NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI
LOUDSPEAKER WIRE
Use 2-conductor loudspeaker wire when connecting loudspeakers to your receiver or amplifier. For
most applications, we recommend using 16- or 18-gauge wire. For wiring runs longer than 80 feet,
we recommend 14-gauge wire. The spring-loaded terminals of the CM6HDfx will accommodate up
to 12-gauge wire directly. Larger sizes can be accommodated via pin connectors.
When running wire inside walls or ceilings, use special jacketed cable (CL-2 or CL-3) to protect the
wire and for fire prevention. In some areas, conduit is also required. For a trouble-free installation,
low-voltage wire such as speaker wire must be run in accordance with the National Electrical Code
and any applicable provisions of the local building code. If you are unsure of the correct installa-
tion techniques, wire jacket, or type of conduit to use, consult a professional audio/video installer,
building contractor, or the local building and inspection department.
INSULATION BEHIND THE SPEAKER
For best performance from your speakers, lay a batten of fiberglass insulation (e.g., R-19 unfaced
insulation) on top of the speaker. Try to keep the same amount of insulation for each speaker,
particularly in the same room, for consistent bass response.
SPEAKER PLACEMENT
NOTE: THE NILES CM6HDFX LOUDSPEAKER IS DESIGNED FOR USE IN SIDE- OR REAR-CHANNEL
APPLICATIONS ONLY. FOR FRONT-OR CENTER-CHANNEL APPLICATIONS, WE RECOMMEND USING A
NILES HDLCR OR HDLCR BX LOUDSPEAKER.
PLACEMENT FOR HOME THEATER REAR APPLICATIONS
In home theater, the goal is to reproduce the experience of a great movie theater in your home.
The biggest difference between the two venues is the use of a rear- or surround-speaker array in
a commercial theater. Here, it is not uncommon to see 20 or 30 speakers placed around theater
walls. This huge array of speakers assures the audience will feel completely surrounded by the
ambient soundtrack of the movie.
Filmmakers carefully use the “surround” soundtrack to envelope viewers in the sound environment
on screen. They will place background music, rain sounds, traffic noise, etc. on the “surround”
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TECH TIP
Wire size is expressed by its AWG (American
Wire Gauge) number – the lower the number,
the larger the wire. For example, 12 AWG is
physically larger than 14 AWG.