Acoustimass 16 Series II Acoustimass 15 Series III
HOME ENTERTAINMENT SPEAKER SYSTEM
!"#$%&'()*+,$ )*-.(,$(*'.%+/ 0/1+2$(,&*1+3+1'.1+/#

Franais

Espaol

English

SAFETY INFORMATION
Please read this owners guide
Please take the time to follow this owners guide carefully. It will help you set up and operate your system properly and enjoy all of its advanced features. Please save your owners guide for future reference.

For your safety

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose the powered Acoustimass module to rain or moisture. WARNING: No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the apparatus.
These CAUTION marks are located on the rear of the Acoustimass module: The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated, dangerous voltage within the system enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.! The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle, as marked on the system, is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance instructions in this owners guide. !
CAUTION: To prevent electric shock, match the wide blade of the line cord plug to the wide slot of the AC (mains) receptacle. Insert fully.
Additional safety information
See the additional safety information on the Important Safety Instructions page enclosed with your speaker system.

For your records

The system serial number is located on the rear of the Acoustimass module. Serial number: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Dealer name: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Dealer phone: _______________________________ Purchase date: ____________________________________ Please keep your sales receipt and warranty card together with this owners guide.
2006 Bose Corporation. No part of this work may be reproduced, modified, distributed or otherwise used without prior written permission. Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Confidential Unpublished Works. 1992-1997 Dolby Laboratories. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

SETTING UP
Unpacking the carton. Choosing locations for your speakers. Placing the center front speaker. Placing your left and right front speakers. Placing your rear speakers. Placing your Acoustimass module. Making the connections. Connecting speakers to the Acoustimass module. Connecting the Acoustimass module to the receiver. Checking and finalizing connections. Optional upgrade for your Acoustimass 15 system.

USING YOUR SYSTEM

Getting the most from your home theater speakers. Adjusting the bass/room compensation. Adjusting the LFE level. Setting your digital surround sound receiver. Receiving a digital audio signal. Setting your analog surround sound receiver.

REFERENCE

Troubleshooting. Customer service. Cleaning the speakers. Limited warranty. Accessories. Technical information.

Before you begin

We appreciate your choice of the Bose Acoustimass 16 Series II or 15 Series III home ! entertainment speaker system. Each system features a combination of cube speaker arrays, center front speaker, and a powered Acoustimass module. Together, they reproduce the ! full-spectrum sound of multi-channel digital programming for a powerful and realistic home theater experience.

Unpacking the carton

Carefully unpack the carton contents as follows: 1. 2. Remove the brown inner carton containing the cube speaker arrays and center front speaker. Gently roll the large carton onto its side and pull out the Acoustimass module.
WARNING: To avoid injury, use care in lifting the module, which weighs 33 pounds (15 kg). Save all packing materials, which provide the best means to transport the system, for ! possible future use. If any parts appear damaged, do not use them. Instead, repack the system in the original ! carton and contact your authorized Bose dealer. Or, to contact Bose directly, refer to the address list included in the carton. Figure 1

Carton contents

20-ft (6.1 m) system input cable Three 20-ft (6.1 m) front speaker cables Rubber feet With Acoustimass 16 Series II system

Acoustimass module

With Acoustimass 15 Series IIl system

Center front speaker

Four cube array speakers
Five cube array speakers Center front speaker Three 50-ft (15.2 m) rear speaker cables
Two 50-ft (15.2 m) rear speaker cables Power cord (1) U.S.A/Canada Europe U.K./Singapore

Australia

Now is a good time to record the serial number for this system on page 2 of this guide and on your warranty card. WARNING: To avoid danger of suffocation, keep the plastic bags that wrap these speakers out of the reach of children.

Franais SETTING UP

Choosing locations for your speakers
Keep these guidelines in mind when choosing a location for each speaker: Select a stable and level surface for each of the small speakers. ! Vibration can cause them to move, particularly on smooth surfaces like marble, glass, or highly polished wood. To prevent this problem, rubber feet are provided for attachment to the bottom of the center front speaker. Note: You may order additional rubber feet, free of charge, by contacting Bose. Refer to the address list included in the carton. The center front speaker is for use at the front of the room and near the center of your TV. The cube speaker arrays in your system are identical and can be used interchangeably. The top and bottom cubes of each speaker array can be rotated to create ! room-filling sound patterns (b and d). All of the small speakers are magnetically shielded to prevent interference with a TV picture. The Acoustimass module should be at least 2 feet (.6 m) from your TV set to prevent ! interference. The shape and size of your room and location of the furniture in it will affect your choice of speaker locations. Use the examples below as the basis, but not the rule, for your home ! theater setup. Figure 2
Sample speaker placement (a and c) and performance results (b and d) Acoustimass 16 system a. b.
Acoustimass 15 system c. d.
Bose wall brackets and floor or table stands expand the options for placement of your speakers. For further information, see Accessories on page 14. Note: The Acoustimass 15 Series III system is designed for use with an optional center rear cube speaker array. For further details, see Optional upgrade for your Acoustimass 15 system on page 10.

Placing the center front speaker
Sound from the center front speaker should seem to come from within the picture to give the most realistic performance of on-screen action and dialogue. Place the center front speaker above, on top of, or below your television. Do NOT rest the weight of the television on the speaker. Keep it in line with the vertical center of the screen, if possible, for the most accurate ! reproduction of dialogue (as shown in Figure 2 on page 5). CAUTION: Before placing the center front speaker on top of a television, attach the four supplied rubber feet to the bottom of the speaker. Position two of the feet near the front edge and close together on the bottom surface. Place the other two feet in the rear corners on the bottom.
Placing your left and right front speakers
The goal for these speakers is to create a sound image that is wider than the screen and seems natural to viewers sitting anywhere in the room. Place the front cube speaker arrays on either side of your TV. Keep them from 6 feet (2 m) to 15 feet (5 m) apart (as shown in Figure 2 on page 5).
Placing your rear speakers
While the rear (surround) speakers may deliver some dialogue, they serve primarily to ! deliver discrete sounds and special effects that expand the visual image. They help bring the viewer into the center of the action. Choose locations that are practical and convenient, while considering these recommended guidelines: Position the left and right rear cube speaker arrays so they can deliver sound on both sides of the viewer, rather than from directly behind (as shown in Figure 2 on page 5). Place these speakers at the same height as the ears of a seated viewer or higher. Rotate the top and bottom cubes of each speaker to direct the sound to both the front ! and the back of listeners. If your system has a center rear speaker, position it halfway between the rear left and right speakers (as shown in Figure 2 on page 5).
Placing your Acoustimass module
Bose Acoustimass speaker technology makes it difficult to locate the source of ! low-frequency sound from this module. So feel free to hide it from view, and: Locate the module at the same end of the room as the television screen. Keep the module at least 2 feet (.6 m) from your TV set to prevent interference. To increase bass effects, turn the front opening toward a wall; turn it away from the wall to decrease bass effects. Keep both the front opening and the ventilation grille on the bottom of the module at least ! 2 inches (5 cm) from any other surface. Do not block the ventilation grille located on the bottom of the module. ! Impeding ventilation can cause a reduction in the bass-frequency output from the module. Figure 3

Position options for your Acoustimass module Preferred Alternate

Front opening

Ventilation grille

Making the connections

Only the Acoustimass module connects to your receiver. The small center front speaker and cube speaker arrays connect directly to the Acoustimass module. WARNING: Connecting the small speakers to a receiver can result in damage to your system and possible electric shock.
Connecting speakers to the Acoustimass module
Insert the connector on each speaker cable into the jack on the module. Refer to the label on each connector to match it to the proper jack. Figure 4
Speaker cable connection to an output jack on the module and to the speaker Supplied speaker cable Cube speaker array

Matched labels

Red collar to red speaker terminal
Use the supplied 20-foot (6.1 m) speaker cables for the three front speakers. Insert the connectors, as labeled, into jacks on the module as follows! (Figure 5 on page 8). R goes into the jack labeled Right Front. C goes into the jack labeled Center Front. L goes into the gray jack labeled Left Front.

Franais SETTING UP 2.

Use the supplied 50-ft (15.2 m) speaker cables for the speakers at the rear of your room (Figure 5). Insert them into the jacks on the module as follows: RR goes into the jack labeled Right Rear. CR goes into the jack labeled Center Rear. This speaker is provided only with an Acoustimass 16 system. LR goes into the jack labeled Left Rear.
At the other end of each cable, insert the red collared (+) wire into the red (+) terminal on one speaker. Insert the other wire into the other terminal (Figure 5). Notice a label on each red collared wire that matches it to the proper speaker: L for the speaker at the left front R for the speaker at the right front C for the speaker at the center front LR for the speaker at the left rear RR for the speaker at the right rear CR for the speaker at the center rear
Note: The Acoustimass 15 Series III system is designed for use with an optional center rear cube speaker array. For further details, see Optional upgrade for your Acoustimass 15 system on page 10. Figure 5
Completing connections of the small speakers to your Acoustimass module Acoustimass 16 system module Center front speaker

Right front speaker

Left front speaker

RR label

CR label
Red terminal Red collared wire labeled LR
Connecting the Acoustimass module to the receiver
The system input cable is 20 feet (6.1 meter) long and connects the Acoustimass module to your surround sound receiver. Unlike the speaker cables, this input cable has a multi-pin ! connector that inserts into the Audio Input jack on the module (Figure 6). Figure 6

System input cable connectors Module input jack
System input cable connector
At the other end of the system input cable, multiple wire pairs that unzip for easy reach and insertion into terminals on your receiver (Figure 7). A red collar marks a wire as positive (+). CAUTION: Do NOT connect your module to the TV, which lacks the required amplification. The single RCA connector at that end is for use ONLY with a receiver that handles ! low-frequency effects and provides an LFE/SUBWOOFER jack (Figure 7). Figure 7
Unzipping the paired wires RCA connector for LFE only Wire pair
CAUTION: Before making these connections, turn off your receiver to prevent unwanted noises when you plug the Acoustimass module into it. To make the connections (Figure 8 on page 10): 1. 2. Insert the multi-pin connector on the system input cable into the input jack on the ! Acoustimass module. Tighten the two thumbscrews to secure the connection. Connect each wire pair on the other end of the system input cable to your surround receiver, which should have audio output terminals labeled: Right, Left, Center for the front audio channels Right Surround, Left Surround, and possibly Center Surround for the rear channels. ! The specific labels on your receiver may differ slightly. CAUTION: Do not allow exposed wires to brush against each other; this could damage your receiver. 3. Carefully match the polarity of the connections (+ to + and to ). Attach each red-collared wire (+) to the appropriate + terminal. Attach each plain wire () to the appropriate terminal. 4. If applicable to your receiver, insert the RCA plug marked LFE on the system input cable into the LFE/SUBWOOFER OUT jack on your surround receiver. Remove the cover first.
Franais SETTING UP Figure 8
Acoustimass module to receiver connections
Thumbscrews Acoustimass 16 module

Home theater receiver

LFE connector with cover removed
Checking and finalizing connections
Before plugging in the Acoustimass module, check all connections from the receiver to the the module and the module to the small speakers (Figure 5 on page 8 and Figure 8). Make sure all cube speaker arrays are connected to the proper terminals according to their position in your room. Check to be sure all wires are connected to your surround receiver with the proper polarity (+ to + and to wires). Incorrect wiring can result in a total loss of module output. Correct any wiring problems before you plug in your receiver and turn it on. When all the connections check out, plug the power cord from the Acoustimass module into an AC (mains) outlet. Plug in the receiver also. Note: Bose recommends using a quality surge suppressor on all electronics equipment. Voltage variations and spikes can damage electronic components in any system. Using a highquality suppressor (available at electronics stores) can eliminate the vast majority of failures caused by a power surge.

Optional upgrade for your Acoustimass 15 system
Your Acoustimass 15 Series III speaker system can be upgraded to provide you with 6.1- ! or 6-channel surround sound. The 6.1 upgrade kit contains one cube speaker array, a 50-foot (15.2 m) connecting cable, and complete connection instructions. To purchase the 6.1 upgrade kit in the same color as your current system, contact your local authorized Bose retailer. Or to contact Bose directly, see the address list included in the ! carton. When ordering, you will need to provide the serial number of your Acoustimass module. ! Refer to For your records on page 2 if you recorded the number there. If not, you can locate the number on the rear of the module near the connection panel.
Getting the most from your home theater speakers
With system connections completed and the module plugged in, your Acoustimass system is now ready for use. You may want to familiarize yourself with the controls and built-in protections that adjust ! the audio of this system (Figure 9). They offer options to suit your particular style of use and ! preferences. CAUTION: This system provides an automatic protection circuit to help guard against damage from electrical stresses and overload of the system. At high volume levels, the circuit activates to reduce output, which slightly decreases the volume. If you notice this decrease, be aware that your system is functioning as designed. This volume reduction also indicates that power input to the system may exceed safe levels. Sustained listening at these levels is not recommended. Figure 9

Audio adjustment knobs

Adjusting the bass/room compensation
After placing the Acoustimass module where you want it, you can fine-tune it for that ! location. Make this adjustment only as necessary. For example: If the system performance is thin or lacks bass, turn the BASS control (shown above) clockwise to increase the low-frequency output of the module. If the audio is boomy or overemphasizes bass, turn the knob counter-clockwise ! to reduce the low-frequency output of the module. The setting made at the factory is meant for use in the most common room arrangements.

Adjusting the LFE level

The LFE (low-frequency effects) level control (shown above) is for use only with receivers that provide an LFE/SUBWOOFER channel. By turning the knob, you can adjust the relative level of the low-frequency effects from movie soundtracks. Use it to match the volume level of the LFE channel with volume levels of your other speaker channels. You can check all levels by using the test tones feature on your digital surround sound receiver. For details on using this feature, refer to the owners guide provided with your ! surround receiver.
Franais USING YOUR SYSTEM
Setting your digital surround sound receiver
Speakers in your Bose Acoustimass 16 Series II or Acoustimass 15 Series III system are fully compatible with the audio output of digital surround receivers. The systems integrated signal processing supports full low-frequency reproduction from all channels. To gain complete advantage of these system capabilities, you may want to adjust some! settings on your receiver. To make changes, use the digital display menu on the receiver and refer to the list of recommended settings, below. Speaker Left and right Center Left and right surround Center surround* LFE/Subwoofer Receiver setting LARGE LARGE LARGE LARGE ON

* With an Acoustimass 16 Series II system or upgraded Acoustimass 15 Series IlI system only.
Note: If your receiver provides it, the LFE or Subwoofer option setting should be ON and the crossover value at the lowest number possible, which is typically 80 Hz.
Receiving a digital audio signal
For the digital audio signal from your DVD player to reach your surround receiver, you need a digital audio connection between the DVD player and receiver (Figure 10). 1. 2. Use either the Optical or Coaxial input (not both) on the receiver to connect to the digital output from the DVD. Be sure to select the digital output in the setup menu of your DVD player.
For additional setup and operating information, please refer to the owners guide that came with your surround receiver. Figure 10
Digital signal receiver connections Use one or the other, NOT both
Setting your analog surround sound receiver
For analog (non-digital) surround sound applications, we recommend that you set the ! surround sound center mode of your receiver to Wide. For instructions on how to change this setting, refer to the owners guide provided with your surround receiver.

Troubleshooting

If you have a problem with your Acoustimass speaker system, turn off your sound source and try the following solutions. If you still have a problem, contact your Bose dealer to arrange for service. To contact Bose directly, refer to the address list included in the carton. Problem System does not function at all No sound What to do Make sure the receiver and powered Acoustimass module are plugged into an operating AC outlet and that the receiver is plugged in and turned on. Be sure to select an audio source on the receiver (video, CD, DVD, tuner). Increase the volume. Disconnect any headphones. Check the speaker connections. Make sure that both the powered Acoustimass module and the receiver are plugged in. For digital sound, be sure a coaxial or optical cable connects the digital output of the DVD player with the digital input on your receiver. Be sure the audio source selected is correct. For example, select DVD audio on your receiver to hear the DVD sound.

No surround sound

Make sure the source material contains surround sound. If you are using the Dolby Pro-Logic mode on your receiver, make sure surround sound is turned on. Be sure the source material (DVD, laser disc, or broadcast programming) is Dolby Digital encoded. Be sure your receiver is processing a signal from a Hi-Fi VCR, stereo TV, laserdisc, or DVD player, or other surround sound source. If you are using digital programming, verify that the settings are correct at the receiver. Be sure the speaker connections from the receiver to the amplifier are in the correct phase, red collared wired to red jack (+ to +). Move your Acoustimass module closer to a wall or corner to increase bass. Move it ! farther from a wall or corner to decrease bass. Adjust the LFE level or Room Compensation control. Make sure your speaker wire is not damaged. Reduce the volume of external components connected to the receiver.

No bass Not enough or too much bass Sound is distorted

Customer service

For additional help in solving problems, contact the Bose Customer Service office appropriate to your area. See the address list included in the carton.

Cleaning the speakers

The cabinets of your Acoustimass speaker system may be cleaned only with a soft dry cloth. Do not use any sprays near the system or allow liquids to spill into any openings. Also, do not use any solvents, chemicals, or cleaning solutions containing alcohol, ammonia, or abrasives. The grille assemblies on the cube arrays may be carefully vacuumed, if necessary. Please note that the drivers are located directly behind the grille cloth and are easily damaged if ! reasonable care is not taken.

Franais REFERENCE

Limited warranty
Your Acoustimass speaker system is covered by a limited transferable warranty. Details of the limited warranty are provided on the warranty card that came with your system. Please fill out the information section on the card and mail it to Bose. Failure to do so, ! however, does not affect your rights.

Accessories

Bose offers the following accessories in colors to match and add to your enjoyment of the Acoustimass speaker system. UTS-20 table stands UFS-20 floor stands UB-20 wall brackets Speaker wire adapter kit for use with in-wall wiring from the Acoustimass module to the small speakers. Available in black, white, or silver. For further details or to place an order for the accessories described above, contact your authorized Bose dealer or visit the Bose website: www.bose.com. For further information or to order the accessories below, contact your authorized Bose dealer. Or to contact Bose directly, refer to the address list included in the carton. Input cable adapter for use with in-wall wiring from the Acoustimass module to the receiver. 20-ft (6.1 m) extension cable for use between the Acoustimass module and the receiver.

Technical information

Speaker driver complement
Cube speaker arrays and center front speaker: two 2.50" (6.35 cm) Twiddler TM speakers! Powered Acoustimass module: Three 5.25" (13 cm) woofers

System power rating

U.S./Canada:100-127V 50/60 Hz 400 W! Europe/Australia: 220-240V 50/60 Hz 400 W

Compatibility

Compatible with A/V receivers and amplifiers rated from 10 to 200 watts per channel, ! rated from 4 to 8 ohms

Speaker weight/size

Each cube speaker array and center front speaker: 2.4 lb (1.1 kg)! 6.2"H x 3.1"W x 4.0"D ! (15.7 cm x 7.8 cm x 10.2 cm) Acoustimass module: 45 lb (20.3 kg)! 16.3"H x 8.1"W x 29.1"D ! (41.4 cm x 20.6 cm x 73.9 cm)

Packed system weight

Acoustimass 15 Series II Acoustimass 16
H O M E E N T E R TA I N M E N T S P E A K E R S Y S T E M
er S u me ss-6 peak AcoHsotimaTheater S ystem
Quick setup guide Hurtig opstillingsvejledning Kurzanleitung Gua rpida de instalacin Noticede montage Guida di installazione rapida Snelle opstellingsgids Vgledning fr snabb montering

Right Rear

Audio Input

5' 6' - 1 ) m (2 - 5

C L LR R RR

FRONT SPEAKERS A

R L CENTER

CENTER

LFE/SUBWOOFER OUT

2'+ ).6m+ (0

Acoustimass 15 Series II System

Left Rear

SURROUND SPEAKERS
Left Center Right Front Front Front

Audio Output

C L LR R CR RR

2'+ ) + (0.6m

Acoustimass 16 System

bose.com

2004 Bose Corporation, The Mountain, Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA 264926 AM Rev. 02 JN21004

Center Rear