Paradigm DCS-208IW3 User manual

Owner’s
Manual
DCS-208IW3
Performance In-Wall Subwoofer

RECYCLING AND REUSE GUIDELINES FOR EUROPE
In accordance with the European Union WEEE (Waste Electrical
and Electronic Equipment) directive effective August 13, 2005,
we would like to notify you that this product may contain
regulated materials which, upon disposal, according to the
WEEE directive, require special reuse and recycling processing.
For this reason Paradigm Electronics Inc. (manufacturers
of Paradigm®speakers and Anthem®Electronics) has
arranged with its distributors in European Union member
nations to collect and recycle this product at no cost to you.
To find your local distributor please contact the dealer from
whom you purchased this product or go to our website at
www.paradigm.com.
Please note that only the product falls under the WEEE
directive. When disposing of packaging and other shipping
material we encourage you to recycle through the normal
channels.
092322

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YOUR NEW SUBWOOFER
Break-In
Allow your Paradigm®subwoofer system to operate for several hours before you listen
critically.
Cleaning
Clean subwoofer housing with a soft, damp cloth. Do not use a strong or abrasive
cleaner or get any part of the subwoofer wet.
If you wish to paint your subwoofer grille, you must do so before installing it. See the
section on ”Color Match Painting” for full details.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUBWOOFER ASSEMBLY PARTS LIST
• 1subwoofer
• 1subwoofergrille
• 1mountingtemplate
Subwoofer Assembly Parts List .. 2
Your New Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Listening Room ........... 3
Guidelines for Deciding on
Subwoofer Placement .......... 3
Subwoofer Placement .......... 3
Color Match Painting .......... 5
In-Wall Cavity Preparation ...... 5
Wiring Connections ............ 6
Subwoofer Installation ......... 7
Limited Warranty .............. 9

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Paradigm®in-wall subwoofers are suitable for use in a wide variety of listening
environments. Note however, that room construction, dimensions and furnishings all
play a part in the quality of sound you ultimately achieve. Try to follow these guidelines:
a) Strong, rigid walls are preferred for best bass balance. For even better results we
recommend adding additional bracing and acoustic damping material to the cavity
prior to installation. See section on ”Subwoofer Installation” later in this manual for
more details.
b) It is important to note that just as the amount of soft furnishings has a decided impact
on mid and high frequencies, those frequencies below 150 Hz are dramatically
affected by the room itself—its size, shape, as well as the physical boundaries of
the room.
THE LISTENING ROOM
When considering subwoofer placement directly into a wall, keep the following in mind:
• DO NOT install subwoofers in a ceiling.
• DO NOT install subwoofers into lath or plaster—over time, the bass vibrations will
cause material to crack.
• DO NOT install subwoofers into cavities that contain ductwork.
• DO NOT locate subwoofers close to wall mounted fixtures that may vibrate (remem-
ber to check the other side of the wall too!).
• Ifinstallinginawallwithmetalstuds,makesurestudsaresecurelyfastenedsothat
they do not vibrate or rattle.
• Someacousticbleed-throughintotheadjacentroomisunavoidable.Seesection
on “In-Wall Cavity Preparation” for suggestions to reduce bleed-through.
Paradigm®in-wall subwoofers are designed to be used in pairs. Using a pair of
subwoofers will allow you to randomize the standing waves within your listening room
so that bass is distributed in a more uniform manner. Two subwoofers also ensures
even lower distortion, especially at high output levels.
Bass is less and less directional as it goes down in frequency. For best sonic
integration, placing one subwoofer in the wall at the front of the room and the other in
the wall or at the rear usually provides the best performance and sonic integration. If
this location is not possible, keeping in mind the guidelines provided earlier, you may
place your subwoofers anywhere in the wall without affecting the stereo image of your
front speakers or the soundstage of your multichannel speaker system.
GUIDELINES FOR DECIDING ON
SUBWOOFER PLACEMENT
SUBWOOFER PLACEMENT

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Fig. 1b Two subwoofers close to floor in
middle of walls
Fig. 1a Two subwoofers close to floor in
corners of room
Broken lines in figures represent alternate placement for a pair of subwoofers
Fig. 1c Recommended placement for
four subwoofers
Figs. 1a and 1b highlight how bass output is generally affected by in-wall and
placement. When seated in the typical listening area of your room, placing the
subwoofers in the various positions will typically result in bass performance as follows:
Fig. 1a: Corner placement close to the floor provides the best balance of output and
accuracy.
Fig. 1b: Placement anywhere along the walls close to the floor, but outside the
“shaded” area will provide slightly reduced output, though still acceptable accuracy.
If desired, for further optimized bass performance and even greater output, you can install
an additional pair of Paradigm®in-wall subwoofers. Fig. 1c provides recommended
placement for four subwoofers.

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The grille of your Paradigm In-Wall Subwoofer is finished in neutral white to blend into
any room. However, the grilles may be painted to match any decor.
Please note:
•Donotpaintthesurfacebehindthegrille•Donotuseapaintrollerorbrush
To Paint, Follow These Steps:
1) Remove the grille.
2) Remove the scrim. Set the scrim aside to install after the grille has dried.
3) In a well-ventilated area, spray a light coat of paint to the grille, letting the paint
dry completely between coats. Always follow the paint manufacturer’s directions.
TIP! Be careful to not plug the grille holes with paint. Do not paint the grilles when they
are installed on the speaker.
COLOR MATCH PAINTING
IN-WALL CAVITY PREPARATION
STIFFENING AND STRENGTHENING THE CAVITY
Although Paradigm in-wall mounting systems are the most rigid on the market,
when installing your subwoofer directly into a wall, to help avoid bass vibrations
and minimize acoustic bleed-through, we recommend the following:
Additional Bracing
Additional cross-bracing will further stiffen the cavity. We suggest placing two to
threepiecesof2˝x4˝(moreifapplicationallows)withinthecavity,evenlyspaced
above and below the cutout. Additional bracing can also be sandwiched to the
studs/joists on either side of the subwoofer.
New Construction
New construction offers an excellent opportunity to strengthen and stiffen the
cavity with additional bracing or construction-grade stiffening adhesives applied
directly to the drywall. (See Dealer for more information).

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The DCS-208IW3 presents a load that is compatible with 8 ohms. Please refer to your
amplifiers Owner’s Manual for it’s specific capabilities and wiring instructions.
WIRING CONNECTIONS
1) Place the mounting template onto the wall. Use a level to make sure it’s straight (Fig 2a).
2) Trace along the mounting template cut-out (Fig. 2b).
3) Cut a hole as indicated (Fig. 2c).
Fig. 2a Fig. 2b
Fig. 2c

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IMPORTANT! While it is possible to use a manual screwdriver for installation, we
strongly suggest using a power drill. To avoid damaging or breaking the clamps, set
your drill to a LOW setting. A high power setting is NOT necessary and may cause
clamps to crack or break from the added force. Such damage is NOT covered under
warranty.
1) Remove the magnetically attached baffle from the subwoofer assembly (Fig. 4a).
2) Set your Power Drill to the Low setting.
3) Gently position the assembly into the wall cavity (Fig. 4b).
4. Supporting the assembly with one hand, tighten each screw (Fig. 4c). Stop tightening
when you sense resistance.
5. Gently press the baffle onto the front face of the speaker (Fig. 4d). The magnets will
ensure correct attachment.
Fig. 4b
Fig. 4c
SUBWOOFER INSTALLATION
Fig. 4d
Fig. 4a

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6) Gently press the grille onto the front face of the speaker (Fig. 4e). The magnets will
ensure correct attachment.
Fig. 4e

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Paradigm®subwoofers covered in this manual are warranted to be and remain free of
manufacturing and/or material defects for a period of three (3) years from the date of
the original retail purchase.
Within the time period specified, repair, replacement or adjustment of parts for
manufacturing and/or material defects will be free of charge to the original owner.
Thermal or mechanical abuse/misuse is not covered under warranty.
Limitations:
• WarrantybeginsondateoforiginalretailpurchasefromanAuthorizedParadigm®
Dealer only. It is not transferable;
• Warrantyappliestoproductinnormalhomeuseonly.Iftheproductissubjectedto
any of the conditions outlined in the next section, warranty is void;
Warranty is Void if:
• Theproducthasbeenabused(intentionallyoraccidentally);
• Theproducthasbeenusedinconjunctionwithunsuitableorfaultyequipment;
• Theproducthasbeensubjectedtodamagingsignals,derangementintransport,
mechanical damage or any abnormal conditions;
• Theproducthasbeentamperedwithordamagedbyanunauthorizedservicefacility;
• Theserialnumberhasbeenremovedordefaced.
Owner Responsibilities:
• Providenormal/reasonableoperatingcareandmaintenance;
• Provideorpayfortransportationchargesforproducttoservicefacility;
• Provideproofofpurchase(yoursalesreceiptgivenattimeofpurchasefromyour
Authorized Paradigm® Dealer).
Should servicing be required, contact your nearest Authorized Paradigm®Dealer,
Paradigm®Electronics Inc., or Import Distributor (outside the U.S. and Canada) to
arrange, bring in or ship prepaid any defective unit.
Visit our website at www.paradigm.com for more information.
Paradigm Electronics Inc. reserves the right to improve the design of any product
without assuming any obligation to modify any product previously manufactured.
This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties expressed or implied, of merchantability,
fitness for any particular purpose and may not be extended or enlarged by anyone. In
no event shall Paradigm Electronics Inc., their agents, or representatives be responsible
for any incidental or consequential damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation
of incidental or consequential damages, so this exclusion may not apply to you.
Retain this manual and your sales receipt for proof of warranty term and proof
of purchase.
LIMITED WARRANTY

NOTES