Niles Audio HDFX manual

INST ALLA TION GUIDE HD FX FOR USE IN MUL TI-CHANNEL MUSIC OR HOME THEA TER SYSTEMS HIGH DEFINITION, SIDE/REAR CHANNEL EFFECTS, IN-WALL LOUDSPEAKERS[...]

Thank you for choosing HDFX High-Defi nition, Side-/Rear -Channel Effects, In-Wall Loudspeakers from Niles. With proper installation and operation, you should enjoy years of trouble-free use. Niles manufactures the industry’ s most complete line of custom installation components and accessories for audio/video systems. T o see the complete Niles[...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI INTRODUCTION Niles HDFX High-Defi nition, Side-/Rear -Channel Effects, In-Wall Loudspeakers are expressly designed for superior sonic quality in side- or rear -channel applications. They employ advanced technology components that extract the [...]

2 BIPOLE/DIPOLE AND FX/CUT SWITCHES The HDFX also includes a baffl e-mounted BIPOLE/DIPOLE mode switch so the installer can set the sur - round effects for either side or rear placement. A companion FX/CUT switch allows adjustment of the direct/diffuse sound fi eld balance to provide realistic effects, regardless of room size. EASY RETROFIT INST [...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 3 Bracket New Construction Wings Frame Loudspeaker Baffl e Acoustic Fine T uning Controls Grille Figure 1 . Mounting an HDFX vertically into a wall INST ALLA TION CONSIDERA TIONS[...]

TOOLS AND PRECAUTIONS We recommend using the following tools to install an HDFX loudspeaker: • Electric drill with 1/4- and 1/2-inch drill bits, and a 1-inc h flat drill bit (for drilling through studs) • Keyhole or dr ywall saw • Stiff wire, fish tape, or glow rods (for routing cables) • Phillips screwdriver set • Cable ties • Pencil ?[...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 LOUDSPEAKER WIRE Use 2-conductor loudspeaker wire when connecting loudspeakers to your receiver or amplifi er . F or most applications, we recommend using 16- or 18-gauge wire. F or wiring runs longer than 80 feet, we recommend 14-gauge wire. The spring-loaded terminals of the HDFX will[...]

LOUDSPEAKER PLACEMENT NOTE: THE NILES HDFX LOUDSPEAKER IS DESIGNED FOR USE IN SIDE- OR REAR-CHANNEL APPLICA TIONS ONL Y . FOR FRONT -OR CENTER-CHANNEL APPLICA TIONS, WE RECOMMEND USING A NILES HDLCR OR HDLCR BX LOUDSPEAKER PLACEMENT FOR HOME THEA TER REAR APPLICA TIONS In home theater , the goal is to reproduce the experience of a great movie theat[...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 • If your home theater system is capable of reproducing Dolby EX surround sound, consider using a second pair of HDFX loudspeakers (on the side walls) for an additional rear surround effect, as shown in Figure 4 (on the next page). Ideally , the side loud- speakers should be placed in-[...]

THE BOUNDAR Y EFFECT Placing a loudspeaker in a corner can powerfully affect the way a listener perceives bass response. Known as the boundar y effect, placing loudspeakers close to a wall/ceiling boundary or near a corner -wall boundary will emphasize certain bass frequencies, while canceling others. This effect can make the loudspeaker sound exce[...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 INST ALLA TION FUNDAMENT ALS RUNNING THE LOUDSPEAKER WIRE IN NEW CONSTRUCTION IMPORT ANT : IF Y OU HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER YOU ARE C AP ABLE OF INST ALLING A NILES WALL-MOUNT LOUDSPEAKER, PLEASE CONSUL T A NILES DEALER OR PROFESSIONAL INST ALLER. THEY HAVE SPECIAL TOOLS, TECHNIQUES, AN[...]

RUNNING THE LOUDSPEAKER WIRE IN NEW CONSTRUCTION (CONTINUED) ABOUT DRILLING Use a bit that is large enough for the wires you plan to run. This is an important consideration, since you may be drilling a lot of holes. Here are some additional tips: • We recommend using an auger bit for rough-in wiring. It will actually pull itself through the wood,[...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 11 CONCEALING LOUDSPEAKER WIRE ABOUT INTERIOR W ALLS Interior walls in almost all North American residences are hollow, so they are easy installa tion sites for fl ush mounting loudspeakers and routing new loudspeaker cable in the house. Looking at a painted wallboard, plaster , or pane[...]

CONCEALING LOUDSPEAKER WIRE (CONTINUED) PLANNING THE LOUDSPEAKER WIRE ROUTE (CONTINUED) T o fi nd exactly where an electrical cable is routed, try inspecting the inside of the wall by turn- ing off the breaker for a particular power outlet or switch, removing the cover plate and switch or receptacle, and then shining a penlight into the wall. If y[...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 OTHER POSSIBLE LOUDSPEAKER WIRE ROUTES INCLUDE: • Under -the-carpet runs using flat loudspeaker wires. • Heating and air conditioning vents used as wire raceways for plenum-rated wire . NOTE: CHECK YOUR LOCAL BUILDING CODES, SINCE SOME MUNICIP ALITIES REQUIRE CONDUIT . CUTTING HOLES [...]

NEW CONSTRUCTION: INST ALLING A BRACKET The hole-saving bracket enables a faster and cleaner fi nal installation of the loudspeaker . It forces the drywall installer to cut out the loudspeaker hole for you and provides wire ties for the loud- speaker wire, reducing the risks of accidental loss or movement of the wire. In addition, it enables you t[...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 Figure 12. The loudspeaker wire is looped and hung on two nails attached to the joists, securing it for future use. Be sure to note the location on house plans. CONCEALING LOUDSPEAKER WIRE FOR A FUTURE INST ALLA TION 1. Attach the loudspeaker wire in a loop between the wall studs or ceil[...]

EXISTING CONSTRUCTION: INST ALLING A BRACKET (CONTINUED) 4. Continue tur ning the coat hanger as you move it into the cavity to a depth of approxi- mately 4 inches. If you feel an obstruction, fill the hole(s) with spackling compound and repeat steps 1 through 4 at a new location. 5. If the coat hanger moves freely in a complete circle , hold the s[...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 FINISHING THE INST ALLA TION P AINTING THE GRILLE AND FRAME After drywall is up, each HDFX frame and grille may be painted without the need for primer . F or best results, use a spray gun or airless sprayer , thin the paint to prevent c logging of the grille holes, and apply several ligh[...]

CONNECTING AND INST ALLING THE LOUDSPEAKER 1. At each loudspeaker , separate the loudspeaker wire so that at least 2 inches of each conductor are free . Strip away 1/4 inc h of insulation from each loudspeaker wire . 2. On each set of loudspeaker connectors, press down the spring-loaded lever , insert the appropriate conductor , and then release th[...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 IMPORT ANT : WHEN INST ALLING THE LOUDSPEAKERS IN THE CEILING, OR IF THE INST ALLA TION IS IN AN EARTHQUAKE ZONE, WE RECOMMEND USING THE ENCLOSED SHEET MET AL SCREWS TO SECURE THE BAFFLE TO THE FRAME AS FOLLOWS: a. Locate the dimples on the front baffle . b . Place the self-tapping sheet[...]

CHECKING LOUDSPEAKER PHASE (CONTINUED) Of course, there are some wires that appear completely identical. So be careful, or you might make a connection mistake. If you do, one loudspeaker will be playing “out-of-phase” with the other loudspeaker . A pair of out-of-phase loudspeakers works against each other , and the sound of the two playing tog[...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 SETTING THE DIRECT/DIFFUSE SOUND FIELD BALANCE Each HDFX also includes a companion FX/CUT control (see Figure 18 ) that allows adjustment of the direct/diffuse sound fi eld balance to provide realistic effects regardless of room size. • In large rooms (where the loudspeakers are farth[...]

OPERA TION LISTENING A T HIGHER VOLUMES Achieving a reasonable volume of sound in a large room requires more amplifi er power than it does in a small room. It is possible to turn the volume up so high that the amplifi er runs out of power . This creates “clipping” distortion, which will make treble sound very harsh and unmusical. When you hea[...]

NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 SPECIFICA TIONS Recommended Amplifi er P ower Nominal Impedance 10 to 150 watts per channel 8 ohm Frequency Response Sensitivity 65 Hz to 21 kHz, +/- 3 dB 88 dB with 2.83 V pink noise input, measured at 1 meter on axis Frame Dimensions Hole Cut-Out Dimensions 8-1/4" x 14-1/2" [...]

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NILES AUDIO CORPORA TION – 1-800-BUY -HIFI – 305-238-4373 25 NOTES[...]

Niles Audio Corporation 12331 S.W . 130 Street Miami, Florida 33186 Designed and Engineered in USA 1-800-BUY -HIFI or 305-238-4373 ©2008 Niles Audio Corporation. All rights reserved. Niles, the Niles logos and Architecture are registered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation. MicroPerf and TCC are trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation. All other t[...]