Operation Manual

REL Acoustics ‘ST III’ User Manual
21
REL Set-Up Made Simpler
Connecting
High-level connection, using the enclosed cable, is always the first choice. The
standard high level hook up procedure is: attach the red wire to the amplifier’s right
positive speaker output terminal; attach the yellow wire to the amplifier’s left positive
speaker output terminal; attach the black wire to which ever of the amplifier’s ground
output terminals is convenient; plug the connector into the “Hi Level” input. For
connection to a differential amplifier consult your dealer.
Positioning
Primary Placement, for a REL is in one of the corners behind the main speakers.
Phase Selection is the next step. Keep in mind; the correct phase is whichever position is the
loudest or fullest. While playing music with true low bass, adjust the crossover to a point
where the sub and the speaker are sure to share frequencies (B, 3 for big speakers; C, 4 for
smaller speakers). At this point adjust the gain so that both sub and speaker are roughly
equal in output and then switch, using the “mode selector” switch, from “0” (position 1) to
“180” (position 3) phase positions. Again, whichever position is loudest or fullest is the correct
position, and, as often as not, may be 180-degree phase (see enclosed “Control Panel”
section from the owner’s manual).
Orientation. With phase correct, it is important to site the woofer in the corner by determining
which wall, the side or the rear, the REL’s amp should face. Flip the sub back and forth in the
corner, and, again as with phase, whichever position sounds the loudest is the correct
orientation for the sub. For Q series, if possible, point the driver directly out of the corner,
equidistant from the side-walls.
Final Position. The next step is to determine precisely how far out from the corner the sub
should be to achieve the most efficient output, as well as the lowest frequency extension.
With the sub fully into the corner, continuing to play the music, slowly pull the sub from the
corner on the diagonal, equidistant from both side and rear wall. At a certain point (sometimes
a matter of only a few inches, in rare cases a foot or more) the sub will audibly go lower, play
louder, and, if it truly locks on to the room and is fully pressurising it, the air around the sub
will seem to be energised. Stop right there! This is the correct position for the sub.
Adjusting
Crossover Selection. To determine the crossover point, bring the gain down, put the
crossover to A-1 (or B-2 should output not be sufficient), and then bring the gain back up to
the point where you have achieved a subtle balance. Working only with the coarse control (A-
D), bring the crossover point up until it is obviously too high, at this point bring it down to the
next lowest setting. Now, working with the fine control (1-6), bring up the crossover point until
it sounds too high, at which point bring it back down to the next lowest setting. For all intents
and purposes, this is the correct crossover point. Once this stage has been reached, subtle
changes to gain and crossover can be accomplished to provide the last bit of complete and
seamless integration. For Q series, use the variable controls in much the same way, slowly
turning up both gain and crossover until excess output is realised, then back down a soft-click
or two.
Including Theatre
Multi-channel systems LFE output should be connected to the low-level input and appropriate
gain adjustments made at this point. It may be necessary to take the crossover out of the low-
level input using the “mode” switch if extra upper bass output is called for. Keep phase
consistent with what was selected during high-level set-up by simply choosing the
corresponding setting (1 = 2, 3 = 4). When connecting to the low level inputs, connect a single
RCA cable to the 0dB RCA jack. Should additional gain be required, connect to the +12 dB
input.