PSW1200
Instruction
Manual
POLK AUDIO LIMITED WARRANTY
Polk Audio, Inc., warrants to the original pur- This warranty does not include service or
chaser only that the Amplifier in this Polk
Audio Loudspeaker Product (the “Product”)
will be free from defects in material and
workmanship for a period of three (3) years
parts to repair damage caused by accident,
disaster, misuse, abuse, negligence, inade-
quate packing or shipping procedures, com-
mercial use, voltage inputs in excess of the
from the date of original retail purchase from rated maximum of the unit, cosmetic appear-
a Polk Audio Authorized Dealer. Polk Audio,
Inc., further warrants to the original pur-
chaser only that the Loudspeaker(s) in
this Polk Audio Product (the “Product”) will
be free from defects in material and work-
manship for a period of five (5) years from
the date of original retail purchase from a
Polk Audio Authorized Dealer. The original
retail purchaser shall hereinafter be referred
to as “you.” However, this Warranty will
automatically terminate prior to the expira-
tion if you sell or otherwise transfer the
Product to any other party. To allow Polk
Audio to offer the best possible warranty
service, please fill out the Product
ance of cabinetry not directly attributable
to defect in materials or workmanship, or
service, repair, or modification of the Product
which has not been authorized or approved
by Polk Audio. This warranty shall terminate
if the Serial number on the Product has been
removed, tampered with or defaced.
This warranty is in lieu of all other expressed
Warranties. If this Product is defective in
materials or workmanship as warranted
above, your sole remedy shall be repair or
replacement as provided above. In no event
will Polk Audio, Inc. be liable to you for any
incidental or consequential damages arising
out of the use or inability to use the Product,
even if Polk Audio, Inc. or a Polk Audio
Authorized Dealer has been advised of the
possibility of such damages, or for any claim
by any other party. Some states do not allow
the exclusion or limitation of consequential
damages, so the above limitation and exclu-
sion may not apply to you.
Registration Card(s) and send it to the
Factory, at the address provided on the
Product Cards(s) within ten (10) days of
the date of purchase.
Defective Products must be shipped, together
with proof of purchase, prepaid insured to
the Polk Audio Authorized Dealer from whom
you purchased the Product, or to the Factory
at 2550 Britannia Boulevard, Suite D, San
Diego, California 92173. Products must be
shipped in the original shipping container
or its equivalent; in any case the risk of loss
or damage in transit is to be borne by you.
If upon examination at the Factory or Polk
Audio Authorized Dealer it is determined
that the unit was defective in materials
or workmanship at any time during this
Warranty period, Polk Audio or the Polk
Audio Authorized Dealer will, at its option,
repair with new or reconditioned parts or
replace this Product at no additional charge,
except as set forth below. All replaced parts
and Products become the property of Polk
Audio. Products replaced or repaired under
this warranty will be returned to you, within
a reasonable time, freight prepaid.
All implied warranties on this Product are
limited to the duration of this expressed
Warranty. Some states do not allow limitation
on how long an implied Warranty lasts, so
the above limitations may not apply to you.
This Warranty gives you specific legal rights,
and you also may have other rights which
vary from state to state.
This Warranty applies only to Products
purchased in the United States of America,
its possessions, and U.S. and NATO armed
forces exchanges and audio clubs. The
Warranty terms and conditions applicable
to Products purchased in other countries
are available from the Polk Audio Authorized
Distributors in such countries.
“Polk Audio,” “The Speaker Specialists,” and “Power Port”
are trademarks of Britannia Investment Corporation used under license by Polk Audio Incorporated.
23
* About Power Ratings
SPECIFICATIONS
PSW1200
When making comparisons between
product specifications it helps to under-
stand what they mean, particularly with
amplifier power ratings. The Federal Trade
Commission has recently issued new
regulations regarding the power ratings
of all amplifiers including self-powered
speakers. Polk Audio supports this effort
to standardize power testing methods in
order to provide consumers with a “level
playing field” basis for comparison. Make
sure the basis for the power rating is
clearly stated before comparing it to
another product’s specification.
Driver Complement
2-12" woofers
Continuous average power*:
230 watts into 8 ohms @1% THD
over power bandwidth of 30-120Hz
Dynamic Power Rating* -
350 watts into 8 Ohms
System Acoustic Efficiency -
90db from 1 watt at 1 meter
Calculated Maximum Output -
115db at 1 meter
Enclosure Type
Direct radiating, vented
Port Type
Power Port
Frequency Response: Overall /- 3db Limits
20Hz -140Hz /22Hz -125Hz
Lowpass Crossover Frequency
Adjustable 40Hz -120Hz
Phase Control
Variable 0˚ to 180˚
Inputs
Speaker and line level
The FTC rating is based on the continuous
power output of the amplifier. However,
music and movies are not continuous but
are mainly composed of short bursts of
sound. For this reason we also supply a
“Dynamic Power” rating which measures
the ability of the amplifier to produce power
in short bursts similar to those found in
music and movies. In our experience an
amplifier with higher Dynamic Power out-
put will play louder under most conditions
regardless of the continuous power rating.
Dynamic Power is typically greater than
continuous average power although it is not
uncommon for two amplifiers with identical
FTC “Continuous Average” ratings to have
very different Dynamic Power performance.
Outputs
Speaker and line level
High Pass Filters
However, loudspeaker efficiency is by
far the most important factor in determin-
ing how loud your system will play.
Line Level Outputs:
Switchable 40Hz or
80Hz, 12db/octave
Loudspeaker efficiency is usually given as
the amount of sound produced by 1 watt at
a distance of 1 meter. A medium efficiency
loudspeaker rating would be around 87 dB
from 1 watt at 1 meter. A highly efficient
loudspeaker might be 90 dB. Each 3dB
increase in efficiency doubles the sound
output for a given power input. So a 100
watt, 90 dB self-powered speaker and a
200 watt 87 dB unit would produce the
same sound output. For this reason we
also specify the loudspeaker efficiency
and calculated maximum sound output.
Speaker Outputs:
Switchable: Flat, 40Hz or 80Hz
Shipping Weight
110 lbs/ea (49.9 kg)
Dimensions
261⁄2"H x 183⁄4"W x 233⁄4"D
67.3cmH x 47.6cmW x 60.3cmD
Polk Audio and the Consumer Electronics
Manufacturer’s Association are currently
engaged in an effort to set standards for
specifying the actual acoustic output of
self-powered speakers. If we are success-
ful, consumers will be able to use these
ratings to make more meaningful product
comparisons and better purchasing
decisions in the future.
22
POLK AUDIO – A HISTORY OF
EXCELLENCE
A WORD FROM MATTHEW POLK
Dear Music Lover,
Matthew Polk and George Klopfer
Thank you for purchasing Polk Audio
speakers. Designing and building speak-
ers is more than just a business for the
people of Polk Audio—it is our passion.
We are all dedicated to your complete
satisfaction and delight.
founded Polk Audio in 1972. Their
dream was to make high performance
speakers at reasonable prices. Today
Polk Audio is still headquartered in
Baltimore, Maryland, and is one of the
world’s largest manufacturers of loud-
speakers for home, office and car. Polk’s
research has yielded over 20 patents for
advances in loudspeaker performance
and value. Polk speakers have earned
the praise of audio experts the world
over, as well as dozens of awards for
innovative, high-quality design. Polk
Audio speakers are sold in over 50
countries and in audio/video specialist
retail locations throughout the U.S.
Your new Polk subwoofer includes
the latest loudspeaker technology to
assure outstanding performance
and unmatched quality. Please take
a moment to read this manual; when
you fully understand all the hook-up
options and their implications, you will
ultimately get better performance from
your system.
We also make a variety of main, center,
rear channel and accessory speakers so
you can assemble a complete and well
matched high-performance surround
sound system. If you would like more
information on building the Polk system
of your dreams, consult your Polk Audio
dealer or call our Customer Service
Department. In North America call
(800) 377-7655, Monday through
Friday, 9:00 AM through 6:00 PM
Eastern Time.
Sincerely,
Matthew S. Polk
Chairman and Co-Founder
P.S. A wealth of information can also be
found on our award-winning web site:
3
FEATURES:
GETTING STARTED
• Two 12-inch direct radiating smooth
response subwoofer drivers.
• Power Port™ patented bass port for
deep bass with low distortion.
• High-current 350 watt power amplifier.
• 7 low level input channels—left front,
right front, center, subwoofer, LFE, left
rear and right rear—to allow connec-
tion of every channel’s output to the
subwoofer. There is never a question
whether or not all the bass on your
recording is getting to your PSW1200
subwoofer!
Please inspect your subwoofer and its
drivers carefully. Notify your Polk dealer
if you notice any damage or missing
items. Keep the carton and packing
material. They will do the best job of
protecting your PSW1200 if it needs
to be transported.
PLACEMENT
The Polk PSW1200 subwoofer may be
placed anywhere in the room, but for
the greatest possible bass output, place
the subwoofer near a corner of the
room. Due to a room acoustics phenom-
enon called “standing waves,” bass
response may be uneven throughout a
room. In some areas of the room, the
bass will be very loud, in others very
weak. Experiment with subwoofer place-
ment to find the location that yields the
deepest, tightest bass in your favorite
listening position.
• Front panel volume control
• Variable low-pass crossover and
variable phase controls allow you to
optimize performance to match your
audio system, room acoustics, and
program material
• Auto movie detect and bass boost.
(When the center channel input senses
a signal, it automatically boosts the
overall subwoofer level by 3dB)
• Auto on/off circuit that automatically
turns your Subwoofer on when it senses
a program signal. When no signal is
present, the amplifier turns itself off
within 15 minutes
FIGURE 1a.
• Unfiltered LFE/Subwoofer input for
use with low pass filtered subwoofer
output jacks
≥ 6"
• Speaker and line level inputs and outputs
• Switchable high-pass filters. When
passed through the PSW1200, main
channel signals may be high pass
filtered at either 40Hz or 80Hz from
both line or speaker level outputs
Allow at least 6 inches (15cm) of space
between any subwoofer driver and a
wall or obstruction. (Fig. 1a).
4
optimal phase tuning.
Zantech (1-800-843-5465) or Channel
Plus (1-800-99-5225).
Ground loops and hum can also be the
result of faulty electrical wiring in your
home. Consult a licensed electrician to
evaluate and, if necessary, repair the
AC wiring in your home. Light dimmers
also tend to introduce noise into audio
systems. Remove them.
MAINTAINING THE APPEARANCE
OF YOUR PSW1200
Your new speaker cabinet is finished in
woodgrain vinyl that can be dusted or
cleaned with a moist soft cloth. Avoid
harsh detergents and cleaning fluids,
they can permanently damage your
speaker’s finish. Remove grilles and
gently vacuum the dust.
If none of our suggestions work for you,
call our customer service number shown
below.
Q. “WHY DOES MY SYSTEM HUM?”
A. “It doesn’t know the words.”
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
OR SERVICE
This is what passes for humor in the
audio business. Here is the real answer:
If, after following the hook-up
directions, you have trouble, please
double-check all wire connections.
If the problem is that you are not getting
enough bass, make sure the AC cord is
connected to a live AC power source and
that the power switch is set to the “on”
or “auto” position. Should you isolate
the problem to the speaker, contact the
authorized Polk Audio dealer where you
made your purchase. Authorized Polk
Audio dealers are the best source for
advice and assistance.
If you have any electrical 60Hz hum
in your system, you are more likely
to hear it once you hook up your
Subwoofer. Most hum problems are
caused by ground loops. That is, the
electrical grounds of the components in
your system are not at the same electri-
cal potential. A very common ground
loop source is cable TV. Disconnect the
coaxial cable from your TV and/or VCR.
If the hum goes away, the cable is the
ground loop villain. In that case, you
need a 75-ohm ground loop isolator.
This device is about the size of a pen
and is attached to your coaxial cable
where it plugs into your VCR (or televi-
sion). You can obtain this device from
some audio dealers, Radio Shack stores,
Our cheerful customer service repre-
sentatives are happy to answer your
questions and provide fast, friendly
service. In North America call (800)
377-7655, Monday through Friday,
9:00 AM through 6:00 PM Eastern time.
21
FIGURE 18.
40Hz
120Hz
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+
–
40Hz
120Hz
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
0°
180°
40HZ
0°
180°
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL)
40HZ 80HZ
+
–
FRONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
LEFT
FRONT
IN
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
CENTER 1
IN
CENTER
IN
2
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
experiment with the crossover frequen-
cy setting. Turning the knob up will add
more “warmth” to the bass and lower
midrange, possibly at the expense of
bass “tightness” and midrange clarity.
Turning the knob down will make
the bass and lower midrange sound
“thinner.” Experiment and set this
control to taste.
VARIABLE LOW PASS CROSSOVER
(Fig. 18)–This control adjusts the
frequency range over which the
Subwoofer operates. This control only
affects signals that are sent through the
Front, Center and Rear line level “In”
jacks and the Speaker Level Inputs.
It has no effect on signals fed into the
LFE/Subwoofer input. When using
smaller main speakers, the upper range
of the control will probably yield the
best results. With larger speakers, the
lower end of the control range will prob-
ably sound best, but always let your
ear be the final judge. After setting
subwoofer levels, you may want to
VARIABLE PHASE ALIGNMENT
(Fig. 18)–Have someone else turn
the knob slowly while you sit in your
favorite listening position. Use music
with good bass and a deep male vocal.
When you hear the best balance of deep
bass and the natural lower octaves
of the male voice, you have achieved
20
The subwoofer should be placed only on
its integrated Power Port™ base.
(Fig. 1b) NEVER LAY THE SUBWOOFER
ON THE AMPLIFIER END – THIS WILL
DAMAGE THE AMPLIFIER.
fectly. A poor blend will sound unnatur-
al; you will be aware that the main and
subwoofer speakers are separate units.
In a well-blended system, the subwoofer
will not call attention to itself; you will
simply hear at lot more deep, tight,
exciting bass. Experiment with alternate
hook-up methods to find the one that
works best for you.
FIGURE 1b.
WHAT IS BASS MANAGEMENT AND HOW
DO I USE IT?
Bass management involves moving bass
signals from one speaker to another. For
example, if you have a speaker that is
not well suited to reproducing loud deep
bass, bass management allows you to
move that channel’s bass to another
speaker—generally to the subwoofer.
The PSW1200 has some built-in bass
management features for those systems
that have no bass management facility
at all, or for those whose facilities are
inadequate for your needs.
The PSW1200 is not magnetically
shielded and should not be placed
close to a television set. If you see
any color distortion in your TV, move
the subwoofer a few inches farther
from the set.
Stereo receivers and preamps never
have bass management facilities.
If you have a stereo-only system, go
immediately to page 9. Dolby Pro Logic®
receivers and processors usually have
minimal bass management facilities.
Dolby Digital® processors always have
bass management features but
CONNECTING THE SUBWOOFER TO
THE SYSTEM—GENERAL
The PSW1200 was designed to allow
you to get the maximum bass perfor-
mance from your stereo or home theater
system, regardless of the type of equip-
ment you have. Due to the broad range
of equipment available, and the versatil-
ity of the PSW1200, we are not able to
describe every possible hook up method.
Start by understanding the issues and
the capabilities of the PSW1200. From
there, you should be able to determine
the hook up method that is perfect
for you.
the capabilities and operation may
vary from model to model.
The bass management system function
in your receiver or processor is usually
accessed through an on-screen display
and may be called “Speaker Set-Up.”
Some units use switches on the front
and/or rear panels. Read your electron-
ics’ owner’s manual to learn how to
access your bass management/speaker
setup features. Here is a list of the
terms and choices you will find, and
how they operate:
WHAT ARE THE GOALS?
The first goal is to make sure that all
the bass information on the recording
gets to your speakers. Second, that the
bass gets to the speakers that are best
suited to reproduce it. And third that all
the speakers in the system “blend” per-
5
BASS MANAGEMENT/SPEAKER
SETUP SETTINGS
Large–When you select a speaker as
“Large” that speaker will be sent a full-
range signal: all the sounds that are on
that channel will go to that speaker.
DOLBY PRO LOGIC
Wide–(center speaker only) The center
speaker is sent a full-range signal: all
the sounds that are on that channel will
go to the center speaker.
Small–Most often Center and Surround
channels are small, bass-limited speak-
ers and are set to “Small.” When you
select a speaker as “Small,” frequencies
below a certain point (usually 80Hz) are
taken out and sent somewhere else.
Where does that bass go? It will go to
the subwoofer output jack if that jack is
turned “On” (see below). If the sub-
woofer output jack is “Off,” the bass
should go to the front Left and Right
channel outputs. If you select Front
speakers as “Small” and Subwoofer
“Off” you are going to lose a lot of bass.
Normal–(center speaker only) Bass fre-
quencies below 100Hz are filtered out of
the center channel and sent to the Front
and Subwoofer outputs.
Phantom–(center speaker only) Not part
of the bass management/speaker setup
system at all. This simply sends all the
center information into the front speakers.
Subwoofer Output Jack–In Pro Logic
units this output is nothing more than
summed left and right front channels
with a low pass (lets only bass through)
filter, usually fixed at 80Hz. Because a
fixed filter negates the Variable Low
Pass Crossover function, one of your
main bass “tuning” tools, you shouldn’t
use this output unless it is unfiltered.
See page 13 for information on filtered
and un-filtered outputs.
Subwoofer Yes (ON) / No (OFF)–
This determines whether the subwoofer
output jack is fed signal. If it is “Off,”
any bass redirected from other channels
and the LFE-channel bass should go to
the Front L&R outputs.
SMALL AND LARGE DECISION MAKING
Most of the time this choice is easy to
make. A very small bookshelf or on-wall
speaker should always be selected as
Small. A main speaker with built-in
powered subwoofers should be selected
as Large. Sometimes this choice is not
so clear cut. Is a “beefy” bookshelf
speaker like a Polk RT55 “small” or
“large”? Is it good or bad to have such
a speaker play bass?
THX Variation–In THX certified Pro Logic
receivers and processors, the front main
speakers can also be selected as WIDE
(LARGE) or NORMAL (SMALL). When
selected as NORMAL (SMALL), the bass
is filtered out of the front
channels and sent to the subwoofer
output jack.
DOLBY DIGITAL AND DTS®
“Small” Advantages
Dolby Labs mandates that Dolby Digital-
processor equipped electronics must
offer “all channels small” and “all chan-
nels large” options, but beyond that
there are no standards. Most units allow
any combination of “Large / Small”
choices for Front, Center and Surround
channels, but not all do. In such cases,
the PSW1200 allows you to overcome
that limitation.
• By rolling off the bottom end (taking
out the bass) of a speaker, it can play
a lot louder, with less distortion. If you
play your system very loud, and your
speakers are not full-range behemoths,
this is the right choice for you
• The midrange will be clearer and
better defined
6
FIGURE 16.
POWER
ON
OFF
AUTO
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
40HZ 80HZ
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+
40Hz
120Hz
–
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
0°
180°
40HZ
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
40HZ 80HZ
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL)
+
FRONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
–
LEFT
FRONT
IN
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
CENTER 1
IN
CENTER
IN
2
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
the one that’s right for you.
from a power source.
AC POWER
SUBWOOFER ADJUSTMENTS
SUBWOOFER LEVEL
CONTROL–Subwoofer level is adjustable
The PSW1200 has a built-in power
amplifier and must be plugged into a
standard household 110-120V AC power
source in order to operate.
via the knob on the front of the sub-
woofer under the logo pod (Fig. 17).
Play a piece of music that has an aver-
age amount of bass
content. Adjust by ear using a variety of
CDs and video sources. Adjust for deep,
The power switch has three positions:
“On,” “Off” and “Auto” (Fig. 16). In the
“Auto” position, the amplifier will auto-
matically turn on, and the green pilot
light on the front of the subwoofer will
illuminate, as soon as the speaker sens-
es a signal coming from your electron-
ics. The amplifier and the green pilot
light will turn off approximately 15 min-
utes after input signal ceases. In the
“On” position, the power amplifier will
operate and the green pilot light will
illuminate until the switch is set to “Off”
position or the AC cord is disconnected
powerful bass, avoiding “boominess.”
FIGURE 17.
5
19
FRONT
LFE/SUBWOOFER
OUTPUT
SPEAKER OUTPUTS
FRONT
L
R
LFE/SUBWOOFER
OUTPUT
SPEAKER OUTPUTS
+
R
L
–
+
+
–
–
SPEAKERS
+ –
+ –
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
R
+ –
+ –
+
+
40Hz
120Hz
120Hz
–
–
T
180°
40 HZ
80 HZ
0°
180°
40HZ
40HZ
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
80HZ
R
CROSSOVER
80HZ
OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
CROSSOVER
FULL RANGE
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
ABLE
ASS
HZ 80HZ
VER
VEL) 40HZ 80HZ
–
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
+
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
+
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
–
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
L
R
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
L
R
Unfiltered
Or
Unfiltered
Or
Filtered
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
CENTER
IN
2
Filtered
CENTER
IN
2
OFER IN
Bass Management/
Speaker Setup
Front Large
Bass Management/
Speaker Setup
Front Large
SUBWOOFER IN
Subwoofer: On
Subwoofer: On
FIGURE 13.
FIGURE 15.
FIGURE 12.
FIGURE 14.
PRE-OUT
LFE/SUBWOOFER OUT
R
L
MAIN IN
FRONT
LFE/SUBWOOFER
PRE-OUT
R
L
L
R
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+
40Hz
120Hz
–
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
L
R
0°
180°
IABLE
40HZ
W
PASS
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
SOVER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
+
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
40Hz
120Hz
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL) 40HZ 80HZ
40 HZ
80 HZ
+
L
R
RONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
–
IABLE
ASE
NMENT
–
LEFT
RONT
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
IN
0°
180°
40HZ
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
TER
1
CENTER
IN
2
WITCHABLE
IN
GH PASS
OSSOVER
NE LEVEL) 40HZ 80HZ
+
R
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
Unfiltered
Or
Filtered
Unfiltered
Or
Filtered
–
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
L
R
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
Bass
Bass
CENTER
IN
2
Management/
Speaker Setup
Front Large
Subwoofer: On
Management/
Speaker Setup
Front Large
Subwoofer: On
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
18
“Large” Advantages–
ers as “Large” or “Small”, you can use
the high pass filters on the PSW1200 to
roll off their response at 40 Hz instead
of relying on the fixed 80 Hz filter in
your receiver or processor.
• You will probably get better blending
between main speaker and subwoofer.
• The bass “attack” or “tightness” may
be better
• Imaging may be more even, seamless
and natural
Here’s another example: you have a
large full-range Center speaker like the
Polk CS1000p. You want it to play
Center bass frequencies (for better
imaging) and you also want to send
those Center bass frequencies to the
Subwoofer (to get better system
HOW THE PSW1200 CAN HELP
If your system has no bass manage-
ment/speaker setup feature or if it does
not meet your needs, the PSW1200 can
help. For example, if you are torn
between setting your front main speak-
impact). But if you set your center to
“Large” and you hook up the Subwoofer
RECEIVER OR PROCESSOR
FIGURE 2.
CENTER PRE OUT
CENTER
SPEAKER
–
+
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+
40Hz
120Hz
–
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
0°
180°
40HZ
+
–
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL)
INPUT
40HZ 80HZ
+
FULL RANGE CENTER
SPEAKER
FRONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
–
LEFT
FRONT
IN
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
L
R
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL IN
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
CENTER 1
IN
CENTER
IN
2
Bass Management/
Speaker Setup
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
Center: LARGE (WIDE)
7
DOLBY DIGITAL / DTS
RECEIVER OR PROCESSOR
FIGURE 3.
FRONT
REAR
CENTER
LFE
L
Bass Management/
Speaker Setup
Front: Large
R
Center: Large
Surround: Large
Subwoofer: Yes
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+
40Hz
120Hz
–
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
0°
180°
40HZ
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL)
40HZ 80HZ
+
FRONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
–
LEFT
FRONT
IN
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
CENTER 1
IN
CENTER 2
IN
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
to the Subwoofer output jack, the Center
bass would not go to the Subwoofer. In
this case, you can select your Center as
“Large” and hook up the center channel
output directly to the Center channel
input of the PSW1200.
you get the bass from every channel
through your Subwoofer, simply plug in
the preamp output from each channel
directly into the PSW1200. No guess-
work and no lost bass information.
(Fig. 3)
(Fig. 2, previous page)
The Front, Rear, and Center, etc., labels
on the PSW1200’s inputs and outputs
are just there for convenience. There is
no reason why you cannot use a given
set of jacks for another channel. For
example, assume you want to roll off the
Now you have it all!
In fact, the PSW1200 has enough inputs
to accept every channel of a 5.1 sur-
round system. If you want to make sure
8
17
16
FIGURE 4.
+
–
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+
40Hz
120Hz
–
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
0°
180°
40HZ
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL)
40HZ 80HZ
–
FRONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
+
LEFT
FRONT
IN
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
L
R
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL IN
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
CENTER 1
IN
CENTER
IN
2
40 HZ
80 HZ
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
FULL RANGE
bottom end of the Rear speakers at
40Hz. Simply use either the Front Line
Level or Front Speaker Level in/out sets
to do that (assuming they are not
already in use). Be creative.
not have—or if you do not wish to use—
preamp level outputs to drive your
Subwoofer, you can deliver signal via
speaker wire (Fig. 4). The signal will pass
through the Variable Low Pass Crossover.
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT–
PSW1200 INPUT AND OUTPUT
FEATURES AND USE
These may be used to route signal to
speakers, especially if you want the
PSW1200 to filter bass frequencies out
of those speakers. (Fig. 4)
Front Speaker Level In–Although these
are labeled “Front,” they can be used
for any channel. If your equipment does
9
SWITCHABLE HIGH PASS CROSSOVER
(Speaker Level)–If you want to filter
FRONT LINE IN–Any set of preamp out-
puts may be connected here, but usually
Front channel outputs. The signal will
pass through the Variable Low Pass
Crossover. If you do not have a spare
set of pre-outs use a Y connector.
(Fig. 5)
bass out of any speaker, connect the
Speaker Level In and Out, and select
either 40Hz or 80Hz. Use 40Hz for larg-
er speakers, 80Hz for smaller speakers.
This feature is useful if you have a
stereo or Pro Logic system that has no
bass management/speaker setup system
and you want to filter bass out of your
main speakers. If you do not want to fil-
ter out any bass, select Full Range.
(See Fig. 4, previous page)
DOLBY DIGITAL / DTS
RECEIVER
FIGURE 5.
PRE-OUT
R
L
Y CONNECTOR
Y CONNECTOR
MAIN IN
R
L
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+
40Hz
120Hz
–
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
0°
180°
40HZ
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL)
40HZ 80HZ
+
L
R
FRONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
–
LEFT
FRONT
IN
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
CENTER 1
IN
CENTER 2
IN
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
10
SURROUND RECEIVER OR PREAMP/PROCESSOR
FIGURE 10.
SPEAKER OUTPUTS
L
R
+
+
–
–
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+ –
+ –
+
40Hz
120Hz
–
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
0°
180°
40HZ
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL)
40HZ 80HZ
+
FRONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
FIGURE 11.
–
LEFT
FRONT
IN
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
L
R
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL IN
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
Do not
insert
insulated
section
through
hole
Loosen
hex nut
Insert
speaker
wire
through
hole
Tighten
hex nut
CENTER 1
IN
CENTER
IN
2
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
your amplifier to the red (+) terminal on
your speaker, and the wire from the
black (-) terminal of the amplifier to the
black (-) terminal on your speaker. Most
wire has some indication (such as color-
coding, ribbing, or writing) on one of the
two conductors to help maintain consis-
tency. If your Subwoofer does not seem
to produce much bass, it is most likely
that one of the speaker wires is con-
nected backwards. Double-check all
connections for correct polarity.
strands. Connect two conductors to the
receiver or amp (refer to the owner’s
manual supplied with your electronics
for assistance with proper hookup).
Connect the two conductors on the other
end of the wire to the speaker termi-
nals. Repeat for the other channel.
To connect wire to the binding post,
unscrew the plastic hex nut on the bind-
ing post and insert the bare wire into
the hole near the base of the binding
post (Fig. 11). Do not insert the insu-
lated part of the wire into the hole, as
this will not give you a good connection.
Twist the hex nut back down the binding
post until it firmly meets the wire. Do
not over-tighten.
Strip 1/2” of insulation from each of the
two conductors on both ends to expose
the bare wire. Twist the exposed wire of
each conductor to form two un-frayed
15
FIGURE 9.
+
–
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+
40Hz
120Hz
–
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
0°
180°
40HZ
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL)
40HZ 80HZ
–
FRONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
+
LEFT
FRONT
IN
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
L
R
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL IN
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
CENTER 1
IN
CENTER
IN
2
40 HZ
80 HZ
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
FULL RANGE
PSW1200. You may connect your main
speakers either to the Speaker Level
Out binding posts of the PSW1200
(Fig. 9) or directly to your receiver or
amp (Fig. 10 next page).
SPEAKER CONNECTIONS
Speaker level hook up is often the most
convenient method and may yield the
best results, especially if the subwoofer
is placed far from your electronics.
Speaker wires are a lot less susceptible
to picking up hum and noise than are
long RCA cables.
Use 2-conductor 16 gauge or thicker
speaker wires. See your Polk dealer for
wire recommendations. Note that one of
each set of Speaker Level Input termi-
nals is marked red (+) and the other
black (-). Make certain that you connect
the wire from the red (+) terminal of
Connect the speaker outputs of your
receiver or power amplifier to the
Speaker Level In binding posts of the
14
FRONT LINE OUT–Connect these to the
power amp (main) inputs only if you
want a high pass filtered signal (selec-
table 40Hz or 80Hz) to go into the
amplifier (Fig. 6). The filter cannot be
defeated.
or 80Hz at 12dB/octave (Fig. 6).
REAR LINE IN - Connect rear line level
preamp outputs here (Fig. 7 next
page). The signal will pass through the
Variable Low Pass Crossover. Use Y
connectors if you need to have these
pre–outs connected to a power amplifier
or Main In jacks.
SWITCHABLE HIGH PASS CROSSOVER–
(Line Level)–This selects the filter
(crossover) frequency at either 40Hz
FIGURE 6.
PRE-OUT
L
R
MAIN IN
R
L
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+
40Hz
120Hz
–
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
0°
180°
40HZ
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL)
40HZ 80HZ
+
FRONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
40 HZ
–
OR
LEFT
FRONT
IN
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
CENTER 1
IN
CENTER 2
IN
80 HZ
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
11
CENTER LINE IN–Connect Center line
level preamp output here (Fig. 7).
(There is no need to plug something into
both center inputs; one would be redun-
dant.) The signal will pass through the
Variable Low Pass Crossover. Use a Y
connector if you need to have this pre-
out connected to a power amplifier or
Main In jack.
by 3dB. This feature is useful because
most people like a little more bass for
movies than music. When you are
listening in stereo, the Center channel
speaker is off so the boost does not
“kick in.” As soon as you put on a movie
in surround sound, the Center speaker
turns on and the 3dB bass boost
engages. If you do not want to use this
feature, use an available input instead
of one of these.
When this input senses a signal, it auto-
matically boosts the Subwoofer’s output
FIGURE 7.
SURROUND RECEIVER OR PREAMP/PROCESSOR
REAR
PRE-OUT
CENTER
PRE-OUT
SUBWOOFER
OUT
( LFE
Low pass
filtered
only )
L
R
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+
40Hz
120Hz
–
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
0°
180°
40HZ
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL)
40HZ 80HZ
+
FRONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
–
LEFT
FRONT
IN
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
L
R
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL IN
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
CENTER 1
IN
CENTER
IN
2
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
12
FIGURE 8.
SURROUND RECEIVER OR PREAMP/PROCESSOR
SUBWOOFER/LFE OUT
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL OUT
L
R
VARIABLE
LOW PASS
CROSSOVER
+
40Hz
120Hz
–
VARIABLE
PHASE
ALIGNMENT
0°
180°
40HZ
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
POWER
80HZ
CROSSOVER
AUTO OFF ON
(SPEAKER LEVEL)
FULL RANGE
SWITCHABLE
HIGH PASS
CROSSOVER
(LINE LEVEL)
40HZ 80HZ
+
FRONT
LEFT
OUT
FRONT
RIGHT
OUT
–
LEFT
FRONT
IN
RIGHT
FRONT
IN
L
R
FRONT SPEAKER LEVEL IN
LEFT
REAR
IN
RIGHT
REAR
IN
CENTER 1
IN
CENTER
IN
2
OR
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR SUBWOOFER
OUTPUT JACK IS FILTERED OR NOT
Use the “speaker set-up” or “bass
management” function of your
Dolby Digital processor to select
Subwoofer as “on” or “yes.” Connect
the Subwoofer output jack to the
“LFE/Subwoofer” input of the
PSW1200. Disconnect the other
speakers in the system so that all
you can hear is the Subwoofer. Play
music or a movie with vocal content.
If you can hear and understand the
words, your output jack is not fil-
tered. If all you can hear is bass, and
the vocals are barely or not at all
audible, your Subwoofer input jack
is filtered.
LFE/SUBWOOFER IN - Use this input only
if you have a Dolby Digital system and
know your Subwoofer output jack is low
pass filtered (Fig. 7 previous page).
If the Subwoofer output jack is unfil-
tered, connect the subwoofer output
jack to any unused Line Level In jack
(Fig. 8). In either case, with Dolby
Digital systems, select Subwoofer as
“on” or “yes” in the “speaker set up” or
“bass management” function of your
electronics. Read the owner’s manual of
your electronics to learn how to select
this setting.
13
5601 METRO DRIVE,
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21215, USA,
410-764-5275, FAX: 410-764-5266
RM1203-1
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