BluCube CXC?650 Troubleshooting guide
www.blucubespeakers.co.uk
BluCube®CXC Series
Circular, flush-mount, in-wall/in-ceiling loudspeakers
Owner’s Manual & Installation Guide
CXC‐650
CXC‐800‐3
CXC‐650‐S
www.blucubespeakers.co.uk
Introduction
Thank you for your purchase and welcome to the growing number of satisfied BluCube listeners. Please
read the following installation and operation guidelines carefully to ensure enjoyment of your home audio
system for years to come.
Although we recommend that BluCube flush-mount loudspeakers should be fitted by competent installation
technicians, installation is also well within the means of a competent DIY enthusiast when performed with
the aid of this instruction guide. You may also find it useful to visit our web site for the latest tips and
techniques on installation.
Your BluCube flush-mount loudspeakers are designed to blend into your home interior while providing
superior sound quality. At BluCube we continuously strive to improve our products and it is for this reason
that we reserve the right to change product specifications without notice. The information concerning
product specifications and instructions in this manual do not necessarily set forth all technical or other
specifications of BluCube products.
Important Safety Information
•Do not use this or other electrical equipment near water or other liquids
•Clean only with a dry cloth
•Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with all safety standards and
regulations.
•Do not install near any heat sources such as stoves, radiators, heat registers, amplifiers or any
other apparatus producing heat.
•Use attachments and accessories as indicated by the manufacturer.
•No user-serviceable parts inside. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
•Warning: To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain,
moisture or other liquids.
•Warning: To prevent injury, this apparatus must be securely attached to the wall/ceiling in
accordance with the installation instructions. No naked flame sources such as candles should be
placed close to the product.
•Caution: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the
warranty on the apparatus.
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Features
Your BluCube®loudspeakers feature the following:
•Woven Kevlar®Cones: Kevlar®has physical properties that make it ideal for loudspeaker drivers
and consequently is found in many of the world’s finest loudspeakers. Its combination of stiffness
and strength-to-weight ratio means that it results in a more precise and defined sound reproduction.
•Titanium tweeters: Another feature often found in the world’s finest loudspeakers. The stiffness
and lightness of a titanium dome tweeter results in cleaner, brighter audio definition.
•Adjustable tweeters: The tweeters in your BluCube loudspeakers are mounted in an orbital socket
and can be adjusted by gently pressing on their edge. This adjustment allows for directing the
sound when the speaker may need to be offset from an ideal listening position due to aesthetic or
physical reasons.
•Stable tweeter housing: The tweeters in our circular flush-mount loudspeakers are mounted on a
supremely stable bridge rather than on a central pole as found in many current designs. This allows
the speaker to handle more power with increased cone stability resulting in lower harmonic
distortion.
•4/8 ohm impedance switching on the circuit board: The ability to switch between 4 ohms and 8
ohms impedance is useful to match the speakers to your amplifier and is also useful if you wish to
set up multiple pairs of speakers connected to a single amplifier.
•Attenuation Switches: Your BluCube loudspeakers are fitted with high frequency (tweeter) and
low frequency (woofer) attenuation switches (and midrange on CXC-800-3). These enable you to
adjust the sound properties of the speaker to suit your personal listening preferences and the
acoustic properties of the room in which you are installing them.
•Cut-out template: BluCube loudspeakers come with a cut out template to allow the installer to
accurately measure the hole to be cut out in the wall or ceiling surface resulting in an easier
installation process.
•Paint Mask: BluCube loudspeakers come with a paint mask to allow the installer to protect the
surface of the tweeter and the woofer cone while (optionally) painting the surrounding speaker
baffle.
•Pre-construction bracket: All BluCube loudspeakers come with tough, plastic pre-construction
brackets. Their use is optional, but can be very helpful to the installation process at the time the
plasterboard is about to be attached to the wall/ceiling. Therefore they would be used only during
more extensive renovations and not when fitting the loudspeakers into an existing surface.
•Paintable Grilles: Your BluCube loudspeakers come with steel grilles pre-painted in white. These
may be painted if required. Important: Please refer to the section later in this manual on painting
grilles before embarking on this.
•Grille removal tool: Your BluCube loudspeakers come with a pair of finger hooks to facilitate the
removal of the grilles in the event that you wish to adjust or remove your loudspeakers.
•Installation Guide: This installation guide is included with your BluCube loudspeakers. From time
to time we will publish updates to the guide and so you may wish to refer to our web site for the
most up to date version.
www.blucubespeakers.co.uk
StereoSoundLayout
l
BluCube CX-Series loudspeakers
feature swivelling tweeters to aim
sound directly at the listening area
to compensate for offset mounting.
Installation Guide
It is BluCube’s aim to continuously improve our products. We therefore
reserve the right to change product specifications without notice. The
information concerning product specifications in this manual do not
necessarily set forth all technical or other specifications of BluCube
products. Additional information may be obtained from our web site:
www.blucubespeakers.co.uk.
Speaker Placement
The pivoting tweeters in BluCube loudspeakers are able to compensate for
unusual placements of the speakers themselves. However, the ideal
positioning of the speakers should be at equal distances from the intended
listening area and along a common wall. This helps to ensure the best
stereo effect.
Naturally, intended listening positions are rarely static and they may vary
quite considerably within a room. In these circumstances, you can
confidently compromise on the ideal location and use the pivoting tweeter to
assist without impacting your listening pleasure.
2-Channel Audio Placement
In standard two channel audio systems, the ideal distance between the left
and right channel speakers should be in the range of 1.8m to 3.0m apart. If
the layout of the joists and light fittings permit, the speakers should be
equidistant from the most commonly envisaged listening position.
Distributed Audio Placement
In some cases, where the room is large, you may wish to consider the use
of two (or more) pairs of speakers in order to provide a wider and more
even dispersion of sound. A more even dispersion in this way means that
people within the room are more likely to be equidistant from the speakers
so that there are no hot or cold spots of audio volume.
BluCube loudspeakers possess extremely smooth and predictable off-axis
frequency response. The chart below shows how far apart the speakers can
be placed in a distributed audio system. Again, this is a guide and should
not be treated as mandatory. The calculations are based on a +/- 45 degree
coverage from the speaker and listener ear heights using 1.5 metre for a
standing and 0.6 m for a seated listener.
Approximate speaker spacing by ceiling height
Ceiling Height Standing Listener Seated Listener
2.4m Ceiling height 1.7m 2.8m
3.0m Ceiling height 2.9m 4.0m
3.6m Ceiling height 4.1m 5.2m
4.2m Ceiling height 5.3m 6.4m
To ensure the best stereo effect, place
speakers along a common wall equal
distances from the intended listening area
ListeningArea
Left
Channel
Right
Channel
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When connecting more than one pair of speakers to an amplifier it is vital to
ensure that impedances are matched. Your amplifier will specify an
impedance range with which it can handle and you must ensure you do not
drop the total impedance below the minimum level or you may damage your
amplifier. Conversely if the total impedance is too high, sound quality will be
adversely affected. If in doubt you should consult a professional installer or
contact BluCube directly before commencing installation.
As an example, a typical amplifier may specify an operational acceptable
impedance range of 4 to 8 ohms. If you connect two pairs of BluCube
Loudspeakers (set to 8 ohm impedance on the circuit board) in parallel, the
impedance you will present to the amplifier is 4 ohms. This is within limits. If
you connect them in series, you will present 16 ohms resistance to the
amplifier which will have a negative effect on sound quality.
If you switch the impedance of your BluCube loudspeakers to 4 ohms and
connect two of them in parallel, then the impedance will be 2 ohms and may
damage your amplifier. If they are connected in series, the impedance will
be 8 ohms and therefore within acceptable limits.
Please note that, much like attaching a trailer to the back of a car, attaching
a second set of speakers to an amplifier will put additional load on the
amplifier (or engine). This makes it work harder for the same performance
or it may simply not have the power to perform at all. You need to check the
capability of your chosen amplifier before tackling this.
Home Theatre Placement
When using the speakers as rear channel speakers in a home cinema
environment, they should be ideally located between 0.4 to 1.8m behind the
main listening position. They should be separated approximately 1.8m to
3.0m apart.
Wire Gauge and Quality
A good rule of thumb to consider when installing speakers is that the total
wire resistance should be less than 10% of the speaker impedance. If using
an 8 ohm speaker, your wire resistance should therefore be no more than
0.8 ohms.
The resistance of any wire is directly proportional to its length. So if you
double the length, you double its resistance.
Home Theatre (Dolby 5.1)Layout
Subwoofer
Centre
RightFront
LeftFront
Listening/ViewingArea
LeftRearRightRear
TV
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Additional resistance has an increasingly negative effect on sound quality of
a speaker. The sound becomes less dynamic, the definition of the bass
frequencies can be reduced and, in more extreme cases, the high
frequencies can be attenuated. Amplifier power is wasted in the wire,
reducing the maximum power output of the system.
You may find the following chart helpful when deciding on the appropriate
wire gauge for your installation.
Running Speaker wires
Each BluCube loudspeaker will require a separate two-core speaker cable
run from the speaker to the chosen location of your amplifier. In the case of
the CXC-650-S (a single-stereo loudspeaker incorporating both left and
right channels) you must treat this as a pair and run two 2-core speaker
cables from the speaker to the amplifier.
Running cables during a renovation or a new construction project is
obviously more straightforward than running cables after decoration has
been completed. Here are some thoughts on how to make the wiring easier
and most discrete.
Are you using a regular infra-red controlled amplifier?
An infra-red controlled amplifier requires line of sight between the infra-red
remote control and the infra-red receiver. This means the amplifier needs to be
on display or an infra-red extender needs to be used to relay the infra-red signal
to the amplifier. The location of the amplifier in this case is determined by the
control system and is thus less flexible in terms of the cable runs.
Are you using a wireless-controlled amplifier?
If you use a system such as Sonos®, that uses wireless technology for remote
control and audio distribution, you can position the amplifier in a location that
minimises cable runs as well as the disruption to the decor of your property. For
example, in the case of Sonos®, you could locate the amplifier in a cupboard,
adjacent room, or even the attic. This is because the amplifier does not need to
be visible in order for it to be controlled as it is controlled and receives the audio
content wirelessly. For more information visit
www.blucubespeakers.co.uk/sonos.
Wire resistance (Ohms) versus length of cable run
Cable Length (metres)
Wire Gauge 15m 30m 45m 60m 75m 90m
20 gauge 0.86 1.73 2.59 3.45 4.32 5.18
18 gauge 0.65 1.30 1.94 2.59 3.24 3.89
16 gauge 0.43 0.85 1.28 1.71 2.14 2.56
14 gauge 0.27 0.54 0.81 1.08 1.35 1.62
12 gauge 0.17 0.34 0.51 0.68 0.85 1.02
10 gauge 0.11 0.22 0.33 0.44 0.56 0.67
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When installing in an existing
construction, take care not to cut
through any existing wiring or
plumbing.
Installing your loudspeakers during a new
construction/renovation
If you are installing your flush-mount BluCube loudspeakers during a
renovation or new construction, you will probably have the benefit of
exposed joists, ceilings and stud walls. This makes the running of the
speaker cables very much more straightforward.
The mounting surfaces used should be at least 10mm thick to ensure safety
and speaker stability.
Your BluCube loudspeakers come with pre-construction brackets. These
can be optionally used to assist with installation. They can be nailed or
stapled between the joists or studs in the planned speaker position with the
flange of the speaker cutout facing out.
As the plasterboard is fitted you will find it easier to accurately cut out the
necessary hole for your BluCube loudspeaker reducing installation time and
debris when the speakers are being fitted.
Installing your loudspeakers in an existing
construction
If you are installing your flush-mount BluCube loudspeakers after a
renovation or new construction has been completed, installation may be a
little more challenging as you may have to fish cables to minimise any
disruption to the decor of your home.
Note: Wirelessly Controlled amplifiers. The use of wireless amplifiers (such as
those found in the Sonos®Music System) will greatly assist the installation of
flush-mount speakers in homes where construction is already completed. For
instance, if you are wishing to install your BluCube loudspeakers in upstairs
rooms, consider whether the attic space is a suitable location for your amplifier.
This would greatly reduce the cable runs required and almost certainly avoid
redecoration needs. Alternatively, consider whether the cables may be run
across the attic and down into an adjacent room.
If you wish to install your BluCube loudspeakers in downstairs rooms, identify
their desired positioning and consider what room is above this location. For
instance, maybe it is a bedroom and maybe it is possible to lift the carpet and
floorboards to access the void and hence to enable the cable runs to the
speakers below. It may then be possible to locate the amplifier conveniently in
the room above
The benefit of using wireless technology in this context is the ability to locate the
amplifiers in locations that will minimise the need for disruption to and
redecoration of the wall or ceiling surfaces. For more information visit:
www.blucubespeakers.co.uk/sonos.
Woodstud/joist
Cutoutforspeakerinplasterboard
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The first step in installing flush-mount loudspeakers in a pre-existing
construction is to establish the location of the ceiling joists or wall studs.
You may be able to do this by lifting upstairs floorboards or stud finding
tools. If not, you may need to make pilot holes and a probe but recognise
this may entail making good afterwards.
Once a suitable location is identified, you will need to cut out the correct
size opening in the surface of the plasterboard using the supplied cut-out
template and a padsaw. You should make a pilot hole first and take care not
to cut into pre-existing electrical cables or pipe-work.
You will need to run speaker cable from the opening back to the amplifier
(in the case of the Single-stereo model CXC-650-S you will need two
cables). Ensure you comply with any building codes that may apply in your
location.
Fitting the speaker into the cut-out opening
Before inserting the speaker into the opening in the wall/ceiling, attach the
speaker cable(s) to the speaker, taking utmost care to ensure the correct
polarity of the speaker wires as this is critical to the correct operation of the
speakers.
Insert the speaker housing into the opening and tighten the mounting
screws to engage the “swing-dog” fasteners. Be careful to not over-tighten.
The “swing-dog” fasteners will clamp the speaker frame and the mounting
surface together.
To insert the speaker grille, start on one edge and slowly work your fingers
around the grille edges to ease into the groove. Make sure all edges are in
the groove before applying pressure to insert. It is a snug fit. Do not push on
the centre of the grille. If the grille is not going in, it means that not all edges
are in the groove. Ease the grille off and start again.
If the grille needs to be removed, use the supplied finger hook tools to
gently ease it out of the housing.
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Painting the speakers and grilles.
Both the speaker frames and the grilles can be painted, if desired. We recommend doing this
before installation to avoid a paint scar or meniscus forming around the frame edge. If the speaker
frame is painted after installation, use the supplied paint mask to protect the speaker drivers
during painting.
Always paint the grilles separately from the speaker itself. The grilles should only be spray painted
and with the use of thinned paint to avoid clogging of the fine mesh of the grille. Thin the paint
with 5 parts thinning agent to 1 part paint.
Only install the speakers and grilles once the paint has dried thoroughly.
Single-Stereo (CXC-650-S) model
The 650-S model uses the same installation procedure as other models but needs two speaker
cables as it produces both left and right channel audio signals from one speaker housing. It is
ideally suited to smaller rooms such as bathrooms. The crossover circuit board on the speaker
features two sets of push-to-connect terminals and it is essential that the correct polarity of the
connections to your amplifier is maintained. If the sound from the speaker lacks definition, it is
highly likely the polarity is incorrect. It does not matter which speaker terminals are connected to
the left or right channel on your amplifier, but the correct polarity is critical.
Setting the Tone Control
Blucube CX-series loudspeakers feature baffle-mounted level controls for both bass and treble
frequencies. The level control will help you to fine-tune the performance of the crossover to meet
any demanding room acoustic issues or listener preferences.
Each level control adjusts an octave wide band of frequencies most affected by the interaction
between the drivers. The controls can be adjusted to provide 3dB of boost or 3dB of reduction on
each of the drivers in any CX-series loudspeaker.
The level controls are able to help you maximise sound quality regardless of room setup and
speaker placement.
Adjusting your speakers
Note: Do not apply pressure to the tweeter dome itself. The pivoting tweeter can be used to direct
sound towards or away from a listening area. To pivot the tweeter, apply light pressure to the
plastic ring around the outside edge of the tweeter.
If your speakers are widely separated and the music fails to blend into a central image when the
system is operated in stereo mode, you should orientate the tweeters toward the listening area.
If you are using your BluCube loudspeakers in a home theatre environment, you can point the
pivoting tweeter towards a wall or window to create a diffuse surround effect.
www.blucubespeakers.co.uk
BluCube®CX‐SeriesSpecifications
CXC-650 6.5” 2-Way Circular Flush-Mount speaker
Woofer: 6.5” woven Kevlar cone, rubber surround, 22oz magnet, bumped back plate, 1” voice coil, vented pole piece
Tweeter: 1” Titanium Dome Tweeter, Ferro-fluid cooled, Neodymium magnet, 30° swivel & pivot
Crossover: FR4 board, 18dB per octave for both woofer and tweeter sections, Polyimide auto-protective reset switch for
tweeter, 16AWG wire connection to woofer section, gold plated terminal posts will accept 14AWG wire
Attenuation Switches: ± 3dB on woofer and tweeter
Frequency Response: 45Hz – 22KHz
Sensitivity: 88dB 1W/1M
Recommended amplifier power: 10-125 watts per channel
Impedance: 4 / 8 ohm switchable on PCB
Cut-out size: 7.95” (200mm)
Depth behind surface: 4.0” (100mm)
Weight (pair package): 12 lbs (5.7 kg)
Dimensions (pair package): 10.7” (H) 10.4” (W) 15” (L) (26.9 x 26.1 x 37.6 cm)
CXC-800-3 8.0” 3-Way Circular Flush-Mount speaker
Woofer: 8.0” woven Kevlar cone, rubber surround, 25oz magnet, bumped back plate, 1.25” voice coil, vented pole piece
Midrange: 3” woven Kevlar cone, rubber surround
Tweeter: 1” Titanium Dome Tweeter, Ferro-fluid cooled, Neodymium magnet, 30° swivel & pivot
Crossover: FR4 board, 18dB per octave for both woofer and tweeter sections, Polyimide auto-protective reset switch for
tweeter, 16AWG wire connection to woofer section, gold plated terminal posts will accept 14AWG wire
Attenuation Switches: ± 3dB on woofer, midrange and tweeter
Frequency Response: 40Hz – 22KHz
Sensitivity: 89dB 1W/1M
Recommended amplifier power: 10-150 watts per channel
Impedance: 4 / 8 ohm switchable on PCB
Cut-out size: 9.5” (23.9 cm)
Depth behind surface: 4.72” (11.8 cm)
Weight (pair package): 16.75 lbs (7.6 kg)
Dimensions (pair package): 13.0” (H) 12.2” (W) 17.4” (L) (32.6 x 30.6 x 43.7 cm)
CXC-650-S 6.5” Single-Stereo Image Circular Flush-Mount speaker
Woofer: 6.5” woven Kevlar cone, 22oz magnet, bumped back plate, dual 1” voice coil, vented pole piece
Tweeter: Dual 19mm Titanium Dome Tweeters, Ferro-fluid cooled, Neodymium magnet, 30° swivel & pivot
Crossover: FR4 board, 18dB per octave for both woofer and tweeter sections, Polyimide auto-protective reset switch for
tweeter, 16AWG wire connection to woofer section, gold plated terminal posts will accept 14AWG wire
Frequency Response: 45Hz – 22KHz
Sensitivity: 88dB 1W/1M
Recommended amplifier power: 10-100 watts per channel
Impedance: 8 ohm per channel
Cut-out size: 7.95” (200mm)
Depth behind surface: 3.82” (960mm)
Weight (single package): 6.5 lbs (3.0 kg)
Dimensions (single package): 8.0” (H) 11.0” (W) 11.0” (L) (20.1 x 27.6 x 27.6 cm)
www.blucubespeakers.co.uk
Warranty
BluCube warrants this product to the original purchaser to be free from defects in materials and
workmanship (subject to the terms set forth below), for a period of five years from the date of
purchase. BluCube will repair or replace (at BluCube’s option) this product or any defective parts
(excluding electronics and amplifiers) in this product. For products that have electronics or
amplifiers, the warranty on those parts is two years from the date or purchase.
Your authorised BluCube dealer will inspect the product and, if your dealer is not equipped to
perform the repair of your BluCube product, they will replace your product or return it to BluCube
for repair, at their discretion. Proof of purchase in the form of a receipted invoice, which is
evidence that this product is within the warranty period, must be presented to obtain warranty
service.
This warranty is invalid if the factory applied serial number has been altered or removed from this
product. This warranty is invalid if this product was not purchased from an authorised BluCube
dealer. Cosmetic damage or damage due to accident, acts of God, misuse, abuse, negligence,
commercial use, or modification of, or to any part of the product are not covered in this warranty.
This warranty does not cover damage due to improper installation, maintenance or operation, or
any repair attempted by anyone other than BluCube or a BluCube authorised dealer. Any
unauthorised repairs will invalidate the warranty.
Warranty Registration
To register your BluCube product for warranty purposes, please email the following information to:
warranty@blucubespeakers.co.uk
•Serialnumberoftheproduct
•Yournameandaddress
•Thedateandtheretailerfromwhereyourpurchasewasmade
Alternatively, if you prefer, you may post the above information to us at:
BluCubeLoudspeakers
Unit12,TeddingtonBusinessPark
StationRoad
TEDDINGTON
MiddlesexTW119BQ
UnitedKingdom
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