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NHT
iiW4 ARC In-Wall Loudspeaker Installation Guide
In Use
The NHT in-ceiling speakers are designed to handle a wide range of listening levels, but every speaker has limits. It is important to use
common sense and listen for signs of possible distress from the speakers – here are some pointers to remember:
- Noticeable distortion or harsh breakup is an indication that the amplifier or your speakers are running beyond their capacity, and the
volume should be decreased ASAP.
- Speaker damage most often occurs from sustained high volume levels, not from transient sounds or brief musical peaks.
- Excessive boosting of bass, treble or equalizer controls can worsen the problem, and is not recommended.
- Having more power is always better than having less. Underpowered amplifiers are most often the cause of speaker damage.
- If you tend to listen at higher volume levels, get a powerful amplifier because they are less likely to run out of power.
- Proper wiring of the speakers is critical to good sound - speaker wires have some sort of marking along one or both conductors to
help you make the correct connections.
- Weak bass and the lack of a well-defined stereo image indicate incorrect speaker phase (the + and – are reversed on one speaker)
Optimizing Sonic Performance
Bass response is smoothest when the speaker is mounted into a rigid wall or ceiling that flexes very little. For improved performance,
during framing, add cross-braces horizontally either side of the speaker location. Use adhesive caulk and extra screws when attaching
the drywall to the joists around the speaker. Additionally, once the speaker cutout has been made in the drywall, add a strip of a high-
quality non-hardening construction adhesive type caulk where the drywall meets the joists and cross-braces. Also for more controlled
bass response, add (code-approved & fire resistant) insulation to the cavity around and behind the speaker to provide acoustic damping
or use NHT IWF. Be sure to add the same amount of insulation to each speaker in the same room to ensure consistent sound. If you
use fiberglass insulation, be sure to wear protective gloves and a breathing mask to avoid contact and inhalation of the fibers. If the
insulation is paper or foil faced, position the paper or foil side away from the speaker. If the new or existing insulation is the “loose”
blown-in type, place a thin sheet of fiberglass over the top of the speaker to keep out small debris.
