Operating Instructions for the ST III Range of SUB-BASS SYSTEMS REL Acoustics Limited North Road, Bridgend industrial Estate Bridgend, CF31 3TP United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)1 656 768 777 Fax: +44 (0) 1 656 766 093 Web: www.REL.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual First Printed March 4th 2003 2
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual Contents CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 3 IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS ........................................................................................................ 4 WARNING ....................................................................................................................................... 4 WELCOME.........................................
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS 1. Read all of these instructions. 2. Save these instructions for future use. 3. Unplug from the wall socket before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. 4. Do not use near water. 5. Do not place on a stand or table it may fall causing injury to a child or adult, and damage to the unit. 6. The unit should only be operated from the power source indicated on the panel of the amplifier. 7.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual WELCOME Thank you for buying a REL “ST” range Sub-Bass system. Our “ST” range is carefully hand built using the finest materials available and is designed for maximum performance. This manual contains important safety information as well as helpful advice and should be carefully studied before connecting up. WORLD WIDE WARRANTY In addition to any local Warranty, REL offer a 3-year conditional Worldwide Warranty to the end user.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual DESIGN SAFETY This apparatus is designed to Class II specification and is double insulated, therefore it does not require to be earthed. This apparatus is supplied with a fitted mains plug. For UK operation a 5 Amp fuse is fitted in the plug. Should the fuse need to be replaced use a similar rated fuse approved to ASTA or BSI 362. Do not use without the fuse cover in place. Replacement fuse covers are available from your dealer.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual Main Features of REL Strata III, Storm III, Stadium III, Stentor III and Studio III SUB- BASS SYSTEMS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Separate volume controls for both high and low level inputs Critically correct semitone resolution of the filter controls Balanced and unbalanced inputs via high quality sockets Mode switch to control phase and low level filter bypass All components of matching superior quality to achieve both long-life and long-term consistency of sound quality. 6.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual Control Panel The layout of the panel is intended to ensure total ease of use. You can use any input in combination with any other. This means that both low and high level inputs can be used concurrently. Individual volume controls for the high and low level inputs ensure precise individual adjustment for both two channel (stereo) signals and multi-channel (surround sound) signals.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS See page 11 for explanation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 Storm III Storm III panel shown, Strata III is the same with the exception of the Bal Lo Level input, not on Strata III only Storm III 9
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS (Cont) See page 11 for explanation 6 4 HI LEVEL FINE 3 LO INPUT BAL LO INPUT 0dB 5 1 MIN 10 9 8 HI INPUT BAL HI INPUT POWER 4 2 3 7 +12dB 6 MAX LO LEVEL COARSE B C A D 2 MIN MAX MODE 2 3 ROLLOFF FREQUENCY 1 2 3 4 5 6 A 22 23 25 27 28 HERTZ 30 B 32 34 36 38 41 43 C 46 49 53 56 60 64 D 69 73 78 83 89 95 CAUTION: TO AVOID RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE PANEL NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS (Cont) 1 2 MODE SWITCH. Used to set phase* and to bypass crossover for Low Level input**.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual CONNECTING UP Always switch off your system before disconnecting any wires To increase the versatility of connecting up, the “ST” range has various separate inputs depending on the model, see pages 9 and 10. To connect to the power amplifier using the UNBALANCED Neutrik high level input. To engage the Neutrik Speakon plug, insert fully into socket and rotate clockwise until locked.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual To connect to MONO BLOCK power amplifiers using the high level Neutrik UNBALANCED input To engage the Neutrik Speakon plug, insert fully into socket and rotate clockwise until locked. To remove the Neutrik Speakon plug, grip body of plug, place thumb on chrome lever, move lever backwards rotate plug anti-clockwise (counter-clockwise in the US) quarter turn and withdraw.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual To connect to differential (balanced output) power amplifiers using the BALANCED high level input To engage the Neutrik Speakon plug, insert fully into socket and rotate clockwise until locked. To remove the Neutrik Speakon plug, grip body of plug, place thumb on chrome lever, move lever backwards rotate plug anti-clockwise (counter-clockwise in the US) quarter turn and withdraw.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual To connect to the amplifier/processor using the phono to phono low level interconnect Phono to Phono Interconnect. (Not supplied) To sub/LFE output of Amplifier/Processor Sub Low Level Input Two low level inputs are provided, 0dB and +12dB, Connect as shown above using a phono to phono interconnect (not supplied). Plug one end into the sub/LFE output on the amplifier/processor and the other end into the 0dB input on the sub woofer.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual Alternative method for connecting at Low Level from pre amplifier In some circumstances it is not possible to use the high level method of connection, for example when using active speakers. Instead of using the attenuator as shown on page 15, connect as shown below using a “Y” adapter from the left and right pre amplifier outputs and a single phono to phono interconnect from the “Y” adapter to one of the low level inputs on the REL.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual To connect to a pre amplifier with low level differential (balanced) outputs To engage the XLR plug, insert fully into XLR socket until a click is heard. To RELease the XLR plug, push the lever on the XLR socket forward and pull the XLR plug out. The XLR balanced input (not fitted on Strata) is a single channel input designed for professional use when connected to a mixing desk or a pre-amp/control unit with balanced line outputs.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual REL Set-Up Made Simple RELs are not traditional subwoofers, but true sub-bass systems. A REL is designed to augment the performance of “full range” speaker systems, to provide linear response down to below 12 Hz (Studio III, -6 dB down at 9 Hz). Therefore, for the moment, set aside everything you’ve been taught about subwoofers and how they are integrated into a stereo or theatre system. RELs set-up and positioning differs from other subwoofers.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual Positioning The optimal position for a REL is in one of the corners behind the main speakers. This position provides 9 dB of mechanical amplification and allows for the most linear true low bass wave launch, owing to the ability to tune the sub to the axial node of the room, or longest throw distance. The Process To begin the set-up process, choose a piece of music that has a repetitive bass line that is very low in frequency.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual Note: As the Q-series crossover adjustment uses a single variable control, use the closest correlating position to any of the crossover settings noted above for ST series models. Ultimately, as with the click stops of the ST range, simply bring gain and then crossover up until excess output is achieved, then back down a soft-click or two.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual REL Set-Up Made Simpler Connecting High-level connection, using the enclosed cable, is always the first choice. The standard high level hook up procedure is: attach the red wire to the amplifier’s right positive speaker output terminal; attach the yellow wire to the amplifier’s left positive speaker output terminal; attach the black wire to which ever of the amplifier’s ground output terminals is convenient; plug the connector into the “Hi Level” input.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual RUNNING IN Care taken over running in will be rewarded by many years of pleasurable use. Both the electronics and the drive unit will benefit from an initial period of carefully controlled use. Possible damage may be sustained by running in the unit at too high a volume setting over an extended period. On the other hand, by taking a little care over this initial period, about 24 hours of actual use, a longer life with a higher potential eventual performance is assured.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual TECHNICAL Strata III Strata is designed as a closed box system. For its cabinet volume and drive unit, this offers the best compromise between extension and power handling. With smaller cabinets, such as Strata, the addition of a port to make it a reflex design can result in excessive port noise heard as chuffing sounds on very low frequencies, such as organ pedal notes. The cabinet is manufactured from 30 mm thick MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard).
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual POWER SAVING EFFICIENCY All REL Sub-Bass Systems are designed for maximum power efficiency, both when passing a signal through to its resultant output sound into the room and also when silent. REL circuitry is designed for “power starvation” operation under no signal conditions.
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS STRATA III, STORM III AND STADIUM III MODEL TYPE STRATA III Closed box loading STORM III Linkwitz-Riley Loading ENCLOSURE VOLUME LITRES INPUT CONNECTORS 30 40 2 Neutrik Speakon and Twin Phonos 2 Neutrik Speakon, Twin Phonos and 1 XLR GAIN CONTROL RANGES dB AMPLIFIER TYPE 80 80 HIGH LEVEL TWO CHANNEL UNBALANCED HIGH LEVEL SINGLE CHANNEL BALANCED LOW LEVEL UNBALANCED BLACK 0db RED +12DB LOW LEVEL SINGLE CHANNEL BALANCED DRIVE UNIT 100k O
REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS STENTOR III AND STUDIO III MODEL TYPE ENCLOSURE VOLUME LITRES INPUT CONNECTORS GAIN CONTROL RANGES dB AMPLIFIER TYPE HIGH LEVEL TWO CHANNEL UNBALANCED HIGH LEVEL TWO CHANNEL BALANCED LOW LEVEL UNBALANCED BLACK 0db RED +12DB LOW LEVEL TWO CHANNEL BALANCED DRIVE UNIT LOWER FREQUENCY RESPONSE IN ROOM AT -6dB POWER OUTPUT WATTS PHASE MAINS INPUT VOLTS DIMENSIONS MM WITHOUT SPIKES (WXHXD) GROSS WEIGHT CRATED ON PALLET KGS GROSS WEIGHT PACKED KGS NET
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