Niles OS5.5 User manual
INSTALLATION GUIDE
OS7.5 OS6.5 OS5.5
FOR USE IN DISTRIBUTED AUDIO OR HOME THEATER SYSTEMS
INDOOR/OUTDOOR WEATHERPROOF LOUDSPEAKERS
Thank you for choosing Niles OS Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeakers. With proper installation and
operation, you’ll enjoy years of trouble-free use.
Niles manufactures the industry’s most complete line of custom installation components and
accessories for audio/video systems. To see the complete Niles product assortment, visit us on the
Internet at: www.nilesaudio.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Features and Benefits 2
Parts Guide 4
Installation Considerations 6
Painting the Loudspeaker 11
Installation 14
Operation 17
Specifications 18
Notes 19
CONGRATULATIONS!
NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 305-238-4373
INTRODUCTION
Niles once again raises the bar. With our first OS Indoor/Outdoor models, we revealed a radical
new understanding of loudspeaker capabilities. Niles original OS Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeakers are
constantly praised for their ability to deliver exemplary reliability and outstanding sound quality.
These attributes have made Niles OS Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeakers the bestselling loudspeakers in
their class.
The goal of our new OS Indoor/Outdoor line-up is to raise this bar with refined appearance
and superior sonic performance, once again establishing a benchmark by which all others are
judged. The new Niles OS Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeakers owe much of their performance and
sound quality advantage to design elements pioneered in the award-winning Niles DS Directed
SoundfieldTM Loudspeakers. Their engineering advances come from our integrated approach to
driver and cabinet design. By integrating the woofer basket into the baffle of the cabinet, we are
able to increase the woofer cone-area to cabinet-width ratio, thus enabling OS Indoor/Outdoor
Loudspeakers to provide levels of bass performance that substantially exceed their physical
size. Deeper and more powerful bass isn’t the only refinement in the new OS Indoor/Outdoor
line-up. A new and modern style enables OS Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeakers to blend seamlessly
with architectural elements, both indoors and out. After the installation is complete, you will be
astonished by the experience of hearing such clean and powerful sound coming from such
elegant-appearing loudspeakers.
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FEATURES AND BENEFITS
PATENT-PENDING INTEGRATED
WOOFER/BAFFLE ASSEMBLY
Increases the woofer cone-area to cabinet-width ratio for enhanced bass output
CARBON-WEAVE POLYPROPYLENE WOOFER CONE
Reduces breakup and lowers distortion
BUTYL-RUBBER WOOFER CONE SURROUND
Damps resonance and provides exceptional durability
DISPERSION STABILIZER
Distributes midrange tones for clear off-axis sound
TRI-LAMINATE TETERON DOME TWEETER
One-inch fluid-cooled tweeter provides ultra-wide dispersion for clear, detailed, and extended
high-frequencies
WEATHERPROOF ENGINEERING
Enables OS loudspeakers to handle extreme hot, cold, and moist environments, exceeding the
military’s strict anti-corrosion specification MIL-STD-883D
ADVANCED MATERIAL SCIENCE
Elevates appearance and longevity of the cabinet and grille, plus enhances the performance of the
woofers, tweeters, and crossovers
ARCHITECTURALLY-FRIENDLY DESIGN
Delivers stellar acoustical performance, yet tucks discreetly away into corners and under eaves
LOW-DIFFRACTION GRILLE AND FRONT BAFFLE
Ensures that the sound waves emanating from the woofer and tweeter are not reflected by the
surrounding parts of the loudspeaker for precise imaging and acoustical accuracy
NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 305-238-4373 3
RIGID, ACOUSTICALLY-INERT CABINET
Prevents transmission of unwanted vibrations for clean and dynamic bass response
ALL-WEATHER VERSATILITY
Reduces installation limitations to provide great sound from the beaches of Miami to the harsh
winters of Minneapolis
HOME THEATER APPLICABILITY
Enables OS loudspeakers to be used as left, center, right, or surround loudspeakers in home
theater systems
INTEGRATED MOUNTING BRACKET AND SHELF STAND
Provide a variety of secure, quick and easy mounting solutions
TAPERED SHAPE
Facilitates mounting in corners and under eaves
INVERTED GOLD-PLATED 5-WAY BINDING POSTS
Repel moisture and ensure positive connections in virtually any conditions over long periods of time
PARTS GUIDE
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e
a
d
d
d
b
b
c
ggf
h
e
Figure 1. OS .5 Parts Guide
a. Mounting Bracket
b. Nail Hole
c. Wire Hole
d. Screw Hole
e. Bracket Knob
f. Grille
g. Cabinet
h. Shelf Stand
i
j
NOTE: Bracket and Shelf Stand are used depending upon installation requirements.
See INSTALLATION on page 14.
NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 305-238-4373 5
Figure 2. OS .5 Parts Guide (continued)
i. Binding Posts
j. Threaded Insert (1/4"-20 Thread size)
TECH TIP
Wire size is expressed by its AWG (American
Wire Gauge) number – the lower the number,
the larger the wire. For example, 12 AWG is
physically larger than 14 AWG.
INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS
TOOLS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
• Electric drill with 1/4- and 1/2-inch drill bits, and a 1-inch flat drill bit for drilling
through studs)
• Three screws or bolts suitable for the mounting surface
• The proper screwdriver for the mounting hardware
• Safety cable (optional)
• Cable ties
• Wire stripper
• Pencil
• Level
• Rubber gloves and protective eyewear
WIRING
The OS loudspeakers connect to your receiver or amplifier using 2-conductor loudspeaker wire
(see Figure 3 on the next page). For most applications, we recommend using 16- or 18-gauge
wire. For wiring runs longer than 80 feet (24.38 meters), we recommend 14-gauge wire. The
binding posts on OS loudspeakers accommodate up to 12-gauge wire directly. Larger sizes can be
accommodated using spade, banana, or pin connectors.
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.
INCORPORATING A VOLUME CONTROL
It’s possible to control the volume of the sound at the loudspeaker location. Plan to wire the system
so that each pair of loudspeakers has its own volume control. Niles makes a wide range of indoor
and outdoor volume controls with and without muting capabilities. Consult your local Niles dealer
for more information. Volume controls are connected in line with the loudspeaker, so you must
connect the wire from the amplifier to the volume control and then from the volume control to the
loudspeaker (see Figure 4 on the next page).
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Figure 3. Wiring directly from a
receiver or amplifie
Figure 4. Incorporating a
volume control
NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 305-238-4373
RECOMMENDED AMPLIFIER POWER
For optimum performance, we recommend amplifiers with the following power ratings:
• For the OS 5.5 loudspeaker, 5 to 100 per channel
• For the OS 6.5 loudspeaker, 5 to 125 per channel
• For the OS 7.5 loudspeaker, 5 to 150 per channel
Ironically, most loudspeakers are not damaged by large amplifiers but by small amplifiers. If you are
playing at high volume, 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 OPERATION on page 17 for more information about clipping distortion.
PLACING LOUDSPEAKERS FOR THE BEST SOUND QUALITY
An OS loudspeaker’s dispersion pattern is very broad. 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 loudspeakers.
The best way to avoid hot spots for a large space is to use several pairs of loudspeakers evenly
spaced throughout the room. A good rule of thumb is to install a pair of loudspeakers for every 200
to 400 square feet (18.58 to 37.16 square meters) of listening area. Your local Niles dealer is a
good source for advice on loudspeaker placement for your particular installation.
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(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)
Speaker
Placement
Zone
Speaker
Placement
Zone
10' 5' 10'
Figure 5. Illustration depicts the optimum placement zone
for a listening distance of 10 feet (3.04 meters).
PLACING LOUDSPEAKERS FOR THE BEST SOUND QUALITY
(CONTINUED)
When using more than one pair, it is usually best to alternate a left channel and then a right channel,
so that you have the best possible stereo coverage possible.
The position of the loudspeakers and their surroundings play a very important role in how a stereo
image is created. You should experiment to find the very best position for your loudspeakers. Here
are some guidelines to make the process quick and easy.
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 loudspeaker. To determine the best position, measure
the distance between the ideal listening position and the wall you plan to mount the loudspeakers
on. Try to place the loudspeakers 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 loudspeakers
should be between 5 and 10 feet (1.5 and 3.04 meters) apart (see Figure 5).
If possible, mount the loudspeakers between 8 and 12 feet (2.43 and 3.65 meters) high. The less
the downward angle of the loudspeaker, the further the sound will carry. If the sound is carrying into
areas where you do not want sound, try pointing the loudspeakers more downward; this will reduce
the amount of sound further away from the loudspeaker.
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