Boston Acoustics PRI665, PRI685, PRI85SUB User Manual

PRi665

PRi685 PRi85Sub

Professional In-Ceiling Speaker System

Speciﬁcations PRi665 PRi685 PRi85Sub

Frequency Response (±3dB) 60Hz–18kHz 55Hz–18kHz 38Hz–150Hz

Audio Input Range 20Hz–20kHz 20Hz–20kHz 20Hz–20kHz

Max Power 90 watts 100 watts 100 watts

Nominal Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms 4 ohms

Switch Settings

none none DirX - To Crossover

(normal full range operation)

Dir - To Woofer

(use for separate Sub Amp only)

Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1M) 88dB 89dB 88dB

Bass Unit 6” (153mm) 8” (204mm) 8” (204mm)

Tweeter

⁄4” (20mm) soft dome 1” (25mm) soft dome NA

Crossover Frequency 3,600Hz 3,500Hz 130Hz (Except Dir)

Grille Frame Diameter

Mounting Hole Cutout

Mounting Depth

(with 1/2” dry wall) 9

113⁄8” (289mm) 133⁄4” (350mm) 133⁄4” (350mm)

915⁄16” (253mm) 123⁄8” (314mm) 123⁄8” (314mm)

⁄8” (239mm) 113⁄4” (299mm) 113⁄4” (299mm)

Weight 11 lbs (5.0kg) 19 lbs (8.6kg) 18 lbs (8.2kg)

Maximum Ceiling Height 18’ (5.5m)

22’ (6.7m) 22’ (6.7m)

Description

Thank you for purchasing the PRi series speakers for your audio system. These speakers incorporate high quality components that produce the famous Boston sound. They are housed in a metal enclosure that makes them easy to install and meets the stringent requirements of electrical codes throughout the country for plenum rated enclosures. Such enclosures are often required by building codes in commercial applications and residential applications such as town homes or condominiums.

The bass drivers in the PRi models have a DCD™ mica-ﬁlled copolymer cone with a butyl rubber surround. An integrated, forward-facing tuned port extends bass response. The soft dome tweeters of the PRi665 and PRi685 have a pivoting mount. Insulation inside the enclosures helps control resonances and improves room-to-room isolation.

Additional Key Features

• The PRi speakers meet the following agency requirements: UL1480 Listed UL2043 Testing Standard NFPA70 UL94-V0 (all plastic materials)

• Moisture resistant design with rust-resistant hardware.

• All parts are UV resistant.

• Built-in cable clamp with an opening for industry standard conduit clamps.

• 4-pin, 2-piece Molex connector for easy connection and daisy chaining of speaker wires.

• Safety wire attachment tab.

About Installation

PRi685 / PRi85Sub PRi665

/16"

229mm

/8"

314mm

/8"

365mm

/16"

280mm

NOTE: This manual assumes the installer possesses skill in the proper use of hand and power tools, knowledge of local building and ﬁre codes, and a familiarity with the environment behind the wall or ceiling in which the speakers will be installed.

Read this manual completely before beginning the installation. Have a plan for each step of the entire installa

tion. If you have any doubts about how to proceed, consult a professional installer. Please keep your manual in a safe place in case you need to refer to it later.

The grille and frame of the PRi speaker can be painted to match its surroundings. If you plan to paint your speakers, see the information in the “Painting the PRi Speakers” section at the end of this manual.

WARNING: Always turn off the ampliﬁer or receiver when connecting speakers or any other components to the system.

Speaker Installation Locations

When selecting installation locations you must take into account both mechanical and acoustical factors. The pivoting tweeter of the PRi665 and PRi685 helps them produce excellent sound even when they are installed in less than ideal locations.

The mechanical factors have to do with the structural parts inside the ceiling. If you are installing the speakers in new construction it is easy to take this into account. Simply select the installation locations before the wall board goes up. In retroﬁt installation things are more complicated. First, you must know the locations of the ceiling rafters to be sure the installation location is between them. An electronic stud ﬁnder can help locate the ceiling rafters. You must also know the depth of the rafters to be sure there is enough room above the ceiling for the speakers.

The locations of heating outlet ducts and electrical ﬁxtures can help indicate where there may be obstructions in the ceiling. As a ﬁnal check, before cutting the hole for installation, drill a small hole at the center of the instal lation location. Insert a long, bent piece of wire and move it around to conﬁrm that there are no obstructions behind the chosen location.

Installation in drop ceilings is easy since ceiling tiles can be removed for access to the installation location. Just be sure there is adequate room above the ceiling grid to accommo

date the speakers. See the Mounting Depth speciﬁcations on the preceding page. Optional drop ceiling support brackets are available. Their use is described on page 10.

In addition to the area for the installation cutout you must allow an additional 1” of clearance around it. This ensures that there is room for the mounting clamps to deploy.

Also remember that you must run speaker wires from the ampliﬁer to the installation location. This is easy in new construction installations. It is also easy in drop ceiling installations once the wire is in the area above the ceiling grid. In retroﬁt installations wire routing is more difﬁcult. Be sure to take this into ac count when planning your installation.

The best installation location from the acoustical performance standpoint depends on what you want

5.1 System Surround Speakers

7.1 System Side Channel Speakers

PRi85Sub

from your system. Typically in-ceiling speakers are used one of two ways: 1. To provide general sound and music coverage to a room, such as a den, dining room or in a commercial situation. 2. As surround sound speakers in an A/V system.

Since the speaker installation is permanent and the furniture placement may not be, you should ﬁrst determine the best long-term location for the speakers—one that will accommodate future relocation of the furniture, while still providing well-balanced sound to the primary listening area.

For the most balanced sound, place each speaker at an equal distance from the prime listening position. If you are installing two pairs of speakers in a room you can consider putting the speakers for the two channels diagonally from each other. This is also true in commercial installations. For the sake of appear ance, you might want to align the speakers with the light ﬁxtures and other ceiling details.

Or you could take advantage of the bass sound reinforcement provided by placing a speaker closer to the juncture of the ceiling and wall. Installing a speaker approximately 18-inches from the ceiling/wall corner will provide noticeable bass reinforcement. Installing the speaker closer to a corner is not recom

mended.

The ideal location for speakers used in Home Theater is easier to establish. Sur

round speakers should produce very diffuse sound. In a typical 5.1 surround sound sys

tem the surround speakers should be placed far to the sides of, and somewhat behind the main seating area. The speakers will produce a more diffuse sound if the pivoting tweet

ers are angle toward the side and rear walls. In 7.1 systems the side speakers should be placed about midway between the front and surround speakers and about the same dis

tance apart as the surround speakers.

There is a good deal more ﬂexibility in the placement of the PRi85Sub. The ear cannot easily locate the source of deep bass sound. Install the PRi85Sub anywhere in the general vicinity of the other speakers. As with the other models, installing it about 18-inches from the ceiling/wall corner will provide some bass reinforcement.

Speaker Wires

After the speaker installation locations have been chosen, you must run wires to the ampliﬁer that drives them. In addition to the normal speaker wire considerations, the electrical codes in your area may require the use of special wire that is resistant to exposure called “plenum rated” wire. Check with an electrical safety inspector in

your area to see if such wiring is required.

The gauge of the wire is also important. Typically you should use at least 14 gauge wire. That is good enough for runs up to 50 feet or so. For runs of more than 50 feet use heavier 12 gauge wire.

If the wire must be run more than 75 feet a high voltage distribution system is recommended. Such systems

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use a special ampliﬁer that has a “70V” (or in some countries, “100V”) output. This allows relatively small gauge speaker wires to be run over great distances without signal degradation. Speakers used in a high voltage system require a transformer. Special versions of the PRi series speakers with built-in transformers are available. Contact a custom audio system installer for more information.

Connecting the Speakers

Unscrew the fasteners on the back of the speaker that hold the wire clamp in place. Open up the clamp and insert about 2” of wire through the opening. Tighten the clamp screws to secure the wire. Note: If there is a jacket around the two wire conductors fasten the clamp to the jacketed part of the wire. Remove the jacket from the part of the wire that extends beyond the clamp.

Separate the two conductors of the wire. Remove about wires into the appropriate terminals on the connector and tighten the screws on the top of the connector to secure the wire. Be sure there are no loose strands of wire.

Just before the speaker is mounted plug the connector into the back of the speaker. Set the wire clamp in place and tighten the fasteners to secure it. Finally pivot the moveable cover plate into position and tighten its fastener to hold it in place.

⁄8” of insulation from the end of the wire. Insert the

Speaker Connection Polarity

It is important that all the speakers in a system are hooked up with the same polarity or “in phase.” Instead of the wire terminals typical of most speakers, the PRi series models are supplied with a Molex plug-in connector to facilitate installation. Speaker wires are connected to the plug-in connector then, just before installing the speaker, the Molex connector is plugged in.

This illustration shows the connector on the speaker and the plug-in connector the speaker wires are attached to. Note the label beside the speaker connector. It shows the middle two pins on the connectors are “–” and “+”. The outer two pins are labeled “LOOP +” and “LOOP –”. The “LOOP” connections are connected to the regular “+” and “–” connections inside the speaker and facilitate connecting multispeaker installations. Use the color coding or other marking on the speaker wires to be sure that the “+” terminal of the ampliﬁer is connected to the “+” terminal of the speaker, and “–” is connected to “–”, at every connection.

Multiple Speaker Connections

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Sometimes you may want to connect more than one speaker to a given channel of an ampliﬁer. This can be done with certain limitations. The main concern is that the impedance (or electrical “resistance”), expressed in ohms, of the combined speaker load must be within a range common ampliﬁers can handle. The following information describes basic common multi-speaker connection schemes. For the sake of clarity and space the connection diagrams will show common schematic symbols.

There are two basic connection methods - parallel and series. Examples of parallel connections are shown below.

Parallel Connections

The connection example on the left shows the wire from the ampliﬁer and the wire for the second speaker connected to the same terminals. The example on the right shows the wires to the second speaker connected to the “loop” terminals which are connected to the other terminals inside the speaker. This makes connecting the wires to the terminals easier. But it also means that if the ﬁrst speaker is unplugged for any reason the signal to the second speaker is cut off. Parallel connections can also be made by connecting wires from both speaker directly to the ampliﬁer terminals, typically referred to as “home run” connections. This often results in more wire being used – usually something you want to avoid.

The parallel connection diagrams also show that two 8 ohm speakers produce an impedance of 4 ohms at the ampliﬁer. Most ampliﬁers can handle a 4 ohm impedance load. Impedance loads lower than 4 ohms can trigger ampliﬁer protection circuits or, in some cases, cause over heating.

The diagram below shows examples of series connections. Two 8 ohm speakers in series produces a 16 ohm impedance. This is an easy impedance for an ampliﬁer to handle. However it will result in somewhat lower power output. The connection method on the left is a modiﬁed “home run” type connection. The example on the right side is electrically the same and often requires less wire. But it can be a bit more tricky to wire.

Series Connections

NOTE: These types of connections are unusual in that the “–” of one speaker is connected to the “+” of the other. This may seem odd, but since the signal ﬂows through one speaker to the other this is how it must be done in order for the speaker to be “in phase”.

Connecting three speakers to an ampliﬁer channel is generally not recommended. But if it is done it should be

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done using a combined series/parallel connection. Two examples of this type of connection are shown below. The example on the left shows two speaker in series with the third connected in parallel to one of them. The third speaker could be connected to either of the speakers connected in series. It could also be connected to main “+” and “–” terminals instead of the “LOOP” connectors. The example on the right shows two speakers in series with the third connected in parallel at the ampliﬁer terminals - a variation on the “home run” connection. The connection methods are electrically the same and produce an impedance of about 12 ohms.

For any system installation more complicated than this you should consult a professional installer for advice on appropriate equipment, and to be sure the system is connected for best performance and reliability.

Installing the Speakers

Once the installation location has been prepared and the speaker has been connected, the installation of the speaker is easy. Simply lift the speaker into the installation hole. Use a phillips screw driver to pivot the mounting clamp arm outward and draw them down against the back of the mounting surface. Then gradually tighten the mounting clamp screws, alternating among them, until the speaker is ﬁrmly clamped in place. Do not use excessive force when tightening the mounting clamp screws. Then press the speaker grilles into place to complete the installation.

Listening Levels and Power Handling

The listed power recommendations assume you will operate your system in a way that will not produce distortion. Even very rugged speakers can be damaged by a relatively low power ampliﬁer if it is producing distortion.

If you hear a harsh, gritty noise, turn down the volume. Prolonged or repeated operation of your speaker with a distorted signal from the ampliﬁer can cause damage that is not covered by the warranty.

Additional Information on the PRi85Sub

The PRi85Sub in-ceiling subwoofer has a built-in passive crossover. If the subwoofer is receiving a full range signal from the electronics set the switch on the front of the speaker frame to the “DirX” position to use the internal crossover. If the PRi85Sub is connected to a component that has an electronic crossover, such as the Boston Acoustics SA1, you will want to bypass the crossover. In this instance set the switch to the “DIR” position.

NOTE: The DIR position is provided as a way to use an ampliﬁed LFE signal from a receiver and should be limited to 30Hz to 750Hz – to ensure the product is protected. We do not recommend or warranty this product if this frequency limitation is not used.

Notes About Commercial Applications

The plenum rated enclosure and safety agency certiﬁed design of the PRi series speakers make them an ideal choice for commercial installations. In such installations you may need to connect more than three speakers to each channel of the ampliﬁer. Several companies make speaker distribution devices and controls that allow you to vary the impedance the ampliﬁer “sees” from the control/speaker combination. These devices make it possible to install an elaborate multi-speaker system while keeping the impedance load on the ampliﬁer in a range it can handle and provides volume controls to balance the output of the speaker to suit the installation.

Removing the Grilles

Should you need to remove the grilles for any reason use a paper clip bent into a small hook or a grille pick. Slip the hook through one of the holes and pull the grille straight out. You may need to pull one edge part of the way out them move to the other edge and gradually work the grille out of the frame.

Painting the PRi Speakers

You can paint the exposed part of the frames and the grilles of your speakers to match your room. A paint shield is provided to protect the speakers.

Most paints, especially water based paints, don’t adhere very well to plastic surfaces or surfaces already covered with glossy paint. So, you will need to apply a primer coat. Use a primer recommended for plastic surfaces. Be sure it will produce a surface that the paint you are using will bond to. that will be used for the ﬁnal coat you may or may not need to apply primer to the grille.

Remove the grille as described in the preceding section. Put the paint shield over the front of the speaker. Apply masking tape to all other part that should be protected. Be sure to cover the mounting clamps and the terminal cover. Be sure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free of dust, lint, etc.

Apply two or more light coats of primer. Let the primer dry thoroughly between coats. You’ll get better results and reduce the chance of drips or runs using several light coatings. Lighter coats also reduce the chance the holes in the grilles will become plugged with paint. Let the paint dry completely. Remove the paint shield and re-insert the grille.

NOTE: Depending on the type of paint

Optional Ceiling Bracket

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Special brackets are available that make it easy to mount the PRi speakers in a suspended ceiling. The bracket rests on top of the ceiling grid so the weight of the speaker is supported by the grid, not the ceiling panel. The bracket has a “foldable” design, shown on the left below, that makes it easy to maneuver the bracket through the mounting hole.

Once the mounting hole is cut in the ceiling panel place the folded bracket through the hole and pivot it into its normal shape as shown below on the right. Extend the rails so they rest on the ceiling grid. Set the bracket so the ﬂanges that extend down from the arcs surround the installation hole. Then connect the speaker and clamp it in place as in a regular installation.

NOTE: When the PRi speakers are installed in suspended ceilings it is strongly recommended that you attach a security cable to the tab on the back of the speaker and fasten the other end to a strong structural element of the building.

In this illustration the ceiling grid is shown without the panels.

Limited Warranty

Boston Acoustics warrants to the original purchaser of our PRi series speakers that they will be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 5 years from the date of purchase.

Your responsibilities are to install and use them according to the instructions supplied, to provide safe and se

cure transportation to an authorized Boston Acoustics service representative, and to present proof of purchase in the form of your sales slip when requesting service.

Excluded from this warranty is damage that results from abuse, misuse, improper installation, accidents, ship

ping, or repairs/modiﬁcations by anyone other than an authorized Boston Acoustics service representative.

This warranty is limited to the Boston Acoustics product and does not cover damage to any associated equip

ment. This warranty does not cover the cost of removal or reinstallation. This warranty is void if the serial number has been removed or defaced. This warranty gives you speciﬁc legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

If Service Seems Necessary

First, contact the dealer from whom you purchased the product. If that is not possible, write to: Boston Acoustics, Inc. 300 Jubilee Drive Peabody, MA 01960 USA

Or contact us via e-mail at: support@bostona.com We will promptly advise you of what action to take. If it is necessary to return your PRi series unit to the fac tory, please ship it prepaid. After it has been repaired, we will return it freight prepaid in the United States and Canada.

This symbol found on the product indicates that the product must not be disposed of with household waste. Instead, it may be placed in a separate collection facility for electronic waste or returned to a retailer when purchasing similar product. The producer paid to recycle this product. Doing this contributes to reuse and recycling, minimizes adverse effects on the environment and human health and avoids any ﬁnes for incorrect disposal.

300 Jubilee Drive Peabody, MA 01960 USA

978.538.5000 www.bostonacoustics.com

DCD is a trademark and Boston, Boston Acoustics, and the Boston Acoustics logo are registered trademarks of Boston Acoustics, Inc. Speciﬁcations are subject to change without notice. © 2007 Boston Acoustics, Inc. All rights reserved. 142-002648-D

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