Bose AM267565 User Manual

Bose

®

Virtually Invisible

®

191 Speakers

May 13, 2003 AM267565_00_V.pdf Bose Corporation

Safety Information

Important words of caution

WARNING: Installation shall be in accordance with the applicable section of the National

Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, and/or the National Fire Alarm Code, ANSI/NFPA 72, as
applicable. The wiring method and compartment shall be such as not to interfere with the
operation of the speaker.

CAUTION: Consult local building codes before you get started with this installation.

Please read this owner’s guide completely before you start. Then carefully consider your
experience with using the tools and taking the precautions referred to here.

CAUTION: Failure to follow the instructions in this owner’s guide voids all warranties on your

speakers.

If you have doubts about doing this installation, you should contact either the dealer you
purchased the product from, an electrician, or a professional audio/video installer. You can
describe the job and request a cost estimate before committing to installation service.

Small check marks call your attention to the tools you’ll need for the next step.

Tips offer ideas to make the job go easier and help you avoid mistakes.

Use these instructions with wood frame or similar construction only

Each speaker requires 8
cm) of vertical space inside the wall or ceiling, plus a minimum of 4
of depth from the face of wallboard that is a maximum of 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick.

Bose recommends installing these speakers only in wood frame or similar construction
where there is enough space between studs, as is found in 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 wall/ceiling
construction. The instructions in this guide are specific to that type of installation only.

Note: These speakers are not designed for installation in masonry walls or ceilings.

1

/

inches (20.5 cm) of horizontal space, and 14 inches (35.6

16

1

/

inches (10.5 cm)

8

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: Loudspeaker

Type designation: Virtually Invisible

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: EN 50081-1, EN 50082-1

Accredited by:

Bose Corporation, The Mountain, Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA

20 February 2003 Nic Merks
Bose Products B.V. Vice President, Europe

Nijverheidstraat 8, 1135 GE Edam Manufacturer’s authorized
The Netherlands EU representative

2

AM267565_01_V.pdf May 13, 2003

®

191 loudspeaker

3

Where to find...

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Steps to Installing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Contents

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

What makes this speaker better also makes it different . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Other equipment you’ll need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Consider which shape you prefer for your speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Considering your wall type and the approach it requires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Accessories that can help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Use special care in cutting through plaster and lath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Installing in a pre-wired room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Installing in an exterior wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Deciding on speaker placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Select the general wall area for one speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Using speaker cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Prepare the cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Planning to run speaker cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Before the wallboard goes up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Where the walls are finished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Before you make any holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Drill a pilot hole for testing the wall space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Using the template for this first step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Drilling the pilot hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Testing the space behind the hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Repairing a pilot hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Passing the pilot hole test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Prepare the wall for inserting the speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Using the template a second time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Cutting the speaker hole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Insert and wire the speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Insert the speaker into the opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Make the speaker connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Test the speaker now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Secure the speaker to the wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

If the speaker looks crooked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

When the grille is finally in place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Choosing to paint the speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Painting the grille . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Painting the frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Customer service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Warranty period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Technical information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

English

Deutsch

Español

Français

Nederlands

For your records

Serial numbers are located on the left side, near the top of each of the Virtually Invisible
speakers.

Serial numbers:______________________________ and __________________________________
Dealer name:_______________________________________________________________________
Dealer phone:_____________________________Purchase date: __________________________
We suggest you keep your sales receipt and warranty card together with this owner’s guide.

AM267565_01_V.pdf May 13, 2003

®

191

Rectangular speaker

frame

Speaker face

Speaker enclosure

Dogleg clamp

screws

Rectangular grille

Speaker frame screws

Dogleg clamps

Introduction

Before you begin...

Figure 1

Size and shape of the
speaker enclosure, as
shipped with the rectangu­lar frame attached

Please be sure to read this guide carefully before you do any cutting. There are many
factors to consider when choosing a location for your speakers.

Thank you for choosing to install Bose

®

Virtually Invisible

®

191 speakers in your room.
Innovative engineering and advanced design enable these speakers to deliver Bose quality
performance for big impact in spite of their small size.

Virtually Invisible
that delivers the type of clear, lifelike sound and even coverage known as Bose Stereo
Everywhere

®

191 speakers feature an Articulated Array

®

speaker performance.

®

speaker configuration

What makes this speaker better also makes it different

When installed, Virtually Invisible
apparent is their advanced enclosure design, shown in Figure 1. It ensures predictably fine
performance wherever the speakers are installed, regar dless of the size and shape of the wall
space. It also helps prevent the speaker sound from invading other rooms, a common prob­lem with installed speakers of more conventional design.

®

191 speakers take up very little wall space. What isn’t

4

AM267565_01_V.pdf May 13, 2003

Unpacking

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Speakers

Rectangular

speaker grilles

Rectangular

template

Round speaker grilles

Round speaker frames

Round

template

Rectangular

paint shield

Round paint shield

Speaker cord**

Sturdy wire

(such as a coat hanger)

that is 22 inches long

Half-inch spade bit

Carpenter’s level*

Phillips-head

screwdriver

Sharp pencil

Keyhole saw****

Protective eyewear

Painter’s tape***

Wire cutter/stripper

Tape measure

*Carpenter’s level is suggested for use when installing speakers in a wall.
**Speaker cord specifications are provided in “Using speaker cord,” beginning on page 11.

***Painter’s tape or other tape with light adhesive that will not damage paint or wallpaper.
****Cutting tool – For drywall: a keyhole saw, drywall saw, rotary cutting tool, or jigsaw

For plaster and lath: a saber saw or a rotary cuttin

g tool

Power drill

Figure 2

Contents of the carton:

• 2 Speakers, rectangular
frames attached

• 2 Rectangular speaker
grilles

• 1 Rectangular paint shield

• 1 Rectangular template

• 2 Round speaker frames

• 2 Round speaker grilles

• 1 Round paint shield

• 1 Round template

Preparation

Carefully unpack the speakers. Save all packing materials, which provide the safest means to
transport your speakers as needed. If any part of the speaker pair appears damaged, do not
use the pair. Notify Bose or your authorized Bose
mation, refer to the address list included in the carton.

Check to be sure the carton includes all the parts shown in Figure 2.

Note: Now is a good time to find the serial numbers on the side of each speaker. Copy those

numbers onto your warranty card and in the “For your records” space on page 3.

®

dealer immediately. For Bose contact infor -

Figure 3

Items required to install the
speakers as instructed

Other equipment you’ll need

Hardware for securing the speaker to a wall or ceiling comes attached to the speaker. But you
will need a variety of other equipment, including tools, to prepare the surface for installing the
speakers (Figure 3).

AM267565_01_V.pdf May 13, 2003

5

Preparation

Wear clothing appropriate for the job, and consider using a drop cloth or other material to
protect the area from debris. How and where you install the speakers will determine your
need for optional equipment.

Optional items:

•A wire snake for running speaker cord behind wallboard

•A sturdy stool or ladder for installing speakers above your head

• Gloves and protection for your mouth, nose, and eyes for working with insulation

Consider which shape you prefer for your speakers

The design of your new Virtually Invisible
or ceiling installation. You also have a choice of a rectangular or round speaker face – the part
that is visible when the speaker is installed. Consider which shape will work best in the loca­tion you choose for the speakers.

If you prefer the round shape, it is easy to remove the rectangular frames and replace them
with the round frames provided in the carton. You can do it now or wait until you know for
sure where each speaker will fit. However, be sure to make that change before you insert
either speaker into the wall or ceiling.

Note: The lip of the speaker frame prevents the speaker from slipping behind the wall and

out of reach. Do not remove the frame while the speaker is in the wall.

®

191 speakers makes them well-suited to either wall

Figure 4

Replacing the rectangular
speaker frame with the
round frame

If you choose the round frames, use the round template provided in the carton. A r ound paint
shield is also supplied, in case you decide to paint the speaker.

Considering your wall type and the approach it requires

For working in a pre-wired room of finished construction with 2 x 4 stud walls covered with
wallboard, refer to “Steps to Installing,” beginning on page 15. These instructions cover
installation of the speakers, with either a rectangular or round grille, in a wall or ceiling.

If your installation is different, use the information below as it applies.

6

AM267565_01_V.pdf May 13, 2003

Preparation

Accessories that can help

For installation in a drop ceiling (where tile is installed below the ceiling joists), Bose offers an

optional Drop Ceiling Kit (Product Code #031355) for two speakers. It protects the tile from
bearing the weight of the speakers. Instructions are included with the kit.

For installation in new construction , Bose offers a Rough-in Kit (Product Code #031353) for

two speakers. It is designed for use after the studs are in place and before the wallboard is
added to reserve a place for the speakers and indicate where the wallboard hole should be
made. It also protects the wallboard by providing additional support for the dogleg clamps
that secure the speaker to the wall. Instructions are included with the kit.

For more information or to order an accessory, contact your Bose
directly, refer to the address list included in the carton.

Use special care in cutting through plaster and lath

For wall construction of plaster and lath , use special care to prevent plaster from cracking:

• After you have drawn an outline of the hole to cut, tape around the outline and use a sharp
blade to make shallow cuts where the hole will be.

• Then, within the outline only, chip the plaster away until you expose the lath underneath.

• Finally, cut through the lath very carefully. Using an electric sabre saw can be quick but
risky. We recommend using a hand saw and proceeding cautiously to avoid damaging the
surrounding plaster.

®

dealer. Or , to contact Bose

Installing in a pre-wired room

An installation is simplest when the room has been pre-wired during construction. In that
case, the builder will have left speaker cord within easy reach of the intended speaker
positions.

How to determine pre-wiring

If you are not sure that you have a pre-wired room, or do not know where the wiring is
located, check the architectural drawings of your room or call the builder.

CAUTION: It is important to know where the pre-wired cord is to prevent damaging it while

drilling or cutting into the wall.

In the ideal situation, after cutting the speaker hole you can simply reach inside to locate the
length of cord the builder has installed.

What to do when the room is not pre-wired

In this case, you will need to run speaker cord from the receiver or amplifier through the wall
to the area you have chosen for installing the speakers.

If you have not done this before, be sure you understand the steps involved before you get
underway. Having a friend who can help with this step is advisable, too.

Information on running speaker cord in new construction is provided in “Before the wallboar d
goes up,” beginning on page 13.

For running speaker cord inside finished walls, refer to “Where the walls are finished,” begin­ning on page 13.

AM267565_01_V.pdf May 13, 2003

7

Preparation

Installing in an exterior wall

If you choose to install these speakers in an exterior wall (abutting the outside of your house),
you will undoubtedly encounter insulation behind the wallboard. This can complicate the
installation, requiring you to trim and push malleable insulation out of the way. You will need
to wear eye protection and gloves for working with fiberglass insulation.

WARNING: If you believe the insulation inside a wall may be composed of asbestos, do not

cut into the wall. Choose a different location for the speakers instead.

Insulation will also impede your use of a pilot hole to test the size of the space behind the
wallboard. Doing such a test is recommended to make sure the space is lar ge enough before
cutting a speaker-sized hole.

Special considerations in cold climate regions

With exterior wall installations in regions where outdoor temperatures dip below freezing for
days at a time, using a humidifier can cause condensation to form inside the speakers. This
can be more of a problem if the speakers are mounted upside down.

If you must mount in an exterior wall:

•Avoid installing the speakers upside down.

• Leave some of the insulation between the speakers and the exterior wall.

• Refrain from setting the humidifier on high, especially when outside temperatures are below
freezing.

Deciding on speaker placement

How and where you use the speakers will also affect your procedure for installing them. Con­sider the options below, then follow the instructions that apply to your choices:

• How you will use the speakers?

– for stereo sound at the front of a room or seating arrangement, or
– as home theater front speakers, or
– as surround sound speakers at the rear of your viewing area

•What surface you will install in?
– a wall or ceiling
– if a wall, will it be an interior (abutting another room) or exterior (abutting the outside

surface) wall
– in finished or new construction
– if finished, is it plaster and lath or wallboard construction

8

AM267565_01_V.pdf May 13, 2003

Figure 5

5´

(1.5m)

View of ceiling from below

Rear of room

Front of room

(b)

Orienting wall speakers for
front home theater use

Preparation

Select the general wall area for one speaker

As you decide where you want each speaker grille, use the guidelines below:

CAUTION: Do not install near any heat sources, such as halogen lamps, registers, stoves, or

other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

• The two speakers should be a minimum of 5 feet (1.5 m) apart.

• For in-wall speakers providing stereo at the front of the room or home theater surround
sound from the rear, install them so each speaker grille is 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) from the
floor for best performance.

• Neither speaker should be installed sideways in a wall; the enclosure should be either
above or below the speaker face.

• For in-wall home theater front speakers, install the pair horizontally aligned with the center
of the video screen (Figure 5).

Figure 6

Orienting ceiling speakers
for the best coverage (a) for
stereo or (b) for home
theater front and surround

• For ceiling installation, pay attention to the direction of the speaker enclosure for best per­formance for stereo (Figure 6a) or for home theater (Figure 6b).

(a)

View of ceiling from below

• Height guidelines for in-wall speakers do not apply to ceiling installations.

AM267565_01_V.pdf May 13, 2003

9

Preparation

• Each speaker enclosure extends into the wall or ceiling , as shown in the gray DO NOT CUT
area on the template (Figure 7), and below the grille. The speaker enclosure can be inserted
either up or down.

Note: In cold climates where a humidifier is used, avoid inserting the speaker upside-down

in an exterior wall to prevent problems with condensation.

Allowing enough room both above and below the hole you draw provides a fallback in case
the area below your pilot hole is not suitable for the speaker enclosure.

Figure 7

Template for either
rectangular-faced (left)
or round-faced (right)
speakers

Figure 8

Cautions against unseen
danger, such as (a) electri­cal wires or (b) plumbing
pipes, behind the wallboard

TAPE

WARNING: Make sure the spot chosen is safe for cutting. Do not cut through

HERE

surfaces that have hazards, such as electrical wiring, conduits or plumbing,
concealed behind them. If you are not sure, consult a professional installer
before you proceed.

WARNING: Make sure the spot chosen is safe for cutting. Do not cut through surfaces that have hazards, such as electrical
wiring, conduits or plumbing, concealed behind them. If you are not sure, consult a professional installer before you proceed.

WARNING: Make sure the spot chosen is safe for

WHITE CUT OUT AREA

drilling. Do not cut through surfaces that have hazards
concealed behind them, such as electrical wiring,
conduits or plumbing. If you are not sure, consult a
professional installer before you proceed.

5 1/2" (14 cm)

WARNING: Make sure the

spot chosen is safe for
drilling. Do not cut through
surfaces that have hazards
concealed behind them,
such as electrical wiring,
conduits or plumbing. If you
are not sure, consult a
professional installer before
you proceed.

WARNING: Make sure the spot chosen is safe

for drilling. Do not cut through surfaces that have
hazards concealed behind them, such as
electrical wiring, conduits or plumbing. If you
are not sure, consult a professional installer
before you proceed.

TAPE
HERE

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

141/2" (36.9 cm)

9" (22.9 cm)

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

TAPE

CUT AROUND

HERE

GRAY AREA

DO NOT

DO NOT

DO NOT

DO NOT

8 1/16" (20.5 cm)

Translations below

WARNING: Make sure the spot chosen is safe for

drilling. Do not cut through surfaces that have hazards
concealed behind them, such as electrical wiring,
conduits or plumbing. If you are not sure, consult a
professional installer before you proceed.

Pilot Hole

English & Translations

WARNING: Make
sure the spot chosen
is safe for drilling. Do
not cut through
surfaces that have
hazards concealed
behind them, such
as electrical wiring,
conduits or
plumbing. If you are
not sure, consult a
professional installer
before you proceed.

WARNING: Make sure the spot

chosen is safe for drilling. Do not cut
through surfaces that have hazards
concealed behind them, such as
electrical wiring, conduits or plumbing.
If you are not sure, consult a
professional installer before you
proceed.

DO NOT

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

DO NOT

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

DO NOT

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

DO NOT

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

TAPE
HERE

WHITE CUT OUT AREA

TAPE
HERE

TAPE

HERE

FOR CUTTING

Large white area

represents what to cut

out for the speaker face.
On the template at right,

small circles outside the

white area indicate

additional holes needed

for the round-faced

speaker only.

NOT FOR CUTTING

Large gray area

represents space to

reserve behind the wall

for the speaker

enclosure.

On the template at right,

small gray tabs also

WARNING: Make sure the spot chosen is safe for cutting.

E

P

Do not cut through surfaces that have hazards, such as

E

A

R

T

E

electrical wiring, conduits or plumbing, concealed behind

H

them. If you are not sure, consult a professional installer
before you proceed.

WARNING: Make sure the spot chosen is safe for
drilling. Do not cut through surfaces that have hazards
concealed behind them, such as electrical wiring,
conduits or plumbing. If you are not sure, consult a
professional installer before you proceed.

WARNING: Make
sure the spot chosen
is safe for drilling. Do
not cut through
surfaces that have
hazards concealed
behind them, such
as electrical wiring,
conduits or
plumbing. If you are
not sure, consult a
professional installer
before you proceed.

DO NOT

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

DO NOT

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

Translations below

Pilot Hole

English & Translations

WARNING: Make sure the spot chosen is safe for
drilling. Do not cut through surfaces that have hazards
concealed behind them, such as electrical wiring,
conduits or plumbing. If you are not sure, consult a
professional installer before you proceed.

CUT AROUND

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

WARNING: Make sure the spot chosen is safe for cutting. Do not cut through surfaces that have hazards, such as electrical
wiring, conduits or plumbing, concealed behind them. If you are not sure, consult a professional installer before you proceed.

WHITE CUT OUT AREA

WARNING: Make sure the spot
chosen is safe for drilling. Do not cut
through surfaces that have hazards
concealed behind them, such as
electrical wiring, conduits or plumbing.
If you are not sure, consult a
professional installer before you
proceed.

TAPE
HERE

DO NOT

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

DO NOT

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

TAPE
HERE

WARNING: Make
sure the spot chosen
is safe for drilling. Do
not cut through
surfaces that have
hazards concealed
behind them, such
as electrical wiring,
conduits or
plumbing. If you are
not sure, consult a
professional installer
before you proceed.

WARNING: Make sure the spot
chosen is safe for drilling. Do not cut
through surfaces that have hazards
concealed behind them, such as
electrical wiring, conduits or plumbing.
If you are not sure, consult a
professional installer before you
proceed.

DO NOT

GRAY AREA

DO NOT

TAPE

HERE

DO NOT

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

DO NOT

CUT AROUND

GRAY AREA

TAPE
HERE

WHITE CUT OUT AREA

TAPE
HERE

indicate where not to cut.

CAUTION: When installed, the speaker enclosure cannot be seen behind the wall or ceiling.

Do not attempt to nail, cut, or drill on that surface area. Puncturing the speaker enclosure with
a tool will seriously damage the speaker.

• All electrical wiring, vents, and plumbing pipes located inside the walls must be avoided
(Figure 8). Check with a trained professional if you need instructions on how to locate and
avoid them.

(a)

(b)

10

• Use of a stud finder can help ensure that the speaker hole is at least 4

3

/

" (12 cm) from a

4

stud or joist.

• The selected location should be at the height you want for both speakers and where you
can maintain the minimum distance of 5 feet (1.5 m) between them.

Keeping in mind the guidelines given:

1. Decide where the first speaker will go.

2. Select the location for the second speaker.

3. Use the provided template for drawing both a pilot hole and the speaker-face outline.

AM267565_01_V.pdf May 13, 2003

Using speaker cord

Before you cut any cord, estimate how much will be needed for each speaker.
To do so, measure the distance from the receiver/amplifier to where each speaker will be

installed. Make some allowance if the cord must go around corners or through walls, and
leave at least 14 inches (36 cm) of cord to pull from the wall for making the connections easily.

Note: If you are installing ceiling speakers, allowing extra cord will give you the freedom to

stand on the floor while making the connections.

Be sure to use the proper gauge (thickness) of speaker cord, determined by the length of
each piece.

Wire recommendations

Based on a maximum frequency response deviation of ±0.5 dB

Gauge Maximum Length

18 AWG (0.82 mm2)
16 AWG (1.3 mm
14 AWG (2.1 mm

20 ft (6 m)

2

)

30 ft (9 m)

2

)

50 ft (15 m)

Preparation

CAUTION: Before running speaker cord through a wall or under a floor, check your local

building code requirements and safety regulations. If necessary, contact an A/V installer or
electrician for this information.

Prepare the cord

You will need a wire cutter and wire stripper for this work.
Speaker cord consists of two insulated wires. The insulation around one wire is marked

(striped, collared, or ribbed) to identify it as positive. The other wire is negative. It is important
to connect each wire to the proper terminal, positive to positive (+) and negative to
negative (–).

Note: It is sometimes difficult to distinguish wire markings. Inspect both wires carefully.
At the ends of each cord:

• Strip approximately 1⁄

• Twist the bare end of each wire so loose strands will not touch across terminals.

Planning to run speaker cord

The techniques for running cord differ according to the condition of the walls you ar e working
with: new, unfinished construction or finished construction with the walls completed.

In either construction type, you need to mount an open-backed junction box in the wall near
the receiver or amplifier for cord coming out of the wall (Figure 9).

Figure 9

An open-backed junction
box that allows for cord
coming through the wall
near the receiver or
amplifier

inch (13 mm) of insulation from both wires.

2

AM267565_01_V.pdf May 13, 2003

11