SOWA Professional Audio User Manual

SOWA Professional Audio User Manual

Scope of this manual
This document describes the recommended use and care for SOWA and SOWA Pro loudspeakers by SOWA. SOWA is a wireless loudspeaker system that allows setting up as many speakers as you want, playing the same audio, within a very large area. The SOWA is for use in the home, and the SOWA Pro is for use at public events, venues, and offices.

Quick start

Get your SOWA system up and running in a matter of seconds.

One SOWA

• Power up the speaker.
• Connect an audio source.
• Play a tune and adjust the volume.

Many SOWA

• Power up the speakers
• Select Host mode on one of them, using the role select (audio source) button.
• Set all other speakers to Join mode, using the Link button.
• Connect an audio source to the SOWA in Host mode, and start playing.
• Play a tune and adjust the volume.

The SOWA Product 
SOWA Speakers are handmade in Europe from European birchwood veneer. The loudspeaker drivers we use are high-quality Danish hifi designs made partially from the fibers of kapok fruit shells. At SOWA we try to do our part in being as sustainable as possible. We do that by designing our cabinets to minimize the number of components used, as well as designing with a long product life in mind.

Our speakers are highly modularised and easy to service, meaning that if your product ends up not working, we can easily fix it for you. If your product is out of warranty, we will gladly supply you with the components and help you need to fix a SOWA speaker by yourself. We think that consumers should have the right to repair the products they own. We sincerely hope that you enjoy your SOWA product for many years into the future. If you have any issues, ideas, or anything in between, please reach out to info@sowasound.com // Villads, Andreas, and the rest of the SOWA Team.

User Interface

SOWA user interface

Controls

Audio Inputs

The audio inputs of the SOWA are only available during Host and Single Speakers modes. In Join mode, the SOWA will receive any audio that is coming into the connected Host speaker. In other words, any audio sources directly connected to the SOWA in Join mode will not be played. If the SOWA is switched from Join to any of the other modes, playback of analog inputs will be resumed, and Bluetooth connections reconnected.

Connecting Audio Devices

To connect your SOWA to a Bluetooth device:

1. set the SOWA Speaker to Single Speaker or Host mode.
2. Open the Bluetooth connection settings of your Bluetooth device (smartphone for example).
3. Press the Bluetooth pair button on the SOWA.
4. Select the SOWA on your Bluetooth device

The SOWA will appear on your smartphone or computer as SOWAfollowed by a ten-digit string of letters and numbers, for example SOWA353848F157. This name can be changed in most common devices for easier recognition, for example, “SOWA-Livingroom-1”. On SOWA Pro, the Delay-display will show the first three letters of the SOWA’s Bluetooth name while advertising, for easier recognition.

If the SOWA is not showing up in the Bluetooth settings on your device:

1. try toggling off/on the Bluetooth advertisement on the SOWA Speaker, by pressing the Bluetooth Pair button twice.
2. Try toggling off/on Bluetooth on the device you are trying to connect to your SOWA.
3. Try “forgetting” or deleting the SOWA on your device.
   If you recently updated the firmware on your SOWA speaker or did a soft reset, the SOWA won’t connect to previously paired devices, until you have “forgotten” and repaired the SOWA.
4. Try the steps above individually or together. If nothing works, you can try erasing the Paired devices in the SOWA. To perform this clearing of the device list in the SOWA, press and hold the Bluetooth Pair button until it starts flashing rapidly.

Connecting audio source via AUX (Mini Jack)

The SOWA Speakers are equipped with a 1/8” TRS stereo mini jack port designed for -10 dBV consumer line level signals. This can be plugged into many computers, smartphones, and televisions. Since mini jack connections are single-ended, to minimize noise during playback, we recommend that you use a short cable as practically possible.

This is especially the case when using the wireless connectivity of the SOWA Link, since the digital codec employed may further increase a noise floor that is too high the Stereo TRS Jack is intended for use as a stereo connection for music, but you could get creative with this. SOWA Link supports several radio channels, each supporting stereo. You could use several SOWA Host speakers as the basis for a multi-channel system, fed by one TRS Jack per two audio channels. Effectively this allows you to create an eight-channel sound system for surround or immersive experiences.

Connecting Microphones or Other Devices (SOWA Pro only)
The SOWA Pro accepts dynamic microphones, as well as line signals from most professional audio equipment. The XLR output on the SOWA Pro does not provide Phantom power for condenser microphones. The SOWA Pro is equipped with a balanced mono combo XLR and 1/4” Jack designed for microphone signals or up to +4 dBU pro audio line level signals.

To avoid damage to the XLR input on your SOWA, do not exceed the max peak input levels listed below. Some equipment, often mixing consoles, may output peaks or signals louder than the common “pro” line level definition of +4 dBu. Consult your equipment user manual to verify the correct volume of the equipment you will be using with your SOWA. If your equipment has an output rated higher than the maximum levels below, we recommend you use a device between the SOWA and the equipment to attenuate the levels appropriately.

Selecting a Microphone Preset (SOWA Pro only)

When using a microphone, make sure that the Microphone Preset button is set to “Handheld”. This adds a static gain to the input, allowing dynamic microphones to be used. It also adds processing to the XLR input to make the most common live-use microphones sound better. The processing used is equalization, noise gate, and compression. To get the optimal experience using a microphone with your SOWA system, select a high-quality microphone with a high sensitivity, for example, a Sennheiser e935 or Shure Beta58. Choosing a high-sensitivity microphone reduces the noise floor, and increases the output you can get from the microphone.

Muting and Mixing Inputs (SOWA Pro only)
It is possible to mute the inputs on the SOWA Pro. The channel-on/off buttons can be found above the three input types. The buttons are light blue when the input is on. The SOWA Pro can play two inputs in parallel at the same time, mixing the two. The TRS Min Jack and the XLR inputs are exclusive, meaning you can only play through one of them at a time. When two inputs are on, their signals are mixed directly, meaning there is no sidechaining or bias towards any of the inputs.

Playback Modes

To toggle playback modes, press the SOWA Link Button marked with the SOWA logo.

• Play as a single loudspeaker → Single Speaker mode.
• Host audio for other SOWA → Host mode
• Join another SOWA → Join mode

Single Speaker Mode (default)
In Single Speaker Mode, you can use a SOWA as an ordinary Bluetooth or cabled speaker. Simply connect the audio source you want. This is the default mode of a SOWA speaker, the first time it is turned on. Subsequently, the SOWA starts in whatever mode it is powered down in. Single Speaker Mode can be recognised by the absence of light in the HOST and JOIN lights of the user interface.

In Single Speaker Mode, it is not possible to select the Left, Right, or Mono audio channels. The SOWA will default to playing the input as mono. On SOWA Pro, it is also not possible to adjust the Local Volume setting. Only the System Volume knob is available

Using SOWA Link to Play on Multiple SOWA Speakers

SOWA Link allows you to stream the audio connected to one of your SOWA Speakers, to as many SOWA speakers as you want within range. The range is up to about 100 meters (sometimes more). Follow the Quick Start guide to get up and running with SOWA Link in moments.

Host Mode
In Host mode, a SOWA Speaker broadcasts the audio coming in on one of its inputs to as many Join SOWAs as you want within limitations of range. To set your SOWA in Host mode, press the Link button to select the role of the SOWA speaker until HOST is lit.

Join Mode
In Join mode, a SOWA Speaker listens to the audio coming from a nearby Hosting SOWA within limitations of range. To set your SOWA in Join mode, press the Link button to select the role of the SOWA speaker until JOIN is lit.

Selecting stereo channels on a multi-speaker SOWA System
When a SOWA is taking part in a SOWA Link system, either as Host or Join speaker, it can be set to play either the left, right or a mono sum of the two stereo channels fed either into the Bluetooth input or the Aux input of the Hosting speaker. The XLR input is per definition mono, and will therefore always transmit equally to SOWA speakers configured as left or right.

Running parallel SOWA Link systems within the same area

You can run four separate stereo SOWA Systems simultaneously within a range of each other. To create separate systems, press the Link button (this is called PAIR on early versions of SOWA Pro). The Link button and System Volume knob will start flashing to indicate channel selection. Turn the System Volume knob to select one of the four channels. Repeat this process on all speakers you want to play together.

Power
The SOWA and SOWA Pro are fully battery operated speakers, meaning you can bring them anywhere and not worry about cables for a very long time. The battery in SOWA Speakers is 97 Wh (Watt hours), meaning you can bring it onto most airplanes. Please consult your specific airline for specific or local regulations.

Conserving Battery
Your SOWA should easily play music at 80% volume for 20 hours in Host Mode, and can in certain conditions play even longer, or less. By playing at lower volumes, you can extend the playtime, while playing louder shortens the playtime. The speaker Hosting a SOWA System will consume slightly more power than the speakers Joining the SOWA system. A speaker in Single Speaker Mode is consuming the least energy of the three available playback modes.

The ambient temperature also affects the battery life. Colder temperatures reduce the amount of time you can play the SOWA Speaker. Avoid charging your SOWA Speaker at very low temperatures, and avoid exposure to extremely high temperatures during use.

Estimated charge and drain times

Optimizing conditions for SOWA Link and Bluetooth

Both SOWA Link and Bluetooth are wireless technologies that depend on several factors to work well. Both technologies share the 2,4 GHz radio band with Wifi. Factors that may reduce the wireless range of both SOWA Link and Bluetooth are:

• Distance.
• Number of nearby devices operating on 2,4 GHz (smartphones, laptops, routers, access points, televisions, etc.).
• Obstructions (e.g. walls, people)

If you are experiencing bad connections on either Bluetooth or SOWA Link, you can work with these three factors to regain a proper connection. Reduce the distance between devices, and reduce obstacles between devices (ideally enabling them to get a free “line of sight” between each other). For SOWA Link in particular, you can also try changing the channel on which the SOWA Link system operates. The SOWA Speakers are a Class II Bluetooth product, meaning that the Bluetooth range is between your device and the SOWA is rated at 10 meters.

Taking Care of you SOWA Speaker

Firmware Updating your SOWA Speaker
SOWA and SOWA Pro speakers can be updated with the latest firmware using a Windows application. SOWA can sometimes release new firmware versions with new features or bug fixes.

Firmware update procedure for SOWA or SOWA Pro

1. On a Windows 10 or 11 computer, download the SOWA Firmware Updater App.
2. Install the firmware update app on the computer.
   If Windows prompts you with “Windows protected your PC”, press , and then run anyway .
   
3. Power down the SOWA. Then hold the power button on the SOWA until it starts flashing.
4. Wait a couple of seconds, then press the Bluetooth button (if it is not already flashing).
5. Open the SOWA Firmware Updater App and follow the instructions.

Spare Parts or Service
If you experience issues with your SOWA product and your product is covered by warranty, please reach out to customer service from where you bought the product.

• ️ support@sowasound.com

If your SOWA is not covered by warranty, we will gladly do what we can to repair or refurbish your SOWAs for a fee or supply you with the spare parts to do it yourself. Although we cannot guarantee stock of components, we will do our best to always have spare parts in stock or on short delivery. The SOWA Speakers are modularised, and assembled by as few components as possible, making them easy to service.

Safety Notice

Power
This SOWA speaker is equipped with a lithium ion battery pack – handle with care. The battery pack in SOWA Speakers is 21.6V 4.5Ah 97Wh and can be brought onto most flights as carry-on luggage. Please consult your airline for specific or local regulations. If the battery of your SOWA Speaker shows unexpected behavior, never bring it on an airplane, never use it, or charge it. Put it in a fireproof space, and contact SOWA Support immediately.

The SOWA Speaker comes with a 26-volt power supply for plugging into ordinary 210-230-volt mains AC voltage. Never use other power supplies than the one supplied by SOWA. If the power supply goes missing, you can always buy a new one, reach out to support@sowasound.com.

Hearing Safety
The SOWA speakers can play audio at a high volume, especially when paired up as a larger system. Loud audio can over time cause permanent hearing damage. Please consider the hearing safety and comfort, of yourself and your audience. You should always refer to regulations of maximum sound pressure level over time in your area. SOWA does not take responsibility for hearing damage. When in doubt, turn down the volume using the volume knob on your Hosting speaker. For estimating sound pressure level at your event, we recommend using dedicated sound pressure level measurement systems.

Placement and Rigging

The SOWA Speakers are designed to be mounted on commonly available 35 mm pole speaker stands. The SOWA Speakers should never be rigged or suspended from ceilings, poles, or similar, taller than 1,8 meters, with equipment that is not supplied with, or recommended to work with, the SOWA Speaker. For rigging purposes, always make sure to attach a safety wire to the dedicated safety wire hole in the handle of the SOWA Speaker, and attach the other end of the safety wire to an independent piece of fixed, and certified, rigging hardware.

Disposal
Batteries contain substances that can be harmful to human health and damage the environment if they are not handled properly. Speakers and integrated batteries are electrical and electronic equipment. Such equipment contains materials, components, and substances that can be harmful to human health and the environment if the waste is not handled properly. As the final user of such equipment, you must dispose of your used batteries and all electrical and electronic equipment at an established recycling service.

This way, you are helping to ensure that the equipment is recycled per the law and thus treating the environment with respect. In all municipalities, you will find a recycling service that accepts all electrical and electronic equipment, or you will find that they can pick it up directly at your home. To learn more, please ask your local technical administration in your municipality

Warranty

The SOWA Speaker comes with a 1 year full warranty. The SOWA Speaker may only be serviced by certified SOWA Support Personnel. Warranty will be void if the SOWA Speaker is disassembled in any way by a noncertified person. Please contact SOWA Support upon failure of a SOWA Speaker – we love to help! The SOWA Speaker is very serviceable. After the warranty period, the SOWA Support team will still happily service your SOWA Speakers, or supply necessary spare parts for any larger component in the SOWA Speaker.

These services can be acquired upon request by the SOWA Support team. SOWA warrants (“limited warranty”) that the SOWA product is free of defects in materials and workmanship at the time of the original purchase by the end-user (the “customer” or “you”). This limited warranty covers the functionality of the SOWA product for its normal, intended use in an environment as specified below only and does not cover malfunctions that result from improper or unreasonable use or maintenance, as well as any unauthorized repair, normal wear, and tear, or external causes such as accidents, abuse, or other actions or events beyond our reasonable control. This limited warranty is issued to the customer who buys a new SOWA product directly from SOWA.

This limited warranty cannot be assigned or transferred to any subsequent purchaser or user. Any SOWA product purchased from an authorized retailer is covered by the warranty terms provided by such authorized retailer. The limited warranty is limited to the repair or replacement of the SOWA product at SOWA’s discretion, and neither costs for transportation, removal, nor installation of a SOWA product are covered by this limited warranty.

This limited warranty extends to one (1) year from the customer’s original purchase of the SOWA product. If SOWA receives, during the applicable warranty period, a valid notice of a defect of any SOWA product covered by SOWA’s warranty. SOWA will, at SOWA’s option within reasonable time after being notified of the defect:

1. repair the defect at no charge, use new or refurbished replacement parts, or
2. replace the product. Response time may vary from country to country and is, among other things, subject to the availability of parts, labor, and transport. To obtain service, contact: support@sowasound.com

Tech Specs Overview

Frequency Response

REFERENCE LINK

https://www.sowasound.com/