Boston Acoustics M250, M350, M340 Connections, Front Left and Right Speakers, Center Speaker

Front Left and Right Speakers

For optimal results, it is advisable to start with the front left and right speakers positioned 6-12 feet (2-4m) apart from each other, at least 3 inches (76mm) away from the wall or curtains behind them, and at least 2 feet (0.6m) away from the corners of the room. Putting the front left and right speakers too close to a wall or corner can produce an unnatural bass reinforcement and side wall reflections that can detract from the speakers balanced, uncolored sound. If your listening position happens to be less than the distance the speakers are apart, then you may prefer to aim the front of the speakers’ inward toward the primary listening position (“toe-in”). Experimentation is key to finding the best front left and right speaker positions. Playing a piece of stereo music that you are very familiar with and has a large range of frequencies is often the simplest way to find the best speaker locations for your room and listening preferences.

Center Speaker

For optimal results, it is advisable to place the center speaker directly below, behind (perforated screens only) or above the center of the screen. The BMR driver has extremely wide dispersion characteristics so it is not necessary to “aim” the center speaker baffle towards the listening position. If placed on a shelf or cabinet, position the speaker so the front of it is flush with the edge of the shelf or cabinet. This will avoid sound reflections that detract from the balanced, uncolored sound.

Surround Speakers

For optimal results, it is advisable to position the surround speakers directly to the side of the listening position, above ear level and at least 2 feet (0.6m) away from the corners of the room. If the speakers are mounted more than 3 inches (76mm) from the ceiling, it is advisable to position the speaker so the two ports are aimed towards the ceiling. If the speaker is mounted within 3 inches (76mm) of the ceiling, it is advisable to position the speaker so that the two ports are aimed towards the floor.

There are two 4-way hangers built into the back of the MSurround for wall mounting the loudspeaker vertically or horizontally with the ports pointing in either direction. It is recommended to mount the rubber stand-offs on the back of the side panels of the MSurround if it is going to be wall mounted. This will minimize the amount of vibration that is transferred directly to the wall. Consult a person knowledgeable about your wall type to recommend suitable hardware for hanging the speaker. Usually it is best to leave soundbar off the wall until connections are made.

Connections

After your speakers are properly placed, you are ready to wire your system.

Loudspeaker Connections

Before you connect the speakers turn off all the system components. The M Series loudspeakers feature gold-plated 5-way binding posts. They can accept bare wires, pin lugs, spade lugs, banana plugs or dual banana plugs.

The illustration shows the bare wire speaker connection method. Remove about 3/8” (10mm) of the wire insulation. Twist the strands of the wire into a neat bundle. Loosen the top cap by turn- ing it counter-clockwise until the hole in the center of the terminal post is fully accessible. Insert the wire through the hole and turn the top cap clockwise by hand to clamp it in place. Do not use tools to tighten it. Be sure that no strands of wire are able to make contact with the opposite terminal post. Repeat for the other loudspeaker connections.

If you are using pin lugs, attach them to the wires as specified by the manufacturer. Loosen the top cap by turning it counter- clockwise until the hole in the center of the terminal post is fully accessible. Insert the pin lug through the hole and turn the top cap clockwise by hand to clamp it in place. Do not use tools to tighten it. Repeat for the other loudspeaker connections.

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