Boston Acoustics VRS User manual

VRS HOME THEATER
SURROUND SPEAKER SYSTEM
BOSTON ACOUSTICS

The Boston Acoustics VRS.
The difference between watching
a movie and experiencing it.

BOSTON ACOUSTICS
The human auditory system is more amazing than most
people realize. See for yourself. Close your eyes and listen to
everything around you. You’ll find it’s not hard to judge
distance and location of a sound’s origin—traffic noises,
a bird singing, a dog barking. That’s because one ear
receives the sound a fraction of a second sooner than the
other, and your brain processes this difference in time and
volume to create an instant and accurate sonic picture of
your surroundings. In fact, your brain and ears are so good
at doing this, it is difficult to fool them.
Interestingly, a surround sound speaker must do just that.
By definition, it must fool your ears into thinking they’re
in the middle of a wild-west shootout, or two thousand
fathoms under the sea, or behind the wheel of a Formula
One racer. The Boston VRS does so with ease. How it does
can be summed up in two words: Diffuse Sound.

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Diffuse Sound.
In a movie theater, you’ll notice diffuse sound is created by using a large number of surround speakers (often
our Boston A70T professional theater speakers), placed high on theater walls, a sufficient distance from listen-
ers. Obviously, this is impossible in a normal living room. What makes truly diffuse sound a reality in the home
is a dipole surround speaker design.
Area of
Cancellation
When a conventional speaker is used for sur-
round, sound is aimed directly at the listener.
Because the listener can localize the sound, the
surround effect is spoiled.
The VRS figure-eight pattern emits frequencies
above 350 Hz away from the listener. This is
important because frequencies above this point
are easily localized by the human ear. The VRS
throws sound along the room’s walls. The sound
is, in turn, reflected by the walls, ceiling, floor,
and other surfaces before reaching your ears as
diffuse sound. The upshot: Sound comes from
all around you.
The term dipole refers to any two-sided object that emits waves (or absorbs them, in the case of microphones) in a
figure-eight pattern. In the VRS, this pattern is created by employing drivers that are “out of phase”with one another.
This means when one is pushing out, the other is pulling in. This results in two radiating patterns that cancel each
other out in the vicinity of the listener, creating a “null”space in the middle of the room.

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Perforated metal grille
Crossover network
Wall/ceiling
mounting bracket
41⁄2”(115mm) low frequency driver
21⁄2”(65mm)
high frequency
drivers
VRS SURROUND SOUND SPEAKER
The VRS cabinet is sculpted to blend with a room’s decor and aim sound along walls rather than at the listener. Inside:
dual 21⁄2”(65mm) high frequency drivers, each in its own enclosure. One fires sound forward, the other backward.
These drivers are responsible for frequencies between 350 Hz and 20 kHz—an impressively broad range from a single
speaker element. The frequencies below 350 Hz are produced by a 41⁄2”(115mm) low frequency driver. Gold-plated
five-way binding posts allow quick connection to virtually any speaker cable. Plus, the included mounting bracket
makes hanging the speaker on a wall or ceiling simple and secure.

4
HOW TO CONNECT YOUR SPEAKERS
You need to wire your speakers correctly to obtain the best sound quality. Wiring should just take a few minutes,
but it’s important to do it carefully, since incorrect wiring (such as reversed connections) can result in a poor
surround effect. We recommend 18 gauge (or heavier) speaker wire for runs up to 25‘(8m), and thicker 16 gauge for
longer runs. Strip 1⁄2”(10mm) of insulation off the ends of each speaker cable to expose the two conductors, and tight-
ly twist the wire strands. Maintain the consistency of the + (red) and –(black) connections by referring to the
markings on the wire.
Insert the
wire into the
hole and
tighten.
Using the five-way binding posts:
The binding posts permit easy con-
nection to banana plugs, pins, spade
lugs, and bare wire. The metal sur-
faces are plated with 24K gold to
resist corrosion.
Important: Typically, one side of
the wire is smooth. Connect this
side to the –(black) connectors.
The other side typically has a rib
or stripe. Connect this side to
the + (red) connectors.

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receiver or amplifier
left
speaker
center
speaker
right
speaker
left
surround
speaker
right
surround
speaker
left center right left
surround
right
surround
VRS CONNECTIONS
Connect the speakers’terminals to the terminals on the amplifier or receiver designated for “surround”or “rear
channel effects.”Maintain consistency of the + (red) and –(black) connections by using the markings on the wire.
Important: Adjusting Volume Levels. To obtain the best home theater effect,
match the sound levels of each speaker. Home theater systems include a test
signal that simplifies this level matching. Refer to the instructions provided
with your surround sound electronics.
The power recommendation for the system assumes you will operate the
amplifier in a way that will not produce distortion. Even our rugged speakers
can be damaged by a modest amplifier if it produces distortion. If you hear a
harsh, gritty noise, turn down the volume. Prolonged or repeated operation of
your speakers with a distorted signal from the amplifier can cause damage that
is not covered by the warranty.
Listening Levels and Power
Handling
Warning: To prevent electrical shock, always switch off the amplifier or
receiver when making connections to the speaker.

6
HOW TO PLACE YOUR
SPEAKERS
Room placement is one of the most important factors contributing to home
theater sound quality. Taking a few minutes to place your speakers correctly
ensures that your speakers will sound their best.
Place the speakers to either side of the listening area. Mount the speakers
to the wall or ceiling so the arrow on each speaker’s back points toward the
front of the theater area. When wall mounting, locate the speakers
6-12’(2-4m) above the floor.
The speakers may also be placed on tall furniture or shelves, so long as there
is at least 20“(50cm) of clearance to either side of the speaker.
Important: Your speakers have been
packed as a LEFT and RIGHT
matched set. When you place the
speakers, be sure to place the right
speaker to your right as you face the
TV monitor. Place the left speaker to
your left.
Hang each speaker so the arrow on
the speaker’s label points to the front
of the theater area.

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If the viewing area is near a corner, the speakers may be
placed to either side on adjacent walls.
One or both speakers may be placed on the ceiling.
Hang the speaker so the arrow points toward the front
of the theater area.
If the listening position is against a wall, place the
speakers to either side, no less than 20 inches (50cm)
from the wall.
Place the speakers to either side of the listening area.
Avoid placing the speaker less than 20 inches (50cm)
from an adjacent wall.

8
29/32"
(23mm)
1"
(25mm)
Face the hooks up
so the speaker may be
hung on them.
Level bracket
before hanging
speaker.
Drill 1 /2" (12mm) holes.
6–32 x 2"
Machine screws
Toggle
wings
Important: Your speakers have been
packed as a LEFT and RIGHT
matched set. When you place the
speakers, be sure to place the right
speaker to your right as you face the
TV monitor. Place the left speaker to
your left. Hang each speaker so the
arrow on the speaker’s label points
to the front of the theater area.
1. Make two holes for the hanger using the bracket as a template. If running
wires behind the wall, make a wire hole 1”(25mm) below the hanger.
3. Level the hanger and tighten the screws. Connect the cable and hang the
speaker on the bracket so the arrow on the speaker’s label points to the
front of the theater area.
2. Insert a bolt through the hanger and thread onto the toggle wing before
penetrating the wall.
USING THE VRS WALL AND CEILING
MOUNTING BRACKET
The VRS will perform best when
mounted directly on the wall or ceil-
ing. Simply attach the supplied hang-
er to the wall or ceiling, and clip the
speaker to the hanger. If necessary,
you may locate the VRS on top of
furniture or shelving.
You may run speaker wires to the
speaker on the wall’s surface or
behind the wall. Use the recessed
area on the back of the speaker to
accommodate wire slack.
For mounting on drywall, paneling,
and other hollow surfaces: Use the
included 6-32 x 2”machine screws
and toggle wings. The toggle wings
require a 1⁄2”(12mm) hole.
For mounting on wood and other
solid surfaces: Obtain a #6 or #8
wood screw.
For masonry, adobe, and other sur-
faces: Consult a knowledgeable
installer about proper hardware. You
will obtain the best results with #6 or
#8 size screws.