Polk Audio AB710, AB510 User Manual

SYSTEM PLACEMENT

The Polk AB Series Loudspeaker Systems are designed to provide supe­rior sonic performance without intruding on the design of your living
space. The design goals were to create open, three-dimensional sound
and smooth, accurate frequency response in an easy-to-install chassis.

Placement of the system in a room bears careful consideration, as the
installation is permanent. The AB510 and AB710 loudspeakers can be
mounted on almost any wall or ceiling. Keep in mind that placing the
loudspeakers at least 6-8 feet apart and away from room edges or cor­ners will result in better stereo imaging.

As ceiling mounted speakers point downward and are closer to the lis­tener than most wall-mount positions, it is sometimes advisable to use
more than one pair to get even distribution of sound. Intended uses,
ceiling height, room size, and listening position all play a part in
determining how many pairs should be used. In an average size room
with 8' ceilings we recommend using 2 pairs of ceiling-mounted
loudspeakers. Your Polk Audio dealer can help you make the right
choice for your room.

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 under an eave of your house facing
downward. 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.

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

AB510

AB710

Instruction

Manual

PAINTING THE SPEAKERS

The Polk AB Series Loudspeakers can be painted to fit your decorating
tastes. Paint the speaker frames before assembling them. The grilles
and frames should be painted separately. Grille – 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.

LISTENING LEVELS AND AMPLIFIER CONNECTIONS

Our AB Series Loudspeakers are highly efficient systems and will easily
achieve high listening levels with moderate amounts of power.
Remember that the greatest chance of damage to any speaker occurs
when the amplifier, regardless of size, is overdriven. Surprisingly, the
possibility is usually greater with small amplifiers than with larger ones.

If the sound becomes harsh and steely in character, then you may be
pushing your amplifier into “clipping” mode. Amplifier clipping creates
undesirable high frequency energy and runs the risk of tweeter damage.
Regardless of amplifier size or speaker power rating, when you turn the
volume control past the point where distortion becomes audible you are
risking damage to both the speaker and amplifier.

IMPORTANT—Proper polarity is essential to the Polk AB series. The
positive terminal on the driver is designated with a plus(+). It must be
connected to the positive(red) terminal on your amplifier. The other ter­minal, designated with a minus(-) must be connected to the
negative(black) terminal of your amplifier.

Use the pigtails to connect your speaker wire to the loudspeakers. You
may use a wirenut, solder, or twist and tape to connect the two wires.
Take special care to ensure a clean, positive connection. Make sure that
the connections are insulated from touching any other metal or each
other.

WIRING CONSIDERATIONS

As with the mounting locations, the wire routing is permanent, and so
demands special attention. The following recommendations will help you
make the best decisions in selecting and installing the wire used to con­nect the loudspeakers to the amplifier.

Wire Recommendations

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.

Routing the Wire

It is beyond the scope of this manual to address all possible situations,
but certain basic rules should be followed:

1.) The wiring scheme you choose is determined by the number of
units you are installing, the way you wish to distribute the sound,
the amplifier you have chosen, and degree of flexibility you wish to
provide in your system.

2.) The wire run lengths should be kept as short as possible.
If runs over fifty feet long are necessary, heavier gauge wire
is recommended.

3.) Avoid routing speaker wires near house electrical cables. If this
cannot be avoided, try to make the speaker wires cross the power
cable at right angles.

4.) Try to avoid routing the wires against sharp objects, particularly
plumbing or electrical fittings.

5.) Allow about two feet of free wire at the wall cutout to facilitate
installation of the loudspeaker.

TOOLS NEEDED

•Pencil and template for marking cutout
(template is part of packaging insert)

•Keyhole saw and/or utility knife for cutting

mounting opening

•No. 2 phillips head screwdriver

•Wire strippers

•Sharp pointed metal device, such as ball point pen,
paper clip, or metal scriber for lifting off the grille

INSTALLING IN EXISTING CONSTRUCTION

Your Polk AB Loudspeakers have been designed for easy installation.
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.

If you are not accustomed to working on your walls or ceiling, the time
to get help is before you start cutting. There must be at least one inch of
clearance between the cutout and any studs or joists in order for the
mounting hardware (dogs) to place themselves properly. Wall studs are
spaced on 16 inch centers in most parts of the country, but actual spacing
should be verified.

Your AB’s require a mounting depth of at least three inches measured
from the face of the wall; they can be installed in walls faced with
paneling as little as 5/16" thick or plaster-on-lath as thick as two inch­es. For acoustical considerations you may wish to insulate the area
behind the speaker loosely with a small amount of fiberglass batting or
dacron to reduce the potential problem of sound transmission into an
adjoining room.

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