SpeakerCraft AIM8 Three User manual

AIMseries
TM

If It Doesn’t Exist
For many years homeowners were satised with large cabinet speakers because there was
no alternative. If a person wanted sound of any quality the choices were limited to cabinet
nish and several established brands. Although sonic performance had improved greatly
from the old console systems that had occupied a massive footprint in the living room,
newer component systems still required a substantial space dedicated to electronics and
loudspeakers.
No one had an elegant solution to this problem and people simply accepted the only
products available in order to enjoy music in the home. Due to their physical size, few
people would even consider speakers in more than one room so listening was relegated to
the living or family room.
Invent It!
In the early eighties SpeakerCraft saw the conict between electronic technology and interior design and set
out to address the problem. Since a speaker had to be present in a room in order to function, the key was to
mount it in such a way so as to make it as discreet as possible. The result of this effort was the rst in-wall speaker
to be produced for residential applications.
Mounted ush in the wall, the speaker occupied no oor space and, because it could be painted, it became
almost invisible. Utilizing high-quality drivers and the existing space inside the wall, these speakers were not only
unobtrusive but they also outperformed many of their cabinet counterparts.
Lead The Way
A massive shift began to take place in the
minds of anyone who enjoyed listening to
music. Regardless of the room or the décor,
these speakers would allow music to follow
the listener throughout the home. Speakers
could be installed just about anywhere
and connected to electronics at a single
location hidden behind cabinet doors or in a
dedicated equipment closet. Music became
a lifestyle choice instead of just a hobby.
But SpeakerCraft was only getting warmed
up. Speakers in the wall got them up off the
oor but even though they were more discreet
they were still in the line-of-sight. So the next
logical move was to install them in the ceiling.
For this application a round speaker was a
more desirable geometric shape and allowed
the sound to project in a conical pattern in
every direction. They even offered pivoting
tweeters so critical high frequencies could
be focused at the listening area making the
experience even more enjoyable. However,
SpeakerCraft engineers had yet another
epiphany…
SECTION A-A

The AIM Series
The pivoting tweeter was only the beginning of an idea that would change
the industry forever. Mimicking the adjustable air vent found above your
seat in almost every airplane, the AIM series allows the entire speaker
assembly to be pointed in the desired direction. This patented technology
means that although the speaker location may not be ideal because of
other obstructions in the ceiling such as light xtures or heating vents, the
sound can still be aimed directly at the listener while remaining hidden
behind a ush-mounted grille. This completely changes music and theater
sound and brings the experience down out of the ceiling to fully integrate
it into the living space.
All of this would be useless if the technology wasn’t applied correctly to
create superior sound. This is where speaker design becomes more than
science and crosses the boundary into an art form. Our engineers do
much more than stare at computer screens and test instruments. Although
the skills necessary to technically analyze loudspeaker performance
are critical, we know that the end result must appeal to the human ear.
Therefore, we listen. For hours, days and sometimes weeks as the nal
product is ne-tuned to deliver every nuance of the musical performance.
The AIM is one of the most popular series of loudspeaker in the world
because of the way they sound.
SECTION A-A
Another patented breakthrough in the AIM series is the WavePlane.
This series of concentric rings in front of the woofer create more uniform
dispersion and improve the clarity of higher frequencies. Sound that is
often distorted by interaction between the woofer and the tweeter is
now evenly spread throughout the listening area.
NEAT! Ideas
Since aesthetics are such an important part of the custom installation
offering, we are always looking for ways to make the speakers we sell more
attractive. For some the ange around the speaker is less than attractive so
various attempts have been made to hide it. The new NEAT grilles allow for
a simple installation that leaves only a very small exposed edge. The result
is a nished install that is grille only and less obtrusive in the room. These
grilles can be retrot onto the majority of AIM ceiling speakers.
Ordinary Speaker
AIM NEAT!
NEW NEAT! Flangeless Speakers.
U.S. Patent No. D419,561 & 6,101,262
NEAT! Grille
A Retrot Flangeless Grille Solution.
AIM With WavePlane
AIM8 Engineering Side Cut
Drawing in Detail.
Independently Pivoting
Woofer & Tweeter brings the
sound directly to the
listening area.
Accu-Grille Dramatically
Reduces Unwanted Acoustic
Reections. Available on
Select AIM Models.
Accu-Grille
TECHNOLOGY

Big and Bold
The largest and most powerful version of the
AIM series, the AIM10 is so named because of
its massive 10-inch woofer. Bass response and
overall volume are greatly enhanced because
of the amount air this driver can set in motion.
Like a large engine in a high-performance
automobile, there is no replacement for
displacement. If you are looking to make a
sonic statement in a room dedicated to music
or home theater, the AIM10 is the perfect
choice
In-Ceiling Home Theater
Cabinet speakers were enough of an obstruction
when you simply needed a stereo pair. With ve, six
or seven speakers needed for a high-performance
home theater they would overwhelm a typical
living room. AIM technology allows you to place
the entire speaker system in the ceiling. With
pivoting woofers and independently pivoting
tweeters these speakers can be adjusted to
accurately create the surround sound effect you
need without intruding on the room’s aesthetic
appearance. Home theater, just another reason
why AIM is the ultimate loudspeaker solution.
Complex Design
Unlike the rest of the AIM series, the AIM10
uses a three-way design. The 10-inch woofer is
complimented by an independently pivoting
bafe that houses a 1-inch tweeter and a 2½
inch midrange driver. This Uni-pivot module
creates even more options for the installer to
ne-tune the installation.
An advanced crossover network, assembled
from hand-selected components, divides the
various frequencies and routes them to the
appropriate driver. The careful design of this
crossover is one of the steps that determine
the sonic signature of the
nished loudspeaker.
Precise Execution
The tolerances of every part of the AIM10 are
extremely precise. From the gap in the magnet
to the former, which holds the voice-coil, each
element must deliver to exacting standards in
order to recreate the performance the engineers
envisioned. As the various components are
assembled great care is taken to ensure a
speaker that will perform as specied for many
years to come.
The Final Effect
Once installed, you will be amazed at the power and impact of
the AIM10. Never before has a speaker that is so visually discreet
been able to deliver sound with such dynamics and authority.
Regardless of your choice of entertainment, the AIM10 will deliver
a listening experience that will amaze you and anyone else who
has the opportunity to enjoy your system.
123PERFECT 10
AIM10 Series
• Woofer: 10” Cone Woofer
• Mid: 2½” Uni-Pivot Midrange
• Tweeter: 1” Uni-Pivot Tweeter
• Front- Mounted Switches
• Accu-Grille
• Timbre-Matched
• Sensitivity: 91dB 1W/1m
• Power Handling: Up to 150 Watts
• Impedance: 8 Ohms
• Frequency Response: 40Hz - 20kHz

Legacy Performance
The core of the AIM series has been delighting
listeners for years. The sound quality, durable
construction and ease of installation are just a
few of the reasons why these speakers are the
most popular choices for residences around the
world. Because of the great number of variables
in an installation, we know that one size never ts
all. This is why we offer so many options. These
particular speakers featuring 5-inch, 7-inch or
8-inch woofers, cover the great majority of sound
and space requirements in most residences.
Consistent Quality
Regardless of their size, each speaker shares the
same AIM technology and benets from years of
experience in design and manufacturing. From
pivoting woofers to the independently pivoting
tweeters, from the variety of driver materials to the
ne-tuned crossover networks, each model will
perform beyond your expectations.
Out of Sight
Hidden among the other xtures in the ceiling and
with the ability to be painted to mach the décor,
AIM speakers all but disappear in your home
environment. No longer will you need to sacrice
oor space or the functionality of your room to
enjoy music or movies. With the other electronics
hidden in cabinetry or even in an adjacent closet,
the room comes alive at the touch of a button
and lls your senses with a sonic experience that
will impress you every time you turn it on.
In Every Room
Consider transforming your entire home into a
rst-class musical experience. With AIM in-ceiling
speakers the opportunities are endless. Now a
distributed audio system blends seamlessly into
your décor and allows music to emanate from the
living room, bedrooms, the kitchen, bathrooms,
even a walk-in closet. Enjoy music wherever you
spend time in your house. Hear what you’ve been
missing. Once you have lived a home literally lled
with music you will wonder how you ever lived
without it.
123AIM
AIM
series
Patented*
• Woofer: Pivoting and Rotating 8,7,or 5” Cone
• Tweeter: Pivoting ¾ -1” Dome
• Front-Mounted Switches
• Accu-Grille
• Timbre-Matched
• Sensitivity: 91-88dB
• Power Handling: Up to 150 Watts
• Impedance: 8/6/4 Ohms, Depending on
Switch Settings
• Frequency Response: 33Hz - 20kHz
AIM Series

NEAT! and Clean
The installation is simple. As before, a hole is
cut in the drywall and the wires are pulled from
inside the ceiling and attached to the speaker.
The speaker is then inserted in the hole and four
screws are turned clockwise which swing an
L-shaped “dog” out behind the drywall. As the
screws are tightened the drywall is sandwiched
between the ange and the dog. In the case of
the AIM NEAT version the grille is then inserted in
position where it is magnetically held in place.
The Look
123NEAT!
AIM NEAT!TM (No Edge Audio Technology)
New advances in installation methods have lead
us to a new look for the AIM series. We now offer
an option of a grille without an external ange.
Using powerful magnets and steel grille material,
the grille itself covers the entire speaker enclosure
making it even more discreet. The choice is yours. If
other objects in your ceiling, such as lights or vents,
have a ange around them then the standard AIM
speakers will compliment the look. If, however, they
do not, then the new AIM series are the obvious
choice. Either way you will be enjoying the nest
music and movie soundtracks available from a
ceiling speaker.
• Woofer: Pivoting and Rotating 8,7,or 5” Cone
• Tweeter: Pivoting ¾ -1” Dome
• Front-Mounted Switches
• Timbre-Matched
• Sensitivity: 88-91dB
• Power Handling: Up to 150 Watts
• Impedance: 8/6/4 Ohms, Depending on
Switch Settings
• Frequency Response: 33Hz - 20kHz
AIM NEAT! Series
AIM NEAT! uses the same traditional
dog leg mounting system as all
current AIM models.
Installed, AIM NEAT! provides a clean
angeless modern look.

Single Speaker Option
Some rooms may not require a pair of
loudspeakers but you are still interested in having
the same music available in these locations.
Although it may seem that a single standard
speaker hooked up to either the left or right
channel would do the trick, this is less than
desirable. Both the left and right channels have
different material and in some recordings would
be almost unlistenable when separated.
The AIM DT is a single speaker that plays both left
and right channels of a stereo source. Although
the stereo image is not recreated, all of the
material from both channels is present.
Think Of the Possibilities
Now you can enjoy music when you are in small
areas like bathrooms, walk-in closets, laundry or
utility rooms. Hallways are also a perfect location
as is the entryway or even above the front porch.
Simply imagine where you want music and the
AIM DT Series can make it a reality.
123Wide & DT
Outside the Box
Creating speakers for unique applications has
been an ongoing process at SpeakerCraft. The
AIM Wide is a perfect example. Looking at the
conguration it may seem a bit alien. There are
actually ve drivers working in coordination with
each other to create a dispersed sound that is
unlike any other speaker on the market. One
8-inch woofer provides the low bass frequencies.
Two modules, each with a 2-inch midrange
and a ¾ -inch dome tweeter are mounted 70
degrees off axis from each other to send the very
directional mid and high frequencies in opposite
directions. The result is astonishing.
But Why?
These loudspeakers are perfect for rear channels
in a home theater because they literally surround
the listener in sound. Unlike a standard speaker
that projects from a single point, the AIM Wide
disperses sound in multiple directions and creates
an enveloping sonic eld that doesn’t detract
from the front channels but rather enhances the
entire theatrical experience. This same dispersion
is also advantageous in rooms you want to
enhance with background music where lling the
room with sound is more important than a precise
stereo image.
AIM
series
Patented*
Wide
AIM
series
Patented*
DT
• Woofer: Pivoting 8” Cone
• Midrange: Dual 2” Cone Drivers
• Tweeters: Dual 3⁄4” Dome
• Front-Mounted Ambient/Wide and Treble
Switches
• Timbre-Matched
• Sensitivity: 91dB 1W/1m
• Power Handling: Up to 150 Watts
• Impedance: 8 Ohms Compatible
• Frequency Response: 33Hz - 20kHz
• Woofer: Pivoting 8” Cone with Dual Voice Coil
• Tweeters: Dual Pivoting 1” Domes
• Timbre-Matched
• Front-Mounted Switches
• Sensitivity: 92dB 1W/1m
• Power Handling: Up to 100 Watts
• Impedance: 8 Ohms
• Frequency Response: 40Hz - 20kHz
AIM Wide Series AIM DT Series

Model Woofer(s) Tweeter(s) EQ Switches Efciency Frequency Response
AIM8 NEAT! Five 8" Kevlar 1" Alum./Mag. Front Mounted 91dB 1W/1m 33Hz-20kHz
AIM8 NEAT! Three 8" Alum. 1" Alum. Front Mounted 89dB 1W/1m 37Hz-20kHz
AIM8 NEAT! Two 8" Fiberglass 1" Silk Front Mounted 89dB 1W/1m 40Hz-20kHz
AIM8 NEAT! One 8" Poly. 1" Silk 88dB 1W/1m 40Hz-20kHz
AIM7 NEAT! Five 7" Kevlar 1" Alum./Mag. Front Mounted 91dB 1W/1m 35Hz-20kHz
AIM7 NEAT! Three 7" Alum. 1" Alum. Front Mounted 91dB 1W/1m 40Hz-20kHz
AIM7 NEAT! Two 7" Fiberglass 1" Silk Front Mounted 90dB 1W/1m 40Hz-20kHz
AIM5 NEAT! Three 5.25" Alum. .75" Alum. Front Mounted 89dB 1W/1m 50Hz-20kHz
AIM5 NEAT! One 5.25" Poly. .75" Silk 88dB 1W/1m 55Hz-20kHz
Model Woofer(s) Tweeter(s) EQ Switches Efciency Frequency Response
AIM10 Five 10" Kevlar
2½ Kevlar Midrange
1" Alum./Mag.
Uni-Pivot
Front Mounted 91dB 1W/1m 40Hz-20kHz
AIM10 One 10" Poly.
2½ Ploy Midrange
1" Silk
Uni-Pivot
90dB 1W/1m 50Hz-20kHz
AIM8 Five 8" Kevlar 1" Alum./Mag. Front Mounted 91dB 1W/1m 33Hz-20kHz
AIM8 Three 8" Alum. 1" Alum. Front Mounted 89dB 1W/1m 37Hz-20kHz
AIM8 Two 8" Fiberglass 1" Silk Front Mounted 89dB 1W/1m 40Hz-20kHz
AIM8 One 8" Poly. 1" Silk 88dB 1W/1m 40Hz-20kHz
AIM7 Five 7" Kevlar 1" Alum./Mag. Front Mounted 91dB 1W/1m 35Hz-20kHz
AIM7 Three 7" Alum. 1" Alum. Front Mounted 91dB 1W/1m 40Hz-20kHz
AIM7 Two 7" Fiberglass 1" Silk Front Mounted 90dB 1W/1m 40Hz-20kHz
AIM5 Three 5.25" Alum. .75" Alum. Front Mounted 89dB 1W/1m 50Hz-20kHz
AIM5 One 5.25" Poly. .75" Silk 88dB 1W/1m 55Hz-20kHz
Model Woofer(s) Tweeter(s) EQ Switches Efciency Frequency Response
AIM Wide Five 8" Kevlar
(2) 2" Kevlar Midrange
(2) .75" Alum. Front Mounted 91dB 1W/1m 33Hz-20kHz ± 3dB
AIM Wide Three 8" Alum.
(2) 2" Alum. Midrange
(2) .75" Alum. Front Mounted 91dB 1W/1m 37Hz-20kHz ± 3dB
AIM Wide One 8" IMG
(2) 2" IMG Midrange
(2) .75" Silk 88dB 1W/1m 40Hz-20kHz ± 3dB
AIM8 DT Three 8" Alum. (2) 1" Alum. Front Mounted 92dB 1W/1m 40Hz-20kHz ± 3dB
AIM8 DT One 8" Poly. (2) 1" Silk 91dB 1W/1m 45Hz-20kHz ± 3dB
DT8 Zero 8" Poly. (2) 1" Silk 91dB 1W/1m 48Hz-20kHz ± 3dB
AIM7 DT Three 7" Alum. (2) 1" Alum. Front Mounted 92dB 1W/1m 50Hz-20kHz ± 3dB
AIM7 DT One 7" Poly. (2) 1" Silk 91dB 1W/1m 55Hz-20kHz ± 3dB
DT6 Zero 6.5" Poly. (2) 1" Silk 91dB 1W/1m 60Hz-20kHz ± 3dB
As we incorporate design improvements, specications may change without notice.
All AIM Cinema speakers come with a lifetime warranty.
Kevlar is a trademark of the Dupont Corporation.
AIM
series
Patented*
Mix and Match
Because it is impossible for a single
speaker model or format to be installed
in every application SpeakerCraft
produces literally hundreds of different
loudspeakers in many different sizes and
shapes. Selecting the perfect speaker
for each application is key to designing
a successful system. Fortunately you
can easily mix and match various
models based on our timbre matching
technology.
Each speaker has a numeric
designation. If you want to use speakers
from a different series yet want them
to have the same tonal balance and
sonic signature, simply select the same
model number from each series. For
example, if you decided to use the
AIM LCR Three for the front speakers in
the wall around your at-panel display
and yet you wanted to put round AIM8
speakers in the rear for surround sound
you would select the AIM8 Three for
the rear. Now the speakers will all have
the same sound and the system will be
tonally balanced.

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LIT93810