14 Overloading – Do not overload wall
outlets, extension cords or integral
convenience receptacles, as this can
result in a risk of fire or electric shock.
15 Non-use Periods – The power cord of
the appliance should be unplugged
from the outlet when left unused for a
long period of time.
16 Object and Liquid Entry – Never push
objects of any kind into this product
through openings, as they may touch
dangerous voltage points or short out
parts that could result in a fire or
electric shock. Never spill liquid of any
kind on the product.
17 Servicing – Do not attempt to service
this product yourself, as opening or
removing covers may expose you to
dangerous voltage or other hazards.
Refer all servicing to qualified service
personnel.
18 Damage Requiring Service – Unplug
this product from the wall outlet and
refer servicing to qualified personnel
under the following conditions:
a
When the power-supply cord or
plug has been damaged.
b
If liquid has been spilled or objects
have fallen into the appliance.
c
If the product has been exposed to
rain or water.
d
If the product does not operate
normally by following the operating
instructions. Adjust only those
controls that are covered by the
operating instructions, as an
improper adjustment of other
controls may result in damage and
will often require extensive work by
a qualified technician to restore the
product to its normal operation.
e
If the product has been dropped, or
damaged in any way.
f
When the product exhibits a distinct
change in performance – this
indicates a need for service.
19 Replacement Parts – When
replacement parts are required, be
sure the service technician has used
replacement parts specified by the
manufacturer or have the same
characteristics as the original part.
Unauthorised substitutions may result
in fire, electric shock or other hazards.
20 Safety Check – Upon completion of
any service or repairs to this product,
ask the service technician to perform
safety checks to determine that the
product is in proper operating
condition.
21 Wall or Ceiling Mounting – The product
should be mounted to a wall or ceiling
only as recommended by the
manufacturer.
22 Heat – The product should be situated
away from heat sources such as
radiators, heat registers, stoves, or
other products (including amplifiers)
that produce heat.
WARNINGS:
CAUTION: 120V versions of the product are
supplied with a power cord equipped with
a polarised plug. To prevent electric shock,
match wide blade of plug to wide slot, fully
insert.
Ensure the plug is fully inserted into the wall
outlet or extension cord receptacle to
prevent blade or pin exposure.
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not
expose this equipment to rain or moisture.
Observe all warnings on the equipment
itself.
To avoid electrical shock, do not open the
enclosure or remove the amplifier from the
rear panel. There are no user serviceable
parts inside. Refer all service questions to
an authorised B&W dealer.
Ensure that the voltage indicated on the
amplifier panel matches that of the power
supply.
The mains fuse holder is located on the
back panel of the amplifier module.
Replacement fuse must be of the same
type and rating as supplied and marked on
the product.
The product does not require earthing
(grounding).
Ensure the product is adequately ventilated.
Do not prevent air from circulating round
the rear amplifier panel. Do not obscure or
block the openings in the panel. Do not use
the product in a rack, bookcase, cabinet or
cupboard unless the volume behind the
product is adequately ventilated to the
room space.
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Bowers and
Wilkins AS™1 Active Subwoofer.
Since its foundation in 1966, the continuing
philosophy of B&W has been the quest for
perfect sound reproduction. Inspired by the
company’s founder, the late John Bowers,
this quest has entailed not only high
investment in audio technology and
innovation but also an abiding appreciation
of music and the demands of film sound to
ensure that the technology is put to
maximum effect.
The AS™1 has been designed for Home
Theatre installations and to augment the
bass performance of full-range speakers in
2-channel audio use. Adding the subwoofer
to your system not only extends the bass
to lower frequencies, it improves the
midrange clarity by reducing the low-
frequency demands on your existing
speakers.
Please read through this manual fully before
using the subwoofer. All sound installations
require some planning and experimentation
if you are to get the best out of the
products used and this manual will guide
you in this process.
As the subwoofer is connected to the
electricity power supply, it is important that
you familiarise yourself with the safety
instructions and heed all warnings.
Keep this manual in a safe place for future
reference.
B&W loudspeakers are distributed to over
60 countries worldwide and we maintain an
international network of carefully chosen
and dedicated distributors. If you have a
problem, which your dealer cannot resolve,
our distributors will be more than willing to
assist you.
Unpacking
(figure 1)
The easiest way to unpack the subwoofer
and avoid damage is as follows:
• Open the carton flaps right back and
invert the carton and contents.
• Lift the carton away from the product.
We recommend that you retain the
packaging for future use.
Positioning the subwoofer
Because the subwoofer produces only low-
frequency sounds, positioning is less critical
in some respects compared to full-range
speakers. Directional information is much
less precise and you have more choice
where to place the speakers to good effect.
This said, best results are obtained if the
subwoofer is placed between the satellite
speakers or in the vicinity of one of them. If
you use two subwoofers, it is best to put
one near each satellite speaker.
Placing the subwoofer behind the listeners,
even in surround sound installations,
generally gives inferior imaging, but may be
an acceptable compromise if domestic
considerations dictate.
If the subwoofer is to be used in a confined
space (eg in custom furniture), the space
must be ventilated to allow sufficient air to
circulate and cool the unit. Ask your dealer
for advice.
Electrical connections
Disconnect all sound system equipment
from the power supply until the signal
connections have been made and checked.
This avoids the risk of damage whilst
connections are made or broken.
The subwoofer will input and output line-
level signals via the RCA Phono sockets
located on the back panel.
The function of the subwoofer is to receive
signals from the amplifier and then feed full
range signal to the satellite speakers. The
single RCA Phono input allows you to feed
low bass to the subwoofer drive unit if
required.
Use the following table to select the correct
wiring method for your installation:
Home theatre
(figure 2)
Connect the dedicated RCA Phono socket
on the home theatre processor to the RCA
Phono input of the subwoofer.
2
