CLS-10 / 12 Subwoofer Controls and Connections
Line-in/Line-out, Speaker-In/Speaker-Out (or Low-Level/High-Level Connections)
Line Level Connections:
These are the most commonly used inputs. If you have a contemporary
surround sound receiver or processor, it will have outputs labeled “LFE” or “Subwoofer.” Often this is a
single RCA jack. You should run a cable with male RCA connectors on either end from this output to
the left or right Line In receptacle on the sub. If your electronics offer two subwoofer outputs or you
have a “Y” connector, you can feed signal to both the left and right subwoofer line inputs. This will
result in higher drive voltage delivered to the subwoofer and it will play louder with a lower setting of
its level control. Please note that the ultimate output capability of the subwoofer will not change; you’ll
just be getting more bass at a lower level setting on the subwoofer’s control panel. Also, please see the
crossover setting information below.
Bass Management:
If your system includes a contemporary home-theater receiver or surround
processor with bass-management capability, use this feature. Enter the speaker setup menu in the
electronics and set the satellite speakers to Small as noted above. Then choose the crossover frequency
in the receiver/processor based upon the size of your speakers and the recommendations in this manual
(more detailed information is available on our website). Be sure to set the CLS-10 / 12’s crossover
bypass switch to Bypass, which eliminates the internal crossover in the subwoofer and makes your
electronics bass management settings the default mode. Set the electronics’ bass management to Yes
for subwoofer.
Once you’ve set the system speakers to Small and bypassed the subwoofer internal crossover, start with
an 80Hz crossover frequency in the electronics and check the overall bass impact and sound quality.
This recommendation is true for the Classico 1 through 4 models. However, the CL-3/4 (or other, large,
powerful speakers) warrant more experimentation because they should be capable of delivering sub-
stantial bass.
Further Bass Management Observations:
You can experiment with other frequencies, of course, but
years of experience have shown that 80Hz is often the best compromise for most systems except those
with small satellite speakers (those with 3- or 4-inch woofers). For these systems, crossovers in the 100
to 120Hz range are generally best. You’re trying to get good bass extension and impact, yet you should
not be able to localize the subwoofer or hear it as a separate entity.
For AGA compact speakers such as the Nucleus® Micro or A’Diva®, we recommend the crossover
mode as described above. This minimizes the chances of overdriving them with movie special effects
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