The Bose® Acoustimass® 6 Series II Speaker System Owner's Guide October 29, 2001 AM252172_02_V.pdf Safety Information Thank You We appreciate your choice of the Bose® Acoustimass® 6 home theater speaker system. With these Virtually Invisible® speakers you'll surround yourself with realistic sound, without a lot of equipment. Your system features next generation Acoustimass cube speakers, a product of the continuous research and development at Bose Corporation. These cube speakers deliver more lifelike sound and better overall performance than their predecessors. Please Read This Owner's Guide The setup and operation of your Acoustimass 6 home theater speaker system is significantly different from other speakers. Please take the time to read this owner's guide carefully. It will help you set up and operate your system properly and enjoy all of its features. Save your owner's guide for future reference. Declaration of Conformity We, the offerer: Bose® Corporation, The Mountain Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA acknowledge our sole responsibility, that the product: Kind of equipment: Type designation: Loudspeakers Acoustimass® 6 Home Theater Speaker System in accordance with EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and Article 10(1) of the Directive, is in compliance with the following norm(s) or document(s): Technical regulations: EN50081-1, EN50082-1 Accredited by Bose Corporation 5 June 1999 Bose B.V., Nijverheidstraat 8 1135 GE Edam, The Netherlands Nic Merks Vice President, Bose Europe Manufacturer's authorized EU representative 2 October 29, 2001 AM25212_02_V.pdf Contents Where to find ... English Dansk Español Français Italiano Setting Up Your Acoustimass® 6 Speaker System ...................................................................4 Before you begin .................................................................................................................4 Unpacking the system ........................................................................................................5 Placing your Acoustimass 6 speakers to achieve realistic home theater sound ............... 6 Selecting locations for your speakers .................................................................................7 Connecting the speakers ....................................................................................................9 Checking your connections .............................................................................................. 12 Attaching the module end cover ....................................................................................... 13 Operating Your Acoustimass 6 Speaker System .................................................................... 14 Listening to realistic home theater sound ......................................................................... 14 Using your Dolby Pro-Logic receiver ................................................................................ 14 Using your Dolby Digital (AC-3) receiver ........................................................................... 15 Maintaining Your Acoustimass 6 Speaker System .................................................................16 Cleaning your speakers ....................................................................................................16 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................16 Warranty period ................................................................................................................17 Customer Service .............................................................................................................17 Product Information ................................................................................................................18 Technical Information ........................................................................................................18 Accessories .......................................................................................................................18 Bose® Corporation ......................................................................................... Inside back cover For your records Serial numbers are located on the connection panel of the Acoustimass module. Serial number: _________________________________________________________________ Dealer name: __________________________________________________________________ Dealer phone: _______________________ Purchase date: ___________________________ We suggest you keep your sales slip and warranty card together with this owner's guide. AM252172_02_V.pdf October 29, 2001 3 Setting Up Your Acoustimass® 6 Speaker System Before you begin Bose® Virtually Invisible® speaker technology allows you to enjoy lifelike home performances from the very latest surround sound encoded movies, CDs, and television shows, without a room full of speakers. Your video sound source (stereo VCR, laserdisc or digital video player, or stereo television) sends the encoded program material to the surround sound receiver, which interprets it by distributing various sounds to particular speakers. Although the sound mix varies with different types of programs, dialogue is usually sent to the center speaker while sounds from the left or right side of the picture go to the left or right front speakers. Ambient sounds and special effects are directed to one or both of the surround (rear) speakers. The unique, easyto-hide Acoustimass® module delivers bass for all channels. At any point in a surround sound performance, you may hear sound from all or just a few of the speakers, but the overall experience puts you in the center of the action. To select surround-encoded program material, look for any of the terms Surround, Dolby* Surround, Dolby Pro-Logic and the double-D symbol 3 * on tapes and discs, and the word "surround" preceding a TV broadcast. Your Acoustimass 6 home theater speakers are also compatible with Dolby Digital (AC-3)* receivers and program material. (Instructions on using your surround or digital receiver with the Acoustimass 6 speaker system are provided on pages 14 and 15.) You can also enjoy a wide variety of stereo programming that is not surround-encoded with your Acoustimass 6 speakers. Simply adjust your receiver as described on page 14. * Dolby, Dolby Surround, Dolby Pro-Logic, Dolby Digital (AC-3), and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. 4 October 29, 2001 AM25212_02_V.pdf Setting Up Your Acoustimass® 6 Speaker System Unpacking the system English WARNING: The Acoustimass® module weighs 19 pounds (8.6 kg). Use good lifting practice to avoid injury. To avoid danger of suffocation, keep the plastic bags that wrap these speakers out of the reach of children. Unpack the system carefully: 1. Remove any staples from the opened carton flaps. 2. Lift out the two brown inner cartons. 3. Remove the five cube speakers from their packaging. 4. Remove the Acoustimass module end cover from its packaging. 5. Gently roll the carton over onto its side and then onto its opening. 6. Carefully lift the carton from around the Acoustimass module and packing cushions. 7. Do not detach the removable cables connected to the Acoustimass module. 8. If the speakers or the Acoustimass module appear damaged, do not use them. Repack everything in the original carton and contact your authorized Bose® dealer immediately. Note: Now is a good time to record the serial number of these speakers on page 3 of this guide and on your warranty card. It is a good idea to save all packing materials for possible future use. Figure 1 What comes in the carton System input cable (20' [6 m]) Front speakers cable (20' [6 m]) Surround speakers cable (50' [15 m]) Five (5) cube speakers Eight (8) protective rubber feet Module end cover Quick set up guide Owner's guide Acoustimass module AM252172_02_V.pdf October 29, 2001 5 Setting Up Your Acoustimass® 6 Speaker System Placing your Acoustimass® 6 speakers to achieve realistic home theater sound The center speaker localizes action and dialogue on your screen. Sound from the center speaker should seem to come from within the picture. The left and right front speakers create a sound image wider than the screen that seems natural to viewers sitting anywhere in the room. The surround speakers add subtle sounds and special effects that expand the visual image, bringing the viewer into the center of the action. The surround speakers should be positioned to allow the sound to reach the viewer from both sides, rather than from directly behind. You can place the front and center speakers near a TV screen with no picture interference, because all of the cube speakers are magnetically shielded. The Acoustimass module is not magnetically shielded and should be at least 2 feet (60 cm) from your screen, but at the same end of the room as the front and center speakers. Bose® Acoustimass speaker technology takes advantage of the fact that the source of bass sound is difficult to locate, so you can hide the Acoustimass module conveniently out of sight. Placing it near a corner increases bass output from the module. A suggested home theater layout that conforms to the guidelines described above is shown in Figure 2. You may choose to place the speakers differently, to take advantage of the sound characteristics of different rooms. For instance, where walls are absent or the room is large, you may prefer not to angle the left and right speakers as shown. You can experiment to find the best position. Your speakers come with sufficient cable lengths to allow you to have the following distances between components: · Up to 20 feet (6 m) between the Acoustimass module and the receiver. · Up to 20 feet (6 m) between the Acoustimass module and the front and center cube speakers. · Up to 50 feet (15 m) between the Acoustimass module and the surround speakers. Figure 2 Speaker placement 6 October 29, 2001 AM25212_02_V.pdf Setting Up Your Acoustimass® 6 Speaker System Selecting locations for your speakers English The lengths of cable supplied with your Acoustimass® 6 system provide a great deal of flexibility in speaker placement. Optional Bose® extension cable, add-on connectors, wall brackets, and floor stands can add to your choices. See "Accessories" on page 17. Left and right front cube speakers There are several ways to achieve an accurate left and right sound image (Figure 3). · Place the front speakers on either side of your TV, at least 6 feet (2 m), or as much as 15 feet (5 m) apart. · Place them in line with the horizontal center of the screen for the best sound balance (position 1). Placing them in a line above the top of the TV is another choice (position 2). · Aim the speakers inward for more accurate imaging or outward for a more spacious effect. Adjust them according to your preference. · The speaker on the left as you face the TV connects to the left (L) OUTPUTS jack on the Acoustimass module. Figure 3 Suggested choices for left and right front speaker placement 2 2 1 1 CAUTION: Choose a stable and level surface for your speakers. Vibration can cause the cube speakers to move, particularly on smooth surfaces like marble, glass, or highly polished wood. If you are placing the center speaker on top of the television, use the smaller of the two sets of rubber feet provided. You may obtain additional rubber feet (part no. 178321), free of charge, by contacting Bose Customer Service (see listings on the inside back cover). Center cube speaker Sound from the center speaker should seem to come from within the picture. Figure 4 shows suggested positions for the center speaker. · Place the center cube speaker above, below, or on top of your television. If below, be sure that the cube speaker is not supporting the weight of the television in any way. · Aim this speaker straight ahead for on-screen imaging. · Keep it as close to the vertical center of the screen as possible, for the most accurate dialogue reproduction (positions 1 or 2). Figure 4 Suggested choices for center speaker placement 1 2 AM252172_02_V.pdf October 29, 2001 7 Setting Up Your Acoustimass® 6 Speaker System Surround cube speakers Left and right rear channel sound should reach the viewer from both sides, rather than from directly behind (Figure 5). · Put one on the left and the other on the right, beside or just to the rear of the home theater seating area. · Position them so they do not create a direct sound path to the listener's ears (position 1). · Generally aim them away from the viewers, toward the rear or side walls (position 2 or 3). · If you want these speakers directly behind the seating area, make sure they are not directed at the viewers. · The rear speaker to your left as you face the TV connects to the left surround (LS) jack on the Acoustim ...