Sonance SRS1 User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
S ONANCE S YMPHONY
®
SSTR/SST/SRS1 -SERIES
I N -C EILING /I N -W ALL S PEAKERS

3
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing Sonance Symphony
®
SSTR-series and SRS1 speakers. When properly installed
your new speakers will give you years of entertainment pleasure. This manual will teach you all about
your new speakers’ many innovative features and will show you how to get the ver y best
performance from them. Please read it thoroughly.
This manual covers the following speaker models: Symphony S623SST, Symphony S623SSTR; Symphony
S621SSTR and Symphony SRS1.
DESIGN AND FEATURES
• SST/SSTR models feature Single StereoTechnology®— reproducing left & right stereo channels from a single speaker — ideal for use
in areas where space is limited.
• SRS1 creates a diffuse, enveloping soundfield that is ideal for home theater surround channel use.
• Fully-pivoting woofers (S623SSTR/S621SSTR/SRS1) direct the sound at listeners for clear sound even when speaker placement
options are limited.
• A 3-position tweeter adjustment switch lets you balance the speaker’s high-frequency energy to better compliment your room’s
setup and acoustics (S623SSTR).
• The RotoLock®mounting system makes installation quick and easy.
•The detachable mounting flange expands installation options, allowing the speaker assembly to be easily mounted in custom cabinetry.
BOX CONTENTS
Your Sonance Symphony SST/SSTR/SRS1 speaker box should contain the following items:
SST/SSTR models: SRS1:
Figure 1: Sonance Symphony
®
SST-Series Speaker (left);
SSTR & SRS1-Series Speaker (right)
SONANCE SYMPHONY®SST, SSTR and SRS1
SAFETY WARNING:
These speakers have FastMount
®
tabs that prevent the speaker from falling out of the
mounting hole during the installation process .
The edges of the FastMount tabs are very sharp.
Use caution when handling the speaker.
See Installation (page 7) for complete information about the FastMount tabs .
(1) Symphony SST or SSTR speaker
(1) Paintable grille
(1) Plastic paint plug (installed on fronts of speakers)
(1) Mounting cutout template (in packaging)
(2) Symphony SRS1 speakers
(2) Paintable grilles
(2) Plastic paint plugs (installed on fronts of speakers)
(1) Mounting cutout template (in packaging)

4
SONANCE SYMPHONY®SST, SSTR and SRS1
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
Symphony FlexBracket (SSTR/SRS1 part # 92337; SST part # 92336): Plastic template to reserve a mounting hole for speakers in new
construction. Designed to be used with the RotoLock
®
mounting system.
Symphony Coverplate (SSTR/SRS1 part # 92335; SST part # 92334): Reusable cover protects the hole made by the FlexBracket during
construction until the speaker is installed.
Symphony Acoustic Enclosure (SSTR/SRS1 part # 91688; SST part # 91687): ½” MDF enclosure that provides ideal acoustic performance and
maximum reduction of sound transmission into adjacent spaces. Designed for use only in new construction.
Symphony Retrofit Enclosure (SSTR/SRS1 part # 92343; SST part # 92342): Molded enclosure that reduces sound transmission into adjacent
rooms and spaces . Can be used in both new construction and retrofit installations.
SymphonyTR Fire-Rated Back Can (SSTR/SRS1 part # 91906): Meets ASTM E 119 and UL2043 fire performance criteria for commercial installations .
Sonafill®System (In-Ceiling part # 91928; In-Wall part # 91698): Retrofittable acoustical treatment consisting of two pillows and four tiles that
virtually eliminates noises produced by resonating drywall. Dramatically improves midbass sound quality and reduces sound transmission into adjacent rooms .
SPEAKER PLACEMENT
S623SST/S623SSTR/S621SSTR
Sonance Symphony Single Stereo Technology
®
SST and SSTR speakers are ideal for use in hallways, bathrooms , closets , or in any location where listeners will
be moving around and a pair of stereo speakers would be impractical. Because a single Symphony SST/SSTR speaker reproduces both stereo channels from
a single location, it will deliver outstanding performance from an extremely wide variety of mounting locations. Your local authorized Sonance dealer is an
expert in audio/video system planning and installation. We strongly recommend that you work with your dealer to ensure that your system is proper ly
planned, assembled and installed.
Sonance Symphony SST/SSTR-series speaker models have very smooth and predictable off-axis response , so they provide excellent coverage in distributed audio
systems from a wide variety of installation locations . The chart in Figure 1 shows how far apart the speakers can be placed at different ceiling heights while
still providing good coverage (as shown in Figure 2 ). The distances are based on ear heights of 62” for standing listeners and 40” for seated listeners .
Speaker Spacing (in feet) for a Distributed Audio System
Standing Listener Seated Listener
10-foot ceiling
12-foot ceiling
14-foot ceiling
8-foot ceiling 9.5'
13.5'
17.5'
21.5'
5.7'
9.7'
13.7'
17.7'
Coverage
Area Coverage Area
Speaker
Spacing
Figure 1: Distributed Audio Speaker Spacing
Figure 2: Distributed Audio Coverage Area

5
SONANCE SYMPHONY®SST, SSTR and SRS1
SRS1: 5.1-Channel Home Theater System
Locate the left and right SRS1 surround speakers on the ceiling
between 2 feet and 6 feet behind the listening position. The
speakers should be between 6 feet and 10 feet apar t. Since the sur-
round channel speakers are usually called-upon to create diffuse
effects like the sound of wind or rain you can mount them close to
walls without adversely affecting sound quality.
Orient the speakers so the tweeters face the front and rear walls of
the room.
• You can create a more diffuse, spacious surround effect by
pivoting the woofers towards a wall or window, away from the
listeners.
Use Figure 3 as a guide .
SRS1: 7.1-Channel Home Theater System
Left & Right Surround Speakers: Place the left and right
surround speakers directly to the sides of the listening position,
between 6 feet and 10 feet apar t. The speakers can be placed close
to the side walls.
• You can create a more diffuse, spacious surround effect by
pivoting the woofers towards a wall or window, away from the
listeners.
Use Figure 4 as a guide .
Surround Back Speakers: Place the surround back speakers
between 2 feet and 6 feet behind the listening position. The surround
back speakers should be closer together than the left and right
surround speakers — between 3 feet and 6 feet apar t. Like the left
and right surround speakers, the surround back speakers can be
located close to walls without adversely affecting sound quality.
• You can create a more diffuse, spacious surround effect by
pivoting the woofers towards a wall or window, away from the
listeners.
Use Figure 4 as a guide .
TV
Figure 3: 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker Placement
TV
Figure 4: 7.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker Placement

6
SONANCE SYMPHONY®SST, SSTR and SRS1
SELECTING THE PROPER SPEAKER WIRE
For the best sound we recommend that you use premium Sonance
MediaLinQ
®
speaker cable , which also complies with UL fire rating codes .
You may also experiment with audiophile brands of speaker cable and
interconnects, but be sure to check local codes governing wire that may
be installed within walls or ceilings . Different brands of wire can have
different sonic characteristics, and some may be more compatible with the
sonic “signature” of your various audio system components .
For the best sound you should never use thin-gauge speaker wire – it
will constrict the sound and diminish bass response . Extra resistance in
the speaker wire can make a speaker sound less dynamic and reduce
definition of the bass frequencies. In extreme cases , it can even
attenuate high frequencies. Also, amplifier power is wasted in thin wire
with extra resistance , reducing your system’s maximum output level. To
prevent degrading sound quality, the total wire resistance should be less
than 10% of the speaker’s impedance . This means that for an 8-ohm speaker, the total resistance of the wire should be less than 0.8 ohms . Refer to
Figure 5 when selecting the proper wire gauge for your system.
PREPARING THE INSTALLATION LOCATION
Building a Back Box into the Ceiling or Wall Bay
Sonance Symphony SST/SSTR and SRS1 speakers are designed to provide exceptionally musical performance in a wide variety of enclosure volumes. You can
get the ver y best performance from your speakers by par titioning a section of the ceiling or wall bay to form a sealed back box with a specific internal
volume. Building such an enclosure will create a dramatic improvement in your speakers’ bass performance and power handling.
Ideal back box volume requirements:
Symphony S623
SST: 1.5 ft
3
Symphony S621
SSTR: 1.0 ft
3
Symphony S623SSTR: 1.5 ft
3
Symphony SRS1: 1.0 ft
3
Optional Symphony Speaker Enclosures
For installations where it isn’t possible to par tition the ceiling bay into a back box, installing optional Symphony Acoustic Enclosures (SSTR/SRS1 part #
91688; SST par t # 91687) will noticeably improve your speakers’ bass performance and power handling and will significantly reduce sound transmission into
adjacent rooms and spaces. These enclosures are made from ½”-thick MDF and are designed to be installed in new construction only.
To reduce sound transmission into adjacent rooms in installations where it isn’t possible to install a Symphony Acoustic Enclosure (such as when you’re
retrofitting the speakers into an existing ceiling), you can fit the speakers with optional Symphony Retrofit Enclosures (SSTR/SRS1 par t # 92343; SST
part # 92342). These enclosures are designed specifically to be used with Symphony-series speakers , and will noticeably reduce sound “spillover” from the
rears of the speakers into adjacent rooms and spaces.
Wire resistance in Ohms vs. length of cable run
Distance in Feet 50' 100' 150' 200' 250' 300'
1.04
.65
.41
.26
.16
.10
18 gauge
16 gauge
14 gauge
12 gauge
10 gauge
20 gauge 2.07
1.30
.82
.52
.32
.20
3.11
1.96
1.22
.77
.49
.31
4.14
2.61
1.63
1.03
.65
.41
5.18
3.26
2.04
1.29
.81
.51
6.22
3.91
2.45
1.55
.97
.61
Figure 5: Speaker Wire Resistance Table

7
SONANCE SYMPHONY®SST, SSTR and SRS1
Insulating the Ceiling Cavity
You can also reduce sound transmission to adjacent rooms and improve speaker performance by inserting a sheet of unfaced fiberglass insulation over the
back of the speaker. To reduce mechanical noise produced by unsuppor ted drywall, install fiberglass insulation in the ceiling bays adjacent to the speaker
location.
Sonafill®
Sonafill is a retrofittable acoustical treatment system consisting of two pillows and four tiles that vir tually eliminates noises produced by resonating dr ywall. The
tiles have pressure-sensitive adhesive and are installed on the back of the dr ywall on either side of the speaker between the joists or studs; the pillows are then
stuffed in place behind the tiles. The system dramatically improves midbass sound quality and reduces sound transmission into adjacent rooms.
INSTALLING THE SPEAKERS
Before Installation: New Construction
For installations in new construction, Sonance recommends using a Symphony FlexBracket (SSTR/SRS1 par t # 92337; SST par t # 92336) to reser ve a
location for the speaker. The FlexBracket has perforated wings that can be positioned at any angle around the bracket, and is nailed or screwed to the
studs. This serves as a guide for the drywaller so that the speaker hole will be in the desired location once the dr ywall is installed.
Before Installation: Retrofit
1. Determine the location for the speaker (see Speaker Placement on page 4).
2. Perform an obstruction sur vey to be cer tain that there are no studs , conduit, pipes , heating ducts or air returns in the ceiling cavity that will interfere
with the speaker.
3. The cutout for the S623
SSTR, S621SSTR and SRS1 speakers is 8
5
/
32
” (207mm) in diameter. There also must be at least 5
3
/
16
” (152mm) depth within the ceiling
cavity. The cutout for the S623SST is 6
13
/
16
" x 10
11
/
16
" (172mm x 270mm), and there must be at least 3
7
/
8
” (86mm) depth within the wall cavity.
4. Position the included cutout template where the speaker is to be located and pencil an outline on the ceiling or wall.
• If you are unsure about obstructions , drill a small hole in the center of the outline and inser t a coat hanger wire into the hole to feel-around for
possible obstructions .
5. Cut the mounting hole using a dr ywall saw, and r un the speaker wires from the mounting hole to the amplifier location.
• Consult local building codes before r unning speaker wires through ceilings and walls .
Installation
Sonance Symphony SST/SSTR and SRS1 speakers feature exclusive FastMount
®
tabs and an integral RotoLock
®
mounting system for quick mounting directly
into existing ceilings and walls.
WARNING: The edges of FastMount tabs are very sharp. Use caution when handling the speaker.
1. Remove the paint plug from the speaker.
2. Run speaker wire from each speaker to the amplifier location.
3. Strip ¼” – ½” of insulation from each speaker lead. Twist the strands or tin the exposed wire with solder to ensure that there are no stray strands.
(Stray strands that touch each other can cause a short-circuit that can damage your amplifier.)

8
SONANCE SYMPHONY®SST, SSTR and SRS1
4. The speaker’s connector posts are spring-
loaded. Push the top of each connector post
down to open the connector and inser t the
exposed wires into the holes in the posts . SST
and SSTR models have two sets of connectors ,
one for the left amplifier channel and one for
the right.
• The speaker’s positive post is labeled with a
red dot; the negative post is labeled with a
black dot. Double-check that you connected
amplifier “+” to speaker “+” and amplifier
“–” to speaker “–”.
5. Make sure all the RotoLock clamps are in the
full clockwise position so that they are tucked
within the mounting hole’s border. Inser t the
speaker into the hole in the
ceiling (
Figure 6 ). The RotoLock system can
accommodate a maximum ceiling material
thickness of 1¼”.
• The FastMount tabs will prevent the speaker
from falling out of the mounting hole, allow-
ing the installer to let go of the speaker to
pick-up tools or other items.
N OT E :T HE F AST M OUNT TABS ARE
DESIGNED FOR ONE
- TIME USE ONLY .I F
THE SPEAKER IS REMOVED FROM THE
MOUNTING HOLE THE
F AST M OUNT TABS
WILL DISCONNECT AND REMAIN INSIDE THE
CEILING
.
6. Tighten the four screws on the front of the
speaker baffle. The RotoLock clamps will automatically rotate into position and begin clamping the speaker ( Figure 7 ).
• When you notice resistance on the screws the speaker has been clamped successfully.
N OT E :T HE SPEAKER FLANGE IS DESIGNED TO FLEX AND CONFORM TO ANY SMALL IMPERFECTIONS IN THE CEILING SURFACE .D O NOT TIGHT -
EN THE SCREWS SO MUCH SO THAT THE FLANGE BOWS - OUT .
Important: Always use low-torque settings; NEVER over-tighten.
7. Attach the grille after the speaker has been installed. Insert about half of the grille into the groove at the edge of the speaker. Gently fit the
remaining half of the grille by working around the speaker, fitting the grille into the groove as you go.
N OT E :Y OU CAN ADJUST THE TORQUE APPLIED TO THE R OTO L OCK SCREWS TO ACHIEVE A PROPER GRILLE FIT .
RotoLock
®
Clamps
Figure 7:
Tighten RotoLock Clamps
FastMount
®
Tabs
Figure 6: Insert Speaker
Into Mounting Hole
S623SST
S623SSTR/S621SSTR/SRS1S623SSTR/S621SSTR/SRS1
S623
SST

9
SONANCE SYMPHONY®SST, SSTR and SRS1
PAINTING THE SPEAKERS AND GRILLES
You can paint the speakers and grilles before installing them, which will eliminate the “paint scar” that can be left on the ceiling if the speaker ever needs
to be removed for ser vice. You can also paint the speakers after installation, but before the grilles are attached. All Sonance Symphony speakers come from
the factor y fitted with a plastic ‘paint plug’ that protects the speaker drivers while the mounting flange is being painted.
Sonance always suggests painting the grille separately from the speaker. Before painting, carefully remove the under-grille cloth. It is held in place with a
light tacking glue that makes it easy to remove .
Spray the grilles with thinned paint (5 parts thinner to 1 part paint), being careful not to plug the holes . Too heavy a coat of paint on the grille will
adversely affect the sound of the speaker.
Once the grilles and flange are painted and dry, replace the under-grille cloth, remove the paint plug from the mounting flange and install the grille .
SPEAKER ADJUSTMENTS
Pivoting Woofer
The Symphony S623
SSTR, S621SSTR and SRS1 models have a pivoting woofer assembly. These
pivoting drivers allow you to direct sound toward or away from the listening area,
depending on how the speakers are being used:
• Pivoting the woofer towards the listening position will maximize the speaker’s clarity and
definition.
• If you’re using the speakers as surround channel speakers in a home theater, you can
create a more diffuse , spacious surround effect by aiming the woofers towards a wall or
window, away from the listeners .
To pivot the woofer, apply pressure on the outer edge of the tweeter support bracket, as
shown in
Figure 8 . Do not touch or apply pressure to the woofer cone.
Tweeter Level Control
The S623SSTR has a tweeter level control switch (see Figure 9 ) that lets you boost or cut the tweeter’s level
by 3dB. This allows you to adjust the speaker’s brightness to better match your listening room or personal
taste.
Once you have installed the speaker listen to a variety of music that you are familiar with. If the music all
tends to sound too bright or dull, use the Tweeter Level Control to compensate. If some recordings sound dull
and some sound bright the speaker is accurately reproducing differences in the recordings, and you should
leave the control in the middle (0dB) position.
Figure 8:
Pivoting the Woofer
Tweeter
Level Control
Figure 9:
Tweeter Level Control

10
SONANCE SYMPHONY®SST, SSTR and SRS1
SPECIFICATIONS
S623SSTR
Tweeter : Two 1" (25mm) Silk domes , Ferrofluid-cooled
Woofer : 6½" (165mm) Carbon fiber cone, dual voice coil, rubber
surround, pivoting
Frequency Response: 43Hz – 20kHz ±3dB
Impedance: 8 Ohms nominal; 6 Ohms minimum
Power Handling: 5 watts minimum; 135 Watts maximum
Sensitivity: 90dB SPL (2.83V 1 meter)
Grille Material: Perforated aluminum
Adjustments: ±3dB Tweeter level
Dimensions (Dia. x Depth): 9¾" (248mm) x 5
3
/
16
" (132mm)
Cutout Diameter : 8
5
/
32
" (207mm)
Shipping Weight: 5 lbs . (2.3kg) Each
S621SSTR
Tweeter : Two ¾" (19mm) Silk domes , Ferrofluid-cooled
Woofer : 6½" (165mm) Polypropylene cone, dual voice coil, rubber
surround, pivoting
Frequency Response: 50Hz – 20kHz ±3dB
Impedance: 8 Ohms nominal; 6 Ohms minimum
Power Handling: 5 watts minimum; 100 Watts maximum
Sensitivity: 88dB SPL (2.83V 1 meter)
Grille Material: Perforated aluminum
Adjustments: None
Dimensions (Dia. x Depth): 9¾" (248mm) x 5
3
/
16
" (132mm)
Cutout Diameter : 8
5
/
32
" (207mm)
Shipping Weight: 4.5 lbs . (2.0kg) Pair
S623SST
Tweeter : Two 1" (25mm) Silk domes , Ferrofluid-cooled
Woofer : 6½" (165mm) Carbon fiber cone, dual voice coil, rubber
surround
Frequency Response: 43Hz – 20kHz ±3dB
Impedance: 8 Ohms nominal; 6 Ohms minimum
Power Handling: 5 watts minimum; 135 Watts maximum
Sensitivity: 90dB SPL (2.83V 1 meter)
Grille Material: Perforated aluminum
Dimensions (W x H x D): 8 ¼” x 12
3
/
16
" x 3
3
/
8
" (210mm x 310mm x 86mm)
Cutout Dim. (W x H): 6
13
/
16
" x 10
11
/
16
" (172mm x 270mm)
Shipping Weight: 5 lbs . (2.3kg) Each
SRS1
Tweeter : Two 1" (25mm) Silk domes , Ferrofluid-cooled
Woofer : 6½" (165mm) Carbon fiber cone, rubber surround, pivoting
Frequency Response: 55Hz – 20kHz ±3dB
Impedance: 8 Ohms nominal; 7 Ohms minimum
Power Handling: 5 watts minimum; 150 Watts maximum
Sensitivity: 90dB SPL (2.83V 1 meter)
Grille Material: Perforated aluminum
Dimensions (Dia. x Depth): 9¾" (248mm) x 5
3
/
16
" (132mm)
Cutout Diameter : 8
5
/
32
" (207mm)
Shipping Weight: 11 lbs . (5.0 KG) Pair