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M A R T I N L O G A N
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INSTALLATION IN BRIEF
We know that you are eager to hear your new Depth sub-
woofer, so this section is provided to allow fast and easy
set up. Once you have it operational, please take the time
to read, in depth, the rest of the information in this manual.
It will give you perspective on how to attain the greatest
possible performance from this most exacting woofer system.
Step 1: Unpacking
Remove your new Depth subwoofer from its packing.
Step 2: Placement
Ideally, place the Depth in a corner near the front of the
room. This is a good place to start. Please see the Placement
section (page 13) of this manual for more details.
If you experience any difficulties in setup or operation of the
Depth, please refer to the Placement, Room Acoustics and
Connections and Control Settings sections of this manual.
Step 3: Signal Connection
Use the best interconnect cables you can. High quality cables,
available from your specialty dealer, are recommended and
will give you superior performance.
Should you encounter a persistent problem that cannot be
resolved, please contact your authorized MartinLogan dealer.
They will provide you with the appropriate technical analysis
to alleviate the situation.
Attach your preamplifier/processor outputs through cables
to the signal input area located on the Depths rear panel.
Please see the Connections and Control Settings section
(pages 6–12) of this manual for more details.
WARNING!
•Hazardous voltages exist inside—do not
remove cover.
•Refer servicing to a qualified technician.
•To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not
expose this module to moisture.
•Unplug subwoofer should any abnormal
conditions occur.
If you plan to connect your Depth using signal level (high
level) inputs, please refer to page 9 for instructions.
Step 4: Power Connection (AC) (see warning)
Make sure the level knob is set at 0. Plug the Depth subwoofer
into a wall outlet. Please see the Connections and Control
Settings section (page 12) of this manual for more details.
•Use only with a grounded outlet.
Step 5: Setting the Controls
Set the level knob to a medium volume position (12 o'clock).
Set the 25Hz Level to 0 (12 o'clock). Set the power switch
on the front of the Depth to ‘Auto’.
The lightning bolt flash with arrowhead symbol, within
an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the
product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude
to constitute a risk of electric shock.
Step 6: Listen and Enjoy
Now, you may adjust your system and enjoy!
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.
Installation in Brief
3
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INTRODUCTION AND ASSEMBLY
Introduction
Trim Removal and Installation
1 Simultaneously push the two points of the trim closest to
the front grill of the Depth.
Congratulations! You have invested in one of the world's
premier subwoofers.
2 Remove the trim from the Depth cabinet.
3 Insert new trim and press into place.
The MartinLogan Depth represents the culmination of an
intensive, dedicated team research program directed toward
establishing a world class reference subwoofer using leading-
edge technology, without compromising durability, reliability,
craftsmanship or aesthetics.
The Depth subwoofer uses three custom 8-inch high-excur-
sion drivers in a BalancedForce™ bass alignment, which
dramatically reduces cabinet vibrations. This allows deep,
tight, well-defined bass. Servo-controlled woofers minimize
distortion. A proprietary amplifier is used to drive the output
stage with precision and extremely high efficiency. Low-
pass filtering, high-pass filtering and phase control have
been designed to make integrating the Depth subwoofer
with MartinLogan and non-MartinLogan products both
seamless and simple.
The materials in your new Depth subwoofer are of the
highest quality and will provide years of enduring enjoyment
and deepening respect. The cabinetry is constructed from
the finest composite material for acoustical integrity and is
finished with our attractive custom matte coat.
This User's Manual will explain in detail the operation of
your Depth subwoofer and the philosophy applied to its
design. A clear understanding will insure that you obtain
maximum performance and pleasure from this most exact-
ing subwoofer.
4
Introduction and Assembly
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ABOUT THE CONTROLS
Level Knob
Status Light
Setting the level too high will cause the bass to seem bloated
and is the single most common cause of bad sounding
subwoofers. A rule of thumb is that the subwoofer should
not draw attention to itself, but should simply make the
systems low end seem more extended and accurate.
The Depth is equipped with a multi-color LED to indicate
the subwoofers current status. The following list explains
the meaning of the different colors:
No color: No power. The Depth is not plugged in.
Low Pass Filter Knob
Yellow: Energy saving mode. If the power switch is set to
‘Auto’ this indicates the Depth detects no audio signal and
has automatically switched into energy saving mode.
Setting the power switch to ‘Standby’ will force the Depth
into this mode.
When the Depth is connected in multi-channel mode (via
its LFE input), the low pass filter is not active and your
processor handles the bass management. When connected
in 2-channel mode (via its speaker or line level left/right
input) the low-pass filter is active.
Green: Play mode. If the power switch is set to ‘Auto’ this
indicates the Depth detects an audio signal and has automat-
ically switched into play mode. Setting the power switch
to ‘On’ will force the Depth into this mode.
As a general rule the low pass filter should be set at the
option approximately equal to 70% of you speakers lowest
frequency response. Example: The MartinLogan Aeon’s
lowest frequency response is 43Hz. 70% of 43Hz equals
30.1, so you should set the Depth’s low pass filter to 30Hz.
Remember, this is a general rule. We advise that once you
try the recommended setting using the formula above, you
should try the surrounding settings to see which sounds best.
Red: Safety mode. This indicates that the Depth’s temper-
ature has exceeded nominal operating range. The Depth will
resume normal play mode when the temperature-sensor
reports a safe operating temperature.
Phase Control Knob
The phase control is entirely dependent on the size and
configuration of your listening environment, the placement
of the unit, and your seating arrangement. Due to the way
bass sound waves develop in different rooms, there is no rule
of thumb for setting phase. For Instance, if your room has a
peak at the subwoofer crossover area, you may wish to set
the phase so the actual acoustic outputs of the subwoofer and
main speakers are out of phase. Experiment, try different
settings and be patient.
25Hz Level Knob
The 25Hz Level knob significantly adjusts the level between
20 and 30Hz by ±12dB. This is an area where peaks and dips
of different amplitudes often manifest in real environments.
This setting is dependent on room size and construction,
system configuration and personal preference.
Auto/On/Standby Power Switch
The Auto/On/Standby switch controls Depth’s energy saving
feature. When set to 'Auto', the Depth will turn on when a
music signal is detected and off when there is none. The 'On'
setting prevents the Depth from entering energy saving
mode. The 'Standby' setting forces the Depth into energy sav-
ing mode. While set to 'Standby’, the Depth will not perform.
Figure 1. Depth controls located on the back of the subwoofer.
About the Controls
5
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CONNECTIONS AND CONTROL SETTINGS
Before Connecting the Depth
MartinLogan engineers designed the Depth for easy setup
and system integration. Before beginning to connect your
Depth, please review the controls discussed in the last sec-
tion. An understanding of these will help speed you along as
you connect your Depth with your system. All signal con-
nections are done at the signal input section on the rear
connections panel of the Depth. Make certain that all of
your connections are tight.
WARNING! Turn your Depth subwoofer off
before making or breaking any signal connections!
2-Channel Mode
This setup is recommended if your Depth will be used in a
2-channel system with main speakers playing full range.
When a signal is connected to the Depth’s Left/Right Inputs,
the Depth’s internal low pass filter is active.
Signal Connection (see figure 2):
1 Connect the left and right outputs of your preamplifier to
the left and right inputs of the Depth using quality RCA
interconnects. If your preamplifier only has one set of out-
Figure 2. Signal connection for 2-channel mode.
puts you may need to obtain Y adapters from your dealer.
Recommended Control Settings (see figure 3):
1 Set the 25Hz Level control to 0.
2
Set the low-pass filter switch to to the closest option equal
to 70% of your loudspeakers lowest frequency response.
3 While playing music with bass content, turn the level con-
trol up until the music has deep extended bass, being
careful to avoid levels that become overwhelming.
4 Try the phase control in different settings until the best
blending is obtained. If you are using the Depth to aug-
ment other MartinLogan products, we suggest you start
with the phase set at 90° (0° if you are using Script™
loudspeakers).
5 If you have completed steps 1–4 and still have weak or
boomy bass, adjust the 25Hz knob to compensate for
these anomalies. Turn the 25Hz control up and down and
listen to the effects that it has on the music. Try to find a
position that sounds correct to you. Experiment by chang-
ing the level control while adjusting this knob. You should
be able to find a position that gives you deep extended
bass and good blending with your main speakers.
Figure 3. Control settings for 2-channel mode.
6
Connections and Control Settings
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Multi-Channel Mode
This setup is recommended if your Depth will be used in a
dedicated home theater or multi-channel system. When a
signal is connected to the Depth’s LFE input, Depth’s internal
low pass filter is not active. By following this setup, you will
allow your processor to handle most of the bass management.
Signal Connection (see figure 4):
1 Connect the LFE/0.1 subwoofer output of the processor
to the LFE input of the Depth using a quality interconnect.
WARNING!
Based on the performance of most processors,
it is recommended that MartinLogan center and
effects type speakers (i.e. Cinema, Theater and
Script) not be run in large, wide or full range mode.
Doing so may potentially damage the speaker if
the processor attempts to drive the speaker beyond
its rated frequency range. This warning also
applies to products from other manufacturers.
It is recommended to run center and effects type
speakers in limited or narrow mode.
Some processor’s have an option to route the 0.1
channel to your main and/or surround speakers.
We recommend that you do not use this option.
Figure 4. Signal connection for multi-channel mode.
Recommended Control Settings (see figure 5):
1 Set the 25Hz Level control to 0.
2 Use the bass management section of your processor‘s
speaker level setup option to set the subwoofer level at an
appropriate level. Follow the instructions in your proces-
sor manual to fine-tune the subwoofer level.
3 If your processor offers the option to setup crossovers for
a subwoofer, we recommend that you start with the fol-
lowing settings—Crossover: 70Hz, High-Pass: 12dB, and
Low-Pass: 24dB. The optimal setting for these options may
vary depending on your room and listening preferences.
4 Adjust the phase control until ideal blending is obtained.
If you hear no discernable difference leave the phase at 0°.
5 If you have completed steps 1–3 and still have weak or
boomy bass, adjust the 25Hz knob to compensate for
these anomalies. Turn the 25Hz control up and down and
listen to the effects that it has on the sound. Try to find a
position that sounds correct to you. Experiment by chang-
ing the level control while adjusting this knob. You should
be able to find a position that gives you deep extended
bass and good blending with your main speakers.
6 Follow the instructions in your processor manual to fine-
tune the subwoofer level.
Figure 5. Control settings for multi-channel mode.
Connections and Control Settings
7
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2-Channel/Multi-Channel Mode
Using an A/V processor and the Depth’s low pass filters.
This setup is recommended if your Depth will be used in
both 2-channel mode and as a LFE (0.1) channel in a multi-
channel mode. By following this setup, you will allow your
processor to handle most of the bass management while run-
ning in multichannel mode, and relinquish control of the low
pass filter to the Depth when running in a 2-channel mode.
Signal Connection (see figure 6):
1 Connect the left and right outputs of your preamplifier to
the left and right inputs of the Depth using quality RCA
interconnects. If your preamplifier only has one set of
outputs you need to obtain Y adapters from your dealer.
2 Connect the LFE/0.1 output of the processor to the LFE
input of the subwoofer using quality RCA interconnects.
Recommended Control Settings (see figure 7):
1 Set the 25Hz Level control to 0.
2 Set your front speakers for wide, large or full mode in
your processor. Set the center and effects type speakers
in limited or narrow mode (see the warning on page 7).
3
Set the low-pass filter switch to to the closest option equal
to 70% of your loudspeakers lowest frequency response.
4 While playing music with bass content, turn the level
control up until the music has deep extended bass that
is not overwhelming.
Figure 6. Signal connection for 2-channel/multi-channel mode.
5 Try the phase control in different settings until the best
blending is obtained. If you are augmenting MartinLogan
loudspeakers, we suggest you start with the phase set at
90° (0° if you are using Script loudspeakers).
6 If you have completed steps 1–5 and still have weak or
boomy bass, adjust the 25Hz knob to compensate for
these anomalies. Turn the 25Hz control up and down and
listen to the effects that it has on the music. Try to find a
position that sounds correct to you. Experiment by chang-
ing the level control while adjusting this knob. You should
be able to find a position that gives you deep extended
bass and good blending with your main speakers.
7 Use the bass management section of your processor’s
speaker level setup option to set the subwoofer level at
an appropriate level. Follow the instructions in your
processor manual to fine-tune the subwoofer level.
8 If your processor offers the option to setup crossovers for
a subwoofer, we recommend that you start with the fol-
lowing settings—Crossover: 70Hz, High-Pass: 12dB, and
Low-Pass: 24dB. The optimal setting for these options may
vary depend on your room and listening preferences.
Figure 7. Control Settings for 2-channel/multi-channel mode.
8
Connections and Control Settings
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2-Channel Mode Using Speaker Level Inputs
This setup is recommended if your Depth will be used in a
2-channel only system. When a signal is connected to the
Depth’s Left/Right Inputs, the Depth’s internal low pass filter
is active.
Signal Connection (see figure 8):
1 Connect the left and right outputs of your amplifier to
the left and right speaker level (high level) inputs of the
Depth using quality speaker cable.
If your amplifier only has one set of outputs you may
connect your amplifier to your speakers as normal and
run an additional set of cables from your speakers to the
Depth’s left and right speaker level (high level) inputs.
It is also possible to connect the left and right outputs of
your amplifier to the left and right speaker level (high
level) inputs of the Depth and run an additional set of
cables from your Depth to the speakers.
Recommended Control Settings (see figure 9):
1 Set the 25Hz Level control to 0.
2
Set the low-pass filter switch to to the closest option equal
to 70% of your loudspeakers lowest frequency response.
Figure 8. Signal connection for 2-channel mode using speaker level inputs.
3 While playing music with bass content, turn the level con-
trol up until the music has deep extended bass, being
careful to avoid levels that become overwhelming.
4 Try the phase control in different settings until the best
blending is obtained. If you are using the Depth to aug-
ment other MartinLogan products, we suggest you start
with the phase set at 90° (0° if you are using Script™
loudspeakers).
5 If you have completed steps 1–4 and still have weak or
boomy bass, adjust the 25Hz knob to compensate for
these anomalies. Turn the 25Hz control up and down and
listen to the effects that it has on the music. Try to find a
position that sounds correct to you. Experiment by chang-
ing the level control while adjusting this knob. You should
be able to find a position that gives you deep extended
bass and good blending with your main speakers.
Figure 9. Control settings for 2-channel mode using speaker level inputs.
Connections and Control Settings
9
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2-Channel Mode With 2-Channel Output
This setup is recommended if your Depth will be used in a
2-channel only system and you intend to use the Depth’s
High Pass Filter Out.
Signal Connection (see figure 10):
1 Connect the left and right outputs of your preamplifier to
the left and right inputs of the Depth using quality RCA
interconnects.
2 Connect the left and right outputs of your Depth to the
left and right inputs of your amplifier using quality RCA
interconnects.
Recommended Control Settings (see figure 3):
1 Set the controls as recommended on page 6.
2 The High Pass Filter: Out switch should be set, at the user’s
discretion, to the option with the best sounding result.
As a general rule, if your main loudspeakers are bookshelf
speakers, set the High Pass Filter: Out to 70Hz. Likewise,
40Hz for floorstanding loudspeakers. Use ‘None’, if you
want to pass an unaltered signal out of the Depth.
3 At this time the Depth’s Low Pass Filter should be set to
approximately 70% of your main loudspeakers lowest
frequency response—make note of this number, as you
will use it below to determine the correct setting for
your low pass filter.
Figure 10. Signal connection for 2-channel mode with 2-channel output.
If the High Pass Filter: Out is set to ‘None’, the Low Pass
Filter should remain at approximately 70% of your loud-
speakers lowest frequency response.
If the High Pass Filter: Out is set to 40Hz, the Low Pass
Filter should be set to 35Hz or 70%, whichever is greater.
If the High Pass Filter: Out is set to ‘70Hz’, the Low Pass
Filter should be set to 55Hz or 70%, whichever is greater.
Why the Filters Are Not Equal
You may have noticed the recommended setting procedure
above does not advise setting the Low Pass Filter and High
Pass Filter: Out to the same frequency. This is because you
are setting the filter points, not the crossover point. Between
20Hz and 100Hz, as the subwoofers output decreases, the
loudspeakers output increases. For a seamless crossover of
these two slopes, the summation of their two values, at any
given frequency, should add to maintain a level output. By
correctly setting your High Pass Out and Low Pass filters,
this result can easily be achieved (see figure 11).
Figure 11. Filters settings for a loudspeaker with a Low End of 56Hz.
10 Connections and Control Settings
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Sub Out—Using Multiple Depths
Using Sub Out offers an easy way to implement multiple
Depth’s in your audio/video system.
Recommended Control Settings:
1 Adjust the control settings of the first subwoofer using the
recommended control settings from the connection
method used to connect the master Depth with your
audio system.
2 Adjust the control settings of each additional subwoofer
using the recommended control settings from the con-
nection method used to connect the master Depth
with your audio system.
Note: All additional Depth subwoofers must run as either
dedicated 2-channel (stereo) or multi-channel (LFE) sub-
woofers, but not both.
Signal Connection:
1 Connect the first Depth to your system using one of the
five modes previously described.
2 Connect the Sub Out of the previous Depth to either the
LFE or the Right (or Left) input of the next Depth using a
quality RCA interconnect. Connecting to the LFE input
allows additional subwoofers to perform as dedicated
LFE channels (see figure 12). Connecting to the Right
(or Left) input allows additional subwoofers to perform
as dedicated 2-channel subwoofers (see figure 13).
3 Repeat step 2 for each additional Depth subwoofer in the
chain using the same input for every connection.
Note: While the settings of each subwoofer should be
similar, you will probably find that each sub will need
to be tweaked for optimal performance because of its
unique room placement.
Regardless of how you use your subwoofer, experimenta-
tion can often result in better sound. Don't be afraid to try
different settings. You can always return the controls to
their previous locations.
Figure 12. Signal connection for using multiple Depths for LFE.
Figure 13. Signal connection for using multiple Depths for stereo.
Connections and Control Settings 11
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AC Power Connection
Replacing the Fuse
WARNING! The power cord should not be
If the fuse in your Depth should require changing, turn your
Depth off and unplug it before removing the fuse. Replace
the bad fuse with a matching 5 Amp slow-blow fuse.
installed, removed, or left detached from the
subwoofer while the other end is connected to
an AC power source.
The IEC power cord should be firmly inserted into the AC
power receptacle on the rear connection panel of the Depth,
then to any convenient AC wall outlet. The Depth also
integrates a signal sensing power supply that will switch off
after a few minutes of no music signal if the power switch
is set to 'Auto'.
Break-In
Our custom made woofers require approximately 50 hours
of break-in at moderate listening levels before their optimal
performance occurs. This will factor in on any critical listening
and judgment.
Your Depth subwoofer is wired for the power service sup-
plied in the country of original consumer sale. The AC power
rating applicable to a particular unit is specified both on the
packing carton and on the serial number plate attached to
the subwoofer.
After six months of use, you may find that the
mounting screws on your Depth need to be
tightened. To do this, use an 1/8-inch allen tool.
Do not tighten screws on your Depth that do not
accept an 1/8-inch allen tool.
If you remove your Depth subwoofer from the country of
original sale, be certain that AC power supplied in any subse-
quent location is suitable before connecting and operating
the subwoofer. Substantially impaired performance or severe
damage may occur to the Depth subwoofer if operation is
attempted from an incorrect AC power source.
Figure 14. IEC power cord AC receptacle and fuse.
12 Connections and Control Settings
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PLACEMENT
Listening Position
Generally, subwoofers have the most output when placed in
the corner of a room. However, this can also exaggerate the
subwoofers output making blending difficult. We recom-
mend starting by placing the Depth in a corner. It should
be placed in such a way that there are 2 inches between the
grill cloth and the wall. This will avoid blocking the output
of any woofers. If, after the full range of tuning techniques
have been employed, the subwoofer sounds like it has too
much upper bass energy try pulling it away from the wall,
toward the listening position. This will lessen the reinforce-
ment of these problematic frequencies from the wall and
likely smooth out the response. Repeat the tuning techniques
with the woofer controls after you move it (see figure 15).
Installing the Depth in a Cabinet
Occasionally people need to place their subwoofer(s) inside
of cabinetry. The Depth’s unique, three-woofer design does
not compromise the Depth’s ability to be successfully
installed in such a configuration. However, it is recommend-
ed that the Depth, as with any quality multi-driver subwoofer,
has a minimum of three inches of open space between the
cabinet and the front, left and right sides (see figure 16).
Figure 15. Depth Subwoofers as the LFE (effects) channels, MartinLogan
Ascent™ speakers as front channels, MartinLogan Theater™ as the center
channel, MartinLogan Scripts™ as side surround (effects) channels. Note the
corner placement of the Depth at the front of the listening room.
Ask Your Dealer
Your MartinLogan dealer can suggest many options for
optimal subwoofer placement. They also have many tools
at their disposal, such as experience, familiarity with the
associated equipment and even sound analysis equipment
which may make the task of determining optimal subwoofer
placement easier.
Enjoy Yourself
The Depth is a very refined subwoofer and will benefit
from care in setup. With the above placement tips in mind
you will find, over months of listening, that small changes
can result in measurable differences. As you live with your
subwoofer, do not be afraid to experiment with positioning
until you find the optimal relationship between your room,
settings and subwoofer that gives you the best results. Your
efforts will be rewarded.
Figure 16. Placing the Depth in a cabinet requires a minimum of three
inches of open space on the front, left and right.
Placement 13
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ROOM ACOUSTICS
Your Room
Terminology
This is an area that requires both a little background to
understand and some time and experimentation to attain
the best performance from your system.
Standing Waves
Sound coming from a speaker bounces around in a room
until a pattern emerges—this is called a standing wave.
Typically, this is only a problem with frequencies below
100Hz. When this happens different parts of your room
experience either an excess or a lack of bass.
Your room is actually a component and an important part
of your system. This component is a large variable and can
dramatically add to or subtract from a great sonic experience.
Some people believe that having a room without parallel
walls will eliminate this effect. The truth is that non-parallel
walls only generate different standing wave patterns than
those that occur in rectangular rooms.
All sound is composed of waves. Each frequency has its
own wave size, with the lower, or bass frequencies literally
encompassing from 10 feet to as much as 40 feet. Your room
participates in this wave experience like a swimming pool
with waves reflecting and becoming enhanced depending on
the size and shape of the room and the types of surfaces in
the room.
Average rooms tend to have very strong standing waves in
the frequencies below 30Hz. For this reason, the Depth
features an adjustable 25Hz level control to help control
the amount of energy in standing waves.
Remember that your audio system can actually generate all
of the information required to recreate a sonic event in time,
space, and tonal balance. Acoustically, the role of an ideal
room would be to neither delete nor contribute to that
information. However, nearly every room does to some degree.
Usually, you can excite most of the standing waves in a
room by putting the Depth in a corner. Listening position
determines which standing waves you will experience. For
instance, if you sit in a corner you will hear most of the
standing waves. This can be an overpowering experience.
Sitting next to a wall can also intensify the levels of the stand-
ing waves that are experienced.
Resonant Surfaces and Objects
All of the surfaces and objects in your room are subject to
the frequencies generated by your system. Much like an
instrument, they will vibrate and "carry on" in syncopation
with the music, and may contribute in a negative way to the
sound. Ringing, boominess, and even brightness can occur
simply because surfaces and objects are "singing along" with
your speakers.
Resonant Cavities
Small alcoves or closet type areas in your room can be
chambers that create their own "standing waves" and can
drum their own "one note" sounds.
14 Room Acoustics
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Solid Footing
After living and experimenting with your Depth, you may
want to use the ETC™ (Energy Transfer Coupler) Spikes
(see figure 17), included with your Depth. With the use of
these spikes, the Depth subwoofer will become more firmly
planted on the floor and, consequently, bass will tighten. It
is best not to implement the spikes, however, until you are
secure in the positioning, as the spikes can damage the
floor if the subwoofer is moved. MartinLogan ETC spikes
will fit any common 1/4 inch thread insert that may be found
on your other audio equipment (racks, speakers, etc).
Spike Installation Instructions:
1 Carefully remove the grill cloths from your Depth.
2 Carefully lay the Depth on its side to gain access to the
bottom.
Figure 17. The ETC Spike.
3 Remove existing feet or spikes. Thread new spikes into
holes and screw them in all of the way.
4 Tighten jam nut snugly by hand. Do not over tighten
the nut.
5 Right the subwoofer.
Caution: Make sure your hands and any cabling are
clear of the spikes. Do not slide the subwoofer as spikes
are sharp and can damage your floor or carpet.
6 Adjust to level by rotating spikes. Tighten the jam nut
securely when satisfied that the subwoofer is level.
Caution: Walking the Depth may result in a broken spike.
Room Acoustics 15
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HOME THEATER
It had long been the practice of stereo buffs to connect
their television to the stereo system. The advantage was the
use of the larger speakers and more powerful amplifier of the
stereo system. Even though the sound was greatly improved,
it was still mono and limited by the broadcast signal.
Surround Speakers
We recommend that the surround speakers play down to
70hz. The surround, or effect speakers contain critical infor-
mation. In films, sound effects are vital to the director in
delivering a complete experience and the rapid technical
increase in the discreet capacity of these effects channels has
made their quality vital. This is equally true in music play
back because of the emerging high definition, multi-channel
music only formats. Full range instruments, voices and ambi-
ent queues are being routed to the effects channel. In the
past, some may have suggested that this was the place to
save money by purchasing small inexpensive speakers. If you
choose to do so, be prepared to upgrade in the future.
In the late 1970's and early ‘80's two new home movie formats
became widely available to the public: VCR and laser disc.
At the same time video screen sizes began increasing.
By 1985, both formats had developed into very high quality
audio/video sources. In fact, the sonic performance of some
video formats exceeded audio-only formats. Now, with
theater quality sound available at home, the only element
missing was the "surround sound" presentation found in
movie houses.
Subwoofer
With any good surround system you will need one or more
high quality subwoofers (the .1, in a 5.1 channel surround
system). Most movie soundtracks contain large amounts of
bass information as part of the special effects. Good sub-
woofers will provide a foundation for the rest of the system.
Fortunately, "Dolby" and "DTS" encoded material (which
include almost all movies) have the same surround sound
information encoded on home releases as the theater films.
All that is required to retrieve this information is a decoder,
additional speakers, subwoofer(s) and amps to reproduce it.
Home theater is a complex purchase and we recommend
that you consult your local MartinLogan dealer, who is well
versed in this subject.
Each piece of a surround system can be purchased sepa-
rately. Take your time and buy quality. No one has ever
complained that the movie was too real. The following list
and descriptions will only give you a brief outline of the
responsibilities and demands placed on each speaker.
Front Left and Front Right
If these speakers will also be the same two used for your stereo
playback then they should be of very high quality and able to
play loud (over 102 dB) and reproduce bass below 80 Hz.
Center Channel
Many experts believe this to be the most important speaker
in a home theater system, as almost all of the dialogue and a
large portion of the front speaker information is reproduced
by the center channel. It is important that the same manu-
facturer of the front speakers design the center speaker and
that it is recommended for use as a center speaker. This is
not the place to cut corners.
Figure 18. Depth Subwoofers as the LFE (effects) channels, MartinLogan
Odyssey speakers as front channels, MartinLogan Theater as the center
channel, MartinLogan Scripts as side surround (effects) channels.
16 Home Theater
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DEPTH ADVANTAGES
BalancedForce™ For Cleaner Bass
Low-Pass Filters Maximize Blending
Resulting from an equal and opposite reaction to the cone's
movement, strong bass causes traditional subwoofer enclo-
sures to generate acoustic vibrations. You feel this by touching
the cabinet. Although the "physics" of this phenomenon
actually cause a subwoofer cabinet to resonate or even
dance, most subwoofer designers apply weight or mass to
the cabinet to minimize such disturbances. This leaves one
by product—"smeared bass". Vibrations translated from
the woofer to the cabinet actually dampen the bass signal
causing a loose and "fuzzy" sound.
The Depth's low-pass filters achieve extremely precise
crossover points in both amplitude and time domain
resulting in seam-less blending with both MartinLogan and
non-MartinLogan products. By tailoring custom filters to
the main speaker roll-off characteristics, minimum group
delay results in cohesive integration and musical results.
25Hz Level Control
The Depth 25Hz level control allows custom sound tailor-
ing capabilities found in few subwoofers. A room, especially
when small, can greatly exaggerate bass in the 20–30Hz
range. The Depth’s 25Hz level control knob increases or
decreases lower bass to compensate for these room anom-
alies. The 25Hz level also allows increased deep bass if you
desire a subsonic sense of energy at the lowest frequencies.
The Depth integrates BalancedForce bass configuration to
nullify cabinet vibrations. Originally engineered for the
cost-no-object, state-of-the-art Statement™ E2 system,
BalancedForce uses two or more drivers mounted at oppos-
ing angles. The Depth's 3 drivers, spaced 120 degrees
apart, operate in exact opposition, resulting in maximum
cancellation. Therefore, the Depth delivers the ideal—
pure bass energy with a reduction in cabinet contributions
to the room as high as 25dB over traditional subwoofer
resonance solutions!
TriLinear™Configuration
The use of three identical drivers maintains the low distor-
tion levels and optimal control of an efficient, small driver
while moving the same amount of air as a driver three
times larger. This allows powerful bass in a small package.
Servo-Controlled Dynamic Drivers
All dynamic drivers generate distortion caused by spider and
surround nonlinearities as well as voice coil inductive distur-
bances and variant motor strength during massive woofer
excursions. These challenges plague all subwoofer designers.
The result? Induced harmonic and intermodulated distortions
causing dramatic disturbances at high excursions. This occurs
significantly in almost all non-servo-controlled subwoofers.
To dramatically reduce these phenomena the Depth utilizes
servo monitoring and control via an advanced circuit that
corrects for any acoustic deviation from the pure audio sig-
nal, resulting in a 3 to 10-fold distortion reduction (depending
on SPL) over traditional dynamic driver technologies.
Depth Advantages 17
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & TROUBLESHOOTING
Frequently Asked Questions
Troubleshooting
How do I clean my subwoofer?
No Output
Use a dust free cloth or a soft brush to clean your subwoofer.
We recommend a specialty cloth (available through the
Xtatic shop at www.martinlogan.com) that cleans better than
anything else we have tried.
• Check that all your system components are turned on.
• Check that the power switch on the Depth is set to either
'Auto' or 'On'.
• Check your wires and connections.
• Check all interconnecting cables.
Is it safe to set things on my subwoofer?
• Make sure the level control is not turned down.
• Turn off and unplug the Depth and check the fuse near
the AC power cord receptacle on the back. If the fuse
has blown, replace it with a matching, 5-Amp Slow-
Blow fuse.
While your Depth is designed with a durable, stain-resistant
surface, we advise you not to set anything on your Depth—
especially containers holding liquids.
Is there likely to be any interaction between my sub-
woofer and the television in my Audio/Video system?
Yes. The Depth subwoofer doesn’t use shielded drivers.
Since the drivers are arrayed to balance the reactive force of
the woofers, their magnetic fields are also balanced. We
recommend 3 feet between the Depth subwoofer and
video components that are susceptible to magnetic fields.
• If the problem persists, contact your dealer.
Muddy Bass
• Check placement. Try moving the subwoofer closer to
the front and side walls.
• Check the type of feet that are being used. Try installing
the ETC spikes.
• Decrease the level.
Will my electric bill go 'sky high' by leaving my subwoofer
plugged in all the time?
No. The Depth, when the power switch is set to ‘Auto’ or
‘Standby’, will draw about 13 watts when idle.
• Decrease the 25Hz level.
• Check your processor setup.
• If the problem persists, contact your dealer.
Hums or Unusual Sounds
Should I unplug my subwoofer during a thunderstorm?
Yes, or before. It's a good idea to disconnect all of your
audio/video components during stormy weather.
• Turn the Depth off, unplug all signal inputs, turn the
Depth back on and turn up the level. If the problem
disappears, the hum is originating elsewhere in your
system.
• If the problem persists, contact your dealer.
18 Frequently Asked Questions & Troubleshooting
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Specifications
Warranty and Registration
The high-resolution, servo-controlled Depth subwoofer
system consists of multiple woofers for high SPL output
with minimal distortion. The woofers are arranged in a
BalancedForce array that dramatically lowers cabinet
vibrations. This approach leads to tight, well-defined and
deep bass output. The equalization used is specifically
designed to counteract the response of the woofers sealed
box response. This equalization leads to minimal group
delay and proper transient response.
Your Depth subwoofer is provided with an automatic Limited
90 Day Warranty coverage.
You have the option, at no additional charge, to receive
Limited 3-Year Warranty coverage. To obtain the Limited
3-Year Warranty coverage you need to complete and return
the Certificate of Registration, included with your subwoofer,
and provide a copy of your dealer receipt, to MartinLogan
within 30 days of purchase.
For your convenience MartinLogan also offers online warranty
registration at www.martinlogan.com.
System Frequency Response
20–150 Hz ± 3 dB. Anechoic through the LFE effects input.
MartinLogan may not honor warranty service claims unless
we have a completed Warranty Registration card on file!
Low Pass Filter Frequencies
30Hz, 35Hz, 45Hz, 55Hz, 65Hz, 80Hz
If you did not receive a Certificate of Registration with your
new Depth subwoofer you cannot be assured of having
received a new unit. If this is the case, please contact your
authorized MartinLogan dealer.
High Pass Filter Frequencies
40, 70Hz
Phase
0°, 90°, 180°, 270°
Service
Components
3 x 8” (25.4cm) high-excursion, aluminum cones with
extended throw driver assembly in a BalancedForce™ array
Should you be using your MartinLogan product in a country
other than the one in which it was originally purchased,
we ask that you note the following:
Amplifier
300 watts RMS (500 watts peak)
1 The appointed MartinLogan distributor for any given
country is responsible for warranty servicing only on units
distributed by or through it in that country in accor-
dance with its applicable warranty.
Inputs
RCA Line Level. RCA LFE, Speaker Level
Output
RCA Sub Out,
2 Should a MartinLogan product require servicing in a
country other than the one in which it was originally
purchased, the end user may seek to have repairs per-
formed by the nearest MartinLogan distributor, subject
to that distributor's local servicing policies, but all cost
of repairs (parts, labor, transportation) must be born by
the owner of the MartinLogan product.
Weight
65 lbs. each (29.3 kg)
Size
16.6 inches W x 16.15 inches D x 16.25 inches H
(42.2 cm W x 41 cm D x 41.3 cm H)
3 If, after owning your subwoofer for six months, you relocate
to a country other than the one in which you purchased
your subwoofer, your warranty may be transferable.
Contact MartinLogan for details.
General Information 19
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GLOSSARY OF AUDIO TERMS
AC. Abbreviation for alternating current.
Diaphragm. A thin flexible membrane or cone that vibrates
in response to electrical signals to produce sound waves.
Active crossover. Uses active devices (transistors, ICs, tubes)
and some form of power supply to operate.
Distortion. Usually referred to in terms of total harmonic
distortion (THD) which is the percentage of unwanted
harmonics of the drive signal present with the wanted signal.
Generally used to mean any unwanted change introduced
by the device under question.
Amplitude. The extreme range of a signal. Usually measured
from the average to the extreme.
Arc. The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge.
Driver. Any of various devices that transmit energy from one
system to another, sometimes one that converts the energy
in form. Loudspeaker transducers convert electrical energy
into mechanical motion.
Bass. The lowest frequencies of sound.
Bi-Amplification. Uses an electronic crossover, or line-level
passive crossover, and separate power amplifiers for the high
and low frequency loudspeaker drivers.
Dynamic Range. The range between the quietest and the
loudest sounds a device can handle (often quoted in dB).
Capacitance. That property of a capacitor which determines
how much charge can be stored in it for a given potential
difference between its terminals, measured in farads, by
the ratio of the charge stored to the potential difference.
Efficiency. (For speakers) The acoustic power delivered for a
given electrical input. Often expressed as decibels/watt/meter
(dB/w/m). (For amplifiers) the ratio of power output to
power input expressed in a percentage
Capacitor. A device consisting of two or more conducting
plates separated from one another by an insulating material
and used for storing an electrical charge. Sometimes called
a condenser.
ESL. Abbreviation for electrostatic loudspeaker.
Headroom. The difference, in decibels, between the peak
and RMS levels in program material.
Clipping. Distortion of a signal by its being chopped off. An
overload problem caused by pushing an amplifier beyond
its capabilities. The flat-topped signal has high levels of
harmonic distortion which creates heat in a loudspeaker
and is the major cause of loudspeaker component failure.
Hybrid. A product created by the marriage of two different
technologies. Meant here as the combination of a dynamic
woofer with an electrostatic transducer.
Hz (Hertz). Unit of frequency equivalent to the number of
Crossover. An electrical circuit that divides a full bandwidth
signal into the desired frequency bands for the loudspeaker
components.
cycles per second.
Imaging. To make a representation or imitation of the orig-
inal sonic event.
dB (decibel). A numerical expression of the relative loudness
of a sound. The difference in decibels between two sounds
is ten times the Base 10 logarithm of the ratio of their
power levels.
Impedance. The total opposition offered by an electric circuit
to the flow of an alternating current of a single frequency. It
is a combination of resistance and reactance and is measured
in ohms. Remember that a speaker's impedance changes
with frequency. It is not a constant value.
DC. Abbreviation for direct current.
Diffraction. The breaking up of a sound wave caused by
some type of mechanical interference such as a cabinet
edge, grill frame or other similar object.
Inductance. The property of an electrical circuit by which
a varying current in it produces a varying magnetic field
that introduces voltages in the same circuit or in a nearby
circuit. It is measured in henrys.
20 Glossary of Audio Terms
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Inductor. A device designed primarily to introduce inductance
SPL. The abbreviation for sound pressure level.
into an electrical circuit. Sometimes called a choke or coil.
Stator. The fixed part forming the reference for the moving
Linearity. The extent to which any signal handling process
diaphragm in a planar speaker.
is accomplished without amplitude distortion.
THD. The abbreviation for total harmonic distortion.
LFE. The abbreviation for low frequency effects.
(See Distortion.)
Midrange. The middle frequencies where the ear is the
most sensitive.
TIM. The abbreviation for transient intermodulation distortion.
(See Distortion.)
Passive crossover. Uses no active components (transistors,
ICs, tubes) and needs no power supply (AC, DC, battery)
to operate. The crossover in a typical loudspeaker is of the
passive variety. Passive crossovers consist of capacitors,
inductors and resistors.
Transducer. Any of various devices that transmit energy from
one system to another, sometimes one that converts the
energy in form. Loudspeaker transducers convert electrical
energy into mechanical motion.
Transient. Applies to that which lasts or stays but a short
Phase. The amount by which one sine wave leads or lags a
second wave of the same frequency. The difference is
described by the term phase angle. Sine waves in phase
reinforce each other; those out of phase cancel.
time. A change from one steady-state condition to another.
Tweeter. A small drive unit designed to produce only high
frequencies.
Pink noise. A random noise used in measurements, as it
has the same amount of energy in each octave.
Wavelength. The distance measured in the direction of
progression of a wave, from any given point characterized
by the same phase.
Polarity. The condition of being positive or negative with
respect to some reference point or object.
White noise. A random noise used in measurements, as it
has the same amount of energy at each frequency.
RMS. Abbreviation for root mean square. The effective value
of a given waveform is its RMS value. Acoustic power is
proportional to the square of the RMS sound pressure.
Woofer. A drive unit operating in the bass frequencies only.
Drive units in two-way systems are not true woofers but
are more accurately described as being mid/bass drivers.
Resistance. That property of a conductor by which it opposes
the flow of electric current, resulting in the generation of
heat in the conducting material, usually expressed in ohms.
Resistor. A device that is used in a circuit primarily to pro-
vide resistance.
Resonance. The effect produced when the natural vibra-
tion frequency of a body is greatly amplified by reinforcing
vibrations at the same or nearly the same frequency from
another body.
Sensitivity. The volume of sound delivered for a given
electrical input.
Glossary of Audio Terms 21
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NOTES
22 Notes
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Notes 23
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M A R T I N L O G A N
2101 Delaware Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66046, USA tel 785.749.0133 fax 785.749.5320 www.martinlogan.com
©2002 MartinLogan, All rights reserved
Rev. #091602
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