System 20 LCR and SR InWall Theater System Speakers System 20 LCR and SR InWall Speakers GGGGGGGGGGG 1 GGGGGGGGGGG 343 Vanderbilt Ave. Norwood, MA 02062 (781) 762-6300 www.atlantictechnology.com Instruction Manual System 20 LCR and SR InWall Speakers System 20 THX Installation Instructions About These Speakers System 20 by Atlantic Technology is a high performance home theater and music sound speaker system designed to mount in the walls of your home. The system consists of a three-way full range front satellite, System 20 LCR, and a switchable Dipole/Bipole surround speaker, System 20 SR. We recommend completing the system (especially for movie reproduction) with the addition of a THX certified subwoofer like the Atlantic Technology 372 PBM. The following section details important features and capabilities of these speakers. Please take a moment to read it over. Some Surround Issues The System 20 LCR is designed for the front three channels in a THX Ultra certified home theater system or as a high quality music reproducer in a stereo system. Although it could be used as a surround speaker in a home theater system, it doesn't create the same kind of involving, believable surround field that the System 20 SR Dipole surround speaker will. However, if you decide to use direct radiators for the primary surround or additional rear channels in 6.1 or 7.1 channel systems the System 20 LR (or the System 10 speaker) may certainly be utilized. The System 20 LCR Midrange/High Frequency Baffle The midrange-tweeter assembly of the System 20 LR can be tilted approximately 5 degrees up or down by removing the included leveling spacer located under the baffle. (Please see Figs. 1, 4 & 5). This lets you aim these elements for better performance when the speaker must be placed higher or lower than ideal. The mid-high baffle may also be rotated 90 degrees to allow horizontal placement of the speaker with no compromise in performance. (Please note that the System 20 LCR will not fit horizontally between studs centered on 16 inches without structural modification to the studs and/or wall.) However, if the speakers are placed high or low, even though the frequency response at the listening position will be improved by tilting the baffle, the sound will noticeably come from above or below the screen and may not be as "realistic" as when it comes from ear level. For further information and detailed instructions on angling and rotating this assembly please see Page 6. System 20 LCR High Frequency and Midrange Level Controls There are two switches located on the mid-high baffle that are accessible by removing the grille. You can change the switch settings with your fingernail or a small pointed object, such as a ball point pen. The High Frequency switch adjusts the output level of the tweeter and therefore the upper range of sounds that are reproduced (these include cymbals, bells, etc.). The Midrange control operates exactly like the High Frequency Control but affects the middle range frequencies (human voices, etc.). Fig 1 Tilting and rotating baffle We strongly recommend that you try all three settings of both switches, using both music and movies (if the System 20 LR is part of a home theater system). Please note that recordings vary in their sonic balance so try several different discs before deciding. Try to achieve the best balance of natural overall sound with good detail and clarity. The switch settings are "Normal/THX" in the lower position, "-2dB" (decreases mid or high frequency output) in the middle position, and "+2dB" (increases mid or high frequency output) in the upper position. Take some time to determine the best overall sonic performance in your room. It's definitely worth the effort. GGGGGGGGGGG 2 GGGGGGGGGGG System 20 LCR and SR InWall Speakers The System 20 SR Dipole/Bipole switch When the System 20 SR absolutely must be located in a place that is not Dipole friendly (e.g. in the ceiling; well behind the listening position, etc.) it can be easily switched to a Bipole configuration using the switch located under the grille. In such cases it is advisable to try the speaker in both operating modes and with several different sound tracks to determine which produces the most realistic surround field at the listening location. Important Considerations Before Installation Locations of Choice Assuming that you'll be using these speakers for more than simple background listening here are some placement recommendations: Location, Location, Location The single biggest determinant of any speaker's ultimate sound quality is the room and the speaker's location in it. With in-wall speakers there are fewer placement options than with box speakers, so giving some thought to location is really important. Additionally, the wall your speaker is mounted in will affect its sound. The speakers of our InWall Theater Systems have been computer designed to maximize the benefits and minimize the detrimental effects of in-wall placement. You'll find that Atlantic Technology InWall systems sound better than most, if not all in-wall speakers because of this careful and sophisticated design process. In addition, the System 20 LCR can optionally be used with an in-wall enclosure specifically designed to both optimize performance and offer a level of sound isolation for adjacent rooms. Stereo Systems The following applies should you be using the System 20 LCR front speakers in an audio only setting. For stereo music reproduction the speakers are best located with the tweeters at approximately ear level when seated, both on the same wall, facing the prime listening location. A separation of approximately six to eight feet between the left and right speakers generally delivers the best imaging and sound staging. Ideally, the distance between the two speakers will be the same as the distance from the speakers to the listening position, so the three points form an equilateral triangle. In general, placement on one of the shorter walls will deliver the best sound in a rectangular room. If you have to mount the speakers higher than ideal you should tilt the mid-high baffle as outlined below. Or you may also mount the speakers "upside down", with the mid-high baffle at the bottom of the assembly for better positioning. Sound reflects from room surfaces just like light; hard surfaces create lots of reflections and soft surfaces tend to absorb them. Try to be aware of the speaker's location in terms of proximity to glass, heavy drapes, and other highly sound reflective or absorptive surfaces. A simple pair of strategically placed curtains or a wool wall hanging can make a huge difference in sound quality and/or intelligibility! Also note that circumstances like one speaker being located directly adjacent to a glass wall with the other speaker located by an open archway will make the two speakers sound dramatically different. Therefore, the more similar the speaker's surroundings, the more even and consistent the sound. When bass reflects from room surfaces, it can create some locations that are bass heavy and other areas that are bass shy. These reflections are known as standing waves and they occur in most every room. When using an external subwoofer it's strongly recommended that you try several placements within the room to find the best location for bass performance. Pay particular attention to the transition between the satellites and the subwoofer, in addition to the deepest bass. For further information on subwoofer placement and setting system levels please contact your installer or Atlantic Technology directly. If there are bass standing wave problems when in-wall speakers are utilized full range the only real options are to change the listening position or add a subwoofer that can be located in a "better bass place" in the room. GGGGGGGGGGG 3 GGGGGGGGGGG System 20 LCR and SR InWall Speakers Home Theater Speaker Locations Today's home theater systems require you to place six or more speakers in your room; front left, front center, front right, two surrounds, and a subwoofer. Some other systems include additional rear surround channels to further the illusion of total involvement. And placement for all these speakers is potentially more critical than with pure music reproduction alone. That's because the goal of setting up a good home theater isn't to put you in the movie theater; it's to put you in the movie! That's right, we want you to believe you're in the jungle, the restaurant, the office, or wherever the video scene is taking place, and the sound system has the responsibility of creating that part of the illusion. Left/Center/Right Locations The front three speakers ideally should have the tweeter at ear height when seated, just as with stereo speakers. Unfortunately, the presence of the television can make this difficult, if not impossible to accomplish. (Unless you're using a front projector and a perforated screen with the center channel speaker directly behind it). The closer you can get to this ideal the better, however. Try to keep the left and right speakers within 3 feet of either side of the TV screen. If possible, place the left and right speakers no more than 2 feet above or below the height of the center channel speaker. The center speaker itself should be centered on, and directly above or below the TV screen. Ceiling Locations Ceiling mounting of the System 20 LCR is not recommended due to its dispersion characteristics, weight, and size. The System 20 SR may be ceiling mounted, but as outlined below its optimum performance will be realized as a Dipole, placed directly to the sides of the prime listening position. It's especially important, if you mount any speaker in a ceiling, that you cover the back with a piece of fiberglass window screening to keep insulation and other foreign matter out of the assembly. Should you be installing any speaker in a ceiling be sure to install safety wires from the speaker to the structure above, to ensure security under all conditions. Please see below for further information regarding mounting the System 20 SR in a ceiling. The All Important Surround Speakers For the record, we are strong proponents of Dipole surround speakers and recommend that you use the System 20 SR as a Dipole, to the sides of the listening position, if at all possible. In order to achieve THX Ultra performance use THX Ultra certified Dipole surround speakers like the System 20 SR. The following placement recommendations apply to all Dipole surround speakers (whether the System 20 SR or another model) Please try to follow them. Dipole surrounds produce a diffuse, relatively non-localizable sound field that projects to each side of the speaker. Directly in front of the speaker's apex there's a sound "null" or dead zone (see Fig. 2) When properly placed in the room, with the apex null aimed at the listeners, this creates the illusion that the surround sound is coming from a large area to both sides of the speaker! The result is that you're immersed in the surround field and become one with the action taking place up on the screen. Null Surround Speaker Locations The absolute best place for a Dipole surround is directly to the sides of the FIg.2 prime listening position (+/- 15 degrees). They should be located no less than Dipole speaker sound radiation 18 inches above ear height when seated and at least 24 inches below ceiling level. If the surround speakers must be located closer than 24 inches to the ceiling they should be turned upside down to keep the tweeters as far as possible from the ceiling. Please see the important note below. System 20 SR surrounds are designed to mount horizontally, on the side walls. If they must be placed on the back wall or the ceiling please follow these guidelines. On the rear wall, install the speakers horizontally at least 24 inches away from the corner, and between 18 inches above ear level when seated and 24 inches down from the ceiling. If placed in the ceiling, position them with the drivers facing the front and back of the room with the GGGGGGGGGGG 4 GGGGGGGGGGG System 20 LCR and SR InWall Speakers Left speaker to the left side of the room and the Right on the right side. As much as possible keep the null centered on the prime listening position. IMPORTANT: Please note that there are dedicated left and right Dipole surround speakers and they are labeled as such. This is done to ensure that the drivers facing the front of the room are in phase with the system's front speakers. Left and right refer to the left and right wall when you are seated facing the screen. If the speakers must be mounted upside down, as outlined above, be sure to swap them from side to side in order to maintain proper phasing with the fronts. In any case, please note that for the greater part of any movie you should not be directly aware of the surround speaker's presence. They're there to create those environmental soun ...