A Sound Investment: Extending the Play Life of Your Klipsch Speakers
By Sarah Knight
Ok so, you've just purchased the Klipsch setup of your dreams and all you can think about now is how fast you can get it home and hooked up. After all, why should you have to miss getting the most out of your favorite music, movies or games any longer? While we don't want to spoil your "Christmas-morning anticipation," there are a few important speaker-saving details you should pay close attention to before powering up your system.
Power Surge Protection
Without the proper surge protection, you could be playing electrical "Russian Roulette" with your system every time lightening strikes or a fuse blows. While you could plug your gear directly into a wall socket and never experience an electrical blip, there is still that risk of completely frying your prized home entertainment possessions.
Putting up the dough for effective surge protection is a small investment that could yield enormous dividends in the long run. By not buying into this precautionary measure, a sudden power spike could result in you shelling out a hefty sum of money to replace your A/V equipment.
|
|
|
|
Without proper surge protection, you could be
endangering your system every time lightening strikes.
|
A sudden power strike could take a serious toll
on your system so don't plug it directly into the wall socket.
|
Aside from power spikes, electrical currents often experience sags and surges in voltage and these fluctuations, while rarely causing a complete meltdown, can take a serious toll on your electronic equipment. That's why it's important to seek a level of power protection that safeguards against spikes and over- and under-voltage.
In your pursuit for the perfect equipment-saving device, keep in mind not all surge protectors are created equal - the more advanced your system, the more advanced the surge protector must be. For example, if you have a big time home entertainment setup with all the bells and whistles (satellite, TiVo, cable etc.), you need to buy a protection unit that has enough outlets and connection types and can bite the bullet for your entire system.
Klipsch's warranty policy does not cover speaker malfunctions caused by power spikes and surges so don't gamble with the life of your gear! A simple power-strip surge protector can mean the difference between years of worry-free enjoyment and years of being mad at yourself for not taking the extra precaution.
Warranty Information
Klipsch does everything it possibly can to ensure that its speakers leave the factory in tiptop shape. However, it's not a perfect world and sometimes defects happen. That's why Klipsch offers its customers a warranty period.
The key to getting the most out of our product guarantee is to hang on to your receipt, be conscience of your warranty dates, immediately notify us of any problems and submit your warranty registration card information.
While most of us throw out warranty cards or make them a longstanding member of our junk drawer, it is really important to take the time to fill them out. Why, you ask? When it comes to Klipsch products, if you need to call tech support, we can quickly access your product information and expedite the time you could be spending listening to great music, movies and games. If you don't want to complete the card that accompanies your speakers, then you can also register online at klipsch.com.
Click here for Klipsch warranty details.
Invest in Enough Power
While Klipsch speakers are highly efficient and don't need a whole lot of power to drive them, you still need to purchase an amplifier/receiver that's relevant to the system you choose. After all, one of the most common causes of speaker damage is not having the right electronics to support it.
|
|
|
|
One of the most common causes of speaker
damage is not having the right electronics.
|
Be sure to buy at least as much power as your
speakers are rated to handle.
|
A good rule of thumb when trying to pair your speakers up with the right amplifier is to buy at least as much power as your speakers are rated to handle. For example, if a speaker is rated at 75 watts maximum power, then you should buy an amplifier that can deliver at least 75 watts per channel. However, you don't need to limit yourself. You can buy a 100-watt per channel amplifier for a 75-watt speaker because more speaker failure occurs from being under powered rather than over powered. It is safer to go slightly higher with your amplifier wattage because you'll never be in danger of clipping.
When an amplifier is expected to deliver more current to a speaker than it's capable of doing, clipping occurs. When an amplifier clips, it literally cuts off the tops and bottoms of the sound waveforms that it's trying to produce. This, in turn, sends a lot of distortion into your speakers, which is bad. Distortion puts a lot of stress on your speakers, typically the tweeter, and will eventually cause them to fail. In fact, your speakers will fail before your amplifier does.
Safety Instructions
Most of us are guilty of skimming over or not even looking at the safety instructions on the products we buy, but when it comes to electronic devices, we should all force ourselves to pay attention. Otherwise, the results could be devastating. By not following manufacturer guidelines, you run the risk of speaker damage, fire or electrical shock.
|
|
|
|
Do not defeat the safety purpose of a polarized plug.
|
Do not install Klipsch speakers near any heat source.
|
Here are some tips that will help protect you, your family and your equipment:
- Do not operate Klipsch speakers near water.
- Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
- Do not install Klipsch speakers near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
- Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug or grounding type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wider blade or third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
- Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
- Unplug you're A/V equipment during lightening storms or when unused for long periods of time.
- Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when a speaker has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the speaker, the speaker has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
Cleaning Instructions
While we all hate fingerprints and smudges on anything, when it comes to Klipsch speakers you need to resist the urge to spray them with Windex. Whether you choose a model with an aluminum extruded cabinet or a real wood veneer finish, the same simple cleaning rules apply. All you need to do is dust them occasionally with a soft, dry cloth. Never use any abrasive or solvent-based cleaner or any harsh detergent. You can clean the grilles with the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
|
|
|
|
To clean your speakers, all you have to
do is dust them with a soft, dry cloth.
|
You can clean your speaker grilles with
the brush attachment on your vacuum.
|
That concludes our basic speaker-saving lesson. Hopefully these tips prove to be helpful as you begin to hook up your much-anticipated Klipsch system. Because whether you purchase a compact multimedia setup or a home theater bonanza, it's important to safeguard your investment by understanding the proper care and feeding that goes along with it.
Did you know that we have an extensive Home Audio FAQ section housed on this site? Visit the customer service section to find out more.