Owner’s Manual
Model SW103 Model SW203 Model SW303
1
1
4
2
5 / ˝ 100 watt
6 / ˝ 200 watt
10˝ 400 watt
Powered Subwoofer
Powered Subwoofer
Powered Subwoofer
A
Congratulations on your purchase
of a Gateway® SW103/SW203/SW303 pow-
ered subwoofer. It will give your stereo sys-
tem unparalleled low frequency output.
Bass frequencies are critical to realistic
sound reproduction. After you’ve hooked
up your SW103/SW203/SW303 subwoofer,
you’ll discover just how much “punch”
and depth you’ve been missing. No matter
what kind of music or videos you listen
to...whether you listen to it loud or soft,
you’ll experience sound that’s richer and
fuller. Bass guitar and string bass will
have more impact. You’ll be able to FEEL
as well as hear percussion – just the way
you would at a live performance. If you
have an audio/video system, movies will
come alive with thunderous sound effects
that were never possible without the
ered subwoofer that frees your receiver or
power amplifier from the power demands
of reproducing very low frequencies. To
do this, the SW103/SW203/SW303 incor-
porates its own built-in crossover system
that automatically “assigns” higher fre-
quencies to your main speakers and lower
frequencies to its own power amplifier,
contained within the subwoofer enclosure.
The SW103/SW203/SW303 has been
meticulously designed and tested to insure
high performance, durability and longevity.
This manual is designed to take you
step-by-step through the setup and
operating process. This procedure is not
difficult, but it IS slightly different than
setting up a line level component such as
a cassette deck or CD player. Reading this
manual carefully will insure that you get
maximum performance from your
UNPACKING
Remove the SW103/SW203/SW303 from
its packing carefully and inspect it for any
shipping damage. If you discover damage,
contact your Gateway® dealer immediately.
If possible, save the carton and internal
packing. It’s the best possible protection
for your SW103/SW203/SW303 if you
need to move it or return it for service.
Keep your sales receipt in a secure
place. It helps establish the duration of
your warranty and is good for insurance
purposes (just in case anything happens
to your stereo system).
3
SW103/SW203/SW303.
The SW103/SW203/SW303 is a self-pow-
SW103/SW203/SW303.
B
SW103 AMPLIFIER
PANEL TOUR
Before setup, you should familiarize
yourself with the connections on the back of
the SW103 as shown in Drawing 1.
1
2
1. POWER INDICATOR. When the amplifier
is ON, this indicator will be green. When the
amplifier is in the STANDBY mode, this indi-
cator will be red.
2. VOLUME CONTROL. Rotating this knob
clockwise increases the output level of the
subwoofer. To start out, make sure that the
VOLUME is turned all the way down (fully
counterclockwise). Later, after some initial
listening tests, you can adjust the volume to
your own tastes. However, care should be
taken not to overdrive the subwoofer to the
point of audible distortion.
3
4
3. SUB IN. This connection is used to connect
to the subwoofer line output of your receiver.
4. REMOVABLE FUSE HOLDER. By pushing
in and turning counter-clockwise, you can
remove and replace the fuse. Check the rating
on the fuse for proper size of your unit.
DRAWING 1 - SW103 rear panel
4. VOLUME CONTROL. Rotating this
knob clockwise increases the output level
of the subwoofer. To start out, make sure
that the VOLUME is turned all the way down
(fully counterclockwise). Later, after some
initial listening tests, you can adjust the vol-
ume to your own tastes. However, care
should be taken not to overdrive the sub-
woofer to the point of audible distortion.
switch is in the AUTO position, the amplifier
will stay turned on as long as a signal is
being fed to the subwoofer amplifier. 15 to
20 minutes after you stop playing music or
a video, the amplifier goes into STANDBY
mode – see (1). When you again begin to
play music or a video, the amplifier will
automatically turn on.
SW203/SW303
AMPLIFIER
PANEL TOUR
Before actual setup, you should
familiarize yourself with the connections on
the back of the SW103/SW203/SW303, as
shown in Drawing 2.
3. PHASE SWITCH. This switch is used to
set the subwoofer’s phase to either normal
“0º” or reverse “180º” (out of) phase.
Once you determine the placement of the
SW103/SW203/SW303, you will need to try
both positions of this switch for the best bass
output for your listening position. The physical
location of your subwoofer and main speak-
ers determines the phase setting that will
sound best at your main listening position. If
this requires using the “180º” mode, don’t
worry, there is nothing “abnormal” about it.
5. CROSSOVER FREQUENCY CONTROL
This control determines what lower part of
the frequency spectrum will be reproduced
by the SW103/SW203/SW303 and what high-
er parts will be handled by your main
speaker. It is a “crossover” control. Rotating
the knob sets the point where all lower fre-
quencies will be handled by the subwoofer
and all higher frequencies will be routed to
your main stereo speakers.
As a starting point, set the control around
80 Hz. if you are using left and right tower
speakers, 100 Hz. with bookshelf speakers,
and 120 Hz. with small mini-speakers.
Note: If you use the SUB IN connector, the
RECEIVER TYPE toggle switch must be in the
Pro Logic mode for the crossover frequency
control to operate.
1. POWER INDICATOR. When the amplifier
is ON, this indicator will be green. When the
amplifier is in the STANDBY mode, as men-
tioned in item 2, this indicator will be red.
2. POWER/AUTO ON SWITCH. This toggle
switch turns the SW103/SW203/SW303 on
and off. When the switch is in the ON posi-
tion, the amplifier will stay on as long as the
switch remains in that position. When this
4
2
1
10
6. SUB IN. This connection is used
to connect the subwoofer to the receiver.
3
7. RECEIVER TYPE TOGGLE SWITCH.
You must set this switch to the type of
receiver mode you are using.
4
Note: When this switch is set to DIGITAL
RECEIVER 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, the CROSSOVER
FREQUENCY control (9) does not affect
the signal.
11
5
8. POWER INPUT. This connector is the
AC power in. Your subwoofer is supplied
with a removable power cord that mates to
this plug.
6
9. REMOVABLE FUSE HOLDER. By pushing
in and turning counter-clockwise, you can
remove and replace the fuse. Check the rat-
ing on the fuse for proper size of your unit.
10. FROM RECEIVER. Connects to a
receiver’s speaker terminals. These binding
post, color-coded connectors are used to
hook the subwoofer to another receiver that
may not have subwoofer out or LFE (Low
Frequency Effects) output connections.
7
9
8
11. OUT TO SPEAKERS. If you are using
the SW103/SW203/SW303 from receiver
inputs, you will hook your main speakers to
these binding post, color-coded connections.
They are NOT used if you are using the LFE
(SUB) IN line level connection.
DRAWING 2 - SW203/SW303 rear panel
3. Connections to your receiver,
integrated amplifier or preamplifier.
If your receiver or integrated amplifier
does not have a subwoofer output or LFE
output (see next page), setup between
the amp and SW103/SW203/SW303 will
be made with speaker wire. You can basi-
cally place the SW103/SW203/SW303 any-
where in a normal-sized room.
is no “right” or “wrong” place to put the
SW103/SW203/SW303(assuming it’s less
than ten feet from a wall receptacle). It all
depends on how much bass you want.
Another reason to experiment – because low
bass waves are very large (up to forty feet or
more across!), they tend to cancel and rein-
force each other, causing places in the room
where there is lots of bass and others where
there isn’t very much at all. If you walk
around your listening room while playing
music, you’ll probably discover these sorts of
areas where bass is either exaggerated or
reduced.
C
PLACEMENT
Where to position your
SW103/SW203/SW303
The SW103/SW203/SW303 operates at
low bass frequencies which are essentially
omni-directional. That means you can place
the SW103/SW203/SW303 almost anywhere
in a room without compromising the effec-
tiveness of your main stereo speakers.
4. Proximity to walls and corners.
Physical placement of the subwoofer will
have a definite impact on the frequency
response and the perceived amount of
SW103/SW203/SW303 bass output.
Because low frequencies have long wave-
lengths, they are influenced by proximity
to a boundary such as a wall or floor.
See Drawing 3 below. When you place
the SW103/SW203/SW303 well away from
a wall, it will produce bass at a certain
level. Move the subwoofer close
Incidentally, moving the SW103, SW203,
or SW303 around won’t affect the stereo
imaging of your main stereo system, so
feel free to try various subwoofer positions.
Four factors need to be considered:
1) distance from your main speakers;
2) distance from a wall outlet;
5
to the wall, it will produce more output
(about 3dB more). Putting the subwoofer
in a corner will increase output another
3dB (6dB more than when placed away
from walls and corners).
3) distance from your receiver; and
4) proximity to walls and corners.
Connecting the
SW103/SW203/SW303
to a wall plug
The SW103/SW203/SW303 draws a
moderately high amount of current. We do
not recommend plugging it into a “conve-
nience” outlet (switched or unswitched)
that is often found on the back of receivers
and other stereo components.
Instead, connect the SW103, SW203, or
SW303 ONLY to its own AC outlet. See items
8 and 9 in the Safety Instructions at the
beginning of this manual.
1. Distance from your main speakers.
The best placement for your subwoofer is
on the same wall as the main speakers, espe-
cially if you are matching up with small book-
shelf speakers. With tower speakers, side wall
or rear placement is also acceptable.
All this technical jargon may sound con-
fusing, but it basically means that you have a
number of options, each of which produces
a different amount of bass. For example, if
you like a lot of heavy bass, consider putting
the SW103/SW203/SW303 into a corner. If
you like smoother, less-obvious bass,
2. Wall outlet. Since the SW103, SW203,
and SW303 require AC power, it must be
placed within ten feet of a wall outlet. We
don’t recommend extending that range
with an extension cord.
move the subwoofer out into the room.
The main thing to remember is that there
Away from walls:
Normal bass
Against walls:
More bass
In Corner:
Most bass
Away from walls:
Normal bass
Against walls:
More bass
In Corner:
Most bass
DRAWING 3 - SW103/SW203/SW303 placement
SURROUND SOUND RECEIVER
D
SUBWOOFER
CONNECTION
See Drawings 4 and 5
Note: Use the RCA to RCA connector cable
that was supplied with the speaker system.
IMPORTANT: Make sure that ALL
stereo system components including
the SW103/SW203/SW303 are turned
OFF before proceeding.
o 1. Locate the subwoofer output connect-
or on the rear of your receiver and connect
one end of the RCA line level cord to it.
6
o 2. Route the line cord to the subwoofer
location (trying to minimize areas where it
may be stepped on) and connect the other
end directly to the SUB IN.
o 3. Connect your main (and surround
speakers if applicable) to the receiver
according to the receiver’s owner’s manual.
DRAWING 4 - Setup for SW103
SURROUND SOUND RECEIVER
o 4. For the SW203 and SW303, set the
RECEIVER TYPE toggle switch to receiver
mode you will be using. Note: If you are
using a Dolby Digital type receiver, the sub-
woofer crossover control does not work.
You must set the crossover frequency in
your receiver (check the receiver’s owner’s
manual).
SW203 connection
o 5. You are now ready to put your
SW103/SW203/SW303 subwoofer into use.
SW303 connection
NOTE:
SEE ITEM 4 ABOVE FOR
PROPER RECEIVER
TYPE SWITCH SETTING
DRAWING 5 - Setup for SW203 and SW303
E
o 7. While playing music, move the sub-
woofer around, in and out of corners,
closer and farther from the wall, etc. as
much as the power cord and other con-
nections will allow.
Caring for Your
SW103/SW203/SW303
INITIAL
LISTENING TEST
The SW103/SW203/SW303 enclosure is
finished in a very high quality polymer
laminate covering that is both attractive
and excellent protection for the wood
cabinet. To remove fingerprints, splat-
ters of diet soda, peanut butter or other
real-world substances that mysteriously
seem to appear on stereo components,
use a damp, soft cloth on the laminate.
You may also use a high-quality furniture
polish to maintain the original luster.
It’s now time to test the SW103, SW203,
and SW303 subwoofer in your listening
environment.
The following steps apply to the SW203
and SW303 only:
o 8. Now that you have adjusted the
quantity of bass via the volume, it’s time
to work on the quality of the bass with
the CROSSOVER FREQUENCY control,
PHASE switch – and experimentation with
SW103/SW203/SW303 room position.
o 1. Double-check all connections.
o 2. Make sure that the volume controls
on both the subwoofer and your receiv-
er/integrated amp/preamp are turned all
the way down (fully counterclockwise). Set
the PHASE switch to normal. For the SW203
and SW303, set the CROSSOVER FREQUEN-
CY knob to 80 Hz. Set the SUB IN switch to
the type of receiver mode you will be using.
o 8a. Change the PHASE switch back and
forth from 0º to 180º while someone sits
in the main listening position. Leave the
switch in the position where you like the
bass most.
7
o 8b. Change the CROSSOVER FREQUENCY
control (for Dolby Pro-Logic receivers)
to higher and lower settings. If the
o 3. Turn on your stereo system. THEN
turn on the SW103/SW203/SW303. Confirm
that the SW103/SW203/SW303’s green
POWER indicator is glowing. If it isn’t,
check the power connections between the
SW103/SW203/SW303 and the wall socket.
CROSSOVER FREQUENCY control is set too
high, you’ll start to hear low midrange
(voices and instruments) through it. This
will negatively affect the stereo imaging of
your main speakers. Back the CROSSOVER
FREQUENCY setting off until you hear only
bass from the SW103/SW203/SW303. If the
CROSSOVER FREQUENCY control is set too
low, you simply won’t get much output from
the subwoofer. Move it back closer to 80Hz.
o 4. Play a musical selection that you are
familiar with. Pick a song that has regular
low bass beats. Advance the receiver/inte-
grated amp/preamp’s volume control up to
a normal listening level. If you don’t hear
sound through your main speakers, turn off
the system and check connections. Also
consult the troubleshooting tips on page 8.
o 9. After you are satisfied with the
output of your SW103/SW203/SW303, you
can make all your volume settings through
your receiver’s volume control. The only
time you might want to re-adjust the
SW103/SW203/SW303’s VOLUME is when
you encounter a musical selection that has
abnormally low – or high – bass.
o 5. If sound is coming out of your main
speakers, turn the SW103/SW203/SW303’s
VOLUME control clockwise until you hear
noticeable additional bass. If you don’t hear
bass by the time you have advanced the
subwoofer’s VOLUME control halfway, turn
off the system and check connections. Also
consult the troubleshooting tips on page 8.
You can leave the SW103 in the ON mode,
and your SW203 or SW303 turned on and
in AUTO mode when not in use. It does
not draw much power in this state and
will be ready to add low bass the
moment you begin to play music. The
SW103/SW203/SW303 will automatically
go into STANDBY mode after 10 to 20
minutes, when no music is playing.
o 6. Adjust the SW103/SW203/SW303’s
VOLUME control until you are satisfied with
the amount of bass. You may want to try
several different movies, tapes, compact
discs or DVDs while determining how high
to adjust the SW103/SW203/SW303’s
VOLUME. The amount of bass varies from
disc to disc and between different types of
music.
If you’re not using your stereo system
for a long period of time (such as when
you’re on vacation), unplug it from the AC
wall outlet.
F
G
SPECIFICATIONS TROUBLE-
SW103/SW203/SW303
SHOOTING AND
Design
Venturi ported system
SERVICE
Before returning your SW103, SW203, or
SW303 for service, you can save time (and
often embarrassment) by checking for a few
problems that are most often encountered.
subwoofer output to turn on. Check your
receiver’s owner’s manual for subwoofer
operation.
4. For digital receivers – make sure
the subwoofer is “ON” and the subwoofer
level is set to “0dB” or greater.
Amplifier Power
SW103: 100 watts RMS
SW203:
SW303:
100 watts RMS (200 max.)
150 watts RMS (400 max.)
Power light is not lit.
No sound.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Greater than 80 dB
Damping factor >500
8
Sound comes from the
subwoofer but not your
main speakers
1. Is your SW103/SW203/SW303 plugged
in to a live AC wall socket?
2. Is the power cord firmly plugged into
the subwoofer amp power input connector?
(8) on page 4.
Crossover
SW103: 120 Hz fixed
SW203/SW303: 40-180 Hz. (user variable),
active low-pass, 24 dB/octave
• confirm that the power amplifier is
turned on.
3. Is the power switch on?
• check the RCA patch cord
• check the speaker wire connections
between the power amplifier and
main or satellite speakers.
4. Has the SW103/SW203/SW303 over-
heated and shut off temporarily?
5. Is the fuse OK?
Subsonic Filter
18 dB/octave below 20 Hz.
Driver Complement
1
4
SW103: One 5 / ˝ (13.3 cm) long-throw woofer
No sound from either set of
speakers.
Bass is muffled or weak
1
2
SW203: One 6 / ˝ (16.5 cm) long-throw woofer
1. Check speaker wire polarity of
all connections.
2. Reposition your subwoofer. At
some points in the room, its output may
be cancelled by the geometry of the
room. Moving the SW103/SW203/SW303
can eliminate this problem.
SW303: One 10˝ (25.4 cm) long-throw woofer
1. Are your other components turned on?
2. Is the receiver or preamp set to the
appropriate input and is that sound source
playing?
3. Do you have an unconnected tape
monitor selected?
4. Is the SW103/SW203/SW303 correctly
connected to your receiver, preamplifier or
integrated amplifier and turned on?
Frequency Response
SW103: 36-150 Hz.+/- 3dB
SW203: 30-125 Hz.+/- 3dB variable
SW303: 23-180 Hz.+/- 3dB variable
Output
Normalized 1 meter maximum SPL
SW103: 103 dB average from 36 Hz.-100 Hz.
SW203: 109 dB average from 34 Hz.-100 Hz.
SW303: 112 dB average from 27 Hz.-100 Hz.
Please refer to Item 10 in the Safety
Instructions for conditions that ALWAYS
require service by qualified personnel.
If you have tried all the above and
still cannot get the SW103, SW203, or
SW303 to operate properly, consult
Gateway® Customer Service and Support
at 1-800-846-2301.
Sound comes from main
speakers but not subwoofer
Dimensions
1
2
SW103: 15 / ˝ (39.4 cm) H x 11˝ (27.9 cm) W
7
8
x 7 / ˝ (20 cm) D
1. Is the SW103/SW203/SW303 turned
on (power light in the green mode) and
VOLUME control turned up?
2. Check the speaker connections for
small strands of wire touching both
terminals.
3. Some digital receivers only send a
subwoofer out signal when in the movie or
digital mode. In the 2 channel (stereo
music) mode, no subwoofer out signal is
sent to the subwoofer. You may need to set
your main speakers to “small” mode in
your receiver setup to get the receiver’s
SW203: 17˝ (43.2 cm) H x 13˝ (33 cm) W
x 10˝ (25.4 cm) D
1
2
SW303: 18 / ˝ (47 cm) H x 17˝ (43.2 cm) W
x 14˝ (35.6 cm) D
Web site: www.gateway.com
Shipping Weight
SW103: 20 lbs. (9 kg.)
SW203: 24 lbs. (10.9 kg.)
SW303: 41 lbs. (18.6 kg.)
Finish
Black laminate
©2003 Gateway®
|