Loudspeaker Series User Manual
Emotiva X-Ref Series premium loudspeakers Contents Introduction..........................................................................................3 About This Manual...............................................................................4 Features..............................................................................................5 Unpacking...........................................................................................6 The Emotiva X-Ref Series loudspeaker.................
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Introduction Thank you for purchasing Emotiva X-Ref Series premium loudspeakers. The X-Ref Series, designed in cooperation with renowned loudspeaker designer Vance Dickason, represents the culmination of years of research into optimized loudspeaker design. With the X-Ref Series, you are getting advanced design, premium features, quality construction, and superb sound.
About This Manual This manual will provide you with all the information you need to achieve great performance, accurate sound, and many years of reliable service from your X-Ref Series speakers. We suggest that you read through the entire manual; we kept things as short and direct as possible. Even if you’re an expert user, you will probably find some interesting information and useful suggestions.
Features The Emotiva X-Ref Series of loudspeakers were designed to deliver premium performance and superior sound at a reasonable price.
Unpacking Your X-Ref Series loudspeakers were carefully packed and should reach you in perfect condition. If you notice any shipping damage or other issues when you unpack them, please contact Emotiva immediately. Gently remove your X-Ref loudspeakers from the packing carton and remove all wrappings and shipping material. Avoid pressing directly on the front of the drivers or dropping any bits of packing material into the port opening.
The X-Ref Series Loudspeaker (model shown is the XRT-6.
Quick Start To get the most from your X-Ref loudspeakers, we urge you to read the entire manual. If you just can’t wait to hear how great your X-Ref loudspeakers sound, this section will cover the basics you need to get started. • Find a secure location for your X-Ref loudspeakers. • Before using the X-Ref Tower models, attach the base plates with the included screws. If you’re using them on a soft surface (like carpet), we strongly suggest using the carpet points (also included).
Preparation Attaching the base (XRT Tower models only) Each X-Ref Tower model ships with an attractive base. The base is not only decorative, but makes the X-Ref Towers much more difficult to tip over, and provides a mounting place for the included carpet spikes if you choose to use them. We strongly urge all X-Ref Tower owners to use the bases.
Attaching the mounting plate (XRS Surrounds only) The X-Ref Surrounds can be wall-mounted using the convenient (and included) mounting plate. The mounting plate is attached to the wall with screws or drywall fasteners; two screws are then inserted into the back of the XRS Surround. Do NOT screw the screws fully into the back of the speaker; the screw heads must remain raised to engage the keyways in the plate.
Speaker Placement Speaker placement is often a compromise between optimum performance, personal preference, and site requirements. The following guidelines will serve as a starting point to help you decide where to place your X-Ref speakers to get the best sound. Remember that the “best” location is the one that works best for you, with your music, in your home. We suggest you read both of the following sections; advice about stereo speaker placement also applies to multi-channel systems and vice versa.
The X-Ref Monitors usually work best when placed on stands or strong shelves at a height which places the listener’s ear level with the center of the speaker (between the tweeter and woofer). If your X-Ref Monitors are to be placed lower or higher than ear height, they may sound better if tilted slightly up or down. If placed above head height, you may achieve better results by mounting them upside down (tweeter towards the bottom).
Positioning your X-Ref Series speakers for home theater use Although the goal is always to achieve the best overall listening experience, because more speakers are required for home-theater than for stereo, you are more likely to encounter practical constraints on where they can be located. Various surround-sound systems and standards also recommend slightly different speaker placement for optimum performance. When listening to most music, the surround speakers are primarily used for ambience information.
The X-Ref Monitors are typically placed on stands or strong shelves, at a height which places the listener’s ear level with the center of the speaker (between the tweeter and woofer), and can be used as mains in a smaller system or as surrounds in a larger system. If your X-Ref Monitors are to be placed above or below ear height, they may sound better if tilted slightly up or down. If placed above head height, you may achieve better results by mounting them upside down.
The figure on the previous page shows one suggested configuration for a fantastic surround-sound system. X-Ref XRT-6.2 Towers are used for the Front Left and Front Right speakers, positioned approximately in an equilateral triangle with the listening position, with the tweeters offset towards the center. An XRC-6.2 is used for the Front Center channel, placed on a stand on the shelf below the center of the screen, tilted upwards, with the tweeter offset towards the top.
Connections Connecting your X-Ref Series speakers to a power amp or receiver Although the X-Ref Series speakers have no special connection requirements, the following suggestions may be helpful: • Always use high-quality speaker wire of reasonable gauge (16 gauge or heavier) • If you must use thinner wire, try to keep the length as short as possible • Be careful to wire both (or all) speakers “in phase” (the plus/red terminal on each speaker to the plus/red terminal on your amp) • Try to use wires of equal
Bi-wiring and passive bi-amping Most X-Ref loudspeakers offer removable bi-amp terminal links. By removing these links, you can access the high-frequency and low-frequency sections of the speaker separately and take advantage of the improvements in sound quality offered by bi-wiring or passive bi-amping. Bi-wiring is when you use a single amplifier channel for each speaker, but run separate speaker wires from the amplifier to the high-frequency and low-frequency sections of the speaker.
Passive bi-amping your X-Ref speakers Bi-amping is when you use separate amplifiers to power the high-frequency and low-frequency section of each loudspeaker. Most listeners agree that bi-amping produces a significant improvement in sound quality. Because the load on each amplifier is reduced, and both the amplification and the high-current signal paths for the high-frequencies and low-frequencies are kept entirely separate, the result is cleaner sound.
Configuration All of the X-Ref Tower and Center/LCR Monitor speakers are designed to be used full-range (although smaller members are limited in their maximum low-frequency output). The X-Ref Surrounds are, obviously, intended to be used mainly as surround speakers in a multichannel system. If using your X-Ref loudspeakers in a stereo system with bass management and one or more subwoofers, choose a crossover point that works well in your room.
Care and Maintenance Periodic Maintenance Your X-Ref loudspeakers require no periodic maintenance or calibration. Cleaning the Cabinet and Baffle • • • The cabinets of the X-Ref loudspeakers should normally be cleaned with a rag dampened with plain water. DO NOT spray water directly onto or into the speaker and DO NOT use abrasive or chemical cleaners. Gently dry the surface with a clean soft rag after cleaning.
Specifications X-Ref XRT-6.2 Tower Frequency response: 40 Hz to 22 kHz +/- 2.5 dB Efficiency / Impedance: 88 dB/2.83V/1m; 4 ohms Input connectors: 5-way binding posts (gold plated with clear insulating covers) (two sets connected with terminal links - removable for bi-wiring or bi-amping) Driver complement: Two 6.
X-Ref XRC-6.2 Center/LCR Monitor Frequency response: 45 Hz to 22 kHz +/- 2.5 dB Efficiency / Impedance: 87 dB/2.83V/1m; 4 ohms Input connectors: 5-way binding posts (gold plated with clear insulating covers) (two sets connected with terminal links - removable for bi-wiring or bi-amping) Driver complement: Two 6.
X-Ref XRM-6.1 Monitor Frequency response: 63 Hz to 22 kHz +/- 2.5 dB Efficiency / Impedance: 86 dB/2.83V/1m; 4 ohms Input connectors: 5-way binding posts (gold plated with clear insulating covers) Driver complement: One 6.5” blended pulp cone mid/woofer One 1” silk dome tweeter Bass alignment: Single, front-oriented, low-diffraction slot-loaded port Crossover: Crossover type: Multi-pole, asymmetrical Crossover frequency: 3000 Hz Size and weight: Size (each): 14.75” high x 8” wide x 10.
X-Ref XRS-4.1 Surround Frequency response: 100 Hz to 18 kHz +/- 3 dB Efficiency / Impedance: 85 dB/2.83V/1m; 5 ohms Input connectors: 5-way binding posts (gold plated with clear insulating covers) Driver complement: One 4” blended pulp cone mid/woofer One 1” silk dome tweeter Bass alignment: Single, front-oriented port Surround type: Bipole Crossover: Crossover type: Multi-pole, asymmetrical Crossover frequency: 3000 Hz Size and weight: Size (each): 7.25” high x 13.
Troubleshooting The X-Ref loudspeakers are carefully designed and manufactured using only high-quality precision components to ensure years of trouble-free operation.
Emotiva Audio Corporation Limited Warranty Emotiva Audio Corporation guarantees its products to be free from defective materials and/or workmanship and will replace defective parts and repair malfunctioning products under this warranty when the defect occurs under normal operation and use. For warranty service, the unit must be returned to our headquarters via pre-paid transportation with a copy of proof of purchase (i.e.: sales receipt).
Contact Information Emotiva Phone Numbers 615-790-6754 | 877-EMO-TECH (877-366-8324) Monday through Friday 8am - 5pm (Central Standard Time) Emotiva e-mail addresses Online sales, product information, and general questions: sales@emotiva.com Customer service related inquires: customerservice@emotiva.com Technical support or service issues: support@emotiva.com Emotiva website www.emotiva.
Accessories Speaker cables Using high-quality speaker cables will ensure that you get the best sound quality and maximum reliability from your X-Ref loudspeakers. Emotiva Audio offers high-quality speaker cables that feature solid engineering, premium build quality, excellent performance, and reasonable cost (you will find them in the Interconnects section of our website at www. emotiva.com).
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