Amina MOBIUS 7 User manual

Audio for very smart homes®
®
THE INVISIBLE SPEAKER CO.
V4.5 June 2019
Plaster-Over Invisible Loudspeakers
(Panel loudspeaker with separate Backbox or Mounting Blocks)
Installation Guide
Mobius 5
Mobius 7
iQ3

Caution: Read before installing this product...1
Environmental................................................................ 3
Sound in your Home:.................................................. 4
Sound in your Work or Leisure Environment: 4
Message from the Managing Director ...............5
About the Manufacturer ............................................5
Interactive PDF guide ................................................ 6
Introduction .....................................................................7
Installation options .................................................7
Unpacking ........................................................................7
Packaging.........................................................................7
Overview...........................................................................7
Setup tips......................................................................... 9
Installation....................................................................... 11
Mounting accessories ........................................... 11
Speaker protectors ............................................... 12
Cavity wall or solid wall installation.............14
Installation (cavity walls)........................................ 15
Correct fixing method for BackboxCV........ 15
Shims............................................................................18
Shim sizes.............................................................18
Fixing shims to the speaker.........................18
Fixing shims to the BackboxCV .................18
Cavity wall alignment options ........................19
Alignment and preparation ............................ 20
For new stud walls / ceilings using
BackboxCV......................................................... 20
Retrofit / pre-skimmed plasterboard
(full wet skim finish)......................................... 21
Retrofit / pre-skimmed plasterboard
(patch plastered finish) ................................ 22
Retrofit / pre-skimmed plasterboard
(feathered skim finish)..................................23
Retrofit or new drywall..................................24
For new stud walls / ceilings using
Fixing Blocks .......................................................25
Fixing the speaker ................................................26
Connecting the speaker....................................26
Installation (solid walls).......................................... 27
Create aperture in brickwork/ concrete. .. 27
Create channel for cable .................................. 27
Solid wall alignment options ..........................28
New build/New solid walls cutaway
(Full wet skim finish).......................................29
Retrofit / pre-skimmed solid wall
cutaway (Patch plaster finish) ................. 30
Retrofit / pre-skimmed solid wall
cutaway (Feathered plaster finish) ......... 31
Connecting the speaker....................................32
Fixing the speaker................................................32
Testing.............................................................................33
Testing the speaker .............................................33
Resistance test ..................................................33
Connect the APU protection device.......33
Sweep test...........................................................33
Music test .............................................................33
Problems during test......................................33
Problems during test...........................................34
Insecure drywall ...............................................34
Metal studs ..........................................................34
Cable buzzing ...................................................34
Lighting fixtures................................................34
Finishing .........................................................................35
Filling the perimeter ............................................35
Taping the joints and panel surface ............35
Plastering options .................................................36
Full plaster skim coat .......................................... 37
Patch plaster ...........................................................38
Feather skim............................................................39
Decorating.................................................................... 40
Maintenance and cleaning................................... 40
Accessories.....................................................................41
Subwoofers ...............................................................41
Troubleshooting..........................................................42
Advice for testing..................................................42
No or low sound output .....................................42
Distortion, buzzing or rattles at modest
volumes......................................................................43
Very low output after speaker passes
electrical tests ........................................................43
Distortion at higher volume levels ...............43
Specifications............................................................. 44
Mobius series - Plaster over products ....... 44
iQ series - Plaster over products.................. 44
Fire resisting installation........................................45
Warranty information..............................................45
Copyright information ............................................45
Contact information................................................ 46
Contents

1
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WARNING:
No attempt should be made to install
this product within existing building
structures unless you are certain that no
electric cables, water pipes, gas pipes or
supporting joists will be cut through.
FIRE PROTECTION:
When making an intrusion into an
internal wall or ceiling to install an
Amina loudspeaker be sure to check the
appropriate regulations pertaining to the
required fire rating. Depending on the
location of the intrusion and the applicable
regulations it may be necessary to build in
or install additional fire rated components
or products to enclose the speaker and
back box. Amina Technologies take no
responsibility for the correct specification
and installation of any such fire protection
system that is required behind their
loudspeakers.
SPEAKER PROTECTION:
Amina loudspeakers should be installed
with an APU or other suitable electrical
overload protection device. These devices
help ensure the loudspeaker operates
reliably for many, many years ahead, by
limiting and protecting against temporary
excessive audio signals that could damage
the product.
Common sense should always prevail
though. Your product should never be
operated at repeated or consistently
excessive audio levels. Never operate your
Amina speakers at a level where audio
reproduction appears distorted.
For the ultimate in protection, Amina
recommend using the Amina A100Q digital
amplifier to drive your loudspeakers. It
prevents unwanted and excessive electrical
energy from reaching the speaker whilst
allowing it to perform at its very best at all
times.
Caution: Read before installing this product
METAL FRAME CEILINGS:
When installing in metal frame (MF) ceilings
(& walls), please ensure the assembled metal
frame is fully solid and secure and that all
metal mating joints are mechanically fixed
or bonded together. Metal joints that are not
tightly fixed have the potential to generate
spurious buzzing noises as the two free
edges rub against each other when activated
by the acoustic energy generated by the
Amina Loudspeaker. All debris, loose screws,
excess materials etc, should be removed from
above the ceiling to avoid unwanted rattles.
CLEANLINESS DURING
INSTALLATION:
Always install the speaker when the general
environment is clean and dust free. Keep
each speaker protected in its shipping
carton until cutting work is complete and the
installation room has been cleaned down
thoroughly. Never expose the rear of the
loudspeaker to an environment containing
airborne metallic particles and dust, as these
will be attracted to the speakers high power
magnet causing damage to the loudspeaker.

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• To ensure optimal performance, please
read this guide carefully and keep in a
safe place for future reference.
• Install this product in a cool, dry, clean
place - away from direct sunlight,
cold bridges and heat sources, strong
vibrational forces, chemical fumes, dust
and moisture (steam).
• Do not expose this product to sudden
temperature changes or locate it in an
environment with high humidity. This
is to prevent condensation forming
inside which may cause damage to the
product.
• Do not clean this product with chemical
solvents as this may damage the finish.
Use a clean, dry or damp cloth.
• Ensure that all installation mounting
surfaces are able to support the weight
of the product and any mounting
accessories.
• After installation, avoid pushing on the
wall or ceiling surface immediately
in front of the speaker. Excessive
excursion can crack the plaster around
its perimeter and can damage the
loudspeaker.
• Do not attempt to modify or repair the
product. Contact your distributor or
Amina if a fault should occur.
• The rear of the product should not be
subject to chemical cleaning and should
not be painted in any way.
• When plastering over, ensure only 2mm
of material covers the product. More
than this will degrade the performance
of the product and could lead to
product failure.
• Avoid the use of silicone sealants
within the area of the loudspeaker.
Sublimation of silicone will deposit a
thin layer of silicone material on the
panel surface, severely degrading the
ability of plaster to bond to its surface.
• Prior to plastering, wipe the front panel
surface clean with a damp cloth.
Caution: Read before installing this product

3
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Environmental
• Before installing, ensure that the
building is environmentally sealed, de-
humidified to a maximum of RH50%,
and at a stable temperature of at least
16 degrees centigrade (61 degrees
Fahrenheit)
• This product should not be used with
single thick coat plaster solutions or
with other finishing methods that take
days (rather than hours) to dry out.
• Please be aware that when this
product is directly fitted into a
solid brick, block or concrete wall
structure (e.g. when using the solid
wall backbox) vibrational energy is
inevitably transferred into the solid wall
structure. This energy can travel for
some considerable distance up, down
and along the structure. It is therefore
recommended the product be fitted
within acoustically isolated stud walls
or ceiling sections where possible. The
use of the product directly embedded
in solid walls is not recommended in
multi occupancy buildings.
• Please be aware that when this product
is fitted in simple (stud or rafter with
plasterboard/floorboard attached on
either side) stud walls or wooden rafter
ceiling/floor structures, vibrational
energy is inevitably transferred into
the building structure. This energy can
travel for some considerable distance
up, down and along the structure. It is
therefore recommended the product
be fitted within acoustically isolated
stud walls or ceiling sections where
possible. Special care should be taken
when installing the product in multi
occupancy buildings.
• Completed and fully dried plaster
surfaces should be finished with
permeable coatings / materials, to
allow moisture in that coating or
the adhesives used to apply those
materials, to dry into the environment,
rather than trap moisture in the
speaker.
• During installation take care to use
appropriate and suitable joint filling
compounds to fill the gap between
speaker and the surrounding surface.
This gap should be no less than 2mm
and no more than 5mm in width.
Inappropriate compounds used in such
a joint can shrink and crack excessively
and lose strength.
Allow the joint to dry thoroughly
before applying surface skim coats,
as shrinking in the joint depth whilst
drying could create a very slight
embossed outline in the finished and
decorated surface.
• As a general rule in the construction
industry, any drying process should
be gradual rather than forced with
excessive heat otherwise materials can
lose strength and can crack.
• Amina Technologies take no
responsibility for inappropriate use of
materials and environmental conditions
under which they are applied.

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Sound in your
Home:
Amina products are widely applied
in whole house audio systems and
multichannel home cinemas to create the
very best entertainment source whilst not
impinging on the design of your home.
Never imagine though that sound
reproduction is isolated to one room only
and will not be heard elsewhere in the
home. Sound from any audio source (a
person talking, a conventional speaker, a
TV or an Amina speaker) will transfer in air
through open doors, ventilation structures,
gaps under doors etc, to other areas of the
house. Sound will also pass mechanically
through the structure of the building (a
good example is the central heating boiler.
Most homeowners know exactly when it
is on!) to other areas quite some distance
away.
Whole house/multi-room audio systems
are designed to give you the very best
audio experience in the space/room you
might occupy at any one moment. This
does not mean to say that occupiers of
other rooms will not hear some of that
sound at the same time. They are more
than likely to experience it in some lesser
level and lesser quality than the intended
room.
Please remember therefore that it is
not always possible to enjoy the full
capabilities of your audio system when
other members of the household want to
remain undisturbed.
Sound in your
Work or Leisure
Environment:
Amina products are widely applied in
prestigious retail, hotel, restaurant, office,
spa and other leisure facilities.
The Amina Active Sound Board technology
creates an incredibly even level of sound
across an entire space.
This creates an entertaining yet naturally
comfortable sound field for users and
occupiers.
At the same time the physical embodiment
of the speaker is totally unobtrusive,
allowing interior designers complete
freedom from technology.

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Message from the
Managing Director
Congratulations and thank you for
purchasing an Amina Technologies high
performance invisible loudspeaker.
At Amina we are proud of being at the
forefront of flat panel active sound
board loudspeaker technology. All
the components that make up your
loudspeaker have been developed
specifically to provide the ultimate in
sound quality and reliability, whilst allowing
you to decorate, furnish and enjoy your
home in any way you wish without any
visible ‘clutter’ from your audio system.
At the heart of an Amina loudspeaker is our
high performance vibrational panel driver,
featuring a unique high power neodymium
magnet motor system. This enables the
product to provide high quality, high
loudness levels from such a compact
design. Please take a moment to read this
guide which will help you achieve the best
possible performance from your product.
Thank you and enjoy listening.
Richard Newlove
MD - Amina Technologies Ltd
About the
Manufacturer
Amina Technologies Ltd is the world’s
leading designer and manufacturer of
truly invisible loudspeaker solutions. Our
invisible loudspeakers have been used
in a wide range of both commercial and
residential applications for over twenty
years.
Luxurious hotels & spas, exclusive retail
outlets and stunning private residences
have all benefitted from using Amina
invisible loudspeakers, not only for its’
incredible aesthetic quality, but for its’
absolute ability to reproduce sensationally
clear audio across any space. Amina
has created the very best discrete audio
solution for architects, interior designers
and all design conscious clients.
See our website for more details about
Amina and a selection of prestigious
projects completed using our products.

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Interactive PDF
guide
This installation guide uses interactive PDF
links to choose the installation type that
you want.
When you see blue selection boxes with
arrows, click or touch one of the boxes to
skip to the next section for your type of
installation.
You can also click the index return link at
the bottom of any page to return to the
main index.
An example page is shown below.
Cavity wall/ceiling installation
Choose cavity wall installation for any
wall or ceiling that is constructed from
plasterboard sheet or drywall fixed
to wooden or metal studs. Cavity wall
installation requires pre-installation of a
BackboxCV back box of the correct size.
Solid wall installation
Choose solid wall installation for any
solid wall that is constructed from brick,
block, stone with no additional cavity.
Solid wall installation requires pre-
installation of a BackboxSW back box of
the correct size.
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Installation
Cavity wall or solid wall installation
Check the construction of the wall in your installation.
• Cavity wall construction includes walls constructed from plasterboard sheet fixed to
wooden or metal ‘studs’, also drywall construction.
• Solid wall construction covers walls made of brick, block or stone etc with a plaster
finishing coat.
Select one of the arrows below to skip to installation instructions for cavity or solid walls.
Click here to return to
the main index.
Click one of these
options to skip to the
next page in your
installation sequence.

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Unpacking
Check that your carton contains the
correct number of items - a single speaker,
or two if ordered as a pair.
Retain this Installation Guide. If you pass
the unit on to a third party make sure you
pass on the Installation Guide.
Packaging
CAUTION:
Take care when removing the loudspeakers
from the carton.
The packaging for the Amina loudspeakers
has been carefully designed to protect
the product during transit. Please retain
it in the unlikely event you need to return
the product to your dealer or to Amina.
Please recycle the packaging should you
wish to dispose of it, having regard to any
recycling regulations in your area.
The outer carton is made up of 80%
recycled board.
Overview
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing Amina invisible
loudspeakers. Properly installed, these
loudspeakers will provide high quality,
invisibly reproduced sound for many years,
even decades, to come.
Installation options
Installation is simple, but should only be
attempted by professional building trades
with plastering experience and who have
ideally completed an Amina installation
training course.
Amina loudspeakers should be mounted
into a wall using the correct fixing
accessories, supplied by Amina for each
wall type.
Please read these instructions carefully,
particularly the Installation section, which
contains important advice to select the
correct wall-mounting accessories.
This manual should then be read in
conjunction with the associated manual
supplied with your mounting accessory.
NOTE: This installation guide applies to
Mobius and iQ plaster-over loudspeakers
only. Edge series loudspeakers are covered
in a separate installation guide.

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1. Electrical connection (to an amplifier)
2. High power neodymium magnet structures
3. Active panel surface
4. Aluminium chassis
The Overview image shows a Mobius7
loudspeaker with triple magnet structures. Other models may feature different numbers of
magnet structures and electrical connectors.
b
b
d
a
b
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