Installation - McIntosh

LS360 Owner's Manual

Installation

Optional Feet
Two sets of optional feet (four Tiptoes
and four Glides) are supplied with the
LS360 Loudspeaker System. To prevent
crushing carpet use the Tiptoe spikes; to
protect non-carpeted flooring use the
chrome Glides. Both the Glides and Tip-
toes have a threaded shaft and locking
nut that screw into the tapped holes in the
bottom of the LS360’s base rails. The feet
can be independently adjusted to com-
pensate for uneven flooring or to aim the
loudspeakers upward or downward.
Locating your Loudspeakers
Loudspeaker placement in a room can greatly affect
performance. The LS360 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 in-
stallation 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 construction 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
Tiptoes
Glides
Figure 1
Surround 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 LS360s Tweeters
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 in-
tersecting surfaces will reinforce some bass frequencies.
Which bass frequencies are boosted by placement in a par-
ticular location is dependant on the dimensions of the
room. Test the various loudspeaker locations by playing
music with continuous bass, setting up the speakers and
listening to them from the main listening spot. Move the
loudspeakers to an alternate location and repeat the listen-
ing, paying attention to how the bass qualities and re-
sponse 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
7