OTHER ACOUSTIC CONSIDERATIONS
For best fidelity, there are several other factors to keep in mind before you start actual installation.
Concerns and reflections
When an in-wall speaker is placed close to the corner of a room, bass frequencies are emphasized. This can be okay
if both speakers are mounted near corners (while maintaining stereo imaging). But try to avoid placing just one
speaker in a corner and another on a long flat wall.
Treble is emphasized when it reflects back from reflective surfaces such as large windows. Conversely, highs tend to
be muffled by soft surfaces such as drapes, rugs, upholstered furniture, carpeted steps and even textured fabric wall
paper.
In general, the best acoustic performance will result if both speakers face a similar type of surface and are placed in
similar positions on the same type of wall.
Installation Depth
Russound In-Wall speakers require at least
2-3/4”
of wall depth (measured from the outside surface of the wall). This
means that they can be installed in any wallboard and 2x4 stud wall. In fact, the
dense, rigid nature of plasterboard
or (lath and plaster in older homes)
acts as a superb speaker baffle
.
You can also install Russound speakers in stud walls covered with thick wood paneling or in wallboard/plaster
ceilings.
However, avoid:
• T-bar “drop ceilings” with very thin fiberboard panels which can buzz and vibrate. If you suspect this will happen,
reinforce the drop-in panel with wood or particle board.
• Any wall which can’t provide proper depth (clearance) for the back of the Russound speaker. This includes brick or
concrete walls where the wallboard or paneling is attached to thin furring strips.
• Inside wall space less than 10” wide and 48” in height
• Walls where you know that there are pipes, heating ducts and ESPECIALLY AC wiring in the general vicinity. For
example, if there is an outlet along the baseboard, there is often a live wire running partly up the wall at that point.
SPEAKER WIRE PATHS
In general, you should pay particular attention to the following areas:
• Avoid running speaker wires close to house electrical wiring for any distance. If you have to run them parallel,
make sure to space the speaker wires at least two feet from the AC line. It is, however, okay for speaker wires to
cross paths with AC line or go through the same hole together with house wiring if they separate before and after.
4
Drawing 2
Okay
Ideal
