ACI B Flat Coax Owners manual

B-Flat Coaxial
Wallspeaker

By Descant

(6.5” Round, 8” Round or Square & 8” Round Chambered)

Owner’s Manual

Contents:

Guarantee/Warranty …2
Specifications …4
Using Your Speakers …5
Avoiding Damage …5
Hookup …6
Speaker Placement …7
Installation Instructions …7
Troubleshooting …8
Warranty Registration …9

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 2002

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.

Simply follow these procedures:

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. Boldly 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 can not accept C.O.D.

returns.

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

2

Speaker Manufacture’s Warranty:

ACI’s 5 Year Standard Warranty and 1 Year Total Assurance Guarantee
For 5 years from receipt, Audio Concepts, Inc. will, at its option, repair or replace factory defective

components. This warranty excludes 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 expressed or implied.

For the 1st year of ownership, ACI also provides a unique Total Assurance Guarantee, (TAG). TAG
from ACI not only covers everything included in our standard 5 year warranty, but we will also pay
for shipping to ACI and back to your front door. TAG is limited to shipping destinations in the
Continental U.S.

The ACI 5 Year Standard Warranty and 1 Year Total Assurance Guarantee are fully transferable
from the original owner to a secondary owner provided that the original owner notifies ACI, by
phone call or by filling out the on-line form: www.audioc.com/order/warranty_transfer.htm
No warranty will be transferred absent this notification.

Simply follow these procedures:

1. Return Authorization: Call us at [phone] or email [e-mail] for a return authorization number. If

the warranty repair is during the first year of ownership, additional instructions will be given to you at that time. Boldly
mark the return authorization number on the outside of the box. Include a brief note with your name, address and a
daytime telephone number, along with a short description why the products are being returned.

2. Returning: Carefully repack defective ACI merchandise in their original packaging. Ship by the most economical

means (preferably UPS) and insure the products for their full retail value. The customer is responsible for return
shipping (unless the 1st year TAG applies). Please note: ACI can not accept COD or Freight Collect returns.

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

the defective goods replaced or repaired.

Please ship any returns to the following address:

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

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.

3

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!

B-Flat Coax Wallspeakers by Descant

Thank you for your order! Audio Concepts, Inc. is proud to offer the B-Flat Coaxial Wallspeakers by
Descant. The B-Flat Coax offers true high-fidelity stereo performance and improved dispersion and output
characteristics at high-value pricing. The B-Flat Coax 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 the B-Flat Coax throughout their homes. They are an excellent
choice for video systems requiring four to seven speakers. The B-Flat Coax also makes a fine outdoor
speaker if installed in a relatively protected location such as under the eaves or on a porch. The chambered
version easily mounts into ceilings, while ensuring uniform sound quality and protection from insulation
debris and temperature extremes. Don’t let the very reasonable price fool you, the B-Flat Coax is a true high­fidelity product!

We have done our best to make the B-Flat Coax 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 Coax. (Please see warranty sheet for details.)

Specifications:

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Round 6.5”
Frequency response: 60-20kHz + 3db wall mounted
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms, minimum impedance 6 ohms
Sensitivity: 89db 1 watt/ 1 meter
Recommended RMS Power: 20 to 80 watts per channel
Tweeter: 3/4” textile dome with neodymium magnet and ferro-fluid cooling
Bass-mid: 6 1/2” polypropylene cone with rubber surround
Dimensions: Round: 9" diameter x 3 ½” depth
Cut Out Dimension: 7 5/8” diameter (mounts in any 2x4 wall)
Grill: White metal
Input Terminals: Spring loaded for barewire or pins
Features: White, may be painted any color to match your decor
Recommended accessories: ACI Force or Titan subwoofer

Round or Square 8”
Frequency response: 50-20kHz + 3db wall mounted
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms, minimum impedance 6 ohms
Sensitivity: 88db 1 watt/ 1 meter
Recommended RMS Power: 20 to 80 watts per channel
Tweeter: 1” textile dome with neodymium magnet and ferro-fluid cooling
Bass-mid: 8” polypropylene cone with rubber surround
Dimensions: Round: 10 3/4" Square: 10 1/16" (both with 3 ½” depth)
Cut Out Dimension: Round: 9 ½” Square: 8-7/8” (mounts in any 2x4 wall)
Grill: White metal
Input Terminals: Spring loaded for barewire or pins
Features: White, may be painted any color to match your decor
Recommended accessories: ACI Force or Titan subwoofer

Round Chambered 8”
Frequency response: 50-20kHz + 3db wall mounted
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms, minimum impedance 6 ohms
Sensitivity: 88db 1 watt/ 1 meter
Recommended RMS Power: 20 to 80 watts per channel
Tweeter: 1” textile dome with neodymium magnet and ferro-fluid cooling
Bass-mid: 8” polypropylene cone with rubber surround
Dimensions: Round: 11" (7 5/8” depth)
Cut Out Dimension: Round: 9 5/8” (mounting depth 8”)
Grill: White metal
Input Terminals: Gold plated push on terminals
Features: White, may be painted any color to match your décor. Ideal for mounting in ceilings. The chamber also helps

cut down on sound transmission to adjacent rooms.
Recommended accessories: ACI Force or Titan subwoofer

About the B-Flat Coax by Descant

The B-Flat Coax may be successfully installed in drywall, wood or paneled walls, with no special
construction required. Because of the co-axial design, dispersion is improved, and imaging is better
throughout the listening area. Recommended mounting height is three to six feet above the floor. The B-Flat
Coax 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 chambered model is recommended for ceiling
applications.

The B-Flat Coax 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
Coax 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 B-Flat Coax has been carefully compared to
wallspeakers costing $299 to over $1000 per pair. You will find that your installed B-Flat Coax is among the
finest architectural type speakers available at any price!

The B-Flat Coax 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. The flat mounting minimizes diffraction and coloration.

5

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 Coax
performs like speakers costing two to four times the price. Keep this in mind when selecting the rest of
your system.
Your B-Flat Coax will work in systems with as little as 20-40 watts per channel. But for optimum sound
we recommend high-quality amplification of 40-80 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, DVDs 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 Coax will sound its best when mounted at approximately your ear level. Best performance

will be attained if they are mounted on flat surface with as few obstructions as possible.

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:

Ø Excessive power, particularly at certain frequencies or for prolonged periods of time
Ø Excessive distortion often caused by under-powered amplifiers or receivers

Ø Defective amplification
Ø 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 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.

6

In more than 25 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.

Hookup

Your B-Flat Coax is furnished with spring loaded input terminals for attaching to your wiring. The
chambered model has gold plated push terminals. 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 Coax 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 Co-axial design and carefully designed crossover of
the B-Flat Coax allows broader, more accurate stereo coverage than less sophisticated wallspeaker designs.

Placement of Subwoofers with your System

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

• For the most coherent image, the subwoofer(s) should usually be very close to the B-Flat Coax. The

distance from the listener to the drivers should be similar. The subwoofer(s) should be set along the
same wall the B-Flat Coax 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!

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

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1) Carefully unpack your B-Flat Coax. 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] or Email: [e-mail]

2) Installation will require making straight, accurate cuts into the wall/ceiling material without cutting into

wall studs, ceiling joists, plumbing, or electrical lines. If you lack the tools or skills to do this properly,

please contact a professional.

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 mus t 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/ceiling near the mounting area.

6) Use the supplied cardb oard 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, ceiling joists or internal wall/ceiling bracing.

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 input terminals on the speaker. 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 them, 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 Coax!

Troubleshooting

Occasionally we get a call from someone who feels there is a problem with his or her B-Flat Coax.
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
[phone].

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 Coax 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:

8

Ø The size of your room
Ø Where you have the speakers placed
Ø What other equipment is in your system
Ø Have you tried other speakers and did they eliminate the problem
Ø 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 Coax by Descant!

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. 2002 11/02

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:_____________________________________

9

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!