Bg Radia 220i, 420i, 520i, 210i Owner's Manual

The Power Of Clarity

Owner’s Manual and Setup Procedures

RADIA Freestanding.................520i / 420i / 220i / 210i

Introduction

Congratulations and thank you for selecting state of the art Radia Freestanding
loudspeakers from BG Corp. We have assembled your loudspeakers with the
greatest care and using the finest materials available. This craftsmanship,
combined with our patented planar ribbon technology, delivers sound
unmatched by any conventional loudspeaker.

Radia loudspeakers are ideal for either high performance stereo or home
theater applications. The flagship line from BG is comprised of the 520i Tower,
420i Tower, 220i Center Channel and 210i Active Subwoofer, all offered in
black anodized towers and black textured enclosures.

Models 520i, 420i and 220i feature our famous planar ribbon tweeters, along
with high performance cone woofers, that deliver the amazing clarity, imaging
and musicality that BG has become known for.

CONTENTS:

Page

Introduction and Table of Contents.....….............................2

Important Owner Information………………………..............3

General Information (Radia Series Unpacking)....…...........4

Setup for Optimum Performance ........................................5

Subwoofer Setup……………………………………...............9

Special Assembly Procedures.............................................12

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© BG Corp 2005

Important Owner Information

Read and Follow Instructions – Please read this entire manual before

unpacking and setting up your Radia Freestanding loudspeakers. For
maximum performance and years of trouble-free enjoyment, all operating
and care instructions should be followed.

Retain – DO NOT discard any factory packing material. The packing and

shipping materials may be required in the unlikely event your loudspeakers
need to be moved or shipped to our service center at BG.

Cleaning – Use a wax-free cleaning substance only (i.e. Pledge™) with

a soft, dry polishing cloth, not a paper-based chamois. DO NOT apply any
cleaning solutions to the grill cloth.

Liquid – DO NOT place BG loudspeakers near an open source of liquid

that may spill on the loudspeaker surfaces.

Heat – DO NOT place BG loudspeakers near a direct heat source.

Tipping – BG loudspeakers should be placed on a smooth flat surface

utilizing the enclosed spiked feet in order to ensure that the loudspeaker(s) do
not tip over. A loudspeaker tipping over can pose a hazard for small children
and pets.

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© BG Corp 2005

General Information

Unpacking Your BG Loudspeakers

1. Lay the shipping box down on the floor, ensuring that you have adequate space
to lay the loudspeaker down after removing it from the shipping box. Note: If your
floor is not carpeted, lay a blanket or other suitable soft fabric on the floor to prevent
damage to your loudspeakers.

2. Rotate the box so that the white product label affixed at the factory is on top and
facing up.

3. Pull the top flaps of the shipping box up, taking care not to cut yourself on the staples
used to close the box. Open the other cardboard flaps to expose the loudspeaker
still cradled in it’s protective foam and inside a protective plastic bag. Remove the
foam pieces over the top of the speaker. DO NOT open box ends.

4. Remove the loudspeaker by lifting it straight up and out of the box. Due to their
weight, we recommend that two people work together to remove Models 520i and
420i.

Assembly Instructions: Special assembly instructions can be found in the last
section of this manual.

Proper Hookup: Red terminal post to positive (+) amplifier post
Black terminal post to negative (-) amplifier post
Most BG loudspeakers can be bi-wired or bi-amped by simply removing the gold
plated jumper to allow separate wires to be run to the low and high pass section of
your system.

Break-In Times: Typically a BG loudspeaker requires not less than 48 hours of
operation at moderate sound level before reaching its optimum sound quality. This
improvement may be rather subtle but noticeable for a trained listener.
Note: Do not play your loudspeakers excessively loud to try to accelerate this
process!

Amplifier: BG loudspeakers are extremely accurate and deliver a high degree
of detail and resolution. Therefore a good 100-150 watt per channel amplifier
or receiver will deliver adequate power for typical system and room size. Your
authorized BG dealer can recommend an amplifier best suited to your needs.

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© BG Corp 2005

Optimum Setup

Setting Up Your BG Loudspeakers for Optimum Sound

Home Theater and Stereo Applications

Refer to the diagram on page 7 that depicts a recommended layout for Radia
loudspeakers. This diagram is an overhead view of a typical listening room
with the video screen located at the top of the diagram (the front of the room).
Keep in mind the room is a part of the sound reproduction system and has a
significant effect on the sound you experience, especially at lower frequencies
(see subwoofer setup on page 9).

Locating a loudspeaker close to the wall increases bass output. It may also
increase the boominess of the bass and can artificially alter the loudspeaker’s
tonal balance. We recommend that you spend some time adjusting the
position of the loudspeakers, moving them in and out gradually, to get the
sound you prefer. You may toe the loudspeakers in or out (rotate them around
their vertical axis towards or away from your listening position) to improve
high frequency balance (as indicated by the dashed lines on the diagram). In
general, best results are obtained when the front left and right loudspeakers
have their axis intersecting slightly behind the position of the listener.

The relative location of your listening position to the loudspeakers is important
as well. If possible, do not select a listening position less than three feet (one
meter) from the rear wall of the room. As with adjusting the placement of
your loudspeakers, you can also adjust your listening position to get the most
desirable bass reproduction and high frequency resolution.

The Radia 520i and 420i loudspeakers are dipole devices, which simply
means that sound comes out of the rear of the loudspeaker as well as the
front. For optimum performance they should not be installed inside a cabinet
or alcove.

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© BG Corp 2005

Optimum Setup

Setting Up Your BG Loudspeakers for Optimum Sound

If you plan to use your BG loudspeakers for home theater or multi-channel
audio, here are some additional recommendations.

1. The center channel loudspeaker should be positioned on top of your
television or a shelf directly above or below it. NOTE: The Radia 220i
center channel loudspeaker is magnetically shielded.

2. If you are using a projector, you will need a suitable stand to position
the center channel loudspeaker on the floor in front of the screen or a
bracket above or below the screen. Aim the loudspeaker so it is pointed
at your listening position. The center channel loudspeaker should be
as close as possible to the screen so the voice soundtrack appears to
come from the video image.

Home Theater Applications

The optimum position for all five loudspeakers requires the same distance
from the listening position (i.e. distance A, B and D are equal), see diagram
on opposite page. If it is not possible to get the distances equal, you can
use the delay and level adjustment functions available in most home theater
processors to compensate for the differences in distances.

The diagram shows the optimum placement for the rear loudspeakers. The
subwoofer should be placed beside or behind either the left or right front
loudspeaker. For multiple subwoofers see your authorized BG dealer for
advanced setup procedures.

This manual addresses 5.1 surround sound systems. Where 7.1 or higher
systems are being utilized see your authorized BG dealer for advanced setup
procedures.

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© BG Corp 2005