Instructions for:

BassCube

™

12

& BassCube

™

10

Subwoofers

Contents

Safety Precautions ............................................................................ i, ii

Introduction ........................................................................................ 1

Unpacking ........................................................................................... 2

Audio And AC Power Connections ....................................................... 2

Placement ............................................................................................ 4

Selecting Low Pass Frequency ............................................................. 6

The Subwoofer Level Control ............................................................... 7

The Final Touch ................................................................................... 7

Installing Low-Cut Filters .................................................................... 8

Specifications ...................................................................................... 8

Replacing The Fuse ............................................................................. 9

Difficulty? ............................................................................................ 9

Limited Warranty .............................................................................. 10

Cleaning The Cabinets ....................................................................... 10

IMPORTANT

The lightning flash with arrowhead, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user of the presence of uninsulated

“dangerous voltage” within a product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute the risk of electric shock to persons.

WARNING

SHOCK HAZARD

DO NOT OPEN

TO PREVENT THE RISK OF ELECTRIC

SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE SUBWOOF-

ER’S COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE

PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO

QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

AVIS

RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE

NE PAS OUVRIR

POUR EVITER TOUT RISQUE DE CHOC

ELECTRIQUE, NE PAS DEMONTER LE

COUVERCLE DU HAUT PARLEUR.

AUCUN ENTRETIEN DES PIECES

INTERIEURES N’EST REQUIS.TOUT

SERVICE D’ENTRETIEN NE DOIT ETRE

EFFECTUE QUE PAR DU PERSONNEL

D’ENTRETIEN QUALIFIE.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user of the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying this product.

READ AND HEED IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING

ON BOTTOM OF SUBWOOFER ENCLOSURE

CAUTION:

TO PREVENT ELECTRIC

SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE OF PLUG

TO WIDE SLOT, INSERT FULLY.

ATTENTION:

POUR EVITER LES CHOCS

ELECTRIQUES, INTRODUIRE LA LAME LA PLUS

LARGE DE LA FICHE DANS LA BORNE

CORRESPONDANTE DE LA PRISE ET POUSSER

JUSQU’AU FOND.

WARNING:

TO PREVENT FIRE OR

SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT

EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE

TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The serial number for the subwoofer is located on the subwoofer’s control panel. Please write this number down and keep it in a secure area.

This is for your security.

i

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

READ INSTRUCTIONS - All safety and operating instructions should be read before the BassCube subwoofer is operated.

RETAIN INSTRUCTIONS - The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.

HEED WARNINGS - All warnings on the

BassCube subwoofer and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS - All operating and use instructions should be followed.

CLEANING - Unplug the BassCube subwoofer from the wall outlet or other power source before cleaning. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

ATTACHMENTS - Do not use any adaptors or attachments not recommended by Cambridge SoundWorks as they may cause hazards.

WATER AND MOISTURE - Do not use the subwoofer near water—for example, near a bath tub, wash bowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub; in a wet basement; or near a swimming pool or other similar areas.

ACCESSORIES - Do not place the BassCube

BassCube subwoofer on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The

BassCube subwoofer may fall, causing serious injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the product.

VENTILATION - Slots, openings and metal fins in the cabinet are provided for ventilation, to ensure reliable operation of the

BassCube subwoofer and to prevent it from overheating. These areas must not be blocked or covered such as by placing the product on a bed, sofa, very deep pile rug, or other similar surface. The

BassCube subwoofer should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack.

HEAT - The BassCube subwoofer should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, and other products (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

POWER SOURCES - The BassCube subwoofer 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 to your home, consult your product dealer or local power company.

POLARIZATION - The BassCube subwoofer may be equipped with a polarized alternating-current line plug (a plug having one blade wider than the other). This plug will fit into the power outlet only one way.

This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug. If the plug should still fail to fit, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug.

POWER-CORD PROTECTION - The AC power cord should be routed so that it is not likely to be walked on. No object should bring weight to bear on to the AC power cord.

LIGHTNING - For added protection for the

BassCube subwoofer during a lightning storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet. This will prevent damage to the subwoofer due to lightning and power-line surges.

OVERLOADING - Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or integral convenience receptacles as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock.

OBJECT AND LIQUID ENTRY - Never use probes of any kind to reach into the

BassCube subwoofer as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock.

Never spill liquid of any kind on the

BassCube subwoofer.

SERVICING - Do not attempt to service the subwoofer yourself as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.

DAMAGE REQUIRING SERVICE - Unplug the BassCube subwoofer from the wall outlet or other power source and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions: a) When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.

b) If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the BassCube subwoofer.

c) If the BassCube subwoofer has been exposed to rain or water.

d) If the BassCube subwoofer does not operate normally by following the operating instructions; or exhibits a distinct change in performance.

e) If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way.

REPLACEMENT PARTS - When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by Cambridge SoundWorks or have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, or other hazards.

SAFETY CHECK - Upon completion of any service or repairs to the BassCube subwoofer, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the BassCube subwoofer is in proper operating condition.

ii

Introduction

B ass drums, organs, and electronic synthesizers produce extremely low frequency sounds. But traditionally, few home loudspeakers are designed to reproduce bass below about 50 Hz.

Today, however, home loudspeakers are called upon to reproduce more than music: in home theater systems, they are called upon to reproduce movie soundtracks. And modern movie soundtracks contain a lot of energy at very low frequencies—on sound effects. To do full justice to these effects, as well as to the musical low frequencies missed by most speakers, the Cambridge

SoundWorks BassCube subwoofers reproduce, at high output, the lowest bass sounds the human ear can detect.

You should keep in mind when installing your system and investigating its capabilities that you will be dealing with a relatively unfamiliar range of sounds. These are sounds more felt than heard, and are encountered more often in the well-equipped movie theater than in the concert hall.

A Cambridge SoundWorks Audio/

Video Consultant is only a toll-free call away should you need advice or assistance.

Cambridge SoundWorks

1-877-YES-HIFI

(1-877-937-4434)

24 hours a day, every day

In Canada: 1-800-987-9104

Outside US or Canada:

Tel: 617-332-5936

Fax: 617-527-3194 www.cambridgesoundworks.com

E-mail: [email protected]

1

Unpacking

Upon unpacking your BassCube subwoofer, please examine it carefully for any signs of shipping damage. If there is any damage, do not install or use the subwoofer.

Consult the store where you purchased the subwoofer for assistance. If purchased through our mail order catalog service, call

Cambridge SoundWorks at

1-877-YES-HIFI.

We suggest that you keep the shipping carton and packing materials in case you want to transport your subwoofer.

2

Audio And AC Power Connections

Note: Make all connections with the

BassCube subwoofer switched off and the Bass Level control at its minimum setting.

Audio Connections

The BassCube subwoofer can be connected to a mono subwoofer output, a main amplifier’s speaker outputs, or from stereo preamp outputs.

Note: You should connect the

BassCube subwoofer to your system using either the line level inputs or the speaker level inputs–but not both sets of inputs.

Be sure the speaker wire connects the positive (+) terminals of the subwoofer to the positive (+) terminals of the amplifier or receiver (and similarly connects the negative (–) terminals together). All two-conductor speaker cable is coded along one conductor by lettering, a stripe or a raised bead

-or- the appearance of the two conductors differs, usually one copper and one silver. This allows you to easily connect the proper conductor to each terminal.

Connection Method One:

Connect from a subwoofer output using a suitable length mono phono cable with an RCA phono plug at each end (Figure 1 on page 3). Connect the phono cable to the Right channel line level input on the BassCube subwoofer.

Connection Method Two:

Connect directly from an amplifier or receiver’s speaker output terminals to the subwoofer’s Speaker

Level Inputs using conventional speaker wire. Then connect your speakers to the Out To Speakers terminals (Figure 2 on page 3).

Connection Method Three:

Connect from a stereo preamp output to the BassCube subwoofer’s

Line Level inputs. A suitable length of conventional stereo phono cable with RCA plugs at each end is all you need if your preamp has an unused stereo preamp output.

To connect between a stereo preamp and a stereo power amp, combine a suitable length stereo phono cable with two “Y” adapters.

Each adapter has one RCA male plug to two RCA female jacks (Figure 3).

Some receivers and integrated amplifiers have preamp outputs and power amp inputs that are accessible by removing jumpers from the back panel.

A Note About Dolby Digital

(AC-3), Large Front Speakers And

Powered Subwoofers

Most Dolby Digital (AC-3) decoders remove the Low Frequency Effects from the Main speakers if the

“Subwoofer Output” switch is set to

“On”. The Main speaker “Large/Small” switches may still appear to function, but no deep bass will reach the Main speakers.

This automatic deep bass filtering is unnecessary with large Main speakers.

If you wish, you can send all Low

Frequency Effects signals to both your

Main left and right speakers and to your subwoofer by turning the subwoofer output to “Off” and setting the

Main left and right speakers to

“Large”. This blends all the output of the Low Frequency Effects channel with the Main left and right speakers.

The BassCube subwoofer needs to be connected with speaker wire to the

Main speaker outputs in this case.

Power Connections

After making the audio connections, plug the power cord into any convenient 120-Volt AC, 60 Hz outlet and switch the subwoofer “On”. Do not plug it into a switched outlet on your amplifier or receiver, as either

BassCube subwoofer could draw sufficient current at high volume levels to possibly damage the switched outlet’s relay mechanism.

SURROUND DECODER OR RECEIVER

FRONT

SURROUND

L

OUTPUTS

R

CENTER

SUBWOOFER *

BASSCUBE

LINE

LEVEL

INPUTS

* Labelled “Mono” on some units.

Be sure the output signal is full-range.

L

R

MONO

Figure 1.

Surround decoder or receiver with subwoofer (mono) output

The BassCube subwoofer has an automatic “Power Off” circuit that turns off power to the amplifier circuit after it has been silent for

INTEGRATED AMP OR RECEIVER

(FRONT)

SPEAKER OUTPUTS

+

BASSCUBE

+

+

SPEAKER LEVEL INPUTS

R L +

TO RIGHT

FRONT

SPEAKER

+ R L

OUT TO SPEAKERS

+

TO LEFT

FRONT

SPEAKER

Figure 2.

Using speaker wire over 15 minutes. The BassCube subwoofer rapidly activates as soon as a new signal is present. This feature operates when the switch

PREAMP

OUTPUTS

TO POWER AMP

L R

Y-adapters

BASSCUBE

LINE

LEVEL

INPUTS

L

To power amp

(Front amp in surround system)

R

MONO

POWERED SUBWOOFER

Figure 3.

Using “Y” adapters and phono cable

3

labeled “Auto-off Setting” is in the

“Auto” position. Most home users will find this setting to be appropriate.

The “manual” position of the

“Auto-off Setting” switch keeps the amplifier operating and drawing a small current so long as the Power switch is in the “On” position. This setting is appropriate when the

BassCube subwoofer is used in professional sound studios.

Placement

Place the BassCube subwoofer in your listening room using the guidelines that follow. Listen and experiment with placement before making the installation permanent.

1. The BassCube subwoofer’s very low bass output is room-filling.

This is why it is possible to use a single powered subwoofer to reproduce all the deep bass a sound system requires. It is also the reason why the subwoofer doesn’t need be particularly close to other speakers or aimed in any direction.

2. The BassCube subwoofer can sit in a variety of positions within the listening room. Make sure there is a clear air space of at least 4 inches surrounding the BassCube subwoofer’s amplifer panel. Don’t place objects on the BassCube subwoofer (such as clothing) that could inadvertently drape down the back of the unit, restricting air flow or speaker output. Similarly, do not conceal the BassCube subwoofer behind draperies or other similar material.

3. The maximum low bass output of the BassCube subwoofer is markedly affected by adjacent room surfaces. Start by placing the subwoofer against the same wall as your front speakers, preferably in or close to a corner (Figure 4, B or C). The strongest output will be produced with the subwoofer directly in the corner, since corner

Left Satellite

BassCube

Right Satellite Left Satellite

A. LEAST BASS

Right Satellite

BassCube

B. MORE BASS

Left Satellite Right Satellite

BassCube

C. MOST BASS

Surround Surround Surround Surround Surround Surround

FIGURE 4: HOW ROOM PLACEMENT AFFECTS BASS RESPONSE

4

placement “directs” most of the bass output toward the center of the listening room. Corner placement effectively reduces the amount of bass that leaks out to other rooms.

Less bass output will result if the subwoofer is placed out in the room, away from the walls (see

Figure 4, A).

4. The larger the room, the greater the demand for low-frequency acoustic energy. The best type of room for bass reproduction in a home theater would be one moderate in size, solidly constructed, with no openings to other rooms.

While listening, shut the room’s doors and windows (if practical).

It can make a surprising difference.

Note: The BassCube subwoofer’s are designed to operate sitting on the floor. Do not place the sub-woofer in shelving or other cabinets.

Selecting Low Pass Frequency

Before you adjust the output level of the subwoofer, you should select an appropriate setting for the Low Pass

Frequency control. The proper setting depends on the bass “reach” of your main speakers. This control behaves the same whether you use the

Speaker Level or Line Level signal inputs of the BassCube subwoofer.

Because there is a small output level shift when you adjust this control, it should be set first, followed by the Subwoofer Level control.

Use the following guidelines to choose the best setting.

75

LOW PASS

FREQUENCY (Hz)

95

130

• 60 Hz to 75 Hz: For use with any of the following Cambridge

SoundWorks speakers– Ensemble ® ,

Ensemble II, Ensemble III, Tower™

Tower II, Tower III, Model Six™.

Also, any other truly wide-range, large speaker system.

Note for Ensemble owners: The

BassCube subwoofer is intended to supplement, not replace the separate subwoofers supplied with these systems. Do not disconnect your Ensemble woofers when using the BassCube subwoofer.

• 75 Hz to 130 Hz: For use with smaller bookshelf-sized speaker systems. Use this setting with the

Cambridge SoundWorks Model

Seventeen™ and Ensemble IV.

• 160 Hz: Use this setting with small main speakers or if you are connecting the subwoofer to the LFE output of a Dolby

Digital system.

60 160

(FROM LFE

OUTPUT)

Special note about line-level subwoofer outputs

Many receivers and all Dolby

Digital (AC-3) processors feature dedicated subwoofer outputs. Some of these outputs are full-frequency bandwidth. Others deliver a signal which is “Bass Only”.

Most subwoofer outputs on conventional receivers (stereo or

Dolby Surround with Pro Logic) deliver a full frequency range signal, a mono version of stereo signal fed to the main speakers. BassCube owners using this type of subwoofer output should set the Low Pass

Frequency control as described in the procedure above.

The second type of subwoofer output sends a “Bass Only” signal to the BassCube subwoofer. The most common example is the Low

Frequency Effects (LFE) channel of a

Dolby Digital (AC-3) equipped system. Set the Low Pass Frequency control to 160 (FROM LFE OUT-

PUT) with this type of subwoofer output. Try a lower frequency setting only if there is too much bass output on non-Dolby Digital

(AC-3) program material.

It is possible to improve the performance of your main speakers by the use of optional Low Cut

Filters (see page 7).

5

The Subwoofer Level Control

The Subwoofer Level Control adjusts how loudly the BassCube subwoofer plays. Start with it set midway (5), then adjust upward or downward depending on what you discover during your listening tests.

Remember the BassCube subwoofer reproduces bass that is below most frequencies of musical interest, so it is important to adjust its output level with material that contains strong, deep bass signals.

It’s easiest to adjust the Subwoofer

Level Control when listening to the appropriate film soundtracks (HiFi video cassette, Laser Disc, or DVD’s).

Action or adventure film soundtracks generally have the deepest bass signals. Try films with explosions or similar sound effects.

With the BassCube subwoofer properly adjusted, these film and video sound effects should literally be room-shaking at high playback levels. In contrast, much of the music on audio CDs should not sound any different with the

BassCube subwoofer properly adjusted. Indeed, if the subwoofer does add “boomy” or “thumpy” quality to your music, you may have the subwoofer level control set too high.

It may take several listening sessions using different films and musical sources to arrive at the single best setting for the Level

Control. The subwoofer’s Level

Control is intended to be set once and then left alone.

Once you have decided on a setting, use tone controls on your main electronics to compensate for the inevitable small differences in bass output between different recordings. If you experience any difficulty, don’t hesitate to consult your store or call a Cambridge

SoundWorks Audio/Video Consultant at 1-877-YES-HIFI.

2

3

1

SUBWOOFER

LEVEL

4

0

5

6

10

7

9

8

The Final Touch

Our “in the speaker line” Low-

Cut Filters optimize the performance your system at higher output levels by keeping the low frequencies best left to the subwoofer out of the smaller main front speakers. This eases the burden on the front speakers and amplifier, letting them play more cleanly at higher levels, a major potential benefit of having a subwoofer in the first place.

• These filters are ideal for use with Cambridge SoundWorks’

Model Seventeen, and

Ambiance ® speakers, and other conventional systems of reasonably wide range. Connect these filters between your main speakers and your amplifier.

The filters begin to block bass signals to your main speakers below about 140 Hz, so that below 100 Hz, almost no bass signals reach your main speakers.

6

Installing Low Cut Filters

• These optional filters can be connected at either end of the speaker wires of your Left and

Right Main speakers.

1) You can connect a filter’s

INPUT FROM AMP wires to speaker outputs on your receiver or amplifier, then reconnect the main speaker wire to the filter’s OUTPUT TO

SPEAKER leads with the wire nuts supplied.

2) You can also connect a filter at the speaker. Connect the filter’s OUTPUT TO SPEAKER leads to your speaker’s input terminals, then reconnect the main speaker wire to the filter’s

INPUT FROM AMP wires with the wire nuts supplied.

• As with all speaker connections, be sure to maintain consistency with respect to the + and — terminals on the receiver and those on the speakers, including the BassCube subwoofer. The connecting wires on the filters are coded by the use of one copper-colored conductor and one silver.

Specifications

Amplifier Power:

(at 100 Hz, <.5% THD)

Driver Size:

BassCube 10

75 watts

10 inches

Sensitivity for full output at 100hz.

Subwoofer level at max.

Low pass frequency set at 160 (LFE):

Line Level Input (mono), millivolts 95

Speaker Level Inputs (stereo), millivolts 250

Low Pass Filter Response: 24 dB/Octave

Frequency Response, Hz (

±

3 dB):

LP setting

60 Hz

75 Hz

95 Hz

130 Hz

160 Hz

32-75 Hz

34-85 Hz

36-100 Hz

37-120 Hz

39-150 Hz

BassCube 12

100 watts

12 inches

110

300

24 dB/Octave

27-58 Hz

27-68 Hz

28-90 Hz

28-145 Hz

29-170 Hz

7

Replacing The Fuse

A fuse protects the amplifier inside the BassCube subwoofer. If the fuse blows, it is safe to replace it with a spare 2A, 250V fuse using a screwdriver (see below). If the second fuse blows, do not attempt to replace the fuse another time.

Return the subwoofer to your store’s Authorized Repair Center. If you purchased the speaker directly from Cambridge SoundWorks, call

1-877-YES-HIFI for advice.

There are no other fuses or user-replaceable parts within the

BassCube subwoofer.

Do Not substitute a fuse of a different rating.

1.) IMPORTANT: Turn off and unplug the subwoofer before changing the fuse.

T

2A 250V

RISK OF FIRE

REPLACE FUSE

AS MARKED

FUS

E

T

2A 250V

RISK OF FIRE

REPLACE FUSE

AS MARKED

FUS

E

2A 250V

RISK OF FIRE

REPLACE FUSE

AS MARKED

FUS

E

2.) Fuse located on the back panel. 3.) Push in and turn counter clock-wise. 4.) Fuse will pop out of its casing. 5.) Gently remove and replace.

Difficulty?

If you suspect a problem with your

BassCube subwoofer, contact the store where it was purchased. If a problem is confirmed, you will need to return the subwoofer to that store or its Authorized

Service Center.

If you purchased the BassCube subwoofer through our mail order catalog service, call a Cambridge

SoundWorks Audio/Video Consultant at 1-877-YES-HIFI. An Audio/

Video Consultant will help you track down the problem, which could be in some other component in your system. If together you agree that there is something wrong with the sub-woofer, you will be supplied with a Return

Authorization Number. Please do not return the subwoofer to the factory without prior authorization.

8

Limited Warranty

BassCube 12 and

BassCube 10 Subwoofers

To the original purchaser,

Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc. will warrant the BassCube12 and

BassCube10 subwoofer to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of two

(2) years from date of purchase.

With respect to defects, Cambridge

SoundWorks will, at its option, replace the product or repair the defect in the product with no charge to the original purchaser for parts or labor. During the period from three (3) years through seven (7) years,

Cambridge SoundWorks will, at its option, repair or replace the defective product for a cost to the original prchaser of no more than

$50.00 for parts and labor.

These warranties do not extend to any defect, malfunction or failure caused by misuse, abuse, accident, faulty hookup, defective associated equipment or use of the speaker with equipment for which it is not intended.

This warranty is the sole and express warranty of the products named in its title, and is in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, of merchantability, fitness for purpose or otherwise. In no event shall Cambridge

SoundWorks be liable for incidental or consequential damages or have any liability with respect to defects other than the obligations set forth herein.

To ensure warranty coverage it is incumbent upon the original purchaser to inform Cambridge

SoundWorks or any of its Authorized Service Agencies of the defect within the warranty period.

The only acceptable method of establishing warranty status is a copy of the original proof of purchase indicating customers name and date of purchase.

Upon notification by the purchaser and reaching agreement with the purchaser that there is a defect, Cambridge SoundWorks will issue a Return Authorization

Number for the product. The purchaser will return the product

® Dolby, Pro Logic and Dolby Digital (AC-3) are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation

™ Tower and Model Seventeen are trademarks of Cambridge SoundWorks, Incorporated

® Ensemble, Ambiance and Cambridge SoundWorks are registered trademarks of Cambridge SoundWorks, Incorporated

9 to the address below, freight prepaid by the purchaser. The product shall have the Return

Authorization Number clearly marked on the outside of the package. The package must include a copy of the original proof of purchase. Please do not return a BassCube subwoofer to

Cambridge SoundWorks without prior authorization from Cambridge SoundWorks.

For warranty information contact:

Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc.

311 Needham St.

Newton, MA 02464

1-877-YES-HIFI

(1-877-937-4434) www.cambridgesoundworks.com

email: [email protected]

Cleaning

The Cabinets

If more than dusting is needed, the finish on either subwoofer can be cleaned with a window or vinyl cleaning product. Avoid spraying the cleaner underneath the cabinet to prevent damage the speaker.

311 Needham Street, Newton MA 02464

1-877-937-4434 Fax: 617-527-3194 www.cambridgesoundworks.com

Email: [email protected]

P81-1290 0400

A Company