+ to red terminal
(color stripe, ridges or cooper)
3/8"
(9mm)
bare wire
- to black terminal
(plain or silver)
Your AR Subwoofer delivers powerful, deep bass sound output for a natural, life-
like sonic experience. Please follow the directions in this manual to achieve the
best performance from your system.
The hook-up and operation of the Subwoofer is the same for both a Home
Theater surround sound system or a stereo music system. The Subwoofer has its
own built-in amplifier, so it works with any sound system. The Subwoofer’s own
crossover network sends bass-only signals to the Subwoofer’s built-in amplifier.
This lets the Subwoofer add extra bass to the out put from your other speakers.
For simplicity, we call your Home Theater system’s or music system’s main
speakers the Front speakers. We call your AV receiver, stereo receiver, or
integrated amplifier the Receiver.
Placement
Your AR Subwoofer must sit on the floor, preferably in a corner, to work properly.
The floor and corner are actually a part of the Subwoofer’s design. Place your
Subwoofer in the corner nearest your system’s electronic components to keep
wire or cable runs short.
Controls & Connections
POWER CORD:
Plug the power cord into an AC wall outlet or other AC outlet
capable of supplying at least 200 Watts.
POWER SWITCH:
Turns the AC supply
completely OFF,ON or
sets the Subwoofer to
AUTO ON operation. In
AUTO ON, the
Subwoofer is in standby
mode until it detects an
audio signal input, then
the Subwoofer turns on
automatically. A few
minutes after audio input
signals cease, the
Subwoofer automati-
cally returns to standby
mode.
POWER INDICATOR LED:
This is inside the front AR logo.
FUSE 250V 3A:
This fuse protects against internal and external faults. If the
POWER switch is ON and the power indicator LED is unlit, unplug the power cord
from the AC outlet and check the fuse by unscrewing the center piece from the
holder.
IMPORTANT-
If the fuse is blown, replace it only with a fuse of the same
type and current rating.
L, R SPEAKER-IN TERMINALS:
See Connection Option 1. These terminals are
for making connections using speaker wire. If you use this option, do not use
Option 2.
LFE INPUT JACK
: Allows direct connection from the receiver with an internal
low pass filter. This connection bypasses the subwoofer internal crossover
circuitry. Use only with appropriate Surround
Sound processor / amplifier.
LFE OUTPUT JACK:
This connector is connected internally to the LFE input
jack and allows you to loop the LFE input signal out to another LFE input on an
additional AR powered loudspeaker or subwoofer.
LINE IN JACKS:
See Connection Option 2. These jacks are for input
connection using audio cables. If you use this option, do not use Option 1.
LOW PASS FREQUENCY CONTROL:
Adjusts the upper frequency limit for
audio signals going to the subwoofer amplifier. This control helps you adjust the
system's tonal balance.
LEVEL CONTROL:
Balances the loudness of the Subwoofer relative to the Front
speakers and compensates for room effects on the Subwoofer’s output.
PHASE SWITCH:
The Phase Switch controls the phase of the Subwoofer’s
output relative to the front speakers. Listen carefully to the sound quality while
playing a CD with low bass. Select the position of the switch that produces the
fullest deep bass without boominess. You may need to readjust the Volume and
Crossover controls after setting the Phase Switch.
Connecting your Subwoofer
IMPORTANT
: When you make connections, make sure that the power switches
of all components, including the Subwoofer, are OFF.
Speaker wire:
Typical speaker wire has a pair of separate conductors with
insulating jackets that are molded together. We recommend that you use 16-
gauge speaker wire for hooking your Receiver to your Front speakers. To make
connections to the Subwoofer in parallel with the Front speakers easier, the
speaker wire connecting the Receiver to the Subwoofer can be smaller (higher
gauge number), since the Subwoofer does not draw large amounts of power
through these wires.
Polarity
All speakers in a system must be connected with the same polarity.
Speaker wire is marked for polarity so that you can identify which wire in the pair
is which. Polarity is shown by a color stripe on the insulation, by ridges molded
into the insulation, or by the colors of the wires – one copper and one silver. Strip
the insulation from speaker wire ends to reveal the bare conductors before
connecting to Receiver, Subwoofer or Speaker terminals.
IMPORTANT:
Always connect the red (+) terminal on the Receiver to the red (+)
terminal on the Subwoofer, and the black (-) terminal on the Receiver to the black
(-) terminal on the Subwoofer. The same is true for hooking the Receiver outputs
to the Front speakers: red (+)to red (+), and black (-) to black (-).
IMPORTANT: Use Option 1 or Option 2, not both.
OPTION 1. Connection with speaker wire
Connect speaker wires from the Receiver’s front left and right speaker outputs
to the Subwoofer’s left and right Speaker In terminals, as well as the left and
right front speakers.
OPTION 2. Connection with audio cable
This connection uses a low level stereo sub signal. This is usually found on
receivers equipped with Dolby
®
Digital decoding. Locate the subwoofer outputs
on the back of your receiver. Using a standard RCA cable connect the subwoofer
output on the back of your receiver to the Line-In on the back of the sub-woofer.
If your receiver has a mono sub output , connect the RCA cable to the Left Input
on your subwoofer.
Adjusting the Subwoofer controls
• Play a program on your system. Use a Dolby
®
Digital or Dolby
®
Pro-Logic signal,
or a music CD. Adjust the Receiver’s volume control for a comfortable sound level
from the system speakers.
•Increase the Subwoofer’s LEVEL Control setting clockwise, so that you hear the
deep bass. Adjust the control for a natural, musical balance that has plenty of deep
bass sound when it’s actually present in the music.
Listen carefully to bass voices and, if needed, adjust the
LOW PASS
FREQUENCY
Control so that they sound natural. Setting the frequency too high
will make deep voices sound excessively “chesty” or resonant and will give the
upper bass in music a “one-note” quality. Setting the frequency too low will make
deep voices sound “thin” and will give the music a lack of “warmth.”
The
PHASE SWITCH
controls the phase of the Subwoofer’s output relative to the
front speakers. Listen carefully to the sound quality while playing a CD with low
bass. Select the position of the switch that produces the fullest deep bass without
boominess. You may need to readjust the Volume and Crossover controls after
setting the Phase Switch.
• Make fine adjustments until the program has satisfying and natural sound quality
on both bass voices and music.
Troubleshooting
SUBWOOFER POWER INDICATOR LED DOES NOT LIGHT
• Check the AC outlet the Subwoofer is plugged into to be sure that it is live. You
can use a tester or plug in a lamp to check it.
• If the AC outlet is live, either the power cord or Subwoofer has a problem. Unplug
the power cord from the AC outlet and check the fuse by unscrewing the center
piece from the holder. If it is blown, replace the fuse only with a fuse of the same
type and rating. If this doesn’t help, take the Subwoofer to your dealer for service
NO SOUND FROM THE FRONT SPEAKERS
• Be sure the Receiver and Subwoofer POWER switches are in the ON positions.
• Check the Receiver’s Volume Control setting — if it is all the way down, there
won’t be any sound.
• Check that the Receiver’s Input Selector is set to an active source of audio
signals and that a Tape Monitor Loop is not engaged.
• Be sure that the Receiver’s Speaker Selector switch is turned on to the terminals
[A or B, 1 or 2] that you have your Front speakers connected to. If the Receiver has
a headphone jack, you can use headphones to check the Receiver for output.
• Check the wires and connections from the Receiver’s Front Speaker Output
terminals to the Subwoofer’s SPEAKER-IN terminals.
• Try removing the Subwoofer from the system, leaving your Front speakers
connected to the Receiver. If there still is no sound, take the Receiver to your
dealer for service.
NO SOUND FROM THE SUBWOOFER
• First, be sure there is sound from the Front speakers and that the Receiver is
working correctly as outlined above.
•Check the Subwoofer’s LEVEL control. If it is all the way counterclockwise, there
may be no sound.
• The Subwoofer only reproduces deep bass sound. If the program has no deep
bass, the Subwoofer will not make any sound. Play a program with plenty of bass,
such as jazz or rock music, or an action movie.
• If everything else checks OK, take the Subwoofer to your dealer for service -
THERE ARE NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
Limited Warranty
This warranty remains in effect for five years from date of purchase for speaker
components, one year on subwoofer amplifiers and electronic components.
This warranty protects the original owner providing that the product has been
purchased from an authorized AR dealer in the United States. The original bill of
sale must be presented whenever warranty service is required. For warranty
service outside the United States, contact the authorized AR distributor in the
country where the product was purchased.
Except as specified below, this warranty covers all defects in material and
workmanship.
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT COVERED:
Damaged caused by accident, misuse,
abuse, product modification or neglect, damage occurring during shipment,
damage from failure to follow instructions contained in the owners manual,
damage resulting from the performance of repairs by someone not authorized by
AR, or any claims based on misrepresentations by the seller. This warranty does
not cover incidental or consequential damages. It does not cover the cost of
removing or reinstalling the unit. This warranty is void if the serial number has been
removed or defaced.
You are responsible for transporting your product for repair. However, AR will pay
return freight charges if the repair is covered under warranty.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may also have other rights which
vary from state to state. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of
incidental or consequential damages or limitations on how long an implied
warranty lasts, so the above may not apply to you.
How to Obtain Service
Please contact us at (800) 225-9847 or write to:
Acoustic Research (Attention: Customer Service Department)
AB Tech Services
17C Airport Drive
Hopedale, MA 01747
We will promptly advise you of what action to take. We may direct you to an
authorized AR Service Center or ask you to send your speaker to the factory for
repair. You will need to present the original bill of sale to establish the date of
purchase. Please do not return the product to the above address, as it is not a
service location. You are responsible for transporting your product for repair and
for payment of any initial shipping charges. However, we will pay the return
shipping charges if the repairs are covered under warranty.
Specifications - PL900 Subwoofer
Driver Complement and Enclosure
10" (25.4cm) Woofer in a tuned-port enclosure
Frequency Response: 23Hz-150Hz
Amplification Power output: 175 Watts RMS into 4 Ohms
Total Harmonic Distortion: 10% @ 175 Watts output
Crossover Frequency Variable: 50-150Hz
Special Features: Variable-Gain, Phase Switch
Finish: Black Ash with Silver Front Baffle
Dimensions (HxWxD):
17.75" x 10" x 18.5"
Weight: 35 lbs (10.9kg)
SUBWOOFER
RECEIVER
FRONT LEFT
SPEAKER
FRONT RIGHT
SPEAKER
SUBWOOFER
RECEIVER
LEFT SPEAKER
RIGHT SPEAKER
