Welcome
Thank you for buying a DLS Reference subwoofer.
The subwoofer must be installed correctly in order to work well.
This manual will show you how to install it like a pro. Please
read the entire manual before beginning the installation.
Install the subwoofer yourself if you feel confident with our
instructions and if you have the proper tools. However if you
feel unsure, turn over the installation job to someone better
suited to it.
The speakers are designed for enclosure mounting. In "open
air" installations the power handling capacity is reduced by 30%
from the nominal value. We don’t recommend ”open air”
installations for Reference subwooers.
Connection of subwoofer
How to connect depends on what type of amplifier you use.
The best is to follow the instructions given in the manual for the
amplifier. Most amplifiers today have built-in lowpass crossover
and possibilities to connect your subwoofer in bridge mode.
Two 4 ohm subwoofers are often connected in stereo mode
since most amplifiers can’t handle bridge mode loads below 4
ohms.
Make sure to connect in ways that don’t ruin the amplifier. If you
have a DLS Ultimate amplifier it’s possible to connect the two
subwoofers in parallel, these amplifiers are 1 ohm stable.
We also recommend the use of a subsonic high pass filter. This
gives a better bass reproduction with less "rumble". In most
DLS amplifiers this feature is already built-in.
For wiring use high class speaker wires, min AWG11 (4 mm
2
).
For example
DLS SC 2x4.
Enclosure damping
Most enclosures should be damped inside with synthetic
(acoustic) wool or damping mat (line). Attach the damping ma-
terial on the wall opposite from the speaker and port.
In a vented enclosure the speaker and port should be on the
same side, otherwise a fade-out of some frequencies can occur.
In most vehicles, except for SEDAN cars, the speaker and port
should be directed backwards for best result.
Subwoofer enclosures, general
Build your enclosure in a stable and airtight material. The best
is MDF-board, 19 mm, or particle board, 22 mm. Larger
enclosures must have bracing inside to avoid vibrations. The
enclosure must be completely airtight. Use sealing compound
in all joints, also around the cable terminals. The size of the
enclosure is decided by the speaker data.
Vented enclosures
A speaker in a vented enclosure has a higher efficiency (+3 dB)
and higher power handling capacity than in a sealed enclosure.
In a vented enclosure the sound from the speaker and the port
work together creating a higher sound level. The sound from
the port must come out in the same phase as from the speaker
otherwise the result is bad.
The size of the vented enclosure is decided by the speaker
data just as for the sealed one.
The size of the vehicle often decides the practical size of the
enclosure. A smaller enclosure has a higher resonant frequency
than the larger one. The size of the enclosure should not be so
big that the speaker plays below it´s own free air resonance
(Fs), then it will loose in power handling capacity.
The port does not have to be fully inside the enclosure as long
as the area and length are correct. Sometimes you need two or
more ports in an enclosure. You can convert from one to two or
more ports as long as the total port area is the same.
RMW10 & RMW12 works best in vented enclosures. We don’t
recommend sealed enclosures for these subwoofers.
Important
Think of the speaker weight when you do your install. Use heavy
bolts when fastening the sub to the enclosure baffle.
DLS Svenska AB
P.O. Box 13029
SE-40251 Göteborg, Sweden
Tel: +46 31 840060
Fax: +46 31 844021
E-mail: [email protected]
www.dls.se
Warranty service
This speaker is covered by warranty, depending on the
conditions in the country where it is sold. If the speaker is retur-
ned for service, please include the original dated receipt with
the product.
Technical Assistance
For technical assistance ask the shop where the product was
sold or the distributor in your very country. You can always
contact the DLS Helpdesk in Sweden on e-mail :
Information can also be found on our WEB-site www.dls.se
We follow a policy of continuous advancement in development.
For this reason all or part of specifications & designs may be
changed without prior notice.
Break-in period
Allow the speaker to play for at least 15-20 hours. After this
time the performance is correct.
DLS Reference series
RMW 10 & RMW12
Car Audio subwoofers
