Instructions for:
Ambiance® 52,
Ambiance® 62
& Ambiance® 82
Two-Way In-Wall
Speaker Systems
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................. 1
About This Manual ................................................................................... 1
Tools Required .......................................................................................... 1
Placement ................................................................................................. 2
Wiring ...................................................................................................... 2
Installation ............................................................................................... 3
About Amplifier Power ............................................................................. 5
In Case Of Difficulty ................................................................................. 5
10-Year Limited Warranty ........................................................................ 6
Specifications ........................................................................................... 7
Introduction About This Manual
hank you for purchasing an
Ambiance in-wall speaker
system. It will provide natural,
balanced sound reproduction
T
without taking up space in
your listening room. Their superb
acoustic performance makes them
suitable for use as main speakers in a
home theater or music system.
Ambiance speaker systems are easily
installed by anyone from a professional installer to a do-it-yourselfer,
while their in-wall design provides
nearly invisible background music.
The off-white finish may be easily
painted to match the surrounding
surface (refer to page 4). Each of the
three models share similar performance throughout the critical midand high-frequency range. They differ
primarily in bass extension and
maximum output level. All three
models use the same silk-dome
tweeter for smooth high frequency
reproduction. The tweeter is swivelmounted so it can be directed towards
the listening area, and includes a twoposition high frequency level switch
to adjust the sound to room
acoustics or personal taste. A selfresetting automatic protection
circuit protects the tweeter from
damage due to overpowering or
excessive distortion. The woofer
drivers use an injection-molded
polymer cone with butyl rubber
surround. The assembly is both
durable and sonically peerless.
Care in speaker placement and
installation will pay dividends in
optimum enjoyment. This booklet
provides tips and instructions to
help you get the most from your
loudspeakers. Please read it through
thoroughly before proceeding with
the speaker system installation.
Installing Ambiance speaker
systems is straightforward and may
be performed by an experienced doit-yourself homeowner. However,
some familiarity with typical home
construction is necessary.
This manual assumes the
installer possesses skill in the proper
use of hand and power tools, a
knowledge of local fire and building
codes, and a familiarity with the
area behind the surface of the wall
or ceiling where the speakers will be
installed.
Note: Cambridge SoundWorks
will not assume any responsibility
for the integrity of the attachment of
the speaker and its mounting
brackets to a wall or ceiling. The
quality of the installation is solely
the responsibility of the installer.
Cambridge SoundWorks is not
responsible for any damage
resulting from the installation or
installation process, or due to
wiring or materials used in the
installation.
If you are not comfortable with
performing a speaker system
installation, we recommend you rely
on a qualified home entertainment
installer. Contact your dealer or
Cambridge SoundWorks for
assistance in selecting a suitable
installer.
Tools Required
1. Stud-finder.
2. Spirit level.
3. Pencil.
4. Drill with
5. Utility knife, jigsaw, drywall router,
or other means of cutting a hole in
the mounting surface.
6. Wire cutter and/or stripper for pre-
paring speaker wires.
7. #1 Phillips screwdriver.
1
/4" bit (for plaster walls).
1
Placement Wiring
Unlike freestanding loudspeakers
(which can be easily repositioned),
an in-wall speaker system installation is permanent. The homeowner
and installer should work together
to determine the best locations. The
final sites should accommodate
present and future furniture
arrangements. The ideal positions
should provide an unobstructed
sound path from the speakers to the
listeners. In some instances, a
compromise between ideal location
and appearance may be necessary.
Because the Ambiance speaker
systems have wide-dispersion and
adjustable-angle tweeters, there is a
great deal of flexibility in placement.
For the best stereo effect, separate
the speakers by at least four to eight
feet. The ideal separation is roughly
equal to the distance of the speakers
from the listening space. For good
stereo imaging, try to place the left
and right speakers at a similar
distance from the primary
listening position.
Try to keep the speakers at least
18" away from room corners or wall/
ceiling borders. This avoids the
detrimental effects of sidewall/
ceiling echoes and the loss of precise
stereo imaging.
Ambiance speaker systems are
not magnetically shielded. The
minimum acceptable distance either
speaker can be placed from a TV
monitor depends on the monitor’s
sensitivity to magnetic fields, but
will typically be a foot or more. If
relevant, make sure the magnetic
field of the speaker will not distort a
nearby television’s picture before
you decide on a permanent
location.
These speaker systems have been
designed to accommodate standard
wall construction depths, but
sufficient in-wall mounting depth
should be verified. Before starting
any drilling or cutting, refer to the
chart on page 7 to verify that
enough mounting depth is available
for the speaker system purchased.
Pre-wiring new construction is
strongly recommended if possible.
Access to a basement, attic, or crawl
space can simplify the task of
routing wires to the appropriate
locations. If you are a do-it-yourself
homeowner, you may wish to hire a
professional to run the wires, even if
you are planning on mounting the
speakers yourself.
The wire connectors on the
Ambiance speaker system will accept
up to AWG #12 speaker cable. A
minimum of AWG #16 should be
used for runs up to 50 feet, with
AWG#14 for runs from 50-100 feet.
Runs longer than 100 feet should
use AWG #12. Make sure the wire
you choose is rated for in-wall use.
Check with the local building
inspector if you are unsure.
2
Installation
A. Decide roughly where to place
each speaker. Using a studfinder (or other means), locate
any wall studs near these
locations. Adjust speaker
placement so the wall cutout is
not located over a stud. The
wall cutout should be at least
3
/4" away from any stud.
B. Some speaker adjustment is
available within the cutout, but
it is best to have a level
installation cutout to start. Use
the supplied template to outline
the area to be cut. Use a spirit
level or other device to square
the template to other reference
points within the room.
C. When cutting into a wall or
ceiling, be careful not to
damage wiring, conduit, or
plumbing. A lath-and-plaster or
plaster skim-coat construction
wall are prone to spreading
cracks. To reduce cracking in
these walls, score the plaster
surface along the marked cut
line with a utility knife to a
depth of at least
1
/4" hole at each corner before
cutting. Make the cutout using
your preferred tool.
1
/8". Also, drill a
A
H
F
G
D
3
D. If you have not already done
so, run the speaker wires to
the source or local room
volume control.
E. If your speaker will be located in
an outside wall, the wall may
contain some form of insulation.
Fiberglass batting should be left
in place, as it is sonically
desirable and will hold its shape.
Remove blown in-type insulation
from the air space behind the
speaker. Replace it with a pad of
fiberglass batting at least 50%
larger than the cutout in each
direction. Installing fiberglass
batting in the space between the
studs is also recommended, since
it will improve sound quality.
Note: Wear gloves when
handling insulation.
F. Locate the speaker wires and strip
3
/8" of insulation from the ends.
The stripped ends can be directly
inserted into the speaker wire
connectors. Note: Speaker cable
has various means of identifying
the two conductors, either by
color, a molded-in stripe, or
markings on the jacket. Be
consistent with all the connections within the system. On the
Ambiance speaker system, use
the red terminal for “+”, and the
black terminal for “–”.
G. A smooth, flat wall surface will
provide the best air seal and
most secure installation. If you
must install the speakers in a
rough, uneven surface, such as
stucco or brick laminate, use a
strip of foam gasket tape or a
bead of caulk along the back of
the speaker’s mounting flange.
This provides a good air seal for
maximum bass response.
Position the speaker in the
cutout. Using a #1 Phillips
screwdriver, tighten the six
Phillips screws along the edges of
the speaker. The swing arms on
the opposite ends of the screws
will extend and grip the rear of
the mounting surface. Only
moderate force is necessary to
secure the Ambiance speaker
system to the mounting surface.
Be careful to not over-tighten.
H. Install the speaker grille.
Note: If desired, you may paint
the grille and frame to match the
room decor before installation.
To paint the speaker, do not
install the grille. Instead, place
the paint shield (the center
punch-out section of the template)
in place of the grille to protect the
baffle surface and drivers. Paint the
grille and frame separately, being
careful not to fill in the small holes
in the grille. A fan, or hair dryer on
“cold” setting, can be used to blow
paint out of the out holes in the
grille while the paint is still wet.
After the paint is completely dry,
remove the paint shield. Replace the
grille, being careful not to scratch
the newly painted surfaces. Save the
paint shield for future repainting.
4
The amount of power needed to
drive loudspeakers varies significantly. It is effected by factors such
as the size of the room, absence or
presence of in-wall volume controls,
the acoustics, the type of music, and
how loud you play the speaker.
Even the smallest Ambiance
speaker system can safely play
music with the most powerful home
amplifiers and receivers. Distortion
caused by overdriving either the
speaker or associated equipment
can cause damage, even if the
amplifier or receiver power is within
the capabilities of the speaker.
If the sound becomes “grainy” or
“gritty”, you may be overdriving the
amplifier or receiver. This type of
distortion can damage tweeters,
even from a low powered amplifier.
Turn down the volume until the
distortion disappears. If the new
level is not loud enough for your
needs, you may need a more
powerful amplifier. Contact the
retailer where you purchased your
speakers, or a Cambridge
SoundWorks Audio/Video Consultant for advice.
Keep the volume turned down
when connecting or disconnecting
components in order to prevent
damage from strong, non-musical
transients. This will help protect
your ears as well as the speakers.
If the speaker is overdriven for
an extended period, the highfrequency output will be reduced.
This is a result of the automatic
tweeter protection built into each
speaker. If this occurs, simply
reduce the volume and the circuit
will automatically reset.
In Case Of DifficultyAbout Amplifier Power
If you suspect there is a problem
with your Ambiance speaker
system, contact the retailer where
they were purchased or a
Cambridge SoundWorks
Audio/Video Consultant, who will
help you track down the problem.
If together you agree there is
something wrong with your
Ambiance speaker system, return it
to the retailer that sold it to you.
Mail-order and Internet retailers
will generally require a Return
Authorization number. Products
purchased from a Cambridge
SoundWorks store may be
returned directly to the store. If
you are no longer near a Cambridge SoundWorks store, you may
call us for a factory Return
Authorization. Do not return the
Ambiance speaker system or any
parts without first obtaining a
Return Authorization.
5
10-Year Limited Warranty
To the original purchaser,
Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc.
warrants the Ambiance 52,
Ambiance 62 and Ambiance 82
loudspeakers to be free from
defects in material and workmanship for a period of ten (10) years
from date of purchase. With
respect to defects, Cambridge
SoundWorks will, at its option,
replace the product or repair the
defect in the product with no
charge to the original purchaser
for parts or labor.
This warranty does not extend
to any defect, malfunction or
failure caused by misuse, abuse,
accident, faulty hookup, defective
associated equipment or use of the
speaker with equipment for which
it is not intended.
This warranty is valid only when
the speaker is returned to an
authorized store where it was
purchased. Or, if you bought
directly from Cambridge SoundWorks, call for a Return Authorization Number for the unit and return
it to the accompanying address,
freight prepaid, together with a
copy of the original sales slip to
establish warranty status. Please do
not return the Ambiance 52,
Ambiance 62 or Ambiance 82, or
any of its parts, to the factory
without prior authorization.
This is the sole and express
warranty. This warranty is in lieu
of all other warranties, expressed
or implied, of merchantability,
fitness for purpose or otherwise.
In no event shall Cambridge
SoundWorks be liable for incidental
or consequential damages or have
any liability with respect to defects
other than the obligations set
forth above.
To ensure warranty coverage it is
incumbent upon the original purchaser
to inform Cambridge SoundWorks or
any of its Authorized Service Agencies
of the defect within the warranty period.
The only acceptable method of
establishing warranty status is a copy of
the original proof of purchase indicating
customers name and purchase date.
For warranty information contact:
Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc.
311 Needham St.
Newton, MA 02464
1-877-YES-HIFI
(1-877-937-4434)
www.cambridgesoundworks.com
email: info@cambridgesoundworks.com
® Ambiance is a registered trademark of Cambridge SoundWorks, Incorporated.
6
Specifications
Ambiance 52
Speaker Type: 2-way, infinite baffle
Woofer: 5
Tweeter: 25 mm silk dome
Frequency range: 45-20,000 Hz
Recommended Amplifier Power Range: 10 W–75 W RMS
Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1 meter): 86 dB
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
Overall Dimensions (HxWxD): 11" x 7
Mounting Hole Dimensions (HxW): 9
Mounting Depth: 2
Ambiance 62
Speaker Type: 2-way, infinite baffle
Woofer: 6
Tweeter: 25 mm silk dome
Frequency range: 35-20,000 Hz
Recommended Amplifier Power Range: 10 W–100 W RMS
Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1 meter): 87 dB
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
Overall Dimensions (HxWxD): 12" x 8
Mounting Hole Dimensions (HxW): 10
Mounting Depth: 3
Ambiance 82
Speaker Type: 2-way, infinite baffle
Woofer: 8"
Tweeter: 25 mm silk dome
Frequency range: 30-20,000 Hz
Recommended Amplifier Power Range: 10 W–125 W RMS
Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1 meter): 89 dB
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
Overall Dimensions (HxWxD): 14" x 10" x 3
Mounting Hole Dimensions (HxW): 12
Mounting Depth: 3
1
/4"
1
/2" x 2 5/8"
1
1
/4"
1
/2"
1
/16
1
/4"
/16" x 6 1/8"
9
/16" x 3 3/8"
3
/4" x 7 3/8"
1
/2"
3
/4" x 8 3/4"
A
Overall Height
A
Mounting Depth
B
Cutout Height
C
Cutout Width
D
Overall Width
E
B
Ambiance 52
C
D
E
Ambiance 62
3
10
7
8
12”
1
3
9
/16”
3
/8”
/16”
/4”
11”
1
/4”
2
9
/16”
9
1
/8”
6
1
/2”
7
Ambiance 82
14”
1
/4”
3
3
/4”
12
3
/4”
8
10”
7
311 Needham Street, Newton MA 02464
1-877-937-4434 Fax: 617-527-3194
www.cambridgesoundworks.com
Email: info@cambridgesoundworks.com
P81-1480 0400
A Company
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