See Table 1 for recommended cable gauges. The binding posts accept a cable up to 6 mm2 (9 gauge).
If you are installing the AIW26 system to an existing wall, examine the walls thoroughly for the shortest and least obstructed cable route. Be careful to avoid cutting or drilling into electrical wires, ventilation or water pipes. These are often visible in the attic, basement or crawl space below the floor. All of this is of course much easier when the installation takes place in an unfinished wall where the wall structure is still open. In both cases it is a good idea to route the speaker cables away from electric, video or phone cables, which might induce hum into the speaker system.
Painting the speakers
The speaker grill frame and the metal mesh part of the grill insert can be spray painted to match the wall colour. Do not paint the speaker cabinet itself, or try to paint the grill frame or grill insert while they are attached to the speaker. Remove the metal mesh from the grill insert to avoid clogging the grill insert cloth with paint. Paint the grill frame and metal mesh separately with a thin spray. Do not use brushes or rollers. Be very careful not to clog the holes on the mesh with paint.
Installing the AIW26 speaker unit
Use the cardboard wall
Examine the wall structure carefully to find a clearly unobstructed location for the speaker. The speaker cabinet requires a minimum of 88 millimeters (31/2”) of free depth behind the sheetrock. Keep in mind that the mount-
ing brackets of the AIW26 need a clearance inside the wall of at least 125 millimeters (5”) above the top edge of the hole and 65
mm(29/16”) below the lower edge. Also note that the grill frame is wider and taller than the hole and requires about 30 millimeters
(13/16”) of smooth wall surface around all sides of the hole.
When you have found a good location, check that the template is level and trace the hole onto the wall with a pencil along the outline of the template. If you are not sure that the chosen part of wall is free from obstructions, you can start by making a smaller hole at the center of the marked area through which you can probe the inside of the wall. Use a dry- wall saw and make the first cut at a 45° angle toward the center of the hole so you can put the cut piece back in if the location is unsuit- able. If you find no obstructions, you can make the final cut along the marked lines.
If you have already connected the RAM1 amplifier units to the system, select the speaker that has the same ID number as the amplifier it will be driven by. Check the polarity of the speaker cables and attach the cables to the binding posts of the AIW26 speaker.
Lift the AIW26 into the hole top end (cable binding posts) first (see Figure 3) and push the lower end of the speaker onto the edge of the hole. Push both mounting brackets fully up and hold them there as you push the lower half of the speaker into the wall (see Figure 4). When the speaker is in the correct position, pull the mounting brackets down. If the wall cavity is deeper than 95 mm (33/4”), the speaker can drop into it. This can be avoided by mounting the speaker with the grill frame loosely attached. Screw the frame screws only half way in to allow some movement while installing the speaker.
Attach the grill frame to the speaker with six M6x60 Phillips screws provided with the kit (see Figure 5). As you tighten the screws evenly, the sheetrock will be clamped between the ends of the mounting brackets and the grill frame and the speaker will be firmly attached to the wall. NOTE! Overtight- ening the screws will bend and damage the grill frame. Keep a close look on the frame as you tighten the screws and stop when you see the metal base of the frame starting to bend.
The grill insert has magnets on one side to hold it onto the speaker’s grill frame. Attach the insert on the speaker so that its cross- piece does not cover the drivers. Be very careful not to dent the grill frame if you have to remove the grill insert. Use a wide piece of wood or plastic to wedge the insert out.
Connecting the RAM1 amplifier
The RAM1 amplifier is designed to be connected to a line level output of a preamplifier, Surround Sound processor or other low level source. NOTE! Never connect the RAM1 to a speaker level output of a power amplifier! Before making the connections, check that the voltage selector on the amplifier’s back panel is set to the correct voltage and the power on all components is turned off.
Start by connecting the speaker cables to the amplifier’s binding posts (see Fig. 7). Check that the amplifier’s serial number matches that of the AIW26 speaker unit which it will power. The number can be found on a sticker on the speaker’s reflex port and on the amplifier’s top cover. If the speakers are not yet installed, make a note of which amplifier is connected to each channel so you can find the correct AIW26 speaker unit for every amplifier. Check the cable polarity and use the provided cable binding post tool to tighten
Figure 3. Lift the AIW26’s top end into the cut-out
Figure 4. Lift the mounting brackets up and push the lower end of the speaker into the