Definitive Technology AW5500 User manual

DePnitive Tech11f)kJgj®
The Leader in High-Performance Loudspeakers®
AVV5500~AVV6500
All-Weather Loudspeakers
Owner's Manual
Thank You
Thank you for choosing Definitive Technology AW Series
all-weather outdoor loudspeakers.
Your AW loudspeaker is
aunique high perfonnance product developed to allow you
to experience the joy ofsuperb music reproduced anywhere,
whether
indoors or outdoors, in both domestic and
commercial applications. It utilizes specially developed
materials
and components, brought together to achieve a
level of
sound quality previously unavailable in all-weather
loudspeakers.
Our engineers
have spent many years in developing this
product. Inorder to ensure that you experience the finest
perfonnance and durability possible, we encourage you
to take a moment to fully read this owner's manual and
familiarize yourself with the proper installation and set-up
procedures
for your AW Series speakers.

Safety Precautions
CAUTION! To reduce the risk of electric shock and fire, do not remove the cover or back plate of this
device. There are no user serviceable parts inside. Please refer all servicing to licensed service technicians.
A vis: Risque de choc electricque, ne pas ouvrir.
CAUTION! The international symbol ofa lightning bolt inside a triangle is intended to alert the user to
uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the device's enclosure. The international symbol of an exclamation
point inside a triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating, maintenance and
servicing information in the manual accompanying the device.
CAUTION! To prevent electrical shock, match wide blade of plug to wide slot, fully insert. Attention: Pour
eviter les chocs electriques, introduire la lame la plus large de la fiche dans la borne correspondante de la
prise et pousser jusqu'au fond.
CAUTION! To reduce the risk of electrical shock, do not expose this equipment to rain or moisture.
1. Read Instructions-All safety and operating instructions should be read before operating the device.
2. Retain Instructions-The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
3. Heed Warnings-All warnings on the device and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.
4. Follow Instructions-All operating and safety instructions should be followed.
5. Water &Moisture-The device should never be used in, on or near water for risk of fatal shock.
6. Carts &Stands-The device should only be used on carts or stands recommended by the manufacturer.
7. Wall & Ceiling Mounting-The device should be mounted on a wall or ceiling only as recommended
by the manufacturer.
8. Ventilation-The device should always be located in such a way that it maintains proper ventilation.
It should never be placed in a built-in installation or anywhere that may impede the flow of air through
its heat sink.
9. Heat-Never locate the device near heat sources such as radiators, floor registers, stoves or other
heat-generating devices.
10. Power Supply-The device should only be connected to a power supply of the type described in the
operating instructions or as marked on the device.
11. Power Cord Protection-Power cables should be routed so they are not likely to be stepped on or
crushed by items placed on them or against them. Special attention should be paid to areas where the
plug enters a socket or fused strip and where the cord exits the device.
12. Cleaning-The device should be cleaned in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
13. Periods Of Non-Use- The device should be unplugged when not being used for extended periods.
14. Dangerous Entry-Care should be taken that no foreign objects or liquids fall or are spilled inside
the device.
15. Damage Requiring Service-The device should be serviced by licensed technicians when:'
• The plug or power supply cord has been damaged.
• Objects have fallen or liquid has spilled inside the device.
• The device has been exposed to moisture.
• The device does not appear to be operating properly or exhibits a marked change in performance.
• The device has been dropped or the cabinet becomes damaged.
16. Service-The device should always be serviced by licensed technicians. Only replacement parts
specified by the manufacturer should be used. The use of unauthorized substitutions may result in fire,
shock, or other hazards.

Unpacking Your AW Speakers
I
Please Inspect For Shipping Damage
Each loudspeaker leaves our plant in perfect condition. Any visible or
concealed damage most likely occurred in handling after it left our plant and
should be reported at once to your Definitive dealer or the shipping company
which delivered your loudspeaker.
Positioning Your AW Series Loudspeakers
Position your AW loudspeakers as close as possible to the area where you
will be listening to them. The AW speakers have a very wide dispersion pattern;
however, if you are trying to cover a very large area, you will be better off using
multiple pairs ofAW speakers in order to achieve an even distribution of sound.
With multiple pairs you will avoid having areas where the sound is too loud and
others where the sound is not loud enough. One pair ofAW Series loudspeakers
will cover approximately 200-400 square feet of listening area at moderately loud
levels. Try to point the speakers directly at the listening area.
The AW Series speakers utilize special components and materials for
outdoor use. However, you will achieve the longest life of the speaker by
positioning it to minimize exposure to the elements as much as possible.

AW speakers may be oriented either horizontally or vertically. Always position
the speakers so that the side with the mid/bass driver and tweeter (the Definitive
Technology logo badge is on this side) faces the listening area. The side with the
Low Bass Radiator may point toward an adjacent surface such as a wall, the
underside of an eave or the ground, as long as there are a couple of inches between
the Low Bass Radiator and the surface. Positioning the Low Bass Radiator near a
large surface will give you louder bass. If you want less bass, move the speaker
farther
away from the wall or ground.
Low Bass Radiator
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Logo badge Mid/Bass Driver
Tweeter
Mounting the speakers horizontally under your roof eaves is a good
location (especially if it is on the same level as the listening area). Point the
driver/tweeter/logo side down towards the listening area.
lEAVE
SIDE OF
HOUSE
~
Radiator Side
DriverlTweeter
~ide
LISTENING AREA

"-
Low Bass
Radiator side
WALL
I
DriverfTweeter
(logo) side
LISTENING AREA
Painting AW Series Loudspeakers
You may paint white versions ofthe AW5500 and AW6500 speakers to match
your color scheme or to blend in with their surroundings.
You will need: .
• A
spray can ofprimer paint (Krylon Spray
Primer #1318, or equivalent).
• A
spray can of the paint ofyour choice.
Choose exterior grade paint if you plan to use A
the speakers outdoors.
• A paperclip, awl or corkscrew (for removing
the grille) [figure A].
• Masking tape.
•Paint mask (not included) to cover parts that
should not be painted. To make an easy paint
mask use the grille as atemplate and cut a
mask from heavy, nonporous craft paper.
Preparing to Paint
1. Separate the parts of the speaker. Remove
the bracket knobs and brackets by rotating
the bracket knobs counter-clockwise until
they come off. Remove the grilles by
carefully hooking them with an awl or
bent paper clip and pulling gently away
from the cabinet [figure A].
2. Mask the binding posts on the back
of
the speaker [figure B], the metal threaded
o
o
o
o
o
o
oB
o

screw inserts on the end panels and the metal screws on the bracket knobs.
Carefully mask both baffles to protect the drivers, tweeters, low-bass
radiators,
and baffles [figure C]. Make sure the tape forms atight seal around
the edges so that no paint can get on the baffle or speaker parts. If paint gets
on the speaker parts (driver, tweeter, Low Bass Radiator), it will affect the
sound and is not covered by the warranty. The grille features an engraved
logo badge. You can remove it before painting the grille or paint right over it.
D
aintMask
PainlMask
aintMask
Paint
aint·MaSk
Paint MaSk
aintMask
PaintMas
c
1. Apply two thin coats ofprimer to the
cabinets and locking knobs. The brackets·
do not require primer.
2. When the primer is completely dry,
apply the finish color [figure D].
3. When the paint is completely dry,
remove the masking materials.
4. Do not re-attach the speaker to the
bracket until the bracket is mounted.
Try to keep all handling of fresWy
painted parts to a minimum.
Painting the Cabinet, Bracket
Knobs and Bracket
Painting
the Grille
1. The grille features an even, protective
powder coating. This powder coating is
an ideal primer. The grille features an
engraved logo badge. You can remove it
before painting the grille or paint right over
it. Rotate the logo badge to its horizontal E
or vertical orientation prior to painting
the grille.
2. Using spray paint, spray two thin coats
of
finish color with no primer [figure E].
If you're using acompressor and spray
gun, use the finest, most diffuse setting.
Be careful not to fill the holes in the grille
with paint.
3. When the paint is completely dry, carefully fit the grille into its recess
so that it is just resting on the cabinet. Starting with one comer, go around
the speaker and push the grille into the grille notch alittle bit at a time.
Be gentle; the grille may be easily bent out of shape by rough handling.

Mounting AW Series Speakers
The AW speakers can be mounted vertically or horizontally but remember to
always point the speaker in such a way as to allow water to roll off the driver cone
and/or Low Bass Radiator.
Installation of AW Series Loudspeakers requires basic skills in using tools such
as adrill and screwdriver. If you are in doubt that you possess the necessary skills
or tools, consult your Definitive Technology dealer, general contractor or a
professional installer.
To mount the speakers, remove the bracket, mount the bracket to the surface,
and then re-attach the speaker to the bracket, re-insert the locking knobs and
tighten. Aim the speaker so that the driver/tweeter side points as directly as
Ipossible toward the listening area.
Detailed Mounting Directions
1. Make sure the mounting hardware and surface you choose are both capable of
holding the weight of the speaker (see specifications on page 11) combined
with the force generated by strong wind and/or snow accumulations common
to your area.
2. Make sure the locations you select do not conceal electrical wiring or
plumbing behind the surface.
3. Prior to installation, hold the speaker in the chosen location to make sure it
safely clears obstacles such as ceiling, adjacent walls, comers, beams, lighting
fixtures and door/window frames.
4. Remove the bracket and locking knobs by turning them counter-clockwise
until they come completely out of the cabinet.
5. Using the slots in the bracket as atemplate, mark the screw locations with
a pencil.
6. If you are certain that there is a stud F
behind the wall surface, drive #10 screws
(not included) through the
wall and into the stud [figure F].
7. If there is no stud behind the wall
at the chosen location, install wall anchors
(not supplied) into the wall
by following the wall anchor
manufacturer's instructions. Always
use two wall anchors and two screws per
speaker
[figure F]. We do
not provide mounting screws or other hardware because we do not know what
kind ofmaterial you will be attaching the speaker to. For wood surfaces and
studs, use wood screws; for sheetrock or gypsum, you should use wall
anchors; for masonry, use masonry anchors.

8. Drive screws into stud or wall anchors, leaving screw heads protruding
'/8" (3 mm).
9. If speaker wire is being fed from ahole in the wall behind the bracket,
pull this speaker wire through the center hole in the bracket before mounting
the bracket.
10. Line up the bracket attached to the speaker, so that the screw heads pass
through the large center hole of the bracket's screw slot.
11. Let the speaker and bracket slide straight down, allowing the screw head
to slip behind the smaller end of the slot.
12. Tug gently on the speaker to make certain that the screws and bracket are
properly aligned and that the wall anchors are secure.
13. If the bracket is not snug against the wall, remove the speaker from the wall,
drive the screws in alittle further, and then remount the speaker.
14. Once the speaker is mounted, the bracket locking knobs can be loosened
to "aim" the speaker and then hand-tightened to keep the speaker angled
correctly.
15. Follow the hookup directions on page 9.
16. Rotate the logo badge so your friends and neighbors can see the Definitive
Technology logo and be all jealous that you got the really good stuff.
Adjusting the Bracket
In order to point the driver/tweeter/logo side toward the listening position,
tum
the locking knobs counter-clockwise until the speaker is loose enough in
the bracket to rotate. Hand-tighten the locking knobs to secure the speaker in the
desired angle.
WALL
I
LOOSEN
Driverl
Tweeter
(logo) side
WALL
I
TIGHTEN
Driverl
Tweeter
(logo) side
LISTENING AREA

Important Safety Notice
It is essential that you use appropriate hardware that is designed for
proper, safe and secure mounting to the surface to which you are attaching
the AW loudspeaker. If you are unsure in any way about how to do this,
consult a building contractor or professional installer.
Connecting the Speakers
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It is critical for proper perfonnance that. both speakers (left and right) be
connected in proper polarity. Note that one tenninal on each speaker (the +) is
colored red and the other (the -) is
colored black. Please make certain
that
you connect the red (+) tenninal
on each speaker to the red (+) tenninal
of
its channel on your amplifier or
receiver and the black (- )tenninal to
the black (-) tenninal. It is essential AMPLIFIER OR + .... a+-...p..IIIIlIIIIIIIIII~@
that both speakers be connected in the RECEIVER
same way to the amplifier (in phase).
If you experience lack of bass, it is
likely that one speaker is out ofphase
with the other; double check the
wiring and reconnect if necessary.
Speaker Pre-Conditioning (Break-In)
Your AW Series speakers should sound good right out of the box; however, a
pre-conditioning (break-in) period of20-40 hours ofnonnal playing
at moderate
volume
is required to reach full perfonnance capability. Pre-conditioning allows
the driver suspensions to loosen and results in fuller bass, clearer, more open
midrange, and smoother high-frequency reproduction.

Power and Loud Listening Levels
It takes more speakers and more amplifier power to achieve a given
amount of sound outdoors than it takes indoors. Keep this in mind when
designing and listening to your outdoor system. Be careful how loud you
turn up your outdoor system. We recommend leaving the bass and treble
controls on your amplifier or receiver at their ''Oat'' (0 dB) positions.
Audible distortion when the speakers are playing at loud levels is caused
by driving (turning up) your receiver or amplifier louder than it or the
speakers are capable of playing. Most receivers and amplifiers put out their
full-rated
power well before the volume control is turned all the way up,
so the position of the volume control is a poor indicator of its power limit.
;If your speakers distort when you play them loud, turn the volume down!
Commercial Applications
AW Series speakers are perfect for restaurant, bar and other retail commercial
applications indoors and out. Their grilles and enclosures can be readily cleaned
of dust, smoke and oily films with soap and water while their robust construction
ensures years of reliable operation. Definitive AW series speakers have broader
dispersion
and better bass than conventional commercial speakers so you will need
fewer of them to cover an area with great sound. Your customers will appreciate
that you have made an extra effort to treat them with high quality music in your
place of business while your competitors to~e their customers with harsh noise.
Definitive Technology - the competitive edge!
Care
Periodically wash your AW speakers with a mild soap and water solution to
remove dirt and pollutants.