3
6. Replace the power cord with one that is correct for the region
where the amplifier is being used.
Line Inputs and Outputs
The A800 amplifier has L
INE
I
NPUTS
and L
INE
O
UTPUTS
. Use these
connections if your receiver or preamp has a line-level sub-
woofer output. If the subwoofer output is mono you can connect
it to either the A800’s Left or Right L
INE
I
NPUT
.
If your system has a separate preamp and power amplifier you
can use the A800’s L
INE
I
NPUT
and L
INE
O
UTPUT
jacks to connect
the amplifier between the preamp and power amp.
I
M P O R TA N T
: I
F Y O U A R E U S I N G T H E
A 8 0 0 ’
S
H
I
L
E V E L
I
N P U T S
(
S E E PA G E
3), DO NOT
M A K E A N Y C O N N E C T I O N S
T O T H E
L
I N E
L
E V E L
I
N P U T S
.
H
I
L
EVEL
Inputs and Outputs
C A U T I O N : D
O
N O T
C O N N E C T T H E
A 8 0 0 ’
S
H
I
L
E V E L
I
N P U T S T O A N A M P L I F I E R W I T H A F L O AT I N G G R O U N D O R A
B R I D G E D O U T P U T
. B
E F O R E U S I N G T H E
H
I
L
E V E L
I
N P U T S
,
C H E C K T H E O T H E R A M P L I F I E R
’
S D O C U M E N TAT I O N
.
If your system’s electronics do not have preamp outputs or
subwoofer outputs you can connect its left and right speaker
outputs to the A800’s H
I
L
EVEL
Inputs. Then connect the A800’s
H
I
L
EVEL
Outputs to your left and right speakers. Always make
sure to connect the A800’s “+” terminals to the electronics’ and
speakers’ “+” terminals, and its “–” terminals to the electronics’
and speakers’ “–” terminals.
I
M P O R TA N T
: I
F Y O U A R E U S I N G T H E
A 8 0 0 ’
S
L
I N E
L
E V E L
I
N P U T S
(
S E E A B O V E
) , D O N O T
M A K E A N Y C O N N E C T I O N S
T O T H E
H
I
L
E V E L
I
N P U T S
.
A
UTO
O
N
Switch
When this switch is in the
ON
position the A800 will
automatically turn ON when it senses a signal on either of its
inputs. The amplifier will remain on for approximately 5
minutes after the signal has ceased. If you want to manually turn
the amplifier ON and OFF, set the A
UTO
O
N
switch to the
OFF
position. This allows the amplifier to be switched ON and OFF by
the front-panel P
OWER
button.
Subwoofer Output
The A800 amplifier features a binding post speaker connector
that can accept bare wire and wire terminated in pins or
single banana connectors. The amplifier can drive a single
Virtuoso in-wall or in-ceiling woofer, or two Virtuoso woofers
connected in parallel.
N
O T E
: I
F U S I N G S I N G L E B A N A N A C O N N E C T O R S
,
B E S U R E T H E
S
U B W O O F E R
O
U T P U T
T E R M I N A L S
A R E
C L O S E D
(
R O TAT E D
F U L LY
C L O C K W I S E
)
B E F O R E I N S E R T I N G T H E C O N N E C T O R
.
If you use bare wire, make sure you strip only enough wire (½")
to fit into the hole in the terminal. Before inserting the wire, twist
all strands tightly to prevent strays that could cause a short
circuit between the “+” and “–” terminals. To make a secure
connection, insert the wire in the direction of terminal rotation
(clockwise) to force the wire around the terminal post.
Front Panel Features
P
OWER
Button
When the rear-panel A
UTO
O
N
switch is in the
OFF
position, the
P
OWER
button turns the A800 ON and OFF. If the A
UTO
O
N
switch
is in the
ON
position the P
OWER
button will have no effect.
A
CTIVE
LED
The A
CTIVE
LED illuminates whenever the A800 is operating.
A.C. O
N
LED
The P
OWER
LED indicates that the A800 is connected to an active
power outlet.
L
EVEL
Control
The L
EVEL
control sets the subwoofer’s volume. When setting the
A800’s L
EVEL
control by ear, try to find a volume setting where the
bass sounds balanced on both music and films. Listen to several
different music recordings and film soundtracks that contain
strong bass passages and try to find a setting for the L
EVEL
con-
trol that doesn’t over-emphasize the bass or make it sound weak.
The most accurate way to set the L
E V E L
control is with
calibrated test noise or test tones and a sound-pressure level
(SPL) meter or real-time analyzer. There are several CDs and
DVDs that contain subwoofer test signals. If you use an SPL
meter, set the A800’s L
EVEL
control so that the subwoofer plays at
the same volume as the system’s other speakers.
P
HASE
Control
The P
HASE
control can be adjusted from 0° to 180°. At the 0°
setting, a positive input voltage will cause the subwoofer’s
speaker cone to move
out
(towards the room). When the P
HASE
control is at the 180° setting a positive input voltage will cause
the subwoofer cone to move
in
(away from the room). This allows
you to better match the timing of the woofer with the timing of
your left and right speakers so that their signals all reach your
ears properly aligned (in phase) with each other.
There is no absolute correct setting for the P
HASE
control. When
the woofer is properly in phase with the left and right speakers
the sound will be clearer and have maximum impact in the
midbass range. This will make percussive sounds like drums,
piano and plucked strings sound more life-like.
The best way to adjust the P
HASE
Control is to listen to music that
you are familiar with and adjust the control so that drums and
other percussive sounds have maximum impact.
F
REQUENCY
Control
The F
REQUENCY
control adjusts the amplifier’s internal crossover
between 50Hz and 250Hz. The crossover’s slope is 12dB/octave.
The higher you set the F
REQUENCY
control the higher in frequency
the connected subwoofer will operate.
S O N A M P
®
A 8 0 0 S U B W O O F E R A M P L I F I E R
