a powerful magnet, light driver and stable
suspension guaranty
b
oth enough power and high
precision in the sound.

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DSP
The built-in DSP module works is equipped
w
ith
24-bit/96-kHz AD/DA converters and the best
software on the market today allowing
you perfect
adaptation of the subwoofer to the room
characteristic and adjustment of the sound
character, always keeping
b
est possible quality o
f
sound.
To provide the highest sound quality the DSP runs
advanced low-noise filter algorithms with 32-
b
it
calculation precision. The software consists o
f
parametric and graphic equalizer, phase correction,
low-cut and high-cut filters, and delay.
There are many "cheap" equalizers on the market,
b
ut the most are not good enough to maintain the
high sound quality
for low frequencies because o
f
using not appropriate algorithms. The DSP
software used in the subwoofer has been
developed
by a world leading German company with 25-
y
ears
tradition in professional audio.
Many years of development is behind the software
we use in 99 W12 DSP.
The cabinet The cabinet is made of 25mm MDF with 3 stays
which makes the box stable
and without
resonances.
The surface is varnished giving a proper look and
air sealed box.

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Preparations
Unpacking the
subwoofer
Carefully unpack the speaker, and pay attention so
y
ou don't break anything. If possible, save the
packing box for future transportations. If there
should be damage on the loudspeaker, please
contact your retailer.
Check that the mains voltage marking on the bac
k
panel matches your local mains voltage.
If the product is cold, wait to connect the powe
r
cable till it reaches room temperature. If you don’t
do this you can cause damage of the product.
Accessories
Main power cable
2 bass plugs (found in the bass reflex gates)
User manual
PC-Remote
PC-Remote is a software, allowing you to control
99 W12 DSP from a PC.
You can sit in listening position and do all settings.
The program is included in price,
b
ut you need to
download the software from www.xtz.se

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Practice of sound / Installation and placement tips
This chapter contains common information on
loudspeaker placement and installation.
This is general rules, so there are exceptions o
f
some rules
In which room do
you achieve the best
sound?
No matter how good the equipment is, in the wrong
listening environment it will inevitably sound bad.
There are some basic rules concerning a proper
loudspeaker installation:
Reflections
Carpets, curtains and soft furniture absorb mid
range and high frequency sound, and this is
preferable. Big empty area, on the contrary, reflects
it and produces hard reflections that may lead to
b
lurry dialogue. Apart from colouring the sound,
also the perspective of the sound will deteriorate.
Reflections in the room can roughly be compared to
the reflections that yield ghost pictures on a T
V
screen.
Amplification of bass
frequencies
A
loudspeaker that is placed near a wall, ceiling or
floor will amplify lower frequencies in a sometimes
not desirable way (since it may lead to an indistinct
sound recreation). This amplification becomes even
more obvious if the loudspeaker is placed near a
corner. Thus, for a sound as clear as possible, the
loudspeaker should be placed at least 30 cm (about
12 inch) away from the wall
Some constructions are
made to be placed closed to
a wall.
Furniture
Be aware that furniture may vibrate and thus create
bad sound at loud bass.
Room dimension
Quadratic rooms or rooms where the length is
exactly twice as long as the width should be
avoided, since they may create unwanted
resonance.
Placement of the
subwoofer
The placement of the subwoofer in the room
dramatically affects the overall frequency response
and sound level of the system. At low frequencies
the effect of the room is
strong. Even a slight
change in the subwoofer's location can make a
significant difference in the frequency balance.
Patience and methodical experimentation is needed
to find an optimal placement. The placement
affects the phase difference between the main
loudspeakers and the subwoofer.
The functions in 99 W12 DSP gives your more
freedom to place the subwoofer, but if you alread
y
know from your experience a good placement use
this because it makes
more easy to get the sound
perfect.
One basic rule is to place the subwoofer together
w
ith or near the front system (especially important
if the front loudspeaker also propagate
bass
frequencies) as this will minimize the risk of phase
eliminations in the room.

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Cables
Try to keep them as short as possible. By its
electrical parameters, a long conductor will have a
bigger influence on the sound than a short one. It
may also work as an antenna and thus receive
v
arious signals that may become a constant noise in
an active subwoofer.
Make sure that all connections are clean and not
oxidized. All connections should be mechanicall
y
stable, both power, signal and loudspeaker cables.
Signal cables should be separated from other
cables.
Front speakers
To get the best result the front speakers should be
placed symmetrical in front of the listener. The
distance between the front speakers should be
around 80% of the distance to the listener. In other
words, the recommended angle between the front
speakers should be 45°.
Finally
Please remember that good sound is a matter o
f
taste, so you have to experiment to obtain
y
our
favourite one. We wish you best of luck!

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Mounting
Mounting
99 W12 DSP give you much freedom to place the
subwoofer anywhere.
Example:
With the function “DELAY” the subwoofer can
b
e
placed near the listening position with shorter
distance to the listener than the front system, and
delay the sound to the subwoofer so you get no
phase and time problem between the front system
and the subwoofer.
Generally:
The placement of the subwoofer in the room affects
the overall frequency response and sound level o
f
the system dramatically, as at low frequencies the
influence of the room is
strong. Even a slight
change in the subwoofer's location can make a
significant difference in the frequency balance, and
often patience and methodical experimentation is
needed to find the optimum placement. The
placement affects the phase difference between the
main loudspeakers and the sub-woofer
The functions in 99 W12 DSP gives your more
freedom to place the subwoofer, but if you kno
w
from previous experience a good placement use this
because it makes easier to get the sound perfect.
One basic rule is to place the subwoofer together
w
ith or near the front system (especially important
if the front loudspeaker also propagate
bass
frequencies) as this will minimize the risk of phase
eliminations in the room.
If you know a good placement of the subwoofer it’s
a good idea to use this because it needs less
w
ork to
adjust the subwoofer to the room perfectly.
If you put the subwoofer inside a cabinet, the
amplifier needs to be cooled by circulating air.
Flush mounting of the subwoofer:
If the subwoofer is flush mounted into a wall or a
cabinet, it is important to ensure amplifier cooling
and unrestricted airflow from the reflex port. This
can be done by making the recess at least 7.5
centimetres (3") wider than the subwoofer.
Spikes
99 W12 DSP have feet of rubber to
absorb
vibrations. But it’s possible to change this to spikes.
Connect with the
correct phase
A
lways connect using the correct phase, from the
+-pole on the amplifier to the +-pole on the
loudspeaker and respectively for the minus (-) pole
If you by accident connect the other way,
there is no risk of damage. However, the
phase of the signal will be not correct,
resulting in improper sound.
Overload
With high power load under long time there is ris
k
of overloading the driver and/or the amplifier.
WARNING!
The DSP technology makes it possible to
adjust/increase levels. This should be done with
care to avoid overloading of the product even at
normal listening levels. Most critical in this respect
are raised levels in the lower bass frequencies
which give a great increase in output power.
If you play extremly loud for a long time
there is a big risk that you destroy the
product.
The initial playing
time
It takes about 50 to 100 hour of initial playing time,
for the driver to sound optimally. During this time,
the speaker may be used normally.

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Functional reference
Rearpanel
1. Input gain meter
2. Standby indicators
3. LCD display
4. Function button
5. Value buttons
6. IR port
7. Contrast adjustments for
LCD Display
8. Volume knob
9. Balanced input
10. Ground choices
11. Low level input
12. RS-232 PC connector
13. Input selections
14. High level input
(speaker input)
15. Power connector
16. Main switch
17. Power select
1 Input gain
INPUT GAIN METER
Indicate the input level.
Should be as high as possible but without
getting the red INPUT GAIN diode
flashing; this gives the best signal/noise
ratio.
2 Standby indicator
Turns red in standby.
Turns blue in when the subwoofer is on.
3 LCD display
LCD Display that shows all functions and values.
4 Function button
FUNCTION
Select function with this two buttons.
5 Value buttons
VALUE
Select value with this two buttons to adjust the
functions.

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6 IR
Infrared eye for possible remote control
Not in use
7 LCD Contrast
Adjust the contrast in the display
8 Volume knob
VOLUME
Adjust the main volume.
9 Balanced input
XLR
Balanced input.
10 Ground choice
Depending on equipment us "GRD" or "LIFT".
Only in use if you connected with XLR.
11 Low level input
RCA inputs.
12 RS 232 PC
connector
Connector for PC. For the PC-remote software.
The program is in price included but you
need to download it from www.xtz.se
13 Input selector
INPUT SELECTOR
Select input between: XLR ,RCA or High-level
input
14 Speaker input
SPEAKER INPUT
High-level input.
If your amplifier does not
have subwoofer output
use this input from your normal speaker output.
15 Power connector
Connector of main power.
16 Main switch
Main switch for main power.
17 Power switch
Select your local mains voltage.
230V in EU
110V in USA

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Quick reference
If you want to use the product quickly, follo
w
these instructions.
Connection
Connect to input: XLR, RCA or Speaker input.
Select your local mains voltage with the powe
r
switch. Connect the power switch and turn the
main switch on.
INPUT SELECTOR
Choose one of: XLR, RCA or Speaker input.
Input gain
INPUT GAIN : Select the value 15.0dB
Subsonic Filter
Frequency: Select the value 20Hz
Slope: Select the value 24dB
High-Cut Filter
Frequency: Select the value 120Hz
Slope: Select the value 24dB
Graphical Equalizer
The graphical Equalizer is an easy and well-known
way to adjust the sound character.
Adjust the frequency response in functions 2-11.
The level can be adjusted in the range of ± 12dB
Select the frequency with the buttons
"FUNCTION". Select the level with the buttons
"VALUE".
It is also possible to do a setting with the
parametric equalizer and make a rough adjustment
to the sound character you like.
Read the next chapter.
Parametrical
Equalizer
It is possible to do a setting with the parametrical
equalizer and make a rough adjustment to the
character you like.
Do the following:
PE Q 1
Frequency : 40 Hz
Q-factor : 1.40
PE Q 2
Frequency : 90 Hz
Q-factor : 1.40
PE Q 3
Frequency : 140 Hz
Q-factor : 1.40
Adjust the levels on PEQ 1, 2 and 3 to the sound
character that you like.
W
ith this setting the bass frequency is split in to 3
bands:
PEQ 1 =deep bass,
PEQ 2 = mid bass,
PEQ 3 = upper bass.
Bass ports
Take out both bass-plugs out of the bass reflex
ports.
Level adjustment
Adjust the main volume with the volume knob ( 8 )

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Functions / Area of usage / Sound adjustments
Connection
Connect to input: XLR, RCA or Speaker input.
Select your local mains voltage with the powe
r
switch.
Europe: 230Volt
US: 110Volt
Turn the main volume to a low value.
Connect the power cable and turn the main switch
on. Now the LCD display show "INPUT Gain".
How to control the
functions
Functions that indicated on the LCD display can be
controlled by buttons below LCD display or via the
PC-remote program.
PC-Remote is a software allowing
you to
control 99 W12 DSP from a PC.
You can sit in listening position and do all
settings.
The program is in price included but you
need to download it from www.xtz.se
The manual for PC-remote can you also
download from www.xtz.se
Select function
With the "FUNCTION"-buttons, you select which
function you want to change
Select value
With the "VALUE"-buttons, you select
which value
you want for each function.
One push = One step
Hold down the button = Quick step.
Function 1
INPUT - Gain
Adjust the input gain.
The level indicates the input gain on the display.
In the left bottom corner of the Function 1 displa
y
the number of recently selected preset (e.g. P4) and
the time of day is shown.
One step = 0,1 dB
How to use function 1
The level indicates the signal level at the input o
f
the DSP module. In order to get the best signal-to-
noise ratio it is very important to adjust the prope
r
gain. You should try to adjust the Gain with the
Value buttons as high as possible, but just belo
w
getting the red LED ("clip") is flashing.
Do the following:
1. Turn the main volume to zero (0) or low level
with the volume knob.
2. Play a laud music CD observing the “INPUT
GAIN” LED display while you adjust the Gain with
the “VALUE” buttons. All, but the red LEDs should
flash or be on. If the red LED (“Clip”) turns on
decrease the “Gain” with the “VALUE” buttons
appropriately.
Use a music CD with high output level.
If you not want to play music loud, you can do the
same operation with the main speakers
disconnected.
The level should be as high as possible but
w
ithout
the red Input Gain is getting on, this gives the best
signal/noise ratio.
Adjust main volume with the volume knob.

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Function 2 - 11
Function 2 - 11 contents the graphical equalizer.
One step = 0,1 dB
How to use function
2 - 11
The graphical equalizer has
10 band (frequencies)
Band centre frequencies :
Function 2 – 16Hz
Function 3 – 20Hz
Function 4 – 25Hz
Function 5 – 31,5
Function 6 – 40Hz
Function 7 – 50Hz
Function 8 - 63 Hz
Function 9 – 80Hz
Function 10 - 100 Hz
Function 11 - 125 Hz
The level can be adjusted in the range of ± 12dB.
Select the band (frequency) of interest
w
ith the
buttons "FUNCTION" and adjust the level with the
buttons "VALUE".
How to use function 2 - 11 via PC-remote.
Software can be downloaded from
www.xtz.se
Function 12
SUBSONIC FILTER - Frequency
Low-cut filters to cut the lowest frequencies.
Adjustable from 10-40Hz.
One step = 1 Hz
Function 13
SUBSONIC FILTER / Slope
Select the slope on the subsonic filter.
Select 12dB or 24dB.

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How to use function
12 and 13 The subsonic filter cuts unwanted frequencies in
the deepest bass range. An example of unwanted
sound is "rumble" from a turntable or wind noise
from a microphone.
The reason to cut these unwanted frequencies:
- To decrease the noise level in the listening room.
- Subsonic noise causes unnecessary
high power from the amplifier.
- To decrease non-linear distortions
in the amplifier and the loudspeaker.
- Increase the power "headroom"
- Some rooms amplify the lower frequencies
so the bass frequencies get "uncontrolled".
Select frequency:
A
typical value is 20Hz, but use whatever is most
suitable.
Select slope:
A normal value is 24dB but try what suits you best.
With a perfect adjusted subsonic filter you achieve
the benefits:
- Higher useful power
(the subwoofer can handle higher sound levels).
- More control and a better sounding bass
- Decreased noise level in the listening room.
The functions 14, 15, 16 and 17 are dependant
on
each other and should therefore be used in a
certain order.
Function 14
HIGH-CUT FILTER / Frequency
High-cut filters cut the upper frequencies.
Adjustable from 40-250Hz.
Reason to use high-cut filter:
-To avoid frequency overlapping
with the main system
-To create an optimal acoustical cross-over
to the front system and/or home cinema system.
One step = 1 Hz
Function 15
HIGH-CUT FILTER / Slope
Select the slope on the high-cut filter.
Select 12dB or 24dB.

17 / 26
Function 16
OUTPUT / Polarity
Select polarity.
Select: Negative or Positive
Here you can select the polarity.
You can select either: Negative or Positive.
Function 17
OUTPUT / Phase 1st Ord.
Phase.
The phase adjusts from 0 - 180 degrees.
Incorrect phase alignment between the main
loudspeakers and subwoofer causes a drop in the
frequency response of the whole system at the
crossover frequency. The graphs to the right (Fig. 1)
show the effect of phase difference to the frequenc
y
response. The phase difference between the main
loudspeakers and subwoofer at the listening
position is dependent upon the position of the
subwoofer, so the phase adjustment should be done
only after the preferred position is found.
One step = 1 degree

18 / 26
How to use function
14, 15, 16 and 17
Incorrect frequency, polarity and phase alignment
b
etween the main loudspeakers and subwoofe
r
causes a gap in the frequency response of the whole
system at the crossover frequency. The graph to the
right shows the effect of phase difference to the
frequency response. The phase difference between
the main loudspeakers and subwoofer at the
listening position is dependent upon the position o
f
the subwoofer, so the phase adjustment should be
done only after the preferred position has been
found.
To choose the right high-cut frequency is ver
y
important but this is also depending on the setting
of polarity (function 16) and phase (function 17).
These setting should be done in this order:
Select polarity:
Normally "positive" is the right value but
depending on placement and equipment try find
the mode that gives the most bass energy
(the
polarity change is equivalent to change the phase
by 180 degree).
1. Adjust the level of the bass to the equal level as
the front speaker bass level.
2. Switch between "Negative" and "Positive" and tr
y
to find the mode that gives you most bass energy.
Select the slope:
Normally the 24dB/octave
is the best value but set
the slope for the best sound balance between the
subwoofer and the main loudspeakers.
Select of frequency:
Select the frequency for the best sound balance
between the subwoofer and the main loudspeakers.
Select the phase:
A
djust the phase for the best sound balance
between the subwoofer and the main loudspeakers.
If you not are satisfied whit the setting repeat
iteratively the steps above again and again.
Function 18
OUTPUT / Delay
Adjust the time delay.
Adjustable from 0 to-50ms or from 0 to
17,261 m
One step = 0,021 ms or 0,719 cm

19 / 26
How to use function
18
With the function OUTPUT /Delay you can store a
time delay.
Therefore you can perfectly adapt 99 W12 DSP to
y
our main speaker to avoid time and phase
problem.
1. Measure the distance between main speaker and
listening position.
2. Measure the distance between 99 W12 DSP and
listening position.
3. Set the difference between these values as delay.
If you not can delay the signal to the main speakers
avoid having longer distance to the 99 W12 DSP
than the main speaker.
Function 19 - 33
Function 19 - 33 contains the parametrical
equalizer.
The parametrical equalizer has 5 bands.
Each band has 3 functions.
1. Frequency
2. Amplitude
3. Q-factor
Each band contains 3 functions:
Function 19,20,21= PEQ 1
Function 22,23,24= PEQ 2
Function 25,26,27= PEQ 3
Function 28,29,30= PEQ 4
Function 31,32,33= PEQ 5
We only show PEQ 1; the other 4 bands
w
ork in
exactly the same way.
Function 19
PEQ 1 - Frequency
Frequency.
Select frequency.
You can select frequencies between 16 - 250 Hz.
One step = 1 Hz
Funktion 20
PEQ 1 - Amplitude
Amplitude.
Adjust amplitude (boost or cut).
You can select amplitudes between +12dB - -24dB.
One step = 0.2/0.3dB

20 / 26
Function 21
PEQ 1 - Q Factor
Q-Factor.
Select Q-factor.
You can select Q-factor between 0.5 - 50
One step = 0.1
Q-factor - See: Technical explanations.
How to use Function
19-33
The parametrical equalizer is a precision tool to
achieve perfect sound balance. The parametrical
equalizer allows controlling
over the centre
frequency, band
w
idth, and amplitudes
(parameters) of the bell filters. That makes it
possible to adjust the frequency response with ver
y
high precision.
Dips and overshoots
in the frequency response can
be compensated.
Example:
With a high Q-factor (narrow filters) you can cut
very narrow frequency band which can be used for
hum cancelling (50Hz).
In the parametric equalizer 3 parameters can be
adjusted:
1. Frequency
Measured in Hz.
2. Amplitude (boost or cut)
Measured in dB
3. Q-factor (filter bandwidth)
This refers to the width of the bell curve.
Frequency is measured in Hz (Herz) and decides
w
ere in the spectra compensation can be done.
Range: 16-250Hz
A
mplitude is measured in dB and decides ho
w
much compensation should be done on a mode or
dip. A positive value is an amplification of the
signal. A negative value is a reduction of the signal.
Range: +12dB to -12dB
Q-Factor between 0.5 and 50 settles the width o
f
the peak or dip. A high value means a narro
w
peak/dip and a low value means a wide peak/dip.
Function 34
BACKLIGHT AUTO-OFF
Choose if the LCD display should be on constantl
y
or be shut off after a certain time.
Choose between ON or Auto-off 1-30 minutes.
How to use Function
34
In ON mode the LCD display is on constantly.
In Auto-off mode the amplifier switched to standb
y
after the chosen time.
Choose between 1 to 30 minutes.
If you use any button the LCD display turns on
automatically.
Function 35
AMPLIFIER AUTO-OFF
Choose if the amplifier should be on constantly or
be shut off after a certain time.
Choose between ON or Auto-off 1-30 minutes.