Parasound C-260, C-265, C-280 Owners manual

In-Wall Loudspeakers

C 280, C 265, and C 260

Ceiling Loudspeakers

C 85, C 70, and C 65

®

www.parasound.com

INSTALLATION GUIDE

UNPACKING AND INSPECTION

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Unpacking and Inspection

Carefully unpack your Parasound loudspeakers. Each carton contains the following:

Qty Description

2 Baffles and speaker assemblies
2 Metal grills
2 Paint shields
1 Cardboard mounting template
Be sure to carefully inspect these parts for signs of shipping damage. If you notice any damage,

contact your Parasound Dealer immediately.

Before You Start

If you have any doubts about your ability to properly install these loudspeakers, you should con­sider the services of a custom installer before you start cutting into walls or ceilings.

Parasound in-wall and ceiling speakers mount into standard 4 inch deep stud walls. Determine
the final locations for all speakers before cutting the first hole, since the position of each speak­er may affect the others, either aesthetically or acoustically. Check for pipes, house wiring, or
other items inside walls that might be damaged when you cut holes.

Prewiring

Speaker wire should be rated to comply with applicable local safety codes such as UL or CL-2.
Use only stranded wire no thinner than AWG 16. For runs longer than 100 feet, we recommend
using at least AWG 14. When pulling wire, take care not to pull the wire too fast to prevent
stretching the wire or scorching the insulation from friction. Leave 2 to 3 feet of excess loud­speaker wire at both ends; it is easier to trim off excess wire than to splice additional wire. When
securing the wire inside the walls, be careful not to pierce its insulation with nails or staples.

For best performance and easier troubleshooting, always “home run” wiring when installing
multiple speakers rather than connecting from one speaker to the next. Make certain that each
power amplifier channel can drive the combined load impedance if it’s connected to more than
one speaker. You may need additional amplifiers or the load impedance protection that’s includ­ed with many loudspeaker selectors.

If you plan to hide an infrared receiver behind the loudspeaker grill, you’ll need to pre-wire a
three conductor control wire along with the speaker wire.

Installation

1. Reconfirm that there is clearance between each edge of the planned cutout and wall studs
or floor joists.

2. Fasten the supplied cardboard template to the wall or ceiling with tape or thumbtacks.

3. Use either the inner or outer section of the template, whichever is easier for you.

4. Hold a level against the edge of the rectangular template to insure the cutout will be parallel
to the ceiling or floor.

5. Trace the cutout guide with a pencil.

6. Before making the final cutout, make a smaller “test cutout” in the center of the penciled
outline. Reach inside the test hole to verify that there are no obstructions.

7. Score the drywall with a razor knife and use a keyhole saw to complete the cut. Remove
debris from the exposed edge of the wall or ceiling.

8. Secure the speaker wire to a wall stud adjacent to the cutout to prevent its weight from
pulling it loose from the speaker terminals. This also keeps the wire from dropping behind
the wall before you connect it.

9. We recommend that you install sound-absorbing material such as ceiling insulation behind
the woofer to reduce sound transmission into the adjoining room. Sound leakage from behind
the molded frame can be blocked with foam weather-stripping applied to the rear surface of
the speaker bezel.

10.Insert the speaker wires into the connectors, making sure + and - polarity is correct.
Note about C 70: Matching + and - polarity for both channels is even more important for the
two channels of the C 70. If you are attaching only one wire to the C 70 you may use either
of its two input terminals.

11. Insert the speaker frame into the cutout; it should go into the cutout easily, without forcing.
You may need to swing some or all of the mounting dogs back in their resting positions first.

12.Tighten the mounting screws on the bezel. There are six screws for Parasound rectangle­shaped in-wall speakers and four screws for Parasound round ceiling speakers. When you first
turn these screws, small clamps or “mounting dogs” will automatically swing out from their
resting positions. As you continue turning the screws, the dogs will then clamp against the
rear surface of the wall or ceiling. Avoid using excessive force to prevent deforming or crack­ing the speaker’s mounting frame.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

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