REVELL I20, I30 Owner's 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

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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

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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

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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

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Owner’s Manual

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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.

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Owner’s Manual

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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)