PSB Speakers HD10 Speaker User Manual

H
D
1
0
/
To state the obvious, deep bass is
fundamental to realistic sound reproduction.
Music and movies alike depend heavily on
the lowest octaves of human hearing to
communicate the power, impact, and “you-arethere” excitement of the sonic experience.
But your hearing can’t respond to what isn’t
present, and reproducing true deep bass
accurately, dynamically, and musically is no small
matter. Neither is doing so from a conventionally
engineered ultra-compact subwoofer. In fact, it
borders on the impossible.
H
D
8
S
u
b
W
o
HD10 - 750W Continuous Power
HD8 - 500W Continuous Power
Dual Opposing Heavy Passive Radiators
o
f
e
r
s
By declining, as always, to accept standardpractice design norms as immutable rules, the
talented PSB engineering team has created
the PSB HD8 and HD10 to provide astonishing
deep bass, high output performance from cubes
measuring only 10-1/2” and 12” respectively.
Vibration Absorbing Feet
The Challenge
The challenge of subwoofer design can be
summed up quite simply yet completely as
follows. “Small, deep, loud: pick two.” Achieving
all three goals from a single design package
– with PSB’s legendary musicality – is on the face of things an impossible
task, one that requires overturning, or at least overpowering, the laws of
physics. PSB’s HD8 and HD10 do so with a singular combination of brute
force and engineering finesse.
Small, Space Saving Footprint
Fortunately, PSB is no conventional company. For three decades and more
PSB has been creating innovative, high-performance, high-value solutions to
the challenges of sound reproduction. Company founder Paul Barton and the
PSB team are internationally known for leading fundamental research into
loudspeakers, room acoustics, listener response, and the interactions among
them. Consequently, PSB’s cumulative knowledge-base on the workings of
sound reproduction is an unequalled resource, one that uniquely positions
PSB to create loudspeakers and subwoofers that work optimally under realworld conditions to fulfill the needs of real-world customers.
Frankly, the brute force was the easy part. The HD8 and HD10 employ
sophisticated Class H amplifiers that produce 500 and 750 watts of
continuous power respectively (and some 1,600 and 2,000 watts of peak
dynamic potential) allied with PSB’s “smart bass” monitoring system to
preserve accurate musicality at even the highest volumes and lowest
frequencies. Equally important, they do so from electronics smaller in size
and with far less heat than conventional amps—a key factor in the HD
subs’ sleight of hand.
Music First
The HD models’ bantam size and impressive power and deep-bass
extension are not the whole story, however. PSB adamantly believes that
music remains the truest test, and thus will not sacrifice accuracy to first
The finesse was a little bit harder. By creating highly specialized
impressions. Rejecting the hyped-up response by which many smaller subs
low-frequency drivers of exceptionally high mass and extraordinary
disguise a dearth of true low-frequency ability, the HD models’ focus, like
“pumping” ability (thanks to extremely long-excursion cones and
that of all PSB subs, is honest, controlled, musically accurate low bass.
remarkable power-handling and linearity), PSB had the first element of
Like their bigger PSB cohorts, they
the equation. The remainder is found
exploit “intelligent” amplifiers with
in the tiny, exhaustively computersophisticated circuitry that helps
modeled HD8 and HD10 enclosures,
S p e c i f i c at i o n s
match each sub’s drivers, enclosure,
and in their dual-opposed high-mass
HD10
HD8
and electronics into a balanced system.
passive radiators.
Ultra-Compact
Ultra-Compact
The result? Controlled, “quick,” impactPowered Subwoofer
Powered Subwoofer
Frequency Range
rich sound extending to the very lowest
A passive radiator – essentially
30-150Hz
35-150Hz
On Axis @ 0°±3dB
LF Cutoff -10dB
33Hz
28Hz
octaves, without the boom or bloat of
a large, massy, motor-less cone
(Internal Amplifier)
Input Power
(Internal Amplifier)
all too many compact woofers.
diaphragm
with
specialized
Continuous
500 Watts
750 Watts
suspension – replaces the port in
Dynamic, Peak
800 Watts, 1600 Watts
1000 Watts, 2000 Watts
Lastly, PSB recognizes that even the
a vented or “bass-reflex” speaker
Acoustic Design
Woofer (Nominal)
1 x 8” (200mm)
1 x 10” (250mm)
largest, most powerful subwoofer will
design (generally the lowest2 x 8” Passive Radiator
2 x 10” Passive Radiator
Polypropylene Cone
Polypropylene Cone
someday encounter its limits—sooner
distortion subwoofer option). In
Variable 50-150Hz,LR4
Crossover
Variable 50-150Hz,LR4
rather than later, if there’s a teenager
our “small, deep, loud” engineering
Low Pass Filter
Low Pass Filter
Design Type
Passive Radiator
Passive Radiator
involved. Thus, like virtually every
conundrum, as we make the
maker of serious subwoofers we design
enclosure smaller, the port must also
Net Dimensions
10 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 10 1/2"
12 x 12 x 12"
(267 x 267 x 267mm)
(W x H x D)
(305 x 305 x 305mm)
in electronic monitoring and controls.
shrink to maintain the same deepGross Dimensions*
12 9/16 x 12 13/16 x 13 1/8" 11 x 11 5/16 x 11 5/8"
The PSB HD8 and HD10 are among the
bass extension. But at the optimum
(W x H x D)
(279 x 287 x 295mm)
(319 x 325 x 333mm)
industry’s “smartest,” with rigorously
port diameter, length must grow,
Weight
modeled algorithms that match each
via labyrinthine internal ductwork
Net
25.0 lb (11.3kg)/each
38.0 lb (17.2kg)/each
Shipping
30.0 lb (13.6kg)/each
45.0 lb (20.4kg)/each
model’s capabilities, and that are
that for true extension necessitates
shaped to follow statistical models of
six or eight feet or more of length.
Finish
Satin Black
Satin Black
actual music and filmsound rather than
Effectively requiring more internal
Features
Rear mounted volume,
Rear
mounted
volume,
test tones. Like all such well-designed
volume than a small cabinet affords
crossover & continuously
crossover & continuously
variable phase controls,
variable phase controls,
circuits, PSB guards the HD models
– and forget about room for driver,
Auto on/off, LFE input/
Auto on/off, LFE input/
from undergoing dangerous overdrive
amplifier, or controls – this presents
output, LL Stereo in/out,
output, LL Stereo in/out,
HL Stereo in with 5-way
HL Stereo in with 5-way
or producing obvious distortion; unlike
a bit of a problem. The PSB HD
gold plated binding posts, gold plated binding posts,
12V Trigger
12V Trigger
most, they do so without crushing
subs’ dual passive radiators crack
* Gross dimensions include volume knob / speaker terminals / connectors / feet / grilles.
the dynamic subtleties from music, or
this dilemma. Carefully calculated
Note: Installers should allow a minimum clearance of 2 - 4 inches for wire management.
compromising the thunderous impact
to complement each model, they
of big-action filmsound.
tune the HD cabinets to frequencies
similar to that of much larger enclosures.
Why “HD”?
Contrary to what you might guess, the “HD” in HD8 and HD10 does not
There’s more. PSB’s dual-opposed high-mass passive radiators achieve
denote “high definition”—though their eminently musical low-frequency
unprecedented excursion in their own right—as much as two inches
performance certainly qualifies. Instead, it stands for “high density.” If you
peak-to-peak—in order to preserve output down to the very lowest notes
took a PSB HD sub apart (please don’t!) you would find that its driver, dualand deepest sounds. Their progressive suspension preserves nearopposed high-mass passive radiators, and power-amp/electronics modules
perfect motion, and thus low-distortion clarity, at all frequencies and
interlock to virtually fill the tiny enclosure’s interior, much like one of those
drive levels. And by arranging the dual passive radiators on opposing
carved wooden puzzles that seem so simple yet only fit together in one
cabinet faces, unwanted vibrations are cancelled and more energy is
precise, brain-stretching fashion.
launched out into the room as deep bass—and the HD8 and HD10 are
rendered much less likely to shake and “walk” across a hard floor, as
While the HD Subwoofers’ technical details may be of interest mostly to
some well-known sub-compact subs are known to do. (To inhibit any
engineers, their results should be obvious to all: Deep, powerful, highresidual such tendency, PSB developed special compliant feet that keep
impact reproduction of even the most challenging soundtracks and musical
the HD subs in place on any surface, even marble flooring.) Extra-heavyperformances—all from subwoofers with an ultra-compact footprint. Realduty aluminum cast woofer “baskets,” oversized magnet structures, and
world musicality that’s second to none. Virtually unlimited extension to the
large-diameter, ultra-high power voice coils are just three more elements
very threshold of audibility. And mind-bending, solar-plexus-massaging
that empower the HD8 and HD10 to churn out musically accurate low
bass.
frequencies — and to continue to do so for years to come.
www.psbspeakers.com
1 888 772 0000
PSB Speakers reserves the right to change specifications or features without notice.
© 2007 PSB Speakers, a division of Lenbrook Industries Limited. PSB is a registered trademark of Lenbrook Industries Limited.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form whatsoever without the written permission of PSB Speakers. 611 SubSeries HD Data.