System & Supply; Obstructions - PSB CustomSound CW800E Owner's Manual

Avoid mounting the subwoofers at the rear of the room or on the side walls far
from the front wall. Although our sense of location for very low frequencies is
poor it will still degrade the blend between bass and upper frequencies when the
subwoofer and the front speakers are mounted far apart. An exception to this is
when one subwoofer is mounted in the center of the front wall and a second
subwoofer is mounted in the center of the rear wall. Recent studies have shown
such a technique to generally give a very good low frequency room response.
V. SYSTEM AND SUPPLY
Overall, a musical source—audio or video—is fed first through a preamplifier with
switching and tone controls—and then through a power amplifier and onwards to
each speaker. The preamplifier provides a variety of controls—bass, treble, and
balance left to right. Surround processors, operating between the preamplifier
and amplifier stages, can provide surround decoding and another level of
channel balancing—front left, right, and center; surround left and right; and
subwoofer. An equalizer before the amplifier can provide some adjustment to
smooth response for field conditions and preferences. Multiple amplifiers may be
used for multiple zones and speaker loads.
VI. OBSTRUCTIONS
With tentative speaker locations determined, potential obstructions must be
explored and the conflicts resolved: Structural; Mechanical—Electrical, Plumbing,
and HVAC; and Furnishings. Note: The CW800E and CW600E have a large
enclosure and must have a full (16" center) unobstructed stud bay with no other
wiring or plumbing.
Temporarily mark and view tentative speaker locations and the existing
construction carefully to determine the existing structure and mechanical
installations and potential obstructions. Adjust the speaker layout, the furnishings,
the mechanical, and/or the structural to resolve the conflicts. Layout, review, and
resolution on building plans can be a very efficient process. However, some
conflicts will inevitably appear and need to be resolved as actual conditions are
reviewed and as installation proceeds.
Most typically, residential walls are constructed of wooden studs—nominally 2" x
4", but measuring 1½" x 3½" (sometimes, particularly on exterior walls 2" x 6",
measuring 1½" x 5½") and normally located on 16" centers—with 14½" between
studs. This stud pattern usually begins from one, exterior corner and results in a
smaller than normal spacing at the other corner. The full height "common" studs
extend from a flat "sole" plate on the floor to a "top" plate (often doubled) at the
top of the wall. Top headers of doubled 2" x 4"s (or larger) are placed on edge
spanning over doorways and windows, and doubled sill headers run under
window openings. "Trimmer/jack" partial studs run under the ends of all headers,
doubled against full studs against the ends of all headers. Shorter partial "cripple"
studs run over headers to the top plate and under sills to the bottom plate—at
nominal spacing. Blocking may be between studs about mid-wall, behind
cabinets and other fixtures mounted to the wall, and over and under ductwork
through the stud cavity. Electrical receptacles and switches are mounted in
electrical boxes, usually mounted to a stud. Removing electrical cover plates in
finished walls is a good initial step to determine where studs are located.
Floors typically are constructed of wooden joists—nominally 2" x 8" or deeper,
but measuring 1½" x 7¼" or deeper and normally located on 16" centers (but not
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