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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:
• Because of the complicated paths which are
often required to route wires, you’ll definitely
need more than the amount derived from
simple measurements.
• 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
insures that both speakers will play at
equal volume.
• 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.”
B
bottom. This will insure better treble dispersion
(see Drawing 4).
Surround Sound
B.I.C In-Wall Speakers make excellent surround
sound speakers. They can be mounted in any
of the positions shown in Drawing 2 including
from the ceiling.
AMPLIFIER CONSIDERATIONS
Virtually any receiver, power amplifier or
integrated amplifier can be used with your B.I.C
In-Wall Speakers. Although B.I.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 11
(“Taking Care of Your New B.I.C
Speakers”)
.
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 11 of this manual
(“More on Amplifiers and Impedance”)
,
to avoid potential problems.
WHERE TO PUT
YOUR SPEAKERS
Placement can make all the difference in how
your B.I.C speaker systems sound – and
how easy they are to install. There are at least
three “WHERE’S” and a “HOW” to factor into
your layout:
• HOW you intend to use your speakers
• WHERE they’ll sound best (stereo imaging
and acoustic considerations)
• WHERE it’s possible to install them
(wall and ceiling surfaces)
• WHERE they can be installed that makes it
easy to get wire to them without remodeling
your entire house.
VARIOUS USES
B.I.C In-Wall Speakers can be used for
background music, as a primary stereo system
or as front, left, right, center, 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.
If you’re going to place the speakers high
up on a wall, flip the speaker upside down
when mounting it so that the tweeter is on the
OTHER ACOUSTIC
CONSIDERATIONS
For best fidelity, there are several other factors
to keep in mind before you start actual installation.
Vertical placement
Treble frequencies are quite directional. While
the horn tweeters in B.I.C FH8-W speakers are
designed to disperse high frequencies over a
wide area, they will give you the best sound when
positioned so that they are at least at ear level, as
shown in Drawing 4.
STEREO IMAGING
If your B.I.C In-Wall Speakers are going to be
your primary listening source in a room, you need
to consider some other factors to insure proper
imaging. The term “stereo imaging” refers to a
speaker system’s ability to project music so that it
sounds like the performers are in a 3-dimensional
space between the speakers. It’s the whole point
of having a stereo instead of monophonic system.
Drawing 3 shows some possible placements as
well as some situations to avoid.
DRAWING 2
B.I.C in-wall speakers may be used
for surround sound channels by
placing them (1) on each side of the
viewing position or (2) in the ceiling
just behind the viewers. (3) Used in
7.1 systems behind the listening area.
(4) B.I.C In-wall speakers also make
excellent, unobtrusive front channel
home video theater speakers.
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