NHT C Series User manual

C-Series
Loudspeakers
C4 Tower
C1, C3 Bookshelf
C-LCR
now hear this.
Benicia, California
Designed and Engineered in the USA
Made in China

NHT’s C- Series represents our best efforts in passive loudspeaker design. The C- Series is based on the
same design fundamentals that established NHT’s reputation for accuracy and high perfomance, and adds
new driver and cabinet technology which reduce distortion and improve dispersion. The result is a more
articulate, more musical listening experience.
The following Setup Guide will help you unpack, connect, and place your new C- Series loudspeakers in your
listening room. If you are interested in specifications or in technology used in the design, please visit our web-
site at www.nhthifi.com and look up information on your specific model. If at any time during or after setup you
require assistance, feel free to call our Customer Hotline at 1-800-NHT-9993 (800-648-9993).
This Setup Guide addresses the following models: NHT C-1 and C3 bookshelf speakers, C-4 tower speaker
and C-LCR center channel/LCR.
Unpacking your Speakers
As you unpack your C-1, C-3 and C-LCR speakers, you will notice adhesive-backed, rubber bump-ons
included in the carton. You will need to stick these on the bottom of the speakers near the four corners if
you are placing these on a table or bookshelf. They will serve to keep the speaker from sliding around and to
protect the bottom surface from scratches.
The C-4 may require the help of a friend to unpack it due to its weight and size. The C-4 has a flat bottom
and comes with stabilizers that which attach to the bottom of the speaker. Position the speaker on its back
and prop up the bottom section with some of the foam packing materials. Fasten the stabilizers using the
supplied machine screws (See Fig. 1) using a philips head screwdriver. The stabilizers for the C-4 also include
rubber cones. The rubber cones are ideal for use on wood or tile floors. They can be adjusted if you have an
uneven floor and include a locknut to lock them down. We recommend you use metal cones when placing the
C-4 on heavy carpet flooring to add stability. Metal cones can be purchased at nhthifi.com.
Fig. 1

Placement
NHT’s C-3 and C-1 speakers can be placed on stands, on shelves or hung on the wall. Given the high perfor-
mance of these models, NHT recommends placement at close to ear level to achieve maximum fidelity. The
C-1 is a 2-way design and stereo imaging will benefit from a slight “toe-in” towards the listening position. The
rest of the C-series are all 3-way designs and can be placed without any toe-in angle.
If you decide to wall mount the C-3, there are threaded inserts on the rear of the cabinet for wall mounting.
NHT recommends the use of Vantage Point Bookself Mounts brackets. These are available at www.nhthifi.com
in the accessories section.
The C-LCR can be used as the main left & right, rear surrounds and center channel. Its dispersion character-
istics allow for horizontal or vertical orientation. However, if you are using the C-LCR as a center channel, you
should place it horizontally. Ideally, the center channel should be placed as close as possible immediately
above or below the television, with the tweeter closest to the TV (Fig. 2).
It is important to know that small changes in speaker position can have a notable effect on sound quality. Mov-
ing speakers closer to walls or corners will increase mid-bass output, but may result in artificial “boominess”.
Placing them farther away from room boundaries tends to decrease bass output yet improve stereo imaging
and detail. We recommend a distance of 6” – 12” from the rear wall if possible.
Room furnishings also play a significant role. Soft furnishings (e.g. sofas, carpets, and curtains) tend to absorb
mid and high frequencies, which can result in perceived dullness, whereas hard surfaces and sparse furnish-
ings tend to have the opposite effect.
Thus, experimenting with the effects of different placements in your own listening environment is the key to
finding the sound you like best.
Fig. 2

Here are some tips for maximizing the performance of your speaker system:
► Positionthespeaker1.5timesasfarawayfromyouastheyarefromeachother.(Fig.3)
► LeftandRightspeakersshouldbeequidistantfromthelisteningposition.
► Trytokeeptweeterheightclosetoearlevelwheninthelisteningposition.
► Bookshelfspeakersshouldbeplacedupright.
► Trytokeepthespeakersflushwiththefrontedgeofshelvesorcabinets.
► TheC-Seriesshouldnotrequirelongbreakintime,playmusicforanhourorsoissufficient.
For surround systems, use the same basic setup (all shown in Fig. 4) and when possible:
►Place the C-LCR center channel speaker right above or right below the TV. If you need a wall mount,
checkoutthePinpointAM-15availableatwww.nhthifi.comontheaccessoriessection.
► Placetherearspeakersinanequilateraltrianglewiththelisteningposition,atleast5’apart.
►Rear speakers should be at the same height, or higher than, the front channels.
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Unfortunately many rooms will not allow ideal placement. As a general rule, try to keep the rear channel
speakers equidistant from the center of the listening area. If the rear speakers have to be close to the main
seating area, we recommend adding time delay in your surround processor to make them seem farther away,
and make sure they are placed, above the heads of the listeners.
Connections
Before connecting your C-Series speakers to the receiver/amplifier, turn off the AC power to
avoid potential damage to your components.
The terminals on the back of your speakers accept raw wire, banana plugs or spade lugs. Note that these
terminals should be tightened only by hand, as excessive force can break them. We recommend your speaker
wire be at least 16 gauge, 14 gauge for longer runs.
Prepare the wires by stripping 1/4” - 3/8” of insulation from the ends and tightly twist the exposed strands.
Finally, connect your speakers to your amplifier or receiver, making sure that the speakers are “in phase,”
that is, the same half of the wire pair connected to the Positive terminal (+, usually red) on both the amplifier
and the speaker. The other half of the same wire connect to the Negative (-, usually black) terminals on both
amplifier and speaker.
Most speaker wire has one half of the pair marked with either lettering, ridges, the “+” sign or color to help you
make the proper connections.
Before powering up the receiver/amplifier, make sure there are no stray strands from one terminal touching the
other terminals.
Operation
All NHT C-Series speakers are compatible with most amplifier power ranges and are designed to handle a
wide range of listening levels. Every speaker, however, has limits. Speaker damage most often occurs from
sustained high volume levels in some or all frequencies. Try to avoid excessive bass or treble settings or
equalizer boosts.
The best tool you have is your ears. If you hear unusual distortion or breakup, decrease the volume immedi-
ately. If you are unsure, place your hand close to the woofer. If you feel heat radiating from the driver, you are
playing the system beyond its limits.

Maintenance
Your NHT speakers will require little if any maintenance under normal use. Try to avoid exposing them to
direct, sustained sunlight, high temperatures or moisture. Cabinets can best be dusted using a clean, soft
chamois cloth. The finish on your speakers is durable but dry rough cloth and/or excessive force can leave fine
scratches over time. Try to avoid using liquid cleaners and household furniture polish, particularly around the
speaker components. To clean the grilles, remove them from the speaker and use a soft brush or a vacuum on
its lowest setting. Do not attempt to clean the speaker components.
Satisfaction
We hope you enjoy the sound of your NHT C-Series speakers as much as we do. Your warranty is printed
on the back of this Setup Guide. Once again, if you have any questions or problems, please call us at our
Consumer Hotline. 1-800-NHT-9993
Specifications
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
C-1
System type
Bookshelf speaker
Configuration
2-way acoustic suspension design
Woofer
5.25” polypropylene cone
Tweeter
1” aluminum dome
Frequency Response
70Hz-20kHz (in room)
Sensitivity
84dB (2.83v@1m)
Impedance
6 ohms nominal, 4 ohms min.
Recommended Power
35 - 100 w/ch
Inputs
Nickel plated
5-way binding posts
Dimensions
9.625" x 5.75" x 7.5" (H x W x D)
Weight
8 lbs.
Finish
High Gloss Black, White
Sold
Individually
C-LCR
System type
Left, Center, Right
Configuration
Acoustic suspension design
Woofer
(2) 6.5” aluminum cone
Midrange
2“ aluminum dome
Tweeter
1” aluminum dome
Frequency Response
55Hz-20kHz (in room)
Sensitivity
86dB (2.83v@1m)
Impedance
8 ohms nominal, 6 ohms min.
Recommended Power
75 - 200 w/ch
Inputs
Nickel plated
5-way binding posts
Dimensions
7.125" x 21.125" x 9" (H x W x D)
Weight
21.5 lbs.
Finish
High Gloss Black
Sold
Individually
C-4
System type
Tower Speaker
Configuration
4-way acoustic suspension design
Woofer
(2) 6.5” aluminum cone
Lower Midrange
6.5” aluminum cone
Midrange
2“ aluminum dome
Tweeter
1” aluminum dome
Frequency Response
45Hz-20kHz (in room)
Sensitivity
84dB (2.83v@1m)
Impedance
8 ohms nominal, 5 ohms min.
Recommended Power
75 - 250 w/ch
Inputs
Nickel plated
5-way binding posts
Dimensions
41” x 7.5" x 11.75" (H x W x D)
Base
14” x 5" (W x D)
Weight
46.6 lbs.
C-3
System type
Bookshelf speaker
Configuration
3-way acoustic suspension design
Woofer
6.5” aluminum cone
Midrange
2“ aluminum dome
Tweeter
1” aluminum dome
Frequency Response
48Hz-20kHz (in room)
Sensitivity
85dB (2.83v@1m)
Impedance
6 ohms nominal, 4 ohms min.
Recommended Power
50 - 150 w/ch
Inputs
Nickel plated
5-way binding posts
Dimensions
13.75" x 7.5" x 10.125" (H x W x D)
Weight
16 lbs.
Finish
High Gloss Black
Sold
Individually
Sold
Individually
Finish
High Gloss
Black

Limited Warranty
Valid Only in the U.S.A.
Warranty Period
Foraperiodof5yearsforpartsand5yearsforlabor(1yearpartsand90dayslaborforelectronics)fromthedatethis
product is first purchased from an authorized NHT dealer, Now Hear This (NHT) warrants that if it fails to function properly
due to a manufacturing defect, despite its being installed and operated according to these instructions and used under
normal conditions, it will be either replaced or repaired with new or rebuilt parts (both at NHT’s option) with a unit of com-
parable value without charge to you.
What’s Not Covered
Altered, defaced or removed serial numbers void this warranty.
This warranty does not cover any product used in trade, business, industrial or commercial applications.
This warranty also does not cover the cabinet or appearance factors, or costs, defects or damage resulting from misuse,
abuse, accident, improper maintenance, alterations or modifications not authorized in writing by NHT, or parts or labor
from any source other than an authorized NHT service location.
Damage due to power exposure in excess of the speaker’s published power ratings; ie, overpowering, lightning or power
surges, are also not covered.
Your Rights
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state.
NHT limits this warranty to the purchase price of the product, excludes incidental or consequential damages, and limits
its obligations under any implied warranties under state laws to a period not exceeding their warranty periods. As some
states do not allow the above limitations, however, they may not apply to you.
To Obtain Service
To find the name and address of the nearest authorized NHT service location, call or write:
CustomerServiceDepartment,NHT,140WestIndustrialWay,Benicia,CA94510,1-800-NHT-9993(648-9993),
www.nhthifi.com
For your future convenience, please keep this warranty with your sales receipt, and record date and place of purchase for
further reference.