Bose Acoustimass 10 home theatre speaker system Sold from August 1996 to 1998 User Manual

							The Bose® Acoustimass® -10 Home Theater Speaker
System
Owner’s Guide
December 20, 2001
AM183644_01.pdf 
						

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Declaration
of Conformity
We, the offerer:
Bose
® Corporation, The Mountain
Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA
acknowledge our sole responsibility, that the product:
Kind of equipment:Loudspeakers
Type designation:Acoustimass
® -10
Home Theater Speakers
in accordance with EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and Article 10(1) of the Directive,
is in compliance with the following norm(s) or document(s):
Technical regulations:EN50081-1, EN50082-1
Accredited by Bose Corporation
3 January 1996
Bose B.V., Nijverheidstraat 8 Paul Olean, General Manager, Bose Europe
1135 GE Edam, The Netherlands Manufacturer’s authorized EU
representative
Introduction
Thank you
We appreciate your choice of the Bose® Acoustimass®-10 home theater speaker system.
With these Virtually Invisible® speakers you’ll surround yourself with realistic sound, without
a lot of equipment.
For your records
The serial number is located near the connection panel on the Acoustimass module.
Serial number: _________________________________________________________________
Dealer name: __________________________________________________________________
Dealer phone: _______________________ Purchase date: ___________________________
We suggest you keep your sales slip and warranty card together with this owner’s guide. 
						

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Contents
Where to find...
Introduction
Thank you ................................................................................................................... 2
For your records ......................................................................................................... 2
Setting Up
Before you begin ........................................................................................................ 4
Unpack the carton ...................................................................................................... 4
Placing your Acoustimass
®-10 speakers to achieve realistic home theater sound .... 5
Select the locations for your speakers ....................................................................... 6
Left and right front cube speakers ...................................................................... 6
Center cube speaker ........................................................................................... 6
Surround cube speakers ..................................................................................... 7
Acoustimass module ........................................................................................... 7
Connect the speakers ................................................................................................ 8
Use the cable correctly ....................................................................................... 8
Connect the Acoustimass module to the center
and front cube speakers ............................................................................... 9
Connect the Acoustimass module to the surround cube speakers .................... 9
Connect the Acoustimass module to the receiver .............................................. 9
Check the connections ..................................................................................... 10
Using Your Acoustimass-10 speakers
For realistic home theater sound .............................................................................. 11
How to set your Pro-Logic receiver .................................................................. 11
Bass and treble adjustments ............................................................................ 11
Set your Dolby AC-3 receiver correctly ............................................................. 11
Maintaining Your Acoustimass-10 speakers
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................ 12
Customer service ..................................................................................................... 12
Cleaning the speakers .............................................................................................. 13
Warranty period ........................................................................................................ 13
Product Information
Technical information ............................................................................................... 14
Accessories .............................................................................................................. 14
Bose
® Corporation ................................................................................. inside back cover 
						

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Before you begin
Bose® Virtually Invisible® speaker technology allows you to enjoy lifelike home performances
from the very latest surround sound encoded movies, CDs, and television shows, without a
room full of speakers.
Your stereo VCR or stereo television sends the encoded program material to the surround
sound receiver, which interprets it by distributing various sounds to particular speakers.
Although the sound mix varies with different types of programs, dialogue is usually sent to
the center speaker while sounds from the left or right side of the picture go to the left or
right front speakers. Ambient sounds and special effects are directed to one or both of the
surround (rear) speakers.  The unique, easy-to-hide Acoustimass
® module delivers bass for
all channels. At any point in a surround sound performance, you may hear sound from all or
just a few of the speakers, but the overall experience puts you in the center of the action.
To select surround-encoded program material, look for any of the terms Surround, Dolby
Surround, and the double-D symbol 
 * on tapes and discs, and the
word “surround” preceding a TV broadcast. Your Acoustimass-10 home theater speakers
are also compatible with Dolby AC-3 receivers and program material.  The special settings
for Dolby Surround and AC-3 are described on page 11.
You can also enjoy a wide variety of stereo programming that is not surround-encoded with
your Acoustimass-10 speakers.  Simply adjust your receiver accordingly.
Setting Up
*  Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.
WARNING:
The Acoustimass module
weighs 23 pounds (10.5 kg).
Use good lifting practice to
avoid injury.
To avoid danger of suffoca-
tion, keep the plastic bags
that wrap these speakers out
of the reach of children.
Figure 1
What comes in the carton:
• Acoustimass module
• Module end cover
•5 cube speaker pairs
• 20' (6 m) speaker input cable
• 20' (6 m) front speaker output
cable
• 50' (15 m) rear speaker output
cable
• 8 protective rubber feet
• Owner’s Guide
Unpack the carton
• Remove any staples from the opened carton flaps.
• Remove the brown inner carton containing the five cube speaker arrays and the Acous-
timass module terminal cover.
• Gently roll the carton over onto its side and then onto its opening.
• Carefully lift the carton from around the Acoustimass module and packing cushions.
• Do not detach the removable cables connected to the Acoustimass module.
• If the speakers or the Acoustimass module appear damaged, do not use them. Repack
everything in the original carton and contact your authorized Bose dealer immediately.
Note: Now is a good time to record the serial number of these speakers on page 2 of this
guide and on your warranty card. It is a good idea to save all packing materials for possible
future use. 
						

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Setting Up
Placing your Acoustimass®-10 speakers to achieve
realistic home theater sound
The center speaker localizes action and dialogue on your screen. Sound from the center
speaker should seem to come from within the picture.
The left and right front speakers create a sound image wider than the screen that seems
natural to viewers sitting anywhere in the room.
The surround speakers add subtle sounds and special effects that expand the visual image,
bringing the viewer into the center of the action. The surround speakers should be posi-
tioned to allow the sound to reach the viewer from both sides, rather than from directly
behind.
You can place the front and center speakers near a TV screen with no picture interference,
because all of the cube speakers are magnetically shielded.
The Acoustimass module is not magnetically shielded and should be at least 2 feet (.6 m)
from your screen, but at the same end of the room as the front and center speakers. Bose
®
Acoustimass speaker technology takes advantage of the fact that the source of bass sound
is difficult to locate, so you can hide the Acoustimass module conveniently out of sight.
A suggested home theater layout that conforms to the guidelines described above is shown
in Figure 2. Twist the pairs of cube speakers so they describe angles that create room-filling
sound patterns.
You may choose to place the speakers differently, to take advantage of the sound charac-
teristics of different rooms. Your speakers come with sufficient cable lengths to allow you to
have the following distances between components:
• Up to 20 feet (6 m) between the Acoustimass module and the receiver.
• Up to 20 feet (6 m) between the Acoustimass module and the front and center cube
speakers.
• Up to 50 feet (15 m) between the Acoustimass module and the surround speakers.
Bose wall brackets and floor stands can extend your placement options. See “Accessories”
on page 14.
Figure 2
One suggested home theater
layout
NOTE:
Please follow wall bracket
instructions carefully.  Proper
mounting will insure optimum
performance from your
system. 
						

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Setting Up
Select the locations for your speakers
The cables provided with your Acoustimass®-10 system vary in length and provide a great
deal of flexibility in speaker placement.
Left and right front cube speakers
Use the two cube speakers with black terminals. Figure 3 shows suggested ways to
achieve an accurate left and right sound image.
• Place the front speakers on either side of your TV, at least 6 feet (2 m), or as much as 15
feet (5 m) apart.
• Place them in line with the center of the screen for the best sound balance (position 1).
Or, place them in a lateral position, with one high and the other low (position 2). Placing
them in a line above the top of the TV is a third choice (position 3).
• The speaker on the left as you face the TV is connected to the LEFT FRONT jack on the
Acoustimass module.
CAUTION: If you are placing
the center speaker on top of
the television, use the smaller
of the two sets of four rubber
feet provided. This will
provide extra stability on
surfaces such as marble or
glass. Additional rubber feet
are available, free, by calling
the Bose
® customer service
numbers inside the back
cover of this manual. Ask for
Part Number 178321-04.
23
1
1
2/3
Figure 3
Suggested choices for left and
right front speaker placement
Center cube speaker
Select one speaker with a gray terminal for the front center speaker. Sound from the center
speaker should seem to come from within the picture.
Figure 4 shows suggested positions for the center speaker.
• Place the center cube speaker above, below, or on top of your television. If below, be
sure that the cube speaker is not supporting the weight of the television in any way.
• Keep it as close to the vertical center of the screen as possible, for the most accurate
dialogue reproduction (positions 1 or 2).
Figure 4
Suggested choices for center
speaker placement
1
2 
						

							 AM183644_01_V.pdf                                                             December 20, 2001 7
Setting Up
Surround cube speakers
The remaining two speakers with gray terminals are to be used as surround speakers. The
left and right rear channel sound should reach the viewer from both sides, rather than from
directly behind. Refer to Figure 5.
• Put one on the left and the other on the right, keeping them as far apart as possible,
beside or just to the rear of the home theater seating area.
• Place them high up, to avoid a direct sound path to the ears of the listeners (position 1).
• If you want these speakers directly behind the seating area, make sure they are not
directed at the viewers (positions 2 and 3).
• The rear speaker on the left as you face the TV is connected to the LEFT SURROUND
jack on the Acoustimass
® module.
1
2
3
1
2
3
Figure 5
Suggested choices for surround
(rear) speaker placement
Acoustimass module
Bose® recommends putting your Acoustimass module at the same end of the room as the
television monitor. To prevent interference, keep the module at least 2 feet (60 cm) from the
television.
• You may hide the Acoustimass module behind or under furniture, but do not block the
opening. Be sure there is at least 2 inches (5 cm) between the opening and any surface.
• If the opening faces the wall it increases the bass; if it faces away it decreases the bass.
For the most bass response, place the opening 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) from a wall or
corner.
• Stand the Acoustimass module vertically or horizontally (Figure 6). To stand it on the
cable connection end, remove the cover by gently pulling it away.
After selecting a place for the Acoustimass module, attach the larger set of four rubber feet
to the bottom surface for additional stability. The feet protect the cable connections and
must be mounted when the Acoustimass module is standing on that end.
Figure 6
Acoustimass module position 
						

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Setting Up
 Connect the speakers
The supplied cables make it easy for you to connect your system. The connections at the
Acoustimass® module are already made for you. There are three sets of cables, joined
together to form ribbons, which may be separated or “unzipped” as much as needed to
comfortably reach the speakers (Figure 7). Separate the cables as you are laying out the
cable lengths.
• The 20 foot (6 m) cable with three pairs of wires connects the Acoustimass module to the
center, left, and right front cube speakers.
• The 50 foot (15 m) cable with two pairs of wires connects the Acoustimass module to the
left and right surround cube speakers.
• The 20 foot (6 m) cable with five pairs of wires connects the Acoustimass module to the
outputs on the receiver. Separate these wires just enough to reach the connectors.
Use the cable correctly
Each cable consists of insulated wire pairs attached to colored RCA connectors. The colors
match the connector terminals on the cube speakers and are embossed with L, R, C, LS,
and RS.  The connectors have locating pins that assist you in making the correct connec-
tions (Figure 8).
• The black connector marked L goes to the left front speaker.
• The gray connector marked C goes to the center speaker.
• The black connector marked R goes to the right front speaker.
• The gray connector marked LS goes to the left surround speaker.
• The gray connector marked RS goes to the right surround speaker.
Note:  Do not attempt to splice cables. Do not use standard RCA cables to lengthen any of
the supplied cables. Call Bose® customer service for cables specifically designed for this
purpose (Part Number 187092). See the customer service numbers inside the back cover.
Figure 7
Separating cables
CAUTION:
Before making any connec-
tions turn off your receiver or
amplifier and unplug it from
the outlet (AC power mains).
Not doing so may result in
damage to your system.
Never connect the cubes
directly to an receiver output.
Always connect the cube
speakers to the Acoustimass
module, then connect the
Acoustimass module to the
receiver.
Never use broken or frayed
wiring, which can result in
electrical shock or damage
to your system.
The supplied cables are not
intended for in-wall installa-
tion.  Check local building
codes or enlist a qualified
installer. 
						

							 AM183644_01_V.pdf                                                             December 20, 2001 9
Setting Up
Connect the Acoustimass
® ® module to the center and front cube
speakers
Use the 20 foot (6 m) cable with three pairs of wires to connect the Acoustimass module to
the center and front cube speakers. Just press the custom RCA connectors in place.
1. Insert the gray connector marked C
into the gray terminal on the center
speaker.
2. Insert the black connector marked L
into the black terminal on the left front
speaker (to the left of the TV as you
face it), and the black connector
marked R to the black terminal on the
right front speaker.
3. At the Acoustimass module, check to
be sure the connectors are firmly
inserted into the proper OUTPUT TO
CUBE SPEAKER jacks.
a. Black L connector to the L jack.
b. Gray C connector to the C jack.
c. Black R connector to the R jack.
Figure 8
Making cube speaker
connections
Connect the Acoustimass module to the surround cube
speakers
Use the 50 foot (15 m) cable with gray RCA connectors to join the module to the surround
speakers.
1. Insert the gray connector marked LS into the gray terminal on the left surround speaker
(on your left as you face the TV).
2. Insert the gray connector marked RS into the gray terminal on the right surround
speaker.
3. At the Acoustimass module, make sure the gray connectors are firmly inserted into the
LS and RS OUTPUT TO SPEAKER jacks.
Connect the Acoustimass module to the receiver
Use the 20 foot (6 m) cable with five wire pairs to connect the Acoustimass module to your
surround sound receiver.
1. Match the wire labels to the SPEAKER OUTPUT labels on the receiver:
a. L wires go to the Left Front SPEAKER OUTPUT connections.
b. C wires go to the Center SPEAKER OUTPUT connections.
c. R wires go to the Right Front SPEAKER OUTPUT connections.
d. LS wires go to the Left Surround (rear) SPEAKER OUTPUT connections.
e. RS wires go to the Right Surround (rear) SPEAKER OUTPUT connections.
2. Match the polarity on the receiver. Connect the wire pairs in phase (+ to + and – to –).
a. Connect each wire marked with a red collar (+) to the appropriate red (+) output.
b. Connect each plain wire (–) to the appropriate black (–) output.
3. At the Acoustimass module, check to make sure all RCA connectors are firmly inserted
into the proper INPUT FROM RECEIVER OR AMPLIFIER jacks. Black connectors go
into L and R jacks. Gray connectors go into C, LS, and RS jacks.CAUTION:
Do not connect the
Acoustimass module directly
to your television unless the
television provides surround
decoding circuitry and
amplified outputs for all
channels. 
						

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Setting Up
Check the connections
Check all connections from the receiver to the Acoustimass® module and the module to the
cube speakers (Figure 9). Make sure all speakers are connected to the proper terminals
according to their position in your room. Also make sure the two speakers with black
terminal tabs are connected as front speakers.
At the receiver, check that the wires are connected in phase (+ to + and – to –). Incorrect
wiring can result in a total loss of Acoustimass module output.
Be sure to correct any wiring problems before you plug your receiver in and turn it on.
Figure 9
Completed connections
LEFT CENTER RIGHT LEFT RIGHT
SURROUND SURROUND
FROM RECEIVER OR AMPLIFIERLCRLSRSINPUTS
LCR
LS RS
TO CUBE SPEAKERSLCRLSRSOUTPUTSSURROUND SPEAKERSL  REAR  R CENTERFRONT SPEAKERSR
L
CAUTION:
Do not allow exposed wires to
brush against each other; this
could damage your receiver.