IMPORTANT SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS - READ
CAREFULLY !
Caution: To prevent the risk of electrical shock, match wide blades of plug to wide slot, fully
insert. Caution: The unit is still connected to the mains even if switched off.
Read Instructions: All safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is
operated.
Retain instructions: Safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
Heed Warnings: All warnings on the product & operation instructions should be
adhered to.
Follow Instructions: All operating and use instructions should be followed.
Cleaning: Unplug the product from the wall before cleaning. Do not use aerosol or liquid
cleaners, just a damp cloth.
Attachments: Do not use attachments not recommended by the product manufacturer as they
may cause hazards.
Water and moisture: Do not use this product near water. Do not expose this apparatus to
dripping or splashing and ensure that no objects filled with liquids are placed on the
apparatus.
Ventilation: Openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation and to ensure reliable
operation and protect it from overheating so they must not be blocked or covered by placing
the product on a bed, sofa or other similar surface. This product should not be placed in a
built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided or the
manufacturer's instructions have been adhered to.
Power Sources: This product should be operated only from the type of power source indicated
on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power supply in your home, call your
local power company.
Grounding or Polarization: This product may be equipped with a polarized alternating current
line plug. This plug will fit the power outlet in only one way as a safety feature. If you are
unable to insert the plug, try reversing it.
If the plug should still fail to fit, contact your electrician to replace your outlet. Do not defeat
the safety purpose of the plug.
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 product.
Overloading: Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords, as this can result in a risk of
electrical shock.
Object and Liquid Entry: Never push objects of any kind into this product through openings as
they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that can result in a fire or electrical
shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.
Servicing: Do not attempt to service this product yourself as openings or removing covers may
expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel.
Heat: This product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat
registers, stoves, or other appliances (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
Non-Use Periods: The power cord of the product should be unplugged from the outlet when
left unused for a long period of time.
Damage Requiring Service: The product should be serviced by qualified personnel when:
A.
The power supply cord or the plug has been damaged; or
B.
Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the appliance; or
C.
The product has been exposed to rain; or
D.
The appliance does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in
performance; or
E.
Product has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged.
F.
If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment on and off, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
•
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
•
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
•
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Please take the time to read all of the instructions contained in this manual to make
certain your system is properly installed and functioning correctly. Please retain the
carton and packing materials for this product to protect it in the event it ever has to be
shipped to a service center for repairs. Product received damaged by a service center
that has been shipped by an end user in anything other than the original packaging will
be repaired, refurbished, and properly packaged for return shipment at the end user’s
expense.
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of
athena
TECHNOLOGIES
®
speakers! Proprietary technology
and high quality manufacturing will allow you to enjoy the most natural and accurate music
reproduction for many years. The advice offered in this manual is aimed at helping you
maximize and maintain peak performance, and therefore, your listening satisfaction. Please
take the time to read all of the instructions contained in this manual to make certain your
system is properly installed and functioning correctly.
BREAK-IN PERIOD
We strongly advise that you resist the temptation to play the
athena
TECHNOLOGIES
®
speakers
to their full capabilities or experiment with critical placement and listening until they have
been properly broken in. This process should last approximately 50 to 100 hours of music
playback. This can be easily be done by putting your compact disc player on Repeat mode,
while playing a CD with a wide dynamic range at normal listening levels.
athena
TECHNOLOGIES
®
COMPANY
BACKGROUND
athena
TECHNOLOGIES
®
is the newest division of Audio Products International Corp., known
throughout the industry as "API". A Canadian company founded in 1975, The API factory is a
modern 165,000 square foot research, development and manufacturing facility located in
Toronto, Canada. API is one of the largest speaker manufacturers in the world, distributing
products to over 60 countries worldwide. A talented research and development team utilizes
advanced computer-based design and sophisticated measurement techniques in its ongoing
quest for new and better acoustic technologies. This research is based upon the years of
pioneering psycho-acoustic research developed in conjunction with the Canadian "National
Research Council" (NRC), to create speakers that achieve high performance in typical home
listening environments. Extensive research into every aspect of the speaker is analyzed and
evaluated before the design stage begins, a concept that we refer to as a holistic design
approach. This method guarantees that the finest components and materials are made and
tested with sophisticated manufacturing and quality control techniques to ensure exceptional
performance that is superior to speakers costing several times their price.
AMPLIFIER REQUIREMENTS
The
athena
TECHNOLOGIES
®
Micra series is designed to be extremely efficient. The entire series
is designed to be 8 ohm compatible allowing playback on almost any amplifier or receiver on
the market. Most amplifiers with a power rating of 20-100 watts per channel will effectively
operate
athena
TECHNOLOGIES
®
speakers.
Warning: If an amplifier or receiver is over-driven, the resulting distortion is actually
many times greater than its rated power. Over-driven amplifier distortion is called
"Clipping", easily identified by its fuzzy, distorted sound, and can damage any speaker.
The volume control of most amplifiers and receivers is a logarithmic type, which means
that full power may be reached with the volume control set at as little as the halfway
point. Operating the loudness, treble, or bass controls increases power output well
beyond rated levels. The warranty on your speakers is therefore void if the voice coils
are burned or damaged as a result of overpowering or clipping.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol. Within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated
“dangerous voltage” within the products enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to
alert the user to the presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying
the appliance.
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