GoldenEar Technology
8
Invisa 525-650 Manual
3
Amplifier Distortion — #1 Threat to your New Speakers!
Amplifier distortion is the principal cause of speaker damage. When listening at loud levels your amplifier may run
out of clean power. It will then begin to produce speaker-damaging distorted power. This will damage any brand of
speaker very quickly! More powerful amplifiers are actually safer — For example: A 40 Watt/channel amplifier
will have substantial distortion above 40 Watts. If driven to 50 Watts, this amplifier will deliver speaker-damaging
distorted power! But a 100 Watt/channel amplifier will have very low distortion below 100 Watts. Therefore, when the
speaker requires 50 Watts, this more powerful amplifier will deliver clean power and speaker damage is less likely to
occur. (See your GoldenEar Technology dealer for amplifier recommendations.)
Do not be fooled by the Volume setting of your system. It only adjusts listening level — it is not a “power-output” dial.
The amount of amplifi er power actually used at a given Volume setting depends solely on the nature of the source
material you are listening to (at a given Volume setting a quiet section of music will use less amplifi er power than
a loud section). With typical material, the rated output power of many receivers/amplifi ers is often reached when
the Volume is set to around -10dB, or between the “11” and “1 o’clock” settings with an analog control (with bass/
treble and loudness controls not used — otherwise rated power may be reached at even lower Volume settings).
Remember, all amplifi ers produce distortion when operated beyond their rated output power. The resulting
distortion will damage all speakers! If you listen at loud levels, be careful to listen for the point of audible distortion —
if the speakers begin to sound distressed, turn the Volume down or your speakers and/or amplifi er(s) will be
damaged! This type of damage constitutes abuse and is not covered by the warranty. If louder volumes are
desired, consider a more powerful amplifi er.
There is Actually a Limit!
Even with these safer, more powerful amplifiers, there is a point at which you could have more power than the
speaker can handle. At that point you will overpower the speaker and damage it. At loud levels do not increase
bass/treble controls from zero and ensure that all loudness/contour/bass EQ buttons are off (otherwise rated
output power will be reached at even lower volume control settings).
The Right Amount of Power
A power-range rating is given in the specifications as a guide to indicate the approximate minimum and
maximum power input of your GoldenEar Invisa
®
speakers. Amplifiers that meet or even exceed the speaker’s
power-range rating are recommended as their greater power reserves provide better sound. But always use the
speakers within their power-range rating to prevent damage — that is, keep listening levels below the point of
obvious audible distortion.
Setting Bass and Treble Controls on Receiver or Amplifier
Normally we recommend that you set the “Bass” and “Treble” controls on flat (or off, or 0 dB). Same applies for a
graphic equalizer; we recommend that you leave it flat (or off). This will give you the most accurate and natural
sound. If you want more bass, raise your subwoofer’s “Level” control (or raise the subwoofer level on you’re a/v
receiver), keeping in mind that even a little turn of the knob can make a big difference in the sound. The reason
for this recommendation is that we have discovered what is often thought to be improper sounding speakers
is, in fact, a problem caused by the use of tone controls. When in doubt, leave them out (flat); this almost always
results in the best possible and most natural sounding system performance.
Volume Setting
