Paradigm Signature S8 Manual - Page 13

This section outlines other connection options. DO NOT attempt to bi-wire or bi-amplify unless you have removed the jumper bars. Bi-wire Connection (Fig. 7b) Bi-wiring can improve clarity and openness, with less grain and more solidity to the bass. Two cables are required for each speaker that you bi-wire. Bi-amp Connection (Fig. 7c) Passive bi-amping offers a dramatic improvement in clarity, openness and detail, with much better bass solidity and definition. The presentation of music and movie soundtracks is simply more intelligible and transparent. With passive bi-amping, the speaker's internal passive crossovers remain connected. An external electronic crossover is not required and cannot be used (there is no direct electrical access to individual drive units). This saves expense and setup difficulties. Passive bi-amping optimizes your speaker to achieve the best possible high-end performance. To bi-amplify, two power amplifiers are required. Connection can be either vertical or horizontal. IMPORTANT! When bi-amping, always use amplifiers with identical gain. If uniform amplifier gain is not maintained the speaker-to-speaker balance will be incorrect when vertically bi-amped, or the speaker system's frequency balance will be incorrect when horizontally bi-amped. To prevent problems use identical amplifiers (Brand and Model) and in identical operating modes (single channel or bridged). Vertical Bi-amplification dedicates one amplifier to each speaker. This configuration provides complete channel separation, which optimizes your system's imaging ability. Connect your speakers to one amplifier at a time. Horizontal Bi-amplification dedicates one amplifier to your speakers' mid/ low-frequency inputs and another to their high-frequency inputs. This configuration can maintain better clarity when listening at loud levels-if lowfrequency demands cause amplifier clipping, distortion will still be kept away from high-frequency drivers. Connect your speakers to one amplifier at a time. FINE TUNING Following the instructions in this Owner's Manual, once you have your speakers positioned in the room and have set speaker distances and speaker level calibration with your Processor or A/V Receiver, it's time for a little fine tuning. Since Paradigm® Reference speakers are designed to provide exceptional high-end performance in a variety of room settings, fine tuning is simply a matter of making slight adjustments to their placement in the room, if necessary. Start with just the front speakers and listen to familiar music in stereo. The soundstage will be both wide and deep, but this can be tuned to your personal preference by adjusting the toe-in (the amount the speakers are turned toward the listening area). More toe-in will increase image depth and localization, less toe-in will increase image width. Adjust the toe-in in small increments, listening each time, until you achieve the soundstage balance you prefer. Toe-in is not applicable to the other speakers in your system since their position and sound distribution pattern is fixed. Fine tuning for the center channel is simply a matter of making level adjustments that may be required for any particular multichannel music or movie program. If required, adjust Processor or A/V Receiver levels to ensure that there is always a cohesive overall soundstage. TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE PROBLEM No Sound SOLUTION Make sure receiver, preamp or amplifier is plugged in and turned on. Check power outlet at the wall is working. Are headphones plugged in, or is the system on Mute? Re-check all connections. No Sound from One or More Speakers Check your balance control or VC-150 Volume Control (if using). Check that all power cords are properly plugged in and functioning. Swap a non-working speaker with one that works to determine if the problem is with the speaker or something else (i.e. wiring, amplifier). Lack of Bass or Dislocated Image One or more speakers may be connected out of phase (their polarity is reversed). Re-check to ensure that each speaker's cable is connected with correct polarity: red (+) to red (+) and black (-) to black (-). 13