I N S TA L L AT I O N G U I D E For use in distributed audio or home theater systems INDOOR / OUTDOOR W EATHER P ROO F L OUDS P EA K ERS OS7.3 OS6.3 OS5.
CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you for choosing Niles OS Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeakers. With proper installation and operation, you’ll enjoy years of trouble-free use. Niles manufactures the industry’s most complete line of custom installation components and accessories for audio/video systems. To see the complete Niles product assortment, visit us on the Internet at: www.nilesaudio.
Introduction Niles once again raises the bar. With our first OS Indoor/Outdoor models, we revealed a radical new understanding of loudspeaker capabilities. Niles original OS Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeakers are constantly praised for their ability to deliver exemplary reliability and outstanding sound quality. These attributes have made Niles OS Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeakers the bestselling loudspeakers in their class.
Features and Benefits Patent-Pending Integrated Woofer/Baffle Assembly Increases the woofer cone-area to cabinet-width ratio for enhanced bass output. Mica-Filled Polypropylene Woofer Cone Reduces breakup and lowers distortion. Butyl-Rubber Woofer Cone Surround Damps resonance and provides exceptional durability. UltraSilk® Dome Tweeter One-inch fluid-cooled tweeter provides ultra-wide dispersion for clear, detailed, and extended high-frequencies.
All-Weather Versatility Reduces installation limitations to provide great sound from the beaches of Miami to the harsh winters of Minneapolis. Home Theater Applicability Enables OS loudspeakers to be used as left, center, right, or surround loudspeakers in home theater systems. Integrated Mounting Bracket and Shelf Stand Provide a variety of secure, quick and easy mounting solutions. Tapered Shape Facilitates mounting in corners and under eaves.
PARTS GUIDE e a d b c d b d g Figure 1. OS .3 Parts Guide a. Mounting Bracket b. Nail Hole c. Wire Hole d. Screw Hole e. Bracket Knob f. Grille g. Cabinet h.
i j Figure 2. OS .3 Parts Guide (continued) i. Binding Posts j. Threaded Insert (1/4"-20 Thread size) NOTE: Bracket and Shelf Stand are used depending upon installation requirements. See Installation on page 14.
Installation Considerations Tools and Materials Required • Electric drill with 1/4- and 1/2-inch drill bits, and a 1-inch flat drill bit (for drilling through studs) • Three screws or bolts suitable for the mounting surface • The proper screwdriver for the mounting hardware • Safety cable (optional) • Cable ties • Wire stripper • Pencil • Level • Rubber gloves and protective eyewear Wiring The OS loudspeakers connect to your receiver or amplifier using 2-conduc
Figure 3. Wiring directly from a receiver or amplifier. Figure 4. Incorporating a volume control. Recommended Amplifier Power For optimum performance, we recommend amplifiers with the following power ratings: • For the OS 5.3 loudspeaker, 5 to 100 W per channel • For the OS 6.3 loudspeaker, 5 to 125 W per channel • For the OS 7.3 loudspeaker, 5 to 150 W per channel Ironically, most loudspeakers are not damaged by large amplifiers but by small amplifiers.
Placing Loudspeakers for the Best Sound Quality (continued) When using more than one pair, it is usually best to alternate a left channel and then a right channel, so that you have the best possible stereo coverage possible. The position of the loudspeakers and their surroundings play a very important role in how a stereo image is created. You should experiment to find the very best position for your loudspeakers. Here are some guidelines to make the process quick and easy.
You can control the loudspeaker’s bass output by placement. This is called the boundary effect. You will get more bass response by mounting the loudspeaker directly to a wall or other flat surface (any boundary close to the loudspeaker will reinforce the bass frequencies). You can increase the bass output even more by mounting the loudspeaker in a corner or under an eave (see Figure 6) This type of placement gives the loudspeaker two boundaries, thus reinforcing the bass sounds even more.
Mounting Methods (continued) Nail Mounting Screw Mounting Custom Bracket Mounting Figure 8. The OS loudspeakers can be mounted three ways. Safety First! Be careful to use hardware that is designed for the surface you are mounting to. The OS 5.3 loudspeaker with the bracket weighs 5-1/2 pounds. The OS 6.3 loudspeaker with the bracket weighs 6-1/2 pounds. The OS 7.3 loudspeaker with the bracket weighs 9 pounds.
Painting the Loudspeaker The enclosure, the brackets, and the grilles of the loudspeaker can all be painted to match the surroundings. Because we want you to preserve the acoustic qualities of the grille, please paint the grille according to the grille painting instructions. Make sure you pick a paint that is appropriate for the mounting location. There are interior and exterior paint types, and even paint for marine uses.
Preparing to Paint (continued) Figure 9. Removing the grille using an awl. 4. Mask off the threaded inserts on the top and bottom with masking tape. 5. Protect the front of the loudspeakers by inserting the supplied paint masks in place of the grilles. Painting the Cabinet, Bracket KNOBS, AND Bracket 1. Apply two thin coats of a sandable spray primer to the cabinet and knobs. The bracket doesn’t require a coat of primer. 2. Allow the primer to dry completely. 3.
Painting the Grille The grille is important to the sound of the loudspeaker. Do not fill the holes of the grille with paint. The grille is constructed of aluminum with a perfectly-even powder coat overall. This powder coat is an ideal primer. If you are using a spray paint, use two thin coats without any primer. If you are using a compressor and a spray gun, use the finest, most diffuse setting. Practice on paper if you are not experienced in painting with spray paint.
Installation Mounting the Bracket (if attaching the loudspeaker to a wall, ceiling, BEAM, OR other solid structure) 1. Loosen the bracket knobs and remove the bracket from the loudspeaker. 2. Hold the bracket up to the mounting surface. The loudspeaker can be mounted either horizontally or vertically. Hold the bracket so that the loudspeaker wire fits through the large, circular wire hole in the center of the bracket.
Attaching the foot (if using the loudspeaker in FREE-STANDING MODE) 1. Loosen the bracket knobs and remove the bracket from the loudspeaker. 2. Tighten the top knob so it does not vibrate. 3. Remove the bottom knob by unscrewing it from the cabinet. 4. Place the supplied shelf stand on the loudspeaker with the two shorter feet towards the front of the loudspeaker (see Figure 11). Make sure the ridges on the shelf stand engage the ridges on the cabinet. 5.
Connecting the Loudspeaker (continued) 4. If using the bracket to attach to a solid surface, slide the loudspeaker onto the bracket. Do not tighten the knobs completely. Angle the loudspeaker so that the rear terminals are accessible. If using the shelf stand, position the loudspeaker on the stand and place it on the shelf or table where you want it. 5. Connect one stripped wire end to the black terminal and one to the red terminal, using correct polarity.
1. Stand halfway between the loudspeakers. 2. Play some music with the amplifier or receiver set to Mono. 3. Listen to the richness of the bass and the loudness of the sound. 4. Turn off the amplifier and reverse the connections on one amplifier channel only. 5. R epeat the listening test with the same volume control setting. When the sound has a richer bass and is slightly louder, the loudspeakers are working together or “in-phase.
Specifications OS 7.3 Loudspeaker OS 6.3 Loudspeaker OS 5.
NOTES NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 305-238-4373 19
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NOTES NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 305-238-4373 21
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