Opera Grand Callas 2014 How to correctly open the packaging

A single speaker weighs over 80 Kg so it is not recommended to proceed alone. Ask a friend for help (preferably two). Note: To secure the base of the speaker you need an Allen wrench (8 mm).

look out: on the back side of the speaker, upwards, there are the two tweeters forming the dipole. Be careful not to damage the domes during the packaging Operations.

The Opera Grand Callas 2014 are individually packed. Each speaker is protected by a sturdy cardboard box and stratocel.

First open the box.

Remove the first protective cardboard and remove the metal base that is stuck on the side

Put the box in a vertical position and pull the speaker out of the box dragging from the base.

On the upper part of one of the two speakers there is a box that contains the spikes and the screws to secure the base

At this point, lay the speaker to the ground

Lift the bottom end of the speaker, remove the protective stratocel and place it under the speaker to hold it up.

Now release the metal base from the packaging and screw the 4 spikes. The spikes and the screws are in the box. The Allen key (8 mm) is not provided.

Fix the metal base at the bottom of the cabinet using the screws provided. Once you have fixed the base, the

speaker can be placed upright. Be beware of the rear tweeters.

Now remove the lining

Keep the packaging and all stratocel parts because they are indispensable to obtain repairs under warranty. The speakers can be received by Opera only if packaged with the original packaging. The original packaging is the most appropriate to protect the speaker during any shift.

How to Connect the speakers to the amplifier To connect the speakers you need two audio power cables. In principle, the recommended section for each conductor is 10 AWG (equal to 4 mm square section) OFC copper and polypropylene, polyethylene or Teflon jacket. PVC or PVDF jacket is not recommended.

Switch EQ inserts the response at low frequencies Connectors High: front tweeter and rear dipole tweeters Low: woofers and midrange The speaker is shipped with jumpers connected needed to use a single two poles cable..

The connectors are designed for bi-amplification. When the speaker arrives at your home is prepared to be connected to the amplifier via a single cable (in fact there are metal jumpers that connect the two positive terminals and the two negative terminals). By convention, the red identifies the positive terminals. The adjustment of the equalization of the low frequencies need not necessarily be the same for both speakers.. How to place the speakers: distance between the speakers and orientation The two speakers are identical and therefore there is no a "right" or "left." One. As is known, the performance at low frequency depends on the position of the speakers in the environment and in particular on the distance from the side and bottom walls. First of all let's see how the speakers have to get a proper stereo image then we will see how to adjust the bass response. There are general rules that must be respected: The typical distance between the left and right speakers range fron 2 to 3 meters. The minimum is 1.5 meters, the maximum distance between the speakers depends on the available space and personal taste and can even exceed three meters. The listening position should be equidistant from the left and right speakers to form an isosceles triangle with the listener at the apex and the speakers in the vertex of the base. The speakers should be oriented to converge towards the listening position (toe in). The distance between the speakers should not be too much longer than the distance from the listening point. The placement still has to be experienced depending on the listening environment and also personal taste.

The presence of the rear tweeter does not prevent the speaker to be clode to the back wall. The minimum distance is a few centimeters. The most suitable distance between the left and right speakers also depends on the kind of music you prefere. If you mainly listen to music for big orchestra is convenient to enlarge the speakers and bring the listening point closer to "make room" for all instruments. If you listen to a folk-singer who sings accompanying himself on the guitar, or a piano alone, the speakers may get closer to each other. The closer they get the more the stereo effect decreases (but the area where the stereo effect is perceived increases). When you listen to a single instrument the stereo effect is relative. The figure shows what happens in two different situations.

Distance between the speakers: 3 meters Distance from the listening point: 1.5 meters Number of recognizable positions: 16 (one every 6 degrees of horizontal displacement)

Distance between the speakers: 2 meters Distance from the listening point: 2 meters Number of recognizable positions: 10 (one every 6 degrees of horizontal displacement)

Defined the distance between the speakers, they can be arranged parallel to the rear wall or oriented toward the listening point. The orientation and distance of the speakers from the listening point determine many aspects of reproduction starting with the mid and high frequency response, the relationship between the direct sound and reflected sound, the amount of lateral reflections, the center channel reproduction, the ITG.

A In the perception of the center channel is penalized. Little lateral reflections. Prevalence of direct sound to the low-mid frequency (which are non-directional).

B center channel suffice. Limited lateral reflections. Prevalence of direct sound .

C Proper center channel. More lateral reflections. Increasing the distance between the listening position decreases the direct sound and increases the reflected sound

Speakers parallel to the wall (maximum lateral reflections)

A convergence behind the listener: the perception of the central canal could be penalized..

B convergence on the head of the listener: sound similar to that of the first rows of the auditorium, high range most evident

C convergence front of the listener: the virtual stage moves away. Greater sense of depth and stereo. Lateral reflections limited. best ITG

Speakers oriented towards the listener (less lateral reflections) To empirically determine the best orientation of the speaker you can listen to the voice or a trumpet (a source of "small" size, limited in space and directional). How to Place the speakers in the environment: low-frequency response In principle, the best position is to be found experimentally trying different speaker placements. Often, however, the environment has constraints and limitations (for example, you can not move the furniture, there are doors and windows, etc..). The Opera Grand Callas 2014 allow you to choose between 4 different frequency responses in order to better adapt to different situations. In essence, you place the speakers where you can and then choose the equalization that yields the best results. The equalization choice for the right speaker can be different from that of the left speaker. Low frequencies, in fact, are almost recorded in mono and stereo image, however, is very little involved. The Grand Callas 2014 has three reflex ducts on the rear side. If the ducts are open the speaker works as a relex system, when the ducts are closed (with cylinders of polyurethane) speaker works in a sealed enclosure. The equalization is instead turned on and off by adjusting the switch located next to the input connectors. It is advisable to start with the ducts closed and equalization on. Then exclude equalization and open the ducts (even one at a time). As an indication the "closed box" is suitable when the speakers are very close to the walls and in particular to the corners of the room.

Closet Box With EQ Speaker close to an angle (1)

Closet Box With EQ Speaker close to a wall (2)

Reflex Without EQ Speaker far from walls Reflex (or low level listening) (3)

Reflex With EQ Speaker far from walls Reflex (or high level listening) (4)

Running in (or burn in): The dynamic loudspeaker require a period of operation during which stabilizes its characteristics. Parts subject to this process are the suspensions and the diaphragms. The sound of the speaker, after about ten hours of operation, becomes more natural. This burn-in period may last in a few days and it depends on how much, and how, the speakers are used. The low volume listening takes a longer burn-in.. Switched on and off First, make sure the volume of the amplifier is zero. Turn on the amplifier and the source. Start listening at low volume for a few minutes. This is to dry the wet in the speakers and also to check if everything is working properly. Adjust the volume to the desired level without ever exaggerate. To turn off the power first bring the volume to zero, turn off the amplifier first and then the source. Environment The first and fundamental requirement of the listening room is silent. If necessary, install double-glazed windows, insulated rolling-shutter box and reduce noises hailing from heating and ventilation.