All Paradigm
®
Reference speakers are designed to provide superior high-end
sound in a wide variety of domestic settings. However, it is important to
note that listening room construction, dimensions and furnishings all play a
part in the quality of sound you ultimately achieve. Your listening room will
impose its own character on the performance capabilities of any speaker
system. The extra care you take in correctly positioning the speakers will
result in greater listening enjoyment. Keep the following guidelines in mind
when deciding on the best speaker placement:
• Mid and high frequencies are affected by the amount of soft furnishings
in your room—curtains, carpets, sofas, wall coverings, etc. An excess
of such items can result in a somewhat dull sound. The same room
without any soft furnishings can produce a bright overall sound. The
typical quantity of soft furnishings found in most living situations provides
the right acoustic characteristics to allow the speakers to sound balanced.
• Concrete floors and walls tend to aggravate low-frequency standing
wave problems and are less preferred.
• Rooms where height, width and length are similar should be avoided
as they can exhibit significant low-frequency standing wave problems.
This may result in reduced clarity. If no other room is possible, experiment
with speaker placement to minimize acoustic problems.
SPEAKER CONNECTION
Turn all amplifier(s) OFF before connecting your speakers.
This will avoid damage which could result from accidental
shorting of speaker cables.
For optimal sound reproduction the use of high-quality speaker cable is
essential. The chart (below right) identifies the minimum gauge require-
ments for various lengths.
(See Dealer for more information.)
All Paradigm
®
Reference speakers are equipped with binding posts that can
be used with banana, pin, or spade connectors, as well as with bare wire.
Connect one speaker at a time to ensure proper connection of every channel.
NOTE:
Some Paradigm
®
Reference speakers have two sets of input
terminals connected externally with jumper bars. These speakers can be
bi-wired or bi-amplified to achieve even better performance. Follow the
instructions under “Other Connection Options,” page 6.
Standard Connection
(Fig. 2)
Connect the red (+) amplifier terminal to the red (+) speaker terminal and
the black (-) to the black (-). Tighten the posts firmly by hand, but do not
over-tighten. Make sure wires are firmly fastened. Repeat this connection
procedure for each speaker in your system.
NOTE:
If you hear a distinct lack of bass and a dislocated stereo image
(from the front left/right speakers) then one or more of your speakers may
have been connected out of phase (their polarity is reversed). Re-check to
ensure that each speakers’ cable is connected with correct polarity: red (+)
to red (+) and black (–) to black (–).
SPEAKER PLACEMENT
Paradigm
®
Reference ADP
™
Surround/Rear speakers are a full bandwidth
design, precisely timbre matched to Paradigm
®
Reference front and center
speakers to ensure a profoundly seamless multichannel soundstage. They
are designed to be used with their drivers firing toward the front speakers
and back wall, ensuring a large reverberant soundfield.
NOTE:
Your ADP
™
speakers may be marked “left” and “right” indicating
placement for optimal performance. This refers to your left and right as you
are seated in the main listening area looking toward the front speakers.
5.1 Configuration – Side Wall Placement
(Fig. 1a)
Position ADP
™
speakers on either side of the primary listening area, at
about 6 – 9 ft (2 – 3 m) high.
5.1 Configuration – Corner Placement
(Fig. 1b)
Alternatively, surround speakers can be placed in each of the adjacent
back corners behind the primary listening area. They can also be moved
out from the back corners (maintaining the same angle position) and
placed as close as 3 ft (1 m) from the main listening area.
6.1 Configuration
(Fig. 1c)
Begin with the
5.1 Surround Configuration – Side Wall Placement, out-
lined earlier, then place one ADP
™
speaker in the center rear, behind the
primary listening area.
7.1 Configuration
(Fig. 1d)
Begin with the
5.1 Surround Configuration – Side Wall Placement,
outlined earlier, then position another pair of ADP
™
speakers behind
the primary listening area, with one speaker positioned slightly right
of the seating position, the other slightly left.
LENGTH
DIAMETER
GAUGE
Under 4.5 m (15 ft)
1.3 mm (0.05 in)
16 awg
Under 9 m (30 ft)
1.6 mm (0.06 in)
14 awg
Over 9 m (30 ft)
2.0 mm (0.08 in)
12 awg
MINIMUM GAUGE REQUIREMENTS
5
ROOM ACOUSTICS
