Niles Audio AT8500, AT8700 User Manual
MODELS
AT8500
AT8700
B LENDING H IGH F IDELITY AND A RCHITECTURE
®
INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDE
MODELS
AT8500
AT8700
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
®
IN-WALL LOUDSPEAKERS
Congratulations!
Thank you for choosing Advanced Technology In-Wall Loudspeakers from Niles.
With proper installation and operation, you'll enjoy years of trouble-free use.
Niles manufactures the industry's most complete line of custom installation
components and accessories for audio/video systems. For a free full line catalog
write: Niles, Catalog Request, P. O. Box 160818, Miami, Florida 33116-0818
©1999 Niles Audio Corporation. Because Niles strives to continuously improve its products, Niles reserves the right to
change product specifications without notice. Niles, the Niles logo and Blending High Fidelity and Architecture are registered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation. BumpBack, X-Matrix, DSFG, LinearTrack and Micr oSensor ar e trademarks of
Niles Audio Corporation. Dynamat is a trademark of Dynamic Control Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation. Decora is a registered trademark of Leviton Manufacturing Co.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
FEATURES AND BENEFITS 1
INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS 3
SPEAKER PLACEMENT 5
INSTALLATION FUNDAMENTALS 10
INSTALLATION OF BRACKETS, FRAMES AND GRILLES IN NEW CONSTRUCTION 14
INSTALLATION OF BRACKETS, FRAMES AND GRILLES IN EXISTING WALLS 16
INSTALLATION OF THE SPEAKER AND GRILLE INNEWOR EXISTING CONSTRUCTION 17
OPERATION 20
SPECIFICATIONS 21
WARRANTY REGISTRATION CARD 24
LIMITED WARRANTY 25
Introduction
The AT or Advanced Technology group of
In-Wall Loudspeakers are designed to
deliver truly stunning performance with
optimum installation flexibility. All models
in the AT series are constructed using the
highest quality components and utilize
advanced materials technology to create
speakers capable of reproducing both
music and movie soundtracks with stunning realism and sonic impact. They are
perfect anywhere that quality of sound is
the most important consideration.
An AT8500/AT8700 Series Speaker Kit;
AT8000 Series Bracket Kit; and an
AT8000 Series Frame/Grille Kit are
required to install one pair of AT8500,
AT8700 In-Wall Loudspeakers in either
new or existing construction.
Features and Benefits
Patent Pending Dispersion Control
Array with Directed Sound Field
Geometry
™ (DSFG)
Both the AT8500 and AT8700 models
employ Niles’ Directed Sound Field
Geometry (DSFG). With DSFG, the tweeter
is offset from the center of the dual
midrange drivers. The resulting acoustic
interaction between the dual midrange drivers and the offset tweeter directs the flattest
frequency and phase response approximately 15 degrees off-axis from the tweeter.
By mounting this innovative midrange/
tweeter design on 360 degree rotating and
30 degree swiveling low diffraction
Dispersion Control Array, the AT8500 and
AT8700 models can deliver pinpoint imaging and optimum phase and frequency
response regardless of speaker placement or
listening position.
High Performance Woofer and
Tweeter Designs
Both the AT8500 and AT8700 models
incorporate woofer designs which feature
cast aluminum frames, vented pole pieces,
custom debris screens, inverted dust caps,
butyl rubber surrounds, and Niles
BumpBack™ magnet structure to provide
powerful and accurate bass response.
Additionally, the AT8700 features a bi-filer
voice coil winding which enhances the
speaker’s already flat frequency response
characteristics, lowers distortion, and
increases the woofer’s efficiency.
AT8500—Aluminum/Urethane
Composite Woofer
The AT8500’s 8” woofer is constructed of a
composite of aluminum and urethane
which is extremely light, highly efficient,
and offers superior damping characteristics.
Dual Hyperbolic Aluminum/Urethane
Dome Midranges and Tweeter
The A T8500’ s dual 1-1/2” midrange drivers
and single 1” tweeter incorporate the same
aluminum/urethane composite used in the
construction of the AT8500’s woofer. The
result is a very natural sounding speaker
capable of reproducing mids and highs
with superb detail and accuracy.
AT8700—Aluminum/Titanium/Urethane
Composite Woofer
The A T8700’s 8” woofer is constructed of a
three layer composite of aluminum, titanium, and urethane to offer unparalleled
rigidity, excellent transient response, and
very low distortion.
Dual Hyperbolic Dome Midranges
and Tweeter
The AT8700’s dual 1-1/2” midrange drivers
and single 1” tweeter all share composite
design consisting of an inner aluminum
layer that forms the dome, a stiffening layer
of titanium, and a damping layer of urethane to kill unwanted resonances.
Features and Benefits
1
Patent Pending
Computer Optimized Crossover with
Acoustical Configuration Controls
The second order Linkwitz-Riley crossover
is computer optimized and constructed of
premium components for unparalleled
sonic performance. The baffle-mounted
Tone Controls provide installers with Bass,
Midrange and Treble adjustment in four
increments (-2dB, Flat, +2dB, +4dB).
Additionally, the AT8700 features a SubBass Boost control which adds 3dB at 60Hz
to enhance the speaker’s low frequency
performance if desired, and two Linear
Track™ Filters. These controls can be used
to fine tune the speakers performance or to
compensate for less than ideal room
acoustics. (For more information, see
Setting the Tone Controls on page 20).
BumpBack™ Woofer Magnet
Niles engineers have utilized a unique magnet construction allowing far greater “throw”
or voice coil excursion. This enables Niles
AT loudspeakers to play louder without
mechanical distortion or “bottoming”.
6mm Polycarbonate X-Matrix™
Reinforced Baffle
The A T8500 and AT8700 models feature an
extra thick (6mm) polycarbonate, X-Matrix
baffle design which uses specially molded
ribs to add rigidity to the baffle assembly.
The end result is better bass and improved
midrange detail.
Weather Resistant Construction
The A T8500 and A T8700 loudspeakers feature drivers which are impervious to moisture; the grille (sold separately as part of the
AT8000 Series Frame and Grille kit) is
made of aluminum, and all exposed hardware is constructed of stainless steel.
Absolutely Flush to the Wall
Appearance
The unique mounting system of the AT loudspeakers securely clamps the frame to the
bracket, sandwiching the wall material
between them. Because the clamping action
is totally uniform around the frame, there are
no shadows or gaps between the wall and the
frame. Additionally, the Niles mounting system is carefully optimized to stiffen the surrounding drywall and prevent it from resonating. You hear only the music, not the drywall.
Easy Retrofit Installation in your
Existing Home
Designed for ease of installation, the Niles
mounting system makes retrofit installations simple and fast. A supplied template
assures fast and accurate hole cutting. The
bracket slips behind the drywall and the
screws secure the bracket to the frame,
sandwiching the drywall between them.
The speaker baffle attaches to the frame,
and the grille mounts over the speaker.
Three Stage Installation System for
Remodels or New Construction
Y ou install only the parts you need for a particular stage of construction. When the framing and wiring are finished, you install the
bracket. After the drywall is up, but before
the painter begins to paint, you install the
frame and provide the painter with the aluminum grilles so that they can be painted to
match the surroundings. Only when construction is completely finished do you put
the valuable speaker in the wall. You don’t
have to mask or prep the speaker for painting, and worries about theft during the final
phases of construction are never an issue!
Eight Ohm Impedance
The AT8500 and AT8700 speakers are
designed to be compatible with most amplifiers. Their eight ohm impedance is an easy
electrical load for most amplifiers to drive.
Low Diffraction, Paintable
Aluminum Grilles
AT speakers are available with aluminum
grilles. The powder-coated aluminum grille
has hundreds of precisely sized perforations,
creating an acoustically transparent grille.
Infrared Sensor Mount
The speaker baffle has a locator designed for
the Niles MS-1 MicroSensor,™ a miniature
infrared sensor. The MS-1 installs discretely
behind the aluminum grille and therefore
minimizes wall clutter in your home. When
you want to control your equipment, you
simply point your remote control at the
speaker from up to 15 feet away.
Features and Benefits
2
New Construction Wings
Bracket
Frame
Speaker Baffle
Grille
Recommended Amplifier Power
For satisfactory performance, we recommend an amplifier with a power rating of
twenty to two hundred watts for the
AT8500 and AT8700 speakers. Curiously,
most speakers are not damaged by large
amplifiers but by small amplifiers. If your
system is playing loudly, a small amplifier
will run out of power very quickly. When
an amplifier runs out of power it creates
damaging “clipping” distortion. A large
amplifier will play at the same volume
without distorting. (For more information
about clipping distortion, see the section
on Operation, on page 20).
Incorporating a Local Volume Control
In a multi-room system there is one indispensible control for true convenience—a
local volume control. It allows you to
adjust the volume of the speakers without
leaving the room.
Plan to wire the system so that each pair of
speakers has its own volume control built
into the wall (think of a volume control as
a dimmer switch for sound).
Niles makes a wide range of high performance indoor and outdoor volume controls. They are available in Standard or
Decora
®
style faceplates (just like your light
switches and dimmers). Volume controls
Installation Considerations
3
Figure 1
Model AT8700 Shown
Installation Considerations
are connected in line with the speaker, so
you must connect the wire from the amplifier to the volume control and then from
the volume control to the speaker.
Speaker Wire
Use 2-conductor speaker wire when connecting AT speakers to your receiver or
amplifier. For most applications, we recommend you use a minimum of 16 or 1 8 gauge
wire. For wiring runs longer than 80 feet we
recommend a minimum of 14 gauge wire.
The gold plated binding post terminals of
the AT speakers will accommodate up to 8
gauge wire directly. Banana jack or pin
connectors may also be used.
When wire is to be run inside walls, special jacketing (CL-2 or CL-3) is required to
both protect the wire and for fire prevention. In some areas conduit is required. For
a trouble-free installation, low voltage
wire such as speaker wire must be run in
accordance with the National Electrical
Code and any applicable provisions of the
local building code. If you are unsure of
the correct installation techniques, wire
jacket or type of conduit to use, consult a
professional audio/video installer, your
building contractor, or the local building
and inspection department.
Incorporating a Remote Control
If you are planning to use a stereo system
with a hand held IR remote control, consider the advantages of installing a Niles IR
Repeater System. Y ou are able to control all
of the functions of your system from the
room with the remote pair of speakers.
Niles makes a number of IR sensors which
install in the wall, in the ceiling, in cabinetry, on tabletops, or even behind the
grille of your Niles AT speakers.
An IR sensor requires that a 2-conductor
shielded wire (West Penn D291 or equivalent) be home run from each sensor location to the main equipment location. This
wire is normally run beside the speaker
wire at the same time. Typically, the sensor
is placed in a location that faces your listening position. Most remote controls will
have an effective line of sight range of 18
to 30 feet with any Niles sensor placed in
a wall, ceiling, on a cabinet or tabletop.
However, when you place a Niles MS-1
MicroSensor behind the perforated aluminum grille of a speaker, the sensor’s
effective range is reduced to 9 to 15 feet.
Acoustical Treatment Options
For the best performance from your AT
speakers, acoustically treating the surrounding drywall is suggested. In new construction installations, the most practical
option is to block off the wall cavity both
above and below the area where the
speaker will be installed. This will create a
“backbox” containing a specific volume of
air in which the performance of the
AT8500 and AT8700 speakers will be optimized. When installing the AT speakers in
a standard wall (16” stud spacing with 2x4
studs) the suggested air volume would be
2540 cubic inches or 52” of space
between the top and bottom walls of the
“backbox”. If the speakers are to be
installed in a 2x6 wall, a true backbox may
be constructed using 1/2” or 5/8” thick
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). The
dimensions of the enclosure may be varied
in terms of height, width, and depth, as
long as the interior volume of the enclosure
remains approximately 2540 cubic inches.
Although the A T speakers utilize an infinite
baffle design which does not require the
use of a backbox, critical listeners may
Installation Considerations
TECH TIP
Wire size is expressed by its AWG (American Wire
Gauge) number. The lower the number, the larger
the wire, i.e. twelve AWG is physically larger than
fourteen AWG.
4
appreciate the tighter bass and extended
frequency response into the lower octaves
that the use of a backbox (or blocking off
the wall cavity) will provide. Ahole cutting
template is provided with the AT8000
Series Bracket Kit. The cutout for the speaker must measure 9-3/4” x 17-1/4”.
Insulating the Wall Cavity
When it is not possible to use a backbox,
good results can be achieved by treating
the interior of the drywall cavity with
Dynamat™ or a similar cabinet damping
material. At least two linear feet of damping material should be adhered to the rear
wall and to the front wall (one foot above
and one foot below the cutout) of the wall
cavity. Additionally, insulating the wall
cavity behind the speaker with fiberglass
insulation (e.g., R-19 unbatted insulation)
will improve performance. Try to keep the
amount of insulation used for each speaker equal, as bass output will be more consistent. Further improvement can be made
by wedging a brace of 1x1 stock between
the front and rear walls, both above and
below the cutout. Use care when inserting
the brace, as too much pressure will create
a bulge in the wall.
Speaker Placement
The AT8500 and AT8700 speakers feature
a low diffraction midrange/tweeter array
which employs Niles’ DSFG. This innovative driver configuration can be adjusted to
provide optimum phase and frequency
response at the listening position. Please
read
Positioning the Midrange/Tweeter
Array
under Installation of the Speaker
and Grille in New or Existing Construction
on page 17 before deciding on a final
installation location for your AT8500 or
AT8700 speakers.
Placement for Critical Listening
If you like to imagine that the band or
orchestra is playing in front of you as you listen to music, or you are very conscious of
Speaker Placement
5
Speaker
Placement
Zone
Speaker
Placement
Zone
10’
5’
10’
Figure 2
clarity, detail and the textures of the individual instruments, you are a critical listener. In
a home theater, the intelligibility of dialog
and action reproduced by the front speakers
is paramount! The position of the speakers
plays a very important role in how clear the
sound is and how a stereo image is created.
Here are some guidelines to make the
process of placement quick and easy.
Make sure the sound will not be blocked or
reflected off of furniture or other objects.
You should have a direct line of sight with
the front of the speaker. To determine the
best position, measure the “listening” distance between the ideal listening position
(your favorite chair or couch) and the wall
in which you plan to install the speakers.
Try to place the speakers so that they are
equally distant from your listening spot and
at least one half of the listening distance
apart (this maintains a large pleasant stereo
“image”). In home theater applications
where there is a center channel you may
choose to space the left and right main
speakers farther apart for a “bigger than
life” sound with Dolby
®
encoded movies
and TV shows. However, for combined
music and movie usage stay within the
good placement zone for music. For example; if you are ten feet back from the wall,
the speakers should be between five and
ten feet apart (See Figure 2).
The Boundary Effect
Corners can affect the bass response of the
speaker powerfully! This is called the
boundary effect. You will emphasize particular bass frequencies and cancel out other
bass frequencies when you place speakers
close to the wall/ceiling boundary or a corner wall boundary. This can make the
speaker sound excessively boomy and inaccurate to some listeners, while to others it
just seems like more bass sound. A good
rule of thumb is if you always listen to your
current pair of speakers with the bass turned
up, you’ll enjoy corner placement. If you
keep your preamp or receiver’s tone controls at neutral, try to keep the speakers at
least one or two feet from the boundaries of
the room. The baffle-mounted Acoustical
Configuration Controls may be used to help
reduce the affect of corner placement (or the
room’s own acoustics) on the speakers performance. (For more information, see
Setting the Tone Controls on page 20).
Placement for Varying Listening
Positions
If you want the freedom to sit anywhere in a
room facing any direction, and/or find that
you prefer the “all around you” sound of
some car stereos to a conventional “sound
stage” facing you, consider the speaker
placement techniques professional installers
use in restaurants and bars. They place
Speaker Placement
Figure 3
For an AT8700 placed above a
TV, install the speaker with the
tweeter up.
6
AT8700
AT8700
Not Greater
than 24"
TV
AT8700
speakers in an array around the listening
area, so that the music is always surrounding you, regardless of the direction you face.
The rule of thumb is to add one pair of
speakers for every 100 to 200 square feet of
listening area. Curiously, this is not so that
you can play the music louder, but so that
you can play it softer! When you have only
one pair of speakers in a large room you will
notice that when the sound is perfect in one
part of the room, it is too loud near the
speakers. By placing more than one pair in
the room you will avoid these “hot spots” of
loud sound and create more sonic
ambiance while maintaining clarity and rich
sound everywhere.
You can make listener position even less
critical by using mono rather than stereo.
This can be difficult to achieve with normal
stereo amplifiers. However, Niles manufactures Systems Integration Amplifiers
which enable one room to be wired in
stereo while other rooms are wired in
mono! Consult your local Niles dealer for
more information.
In smaller rooms or rooms that are infrequently used, you typically can’t justify the
expense of more than two speakers. Try to
bracket the room with the two speakers.
Diagonal placement is a very effective way
to stretch the coverage pattern of two
speakers. You can also compromise
between direct sound (for detail and clarity) and reflected sound (the ambient or “all
around you” effect). By trying to place the
speakers so that they create as much
reflected sound as possible, you emphasize
the ambient effect. They can be up high in
Speaker Placement
7
Figure 4
For an AT8500 or AT8700 speaker placed below a projection screen, position the Midrange/Tweeter Array
horizontally with the tweeter facing down. For an AT speaker installed behind a perforated screen, the
Array should be positioned horizontally with the tweeter facing up if above ear level, or facing down if
below ear level. The speaker itself may be installed either horizontally or vertically.
Perforated Screen
AT8700
AT8700 AT8700
AT8700
Loading...