Revel® Ultima™ Gem Loudspeakers
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...............................................3 ABOUT THE MANUAL AND WARRANTY.................................3 DESCRIPTION .................................................4 WOOFERS ........................................................................4 TWEETERS........................................................................5 CROSSOVER NETWORK .....................................................5 CABINET ............................................................
INTRODUCTION With its striking and sophisticated appearance, the REVEL® ULTIMA™ GEM loudspeaker hints at its advanced design from the first glance. The simple and clean lines characterize an exceptional sound reproduction system defined by its custom-designed drivers, individually optimized crossover network, and a highly-functional enclosure. We created these loudspeakers to achieve superior performance in the widest possible range of environments.
DESCRIPTION The REVEL ULTIMA GEM loudspeaker features a unique transducer configuration (see Figure 2) to create an acoustic center that is halfway between the two woofers and coincident with the front tweeter’s acoustic center. A second tweeter (on rear of cabinet), operating above 8 kHz, provides additional high-frequency energy to enhance overall “room response.” Woofer Tweeter Tweeter Port High Frequency Level (dB) -2 -1 +1 -.5 0ff 0 +4 Rear Install Single-Straps for Operatiwired on.
TWEETERS Each loudspeaker also contains two high-performance tweeters with the following features: • Optimized tweeter-dome profiles for maximum dispersion, while eliminating coloration caused by “break-up modes.” • Linear reproduction with very-low harmonic distortion even at high output levels for uncompressed sound purity. • The front tweeter utilizes a large voice-coil with an oversized surround roll.
UNPACKING To avoid injury, please use care during unpacking. Always stand as straight as possible and use your leg muscles to lift a REVEL ULTIMA GEM loudspeaker. Do not lift it while bending from the waist. WARNING To unpack a REVEL ULTIMA GEM loudspeaker, perform the following steps: 1. Place a REVEL ULTIMA GEM loudspeaker onto its side. 2. Open the bottom flaps. Stand the carton in the up position. 3.
INSTALLING STANDS (OPTIONAL) 1. Unpack all stand boxes. Place a pedestal, base, and top plate on a soft surface (e.g, rug or soft cloth). 2. Using a Phillips screwdriver, install a base to a pedestal with five long screws, as shown in Figure 4. (5) Long Screws (Start All Screws Before Tightening) Figure 4. Installing the base onto the pedestal. Base Pedestal 3. Thread four spikes about halfway into the base and tighten each one with a locking ring, as shown in Figure 5.
INSTALLING STANDS (CONT’D) 4. Place the stand in its upright position and install the top plate with five short screws, as shown in Figure 6. (5) Short Screws Figure 6. Installing the top plate. (Start All Screws Before Tightening) Top Plate 5. Fasten a loudspeaker to the stand with three short screws, as shown in Figure 7. Read the Placement section before making final placement and spike adjustments. Repeat steps 1 through 5 for the other stand.
PLACEMENT Sound quality is heavily dependent on the accuracy of your loudspeakers, their placement in the listening room, and the acoustics of the room itself. Since the REVEL ULTIMA GEM loudspeakers are extremely accurate, experimenting with their placement is the most significant way to optimize their performance in a given environment.
PLACEMENT (CONTINUED) • Optimum timbre and imaging precision is obtained with the loudspeakers pointing almost directly toward the prime listening position. Some listeners prefer a wider “soundstage,” which is achieved by reducing the toe-in angle, perhaps to the point of aiming the loudspeakers straight ahead. • Imaging and a sense of spaciousness will improve as the loudspeakers are moved away from the wall behind the loudspeakers and the side walls.
ROOM ACOUSTICS Listening rooms have a profound impact on sound quality, especially at low frequencies. In fact, a listening room can actually dominate the sound quality below about 300 Hz. Ideally, a new room being built from scratch would include optimized dimensional ratios to minimize the effects of standing waves. However, most installations will be made in existing rooms.
PLACEMENT (CONTINUED) ROOM TREATMENT REVEL ULTIMA GEM loudspeakers have very accurate off-axis response, which minimizes any degradation caused by overly “live” rooms. However, far superior performance will be achieved by placing at least minimal acoustic treatment materials at the primary reflection points.
CONNECTIONS REVEL ULTIMA GEM loudspeakers can be connected to an audio system in three different ways: single-wired, bi-wired or bi-amplified. Please read the following sections before proceeding with actual connections. Also, be sure to observe the following points: • Use high-quality speaker cable with a maximum total loop resistance (for each wire run) of 0.07 ohms or less. Use the chart in Figure 10 below to determine the maximum wire gauge.
CONNECTIONS SINGLE-WIRED SYSTEM CONNECTIONS (CONT’D) GEM Rear Amplifier (rear) Connector Panel High Frequency Level (dB) -2 -1 +1 High Frequency Level (dB) 0 +4 Rear 0ff 0 +.5 Front -.5 Install Straps Single-wir Operation ed . Note: Remove Straps for Bi-wired or Bi-amplified Operation. for Install Straps ed Single-wir . Operation for High Frequency Input (one channel shown) Figure 11.
BI-AMPLIFIED SYSTEM CONNECTIONS A bi-amplified system provides increased sonic performance, since independent amplifier channels separately drive each set of high- and low-frequency transducers. You can connect the loudspeakers in either a vertical or horizontal bi-amplified system without requiring an additional electronic crossover. VERTICAL BI-AMPLIFIED SYSTEM Using two identical amplifier channels, remove the shorting straps from the rear panel; then connect the loudspeakers as shown in Figure 13.
CONNECTIONS BI-AMPLIFIED SYSTEM CONNECTIONS (CONT’D) HORIZONTAL BI-AMPLIFIED SYSTEM Using two amplifier channels, remove the shorting straps from the rear panel; then connect the loudspeakers as shown in Figure 14. Failure to remove the shorting straps when bi-amplifying may damage some amplifiers. WARNING Pre-Amplifier OUTPUT (rear) OUTPUT (one channel shown) GEM Rear (Optional “Y” Adaptor) Amplifier (rear) INPUT Connector Panel High Frequency Level (dB) -2 -1 +1 0 +.5 Front -.
SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION After connecting the REVEL ULTIMA GEM loudspeakers, initially set both HIGH FREQUENCY LEVEL controls on the rear panel to the “0” position (see Figure 15). 1. Turn on the system power and play a favorite piece of music. Slowly increase the volume to a comfortable level and listen from your main listening position. Experiment with placement (see page 9), as it will pay off in optimized tonal balance, image specificity, and spaciousness. 2.
CABINET CARE Each REVEL ULTIMA GEM loudspeaker cabinet has a paint finish and does not require any routine maintenance. Use a soft cloth, dampened with water only, to remove any fingerprints or to wipe off dust. Clean the grille by gentle vacuuming. For wood side panels, occasionally use a household furniture polish to maintain the beauty of the hardwood veneers. For aluminum side panels, use a soft cloth, dampened with soapy water only.
OBTAINING SERVICE We take great pride in our dealers. Experience, dedication, and integrity make these professionals ideally suited to assist with our customers’ service needs. If your Revel component requires service, please contact your dealer. Your dealer will then decide whether the problem can be remedied locally, or whether to contact Revel for further service information or parts, or to obtain a Return Authorization.
SPECIFICATIONS Revel utilizes proprietary measurement methods in the design and specification of our loudspeakers. Our research has developed a series of tests that represent a great leap forward in making measurements that dramatically contribute to our goal of accurately reproducing music or film. Sensitivity: 87.0 dB SPL, with 2.83 Vrms @ 1 m (4 pi anechoic) Sensitivity provides an indication of how much amplifier power is required for the loudspeaker to play at satisfactory volume levels.
SPECIFICATIONS (CONTINUED) Frequency Responses: (continued) Listening Window Response; ±1.0 dB from 85 Hz to 17 kHz This improved “on-axis” measurement reduces the visual confusion of inaudible local interference, yet still retains full accuracy without using “spectral smoothing” which results in significant data loss.
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