Bowers & Wilkins 4000: instruction

™

ASW

4000

OWNER’S MANUAL

™

ASW

4000 Owner’s manual

English ...............................5

Français..............................8

Deutsch.............................11

Español ............................14

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Italiano .............................20

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Ελληνικά .........................29

Figure 1

Русский...........................32

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Figure 2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1

LINK

OUT

LINE

IN

LINE

OUT

PHASEEQ.

L

60

70

50

R

80

A B 0 180

10 0

14040

MIN MAX MIN MAX

TO SPEAKERS FROM AMPLIFIER

RIGHT

LEFT

RIGHT LEFT

ACTIVE SUBWOOFER

WARNINGS:

TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD DO NOT

NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER

EXPOSE THIS UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE

SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL

ATTENTION:

POUR EVITER TOUS RISQUES DE FEU OU DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE

AUCUN COMPOSANT NE PEUT ETRE REMPLACE PAR L’UTILISATEUR

N’EXPOSEZ PAS CET APPAREIL A L’HUMIDITE

VEUILLEZ CONTACTER LE SERVICE APRES VENTE AGREE

FUSE

POWER

115V~T8A

230V~T4A

B&W LOUDSPEAKERS LTD

50/60Hz~

ON

WORTHING ENGLAND

AUTO

ATTENTION: VOIR LE CAHIER D'INSTRUCTIONS

CAUTION: SEE OPERATING MANUAL

OFF

CAUTION:

DOUBLE INSULATEDATTENTION:

FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION

WHEN SERVICING, USE ONLY

REPLACEWITH ONLY SAME

AGAINST FIRE HAZARD,

IDENTICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS

TYPE AND RATING FUSE.

13 11 15 12 14 10

Figure 3

Figure 4

1

2

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

3

Figure 9

Figure 10

4

GB

Safety Instructions

8 Ventilation – The appliance should be

Warnings:

situated so that its location or position does

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose

not interfere with its proper ventilation. For

this equipment to rain or moisture.

example, the appliance should not be

situated on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar

Observe all warnings on the equipment itself.

surface that may block the ventilation

To avoid electrical shock, do not open the

openings; or placed in a built-in installation,

enclosure or remove the amplifier from the

Caution:

such as a bookcase or cabinet, that may

rear panel. There are no user serviceable

To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not

impede the flow of air through the ventilation

parts inside. Refer all service questions to an

remove the back panel. No user-serviceable

openings.

authorised B&W dealer.

parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified

9 Heat – The appliance should be situated

To prevent electric shock, do not use this

personnel.

away from heat sources such as radiators,

(polarised) power plug with an extension cord

Explanation of Graphical Symbols

heat registers, stoves, or other appliances

receptacle or other outlet unless the blades can

that produce heat.

be fully inserted to prevent blade exposure.

10 Power Sources – The appliance should be

Ensure that the voltage indicated on the amplifier

connected to a power supply only of the

panel matches that of the power supply. If it

type described in the operating instructions

does not, contact an authorised B&W dealer to

or as marked on the appliance.

alter the setting of the voltage selector.

11 Grounding or Polarisation – The appliance

The mains fuseholder is located on the back

The lightning flash within an equilateral triangle

should not be grounded. When using an

panel of the amplifier module. Replacement fuse

is intended to alert you to the presence of un-

extension power-supply cord or a power-

must be of the same type and rating as supplied.

insulated "dangerous voltage" within the product’s

supply cord other than that supplied with the

enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to

The equipment should not be earthed (grounded).

appliance, it should be 2-core, fitted with the

constitute an electric shock to persons.

appropriate moulded-on plugs and carry

To ensure adequate cooling of the amplifier,

safety approval appropriate to the country

operate the equipment only with the heatsink fins

of use.

aligned vertically.

12 Power Cord Protection – Power-supply cords

The subwoofer is heavy and bulky, it should

should be routed so that they are not likely

be moved or lifted by at least two people.

to be walked on or pinched by items placed

Check that there are no cables under the carpet

on or against them, paying particular

The exclamation point within an equilateral

that may be damaged by the spikes.

attention to cords at plugs, convenience

triangle is intended to alert you to the presence

receptacles and the point where they exit

Do not walk the unit on the spikes as this may

of important operating and maintenance

from the appliance.

cause them to become detached from the

(servicing) instructions in the literature

cabinet and cause damage.

accompanying the appliance

13 Cleaning – The appliance should be

cleaned only as recommended by the

Take care not to spike through your own feet.

1 Read Instructions – All the safety and

manufacturer.

operating instructions should be read before

the appliance is operated.

14 Non-use Periods – The power cord of the

appliance should be unplugged from

2 Retain Instructions – The safety and operating

the outlet when left unused for a long

instructions should be retained for future

period of time.

reference.

15 Object and Liquid Entry – Care should be

3 Heed Warnings – All warnings on the

taken so that objects do not fall and liquids

appliance and in the operating instructions

are not spilled into the enclosure through

should be adhered to.

openings.

4 Follow Instructions – All operating and use

16 Damage Requiring Service – The appliance

instructions should be followed.

should be serviced by qualified personnel

5 Water and Moisture – The appliance should

when:

not be used near water – for example, near

a The power-supply cord or the plug has

a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry

been damaged; or

tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming

b Objects have fallen, or liquid has been

pool and the like.

spilled into the appliance; or

6 Carts and Stands – The appliance should be

c The appliance has been exposed to rain; or

used only with a cart or stand that is

d The appliance does not appear to operate

recommended by the manufacturer.

normally, or exhibits a marked change in

performance; or

7 Wall or Ceiling Mounting – The appliance

e The appliance has been dropped, or the

should be mounted to a wall or ceiling only

enclosure damaged.

as recommended by the manufacturer.

17 Servicing – The user should not attempt to

service the appliance beyond that described

in the operating instructions. All other

servicing should be referred to qualified

service personnel.

5

Introduction

A tour of the subwoofer (figure 2)

If the unit is to be placed on a vulnerable surface,

either place a protective disc under each spike

™

Thank you for purchasing the B&W ASW

4000

1 Heatsink

or fit the four rubber pads in place of the spikes.

Active Subwoofer.

2 Line level connectors

3 Speaker level connectors

Since its foundation in 1966, the continuing

Electrical connections

4 Low-pass filter frequency control (line input)

philosophy of B&W has been the quest for

5 Volume control (line input)

Disconnect all sound system equipment from the

perfect sound reproduction. Inspired by the

6 Decoder input

power supply until the signal connections have

company’s founder, the late John Bowers, this

7 Volume control (decoder input)

been made and checked. This avoids the risk of

quest has entailed not only high investment in

8 Equalisation switch (decoder input)

damage whilst connections are made or broken.

audio technology and innovation but also an

9 Phase switch

abiding appreciation of music and the demands

The function of the subwoofer is to receive

10 On/Auto/Off switch

of film sound to ensure that the technology is put

signals from the amplification chain and, where

11 Mains input socket

to maximum effect.

necessary split the signal into low bass and

12 Voltage selector/indicator

higher frequencies and feed the latter back out

™

The ASW

4000 has been designed for Home

13 Fuseholder

to the satellite speakers. Left and right channel

Theatre installations and to augment the bass

14 Power/Standby indicator

inputs may be combined into a single mono low

performance of ‘full range’ speakers in stereo

15 Toroidal mains transformer housing

bass feed to the subwoofer drive unit if required.

audio use. Adding the subwoofer to your

Positioning the subwoofer

system not only extends the bass to lower

The subwoofer will input and output both line

frequencies, it improves the midrange clarity

Because the subwoofer produces only low-

level signals via the RCA Phono sockets and

by reducing the low-frequency demands on

frequency sounds, positioning is less critical in

speaker level signals via the binding posts

your existing speakers.

some respects compared with full-range speakers.

located on the back panel, giving a flexible

Directional information is much less precise and

choice of connection methods. However, you

The subwoofer is magnetically shielded for use

you have more choice where to place the

must not use a mixture of line level and speaker

close to a television screen.

speakers to good effect. This said, best results

level connections in the same installation. If you

Please read through this manual fully before

are obtained if the subwoofer is placed between

have a choice between line level and speaker

using the subwoofer. All sound installations

the satellite speakers or in the vicinity of one of

level connections, choose line level.

require some planning and experimentation if

them. If you use two subwoofers, it is best to put

The subwoofer also has a dedicated decoder

you are to get the best out of the products used

one near each satellite speaker.

input, which is automatically selected if a signal

and this manual will guide you in this process.

Placing the subwoofer behind the listeners, even

is present on this input. If no signal is detected

As the subwoofer is connected to the electricity

in surround sound installations, generally gives

on this input for approximately 20 seconds, the

power supply, it is important that you familiarise

inferior imaging; but may be an acceptable

subwoofer will switch to the line/speaker level

yourself with the safety instructions and heed

compromise if domestic considerations dictate.

inputs.

all warnings.

As with all speakers, the proximity of room

Decoder volume and equalisation are set by

Keep this manual in a safe place for future

boundaries affects the sound. Bass is generally

separate controls from the line and speaker

reference.

increased as more surfaces come into close

inputs, for ease of installation.

proximity with the speakers. Unlike full-range

B&W loudspeakers are distributed to over 60

Use the following table to select the correct

speakers, however, you can always restore the

countries world-wide and we maintain an

wiring method for your installation:

correct overall system balance by adjusting the

international network of carefully chosen and

volume level of the subwoofer. The more boost

Application: Home Theatre

dedicated distributors. If you have a problem

you get from the room, the less hard the speaker

which your dealer cannot resolve, our distributors

• Decoder with separate power amplifiers:

has to work; but there is a down side. Corner

will be more than willing to assist you.

positions often excite more low-frequency room

a With subwoofer output: Connections: fig. 3

Unpacking (figure 1)

resonances, making the bass more uneven with

b No subwoofer output: Connections: fig. 4

frequency. There is no substitute for experiment

The easiest way to unpack the subwoofer and

• Decoder with integrated power amplifiers:

as all rooms behave differently, so try the

avoid damage is as follows:

subwoofer in a variety of positions before

a With subwoofer output: Connections: fig. 5

• Open the carton flaps right back and invert

making a final decision. A piece of music with

b No subwoofer output: Connections: fig. 6

the carton and contents.

a bass line ascending or descending the musical

Application: Stereo Audio

scale is useful for assessing the smoothness of

• Lift the carton away from the product.

the bass response. Listen for exaggerated or

Separate pre- & power amplifiers:

• We recommend that you retain the packaging

quiet notes. Having a separate subwoofer does

a One or more subwoofers with output

for future use.

enable you to optimise for room resonances

combined into a single mono signal:

independently from siting the satellite speakers

In addition to this manual, the carton

Connections: fig. 7

for best imaging.

should contain:

b Two subwoofers with separate left and right

If the subwoofer is to be used in a confined

signals: Connections: fig. 8

• 1 Subwoofer

space (eg in custom furniture), the space must

• 1 Accessory pack containing:

• Integrated amplifier:

be ventilated to allow sufficient air to circulate

•

4 Spikes with lock nuts

and cool the unit. Ask your dealer for advice.

a One or more subwoofers with output

•

4 Self-adhesive rubber feet

combined into a single mono signal:

• 1 Phono ‘T’-splitter plug

The subwoofer is supplied with four spike feet.

Connections: fig. 9

The spikes pierce through carpet pile, giving a

b Two subwoofers with separate left and

firm support directly to the floor surface without

right signals: Connections: fig. 10

crushing the pile. When fitting spikes, first screw

the lock nuts fully onto the spikes, then screw

Using more than one subwoofer

the spikes fully onto the threaded inserts in the

Using more than one unit in a single installation

base of the cabinet. If the unit rocks, loosen the

can improve performance in the following ways:

relevant two opposing spikes until the support is

firm, then re-tighten the lock nuts to the inserts.

6

• Maintain stereo separation to the lowest

Setting the controls

see the section below on fine tuning.

frequencies.

Line and speaker level inputs

• Set the volume control initially to the half way

• Cope with larger listening rooms.

(12 o’clock) position, then see the section

There are three controls to consider:

below on fine tuning.

• Enable greater maximum sound output – often

• The LOW-PASS filter frequency

useful for effectively reproducing special effects

•

Set the PHASE switch initially to 0°, then

in Home Theatre applications.

• The VOLUME control

see the section below on fine tuning.

• Smooth out the effects of low-frequency room

• The PHASE switch

Fine tuning

resonances.

Decoder input

The setting of the EQUALISATION switch affects

only the signal via the decoder input. Position A

If you are using two subwoofers for stereo audio,

There are three controls to consider:

is optimised to allow the subwoofer to provide

stereo separation is improved if each channel

• The DECODER VOLUME control

the highest listening levels, while position B gives

has its own subwoofer, providing each one is

greater bass extension.

sited close to the relevant satellite speaker.

• The PHASE switch

The optimum settings of the PHASE switch and

If using a decoder, use the phono ‘T’-piece

• The EQUALISATION switch

the LOW-PASS filter frequency are inter-related

provided, and make connections to the decoder

The optimum settings depend on the other

and also dependent on the low-frequency

input on each subwoofer. For two channel audio,

equipment used with the subwoofer. If using

cut-off characteristic of the satellite speakers

use both line input channels.

more than one subwoofer, make sure the controls

and the relative positions of all the speakers

Double check the connections

on each one are set the same.

in the installation.

ENSURE THAT THE VOLTAGE INDICATED

®

Use with THX

controllers (including THX

Set the system up in the preferred position and

ON THE AMPLIFIER PANEL MATCHES THAT

controllers set in non-THX mode)

play some programme with a steady bass content.

OF THE POWER SUPPLY.

The optimum setting for the LOW-PASS cut-off

™

®

The ASW

4000 is not a THX

licensed

frequency depends on several variables – the

Before auditioning the sound quality of your new

®

component, but may be used with a THX

bass performance and power handling of the

installation and fine tuning it, double check the

controller if desired.

satellite speakers, the number of subwoofers

connections. All too often, users complain that

• Set the decoder volume control to the detent at

used and their position relative to the satellite

they cannot get a decent sound however they set

the half-way (12 o’clock) position (this is a

speakers. The range 80-90 Hz is a good

the controls, only to discover something has been

®

standard THX

pre-set level of 88dB SPL @ 1m

starting point for the LOW-PASS frequency.

wrongly connected. Make sure that:

for 100mV input signal).

Unless two subwoofers are used to preserve

•

The phasing is correct – there should be no

separate right and left channel information and

• Set the EQUALISATION switch initially to

positive to negative connections (this applies

are sited close to the relevant satellite speakers,

position A, then see the section below on

only to speaker level interconnects). If

using a higher cut-off frequency may compromise

fine tuning.

something is out of phase you may get a fuzzy

the stereo image and should only be considered

sound with an imprecise and floating image,

• Set the PHASE switch initially to 0°, then see

if the bass performance of the satellite speakers

a lack of bass or a combination of the two.

the section below on fine tuning.

is particularly limited.

• There are no left to right mix-ups – this can

®

Ensure that the subwoofer function on the THX

At each setting of the cut-off frequency, listen with

result, for example, in the orchestra being the

controller is enabled. When so configured it

the phase switch in both positions. The correct

wrong way round or, more disastrously, sounds

incorporates all the filtering and level setting

one is that which gives the fullest bass and that

on your Home Theatre going in the opposite

required for the subwoofer in all modes. For level

will depend on the bass characteristics of your

direction to the action on the screen.

calibration, the internal test noise and channel

satellite speakers and the relative distances of

®

level controls in the THX

controller should be

the subwoofer(s) and the satellite speakers to the

Switching on and off

used. In all cases the levels should be set so as

listeners. When using more than one subwoofer,

We recommend that you switch the subwoofer

to obtain 75dB spl (C-weighted) at the listening

ensure that each one has its cut-off frequency

on before any power amplifiers receiving signals

position from the controller’s internal noise test

and phase switch set the same way.

from the subwoofer. Similarly, when switching

signal. Refer to your controller manual for further

If at any time you make changes to the

off, switch the subwoofer off last.

details as to how to set the levels. Inexpensive

amplification of the system such that you change

sound level meters are readily available from

Auto:

from speaker to line level connections to the

electronics stores and should be used to

On first switching the subwoofer to Auto, the

subwoofer, it is worth checking the phase setting

calibrate the levels.

amplifier becomes fully active and the light

again, as the speaker level and line level

above the on/auto/off switch glows green.

Use with other Home Theatre decoders

high-pass filter phase characteristics of the

After a period of about 5 minutes without an

subwoofer are different.

• If the decoder has a dedicated subwoofer

input signal, the amplifier automatically reverts to

output and an internal LOW-PASS filter for the

Set the loudness of the subwoofer relative to the

standby mode, and the light glows red. When

subwoofer having a slope of 2nd-order

satellite systems to your liking. Use a wide

an input signal is detected, the amplifier

(12db/octave) or greater, set the LOW-PASS

variety of programme material to get an average

automatically becomes fully active and the light

filter frequency to maximum, otherwise set it

setting. One that sounds impressive on one piece

glows green.

initially to 80 Hz.

may sound overpowering on another. Listen at

On:

realistic levels as the perception of balance

•

Set the VOLUME control initially to the half-way

With the switch in this position, the amplifier

varies with sound level.

(12 o’clock) position, then see the section

remains permanently on, and the light glows

below on fine tuning.

If you get problems with lumpy bass – if certain

green.

bass notes are exaggerated more than others –

• Set the PHASE switch initially to 0°, then see

Off:

then you probably have a room interface

the section below on fine tuning.

In this position, the amplifier is in standby, and

problem and it is worth experimenting with the

the light glows red.

Use for stereo audio

placement of the subwoofer. What may seem

like small changes in position – 15cm (6in) or

•

Set the LOW-PASS filter initially to 80 Hz then

so – can have a profound effect on the sound.

7