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SP-8S Features

The SP-8S is a high-quality subwoofer designed to deliver extremely low
frequencies in conjunction with stereo pairs of studio reference monitors such as
the M-Audio Studiophile SP-8B or SP-5B. In fact, so many consumers have
subwoofers in their home and car entertainment systems that you’re not really
mixing accurately without having a sub yourself. 

M-Audio’s engineers designed the SP-8S to meet professional quality
performance standards and to provide superior value. Your SP-8S is constructed
using high-quality components such as the 8-inch mineral filled polypropylene
woofer cone. We use only selected grade components throughout the circuit
design, placing special emphasis on components within the audio path to assure
stable, consistent performance. We’ve built in a unique smooth-clipping circuit
to deliver a warm musical sound similar to a vacuum tube. This circuit also
provides overload protection for safe and high volume performance.

The SP-8S incorporates a unique Stereo Bass Management System. When
subwoofers are added to many systems, all frequencies are routed to both the
main monitors and the sub. The problem is that both the main monitors and the
sub are still trying to put out the same low frequencies, duplicating the playback
of some of the low frequencies and thereby compromising monitoring accuracy. 

Our Stereo Bass Management System solves that and delivers optimal fidelity.
The SP-8S’s internal crossover network splits the signal at a user-defined
crossover frequency, routing everything below it to the internal sub and
everything above it to the main outputs. This significantly improves fidelity
because the sub and mains aren’t tripping over each other to reproduce the same
frequency—and each component only has to reproduce frequencies to which it is
ideally suited.

Your SP-8S also features auto-muting circuitry that automatically turns the
subwoofer on when it senses a program signal while turning it off to conserve power
when no signal is present. Various controls also allow you to adjust the performance
of the SP-8S in conjunction with the rest of your system. While the SP-8S is easy to
operate, we suggest that you take a few minutes to read the rest of this manual in
order to derive optimal audio quality from your new subwoofer. Enjoy!

First Things First

In order to avoid risk of damage and insure optimum performance from your
SP-8S Subwoofer, please take time to read this manual before you proceed to
unpack and install it.

4

Summary of Contents for Studiophile SP-8S

Page 1: ...tereo Bass Management 6 Using the SP 8S without Stereo Bass Management 6 Connecting an Additional Subwoofer 7 Operation 8 Power Modes 8 Setting the HPF Bypass Switch 8 Optimizing the Rear Panel Settin...

Page 2: ...2...

Page 3: ...used either the L or R input may be used to input signal to the SP 8S 7 Auto Power On Off Switch When this switch is set to On Auto Power mode is engaged Switching to Off will defeat Auto Power mode 8...

Page 4: ...is that both the main monitors and the sub are still trying to put out the same low frequencies duplicating the playback of some of the low frequencies and thereby compromising monitoring accuracy Our...

Page 5: ...ranty Positioning the Subwoofer in the Studio In theory the best position for the SP 8S subwoofer is midway between the satellite speakers with its front facing forward and in the same plane as the fr...

Page 6: ...trol knob for your particular needs Please see the section Optimizing the Rear Panel Settings for information on how to do this Also note that the HPF Bypass switch is set to Off in this scenario Usin...

Page 7: ...b to the desired cutoff frequency for the SP 8S Once again the Satellites HPF control knob is not operational with the HPF Bypass switch set to On Connecting an Additional Subwoofer If you have a larg...

Page 8: ...ions where you intend to play the system at very low volume or if Auto Power mode will not meet your application for any other reason you can switch the Auto Power On Off switch to the Off position Wh...

Page 9: ...ement against a wall alone Setting the Phase Control The purpose of the Phase control 3 is to match the phase of the Satellite HPF cut off frequency to the phase of the Subwoofer LPF cutoff frequency...

Page 10: ...he subwoofer has to reproduce shown above and a high pass filter that limits the lower frequencies the satellite monitors have to reproduce shown below The Subwoofer LPF cutoff frequency 4 and Satelli...

Page 11: ...rs are under damped boomy sounding as shown in curve b experiment with setting the Satellite crossover frequency control higher If they are over damped dry sounding as shown in curve c experiment with...

Page 12: ...volume of your audio system If you begin to hear a sustaining sound quality before you are able to advance the volume control to a setting representing loud listening acoustic feedback is a problem Yo...

Page 13: ...one XLR balanced output for additional subwoofer Controls Level Phase Subwoofer Frequency Satellite Frequency Switches Auto on off Satellite high pass output bypass Input Impedance 20k ohms balanced...

Page 14: ...MAN determines that the product requires repair because of user misuse or regular wear it will assess a fair repair or replacement fee The customer will have the option to pay this fee and have the un...

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