AB-5 Bookshelf Speakers 4 Ohm - Pair

Introduction

Thank you for choosing the Adastra AB-5 bookshelf speakers for your background music system.

These speaker cabinets are designed to blend into their surroundings, with an understated appearance and domestic styling, yet with industrial quality Adastra drivers. Each cabinet has a nominal 4Ω impedance to deliver the optimum output from matching Adastra amplifiers, such as A22, IWA230B or S260-WIFI.

Please read this manual and follow the instructions to achieve the best results with your new purchase and to avoid damage through misuse.

Warning

To prevent damage, do not expose any components to rain or moisture. If liquids are spilled on the casing, stop using immediately, allow unit to dry out and have checked by qualified personnel before further use.

Safety

• Use the speaker wire supplied or equivalent rated cable
• Do not allow any foreign objects to enter the cabinet

Placement

• Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources
• Keep away from damp or dusty environments
• For free-standing installation, place on a level and secure surface.
• For wall-hanging, use the keyhole brackets included, as described below
• For bracket mounting, there are 2 x M6 threaded inserts on the rear panel for fixing a wall bracket.

Cleaning

• Use a soft cloth with a neutral detergent to clean the casing as required
• Use a vacuum cleaner to clear the grille cloth and drivers of any dust or debris build-ups
• Do not use strong solvents for cleaning the cabinet or components

Free Standing Operation

The AB-5 speaker cabinets have the same design standards as our renowned Adastra wall-mounted background speakers but take the form of bookshelf cabinets for a more familiar and simplified appearance. These cabinets are ideal for free-standing operation, providing an alternative to permanent installation and simplifying the overall setup.

Ensure that they are positioned on a level and stable surface, capable of supporting the weight of each cabinet and apply the self-adhesive foam feet to each corner of the bottom of the cabinet to help reduce rattling and give an improved grip to the support area.

Wall mounting

Otherwise, for wall hanging, a keyhole bracket and screws are included with each of the two AB-5 bookshelf speakers in the box.

If the cabinets are to be installed hanging from a wall, these brackets should be fixed to the rear panel, aligned centrally below the top edge of the cabinet, as shown here...

This allows the cabinet to be hung from a single screw that is firmly fixed into the wall.

Ensure that the screw fixing is secure and can bear the weight of each cabinet

(using brick or plasterboard plugs as necessary).

A secondary “drop-wire” fixing is recommended, especially where there is a risk of failure of the single screw fixing.

Alternatively, the AB-5 cabinets can be mounted from a speaker bracket using the 2 x M6 threaded inserts at the rear of each cabinet.

These can used to attach the speaker bracket (such as Adastra 103.015UK) as shown opposite.

Also, due to their 75mm centre spacing, the installer can take advantage of a wide range of VESA 75 brackets available for display screens. When fitting brackets to the rear, ensure that the rear speaker terminal connectors and port hole are not obstructed.

Connection

The AB-5 bookshelf speakers each have a red (+) and black (-) screw terminal on the rear panel. Connect these terminals to the corresponding “+” and “-” outputs from the amplifier, which must have a minimum load impedance of 4 Ohms (4Ω) or below. This is usually marked on the amplifier or specified in its user manual.

Each pair of AB-5 speakers is supplied with a single 5m length of cable, which should be cut into 2 parts depending on the distance of each speaker from the amplifier.

Otherwise, if longer runs are needed, this cable can be extended or replaced with an equivalent type that can handle the current (3A min. recommended)

Each pair of AB-5 speakers is supplied with a single 5m length of cable, which should be cut into 2 parts depending on the distance of each speaker from the amplifier. If longer runs are needed, this cable can be extended or replaced with an equivalent type that can handle the current (3A min. recommended)

Note: Always connect to the speakers before connecting to the amplifier.

Strip back the “+” and “-” wires of the cable at the speaker end and twist the copper conductor strands on each core so that they stay together and do not fray. Unscrew the respective terminal and insert the bare wires into the hole in the terminal post. Screw the terminal firmly closed onto the wire, as described here opposite.

When the amplifier’s minimum load impedance is 4Ω, just connect one AB-5 speaker to each left or right output of the amplifier. The amplifier will be able to deliver its maximum possible output into the AB-5 speakers. Be sure that the AB-5 speakers can handle this output, measured in Watts RMS (Wrms)

Series Wiring

If the amplifier’s minimum load impedance is 8Ω, do not connect the AB-5 speakers unless you are using series wiring, which would use two AB-5 speakers to make one 8Ω load as shown below.

The front grille cloth frames may be removed for cleaning by gently pulling the edges forward starting with the corners and then moving around the frame, taking care not to bend the frame to the point of damage.

Ensure that the speakers are not overloaded and that the signal from the amplifier is not clipping, both of which and lead to damage of the amplifier and/or speakers.

After use, turn down the volume control of the amplifier before powering down to avoid any loud pops or sudden noises through the speakers.