Operation Manual

Connecting the Resound HD Speaker System
5
Choosing the Correct cables
The Resound HD series speaker connections are made via the rear panel 1/4-inch and/or Neutrik Speakon®
connectors. Standard, unshielded speaker wire, available at your local pro audio or music store, with either
1/4-inch phone or Speakon connectors and wire gauge of 12-14 is recommended.
If your amplifier uses binding posts you can use speaker cables with banana plugs, but be sure to pay atten-
tion to the plus and minus polarity when making the connections. It is important that your PA system is con-
nected in-phase otherwise you will not have the proper low-end response and stereo image.
In order to ensure that your PA system is-in phase, be careful to pay close attention to the positive and nega-
tive marking on the amplifier and wires. Make sure that the + terminal of the speaker, or banana connector,
is connected to the + terminal of the power amplifier and that the - terminal of the speaker, or banana con-
nector, is connected to the - terminal of the power amplifier.For a detailed wiring diagram, see page 9 of this
manual.
Here’s a tip: It’s fairly easy to identify a monitor that is out of phase just by listening, especially on a pop
recording. Listen for the parts of the music that you would expect to be in the center of the mix (like kick
drum and vocals). If you do not hear them directly in the center (for instance they sound like they are two
signals panned hard right and left), then you are more than likely listening to an out-of-phase monitor system.
(This test won’t work on early Beatles records where Ringo’s drum kit is panned all the to the right side. Try a
Madonna record.)
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About Impedance
Before you hook up your speaker cabinet, be sure that you understand a little about impedance. Impedance is
the electronic load that the speaker puts on the power amplifier and is measured in Ohms.
Here is the tricky, yet simple rule of impedance: When two speakers, of equal impedance are wired in "Parallel",
like when you use the Extension Output, the total impedance is cut in half. When two speakers are wired in
“Series”, (usually for internal cabinet wiring only), the total impedance is the sum of the speakers individual
impedance.
Each of the Resound HD models, EXCEPT the RS215HD is 8 Ohms. So, when two Resound HD models (EXCEPT
the RS215HD) are connected together in parallel, the total impedance is 4 Ohms. The RS215HD impedance
is 4 Ohms. So, when two RS215HD’s are connected together in parallel, the total impedance is 2 Ohms. The
impedance of your speaker also has an effect on your amplifier. In general, the lower the impedance, the more
power your amplifier will put out.
IMPORTANT NOTE: There is minimum safe impedance for running power amplifiers so be sure to check the
manufacturer’s recommended impedance for your amplifier to avoid any damage to your amplifier or voiding
your warranty.
Using the EXTENSION Output
The Resound HD models provide a convenient Extension Output for connecting additional speaker cabinets
in parallel. Be sure to read the section above on impedance to insure a proper hook up with your amplifier. To
connect two Resound HDs using the Extension output, connect your amplifier output to the Input of the first
Resound HD and then, connect the Extension Output to the Input of the second Resound HD.
Powering the Resound HD
Each of the Resound HD loudspeakers have a specific power rating, which is printed on the input jack-plate,
and also, in the Specification section on page 10 of this manual. Be sure to check that your power amp has the
correct power output for your Resound HD. Be careful to consider the total impedance if you are connecting
more the one Resound HD to one side of a stereo power amplifier. Using a power amplifier with too low of a
power rating can be dangerous since the output signal is often clipped in an effort to get the desired level.
Over powering the Resound HD can result in catastrophic failure and therefore using any amplifier with a
power rating over the recommend power rating may void your warranty.