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FAQ
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Q. What kind of set up is best for ECLIPSE speakers?
A. Optimal speaker set up depends on the room environment and every room is different. When installing the speakers there are a number of considerations (listed below) that should influence speaker placement.
// Distance from the surrounding walls
Walls reflect the sound from speakers and these reflected sound waves can adversely affect the original wave forms. The best results are achieved in situations that have minimum reflecting surfaces in the immediate surrounding space. Ideally maintain a distance of more than one meter between the speaker unit (diaphragm) and the wall behind the speaker. This distance should be at least 30 cm. If the left-hand and right-hand walls are less than one meter away, you can decrease the reflection off the walls by rotating the speakers away from the walls so that the sound is directed inwards. Give priority to maintaining the distance between the rear of the speakers and the wall behind them.
// Listener position in relation to the speakers
The characteristics of two-channel stereo mean that the ideal position for the listener is at the third corner of an equilateral triangle formed with the speakers at the other two corners. In practice, however, there is no problem when the listener is in the region of the apex of an isosceles triangle formed with an angle of 30_ to 60_ relative to the speakers.
// Height from the floor
The ideal height of the speaker unit (diaphragm) is at the listener's eye-level, but so long as there is sufficient distance between the listener and the speaker, you need not be concerned if the speakers are a little higher or lower than eye level. At a listening location two meters from the speakers, you can position the speakers 10 cm lower or higher than eye level. Consider purchasing a pair of ECLIPSE speaker stands if you want to enjoy listening from a sofa or similar sitting position.
// Speaker orientation
If you want to achieve enhanced separation, whereby the left ear hears sounds from the left speaker and the right ear sounds from the right, the stereo effect is more accurately reproduced when the speakers are angled inwards.
Q. With full-range speakers, isn't there some trade off at the end of the treble and base ranges?
A. If discussion is limited to the reproduction of sound waves, there is no advantage compared with ordinary multiway speakers: With the goal of faithfully reproducing sound on the time axis, ECLIPSE speakers embody time domain theory. As a result, for normal listening it is unlikely that you will notice any deficiency because, in the mid-range that is so crucial for music, the full-range unit does not allow the temporal elements of the sound waves of the point source to be easily compromised.
Q. Do you have to use a special amp with ECLIPSE speakers?
A. You can use amplifiers made by other makers, but the transitional characteristics of ECLIPSE system components, including the amplifier, are all optimised to faithfully reproduce the characteristics of the source sound. From this point of view, it is better to use an Eclipse amplifier.
Q. What are the speakers made from?
A. The cone of the 512 speaker is made of glass fibre and the enclosure is cast in synthetic marble. The cones of the 508 and 307 are made from paper; the enclosures are made from expanded polypropylene.
Q. How many connectors does the amp have?
A. Only the essential connectors. The decision to allow only single-line connections is tied to the concept of eliminating anything (including circuits) that might compromise signal data for reproducing sound waves. The simple, minimalist design, which is totally dedicated to faithful sound reproduction, includes only volume control and power switch.
Q. Why don't the speaker openings have any protective covering?
A. We don't cover the openings because we don't want anything to come between your ears and the quality of the reproduced sound. When moving or setting up the speakers, please take care not to damage the speaker diaphragms.
Q. What is the best material for a speaker stand?
A. Stands are ideally made from heavy, rigid materials that are good at absorbing vibration and immune to the vibration of the speakers themselves. Stands should be of such a structure that, while being able to stably support the speakers at eye level to the listening position, they do not resonate. The D1, D2, D3, D5 stands made by Eclipse are ideal.
Q. How do I connect the speakers to a TV or portable CD player?
A. Check what kind of connector the device has (e.g., stereo minijack) and buy the proper kind of cable to connect it to the system.
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