Owner’s Manual Sage L150i & L150m Biamplified Planar Magnetic Hybrid Loudspeakers
Table of Contents Introduction.....................................................................................................4 About this manual...................................................................................................4 Please register your system.....................................................................................4 Description......................................................................................................5 Planar magnetic panels.........
Introduction Congratulations on purchasing your Wisdom Audio system. It incorporates many design features designed to give you decades of pleasure and performance. Many of these design choices are uncommon among loudspeaker manufacturers, and bear some explanation. See the following section entitled “Description” for more information. Our unique driver designs and our emphasis on achieving real-world performance account for the “system” approach taken.
Description Your Sage L150i loudspeakers take advantage of several critical technologies to deliver a level of performance that has never been available in a loudspeaker that intruded so modestly on your living space. In fact, this level of performance has rarely been attained, regardless of the space and budget at one’s disposal. Since most of these technologies cannot readily be found elsewhere, we will take the time to describe them in more detail than would be necessary for more conventional designs.
The excellent heat dissipation of these drivers makes them remarkably reliable. Planar magnetic speakers can handle a great deal of power without undue stress or audible strain. In fact, for a given size, they can handle many times the power of a traditional dynamic driver. Easy on amplifiers Because the conductor is essentially a long, thin wire, it presents a purely resistive load to the amplifier.
To achieve this highly desirable line source behavior, it is essential to have a tall and slim driver. (Simply stacking multiple “cone & dome” high frequency drivers does not create a proper line source. Instead, it creates a series of point sources which end up interfering with each other.) With Wisdom Audio’s planar magnetic technology, it becomes possible to have drivers that are extremely tall and slim.
The magnetic structures employed in the Sage Series woofers are significantly stronger than is commonly available — more than twice as powerful as typical woofers, in fact. In addition, our voice coils are larger and capable of handling more power than would be expected for a driver of similar size. Even the surrounds that attach the diaphragm to the woofer’s basket (the metal frame) have to be unusually rugged.
Unpacking & Installing the L150i Your new Wisdom Audio Sage L150i in-wall speaker is a substantial piece of equipment. Please exercise caution when unpacking your L150i to ensure that you do not strain yourself from its (perhaps unexpected) weight. Caution! Do not attempt to lift your L150i by yourself. Unpacking these speakers is easy for two people, but it is unwise for a single person to attempt doing so. Do not attempt to lift your L150i while bending or twisting from the waist.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Important Note: tain that there are no studs, plumbing or electrical conduit in the intended area behind the wall before you begin marking and cutting! Trace the outer perimeter of the cutout guide with a pencil or a utility knife. Remove the traced section of the wall using a keyhole saw, and clear debris from the edge of the hole. Push any insulation to the side. Disassemble bezel/Uni-Grip™ and place the supplied Allen head screws to the side.
Unpacking & Installing the L150m The Wisdom Audio Sage L150m on-wall speaker is a substantial piece of equipment. Please exercise caution when unpacking your L150m to ensure that you do not strain yourself from its (perhaps unexpected) weight. Caution! Do not attempt to lift your L150m by yourself. Unpacking these speakers is easy for two people, but it is unwise for a single person to attempt doing so. Do not attempt to lift your L150m while bending or twisting from the waist.
a. Using a #2 Phillips bit in your cordless drill, spin the E-Z Toggle Anchor into the drywall until the head of the anchor is seated flush and the arrows on the head of the anchor point up and down. Repeat this process for each anchor location. b. To “set” the clamp behind the drywall, place the mounting screw into the anchor and push or tap firmly until approximately 1” (2.5 cm) of screw is protruding (do not rotate). Then remove the screw. Repeat for each anchor location. c.
Room Acoustics & Placement Wisdom Audio believes in equalization. Assume for a moment that you had a “perfect” loudspeaker: as soon as you place it in your room, its perfection is gone. In fact, even good rooms often introduce deviations of 20 dB to the response of the system, particularly at low frequencies. It seems strange to us to worry about tenths-of-a-decibel differences between one component and another when there are 10-20 dB problems right there in the room with you.
The ultimate in dedicated listening room construction involves the design and construction of floating walls, ceiling and floor. This approach yields the added benefit (when done properly) of providing outstanding acoustic isolation from adjacent spaces as well as superb bass reproduction. This approach goes well beyond the scope of an owner’s manual; if you are interested, you should contact a professional acoustician who has specialized in this sort of domestic room design.
• two widely-spaced L150i speakers handle the Left and Right channels; • two L150i speakers closely flanking the screen both play the (mono) center channel signal. This approach creates a stunningly convincing “phantom” center image that appears to emerge directly from the center of the picture, while allowing you to use any display device you choose.
extremely long waves do not contribute meaningfully to the imaging that the main speakers create. However, this fact does not mean that the placement of the subwoofers has no effect on the sound quality in the room. Far from it. The subwoofers are the most likely to suffer from the response irregularities introduced by the room itself, operating as they do below approximately 80 Hz in most systems.
you directly. A well-designed room is also quieter and more comfortable. It can easily become a favorite retreat for peace and rejuvenation. If you decide to investigate the possibility of improving your room with the help of a professional, it is important to find someone who focuses on residential spaces. Most acousticians are trained to deal with large spaces — airports, auditoriums, lobbies in commercial buildings, etc.
Optimizing the System A Wisdom Audio loudspeaker system is just that: a system, designed to provide the highest calibre of performance, in the widest variety of possible settings. As such, simply connecting all the wires does not mean the system is optimized. The SC-1 System Controller manual has the pertinent details on precisely how to use it to optimize the performance of the system. For the purposes of this manual, a quick overview of the process is sufficient. 1.
Care & Maintenance To remove dust from the cabinet of your L150, use a feather duster or a lint-free soft cloth. To remove stubborn dirt and fingerprints, we recommend isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth. Lightly dampen the cloth with alcohol first and then clean the surface of the L150i with the cloth. Do not use excessive amounts of alcohol—there is no need for the cloth to be wet; merely damp is better.
North American Warranty Normal Twenty Year Warranty Harsh Condition Use When purchased from and installed by an authorized Wisdom Audio dealer, Wisdom Audio® loudspeakers are warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use for a period of twenty years from the original date of purchase. The Sage Series loudspeakers are designed for installation and operation in environmentally controlled conditions, such as are found in normal residential environments.
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 Wisdom Audio loudspeaker must be serviced, please contact your dealer. Your dealer will then decide whether the problem can be remedied locally, or whether to contact Wisdom Audio for further service information or parts, or to obtain a Return Authorization.
Specifications All specifications are subject to change at any time, in order to improve the product. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Frequency response: 20Hz – 20 kHz ± 2dB relative to the target curve Impedance, planar section: 3 ohms resistive Impedance, woofer section: 8 ohms nominal, 6.5 ohms minimum Sensitivity, planar section: 97 dB/1w/1m Power handling, peak: >1000w Dimensions see appropriate Dimensions drawings Shipping weight, bass section: 90 lbs. (41 kg) Shipping weight, planar section: 53 lbs.
L150i Bass Section Dimensions 23
L150i Planar Section Dimensions 24
L150m Bass Section Dimensions 25
L150m Planar Section Dimensions 26
Notes 27
WISDOM and the stylized W are registered trademarks of Wisdom Audio. Wisdom Audio 1572 College Parkway, Suite 164 Carson City, Nevada 89706 USA Telephone: 775.887.8850 Fax: 775.887.8820 L150OM-1.02 28 © 9/2009 Wisdom Audio, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
