Polk AB-555, AB-755 Owners manual

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION FIRST

If you intend to do the installation yourself we assume that you possess
some skill in the proper use of hand and power tools. You should have a

thorough understanding of local building and fire codes and a familiarity
with the area behind the wall or ceiling where the speakers will be
installed.

Wiring inside your walls or ceiling should be done before or in conjunc­tion with installation of your in-wall speakers. Wire meeting appropriate
building and fire codes must be used. Use at least 18 gauge wire or
heavier. Wiring is best performed by a licensed professional.

OPTIONS

1.Your in-wall loudspeakers have been packaged with stylish metal
grilles. However, if a softer or warmer appearance is desired, white
cloth grilles are available for the AB555, AB755 and AB855 loud­speakers. In some installations you may find cloth grilles to be less
obtrusive on the design of your living space than paintable metal
grilles. Of course cloth grilles should be used with indoor installa­tions only.

2.Outdoor all-weather grilles are available and required for outdoor
installations. Since the components and hardware used in the AB
Series of loudspeakers can withstand the elements for many years,
the purchase of outdoor grilles will allow the AB Series of loudspeak­ers to perform reliably in outdoor installations. The AB Loudspeakers
have 1) high efficiency to insure that the higher volumes necessary
for outdoor use can be achieved with even modest amplifiers, and 2)
high power handling to insure that they will perform reliably at the
high levels dictated by outdoor use. The AB loudspeakers are truly at
home indoors as well as out.

If you wish to order optional cloth grilles or outdoor grilles, please call
Polk Audio at 1-800-377-7655.

A WORD FROM MATTHEW POLK

Dear Music Lover,

Thank you for purchasing Polk Audio speakers. Designing and building
speakers is more than just a business for the people of Polk Audio –
it is our passion. We are all dedicated to your complete satisfaction
and delight.

Your new Polk speakers include the latest loudspeaker technology to
assure outstanding performance and unmatched quality. Please take a
moment to read through this manual for information on getting the
greatest enjoyment from these fine instruments.

We make a wide variety of main, center, rear channel, powered sub­woofer, and accessory speakers so you can assemble a complete and
well matched high-performance surround sound system. If you would
like more information on building the Polk system of your dreams, con­sult your Polk Audio dealer or call our Customer Service Department. In
North America call [phone], Monday through Friday, 9:00am
through 6:00pm Eastern time.

Sincerely,

Matthew S. Polk
Chairman and Co-Founder

P.S.: A wealth of information can also be found on our award­winning web site: www.polkaudio.com.

AB SERIES

AB555

AB755

AB755c

AB855

Instruction

Manual

WHERE SHOULD I LOCATE MY IN-WALL SPEAKERS?

Your new speakers are designed to offer years of listening enjoyment,
with many placement options available in walls or ceilings. Remember
that placement of your new speaker system bears careful consideration,
as the installation requires that you cut a hole in your wall.

1.If you would like to fill your room with sound, nearly any wall or ceil­ing location will be satisfactory, due to the superior dispersion of
your Polk speaker. Should you desire the most accurate stereo per­formance, observe the same guidelines as free standing speakers.
Your in-wall speakers should approximate an equilateral triangle
from your favorite listening position. But don’t hesitate to widen the
distance between the speakers to increase the listening “window” so
more people can enjoy the music!

2.If your speakers are part of a combination audio/video system follow
the above guidelines for accurate stereo performance, with the TV
between the two speakers (see Fig 1).

3.If your speakers are used in an outdoor installation, the best location
is one that provides shelter from rain and other outdoor elements.
The most common and ideal location is high in a wall close to the
eaves of your house which also serves to reflect the sound towards
the listening area. If you position the AB loudspeakers where water
will directly contact them, it is advisable to use a sealant or caulk
between the frame of the loudspeaker and the wall surface. This seal
should prevent water from getting behind the loudspeaker and wall
surface. Do not position the loudspeakers where water can pool on
the surface of the woofer cone or tweeter dome. This will greatly
decrease your speaker’s useful life.

4.The most popular position for a center channel speaker is just above
the TV. This position assures that dialog and on-screen action appears
to come from the TV itself. It’s also fine to place the speaker under­neath the TV as your furniture or design considerations may demand.
Your AB705c is magnetically shielded so you don’t have to worry about
color distortion when you place the speaker close to your TV.

HOW SHOULD I PAINT MY NEW SPEAKERS?

Your new speakers are packaged with the paint masks in place and they
should not be thrown away. Make sure that you paint the grille and
frame separately.

1.Grille: Be sure to remove the cloth scrim on the inside of the grille
before applying paint. Simply replace the scrim after the paint is
dry. Either hang the grille in free space or place it on paper before
painting. The grilles must be sprayed–do not use a brush or
roller–Spray two or more thin coats rather than one thick coat to
avoid clogging the perforations of your metal grilles, which can

impair performance. If you are using an interior paint, it should be
thinned before spraying. Water based dyes should be used to modify
the color of cloth grilles.

2.Frame: Paint masks have been provided to protect the speaker com-
ponents while the frame is being sprayed. Spray the frame in a simi­lar fashion to the grille, using two or more thin coats. It’s OK to paint
the frame after the speaker has been installed in the wall.

WHAT TOOLS DO I NEED TO INSTALL MY SPEAKERS?

•Pencil for marking the cutout

•Keyhole saw or utility knife for drywall cutting

•Level (optional)

•Power screwdriver with phillips head

HOW DO I INSTALL MY SPEAKERS?

Your new speakers are ready to go into the wall or ceiling right out of
the box, making installation easy. Just follow these step-by-step
instructions.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

1.The cutout must be at least 1" from adjoining walls, ceiling,

internal studs and pipes.

2.Hold the supplied template in your preferred location and trace
around it. This is the exact cutout size.

3.Cut the hole with the appropriate tool for your wall or ceiling
material

For more information visit our web site at http://www.polkaudio.com

FIG 2.

Trace around the template.

TEMPLATE

FIG 3.

Cut the hole with the appropri­ate tool.

OPTION 1

OR

OPTION2

FRONT

LEFT

CENTER

TV

FRONT

RIGHT

MAIN SPEAKERS

SURROUND SPEAKERS

FIG 1.

Audio or Audio/Video Placement
Options. Either position is satis­factory for surround sound use.