Benchmark SMS1 Instruction Manual Stand-Mount 2-way Speaker System
Overview Thank you for selecting the Benchmark SMS1 2-way speaker system. These speakers are designed to provide exceptional clarity, low distortion, and broadband frequency response. Impressive low-frequency extension was achieved using a custom designed 170mm copolymer woofer in an acoustic-suspension enclosure. This port-free design eliminates the noise that can be created by port turbulence, while still achieving extended low-frequency response.
Contents Overview 2 Safety Information 4 Provide a Stable Mounting Surface Secure all Cords Risk of Hearing Damage Magnetic Interference 4 4 4 4 Quick Start Guide 5 Speaker Placement Amplifier Selection Amplifier Connections BI-AMP Switch Break-In Period Proper Care Grill Removal and Insertion 5 6 6 7 7 7 7 Bi-Amp and Bi-Wire Operation 8 Bi-Amp Operation Bi-Amp Operation May Reduce Power Amplifier IMD Using Bi-Amp Mode to Add Correction Processors Bi-Wire Operation Technology 8 8 8 8 9 Cross
Safety Information Provide a Stable Mounting Surface Do not place this product on an unstable cart, shelf, stand, bracket, or tripod. The unit may fall, causing serious injury and/or serious damage. Support must be stable, and must be capable of supporting the weight of the product. Many speaker stands have provisions for adding ballast to improve stability - use this feature when available. Secure all Cords Speaker cords can cause a tripping hazard and may cause a speaker to fall.
Quick Start Guide Thank you for selecting the Benchmark SMS1 loudspeakers. The suggestions in this guide will help you to get the most enjoyment from these high-quality speakers. If you have questions, our support staff is available at 1 800-BNCHMRK, +1-800-262-4675, +1-315-437-6300, or at support@benchmarkmedia.com Please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.
Toe In The speakers should be angled directly toward the listener. Start with the left-hand speaker angled toward the listener's left shoulder, and the right-hand speaker angled toward the listener's right shoulder. Feel free to experiment, small changes in toe in may widen the "sweet spot" of the listening room. Room Interactions No listening space is perfect, but proper speaker placement can reduce undesirable interactions with the room.
If you choose to use the binding posts, be careful to keep all connections properly polarized (connect + to + and - to -). Do not turn the power amplifier on until all binding-post connections are secured. BI-AMP Switch The BI-AMP switch must be set to NORMAL for most applications. It must always be set to NORMAL when using the binding posts. If this switch is in the wrong position, the high-frequency driver may not receive an input signal.
Bi-Amp and Bi-Wire Operation Bi-Amp Operation Set the switch to BI-AMP when driving the tweeter and woofer from separate amplifiers. In BIAMP mode, two amplifier channels will be required for each speaker. A four-pole NL4 cable is required for all BI-AMP applications. In BI-AMP mode, the passive crossover is split into separate high and low frequency sections. Both drivers still receive the proper range of frequencies and no external crossover is required.
Technology Crossover The SMS1 has remarkable vocal clarity. Much of this can be attributed to the low-distortion crossover design and to the choice of the crossover frequency. To achieve unusually low distortion, the SMS1 crossover uses some of the highest-quality components available. Film Capacitors The SMS1 uses film capacitors custom-built for Benchmark by ClarityCap. Metalized polypropylene film capacitors produce much less distortion than other types of capacitors.
Non-Inductive Wire-Wound Resistors Wire-wound resistors have excellent temperature coefficients. This prevents changes in resistance that can occur when resistors are heated by music power. Crossover resistors dynamically change temperature at the peaks of music waveforms. The low temperature coefficient keeps the resistance constant and prevents thermally-induced distortion. The resistors used in the SMS1 are also specially wound to minimize inductance.
Acoustic Suspension We know that small ported loudspeakers have become fashionable. We don’t do fashion. Ported speakers create the illusion of bass extension by emphasizing certain frequencies (hence the name "tuned port"). In smaller speaker enclosures, ports often produce a non-linear bass response sometimes described as “one note bass”. Ports can make a small speaker seem large, but accuracy can suffer in the name of big bass. Ports can also create turbulence that can produce a "chuffing" sound.
Specifications The SMS1 is a 2-way passive acoustic-suspension monitor/loudspeaker with BI-AMP capabilities.
Performance Frequency Response: 44 Hz - 22 kHz Crossover Frequency: 3 kHz Sensitivity: 88 dB Input Impedance: 6 Ohms Recommended Power: 30 - 200 W Frequency Response Plots The green curve shows the combined response of the woofer and tweeter at a distance of 6 feet. The measurement is on-axis with the tweeter. The yellow curve shows the near-field response measured at the woofer. The blue curve shows the far-field response measured at a distance of 6 feet.
Regulatory Compliance RoHS Compliance Statement This statement clarifies Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. product compliance with the EU’s (European Union) directive 2002/95/EC, or, RoHS (Restrictions of Hazardous Substances). As of July 01, 2006, All Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. products placed on the European Union market are compliant (containing quantity limit weight less than or equal to 0.
Warranty Information Benchmark 1-Year Warranty The Benchmark 1-Year Warranty Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. warrants its products to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of one year from the date of delivery. This warranty extends only to the original purchaser. This warranty does not apply to fuses, lamps, batteries, or any products or parts that have been subjected to misuse, neglect, accident, modification, or abnormal operating conditions.
Benchmark Extended Warranty Options The Benchmark Extended 5-Year Warranty * Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. optionally extends the standard 1-year warranty to a period of five years from the date of delivery. *For the extended warranty to become effective, the original purchaser must register the product at the time of purchase either by way of the enclosed registration card or through the product registration section of the Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. website.
Made in the USA All Benchmark products are designed and manufactured in the USA. Copyright © 2014 Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. 203 East Hampton Place, STE 2 Syracuse, NY 13206-1633 USA PHONE: +1-315-437-6300 FAX: +1-315-437-8119 www.benchmarkmedia.
