Polk Audio RM6000 User Manual 2

the speaker specialists

®

OWNER’S

MANUAL

RM6000SPEAKER SYSTEM

2 Contact Polk Audio Customer Service 1-800-377-7655, [e-mail]

GETTING STARTED

The RM6000 System carton should contain the following items:

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Four (4) magnetically shielded satellite speakers

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One (1) magnetically shielded center channel speaker

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One (1) Powered Subwoofer

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Five (5) sets of four (4) “Bump Ons” (adhesive rubber feet), 20 total

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One (1) warranty card

Please inspect each loudspeaker carefully. Notify your Polk Audio dealer if you notice any difference, damage, or any missing items. Keep the
carton and packing material. They will do the best job of protecting your speakers if they need to be transported.

SPEAKER PLACEMENT

CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKER (Figure 1)

Place the center channel speaker as close to your TV as possible in order to “anchor” dialogue and effects to the screen area. The most popular
placement for a center channel speaker is right on top of your TV set. It is also fine to place below the TV or on the wall directly above the TV;
use the convenient keyhole slots on the rear of the speaker (see next section).

FRONT SATELLITES (Figure 2)

To provide ideal imaging, try to place the front satellites to the left and right of your TV about as far apart as the distance you are sitting from
them. Avoid placing them less than 2 feet (60cm) from the side walls of the room. RM Satellites will sound great mounted on the wall on stands,
bookshelves, or in entertainment centers. RM6000 satellites are easy to mount onthe wall using convenient keyhole slots built right in the back
of the speakers. When mounting the speakers on stands or on a shelf, place them at or near your ear level. (Speaker stands appropriate for the
RM6000 satellites are available at your Polk Audio dealer or in the Polk Webstore at www.polkaudio.tranguard.com.)

SURROUND SPEAKERS (Figures 3a, 3b)

The best placement for surround channel speakers is on the side walls, facing each other, a foot or two behind your listening position. If this
placement is not possible, the speakers may be placed on a rear wall. In either case, mount the speakers two to four feet (60-120cm) above your
head (when seated).

POWERED SUBWOOFER (Figures 4, 5)

The RM6000 System includes a Powered Subwoofer to enhance bass and really add punch to your home theater. This subwoofer may be placed
inside an entertainment center, behind furniture or next to a sofa or chair. It can be placed anywhere in the room, but you will get the best per­formance from it when it is on the same side of the room as the front satellites. Placing it near a wall or in a corner will increase bass loudness.
Allow at least 6 inches (15cm) of space between the subwoofer driver and a wall or obstruction. It may lie on its side, but NEVER LAY THE SUB­WOOFER ON THE AMPLIFIER END – THIS WILL DAMAGE THE AMPLIFIER (Figure 5). This subwoofer is not magnetically shielded and should not
be placed close to a television set. If you see any color distortion on your TV, move the subwoofer away from the set.

For more detailed subwoofer placement and set-up advice go to http://www.polkaudio.com/home/faqad/.

WALL-MOUNTING THE SATELLITES AND CENTER SPEAKER (FIGURES 6, 7)

For easy, safe and secure installation, RM Series Satellite and Center Channel Speakers have keyhole slots incorporated into their design (2 on
the back of the Center Channel and 1 on the back of the Satellites). On-wall installation of RM speakers requires basic skills and basic tools
(drill and screwdriver). If you are in doubt that you possess the necessary skills or tools, consult your Polk dealer or a professional installer.
Otherwise, grab your tools and follow the steps below to safely secure the speakers to the location of your choice.

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Make sure the locations you have selected for wall-mounting do not conceal electrical wiring or plumbing.

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Hold the speaker in the chosen location to make certain it clears the ceiling, adjacent walls, corners, beams, lighting fixtures and
door/window frames.

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If you are certain that there is a stud behind the wall surface, drive a #10 screw (not supplied) through the wall and into the stud leaving
the screw head protruding 1/8” (4mm) (Figure 6a)

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If there is no stud behind the chosen location, install a #10 wall anchor (not supplied) into the wall by following the wall anchor
manufacturer’s directions, then insert a #10 screw (not supplied), leaving the screw head protruding 1/16” (1.6mm) (Figure 6b).

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For masonry walls, use a masonry drill bit and #10 masonry anchor and screw (not included).

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Line up the speaker so that the screw head passes through the large center hole of the keyhole slot. Let the speaker slide straight down,
allowing the screw head to slip behind the smaller end of the keyhole slot (Figure 7).

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If you require more flexibility, use an optional fully articulating “ball and socket” type mounting bracket such as the Series 25 RST by
Omnimount, available at your Polk Audio dealer or in the Polk Webstore at www.polkaudio.tranguard.com.

For accessories and information visit www.polkaudio.com 3

CONNECTING THE SPEAKERS TO YOUR SYSTEM

Follow the hookup directions included with your receiver. We recommend using two-conductor 16 gauge or thicker speaker wire. Strip 1/4"
(6mm) of insulation from each of the two conductors to expose the bare metal and twist each of the individual conductors into single unfrayed
strands. Note that one of the terminals on the rear of each speaker is red (+) and the other is black (–). Make certain that you connect the wire
from the red (+) terminal of your amplifier or receiver to the red (+) terminal on your speaker and the wire from the black (–) terminal of your
amplifier or receiver to the black (–) terminal on your speaker. Most wire has some indicator (such as color-coding, ribbing or writing) on one
of the two conductors to help you maintain consistency. If your speakers sound “thin,” with little bass and little or no center image, chances are
that one of the speaker wires is connected backwards. Double-check all connections.

USING PUSH-TAB CONNECTORS (FIGURE 8)

To connect wire to the push-tab connectors, push the plastic tab of one connector to open the hole. Insert the bare wire into the hole and
release the plastic tab (Figure 8). Repeat this step with the other connectors.

A NOTE ABOUT BASS MANAGEMENT

For best sound, DO NOT USE THE “SUBWOOFER OUTPUT” OR LFE JACK ON YOUR RECEIVER TO CONNECT THE SUBWOOFER. The RM6000
System features a powered subwoofer that has a built-in, adjustable low pass filter to separate the low frequency signals (the bass) from the
full range signal. The dedicated “subwoofer output” jacks (sometimes labeled “LFE” or “Low Frequency Effects”) on most receivers also contain
a fixed low pass filter. If you connect the subwoofer to the receiver’s LFE Out jack, the two filters will interact, reducing the fidelity of your
system. Follow the hook up and receiver set-up/bass management instructions below and all of the bass will go to the subwoofer, you will not
lose any bass, and you will get the highest possible performance from your system. We promise.

For more detailed subwoofer placement and set-up advice go to http://www.polkaudio.com/home/faqad/.

RECOMMENDED HOOK-UP METHOD (FIGURES 9, 10)

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Connect the left and right front speaker outputs of your receiver or amplifier to the speaker level inputs of the powered subwoofer with
speaker wire.

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Then, connect the left and right front satellite speakers with speaker wire from the speaker level outputs from the powered subwoofer.

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If it is more convenient, parallel wire the subwoofer and front satellites from your receiver (Figure 10).

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Connect the Center Channel Speaker directly to the center channel output from your receiver.

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Connect the Rear Surround Satellites directly to the rear or surround channel outputs from your receiver.

RECEIVER SET-UP/BASS MANAGEMENT

All surround receivers allow you to “customize” their performance depending on the size of your speakers. Refer to the owner’s manual of your
receiver or surround processor to learn how this is done. To get the best performance from the RM6000, use the following settings with the
above hook-up method:

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Front speakers—set to “large”

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Center speaker—set to “normal” or “small”

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Surround speakers—set to “small”

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Subwoofer—set to “OFF” or “none.” (We know. Doesn’t make sense, right? Your RM6000 has a subwoofer. But really truly, this is the
correct setting for the recommended hook-up method. By setting the front left and right speakers to “Large” and routing them through
the subwoofer as instructed above, you deliver a full range signal to the subwoofer’s low pass filter. The low pass filter takes the low
frequencies and passes the rest on to the front speakers, for perfect sub/sat blending.)

ADJUSTING THE POWERED SUBWOOFER FOR BEST PERFORMANCE (FIGURE 11)

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Set the Phase Switch to 180°.

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Start with the Volume Control at about the 12:00 Noon position. Adjust up or down until you get sufficient bass for your personal taste.
Remember that sub placement position can have a very pronounced effect on the perceived bass level.

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Turn the Low Pass Filter Control to the 2:00 position and adjust as appropriate for best sub/sat blending. You’ll know the setting is correct
when a high quality recorded male voice sounds full without any “chestiness.” If vocals sound “thin” turn this setting up (toward 160Hz), if
they sound “boomy,” turn it down (toward 80Hz).

4 Contact Polk Audio Customer Service 1-800-377-7655, [e-mail]

SAFE LIMITS OF OPERATION

Your Polk Audio RM Series loudspeakers are made with the highest-quality materials to ensure years of great sounding, trouble-free perfor­mance. However, damage to loudspeakers can occur when an amplifier, regardless of its wattage, is made to play at higher listening levels that
its power can clearly produce. (This is usually beyond the “1 to 2 o’clock” position on the volume control.) This results in very high levels of
audible distortion originating in the amplifier, which adds a harsh, gritty sound to the music you’re listening to. Contrary to popular belief,
a speaker is more likely to be damaged by trying to get too much volume from a low-powered amp or receiver than from a high-powered one.

MAINTAINING THE APPEARANCE OF RM SERIES SPEAKERS

Your new speaker cabinet is made of a rugged material that can be dusted or cleaned with a damp cloth. Avoid harsh detergents and cleaning
fluids; they can permanently damage the finish of your speakers. Gently vacuum the grilles to remove dust.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR SERVICE

If, after following these hook up directions, you experience difficulty, please double-check all wire connections. Should you isolate the problem
to the speaker, contact the authorized Polk Audio dealer where you made your purchase, or call Polk Audio’s friendly Customer Service
Department at 800-377-7655 (US or CAN), 410-764-5266 (9am to 6pm EST, Monday through Friday). You may also contact us via email:
[e-mail]. For more information, visit www.polkaudio.com.

For more detailed hook up information and manual updates, visit:
http://www.polkaudio.com/home/products/systems/rm6000
or
http://www.polkaudio.com/home/faqad

For recommended accessories (including speaker stands, brackets,
accessories and exclusive Polk Audio logowear) visit our webstore:
http://www.polkaudio.tranguard.com