Page 1
Audio Systems
OWNER’S MANUAL
Ideal
Listening
Zone
Front
Left
Center
Front
Right
Rear
Right
Rear
Left
A
BC
A=B=C
TOP VIEW
MDS / MDS2
Surface Mount Speakers
MDS PACKAGE CONTENTS
• (2) MDS Speakers with Integral Mounting Brackets
• (2) MDS Back Plates
• (2) Beauty Plates
• (2) Speaker Grilles
• Assorted Mounting Hardware
PCB-MDS Pre-Construction Brackets purchased separately
MDS2 PACKAGE CONTENTS
• (1) MDS2 Speaker with Integral Mounting Bracket
• (1) MDS Back Plate
• (1) Beauty Plate
• (1) Speaker Grille
• Assorted Mounting Hardware
PCB-MDS Pre-Construction Brackets purchased separately
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on purchasing MDS Series Surface Mount Speakers from Proficient. MDS Series Speakers provide a surface mount option for
speaker placement when in-wall or in-ceiling installation is not practical or desirable. They include a directional Integral Mounting Bracket
that allows installing the speakers in just about any wall or ceiling position and directing the sound image to the listening area. The Mounting
Bracket is mounted to a standard metal J-Box or to the PCB-MDS Pre-Construction Bracket (sold separately) for optimum speaker placement.
To be sure that you optimize the performance of your MDS Series Speakers, please read this manual carefully.
SPEAKER PLACEMENT
When following the recommendations below, please keep in mind that placement can be on ceilings or walls. MDS Series Speakers can be
used as a pair for stereo listening, or for all five channels of a home theater system: front left and right, center, and rear left and right.
Determine The Ideal Listening Zone
The area where the user will most likely be sitting when listening to the
speakers is the ideal listening zone.
Placement of Stereo Pair / Front Channels for
Home Theater
The distance between the left and right speakers should as closely equal the
distance from one speaker to the listener as possible. For Home Theater,
optimal distance from the sides of the video display will depend on the
predicted listening position. See Diagram 1
Placement of Center Channel for Home Theater
Place the center channel speaker in line between the front left and right
speaker directly above the screen. See Diagram 1
Placement of Rear Channels for Home Theater
Right and Left Rear Speakers should installed behind the listening area, at
equal distances from the Ideal Listening Zone. See Diagram 1
NOTE: For optimum performance, it is best that whenever possible all speakers
be mounted as close to the same height as possible. (i.e. Same height on a
wall or all mounted on the ceiling.)
Diagram 1
Page 2
INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS
Stud or Joist
Metal J-Box
MDS Back Plate
installed after
drywall, flat side
away from wall
Drywall
MDS Back Plate
installed before
drywall, flat side
toward J-Box
1
2
Ceiling Joists or
Wall Studs
Ceiling Joists or
Wall Studs
3
NOTE: It is very important to note that when using the Pre-Construction Bracket, the MDS Back Plate must be installed before the drywall
is finished. In a J-Box installation, the MDS Back Plate can be installed after the drywall is finished. MDS Series Speakers cannot be properly
installed without the MDS Back Plate. The MDS Back Plate must be secured to a standard metal single-gang J-Box or the PCB-MDS
Pre-Construction Bracket. NEVER MOUNT DIRECTLY ONTO DRYWALL!
Prior to the actual installation of the speakers, it will be necessary to pull wire to the speaker locations. We recommend that at least 16/2
stranded wire be used. After the wires have been pulled, you are ready to mount the speakers.
SPEAKER WIRING AND MOUNTING
J-Box Installation
When installing MDS Series Speakers on a J-Box mount, secure the J-Box to a wall stud or ceiling joist as shown in Diagram 2. If installing the
MDS Back Plate before the drywall is installed, attach the MDS Back Plate with the flat side toward the J-Box. Position the J-Box so the front
wide surface of the MDS Back Plate (not the opening) will be flush with the back of the drywall when finished to prevent bowing the drywall.
(Approx ⁄" back from the edge of the joist/stud.) See Diagram 2 Complete installation starting with Step 4 . If installing the MDS Back Plate
after the drywall is installed, attach the MDS Back Plate with the flat side away from the J-Box. Position the J-Box so it will be flush with the
back of the drywall when finished to prevent bowing the drywall. (Even with the edge of the joist/stud.) Complete installation starting with
Step 4 .
Pre-Construction Bracket Installation
For ceiling mount or wall mount situations when the joists or studs are not where the J-Box needs to be, use the PCB-MDS Pre-Construction
Bracket (purchased separately) to position the MDS Back Plate to the desired location.
Step 1 Position the bracket in the desired location and spread the bracket to fit the space. See Diagram 3
Step 2 Secure the bracket using the included wood screws. Position the bracket so the wide flat surface of the MDS Back Plate (not the
opening) will be flush with the back of the drywall when finished to prevent bowing the drywall. (Approx ⁄" back from the edge of the joist/
stud.) See Diagram 3
Step 3 Slide the MDS Back Plate to the desired position. Firmly tighten to the PCB-MDS Pre-Construction Bracket. Do not over-tighten. See
Diagram 4
Step 4 After the drywall has been installed (Diagram 5), if not already accessible, fish the speaker wire through the exposed part of the MDS
Back Plate. See Diagram 6
Step 5 Pull the speaker wire through the wide opening in the Beauty Plate and attach the Beauty Plate to the MDS Back Plate using the
included screws. See Diagram 7
Diagram 2
Diagram 3 Diagram 4
2
Page 3
Ceiling Joists
Finished
Drywall
4
4
5
6a
6b
Diagram 5
8
9
360˚
90˚
Locking
Knob
10
7
Step 6a Strip approximately 1½" off the outer jacket of the speaker wire protruding from the ceiling/
wall. Strip ¼" off each lead and twist the ends so there are no strays that can cause shorts. Feed the
Seismic Wire up through the hole in the middle of the Beauty Plate and pull it back down through the
wide opening. See Diagrams 8-9
Step 6b Twist the end of the Seismic Wire around the section feeding up into the Beauty Plate for
extra security during an earthquake. See Diagrams 8-9
Diagram 6
Step 7 Connect the pigtail wire extending from the Mounting Bracket to the speaker wire protrud-
ing from the wall/ceiling using Wire Nuts. Observe the proper polarity with your amplifier (+ to +
and – to –). Be sure there are no strays that can cause shorts. Be sure to connect the proper speaker:
left amp channel to left speaker, right amp channel to right speaker, left rear amp channel to left rear
amp speaker, right rear amp channel to right rear speaker. See Di agr am 10
NOTE: Polarity for the pigtail (speaker wires) is red for + and black for – .
Step 8 Carefully push the speaker wires and Seismic Cable up into the wide opening of the Beauty
Plate. Align the Tabs on the Speaker Mounting Bracket with the slots on the Beauty Plate and push
the Tabs up into the Beauty Plate. Rotate the Mounting Bracket counterclockwise until the Tabs lock.
The screw hole on the Mounting Bracket should now be aligned with the screw hole on the Beauty
Plate, if not, remove the Mounting Bracket and re-align. See D i a g r a m 11
CAUTION: Extra care should be taken to avoid detaching the wire nuts and pinching the speaker
wires when aligning the Mounting Bracket with the Beauty Plate.
Step 9 Attach the Speaker Mounting Bracket to the Beauty Plate using the included screw. See
D ia gr am 12
Step 10 The speaker cabinet is designed to rotate 360˚ to the left or right position, and 90˚ towards
the rear. To tilt to the desired position, simply rotate it by hand. The proper tension has been predetermined at the factory. This will allow the cabinet to remain fixed in the desired position after
tilting. Over time the tension could decrease slightly, and may need to be tightened. To do so, tighten
the Locking Knob located on the Mounting Bracket using a pair of rubberized pliers or a ⁄" wrench.
If using a wrench, extra care should be taken to avoid damaging the finish. See D ia gr am 13
Diagram 7
Diagram 8
Diagram 10
Diagram 11
Diagram 9
3
Diagram 12
Diagram 13
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SPEAKER SPECIFICATIONS
Audio Systems
MDS MDS2
Speaker Type: 2-way Surface Mount Speakers 2-way Surface Mount Speaker
Woofer(s): 3" Graphite Woofers Dual 3" Graphite Woofers
Twe et er (s): 1" Soft Dome Tweeters 1" Soft Dome Tweeter
Power Handling: 50 watts 75 watts
Frequency Response: 85Hz - 18kHz 80Hz - 18kHz
Impedance: 4 Ω 4 Ω
Sensitivity: 85dB 1W/1m 87dB 1W/1m
Unit of Measure: Pair Each
Dimensions: (H x W x D): 4
Features and specifications are subject to change without notice.
1
⁄2" x 61⁄4" x 51⁄2" 41⁄2" x 11" x 51⁄2"
LIMITED TEN-YEAR WARRANTY
Proficient Audio Systems (“Proficient”) warrants to the original retail
purchaser only (“you”) that this product will be free from defects in materials
and workmanship for a period of ten years (the “Warranty Period”), subject
to the limitations and exclusions set out in this Limited Warranty. This
warranty is not transferable to subsequent owners of the product. If you
discover a defect in material or workmanship within the Warranty Period, you
can obtain warranty service by contacting Proficient during the Warranty
Period at 877.888.9004 or techsupport@proficientaudio.com or by sending
the product to Proficient at 940 Columbia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92507 or to
the dealer from whom you purchased the product. Defective products must
be shipped, prepaid and insured, together with proof of purchase. Warranty
service requests made without proof of date of purchase will be denied.
Freight collect shipments will be refused. It is preferable to ship this product
in the original shipping container to lessen the chance of transit damage. In
any case, the risk of loss or damage in transit is to be borne by the purchaser.
If, upon examination by Proficient or its authorized dealer, it is determined
that the unit is in fact defective, Proficient will, at its option:
• Repair or replace the product at no additional charge; or
• If the model is no longer available and can not be repaired effectively,
replace the unit with a current model of equal or greater value. In some
cases where a new model is substituted, a modification to the mounting
surface may be required. If mounting surface modification is required,
Proficient assumes no responsibility or liability for such modification.
Proficient will bear the cost of returning the repaired or replaced product to
you, freight prepaid. All replaced parts and product become the property of
Proficient Audio Systems. The foregoing is your sole and exclusive remedy
for breach of warranty. If the product is not found to be defective, Proficient
will contact you to arrange for return of the product to you, at your expense.
EXCLUSIONS:
• This Warranty does not include service or parts to repair damage caused
by accident, disaster, misuse, abuse, negligence, inadequate packing or
shipping procedures, commercial use, voltage inputs in excess of the rated
maximum of the unit, or service, repair or modification of the product
by unauthorized dealers. This Warranty also excludes normal cosmetic
deterioration caused by environmental conditions.
• This Warranty will be void if:
• the Serial Number on the product has been removed, tampered with
or defaced.
• the product was not purchased from an authorized dealer.
THE FOREGOING WARRANTIES ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL
OTHER EXPRESSED AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES. PROFICIENT EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIMS ALL SUCH OTHER WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. In no event
will Proficient be liable for any incidental or consequential damages arising
out of the use or inability to use the product, even if Proficient has been
advised of the possibility of such damages, or for any claim by any other
party. Notwithstanding the above, if you qualify as a “consumer” under
the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, then you may be entitled to any implied
warranties allowed by law for the Warranty Period. Further, some states do
not allow limitations on how long an implied Limited Warranty lasts or allow
the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so such limitations may
not apply to you.
ATTENTION TO OUR VALUED CONSUMERS:
To insure that consumers obtain quality pre-sale and after-sale support and
service, Proficient products are sold exclusively through authorized dealers.
Proficient products are not sold online by Proficient or its authorized
dealers, and this warranty is VOID if the products have been purchased from
any internet reseller. To determine if your Proficient reseller is authorized,
please call Proficient at 877.888.9004 or go to proficientaudio.com.
For technical inquiries please call 877.888.9004 or email us at techsupport@proficientaudio.com. We are available to assist you every weekday,
except holidays, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PST.
940 Columbia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92507
877.888.9004 • Fax 951.750.6304 • proficientaudio.com
1301-25300 (rev1)
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