The Bose® Acoustimass® 3 Series IV Speaker System
Owner’ s Guide
Safety Information
Thank you
We appreciate your choice of the Bose® Acoustimass® 3 speaker system. It will provide you
with many years of listening enjoyment. Your system features new third generation
Acoustimass cube speakers, 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.
Please read this owner’ s guide
The setup and operation of your Acoustimass 3 speaker system is significantly different from
other speakers. Please take the time to read this owner’s guide carefully. It will help you set
up and operate your system properly and enjoy all of its features. Remember to save your
owner’s guide for future reference.
Declaration
of Conformity
We, the offerer:
Bose® Corporation, The Mountain
Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA
acknowledge our sole responsibility, that the product:
Kind of equipment: Loudspeakers
Type designation: Acoustimass® 3
Speaker System
in accordance with EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and Article 10(1) of the Directive,
is in compliance with the following norm(s) or document(s):
Technical regulations: EN50081-1, EN50082-1
Accredited by Bose Corporation
5 June 1999
Bose Products B.V., Nic Merks
Nijverheidstraat 8, 1135 GE Edam, Vice President, Bose Europe
The Netherlands Manufacturer’s authorized EU representative
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Contents
Where to find …
Setting Up Your Acoustimass® 3 Speaker System...................................................................4
Before you begin.................................................................................................................4
Unpacking the system ........................................................................................................4
Selecting locations for the cube speakers..........................................................................4
Selecting a location for the Acoustimass module ............................................................. 5
Using the cables correctly ..................................................................................................5
Connecting the cube speakers to the Acoustimass module ............................................. 6
Connecting the Acoustimass module to your receiver or amplifier....................................6
Checking your connections ................................................................................................7
Operating Your Acoustimass Speaker System.........................................................................8
Checking the system ......................................................................................................... 8
Understanding automatic system protection......................................................................8
Maintaining Your Acoustimass Speaker System ......................................................................9
Cleaning your speakers ......................................................................................................9
Troubleshooting ..................................................................................................................9
Technical information ........................................................................................................10
Warranty period ................................................................................................................10
Customer service ..............................................................................................................10
®
Bose
Corporation......................................................................................... Inside back cover
English
Dansk
Deutsch
Español
For your records
Serial numbers are located on the connection panel of the Acoustimass module.
Serial number: _________________________________________________________________
Dealer name: __________________________________________________________________
Français
Italiano
Nederlands
Svenska
Dealer phone:_______________________ Purchase date: ___________________________
We suggest you keep your sales slip and warranty card together with this owner’s guide.
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Setting Up Y our Acoustimass® 3 Speaker System
Before you begin
Thank you for purchasing the Bose® Acoustimass® 3 speaker system. Its quality construction
and advanced technologies result from years of ongoing research at Bose.
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Bose patented Acoustimass speaker technology delivers full, natural audio performance and,
for all of the sound it produces, this Virtually Invisible
tiny cube speakers fit almost anywhere, while the Acoustimass module is designed to be
hidden behind drapes, under furniture, or in the corner of the room.
Unpacking the system
Unpack the system carefully. Avoid setting the module down on its connection panel, which
could scratch a surface. (Save the carton and packing materials in case you ever want to ship
the system.) If any parts appear damaged, do not attempt to use the system. Repack all parts
in the original carton and notify your authorized Bose dealer immediately.
Figure 1
What the carton contains
Acoustimass module
®
system takes up very little space. The
Two cube speakers
Four (4) adhesive-backed
Four (4) speaker cables, 20 feet long
Selecting locations for the cube speakers
You can place the cube speakers anywhere from 3 to 15 feet (0.9 - 4.6 m) apart. For the most
natural sound in average sized rooms, place them 6 to 12 feet (1.8 - 3.7 m) apart. Magnetic
shielding allows you to place them close to a video screen without causing interference.
Bose mounting accessories, including wall/ceiling mounting brackets, floor stands, and table
stands, add to your choice of where to place the cube speakers. For more information or to
order accessories, contact your Bose dealer or call Bose Customer Service directly. Refer to
the list of phone numbers inside the back cover.
rubber feet
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Setting Up Y our Acoustimass® 3 Speaker System
Selecting a location for the Acoustimass® module
The Acoustimass module can be hidden almost anywhere in a room. Leave at least 2 inches
(5 cm) of space between the opening (port) and the wall. To prevent interference, keep the
module at least 2 feet (0.6 m) from any video screen.
For a balanced sound in most rooms, place the module along a wall within 5 feet (1.5 m) of the
corner . To increase bass response, move the module closer to a corner without blocking the
opening. To decrease the bass, place the module farther from the corner.
Note:
When you decide how you will position the module, attach the rubber feet to the
bottom surface to protect the module and the floor.
Figure 2
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Choices on how to position the
module
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Using the cables correctly
Use the supplied cables to connect the cube speakers to the module and the module to your
amplifier or receiver.
CAUTION:
before making the connections.
To place these components more than 20 feet (6.2 - 9.2 m) apart, you will need to splice in a
length of 18-gauge speaker cable. To place them more than 30 feet (9.2 m) apart, you will
need heavier gauge wire. (See the wire recommendations on page 10.) You can get additional
speaker cable at electrical and hardware stor es or by calling Bose Customer Service. (See
the list of phone numbers inside the back cover.)
Speaker cables consist of two insulated wires. The insulation around one wire is marked with
a band or stripe. This marked wire is always positive (+). The plain wire is always negative (–).
These correspond to the red (+) and black (–) terminals on the back of the speaker, amplifier,
or receiver. Be sure to connect each wire to the proper terminal (positive to positive, negative
to negative).
Be sure all components are turned off and unplugged from the power outlet
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–L+
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5
Setting Up Y our Acoustimass® 3 Speaker System
Connecting the cube speakers to the Acoustimass® module
Use the following steps to connect the cube speakers to the rear panel of the Acoustimass
module:
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Figure 3
Connecting the speaker cable
to the cube speaker
1. Select one pair of wires, and locate the terminal tab on the rear of the left cube speaker.
2. Press the terminal tab on the back of the speaker and insert the marked wire into the red
(+) terminal and the plain wire into the black (–) terminal (Figure 3).
3. Release the terminal tab to secure both wires.
4. Repeat this process with the other pair of wires and the right cube speaker.
CAUTION:
speakers must be connected directly to the Acoustimass module or damage will result.
5. Locate the terminals marked OUTPUTS TO CUBE SPEAKERS on the rear panel of the
Acoustimass module (Figure 4).
6. Connect the free end of the left cube speaker cable to the left (L) pair of terminals. Make
sure that the marked wire is connected to the positive (+) terminal and the plain wire is
connected to the negative (–) terminal.
7. Repeat step 6 for the right cube speaker cable, connecting its wires to the right (R) pair of
terminals.
Do not connect your amplifier or receiver directly to the cube speakers. Cube
Connecting the Acoustimass module to your receiver or amplifier
Use the following steps to connect your Acoustimass module to your receiver or amplifier:
CAUTION:
and could potentially damage the system.
1. Locate the terminals marked INPUTS FROM AMP OR RECEIVER on the rear panel of the
Acoustimass module (Figure 4).
2. Connect either end of one of the remaining speaker cables to the left (L) pair of input
terminals. Make sure that the marked wire is connected to the positive (+) terminal and the
plain wire is connected to the negative (–) terminal.
3. Connect either end of the final speaker cable to the right (R) pair of input terminals. Make
sure that the marked wire is connected to the positive (+) terminal and the plain wire is
connected to the negative (–) terminal.
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Correct wiring is important. Incorrect wiring will result in little or no bass output
Setting Up Y our Acoustimass® 3 Speaker System
Figure 4
Completed connections
4. Connect the free end of the left (L) INPUTS cable to the LEFT speaker terminals of your
amplifier or receiver. Connect the marked wire to the positive (+) terminal and the plain
wire to the negative (–) terminal.
5. Connect the free end of the right (R) INPUTS cable to the RIGHT speaker terminals of your
amplifier or receiver. Connect the marked wire to the positive (+) terminal and the plain
wire to the negative (–) terminal.
CAUTION:
Before you plug in your receiver or amplifier, make sure that no strands of wire
from any terminal are brushing against any other terminal. Such “bridged” wires create short
circuits which can damage your receiver or amplifier.
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–R+
Checking your connections
To avoid damaging your speakers, check all connections and correct any problems before
plugging in and turning on the amplifier or receiver. Make sure the cube speakers are connected to the module and not directly to the amplifier or receiver.
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Operating Y our Acoustimass® Speaker System
Checking the system
Make sure your system is working properly by following these steps:
1. Turn on your amplifier or receiver.
English
2. Turn the balance control on your amplifier all the way to the left. You should hear music
from the left cube speaker only, although you may detect a faint sound from the other
cube speaker. You should also hear the module.
3. Turn the balance control all the way to the right. Now you should hear music from the right
cube speaker only, although you may also hear a faint sound from the left cube speaker.
You should also hear the module.
4. Now play music that includes some deep bass passages. Listen with the balance control
in the center position. Compare that sound to what you hear with the balance control in
the far left position. Then compare the sound in the center balance position with sound
when the control is in the right position. The bass should be the same or louder with the
control in the center. Be sure to return the balance control to the center position when you
are finished.
If your system does not respond as described, check all the wires for proper positive to
positive and negative to negative connections. If your system still doesn’t respond pr operly,
see “Troubleshooting” on page 9.
Understanding automatic system protection
When played at high volume, the Acoustimass® 3 system’s automatic protection circuit
activates to prevent damage to the system from electrical stress or overload. When this
happens, you may notice a slight decrease in volume, which is normal. It indicates that the
power input may have exceeded safe levels. Setting the volume at or above this level for
sustained periods is not recommended.
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Maintaining Y our Acoustimass® Speaker System
Cleaning your speakers
Clean the cabinets of your Acoustimass® 3 system using a damp cloth. If necessary, use a
mild detergent such as dish soap. Do not use any solvents, chemicals, or cleaning solutions
containing alcohol, ammonia, or abrasives. Do not allow liquids to spill through the speaker
grilles or enter the Acoustimass module.
You can vacuum the speaker grilles. To avoid damaging the drivers located directly behind
the grille cloth, use light pressure only.
Troubleshooting
If you have a problem with your Acoustimass 3 speaker system, turn off the amplifier or
receiver and check all the connections between the cube speakers, the module, and amplifier
or receiver. Since problems are likely to originate with components other than speakers, you
may want to refer to your amplifier or receiver owner’s guide.
Problem What to do
The left cube speaker does • Disconnect both speaker cables from the amplifier or receiver. Reconnect the cable from
not play or sounds distorted. the bass module’s L INPUTS to the amplifier or receiver’s RIGHT speaker terminals.
Set the amplifier or receiver’s balance control all the way to the right and turn on the power.
• If the left cube speaker now plays properly, your amplifier or receiver’s left speaker channel
is probably defective.
CAUTION:
channel is defective, it could damage your Acoustimass 3 system.
DO NOT connect the other cube speaker to the channel in question. If the
English
The right cube speaker does • Follow the above steps, reconnecting the cable from the module’s R INPUTS to the
not play or sounds distorted. amplifier or receiver’s LEFT speaker terminals.
The entire Acoustimass 3 • Disconnect the amplifier or receiver from the bass module. Reconnect the module to
system does not play or another amplifier or receiver that is working properly.
sounds distorted. • If the system now works, the problem is in your amplifier or receiver. Refer to your receiver
or amplifier owner’s guide for further suggestions.
• If trouble persists in your Acoustimass 3 speaker system, contact your authorized Bose
dealer who will verify any defects and arrange for service by an authorized agency or by the
Bose factory. Bose will make every effort to remedy any problem within the terms of the
warranty at minimum inconvenience to you.
®
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Maintaining Y our Acoustimass® 3 Speaker System
Technical information
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Features
Virtually Invisible® speaker design
Acoustimass® speaker technology
Identical magnetically shielded cube speakers
Syncom® computer quality control
Automatic system protection circuitry
Driver Complement
Acoustimass module: One 5.25" (13.3 cm) dual voice coil low-frequency driver
Cube speakers: One 2.5" (6.4 cm) magnetically shielded wide-range driver per cube
Compatibility
Compatible with receivers or amplifiers rated from 4 – 8 ohms
Compatible with receivers or amplifiers rated from 10 – 100 watts per channel
IEC rating: 50 watts per channel
Finish
Acoustimass module: Scratch-resistant black or white satin finish
Cube speakers: Black or white polymer finish, cloth grilles
Warranty period
Customer service
Wire Recommendations
Based on maximum frequency response deviation of ±0.5 dB.
Gauge Length
18 (0.75 mm2) 30 ft (9 m) maximum
16 (1.5 mm2) 45 ft (14 m) maximum
14 (2.0 mm2) 70 ft (21 m) maximum
Size/Weight
Acoustimass module: 7.5"W x 14"H x 12.6"D (18.4 x 35.6 x 32.0 cm)
Cube speaker: 3.1"H x 3.1"W x 3.2"D (7.9 x 7.9 x 8.1 cm)
Total shipping weight: 16.5 lb (7.1 kg) in shipping carton
The Bose® Acoustimass 3 speaker system is covered by a limited five-year transferable
warranty. Details of the coverage are provided on the warranty card that came with your
speakers. Please fill out the information section on that card, detach, and mail it to Bose.
For help in ordering accessories or solving problems, contact Bose Customer Service. See
the inside of the back cover for offices and phone numbers.
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English
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Bose® Corporation
USA
Bose Corporation, The Mountain
Framingham, MA 01701-9168
1-800-367-4008
Phone hours - ET (eastern time):
Weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Canada
Bose Ltd., 1-35 East Beaver Creek Road
Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 1B3
1-800-465-2673
Phone hours - ET (eastern time):
Weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
European Office
Bose Products B.V., Nijverheidstraat 8
1135 GE Edam, Nederland
TEL 0299-390111 FAX 0299-390114
Australia
Bose Pty Limited, 1 Sorrell Street
Parramatta NSW, 2150
TEL 02 9204-6111 FAX 02 9204-6122
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TEL 012-390800 FAX 012-390840
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Sverige
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Gillingham, Kent ME8 ONJ
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From other locations
Bose Customer Service, 1 New York Ave.
Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA
TEL (508) 766-1900 FAX (508) 766-1919
World Wide W eb
www.bose.com
©2004 Bose Corporation
The Mountain, Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA
252171 AM Rev.02
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