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ECS-10 Enhanced Cube Subwoofer
Owner’s Manual
Troubleshooting
The Scattered Subwoofer System
(Two ECS-10’s)
Why Two Subwoofers?
In most circumstances two subwoofers will perform better than one. While you
might assume this is for added SPL, the greatest benefit will actually be smoother
bass response.
Room shape, the cubic volume of the room (width x depth x height), furniture,
floor coverings and even wall and ceiling material all play a roll in bass per-
formance. These factors create peaks and dips in the level of low frequencies at
different points in the room. That said, two properly positioned subwoofers will
distribute the bass throughout the room with greater accuracy than a single sub.
For this reason, many professional acousticians and installers recommend more
than one subwoofer. The final result is that you will create a much larger “sweet
spot” where the bass is powerful, but more importantly, smooth and consistent.
If near perfect bass response is your goal, consider using two ECS-10 Subwoofers.
What’s Needed to Connect Two Subwoofers?
Most of today’s digital receivers and preamp/processors provide a single subwoofer
output. Connecting two subwoofers to these systems is as simple as adding a
Y-adapter. A Y-adapter splits a single output into two separate outputs. Be sure to
use a Y-adapter that is of equal or better quality than the subwoofer cables you
intend to use. (We recommend the Outlaw Audio PCA Y-Adapter.)
To use the Y-adapter, insert the single male end of the cable to the subwoofer
output of your receiver or processor. On the opposite end of the Y-adapter you will
now have two separate subwoofer outputs, one for each sub.
Placement and Level Control
Placement and level control of two subwoofers is somewhat more complicated
than using a single subwoofer. However, the end result of two properly placed and
calibrated subwoofers is well worth the added effort.
The procedure for placement of the second subwoofer is identical to that of de-
termining the placement of the first subwoofer (see the “Subwoofer Placement”
section of this manual). However, the second sub should be placed in the seating
area outside of the “sweet spot” where good bass response is also required. Walk
around the room until you find the area where the bass sounds the best, just as
described in the process for locating a single sub. This spot will almost always be
different than the one that was best for the primary sub.
NOTE: When calibrating your second subwoofer, be sure to turn off the first
sub. This will help you to determine ideal placement without being mislead
by the response of the first sub.
When calibrating the final levels of each subwoofer, you may want to reduce
their output to compensate for the added 3 or 4 dB of gain created by using two
subwoofers together.
If you sense a loss of bass output after properly locating and calibrating both
units in a two-subwoofer system, the likely problem is that the two units are
out of phase with each other. If this occurs try flipping the phase switch on the
back of one or both of the subwoofers until the bass returns. For more informa-
tion regarding the phase control function, please read the “Setting the ECS-10’s
Controls” section of this manual.
Care and Maintenance
Cleaning
When the ECS-10 Subwoofer cabinet becomes dirty, wipe it with a clean, soft, dry
cloth. If necessary, first wipe the surface with a soft cloth slightly dampened with
mild soapy water, then with a fresh cloth dampened with clean water. Wipe dry
immediately with a dry cloth.
NEVER use benzene, thinner, alcohol or any other volatile cleaning agent. Do not
use abrasive cleaners, as they may damage the finish of the metal parts. Avoid
spraying insecticide, waxes, polishing agents, or any aerosol product near the unit.
When You Are Away
If you will not be using your home theater system for an extended period of time,
it is always a good idea to turn the unit off using the Master Power Switch on the
rear panel of the subwoofer. This will prevent the automatic turn on circuits from
accidentally powering the system on during your absence.
Troubleshooting
Your ECS-10 Subwoofer is designed for trouble free operation. If you follow the
instructions in this manual you should experience many years of high quality
listening enjoyment. However, as with any sophisticated electronic device, there
may be occasional problems upon initial installation, or during the life of the unit.
Troubleshooting Guide
The table below provides a brief list of minor problems that you may be able to
correct yourself. If these solutions do not rectify a problem, or if the problem
persists, contact us for assistance.
Humming or Power down your system and remove the
Buzzing Noise Interconnects between your components. Power
your system back on. If the hum goes away when
the interconnects are disconnected, the hum is
coming from the rest of your equipment. Plug In the
Interconnects one at a time for each component
until you come across the specific component
generating the hum.
No output from Check that the power cord is plugged in securely
the subwoofer at both ends and make sure that the power outlet
(Blue LED does the subwoofer is plugged into is functioning properly.
not light up)
The subwoofer is Recheck the connections between the receiver/
not receiving a processor and the subwoofer. On the back of the
signal subwoofer, make sure the power switch is set to
“auto” or “on”.
No output from Connect the signal cable to another subwoofer
the subwoofer or amplifier. If you get output, then the amplifier
is faulty. Email or call technical support for
authorization to send the amplifier back for service.