Bose Acoustimass User Manual

The Bose® Acoustimass® 15 Home Theater Speaker

System

Owner’s Guide

October 22, 2001

AM194452_06_V.pdf

Introduction

Thank you

We appreciate your choice of the Bose® Acoustimass® 15 home theater speaker system. With
these Virtually Invisible® speakers you will surround yourself with realistic sound, with a
minimal amount of equipment. Your system features new third generation Acoustimass cube
speaker arrays, a product of the continuous research and development at Bose Corporation.
These cube speakers deliver more lifelike sound and better overall performance, yet are
smaller than their predecessors.

Your speaker system is completely compatible with the most modern home theater receivers
and program material. Bose proprietary Integrated Signal Processing and dedicated bass
amplification assure hi-fidelity and bass for all channels regardless of your home theater
receiver’s settings.

Important Information

WARNING:

To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose the Powered Acousti-

mass module to rain or moisture.

CAUTION:

To prevent electric shock, match wide blade of plug to wide slot, insert fully.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,

DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).

NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

These CAUTION marks are located on the Acoustimass module:

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the
user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the system enclosure that may
be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle, as marked on the system, is intended to
alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance instructions in this
owner’s guide.

Additional safety information

See the additional instructions on the Important Safety Information page enclosed with this
owner’s guide.

Please read this owner’s guide

Please take the time to follow this owner’s guide carefully. It will help you set up and operate
your system properly, and enjoy all of its advanced features. Save your owner’s guide for
future reference.

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Important Safety Instructions

1. Read these instructions – for all components
before using this product.

2. Keep these instructions – for future reference.

3. Heed all warnings – on the product and in the

owner’s guide.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water or
moisture – Do not use this product near a

bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a
wet basement, near a swimming pool, or any­where else that water or moisture are present.

6. Clean only with a dry cloth – and as directed
by Bose® Corporation. Unplug this product from
the wall outlet before cleaning.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings.
Install in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions – To ensure

reliable operation of the product and to protect it
from overheating, put the product in a position
and location that will not interfere with its proper
ventilation. For example, do not place the product
on a bed, sofa, or similar surface that may block
the ventilation openings. Do not put it in a built-in
system, such as a bookcase or a cabinet that may
keep air from flowing through its ventilation
openings.

8. Do not install near any heat sources, such
as radiators, heat registers, stoves or other
apparatus (including amplifiers) that pro­duce heat.

9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the
polarized or grounding-type plug. A polar­ized plug has two blades with one wider
than the other. A grounding-type plug has
two blades and a third grounding prong. The
wider blade or third prong are provided for
your safety. If the provided plug does not fit
in your outlet, consult an electrician for
replacement of the obsolete outlet.

10. Protect the power cord from being walked
on or pinched, particularly at plugs, conve­nience receptacles, and the point where
they exit from the apparatus.

11. Only use attachments/accessories speci­fied by the manufacturer.

12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod,
bracket or table specified by the
manufacturer or sold with the
apparatus. When a cart is used,
use caution when moving the
cart/apparatus combination to
avoid injury from tip-over.

13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning
storms or when unused for long periods of
time – to prevent damage to this product.

14. Refer all servicing to qualified service person­nel. Servicing is required when the apparatus
has been damaged in any way: such as power­supply cord or plug is damaged; liquid has
been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus; the apparatus has been exposed to
rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or
has been dropped – Do not attempt to service this

product yourself. Opening or removing covers may
expose you to dangerous voltages or other hazards.
Please call Bose to be referred to an authorized
service center near you.

15. To prevent risk of fire or electric shock, avoid
overloading wall outlets, extension cords, or
integral convenience receptacles.

16. Do not let objects or liquids enter the product –

as they may touch dangerous voltage points or
short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric
shock.

17. See product enclosure for safety related
markings.

Information about products that
generate electrical noise

If applicable, this equipment has been tested and found
to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accor­dance with the instructions, may cause harmful interfer­ence to radio communications. However, this is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interfer­ence to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, you are
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and

receiver.

• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a different

circuit than the one to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV techni-

cian for help.

Note:

Unauthorized modification of the receiver or radio
remote control could void the user’s authority to operate
this equipment.

This product complies with the Canadian ICES-003 Class
B specifications.

AM251174_03_V.pdf October 22, 2001 a

Important Safety Instructions

18. Use proper power sources – Plug the product into
a proper power source, as described in the operating
instructions or as marked on the product.

19. Avoid power lines – Use extreme care when

English

installing an outside antenna system to keep from
touching power lines or circuits, as contact with
them may be fatal. Do not install external antennas
near overhead power lines or other electric light or
power circuits, nor where an antenna can fall into
such circuits or power lines.

20. Ground all outdoor antennas – If an external
antenna or cable system is connected to this
product, be sure the antenna or cable system is
grounded. This will provide some protection against
voltage surges and built-up static charges.

Section 810 of the National Electrical Code ANSI/
NFPA No. 70 provides information with respect to
proper grounding of the mast and supporting
structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna
discharge unit, size of grounding conductors,
location of antenna-discharge unit, connection to
grounding electrodes, and requirements for the
ground electrode. Refer to the antenna grounding
illustration on this page.

Antenna grounding

Example of antenna grounding as per National Electrical
Code, ANSI/NFPA 70.

Antenna lead in wire

Ground clamp

Electric service

equipment

Ground clamps
Power service grounding

electrode system

(NEC ART 250, Part H)

Antenna discharge unit

(NEC Section 810-20)

Grounding conductors

(NEC Section 810-21)

Note to CATV system installer

This reminder is provided to call the CATV system
installer’s attention to Article 820-40 of the NEC (of USA)
that provides guidelines for proper grounding. In particu­lar, it specifies that the cable ground shall be connected
to the grounding system of the building, as close to the
point of cable entry as is practical.

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Where to find...

Contents

Introduction

Thank you ..................................................................................................................... 2

Important Information ................................................................................................... 2

Contents

Where to find ................................................................................................................ 3

For your records ........................................................................................................... 3

Setting Up

Before you begin ........................................................................................................... 4

Unpack the carton ........................................................................................................ 4

Placing your speakers to achieve realistic home theater sound .................................. 5

Center cube speaker ........................................................................................... 5

Left and right front cube speakers ...................................................................... 6

Surround cube speakers ..................................................................................... 6

Powered Acoustimass® module .......................................................................... 6

Connect the speakers ................................................................................................... 7

Connect the Powered Acoustimass module to the center

and front cube arrays ................................................................................... 7

Connect the Powered Acoustimass module to the surround cube arrays ......... 8

Connect the Powered Acoustimass module to the receiver ............................... 8

Check the connections ................................................................................................. 9

Plug in the Powered Acoustimass Module ......................................................... 9

Using Your Acoustimass 15 speakers

For realistic home theater sound ................................................................................ 10

LFE level control ................................................................................................ 10

Bass control ...................................................................................................... 10

Setting your Dolby Pro-Logic receiver .............................................................. 10

Setting your Dolby Digital receiver .................................................................... 10

Be sure to get the Dolby Digital signal .............................................................. 11

Maintaining Your Acoustimass 15 speakers

Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................... 12

Customer service ........................................................................................................ 12

Cleaning the speakers ................................................................................................ 12

Product Information

Technical information.................................................................................................. 13

Warranty period .......................................................................................................... 13

Accessories................................................................................................................. 13

®

Bose

Corporation ....................................................................................inside back cover

Español

Français

For your records

Serial numbers are located on the connection panel of the Powered Acoustimass module.

Serial number: _________________________________________________________________

Dealer name: __________________________________________________________________

Dealer phone: _______________________ Purchase date: ___________________________

We suggest you keep your sales slip and warranty card together with this owner’s guide.

AM194452_06_V.pdf October 22, 2001 3

Setting Up

Before you begin

Bose® Virtually Invisible® speaker technology allows you to enjoy lifelike home performances
from the very latest surround-sound encoded movies, CDs, and television shows, without a
room full of speakers. Each of the five cube speaker arrays, along with the Powered Acousti­mass® module, reproduces the full-spectrum of sound from multi-channel digital program­ming. Integrated Signal Processing assures full bass performance from all channels, at all
listening levels, regardless of your receiver settings.

Your stereo VCR, stereo television, or DVD player sends the encoded program material to the
surround-sound receiver, which interprets and distributes the information to the Powered
Acoustimass module. The module delivers the bass for all channels and sends appropriate
sounds to each cube array. The sound mix varies with different program types: dialogue is
usually sent to the center speaker, a visual soundstage is created by the left and right front
speakers, and you feel in the center of the action because sounds and special effects are
directed to the surround (rear) speakers. At any point in a surround-sound performance, you

may hear sound from one, a few, or all of the speakers.

To select surround-encoded program material, look for any of the terms Surround, Dolby
Surround, the double-D symbol

*, other digital formats, or the word “sur­round” preceding a TV broadcast. Your system is fully compatible with the latest home
theater receivers. You can also enjoy a wide variety of stereo programming that is not sur­round-encoded with your Acoustimass 15 speakers.

Unpack the carton

Figure 1

What comes in the carton:

• Powered Acoustimass module

cube speaker arrays

• Five

• 20' (6 m) system input cable

• Three 20' (6 m) front speaker

output cables

• Two 50' (15 m) rear speaker
output cables

• 4 large, 4 small rubber feet

• Owner’s Guide

• Quick set up guide

• Module power cord

• Remove any staples from the opened carton flaps.

• Remove the brown inner carton containing the five cube speaker arrays.

• Gently roll the carton over onto its side and then onto its opening.

• Slowly lift the carton from around the Powered Acoustimass module’s packing cushions.

• Do not detach the removable cables connected to the Powered Acoustimass module.

• If the speakers or the module appear damaged, do not use them. Repack everything in

the original carton and contact your authorized Bose dealer immediately.

Note:

Now is a good time to record the serial number of these speakers on page 2 of this

guide and on your warranty card. Please save all packing materials for possible future use.

WARNING:

The Powered Acoustimass module weighs 33 pounds (15 kg). Use good lifting

practice to avoid injury.

WARNING:

To avoid danger of suffocation, keep the plastic bags that wrap these speakers

out of the reach of children.

USA

Europe

UK/Singapore

Australia

* Dolby, Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro-Logic, and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing
Corporation.

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