Cambridge Sound Works NEWTON M50 User manual

M50, M60 and M80 Speakers
User Manual
™
®

3
INTRODUCTION
Thanks for choosing a Newton Series speaker.
The M50, M60 and M80 all feature the finest drivers,
precision internal crossover circuitry, and an elegant
enclosure design.
The Design Team at Cambridge SoundWorks believes
there is no better combination of audiophile-level
attention to detail and reasonable cost.
AFTER UNPACKING
Store the shipping carton and packing material for
future use and transport.
CONTENTS
M50
1. One pair of speakers
2. Eight rubber feet
3. Two 3/4" long 1/4" x 20 phillips head screws
M60
1. One pair of speakers
2. Eight rubber feet
M80
1. One speaker
2. Four rubber feet
3. Allen wrench
INSPECTING FOR DAMAGE
Examine each part carefully for shipping damage. If
there is any, do not install or use the speakers. Return
the speaker to the store or merchant where you made
the purchase or call Cambridge SoundWorks at
1-800 FOR-HIFI (1-800-367-4434) for assistance.
Front Back
Rubber Feet
3/4" long 1/4"—20
phillips head screws
(M50 only)
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8 Ohms
M50
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+
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8 Ohms
M60
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HIGH
RANGE
LOW
RANGE
HIGH
RANGE
LOW
RANGE
+
—
—
+
FULL
RANGE
INPUT
8Ohms
M80
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M50
Front Back
M60
Front Back
M80
Allen Wrench

4
Mounting the M50 on a wall:
There is a metal insert in the back of the M50 with
1/4-20 threads. The recommended bracket (avail-
able from Cambridge SoundWorks) is the Vogel’s®
Satellite 5 (part number A1SAT5BL for black or
A1SAT5WH for white). For stability, the speaker
should be installed on the wall inverted, so the
bracket is above the speaker’s center (fig.1).
Attaching the bracket: Place the inverted speaker
on a flat surface. Attach the Multi-Position Adapter
and the upper half of the Speaker Bracket to the
M50’s threaded insert as shown in figure 2, using the
3/4” 1/4-20 Philips head screw that comes with the
speaker. Tighten securely. Attach the lower half of
the Speaker Bracket as described in the instructions
that come with the speaker bracket.
Attaching the M50 to the Newton Series
floor stands:
Follow the assembly and wire routing instructions
that come with the stands. Be sure to use the plastic
washer (supplied with the stands) between the stand
bracket and the back of the speaker as shown.
SPEAKER PLACEMENT
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8 Ohms
M50
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Figure 1
Wall Mounting Options for M50
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M50
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Figure 2
Speaker Bracket for M50
Stand Mounting for M50
Plastic Washer
(supplied with stands)
Mounting Knob
(supplied with stands)
Threaded Insert
Multi-Position
Adapter
Upper Half of
Speaker Bracket
1/4"—20 x 3/4" long

55
The following suggestions assume you have some
flexibility regarding where you place your speakers.
Don’t be too concerned if your situation and listening
environment dictate the speakers’ position. The
speakers will still provide convincing, lifelike sound.
•Avoid facing a speaker parallel to a nearby wall
(within 12-14"). The reflected sound from the wall
degrades the sound coming directly from
the speaker.
•For stereo systems, position the speakers so they
are approximately at your ear level while sitting or
slightly higher.
Good stereo recordings will “fill” the space between
the speakers with sound—so long as your speakers
aren’t too far apart. Ensure the two speakers form at
least a 20 degree angle with your listening position.
An angle greater than 55 degrees apart sounds more
like two separate speakers, rather than forming a
continuous image of sound between the two speakers.
•For surround systems, position the speakers so they
are approximately the level of the television monitor
or slightly higher.
The Left Front and Right Front channels of a surround
system reproduce sound that corresponds to action
onscreen. Placing the speakers relatively close to the
television monitor (forming no more than a 45 degree
angle with your listening position) helps to “integrate”
the sound with the image onscreen.
Allow at least 3-4 inches of vent clearance between
the rear panel of an M60 or M80 speaker and a wall.
Allow at least 2 inches of clearance between the rear
panel of an M50 speaker and the back wall.
POSITIONING YOUR SPEAKERS
RECOMMENDED DISTANCE
APART FOR STEREO
20 - 55
ANGLE EAR LEVEL
OR
SLIGHTLY
HIGHER
MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED DISTANCE
APART FOR HOME THEATER
SURROUND
SPEAKER SURROUND SPEAKER
POWERED
SUBWOOFER
CENTER CHANNEL
MAIN SPEAKERS
45 ANGLE
LEVEL
WITH
CENTER
SPEAKER

6
Placing the Speakers on a flat surface:
The M50, M60, and M80 may be positioned vertically
or horizontally on any flat, stable surface. We recom-
mend you apply the self-adhesive feet to the bottom
surface of the enclosures. The feet protect the finish of
the speakers and the supporting surface, and improve
stability if the surface is not perfectly flat. Apply the
feet close to the outside corners of the enclosure (see
diagram). The face of the speaker should be posi-
tioned near to or flush with the edge of the mounting
surface for best sound.
Near To or Flush with Shelf
Near To or Flush with Shelf
Apply Rubber Feet
Apply Rubber Feet

7
M80 Tweeter/Mid-range Position
The M80’s tweeter/mid-range mounting plate comes
factory-aligned for vertical enclosure orientation at or
below ear level (see diagram Vertical Position). Invert
the speaker when it is placed above ear level. You can
also invert and replace the grille panel to restore the
logo to a right side up position.
Should you wish to orient M80s horizontally, we
recommend repositioning the tweeter/mid-range
mounting plate as shown in the diagram Horizontal
Position below.
Mounting Plate Rotation Procedure
1. Place the speaker on its back panel, so the front
panel faces up.
2. Remove the grille panel.
3. Remove the four hex-head mounting screws from
the mounting plate using the supplied allen wrench.
4. Carefully lift the mounting plate assembly about an
inch off the cabinet.
5. Rotate the plate 90 degrees and realign the plate’s
screwholes with cabinet’s pilot holes.
6. Replace the mounting screws, being careful not to
over-tighten them.
7. The grille panel’s logo plate can be repositioned,
if desired.
8. Replace the grille.
Ear Level or Below
Mounting
Plate
Above Ear Level
Tweeter
Midrange
Woofer
Left Channel Center Channel Right Channel
Figure 3
Above
Ear Level
Figure 4
Ear Level
or
Below
Vertical Positions
Horizontal Positions

888
Use at least 18 gauge speaker cable for short runs
(under 15 feet). Use 16 gauge or heavier speaker
cable for longer runs.
1. Determine how long the speaker cable should be
for each speaker. Cut the speaker cable into the
appropriate lengths.
2. Strip 1/2" of insulation from the two individual con-
ductors in the speaker cable. Twist the exposed
strands of bare wire together.
3. Attach any connector plugs (like banana plugs) at
this time.
4. Determine which conductor you will use to connect
the positive terminals of the amplifier and speaker
together. Printing or a ridge on the insulation can
usually distinguish one of the two conductors of
a speaker cable. Sometimes the metal of the
conductors has two different colors.
PREPARE THE SPEAKER WIRE
Strip off 1/2"
Twist Bare Wire
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8 Ohms
M50
Made in China
Speaker Wire Connection
for M50 and M60

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Using the Speakers with Powered Subwoofers:
Use the following low-pass (high filter) setting on your
powered subwoofer:
M50 - 100 Hz
M60 - 60 Hz
M80 - 50 Hz
Some powered subwoofers provide simple, passive
“high-pass” networks in series with their main speaker
output circuits. These outputs are appropriate for use
with the M50 and M60, but avoid using this type of
output with a pair of M80s; drive M80’s with an amplifi-
er’s normal speaker output.
All Cambridge SoundWorks BassCube subwoofers have
full-range, straight pass-through speaker outputs. You
can use these outputs with the M50, M60 or M80.
The Newton Series powered subwoofers have active
100Hz “high-pass” main speaker outputs for use only
with preamplifier/power amplifier systems. These outputs
can be used with any Newton Series bookshelf speaker
system. Use a 100Hz setting on the Newton Series
subwoofer’s Low-Pass control in this case.
Dolby Digital Decoder Speaker Size Settings:
If your Dolby Digital systems uses M50, M60 and M80
speakers and a powered subwoofer connected to the
SUB OUT jack, set the decoder’s speaker size settings
to SMALL. If there is a crossover frequency feature on
your Dolby Digital decoder, set it as close to 80Hz as
it allows.
Bi-Wiring
A bi-wiring hookup configuration is supported by the
M80. Bi-wiring uses one length of speaker wire to drive
the tweeter/mid-range section of the speaker and a
separate length of speaker wire to drive the woofer. Both
lengths of speaker wire are connected to the same full-
range amplifier speaker outputs.
To bi-wire an MC500, remove the jumpers and connect
the two lengths of speaker wire as shown in the diagram
We do not recommend removing the jumpers for any
other purpose.
HIGH
RANGE
LOW
RANGE
HIGH
RANGE
LOW
RANGE
+
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—
+
FULL
RANGE
INPUT
8 Ohms
M80
Made in China
LOW
RANGE
HIGH
RANGE
JUMPER
JUMPER
HIGH
RANGE
LOW
RANGE
HIGH
RANGE
LOW
RANGE
+
+
FULL
RANGE
INPUT
8 Ohms
M80
Made in China
Speaker Wire Connection
for M80

10
Warning About Excessive Amplifier Distortion
Operating a receiver (of any power rating) beyond its
maximum undistorted output level creates distortion –
added high frequency sound not part of the musical
program. Distortion dramatically increases the internal
operating temperature of a speaker and will eventually
cause the speaker’s failure due to burned or melted
internal parts. While Cambridge SoundWorks includes
the most heat-tolerant parts commensurate with good
acoustic design, the speaker’s Limited Warranty
against defects in materials or workmanship does not
apply to parts that fail from long-term operation at very
high temperatures.
Enclosure Cleaning
The speaker enclosures can be cleaned with a
damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid spraying any cleaner
on the grille panels.
Periodic use of cleaners specifically designed for
wood veneers is recommended for Mahogany and
Blonde Maple finishes.
Brush or vacuum the grille panels if dust accumulates
on them.
101010
M50:
Dimensions: 10" H x 6 3/4" W x 7 1 /4" D
Weight: 11 pounds each
Impedance: nominal 8 ohms
The M50 can be safely used with any receiver rated
above 10 watts per channel. There is little advantage
in using more power than 100 watts per speaker, but a
receiver above this power rating can be used so long
as the receiver is not operated at distorted levels.
M60:
Dimensions: 13 1/4" H x 8 1/4" W x 9 1/4" D
Weight: 14 pounds each
Impedance: nominal 8 ohms
The M60 can be safely used with any receiver rated
above 20 watts per channel. There is little advantage
in using more power than 100 watts per speaker, but a
receiver above this power rating can be used so long
as the receiver is not operated at distorted levels.
M80:
Dimensions: 18" H x 10" W x 10 1/4" D
Weight: 28 pounds each
Impedance: nominal 8 ohms
The M80 can be safely used with any receiver rated
above 30 watts per channel. There is little advantage
in using more power than 150 watts per speaker, but a
receiver above this power rating can be used so long
as the receiver is not operated at distorted levels.
SPECIFICATIONS

P81-1670 Rev A