Acoustic Energy Loudspeaker Linear 1 User Manual

							O W N E R ’ S   M A N U A L
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							Page Section
1 1 Introduction
1 2 Handling
1 3 Installation
2 4 Positioning
3 5 Connecting
4 6 Amplifiers
4 7 Listening
4 8 Specification
5 9 The Linear Range
5 10 Warranty
5 11 Contact Acoustic Energy
1 .   I n t r o d u c t i o nC o n t e n t s
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1 .   I n t r o d u c t i o n
2 .   H a n d l i n g
Welcome to the Linear One. Perhaps more than 
any other hi-fi product, speakers are sensitive to 
installation so please take a little time to read 
this manual and to follow, as far as practical, 
the installation guidelines it contains. Careful 
installation will help ensure that your Linear Ones 
perform optimally. Should you have any questions 
not covered here we are happy to try and answer 
them either by telephone or email. Contact 
information can be found in Section 11.
Following this introduction, the Manual is divided 
into sections covering handling, installation, 
positioning, amplifier compatibility, connection, 
listening, matching products, specifications, 
warranty and contact information. We recommend 
that you read at least the first five of these sections 
carefully before installing and using your Linear 
Ones.
The Linear One is a relatively delicate precision engineered product that can 
be damaged by inappropriate handling. Please take care when unpacking or 
moving the speakers not to touch either of the drivers. Damage to a driver 
will at best degrade a Linear One’s performance and at worst result in its 
complete failure.
The enclosure surfaces should also be handled sympathetically. Any cleaning 
should only require a soft cloth, slightly dampened if necessary. Be wary of 
using any polishes or solvent based cleaning agents.
The packaging should be retained for future use.
3 .   I n s t a l l a t i o n
The Linear One is intended to be used mounted on speaker floor-stands 
relatively clear of room boundaries. Alternative mounting arrangements 
such as wall brackets are possible although these may result in reduced 
performance. If wall brackets are to be used they should be as rigid as 
possible and firmly attached to brick-built walls.
The construction style, rigidity and dimensions of the floor-stands are of 
critical significance to the performance of the Linear One. Stands should 
broadly follow the specification below. Your retailer or distributor will be able 
to offer advice.
Recommended Floor-stand Specification.
Construction Style:  Direct coupled multi-pillar.
Mass Loading:   Preferred.
Overall height:    0.50 - 0.65 m (Linear One top panel to be just 
below head height when seated).
Top plate Dimensions
Minimum width:     140 mm
Maximum width:   190 mm
Minimum depth:   190 mm
Maximum depth:   250 mm
Top plate interface:  Direct coupled tri-point or damped-compliance.
Floor interface:   Floor spikes (M6 minimum).
C o n t e n t s
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4 .   P o s i t i o n i n g5 .   C o n n e c t i n g
The position of speakers within the listening room is likely to have more 
influence over their performance than any other aspect of their installation. 
It is worth spending some time experimenting both with the finer points of 
speaker positioning, as well as the larger scale issues of room layout.
If you are already familiar with the acoustic characteristics of your listening 
room, and the way speakers perform in it, you may already have a good feel 
for where to position your Linear Ones. However, installing any new hi-fi 
component provides a good opportunity to review an existing set-up and 
perhaps make improvements.
The position requirements for a pair of Linear Ones installed in an average 
sized and furnished listening room (say 4m x 5m) are as follows:
•    Between 0.3 and 1.0 metres from the rear wall.
•    1.0 metres from side walls.
•    Between 2.5 and 3.5 metres apart.
•    Clear of corners.
•     Angled inward towards the listening position.
Don’t worry if, thanks to the architecture or layout of your room, it is 
not practical to follow each requirement. The most important thing is to 
experiment with the different options that are practical and find the one that 
works best.
While it is often the first instinct to position a pair of speakers against the 
shorter wall of a rectangular room, it is often the case that a position against 
the longer wall will produce better results. This is because the long wall 
position tends to result in less prominent reflections from the side walls of the 
room. However, whether used against the long or short wall, it is important 
D i a g r a m   O n e
that each speaker of the pair is located in a similar 
acoustic environment (different environments 
would be, say, a curtained area and a solid wall). 
The acoustic character of the side walls of the room 
in the area where the main reflection between 
speakers and listening position will occur should 
also be similar. Diagram One illustrates a typical 
layout.
Once your Linear Ones are connected (see Section 
5) and working, and you begin to become familiar 
with their performance, it is likely to be worthwhile 
experimenting a little more with their positioning.
Reducing the distance between the speakers and 
the rear wall will increase the level of bass and 
low midrange making the speakers sound warmer. 
The warmth however is likely to be gained at the 
expense of some mid-range clarity and stereo image 
focus and depth. Increasing the toe-in angle of the 
speakers may regain some image focus but again 
this is likely to be at a cost of image width and 
openness. Learning through experimentation how 
Linear Ones behave in your room will help you find 
the optimum solution.
The Linear One is magnetically shielded and can be 
used in relatively close proximity to CRT screens.
3.0 metres
angle inward
Listening position
0.5 metres from back wall  
Reflection region. Keep similar each side.
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4 .   P o s i t i o n i n g5 .   C o n n e c t i n g
Connecting your Linear Ones to an amplifier is 
fundamentally a simple process, however, there are 
some choices to be made and issues to consider 
concerning connection mode, connectors and 
cable type.
Each Linear One is fitted with two pairs of 
binding-post terminals - one pair each for the 
low frequency and high frequency drivers. Two 
pairs of terminals enables Linear Ones to be 
connected conventionally (single wire), bi-
wired or bi-amplified. As supplied, the high and 
low frequency terminals are connected together 
by metal shorting links ready for conventional 
connection.
The terminals can accept either stripped wires, 
spade connectors, or 4mm plugs. Each of these 
termination methods is potentially equally effective 
and the choice is likely to be influenced by type of 
speaker cable used. Your dealer, distributor or cable 
manufacturer will be able to offer advice.
Conventional [single wire] connection
Conventional connection requires that the shorting links remain in place 
between the high and low frequency terminals. Simply connect the speaker 
cable to either pair of terminals ensuring correct connection polarity as 
described below.
Bi-Wire Connection
Bi-wiring separates the low and high frequency connections and can provide 
enhanced sound quality. A second set of cables (or alternatively, a multi-way 
bi-wire cable) is required. The shorting links should be removed and stored for 
any subsequent single wire use.
The two cables for each speaker should be connected in parallel to the 
amplifier terminals. At the speaker, one cable should connect to the high 
frequency terminals and one to the low frequency terminals. Ensure correct 
connection polarity as described below.
Bi-Amplifier Connection
Bi-amplifier connection adds a second power amplifier to the system so that 
high and low frequency sections have dedicated amplifiers. Significantly 
enhanced sound quality is possible. One stereo amplifier should be connected 
to the high frequency terminals of each speaker and a second stereo amplifier 
connected to the low frequency terminals. The shorting links should be 
removed and stored for any subsequent single wire use. Ensure correct 
connection polarity as described below. Follow the amplifier manufacturer’s 
guidence on connecting the amplifier input signals.
The shorting links must be removed for bi-amplifier connection. Failure 
to do so will likely result in damage to the amplifiers.
Connection Polarity
It is important when connecting speakers to ensure that each terminal is 
connected with the correct polarity. Positive speaker terminals should always 
be connected back to amplifier positive terminals, and negative speaker 
terminals connected back to amplifier negative terminals. Performance will be 
seriously degraded if connections are made with incorrect polarity.
Take care when connecting cables not to touch the negative and positive 
terminals together and “short-circuit” the amplifier. Make connections with 
the amplifier switched off.
Choice of cable type will be influenced by the characteristics of other 
components in your hi-fi system and your dealer or distributor will be able to 
advise. Even so, there are some simple guidelines to consider:
•  Cable runs to each speaker should be kept as short as possible 
consistent with each being of equal length. 
•  Short cable runs are especially important if the cable is of relatively small 
cross-sectional-area. 
•  If the cable is advertised as “directional” care should be 
taken to ensure that its orientation is as recommended.
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6 .   A m p l i f i e r s9 .   T h e   L i n e a r   R a n g e
It is wise before listening to your Linear Ones to make one final check of the 
cables and connections. If all appears well begin listening at a relatively low 
level to confirm that the system is operating as expected. Only increase the 
volume if you are happy that the sound at low levels is fundamentally as 
expected. If you are unhappy, turn the system off and re-check all the cables 
and connections.
Linear Ones may take a little time to “run-in”, and similarly the system will 
also perhaps take some time to reach normal operating temperatures. It is 
unwise therefore to make rapid judgements about the performance of the 
speakers. Your ears too will take some time to adjust to the new sound, so 
revisiting the system set-up, speaker positioning especially, is best left for a 
few days.
7 .   L i s t e n i n g8 .   S p e c i f i c a t i o n
Type: Two-way, reflex loaded, time aligned 
speaker.
Bass/Mid Driver: 130mm pressed alloy cone with 
32mm thermally bonded voice coil. Shielded high-
power long-throw magnet system.
HF Driver: Pre-coated textile dome with ferro-fluid 
cooled neodymium magnet system.
Filter Network: Symmetrical 3rd order at 3.5kHz.
Cabinet: 15mm MDF carcass with composite layer 
front panel and driver de-coupling.
Frequency Response: 50Hz to 28kHz ±3dB 
Frequency Range: 30Hz to 28kHz @ -6dB 
Power Handling: 120W peak programme
Amplifier Compatibility: 25 - 120 Watts into 8 
Ohms 
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms 
Sensitivity: 89dB for 1 Watt at 1 metre
Dimensions (H x W x D): 363 x 192 x 260mm 
Weight: 7 kg (single, unpacked)
Acoustic Energy reserves the right to modify 
product specifications.
The Linear One is a relatively high sensitivity speaker that does not require a 
generously rated power amplifier for adequate volume levels to be achieved 
in an average listening room. A minimum of 25 and maximum of 120 Watts 
into 8 Ohms per channel is recommended. Linear Ones offer a relatively easy 
load to the amplifier and do not make unusually heavy demands on its power 
delivery. 
No overload protection systems are fitted to the Linear One so it is possible 
to cause damage through over-driving. Such damage can occur whatever 
the power rating of the amplifier and is not covered by any warranty. If ever 
the sound at high volumes becomes distorted your Linear Ones are at risk of 
damage. In such circumstances the volume must be reduced.
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6 .   A m p l i f i e r s9 .   T h e   L i n e a r   R a n g e
8 .   S p e c i f i c a t i o n
1 0 .   W a r r a n t y
1 1 .   C o n t a c t
The Linear One is part of a range that includes 
the Linear Three floor-stand speaker, the Linear 
Centre centre channel speaker and the Linear Sub 
active sub-woofer.
Linear One, Linear Three and Linear Centre 
incorporate time-aligned drivers to improve image 
quality, depth and focus.
Linear Three
Linear Three is a true three-way floor stand speaker 
that builds on the performance of the Linear One 
with wider bandwidth, higher power handling and 
enhanced detail resolution.
Linear Centre
Linear Centre is a centre channel speaker designed 
to combine with the Linear One or Three for 
perfectly matched audio-visual systems.
Linear Sub
Linear Sub is an active sub-woofer perfect for 
enhancing Linear One bass performance or 
handling the low frequency effects channel in 
Linear audio-visual systems.
Your Acoustic Energy speakers are guaranteed against original defects in 
materials, manufacture and workmanship for 3 years from the date of 
purchase.
Under this warranty Acoustic Energy agrees to repair any defect or, at the 
company’s discretion, replace the faulty component(s) without charge for 
parts or labour. This warranty does not imply any acceptance by Acoustic 
Energy or its agents for consequential loss or damage and specifically 
excludes fair wear and tear, accident, misuse or unauthorised modification.
This warranty is applicable in the United Kingdom only and does not in any 
way limit the customer’s legal rights. Claims and enquiries under the warranty 
for Acoustic Energy products purchased outside the UK should be addressed 
to the local importers or distributors. If you have reason to claim under the 
warranty please contact your dealer in the first instance.
Please retain all original packaging materials for possible future use. We 
suggest that you complete details of purchase now and keep this information 
in a safe place for future reference.
Name:
Address:
Dealer:
Purchase Date:
Serial Numbers:
Acoustic Energy Limited
16 Bridge Road
Cirencester
Gloucestershire GL7 1NJ
UK
Tel:  +44 (0)1285 654432 (Sales)
 +44 (0)1285 656890 (Technical)
Fax:  +44 (0)1285 654430
Email: [email protected]
Web:  www.acoustic-energy.co.uk
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							Acoustic Energy Limited, 16 Bridge Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1NJ.
Tel: +44 (0)1285 654432 (Sales), +44 (0)1285 656890 (Technical). Fax: +44 (0)1285 654430
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.acoustic-energy.co.uk
Manual Part No. MA1101
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