JBL S4800
Owner's Manual

CHAPTER 5 � PLACEMENT AND SETUP CONSIDERATIONS The S4800 loudspeaker system is designed to be less affected by room acoustics than conventional imaging systems. However, it is very sensitive to overall symmetry, and proximity to walls, ceilings and corners. Ideally, any listening room should contain a combination of live surfaces (e.g., walls and windows) and absorbent surfaces (e.g., drapes, carpets, upholstery). If the distance from floor to ceiling is short, it is preferable that one surface has an absorbent covering. With the S4800, it is most important to be able to accommodate the optimum listening area that is defined by the 100° horizontal/60° vertical coverage pattern of the horn. The listener should be centered in front of the speakers, and furniture should be of an appropriate height so that when the listener is sitting, his or her ears are level with the horn (approximately 32 inches/ 80cm), as illustrated in Figure 2. CAUTION: The S4800 is a massive system comprising materials chosen for their density, with its weight concentrated in a relatively narrow area. Verify the integrity of the floor surface before placing and setting up the speakers. See Floor Requirements. If possible, the distance between the speakers should be the same as the distance between each speaker and the listening area. Angle the speaker in toward the listener so that when seated, the listener can look straight into the center of the speaker (Figure 7). As the distance increases between the speakers, increase the inward angle of the speaker. The imaging qualities enable the speakers to be placed relatively far apart from each other. In addition, the low-frequency alignment feature enables placing the speakers near, or even in, a corner without producing an overabundance of bass. This corner placement ability allows optimum performance even in small rooms. The S4800 system can operate fairly close to the wall. Leave enough clearance between the back of each speaker and the wall to allow for making the connections on the back of the speaker (approximately 2 inches � 3 inches is sufficient), and to avoid interference with the performance of the tuned port. Remember that these speakers weigh close to 143 lb (65kg) each and cannot be easily moved.
FLOOR REQUIREMENTS

The floor in the location selected for setting up the S4800 speakers must be capable of supporting a load of 143 lb (65kg) per speaker. Because of the coupling effect of the stainless-steel feet, a flat, hard surface such as wood or linoleum is preferable. However, the design of the loudspeaker�s coupling system, along with the speaker�s extreme weight, should result in excellent performance on any surface, even on carpets. To prevent indentations on wood or linoleum floors caused by the weight of the loudspeaker, always utilize the enclosed coasters. Do not set up the S4800 system directly on a ceramic tile floor; the concentrated weight might cause the tiles to crack.

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Figure 7. Room placement of S4800 speaker system.