I.
II.
Materials
A.
Required
B.
Other
Layout
A.
Listening
B.
Speaker
C.
System
D.
Obstructions
E.
Weather
F.
Tricksofthe
And
Tools
CONTENTS
Tools
Tools
Locations
Locations
and
Supply
Resistance
Trades-Nothing's
Plumb,
Square,orTrue
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Installation
A.
New
B.
Enclosure
Wiring
A.
Rough-in
B.
Finish
C.
Tricksofthe
Grilles
A.
Installing
B.
Grille
Painting
A.
Construction
B.
Painting
C.
Painting
Construction
Volume
Wiring
Wiring
and
Alternatives-Scrims,
Finish
Grilles
and
Insulation
Trades-Drilling
Removing
Dust
and
Paint
Frames
Hole
Shield
Shapes
and
Sizes
VII.
Setup
A.
B.
C.
D.
Swivel
High
Bipole
Listening-Balance,
Tweeter
and
Mid
and
Frequencies
Dipole
Switches
Range,
3
Switches
and
Imaging
I.
MATERIALS
The only other materials necessary to install CustomSound speakers are paint
and extra fine sandpaper ifyou wish to change the color of Grills and/or Finish
Frames from their standard white.
size will be necessary to connect speakers to amplifiers (or volume controls)
the music system.
A.
Required
The following tools are needed for normal, simple installations:
Tape Measure, Pencil, and Level
Utility Knife and Wallboard Saw (and extra blades)
Philips Screwdriver and Putty Knife
Drill and Bits (smaller for lead holes and larger for cabling)
Probe Wire
Flashlight
B.
Other
Tools
AND
Tools
(a
TOOLS
Of
course, wire cableofappropriate length and
heavy coat hanger can substitute for a short fish-tape)
in
Particularly when installing a quantity of speakers, or installinginwood paneling
or other wall materials, the following tools are desirable for neater and more
efficient installations:
Stud Finder (helpful-particularly with simple, wallboard-on-studs
construction)
Metal Straight Edge (Ruler or Framing Square) and Masking Tape
of
Wallboard Rasp/Sanding Block (or a piece
Awl or Worn Screwdriver (for initial, exploratory holes) and Hammer
Wire Cutters/Strippers and Electrical
Battery Screwdriver and Power Drill and Extensions (with extra bits)
Jig Saw and Blades
Wallboard Router and Cutout Bits
II.
LAYOUT
A.
Listening
Consider the desired, intended, and probable locations of listeners when
considering speaker locations. Ideally, listeners should have a clear line-ofÂsighUhearing to all speakers
obstructed by structure or
Where will listeners
be-sitting,
listener locations with speaker location can greatly improve the final
simplify the effort and expense to achieve
Locations
in
their listening
furnishings-for
be-primary
standing, walking? No installationisabsolutely ideal, but considering
and secondary? Where will listeners' ears
Tape
most balanced frequency response.
it.
wire lath around a block)
area-not
too far off axis and not
result-and
4
B.
Speaker
Here are three simple ideals, which are never fully satisfied:
1.
2.
3.
Ideally, listeners will
speakers and from rear (or side) left and right surround channels for most
accurate spatial imaging. If listeners are too close to front or to rear channel
speakers the image cannot come together and flow seamlessly across. While
ear-level mounting is ideal, the swivel tweeters can
listeners, increasing the accuracy
located further off axis from listeners' ears. Most importantly, a center channel
speaker should
sound coming from the center
Balance adjustmentcan compensate forsome physical locationdifference between
left and right. Time-delay adjustment
physical location difference between front and rear. With mono signals equidistant,
symmetrical location is still desired to minimize balancing requirements. Proximity
to additional sidewall, ceiling orfloor surfaceswill cause increases anddecreases
frequency response which are very difficult to electronically equalize for smooth
response overall-particularly when only some
Locations
Locate speakers equidistant to listeners, preferably at ear level.
Locate speakers closer to each other than their distance from listeners.
Locate speakers symmetrically to each other and to their physical
surroundings.
be
equidistant from front right and left and center channel
be
aimed towards the
of
frequency response when speakers are
be
located centered on the TV
of
the screen.
of
surround sound can compensate for some
screen-to
of
the speakersare affected.
keep center channel
in
Ceiling locations are generally good locations, particularly for rear channel and
secondary listening, allowing symmetrical layouts and the increased volume
between floor joists for improved bass response. Some sound output will transmit
through the wall behind (or floor above) a speaker; and, while this can be lessened
be
with insulation and other installation techniques, it should
locations.
All CustomSound models are designed to maintain the same tonal balance when
different models are mixed
symmetrical listening locationsina
rear right.
of
Any
dedicated surround systems with special radiation patterns optimized for use as a
surrounds, such as theCW260.
Surround systems should be located via the following guidelines.
one pair
to the sides or to the sides and slightly back
create the most enveloping surround field. Using 2 pair
is recommended as it both creates a more diffuse and a more even sound field.
There will
surround speakers then one pair should be mounted to the left and right sides
listener (connected as "sides") and the second pair mounted to the rear (connected
as "rears"). If you could view your room layout from above the best surround
speaker location would have each speaker a fairly even angle removed from its
adjacentsurround, that
the PSB in-wall systems can be used as surround speakers. We also offer
of
surround speakers(a5.1
be
less variation for multiple seating positions. If your system has four
is,
in
a system. The same model should be used
system-front
system)the optimum location would be directly
of
dispersed atequalangles around thelistening area.
left and front right; rear left and
the primary listening area. This will
consideredinfinalizing
If
you are using
of
surrounds (a
7.1
in
system)
of
the
5
Surround speakers will give a more diffuse sound field
mounted fairly high on the walls and somewhat removed from the listener. Don't
afraid to mixin-wall and in-ceiling mounting.
The
CW88R
limited.
that there isn't room for two ceiling speakers. Mounting a single speaker forces a
choiceofwhether to use the left or right channel signal. This can lead to strange
effects werea number of the musicians orsome ofthe membersofa talkshow drop
out entirely. Creating a mono signal aheadofthe driving amplifieris a possibility but
adds unnecessary wiring complications. The CW88R solves these problems by
offering a dual channel system built into one speaker assembly. The wooferutilizes
dual voice coils with separate electrical crossovers for each. For high frequencies,
the system features two tweeters both coaxially mounted and angled to give a
modeststereo effect.
The locationofsubwooferswill interactwith thedimensions of the room to determine
the low frequency response
subwoofer the in-wall subwoofer can't be mounted away from the wall surfaces!
The keyquestion is: Where on thewall should theybestbelocated?
Generallythe main front speakers should be located first byfollowing the guidelines
for placement (above) with regard to angles around the listener. Their location
more critical than the location ofthe subwoofers. Once the main front speakers and
surround speakersare located then you maywantto mountthe in-wall subwoofer
a spotthat visually looks appropriate relativeto the front speakers. This might be
the same stud bay but directlybelow thefront left orright. Alternativelythey
mounted at just the same height as the other front speaker, yet outside them and
more towardsthe corners. Either approachisgenerally acceptable. Be aware that
mounting the in-wall subwoofer nearer a corner will generally increase the overall
bass leveland thatwill increase itsoutput capability, agood thing.
is
a special ceiling mount (round) system for use where space
In
some rooms of the house, typicallyinbathrooms, spaceislimited such
of
the overall system. Unlike with a free standing
(a
good thing) if they are
may
be
is
is
in
in
be
Avoid mounting the subwoofers at the rearofthe room or on the side walls far from
the front wall. Although our senseoflocation for very low frequenciesispoor it will
still degrade the blend between bass and upper frequencies when the subwoofer
and the front speakers are mounted far apart. An exception to thisiswhen one
subwooferismountedinthe centerofthe front wall and a second subwoofer
mountedinthe centerofthe rearwall. Recent studies haveshown such a technique
to generallygive averygood lowfrequency room response.
Each CustomSound speaker carton contains a full-size template of the frontofthe
speaker. These templates can be used when initially locating speakers and then
when marking and cutting out speaker locations. We encourage temporarily taping
templatesinthe intended locations and then sittinginthe primary listening location
and considering the above guidelines
conflictswill probably require someadjustment to the intended locations beforethey
are final.
C.
System
Typically, a cable with a wire pair must connect every speaker to the sources. This
amplified and controlled source supply may go directly from a power amplifier or
through alocal, supplemental volume control.Insome, mono-only systems, a single
wire
another-beginning
and
may
Supply
"daisy
chain",
and ending
entering
atthe
again-also
and exiting from
amplifier.
realizing that behind-the-wall
one
speaker
is
to
6
Increasingly,
different
source
signals
may be
provided
to
different
rooms/zones/speakers-at the same time. Increasingly, control systems allow
adjustments from locationsdifferenUremote from the signal sources, switching, tone
in
control, and amplification. Some rectangularmodels include a knockout
an
into which
of
multi-zone and remote control sophistication, it is increasingly desirableto have a
infrared signal remote receiver can
be
installed. With increasing levels
the baffle
simple volume control local to speakers distant from the main equipment. This
control-for
box orflush-mounted
volume
up
and down and off
in
awall.
and
on-may
beina small, freestanding
Overall, a musical
switching and tone
each speaker. The preamplifier provides a level
source-audio
controls-and
or
video-is
fed first through a preamplifier with
then through a power amplifier and onwards to
of
tone
controls-bass,
treble, and
balance left to right. Surround processors, operating between the preamplifier and
of
amplifier stages, can provide surround decoding and another level
balancing-front
left, right, and center; surround left and right; and subwoofer.
channel
An
equalizer before the amplifiercan provide some adjustment to smooth response for
field conditions and preferences. Multiple amplifiers may be used for multiple zones
and speaker loads.
D.
Obstructions
With
tentative speaker locations determined, potential obstructions must
be
explored and the conflicts resolved: Structural; Mechanical-Electrical, Plumbing,
and HVAC; and Furnishings.
Temporarily markand view tentative speakerlocations and the existing construction
to
carefully
determine the existing structure and mechanical installations and
potential obstructions. Adjust the speaker layout, the furnishings, the mechanical,
and/or the structural to resolve the conflicts. Layout, review, and resolution
on
building plans canbeavery efficientprocess. However, some conflictswill inevitably
to
be
appear and need
resolved as actual conditions are reviewed and as
installation proceeds.
of
Most typically and very basically, residential walls are constructed
studs-nominally
exterior walls 2" x
centers-with
exteriorcorner and results
2"
x 4", but measuring 1
6",
measuring 1
%"
x
3%"
(sometimes, particularly
%"
x 5%") and normally located
14%" between studs. This stud pattern usually begins from one,
in
a smallerthan normal spacing at the othercorner. The
wooden
on
on
16"
full height "common" studs extend from a flat "sole" plate on the floor toa "top" plate
of
(often doubled) at the top
on
placed
edge spanning overdoorways and windows, and doubled sill headers
the wall.
under window openings. "Trimmer/jack" partial studs run under the ends
headers, doubled against full studs against the ends
run
"cripple" studs
plate-at
nominal spacing. Blocking maybebetween studs about mid-wall, behind
over headers to the top plate and under sills to the bottom
Top
headers ofdoubled 2" x 4"s (or larger) are
of
all headers. Shorter partial
of
run
all
cabinets and other fixtures mounted to the wall, and over and under ductwork
through the stud cavity. Electrical receptacles and switches are mounted
electrical boxes, usually mounted to a stud. Removing electrical cover plates
in
in
finished wallsisagood initial step todetermine wherestuds are located.
Floors typically are constructed
measuring 1
uncommonly
%"x7%"
on
or deeper and normally located on 16" centers (but not
12" centers). Roofs typically are constructed
of
wooden
joists-nominally
2" x 8" or deeper, but
of
wooden
7
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