Bose Acoustimass 6 home theatre speaker system Sold from August 1996 to 2000 User Manual

							The Bose® Acoustimass® - 6 Home Theater Speaker
System
Owner’s Guide
December 20, 2001
AM189815_04_V.pdf 
						

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Declaration
of Conformity
We, the offerer:
Bose
® Corporation, The Mountain
Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA
acknowledge our sole responsibility, that the product:
Kind of equipment:Loudspeakers
Type designation:Acoustimass
® -6
Home Theater Speakers
in accordance with EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and Article 10(1) of the Directive,
is in compliance with the following norm(s) or document(s):
Technical regulations:EN50081-1, EN50082-1
Accredited by Bose Corporation
21 February 1997
Bose B.V., Nijverheidstraat 8 Anton Schalkamp
1135 GE Edam, General Manager, Bose Europe
The Netherlands Manufacturer’s authorized EU representative
Introduction
Thank you
We appreciate your choice of the Bose® Acoustimass®-6 home theater speaker system. With
these Virtually Invisible® speakers you will surround yourself with realistic sound, without a
lot of equipment.
For your records
The serial number is located near the connection panel on the Acoustimass module.
Serial number: _________________________________________________________________
Dealer name: __________________________________________________________________
Dealer phone: _______________________ Purchase date: ___________________________
We suggest you keep your sales slip and warranty card together with this owner’s guide. 
						

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Contents
Where to find...
Setting Up
Before you begin ........................................................................................................ 4
Unpack the carton ...................................................................................................... 5
Placing your Acoustimass
®-6 speakers to achieve realistic home theater sound ...... 6
Select the locations for your speakers ....................................................................... 7
Left and right front cube speakers ...................................................................... 7
Center cube speaker ........................................................................................... 8
Surround cube speakers ..................................................................................... 8
Acoustimass module ........................................................................................... 9
Connect the speakers .............................................................................................. 10
Connect the Acoustimass module to the center and front cube speakers ...... 10
Connect the module to the surround cube speakers ....................................... 11
Connect the module to the receiver .................................................................. 11
Check the connections ..................................................................................... 12
Attach the module end cover, if needed ........................................................... 13
Using Your Acoustimass-6 Speakers
For realistic home theater sound .............................................................................. 14
How to set your Pro-Logic receiver .................................................................. 14
How to set your Dolby Digital (AC-3) receiver ................................................... 14
Maintaining Your Acoustimass-6 Speakers
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................ 15
Cleaning the speakers .............................................................................................. 15
Product Information
Warranty period ........................................................................................................ 16
Technical information ............................................................................................... 16
Accessories .............................................................................................................. 17
Bose
® Corporation ................................................................................. inside back cover 
						

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Setting Up
Before you begin
Bose® Virtually Invisible® speaker technology allows you to enjoy lifelike home performances
from the very latest surround sound encoded movies, CDs, and television shows, without a
room full of speakers.
Your video sound source (stereo VCR, laserdisc or digital video player, or stereo television)
sends the encoded program material to the surround sound receiver, which interprets it by
distributing various sounds to particular speakers. Although the sound mix varies with
different types of programs, dialogue is usually sent to the center speaker while sounds
from the left or right side of the picture go to the left or right front speakers. Ambient sounds
and special effects are directed to one or both of the surround (rear) speakers. The unique,
easy-to-hide Acoustimass
® module delivers bass for all channels. At any point in a surround
sound performance, you may hear sound from all or just a few of the speakers, but the
overall experience puts you in the center of the action.
To select surround-encoded program material, look for any of the terms Surround, Dolby
Surround, and the double-D symbol 
 * on tapes and discs, and the
word “surround” preceding a TV broadcast. Your Acoustimass-6 home theater speakers are
also compatible with Dolby Digital (AC-3) receivers and program material. The special
settings for Dolby Digital are described on page 14.
You can also enjoy a wide variety of stereo programming that is not surround-encoded with
your Acoustimass-6 speakers. Simply adjust your receiver as described on page 14.
*Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. 
						

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Setting Up
Unpack the carton
• Remove any staples from the opened carton flaps.
• Lift out the two brown inner cartons.
• Remove the five cube speakers from their packaging.
• Remove the Acoustimass
® module end cover from its packaging.
• Gently roll the carton over onto its side and then onto its opening.
• Carefully lift the carton from around the Acoustimass module and packing cushions.
• Do not detach the removable cables connected to the Acoustimass module.
• If the speakers or the Acoustimass module appear damaged, do not use them. Repack
everything in the original carton and contact your authorized Bose
® dealer immediately.
Note: Now is a good time to record the serial number of these speakers on page 2 of this
guide and on your warranty card. It is a good idea to save all packing materials for possible
future use.
WARNING:
The Acoustimass module
weighs 19 pounds (8.6 kg).
Use good lifting practice to
avoid injury.
To avoid danger of suffoca-
tion, keep the plastic bags
that wrap these speakers out
of the reach of children.
Rubber feetAcoustimass
moduleCables
Module
end cover
Cube speakers
Quick set up guide
Owner’s guide
Figure 1
What comes in the carton:
• Acoustimass module
• Module end cover
•5 cube speakers
• 20' (6 m) speaker input cable
• 20' (6 m) front speaker output
cable
• 50' (15 m) rear speaker output
cable
• 8 protective rubber feet
• Owner’s guide
• Quick set up guide
Setting Up 
						

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Figure 2
One suggested home theater
layout
Placing your Acoustimass®-6 speakers to achieve
realistic home theater sound
The center speaker localizes action and dialogue on your screen. Sound from the center
speaker should seem to come from within the picture.
The left and right front speakers create a sound image wider than the screen that seems
natural to viewers sitting anywhere in the room.
The surround speakers add subtle sounds and special effects that expand the visual image,
bringing the viewer into the center of the action. The surround speakers should be posi-
tioned to allow the sound to reach the viewer from both sides, rather than from directly
behind.
You can place the front and center speakers near a TV screen with no picture interference,
because all of the cube speakers are magnetically shielded.
The Acoustimass module is not magnetically shielded and should be at least 2 feet (60 cm)
from your screen, but at the same end of the room as the front and center speakers. Bose
®
Acoustimass speaker technology takes advantage of the fact that the source of bass sound
is difficult to locate, so you can hide the Acoustimass module conveniently out of sight.
Placing it near a corner increases bass output from the module.
A suggested home theater layout that conforms to the guidelines described above is shown
in Figure 2.
You may choose to place the speakers differently, to take advantage of the sound charac-
teristics of different rooms. For instance, where walls are absent or the room is large, you
may prefer not to angle the left and right speakers as shown. You can experiment to find the
best position.
Your speakers come with sufficient cable lengths to allow you to have the following dis-
tances between components:
• Up to 20 feet (6 m) between the Acoustimass module and the receiver.
• Up to 20 feet (6 m) between the Acoustimass module and the front and center cube
speakers.
• Up to 50 feet (15 m) between the Acoustimass module and the surround speakers.
Right Left
Left surround Right surround
Setting Up
Center 
						

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Figure 4
Suggested choices for left and
right front speaker placement
Select the locations for your speakers
The lengths of cable supplied with your Acoustimass®-6 system provide a great deal of
flexibility in speaker placement. Optional Bose® extension cable, add-on connectors, wall
brackets, and floor stands can add to your choices. See “Accessories” on page 17.
Left and right front cube speakers
Use the two cube speakers with black terminals that are marked L/R (Figure 3). There are
several ways to achieve an accurate left and right sound image (Figure 4).
• Place the front speakers on either side of your TV, at least 6 feet (2 m), or as much as 15
feet (5 m) apart.
• Place them in line with the center of the screen for the best sound balance (position 1).
Placing them in a line above the top of the TV is another choice (position 2).
• Aim the speakers inward for more accurate imaging or outward for a more spacious
effect. Adjust them according to your preference.
• The speaker on the left as you face the TV connects to the LEFT FRONT jack on the
Acoustimass module.
Figure 3
The terminal on the back of a left
or right front cube speaker
11
22
L/R
 L/R
Setting Up 
						

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Setting Up
 C/S
C
/S
Center cube speaker
Select one speaker with a gray terminal marked C/S as the front center speaker (Figure 5).
Sound from the center speaker should seem to come from within the picture.
Figure 6 shows suggested positions for the center speaker.
• Place the center cube speaker above, below, or on top of your television. If below, be
sure that the cube speaker is not supporting the weight of the television in any way.
• Aim this speaker straight ahead for onscreen imaging.
• Keep it as close to the vertical center of the screen as possible, for the most accurate
dialogue reproduction (positions 1 or 2).
Note: To obtain additional rubber feet, free, call Bose® Customer Service (listed on the
inside back cover), and ask for Part Number 178321-04.
Surround cube speakers
The remaining two speakers with gray terminals marked C/S are the surround speakers.
Their left and right rear channel sound should reach the viewer from both sides, rather than
from directly behind (Figure 7).
• Put one on the left and the other on the right, beside or just to the rear of the home
theater seating area.
• Position them so they do not create a direct sound path to the ears of the listeners
(position 1).
• Generally aim them away from the viewers, toward the rear or side walls (positions 2
or 3).
• If you want these speakers directly behind the seating area, make sure they are not
directed at the viewers.
• The rear speaker to your left as you face the TV connects to the LEFT SURROUND jack
on the Acoustimass
® module.
Figure 5
The terminal on the back of a
center or surround cube speaker
1
2
Figure 6
Suggested choices for center
speaker placement
CAUTION: Before placing
the center speaker on top of a
television, attach the four
small rubber feet to its bottom
surface. They give added
stability on slippery surfaces,
such as polished furniture,
marble, or glass. 
						

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1
3
2
1
2
3
Setting Up
Figure 7
Suggested choices for surround
(rear) speaker placement
Acoustimass® module
Bose® recommends putting your Acoustimass module at the same end of the room as the
television monitor. To prevent interference, keep the module at least 2 feet (60 cm) from the
television.
• You may hide the Acoustimass module behind or under furniture, but do not block the
opening. Be sure there is at least 2 inches (5 cm) between the opening and any surface.
• Placing the module close to a corner increases the bass output. Moving it toward the
center of the wall reduces the output.
• If the opening faces the wall, it further increases the bass. If it faces away, it decreases
the bass. For the most bass response, place the opening 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) from
a wall or corner.
• Stand the module vertically or horizontally (Figure 8). Attach the large set of rubber feet
to the bottom surface. If you plan to stand the module on the cable connection end,
do not use the module end cover, but be sure to attach the large rubber feet to protect
the connections.
Rubber
feet
Rubber
feet
Module end
coverFigure 8
Acoustimass module positions 
						

							10 December 20, 2001           AM189815_04_V.pdf
Setting Up
CAUTION:
Before making any connec-
tions turn off your receiver or
amplifier and unplug it from
the outlet (AC power mains).
Not doing so may result in
damage to your system.
Connect the speakers
Note: You can refer to Figure 12 on page 12 for an overview of the completed connections.
The supplied cables make it easy for you to connect your system. Each cable connector is
colored gray or black and embossed with a letter to identify the cube speaker, the output, or
the input it matches. The connections at the Acoustimass
® module are already made for you.
There are three sets of cables, joined together to form ribbons, which may be separated or
“unzipped” as needed to comfortably reach the speakers (Figure 9). Separate the cables as
you are laying out the cable lengths. However, you may want to keep the unextended length
of cable joined, making it easier to hide.
Figure 9
Separating cables
L/R
C/S
C
L/R
Figure 10
Inserting gray connector marked
C into the gray terminal marked
C/S
CAUTION:
Never connect the cubes
directly to the receiver. Always
connect the cube speakers to
the Acoustimass module, then
connect the Acoustimass
module to the receiver.
• The 20 foot (6 m) cable with three pairs of wires connects the Acoustimass module to the
center, left front, and right front cube speakers.
• The 50 foot (15 m) cable with two pairs of wires connects the Acoustimass module to the
left and right surround cube speakers.
• The 20 foot (6 m) cable with five pairs of wires connects the Acoustimass module to the
outputs on the receiver. Separate these wires just enough to reach the connectors.
Note: If you have already installed cable behind walls or under floors, or believe you need
to splice the supplied cables for any other reason, inquire about the add-on connectors and
extension cable available from Bose
® Customer Service. Refer to page 17 for details on
these accessories. Bose Customer Service telephone numbers are listed on the inside back
cover.
Connect the Acoustimass module to the center and front cube
speakers
Use the 20 foot (6 m) cable with three pairs of
wires to connect the Acoustimass module to
the center and front cube speakers. Just
press the custom connectors into place.
• The gray connector goes into the gray
terminal on the center speaker (Figure 10).
• The black connector marked L goes into
the black terminal on the left front speaker
(to the left of the TV as you face it).
• The black connector marked R goes
into the black terminal on the right front
speaker.
CAUTION:
Never use broken or frayed
wiring, which can result in
electrical shock or damage to
your system.
The supplied cables are not
intended for in-wall installa-
tion.