stellar labs 50-10550 User manual

Premium In-Wall Speaker Pair
Installation Manual
Model #50-10550, 50-10551
Stellar Labs
Division of MCM Electronics
650 Congress Park Drive
Centerville, Ohio 45459
www.mcmelectronics.com
© 2009 MCM a Premier Farnell Company

General Features
•Aluminum cone woofer
•Butyl rubber surround
•1" pivoting aluminum dome tweeter
•High quality 12dB/octave crossover
•Independent ±3dB high and low frequency compensation selectors
•Detachable screw terminal strips
Specifications Model 50-10550 Model 50-10551
Woofer Size 6½" 8"
Power Capacity 55W/80W RMS/peak 70W/100W RMS/peak
Frequency Response 50Hz ~ 22KHz 45Hz ~ 22KHz
Nominal Impedance 8Ω8Ω
SPL 90dB W/M 89dB W/M
Dimensions
Front Outer Frame 12" (H) x 8.25" (W) 14.25" (H) x 10.25" (W)
Required Cutout 10.25" (H) x 6.5" (W) 12.25" (H) x 8.75" (W)
Mounting Depth 3" 3.5"
Speaker Placement
Careful consideration should be made when determining the desired location of the speaker pair. As these
are referred to as in-wall speakers, this is the intended mounting location. However, there is no electronic or
physical reason these cannot be mounted in other locations, such as ceilings. Note that careful consideration
should be given to appearance in these situations.
Also, dimensions and product photos typically depict vertical mounting of this speaker. It is also completely
suitable to mount these speakers horizontally, should space or aesthetic requirements dictate.
It is important to note that more speakers in a given listening area do not necessarily equate to higher
sound levels. With more speakers, the desired listening level for a given area is attained with lower output
from each speaker. This creates a much more pleasant listening environment as the sound source can be
uniformly heard through the entire room, regardless of location and with less interference with sounds such
as conversation.
High/Low Frequency Compensation
These speakers are equipped with ±3dB compensations selectors for low and high frequency response.
Essentially, these are bass and treble selectors, each with a high, mid and low position. These controls will
help the speaker compensate for differing room acoustics, often affected by items such as furniture, floor
and window coverings, and appliances. The ideal position of these selectors is highly dependant upon
personal taste, and will require some trial and error.
Speaker Wire
It is important that good quality wire is used in the installation. Installed speakers generally have much
longer wire runs than normal home theater speakers, hence heavier gauge wire is recommended. Note:
There are numerous manufactures in the market offering “high-end” esoteric speaker wire, with claims of
exotic materials and superior performance. Truthfully, this type of product has been found to provide little
or no benefit to installations of this type. Good quality 16AWG CL2 rated in-wall wire, such as MCM #24-
9995 (two-conductor), #24-10015 (four-conductor) or similar, provide outstanding performance in this
application.

When running this cable, a few simple guidelines must be followed
•All speakers should be home-run. That is, wire should be run directly from each speaker, back to
the sound source
•Speaker wire should be kept away from AC wiring to prevent noise. If AC wiring and speaker wire
must cross paths, it is best to have them cross at a 90º angle, minimizing the common surface
area between the two
•Speaker wire and AC lines should NEVER pass through the same hole in studs or joists
Installation
1. For this type is installation, a stud finder such as MCM #22-9346 is highly recommended. This device
will not only accurately located both edges of the stud, but will provide a warning of nearby electrical
wiring.
2. When deciding on a final location to install speakers, extreme care should be taken to ensure that
obstructions do not exist, such as air ducts, plumbing and electrical wiring.
3. Locate the studs in the wall between which the speaker will be mounted. Using a pencil, mark a spot
directly in the center of the two studs
4. Locate the cardboard mounting template, included with the speaker, and using a tape measure,
determine its exact center point.
5. Poke a small hole in the template, and place the template on the wall, lining up the hole with the spot
marked on the ceiling. Using a level, make sure the template is level and plumb on the wall.
6. Trace the outer perimeter of the template with a pencil.
7. Using a wallboard saw, similar to MCM #22-7597, cut around this circumference. This type of saw is
especially useful, as its rigid design and sharp point allow it to “plunge” into the wall with no need to drill
a pilot hole.
8. Remove the rectangular section of drywall from the wall.
9. Remove the front grille from the speaker to be installed. This is most easily accomplished by rotating the
plastic mounting clips outward, and pressing then towards the front speaker frame. This will cause the
screw heads, behind the grill, to push the grill out from inside. In some cases, it may be necessary to
gently pry the grill from the front. This may be done with a small knife blade or micro size flat blade
screwdriver. In this case, extreme care should be taken not to damage the plastic frame around the
grill.
10. When looking at the rear of the speaker, rotate the six mounting clips clockwise as far as they well go,
so as not to obstruct the frame. If necessary, loosen the six mounting screws, from the front of the
speaker, to allow these clips to rotate freely within their bracket.
11. Locate the green terminal strip on the rear of the speaker, connections marked ( – ) and ( + ). This is a
two-part terminal strip, with the screw terminals being detachable from the PC board. Unplug the screw-
connector portion of the strip, allowing easy access to the screws. Strip ¼" of insulation from the end of
the speaker wire, insert into the terminal strip, and tighten the screws. Take care to observe correct
polarity. Then plug the terminal strip back into the PC board on the rear of the speaker.
12. Fully insert the speaker into the wall opening and begin to tighten the six mounting screws. Care should
be taken when tightening these screws. Make sure the screwdriver is secure in the head of the screw
and does not slip out and damage the speaker cone.
13. As screws are tightened, the plastic mounting clips will rotate clockwise and draw in against the inside of
the wallboard. If using a drill to tighten screws, tighten all six until the speaker frame just makes contact
with the ceiling. From there, it is best to use a hand screwdriver to fully tighten. This will prevent
breakage of the plastic mounting clips.
14. Once all screws are tightened, the grill may be reinstalled on the front of the speaker.
15. The other end of the speaker wire is now ready for connection to the sound source

Warranty
MCM Custom Audio and Stellar Labs products are warranted, by MCM Electronics, against
manufacturer defects for a period of two years from the original date of purchase. This warranty
is limited to manufacturer defects, in either materials or workmanship. MCM Electronics, or any
other worldwide divisions of Premier Farnell PLC, are not responsible for any consequential or
inconsequential damage to any other component, structure or the cost of installation or removal
of said items.
This warranty will not cover damage due to improper use such as (and not limited to) damaged
cones, mounting frames, voice coils or items damaged by whether damaged items.
For questions or specific information regarding warranty replacement or repair, contact:
MCM Electronics
www.mcmelectronics.com
800-543-4330