Polk Audio PSW10 Powered Subwoofer User Manual

Polk Audio PSW10 Powered Subwoofer

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

READ BEFORE OPERATING EQUIPMENT

1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with a dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as when the power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
15. WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, this apparatus should not be exposed to rain or moisture, and objects filled with liquids, such as vases, should not be placed on this apparatus.
16. To completely disconnect this equipment from the mains, disconnect the power supply cord plug from the receptacle.
17. The main plug of the power supply cord shall remain readily operable.

WARNING: Listen Carefully. Polk Audio loudspeakers and subwoofers are capable of playing at extremely high volume levels, which could cause serious or permanent hearing damage. Polk Audio, Inc. accepts no liability for hearing loss, bodily injury, or property damage resulting from the misuse of its products.

Keep these guidelines in mind and always use your own good judgment when controlling volume: You should limit prolonged exposure to volumes that exceed 85 decibels (dB). For more about safe volume levels, go to www.polkaudio.com/education/article/SPL/, or refer to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) guidelines at www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/noise/standards_more.html.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Caution: Subwoofers are heavy. Exercise caution when unpacking your subwoofer.

Please inspect your loudspeaker carefully. Notify your Polk dealer if you notice any damage or missing items. Keep the carton and packing material. It will do the best job of protecting your speaker if it needs to be transported.

Your system includes a detachable power cord that’s packaged separately from the cabinet. Insert the female end into the receptacle on the amplifier plate and insert the polarized AC plug into a wall outlet (or power strip) as per the safety instructions found on the inside cover of this manual. We do not recommend connecting the subwoofer’s AC power cord to your receiver’s switched outlet.

PLACING YOUR SUBWOOFER IN A ROOM

• Your PSW Series subwoofer is not magnetically shielded. Do not place near video monitors. (LCD, DLP, and Plasma televisions are not affected by magnetism.) Allow at least 18″ (45cm) of space between your subwoofer and any television, but if you do notice video distortion or discoloration, immediately move the subwoofer away from the TV.
• Your PSW Series subwoofer offers many placement options: in an entertainment center, behind furniture, or next to a sofa or chair. You may place your subwoofer anywhere in the room, but you’ll enjoy the best performance when it’s on the same side of the room as your system’s front speakers (Figure 1).
• Placing your subwoofer near a wall or in a corner will increase its loudness. When placing your subwoofer in the room, always place your subwoofer on its base feet side down (Figure 2). If you can at all avoid it, do not place your subwoofer next to an open door.
• We do recommend placing your subwoofer in different locations within your room to learn what produces the best sound quality for your listening environment.
• For more information on subwoofer placement, go to www.polkaudio.com/education/article.php?id=20.

CONNECTING THE SUBWOOFER TO THE SYSTEM—HOOKUP OPTIONS

Important Note: Use only one of these options. Never combine hookup options.

OPTION #1—

Receivers that include a “Sub Out” feature—the most common hookup method with Dolby® Digital receivers.

PSW10—

NOTE: The PSW10 subwoofer does not have an LFE input. Instead, use either the L or R Line input (another hookup option is to use a Y-split cable and connect both L and R Line inputs). After you make this Sub Out connection, turn the “Low Pass” filter fully clockwise. This will, in effect, create an LFE input.

PSW12—

NOTE: Connect a single RCA cable from the “SUB OUT” of your receiver to the LFE input of the subwoofer. This connecting method bypasses the subwoofer’s internal filter and relies on the filter built into your receiver. Make no other signal connections.

Do not use speaker wire to make the connection to the subwoofer.

• Connect all speakers directly to the receiver. When using method #1, adjust your receiver’s speaker configurations as follows: Set Front, Center, and Surround speakers to “small.”
• Depending on your speakers’ bass output capabilities, set the crossover frequency on the receiver to 80Hz for tower and bookshelf speakers (speakers with a woofer 5 1/4″ in diameter or larger) and 100-120Hz for satellite speakers.
• Receiver Settings:
• Front, Center, and Surrounds = “SMALL”
• Subwoofer = “ON,” or “YES,” or “PRESENT.”

Consult your receiver’s owner’s manual for speaker configuration.

OPTION #2—

Two-channel or Dolby® Pro Logic receiver with no “Sub Out.” If you elect to use the speaker-level inputs, use two-conductor 16-gauge or thicker speaker wires. See your Polk dealer for wire recommendations. Note that one of the speaker input terminals on the rear of the speaker is marked red (+) and the other black (-). Make certain that you connect the wire from the red (+) terminal of your receiver to the red (+) terminal on your speaker, and the wire from the black (-) terminal of the receiver to the black (-) terminal on your speaker.

Speaker wire has some indication (such as color coding, ribbing, or writing) on one of the two conductors to help maintain consistency. If your subwoofer doesn’t seem to produce much bass, it is most likely that one of the speaker wires is connected backwards. Double-check all connections for correct polarity. Strip 1/2″ (12mm) of insulation from each of the two conductors on both ends to expose the bare wire. Twist the exposed wire of each conductor to form two unfrayed strands. Note: Do not use the line or LFE input in this configuration.

• Connect the left and right front speaker outputs of your receiver to the speaker-level inputs of the powered subwoofer using speaker wire.
• Then, connect the left and right front speakers using speaker wire from the speaker-level outputs from the powered subwoofer.
• Connect the Center Channel Speaker directly to the center channel output from your receiver.
• Connect the Rear Surround Satellites directly to the rear or surround channel outputs from your receiver.
• Receiver Settings:
• Front speakers = LARGE
• Subwoofer = “OFF” or “NO.”
• Center and Surrounds = SMALL

OPTION #3—

• Receivers with full-range (unfiltered) Left and Right “Pre Out” jacks (this is the least commonly used hookup).
• Connect the left and right preamp outputs from your receiver to the left and right LINE LEVEL inputs of the subwoofer. Do not use speaker wires.
• When using method #3, it is necessary to adjust the settings on your receiver as follows:
• Receiver Settings:
• Front speakers = LARGE
• Subwoofer = “OFF” or “NO.”

ADJUSTING YOUR SYSTEM

SUBWOOFER ADJUSTMENTS

Your Powered Subwoofer offers a range of setting options. We recommend the following settings as starting points, but the settings that are best for you depend upon your speaker placement, electronics, and personal taste. After you’ve become familiar with what the settings do, experiment with alternate options to find the method that works best for your system setup. You’ll find an informative article on “Subwoofer Positioning and Adjustment” in the setup section at: www.polkaudio.com/education/article.php?id=19.

Note: When you set up your subwoofer for the first time, you will probably have to make adjustments several times before you hear what you personally like. Start with the volume at 50%.

AC POWER CONNECTION AND AUTO ON/OFF

Your PSW Series subwoofer features auto on/off circuitry, marked “auto” on the power switch, which automatically turns your subwoofer on when it senses a program signal. We recommend the “auto” setting if your subwoofer is always receiving power (i.e., if it’s plugged into a wall outlet).

When no signal is present, the circuit turns the subwoofer off after 15 minutes. If you are concerned about the brief delay between when the music starts and when the subwoofer turns on, simply leave your subwoofer in the “On” position. You may want to leave your PSW system unplugged during extended periods of non-use, such as during a vacation.

FINE TUNING YOUR SUBWOOFER

• Volume—Adjust by ear using a wide variety of CDs and video sources. Adjust for deep, powerful bass without “boominess.”
• Low Pass—NOTE: (PSW12) This control does not operate when the subwoofer is connected with Method #1 (LFE Input). This control adjusts the frequency range over which the subwoofer operates. When using smaller main speakers, the upper range of the control will probably yield the best results. With larger speakers, the lower end of the control range will probably sound best, but always let your ear be the final judge. If male vocals sound “thin,” turn this control up until the voice sounds rich but not “boomy.” If male vocals sound too “thick” or “chesty,” turn this control down until the voice sounds natural.
• Phase Switch—Sit in your favorite listening position. Play music (not a movie) with a walking bass line. We recommend playing jazz or country music. Now listen carefully for the point at which the subwoofer transitions to your main speakers. This is the crossover point, and this point should be below the frequency of a male human voice. Whichever phase setting sounds louder or fuller at the subwoofer’s crossover (transition) point is the optimum setting. Sometimes, no difference will be heard.

TROUBLESHOOTING

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SERVICE

If, after following these hookup directions, you experience difficulty, please double-check all wire connections. Should you isolate the problem to the speaker, contact the authorized Polk Audio dealer where you made your purchase, or call Polk Audio’s friendly Customer Service Department at 1-800-377-7655 (calls from the US or Canada only), (outside the US or CAN, 410-358-3600), 9 am to 6 pm EST, Monday through Friday.

You may also contact us via email: [email protected]. For more detailed hookup information and manual updates, visit: www.polkaudio.com. For recommended accessories (including speaker stands, brackets, accessories, and exclusive Polk Audio logowear), visit our Webstore: http://shop.polkaudio.com.

SPECIFICATIONS

LIMITED FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY

Polk Audio, Inc., warrants to the original retail purchaser only. This warranty will terminate automatically before its stated expiration if the original retail purchaser sells or transfers the product to any other party. Polk Audio, Inc., warrants, to the original retail purchaser only, that the LOUDSPEAKER(S), PASSIVE CROSSOVER COMPONENT(S), and ENCLOSURE on this Polk Audio Loudspeaker Product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of five (5) years from the date of original retail purchase from a Polk Audio Authorized Dealer.

Furthermore, Polk Audio, Inc., warrants, to the original retail purchaser only, that any AMPLIFIER OR OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENT that may be included in this Polk Audio Loudspeaker Product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of three (3) years from the date of original retail purchase from a Polk Audio Authorized Dealer.

To allow Polk Audio to offer the best possible warranty service, please register your new product online at: www.polkaudio.com/registration or call Polk customer service at 800-377-7655 in the USA and Canada (outside the USA: 410-358-3600) within ten (10) days of the date of original purchase. Be sure to keep your original purchase receipt.

Defective Products must be shipped, together with proof of purchase, prepaid and insured to the Polk Audio Authorized Dealer from whom you purchased the Product, or to the Factory at 2550 Britannia Boulevard, Suite A, San Diego, California 92154. Products must be shipped in the original shipping container or its equivalent; in any case, the risk of loss or damage in transit is to be borne by you.

If, upon examination at the Factory or Polk Audio Authorized Dealer, it is determined that the unit was defective in materials or workmanship at any time during this Warranty period, Polk Audio or the Polk Audio Authorized Dealer will, at its option, repair or replace this Product at no additional charge, except as set forth below. All replaced parts and Products become the property of Polk Audio. Products replaced or repaired under this warranty will be returned to you, within a reasonable time, freight prepaid.

This warranty does not include service or parts to repair damage caused by accident, disaster, misuse, abuse, negligence, inadequate packing or shipping procedures, commercial use, voltage inputs in excess of the rated maximum of the unit, cosmetic appearance of cabinetry not directly attributable to defect in materials or workmanship, or service, repair, or modification of the Product which has not been authorized or approved by Polk Audio. This warranty shall terminate if the Serial number on the Product has been removed, tampered with, or defaced.

This warranty is instead of all other expressed Warranties. If this Product is defective in materials or workmanship as warranted above, your sole remedy shall be repair or replacement as provided above. In no event will Polk Audio, Inc. be liable to you for any incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use the Product, even if Polk Audio, Inc. or a Polk Audio Authorized Dealer has been advised of the possibility of such damages, or for any claim by any other party. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the above limitation and exclusion may not apply to you.

All implied warranties on this Product are limited to the duration of this expressed Warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied Warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you. This Warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you also may have other rights which vary from state to state.

This Warranty applies only to Products purchased in Canada, the United States of America, its possessions, and U.S. and NATO armed forces exchanges and audio clubs. The Warranty terms and conditions applicable to Products purchased in other countries are available from the Polk Audio Authorized Distributors in such countries.

For More Manuals By Polk Audio, Visit ManualsLibraryy.

Polk Audio PSW10 Powered Subwoofer-FAQs