Bose Companion 3 User Manual

The Bose® Companion® 3 Multimedia Speaker System

Owner’s Guide

AM271883_00_V.pdf August 18, 2003

Safety Information

VIS

ATTENTION : POUR RÉDUIRE LE RISQUE DE DÉCHARGE

ÉLECTRIQUE, NE PAS RETIRER LE COUVERCLE (OU

L’ARRIÈRE). IL NE SE TROUVE À L’INTÉRIEUR AUCUNE

PIÈCE POUVANT ÊTRE RÉPARÉE PAR L’USAGER.

S’ADRESSER À UN RÉPARATEUR COMPÉTENT

,

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this system to rain or
moisture. The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing, and objects filled with
liquids, such as vases, shall not be placed on the apparatus.

CAUTION

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK

RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,

DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).

DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).

NO USER-SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE.

NO USER-SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE.

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

DO NOT OPEN

DO NOT OPEN

RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE

These CAUTION marks are located on the rear panel of the Acoustimass

AVIS

NE PAS OUVRIR

®

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, a s marked on the syst em, is intende d to
alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance instruction in this
owner’s guide.

CAUTION: To prevent electric shock, match wide blade of plug to wide slot, insert fully.
Please read this owner’s guide

Please take the time to read and 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.

CAUTION: Do not place computer monitors, floppy disks, hard drives, or other magnetic
media within 6 inches of the Acoustimass module. The magnetic field produced by this module
can erase magnetic media and interfere with the monitor.

©2003 Bose Corporation. No part of this work may be reproduced, modified, distributed or otherwise

used without prior written permission.

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AM271883_00_V.pdf August 18, 2003

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 wat er 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

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in

8. Do not install near any heat sources, s uch as radia-

9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized

10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or

11. Only use attachment s/access ories specified by the

12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod,

13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or

®

Bose

Corporation. Unplug this product from the wall

outlet before cleaning.

accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions –
To ensure reliable operation of the product and to pro­tect it from overheating, put th e 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.

tors, heat registers, stoves or other apparatus
(including amplifiers) that produce heat.

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

pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience recep­tacles, and the point where the y exit from the appa­ratus.

manufacturer.

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

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 appara tus has bee n
damaged in any way: such as power-supply 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 over-

loading 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 bottom for safety related
markings.

Information about products that
generate electrical noise

If applicable, this equipment has been tested an d found t o
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 pr otec tion against harmf ul interfer ence
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 technician

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.

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2a

Important Safety Instructions

18. Use Proper Power Sources – Plug the pr o duct 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 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 ex ternal
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 pr oper gr ounding. In part icular,
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.

2b

AM271883_00_V.pdf August 18, 2003

Contents

F

Your Companion® 3 multimedia speaker system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

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

Selecting a location for your Companion 3 multimedia speaker system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Positioning the Acoustimass

Positioning the satellite speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

If placing your speakers on the desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

If mounting speakers on your monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Making connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

To connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

To make the final connection and power the system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Additional Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

To connect an additional sound source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

To connect headphones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Operating the Companion 3 multimedia speaker system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Turning your speaker system on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Adjusting the sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Maintaining the Companion 3 multimedia speaker system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Cleaning the system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Warranty period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Technical Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Driver complement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Power rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Finish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

®

module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

or your records

Serial numbers are located on the back of the Acoustimass module.
Serial number: __________________________________ and ____________________________________________
Dealer name: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Dealer phone: ___________________________________________________________________________________
We suggest you keep your sales slip together with this owner’s guide.

Note: Now would be a good time to register your product online at www.bose.com/register.

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AM271883_00_V.pdf August 18, 2003