D Y N A M O 400 user’s manual ®
OVERVIEW OF CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS Controls + Level Setting the level too high will cause the bass to seem bloated and is the single most common cause of bad sounding subwoofers. A rule of thumb is that the subwoofer should not draw attention to itself, but should simply make the systems low end seem more extended and accurate. Low-Pass Filter The Low Pass Filter lets you to adjust the low-pass frequency for the left and right (RCA or speaker level) inputs.
Again, experiment and listen for the smoothest bass without any prominent or absent notes. Status Your subwoofer is equipped with a multi-color LED to indicate the current status of the subwoofer. • No color: No power. The subwoofer is not plugged in or has shutdown due to an overload condition. Unplug the subwoofer and plug it back in to correct. • White: Play mode. This indicates the subwoofer detects an audio signal and has automatically switched into play mode. • Red: Standby.
CONNECTING THE SUBWOOFER Receiver/Preamplifier Left Out Right Out AND SETTING CONTROLS Before Connecting the DYNAMO MartinLogan developed the DYNAMO subwoofer for easy setup and system integration. Before beginning to connect your subwoofer, please review the controls discussed in the last section. An understanding of these will help speed you along. All signal connections are done on the rear connections panel of the subwoofer. Make certain that all of your connections are tight.
Multi-Channel Mode Receiver/Processor This setup is recommended if you will use your subwoofer in a dedicated home theater or other multi-channel system. When a signal is connected to the subwoofer’s LFE In, the setting for the Low-Pass Filter control is not used. Your processor handles most of the bass management. LFE Out Signal Connection: 1 Connect the Sub output of the processor to the subwoofer's LFE In. Recommended Control Settings: 1 If your front speakers are large (e.g.
4 Try the Phase in different settings until the best blending is obtained. Play familiar music with deep, repetitive bass. Adjust the Phase so the bass notes seem their loudest and without blur when heard from your typical listening position. If you are augmenting MartinLogan loudspeakers, we suggest you start with Phase set at 0°. Receiver/Processor LFE Out 5 Use the bass management section of your receiver/processor’s speaker setup to set the subwoofer level at an appropriate level.
Using Speaker Level Inputs This connection method is recommended if your subwoofer will be used in a 2-channel only system with full-range front loudspeakers. To connect using Speaker Level Inputs the speaker cable sshould be terminated using banana style plugs. The Low-Pass Filter is applied to the signal received through these inputs. Speaker Level Inputs are an alternative to using RCA interconnects. If you use the Speaker Level Inputs do not use RCA at the same time for Left In/Right In connections.
PLACEMENT Subwoofer Position Generally, subwoofers have the most output when placed in the corner of a room. However, this can also exaggerate the subwoofers output making blending difficult. We recommend starting by placing the subwoofer in a corner. If, after the full range of tuning techniques have been employed, the subwoofer sounds like it has too much upper bass energy try pulling it away from the wall, toward the listening position.
ROOM ACOUSTICS Your Room This is an area that requires both a little background to understand and some time and experimentation to attain the best performance from your system. Your room is actually a component and an important part of your system. This component is a large variable and can dramatically add to or subtract from a great sonic experience.
HOME THEATER It had long been the practice of stereo buffs to connect their television to a stereo system. The advantage was the use of the larger speakers and more powerful amplifier of the stereo system. Even though the sound was greatly improved, it was still mono and limited by the broadcast signal. In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s two new home movie formats became widely available to the public: VCR and laser disc. By 1985, both formats had developed into very high quality audio/video sources.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Frequently Asked Questions How do I clean my subwoofer? Use a dust free cloth or a soft brush to clean your subwoofer. Is it safe to set things on my subwoofer? While your subwoofer is designed with a durable, stain-resistant surface, we advise you not to set anything on your subwoofer—especially containers holding liquids. Is there likely to be any interaction between my sub and the television in my Audio/ Video system? No.
GENERAL INFORMATION Warranty and Registration Your subwoofer is provided with an automatic Limited 90 Day Warranty coverage. You have the option, at no additional charge, to receive Limited 3-Year Warranty coverage. To obtain the Limited 3-Year Warranty coverage you need to register your product with MartinLogan. For your convenience MartinLogan offers online warranty registration at www.martinlogan.com.
SPECIFICATIONS* DYNAMO 400* System Frequency Response. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30–200 Hz ± 3 dB. Anechoic in LFE mode. Woofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8” (20.3cm) high-excursion, inverted surround, polypropylene cone in a stamped steel basket with extended throw driver assembly. Ported. Amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 watts (150 watts peak) Controls (backplate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Level. . . . .
WARNING! Do not use your DYNAMO subwoofer outside of the country of original sale—voltage requirements vary by country. Improper voltage can cause damage that will be potentially expensive to repair. The DYNAMO subwoofer is shipped to authorized MartinLogan distributors with the correct power supply for use in the country of intended sale. A list of authorized distributors can be accessed at www.martinlogan.com or by emailing info@martinlogan.martinlogan.com.
