AudioSource AC8C User Manual

AC6C/AC8C

6.5”/8” 2- Way Ceiling Speakers

Congratulations on your purchase of the AudioSource
AC Series Ceiling Speaker System. This product
is designed to reproduce the audio portion of your
home entertainment environment with accuracy and
detail that will satisfy the most discriminating listener.

Please read this Installation Manual to ensure the
proper installation and performance of your AC
Series speakers.

Preparing for your Installation

Gather the necessary tools for your installation.

You will need the following tools:

1) A Keyhole or Drywall Saw

2) A Phillips Screwdriver

3) Masking Tape

4) A Pencil

5) A Tape Measure

6) A Stud Finder (recommended)

7) Your AC Series speakers

Placement

Plan your speaker placement carefully. Make certain
that electrical, plumbing and any other services will not
interfere within the ceiling where you plan to install your
speakers. The AC Series speakers can be mounted in
walls, but are typically used in ceilings. The speakers
should be located so that they provide even coverage
at your listening position. The distance between the
speakers should not be greater than the distance from
the speakers to the listening position (See Figure 1).
If the room’s dimensions or furniture placement prevent
adhering to this requirement, the tweeters in the AC
Series speakers can be swiveled to aim them at the
desired listening position.

Existing Construction

In most modern buildings ceiling joists are positioned
on 16” centers, providing a space between the studs of
approximately 14 3/8”. The specifications chart shows
the appropriate cut out sizes (p. 4). Additionally, you
should allow an extra 3/4” in all directions behind the
ceiling surface to allow room for the screw clamps that
mount the speaker to the ceiling to swing into position.

Use a stud finder to locate the joists behind the ceiling
surface. Also, you should now check for obstructions
like cross bracing in front of and behind the desired
speaker location.

11’

11.5’

New Construction

If you are installing your speakers in new construction
before the finished walls go up, AudioSource offers
New Construction Brackets, which provide a stable
frame that can be fastened to the wall studs or ceiling
joists on 16” or 24” centers. This allows the sheet
rock or other surface covering to be installed and
provides a template to cut the opening for the AC
Series speakers.

20’

16’

Figure 1

After selecting the mounting location, mark the hole to
be cut out. A template is provided in the speaker box.
Locate and align the template, then mark with pencil on
the ceiling surface. If you are unsure whether there are
obstructions behind the ceiling surface where the
speakers are to be mounted, cut a small hole in the
center of your marked mounting location. Holding your
drywall saw at a 45 degree angle (See Figure 2), cut a
square hole that you can use to locate any obstructions,
should they exist.

ROOM

Figure 2

The 45 degree wedge shape of the removed surfacing
material will make replacement, if necessary, a much
easier task and yield a better finish when patching the
work.

Once it has been determined that there are no obstruc­tions, cut the hole to mount the speaker using the drywall
saw at a 90 degree angle to the ceiling surface. Cover
the raw edges of the wallboard with masking tape
(Figure 3). This will prevent the back pressure of the
speaker from blowing loose gypsum dust out and onto
the painted ceiling surface after installation. Do not allow
the tape to extend more than 1/4” beyond the edge of the
hole into the room. The frame of the speaker will cover
and hide the tape.

Grill Removal for Installation

CAUTION! The grill is held in place by contact pressure

around the edges where it attaches to the speaker frame.
To avoid difficulty reinstalling the grill, care should be
taken to not distort its shape while removing it.

While looking at the rear of the speaker assembl
two of the adjacent mounting clamps outward and then
evenly press them towards the grill. The clamp screws
contact the inner surface of the grill, pushing it gently
out of its mounting groove (Figure 4). Only lift the grill
1/4" (6mm) at this location. Next use the other mounting
clamps to further loosen the grill. Use care to not distort
the grill shape.

1/4"(6mm)

y, rotate

Masking T.ape

ROOM

Figure 3

Next run your speaker wire to your speaker locations
A UL rated CL3 speaker wire is recommended when
running wire inside your walls. In many areas it may
be required by code. When running your speaker wir

e
you should avoid having the speaker wire run paralle
to the 120V power lines to avert picking up hum and
interference from the power service. If the speaker
wire needs to cross a 120V power line at a right angle
this is acceptable and will not create a problem.

If you are uncomfortable with running the speaker wire
yourself in existing construction, it is recommended that
you retain a qualified custom home installation specialist
or electrician.

Installing the Speakers

Installation Tip! To further enhance the performance of
your AC Series speakers, the ceiling joist cavity where
you plan to place your speakers can be stuffed with a
generous quantity of fiberglass insulation. Stuff the area
in front of and behind the speaker opening with 6” thick
insulation to a depth of approximately 2 feet beginning
1 foot in front and 1 foot behind the speaker opening. If
the insulation is foil or paper backed, face the backing
away from the AC Series speaker. The addition of this
insulation will help prevent unwanted transfer of sound
into the otherwise large and resonant cavity of the un­insulated ceiling.

.

Figure 4

It is now time to connect the speaker wire to the speaker

l

Your speaker wire is usually coded to identify each

.

conductor as either positive or negative. This can be by
color coding, or one conductor may have a printed
marking or at least a rib along one edge that you will not
find on the other. Identify which type of polarity coding
that your wire is using. You must carefully observe that
the positive terminal of the speaker output on your
amplifier is connected to the positive terminal of the
AC Series speaker. Likewise, the negative terminal of the
amplifier’s speaker output should be connected to the
negative terminal of the AC Series speaker (Figure 5).

(+) Amp

(-) Amp

Figure 5

2