Revel I30 User Manual

Revel I20/I30 In-Wall Loudspeaker

Owner’s Manual

3 Oak Park, Bedford, MA, 01730-1413 USA | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone] | www.revelspeakers.com

Customer Support: Telephone: [phone] | Sales Fax: [phone] | Service Fax: [phone]

Please contact Customer Support for information about product shipments.

Part No. 351814-002 | Rev A | 03/06

®

“Revel,” and the Revel logo are registered trademarks of Harman International Industries. U.S. patent numbers and other worldwide
patents issued and pending.

©2006 Harman Specialty Group.All rights reserved.

This document should not be construed as a commitment on the part of Harman Specialty Group.The information it contains is subject
to change without notice. Harman Specialty Group assumes no responsibility for errors that may appear within this document.

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Documentation Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

About the I20/I30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Highlights • Product Registration

Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Loudspeaker Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Driver Complement • Filter Network • Input Panel

Installation Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Loudspeaker Placement

Installation Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Making Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Optimizing Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Loudspeaker Volume

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Dimensions

Obtaining Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

3

DOCUMENTATION CONVENTIONS

This document contains general safety, installation, and operation
instructions for the Revel I20/I30 In-wall Loudspeakers. It is important
to read this document before attempting to use this product. Pay partic­ular attention to safety instructions.

WARNING Calls attention to a procedure, practice, condition,

or the like that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in injury or death.

CAUTION Calls attention to a procedure, practice,

condition, or the like that, if not correctly
performed or adhered to, could result in damage
to or destruction of part or all of the product.

Note Calls attention to information that is essential to

highlight.

This owner’s manual assumes that two I20/I30s are included in the
loudspeaker setup.

4

ABOUT THE I20/I30

Thank you for purchasing the Revel
I20/I30 in-wall Loudspeaker. Designed for
discerning audiophiles, the I20 and I30
offer versatile, easily integrated in-wall
loudspeakers that provide the superior,
uncolored sound that is the hallmark of
Revel loudspeakers. The I20 and I30 repro­duce realistic, accurate signals with mini­mal coloration and distortion, making
them perfect complements to Revel Ultima
or Revel Performa front speakers in multi­channel setups. Proprietary transducers,
sophisticated filter networks, and user
adjustable compensation controls allow
the I20/I30 to achieve remarkable sound
quality and performance befitting the most
demanding home entertainment systems.

The I20/I30 are also perfectly suited as
front and surround speakers in complete
in-wall setups, or as stereo pairs in second­ary listening spaces, or for integration with
flat screen television home theater installa­tions. Unlike freestanding loudspeakers,
the I20/I30 occupies no space in living
areas and will not detract from the decor
of the listening room. They are easily
mounted in either pre-existing or new
construction projects.

A critical aspect of loudspeaker design,
transducers convert electrical signals into
audible sounds, profoundly affecting
loudspeaker performance. Combining
superior form and function, the I20/I30
transducers feature a distinctive design
that allows for smoother frequency
response. The cones are constructed with
Organic Ceramic Composite cone material
to reduce distortion, while the spiders are
constructed with a high-strength Nomex
blend with optimized geometry for
increased linearity.

A two-way design, the I20 transducers
effectively cover a broad range of frequen­cies. A 7.5-inch (190.5mm) woofer delivers
highly refined and dynamically authoritative

low frequencies down to the very lowest
octaves. And, a 1-inch (25.4mm) titanium­dome tweeter reproduces high frequencies
well above audible levels, with wide disper­sion for open, airy treble.

A three-way design, the I30, in addition to
its 9-inch (228.6mm) woofer and 1-inch
(25.4mm) tweeter, also features a 3.5-inch
(88.9mm) midrange, which handles critical
mid-band frequencies with natural tonal
balance over a wide operating range.

An advanced midrange (I30 only) motor
structure includes two high-grade
Neodymium magnets placed at the center
of the motor structure, inside the voice coil,
for improved magnetic shielding. Inside
the motor, a black-plated steel shield cup
facilitates heat dissipation for higher power
handling. An integrated aluminum flux­stabilization ring minimizes modulation
inside the motor’s static gap flux field,
greatly reducing distortion. A copper ring
inside the motor’s gap reduces distortion
even further. Both rings are optimally sized
and placed to maintain constant linear
voice coil inductance with forward and
backward motions.

The I20 has a high-order filter at 2.8kHz.
In the I30, high-order filters at 300Hz and
2kHz optimize loudspeaker on and off-axis
response, helping to ensure smooth octave­to-octave balance and timbral accuracy.
The I20/I30 feature gold-plated binding
posts that accommodate two connection
methods, while separate High Frequency
Tilt, Low Frequency Boundary
Compensation, High Frequency Level and
Listener Axis controls compensate for less­than-ideal listening room acoustics and
loudspeaker placement.

Since 1996, Revel has stood at the forefront
of loudspeaker design. Backed with Harman
International’s extensive research and
design facilities, the Revel I20/I30
Loudspeakers benefit from cutting-edge
tools such as a multi-channel listening lab

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

5

for double-blind listening tests; a laser
interferometer for detailed driver analysis;
real anechoic chambers for precise tests
and measurements; finite element analysis
for advanced loudspeaker modeling; and a
stereo lithography apparatus for design veri­fication.

Adding to the proud lineage of Revel’s
Ultima and Performa Series Loudspeakers,
the I20/I30 further advances Revel’s repu­tation as the leading designer and manu­facturer of high-quality, high-performance
loudspeakers.

HIGHLIGHTS I20/I30

• Exceptional accuracy

•Proprietary 7.5-inch (190.5mm)/9-inch
(228.6mm) Organic Ceramic
Composite woofer

•Proprietary 3.5-inch (88.9mm) Organic
Ceramic Composite midrange (I30
only)

•Proprietary 1-inch (25.4mm) titanium­dome tweeter

• High output with low distortion

• Gold-plated binding posts

• High Frequency Level control

• High Frequency Tilt control

• Low Frequency Boundary
Compensation control

• Listener Axis control

• Advanced woofer and midrange (I30
only) motor structure

• Large voice coils for wide dynamic
range without compression

•Wall mounting frame which features
spring-loaded clamps to securely
anchor loudspeaker into wall opening

• Optional Rough-in Bracket for stud
mounting prior to drywall installation
(not included)

PRODUCT REGISTRATION

Please register the I20/I30 within 15 days
of purchase. To do so, register online at
www.revelspeakers.com or complete and
return the included product registration
card. The product registration card serves
no warranty purposes. Retain the original,
dated sales receipt as proof of warranty
coverage.

UNPACKING

The I20/I30 requires special care and
handling during unpacking. Pay particular
attention to the precautions that appear in
this section and to other precautions that
appear throughout this owner’s manual.

When unpacking, save all packing materials
for possible future shipping needs. Refer to
the Obtaining Service section on page 24
for additional information.

Continued on next page

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

6

Unpacking (continued)

To unpack the I20/I30:

1. Place the packing carton in the upright
position and fully open the top flaps as
shown in step 1 of Figure 1 (above).

2. Without allowing the top flaps to close,
move the outer packing carton into an
inverted position as shown in step 2 of
Figure 1 (above).

3. Lift the packing carton off of the
loudspeaker as shown in Step 3 of
Figure 1 (above). Use caution to
avoid damaging the loudspeaker or
frame clamps. At this point, the
loudspeaker will be upside-down.

4. Remove the bottom pad. Then, remove
the Frame Alignment Tool and grille
from the grille filler. These items are
identified in Figure 2 (right).

5. Set aside the wall template, paint mask,
fiberglass insulation, spacer shim,
replacement scrim cloth and allen keys.

6. Invert speaker so it is in the upright
position.

7. When the I20/I30 is in the upright posi­tion, remove the top pad.

8. Leave the loudspeaker upright in the
bottom pad until ready to install.

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

2

1

3

Figure 1: Unpacking the I20/I30

Top Pad

Bottom Pad

Frame
Alignment Tool

Paint Mask

Protective
Cloth

Grille

Allen Keys/Spacer Shim

Fiberglass
Insulation

Wall Template

Replacement
Scrim Cloth

Figure 2: Packing Materials

7

LOUDSPEAKER OVERVIEW

DRIVER COMPLEMENT I20/I30

The numbers in Figure 3 (left) correspond with the
numbered items in this section.

1. Tweeter

• 1-inch (25mm) titanium dome

• Under-hung with copper-clad aluminum
wire for low distortion

• Ferrofluid for high-power handling with
reduced compression

2. Woofer

• 7.5-inch (190.5mm)/9-inch (228.6mm)
cones constructed with Organic Ceramic

Composite cone material for low distortion

•True pistonic operation for increased free­dom from coloration

• Symmetrical Field Gap design for low over­all distortion

• Aluminum ring for flux stabilization great­ly reduces distortion at low frequencies

• Butyl rubber surround for large, linear
excursion capabilities

• Carbon composite aluminum (CCA) flat­wire voice coil wound on a 1.5-inch
(38.1mm) fiberglass bobbin for low mass
and higher power handling

•Vented center pole for improved heat dissi­pation and low compression

Continued on next page

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

Figure 3: I20 Speaker (Front View)

The numbers in Figure 3 (above) correspond
with the numbered items in the Driver
Complement section that begins in the next
column.

5

4

3

1

2

6

8

Driver Complement (continued)

3. High Frequency Level (dB)
Control

Provides a shift in the output level
of the tweeter or overall high-frequency
response (active above approximately

2.5kHz). The options are -1dB, 0dB,
and +1dB.

4. High Frequency Tilt Control

Adds a "tilt" to the high frequency
response. The tilt will become active
above approximately 8kHz (depart
from nominally flat response) and will
increase to 3-4dB at 20kHz. This will
offer an improved high frequency
response for installations where the
primary listening position is located
significantly off the tweeter axis (for an
effect almost like adding "toe in"
towards the listening position). The
added high frequency contour helps to
offset perceived reduction of high
frequency response for off axis listeners
due to the increase in directivity of the
system (tweeter beaming) above 8kHz.

5. Listener Axis Control

All loudspeakers sound best when the
listener is positioned at optimum
angles relative to the speaker place­ment. This is a fixed angle for most
loudspeakers, but the I20/I30 provides
compensation for much greater place­ment flexibility. The listener axis con­trol, used in conjunction with the
placement of the speaker, can obtain
excellent results in a very wide range
of circumstances. This control opti­mizes system response for installations
where the listening positions are lower,
higher, or directly on level with the
tweeter. This switch will be active in the
network transition regions between the
woofer and tweeter (in the I20) and the

midrange and tweeter (in the I30).

• Select the “high” (up arrow) setting
if the speaker is mounted so that the
listener is at tweeter level or above.

• Select the on axis setting if the
listener position is located directly
on axis with the tweeter level.

• Select the “low” (down arrow)
setting if the speaker is mounted so
that the listener is below tweeter
level.

Note

In some circumstances, such as when the
speaker is to be mounted high on the wall
towards the ceiling, it may be desired to
invert the speaker in order to place the
tweeter axis closer to the listener’s ear
level. The Listener Axis Control will also
optimize these inverted speaker installa­tions. Refer to the Note on page 13 and
the Optimizing Performance (page 18)
section for additional information.

6. Low Frequency Boundary
Compensation Control

Compensates for less-than-ideal speak­er placement near adjacent walls or
boundaries.

• Select the off setting if the speaker
is mounted at least four feet away
from adjacent walls or boundaries.

• Select the on position if the speaker
is less than four feet from one (or
possibly two) or more adjacent
walls or boundaries. In the on posi-
tion, system output is reduced
below approximately 400Hz to off­set the increased low frequency
support due to the boundary.

Note

Refer to the Optimizing Performance section
on page 18 for more information about the
front panel controls.

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

9

7. Midrange (I30 only)

• 3.5-inch (88.9mm) cone constructed
with Organic Ceramic Composite
material

• Die-cast basket to eliminate
coloration from resonances

•True pistonic operation for
increased freedom from coloration

•Two high-grade Neodymium
magnets placed inside the voice
coils for optimal magnetic shielding

• Symmetrical field gap design for
low overall distortion

• 1.5-inch (38.1mm) voice coil
wound on a fiberglass bobbin for
high-power handling and low
distortion

The numbers in Figure 4 (above) correspond with the
numbered items in the Driver Complement section that
begins on page 7.

1

2

6

3

5

4

7

Figure 4: I30 Speaker (Front View)

• Copper cap stabilizes inductance
and controls flux modulation,
dramatically reducing distortion.

• Optimized and shielded magnetic
circuits to minimize harmonic
distortion and prevent video monitor
interference

FILTER NETWORK

Optimizes loudspeaker on and off-axis
response with a high-order filter at 2.8kHz
for the I20, and high-order filters at 300Hz
and 2kHz for the I30, helping to ensure
smooth octave-to-octave balance and
timbral accuracy. Gold-plated binding
posts accommodate heavy speaker cables,
while separate Low Frequency Boundary
Compensation, High Frequency Level, High
Frequency Tilt and Listener Axis controls
provide precise balance to compensate for
less-than-ideal listening room acoustics
and loudspeaker placement.

Driver Complement (continued)

10

INPUT PANEL

Number 1 in Figure 5 (below) corresponds
with the numbered item below.

1. Input Connectors

Provide input connections from the
associated power amplifier/receiver(s).
One positive (+) and one negative (-)

gold-plated binding post is available.
Refer to the Making Connections sec­tion that begins on page 16 for addi­tional information.

INSTALLATION
CONSIDERATIONS

Loudspeaker fidelity depends on the following
three factors:

1. Loudspeaker accuracy

2. Loudspeaker placement

3. Listening room acoustics

Advanced Revel design features allow the
I20/I30 to achieve exceptional acoustical
precision. However, proper placement and
listening room acoustics have a significant
impact on the I20/I30’s performance.

Caution

• The I20/I30 should be installed by a
professional.

• Installers must adhere to local build­ing codes to ensure a proper installa­tion. Harman Specialty Group is not
responsible for any possible damages
caused by improper installation.

Continued on next page

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1

1

I20

I30

Figure 5: Rear of I20/I30

11

Installation Considerations (continued)

LOUDSPEAKER PLACEMENT

The I20 and I30 are designed to offer excel­lent performance in any listening room or
home theater system. Abide by the follow­ing placement suggestions for optimal
results.

2-Channel or Front Left and Front
Right in a Home Theater System

The bulleted items that begin below indi­cate important loudspeaker placement
considerations for 2-channel or front left
and right installations.

• The speakers should be equidistant
from the primary listening position
and placed at least four feet away from
the side walls.

• It is recommended that the angle
formed between the speakers and the
listening area be between 45 and 60°.
For example, if the speakers are 8-feet
apart, the listening position should be
8- to 12-feet from each speaker. Refer
to Figure 6 (below).

• When used as part of a home theater
system, excellent results can also be
obtained when the speakers must be
placed further apart due to a screen.

Surround Channels in a Home
Theater System

The bulleted items that begin below indi­cate important loudspeaker placement
considerations for surround channel instal­lations for home theaters.

• When used as part of a 5- channel
music or home theater system, the
surround speakers should be placed
slightly behind the primary listening
position. Refer to Figure 7 (below).

• If there are several rows of seating,
place the speakers perpendicular to, or
slightly behind, the last row of seating.

• When used as part of a 7-channel
music or home theater system, place
the side speakers at the sides of the
main listening position.

• If there are several rows of seating,
place the speakers, as described above,
perpendicular to the middle row of
seating.

Continued on next page

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

Figure 6: Two Channel Placement

Figure 7: Surround Channels

Left

Channel

Right

Channel

Primary Listening Position

(Couch)

Primary Listening Position

(Couch)

Subwoofer

(optional)

Front

Left

Front

Right

Right

Surround

Left

Surround

12

• The rear speakers should be placed
along the rear wall facing the front of
the room. Each rear speaker should be
about one-third of the way into the
room as shown in Figure 8 (above).

INSTALLATION
INSTRUCTIONS

For installations in new construction proj­ects, use the Revel I20/I30 In-Wall Rough­in bracket which should be installed by a
professional. Refer to the Revel I20/I30 In­Wall Rough-in Bracket Installation
Instructions for more information.

The Revel I20 and I30 in-wall speakers
were designed to be easily installed into
existing walls. It is recommended that they
be professionally installed. The following
tools are required for installation:

• (4) allen head screws (included)

• 5/32-inch allen key (included)

• 1/16-inch allen key (included)

• cardboard installation template
(included)

• pencil

• Phillips head screwdriver

• measuring tape

•utility knife

• carpenter’s level

• flat blade screwdriver

• stud finder

To install the I20/I30:

1. Locate the wall studs.

2. Use the supplied template to trace an
outline to mark the desired location to
mount the speaker system. Use caution
to cut the hole approximately centered
between wall studs, allowing at least
1-inch between the cutout and wall
studs as shown in Figure 9 (below).
Use carpenter’s level to ensure a level
measurement.

Continued on next page

Revel I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

At least
1-inch

At least
1-inch

Figure 9: Use wall template

Loudspeaker Placement (continued)

Front

Right

TV

Front

Left

Left

Side

Right

Side

Left

Rear

Right

Rear

Couch

Figure 8: Surround Channels with Rear Speakers

13

Note

• The height of the woofer within the
stud bay relative to the entire height
of the bay is critical because of
standing waves within the cavity.

• Before installation, determine the
height of the cavity. (There might be
a fire block that makes it shorter
than the entire height from the floor
to the ceiling). Avoid placing the
woofer at the very top or bottom of
the stud bay, as this would cause a
serious cancellation of low frequency
output.

• The ideal location for the woofer
(whether the speaker is mounted
upright or inverted) is at the one­third distance point as shown in
example A of Figure 11 (next col­umn). If that is not feasible, then
two-fifths, or one-fifth of the height
are the next best alternatives. The
least desirable position to place the
woofer is at one-half or one-fourth
of the height. If a fire block is
completely dividing the bay, the
measurement would be from the fire
block – not the floor or ceiling as
shown in example B of Figure 11
(next column). Example C shows an
inverted speaker placement.

2. With a utility knife, cut the wall open­ing as shown in Figure 10 (previous
column).

• Use caution not to cut into any

electrical wiring or plumbing. Run
the wiring from your system to the
hole. (Be sure to comply with local
wiring codes).

• The measurements of the

opening(s) required to mount the
Revel in-wall frames are listed
below:

• Revel I20

Width: 10.5-inch (266.7mm)

Height: 14.875-inch (377.8mm)

• Revel I30

Width: 12.5-inch (317.5mm)

Height: 19.125-inch (485.8mm)

3. The speakers are shipped with the
baffle assembly attached to the mount­ing frame at its four corners. Unscrew
the four screws and carefully lift the
baffle assembly out of the mounting
frame as shown in Figure 12 (next
page).

Continued on next page

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

Carpenter's level

Utility Knife

Figure 10: Cut wall opening

Place Woofer at
1/3 the height
of Stud Bay

1/3 the height
of Stud Bay
(measured from
the Fire Block)

Fire Block

AB

1/3 of
Height

1/3 of
Height

1/3 the height
of Stud Bay
(measured from
the Fire Block)

1/3 of
Height

C

Figure 11: Ideal Height of Woofer

Installation Instructions (continued)

14

3a. (Optional)

It is recommended that the frame be
painted before it is mounted. For
instructions on painting the frame and
grille, refer to page 19.

4. The mounting frame has spring-loaded
clamps around its perimeter, which are
designed to fold shut as the mounting
frame is placed into the wall opening
and spring open once inside, anchor­ing the mounting frame in the wall
opening. See Figure 13 (next column)
and Figure 14 (next column). Loosen
all clamp screws until the clamps are
fully extended.

5. Snap the mounting frame into the
cutout.

6. Be sure to run the speaker wire in
through the rear opening.

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

Note how the clamp
springs open

CLAMP

A

Clamp

Screw

B

C

Insert
frame into wall
opening

Wall

Figure 13: Clamp Closeup

Figure 14: Clamp Mechanism

Continued on next page

Baffle

Mounting Frame

Figure 12: Remove Baffle from Mounting Frame

Installation Instructions (continued)

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

15

7. Insert the Frame Alignment tool hori-

zontally into the center of the frame.
This tool functions as a frame spreader,
while the clamps are being tightened,
as shown in Figure 15 (above).

8. Starting from the lower right corner

and working in a diagonal torque
sequence, use a power screwdriver to
tighten each of the clamp screws (only
until almost snug). If needed, adjust

the mounting frame so it is level and
centered in the cutout.

9. Perform a final torque sequence.
Hand-tighten frame screws and check
each screw at least twice to make sure
they are fully tightened to prevent
rattles.

10. Remove the Frame Alignment Tool.

11. Place the included fiberglass insulation
in the back of the mounting frame as
shown in Figure 16 below. If desired,
cut an “x” into the insulation and
thread wire(s) through.

12. Make speaker wire connections. Refer
to the Making Connections section on
page 16 for instructions.

13. Slide the baffle into place into the
mounting frame.

Continued on next page

Mounting Frame

Clamp

Frame
Alignment Tool

Figure 15: Frame Alignment Tool

Figure 16: Install the Insulation and Baffle

Baffle

Assembly

Thread Speaker Wires

Fiberglass Insulation

Allen Head

Screws

Installation Instructions (continued)

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

16

Note

Be sure that the speaker wires are clear of
the woofer basket and not too close to the
woofer cone. Ensure wires do not get
pinched between the baffle and the
mounting frame. Refer to Figure 16 (previ­ous page).

14. Use the spacer shim to center the baffle
inside of the frame while securing with
four 10-32x2.25-inch screws. Loosely
tighten the screws while using the spac­er on bottom side. Remove spacer and
gauge the other three sides before start­ing final torque sequence. Proper
centering of the baffle is critical to the
grille fitting properly.

15. Use the included 5/32-inch allen key to
tighten until snug as shown in Figure
17 (above).

MAKING
CONNECTIONS

The I20/I30 features gold-plated binding
posts that allow for two methods of
connecting the speaker wires.

CAUTION

Never make or break connections
unless all system components are
powered off.

Before making connections, note the
following:

• Make all connections observing the
proper polarity, positive-to-positive (+)
and negative-to-negative (–).
Connections that do not observe the
proper polarity will cause poor stereo
imaging and diminished bass response.

• Use high-quality loudspeaker cable
with a maximum total loop resistance
of 0.07ohms or less (for each wire run).
Refer to the table in the below to deter­mine the appropriate maximum wire
gauge.

• All in-wall speaker wires must be UL
listed for use in in-wall applications.

Caution

Be sure to comply with local wiring
codes. Harman Specialty Group is not
responsible for any damages or injuries
that may result from faulty wiring.

Maximum Wire Gauge

Gauge Length Length
(AWG) (Feet) (Meters)

687 27

769 21

858 18

943 13

10 34 10

11 27 8

12 22 7

13 17 5

14 14 4

15 11 3

16 9 3

17 7 2

18 5 2

Figure 17: Tighten Allen screws with Allen key wrench

Installation Instructions (continued)

17

Making Connections (continued)

Note

High loop resistances that exceed 0.07ohms
(for each wire run) will cause the filter
network to mis-terminate, resulting in
considerable degradation of sound quality.

• If desired, contact an authorized Revel
dealer for information about the suit­ability of power amplifier/receiver compo­nents before connecting the I20/I30 to
the associated power amplifier/receiver.

• Review the owner’s manuals for associ­ated audio components to determine
their connection procedures.

Connections are made between one pair of
I20/I30 input connectors and one
amplifier/receiver output channel as
described below.

To make connections:

1. Loosen the terminal connectors by
hand (counterclockwise) on the speak-

ers' positive (+) and negative (-) bind­ing posts until the holes in their
threaded posts are visible.

2. Insert the stripped ends of the wires
through the holes as shown in Figure
18 (above).

3. Retighten the connectors by hand
(clockwise) to secure the wire. Be sure
no stray strands of wire from one bind­ing post touch the other binding post
as this will short out the signal and
may damage the amplifier.

4. In the manner described above,
connect one pair of loudspeaker wires
to the I20/I30 input connectors. Then,
connect the same pair of loudspeaker
wires to the desired amplifier/receiver
output channel.

5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 to connect the
second I20/I30 to a separate amplifi­er/receiver output channel.

Continued on next page

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

Insert Speaker Wire

Terminal Connectors

Insert Banana Plug here

if desired

Exposed Binding Post (connector removed)

Binding Post

-

+

Figure 18: Making Connections

18

Making Connections (continued)

An alternative connection method, instead
of those described in steps 1 to 3, is to
attach standard banana plugs to the
speaker wires and plug them into the ends
of the speaker connectors. See Figure 18
(previous page).

OPTIMIZING
PERFORMANCE

It is highly recommended to make front
panel control adjustments before installing
the grille. Experiment with settings and
carefully listen to ensure that the proper
adjustments have been made.

To optimize the I20/I30 for best perform­ance:

1. Refer to the Loudspeaker Placement
section that begins on page 10 for
information about loudspeaker instal­lation.

2. Set the High Frequency Level control to

0. (Different listening rooms may
require other High Frequency Level
control settings).

3. Set the Low Frequency Boundary
Compensation control to the appropri­ate position.

• Select the off setting if the speak-

er is mounted at least four feet
away from adjacent walls or
boundaries.

• Select the on setting if the speaker

is mounted close to one (or possibly
two) or more adjacent walls or
boundaries. In the “on” position,
system output is reduced below
approximately 400Hz to offset the
increased low frequency support
due to the boundary.

4. Begin playback of a familiar music or
film source.

Continued on next page

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

Figure 19: Listener Axis Control

Tweeter

Tweeter

Tweeter

Tweeter

Woofer

Woofer

Woofer

Set Listener Axis Tilt to "High" if Set Listener Axis Tilt to "Low" if

Set Listener Axis Tilt to "High"

Set Listener Axis Tilt to "Low"

listening position is below
tweeter level.

listening position is at tweeter level
or above.

if listening position is below tweeter.

if listening position is at tweeter
level or above.

Inverted Speaker Placement (woofer is above tweeter)

Woofer

Upright Speaker Placement

Set Listener Axis Tilt to "on axis" if
listening position is directly at
tweeter level.

Tweeter

Woofer

Woofer

Tweeter

Set Listener Axis Tilt to "on axis"
if listening position is directly at
tweeter level.

Wall

19

Optimizing Performance (continued)

5. Listen from the primary listening
position, increasing volume to a
comfortable level.

6. Adjust the High Frequency Level
control on each I20/I30 to change
high-frequency balance and timbre.

7. Adjust the Listener Axis control
depending on the position of the
primary listening location. Refer to
Figure 19 (previous page).

• Select the “high” (up arrow) setting

if the speaker is mounted so that
the listener is above the tweeter
level.

• Select the “on axis” setting if the

listener location is directly on
axis.

• Select the “low” (down arrow)

setting if the speaker is mounted so
that the listener is significantly
below the tweeter.

When the loudspeaker has been
mounted upside-down, (with the
woofer higher than the tweeter), refer
to Figure 19 (previous page). The listen­er axis control settings function in the
opposite manner as normal operation:

• Select the “low” setting if the

speaker is mounted so that the
listener is at tweeter level or
above.

• Select the “high” setting if the

speaker is mounted so that the
listener is below the tweeter.

8. Repeat these steps to optimize
performance of the second I20/I30.

Note

For best results, set the High Frequency
Level, High Frequency Tilt, and the
Listener Axis controls to the same posi­tions on both loudspeakers.

Painting the Frame

Proper surface preparation is critical for
best results. Use spray, roller (smooth), or a
pad to apply the paint. Clean and prime
the frame surface prior to painting.

1. Place frame on a protected work
surface.

2. Install plastic paint mask (includ­ed) into the frame.

3. Clean front edges of frame face by
gently rubbing with a soft rag
dampened with rubbing alcohol.

4. Apply one coat of white or neutral
color water-based primer and let
dry.

5. Apply one to two coats of paint for
desired finish.

Painting the Grille

For best results it is recommended that the
grille be painted with a spray applicator to
enable the paint to be evenly applied to
the inside edges of the grille’s perforations.
The following items are required to paint
the grille:

• the grille (included)

• replacement scrim cloth (included)

• spray paint

• paint thinner (and cloth)

• rubbing alcohol (and cloth)

• white or neutral color water-based
primer

• masking tape

• spray adhesive

Continued on next page

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

20

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

Painting the Grille

(continued)

Caution

The grille must be painted before it is
attached to the frame.

To paint the grille:

1. Remove the grille from the grille filler.

2. Remove the scrim cloth on the inside
surface of the grille. If necesssary,
slightly peel up the lower inside edges
of the black felt strips to remove the
scrim.

3. Inspect the inside surface of the grille
to ensure that there are no remnants of
the scrim cloth. If necessary, remove
any remnants by rubbing with a cloth
dampened with paint thinner.

4. Clean the front grille surface with a
cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol.

5. Apply masking tape over the black felt
strips around the grille perimeter to
shield them from paint. Be sure to
mask only the felt and not the outer
metal edges of the grille so that they
will be painted.

6. Apply one coat of the primer and let
dry.

7. Thin the paint before application.

8. Apply one to two coats of spray paint.
Use a varied spraying angle when
spraying to ensure paint is applied to
the inside edges of the grille perfora­tions.

After the paint is dried, install the replace­ment scrim cloth if desired. To attach the
replacement scrim cloth:

1. Place the grille face down on a soft
surface.

2. If paint thinner was used to remove
scrim remnants, apply a light coating
of a spray adhesive to the inside grille
surface. Avoid spraying adhesive onto
the felt strips. If too much adhesive is
used, it could wick into the cloth and
degrade the sound.

3. Place the replacement scrim cloth in
the grille with the cardboard side
facing upward (so that the cardboard is
not visible through the front of the
grille).

4. Tuck the outer edges of the scrim cloth
cardboard frame under the black felt
strips and gently smooth the scrim
cloth over the grille surface to remove

any wrinkles.

Attaching the Grille to the Frame

To attach the grille:

1. Line the grille up to the frame and
press the grille in only partially at first.

2. Push gently at multiple points around
the outer edges to slowly ease it into
position.

Note

Configure the four front panel controls
and experiment until optimum results are
achieved before installing the grille.

21

Grille Removal

To remove the grille:

1. Insert the small end of the included
1/16-inch allen key into one of the
metal mesh holes in the top corner of
the grille as shown in Figure 20
(below).

2. With the end of the allen key in the
grille hole approximately 1/8-inch,
with thumb and forefinger close to the
grille, pull up on the allen key to
wedge it into the grille hole.

3. Gently pull the allen key to partially
pop out the corner of the grille.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for the other top
corner.

5. Apply steps 1 to 4 for the bottom
corners.

6. When all corners are partially popped
out, the grille can easily be removed.

CAUTION

Do not attempt to pry the grille out
using the allen key (or any other
object) as a pry bar against the plastic
frame.This will cause damage to the
frame and mar the paint.

Speaker Frame Removal

To remove the speaker frame from wall
opening:

1. Fully unscrew all of the clamps around
the speaker housing. The clamp screws
have an acorn nut attached on their
end to prevent accidental disassembly.

2. Move the speaker housing away from
the wall enough to wedge your hand
behind and pinch a clamp shut.

3. While the clamp is shut, work the
speaker housing forward enough to
catch the shut clamp in the wall open­ing.

4. Work around the perimeter, carefully
closing each clamp and then slowly
pull the speaker housing from the wall.

LOUDSPEAKER VOLUME LEVELS

High-order filters include steep cut-offs to
reduce potential damage from “out-of­band” frequencies. Combined with careful­ly selected transducers and filter network
components, this approach helps the
I20/I30 to maintain its performance under
extreme operating conditions.

However, all loudspeakers have limits
when it comes to continuous playback. To
extend these limits, avoid playback at
volume levels that distort or strain sound.

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

Grille

1/16-inch Allen key

Frame

Figure 20: Removing the Grille

22

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

Specification

SPECIFICATIONS

I20 I30

9-inch (228.6mm)Woofer

Midrange

7.5-inch (190.5mm)

N/A

3.5-inch (88.9mm)

System Frequency
Response
(±3dB)

40Hz - 20kHz 32Hz - 20kHz

Sensitivity

87dB

89dB

Recommended
Amplifier Power
Range

15 to 150 Watts

15 to 200 Watts

Nominal
Impedance

8 Ohms

8 Ohms

Crossover
Frequency

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

2.8kHz

24dB/octave

300Hz

2kHz

24dB/octave

Tweeter 1-inch (25.4mm)

1-inch (25.4mm)

Wall Cutout

10.5-inch (266.7mm)

12.5-inch (317.5mm)

Width

Height

Depth

11.811-inches (300mm)

13.583-inches (345mm)

16.063-inches
(408mm)

20.315-inches
(516mm)

3.5-inches (88.9mm)

3.5-inches (88.9mm)

14.875-inch (377.8mm) 19.125-inch 485.8mm)

Width

Wall Cutout

Height

23

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

OBTAINING SERVICE

Before returning a product for warranty or
non-warranty service, contact Harman
Specialty Group Customer Support to
determine the extent of the problem and to
obtain a Return Material Authorization
(RMA) number. No products will be accept­ed without an RMA number issued from
Harman Specialty Group.

If a Revel product must be returned for
repair, Harman Specialty Group will
assume no responsibility for the product
during shipment from the customer to
Harman Specialty Group, whether the
product is or is not covered under
warranty.

All returns must be:

• well-packaged using the original
packing materials (if possible)

•properly insured and consigned

•pre-paid to a reliable shipping agent

The following information must be
included when a loudspeaker is returned
for service:

• name

• company name

• street address, city, state, and zip code

• telephone number, including area code
and country code (if applicable)

•product serial number

•a detailed description of the problem

• the preferred method of return shipment

• RMA number clearly marked on both
the inside and outside of the package

Do not return accessories such as owner’s
manuals unless instructed to do so.

To contact Harman Specialty Group
Customer Support:

Telephone: [phone]

Service Fax: [phone]

Sales Fax: [phone]

www.revelspeakers.com

24

NOTES

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

25

NOTES

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

2-channel installations, 11

5-channel installations, 11

A

About the, I20/I30, 4

Highlights,5

Product Registration, 5

Unpacking, 5

allen key, 16, 21

Aluminum ring, 7

Amplifier Power Range,

Recommended, 22

B

baffle assembly, 13, 14, 15, 16

baffle, centering of, 16

banana plugs, 18

binding post, 16, 17

C

CAUTION, 3, 10, 16, 21

clamp, 15

clamps, 14, 21

Compression, 5, 7

Cones, 4, 7

Connections, 4

Input, 10

Making, 16

connectors, 17

D

Depth, 22

Distortion, Reducing, 4, 5, 7

Documentation Conventions, 3

Dome. See Cones.

Driver Complement, 7-9

Dynamic Range, 5

F

fiberglass insulation, 6, 15

Filter Network, 9, 17

Filters, 4, 9

fire block, 13

Frame Alignment Tool, 6, 15

G

grille, 19, 20

Grille Removal, 21

H

Heat Dissipation, 4, 7

Height, 13, 22

High Frequency Level, 4, 5, 8,

16, 18, 19

High Frequency Tilt, 4, 5, 8

HIGHLIGHTS, 5

home theater, 4, 11

I

I20/I30, 4

Ideal Height, of woofer, 13

Input Channels, 10, 17

Input Panel, 10

Installation Considerations, 10

Installation Instructions, 12

inverted speaker, 13

L

Listener Axis, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19

Listening Room, 18

Loudspeaker Cable, 16

Loudspeaker Overview, 7

Loudspeaker Placement, 4, 9, 10,

11, 12

Loudspeaker Volume Levels, 21

Low Frequencies, 4

Low Frequency Boundary

Compensation, 4, 5, 8, 18

M

Magnetic Shielding, 4

Making Connections, 16-18

Maximum Wire Gauge, 16

Midrange, 4, 5, 9, 22

mounting frame, 13, 14, 15, 16

N

Nominal Impedance, 22

Note, 3, 17, 19

O

Obtaining Service, 23

on axis, 8, 19

On-Axis Response, 4, 9

Optimizing Performance, 18

Organic Ceramic Composite

Cone Material, 4, 5, 7

26

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

Index

P

Packing Carton, 5, 6, 23

Packing Materials, 6

paint mask, 6

Painting the Frame, 19

Painting the Grille, 19

Polarity, 16

Primary Listening Position, 19

Product Registration, 5

R

Rear Speakers, 12

Removing the Grille, 21

Rough-in Bracket, 5, 12

S

Sensitivity, 22

Shipping, 5, 23

spacer shim, 6, 16

Speaker Frame Removal, 21

speaker wire, 14, 16, 18

Specifications, 22

Spider, 4

Steel Shield Cup, 4

Stereo Imaging, 16

stud bay, 13

Surround Channels, 11, 12

T

Table of Contents, 2

terminal connectors, 17

Timbre, 4, 19

Transducers, 4

Treble, 4

Tweeter, 4, 5, 7, 19, 22

U

UL listed, 16

Unpacking, 5, 6

V

Voice Coil, 4, 5, 7

Volume Levels, 19

W

Wall Cutout Height, 22

Wall Cutout Width, 22

wall openings, 13

wall studs, 12

wall template, 12

War ning, 3

Warranty, 5, 23

website, 23

Width, 13, 22

wire connections, 15

wiring codes, 13, 16

Woofer, 13, 22

woofer height, 13

Woofers, 4, 5, 7

27

REVEL I20/I30 In-wall

Owner’s Manual

3 Oak Park, Bedford, MA, 01730-1413 USA | Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone] | www.revelspeakers.com

Customer Support: Telephone: [phone] | Sales Fax: [phone] | Service Fax: [phone]

Please contact Customer Support for information about product shipments.

Part No. 351814-002 | Rev A | 03/06