polk VT60 6.5 Inch 2-Way In-Ceiling Speaker Installation Guide

polk VT60 6.5 Inch 2-Way In-Ceiling Speaker

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.

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 the 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.

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.

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.

The tools

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 is a good general guide for wire sizing:
   • Runs under 100′ (33m) use 14 or 16-gauge cable.
   • Runs over 100′ use 12 gauge cable.
3. Your audio retailer can recommend the brand and type of cable that will work best for your application. Some things your retailer will need to know to make an appropriate recommendation:
   • The overall length of the cable run
   • The room application (Is this for your home theater or for background music in your bathroom?)
   • The local building codes
4. 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.
5. 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 the 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 the 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, and 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 a more “feel,” making it less likely that you’ll saw through a water pipe.

Sheetrock saws have a pointed tip that makes 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 drywall or sheetrock 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 next
   thin 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.

VT60 Specifications

VT60 Specifications|
---|---
Application| In-ceiling
Grill Diameter| 9-5/8″ (24.45cm)
Optional Square Grille| Yes
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| 3.1 lbs
Frequency Response| 33HZ-27kHz
(-3dB limits)| 50Hz-25kHz
Sensitivity| 89dB
Impedance| Compatible with 8 ohm loads
Recommended Power (Min/Max)| 10/100w/Ch

Support Information
Thank you for your Polk purchase. If you have a question or comment, please feel to call us or email us. In North America, call Polk Customer Service at 800-377-7655 (M-F, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm (EST) or via email polkcs@polkaudio.com. Outside the US, call
+1-410-358-3600.

Contact Us Directly
Polk
5601 Metro Drive Baltimore, MD 21215
800-377-7655 | www.polkaudio.com
Don’t forget to register your new Polk product
With your registration, you will get an additional year of warranty.
To register, visit www.polkaudio.com/registration/

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 collection 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 an accident or unreasonable use, neglect, improper service or other causes not arising out of defects in material or construction. Product(s) that 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 PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED AND DISCLAIMED
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, 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.

5601 Metro Drive Baltimore, MD 21215 800-377-7655 www.polkaudio.com

References

• OSHA Technical Manual (OTM) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Polk Audio® | Great Sound for All

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