by Andy Lewis, Founder and Chief Designer, Acme Sound

Two very important points of information which will optimise your woofers for maximum power handling, and increase your speaker's chances for a long, trouble-free life.

1 . The woofers in our Acme Low B Series 11 models have a break-in period.
The surrounds on these woofers have a higher stiffness new-out-of-the-box than they do after some hours of use. This has two real-world consequences.

The first is that the ability of the systems to reproduce the lowest notes doesn't reach it's full capability until the surrounds have been loosened up by being used. The second, and perhaps more important consequence, is that when driven to their maximum excursion, the woofers are much easier to damage when they are new, than after they've been broken in. It is more likely that the cones will be overstressed the when the speakers are brand new, than at any time after they've been used.

How much break-in time is necessary? They have been broken in using a sine-wave generator in less than three hours. When playing bass, it is very difficult to predict how long it would take for a specific person to do it. It depends on your style, and how loudly you play. The best advice is to start slowly, and work your way into it. Within reason, of course, the longer, and the more gradual the better. But please do your best to loosen up the woofers before you get into any serious slammin.'

The reason we have chosen to point out these concerns about breaking the speakers in, is because just lately, we have had two customers damage their woofers within the two-week trial period. This was unheard of just several years ago. The woofers are the some. But we believe that the availability of incredibly powerful amplifiers, even more than just a few years ago, has changed the landscape.

Which brings us to the second IMPORTANT warning...

2. A little bit of information about the level controls on power amps:
We've had unfortunate conversations with an alarming number of people who have mode the some mistake:

A great many people, I've learned, believe that a 1000 watt amplifier becomes a 500 watt amplifier once the level controls are set to halfway up," 12 o'clock”, or "only at 5", if you catch my meaning.

I would prefer not to have this conversation any more, because it usually is with some well-intentioned kid whose woofers are in tatters, and who can't understand what he did wrong.

So, read this twice if you have to: Lowering the setting of the Level, or Volume control on your power amplifier does not limit it's ability to produce it's full power! If a 1000 watt amplifier is only turned halfway up, it does not become a 500 watt amplifier. It is still able to produce it's full 1000 watts if it gets a “hot" enough input signal.

Read it again.

Thank you.