Bowers & Wilkins DB1 - Manual (Page 4)

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ENGLISH
1. The DB1 Active Subwoofer
Introduction
Safety
Before connecting and operating this mains powered
apparatus, please read carefully and observe the
Important Safety Instructions in the accompanying
leaflet.
Performance
The DB1 active subwoofer offers very high
performance low frequency reproduction for either
multi-channel home theatre or conventional stereo
audio systems. It incorporates a compressive set of
features that enhance its versatility and enable its
performance to be finely tuned to the listening room
and type of installation. These features are briefly
described in the following paragraphs:
Control and User Interface
The DB1 can be set up and operated either from its
front panel controls or using the Bowers & Wilkins
SubApp™ setup and optimisation application running
on a PC. SubApp™ is downloadable from our web
site – www.bowers-wilkins.com – and operation is
described in its help file.
Multiple Inputs
The DB1 provides an unbalanced mono input, an
unbalanced stereo input and a balanced mono input.
The stereo and one mono input can be connected
simultaneously and selected for use independently.
The balanced and unbalanced mono inputs cannot be
connected simultaneously or used independently. See
Section 5 for more.
Adjustable Input Sensitivity and Level
The DB1 provides input sensitivity options that enable
its optimum matching with source electronics, and
variable gain control to match its volume level with that
of the main speakers. With all the levels of DB1 set to
their default value of 0dB, the subwoofer has the THX
®
standard sensitivity of 109dB spl at 1m for an input of
1V rms. See Section 6.3 for more.
Polarity Inversion
The DB1 provides optional polarity inversion that
enables compensation for the polarity inversion
occasionally found in electronics. See Section 6.3 for
more.
Impact Equalisation
The DB1 incorporates a preset equalisation option that
can enhance the low frequency impact of audio visual
material. See Section 6.4 for more.
Graphic Equalisation
The DB1 incorporates a five-band, half-octave graphic
equaliser that enables its acoustic performance to
be modified to suit the characteristics of the listening
room. See Section 6.4 for more.
Setup Presets
The DB1 incorporates five setup memory locations
where groups of setup parameters can be configured,
stored and recalled. The setup parameters that can be
configured and stored are:
• Input selection
• Input level
• Impact Equalisation
• User (graphic) Equalisation
• Low-pass filter (engaged or not)
Setup presets enable different DB1 performance
characteristics easily to be selected for different types
of program material or different listening occasions.
See Section 6.4 for more.
Room Correction Equalisation
The Bowers & Wilkins SubApp™ program, together
with the measuring hardware supplied, can be used to
automatically optimise the performance of DB1 to the
acoustic characteristics of your listening environment.