7
A QUICK
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Before returning your B.I.C America Ceiling
Speaker for service, it’s a good idea to check
out these simple remedies first.
No sound from the speaker
1. Incorrect source selected on receiver or
preamplifier.
2. Mute button pressed on receiver.
3. Wrong speaker output selected – many
receivers have an “A” and “B” speaker
switch. Make sure it’s in the right position.
4. Un-secure connection at either the speaker
or amplifier – double check them.
5. Balance control turned all the way left or
right – return it to center.
6. Surround mode not turned on and/or
surround level too low.
7. Bad connecting cable between sound
source and amplifier – try a new cable.
8. Defective speaker – contact your B.I.C
America dealer or call 1-877-558-4242.
Intermittent sound from speaker or
speaker plays initially but then shuts off.
1. Short circuit at either the amplifier or
speaker connectors is activating the amp’s
protection circuits – double check connec-
tions, making sure no stray strands of wire
from one conductor are touching the other.
Speakers plays but sound is mixed
with hum
1. It could be a faulty patch cord. If so, there
will be hum from your main speaker system
as well as from your B.I.C America Ceiling
Speakers. Assuming you didn’t have hum
in your system before, one or both of the
speaker wires has been run too close to
internal AC house wiring. Re-route it so
that it stays at least 2 feet away from AC
power wiring when running parallel.
Speaker plays but sound is muffled and
“strained.” Amplifier may shut off if
volume is raised too far.
1. Too thin a gauge of wire has been run
too far a distance between amp and
speaker. Make sure that you have followed
our suggestions as to wire gauge versus
overall distance.
When volume is turned up to a high
level, the treble cuts in and out.
1. The B.I.C America Ceiling Speaker features
a special protection circuit which electroni-
cally disconnects the tweeter if it starts
getting too hot. Turn down your amplifier
and make sure to read the section of this
manual titled
“Taking care of your new
in-ceiling speakers”
which starts on
this page.
FURTHER READING
TAKING CARE OF YOUR
NEW IN-CEILING SPEAKERS
B.I.C America Ceiling Speakers are designed
to last the life of your home – if you follow a
few simple rules.
The main “killers” of a loudspeaker system are
1) too little power at high volumes, 2) too much
power at high volume, 3) transient thumps.
Not enough power
It’s a surprising fact, but far more speakers
are damaged by too little power than by too
much! When an amplifier runs out of power
while trying to re-create musical peaks, it caus-
es a form of high frequency distortion called
clipping. In moderate amounts, clipping simply
makes the music sound terrible. In greater
quantities over a period of time, it can damage
or destroy the tweeters (high frequency repro-
duction speakers) in any speaker system. If you
like your music LOUD, consider getting an
amplifier with at least 60 watts per channel.
Too much power
There’s nothing wrong with driving your
B.I.C America Speakers with a high power
amp – the extra power helps them achieve
quick musical transients found in digital record-
ings. However, you must remember to restrain
yourself and not get too heavy-handed with
the volume control (or remote buttons). If the
music begins to sound distorted or you hear a
“clacking” sound during bass notes, back off!
And naturally, if the internal protection circuits
are intermittently shutting off the tweeter,
you’re exceeding its safe power input level.
Transients
Loud, deep THUMPs, caused when you turn
your stereo on or off, can seriously damage any
loudspeaker including your B.I.C America ceil-
ing models. It’s always a good practice to turn
the volume down (or press the MUTE button if
your receiver has one) when changing sources
(such as changing from tuner to CD player
input). Also remember to turn your system off
before disconnecting any hook-up cables. When
they’re pulled out, a huge burst of low frequency
hum often occurs if the system is still on.
Cleaning
B.I.C America Ceiling Speakers are covered
with a durable finish which can be cleaned with
soap and water or spray cleaners. Avoid the use
of ammonia-based cleaning products, however.
If you’ve painted the grilles and frames, follow
the paint manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
MORE ON AMPLIFIERS
AND IMPEDANCE
Not all amplifiers or receivers can safely
operate two sets of speakers at once. If you
intend to use your B.I.C America Ceiling Speak-
ers at the same time as your main speakers –
or if you intend to hook up two sets of B.I.C
America Ceiling Speakers and use both at the
same time, it’s important to consider both the
impedance of the speakers and the capabilities
of the amplifier you’re using.
First consult the owner’s manual that came
with the amp or receiver. It should tell you the
minimum speaker impedances during simulta-
neous operation. On some models, the manual
will recommend that only two pairs of 8 ohm
speakers be used at the same time. Others
might allow one set of 8-ohm speakers and
one set of 4-ohm impedance speakers. A few
extremely robust receivers and power amplifiers
may even allow two sets of 4-ohm speakers.
If you can’t readily determine this information,
consult the dealer where you purchased the
amplifier, or call the manufacturer.
Next, determine the impedance of your
other speakers. It’s often printed on the back
of the enclosure down near the connection
terminals, or you can consult the speaker’s
owners’ manual.
B.I.C America Ceiling Speakers are rated at 8
ohms impedance. In general, this means that
most amplifiers will allow you to simultaneous-
ly operate one B.I.C America Ceiling Speaker
and one other set of 8-ohm loudspeakers – or
two sets of B.I.C America Ceiling Speakers.
If your other speakers are rated at 4 ohms,
some amplifiers may experience difficulty dri-
ving both sets at once and shut off intermit-
tently when the volume control is turned up.
In this case, you should operate only one
set of speakers at a time or keep the volume
extremely low.
INSTALLING B.I.C AMERICA
SPEAKERS DURING NEW
CONSTRUCTION
Needless to say, installing speakers when a
house is being built is far easier than doing
it later.
• If possible run speaker wires after AC
wiring is in place to avoid induced hum
caused by close parallel proximity.
• Secure speaker wires in place along the run
with insulated staples only and be careful
not to pierce the insulation. Allow a bit of
slack for expansion of building materials.
• Needless to say, the actual speakers should
not be installed until the wall board is in
place. In the meantime, leave several feet
of wire coiled up and secured to the back
side of the speaker opening.
• When it comes time to put up the drywall,
make sure the speaker cut out hole doesn’t
extend farther than the sides of the mount-
ing frame.
• After the wallboard is put up, install the
speakers as detailed on pages 5-6 of this
manual.
