KALI AUDIO SM-5-C, User Manual

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Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 7
Amplification and Signal Chain
For full output with minimum distortion, Kali recommends bi-amplifying the speakers using an LEA®
amplifier with at least 100W per channel. Therefore the minimum choice for a pair of SM-5-Cs would
be an LEA® Connect 164.
Nearly full output and acceptable distortion may also be attained using the single wire tuning and
one of LEA®’s 80W amplifiers. This means that it is possible to amplify up to four speakers using an
LEA® Connect 84 or up to 8 using an LEA® Connect 88. Max SPL will be 1 dB lower and distortion
will be slightly higher at full output.
Single Wire vs. Bi-Amped
While Kali recommends bi-amplifying the speakers, single wire use is more convenient and economi-
cal. Single wire mode adds a small amount of distortion from the lower frequency cutoff of the system
through 700 Hz vs. bi-amped at comparable playback levels. The single wire tuning also introduces
a frequency response anomaly at the high end of the loudspeaker’s response, although this may be
corrected with full-range room calibration.
Using an LEA ® amplifier
Configuration files for LEA® amplifiers can be found by clicking this link . Refer to pages 12-14 for
instructions to program these files into your LEA® amplifier.
3rd-Party Amplifier Minimum Requirements
If you’d like to use a different amplifier, you’ll need to make sure that it can deliver 20VRMS into a
3 Ohm load. Most amplifiers rated for 100W at 4 Ohm should be sufficient, but you’ll need to verify
that the amplifier you select is capable of handling a 3 Ohm load. Use of an amplifier with <100W per
channel power delivery other than the LEA® Connect 84 and Connect 88 amplifiers is not supported.
The amplifier, or some other component after the amplifier in your signal chain, will need to include
a peak limiter. Using the SM-5-Cs without a peak limiter will void your warranty. Kali Audio is not
responsible for damage incurred to the speakers if a peak limiter is not used. Peak limiter specifica-
tions can be found on pages 9-11 . It is also recommended to use an RMS limiter.
Loudspeaker Tuning and Room Tuning
The SM-5-Cs must be used with a signal processor that can provide at least 8 bands of EQ per speak-
er. The recommended LEA® amplifiers have this built in. If you’re using a 3rd party amplifier, you
should search for one that also has this feature. Otherwise, you can use a processor like Avid®’s
MTRX Studio to apply loudspeaker tunings.
It is recommended to tune the loudspeakers for the room that they’re being used in as well. This
tuning may processed by a dedicated signal processor like the Avid® MTRX studio, or via a software
solution like Sonarwork®s SoundID. If you’re using one processor for both loudspeaker and room
tuning, program in the loudspeaker tuning parameters found on pages 9-11 , and then add additional
channels of EQ for room tuning.