Installation - McIntosh



LS340 Owner's Manual

Installation

Optional Feet
Two sets of optional feet (four Tiptoes and
four Glides) are supplied with the LS340
Loudspeaker System. To prevent crushing
carpet use the Tiptoe spikes; to protect
non-carpeted flooring use the chrome
Glides. Both the Glides and Tiptoes have a
threaded shaft and locking nut that screw
into the tapped holes in the bottom of the
LS340’s base rails. The feet can be inde-
pendently adjusted to compensate for un-
even flooring or to aim the loudspeakers
upward or downward.
Locating your Loudspeakers
Loudspeaker placement in a room can greatly affect
performance. The LS340 is designed to work as a Left or
Right (Main) Loudspeaker in a Music System, or as a Main
or Surround Loudspeaker in a Home Theater System.
The optimal method for selecting speaker locations in-
cludes the use of a real time spectrum analyzer operated by
an experienced system installer. An uncompromising installa-
tion would take into consideration the floor, wall and ceiling
coverings, the type and placement of furniture and can even
include the architectural design of the room and its construc-
tion materials.
Locating Loudspeakers for use in Home Theater
In a Home Theater application, the placement of Left and
Right Front Loudspeakers can be limited by such
considerations as the size and location of the video monitor.
The locating suggestions in the “for use in a Music System”
section below can still be helpful. Side Surround
Tiptoes
Glides
Figure 1
Loudspeakers work best located to either side of and above
the listening position, the same distance from the monitor.
Back Surround Loudspeakers work best on the back wall.
Refer to figure 1.
Locating Loudspeakers for use in a Music System
When used as Left and Right Speakers, the distance
between the two loudspeakers should not exceed the
distance between the listener and either loudspeaker. If the
speakers are too far apart relative to the listener, some
imaging can be lost. To assure the sound from the left and
right speakers arrive at the same time, the distance from
each loudspeaker to the listener should be as close to the
same as possible. Refer to figure 2. The LS340 Tweeter
should be level with the listeners’ ears and adjustment of the
height of the feet to angle the loudspeaker up or down is
often the way to achieve this.
Placement near a wall, corner, floor, ceiling or any inter-
secting surfaces will reinforce some bass frequencies. Which
bass frequencies are boosted by placement in a particular
location is dependant on the dimensions of the room. Test
the various loudspeaker locations by playing music with con-
tinuous bass, setting up the speakers and listening to them
from the main listening spot. Move the loudspeakers to an
alternate location and repeat the listening, paying attention to
how the bass qualities and response levels change. Do not
assume the loudest bass is best; rather listen for booming (a
lack of articulation), as well as a balance over the whole
spectrum, to assure the bass will not drown out the other
parts of the music.
Experiment with various loudspeaker positions until the
locations that sound best are found.
Installation
Figure 2
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