Russound ATMOSPHERE User Manual
OWNER’S MANUAL
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for selecting the Russound Atmosphere Series
In-wall/In-ceiling Speakers. Like all Russound speakers, they
combine acoustic technology with durability and will provide years of musical enjoyment.
Russound engineers utilized state-of-the-art, solid-modeling CAD, together with integrated FEA (Finite Element
Analysis) to design a new injection molded cone technology. While virtually all product offerings from the competition use commonly available poly cones, this new structural
rib design affords a cone that is both lighter and stiffer. The
result is improved efficiency, enhanced bass performance,
and greater musical detail through better transient
response.
The Atmosphere Series speakers provide an aesthetic
improvement over the competition. We used the same
world-famous industrial design team that led to the success of our Advantage™ products. Ultra-flush trim appearance matches the installed look of Advantage. Atmosphere
also offers better quality materials than would ever be
found on competing products in this price category (e.g.,
aluminum grilles, patented structural rib injection molded
cones, injection molded woofer baskets, and fire-rated ABS
plastic baffle and frame).
We’re sure you will find that the Atmosphere Series products provide significant and real benefit, utilizing superior
materials, brilliant design and the backing of the Russound
reputation for quality and integrity.
Russound Atmosphere speakers should only be installed by
authorized personnel.
SPEAKER WIRE
The amount of wire you’re going to need will of course
vary with speaker placement. We recommend labeling
speaker wires with “left” and “right” and room location. This
takes the guesswork out of which wires go where when
installing speakers later.
What kind to use:
We recommend using Russound AW series speaker cable or
any reputable brand of 16 to 12 gauge multi-stranded
wiring for amplifier-to-speaker connections.
Selecting the proper gauge:
Wire is measured in gauges: the bigger the number, the
smaller the wire. For example, 18-gauge is thinner than 14gauge. The gauge of wire you need is determined by the
distance between your amplifier/receiver and the in-wall
speakers. Remember, the longer the run, the heavier the
gauge needed. Use the following chart as a guide:
Length Minimum Gauge
0 to 100 ft. 16
50 to 150 ft. 14
100 to 200 ft. 12
WHERE TO PLACE YOUR CEILING SPEAKERS
Placement can make all the difference in how your
Russound speaker system sounds. There are at least four
factors to consider for your
layout:
• How you intend to use the speakers
• Where they’ll sound best (stereo imaging and acoustic
considerations)
• Where they can be installed (wall and ceiling surfaces)
• Where speaker wire can be run
STEREO IMAGING
If your Russound Atmosphere speakers are going to be your
primary listening source in a room, you need to consider
some other factors to insure proper imaging. The term
“stereo imaging” refers to a speaker system’s ability to project music so that it sounds like the performers are in a
three-dimensional space between the speakers. It’s the
whole point of having stereo instead of monophonic sound.
Figure 1
GOOD
for stereo imaging
ACOUSTIC CONSIDERATIONS
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OTHER ACOUSTIC CONSIDERATIONS
For best fidelity, there are several other factors to keep in
mind before you start actual installation.
Corners and reflections:
When a ceiling speaker is placed close to the corner of a
room, bass frequencies are emphasized. This is fine if both
speakers are mounted near corners (while maintaining
stereo imaging), but try to avoid placing just one speaker in
a corner and another on a long flat surface. In general, the
best acoustic performance will result if both speakers face a
similar type of surface and are placed in similar positions
on the same type of wall or ceiling.
Russound ceiling-mount speakers (Figure 4) may be used
for rear surround sound channels by placing them (1)
behind, (2) on each side of the viewing position or (3) in
the ceiling just behind the viewers. The available SP-A6W
and SP-A8W wall-mount speakers also make excellent,
unobtrusive front channel home theater speakers for 5channel listening (4,5). Optimally, Russound wall-mount
speakers should be located with the tweeters at ear level
when the listener is seated.
Installation:
When installing the speakers, avoid:
• T-bar “drop ceilings” with very thin fiberboard panels
which can buzz and vibrate. If you suspect this will happen, reinforce the drop-in panel with wood or particle
board.
• Any wall which can’t provide proper depth (clearance)
for the back of the Russound speaker. This includes brick
or concrete walls where the wallboard or paneling is
attached to thin furring strips.
Figure 3
EXCELLENT
for stereo
imaging
Figure 4
5-CHANNEL
Listening
GOOD
speaker
height
BETTER
speaker
height
Figure 2
FINE for
background
music;
ACCEPTABLE
for stereo
effect
Figure 5
5
4
4
2
33
11
2
4
SPEAKER PREPARATION
Installation (continued):
• Inside wall space less than 10” wide and 24” in height
• Ceilings and walls where you know that there are pipes,
heating ducts and ESPECIALLY AC wiring in the general
vicinity. For example, if there is an outlet along the
baseboard, there is often a live wire running partly up
the wall at that point. The same applies for ceiling fans,
overhead lighting, etc.
SPEAKER WIRE PATHS
In general, you should pay particular attention to the following areas:
• Avoid running speaker wires close to house electrical
wiring for any distance. If you have to run them parallel,
make sure to space the speaker wires at least two feet
from the AC line. It is permissible for speaker wires to
cross paths with AC lines or go through the same hole
together with house wiring if they separate before and
after.
• Make sure that the entire path between speakers and
amplifier is clear and not obstructed by a floor or ceiling
joist or masonry wall which you won’t be able to drill
through.
• Remember that the other end of the wires has to come
out somewhere to connect with the amplifier. Confirm
ahead of time that you can drill an outlet hole easily
and in an unobtrusive spot.
PAINTING THE SPEAKERS
If you like the designer white finish which is a part of your
Russound Atmosphere speakers, then you are ready to
install. But if you want your speakers to completely blend
in with a colored wall or accent the surface, now is the
time to paint the speakers’ outer frames and perforated
grilles. The speaker’s outer surfaces are ready to accept
ordinary latex wall paint or aerosol spray paint.
CUTTING HOLES FOR THE SPEAKERS
Wallboard is an easy surface in which to make a relatively
neat hole. Make sure you don’t make it any bigger than the
template.
1. Determine the location of your joists/studs so that the
speaker can be approximately centered between them.
2. When you’re reasonably sure of where the joists or studs
are (and are ABSOLUTELY sure that there isn’t an electrical cable, water pipe or heating duct in that vicinity of
wall), position one of the cardboard mounting templates
and draw an outline with a pencil.
3. Score the outline of the template with a utility knife to
prevent chipping or wall paper from tearing. Then use a
keyhole/drywall saw or motorized spiral-cut tool to
make the opening.
- If you’re dealing with lath and plaster or thick paneling,
you need to use a different technique. Drill 1-inch holes
at the corners of the pencil outline. Then use a finetoothed keyhole saw or even a hacksaw blade with VERY
slow strokes to saw through and remove the inner surface.
HOOKING UP YOUR SPEAKERS
IDENTIFYING “+” AND “-”
You need to be able to discriminate between the two conductors of the speaker wire. If your wire has transparent
insulation, this is easy: one conductor will be copper-colored and the other silver-colored. Generally, professionals
denote the copper one as POSITIVE (+) and the silver one as
NEGATIVE (-).
Figure 6
Typical indicator of positive (+)(striped) and
negative (-)(solid) speaker wire conductors
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