Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble 4HT User Manual

Instructions for:

Ensemble® IV & Ensemble IV Home Theater

Speaker Systems by Henry Kloss

Contents
Important—Please Read First ...................................................................	1
Unpacking The System .............................................................................	2
Installing And Connecting The Speakers ..................................................	3
Speaker Placement ...................................................................................	3
Wiring Diagram ........................................................................................	6
Preparing Speaker Wires ..........................................................................	7
Making Connections .................................................................................	7
Configuring Your Surround Sound Electronics .........................................	8
Optimizing The Sound Of Your System ....................................................	8
About Amplifier Power ...........................................................................	10
Finalizing Your Installation ...................................................................	11
10-Year Limited Warranty ......................................................................	12
Difficulty? ...............................................................................................	12

7

Important – Please Read First

Thank you for choosing an Ensemble IV speaker system. The basic model comes with two satellites for regular stereo reproduction, while the

Ensemble IV Home Theater (HT) comes with five satellites for reproducing the left, right, center, and surround channels of a home theater surround system. The two models are otherwise identical.

Like all speaker systems, the sound of either Ensemble IV is very much influenced by its placement in the listening room. Unlike conventional models, however, Ensemble IV systems consist of several compact units that can be placed where they sound best without intruding on your living space. There is no need to sacrifice sound quality to decor, or viceversa.

If you place your Ensemble IV system in the listening room casually, it will sound at least as good as conventional speakers. However, to achieve even better

sound, we urge you to experiment with placement at some length, a process aided by the instructions that follow.

If you have any questions or problems, please consult the store where you purchased the system, or call a Cambridge SoundWorks Audio/Video Consultant toll-free.

Cambridge SoundWorks

1-877-YES-HIFI (1-877-937-4434)

24 hours a day, every day

In Canada: 1-800-987-9104 Outside US or Canada:

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone] www.cambridgesoundworks.com

E-mail: [e-mail]

1

Unpacking The System

As you unpack Ensemble IV, please examine each speaker unit carefully for signs of shipping damage. If there is any damage, do not discard the shipping carton, and do not install or use the system. Consult the store where you purchased the system or call Cambridge SoundWorks at 1-877-YES-HIFI for assistance. It’s a good idea to save the carton and its packing inserts in case you have to ship your system.

All the items shown should be included; inform your store or Cambridge SoundWorks if anything is missing.

Ensemble IV (white model similar)

Satellites (2)

Cambridge

SoundWorks

Cambridges

SoundWork

E									®
B	NSEMBLEN R Y
	Y		H						OIVS S
	DESIGNED AND						K	L
	CAMBRIDGE SMANUFACTURED
	NETON, MASSOUNDWORKS,									BY
			1-	1-800-	ACHUSETTS				INC.
					367-4434		USA		USA
				800-525-4434
	LEFT IN					CANADA
		+		-			RIGHT IN
							-		+
		+		-			-
	LEFT OUT								+
						RIGHT OUT

	Satellite feet	Subwoofer
	(2 strips of 4)

Ensemble IV Home Theater also includes…

Center & Surround Satellites (3)

Cambridge		Cambridge	Additional feet	5 screws and
			(3 strips of 4)	wall anchors
orks	SoundW	orks
SoundW	Cambridge	SoundW
	orks

The white version of this system includes one black satellite for use as the center channel.

2

Installing And Connecting The Speakers

All satellites are functionally similar. The single black satellite in the white Ensemble IV Home Theater

is intended for use on or above the TV monitor as the center channel speaker.

First decide where to place Ensemble IV’s speaker units in your listening room. The section “Speaker Placement” which follows gives you practical guidelines.

Once you have determined the likely placement for the satellites and subwoofer, consult page 6.

The “Wiring Diagram” shows how to interconnect the speaker units and your amplifier.

Prepare each length of speaker wire according to the section on page 7. Leave an extra three or four feet of length on each individual length of wire. This extra length lets

you experiment with placement. Then make the connections as instructed on page 7.

If possible, listen to the complete system before you make the installation permanent. You may find small changes in the satellite positions improve the sound. The satellite and subwoofer may be safely moved while playing if sufficient slack is left in the speaker wires.

B

A

45°

Speaker

Placement

The left and right satellites

(both models)

•For stereo music listening, try to place the satellites to form an equal-sided triangle with your favorite listening position (A).

Because the room’s surfaces tend to integrate the sound before it reaches you, perfectly symmetrical placement is not necessary.

•In a home theater installation, try

to place the satellites so that they form a 45° angle with your preferred seat (B), which takes best advantage of how movie soundtracks are mixed. The satellites are magnetically shielded, so they can be placed close to the TV. The subwoofer is not magnetically shielded, however, and must be at least 18 inches from the set to prevent picture distortion.

•Have a clear line of sight to each satellite. This insures that higher frequencies are not blocked.

•For music listening, if the satellites are across the room from the listening area, their height is usually not critical; they

3

can be placed at eye level on the wall, up near the ceiling, or most anywhere in between. If they are close to the listening area—and in any home theater system—it is best to have them at or near

ear level.

•If you put the satellites in bookshelves or in a wall system, place them with their front surfaces flush with the front of the shelves; you can then surround them with books, CDs, tapes, etc. (See diagram below).

•Take advantage of the satellites’ small size and consider locations where regular speakers wouldn’t fit, such as window sills or a mantelpiece.

•The satellites can also be wall mounted as described on page 11. Use No.10 screws and anchors. However, don’t mount them permanently until you’ve had a chance to experiment with placement and are sure of their final location.

ZA			SHAKESPEARE	SHAKESPEARE	SHAKESPEARE	The
						Sun
						Also
						Rises
M
O		RT
Sym
No. phonies
39	&	41			3
			1	2
		Cam	bridge
			orks
		SoundW

Flush with edge of shelf

C

The Center/Surround IV satellites (Ensemble IV HT only)

Arrange the three remaining Center/Surround IV satellites for center and surround channel reproduction using the guidelines that follow.

•See Diagram C. Place the center channel’s satellite directly on top of the TV or directly below it. This satellite’s primary function is to blend the sound of spoken dialog or special effects with what you see on-screen.

•Place the left, center and right satellites close to the “ear level” of the listeners.

•If possible, mount the surround or rear satellites on either side of your listening position, not directly behind it. Each satellite has a convenient “keyhole” to allow for easy wall mounting. Ideally, the satellites should be placed two to three feet above the listeners.

Placing the surround speakers directly behind the listeners (like the inner pair in Diagram D) will

D

E

4