MartinLogan Speaker System Fresco User Manual

TM  
TM  
F R E S C O  
u s e r ’ s  
m a n u a l  
®
M A R T I N L O G A N  
the loudspeaker technology company  
 
INSTALLATION IN BRIEF  
We know you are eager to hear your new Fresco loud-  
speaker, so this section is provided to allow fast and easy  
set up. Once you have it operational, please take the time to  
read, in depth, the rest of the information in this manual. It  
will give you perspective on how to attain the greatest pos-  
sible performance from this most exacting transducer.  
Step 1: Unpacking  
Remove your new Fresco speaker from the packing.  
Step 2: Placement  
Place the Fresco near the desired location. Please see the  
‘Mounting the Fresco On a Wall or Ceiling’ section (page  
5–12) for more placement details.  
If you should experience any difficulties in the setup or  
operation of your Fresco speaker, please refer to the  
Operation or Mounting sections of this manual.  
Step 3: Signal Connection  
Use the best speaker cables you can. Higher quality cables,  
available from your specialty dealer, are recommended  
and will give you superior performance. Spade connectors  
are suggested for optimum contact and ease of installation.  
Should you encounter a persistent problem that cannot be  
resolved, please contact your authorized MartinLogan dealer.  
They will provide you with the appropriate technical analysis  
to alleviate the situation.  
Attach your speaker cables to the signal input section on  
the rear panel. Be consistent when connecting speaker leads  
to the terminals on the back of the Fresco. Take great care  
to assign the same color to the (+) terminal on both the  
speaker and the amplifier. Please see the ‘Operation’ sec-  
tion (page 4) for more details.  
WARNING!  
•Refer servicing to a qualified technician.  
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not  
expose this module to moisture.  
Turn amplifier off should any abnormal  
conditions occur.  
Step 4: Listen and Enjoy  
•Do not drive speaker beyond its rated power.  
Now, you may turn on your system and enjoy!  
The lightning bolt flash with arrowhead symbol within  
an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to  
the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within  
the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient mag-  
nitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.  
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is  
intended to alert the user to the presence of important  
operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in  
the literature accompanying the appliance.  
Installation in Brief  
3
 
OPERATION  
Signal Connection  
On Wall/Off Wall Switch  
Use the best speaker cables you can. The length and type  
of speaker cable used in your system will have an audible  
effect. Under no circumstance should a wire of gauge  
higher (thinner) than #16 be used. In general, the longer  
the length used, the greater the necessity of a lower  
gauge, and the lower the gauge, the better the sound,  
with diminishing returns setting in around #8 to #12.  
Fresco features a unique 'on-wall/off-wall' switch that tailors  
Fresco's acoustic equalization to either installation option.  
Simply set this switch to On Wall if the Fresco is mounted to  
a wall or ceiling. Set the switch to Off Wall if the Fresco is more  
than four inches from a wall (see figure 1).  
Break-In  
A variety of speaker cables are now available whose  
manufacturers claim better performance than standard heavy  
gauge wire. We have verified this in many cases, and the  
improvements available are often more noticeable than the  
differences between wires of different gauge. The effects of  
cables may be masked if the equipment is not of the high-  
est quality.  
When you first begin to play your Fresco speaker, it will  
sound a bit bass shy. This is due to the high-quality, long-  
life components used in our woofer. Our custom made  
woofers require at least 30 hours of break-in at 90 dB  
(moderate listening levels) before any critical listening. The  
break-in requirements of the crossover components (and,  
to a lesser degree, the ATF transducer) are equal.  
We also recommend, if possible, that short runs of speaker  
cable connect the power amplifier and speaker and that  
high quality long interconnect cables be used to connect  
the preamplifier and power amplifier. This results in the  
power amplifiers being close to the speakers, which may  
be practically or cosmetically difficult, but if the length of  
the speaker cables can be reduced to a few meters, sonic  
advantages may be obtained.  
Connections are done at the signal input section on the  
rear electronics panel of the Fresco (see figure 1). Use  
spade connectors for optimum contact. Make certain that  
all of your connections are tight.  
Be consistent when connecting speaker leads to the terminals  
on the back of the Fresco. Take great care to assign the  
same color to the (+) terminal on both the speaker and  
the amplifier.  
WARNING! Turn your amplifier off before mak-  
ing or breaking any signal connections!  
Figure 1. Single wire connection. One channel shown.  
4
Operation  
MOUNTING THE FRESCO ON A WALL OR CEILING  
Figure 2. The parts of the Fresco bracket assembly.  
NOTE: MartinLogan recommends using 5 wall anchors to  
secure each Fresco to a wall. During the installation, if any  
of the screw/wall anchor positions are over a stud, it is  
recommended to screw directly into the stud.  
Figure 3. Vertical Installation. Rotation direction for various installtion locations.  
NOTE: To assure that your Fresco is safely wall mounted,  
these instructions must be carefully followed. Study them  
thoroughly before installing your Fresco's.  
NOTE: The following instructions assume the mounting  
surface is of standard wood frame and standard sheet rock  
construction. If you wish to mount the Fresco to another  
type of material, you should consult a bonded contractor.  
WARNING! Installing the Fresco on a wall requires  
only 1 person, but an assistant will be helpful.  
The bracket assembly shipped with the Fresco  
loudspeaker is designed for use only with the  
Fresco. Use with other appliances may result in  
instability causing possible injury. To prevent injury,  
this apparatus must be securely attached to the  
wall in accordance with the installation instructions.  
Which Way Should It Rotate?  
Figure 4. Horizontal Installation. Rotation direction for various installation locations.  
The bracket assembly supplied with the Fresco allows the  
speaker to mount flat against a wall and pivot up to 90°.  
Depending on the installation locations, the Fresco on-wall  
bracket will need to be modified to allow either right/up or  
left/down rotation (see figure 3 and 4). The configuration of  
Fresco’s bracket assembly is identical for right and up  
rotation and is identical for left and down rotation.  
Mounting the Fresco On A Wall or Ceiling  
5
 
INSTALLATION  
Preparing For Vertical Installation  
NOTE: Fresco’s bracket assembly consists of two main  
parts: the wall bracket (attaches to the wall) and the cabinet  
bracket (attaches to the Fresco). When correctly configured  
the wall and cabinet brackets should each have one pin  
installed—the wall bracket with an upward pointing pin in  
the upper hinge, and the cabinet bracket with a downward  
pointing pin in the lower hinge (see figures 5 and 6).  
Vertical  
(Right Rotation)  
Horizontal  
(Up Rotation)  
NOTE: When correctly installed in a vertical orientation, the  
Fresco’s cabinet bracket (installed on the cabinet) should  
slide down, onto the wall bracket (installed on the wall).  
Each Fresco should be installed so that it can rotate to  
point towards your listening position (see figure 3). Hold  
each Fresco near it's desired location and try pivoting it to  
assure that each speaker is correctly configured.  
Preparing for Horizontal Installation  
NOTE: Fresco’s bracket assembly consists of two main  
parts: the wall bracket (attaches to the wall) and the cabinet  
bracket (attaches to the Fresco). When correctly configured  
each bracket should have one pin installed—the wall  
bracket with a pin installed in the left hinge, pointing to  
the left and the cabinet bracket with a pin installed in the  
right hinge, pointing to the right (see figures 5 and 6).  
Figure 5. Fresco’s bracket assembly configured for right/up rotation  
Vertical  
(Left Rotation)  
NOTE: When the Fresco is correcty installed in a horizontal  
orientation, gravity will pull on the speaker trying to rotate  
down. The Fresco bracket assembly is designed in such a  
way that the force of gravity will tighten the left cap nut and  
prevent the speaker from rotating.  
Horizontal  
(Down Rotation)  
Each Fresco should be installed so that it can rotate to  
point towards your listening position (see figure 4). Hold  
each Fresco near it's desired location and try pivoting it to  
assure that each speaker is correctly configured.  
Figure 6. Fresco’s bracket assembly configured for left/down rotation  
6
Mounting the Fresco On A Wall or Ceiling  
 
Changing the Direction of Rotation  
Figure 7. Changing the direction of rotation—step 2.  
Mounting the Fresco On A Wall or Ceiling  
7
 
Installing the Bracket Assembly  
Required hardware (included):  
(6)M4 screws  
Required tools (included):  
2.5mm Allen tool  
1 Prepare a flat surface with padding and sheets to pro-  
tect the speaker as you work on it. Remove the Fresco's  
grill cloth and carefully place the Fresco face down on  
the work surface, using books or pieces of cardboard  
to keep the speaker from rocking.  
Figure 12. Installing the bracket assembly on the Fresco cabinet—step 2.  
2 Using a 6mm Allen tool loosen the 2 cap nuts (see fig-  
ure 12).  
3 Rotate the wall bracket away from the cabinet bracket  
(see figure 13).  
4 Align the 6 holes in the Fresco's wall mounting bracket  
with the holes on the back of the Fresco's cabinet.  
Please note that the wall bracket should lie flat against  
the Fresco cabinet with the hinges along the flat,  
straight edge of the cabinet (see figure 14).  
Figure 13. Installing the bracket assem
5 Using a 2.5MM Allen tool install the 6 screw that  
attach the cabinet bracket and firmly tighten them (see  
figure 15).  
8
Mounting the Fresco On A Wall or Ceiling  
Installing the Fresco  
Required hardware (included):  
(5) wall anchors  
(5) 1" Phillips head wood screws  
Required tools (included):  
6mm Allen tool  
Required tools (not included):  
Level  
Electric drill and 1/4" and 1/8" drill bits  
Phillips screwdriver  
1 Hold the Fresco at the desired location. Examine the mount-  
ing location to assure that the wall is free of obstructions.  
Test the direction of rotation to assure that the speaker  
can rotate toward your listening position. If the speaker  
rotates away from your listening position, please refer to  
'Which Direction Should It Rotate?' (page 5) and ‘Changing  
the Direction of Rotation’ (page 7).  
2 NOTE: These instructions describe the position of the  
wall bracket with the Fresco mounted flush against a  
wall (not rotated on its bracket).  
NOTE: The center point of the wall-bracket is not the  
same as the center of the Fresco. These directions  
describe the location of the center of the wall-bracket,  
which you will need to know in order to mount the  
speaker at your desired location.  
Determine where the center point of the wall bracket  
should be marked (see figures 16 and 17).  
Will the Fresco remain flat against the wall? If so, it can  
be installed flush against an object such as a plasma  
screen (see figure18).  
Will the Fresco be rotated to point towards the listening  
position? If so you need to leave space between the  
nearest object to allow clearance for the speaker to pivot  
(see figure 18). At least 6.75” (17.2cm) of clearance will  
allow the Fresco to pivot within its full range of motion.  
Less space is needed if the Fresco does not need to fully  
rotate. As recommended ablove, before drilling any  
holes, hold the Fresco at its desired location and rotate  
it into place to assure you have adequate clearance.  
Figure 19. Attaching the Fresco to a wall or ceiling—step 3.  
Figure 20. Attaching the Fresco to a wall or ceiling—step 4.  
NOTE: Figures 19–24 illustrate the Fresco mounted in 4  
different configurations.  
4 Using a level, square the wall bracket and hold it flush  
against the wall with the wall bracket's center hole over  
the point you just marked. The cylindrical hinges on the  
wall bracket should point away from the wall and the  
flat plane of the wall bracket should be flush against the  
wall. Mark 4 points inside of the wall bracket's arc shaped  
cut outs located at either end of the wall bracket (see  
figure 20).  
3 Mark your wall with the center point for the wall bracket  
(see figure 19).  
10  
Mounting the Fresco On A Wall or Ceiling  
 
5 Set the wall bracket aside. Using a 1/8" bit, drill a pilot hole  
at all five points marked in the previous steps.  
6 Mount the wall bracket to the center wall anchor (or  
pilot hole) using a 1" Phillips head screw driven through  
the wall brackets center point. Do not fully tighten the  
screw—the bracket must be leveled before installing the  
remaining screws (see figure 22).  
If a pilot hole hits a stud during this step, DO NOT WIDEN  
that pilot hole or install a wall anchor at that location.  
If a pilot hole does not hit a stud, use a 1/4" bit to widen  
that pilot hole and using a Phillips screwdriver install a wall  
anchor so that it is flush with the wall (see figure 21).  
7 Using a level, square the bracket and drive the four  
remaining 1" Phillips head screws into the wall anchors  
(or pilot holes). Do not fully tighten the screws (see fig-  
ure 22).  
8 Using a level, make sure the bracket is level and tighten  
all five screws (see figure 22).  
Mounting the Fresco On A Wall or Ceiling  
11  
9 Place the Fresco onto the wall bracket and carefully slide  
the Fresco into place (see figure 23).  
10 Using a 6mm Allen tool, attach a washer and cap nut onto  
each pin. Do not fully tighten the cap nuts (see figure 23).  
11 Make the signal connections from the amplifier (see  
‘Operation’, pages 4).  
12 Rotate the Fresco to point at the listening position and  
tighten the cap nuts (see figure 24).  
13 Rotate the Fresco’s logo medallion, by removing the grill  
cloth cover, gently pressing the medallion from behind  
and turning it to the correct orientation (see figure 25).  
12  
Mounting the Fresco On A Wall or Ceiling  
 
HOME THEATER  
It had long been the practice of stereo buffs to connect their  
television to a stereo system. The advantage was the use  
of the larger speakers and more powerful amplifier of the  
stereo system. Even though the sound was greatly improved, it  
was still mono and limited by the broadcast signal.  
Surround Speakers  
We recommend that the surround speakers play down  
to 80 Hz or below. The surround speakers contain the  
information that makes it appear that planes are flying over  
your head. Some may suggest that this is the place to save  
money and purchase a small, inexpensive speaker. If you  
choose to do so, be prepared to upgrade in the future as  
discrete six-channel digital encoding becomes available  
and the demands on the surround speakers increase.  
In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s two new home movie  
formats became widely available to the public: VCR and  
laser disc.  
By 1985, both formats had developed into very high quality  
audio/video sources. In fact, the sonic performance of some  
video formats exceeded audio-only formats. Now, with  
theater-quality sound available at home, the only element  
missing was the "surround sound" presentation found in  
movie houses.  
Subwoofer  
With any good surround system you will need a high-quality  
subwoofer (the .1 in a 5.1 channel surround system). Most  
movie soundtracks contain large amounts of bass infor-  
mation as part of the special effects. Good subwoofers  
will provide a foundation for the rest of the system.  
Fortunately, Dolby and DTS-encoded movies (which include  
almost all movies) have the same surround sound infor-  
mation encoded on home releases as the theater films. All  
that is required to retrieve this information is a decoder  
and additional speakers and amps to reproduce it.  
Home theater is a complex purchase and we recommend  
that you consult your local MartinLogan dealer, as they  
are well versed in this subject.  
Each piece of a surround system can be purchased  
separately. Take your time and buy quality. No one has  
ever complained that the movie was too real. The following  
list and descriptions will give you only a brief outline of the  
responsibilities and demands placed on each speaker.  
Front Left and Front Right  
If these speakers will be the same two used for your stereo  
playback, they should be of very high quality and able to  
play loudly (over 102 dB) and reproduce bass below 80 Hz.  
Center Channel  
This is the most important speaker in a video system, as  
almost all of the dialogue and a large portion of the front  
speaker information is reproduced by the center channel.  
It is important that the center speaker be designed by  
the same manufacturer as the front speakers, and that it is  
recommended for use as a center speaker. This is not the  
place to cut corners.  
Figure 26. Fresco loudspeakers as front, center and surround (effects)  
channels. Grotto subwoofers as 0.1 (effects) channel.  
Home Theater  
13  
 
ATF (ADVANCED THIN FILM)  
ATF Operation  
MartinLogan ATF diaphragms are constructed of extremely  
low mass Dupont Kaladex® PEN (polyethylene naphthalate)  
—a material chemically similar to the low-mass PET (poly-  
ethelene terathylate) film used in MartinLogan's generation 2  
electrostatic transducers, yet capable of handling the high  
thermal requirements required for stable magnetic thin film  
operation.  
The MartinLogan ATF transducer consists of a micro-thin,  
low-mass Kaladex diaphragm with an ultra-light, etched  
conductive aluminum surface suspended between two high  
field strength neodymium super magnet arrays (see figure 27).  
When an electrical current (music signal) passes through the  
etched aluminum on the diaphragm's surface it is simulta-  
neously pulled towards one of the neodymium arrays and  
pushed away from the opposing array. When the direction of  
current is reversed the diaphragm is simultaneously pushed  
and pulled in the opposite direction, thus producing sound.  
High Field Strength  
—Superb Control and Efficiency  
With a field strength almost 2000% more powerful than  
traditional systems, Neodymium iron boron (NIB) rare-earth  
super magnets are one of the world's strongest commer-  
cially available magnetic materials. This incredible field  
strength proves ideal for maintaining perfect control over  
the low-mass Kaladex diaphragm. Super-low distortion  
levels, high-resolution, and crystal-clear transparency are just  
a few of the benefits resulting from this superb combination  
of low-mass diaphragm and high field strength.  
Extremely Low-Mass Diaphragm  
—Blazing Speed and Inner Detail  
Low-mass diaphragms are crucial to a loudspeakers ability  
to accurately reproduce sound. As the mass of a transducer's  
diaphragm decreases, its ability to resolve detail increases.  
With extremely low-mass characteristics, the ATF transducer  
tracks the audio signal with almost perfect accuracy.  
14  
ATF (Advanced Thin Film)  
 
Push-Pull Operation = Ideal Linearity  
Linearity is another factor contributing to a loudspeaker's  
ability to achieve ultimate clarity, detail and resolution. By  
positioning neodymium magnet arrays in a push-pull con-  
figuration, MartinLogan ATF transducer technology maintains  
uniform diaphragm control, regardless of position as it  
traverses the entire audio signal. The push-pull concept is  
a major contributor to the linearity and sonic superiority of  
ATF transducers.  
Direct Full-Surface Drive  
Provides Outstanding Clarity  
Unlike traditional voice coil driven systems, ATF diaphragms  
are directly and uniformly driven throughout their entire  
surface. This full-surface drive system results in ultra-fast  
transient response with no cone break up and the ability  
to accurately reproduce sound with great delicacy, nuance  
and clarity.  
Figure 27. Cut away view of an ATF transducer. Note the simplicity due  
to minimal parts usage.  
ATF (Advanced Thin Film)  
15  
 
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND TROUBLESHOOTING  
Frequently Asked Questions  
Troubleshooting  
How do I clean my speakers?  
Output  
Just use a dust free cloth or a soft brush to remove the dust  
from your speakers. We recommend a specialty cloth  
(available at the Xtatic shop at www.martinlogan.com)  
that cleans your speakers better than anything else we  
have tried. Do not spray any kind of cleaning agent  
on or in close proximity to the ATF element.  
• Check that all your system components are turned on.  
• Check your speaker wires and connections.  
• Check all interconnecting cables.  
What size amplifier should I use?  
We recommend an amplifier with 100 watts per channel  
for most applications. Probably less would be adequate  
when used in home theater where a subwoofer is  
employed. Our hybrid designs will perform well with  
either a tube or transistorized amplifier, and will reveal  
the sonic character of either type. However, it is impor-  
tant that the amplifier be stable operating into varying  
impedance loads: a stable amplifier will be able to  
deliver twice its rated wattage into 4 Ohms and should  
again double into 2 Ohms.  
Could you suggest a list of suitable electronics and  
cables that would be ideal for MartinLogan speakers?  
The area of electronics and cable choice is probably  
the most common type of question that we receive. It is  
also the most subjective. We have repeatedly found that  
brands that work well in one setup will drive someone  
else nuts in another. We use many brands with great  
success. Again, we have no favorites; we use electronics  
and cables quite interchangeably. We would suggest  
listening to a number of brands—and above all else—  
trust your ears. Dealers are always the best source for  
information when purchasing additional audio equipment.  
Is there likely to be any interaction between my speak-  
ers and the television in my Audio/Video system?  
The MartinLogan Fresco loudspeaker is fully shielded  
and can go anywhere.  
Will exposure to sunlight affect the life or perfor-  
mance of my speakers?  
We recommend that you not place any loudspeaker in  
direct sunlight. The ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can  
cause deterioration of grill cloth, speaker cones, etc. Small  
exposures to UV will not cause a problem. In general,  
the filtering of UV rays through glass will greatly reduce the  
negative effects.  
16  
Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting  
 
GENERAL INFORMATION  
Specifications  
Warranty and Registration  
System Frequency Response  
75–20,000 Hz ± 3 dB  
Your Fresco speaker is provided with an automatic Limited  
90 Day Warranty coverage.  
Sensitivity  
90 dB/2.83 volts/meter  
You have the option, at no additional charge, to receive a  
Limited 5 Year Warranty coverage. To obtain the Limited  
5 Year Warranty coverage you need to complete and return  
the Certificate of Registration, included with your speakers,  
and provide a copy of your dealer receipt, to MartinLogan  
within 30 days of purchase.  
Impedance  
5 ohms  
Crossover Frequency  
500, 3200 Hz  
For your convenience MartinLogan also offers online warranty  
Components  
Air core coils, metal film and low dissipation electrolytic  
capacitors  
MartinLogan may not honor warranty service claims unless  
we have a completed Warranty Registration on file!  
Woofer Type  
If you did not receive a Certificate of Registration with your  
new Fresco speaker, you cannot be assured of having  
received new units. If this is the case, please contact your  
authorized MartinLogan dealer.  
Two 4” (10.2cm) magnetically shielded high rigidity alu-  
minum cone with extended throw drive assembly,  
non-resonance asymmetrical chamber format; bass reflex  
ATF Mid-Range Driver  
1.5" x 6" (3.8cm x 15.2cm) ATF Transducer  
Service  
ATF High Frequency Driver  
1.5" x 2.25" (3.8cm x 5.7cm) ATF Transducer  
Should you be using your MartinLogan product in a country  
other than the one in which it was originally purchased,  
we ask that you note the following:  
Power Handling  
150 watts rms  
1 The appointed MartinLogan distributor for any given  
country is responsible for warranty servicing only on  
units distributed by or through it in that country in  
accordance with its applicable warranty.  
Weight  
16 lbs. each (7.3 kg)  
Size Without Stand  
24” inches W × 4.9375” inches D × 8.25” inches H  
(61cm W × 12.54cm D × 21.6cm H)  
2 Should a MartinLogan product require servicing in a  
country other than the one in which it was originally  
purchased, the end user may seek to have repairs per-  
formed by the nearest MartinLogan distributor, subject  
to that distributor’s local servicing policies, but all cost  
of repairs (parts, labor, transportation) must be born by  
the owner of the MartinLogan product.  
Size With Stand  
24” inches W × 5.6875” inches D × 8.25” inches H  
(61cm W × 14.45cm D × 21.6cm H)  
3 If, after owning your speakers for six months,  
you relocate to a country other than the one in  
which you purchased your speakers, your warranty  
may be transferable. Contact MartinLogan for details.  
General Information  
17  
 
GLOSSARY OF AUDIO TERMS  
AC. Abbreviation for alternating current.  
DC. Abbreviation for direct current.  
Active crossover. Uses active devices (transistors, ICs, tubes)  
and some form of power supply to operate.  
Diffraction. The breaking up of a sound wave caused by  
some type of mechanical interference such as a cabinet edge,  
grill frame or other similar object.  
Amplitude. The extreme range of a signal. Usually mea-  
sured from the average to the extreme.  
Diaphragm. A thin flexible membrane or cone that vibrates  
in response to electrical signals to produce sound waves.  
Arc. The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge.  
ATF. The abbreviation for advanced thin film.  
Bass. The lowest frequencies of sound.  
Distortion. Usually referred to in terms of total harmonic  
distortion (THD) which is the percentage of unwanted har-  
monics of the drive signal present with the wanted signal.  
Generally used to mean any unwanted change introduced  
by the device under question.  
Bi-Amplification. Uses an electronic crossover, or line-level  
passive crossover, and separate power amplifiers for the  
high and low frequency loudspeaker drivers.  
Driver. See transducer.  
Dynamic Range. The range between the quietest and the  
Capacitance. That property of a capacitor which determines  
how much charge can be stored in it for a given potential  
difference between its terminals, measured in farads, by  
the ratio of the charge stored to the potential difference.  
loudest sounds a device can handle (often quoted in dB).  
Efficiency. The acoustic power delivered for a given electrical  
input. Often expressed as decibels/watt/meter (dB/w/m).  
Capacitor. A device consisting of two or more conducting  
plates separated from one another by an insulating material  
and used for storing an electrical charge. Sometimes called  
a condenser.  
ESL. The abbreviation for electrostatic loudspeaker.  
Headroom. The difference, in decibels, between the peak  
and RMS levels in program material.  
Clipping. Distortion of a signal by its being chopped off. An  
overload problem caused by pushing an amplifier beyond  
its capabilities. The flat-topped signal has high levels of  
harmonic distortion which creates heat in a loudspeaker  
and is the major cause of loudspeaker component failure.  
Hybrid. A product created by the marriage of two different  
technologies. Meant here as the combination of a dynam-  
ic woofer with an electrostatic or ATF transducer.  
Hz (Hertz). Unit of frequency equivalent to the number of  
cycles per second.  
CLS. The abbreviation for curvilinear linesource.  
Imaging. To make a representation or imitation of the original  
Crossover. An electrical circuit that divides a full bandwidth  
signal into the desired frequency bands for the loudspeaker  
components.  
sonic event.  
Impedance. The total opposition offered by an electric circuit  
to the flow of an alternating current of a single frequency. It  
is a combination of resistance and reactance and is measured  
in ohms. Remember that a speaker’s impedance changes  
with frequency, it is not a constant value.  
dB (decibel). A numerical expression of the relative loudness  
of a sound. The difference in decibels between two sounds is  
ten times the Base 10 logarithm of the ratio of their power levels.  
18  
Glossary of Audio Terms  
 
Inductance. The property of an electrical circuit by which  
a varying current in it produces a varying magnetic field  
that introduces voltages in the same circuit or in a nearby  
circuit. It is measured in henrys.  
Resistor. A device used in a circuit to provide resistance.  
Resonance. The effect produced when the natural vibra-  
tion frequency of a body is greatly amplified by reinforcing  
vibrations at the same or nearly the same frequency from  
another body.  
Inductor. A device designed primarily to introduce inductance  
into an electrical circuit. Sometimes called a choke or coil.  
Sensitivity. The volume of sound delivered for a given  
Linearity. The extent to which any signal handling process  
electrical input.  
is accomplished without amplitude distortion.  
Stator. The fixed part forming the reference for the moving  
Midrange. The middle frequencies where the ear is the most  
diaphragm in a planar speaker.  
sensitive.  
THD. The abbreviation for total harmonic distortion. (See  
NAC. The abbreviation for natural ambience compensation.  
Distortion)  
Passive crossover. Uses no active components (transis-  
tors, ICs, tubes) and needs no power supply (AC, DC,  
battery) to operate. The crossover in a typical loudspeaker  
is of the passive variety. Passive crossovers consist of  
capacitors, inductors and resistors.  
TIM. The abbreviation for transient intermodulation distortion.  
Transducer. Any of various devices that transmit energy  
from one system to another, sometimes one that converts  
the energy in form. Loudspeaker transducers convert elec-  
trical energy into mechanical motion.  
Phase. The amount by which one sine wave leads or lags  
a second wave of the same frequency. The difference is  
described by the term phase angle. Sine waves in phase  
reinforce each other; those out of phase cancel.  
Transient. Applies to that which lasts or stays but a short  
time. A change from one steady-state condition to another.  
Tweeter. A small drive unit designed to reproduce only  
Pink noise. A random noise used in measurements, as it  
high frequencies.  
has the same amount of energy in each octave.  
Wavelength. The distance measured in the direction of  
progression of a wave, from any given point characterized  
by the same phase.  
Polarity. The condition of being positive or negative with  
respect to some reference point or object.  
RMS. Abbreviation for root mean square. The effective value  
of a given waveform is its RMS value. Acoustic power is  
proportional to the square of the RMS sound pressure.  
White noise. A random noise used in measurements, as it  
has the same amount of energy at each frequency.  
Woofer. A drive unit operating in the bass frequencies only.  
Drive units in two-way systems are not true woofers but  
are more accurately described as being mid/bass drivers.  
Resistance. That property of a conductor by which it opposes  
the flow of electric current, resulting in the generation of  
heat in the conducting material, usually expressed in ohms.  
Glossary of Audio Terms  
19  
 
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M A R T I N L O G A N  
the loudspeaker technology company  
2101 Delaware Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66046, USA tel 785.749.0133 fax 785.749.5320 www.martinlogan.com  
Rev. #052803  
©2003 MartinLogan. All rights reserved.  
 

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