Polk VT60 In-Ceiling Speakers User Manual

Polk VT60 In-Ceiling Speakers

Specifications

• APPLICATION: In-ceiling
• GRILL DIAMETER: 9-5/8″ (24.45cm)
• CUTOUT DIMENSIONS: 8-3/16″ (20.80cm)
• PRODUCT DEPTH: 3-3/4″ (9.53cm)
• MOUNTING DEPTH : 3-1/4″ (8.25cm)
• MID-WOOFER: 6-1/2″ (16.5cm)
• TWEETER: ¾” (19mm)
• PRODUCT WEIGHT: 1 lbs
• FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 33HZ-27kHz
• (-3DB LIMITS): 50Hz-25kHz
• SENSITIVITY: 89dB
• IMPEDANCE: Compatible with 8 ohm loads
• RECOMMENDED POWER (MIN/MAX): 10/100w/Ch

Introduction

The Polk Audio VT60 in-ceiling speaker will add powerful, immersive sound to your living areas. For superior, full-range fidelity, the VT60, which is sold in pairs, has a 6.5″ Dynamic Balance polypropylene cone and a 0.75″ swivel- mount, aim-able silk-dome tweeter. With an almost invisible speaker that won’t interfere with your style, enjoy everything from crystal-clear conversation to thunderous sound effects to all of the deep bass and glittering highs in music when watching movies or listening to music.

• Most ceiling areas may accept the shallow 3.75″ depth.
• 8″ driver produces crisp midrange and strong bass.
• To direct high frequencies at the listening region, the tweeter pivots.
• Acoustically transparent and adaptable, magnetic grille
• Rotating cam enables quick and secure installation.

Why ceiling speakers?

Whether you want to recreate the movie theater experience at home or want to fill your entire house with music, ceiling speakers raise the bar for immersive audio. These small, covert speakers deliver great sound to living spaces without adding the mess of exposed cords or the weight of floor- or bookshelf-mounted speakers.

Important safety instructions read before operating equipment

1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally or has been dropped.
10. Warning: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, this apparatus should not be exposed to rain or moisture and objects filled with liquids, such as vases, should not be placed on this apparatus.

Product Disposal

Certain international, national and/or local laws and/or  regulations may apply regarding the disposal of this product.  For further detailed information, please contact the retailer where you purchased this product or the Polk Importer/ Distributor in your country. A listing of Polk Importer/Distributors can be found on the Polk website www.polkaudio.com or by contacting Polk at 5601 Metro Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21215, USA—Phone: +1 410 358-3600.

Warning: Listen Carefully

Polk loudspeakers and subwoofers are capable of playing at extremely high volume levels, which could cause serious or permanent hearing damage. Polk Audio, Inc. accepts no liability for hearing loss, bodily injury or property damage resulting from the misuse of its products.

Keep these guidelines in mind and always use your own good judgment when controlling volume:

• You should limit prolonged exposure to volumes that exceed 85 decibels(dB). For more about safe volume levels, go to the Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) guidelines at: www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/noise/standards_more.html

Safety and Code Review

• Use material and speaker cabling that conforms to your community and state building codes—your retailer or home center service personnel will know if these are unique and which material to use.
• Use caution when standing on a ladder.
• Always use eye protection.
• When in a crawl space, attic or unfinished basement be sure to light the space safely.
• Take your time.
• When drilling into walls or ceilings, shut of power to that area of the house.
• When drilling through a fire block or any fire barrier, after installing the wire, be sure to fill the hole with a comparable fire retardant material (available in small quantities at any home improvement center in a convenient aerosol can).
• When cutting or stripping wires—or using sharp blades—slow down, make sure you have enough light and always cut or slice in a motion away from your body.

Introduction to installing VT60

In-ceiling loudspeakers

Installing your new Polk premium in-ceiling loudspeaker is  relatively easy to accomplish. This guide will take you through  the process step by step. We suggest you choose ceilings that are not covered with wallpaper or have a faux finish. In some  cases, the need to cut into a ceiling (or wall) to install speaker cabling is necessary, and that hole will need to be patched and painted.

Installation Guide

Materials and Preparation Before cutting into your walls to install your new Polk speakers,  gather up all the tools and materials needed to complete the project. Speaker cable: the audio signals are going to run on the  cables you install. Here are some things to know and options to think through:

1. Cable vs. Wire: A cable utilizes more than one conductor, a wire uses just one conductor-even if the wire is “stranded” or has several bare wires together. In all basic speaker applications, you will need a minimum of 2 conductors, thus the term cable is used here instead of “wire”.
2. Be certain that you have enough speaker cable–it is always a good idea to cut each run of cable 3′ to 6′ longer than needed. The length of your cable run will determine the gauge of wire needed. The term “gauge” refers to the size of the cross section of the wire, (the lower the gauge number, the larger the wire is in diameter). The following
3. is a good general guide for wire sizing:
4. Runs under 100′ (33m) use 14 or 16 gauge cable.
5. Runs over 100′ use 12 gauge cable.
6. Your audio retailer can recommend the brand and type
7. of cable that will work best for your application. Some things your retailer will need to know to make an appropriate recommendation:
8. Overall length of the cable run
9. The room application (Is this for your home theater or for background music in your bathroom?)
10. The local building codes
11. We recommend using a stranded cable (manufactured specifically for speakers) that wraps the conductors in one jacket and is commonly called 16/2: meaning that the conductor size is 16 gauge with 2 conductors.
12. Plan where you want to run the cable. If you want to run cable under a carpet or on a wall, then we recommend “flat” style cable. If you are going to run the cable entirely inside of walls or through attics or crawl spaces, “round” cable will do and will save you some money. Any of your choices will work, but the final leg of your cable route will need to be run in the wall or ceiling.

Planning your cable routes

Note: In a stereo installation the cable length to each speaker within a room should be about the same to avoid volume or time shifts from channel to channel. In home  theater installations the cable lengths for front Left, Center and Right channels should be about the same.

The cable lengths to the rear speakers will, in most cases, be longer than those to the front three speakers and that’s OK.

Whenever possible take advantage of attic and crawl spaces, as it’s much easier to run cables through them than through walls.

Always check for obstacles before installation

Once you have a good idea about where you want to install your new Polk speakers, we suggest you check out the space just to make sure there is enough room for the speakers.  When your home was built, the contractors ran gas piping,  air ducts, drain and water pipes, electrical, phone and data cables. Also check that the placement of the speakers will  be symmetrical once you have established where the joists  and studs are.

Note the location of all studs using your stud sensor.

Use a stud finder to locate structural members inside the walls and ceiling.

Drill a small 1/2″ hole in the sheetrock; then using a stiff wire or bent coat hanger, “feel” for any obstructions.

Be sure to check the locations for all the speakers, if you discover that one location won’t work, you’ll have to go to an alternate location that may affect where you want to place the others.

Use the wire/coat hanger to “feel” for wires, pipes and obstructions in the wall. If you feel an obstruction, wire or pipe with your probe, choose another speaker location. Some obstructions could include electrical wiring, drain, hot, and  cold water piping. If you feel no obstructions, you’re almost  ready to cut the opening for the speaker.

Once you have determined the locations for your Polk  speakers, tape the supplied templates to the wall or ceiling. Then use a pencil and trace the edge of the template.

Cutting drywall & running speaker cables

Supplies

Now is the time to gather your supplies:

• speakers
• tools
• speaker cable
• mounting template
• cleaning material
• connectors

Cutting Sheetrock

Cutting sheetrock is a deal-breaker for some people and you may be one of them. At this point you may make the decision

to bring in a professional to pull the cable and install the speakers. Polk can recommend a professional installation company, call 800-377-7655 during normal east coast business hours.

But cutting sheetrock is not that difficult, and in the long run you’ll enjoy your built-in speakers even more knowing that you installed them yourself.

Note: There are many “Roto” type power tools on the  market and you may be tempted to use them to impress  your audience – but they are no faster than hand saws and increase dust by a factor of 10! Hand saws also have the advantage of giving you more “feel,” making it less likely that you’ll saw through a water pipe.

Sheetrock saws have a pointed tip that make it easy to punch into the sheetrock to start the cut.

Some obstructions could include electrical wiring, drain, hot, and cold water piping: Don’t cut these.

Installing the speaker cables

A few rules, some general guidelines and a couple of tips will help this process go smoothly.

The Universal Building Code or UBC and most all local codes have some restrictions on how large of a hole you drill in structural members. For the vast majority of installations, this will not be an issue because of the small holes—you only have to pull a  cable or two.

Here are the guidelines

Studs support your roof and partition off the various rooms in the home. Standard stud sizing is as follows:

• 2 x 4 measures 1 1/2” by 3 1/2”
• 2 x 6 measures 1 1/2” by 5 1/2”
• 2 x 8 measures 1 1/2” by 7 1/2”

Codes usually recognize walls in two categories: “load bearing” and “non-load bearing.” Studs in load bearing walls have these restrictions: Holes must be LESS then 40% the width of the stud. Notches must NOT exceed 25% the width of the stud. If you’re unsure about the wall you’re planning on using is a load bearing wall or not, treat it as if it were “Load Bearing.”

Running speaker cable with alternating current or AC lines: The national code restricts the use of common holes for both.  Also, for performance reasons try to separate your speaker cabling from the AC lines with as much distance as practical.

The photo on the left shows the wrong way to run your  speaker cables; the photo to the right shows the correct way.

The right way

• When running speaker cables, separate them from AC wiring; when crossing AC wires cross them at 90 degrees.
• When bending the speaker cables, use a gentle or gradual arch.
• When using tie wraps or staples, be careful not to “over tighten” or “over fasten” the cables; leave a bit of room.

Speaker installation and hook up

Once you have the speaker cables in the walls or ceilings and the holes cut for your new Polk speakers. Please follow these instructions for installation:.

1. Start by dry-fitting your speakers into the openings. The speaker should slide into the hole with approximately 1/8” wiggle room. This leaves enough space to “straighten” the speaker to the walls and ceiling. In most cases walls are not exactly “true” or squared to each other.
2. Polk speakers use a unique “rotating cam” that presses the front baffle casing to the sheetrock and allows for easy installation from the front side of the speaker.
3. For additional acoustic performance, install some insulation into the wall cavity (be sure to place the same amount behind each speaker).
4. Strip your speaker cables back about 3/4” and insert the pair into the input on the back of the speaker. (Reminder: For an easier installation, leave a generous cable lead to work with).
5. Now install the speaker into the sheetrock and tighten up the dog-clamps with your screwdriver. Be careful not to over tighten the speaker–the dry wall or sheet rock could dimple, or break. This is most likely to happen if you are using a power driver. Set your power driver’s torque setting to “1” to help avoid over tightening screws.
6. Finally install the grille.

Important information should you choose to paint your grilles

Because of its ultra-thin profile, the VT60’s Sheer-Grille™ requires a specific painting procedure to ensure smooth, even coverage.

Paint Recommendation

We highly recommend you use a can of spray paint matched to the ceiling color you want the Sheer-Grilles to blend with.

Important Note: Never use a brush or roller to paint the grilles, as this will clog the perf holes.

To paint the Sheer-Grille

1. Elevate the Sheer-Grille off of a flat surface. This will ensure even coverage of the grille frame and make it easier to pick up. Mounting Idea: A single spray can cap will raise the grille high enough.
2. Hold the spray paint about 12” from the grille and at a 45° angle.
3. Apply one light, thin coat, moving evenly side to side over the grille, then work your way around the perimeter of the grille to ensure you cover the grille frame.
4. After each application of paint, wait approximately one minute, then rotate the grille 90° and apply the nextthin coat.

Important Note: You must rotate the grille 90°. Use your hands to define the next 90° rotation and always rotate the grille in the same direction of travel. Three light, even  applications should cover the grille and frame adequately. Remember to work your way around the grille frame to cover it evenly and completely.

Limited Lifetime Warranty for Polk-Branded In-Wall and

In-Ceiling Speakers

Important Note: This lifetime warranty applies only to in-wall  and in-ceiling loudspeakers, and passive CSW subwoofers sold after September 9, 2009. Polk Audio, Inc., (“Polk”) warrants to  the original retail purchaser that Polk branded in-wall and

in-ceiling speakers, including passive CSW series subwoofers (collectively “product”), will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the product, under normal use and conditions. Should this product prove to be defective in material or workmanship, Polk will, at its option, (a) repair the product,  or (b) replace the product. If the product model is no longer  available and cannot be repaired effectively, or replaced with an identical model, Polk may, at its sole and absolute option, replace the unit with a current model of equal or greater value.

To obtain warranty service, you may refer to the instructions in your owner’s manual or visit the Polk website at www.polkaudio. com. You may also contact Polk Customer Service at

1-800-377-7655 for instructions on where to send the product. You will be required to provide an original receipt or bill of sale, identifying you as the original purchaser and identifying the purchase made through an authorized Polk retailer. You will need to ship the product, prepaid and insured, together with the proof of purchase to Polk Audio, Inc. 1 Viper Way, Vista, CA 92081. Risk of loss or damage in transit shall be borne by the purchaser. Freight collect shipments will be refused.

This warranty is non-transferable and does not apply to any  product that has been modified or used in a manner contrary  to its intended purpose, and does not cover damage to the  product caused by installation or removal of the product.

If modification(s) to a mounting surface are made to the product(s) that have been substituted under warranty, Polk assumes no responsibility or liability for any modification made to the  mounting surface or otherwise. This limited warranty is void if the product has an altered or missing serial number, or if the product was purchased from someone other than an authorized dealer.

This limited warranty is void if the product has been damaged  by accident or unreasonable use, neglect, improper service or other causes not arising out of defects in material or construction. Product(s) which are found to be damaged by abuse resulting in thermally damaged voice coils are not covered by this warranty but may be replaced at the sole and absolute discretion of Polk. This warranty terminates if you sell or otherwise transfer the  product to another party. This limited warranty does not cover cosmetic damage, paint damage, damage to other components, parts or premises, or any consequential damages which may result for any reason. This limited warranty does not cover labor costs for the removal and/or reinstallation of the product.

THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS AND YOU MAY HAVE OTHER RIGHTS THAT VARY FROM STATE

TO STATE. ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED  TO EXPRESS WARRANTY, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF  MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR  URPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED AND DISCLAIMED

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, AND POLK  NEITHER ASSUMES NOR AUTHORIZES ANY PERSON TO  ASSUME FOR IT ANY LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH

THE SALE OF THE PRODUCT. POLK HAS ABSOLUTELY NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ACTS OF THIRD PARTIES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN IMPLIED WARRANTIES, OR CONDITIONS ON AN IMPLIED WARRANTY, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. POLK DOES NOT ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES,  LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM IMPROPER USE, OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE  PRODUCT. THE MAXIMUM LIABILITY FOR WHICH POLK MAY BE RESPONSIBLE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE PURCHASE  PRICE OF THE PRODUCT. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW  THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR  CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Polk speakers good?

These speakers are difficult to top for the price. I was considering a set of Sony speakers because I have a Sony receiver, but I chose these instead based on the salesperson’s advice and my prior Polk speaker experience. They look amazing and have excellent sound quality.

Are ceiling speakers a good idea?

Ceiling speakers are indeed excellent for playing music. Similar to being at a concert hall or live music event, they have the power to immerse you in a surround sound experience.

Is Polk good surround sound?

It offers the ideal balance of functionality, aesthetics, use, and price. The speakers look fantastic and sound as good as anything we’ve tried in their price range.

Do you need a subwoofer with ceiling speakers?

Even if ceiling speakers are capable of producing all the bass and low-end frequencies, a subwoofer will be helpful in handling them. Additionally, it considerably improves the overall quality of your sound system.

Should center speaker be louder than front?

No, the middle shouldn’t be louder than the fronts when tuned properly. The center is not louder because of the setup’s numbers (or not as loud).

How many speakers do I need for surround sound?

You need two to three speakers in front of you, two to three speakers on either side of you, and two to three speakers behind you for a full surround- sound system. In order for the various speakers to produce varied sound information, the audio stream is divided into numerous channels. The front speakers produce the loudest noises.

Do in ceiling speakers have bass?

There is never a bass response point and a background sound field with in- ceiling speakers. They are designed for atmosphere.

How far apart should ceiling speakers be?

If the speakers are too far apart, the music will play in some areas of the room too loudly and in others too softly. In larger rooms, use two speaker pairs for balanced sound. We advise keeping in-wall and ceiling speakers at least 18 to 24 inches away from one another.

How many dB is a good speaker?

The louder your speaker is, the higher the sensitivity rating. A typical speaker has a sensitivity range of 87 dB to 88 dB. An great speaker has a sensitivity rating of over 90 dB.

Are in-ceiling speakers good?

Ceiling speakers are indeed excellent for playing music. Similar to being at a concert hall or live music event, they have the power to immerse you in a surround sound experience.

How are in-ceiling speakers powered?

No, ceiling speakers typically function as passive speakers, which means they lack internal amplifiers and are powered by speaker cables connected to an external amplifier. Each ceiling speaker is connected to the binding posts on the amplifier to do this.

Do in-ceiling speakers work for Atmos?

The main purpose of the ceiling speakers in an Atmos home theater system is to add a vertical plane of sound. They are ideally situated to provide immersive effects when the audio is encoded to fire above you because they are ceiling- mounted.

Are built-in speakers worth it?

Quality in-wall or in-ceiling speakers have several advantages for a home entertainment system when they are put properly. Some advantages to consider include decreased sound reflection, increased gains, a sleeker profile, and a more adaptable layout design.

What is the difference between in-wall and in-ceiling speakers?

Simply said, ceiling speakers are positioned down-firing from the ceiling above, whilst in- and on-wall speakers are mounted front-firing with the woofers pointing horizontally across the room.

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