Niles Audio Speaker OS 20 User Manual

I N S T A L L A T I O N  
&
O P E R A T I O N G U I D E  
M O D E L  
OS-20  
Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeaker.  
Niles Audio  
Corporation  
12331 S.W. 130 Street  
Miami, Florida 33186  
Tel: (305) 238-4373  
Fax: (305) 238-0185  
®
©1999 Niles Audio Corporation. DS00199A  
B L E N D I N G H I G H F I D E L I T Y  
Printed in Taiwan  
®
A N D A R C H I T E C T U R E  
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Rigid, Acoustically Inert Enclosure  
FEATURES & BENEFITS  
The cabinet of the OS-20 is composed of mineral filled polypropylene. This  
material is extremely non-resonant. All you hear is the music.  
Precision Crossover  
An electronic dividing network inside the cabinet precisely distributes the  
music to the woofer and the tweeter. The two-way design of the OS-20s  
crossover provides excellent stereo imaging and low distortion.  
Low Diffraction Grill and Front Baffle  
The grill of the OS-20 has hundreds of precisely sized perforations, creating an  
acoustically transparent grill. The front baffle is gently curved in a radius opti-  
mized for the best sound. Sound waves emanating from the woofer and the  
tweeter are not reflected by the surrounding parts of the speaker.  
ElastoDynamicHybrid Dome Tweeter  
In the past, every weather-resistant speaker has disappointed listeners with a  
fatiguing and harsh treble sound caused by tweeter ringing. In the course of  
developing our weather-resistant tweeter, we determined that tweeter ringing  
can be damped out by a microscopically thin elastomeric coating on a natural  
fiber dome substrate. The result is a transparently clear, sweet, natural sounding  
tweeter which still maintains extended frequency response.  
Tapering Shape  
The cabinet of the OS-20 is shaped so that the speaker will tuck discretely  
away into corners or under eaves.  
Swiveling Bracket  
Long Throw Polypropylene Woofer  
The U-shaped bracket and bracket knobs allow the OS-20 to be pointed at the  
The unusually stiff and light polypropylene cone, the butyl rubber surround, the  
substantial magnet, and the rigid steel basket are all optimized for large excur-  
sions of the woofer. In this way, the five and a quarter inch cone can create the  
same deep bass output of a much larger speaker moving small distances in and  
out. The end result is rich satisfying bass from a compact, weather-resistant  
loudspeaker.  
optimum listening position and locked into place quickly and easily.  
Easy Three-Way Mounting System  
1. The OS-20 can be hung from a nail using the nail hole on the bracket.  
2. The bracket can be screwed into the mounting surface using your hardware.  
3. The OS-20 is equipped with 1/4-20 threaded inserts for OmniMount® or  
custom brackets.  
Eight Ohm Impedance  
The OS-20's are designed to be part of a multi-room audio system. The OS-  
20's eight ohm impedance makes them compatible with virtually any amplifier.  
In addition, this permits multiple pairs of OS-20s to be wired to a single ampli-  
fier with a Niles speaker selector.  
Stable Shelf Placement  
The rubber inserts on the bracket knobs serve as one of the speaker's feet when  
the OS-20 is placed directly on a shelf or desktop without the bracket. In addi-  
tion, two feet are molded into the base of the cabinet to give added stability.  
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Premium Gold-Plated Five-Way Binding Posts  
PARTS GUIDE  
Gold plating gives you a corrosion-free high quality speaker wire connection.  
The connectors' five-way design allows you to use any of the most popular wire  
terminating methods.  
e
f
a
Easy Finger-Sized Access  
b
The binding posts are mounted upside down in a molded recess on the back of  
the OS-20. This prevents water from pooling at the connection. The recess is  
large enough to fit your fingers, so you can easily loosen or tighten the speaker  
connections.  
c
d
b
d
Weather-Resistant Construction  
The hardware is made of stainless steel or brass, and the binding posts are plat-  
ed with gold. The bracket and grill are made of aluminum (oxidation is self-lim-  
iting with aluminum) and it is powder coated (powder-coating gives absolutely  
even coverage everywhere) for the ultimate rust-proof construction. The enclo-  
sure itself is shatterproof. The OS-20’s components are weather-resistant, UV-  
resistant, salt-water corrosion-resistant, and immune to damage from tempera-  
ture extremes (-50 to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit).  
g
h
h
f
i
j
Figure 1 OS-20 Parts Guide  
a. Bracket  
f. Bracket Knob  
g. Grill  
b. Nail Hole  
c. Wire Hole  
d. Screw Hole  
e. Rubber Insert  
h. Cabinet  
i. Binding Posts  
j. Threaded Inserts  
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INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS  
Tools and Materials Required  
• A wire stripper  
• A pencil  
• A level (optional)  
• Three screws or bolts suitable for the mounting surface  
• The proper screwdriver for your mounting hardware  
• A drill bit of the right size and type  
• An electric drill  
Wiring  
Figure 2  
Wiring directly from a receiver or  
amplifier  
Figure 3  
Incorporating a volume control  
The OS-20 connects to your receiver or amplifier using 2-conductor speaker  
wire (See Figure 2). For most applications, we recommend using 16 or 18  
gauge wire. For wiring runs longer than 80 feet, we recommend 14 gauge wire.  
The binding posts of the OS-20 will accommodate up to 12 gauge wire direct-  
ly. Larger sizes can be accommodated using spade, banana, or pin connectors.  
Incorporating a Volume Control  
It’s possible to control the volume of the sound at the speaker location. Plan to  
wire the system so that each pair of speakers has it’s own volume control. Niles  
makes a wide range of indoor and outdoor volume controls. Consult your local  
Niles dealer for more information. Volume controls are connected in line with  
the speaker, so you must connect the wire from the amplifier to the volume con-  
trol and then from the volume control to the speaker (See Figure 3).  
TECH TIP  
Wire size is expressed by its AWG (American Wire  
Gauge) number. The lower the number, the larger  
the wire, i.e. twelve AWG is physically larger than  
fourteen AWG.  
Recommended Amplifier Power  
When you run wire inside walls, outdoors or in marine installations, special  
jacketing or conduit is required for a trouble-free installation and conformation  
to the local and national building codes. If you are not sure of the correct wire  
jacket or type of conduit to use, consult a professional audio/video installer,  
building contractor, or the local building and inspection department.  
We recommend an amplifier with a power rating of five to one hundred watts  
per channel for optimum performance. Ironically, most speakers are not dam-  
aged by large amplifiers but by small amplifiers. If you are playing at high vol-  
ume, a small amplifier will run out of power very quickly. When an amplifier  
runs out of power it creates damaging “clipping” distortion. A large amplifier  
will play at the same volume without distorting. See the section "Operation" for  
more information about clipping distortion.  
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Placing the OS-20 for the Best Sound Quality  
Make sure you are not blocking or reflecting the sound off of furniture or other  
objects. You should have a direct line of sight with the front of the speaker. To  
determine the best position, measure the distance between the ideal listening  
position and the wall you plan to mount the speakers on. Try to place the speak-  
ers so that they are at least one-half the listening distance apart (this maintains a  
large, pleasant stereo "image") and less than the entire listening distance (this  
avoids a "hole-in-the-middle" effect). For example; if you are ten feet back from  
the wall, the speakers should be between five and ten feet apart (See Figure 4).  
The OS-20’s dispersion pattern is very broad. The speaker is very sensitive and  
will handle a lot of amplifier power. This allows good sound quality over an  
extremely large listening area. However, if a single pair is positioned to provide  
coverage of a very large room or patio, you will have “hot spots” of loud sound  
when you are near the speakers. The best way to avoid hot spots for a large  
space is to use several pairs. A good rule of thumb is a pair of speakers for  
every 200 to 400 square feet of listening area. Your local Niles dealer is a good  
source for advice on speaker placement for your particular installation.  
You can control the speakers bass output by placement. This is called the  
boundary effect. You will get more bass response by mounting the OS-20  
directly to a wall or other flat surface (any boundary close to the speaker will  
reinforce the bass frequencies). You can increase the bass output even more by  
mounting the OS-20 in a corner or under an eave (See Figure 5) This type of  
placement gives the speaker two boundaries, both reinforcing the bass sounds.  
Of course, if you wish to hear less bass, try moving the speaker away from the  
boundary (See Figure 6).  
When using more than one pair, it is usually best to alternate a left channel and  
then a right channel, so that you never have a "left next to a left".  
The position of the speakers and the surroundings around them play a very  
important role in how a stereo image is created. You should experiment to find  
the very best position for your speakers. Here are some guidelines to make the  
process quick and easy.  
Speaker  
Placement  
Zone  
10'  
5'  
10'  
Figure 5  
Figure 6  
Placement for more bass output  
Placement for  
less bass output  
Mounting Methods  
Speaker  
Placement  
Zone  
Figure 4  
Illustration depicts the optimum  
placement zone for a listening  
distance of ten feet.  
The OS-20 can be mounted either horizontally or vertically. The bracket knobs  
will keep the speaker angled correctly in any position once they are tightened.  
You can choose from three mounting methods to attach the OS-20 to the wall,  
ceiling, or other mounting surface.  
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1. If the speaker is never going to be exposed to sudden accidental impacts,  
wind, waves or earthquakes you can simply hang it on a nail using the nail  
hole(s) of the bracket (See Figure 7).  
PAINTING THE OS-20  
The enclosure, the brackets, and the grills of the OS-20 can all be painted to  
match the surroundings. Because we want you to preserve the acoustic quali-  
ties of the grill, please paint the grill according to the grill painting instructions.  
Make sure you pick a paint that is appropriate for the mounting location. There  
are interior and exterior varieties, and even paint for marine uses. If you are not  
sure what paint to use, consult a paint store professional or a painter.  
Tools Required  
• A spray can of primer paint (Krylon Sandable Spray Primer #1318)  
• The correct paint for the surroundings (oil or water based paint is fine)  
• A paint brush or applicator if the paint is not in a spray can.  
• A paper clip or a corkscrew (for removing the grill)  
• Masking tape  
Nail Mounting  
Screw Mounting  
Figure 7 The OS-20 can be mounted three ways.  
OmniMount or Custom Bracket Mounting  
• 2 paint masks (supplied)  
2. The safest and most secure way to mount the speaker is by screwing it to the  
mounting surface using your own hardware (suitable for the surface you are  
mounting to) and the bracket supplied with the speaker (See Figure 7).  
• A damp cloth and a dry cloth  
Preparing to Paint  
3. There are threaded brass inserts on the back of the OS-20 for attaching an  
OmniMount or a custom bracket (See Figure 7). This allows you to position the  
speaker at unusual angles or distances from the mounting surface.  
1. Separate the parts of the speaker. You should remove the brackets and the  
bracket knobs. Remove the grill by hooking it with a bent paper clip or the tip  
of a corkscrew and pulling it away from the cabinet (See Figure 8).  
Safety First!  
Figure 8  
Removing the grill using a paper clip  
Be careful to use hardware that is designed for the surface you are mounting to.  
The OS-20 with the bracket weighs 8-1/2 pounds. If you are not sure ofa safe way  
to mount the speakers, consult a professional installer or a building contractor.  
You will maximize the useful life of the speaker, by placing the speaker so that  
it receives less exposure to the elements. Look for the best overall compromise  
between sound quality, convenience, and exposure. Do not compromise safety.  
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2. Wipe off the other sides of the cabinet, the bracket, bracket knobs, and grill  
with a damp cloth. Do not touch or rub the speakers on the front baffle. Make  
sure everything is dry before masking.  
If you are using an applicator or brush and a can of paint, thin the paint first.  
Thick paint will tend to clog the grill holes.  
3. Mask off the binding posts and the brass threaded inserts on the back panel  
Replacing the Grill  
with masking tape.  
Carefully fit the grill into its recess so that it is barely in place. Starting with one  
corner, go around the speaker, pushing the grill in a little bit each time. You  
should be gentle, the aluminum grill can be easily bent out of shape. You will  
feel a positive “snap” when it is fully in place.  
4. Mask off the threaded inserts on the top and bottom with masking tape.  
5. Protect the front of the speakers by inserting the supplied paint masks in  
place of the grills.  
Painting the Cabinet, Bracket Knobs and Bracket  
1. Apply two thin coats of a primer to the cabinet and knobs. We recommend  
Krylon Sandable Spray Primer #1318. The bracket doesn't require a coat of primer.  
2. Allow the primer to completely dry.  
3. Apply the finish color.  
4. Allow the paint to completely dry.  
5. Carefully remove the masking material.  
6. Do not reattach the speaker to the bracket until the bracket is mounted. Try  
to keep all handling of the freshly painted parts to a minimum.  
Painting the Grill  
The grill is important to the sound of the OS-20. Do not fill the holes of the grill  
with paint. The grill is constructed of aluminum with a perfectly even powder  
coat overall. This powder coat is an ideal primer.  
If you are using a spray paint, use two thin coats without any primer. If you are  
using a compressor and a spray gun, use the finest, most diffuse setting. Practice  
on paper if you are not experienced in painting with spray paint.  
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Connecting the Speaker  
INSTALLATION  
1. Separate the two conductors of the speaker wire so that at least two inches  
of each conductor are free.  
Mounting the Bracket  
2. Strip one half inch of insulation from the end of each conductor of the  
1. Remove the bracket knobs and the bracket from the speaker.  
speaker wire.  
2. Hold the bracket up to the mounting surface. The speaker can be mounted  
either horizontally or vertically. Hold the bracket so that the speaker wire fits  
through the large, circular wire hole in the bracket. Align the bracket to be  
square with the surroundings (use a level for accuracy).  
3. If you have any connectors (gold pins or bananas) which you prefer to use,  
affix them to the stripped wire ends now. Only gold plated connectors should  
be used outside as they will not tarnish or corrode.  
4. Use the bracket knobs to attach the speaker to the bracket. Do not tight-  
en the knobs completely. Angle the speaker so that the rear terminals are  
accessible.  
3. Mark the locations of the three oval-shaped screw holes (See Figure 9). Be  
sure to use all of the holes.  
4. Drill pilot holes into the mounting surface.  
5. Connect one stripped wire end (or connector) to the black and one to the  
red terminal. Pay attention to the markings on the wire. Each speaker must be  
connected to the amplifier in the same way.  
Figure 9  
Mounting the  
OS-20  
Speaker Phase  
Speaker wire has two conductors. One conductor is attached to the negative (-)  
terminals and one conductor is attached to the positive (+) terminals of both  
your speaker and your amplifier. Usually, the wire is marked for your conve-  
nience. There are different ways to mark the wire; a stripe on one wire, a  
ribbed area of one conductor you can only feel, different colors of metal wire  
on each conductor, or there might be a fabric strand or string wound into one  
of the conductors. Of course, there are some wires which appear completely  
identical. Be careful to avoid mistakes. If you do, one speaker will be playing  
out of “phase” with the other speaker. An out-of-phase pair of speakers work  
against each other and the sound of the two speakers playing together will be  
lacking in bass and “phasey” sounding. If you suspect the sound is not right  
and you cannot see any markings on the wire, try this simple test:  
5. Pull the speaker wire through the wire hole in the center of the mounting  
1. Point the speakers at each other, rather than at you.  
bracket. Align the bracket so that the holes all line up.  
2. Play some music with the amplifier or radio set to Mono.  
6. Use your hardware to attach the bracket to the mounting surface.  
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3. Stand so you are the same distance from each speaker and listen to the rich-  
OPERATION  
ness of the bass and the loudness of the sound.  
4. Turn off the amplifier and reverse the connections on one speaker only.  
Listening at Higher Volumes  
5. Repeat the listening test with the same setting of the volume control. When  
the sound has a richer bass and is slightly louder the speakers are working  
together or “in-phase”.  
Outdoors there are no walls to reflect and contain the sound. It requires more  
power to achieve a reasonable volume of sound outside than it does when you  
are indoors. You also frequently find yourself very far from the speaker. It is  
possible to turn the volume so high that the amplifier runs out of power. This  
creates “clipping” distortion.  
Final Adjustments  
Clipping distortion makes treble sound very harsh and unmusical. When you  
hear harsh sounding treble from any good speaker indoors or outdoors, turn the  
volume down immediately! Those harsh sounds are masking some much more  
powerful ultra-high-frequency sound spikes which will quickly damage any  
fine loudspeaker.  
1. After checking that the speaker is in phase and works correctly, angle the  
speaker for the best sound.  
2. Tighten the bracket knobs using only your hands. Use of any power tools  
may over-tighten the knob, and strip the threads of the insert.  
3. Check that the entire installation is safe and secure.  
Cleaning  
You can clean the OS-20's with a dampened soft cloth or paper towel. If the  
speaker is mounted high up on a wall or ceiling, use a broom to gently brush it  
off. Hosing off the speaker is not recommended, as the tweeter is a precise  
mechanism which might be damaged by a high pressure stream of water.  
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SPECIFICATIONS  
PLEASE FILL OUT THE  
WARRANTY REGISTRATION  
CARD ON THE REVERSE SIDE,  
DETACH, AND MAIL TO:  
Recommended Amplifier Power  
Five to one hundred watts per channel  
Niles Audio Corporation  
Warranty Registration Dept.  
P.O. Box 160818  
Nominal Impedance  
8 Ohms  
Miami, Florida 33116-0818  
Frequency Response  
68 Hz to 21 kHz, plus or minus 3 dB (on axis)  
Sensitivity  
91 decibels for 2.83 volts of Pink Noise, measured at 1 meter on axis  
Wiring Requirements  
Sixteen to eighteen gauge 2-conductor (unshielded or shielded) wire for runs  
up to eighty feet. Fourteen gauge 2-conductor (unshielded or shielded) wire for  
runs up to two hundred feet.  
Temperature Extremes  
-50° to 200° Fahrenheit  
Dimensions (Speaker without U-Bracket)  
9-7/8" Wide x 13" High x 7-1/4" Deep  
Dimensions (Speaker with U-Bracket)  
9-7/8" Wide x 13" High x 9" Deep  
Weight (Speaker and Bracket)  
8-1/2 lbs.  
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19  
WARRANTY REGISTRATION CARD  
LIMITED WARRANTY  
Model Purchased________________________________________________________________________  
Serial Number___________________________________________________________________________  
Date Purchased (month/day/year)___________________________________________________________  
Niles Audio Corporation ("NILES") warrants its outdoor loudspeaker products to the original  
purchaser to be free of manufacturing defects in material and workmanship for a period of two  
years from date of purchase.  
This Warranty is subject to the following additional conditions and limitations. The Warranty  
is void and inapplicable if NILES deems that the product has been used or handled other than  
in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer, including but not limited to  
damage caused by accident, mishandling, improper installation, abuse, negligence, or normal  
wear and tear, or any defect caused by repair to the product by anyone other than NILES or an  
authorized NILES dealer.  
Dealer Name and Location________________________________________________________________  
_______________________________________________________________________________________  
Dr.  
Miss  
Mr.  
Mrs.  
Ms.  
To obtain warranty service, take the unit to the nearest authorized NILES dealer, who will test  
the product and if necessary, forward it to NILES for service. If there are no authorized NILES  
dealers in your area, you must write to NILES and include your name, model and serial num-  
ber of your unit, along with a brief description of the problem. A factory Return Authorization  
Number will be sent to you. DO NOT RETURN ANY UNIT WITHOUT FIRST RECEIVING  
WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION AND SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS FROM NILES.  
Name_________________________________________________________________________________  
Address_______________________________________________________________________________  
______________________________________________________________________________________  
If the above conditions are met, the purchaser's sole remedy shall be to return the product to  
NILES, in which case NILES will repair or replace, at its sole option, the defective product  
without charge for parts or labor. NILES will return a unit repaired or replaced under warranty  
by shipping same by its usual shipping method from the factory (only) at its expense within the  
United States of America. THERE ARE NO OTHER WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT  
LIMITATION, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FIT-  
NESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT.  
City___________________________________________State______________Zip__________________  
Telephone (___________)_________________________________________________________________  
Please take a moment to fill out our warranty registration card. The information helps us to  
get to know you better and develop the products you want  
REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS WARRANTY IS THE EXCLUSIVE  
REMEDY OF THE CONSUMER/PURCHASER. NILES SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR  
ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED  
(OR PROHIBITED) BY APPLICABLE LAW.  
Age:  
Musical tastes:  
What magazines do  
you read?  
Do you. . .?  
Own a House. If yes,  
how many square feet?  
Under 25  
25-34  
35-44  
45-54  
55 & over  
(Please check all that  
apply)  
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages,  
so the above limitation may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights,  
and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.  
1. __________________  
2. ___________________  
3. ___________________  
__________________  
Alternative  
Classical  
Country  
Jazz  
New Age  
Popular  
Own a Town House/  
Condominium/Co-op  
Rent an Apartment  
Rent a House  
For the name of your nearest authorized NILES dealer contact:  
Income:  
Who will install the  
product?  
Under $24,999  
$25,000-$34,999  
$35,000-$44,999  
$45,000-$59,999  
$60,000-$74,999  
$75,000-$99,999  
Over $99,999  
NILES AUDIO CORPORATION, INC.  
P.O. BOX 160818, Miami, Florida 33116-0818.  
R&B  
Rock  
Are you interested in  
receiving literature on  
other Niles products?  
Custom Installer  
Electrician  
Friend  
Other_____________  
No  
Myself  
Yes  
How did you hear  
about Niles?  
Please fill in your product information and retain for your records.  
Which factor(s) influ-  
enced the purchase of  
your Niles product?  
Are there products/  
capabilities that you  
would like to see  
introduced?  
Architect/Developer  
Custom Installer  
Direct Mail  
Occupation:  
Model____________________________________________________________________________________  
Serial No._________________________________________________________________________________  
Purchase Date_____________________________________________________________________________  
Arts/Entertainment  
Business Owner  
Engineer  
(Please check all that  
apply)  
Friend/Family  
____________________  
____________________  
____________________  
____________________  
____________________  
____________________  
____________________  
In-Store Display  
Interior Designer  
Magazine Ad  
Mail-Order Catalog  
Newspaper Ad  
Product Brochure  
Product Review  
Retail Salesperson  
Ease of Use  
Price/Value  
Finance/Accounting  
General Office  
Management  
Professional  
Sales/Marketing  
Student  
Product Features  
Quality/Durability  
Reputation  
Style/Appearance  
Warranty  
Tradesperson  
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