Infinity IL100s User Manual download pdf (Page 9)

INTERLUDE IL100S,IL120S

Infinity’s Bass Optimization System is a simple-to-use,yet

sophisticated,low-frequency calibration system.Each Interlude

subwoofer contains a parametric equalizer that you can adjust

following the directions below.By following these instructions,

you can improve the sound of your system.

The Bass Optimization System Goal

It is a fact of audio that what we hear at low frequencies is

determined as much or more by the listening room than by the

loudspeaker itself.Placement of the loudspeakers and listeners

and the acoustical characteristics of the room surfaces are all

important determinants of bass quantity and quality.In most

practical situations,there is little that can be done about this,

except for patient trial-and-error repositioning of the

loudspeakers and listeners.Usually,the practical constraints of

a living space and the impracticality of massive acoustical

treatment mean that equalization is the only practical solution.

Professional sound engineers routinely employ sophisticated

measurement systems and equalizers to optimize speakers to the

installation.This was never practical for the home audiophile.

This is why the Bass Optimization System was created.It

enables you to identify the dominant low-frequency response

characteristic of your room.Once you know the problem,the

Bass Optimization System provides the tools needed to optimize

the low-frequency characteristics of the speakers to the room

they are in,exactly as the professional sound engineers do it.

Preparations

Before beginning the bass tests,please check the following:

• Make sure all three Bass Optimization System controls on the

subwoofer are turned fully clockwise.

• Make sure the loudness contour (if any) on your receiver/

processor/preamp is turned off.

• Set the tone controls (Bass and Treble) to their center or

flat positions.

• Bypass all surround and effects features of your receiver/

processor/preamp or set to Stereo Bypass.

• If you are using a multichannel surround processor or

receiver,make sure all bass-management features are properly

set.The Audio channels should all be set to “Small”or “High-

Pass”and the subwoofer set to “On.”

• Set the Bass Optimization System selector 9 to “On.”

For best results,it is recommended that all major furnishings

are in place and that all doors and windows in the listening

area are in their normal positions.That is,if you normally listen

to music with all doors closed,then this is how they should be

during this procedure.

BASS OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM

™

To solve a problem,it helps to first identify whether you have one

and,if so,what it is.First,play a variety of music and films with

energetic bass sounds,like bass guitar,kick drum,keyboards,

etc.A kick drum should produce a tight “thump”, not a flabby

“boom.”Bass melody or harmony lines should have notes that are

about equally loud.If some notes disappear,or stand out

because they are consistently too loud,there is a problem.

Disappearing notes have to be handled by moving the listening

position,or the loudspeakers,to slightly different locations.

Often,but sadly not always,this will be enough.Excesses in bass

tend to be most annoying,and energetic resonances that cause

“boomy”or “lumpy”bass can be truly aggravating over a period

of time.Infinity’s Bass Optimization System can fix this.

So,the first step is to exercise your music collection,and listen

for low-frequency problems that crop up in several different

recordings.Something that only happens in one recording is

likely to be a problem in the recording – it happens! If you

identify something that is consistently wrong,select a record that

shows it very clearly,and put your CD/DVD player into a repeat

mode (A-B repeat is especially helpful,because you can isolate a

short musical passage).

Set the Bass Optimization System Bandwidth adjustment

to a

middle position (10 clicks from a fully clockwise position) and

set Level adjustment K for a –6dB (8 clicks from a fully

clockwise position).Then,while the music is playing,sit in your

favorite chair and have somebody else slowly adjust the

Frequency control J from fully clockwise to fully counter-

clockwise.At a certain frequency,you should hear the problem

lessen and the overall bass performance improve.When you are

satisfied that you have found the best frequency,have your

assistant vary the Level K slowly up and down until you have

maximized the improvement.If you have really keen ears,you can

also have the Bandwidth control

adjusted for maximum

benefit.

While the Bass Optimization System allows the listener to fine-

tune the bass response to sound best in a particular room,some

listeners don’t have the skill or desire to adjust their system by

ear.In order to facilitate quicker and more accurate results,

Infinity has developed an optional test and measurement kit that

allows the user to perform a series of measurements and aids

him/her in properly setting the Bass Optimization System

controls.With the addition of this kit,the Bass Optimization

System becomes truly room-adaptive.The kit consists of the

following:a test CD,a sound-level meter that is specifically

calibrated for low frequencies,and something we call a “Q-Finder,

”

a device to help find the width of the measured curve and,

finally,a measurement template.It works as follows.The listener

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Infinity IL100s User Manual Page 9

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