INVISIBLE SERIES SPEAKERS INSTALLATION MANUAL
INVISIBLE SERIES SPEAKERS IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS IS6 | IS8 | IS10 | IS10W This product is intended to be installed by professional AV integrators and installers only. This product manual is intended to serve as a general guideline for most applications. It is the installer’s responsibility to ensure this product is installed in accordance with local building codes and regulations.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION FRONT The Sonance Invisible Series speakers featuring Motion Flex Technology offer a suite of advancements in speaker engineering that delivers unparalleled acoustic performance and installation enhancements that allow a wider range of applications with more consistent results. Together these performance and installation improvements redefine what is possible from an invisible speaker. Mounting points for attachment to framing.
range of applications and installation locations. It is recommended that speakers be wall-mounted 7 feet (2.13 meters) or more above finished floor (AFF) or inceiling to avoid being punctured or damaged. Ensure that the speaker will not be covered by cabinetry, draperies, art, crown molding or anything that could cover or puncture the speaker. Face the Wave Flex Drive Unit away from the ceiling when installing in walls and away from the walls when installing in ceilings.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT • Use the Sonance DISC system and DG-1 depth gauge (SKU 93491) to validate the finish thickness. It is helpful to lend the gauge to the finish manager so that it can be used during the actual process. Follow the installation instructions in this manual precisely to ensure outstanding speaker performance and true invisibility.
INSTALLATION DETAIL - 16” (406MM) ON-CENTER ) m 6m ter 0 4 en ”( 16 n-C O Framing support (above & below speaker) Face block orientation to prevent interference with speaker wire. Included 1/8” (3mm) shims. Install around full perimeter of speaker. 16” (406mm) on-center 5/8” (15mm) Drywall Included stainless steel screws 1/2” (12.
INSTALLATION DETAIL - 12” (305MM) ON-CENTER Framing support (above & below speaker) Face block orientation to prevent interference with speaker wire. Included 1/8” (3mm) shims. Install around full perimeter of speaker. ) m m r 5 e 0 (3 ent 12” n-C O 12” (305mm) on-center 5/8” (15mm) Drywall Included stainless steel screws 1/2” (12.
RETROFIT INSTALLATION 1. 6. Remove the included cutout template that is taped to the front of each speaker. Remove drywall from opening. This should expose only 3/4” (19mm) of each stud/joist or half of the stud/joist surface. Remove any exposed drywall nails or screws. Half (3/4” or 19mm) of each stud/joist should be exposed. 2. Locate the studs in your install location and mark the centers of the studs/joists.
NEW CONSTRUCTION INSTALLATION 1. Run speaker wire from the amplifier and audio component location to desired speaker locations. See page 4 for wire gauge chart. 2. We recommend that you reinforce the top and bottom joint locations with a face-block-oriented 2x4 or 3/4” (19mm) plywood. See the construction diagram on pages 6–7 and the chart below for opening height dimensions. Product dimensional drawings are available on www.sonance.com.
7. 10. Connect the speaker wire from your wall or ceiling to the wire leads on the speaker using the included wire nuts. Remove the space saver, if applicable. Hold onto the speaker wire attached to the back and pull it through the opening, being careful not to damage the surrounding drywall. The space saver can be kept for future installations or recycled. 11. 8. 9. OPTIONAL: If the zip ring was also used, cut the drywall at the speaker location using a zip tool and the zip ring as a guide.
12. Ensure the center of the speaker diaphragm (not the recessed edges) is flush with the surrounding drywall. Adjust shims if necessary. PRE-FINISHING TESTING GUIDELINES Once a finish is applied to an invisible speaker, it will be too late to go back and fix any audio connection or installation problems. Installation Fit Test Lightly place a straight edge across the face of the speaker to verify that the diaphragm of the speaker is co-planar with the surrounding drywall and has been installed correctly.
FINISHING INSTRUCTIONS 3. Allow hot mud to set slightly before applying mesh tape. 4. Place mesh tape over the drywall seams. Overlap tape slightly. 5. Do not tape over the raised portion of the speaker. NOTE: Drywall finishes can range in various levels of smoothness. For invisible speaker installations, we recommend at least a level four finish where drywall seams are all feathered out and sanded.
6. Allow hot mud to fully cure and harden. 8. Feather all surfaces around the joints and up to the raised portion of the speaker diaphragm. 7. Once hot mud has fully cured, cover joints with slow-setting compound. 9. Allow first coat to fully cure. This can take 12–24 hours. NOTE: DO NOT use fast-setting drywall compound (“hot mud”) to cover the speaker; it is not flexible enough to provide a durable finish for invisible speakers.
11. FINISH THICKNESS GUIDELINES Compound buildup on the active surface of the speaker should not exceed 3mm (1/8”). Sound quality and installation durability will be adversely effected if finish materials are applied too thick. TOTAL FINISH THICKNESS FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE: 1.0mm to 1.5mm (3/64” to 1/16”) MAXIMUM TOTAL FINISH THICKNESS: 3mm (1/8”) Validate finish thickness using the Sonance DG-1 depth gauge (SKU 93491).
. After final coat is applied and has dried, use a manual pole sander or block sander on entire wall (do not use a power sander as this could damage the surface of the speaker). Be careful not to sand down into the surface of the speaker. This could damage the paper which makes perfect blending very difficult to achieve. Wall surface should show no signs of a speaker. 16. Validate the finish thickness using the Sonance DISC system and DG-1 depth gauge (SKU 93491). 17.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS IS6 IS8 IS10 IS10W Full-range Speaker Full-range Speaker Full-range Speaker Woofer Wave Flex Drive Unit 20in² (127cm²) bending wave diaphragm 1.75” (44mm) voice coil 29in² (188cm²) bending wave diaphragm 1.75" (44mm) voice coil 29in² (188cm²) bending wave diaphragm 1.75" (44mm) voice coil - Air Flex Woofer 98in² (633cm²) air pulse diaphragm 6.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How can I tell how much finish material is covering the speaker? Use the Sonance DG-1 depth gauge (SKU 93491) to measure actual finish thickness covering Sonance invisible speakers. Can Invisible Series speakers be installed in the ceiling or just in walls? Sonance IS speakers can be installed in both walls and ceilings.
Are these suitable for surround sound? Motion Flex invisible speakers can be used in surround sound applications. Always use a subwoofer and an 80Hz high pass filter applied to the invisible speakers in surround sound applications. Use the built-in roomcorrection of the AV receiver/surround processor for best performance. Are Sound-Isolating Enclosures required? No. They are optional.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SERVICE The Technical Assistance Department at Sonance is available at (949) 492-7777 to answer any questions concerning the operation and installation of your speakers between the hours of 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific time, Monday through Friday, except holidays. In the event your unit should need repair or service, you may return the unit to your authorized dealer or use the following guidelines: PLEASE KEEP ORIGINAL PACKAGING WHEN POSSIBLE. 1.
LIMITED FIFTEEN (15) YEAR WARRANTY Sonance warrants to the first end-user purchaser that this Sonance-brand product (“Product”), when purchased from an authorized Sonance Dealer/Distributor, will be free from defective workmanship and materials for the period stated below. Sonance will at its option and expense during the warranty period, either repair the defect or replace the Product with a new or re-manufactured Product or a reasonable equivalent.
