Phoenix Gold ATC6DM User Manual

ATC6DM

6.5” 2-Way In-Ceiling Speakers

Congratulations on your purchase of the Phoenix Gold
Innovative Home ATC Dual Mono (DM) In-Ceiling
Speaker System. This product is designed to reproduce
the audio portion of your home entertainment environ­ment with accuracy and detail that will satisfy the most
discriminating listener.

Please read this Installation Manual to ensure the
proper installation and performance of your ATC
Series speakers.

Preparing for your Installation

Gather the necessary tools for your installation.

You will need the following tools:

1) A Keyhole or Drywall Saw

2) A Phillips Screwdriver

3) Masking Tape

4) A Pencil

5) A Tape Measure

6) A Stud Finder (recommended)

7) Your ATC-DM speaker

INNOVATIVE HOME

Placement

Plan your speaker placement carefully. Make certain
that electrical, plumbing and any other services will not
interfere within the ceiling where you plan to install your
speakers. The ATC-DM speaker can be mounted in
walls, but are typically used in ceilings. The speaker
should be located so that it provides even coverage
at your listening position.

ATC-DM Summed Mono Speaker Operation

The ATC-DM speaker is designed for use in areas where
even distribution of sound is desired but stereo imaging
is not practical because of space limitations, such as a
bathroom or long hallway.

With a dual voice coil woofer and dual tweeters, the
ATC-DM speaker can sum stereo amplifier channels
into a mono audio signal. Two pairs of input terminals
allow connection of both channels from a stereo amplifier
to a single ATC-DM speaker. Set the switch on the back
of the ATC-DM speaker to 16Ω for summed m ono
operation.

Caution! Amplifier damage will occur if the ATC-DM is
set to 8Ω with two amplifier channels connected!

ATC-DM Conventional Speaker Operation

An ATC-DM speaker can be used to reproduce a single
channel of audio by making connection to either set of
input terminals and setting the switch on the back of the
speaker to 8Ω. In this configuration, both woofer voice
coils and both tweeters are driven in parallel by the
connected amplifier channel.

New Construction

If you are installing your speakers in new construction
before the finished walls go up, Phoenix Gold Innovative
Home offers New Construction Brackets, which provide
a stable frame that can be fastened to the wall studs or
ceiling joists on 16” or 24” centers. This allows the
sheet rock or other surface covering to be installed
and provides a template to cut the opening for the
ATC-DM speaker.

Existing Construction

In most modern buildings ceiling joists are positioned
on 16” centers, providing a space between the joists of
approximately 14 3/8”. The specifications chart shows
the appropriate cut out sizes (p. 4). Additionally, you
should allow an extra 3/4” in all directions behind the
ceiling surface to allow room for the screw clamps that
mount the speaker to the ceiling to swing into position.

Use a stud finder to locate the joists behind the ceiling
surface. Also, you should now check for obstructions
like cross bracing in front of and behind the desired
speaker location.

After selecting the mounting location, mark the hole to
be cut out. A template is provided in the speaker box.
Locate and align the template, then mark with pencil
on the ceiling surface. If you are unsure whether there
are obstructions behind the ceiling surface where the
speakers are to be mounted, cut a small hole in the
center of your marked mounting location. Holding your
drywall saw at a 45 degree angle (See Figure 1), cut a
square hole that you can use to locate any obstructions,
should they exist.

ROOM

Figure 1

The 45 degree wedge shape of the removed surfacing
material will make replacement, if necessary, a much
easier task and yield a better finish when patching the
work.

Once it has been determined that there are no obstruc­tions, cut the hole to mount the speaker using the drywall
saw at a 90 degree angle to the ceiling surface. Cover
the raw edges of the wallboard with masking tape
(See Figure 2). This will prevent the back pressure of the
speaker from blowing loose gypsum dust out and onto
the painted ceiling surface after installation. Do not allow
the tape to extend more than 1/4” beyond the edge of the
hole into the room. The frame of the speaker will cover
and hide the tape.

Masking T.ape

ROOM

Figure 2

Next run your speaker wire to your speaker locations.
A UL rated CL3 speaker wire is recommended when
running wire inside your walls. In many areas it may
be required by code. When running your speaker wire
you should avoid having the speaker wire run parallel
to the 120V power lines to avert picking up hum and
interference from the power service. If the speaker
wire needs to cross a 120V power line at a right angle
this is acceptable and will not create a problem.

If you are uncomfortable with running the speaker wire
yourself in existing construction, it is recommended that
you retain a qualified custom home installation specialist
or electrician.

Grill Removal for Installation

CAUTION! The grill is held in place by contact pressure

around the edges where it attaches to the speaker frame.
To avoid difficulty reinstalling the grill, care should be taken
to not distort its shape
while removing it.

1/4"(6mm)

While looking at the rear
of the speaker assembly,
rotate two of the adjacent
mounting clamps outward
and then evenly press them
towards the grill. The clamp
screws contact the inner
surface of the grill, pushing
it gently out of its mounting
groove (Figure 3). Only lift
the grill 1/4" (6mm) at this
location. Next use the other
mounting clamps to further
loosen the grill. Use care to
not distort the grill shape.

Figure 3

Connecting the Speaker

It is now time to connect the speaker wire to the speaker.
Your speaker wire is usually coded to identify each
conductor as either positive or negative. This can be
by color coding, or one conductor may have a printed
marking or at least a rib along one edge that you will not
find on the other. Identify which type of polarity coding
that your wire is using. You must carefully observe that
the positive terminal of the speaker output on your
amplifier is connected to the positive terminal of the
ATC-DM speaker. Likewise, the negative terminal of the
amplifier’s speaker output should be connected to the
negative terminal of the ATC-DM speaker (Figure 4).

(+) Amp

(-) Amp

(-) Amp

(+) Amp

(R)

(L)

Right and Left

Channels are

Both Connected

(Summed

Mono Speaker)

Installing the Speaker

Installation Tip! To further enhance the performance
of your ATC-DM speaker, the ceiling joist cavity where
you plan to place your speaker can be stuffed with a
generous quantity of fiberglass insulation. Stuff the area
in front of and behind the speaker opening with 6” thick
insulation to a depth of approximately 2 feet beginning
1 foot in front and 1 foot behind the speaker opening. If
the insulation is foil or paper backed, face the backing
away from the ATC-DM speaker. The addition of this
insulation will help prevent unwanted transfer of sound
into the otherwise large and resonant cavity of the un­insulated ceiling.

(+) Amp

Figure 4

(-) Amp

(R or L)

Caution! If the ATC-DM is set to 8Ω with two
amplifier channels connected, amplifier damage
will occur.

2

Only Right or Left

Channel is
Connected

(Conventional

Speaker)

Next make sure that the clamps are positioned inside the
frame of the speaker.

Correct

Incorrect

With the grill removed, place the speaker in the ceiling
opening. Make sure that the speaker wire is not hanging
against the speaker where it can vibrate and rattle as the
speaker reproduces your audio program.

Removing the ATC Series Speaker

Should it ever become necessary to remove the ATC
Series speaker from the ceiling, simply remove the
grill and turn the four mounting screws counter­clockwise until you feel the clamps lock out of position
in their resting flange. The speaker should easily come
out of the wall for service or replacement.

Grill Removal (if installed)

Locate a small hook tool (available at most auto parts
stores or home improvement shops, resembling a
dentist’s pick- a bent paper clip or stiff wire will work
as well), hook the metal mesh of the grill near a
corner or edge and gently pull it towards you. Only
lift the grill 1/4" (6mm) at this location. Move the tool
1-2" (25-50mm) and repeat until the grill can be
removed without damaging it (Figure 5).

Next, one at a time, turn each of the four screws that
operate the clamps counter clockwise a few turns until
you feel the clamp is loose from its resting position. Now
turn the screw clockwise until you feel the clamp contact
the ceiling surface.

1

3

Tighten all four of the mounting screws in the same
manner until the speaker is properly aligned and held
tight to the ceiling surface.

Caution: Do not over tighten!

2

4

Painting the Speaker

A paint shield is included in each ATC-DM speaker
package. Place the paint shield inside the frame to
protect the speaker . You can now safely paint the
speaker frame to match your wall surface if you desire.

When painting the grill caution sho uld be taken to
ens u re t hat pai n t d o es n ot c log or c ong e st t he
perforated openings in the grill. This would prevent
proper operation of the grill by restricting the airflow
from the individual drivers in the speaker.

Figure 5

Recommended Speaker Wire Gauges

The resistance of the speaker wire in your installation
can cause your speakers to perform at less than their
optimum quality level. Excess resistance caused by
using an undersized speaker wire can result in loss of
detail and definition in the bass region of your audio
program, as well as loss of dynamic range. Over
extremely long wire runs you may even experience a
loss of high frequency content in the audio signal.

To prevent sonic degradation in your ATC Series
speaker installation, total speaker wire resistance
should be kept below 0.5 ohms. The following table
lists recommended speaker wire gauge versus wire
run length.

50’ or less - 16 Gauge 2-Cond. CL3 Rated
50’ - 150’ - 12 Gauge 2-Cond. CL3 Rated
150’ - 200’ - 10 Gauge 2-Cond. CL3 Rated

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ATC6DM

Specifications

Dual Voice Coil Woofer
Tweeters
Frequency Response
Impedance
Sensitivity
Power Capacity
Outer Dimension
Cut Out Dimension
Mounting depth
New Construction Bracket Order Part Number: NCBC6

6.5” Mica Filled Poly Cone with Butyl Rubber Surround
Dual 19mm ferrofluid Cooled
50Hz to 20kHz
16 ohms (mono application) / 8 ohms (stereo application)
86dB/89dB, 2.83v @ 1m
10 to 175 Watts
9” (229mm) diameter

7.75” (197mm) diameter

3.38” (86mm)

Two Year Limited Warranty

Phoenix Gold Innovative Home, a division of Peak Audio Group, warrants this product against defects in materials and
workmanship for a limited period of time. For a period of two (2) years from date of original purchase, we
will repair or replace the product, at our option, without charge for parts. Customer must pay for all labor
charges associated with the removal and re-installation of speakers for the limited period and all parts and
labor charges after the limited warranty period expires. The limited warranty period for factory refurbished
products expires after ninety (90) days from date of original purchase. This limited warranty applies only to
purchases from authorized Phoenix Gold Innovative Home Retailers or Distributors. This limited warranty is
extended only to the original purchaser and is valid only to consumers in the United States.

Consumers are required to provide a copy of the original sales invoice from an authorized Phoenix Gold
Innovative Home Retailer or Distributor when making a claim against this limited warranty. This limited
warranty only covers failures due to defects in materials or workmanship that occur during normal use. It
does not cover failures resulting f rom accident, fire, flood, misuse, ab use, neglect, mishandling,
misapplication, alteration, faulty installation, modification, service by anyone other than Phoenix Gold
Innovative Home, or damage that is attributable to Acts of God. It does not cover costs of transportation to
Phoenix Gold Innovative Home or damage in transit. The customer should return their defective product,
freight prepaid and insured, to Phoenix Gold Innovative Home only after receiving a Return Authorization.

Repair or replacement under the terms of this warranty does not extend the term of this warranty. Should a
product prove to be defective in workmanship or material, the consumer's sole remedies will be repair or
replacement as provided under the terms of this warranty. If the defective product is discontinued Phoenix
Gold Innovative Home may replace the product with an equivalent or superior product at its option. Any cost
of re-installation or repair of wall or ceiling surface is the sole responsibility of the customer and that cost
shall not be the responsibility of Phoenix Gold Innovative Home. Under no circumstances shall Phoenix
Gold Innovative Home be liable for loss or damage, direct, consequential or incidental, arising out of the
use of or inability to use the product. There are no

express warranties other than described above.

INNOVATIVE HOME

13970 SW 72nd Avenue Portland, Oregon 97223

503.914.4688 Fax: [phone] Support: 877.715.5439

www.audiosource.net [e-mail]

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