ACI B Flat Owners manual

B-Flat

Wallspeaker

Owner’s Manual

Contents:

Guarantee/Warranty …1
Specifications …3
Using Your Speakers …4
Avoiding Damage …5
Hookup …7
Speaker Placement …7
Installation Instructions …8
Troubleshooting …9
Warranty Registration …11

By Descant

Audio Concepts, Inc.

901 South 4th Street, La Crosse, WI 54601

Phone: [phone] Fax:[phone]

Website: www.audioc.com Email: [e-mail]

All Rights Reserved 2001

Sound that Satisfies…

Audio Concepts, Inc.

Our Guarantee and Warranty

Satisfaction Guaranteed:

We’re sure you’re going to love your new Audio Concepts, Inc. (ACI)
products! In the unlikely event that you are not satisfied, please contact us
within 30 days of receipt of your ACI products for a hassle-free return.

1. Return Authorization: Call us at [phone] or email [e-mail], within 30 days

of receipt of your ACI products for a return authorization number. Clearly mark the return
authorization number on the outside of the box. Include a brief note stating your name, address
and daytime telephone number, along with a short description why the products are being
returned.

2. Returning: We request that you return the ACI products to us in their original packaging and

include packaging materials, manuals, etc. Ship by the most economical means (preferably UPS)
and insure the products for the invoice purchase price. The customer is responsible for return
shipping. Please note: ACI does not accept C.O.D. returns.

Credit: Upon receipt and inspection, we will issue a refund for the invoice purchase price and

3.

invoiced UPS Ground service only. Please note this return policy is in effect only if the ACI
products are in new condition, in their original packaging, without drilled holes, disassembled or
any other modifications.

Speaker Manufacture’s Warranty:

For five years from receipt, Audio Concepts, Inc. will, at its option, repair or
replace factory defective components. This warranty does not apply to products that
have been abused, modified, or disassembled in any way. This warranty does not
apply to products, which have been damaged in shipping. Audio Concepts, Inc.
liability is limited only to the replacement of defective parts. No other liabilities or
obligations are written or implied.

Return Authorization: Call us at [phone] or email [e-mail] for a return

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authorization number. Clearly mark the return authorization number on the outside of the box.
Include a brief note stating your name, address and daytime telephone number, along with a
short description why the products are being returned.
Returning: Carefully repack defective ACI merchandise. Ship by the most economical means

2.

(preferably UPS) and insure the products. The customer is responsible for return shipping.

Please note: ACI does not accept C.O.D. returns.

Replacement: Audio Concepts, Inc. will inspect and determine the cause of failure and will pay

3.

return shipping on the defective goods replaced or repaired.

The above stated guarantee and warranty applies only to assembled speaker

models purchased directly from Audio Concepts, Inc. A different warranty and
guarantee applies to purchasers of parts kits and DIY components.

Please ship any returns to the following address:

Audio Concepts, Inc., 901 So. 4th Street, La Crosse, WI 54601 [phone]

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IMPORTANT NOTICE

All new speakers require a minimum of 60 hours break-in-time before
they sound the way they are supposed to. A speaker's performance improves
significantly once broken in. It is critical that you have at least 60 hours on your
speakers before you evaluate them. Don't worry if your speakers do not sound
perfect the first time you play them. This is normal until they are broken in. If you are
having difficulty getting enough hours on your speakers and your 30 day return
privilege is getting near, call us. We will work with you. Please give us the courtesy
of breaking the speakers in before you determine they don't sound right.

Many of our customers break their speakers in by:

A) Leaving them on at moderate listening levels when they are not home.
B) Leaving them on at moderate listening levels while they sleep.
C) Running pink noise through them.

These methods are not convenient for everyone and we understand this. But
please know that you are not giving yourself, your speakers or us a fair chance if you
do not break them in before critical evaluation.

THANK YOU!

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B-Flat Wallspeaker by Descant

Thank you for your order! Audio Concepts, Inc. is proud of the B-Flat
Wallspeaker series by Descant. The B-Flat Wallspeakers offer true high-fidelity
stereo performance at a bargain price! The B-Flat Wallspeaker has an exceptionally
natural balance that makes listening to any music or soundtrack an enjoyable
experience. These fine speakers will provide you with many years of listening
pleasure while leaving your living space uncluttered. Many music lovers are
installing them throughout their homes. The B-Flat Wallspeakers are an excellent
choice for video systems requiring four to seven speakers. The B-Flat Wallspeakers
also make a fine outdoor speaker if installed in a relatively protected location such
as under the eaves or on a porch. What other speaker is so flexible that it also
makes a great rear deck speaker for cars or a great cabin speaker for boats? Don’t
let the very reasonable price fool you, the B-Flat Wallspeakers are a true high-fidelity
product!

We have done our best to make the B-Flat Wallspeaker instructions simple
yet complete. Please take time to go over the manual thoroughly before installing
your speakers. Often it helps to look at the manual and parts together. We’ve tried to
provide you with the information you’ll need to gain the most enjoyment from your
speakers. Should you have questions about the use of your speakers, not answered
in the manual, please E-mail or call. We guarantee your satisfaction with the B-Flat
Wallspeakers. If you aren’t satisfied, return them within 30 days for a prompt refund.
(Please see warranty sheet for details.)

Specifications:

Frequency response: 60-20kHz + 3db wall mounted
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms, minimum impedance 6 ohms
Sensitivity: 89db 1 watt/ 1 meter

Recommended RMS Power
Tweeter: 1” textile dome with ferro-fluid
Bass-mid: 6-1/2” polypropylene cone, rubber surround
Dimensions: 12” tall, 8-5/8” wide, and 3” deep, mounts in 2x4 wall
Cutout dimensions: 10-3/4” by 7-3/8”
Grill: White metal
Features: White, may be painted any color to match your decor
Recommended accessories: ACI Titan, Titan II or Quake subwoofer

:

20 to 80 watts per channel

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About the B-Flat Wallspeakers by Descant

The B-Flat Wallspeaker may be successfully installed in drywall, wood or
paneled walls, with no special construction required. The B-Flat Wallspeaker may be
mounted vertically or horizontally. The best imaging will be obtained with the B-Flat
Wallspeaker installed vertically. Recommended mounting height is three to six feet
above the floor. The B-Flat Wallspeaker may be ceiling mounted, but there will be a
loss of some bass response if used in a drop type ceiling. Drywall ceilings will yield
excellent bass response.

The B-Flat Wallspeaker requires a wall or ceiling mounting to work properly.
Listening to the B-Flat without mounting will yield a sound without bass. This is true
of any speaker. The same would be true if you were to remove the front of a
conventional set of speakers and attempt to play them without the box. The B-Flat
Wallspeaker must be properly mounted when auditioned.

Audio Concepts, Inc. speakers are designed to be the most cost-effective
systems available. By purchasing factory direct you eliminate costly markups. The B­Flat Wallspeakers have been carefully compared to wallspeakers costing $299 to
over $1000 per pair. You will find that your installed B-Flat Wallspeakers are among
the finest architectural type speakers available at any price!

The B-Flat Wallspeaker is suitable for use in any music system. It is meant for
use when space is at a premium but accurate musical reproduction is a must. The
space within the wall or ceiling acts as a large baffle which improves bass response.
This wall mounting actually yields bass that is comparable in power to a
conventional system using an 8” woofer! The flat mounting minimizes diffraction and
coloration.

By using an appropriate switching box you may have quality music
reproduction throughout your home or office. Wire may be run in the wall or along
the base molding.

Using Your Speakers

If the rest of your system does not work properly or is not correctly connected
you will not get the best performance from your system. To eliminate problems we
recommend the following:

• Use the finest associated components you can afford. CD and DVD players, pre-

amps, amplifiers, (receivers) and cables all have profound impact on the sound
of your system. Accurate speakers let more detail through. You will hear more of
the beauty of the music, but flaws in your system and or source material may be
more obvious.
Any good audio system is made up of matched components. You wouldn’t use
bargain recap tires on a new Porsche, and you shouldn’t use inferior components
with a high quality speaker. Your B-Flat Wallspeakers perform like speakers

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costing two to four times their price. Keep this in mind when selecting the rest of
your system.

Your B-Flat Wallspeakers will work in systems with as little as 20-40 watts per
channel. But for optimum sound we recommend high-quality amplification of 40­80 watts per channel.

• Know your source material. People often blame their audio gear for poor

recordings. A great number of popular recordings are of inferior sound quality.
Unfortunately this applies to records, tapes and CDs. Commonly poor recordings
are rolled off in the low bass, and harsh and constricted in mids and highs. Good
stereo image is rare. Many recordings are still done on monitor speakers that are
grossly inaccurate. Consider that some producers still mix recordings to sound
best on cheap table and car radios! This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy these
recordings, but you should try a few of the best audiophile recordings just to see
how terrific your system can be when fed a good signal.

• Your B-Flat Wallspeakers will sound their best when they are mounted at

approximately your ear level. Best performance will be attained if they are
mounted on flat surface with as few obstructions as possible. For the optimum
stereo image: If the B-Flat Wallspeaker is to be mounted below ear level place
the tweeter at the top. If the B-Flat Wallspeaker is to be mounted above ear level
place the tweeter on the bottom. This placement is not critical for most
applications but will insure the absolute best balance and stereo image.

Avoiding Damage

ACI speakers are designed for the purpose of accurate reproduction of music
in the home. We do our best to make our speakers rugged and reliable. However,
any speaker or system may be damaged under certain conditions:

¾ Excessive power, particularly at certain frequencies or for prolonged periods of

time

¾ Excessive distortion often caused by under-powered amplifiers or receivers
¾ Defective amplification
¾ Excessive subsonic energy

Our systems are tested at high volume levels with a variety of amplifiers and
receivers before a design is approved. With many years of testing, we know it is
virtually impossible to damage a component without the system first giving audible
warning in the form of distortion. We also know that true factory defects are
extremely rare, less than one in 10,000 drivers. Here are some considerations to
keep in mind to avoid damaging your drivers:

-Even though a system may be rated for 100 watts or more it is possible to damage
it with a low power receiver. When an amplifier runs out of power, it “clips”. This
clipping produces large amounts of distortion, which sends excessive energy
particularly to the midrange and tweeter. This clipping distortion accounts for more

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than 75% of all tweeter failures. How do you know if the amplifier is clipping?
Volume knob placement does NOT indicate much. Some receivers reach full output
well before 12:00 on the dial. Use of the loudness button, bass boost and treble
boost can all drive the receiver and then the speaker into distortion at fairly low
levels.

-Many of today’s recordings including CDs and DVDs contain extremely powerful
low bass. This low bass can easily drive woofers into over-excursion or cause the
amplifier to run out of power and clip, causing tweeter damage.

You can protect your speakers by following a couple of very simple
guidelines:

-Distortion is a warning sign that should not be ignored; if it sounds distorted,

turn it down.

-Be careful not to over-boost frequencies with tone controls or equalizers. If

you must boost certain frequencies keep the boost level low and monitor the

system carefully.

-Beware of the "party damage epidemic". Speakers are more often damaged

during parties. All those bodies soak up sound, requiring more output to

sound as loud, bass and treble controls are sometimes cracked up and

nobody is listening for distortion.

-Watch out for energy put out by the amplifier in the range below 20Hz, which

is not music. Examples include record warps, DC current and subsonic noise

in the recording. These signals can take up a lot of amplifier power which

means the amplifier runs out of steam very early. These signals can also

overload a speaker even though you can’t hear them. If you have ever

watched a cone “flap” you know just what we mean. Unusually powerful low

organ or synthesizer notes may cause an otherwise excellent woofer to

bottom out at relatively low input levels.

-Keep an eye out for excessive cone movement that is not producing music.

Find the source of the problem and eliminate it, play at low levels, or use a

subsonic filter (usually in your pre-amp) which will filter out energy below

20Hz.

In more than 24 years of daily evaluation of all types of speakers on
everything from 10 to 1000 watts with all kinds of music, we have rarely damaged a
driver without first hearing audible distortion. If it sounds bad, turn it down and you
will never damage a speaker.

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Hookup

Your B-Flat Wallspeakers are furnished with spring loaded input terminals for
attaching to your wiring. It is important that the positive and negative leads do not
touch. Speaker wire runs should be kept as short as possible. The use of quality
wire such as DH Labs T-14 is recommended. You may choose to run your wires
permanently throughout your home or you may install our 5-Way Gold Post Cup
near your baseboard molding.

Make sure you hookup the speaker in the correct polarity. The red (positive)
terminal on your amp should hook up to the red (positive) input and the black
(negative) terminal should be connected to the black (negative) input. Keep this the
same for both speakers in a stereo pair. A way to check the correct polarity is to play
music with a lot of bass. The correct hookup will yield the greatest amount of bass.

Placing the Speakers in Your Room

The placement of your B-Flat Wallspeakers has a significant impact on the
sound. Because all of our rooms and tastes are different, it is impossible to specify a
“correct” placement. We suggest a separation of six to eight feet if your primary
listening position is more than eight feet away. If you listen close up, such as a small
office, mount the speakers closer together. The carefully designed crossover of the
B-Flat Wallspeaker allows broader, more accurate stereo coverage than less
sophisticated wallspeaker designs.

Placement with Subwoofer Systems

Used on their own, the B-Flat Wallspeakers have excellent bass. For even
deeper and more powerful bass, subwoofer(s) may be added. The Titan or Titan II
Powered Subwoofer or Quake Powered Subwoofer is an excellent match for use
with the B-Flat Wallspeakers.

• For the most coherent image, the subwoofer(s) should usually be very close to

the B-Flat Wallspeakers. The distance from the listener to the drivers should be
similar. The subwoofer(s) should be set along the same wall the B-Flat
Wallspeakers are mounted in. See your subwoofer manual for details, however
often the best performance will be with the subwoofer placed in a room corner.

Remember that it is what sounds the best to you that counts!

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Installation Instructions

The following tools will be required:
Tape measure, pliers, Phillips head screwdriver and a jigsaw or handsaw.

Parts List:
Quantity Description
2 Assembled acoustic panels with drivers and crossovers
1 Template for panel cutout
2 Grills

1) Carefully unpack your B-Flat Wallspeakers. Check to see that you have all

the parts listed on the parts list. If you find any shortages notify Audio

Concepts, Inc. at [phone].

2) Installation will require making straight, accurate cuts into the wall material

without cutting into wall studs, plumbing, or electrical lines. If you lack the

tools or skills to do this properly, please contact a professional carpenter.

3) The edge of the acoustic panel is cut so the panel can be countersunk in the

wallboard while the front outer edge remains in front of the wallboard.

4) The mounting position must be at least 1 1/2" from any wall studs. An

electronic stud finder is helpful for this.

5) Make absolutely sure there are no electrical or communication wires,

plumbing or gas pipes inside the wall near the mounting area.

6) Use the supplied cardboard template to pencil the cutouts onto the wall. Be

sure the sides are straight and true and at least 1 1/2 " from any wall studs or

internal wall bracing. Vertical mounting is suggested for the best image but

horizontal mounting also yields a natural frequency balance.

7) Before making your final cutout make a "test" hole approximately 4" in

diameter to insure that you will have adequate clearance from studs or any

wiring.

8) Recheck your measurements and carefully cut out the mounting holes as

accurately as possible.

9) Remove the grill from the acoustic panel.

Optional painting of the acoustic panel and grill should be done before the

installation. Paint the grill and panel separately. The drive units must be

carefully masked off or removed prior to painting. Make sure that the paint

does not clog the holes in the grill.

10) Connect your speaker wires to the spring-loaded terminals mounted on the

crossover boards. Make sure to connect positive (+ red) to positive and

negative (- black) to negative.

11) Look at the dog-ears on the back of the speaker and make sure that the

screws are loose enough to accommodate the thickness of the wallboard.

12) Insert the speaker into the hole, making sure that the mounting dog-ears are

folded in.

13) Use your screwdriver to tighten the screws on the front of the speaker. This

will turn the dog-ears out and then tighten, pinching the wallboard between

the dog-ears and the speaker frame. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN.

14) Replace the grill to the speaker frame.

15) Sit back and enjoy the listening pleasure of your B-Flat Wallspeakers!

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Troubleshooting

Occasionally we get a call from someone who feels there is a problem with
his or her B-Flat Wallspeaker. Sometimes a difficulty is encountered in the
installation. Nine out of ten times a careful check of the manual or figures will clear
up the problem. If you need assistance, E-mail ACI or call customer service at (608)
784-4570.

At least a couple of times a year we will get a fax or E-mail that goes
something like this: "Speakers not working properly, can't get enough sound even
with the volume turned way up." The problem may be different, but with very little
information to go on it is almost impossible to troubleshoot the problem.

The following checklist may help:

1) Are both speakers fully assembled and placed properly?

2) Are all system hookups properly connected, no partial shorted wires or

reversed connections, etc.?

3) Did you try the rest of your system with other speakers and all was okay?

4) Please be realistic in your expectation. Our speakers offer excellent value but

even we can't beat the laws of physics. For instance, the B-Flat Wallspeaker

does have excellent imaging for a wallspeaker. But a wallmounted speaker

will never yield the sense of depth of the best satellites or full-range speakers.

If for any reason you aren't satisfied with the sound you're getting from your speaker
we want to know about it. But before you call or write please try to narrow down the
problem and eliminate other factors. If you contact us we will need to know:

¾ The size of your room
¾ Where you have the speakers placed
¾ What other equipment is in your system
¾ Have you tried other speakers and did they eliminate the problem
¾ Any other specific symptoms or information you can provide

Our customers are #1 with us and we want you to be completely happy with your
B-Flat Wallspeakers by Descant.

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The Company

Audio Concepts, Inc. (ACI), has been satisfying discerning music lovers since

1977. Our goal has and always will be to provide exceptional product and service to
music enthusiasts around the world. Audio Concepts speakers are an expression of
dedication to our customers and their desire for accurate musical reproduction. We
believe you must audition speakers in your own home and in your own system.
Please see the warranty statement for details.

After listening, please fill out and return the warranty registration. This
warranty registration is important. It allows us to reach you in the event of future
upgrades. The comments you make on the warranty help us to continually improve
our products and customer service. Thank you!

Audio Concepts, Inc.

901 South 4th Street

La Crosse, WI 54601

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

E-Mail: [e-mail] Website: http://www.audioc.com

Specifications and design are subject to change without notice.

All rights reserved Audio Concepts, Inc. 2001

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Warranty Registration, Please Return

ACI div. Audio Concepts, Inc.

901 S. 4th Street, La Crosse, WI 54601

[e-mail] [phone]

Congratulations on becoming an ACI speaker owner. Completing this registration enables us to

contact you regarding future upgrades. Your information helps us provide the best possible products

and service. If you need additional room please continue on the back. You may also register your

product electronically at our web site. http://www.audioc.com

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________

Main reasons you purchased from ACI: _________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Where did you first hear about ACI: ____________________________________________________________

System(s) Purchased:________________________________________________________________________

Date received: _____________________________ Invoice Number:__________________________________

Condition received in:_______________________________________________________________________

Comments or suggestions regarding our staff or service:____________________________________________

Other audio equipment used: __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you have a home-theater system? ___________________________________________________________

Do you plan to purchase other speakers within the next two years?______ If so, what types of speakers are you
interested in purchasing, (Tower speakers, satellite speakers, subwoofers, wall speakers, outdoor speakers,
home-theater speakers, etc.)
__________________________________________________________________________________________

All speakers require at least 60-80 hours of playing time to sound their best. After your speakers have had
time to break-in and you've done some serious listening please tell us:

Features you like most about your ACI speakers: __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Areas of performance or appearance you'd like to change: ___________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Other comments or suggestions :_______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Will you recommend us to others?________ (Over 1/2 of our customers were recommended to us by
testimonials on computer data bases or referrals from someone they know. We put the money we save on
advertising into the highest quality products at the lowest possible cost to you.)

We would appreciate being able to use your comments in future advertising. Please sign here to allow us that
privilege.

Name:_________________________________________ Date: ___________________

Thank you for taking the time to complete and return this registration!

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