User manual DALI MENTOR

[. . . ] [. . . ] Thank you for selecting DALI MENTOR loudspeakers It is important to us that your new DALI loudspeakers are set up and connected optimally For this reason, we recommend that you read this manual and follow its instructions This manual contains instructions for setup and connection, as well as tips and advice on how to get the most out of your new loudspeakers Remember to sign up for our e-mail newsletter at wwwdalidk DALI is acclaimed around the world for unique loudspeakers built to our uncompromising standards for design and performance The goal for every single DALI loudspeaker is always our foremost commitment: To create a listening experience in your home that will make you forget time and place ENGLISH Unpacking: Carefully unpack the loudspeakers of the box Depending on which DALI MENTOR model you have bought, different accessories comes with the loudspeaker MENTOR 6 includes a set of spikes for mounting under the base MENTOR 2 includes self-adhesive rubber feet for stable, non-resonant installation Grille fronts: The speakers are delivered with the grille fronts already mounted when you unpack them If you wish to remove the grille front, loosen it by gradually tugging at the metal plungers that hold it in place It is important that all are equally loosened before removing the front Otherwise, the grille may be damaged Generally we recommend the use of spikes without foundation Always use spikes without foundation on soft surfaces Spikes can damage floor surface under carpet Always use spikes with foundation on sensitive surfaces Spikes: On some floor surfaces and in some rooms, the use of spikes is a crucial aspect of obtaining the best result The spikes (included) should be screwed in loosely in the threaded holes in the bottom of the speaker Place the loudspeaker upright on its spikes on the floor, so that it stands steadily without rocking Tighten the nuts, so that the four spikes sit tightly These assembly and setup steps ensure stable mechanical coupling to the surface beneath Like any mechanical system, a loudspeaker requires a "break-in" period You will experience a gradual increase in sound quality during an initial period Unlike other mechanical systems, the lifespan of a loudspeaker is increased by regular use Avoid exposing your DALI MENTOR loudspeakers to direct sunlight Prolonged exposure may cause the realwood veneer to fade ENGLISH DALI MENTOR is a prime exponent of one of the many virtues that have made DALI famous worldwide ­ Wide Dispersion Wide Dispersion means that the area in front of the loudspeakers where a full stereo image is achieved is a great deal wider than with other loudspeakers This ensures substantially better sound across a larger area within your listening room To take full advantage of DALI MENTOR's Wide Dispersion, the loudspeakers should face straight ahead and not be angled in towards the listening position unless the two loudspeakers are placed very far apart The MENTOR tweeter module is especially developed for this loudspeaker Its unique design ensures that Wide Dispersion is more than just a name ­ you can tell the difference Before setting up and connecting your new DALI MENTOR loudspeakers, you should find the best possible placement relative to your listening position It is a good idea to follow these simple guidelines: Avoid as far as possible any objects between the loudspeakers and the listening position Obstacles can have a detrimental effect on tonal balance Ideally, the distance from the listening position to each loudspeaker should be the same as the distance between the left and right loudspeakers Correct, tight connections to your amplifier are extremely important for your listening experience Before connecting cables or changing any connections, ALWAYS turn off your amplifier Always use cables of the same type and length for left and right channels We recommend using special speaker cables from DALI, available from your dealer If you are using DALI MENTOR in a surround system, follow the instructions included with your surround amplifier Make sure that the conductors are tightly gripped by the terminals with no loose wires that could cause a short circuit and damage the amplifier The DALI MENTOR terminals are well-suited to plugs We recommend DALI Connect Banana Plugs For the optimal listening experience, the right loudspeaker (as seen from the listening position) must be connected to the amplifier output terminals marked "R" or "Right" The left loudspeaker must be connected to the amplifier output terminals marked "L" or "Left" Even a single loudspeaker connected out-of-phase in a stereo or surround installation will make the bass weaker and the stereo image unfocused The top terminal pair is internally connected to the crossover network's high frequency section The bottom terminal pair is internally connected to the crossover network's bass section When bi-wiring or bi-amping, ALWAYS remove the metal jumpers between the terminals before connecting cables For bi-wiring, connect two sets of loudspeaker cable, one to the top terminals and one to the bottom terminals At the amplifier end, connect both sets of loudspeaker cables to the same pair of terminals on the amplifier Connection in correct phase is a detail that is often ignored The red (+) terminal of the amplifier must be connected to the red (+) terminal of the loudspeaker The black (-) terminal of the amplifier must be connected to the black (-) terminal of the loudspeaker Every room has its own distinctive acoustics, which influence the way we experience the sound from a speaker In actual fact, it's a matter of how the room accommodates the sound and then damps it You can influence the acoustics of your listening room in various ways Some of the sound you hear comes not from the actual speakers but from reflections from floor, ceiling and walls These reflections are damped by objects such as furniture, plants and carpets If the sound is bright, soft items such as curtains and carpets can help If the room has large window panes, drawing the curtains will prevent reflections from the glass surfaces Both the amount and quality of the deep bass depend on the size and shape of the room, and the position of the speakers If positioned near a side or back wall, this will accentuate the bass A corner location will accentuate it even more, but will also increase the reflections The decision is yours, so experiment with different positions to find which provides the ideal sound for you As a basic rule, try to avoid large, hard and reflective areas in the immediate vicinity of your loudspeakers In the same way that a mirror reflects light, they will reflect sound from the speakers at almost full strength but with a slight delay due to the relatively low speed of sound This will disturb the precision and spacial effect of sound reproduction Try hanging a soft textile surface behind the speaker, place a rug in front of it, or place a large plant to the side and experience the surprisingly large effect doing so will have on the quality and precision of the sound Once you are happy with the positioning of your speakers, it is important to ensure that they are completely stable For floor models it is essential that you use the accompanying spikes ENGLISH How loud a speaker is able to play and still sound good is completely dependent on the signal it has to reproduce So, in practice, you cannot define an unequivocal level for use in comparing different speakers Obviously, lots of pure, undistorted output from a large amplifier is better than a distorted signal from a small amplifier stretched beyond its capacity The signal from a distorting (clipping) amplifier contains much more high-frequency information than an undistorted signal, and therefore puts a heavy strain on the tweeter Consequently, speakers are most often damaged by small amplifiers having to work too hard - and very rarely by large amplifiers, which are practically running idle It is worth noting that when the tone controls are turned above the neutral setting this significantly burdens both speakers and amplifier On a good sound system tone controls should only be used to compensate for poor recordings and not to permanently compensate for weaknesses elsewhere in the system So, DALI recommends that the tone controls generally be set to the neutral position, and you achieve your desired sound image through correct positioning of the speakers Ensuring that you keep the volume low enough so the sound remains clear and undistorted will minimise the strain on both speakers and amplifier All DALI loudspeakers are designed with linear impedance to be an optimal amplifier load The result is significantly more open and detailed sonic image Your DALI loudspeakers incorporate a wide range of technical solutions based on many years of intensive research and experience Most of it can't be seen, but can be heard and enjoyed These design principles include: DALI loudspeakers should never be angled in towards the listening position, unless the speakers are very far apart Always turn off the amplifier, before connecting or disconnecting any cables WIDE DISPERSION DALI designs drivers and crossovers to produce wide, even sound dispersion, resulting in outstanding room integration, a larger sweet spot and a wider listening area TIME COHERENCE The unique DALI drivers, optimised cabinets and carefully tuned cross-overs ensure optimal time coherence in the reproduced sound ENGLISH As a general rule, your amplifier's tone controls (bass and treble) should remain in a neutral position Use the spikes or rubber feet included with the loudspeakers ­ they make a significant contribution to sound quality and ensure that your loudspeakers stand firmly Clean the cabinets with a soft, dry cloth If the cabinets are dirty, wipe with a soft cloth dipped in all-purpose cleaner and then well wrung out Be very careful when wiping the speaker cones, as they are very fragile Fabric frameworks can be vacuumed and wiped with a well-wrung, lintfree cloth and mild all-purpose cleaner ENGLISH 1 D AUDIO DALI's time coherence and low-loss technologies create a transparent, holographic, three-dimensional sounds LOW-RESONANCE CABINETS Specially designed cabinets reduce resonances and coloration of the sound, achieving a natural, realistic sound If you want to dispose this product, do not mix it with general household waste There is a separate collection system for used electronic products in accordance with legislation that requires proper treatment, recovery and recycling Private households in the 25 member states of the EU, in Switzerland and Norway may return their used electronic products free of charge to designated collection facilities or to a retailer (if you purchase a similar new one) For countries not mentioned above, please contact your local authoroties for the correct method of disposal By doing so you will ensure that your disposed product undergoes the necessary treatment, recovery and recycling and thus prevent potential negative effects on the environment and human health HAND CRAFTED Hand assembled from the fitting of the cabinet to final electro-acoustic testing, each and every speaker is personally approved and signed by the person who assembled it There are countless methods for measuring speakers However, none of them tell you anything useful about how a speaker really sounds Only your ears can decide whether one speaker sounds better than another DALI MENTOR loudspeakers are designed to reproduce music as honestly as possible Enjoy your new speakers! 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