SpeakerCraft AIM LCR 5, AIM LCR Five, AIM LCR 3, AIM LCR 1 Owner's Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL

AIM LCR

In-Wall Speakers

AIM LCR Five | AIM LCR 3 | AIM LCR 1

Congratulations on your purchase of SpeakerCraft’s AIM LCR Speakers. The AIM LCRs have been timbre matched to
SpeakerCraft’s AIM8 , AIM7, MT and CRS Speakers, providing an outstanding home theater experience.

SPEAKER PLACEMENT

AIM LCR speakers can be used in any position of a home
theater speaker system. A single AIM LCR can be used for the
front center channel, or a pair can be used for front or rear
left and right. Because the AIM LCR speakers are magneti­cally shielded, it is perfectly safe to place them close to the
television.

Use as a Center Channel Speaker

The AIM LCR has been designed to blend seamlessly with all
SpeakerCraft architectural in-wall and in-ceiling speakers.
With the cabinet positioned horizontally, install the AIM LCR
into the wall as close to the screen as possible. This most often
means it will need to be installed just above or below the tele­vision. Vertically lining up the cabinet with the left and right
speakers while not necessary, will improve the performance.

(Figure 1)

Use as Front Left and Right Speakers

When using AIM LCRs for front left and right speakers, they
should be positioned vertically with the tweeter towards the
screen. (Figure 1)

Best results are achieved when the left, right and center
channel speakers are all the same distance away from the
listener. The front left and right speakers should be placed so
that they form an equilateral triangle, with the listener at one
point and each speaker at the other two. (Figure 2) Ideal
sound will be achieved when the tweeters are placed at ear
level or slightly higher. If the speakers are positioned far away
from the primary listening area, adjust the pivoting tweeters
so they are pointed toward the primary listening area. NOTE:
To avoid possible damage to the pivoting tweeters, read the
section entitled “SPEAKER ADJUSTMENTS” in this manual prior
to performing the tweeter adjustment.

Figure 1

INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS

Before installing your speakers into the wall, you should con­sider the placement carefully, taking into account the loca­tion of electrical, plumbing and other fixtures. Contact your
dealer for assistance if you are not sure of the best location
in your particular room environment.

Figure 2

MOUNTING SURFACE PREPARATION

TOP VIEW OF WA LL

First Cut

Second Cut

New Construction – Unfinished Walls

A New Construction Bracket (available from your dealer), may be installed prior to drywall application across studs (up to 24" on-center) where
a speaker will be located. Insulation material should be in place prior to installing drywall. After the hole is cut and the drywall is installed, the
speakers are then easily installed following the instructions for mounting in “Finished Walls” below.

Finished Walls

Prior to the actual installation of the speakers, it will be necessary to run cables to the speaker locations. See your dealer for more information
about cable installation. After the cable has been properly installed, you are ready to mount the speakers. Following the simple steps listed below
will result in a professional looking installation:

1. Determine the best area to mount your speakers. This area of the wall should be free of obstructions such as electrical conduit, HVAC ducts, or
water lines. This can best be determined by noting the placement of fixtures and gaining access to an attic or crawl space for further analysis
of the location of such obstacles.

2. Find the studs nearest the desired speaker mounting location. We highly recommend using a good stud-finder tool for this procedure. If you
are lining up the speakers to some other object or molding in the room, make sure you consider the size of the baffle flange which extends
beyond the mounting hole on all four sides.

3. Mark the hole. A template for setting the hole is provided in the box (along with two paint mask inserts for use when painting). Position the
template in the desired position and pencil an outline on the wall.

4. Cutting the hole. CAUTION: This is the most important part of the entire installation. If you are not certain whether any obstructions exist behind
the desired mounting area, you should start by cutting a small hole in the center of your penciled mounting hole with a drywall saw. Cut at a
45º angle towards the inside of the hole (Figure 3). Cutting the small hole at this angle will make drywall repair much easier as the piece cut
out can be installed neatly back into the hole. Once you have determined there aren’t any obstructions in your desired mounting location,
start cutting the finished hole at a 90º angle to the wall surface.

5. Add insulation. If the area in the wall is not already insulated, add an adequate amount of insulation material to fill the wall cavity. If the insula­tion material used is faced with foil or paper, position the foil or paper away from the speaker.

Figure 3

SPEAKER INSTALLATION

The unique integral six foot mounting system incorporated into each AIM LCR speaker allows for a quick
installation by following these easy steps:

1. Remove the grille. It may be necessary to push one or two of the mounting screws and its
attached foot towards the baffle and against the inside surface of the grille to force the grille out
of its retaining groove.

2. Attach the speaker cable (observing the proper polarity with your amplifier, + to + and – to –).
Make sure the left channel of the amplifier is connected to the left speaker, and the right channel
is connected to the right speaker.

3. Make sure the mounting feet are turned inward to clear the opening, and insert the speaker into
the ceiling. Position the speaker into the hole. NOTE: The flange of the speaker is designed to flex
and conform to any small imperfections in the ceiling’s surface. Tighten the six screws on the front
of the baffle only enough to make the flange become snug against the ceiling. As you tighten
the screws, the feet will automatically flip into an outward position (Figure 4), thereby clamping
the drywall between the feet and the flange. CAUTION: Over tightening may warp the baffle,
crack the ceiling, cause flange to distort, and make the grille difficult to install.

4. Push the grille firmly into the slot in the speaker baffle.

2

Figure 4

SPEAKER ADJUSTMENTS

Pivoting Inner Baffle Adjustment

Your AIM LCR Series speakers come from the factory with the inner baffles facing straight. This will
result in the overall smoothest response. However, depending on your particular primary area, room
acoustics, ceiling height, or personal preference, you may find the sound more pleasing by pointing
the inner baffle in a particular direction. If additional sound is desired in the primary listening area,
pivot the inner baffle towards that area; and if less sound is required, pivot the inner baffle away.
Using both hands, push the ridged triangle areas located at each corner of the baffle to point it in
the desired direction. (Figure 5).

Pivoting Tweeter Adjustment

Your AIM LCR Series speakers come from the factory with the tweeter facing straight out from the baf­fle. This will result in the overall smoothest response. However, depending on your particular primary
area, room acoustics, ceiling height, or personal preference, you may find the sound more pleasing
by pointing the tweeters in a particular direction. If additional treble is desired in the primary listening
area, point the tweeter towards that area; and if less treble is required, point the tweeter away. Push
gently at the edge of the tweeter to point it in the desired direction. (Figure 6) CAUTION: Avoid touch-
ing tweeter dome as damage WILL occur on metal dome tweeters (AIM LCR 5 & AIM LCR 3).

For home theater use, we recommend the following tips:

• If the speakers are being used as main front channels, the AIM LCR should be angled towards the
listener.

• If the speakers are being used for rear surround channels, you may wish to pivot the AIM LCR away

from the listener to achieve a more diffused sound.

Figure 5

Treble Adjustment (AIM LCR Five & AIM LCR 3):

The switch labeled TREBLE allows for 6dB of tweeter adjustment. Your speakers were shipped with
the Treble switch in the ”+” position, providing +3dB of treble. If you want less treble, slide the switch
to the “–” position and the tweeter will play –3dB of treble. (Figure 7)

Bass Adjustment (AIM LCR Five & AIM LCR 3):

The switch labeled BASS allows for 6dB of bass adjustment. Your speakers were shipped with the
Bass switch in the ”+” position, providing +3dB of bass and an impedance of 6 ohms. If you want
less bass, slide the switch to the “–” position and the woofer will play –3dB of bass and increase the
impedance to 8 ohms. (Figure 8)

Remember that altering the impedance affects the number of speakers able to be driven by an
amplifier. If multiple pairs of speakers are to be driven by one amplifier, SpeakerCraft suggests using
the lowest output position (switch set to the “–” position) until it is determined that the amplifier will
operate properly with the speakers switched to a higher output mode. If you want to safely operate
multiple pairs of speakers, consider purchasing SpeakerCraft S4 or S8 Speaker Selectors.

PAINTING THE SPEAKERS

If you plan to paint your speakers, we recommend that it be done prior to installation. If you plan to
paint your speakers sometime in the future, it is best to remove them by simply reversing the steps
for “SPEAKER INSTALLATION” on page 2. If it is necessary to paint the speakers while they are still
in the ceiling, the paint masks provided in the carton must be installed in place of the grille while
the flange is being painted with the ceiling. The grilles can also be painted, however, great care
should be taken not to clog the holes, as this will greatly reduce the sound quality of the speakers.
SpeakerCraft recommends only light spray painting using 5 parts thinning agent to 1 part paint. Do
not paint the grilles while they are attached to the speaker. If it is necessary to paint the under grille
material, follow the same procedure used to paint the grilles.

Push Tweeter Here

Figure 6

Figure 7

AcoustaCell 8 SYSTEM

The AcoustaCell 8 System (P/N ASM87800), sold separately, is an option for retrofit installations.
AcoustaCell dampens the wall cavity and improves AIM LCR speaker performance. Installation can
be easily done at the time you are ready to mount the AIM LCR speakers. Please see the manual
included with AcoustaCell 8 for installation instructions.

3

Figure 8

SPECIFICATIONS

AIM LCR 3

2-Way In-Wall

Pivoting 1" Aluminum Dome

Speaker Type:

Tweeter:

AIM LCR Five

2-Way In-Wall

Pivoting 1" Aluminum
Magnesium Dome

Woofers:

Impedance:

Sensitivity:

Frequency Adjustments:

Frequency Response:

Power Handling:

Cut Out Dimensions (L x H):

Dimensions (L x H x D):

Two 51⁄4" Kevlar Cones

6/8 ohms depending on
switch settings

90dB 1W/1m

Front-Mounted 2-Position Bass
and Treble Adjustment Switches

48Hz - 20kHz ± 3dB

100 watts (undistorted)

141⁄4" x 71⁄2"
(362mm x 191mm)

177⁄16" x 91⁄4" x 4"
(443mm x 235mm x 101mm)

Two 51⁄4" Aluminum/
Magnesium Cones

6/8 ohms depending on
switch settings

90dB 1W/1m

Front-Mounted 2-Position Bass
and Treble Adjustment Switches

50Hz - 20kHz ± 3dB

100 watts (undistorted)

141⁄4" x 71⁄2"
(362mm x 191mm)

177⁄16" x 91⁄4" x 4"
(443mm x 235mm x 101mm)

In our attempt to constantly improve our products, features and specifications are subject to change without notice.

AIM LCR 1

2-Way In-Wall

Pivoting 1" Silk Dome

Two 51⁄4" Injection Molded
Graphite Cones

8 ohms

89dB 1W/1m

None

55Hz - 20kHz ± 3dB

80 watts (undistorted)

141⁄4" x 71⁄2"
(362mm x 191mm)

177⁄16" x 91⁄4" x 4"
(443mm x 235mm x 101mm)

LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

SpeakerCraft Inc. warrants to the original retail purchaser only that this SpeakerCraft product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship, provided the
speaker was purchased from a SpeakerCraft Authorized Dealer.

Defective products must be shipped, together with proof of purchase, prepaid insured to the SpeakerCraft Authorized Dealer from whom they were purchased, or to
the SpeakerCraft factory at the address listed on this installation instruction manual. Freight collect shipments will be refused. It is preferable to ship this product in the
original shipping container to lessen the chance of transit damage. In any case, the risk of loss or damage in transit is to be borne by the purchaser. If, upon examina­tion at the Factory or SpeakerCraft Authorized Dealer, it is determined that the unit was defective in materials or workmanship at any time during this warranty period,
SpeakerCraft or the SpeakerCraft Authorized Dealer will, at its option, repair or replace this product at no additional charge, except as set forth below. If this model
is no longer available and can not be repaired effectively, SpeakerCraft, at its sole option, may replace the unit with a current model of equal or greater value. In
some cases where a new model is substituted, a modification to the mounting sur face may be required. If mounting surface modification is required, SpeakerCraft
assumes no responsibility or liability for such modification. All replaced parts and product become the property of SpeakerCraft Inc. Products replaced or repaired
under this Warranty will be returned to the original retail purchaser, within a reasonable time, freight prepaid.

This Warranty does not include service or parts to repair damage caused by accident, disaster, misuse, abuse, negligence, inadequate packing or shipping proce­dures, commercial use, voltage inputs in excess of the rated maximum of the unit, or service, repair or modification of the product which has not been authorized
or approved by SpeakerCraft. This Warranty also excludes normal cosmetic deterioration caused by environmental conditions. This warranty will be void if the Serial
Number on the product has been removed, tampered with or defaced.

This Warranty is in lieu of all other expressed warranties. If the product is defective in materials or workmanship as warranted above,
the purchaser’s sole remedy shall be repair or replacement as provided above. In no event will SpeakerCraft be liable for any inci­dental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use the product, even if SpeakerCraft Inc. or a SpeakerCraft
Inc. Authorized Dealer has been advised of the possibility of such damages, or for any claim by any other party. Some states do not
allow the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the above limitation and exclusion may not apply.

All implied warranties on the product are limited to the duration of this expressed Warranty. Some states do not allow limitation on
the length of an implied warranty. If the original retail purchaser resides in such a state, this limitation does not apply.

SpeakerCraft offers a variety of accessories to make your installation of this and other SpeakerCraft products easy, economical, and professional. Contact your
authorized SpeakerCraft Dealer for more information. For technical inquires, please call 1-800-448-0976 or e-mail us at [e-mail]. We are
available to assist you every weekday, except holidays, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PST.

940 Columbia Ave., Riverside CA 92507 | USA [phone] Fax [phone] International [phone] | www.speakercraft.com

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