INFINITY REFERENCE SUBWOOFERS

Owner’s Manual
SUB R10
SUB R12
SUBWOOFER REAR-PANEL CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS

+ +

SUB R10/R12

1) Crossover Control: This control determines the highest frequency at which the 6) On/Standby LED: When the Power switch is in the ‘On’ position, this LED indicates
subwoofer reproduces sounds. The higher you set the Crossover control, the higher in whether the subwoofer is in the On or Standby state.
frequency the subwoofer will operate, allowing it to mate better with smaller speaker
systems that output less bass on their own. • When the LED glows green, the subwoofer is turned on.
2) Phase Switch: This switch determines whether the subwoofer transducer's piston-like • When the LED glows red, the subwoofer is in the Standby mode.
action moves in and out in phase with the applied signal. If the subwoofer were to play out of 7) Line In/LFE Input Connectors:
phase with the main speakers, the sound waves from the main speakers could partially cancel
out the sound waves from the subwoofer, reducing bass performance and sonic impact. This • When you’re connecting the subwoofer to the dedicated subwoofer output of a
phenomenon depends in part on the placement of all the speakers relative to the listening receiver/processor that has its own low-pass crossover network, use the LFE Input
position and to each other in the room as well as the satellite amplifier phase. connector. When using this input, remember to also set the Crossover Control to ‘LFE’.
3) LF Trim: The LF Trim switch has a range of 0 to +4dB and by default is set at 0. You will • When you're connecting the subwoofer to the preamp or subwoofer outputs of a
want to adjust this setting depending on your personal preference, equipment, the location of receiver/processor that does not have its own low-pass crossover network, use both Line
the subwoofer, and room acoustics. In connectors. If your receiver/processor only has one subwoofer output you can use either
4) Power On Mode: When switched to 'Auto' position, the subwoofer will then be in Line In connector.
Standby mode. It will automatically turn 'On' when an audio signal is detected at its inputs, 8) Power Switch: Set this switch in the ‘On’ position to turn the subwoofer on.
and will return to the Standby mode when no audio signal is detected by its inputs after
If you will be away from home, or will not be using the subwoofer for an extended period, set
approximately 10 minutes. Otherwise, subwoofer will always remain powered until Power
this switch in the ‘Off’ position to conserve energy.
Switch is turned 'Off.'
5) Subwoofer Level: Use this control to adjust the subwoofer’s volume. Turn the knob 9) Power Cord: After you have made and verified the subwoofer’s input connections, plug the
clockwise to increase the volume; turn the knob counterclock-wise to decrease the volume. power cord into an active, unswitched electrical outlet for proper operation of the subwoofer.
DO NOT plug the power cord into the accessory outlets found on some audio components.

2 INFINITY REFERENCE SUBWOOFERS

PLACING THE SUBWOOFER
The performance of a subwoofer is directly related to its placement in the listening room and its physical
position relative to the other speakers in the system. 1. TV
2.
While it is true that in general our ears do not hear directional sounds at the low frequencies where Center
Front Left Speaker Front Right
subwoofers operate, when installing a subwoofer within the limited confines of a room, the reflections, Speaker Speaker
standing waves and absorptions generated within the room will strongly influence the performance of any
subwoofer system. As a result, the specific location of the subwoofer in the room does become important to
the amount and quality of bass that is produced.

For example, placing the subwoofer next to a wall generally will increase the amount of bass in the room;
placing it in a corner (1) generally will maximize amount of bass in the room. However, corner placement
can also increase the destructive effect of standing waves on bass performance. This effect can vary
depending on the listening position – some listening positions may yield very good results while others
may have far too much (or too little) bass at certain frequencies.
Surround Left Surround Right
Speaker Speaker
In many rooms, placing the subwoofer along the same plane as the left and right speakers (2) can produce
the best integration between the sound of the subwoofer and that of the left and right speakers. In some 3.
rooms, the best performance could even result from placing the subwoofer behind the listening position (3).

We strongly recommend that you experiment with placement before choosing a final location for your
subwoofer. One way you can determine the best location for the subwoofer is by temporarily placing it in
the listening position and playing music with strong bass content. Move around to various locations in the
room while the system is playing (putting your ears where the subwoofer would be placed), and listen until
you find the location where the bass performance is best. Place the subwoofer in that location.

CONNECTING THE SUBWOOFER

TO A RECEIVER OR PREAMP/PROCESSOR WITH A LOW-PASS FILTERED DEDICATED SUBWOOFER OUTPUT

Receiver/Processor

SUBWOOFER
LFE OUT

TO A RECEIVER OR PREAMP/PROCESSOR WITH PREAMP OUTPUTS

Receiver/Processor

PREAMP
OUTPUT

INFINITY REFERENCE SUBWOOFERS 3

OPERATING THE SUBWOOFER
TURNING THE SUBWOOFER ON AND OFF Notes on Setting Subwoofer Volume:
Set the subwoofer’s Power switch to the ‘On’ position. Now set the subwoofer’s Power • Sometimes the ideal subwoofer volume setting for music is too loud for films, while
On Mode to the ‘Auto’ position. The subwoofer will automatically turn itself on when it the ideal setting for films is too quiet for music. When setting the subwoofer volume,
receives an audio signal, and it will go into Standby mode after it has received no audio listen to both music and films with strong bass content and find a ‘middle ground’
signal for approximately 10 minutes. The subwoofer’s LED will glow green when the volume level that works for both.
subwoofer is on and will glow red when the subwoofer is in Standby. • If your subwoofer always seems too loud or too quiet, you may want to place it in a
If you will not be using the subwoofer for an extended period – for instance, if you’re different location. Placing the subwoofer in a corner will tend to increase its bass output,
going on vacation – set the Power Switch to the ‘Off’ position. while placing it away from any walls or corners will tend to lessen its bass output.

SUBWOOFER ADJUSTMENTS: CROSSOVER CONTROL SUBWOOFER ADJUSTMENTS: PHASE

The Crossover control adjusts the subwoofer’s built-in low-pass filter crossover between The Phase switch determines whether the subwoofer driver’s piston-like action moves in
50Hz and 150Hz. This adjustment helps achieve a smooth transition of bass frequencies and out in phase with the with the applied signal. If the subwoofer were to play out of
between the subwoofer and various sized speakers for a variety of different rooms and phase with the speakers, the sound waves from the speakers could partially cancel out
subwoofer locations. the waves from the subwoofer, reducing bass performance and sonic impact. This
phenomenon depends in part on the placement of all the speakers relative to the
To set the Crossover control, listen for the smoothness of the bass frequencies where the
listening position and to each other in the room as well as the satellite amplifier phase.
subwoofer transitions to the main speakers. If the bass in this region seems too strong,
try a lower Crossover control setting. If the bass in this region seems too weak, try a Although in most cases you should leave the Phase switch in the ‘Normal’ position, there
higher Crossover control setting. If you’re connecting the subwoofer via the LFE Input is no absolutely correct setting for the Phase switch. When the subwoofer is properly in
connector (from a dedicated subwoofer output of a receiver/processor that has its own phase with the speakers, the sound will be clearer and have maximum impact, and
loss-pass crossover network), set the Crossover Control to ‘LFE’. percussive sounds like drums, piano and plucked strings will sound more life-like. The
best way to set the Phase switch is to listen to music that you know well and to set the
SUBWOOFER ADJUSTMENTS: VOLUME switch in the position that gives drums and other percussive sounds maximum impact.
Use the Level control to set the subwoofer’s volume. Turn the knob clockwise to increase
the subwoofer’s volume; turn the knob counterclock-wise to decrease the volume. Once
you have balanced the subwoofer’s volume with that of the other speakers in your
system, you shouldn’t have to change the Level control setting.

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INFINITY is a trademark of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other countries.
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Part No. 398-PAP-10120-OWAE
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4 INFINITY REFERENCE SPEAKERS