REVELL W970, W990 Instruction Manual

W970, W990

In-Wall Architectural

Loudspeaker

Instruction Manual

documeNtAtIoN coNveNtIoNS

This document contains general safety, installation and operation
instructions for the Revel

®

W970 and W990 in-wall loudspeakers.
It is important to read this document before attempting to use this
product. Pay particular attention to:

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
of or the entire product.

Note: Calls attention to information that aids in the
installation or operation of the product.

®

About Revel

Since the first Revel® speakers in 1996, Revel products have stood at
the forefront of loudspeaker design and performance. Revel in-wall
loudspeakers draw upon the same research, resources and unique
perspective that put all Revel loudspeakers in a class by themselves.
Revel in-wall loudspeakers provide unparalleled value and are known
for their standard-setting low sonic coloration and their freedom from
distortion over an extraordinarily wide dynamic range.

IN-WAll SpeAkeRS

pRoduct RegIStRAtIoN

Please take a moment to register your product on our Web site at
www.revelspeakers.com. You’ll enable us to keep you posted on our
latest advancements and help us to understand our customers and build
products that meet their needs and expectations.

box coNteNtS

Your Revel in-wall loudspeaker box should contain the following items:

Speaker and

Installation

Template

Grille

Frame

Alignment

Tool

Mounting Frame

Allen Wrenches

Replacement
Scrim Cloth

W970 ANd W990 loudSpeAkeR HIgHlIgHtS

• Long-throw woofers with cast aluminum frames, MCC (Micro
Ceramic Composite) cones and rubber surrounds provide high output
with low distortion.

• 1-inch (25mm) aluminum-dome tweeter with an integrated
waveguide provides optimized response both on and off axis.

• 3.5-inch (89mm) midrange (W990) handles critical mid-band
frequencies with natural tonal balance over a wide operating range.

• High-order crossover network with premium-quality components
delivers extraordinarily accurate timbre reproduction.

• Boundary compensation switch lets you adjust the speaker to
maintain tonal accuracy when the speaker is placed near an
additional wall or the ceiling.

• Three-position tweeter level control lets you adjust for optimum
response in a variety of acoustical environments, or for using the
speakers without grilles.

• High-frequency tilt and listener axis controls help compensate for
less-than-ideal speaker placement.

uNpAckINg tHe SpeAkeR

Carefully unpack the speaker. If you suspect damage from transit, report
it immediately to your dealer and/or delivery service. Keep the shipping
carton and packing materials for future use.

INStAllAtIoN coNSIdeRAtIoNS

Your new Revel loudspeakers have been engineered to provide
extremely accurate performance. However, any speaker’s ultimate
performance will be affected by the speaker’s placement in the listening
room and the acoustics of the room. Not all listening spaces can
accommodate the ideal conditions of these two factors. Therefore,
careful attention to the placement of your Revel in-wall loudspeakers
will have a significant impact on the general performance of the
loudspeakers.

In-Wall Architectural Loudspeaker
Instruction Manual

3

The high-order crossover networks employed in all Revel in-wall
speakers provide very smooth response over a wide listening area,
allowing you to use any model in any application with excellent results.

Note: The W990 and W970 can be used in either horizontal or vertical
orientation.

IMPORTANT: The location of the woofer within the stud bay relative
to the entire length of the bay is critical because of standing waves
created within the cavity.

• Before installation, determine the height of the stud bay cavity.
(There might be a fire block that makes it shorter than the entire
height from the floor to the ceiling). Avoid placing the speaker’s
woofer at 1/4 or 1/2 the distance from either end, or at the top or
bottom of the cavity, 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 one-third distance point as shown in
examples A and B. 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 completely divides the bay, the measurement would be
from the fire block – not the floor or ceiling – as shown in example C.

BA

loudSpeAkeR plAcemeNt foR tWo-cHANNel
SteReo

Place the left and right loudspeakers the same distance from the
primary listening area (or as close to the same distance as possible). The
distance from each speaker to its nearest side wall should also be the
as close to the same distance as possible.

Equal

Distance

Left
Speaker

Distance

Right

Speaker

Equal

1/3 of
Cavity

Height

1/3 of

Cavity Height

(Measured From

Fire Block)

1/3 of
Cavity

Height

C

Ideally, the distance between the left and right loudspeakers should be
slightly less than their distance from the primary listening area.

loudSpeAkeR plAcemeNt foR Home tHeAteR

• The front left and front right loudspeakers should be located on
either side of the video display, with their tweeters as close to ear
level as possible.

2' (0.6m)

or less

As close to screen
as practical

• The front left and front right loudspeakers should be relatively close
to the sides of the video display. For example, front left and front
right loudspeakers used with a 50-in (1.3m) video display should
generally not be more than 80 in (2m) apart.

• The center loudspeaker should be aligned with the center of the
video display. Its tweeter should be no more than 2 ft (0.6m) above
or below the tweeters of the front left and front right speakers.

Fire Block

4

In-Wall Architectural Loudspeaker

Instruction Manual

5.1-Channel Surround Speaker Placement

• In a 5.1-channel system, the surround left and surround right
loudspeakers should be located to the sides of the main listening
area, 5 ft – 7 ft (1.5m – 2.1m) from the floor.

Front Left Front RightCenter

INStAllAtIoN INStRuctIoNS

Revel architectural speakers are the most easily installed in-wall
loudspeakers on the market. However, if you are unable to understand
and follow the instructions in this manual clearly and fully, or if you
are unsure of your ability to install these loudspeakers properly, please
contact your dealer or a qualified installer.

WARNING: HARMAN International assumes
no responsibility for improper installation of
hardware or for any personal injuries or product
damages resulting from improper installation or
a fallen loudspeaker.

coNNectINg to tHe AmplIfIeR

Approx.10°

Surround RightSurround Left

7.1-Channel Surround Speaker Placement

• In a 7.1-channel system, the surround left and surround right
loudspeakers should be located directly to the sides of the main
listening area, 5 ft – 7 ft (1.5m – 2.1m) from the floor.

• In a 7.1-channel system, the surround back left and surround back
right loudspeakers should be located on the rear wall, 3 ft – 6 ft
(0.9m – 1.8m) apart and at 5 ft – 7 ft (1.5m – 2.1m) from the floor.

Front Left Front RightCenter

CAUTION: REMOVE POWER

You must connect the speaker wires before the speaker is fully
installed. To protect the audio system from damage and yourself
from injury through accidental electrical shorting and surges
during installation, turn all audio system power OFF before
beginning the speaker installation.

Speaker Wire

Use high-quality speaker wire to obtain the best performance from your
Revel in-wall speakers.

• For wire lengths of less than 50 ft (15m), use at least 16-gauge
speaker wire.

• For wire lengths between 50 ft and 100 ft (15m – 30m), use at least
12-gauge speaker wire.

• For wire lengths of greater than 100 ft (30m), use at least 10-gauge
speaker wire.

Note: All speaker wires must comply with all local building and
safety codes for use in in-wall applications.

Surround
Left

3' – 6'

(0.9m – 1.8m)

Surround
Back Left

Surround

Back Right

In-Wall Architectural Loudspeaker
Instruction Manual

Surround

Right

5

Making Connections

Connect each channel’s positive (+) terminal on the back of the amplifier
or receiver to the positive (“IN+”/red) terminal on the corresponding
speaker; connect each channel’s negative (–) terminal on the back of
the amplifier or receiver to the negative (“IN–”/black) terminal on the
corresponding speaker. Do not reverse polarities (that is, do not connect
+ to –, or – to +) when making connections. Doing so will cause poor
imaging and diminished bass response.

2. Determine the correct speaker location and use the template included
with the speaker to mark the wall material.

Negative Terminal

(“IN–”/Black)

Positive Terminal

(“IN+”/Red)

Press down on the top of the terminal to open the hole; insert the bare
end of the wire into the hole; and release the terminal to secure the wire.

CAUTION: To avoid short circuits that may damage your equipment,
be certain that positive and negative wire strands do not touch
each other and do not touch metal parts such as the speaker frame.

mouNtINg tHe SpeAkeRS

For New Construction

If you wish to pre-install a pre-construction frame for the speakers
before the drywall is installed in new construction, you will need to
purchase the correct rough-in frame kit for your loudspeaker model
from your authorized Revel dealer. Detailed mounting instructions are
supplied with the rough-in kit. After the drywall is installed, follow the
installation instructions in For Existing Construction, below.

For Existing Construction

Note: The installation procedure is the same for all models
covered by this manual.

1. Ensure that the drywall, plywood or other wall material is 1/2 in –
1 in (13mm – 25mm) thick and capable of withstanding the weight of
the speaker being installed.

Make sure to allow at least 1" (25mm) between the edge of the supplied
installation template and any studs or other obstructions behind the
wall, so the speaker’s locking mechanism will have room to engage fully.
Perform an obstruction survey to be sure that there are no studs, lengths
of conduit, pipes, heating ducts or air returns in the stud bay that could
interfere with the speaker.

3. Cut the drywall along the mark you made in Step 2 to create the
mounting opening.

4. Using the supplied hex wrench, remove the four hex screws that attach
the speaker baffle to the mounting frame and remove the baffle from
the frame. (You will use the screws later, so put them in a safe place.)

1"
(25mm)

Mounting

1"

Opening

(25mm)

1"

(25mm)

6

In-Wall Architectural Loudspeaker

Instruction Manual

5. Make sure that all of the mounting frame’s spring-loaded clamps are
in their fully-extended positions. Loosen any clamp screws as required
to fully extend all of the clamps.

All Clamps

Fully Extended

6. Use both hands to snap the mounting frame into the mounting
opening.

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 necessary, adjust the mounting
frame while you tighten the screws so it remains level and centered
in the opening.

Tighten

Clamp Screws

9. Securely hand-tighten all of the clamp screws all the way and double­check each screw to make sure it is fully tightened to prevent rattles.
Remove the Frame Alignment Tool.

10. Bring the speaker wire out through the mounting opening and

connect it to the speaker baffle assembly as explained in Making
Connections, on page 6.

Use Both Hands to Insert Frame
Straight Into Mounting Opening

7. Insert the supplied Frame Alignment Tool horizontally across the
frame. This tool prevents the frame from warping while you tighten
the clamps.

Insert

Alignment

Tool Into

Frame

11. Slide the speaker baffle assembly into place in the mounting frame.
Insert and finger-tighten the four screws you removed in step 4 into
the holes in the baffle.

NOTE: To prevent buzzing, make sure that the speaker wire is not
touching the woofer cone.

In-Wall Architectural Loudspeaker
Instruction Manual

7

12. Use the supplied hex wrench to fully tighten the baffle into the
mounting frame.

13. Attach the supplied grille. Powerful magnets in the speaker frame
will securely hold the grille in place. Be sure that it is attached
evenly, and that the edges of the grille extend over the baffle on all
sides.

Attach Supplied Grille

Painting the Grille

Revel architectural loudspeaker grilles can be painted to match any
décor. If you wish to change the grille’s color, its satin finish will function
as a primer coat. For the best results follow this procedure:

1. Gently remove the scrim cloth from the back side of the grille before

painting.

2. Use a high-quality spray paint and apply a thin coat of color. Ensure

that the grille perforations remain free of paint. Filling them with
paint will diminish the speaker’s sound quality. If any perforations are
plugged, use compressed air to blow the paint out of the perforations.

Note: If you find any grille perforations that are plugged with paint
after the paint has dried, carefully use a straight pin or sewing
needle to remove the paint.

3. We have included a replacement scrim cloth. After the paint has

dried, apply a light coat of spray adhesive to the inside of the
perforated grille and attach a new scrim cloth. IMPORTANT: Never
spray adhesive on the cloth.

uSINg YouR SpeAkeRS

AdjuStmeNtS

Revel W970 and W990 speakers provide several adjustments that allow
the speakers to achieve the best possible performance in a wide variety
of listening environments. We encourage you to experiment with these
controls to determine the settings that work best for your listening room
and personal taste.

Low Frequency Boundary Compensation Control

The Boundary Compensation control reduces the speaker’s bass output
level to compensate for the greater reflection of bass energy when the
speaker is installed near an adjacent wall or ceiling.

When possible, avoid mounting the speaker within 2 ft (0.6m) of an
adjacent wall or the ceiling. If such placement is unavoidable, set the
Boundary Compensation control to the “On” position.

High-Frequency Level Control

The High-Frequency Level control lets you fine-tune the speaker’s high­frequency output to compensate for various acoustical environments.
The control has three settings:

+1: Increases high-frequency output. Set the switch to this position
if the room has many features that absorb high-frequency sound energy,
such as thick carpeting, drapes and fabric-covered furniture.

0: Normal high-frequency output. Set the switch to this position for
most installations.

–1: Decreases high-frequency output. Set the switch to this position
if the room has many features that reflect high-frequency sound energy,
such as large uncovered windows, bare tile floors and large expanses of
bare walls, or if the speakers are used without grilles.

lISteNeR AxIS coNtRol

The W990 and W970 will deliver the best performance when the
speakers are mounted so that their tweeters are at the same level as
the listeners’ ears. The listener axis control will compensate when the
speakers are mounted in locations that place their tweeters above or
below the listener’s ears.

To set the listener axis control. refer to the illustrations below. Note
that the controls operate in the opposite manner when the speakers are
oriented inverted (with their woofers above their tweeters).

Upright Speaker Orientation (woofer below tweeter)

Wall

Tweeter

Woofer

Set to “”

if the tweeter level is below

the listening position.

Inverted Speaker Orientation (woofer above tweeter)

Tweeter

Woofer

”

Set to “

if the tweeter level is above

the listening position.

Tweeter

Woofer

Set to “on axis”

if the tweeter level is at

the listening position.

Tweeter

Woofer

Set to “on axis”

if the tweeter level is at

the listening position.

Tweeter

Woofer

Set to “

Set to “

”

”

if the tweeter level is above

the listening position.

Tweeter

Woofer

if the tweeter level is below

the listening position.

Low-Frequency

Boundary

Compensation

Control

8

High-Frequency
Level Control

High-Frequency
Tilt Control

Listener Axis
Control

HIgH fRequeNcY tIlt coNtRol

If the speakers are mounted in locations that place their tweeters well
to the sides of the main listening position, set the high frequency tilt
control in the “+” position to help restore proper high-frequency balance.

exceSSIve output levelS

Your Revel loudspeakers feature custom-designed transducers and
high-quality network components featuring high-order filters with steep
cutoffs that reduce the potential of damage to individual speaker drivers
and help the loudspeakers maintain their performance even 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 result in distorted or strained sound.

In-Wall Architectural Loudspeaker

Instruction Manual

obtAININg SeRvIce

To obtain service, contact an authorized Revel dealer. Refer to
Limited Warranty, below, for more information.

dImeNSIoNS

W990

W970

Mounting Opening

Dimensions (H x W)

19-1/8" x 12-1/2" (486mm x 318mm) 3-3/4" (95mm) 20-11/16" x 13-7/8" x 4-1/16"

14-7/8" x 10-1/2" (378mm x 267mm) 3-3/4" (95mm) 16-3/8" x 12-1/16" x 4-1/16"

Mounting Depth Overall Dimensions

Dimensions are subject to change without notice.
For complete performance specifications, please go to the Revel Web site: www.revelspeakers.com.

lImIted WARRANtY

A valid serial number is required for warranty coverage. This Revel
warranty protects the original retail purchaser for a period of five
(5) years (parts and labor) from any failure as a result of original
manufacturing defects so long as:

1. The Revel products were purchased within the 50 United States, its

territories or Canada.

2. The dealer from whom the Revel products were purchased was

authorized to sell such products at the time of the original purchase.

3. The original, dated Bill of Sale is presented whenever service is

required during the warranty period.

The balance of this warranty is transferable only if the used product is
purchased from an authorized Revel dealer. This warranty is only valid
for service within the United States, its territories and Canada; please
contact an authorized Revel dealer for warranty and service information.

Any Revel product not performing satisfactorily may be returned to
the factory for evaluation. Return authorization must first be obtained
by either calling or writing Customer Service prior to shipping the

factory. Customer Service will pay return shipping charges within the
United States only in the event that the product is found to be defective
as mentioned above. There are other stipulations that may apply to
shipping charges.

There is no other express warranty on this product. Neither this
warranty nor any other warranty, express or implied, including implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness, shall extend beyond the
warranty period. No responsibility is assumed for any incidental or
consequential damages, so that the above exclusion or limitation may
not apply.

This warranty provides specific legal rights. Other states may provide
additional rights. This warranty is applicable in the United States, its
territories and Canada. Outside of the United States, its territories and
Canada, please contact an authorized Revel dealer for warranty and
service information.

The information this document contains is subject to change without
notice. In the event that there are differences between this warranty
and the provisions of any advertisements, documentation, product
brochures or packaging cartons, the terms of this warranty will prevail.

product. The customer is responsible for shipping charges to the

(w/grille, H x W x D)

(525mm x 353mm x 103mm)

(416mm x 307mm x 103mm)

HARMAN Consumer, Inc.
8500 Balboa Blvd., Northridge, CA 91329

www.revelspeakers.com

© 2011 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Revel and the Revel logo are trademarks of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United States and/
or other countries.

Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.

For questions, assistance or additional information concerning any of our products, call us at: [phone] or [phone].
For technical support, submit your detailed inquiry to: [e-mail].

Part No. 070-21300