Genelec AIC25 Owner's Manual

AIC25

Operating Manual

Genelec AIC25
Active In-Ceiling Loudspeaker

Genelec AIC25 Active In-Ceiling Loudspeaker

The Genelec AIC25 Active In-Ceiling loud-

speaker system consists of a two-way

loudspeaker enclosure and a matched

remote amplifier module, RAM2. It has been

designed to the same rigorous standards

as Genelec’s high-perfor mance HT ser ies

active Home Theater loudspeakers. No other

In-Ceiling loudspeaker in this size class can

match the low distortion, neutrality and high

sound pressure capability of Genelec AIC25.

Unpacking

A Genelec AIC25 set includes the following

items. Check that nothing is missing or dam-

aged in transit. If there is a problem with the

product, contact your local Genelec dealer.

• AIC25 loudspeaker enclosure.

• Grill insert

• AIC25 cardboard cut-out template

• Loudspeaker painting mask

• RAM2 amplifier unit

• Mains power cable

• Two M4 Phillips 2 screws

• This Operating Manual

Installation

Genelec recommends that you use the serv-

ices of an authorized installation specialist or

other competent and experienced installa-

tion company for the installation of the AIC25

system. Ask your local Genelec dealer for

recommended installation companies in your

region.

Matching loudspeakers and

amplifiers

Each AIC25 loudspeaker has been factory

calibrated for optimum performance with the

RAM2 amplifier it is shipped with. Never mix

these matched amplifier-loudspeaker sys-

tems in the installation process. The matching

units are marked with the same ID number.

Cabling

The RAM2 amplifier unit has separate power

amplifiers for the tweeter and woofer. Accord-

ingly, a 4-conductor cable needs to be run

between the amplifier and the loudspeaker

enclosure. Two cable connectors are sup-

plied with the loudspeaker system, a six-pole

connector to fit the connector on the amplifier

and a four-pole connector to fit the respective

input on the top of the loudspeaker enclo-

sure.

Attach the cables to the green connectors

provided with the kit. Be sure to maintain cor-

rect polarity when connecting the cables and

be extra careful not to mix the tweeter and

woofer cables. The correct pin sequences

are marked on the amplifier and loudspeaker

enclosure. Starting from the top, the first two

poles on the amplifier connector are for the 12

V remote control voltage, pole 3 for tweeter -,

pole 4 for tweeter +, pole 5 for woofer - and

pole 6 for woofer +. Respectively, the pole

sequence on the loudspeaker connector is

1 tweeter -, 2 tweeter +, 3 woofer - and 4

woofer +. Secure the cable to the strain relief

tie next to the loudspeaker connector.

Use a good quality 4-conductor cable and

make the cable runs as short as possible.

See Table 1 for recommended cable gauges.

The connectors accept a cable up to 6 mm

(9 gauge) thick.

If you are installing the AIC25 enclosure

to an existing construction, examine the

ceiling thoroughly for the shortest and least

obstructed cable route. Be careful to avoid

cutting or drilling into electrical wires, venti-

lation or water pipes. All of this is of course

much easier when the installation takes place

in an unfinished building where the ceiling

structure is still open. In both cases it is a

good idea to route the loudspeaker cables

away from electric, video or phone cables,

which might induce hum into the loudspeaker

system.

2

Figure 1. RAM2 amplifier back panel view

Figure 2. Connecting the loudspeaker cable

Figure 3. Screws for t ightening the
mounting tabs are located at the edge of
the baffle

Cable gauge Max. length

2,0 mm2 (14 AWG) 30 m (100 ft)

3,3 mm2 (12 AWG) 40 m (130 ft)

5,3 mm2 (10 AWG) 60 m (200 ft)

Table 1. Recomme nded cable thicknesses for
different lengths of cable

Painting the loudspeakers

The loudspeaker enclosure flange and the

metal mesh grill can be spray painted to

match the surrounding colour. Do not paint

the loudspeaker front baffle and drivers, or

try to paint the grill while it is attached to the

loudspeaker. Paint the enclosure and the

grill separately with a thin spray. Do not use

brushes or rollers. Be careful to avoid clog-

ging the grill with paint.

Attach the cardboard painting mask on the

loudspeaker front baffle before spraying the

loudspeaker to protect the drivers and front

baffle from smearing.

Installing the AIC25

loudspeaker enclosure

For new construction installs, we recommend

planning the loudspeaker placement at an

early stage and using the optional Genelec

New Construction Brackets (order code 272-

0039) for marking the desired locations. The

brackets can be nailed or screwed to the

studs to show the ceiling panel installers the

places where holes for the loudspeakers are

to be located.

When installing the enclosure in an exist-

ing ceiling, use the cardboard ceiling cut-out

template to find the best location. The tem-

plate also shows the position of the loud-

speaker drivers and acoustic axis, so you can

easily find the placement that brings them to

the desired position

Examine the ceiling structure carefully

to find a clearly unobstructed location for

the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker enclo-

sure requires a minimum of 160 millimeters

(64/16”) of free depth measured from the

outer surface of the sheetrock. Also note that

the enclosure flange is wider than the hole

and requires about 20 millimeters (3/4”) of

smooth ceiling surface around the hole.

When you have found a good location,

check that the template is level and trace

the hole onto the ceiling with a pencil along

the outline of the template. If you are not

sure that the chosen part of ceiling is free

from obstructions, you can start by making

a smaller hole at the center of the marked

area through which you can probe the inside

of the ceiling. Use a drywall saw and make

the first cut at a 45° angle toward the center

of the hole so you can put the cut piece back

in if the location is unsuitable. If you find no

obstructions, you can make the final cut along

the marked lines.

If you have already connected the RAM2

amplifier units to the decoder or other signal

source, select the loudspeaker enclosure

that has the same ID number as the ampli-

fier it will be driven by. Connect the loud-

speaker cables as described above in chap-

ter “Cabling”.

Lift the AIC25 enclosure into the hole and

turn the Phillips 2 screws in each corner of

the front baffle clockwise so that the mount-

ing tabs rotate outwards. Continue tighten-

ing the screws until the sheetrock is firmly

clamped between the mounting tabs and the

enclosure flange. If necessary, a secondary

support line can be attached to the tab next

to the connector.

Connecting the RAM2

amplifier

The RAM2 amplifier is designed to be con-

nected to a line level output of a preamplifier,

Surround Sound processor or other low level

source. NOTE! Never connect the RAM2 to

a loudspeaker level output of a power ampli-

fier!

Check that the amplifier’s serial number

matches that of the AIC25 loudspeaker

enclosure which it will power. If the loud-

speaker enclosures are not yet installed,

make a note of which amplifier is connected

to each channel so you can find the correct

AIC25 loudspeaker cabinet for every ampli-

fier. Connect the 12 V remote control cables

and loudspeaker cables as described above

in chapter “Cabling”.

The RAM2 has two parallel 10 kOhm input

connectors: a balanced female XLR and an

unbalanced RCA. There is also a male XLR

connector that can be used for daisy-chain-

ing several systems together. For long cable

connection lengths (>10 m or >30 ft) a bal-

anced line connection is recommended as

it offers better immunity to external interfer-

ence. However, the RCA connection method

is more comm only available and usually

works as well for shorter connection lengths

in less electrically noisy environments. Do

not use both inputs at the same time. Consult

your Genelec dealer for the choice of signal

cables.

Space requirement for the

RAM2 amplifier

The dual 40 W power amplifiers of a RAM2

unit generate a considerable amount of heat

when used at full power. To avoid overheat-

ing, ensure that there is good airflow around

the amplifier and no external heat sources

close to it. We recommend installing the

RAM2 into a well ventilated equipment rack

using its dedicated RM2 rack mount kit which

allows airflow through the ventilation holes

on the bottom and top of the amplifier box.

The amplifier must always be installed in an

upright position, never flat on its side.

Sufficient cooling for the amplifier must be

arranged at all times. As a general rule, the

ambient temperature around the amplifier

must not exceed 35 degrees Celsius (95°F).

The ventilation openings on the amplifier

box must not be blocked and a free space of

1 U (=1.75" or 45 mm) must be left above the

amplifier when installed. This space must be

sufficiently ventilated to maintain the temper-

ature below the aforementioned maximum

level.

If the RAM2 amplifier is placed on a shelf

or other solid surface, the metal support pro-

vided with the amplifier must be attached to

the lower part of the amplifier front panel with

Figure 4. Installing the metal suppor t to
the RAM2 amplifier module for placement
on a solid aurface.

an M4 screw. This improves the stability of

the amplifier and provides sufficient clear-

ance for air circulation below the amplifier.

Mounting the RAM2 amplifier

to an equipment rack

We recommend that you use the Genelec

RM2 rack mount adapter when installing the

RAM2 amplifier in an equipment rack. Make

sure that the space above and below the

RAM2 is uncluttered and there is a space

of 100 mm (4”) or more behind the ampli-

fier. The space behind the amplifier must be

well ventilated. If the temperature inside the

rack is likely to rise close to RAM2’s maxi-

mum ambient temperature of 35° C (95° F),

we recommend installing ventilation fans to

ensure that the thermal protection is not acti-

vated prematurely.

Attach the RAM2 to the RM2 rack mount

with two M4 screws provided with the rack

mount kit. The screws go through the holes

on the front panel of the amplifier. Each RM2

can take eight RAM2 amplifiers. Blanking

plates are provided to cover empty spaces in

the rack if fewer RAM2’s are installed.

Setting the input sensitivity

The input sensitivity of each loudspeaker

can be made to match that of the decoder

or other source by use of the input sensitiv-

ity control on the amplifier’s front panel. A

small screwdriver is needed for the adjust-

ment. The manufacturer default setting for

this control is -6 dBu (fully clockwise) which

gives SPL of 100 dB @ 1 m with -6 dBu

input level. Note that to get the full output

level of 100 dB SPL per unit, an input level

of +4 dBu (1.22 V) is needed in this set-

ting. Most pre-amplifiers are capable of this

output level.

Figure 5. Installing the RAM2 amplifier
module to the opti onal RM2 rack mount
adapter.

Setting the room response

controls

The acoustic response of the system may

have to be adjusted to match the acoustic

environment and personal taste. See Table

2 for suggested room response control set-

tings in differing acoustic environments. If the

sound is found subjectively too bright, set

‘TREBLE TILT’ to “ON” (-2 dB), if too bass

heavy, you can choose between three attenu-

ation levels (-2, -4 or -6 dB) by switching on

the corresponding ‘BASS TILT’ switch.

The "BASS ROLL-OFF" switch activates

an 85 Hz high-pass filter, which can be used

for matching the loudspeaker response to a

correspondingly low-pass filtered subwoofer.

The manufacturer default settings for all

controls are ‘All Off’ to give a flat response

in half space, i.e. when the loudspeaker

has been installed in a ceiling. Always start

adjustment by setting all switches to the

‘OFF’ position. The "BASS TILT" switches are

not cumulative. If more than one switch is set

to ‘ON’ the attenuation value is not accurate.

Using Autostar t and Remote

Control functions

In daily use, the RAM2 amplifier can be

switched to Standby mode to save energy by

activating the signal sensing Autostart func-

tion or by using a 12 V trigger voltage from

the decoder. If the system is left unused for

several days, we recommend that you power

it down using the RAM2’s main power switch

or a central power switch if one has been

installed.

The Autostart function is activated by turn-

ing switch 2 (AUTOSTART) on the amplifier

front panel to “ON”. Autostart turns the ampli-

fier to “STANDBY” mode if there is no signal

present for about 30 minutes. When the signal

returns the amplifier switches on immediately

and the loudspeaker functions normally.

If you are usin g a 12 V trigger type

remote control to switch the RAM2 between

“STANDBY” or “ON” modes (see chapter

“Connecting the RAM2 amplifier”), turn switch

1 (REMOTE CONTROL), on the amplifier

panel to “ON”. This activates the remote

control function. In this setting the remote

control will override the Autostar t function. If

you want to use Autostart, turn the “REMOTE

CONTROL” switch to “OFF”.

Status indicator LED

The sta tus indicator LE D on the RAM2

changes colour to indicate amplifier status.

If the LED is yellow, it indicates that the

amplifier is in “STANDBY” mode. When the

amplifier is switched to “ON” mode, the LED

changes to green colour.

Automatic protection circuits

The AIC25 system has protection circuits

against loudspeaker driver thermal overload

and amplifier overheating. The protection

system resets automatically so the user only

has to turn the input level down to ensure that

it does not reactivate.

Driver thermal overload protection pro-

tects the drivers from damage caused by

prolonged overdriving with excessively high

or distorted signal. If this occurs, the circuit

automatically reduces playback volume. To

avoid this, lower the listening volume if the

sound becomes harsh and distorted at high

sound pressure levels.

When activated, the amplifier therm al

protection mutes the amplifier for very short

periods of time, making the sound harsh

and distor ted. Let the amplifier cool down

and check that there is sufficient clearance

around the amplifier for cooling (see chap-

ters “Space requirement for the RAM2 ampli-

fier” and “Mounting the RAM2 amplifier to an

equipment rack” above). If the problem per-

sists, consult your Genelec dealer or Home

Theater Installation company for an improved

cooling solution for your equipment cabinet

or rack.

Bass Tilt Treble Tilt

Half space factory default setting 0 dB (All OFF) 0 dB (All OFF)

Well damped (dead sounding) room 0 dB (All OFF) 0 dB (All OFF)

Normal room environment 0 dB (All OFF) ON

Highly reflective (live sounding) room -2 dB ON ON

Double corner (wall/ceiling) placement -2 dB ON 0 dB (All OFF)

Triple corner (wall/wall/ceiling) -4 dB ON 0 dB (All OFF)

Table 2. Suggest ed Tone Control settings for s ome typical situations

nance or repair should only be undertaken by

qualified service personnel.

Safety considerations

• Do not expose the loudspeaker or ampli-

fier to water or moisture. Do not place any

objects filled with liquid, such as vases on or

near them.

• Do not place naked flame sources like

lighted candles on or near the loudspeaker

or amplifier.

• Servicing and adjustment must only be

performed by qualified service personnel.

• Opening the amplifier is strictly prohibited

This is to c erti fy tha t the Genele c AIC2 5 Acti ve In-Ceilin g
Loudspeaker confo rms to the follow ing s tandards:

Safety :
EN / IEC 6 0065
EMC:
EN 55020
EN 55013
EN 61000-3 -2
EN 61000-3 -3

The product herewith complies with the requirements of The
Low Voltag e Dir ective 73/23 /EEC, EMC Directi ve 89/ 336/
EEC and 93 /68/E EC

Signed:
Ilpo Martikain en
Position: Chairman of the Boar d
Date: 7-Nove mber-2006

EC Declaration of Conformity

except by qualified service personnel.

• Always use a mains power connection

and cable with protective ear th. Failing to do

this may lead to personal injury.

• Note that the amplifier is not completely

disconnected from the AC mains service

unless the mains power cord is removed from

the amplifier or the mains outlet.

• Switch off the mains power from the ampli-

fier if the system is not used for long periods

of time.

WARNING!

This equipment is capable of delivering Sound

Pressure Levels in excess of 85 dB, which

may cause permanent hearing damage.

Guarantee

This product is supplied with a two year guar-

antee against manufacturing faults or defects

that might alter the performance of the unit.

Refer to supplier for full sales and guarantee

terms.

Maintenance

There are no user serviceable parts within

the loudspeaker or the amplifier. Any mainte-

AIC25 Operating Manual

Figure 6. The main dim ensions of the AIC25 loudspeaker cabinet

SyS tem Sp ecI fIc AtIoN S

AIc25

Lower cut-off frequency, –3 dB

Upper cut-off frequency, –3 dB > 20 kHz

Free field frequency response 70 Hz – 18 kHz (± 2.5 dB)

Maximum short term sine wave acoustic
output on axis in half space, averaged from
100 Hz to 3 kHz

Maximum peak acoustic output per pair with
music material

Self generated noise level in half space at 1 m
on axis (A-weighted)

Harmonic distortion at 85 dB SPL
at 1 m on axis

Freq: 70…200 Hz
> 200 Hz

Drivers

Bass
Treble

Weight

Loudspeaker cabinet
Amplifier

Dimensions

Loudspeaker cabinet max. diameter
Loudspeaker cabinet max. depth

Cutout diameter
Minimum free depth measured from the
surface of the ceiling

Amplifier height
Amplifier width
Amplifier depth*

*Note that the cable connectors require at
least 100 mm (4”) of space behind the
amplifier

≤ 68 Hz

@ 1 m > 100 dB SPL

@ 1 m > 110 dB SPL

≤ 10 dB

< 3%
< 1 %

130 mm (5") cone
19 mm (3/4") metal dome

3.0 kg (6.6 lb)

2.2 kg (4.8 lb)

284 mm (113/16”)
158 mm (63/16”)

257 mm (101/8”)
160 mm (64/16”)

177 mm (631/32”) (4U)
54 mm (21/8”)
260 mm (101/4”)

Figure 7. The main dim ensions of the RAM2 amplifier

Amp lIf IeR Se ctI oN

AIc25

Bass amplifier short term output power
Treble amplifier short term output power

40 W at 8 Ohm load

40 W at 8 Ohm load
(Long term output power is limited by driver
unit protection circuitry)

Amplifier system THD at nominal output

≤ 0.08 %

Mains voltage 100, 120 or 230 V

Power consumption (average)

Idle
Full output

10 VA

80 VA

Recommended loudspeaker cable gauge 0.8 to 5.0 mm2

(18 to 10 AWG)

Standby/On switching by signal sensing Autostart function or +12 V DC
remote control

cRoSSoVeR SectIoN

AIc25

Connectors:

XLR female input, balanced 10 kOhm
RCA female input, unbalanced 10 kOhm
“LINK OUT” XLR male output, balanced
10 kOhm

Input level for 100 dB SPL output at 1 m -6 dBu

Input Sensitivity adjustment range +6 dBu to -6 dBu

Crossover frequency, Bass/Treble 3.0 kHz

Treble Tilt control operating range 0 to –2 dB @ 15 kHz

Bass Tilt control operating range in –2 dB
steps

Bass Roll-Off control -6 dB @ 85 Hz

The ‘CAL’ position is with all tone controls set to ‘off’ and the input sensitivity
control to maximum (fully clockwise).

pin 1 gnd, pin 2 +, pin 3 -

pin +, ring gnd

pin 1 gnd, pin 2 +, pin 3 -

From 0 to -6 dB @ 100 Hz

Genelec Docu ment D0064R002. Copyright G enelec Oy 11.2006. All dat a subject to change w ithout prior notice

Inter national e nquiries:

Genele c, Olvitie 5

FIN-74 100, Iisal mi, Finlan d

Phone [phone]

Fax [phone]

Email genele [e-mail]

In the U.S. please c ontact:

Genele c, Inc., 7 Tech Circl e

Natick, MA 01760 , USA

Phone [phone]

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Email genele [e-mail]

In Chi na please contact:

Beijin g Genelec Audio Co. Ltd.

Jianwa i SOHO, Tower 12, R oom 2306

39 Eas t 3rd Ring Road

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Beijin g 100022, China

Phone [phone], Fax [phone]

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Email info@gen elec.com