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Please take heed of the following before using the KEF Reference Series Subwoofer. 
Note also that the word “appliance” shall refer to the KEF Reference Series Model 209/
Model 208 Subwoofer, or any part of it.

1.

Read Instructions - 

All the Safety and Operating Instructions should be read before the

appliance is operated.

2.

Retain Instructions -

The Safety and Operating Instructions should be retained for 

future reference.

3.

Heed Warnings - 

All warnings on the appliance and in the Operating Instructions should be

adhered to.

4.

Follow Instructions - 

All Operating and Use Instructions should be followed.

5.

Water and Moisture - 

The appliance should not be used in or near water - for example, near a

bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, and the like.
This apparatus should only be used in moderate climates.

6.

Ventilation - 

The appliance should be situated so that its location or position does no interfere

with its proper ventilation. The rear panel should be at least 

15cm

from any object. The

ventilation should not be impeded by covering the ventilation openings with items such as table
cloths, curtains etc.

7.

Heat - 

The appliance should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers,

stoves or other appliances (including amplifiers) that produce heat. No naked flame sources such as
lighted candles should be placed on the apparatus.

8.

Power Sources - 

The appliance should be connected to a power supply only of the type

described in the operating instructions or as marked on the appliance.

9.

Grounding or Polarisation - 

The precautions should be taken so that the grounding or

polarisation means of an appliance are not defeated.

10.

Power-cord Protection - 

Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be

walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at
plugs, convenience receptacles and the point where they exit from the appliance.

11.

Cleaning - 

The appliance should be cleaned only as recommended by the manufacturer.

12.

Non-use Periods - 

The power cord of the appliance should be unplugged from the outlet during

lightening storms or when left unused for a long period of time.

13.

Damage Requiring Service - 

The appliance should be serviced by qualified service 

personnel when:
a)

The power supply cord or the plug has been damaged; 

or

b)

Objects have fallen or liquid has been spilled on the appliance; 

or

c)

The appliance has been exposed to rain; 

or

d)

The appliance does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in
performance; 

or

e)

The appliance has been dropped or the enclosure damaged.

14.

Servicing - 

The user shall not attempt to service the appliance beyond that described in the

Operating Instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.

15.

Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

16.

Use only with a cart, stand. tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, 
or sold with the apparatus. When the cart is used, use caution when moving the 
cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury.

17.

The mains plug is used as the disconnect device. It shall remain readily operable and should not be
obstructed during intended use. To completely disconnect the apparatus from supply mains, the
plug must be removed from the mains socket outlet completely.  

Important Safety Instructions

Important Information

Thank you for purchasing this KEF Reference
Series subwoofer. It has been designed to faithfully
reproduce high quality sound over many years of
use. Please take a little time to read these
instructions prior to use.

Your KEF Reference subwoofer is extremely
heavy. Installed correctly on a smooth, level
surface, it should be entirely safe to listen to and
to live with.

However, if you have small children, large pets, the
infirm, uneven flooring or unusually thick carpeting
in your home, then correct adjustment of the foot
assemblies is imperative for safe, stable operation
is to be achieved.

1. Read this manual carefully, especially the safety

information, before attempting to assemble
and operate the system. Please take heed of
the following safety instructions before using
the appliance. The word “appliance” shall refer
to the KEF Reference Series Model 209/Model
208 subwoofer, or any part of it. The Safety
and Operating Instructions should be retained
for future reference. All warnings on the
appliance and in the Operating Instructions
should be adhered to. 

2. All Operating and Use Instructions should be

followed. Follow the unpacking procedure
shown. Please note that lifting the heavy KEF
Reference Series Model 209/Model 208
subwoofer will require two able-bodied
persons, or consult your dealer for assistance.

3. Make sure the feet are correctly fitted before

the subwoofer is lifted to the correct position.
If the subwoofer is to be used on delicate
wooden flooring please use the supplied
protective cups which fit under the feet.

4. Trailing cables are dangerous. Ensure that all

cables are secure and tidy. The appliance
should be connected to a power supply only of
the type as marked on the appliance.
Precautions should be taken so that the
grounding and polarisation of the mains
connection are not defeated. 

The power supply cord should be routed so
that they are not likely to be walked on or
pinched by items placed upon or against it.  

5. When stripping cables use only tools designed

specifically for the purpose ie: correct wire
cutters or cable strippers. Do not attempt to
strip cables with a knife as this could result in
serious injury.

6. The appliance should not be used in or near

water or moisture - for example, near a
bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub,
in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool,
and the like.

7. The appliance should be situated so that its

location or position does no interfere with its
proper ventilation. The rear panel should be at
least 15cm from any object. The subwoofer
should be situated away from heat sources
such as radiators, heat registers, stoves or
other appliances (including other amplifiers)
that produce heat.

8. The appliance should be cleaned only as

recommended in this manual.

9. The appliance should only be serviced by

qualified service personnel. The subwoofer
should be serviced if :

a) The power supply cord or the plug has been

damaged; or

b) Objects have fallen or liquid has been spilled

on the appliance; or

c) The appliance has been exposed to rain or

moisture; or

d) The appliance does not appear to operate

normally or exhibits a marked change in
performance; or

e) The appliance has been dropped or the

enclosure damaged.

K7262 REF 209208 Combined Manual_v2  12/2/08  12:40  Page 2

Summary of Contents for REFERENCE 208

Page 1: ......

Page 2: ... on top of this apparatus Do not install near any heat source such as radiators stoves or other appliances that produce heat Ensure that the power plug and cord are correct for your sockets Do not use if they show any signs of damage This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules Operation is subject to the following conditions 1 this device does not cause harmful interference and 2 this devic...

Page 3: ... use To completely disconnect the apparatus from supply mains the plug must be removed from the mains socket outlet completely Important Safety Instructions Important Information Thank you for purchasing this KEF Reference Series subwoofer It has been designed to faithfully reproduce high quality sound over many years of use Please take a little time to read these instructions prior to use Your KE...

Page 4: ...ol and Control Functionality 16 Connections Setup and Fine tuning 18 connection diagrams movie only setup through the LFE input music only setup through the Left Right input combined movie and music setup connecting to the speaker inputs high level Using the Preset Equalization options 22 Using the Room Correction facility 23 Grille 24 Warranty 24 Service Information 24 Specifications 25 Reference...

Page 5: ...sure is beautiful on the outside and highly technical on the inside Attached to the inner surface are 30 ACE modules tubes of activated carbon which increase the effective internal acoustic volume by a factor of 2 ACE technology see page 8 is KEF s solution to the oldest catch 22 in loudspeaker design that to get good bass extension with good efficiency you need a large enclosure The Reference Ser...

Page 6: ...ules In fact the bass quality of ACE loaded enclosures is consistently admired by audiophiles for its clarity and detail Room Correction The listening room has a major impact on the sound of loudspeakers particularly at low frequencies In this region standing wave resonances in the room result in large peaks and dips in the loudspeaker response It is very difficult to compensate for the effect of ...

Page 7: ...F care pack is included with the subwoofer This pack contains a cleaning cloth and all the required accessories for connecting and positioning your Accessories sunlight should if possible be avoided Furthermore the cabinet should not be allowed to become wet Each Reference Series 209 subwoofer is supplied with KEF designed substantial spikes and locking nuts also in the care pack This enables fine...

Page 8: ...is is where the room correction feature on the Reference Series 209 subwoofer becomes such an important feature As the sub bass low frequency sound produced by the subwoofer is close to omni directional positioning of the subwoofer is less critical than with full range conventional speakers However it is advised that the subwoofer is not positioned too close to the listener It is often recommend t...

Page 9: ...mplifier and the KEF Reference Series 209 subwoofer or use the Line level LFE input described below Line input LFE This dedicated line level input is specifically for LFE Low Frequency Effects output from a surround sound processor Please note that single ended phono or balanced XLR connections are available however they must not be used simultaneously The LFE input to the subwoofer is not be affe...

Page 10: ...d are not applicable to the LFE input where it is assumed an external surround sound processor is controlling the bass management externally L R EQ Selects the Equalisation EQ that is applied to the LEFT and RIGHT line level inputs There are 7 different EQs as defined on page 22 The subwoofer will default to the standard flat EQ unless an alternative is selected LFE EQ Selects the EQ that is appli...

Page 11: ...to switching the amplifier ON L R L R L R L R Stereo line level connections Stereo speaker level connections L R C SUB LS RS L R C SUB LS RS LFE line level connections For use with bass limited small main loudspeakers LFE line level connections For use with full range large main loudspeakers K7262 REF 209208 Combined Manual_v2 12 2 08 12 40 Page 18 ...

Page 12: ...level input is specifically for the LFE Low Frequency Effects output from a surround sound A V processor Please note that single ended phono or balanced XLR connections are available however they must not be used simultaneously The LFE input to the subwoofer will not be affected by the frequency or slope settings which apply only to the Left and Right channel line inputs Once your subwoofer is con...

Page 13: ...position Please note that you can press SETUP at any point to abort the room correction process and stop the sweep sounding Connect the supplied KEF microphone with the supplied XLR lead to the rear of the subwoofer Press room correction SETUP on the remote control Remove the grille and place the microphone 2 inch 50mm away from the subwoofer driver Press SELECT and wait whilst a sweep is sounded ...

Page 14: ...e suction vacuum cleaner with soft brush attachment Your Reference Series Model 209 subwoofer is guaranteed against manufacturing defects in both materials and workmanship For further details of how this guarantee affects you please read the enclosed Warranty leaflet It should be noted however that failure of the loudspeaker due to abuse improper or inappropriate use and or operation or damage cau...

Page 15: ...W Class D amplifier has been custom designed to form a seamless partnership Utilising a switched mode power supply top end performance can be delivered in a highly efficient unit without compromising cabinet design The acoustically inert cabinet is beautifully hand finished with a level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that complements the precision of the components it contains The Bass r...

Page 16: ...ou should notify your retailer or consultant immediately Retain the packaging in case a need arises for you to transport the subwoofer at a later date You will notice that a special KEF care pack is included with the subwoofer This pack contains all the required accessories for connecting and positioning your loudspeakers The care pack Accessories Each Reference Series 208 subwoofer is supplied wi...

Page 17: ... rock at all Subwoofer Positioning The listening room is one of the most variable elements in the hi fi chain and its effect cannot be emphasised too strongly nor can its effects be reliably predicted As the sub bass low frequency sound produced by the subwoofer is close to omni directional positioning of the subwoofer is less critical than with full range conventional speakers However it is advis...

Page 18: ...ly for an LFE Low Frequency Effects output from a surround sound processor Please note that single ended phono or balanced XLR connections are available however they must not be used simultaneously The LFE input to the subwoofer is not affected by the frequency or slope controls and it will not therefore conflict with the bass management settings applied by the external surround sound processor Gr...

Page 19: ...ases the internal low pass filter cut off frequency in the subwoofer between 40Hz and 140Hz so that it integrates smoothly with the main speakers It is only applied to the Left and Right inputs and is not applicable to the LFE input where it is assumed an external surround sound processor is controlling the bass management externally Subwoofer Satellite Integration Correct Subwoofer Satellite Inte...

Page 20: ...to switching the amplifier ON L R L R L R L R Stereo line level connections Stereo speaker level connections L R C SUB LS RS L R C SUB LS RS LFE line level connections For use with bass limited small main loudspeakers LFE line level connections For use with full range large main loudspeakers K7262 REF 209208 Combined Manual_v2 12 2 08 12 40 Page 36 ...

Page 21: ...the controls whilst listening to a varied selection of music until you are satisfied with the sound balance Combined movie and music setup The Reference Series 208 subwoofer can be used for both main speaker low frequency extension and the LFE channel reproduction for a surround sound system Set the subwoofer up as described in section Music Only Setup With the subwoofer correctly set up for stere...

Page 22: ...the loudspeakers and therefore when faults occur careful and analytical diagnosis will be required to locate the actual source of trouble Faults in a loudspeaker will be audible on all programme sources A fault which is evident only when playing CDs but not for example when using a radio tuner is unlikely to originate with the loudspeakers Service problems should be discussed in the first instance...

Page 23: ...using it as the surround to the loudspeaker diaphragm while using new materials for the diaphragm itself Cooke was always looking for new materials and settled on Bextrene as a solution as its lightweight plastic sheet like properties were flexible enough for shaping and the material remained stable under varying temperature and moisture conditions and was smooth and consistent over a wide bandwid...

Page 24: ...with KEF s coupled cavity bass loading a system which positions the drivers internal to the enclosure each separately loaded and firing into a third common chamber which delivers very tight and accurate bass to the listening area via a substantial front mounted port This combines the taut sonic character of a sealed box with the higher sensitivity of a reflex design and succeeds in providing a hug...

Page 25: ...wledge that all of his original and noble principles remained intact and would always do so Recognition that year for the Reference Series Model Four had reached a peak with world wide acclaim Reviews by internationally famed and respected writers were quick to praise the merits of the company s new flagship model with its fourth generation Uni Q driver and to point out the sheer engineering excel...

Page 26: ...ion the presence of the granules makes each enclosure sound twice as big as it actually is Yet more KEF innovations soon followed The KIT KEF Instant Theatre concept for example proved an immediate hit an integrated multimedia home entertainment system for consumers who want a complete user friendly package that offers quality sound without being complicated to set up One of the most revolutionary...

Page 27: ...K7262 REF 209208 Combined Manual_v2 12 2 08 12 41 Page 50 ...

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Page 29: ... Heinrichstraße 51 D 44536 Lünen Deutschland Tel 49 0 231 9860 320 Fax 49 0 231 9860 330 GP Acoustics France SAS 39 Rue des Granges Galand BP414 37554 Saint Avertin CEDEX France Tel 33 0 2 47 80 49 01 Fax 33 0 2 47 27 89 64 GP Acoustics HK Limited 6F Gold Peak Building 30 Kwai Wing road Kwai Chung N T Hong Kong Tel 852 2410 8188 Fax 852 2401 0754 KEF JAPAN 1 11 17 Honcho Koganei City Tokyo JAPAN 1...

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