Russound SP550.2 Other Acoustic Considerations, Speaker Wire Paths, Concerns and reflections

OTHER ACOUSTIC CONSIDERATIONS

For best fidelity, there are several other factors to keep in mind before you start actual installation.

Concerns and reflections

When an in-wall speaker is placed close to the corner of a room, bass frequencies are emphasized. This can be okay if both speakers are mounted near corners (while maintaining stereo imaging). But try to avoid placing just one speaker in a corner and another on a long flat wall.

Treble is emphasized when it reflects back from reflective surfaces such as large windows. Conversely, highs tend to be muffled by soft surfaces such as drapes, rugs, upholstered furniture, carpeted steps and even textured fabric wall paper.

In general, the best acoustic performance will result if both speakers face a similar type of surface and are placed in similar positions on the same type of wall.

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Installation Depth

Russound In-Wall speakers require at least 2-3/4”of wall depth (measured from the outside surface of the wall). This means that they can be installed in any wallboard and 2x4 stud wall. In fact, the dense, rigid nature of plasterboard or (lath and plaster in older homes) acts as a superb speaker baffle.

You can also install Russound speakers in stud walls covered with thick wood paneling or in wallboard/plaster ceilings.

However, avoid:

•T-bar “drop ceilings” with very thin fiberboard panels which can buzz and vibrate. If you suspect this will happen, reinforce the drop-in panel with wood or particle board.

•Any wall which can’t provide proper depth (clearance) for the back of the Russound speaker. This includes brick or concrete walls where the wallboard or paneling is attached to thin furring strips.

•Inside wall space less than 10” wide and 48” in height

•Walls where you know that there are pipes, heating ducts and ESPECIALLY AC wiring in the general vicinity. For example, if there is an outlet along the baseboard, there is often a live wire running partly up the wall at that point.

SPEAKER WIRE PATHS

In general, you should pay particular attention to the following areas:

•Avoid running speaker wires close to house electrical wiring for any distance. If you have to run them parallel, make sure to space the speaker wires at least two feet from the AC line. It is, however, okay for speaker wires to cross paths with AC line or go through the same hole together with house wiring if they separate before and after.

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