FOCAL 300 Series Flax In Wall or In Ceiling Loudspeaker User Manual
- June 4, 2024
- FOCAL
Table of Contents
300 Series Flax In Wall or In Ceiling Loudspeaker
User Manual
300 SERIES
300 ICW4, 300 ICW6, 300 ICW8, 300 ICA6
300 Series Flax In Wall or In-Ceiling Loudspeaker
Specifications
| 300 ICW4| 300 ICW6| 300 ICW8|
300 ICA6
---|---|---|---|---
Type| 2-way in-wall/ in-ceiling| 2-way coaxial in-wall/in-ceiling| 2-way
coaxial in-wall/in-ceiling| 2-way coaxial in-ceiling
Drivers| 4″ (10cm) Flax Mid-bass 1″ (25mm) AluminiumMagnesium inverted dome
Tweeter| 61/2 ” (16.5cm) Flax Mid-bass 1″ (25mm) Aluminium Magnesium inverted
dome Tweeter| 81/4 ” (16.5cm) Flax Mid-bass 1″ (25mm) AluminiumMagnesium
inverted dome Tweeter| 61/2 ” (16.5cm) Flax Mid-bass
1″ (25mm) Aluminium Magnesium inverted dome Tweeter
Sensitivity (2.83V/1m)| 88dB| 89dB| 89dB| 89.5dB
Frequency response (+/-3dB)| 80Hz – 28kHz| 65Hz – 28kHz| 48Hz – 28kHz| 65Hz –
28kHz
Low-frequency point (-6dB)| 72Hz| 45Hz| 35Hz| 45Hz
Nominal impedance| 8 Ohms| 8 Ohms| 8 Ohms| 8 Ohms
Minimal impedance| 4.5 Ohms| 4.8 Ohms| 4.5 Ohms| 4.8 Ohms
Recommended amplifier power| 25 – 100W| 25 – 130W| 25 – 150W| 25 – 130W
Dimensions (Ø/Depth)| 71/2×4″ (192x100mm)| 93/4×41/4″ (247x108mm)| 117/8×51/8″
(302x130mm)| 113/4×5″ (299x127mm)
Cut-Out diameter| 61/2″ (165mm)| 81/2″ (216mm)| 103/8″ (264mm)| 103/8″(264mm)
Depth behind surface| 33/4″ (95mm)| 41/8″ (105mm)| 51/8″ (130mm)| 53/4″(146mm)
Net weight (with grille)| 2.8lbs (1.3kg)| 5.3lbs (2.4kg)| 7.05lbs (3.2kg)|
6.61lbs (3kg)
Box dimensions (WxDxH)| 101/4×101/4×97/8″
(26x26x25cm)| 121/4×121/4×105/8″
(31x31x27cm)| 143/4×143/4×123/16″
(37.5×37.5x31cm)| 143/4×143/4×133/8″
(37.5×37.5x34cm)
Total weight in the box| 5.07lbs (2.3kg)| 8.6lbs (3.9kg)| 11.24lbs (5.1kg)|
11.68lbs (5.3kg)
Package contents
- 1 x loudspeaker from the 300 Series range
- 1 x mounting frame
- 1 x circular grille
- 1 x square grille
- 1 x protective screen to use when painting walls/ceilings
- 1 x QuickStart
- 1 x cut-out template
Aluminum/Magnesium alloy inverted dome TNV2 tweeter: the tweeter
developed for these products uses Focal’s exclusive inverted dome technology,
allowing for optimal energy transfer and limited directivity. The dome’s
Aluminum/Magnesium alloy guarantees outstanding stiffness and damping to
provide a soft and dynamic treble.
Flax speaker driver cones: all the speaker driver cones of the 300 Series
range are made using Flax sandwich technology. Flax is an eco-textile with
astounding structural properties: it is light, rigid, and well-damped for
providing greater neutrality of the timbre and better definition.
Magnetically attached protective grille: easy to fit and improved
integration.
OPC® (Optimum Phase Crossover): optimization of the phase for a more
accurate, more stable, and more natural sound image.
Usable in humid environments: resistant to humidity, the loudspeakers can
be installed in bathrooms, kitchens… Optional mounting kit.
Breaking-in your loudspeakers
The speaker drivers used in the Integration 300 Series loudspeakers are
complex mechanical assemblies that need a break-in period to operate at their
best and to become acclimatized to the temperature and humidity of your
environment.
This break-in period varies depending on the conditions in question and may
take several weeks. To reduce this time, we recommend operating your
loudspeakers for about 20 consecutive hours. Once the loudspeakers’
characteristics have totally stabilized you will be able to enjoy your
Integration 300 Series loudspeakers’ performance to the full.
Pre-installation wiring
You can only install your loudspeakers once you have wired them up. Make sure
you leave enough room to allow you to wire up your loudspeakers with ease
(approximately 20″/ 50cm). We recommend using a cable with a marker in order
to ensure the polarities of the speaker drivers are respected (+/-). Choose
good quality cables with a cross-section appropriate to their length: your
retailer will be able to advise you.
Choosing an amplifier
It is not an excess of amplifier power that can damage your loudspeakers and
drivers but a lack of power. Moreover, if the volume is turned too high, the
amplifier saturates and generates parasite signals that may destroy the
tweeter. The dynamic capacity and definition of Integration 300 Series
loudspeakers are high enough to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of
whatever amplifier is connected. Your retailer will be able to guide your
choice to suit your tastes and budget.
Installation
Existing installation
- Before installing your loudspeakers, make sure that there is nothing obstructing the ceiling/wall, such as air vents, and make sure that no cables will interfere with the installation. Use the appropriate tools to help you determine the correct location.
- Make sure there is enough space to install your product in the ceiling/wall.
- Trace the supplied cut-out template on the ceiling/wall. Cut along the trace using an appropriate tool to make a circular hole in the ceiling/wall (fig. A).
New installation
- Use the specific optional mounting kit
- Wire the loudspeakers before carrying out the installation
Conditions of guarantee
All Focal loudspeakers are covered by a guarantee drawn up by the official
Focal distributor in your country.
Your distributor can provide all details concerning the conditions of the
guarantee. Guarantee cover extends at least to that granted by the legal
guarantee in force in the country where the original purchase invoice was
issued.
Mounting the loudspeaker
300 Series products include a mounting frame, a loudspeaker, and both circular and square magnetic grilles. No tools are required to mount the loudspeakers of the 300 Series range.
-
Pivot the mounting bracket until it clips onto the mounting frame so that the mounting frame can be pushed through the opening (fig. 1).
-
With one hand, insert the mounting frame into the opening in the ceiling/wall, making sure it rests flush against the ceiling/wall (fig. 2).
-
To fasten the mounting frame to the ceiling/wall, insert your other hand into the opening, and use two fingers to pivot the mounting bracket to the opposite side to its initial position (fig. 3).
-
Push the mounting bracket down until it reaches the stop (fig. 4).
-
Finally, release the mounting bracket making sure it is securely in place. Also, make sure the mounting bracket isn’t resting on the loudspeaker cable (fig. 5).
Note 1: repeat the operation for the other mounting brackets.
Note 2: to unlock the mounting bracket: use two fingers to pivot the mounting bracket towards the outside, pull upwards, and release. -
Connect the previously stripped loudspeaker wires to the spring-loaded terminals on the loudspeaker. It is essential to connect the loudspeakers respecting the correct polarity: the cable connected to the “+” terminal on the amplifier must be connected to the red terminal on the loudspeaker. Likewise, the cable connected to the “-” terminal on the amplifier must be connected to the black terminal on the loudspeaker. Stereo image and bass perception would be seriously compromised if these conditions were not respected (fig. 6).
-
The loudspeakers are now ready to be assembled to the mounting frame. In order to do this, position the red arrows on the loudspeaker in line with the open padlocks on the mounting frame (fig. 8).
Note: if you plan to use your product as in-ceiling loudspeakers, the loudspeaker can be securely fastened to the ceiling using a safety sling (not supplied) which fastens to the hook on the rear of the product (fig. 6). -
Insert the loudspeaker into the mounting frame (fig. 7) until the stop, then pivot the loudspeaker using the red handles so that the markers are positioned between two open padlocks (fig. 9).
-
The circular or square grilles can now be mounted to the loudspeaker. The grille is held to the mounting frame magnetically, all you need to do is simply line them up (fig. 10).
-
300 ICA6 loudspeakers have a red positioning arrow on their mounting frame. This arrow is used to point to the final listening position when installing the product (fig. 11).
Setting the tweeter (300 ICW6, 300 ICA6, 300 ICW8)
The tweeter can be set using the switch at the rear of the loudspeaker as
shown in the diagram (fig. B).
Orienting the tweeter (300 ICW6, 300 ICA6, 300 ICW8)
The tweeter can be tilted +/- 20° and can be pivoted 360°: direct the tweeter
towards the listening area for maximum precision of the treble and of the
stereo image (fig. C).
In-wall position of the main loudspeakers.
Your Integration 300 Series loudspeakers have been designed to deliver the
most faithful sound reproduction, whether they are used for stereo music or
home cinema. Nonetheless, some simple rules should be followed to optimize
their performance and guarantee good tonal balance and a realistic sound
image. The loudspeakers should be positioned symmetrically, facing the
listening area, ideally forming an equilateral triangle with it.
However, it is possible to vary these distances to find an ideal compromise
according to the particular disposition of the room (fig. D).
The loudspeakers should be positioned at the same height, in the same
horizontal plane. Ideally, the tweeter should be positioned at the same height
as the listener’s ears when in the normal listening area (fig. E).
Position of surround and central loudspeakers
The sophistication of film soundtracks means that a very broad range of
surround-sound effects can be achieved nowadays.
The choice of positioning for surround-sound loudspeakers is crucial for
achieving a realistic 3D sound space. The aim is to apply some basic rules to
achieve sounds that are sufficiently diffused and difficult to locate (fig.
F).
The center loudspeaker must be positioned near the screen for realistic
reproduction of dialogue (fig. Fa). If you’re using a micro-perforated
projection screen (acoustically transparent), you can consider placing a
center loudspeaker behind it.
If you plan to use the products from the 300 Series range as in-wall
loudspeakers, place the surround loudspeakers high enough up, above the
listeners’ ears. Do not place surround-sound loudspeakers too far behind the
listening area, as this degrades sound perception. Aim for placement along the
side walls, on either side of the listening area, or ever so slightly behind
the listening area to achieve more enveloping sound effects (fig. Fb, Fd).
If you plan to use the products from the 300 Series range as in-ceiling
loudspeakers, place them far enough apart on each side of the listening area,
or ever so slightly behind the listening area (fig. Fc).
For 6.1 or 7.1 surround-sound systems, you can use a combination of
loudspeakers from the 300 Series as both in-wall or in-ceiling loudspeakers.
Special precautions
The only maintenance required for the Integration 300 Series loudspeakers is
dusting with a dry cloth. If the loudspeaker is dirty, we recommend simply
cleaning it with a damp cloth.
Never use solvents, detergents, alcohol-based or corrosive products, scrapers,
or scourers to clean the loudspeaker surface. Keep the loudspeakers away from
sources of heat.
Painting
If you wish to do so, you can paint the grilles of your products so they blend
in with your interior. We recommend first removing the grille from the product
and then painting it using a paint spraying device. You can use the same type
of paint as the wall paint (fig. G).
If you want to paint the ceiling/wall without removing your 300 Series
product, we have supplied a protective screen. The screen fastens to the
mounting frame magnetically (fig. G).
Correct elimination of this product.
This marking indicates that within the EU this product should not be disposed
of with other household wastes. To prevent any risk to the environment or
human health, please recycle them responsibly to encourage the reuse of
material resources. To return your used device, please use the return and
collection systems available, or contact the retailer where you purchased the
product. They can recycle this product safely.
Please validate your Focal-JMlab warranty, it is now possible to register your product online: www.focal.com/warranty
http://www.focal.com/serie300/en/
Focal-JMlab® – BP 374
108, rue de l’Avenir
42353 La Talaudière cedex
France
www.focal.com
Tel. (+33) 04 77 43 57 00
Fax (+33) 04 77 43 57 04
SCCG – 10/05/2022
v1