Processes for SoundArt system Installation
The process descriptions that follow, deal with the cabling from speaker positions to the system subwoofer
via the various wall surface that will be encountered by the installation engineers.
Painted wall finish to plasterboard on metal stud – hidden wires via wall cavity
This form of installation is quite straight forward. By process of construction there will not be any horizontal
obstruction. Speaker cables can therefore be dropped from high level position to skirting level, the cables then run
horizontal to sub position. To run the cables at low level within the fabric of the wall an access point of 50mm approx.
will need to be made on either side of the vertical metal stud in order for cable rods to have access to fish the cable
through, alternatively a 25mm horizontal chase not less than 200mm above the skirting level. This will then be made
good to smooth surface ready for prep & decoration by others. Unless a surface mounted option is chosen.
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Confirm position of Sub woofer adjacent to existing power or via extension route to enable power
connection for sub & source component. Confirm position of speaker panel(s)
Position panels to optimum height for audio performance then adjust, within reason, to sight line of door
or existing wall fixture to ensure aesthetic appearance.
Check wall for position of each vertical beam & power obstructions. Mark skirting by pencil.
Check wall for horizontal obstruction by metal/wood/power
Align equilateral for position to wall features. Re-Check for stud locations in relation to access hole
and fixings. Required to run cables from speaker to sub position, make adjustments where required.
Sketch out all dimensions and measurements to notepad, and then apply to wall.
Mark measurements from horizontal laser level position at top line of agreed speaker height and vertical
laser line reference for distance. Do not rely on existing structure or markings for reference guide.
Confirm route of cabling at low level to sub position. Surface mount/chase out for back-fill/small exit hole
above skirt to be covered by trunk & capping installation.
Mark position for hanging screw at 20mm below top line of speaker height, then mark position for speaker
cable (6"/150mm down from hanging point and then 3"/75mm from centre line.
Cut out high level speaker cable hole
Complete cable route to speaker outlet plates at the sub position via agreed solution/route.
Fit Red & Black banana plugs (not supplied) to corresponding speaker cables and fit to speaker inputs
on sub unit.
Connect source component and follow set up procedure from manual
Where the wall fabric has been breached/chased out the area must be filled to even surface and left
in condition for minimal preparation by light sanding for decoration
Perform system test
Painted wall finish to plasterboard on wooden stud frame – hidden wires via wall cavity
By process of construction there will be a horizontal obstruction between 1m – 1.5m. Speaker cables can therefore
be dropped from high level termination plate to the horizontal obstruction. A small access hole inserted at this point
and chase for re-insertion at lower level, the cables then dropped to skirting level. To run the cables at low level
within the fabric of the wall an access point of 50mm approx. will need to be made on either side of the vertical
wooden stud in order for cable rods to have access to fish the cable through, alternatively a 25mm horizontal chase
from exit point below speaker to the sub position and not less than 200mm above the skirting level. This will then
be made good to smooth surface ready for prep & decoration unless a surface mounted option is chosen.
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Confirm position of Sub woofer adjacent to existing power or via extension route to enable power
connection for sub & source component. Confirm position of speaker panels with client
Position panels to optimum height for audio performance then adjust, within reason, to sight line
of door or existing wall fixture to ensure aesthetic appearance.
Check wall for position of each vertical beam & power obstructions. Mark skirting by pencil.
Check wall for horizontal obstruction by metal/wood/power
Align panel’s equilateral for position to wall features. Re-Check for stud locations in relation to access
hole and fixings. Required to run cables from speaker to sub position, make adjustments where required.
Sketch out all dimensions and measurements to notepad, and then apply to wall.
Mark measurements from horizontal laser level position at top line of agreed speaker height and vertical
laser line reference for distance. Do not rely on existing structure or markings for reference guide.
Identify the position of the central horizontal stud/beam extract cable above stud, chase out sufficient
channel for cable to run over stud then re-insert to cavity wall and drop to skirting level. Complete cable
run to sub position at low level to client agreed method by Surface mount with small exit hole above skirt
to be covered by trunk & capping installation, or by chase out for back-fill.
Mark position for hanging screw at 20mm below top line of speaker height, then mark position for speaker
cable termination plate (6"/150mm down from hanging point and then 3"/75mm from centre line.
Cut out high level speaker termination plate (not supplied) hole
Complete cable route to speaker outlet plates at the sub position via agreed solution/route.
Fit Red & Black banana plugs to corresponding speaker cables and fit to speaker inputs on sub unit.
Connect source component and follow set up procedure from manual
Where the wall fabric has been breached/chased out the area must be filled to an even surface and
left in a condition for minimal preparation by light sanding for decoration
Painted wall finishes to plasterboard on dot a dab construction
– hidden wires via wall cavity
Basis of construction means there is not a uniform position for board fixing therefore no assumption of vertical cavity
can be taken. There will be numerous obstructions, speaker cables must therefore be run through a chased channel
from high level termination plate position to low level above skirting. To run the cables at low level within the fabric of
the wall a 25mm horizontal chase from exit point below speaker to the sub position and not less than 200mm above
the skirting level. This will then be made good to smooth surface ready for prep & decoration by others.
Unless a surface mounted option is chosen.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Confirm position of Sub woofer adjacent to existing power or via extension route to enable power
connection for sub & source component. Confirm position of speaker panels with client
Position panels to optimum height for audio performance then adjust, within reason, to sight line
of door or existing wall fixture to ensure aesthetic appearance.
Check wall for position of each vertical beam & power obstructions. Mark skirting by pencil.
Check wall for horizontal obstruction by metal/wood/power
Align equilateral for position to wall features. Re-Check for stud locations in relation to access hole
and fixings now required to run cables from speaker to sub position, make adjustments where required.
Sketch out all dimensions and measurements to notepad, and then apply to wall.
Mark measurements from horizontal laser level position at top line of agreed speaker height and vertical
laser line reference for distance. Do not rely on existing structure or markings for reference guide.
Chase out sufficient channel for cable to run to skirting level. Complete cable run to sub position at low
level to client agreed method by Surface mount/chase out for back-fill.
Mark position for hanging screw at 20mm below top line of speaker height, then mark position for speaker
cable termination plate (6"/150mm down from hanging point and then 3"/75mm from centre line.
Cut out high level speaker termination plate hole
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•
•
•
Complete cable route to speaker outlet plates at the sub position via agreed solution/route.
Fit Red & Black banana plugs to corresponding speaker cables and fit to speaker inputs on sub unit.
Connect source component and follow set up procedure from manual
Where the wall fabric has been breached/chased out the area must be filled to even surface and
left in condition for minimal preparation by light sanding for decoration
Painted wall surface on plaster to block wall – Hidden wires
Plaster has been applied direct to block surface so there is not a vertical cavity. Speaker cables must therefore be
run through a chased channel from high level termination plate position to low level above skirting. To run the cables
at low level within the fabric of the wall a 25mm horizontal chase from exit point below speaker to the sub position
and not less than 200mm above the skirting level. This will then be made good to smooth surface ready for prep &
decoration by others. Unless a surface mounted option is chosen.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Confirm position of Sub woofer adjacent to existing power or via extension route to enable power
connection for sub & source component. Confirm position of speaker panels with client
Position panels to optimum height for audio performance then adjust, within reason, to sight line of
door or existing wall fixture to ensure aesthetic appearance.
Check wall for position of each vertical beam & power obstructions. Mark skirting by pencil.
Check wall for horizontal obstruction by metal/wood/power
Align equilateral for position to wall features. Re-Check for stud locations in relation to access hole and
fixings now required to run cables from speaker to sub position, make adjustments where required.
Sketch out all dimensions and measurements to notepad, and then apply to wall.
Mark measurements from horizontal laser level position at top line of agreed speaker height and vertical
laser line reference for distance. Do not rely on existing structure or markings for reference guide.
Chase out sufficient channel for cable to run to skirting level. Complete cable run to sub position
at low level to client agreed method by Surface mount or chase out for back-fill.
Mark position for hanging screw at 20mm below top line of speaker height, then mark position for speaker
cable termination plate (6"/150mm down from hanging point and then 3"/75mm from centre line.
Cut out high level speaker termination plate hole
Complete cable route to speaker outlet plates at the sub position via agreed solution/route.
Fit Red & Black banana plugs to corresponding speaker cables and fit to speaker inputs on sub unit.
Connect source component and follow set up procedure from manual
Where the wall fabric has been breached/chased out the area must be filled to even surface and left
in condition for minimal preparation by light sanding for decoration by others
Surface mounted cable covered by wall paper/materials
SoundArt flat cable applied directly to the wall surface for wall covering to be applied over will leave an untraceable
finish. Speaker cables to be run from high level speaker position with over length cable left for connection access and
termination to speaker cable inputs. To run the cables at low level by continuous run the cable will have a 90degree
fold with sufficient wall fabric removed, with care, at the fold in order that the fold does not damage the cable and
also avoid an unsightly bulge in the wall.
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Confirm position of Sub woofer adjacent to existing power or via extension route to enable power
connection for sub & source component. Confirm position of speaker panels with client
Position panels to optimum height for audio performance then adjust, within reason, to sight line
of door or existing wall fixture to ensure aesthetic appearance.
Sketch out all dimensions and measurements to notepad, and then apply to wall.
Mark measurements from horizontal laser level position at top line of agreed speaker height and vertical
laser line reference for distance. Do not rely on existing structure or markings for reference guide.
Mark position for hanging screw at 20mm below top line of speaker height,
Mark point for speaker cable to exit wall covering with 300mm distance from exit point to speaker mounted
connection plate to enable simple panel removal, run cable from speaker level to low level position to then
run horizontal to sub location, remove adhesive cover and stick to wall.
Fit Red & Black banana plugs to corresponding speaker cables and fit to speaker inputs on sub unit.
Connect source component and follow set up procedure from manual
Wall covering can now be applied
Source component connection
This will primarily be completed by standard connections as set out in the system manual. In circumstance where the
installation requires custom cabling works to conceal the cable connection from the source component to the system
amplifier the process for running the cables will remain as stated within 3.1 through 3.4
There will however be additional tooling, cable and termination sundries required
Tools that may be required (ideally)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
1x Drill/driver preferably cordless
1x Stud/joist/power detector and tone tester
1x Laser level, Spirit level, Tape measure
1x Soldering iron, reel of lead free solder, flux and soldering mat
1x Easy clamp (third hand), wire strippers and long nose pliers
2x Screw drivers flat head small & medium and cross head small & medium
1x Stanley knife, pencil, mini steps
1x 50mm hole cutter and arbor (if fitting speaker termination plates (not supplied)
3x Cable rods for cable routing via cavity and pad saw
1x Filling knife and large tub of ready made filler
Installation components & fittings (not supplied)
This list is not exhaustive nor would all items be required to install one system however these items would
be used in part and the installer should prepare the plan of install with the requirements in mind:A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
Shrink wrap black
Shrink wrap red
Heavy duty Rawl plaster board fixings
Speaker termination plates (optional)
Banana plugs Red
Banana plugs Black
RCA/Phono sockets Red (snap-in euro-module type)
RCA/Phono sockets Black (snap-in euro-module type)
Flat speaker cable
Commercial grade speaker cable
Unbalanced audio cable
20mm black screws
Trunk & capping, Trunking end caps
TM
S O U N D
Y O U
S E E
SoundArt UK Limited
Cirrus House, Glebe Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, UK, PE29 7EL
phone: +44 1480 450 772
fax: +44 1480 459 666
w w w . s o u n d a r t u k . c o m