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SPEAKER WIRE

The amount of wire you’re going to need will

vary with speaker placement (which we cover

next). But we’re covering the subject of wire

now because it’s something you may have to go

out and obtain along with whatever tools you

don’t already have.

What kind to use

We recommend using inexpensive, multi-stranded

“zip-cord” for amplifier-to-speaker connections.

Also called lamp cord, it’s sold in pre-packed

rolls and in bulk displays at hardware, lighting

and home improvement stores. Zip-cord’s outside

covering (insulation) can be transparent, black,

brown, white, etc. Color doesn’t matter. Wire-

thickness does. For in-wall and in-ceiling, a good

quality wire should be used so the outside plastic

covering won’t crack and break down over time.

Selecting the proper gauge

Wire is measured in “gauges.” For no particularly

good reason, the bigger the number, the smaller

the wire. For example, 18-gauge is thinner than

14-gauge.

The gauge of wire you need is determined by the

distance between your amplifier/receiver and

the speakers. Use the following chart as a guide:

Length Minimum Gauge

Less than 10 ft. 18

10 to 50 ft. 16

Over 50 ft. 14

If in doubt, be safe and get a smaller gauge

(i.e. thicker wire). Using too thin a gauge over

a long distance can compromise sound quality.

And besides, there isn’t a vast cost difference

between gauges.

How much to buy

Basically, more than you think you need. As we

noted earlier, a discussion of lengths is sort of

premature until you’ve decided on exact place-

ment, so you may want to skip to Section B on

“Where to put your speakers.” But if you

have a rough idea of the distance from your

amplifier to the speakers, here are a few tips:

s Because of the complicated paths which are

often required to route wires, you’ll definitely

need more than the amount derived from

simple measurements.

s Even if one speaker is a lot closer to the amp

than the other speaker, you should use the

same length of wire for both paths. This

ensures that both speakers will play at

equal volume.

s Professional installers often use the following

rule of thumb: amp to speaker distance

TIMES FIVE. That allows enough for both

speaker paths plus a very healthy margin

for unplanned detours. Remember the

electrician’s favorite adage:

“You can always cut off extra wire, but you

cannot make wire longer once it is cut.”

AMPLIFIER CONSIDERATIONS

Virtually any receiver, power amplifier or

integrated amplifier can be used with your B

Ceiling Speaker. Although B

C speakers are

rated for high power, it’s OK to use an even

more powerful amplifier if you take some

simple precautions, which we cover on page 7

(“Taking care of your new B

Cspeakers”).

A more serious consideration is whether or

not you intend to power more than one set of

speakers with the same amplifier or receiver. If

you intend to hook speakers to both “A” and

“B” receiver outputs and then play both sets of

speakers at the same time, you should read the

section starting on page 7 of this manual

(“More on amplifiers and impedances”),

to avoid potential problems.

VARIOUS USES

C Ceiling Speakers can be used for background

music, as a primary listening system, or as built-in

surround and rear speakers in an audio/video

home theater.

Background music

If you just want low-volume background

music to float through a room, placement for

best acoustics is not particularly critical. You can

pretty well ignore all our diagrams and tips on

imaging and other acoustical matters. Just put

your speaker where it’s convenient and non-

intrusive to room decor. You can even place the

speaker in an adjoining room, such as a living

room that flows into a formal dining room, or in

a kitchen and breakfast nook.

Surround sound

C Ceiling Speakers make excellent surround

and rear speakers. They can be mounted in any

of the positions shown in Drawings 2 and 3,

especially from the ceiling.

OTHER ACOUSTIC

CONSIDERATIONS

For best fidelity, there are several other factors

to keep in mind before you start actual installation.

C ceiling speakers may be used

for surround and rear sound chan-

nels by placing them (1)

hind or (2)

in the ceiling, just behind the viewer.

DRAWING 2

DRAWING 3

Open

Attic

Speaker

Standard Room

DRAWING 4

Cone of

Coverage

WHERE TO PUT

YOUR SPEAKER(S)

Since these are primarily used in ceiling applica-

tions, we highly recommend installing in an open

attic space. If you need to go into the ceiling of a

first floor room (in a two story house), we rec-

ommend the use of a professional installer.

Vertical placement

Treble frequencies are

quite directional. While

the dome tweeters in

C H-310C speakers

are designed to disperse

high frequencies over a

wide area, they will give

you the best sound

when positioned so that

they cover the listening

area in a cone of

Placement can make all the difference in how

your B

C speaker systems sound – and how

easy they are to install. There are at least three

“WHERES” and a “HOW” to factor into your layout:

s HOW you intend to use your speakers

s WHERE they’ll sound best (acoustic

considerations)

s WHERE it’s possible to install them

(ceiling surfaces)

s WHERE they can be installed that makes it

easy to get wire to them without remodeling

your entire house.

coverage as shown in Drawing 4. Of course, if the

speakers are being in

stalled in an area where listeners

usually stand up (such as a kitchen or hallway), they

are best suited for ceiling mount (see Drawing 3).

Corners and reflections

When a speaker is placed close to the corner

of a room, bass frequencies are emphasized.

Treble is emphasized when it reflects back from

reflective surfaces such as large windows. Con-

versely, highs tend to be muffled by soft surfaces such

as drapes, rugs, upholstered furniture, carpeted steps

and even textured fabric wall paper.