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f110
Owner’s Manual
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. Th e lightning fl ash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within CAUTION the product’s enclosure that may be of RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK suffi cient magnitude to constitute a risk of DO NOT OPEN electric shock to persons. CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELE
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12) Cleaning — Th e subwoofer should be cleaned only as recommended in the operating instructions. 13) Nonuse Periods — Th e power cord of the subwoofer should be unplugged from the outlet when the subwoofer is left unused for long periods of time. 14) Lightning and Power Surges — We recommend that you disconnect the subwoofer from the electrical outlet during electrical storms and/or recurring power interruptions to prevent damage due to power surges. 15) Object or Liquid Entry — C
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FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT JL AUDIO TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDED IN FATHOM SUBWOOFERS NOTE: Th is equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits of Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Th ese limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in DMA-Optimized Motor System a residential installation. Th is equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy DMA is JL Audio’s proprietary Dynamic and, if not installed in accordance with the instructions,
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We sincerely thank you for your purchase and invite you to read this manual thoroughly in order to achieve the highest level of performance with your Fathom subwoofer system. Enjoy. PRODUCT OVERVIEW JL Audio Fathom subwoofers combine a state-of-the-art JL Audio subwoofer driver and electronics/amplifi er package within a highly optimized enclosure to deliver an exceptional listening experience in your home theater or home audio system. Th e subwoofer driver in your Fathom subwoofer system i
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PLACING YOUR FATHOM IN YOUR LISTENING ROOM: Your listening room or theater is an integral part of your sound reproduction system. Th e physical dimensions of the room and its furnishings, materials, doors and windows play an important role in defi ning how your system sounds. When you place a sound source in an enclosed rectangular space, “standing waves” are created, resulting from the relationship between the sound’s wavelength and your room’s dimensions. In other words, standing waves
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Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for One Fathom | Fathom f110 Page 7
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SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR BUILT-IN INSTALLATIONS Fathom subwoofers are designed to be “built-in” friendly. All typically needed controls are located on the front panel above the woofer. A Fathom can be easily integrated into custom cabinetry by following a few simple guidelines. 1) Allow 4 inches (10 cm) of clear space behind the Fathom’s amp panel for adequate cooling and connector clearance. 2) On all other sides (except the bottom), allow at least 2 inches (5 cm) clearance for adeq
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Using Two Fathoms Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Two Fathoms When using two Fathoms, try placement near the front corners of the room, at diagonally-opposite corners of the room, or at the center points of opposing walls as shown at right. Experimentation with subwoofer and listener placement is recommended to achieve the best results – the benefi ts can be substantial. High-resolution measurements and professional system calibration are recommended for the best possible
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Recommended Subwoofer Placement Options for Three Fathoms Using Three or Four Fathoms Research indicates that the smoothest bass response for a large listening area can be achieved using four subwoofers, placing one at the midpoint of each of the four walls (although using two or three subwoofers can be almost as good). Experimentation with subwoofer and listener placement is recommended to achieve the best results – the benefi ts can be substantial. High-resolution measurements and
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UNPACKING YOUR FATHOM Now that you have determined your Fathom’s position in the room, you can proceed with unpacking it near its intended location. D Unpack this box close to where the subwoofer will be placed. Th e subwoofer C is PACKED upside down. Th is box must be B fl ipped over CAREFULLY to remove the A subwoofer and minimize eff ort. IMPORTANT: DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE FATHOM SUBWOOFER, PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE UNPACKING AND POSITIONING IT TO IMPORTANT PREVENT INJURY.
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Front Control Panel Th e labeled Figure below depicts the front control panel of a Fathom f110 subwoofer. A.R.O. Level Mode Lights LP freq. (Hz) phase (deg.) page 14-15 page 15 page 16 page 16 page 17 Power Input Mode Master Level LP Filter e.l.f. trim (dB) Polarity page 14 page 15 page 16 page 16 page 17 page 17 Page 12 | Fathom f110
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Rear Controls and Connectors Th e labeled Figure below depicts the rear panel of a Fathom f110 subwoofer. Output to Unbalanced Slave Connector Inputs page 21 page 19 IEC-Style AC Balanced Input Mode Connector Inputs Switches page 21 page 18 page 20 This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that
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FRONT PANEL CONTROLS IN DETAIL Power Switch IMPORTANT Th e “Power” switch determines the operational readiness of the Fathom subwoofer and should be the only switch used to turn the Fathom on and off . Do not use a power strip switch, switched outlet or any other external switch as these may result in undesirable and potentially damaging transient pops. Do not unplug the Fathom’s AC power cord while the unit is turned on. Th e power switch has three positions: “On”: Th e Fathom is fully powe
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showcasing the output capability of the Fathom and to verify that the Fathom (or multiple Fathoms) are operational during system troubleshooting. Th e Demo button is also used (in combination) to clear (return to fl at) the A.R.O. equalizer settings. To clear the A.R.O.’s settings & turn off the Calibrate light, press and hold the Demo button and then press the Defeat button. Please note that you must perform this button sequence quickly. If you hold the Demo button for more than 2 se
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Master Level Knob Th e Master Level Knob is used to control the output level of the Fathom when the Variable Level mode is selected on the front control panel. When rotated fully counter clockwise, the Fathom’s output will be fully muted. When at the “0” or straight up position, the Variable gain level matches the Reference level setting. When turned fully clockwise, the Fathom’s output level is 15 dB higher than the Reference setting. Lights Th e “Lights” selector switch allows the u
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E.L.F. Trim Th e Extreme Low Frequency (“e.l.f. trim”) knob allows the user to apply a certain amount of signal equalization at 28 Hertz (extremely low bass). At full counterclockwise rotation, the signal at 28 Hz is cut by 12 dB. At “0” the equalizer is set fl at for zero contribution to the signal. At full clockwise rotation, the signal at 28 Hz is boosted by 3 dB. Th e E.L.F. Trim feature is useful for tailoring the Fathom’s very low frequency output for your particular room. Adding som
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CONNECTING YOUR FATHOM Balanced Inputs If your home-theater receiver or preamplifi er/processor provides balanced outputs, the Fathom’s balanced inputs are the preferred connection. Balanced connections are used extensively in professional studios and sound reinforcement applications for a number of very good reasons. Besides ensuring proper grounding between components, balanced signal transmission is designed to cancel induced cable noise from the surrounding environment (particularly im
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Unbalanced Inputs Th e Fathom subwoofer features individual left and right unbalanced RCA- type input connectors. Th ese are the most commonly used connectors for home audio applications and must be used if your receiver or preamplifi er/processor does not provide balanced outputs. While unbalanced connections are not as noise-immune as a balanced connection, Fathom subwoofers employ optical isolation on the unbalanced inputs to minimize the possibility of noise in your system. For syste
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Input Mode Switches: Two switches are located on the rear panel to control unbalanced signal grounding and master/slave operation. “Grounded / Isolated” Switch Th e “Grounded / Isolated” Input Mode switch aff ects only the unbalanced RCA inputs and is designed to facilitate a quiet, hum-free connection to your audio or home theater system. Th is feature is included to deal with the signal grounding issues oft en encountered in home theater systems when several components from diff erent ma
