User manual MAGNEPAN CCR

[. . . ] To install speaker cable, simply strip approximately 1/4-inch of insulation from the speaker cable end, insert the cable and tighten the set screw. Cables terminated with banana plugs or pins may also be used. For cable terminated with spade lugs, spade lug adapters are available from your Magneplanar dealer. Connect the output of a high pass crossover (such as the Magneplanar XO-2) to the input of the CCR (observing correct polarity). [. . . ] Even if you don't understand initially, go ahead and do as we instruct. Even though you will probably be using a subwoofer, set your receiver or processor for "no subwoofer. " This may seem illogical, but it is necessary for the proper integration of the center channel midrange and bass. Here is how it works -- If you set the processor for "no subwoofer, " there is no option for routing the center channel midbass and bass. The processor must send the center channel midbass and bass to the "large" left/right Magneplanars. That is exactly what we intend for you to get the best possible performance from your CCR. Your full-range, left/right Magneplanars will provide the center channel midbass and bass, thereby giving the illusion of a large Magneplanar in the middle. The definition of your left/right Magneplanar bass/midbass is vastly superior to the bass that can be achieved if the center channel bass were routed to the subwoofer. The usual practice of routing the bass to the subwoofer is less than satisfactory in most installations with Magneplanar center channel speakers. Often there is a significant "hole" in the center channel midbass response when higher crossover points are used. In addition, subwoofers are best suited for augmenting "large" speakers below 40 Hz and are considered "muddy" or of poor quality when higher crossover points are used above 40-60 Hz. At a crossover point of 150-200 Hz, the discontinuity between the CCR's "fast" quasi ribbon midrange and the relatively "slow" subwoofer becomes very obvious. Of course, you probably plan to use a subwoofer for home theater. To drive your subwoofer with this configuration, use the pre-amp output from the front left/right of your processor. (One or two Y-adapters will be necessary. ) Be sure that the left/right "large" Maggies are set for "large" with no roll-off of the bass. Since the signal from the front left/right pre-amp outputs is "full range" (down to 20 Hz), the subwoofer will receive all the deep bass information. When the processor is set for "no subwoofer", the bass from the . 1 (LFE) is routed to the "large" front left/right Magneplanars. The LFE bass which is sent to the left/right "large" speakers is in mono. If your subwoofer has only one input, it is not necessary to drive the subwoofer with both the left and right signal. (Note- The . 1 or LFE bass information will NOT damage your left/right Magneplanars. ) The benefits of achieving the illusion of a full-range Magneplanar in the center channel with this hookup technique will be appreciated 100% of the time. But, what about the absence of the . 1 channel?from the . 1 channel are on the "full range" or "large" front channels and will be sent to the subwoofer with our recommended hookup. To prevent "muddy" bass, adjust the subwoofer crossover point and level so it does not overlap with the "fullrange" front left/right Magneplanars. [. . . ] You will need to remember all three as you finetune your CCR. We have had a number of reports that the automatic equalization systems built into some processors have had less-than-desirable results with Magneplanars. We are investigating this further, but, apparently the equalization systems are not compatible with our recommended hookup procedure. We recommend that you defeat the automatic EQ system. [. . . ]