PV150 - Speaker Paradigm - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL PV150 Paradigm

In accordance with the European Union WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive effective August 13, 2005, we would like to notify you that our this product may contain regulated materials which, upon disposal, according to the WEEE directive, require special reuse and recycling processing. For this reason Paradigm

Electronics Inc. (manufacturers of Paradigm

Electronics) has arranged with its distributors in European Union member nations to collect and recycle this product at no cost to you. To find your local distributor please contact the dealer from whom you purchased this product or go to our website at www.paradigm.com. Please note that only the product falls under the WEEE directive. When disposing of packaging and other shipping material we encourage you to recycle through the normal channels.

Reference speakers sound great out of the carton, they will sound

ven better once they are broken in. Operate them for several hours before you listen critically. High-frequency drivers use ferro-fluid that can thicken at temperatures below 10° C (50° F). If your speakers have been transported or stored in the cold, let them warm to room temperature before use. Clean speaker housing with a soft, damp cloth. Do not use a strong or abrasive cleaner or get any part of the speaker wet. MARINE MODELS: X-treme Moisture Application

Versions are designed for full exposure to the elements. Crossovers have been treated with a protective conformal coating and all models feature corrosion-resistant stainless-steel grilles, mounting brackets and hardware to protect against harsh external environmental conditions including excessive moisture, extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, corrosive salt spray, fog, snow, ice, and rain. See "Speaker Installation and Connection" section for special instructions relating to these versions. Stray magnetic fields from these speakers may interfere with the operation of your boat’s compass. Install speakers a minimum of 3' (1 m) away from the compass.

HOW TO AVOID SPEAKER DAMAGE

Use an appropriate amplifier. At high volumes, a very powerful amplifier can overdrive your speakers and damage them. On the other hand, if your amplifier isn’t powerful enough, it can produce clipping distortion that can easily damage high-frequency drivers. (See your dealer.) Don’t be fooled by your amplifier’s volume control. It adjusts listening level—it does not indicate power output. If your speakers begin to sound harsh or grating, or if you hear the bass breaking up, turn the volume down immediately or you will damage your speakers! This type of damage constitutes abuse and is not covered by warranty! Tone controls and equalizers can demand even more power from an amplifier, lowering the point at which it produces clipping distortion. Use them sparingly, if at all, and do not use them when listening at loud levels.

Reference in-wall/in-ceiling speakers are suitable for use in a wide variety of listening environments. Note however, that room construction, dimensions and furnishings all play a part in the quality of sound you ultimately achieve. The extra care taken in installation will result in greater listening enjoyment. Try to follow these guidelines: a) Strong, rigid walls and ceilings are preferred for best bass balance. For even better results add cross- braces at about 12˝ (30 cm) above and below the speaker to further increase rigidity. b) Midrange and high frequencies are affected by room furnishings. For best sound, your listening room should contain an average amount of curtains, carpets, sofas, etc. SPEAKER ASSEMBLY PARTS LIST (one speaker) Rectangular Speakers Round and Square Speakers

• 1 speaker with mounting bracket attached • 1 speaker with mounting bracket attached

• 1 piece of fine sandpaper

SPEAKER PLACEMENT GUIDELINES (all models) For placement of ADP

Surround/Rear speakers see the additional placement guidelines that follow farther below. If your speakers have ‘SM’ in their model name, or feature a Guided Soundfield

, also see placement options and additional recommendations beginning farther down the page. Location When installing your speaker, pick a location between studs or ceiling joists. Be careful not to damage any wires when you cut the installation hole. Accurate Timbre and Imaging Our in-wall/in-ceiling speakers feature wide, uniform dispersion and can be installed almost anywhere. For the most accurate timbre and imaging however, place stereo pairs approximately equal distance apart and select locations that allow sound to reach the listening area unobstructed. Bass Performance Placing speakers near corners will emphasize bass. For more balanced sound, we recommend avoiding corners when considering speaker placement. Placement of ADP

Surround/Rear Speakers Paradigm

in-wall/in-ceiling Surround/Rear speakers accurately reproduce the ambience and sound effects critical to achieving the full dimension of multichannel sound. They are full bandwidth designs, precisely timbre-matched to Paradigm

front and center speakers to ensure a seamless multichannel soundstage in a large, reverberant soundfield.

surround speakers on either side of the main listening area (Fig. 1a).

6.1 Surround/Rear Placement

Begin with the 5.1 surround configuration outlined above, then mount one speaker in the center rear, behind the primary listening area (Fig. 1b).

7.1 Surround/Rear Placement

Begin with the 5.1 surround configuration outlined earlier. Place another pair of ADP

speakers behind the primary listening area: one speaker positioned slightly right of the seating position and the other slightly left (Fig. 1c). Placement Options for ‘SM’ Models Paradigm

Reference ‘SM’ speakers offer two options for connection:

• Stereo Input: Wide dispersion “Left plus Right” channel sound from a single ‘SM’ speaker.

• Mono Input:Very wide dispersion stereo sound from two ‘SM’ speakers, one for the left, and one for the right. With their Dual-Directional Soundfield

, ‘SM’ speakers provide wider than normal dispersion, allowing them to be used in a variety of applications: Single Speaker, Wide Dispersion “Left plus Right” Channel Sound (Fig. 2a) Ideal in smaller areas less suited to a stereo pair of speakers or where a single speaker is the preferred choice. The speaker is connected to both left and right amplifier channels. Position speakers to achieve the broadest sound coverage across the main listening area. Multiple Speakers, Distributed “Left plus Right” Channel Sound (Fig. 2b) In larger areas (offices, on the boat deck, etc.) multiple speakers (each wired for “Left plus Right” channel sound) may be used to eliminate the sound imbalances that occur with separate stereo speakers as people move around, or are seated closer to one speaker than the other. Position speakers to achieve the broadest sound coverage across the main listening area.4

5.1 Surround Placement Using Two Speakers (Fig. 2c)

Place one speaker on either side of the listening area. Position so that one tweeter dome of each speaker points toward the front of the room and the other points toward the back. Connect each speaker for Mono sound, then use for L/R Surrounds to produce spacious 5.1 surround sound.

6.1 Rear Placement Using One Speaker (Fig. 2d)

Center one speaker behind the listening area, tweeter domes positioned toward the left and right sides of the room. Connect speaker for Mono sound, then use as 6.1 Rear for wide-dispersion rear-channel sound.

7.1 Surround + Rear Placement Using Two

Speakers (Fig. 2e) Place one speaker on either side of the listening area. Position so that one tweeter dome of each speaker points toward the front of the room and use those channels for L/R surround sound. The other tweeter domes will be pointed toward the back of the room which can then be used for L/R rear sound.

7.1 Rear Placement Using One Speaker (Fig. 2f)

Center one speaker behind the listening area with tweeter domes positioned toward the left and right sides of the room. Connect to L/R Rears for spacious 7.1 rear-channel sound. Placement Options for Guided Soundfiel

in-ceiling speakers are optimized for use in areas with 8´ (2.4 m) to 9´ (2.74 m) high ceilings. They allow you to “guide” a wide-dispersion arc of sound toward a specific area in much the same way we guide a floodlight to flood an area with light. For overall clarity and balanced bass performance these speakers should be mounted in the ceiling 12” (30 cm) or more from the wall, as shown in figs. 3a to 3f. NOTE: Guiding the sound should be done after connecting the speaker but before final tightening of flange screws. See “Fine Tuning the Guided Soundfield

,” on page 5. Guided Soundfield

Left/Right Speakers (Fig. 3a) Follow the general guidelines for speaker placement provided at the beginning of the main section, keeping in mind the distance from the front speakers to your primary listening area should be 10’ (3 m) to 14’ (4.3 m), as shown. Adding a Guided Soundfield

Center Speaker (Fig. 3b) Follow the directions for placement given earlier, then position the center speaker between the L/R speakers, with drivers pointed toward the center of the listening area. GUIDED SOUNDFIELD

SURROUNDS/REARS These speakers are also ideal for use as surrounds/rears. “Guiding” the sound toward the sides and rear of the room creates an enveloping, reverberant soundfield similar to that provided by Paradigm

and Paradigm Reference ADP

speakers. Keep in mind that the speakers should be mounted 12” (30 cm) or more from the wall.

5.1 Surround Placement

(Fig. 3c) Position one speaker on either side of the listening area with drivers pointed toward the side walls.

(Fig. 3d) Begin with the “5.1 Surround Placement” (above) then center one speaker behind the listening area with drivers pointed toward the back wall.

7.1 Surround/Rear Placement

(Fig. 3e) Begin with the “5.1 Surround Placement” (given earlier), then position another pair of speakers behind the listening area, one slightly right, the other slightly left of the listening position, with drivers pointed to the back of the room as shown. Direct-Radiating Surrounds/Rears (Fig. 3f) Alternatively, these speakers may be used as direct-radiating speakers, positioned with drivers pointed toward the listening area. Use fig. 3f as a guide to positioning as you experiment to achieve optimal surround sound in your room.5

URROUNDS/REARS (continued) Fine Tuning the Guided Soundfield

Once you have decided on placement, connect the speaker following directions for Connection on page 6. Before final tightening of the flange screws, rotate speaker until drive assembly points in the desired direction. Then, follow directions for Installation on page 7. To readjust direction of sound, loosen screws, rotate drive assembly until it points in the desired direction, then re-tighten screws. Speaker Impedance with Multiple Speakers If you are planning to use multiple speakers per amplifier channel first determine the number of speakers your amplifier is capable of driving safely. Check your amplifier’s specifications to determine minimum safe speaker impedance load (in ohms). The MINIMUM load impedance of one Paradigm

Reference in-wall/ in-ceiling speaker is:

4 ohms per channel The MINIMUM load impedance of one ‘SM’ model is:

4 ohms per speaker when wired for Mono Input Each additional speaker you connect will drop nominal impedance by half. We recommend using a Paradigm

VC-150 volume control when connecting more than two speakers. See your dealer for more information. COLOR-MATCH PAINTING (optional) Your new in-wall/in-ceiling speakers have either a textured or powder-coated finish in neutral white to blend into any area. They may also be painted to match any decor. If you plan to paint your speakers, paint them before installation (remove them from the wall before you start!). Please note:

Do not paint the surface behind the grille

Do not heat-cure your newly painted speakers

Avoid painting the rear surface of the speaker — protect it by masking it To Paint, Follow These Steps:

1) Remove the metal grilles and position the paint mask (supplied) in its place.

2) Lightly sand speaker flanges (models with metal frames only) with fine sandpaper (included)

to provide better paint adhesion.

3) In a well-ventilated area, apply several light coats of paint, letting the speaker dry completely

between coats. Follow the paint manufacturer’s directions.

4) When painting grilles, be careful to not plug holes with paint. Remove protective cloth from inside

grille before painting, and re-attach after paint has dried. It is easier to spray grille than use a brush. Do not paint grilles when they are installed on the speaker.INSTALLATION INTO EXISTING WALLS OR CEILINGS Turn your receiver/amplifier OFF before connecting speakers. This will avoid damage which may result from accidental shorting of the speaker cable. When using the VC-150 in an outdoor environment it must be enclosed in a weather- proof box designed for electrical switches (see dealer).

Place the mounting template onto the wall or ceiling. X-treme Moisture Applications

Versions: Be sure to install into a bulkhead. Cut a hole as indicated on template. (Fig. 4a or 4b) In-Wall Mounting For optimum performance, loosely place …

• two pieces, 8˝ (20 cm) to 12˝ (30 cm) long, of standard fiberglass insulation in the wall. R-12 for 2˝x 4˝ (5 cm x 10 cm) walls or R-20 for 2˝x 6˝ (5 cm x 15 cm) walls. Place one piece just above and the other just below mounting hole.

• a half-thick piece of fiberglass insulation, the same height as the speaker, in the wall right behind the mounting hole. In-Ceiling Mounting For optimum performance, loosely place …

• one piece of standard fiberglass (to fit joist size) above the speaker extending 12˝ (30 cm) or more beyond the speaker between the joists.

• (for taller joists) fibreglass insulation directly against the joists on either side of the mounting hole.

2. Connecting and Installing

Versions only: Following connection and prior to installation, any exposed wiring must be sealed with dielectric grease (not included) to prevent deterioration over time. (See dealer for more information.) You are now ready to connect and install the speakers. If you are color-match painting your speakers do so now before proceeding. Follow painting instructions provided earlier. Rectangular Speakers With die-cast bracket attached to speaker, place complete speaker assembly to the wall and … Connecting (except models with ‘SM’ in their name, see connection instructions farther below): a) Connect the speaker cable (not shown). Correct polarity or phase is critical for proper stereo imaging and bass performance. Connect the hook-up cable to the speaker input terminal on the crossover board. Connect the red (+) amplifier to the red (+) speaker terminal, and the black (-) amplifier terminal to the black (-) speaker terminal. Fasten cable to bracket with wire tie (optional). (Fig. 8a) Use only cable that is rated for in-wall use.

The UL standard is CL2, CL3 and CM

The CSA standard is FT4

X-treme Moisture Applications: Use only cable rated for marine use (see dealer).

Reference LCR (Left/Center/Right) speakers in a horizontal configuration in a typical stud wall (16˝ on center) will require additional framing. Please contact a qualified installer (see your dealer). For optimal sound reproduction the use of high-quality speaker cable is essential. When using your speakers in a distributed audio application, with multiple speakers per amplifier channel (zone), we recommend the use of a high-performance in-wall volume control such as the Paradigm

VC-150 (see your dealer for more information).7

. Connecting and Installing (continued) Installing

b) Holding the speaker’s front lip with your thumbs and index fingers, push the mounting screws toward each other with your other fingers so that the brackets fit through the hole. Release the screws and gently push the speaker to the wall/ceiling. (Fig. 5a) While holding the speaker in place, alternately tighten each screw until the speaker is firmly installed. (Fig. 5b) Round and Square Speakers With grille removed and bracket attached to speaker, place complete assembly to the wall or ceiling and … Connecting (except models with ‘SM’ in their name, see connection instructions farther below): a) Connect speaker cable as outlined on page 6, Fig. 8a, in section on Rectangular Speakers. Installing

b) For Speakers With Two Mounting Screws: Holding the speaker flange with your fingers, push on the screw heads with your thumbs to extend rear bracket. The bracket is oblong, extending past each screw. Fit one oblong end into the hole far enough to allow the other oblong end to also fit into the hole. (Fig. 6a) For Speakers With Four Mounting Screws: Holding the speaker’s front lip with your thumbs and index fingers, push the mounting screws toward each other with your other fingers, so the mounting brackets can fit through the hole with an “up-and-in” motion. Release the screws and gently push the speaker to the ceiling/wall. (Fig. 7a) Models with Guided Soundfield

: Rotate the speaker so that the drive assembly points in desired direction (not shown). c) While holding the speaker in place, alternately tighten each screw until the speaker is firmly installed. (Figs. 6b and 7b) Connecting ‘SM’ Models Stereo Input (Single Speaker) (Fig.8b): Connect one speaker channel at a time to your receiver/amplifier. Connect the Right red (+) amplifier terminal to the Right red (+) speaker terminal and the Right black (-) amplifier terminal to the Right black (-) speaker terminal. Connect the Left red (+) amplifier terminal to the Left red (+) speaker terminal and the Left black (-) amplifier terminal to the Left black (-) speaker terminal. Follow the installation instructions provided earlier. Mono Input (Fig. 8c): Connect one speaker at a time to the left and right channels of your receiver/amplifier. First, convert the Right speaker to Mono: Using a short piece of cable, connect the Right red (+) speaker terminal to the Left red (+) speaker terminal and the Right black (-) speaker terminal to the Left black (-) amplifier terminal. Then … Connect the Right red (+) amplifier terminal to the Right red (+) speaker terminal and the Right black (-) amplifier terminal to the Right black (-) speaker terminal. Repeat entire procedure for Left speaker, then follow installation instructions provided earlier.

3. Installing the Grille

Press the grille into the groove on the front face of the speaker (not shown). Magnets hold the grille in place (in-ceiling models only).8 SPEAKER PLACEMENT (pictorial) POSITIONNEMENT DES ENCEINTES (illustrations) ADP

6.1 Rear Placement using One ‘SM’ Speaker

Couverture arrière 6.1 à une seule enceinte « SM »

7.1 Rear Placement using One ‘SM’ Speaker

Couverture arrière 7.1 à une seule enceinte « SM » Distributed “Left plus Right” Sound Couverture distribuée, Gauche+Droite “SM” Models (Arrows indicate direction of tweeters) Modèles « SM » (les flèches indiquent l'orientation du haut-parleur des aigus) Fig. 2d Fig. 2c Fig. 2f Fig. 2e Fig. 2b

5.1 Surround Placement using Two ‘SM’ Speakers

Couverture ambiophonique 5.1 à deux enceintes « SM »

7.1 Surround+Rear Placement using Two ‘SM’ Speakers

Couverture ambiophonique et arrière 7.1 à deux enceintes « SM » Single-Speaker “Left plus Right” Sound Couverture à une seule enceinte, Gauche+Droite Fig. 2a10

7.1 Rear Placement, diffuse soundfield

5.1 Surround Placement, diffuse soundfield

5.1 Positionnement ambiophonique, champ sonore diffus

6.1 Rear Placement, diffuse soundfield

Fig. 8b Wiring for “Left plus Right” channel sound from a single speakerCâblage pour couverture à une seule enceinte, canaux Gauche+DroitFig. 8c Wiring for Mono sound (two speakers required)Câblage pour sortie monophonique (deux enceintes requises) Wiring for “SM” Models Câblage pour Modèles « SM » TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE PROBLEM SOLUTION No SoundMake sure receiver, preamp or amplifier is plugged in and turned on. Check power outlet at the wall isworking. Are headphones plugged in, or is system on Mute? Re-check all connections.No Sound from One or More SpeakersCheck your balance control or VC-150 Volume Control (if using). Check that all power cords are properlyplugged in and functioning. Swap the Left speaker cable with the Right speaker cable at the receiver/amplifierend to determine if the problem is with the speaker or something else (i.e. wiring, amplifier).Lack of Bass or Dislocated Image (Stereo)One or more speakers may be connected out of phase (their polarity is reversed). Re-check to ensurethat each speaker’s cable is connected with correct polarity: red (+) to red (+) and black (-) to black (-).

Reference In-Wall/In-Ceiling speakers covered in this manual are warranted to be and remain free of manufacturing and/or material defects for a period of five (5) years from the date of original purchase; X-treme Moisture Application

Versions are warranted to be and remain free of manufacturing and/or material defects for a period of three (3) years from the date of original purchase. Within the time period specified, repair, replacement or adjustment of parts for manufacturing and/or material defects will be free of charge to the original owner. Thermal or mechanical abuse/misuse is not covered under warranty. Limitations:

Warranty begins on date of original retail purchase from an Authorized Paradigm

Reference Dealer only. It is not transferable

Warranty applies to product in normal residential use only. If product is subjected to any of the conditions outlined in the next section, warranty is void

Warranty does not apply if the product is used in professional or commercial applications Warranty is Void if:

The product has been abused (intentionally or accidentally)

The product has been used in conjunction with unsuitable or faulty equipment

The product has been subjected to damaging signals, derangement in transport, mechanical damage or any abnormal conditions

The product (including cabinet) has been tampered with or damaged by an unauthorized service facility

The serial number has been removed or defaced Owner Responsibilities:

Provide normal/reasonable operating care and maintenance

Provide or pay for transportation charges for product to service facility

Provide proof of purchase (your sales receipt given at time of purchase from your Authorized Paradigm

Reference Dealer must be retained for proof-of-purchase date) Should servicing be required, contact your nearest Authorized Paradigm

Reference Dealer, Paradigm Electronics Inc., or Import Distributor (outside the U.S. and Canada) to arrange, bring in or ship prepaid, any defective unit. Visit our website, www.paradigm.com for more information. Paradigm Electronics Inc. reserves the right to improve the design of any product without assuming any obligation to modify any product previously manufactured. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties expressed or implied, of merchantability, fitness for any particular purpose and may not be extended or enlarged by anyone. In no event shall Paradigm Electronics Inc., their agents or representatives be responsible for any incidental or consequential damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you. Retain manual and sales receipt for proof of warranty term and proof of purchase.Paradigm Electronics Inc., 205, boul. Annagem, Mississauga, Ontario L5T 2V1 T: (905) 564-1994 F: (905) 564-8726