American Audio Loudspeaker PSW 15P User Manual

							
AMERICAN AUDIO
4295 Charter Street
Los Angeles, Ca. 90058
www.AmericanAudio.us
   3/05
PSW 15P
™
Powered Professional Subwoofer
PSW 15
™
Professional Subwoofer 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.AmericanAudio.us   -  PSW 15™/PSW 15P™   -   Instruction Manual Page 2
PSW 15™/PSW 15P™                                             Contents
PSW 15™/PSW 15P™                                   Unpacking
PSW 15™/PSW 15P™                                Introduction
Every 
PSW 15™ and PSW 15P™  has been thoroughly tested and has been shipped in perfect operat-
ing  condition.  Carefully  check  the  shipping  carton  for  damage  that  may  have  occurred  during  ship
-
ping. If the carton appears to be damaged carefully inspect your units for any damage and be sure all 
accessories necessary to operate the system have arrived intact. In the event damage has been found 
or  parts  are  missing,  please  contact  our  toll  free  customer  support  number  for  further  instructions. 
Please do not return the subwoofer to your dealer without first contacting customer support. 
CUSTOMER  SUPPORT..........................................................................................................................2
UNPACKING.............................................................................................................................2
HANDLING  PRECAUTIONS...................................................................................................................3
FEATURES..
...................... ........................... ......................................................... ...............................4
PRODUCT REGISTRATION...............
.....................................................................................................5
PSW  15  REAR  PANEL..........
.................................................................................................................6
PSW 15P REAR PANEL..........................................................................................................................7
SUBWOOFER  SET-UP...........................................................................................................................9
WARRANTY.................................... ...................................................................................................12
SPECIFICATIONS
  PSW 15™................................... ................................................................................................. 13
 PSW 15P™.................................................................................................................................14
Introduction:  Congratulations  and  thank  you  for  purchasing  the  American  Audio
®  PSW  15™  or  the 
PSW 15P™ professional subwoofer. This subwoofer is a representation of American Audio’s continuing 
commitment  to  produce  the  best  and  highest  quality  audio  products  possible  at  an  affordable  price. 
The PSW 15™ is a passive subwoofer, encased in a wood encloser. This subwoofer has been designed 
to be used as both a portable and a permanently installed unit. The PSW 15P™ is a 300 watt self pow
-
ered version of the PSW 15™. Please read and understand this manual completely before attempting 
to operate your new subwoofer. This booklet contains important information concerning the proper and 
safe operation of your new subwoofer.
Customer Support:  American Audio
® provides a toll free customer support line, to provide set up help 
and  answer  any  question  should  you  encounter  problems  during  your  initial  set  up  or  operation.  You 
may also visit us on the web at www.americandj.com for any comments or suggestions. Service Hours 
are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
  Voice:    (800) 322-6337
  Fax:     (323) 582-2610
  E-mail:   [email protected]
Caution!  There are no user serviceable parts inside this subwoofer. Do not attempt any repairs, without 
being  instructed  to  do  so  by  an  authorized  American  Audio  technician.  Doing  so  will  void  your  manu
-
factures  warranty.  In  the  unlikely  event  your  subwoofer  may  require  service,  please  contact  American 
Audio
®. 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.AmericanAudio.us   -  PSW 15™/PSW 15P™   -   Instruction Manual Page 3
ELECTRICAL PRECAUTIONS
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCKDO NOT OPEN
CAUTION
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.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within anequilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to thepresence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the
product's  enclosure  that may  be of sufficient  magnitude
to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
READ INSTRUCTIONS — All the  safety  and operating
instructions  should be read  before  the product is
operated.
RETAIN INSTRUCTIONS —  The safety and operatin
g
instructions  should be retained for future  reference.
HEED  WARNINGS — All  warnings  on the  product  andin the  operating  instructions  should be adhered to.
FOLLOW  INSTRUCTIONS — All  operating  and use
instructions should be followed.
CLEANING 
— T he  product  should be cleaned  only witha polishing  cloth or a soft dry cloth.  Never  clean withfurniture  wax, benzine,  insecticides  or other volatile
liquids since they may corrode the cabinet.A TTACHMENTS — Do  not  use attachments  not
recommended  by the  product  manufacturer  as they
may cause hazards.
WATER  AND MOISTURE 
— Do  not  use this  product
near water — for  example,  near a bathtub,  wash
bowl,  kitchen  sink, or laundry  tub; in a wet  basement;
or near a swimming pool; and the like.
ACCESSORIES 
—  Do  not  place this  product  on an
unstable  cart, stand,  tripod,  bracket,  or table.  The
product  may fall, causing  serious injury to a child oradult,  and serious  damage to the  product.  Use onlywith a  cart,  stand,  tripod,  bracket,  or table
recommended  by the  manufacturer,  or sold with
the  product.  Any mounting  of the  product  shouldfollow the manufacturer’s  instructions, and should
use a  mounting  accessory  recommended  by the
manufacturer.
CART — A  product  and cart combination  should be
moved with  care.  Quick  stops,  excessive  force, and
uneven  surfaces  may cause  the product  and cart
combination to overturn.
VENTILATION 
—  Slots  and openings in the  cabinet  are
provided  for ventilation  and to ensure  reliable
operation  of the  product  and to protect it from
overheating,  and these  openings  must not be
blocked  or covered.  The openings  should never be
blocked  by placing  the product  on 
a bed,  sofa,  rug,
or  other similar  surface.  This product  should not be
placed in a built-in  installation  such as a bookcase  or
rack  unless  proper ventilation is provided  or the
manufacturer’s  instructions have been  adhered to.
POWER  SOURCES — This  product  should be operated
only  from  the type  of power  source  indicated  on the
marking  label. If you  are not sure  of the  type  of
power  supply to your  home,  consult  your product
dealer or local power company.
LOCATIO
N –  The  appliance  should be installed in a
stable location.
NONUSE  PERIOD
S – The  power  cord of the  appliance
should  be unplugged  from the outlet  when left un-
used for a long period of time. GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION
•
If this  product  is equipped  with a polarized  alternating
current  line plug (a plug  having  one blade  wider than
the  other), it will fit into  the outlet  only one way.  Thisis a safety  feature. If you  are unable to insert  the plugfully into  the outlet,  try reversing  the plug. If the  plug
should still fail to fit,  contact  your electrician to
replace  your obsolete outlet.  Do not  defeat the
safety purpose of the polarized plug.
• If this  product  is equipped  with a three-wire
grounding  type plug, a plug  having a third  (grounding)
pin, it will  only fit into a grounding  type power outlet.
This is a  safety  feature. If you  are unable to insert the
plug into  the outlet,  contact  your electrician to
replace  your obsolete outlet.  Do not  defeat the
safety purpose of the grounding type plug.
POWER-CORD  PROTECTION 
- Power-supply  cords
should  be routed  so that  they  are not likely to be
walked  on or pinched  by items placed  upon or
against  them, paying  particular  attention to cords  at
plugs,  convenience  receptacles, and the point  where
they exit from the product.
OUTDOOR ANTENNA GROUNDING —  If an outside
antenna  or cable  system  is connected  to the  product,
be  sure  the antenna  or cable  system is grounded  so
as  to provide  some protection  against voltage  surges
and  built-up  static charges.  Article 810 of the  National
Electrical  Code, ANSI/NFPA  70, provides  informatio
nwith regard to proper  grounding  of the  mast  and
supporting  structure, grounding  of the  lead-in  wire
to an  antenna  discharge unit, size of grounding
conductors,  location of antenna-discharge  unit,
c o n n e c t i o n  t o g r o u n d i n g  e l e c t r o d e s ,  a n d
requirements  for the  grounding  electrode. See  Figure
A.
LIGHTNING 
—  For  added  protection for this product
during a  lightning  storm, or when  it is  left  unattended
and  unused for long  periods  of time, unplug it from
the wall  outlet  and disconnect  the antenna  or cable
system.  This will prevent  damage to the  product
due to lightning and power-line surges.
POWER  LINES 
— An  outside  antenna  system should
not  be located in the  vicinity  of overhead  power lines
or other electric light or power circuits, or where it
can 
fall into  such  power  lines or circuits.  When
installing  an outside  antenna  system, extreme  care
should  be taken to keep  from touching  such power
lines  or circuits  as contact  with them  might  be fatal.OVERLOADING — Do  not  overload  wall outlets,
extension  cords, or integral  convenience  receptacles
as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock. OBJECT 
AND LIQUID  ENTRY 
- Never  push  objects  of
any  kind into this product  through  openings  as they
may  touch  dangerous  voltage points or short-out
parts  that could  result 
in a fire or electric  shock.
Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.
SERVICING —  Do  not attempt to service this  product
yourself  as opening  or removing  covers may expose
you 
to  dangerous  voltage or other  hazards. Refer  all
servicing to qualified service personnel.
DAMAGE  REQUIRING  SERVICE  - Unplug this  product
from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified
service personnel under the following conditions:
• W hen the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.
•If liquid  has been  spilled,  or objects  have fallen into
the product.• If the product has been exposed to rain or water.•If the  product  does not operate  normally  by following
the  operating  instructions.  Adjust only those  controls
that  are covered  by the  operating  instructions  as an
improper  adjustment  of other  controls  may result 
in
damage and will often require extensive work by a
qualified  technician to restore  the product to its
normal operation.
•If  the  product  has been  dropped  or damaged in anyway.
• W hen the product  exhibits a distinct  change in
performance — this indicates a need for service.
REPLACEMENT  PARTS 
-- When  replacement  parts
are  required,  be sure  the service  technician  has used
replacement  parts specified  by the  manufacturer  or
have  the same  characteristics  as the  original  part.
Unauthorized  substitutions may result  in fire,  electri
c
shock, or other hazards.
SAFETY  CHECK 
- Upon  completion  of any  service  or
repairs to this  product,  ask the service  technician to
perform  safety checks to determine  that the product
is in proper operating condition.
WALL  OR CEILING  MOUNTING 
— The  product  should
not be mounted to a wall or ceiling.
HEAT 
—  The  product  should be situated  away from heat
sources  such as radiators,  heat registers,  stoves, or
other  products  (including 
amplifiers)  that produce
heat.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
ANTENNA
LEAD IN
WIRE
GROUND
CLAMP
ANTENNA
DISCHARGE UNI
T
(NEC SECTION 810-20)
GROUNDING CONDUCTOR
S
(NEC SECTION 810-21)
GROUND CLAMPS
POWER SERVICE GROUNDING
ELECTRODE SYSTEM
(NEC ART 250, PART H)
ELECTRIC
SERVICE
EQUIPMENT
Fig. 
A NEC — NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
C A U T I O N : T O R E D U C E  T H E R I S K  O F E L E C T R I C 
SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER (OR BACK). 
T H E R E  A R E N O U S E R  S E R V I C E A B L E  P A R T S 
INSIDE  REFER  SERVICE  TO YOUR  AUTHORIZED 
AMERICAN AUDIO® SERVICE TECHNICIAN.
P SW 15™/PSW 15P™                         Handling Precautions 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.AmericanAudio.us   -  PSW 15™/PSW 15P™   -   Instruction Manual Page 4
PSW 15™/PSW 15P™                             Safety Precautions
•   The PSW 15™ and the PSW 15P™ subwoofers can easily reproduce sound pressure levels    
  (SPL)  sufficient enough to cause sever and permanent hearing damage. A great degree of care    
  should  be taken to pro tect your ears to prolong exposure to SPL in excess of 85dB.
•  For adult use only - Keep out of the reach of children.
•   Be sure all power is turned off before making subwoofer connections
•  Do not remove the subwoofer cover or grill under any conditions
•   Always use a power cord that meets the manufactures exact power specifications
•   Disconnect
  from main power before making any type of connection
•   To reduce the risk of electrical shock or fire, do not expose this unit rain or moisture
•   This subwoofer is intended for indoor use only, use of this product outdoors voids all warranties.
•   Always mount this subwoofer in safe and stable matter.
•   Power Cord Protection - Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be  
   walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords  
  at  plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the mixer.
•   Heat -The subwoofer should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat regis-   
  ters,  stoves, or other mixers (including amplifiers) that produce heat
•  Be sure to save the packing carton in the event the unit needs to be returned for service
•  Read all documentation before attempting to operate your new subwoofer. Please save all your    
  docu mentation for future reference
•   Do not spill water or other liquids in to or on to your subwoofer
•  Be sure that the local power outlet matches that of the required voltage for your subwoofer.
•  Do not attempt to operate this subwoofer if the power cord has been frayed or broken. Please    
  route your  power cord out of the way of foot traffic
•  Always have the gain controls set to their lowest level during initial power-up to prevent    
  subwoofer  damage
•  Servicing - The user should not attempt to service the subwoofer beyond that described in this
  manual. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel. The subwoofer    
  should  only be serviced by qualified personal when;
    A.  Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the subwoofer
    B.  The subwoofer has been exposed to rain or water
    C.  The subwoofer does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a change in performance
     D. The terminal/cross-over plate has been damaged 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.AmericanAudio.us   -  PSW 15™/PSW 15P™   -   Instruction Manual Page 5
PSW 15™/PSW 15P™™                                        Registration
PSW 15™/PSW 15P™                                    Main Features
PSW 15P™ Powered Subwoofer:
•  Dual XLR/1/4 Inputs
•  XLR Balanced Inputs 
•  XLR Line Outputs
•  300 Watts RMS - 1000 Watts Peak Power
•  Built-in Heavy Duty Carrying Handle
•  Attached heavy Duty Rubber Feet
•  Built-In Adjustable Electronic Crossover 
The PSW  15™  and  the 
PSW  15P™  carry a one year  (365  days)  limited  warranty.  Please  fill  out  the 
enclosed warranty card to validate your purchase. All returned service items whether under warranty 
or not, must be freight pre-paid and accompany a return authorization (R.A.) number. The R.A. num
-
ber must be clearly written on the outside of the return package. A brief description of the problem as 
well as the R.A. number must also be written down on a piece of paper and included in the shi
pping 
container.  If  the  unit  is  under  warranty,  you  must  provide  a  copy  of  your  proof  of  purchase  invoice. 
You  may  obtain  a  R.A.  number  by  contacting  customer  support  at  (800) 
322-6337.  All  packages 
returned to the service department not displaying a R.A. number on the outside of the shipping pack
-
age will be returned to the shipper unopened. 
The serial and model number for this unit is located on the rear panel  Please write down the num
-
bers here and retain them for future reference.
Model No.________________________________   Date Purchased___________________________
Serial No.________________________________    Dealer Name______________________________
    PSW 15™ Subwoofer:
•  Dual Speakon Type Connections
•  500 Watts RMS - 900 Watts Peak Power
•  Built-in Heavy Duty Carrying Handle
•  Attached heavy Duty Rubber Feet 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.AmericanAudio.us   -  PSW 15™/PSW 15P™   -   Instruction Manual Page 6
PSW 15™/PSW 15P™                        Controls and Features
1.  SPEAKON CONNECTIONS – 
The PSW 15 includes a pair of Speakon type connections. You 
may use both connections at once to loop subwoofers. The Speakon connectors have a pin 1+ 
(hot)  and  1-  (ground)  configuration,  pins  2+  and  2-  are  not  used.  For  more  wiring  information 
regarding the Speakon connectors see page 17.
      
Rear of PSW 15™  
OUTPUT
INPUT
PSW15
SerialNo.
1 
						

							
Rear Panel:
2.     INPUT  LEVEL  –  This  knob  is  used  to  regulate  the  output  signal  of  the  line  level  source  con-
nected to the Line Level Input Jacks (4 & 6). 
3.   FREQUENCY RESPONSE –  This knob is used to adjust the crossover frequency of the sub-
woofer. 
4.  BALANCED  XLR/1/4”  LINE  INPUT  –  This  connection  is  designed  to  accept  a  balanced  line 
input signal from a mixer or other line level device with a balanced output jack. Use a balanced 
cable when the signal cable length exceeds 15 feet, this will reduce excessive signal loss. Be 
sure to connect only line level input devices such as mixers and tape machines to this jack.
5.  XLR PARALLEL OUTPUT JACK –  This jack is used to send the incoming signal from either of 
the Inputs Jacks to another PSW 15P™ or 
speaker.
6.  BALANCED  XLR/1/4”  LINE  INPUT  –  This  connection  is  designed  to  accept  a  balanced  line 
input signal from a mixer or other line level device with a balanced output jack. Use a balanced 
cable when the signal cable length exceeds 15 feet, this will reduce excessive signal loss. Be 
sure to connect only line level input devices such as mixers and tape machines to this jack.
P SW 15™/PSW 15P™            Rear Panel Controls and Features
©American Audio®   -   www.AmericanAudio.us   -  PSW 15™/PSW 15P™   -   Instruction Manual Page 7
Rear of PSW 15P™   
2
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.AmericanAudio.us   -  PSW 15™/PSW 15P™   -   Instruction Manual Page 8
PSW 15™/PSW 15P™            Rear Panel Controls and Features
7.  XLR OUTPUT JACK – This jack is used to send the incoming signal from either of the Inputs 
Jacks to another  PSW 15P™ or speaker.
8.  VOLTAGE  SELECTOR  SWITCH  -  Because  power  supplies  vary  from  location  to  location  a 
voltage  selector  switch  has  been  incorporated  in  the  unit's  design.  This  switch  can  select  a 
voltage  input  of  120v  or  230v  to  accommodate  the  two  major  power  source.  Always  be  sure 
to disconnect the power plug before changing the voltage.
9.  MAIN POWER SWITCH – This is the main power ON/OFF button. Before main power is applied, 
be sure you have made all connections to the subwoofer. Remember to avoid damaging pops 
to the subwoofers, the mixer is turned on first and turned off last.
10. FUSE  HOLDER  – This  housing  stores  the  6  amp  GMA  protective  fuse.  Always  replace  with 
the  exact  same  type  fuse,  unless  otherwise  instructed,  by  an  authorized  American  Audio
® 
service technician. Replacing with any other type of fuse than that of the recommended fuse 
will void your unit warranty.
11.  MAIN  POWER  INLET  – This  connector  is  used  to  supply  main  power  to  the  unit  via  the  in-
cluded detachable power cord. The power connection uses an I.E.C. type connector, use only 
the supplied polarized AC power cord. Use only a power cord that matches this type of con
-
nection.  Be  sure  to  only  connect  this  unit  to  a  power  outlet  that  matches  the  printed  power 
label on the unit. Never use a power when the ground prong has been removed or broken off. 
The ground prong is used to reduce the risk of electrical shock in case of an electrical short.  
This cord is designed to fit in one direction only. Do not attempt to force a cord if it does not 
fit, be sure the cord is being inserted properly. 
						

							
AUX4
AUX/IN
MADEINCHINA
MODELNO.:Q-3433MKIIPOWERSOURCE:115/230V~50/60Hz20W
MINMAXTRIMOUTPUT

©American Audio®   -   www.AmericanAudio.us   - PSW 15™/PSW 15P™   -   Instruction Manual Page 9
PSW 15™/PSW 15P™                              Subwoofer Set-Up
PSW 15P™ Input/Output Set-Up
XLR-XLR Balanced Cables
PSW 15P™ 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.AmericanAudio.us   -  PSW 15™/PSW 15P™   -   Instruction Manual Page 10
Speakon Cables
V4000 Amplifier
XLR-XLR Balanced cables
PSW 15™/PSW 15P™                              Subwoofer Set-Up
PSW 15™ Input/Output Set-Up
AUX4
AUX/IN
MADEINCHINA
MODELNO.:Q-3433MKIIPOWERSOURCE:115/230V~50/60Hz20W
MINMAXTRIMOUTPUT
OUTPUT
INPUT
PSW15
SerialNo.
OUTPUTINPUT
DLS15