Bose Free Space 51 environmental speakers Sold from May 2003 to present User Manual

							 
Owner’s Guide 
 The Bose 
® 
 Free Space 
® 
 51 Speakers 
						

							 2 
©2003 Bose Corporation. No part of this work may be reproduced, modified, distributed or otherwise used without  
prior written permission.
For your records
Serial numbers are located on the bottom of each speaker. 
Serial number:  ____________________ and ______________________________
Dealer name: __________________________________________________________
Dealer phone:  _____________________ Purchase date: ____________________
We suggest you keep your sales slip and warranty card together with this owner’s guide.
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: Outdoor Speakers
Type designation: Free Space
® 51
in accordance with EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and Article 10(1) of the D\
irec- 
tive, is in compliance with the following norm(s) or document(s): Technical regulations:  EN50081-1, EN50082-1
Accredited by Bose Corporation
15 November 2002
Bose B.V., Nijverheidstraat 8 Nick Merks
1135 GE Edam, The Netherlands  Vice President Europe Manufacturer’s authorized EU 
Representative
Merks
  
						

							 3 Contents
Where to find... 
Setting Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4Before you begin   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Unpacking the carton  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Required tools   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 
Optional tools  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Decide if you need a professional installer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . .  4
Selecting the location for your speakers   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . 5
Choosing the speaker cord (not provided)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . 5
Making the connections  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Preparing the speaker cord  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Connecting the speaker cord to the speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Connecting the speaker cord to the receiver/amplifier  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Checking the connections  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Testing the connections  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Reference  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Troubleshooting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Customer service  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Warranty period   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Cleaning your speakers   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Protecting the speaker cord  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Technical Information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
  
						

							 
4 
Setting Up  
Before you begin 
Thank you for purchasing your Bose 
®  Free Space 
®  51 speakers. These high-performance 
outdoor speakers are engineered to provide sound quality far beyond that of most outdoor  
speakers. The speakers are also designed for permanent outdoor installation, and therefore 
can withstand nature’s elements – so you can be confident they will perform for years to\
 
come (see “Environmental capabilities”, page 9). 
Unpacking the carton 
Carefully unpack your Free Space 51 speakers and save all packing materials for possible 
future use. Check that your system contains all parts identified in Figure 1. Do not attempt to 
use your speakers if any components are missing or appear damaged. Instead, notify Bose Corporation or your authorized Bose dealer immediately.
 
Note: 
 
Now is a good time to record the serial numbers located on the bottom of each Free 
Space 51 speaker. Write both numbers on your warranty card and in the space provided on  page 2 of this owner’s guide.
 
WARNING: 
 
To avoid danger of suffocation, keep plastic bags out of the reach of children. 
Figure 1 
Package contents: • 2 Free Space 51  speakers
• 4 wire nuts 
Required tools  
You need the following items to complete this installation: 
• Speaker cord (see “Choosing the speaker cord” on page 5)
• wire strippers  
Optional tools  
• Shovel or spade
• Phillips-head screwdriver (#2) 
Decide if you need a professional installer  
If you have any doubts about using these tools, or handling or cutting c\
ord, now is a good  
time to contact a professional installer. For customers who will install the speakers them- selves, please follow the instructions provided in this owner’s guide. 
CAUTION:   
Please read this owner’s guide completely before beginning the installation. 
Failure to follow the instructions in this guide voids all warranties on your \
speakers. If you are 
unsure of your ability to complete this process, consult a professional installer.  
						

							 5 Setting Up  
Selecting the location for your speakers 
Prior to installation, carefully select locations for your Free Space 
®  51 speakers. The
speakers can be installed on almost any surface such as wood, concrete, or the ground.  
When choosing a location, please keep the following guidelines in mind: \
 
Figure 2 
Speaker placement for  
optimal coverage 
• Select a level surface for your speakers. This will prevent movement or vibration during use.  
• Place your speakers where the speaker cord cannot be tripped over, pinched, or pulled. 
• Do not place your speakers in an area where water tends to collect.
• Do not bury your Free Space 51 speakers deeper than 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) (Figure 3a).
• Use wood screws to fasten the speaker to a wood surface, such as a deck, if desired  (Figure 3b). 
Figure 3 
Free Space 51 installation 
Note:  
If you want to connect two or more speakers to an Acoustimass 
®  module or to other speakers, 
please contact Bose 
  Customer Service or a professional installer for assistance. 
Choosing the speaker cord (not provided) 
WARNING:   
Before running speaker cord through a wall or under ground, check your local 
building code requirements, or contact an electrical installer.   
• Use the proper gauge (thickness) of speaker cord. See “Cord recommendations” under  “Technical Information” on page 9 for proper gauge, or check with your authorized Bose 
®  
dealer.
• If your installation requires the cord to be buried in the ground, use direct-burial rated cable   or run the cord through a PVC piping channel. Always use moisture-resistant speaker cord.
• Place speakers and run cord before digging holes or burying cord.  
•   
If you think your speaker cord may be exposed to salt water or water containing chemicals   such as chlorine or fertilizers, you may use a silicone caulking materia\
l as added protection  
for the speaker connections. 
. 
.
(3-4 m)(3-4 m)
Primary Coverage Area
(a) ground (b) deck
1/2 
(1.3 cm) 
						

							 
6 
Setting Up  
Making the connections 
WARNING:   
Before making any connections, turn off your receiver or amplifier and unplug it 
from the AC power (mains) outlet. 
Preparing the speaker cord 
Speaker cord consists of two insulated wires. Usually one is ribbed or red (+), and the other  
plain or black (–). Direct-burial cable has a protective outer jacket around the wires.
Consider the following guidelines before cutting any cords: 
• Measure the length of cord needed to connect each speaker to your receiver/amplifier 
• Strip the outer jacket back 2. Strip the inner insulation on both \
wires back  
1
/
 
2
  (1.3 cm) 
(Figure 4). 
Figure 4 
Stripping the wires 
Connecting the speaker cord to the speakers 
1. Connect the positive (ribbed or red) speaker wire to the positive (red) wire from the  speaker cable. Twist the stripped wires together.
2. Secure the wire nuts with a twisting motion. If you prefer to reinforce the wire nuts, use   electrical tape (Figure 5). 
Figure 5 
Reinforcing the wire nuts 
3. Connect the negative (plain or black) wire to the negative (black) wire from the speaker  cable, as in steps 1 and 2 above. 
Connecting the speaker cord to the receiver/amplifier 
1. Connect the speakers on the left side of the listening area to the left channel of your     receiver/amplifier (Figure 6). 
a. Attach the positive (ribbed) wire to the red (+) terminal. 
b. Attach the negative (plain) wire to the black (–) terminal. 
2. Connect the speaker on the right side of the listening area to the right channel of your       receiver or amplifier, as above.  
Note:   
If your Free Space 
® 
 51 speakers are being connected to your receiver/amplifier as a 
secondary set of speakers, be sure to make the appropriate connections to the “B” channel.
1/2 inch (1.3 cm)
Outer jacket
2 inches (5.0 cm)
1/2 inch (1.3 cm) 
						

							 7 Setting Up  
Figure 6 
Connecting cord to receiver 
Checking the connections 
Check the speaker connections carefully. Make sure no loose strands of wire touch across  
terminals. This could create short circuits and damage an amplifier or receiver. 
Tighten any loose connections before you plug in the receiver/amplifier. 
Testing the connections 
To make sure your speakers operate correctly, follow these steps:
1. Center the balance control on your receiver/amplifier.
2. Set the stereo/mono control to MONO.
3. Play some passages of music containing deep bass through the speakers.
The sound should seem to come from a point between the two speakers. The bass should be  
full and natural. If not, the connections may be reversed, causing the speakers to play out of 
phase. To correct the problem, make sure all the cords are connected positive to positive (+ 
to +) and negative to negative (– to –). 
						

							 
8 
Reference  
Troubleshooting 
Customer service 
For additional help in solving problems, contact Bose 
®  Customer Service. See the list of 
service centers and phone numbers enclosed in the shipping carton. Bose \
Corporation will  
make every effort to correct problems within the terms of your warranty. 
Warranty period 
Free Space 51 speakers are covered by a limited five-year transferable warranty. Details of 
coverage are on the warranty card that came with your speakers. Please fill out the informa-
tion section, detach, and mail it to Bose.  
Cleaning your speakers 
Use a cloth dampened in mild detergent and water to remove dust or dirt from the outside of 
your Free Space 51 speakers. Or use a hose to rinse them thoroughly with fresh water. Do not 
use enough pressure to force water into the drivers or the acoustic ports.
Problem What to do 
No sound • Make sure the receiver is plugged in and turned on.
• Check to be sure the AC power (mains) outlet is working. 
• Disconnect any headphones plugged into the headphone jack.
• Make sure the receiver is not set to MUTE.
• Refer to the owner’s guide that came with your receiver.
• Check connections to both the speakers and the receiver. Refer to “Making the connections” on page 6. Correct any connection errors. 
• If your Free Space 
® 
 51 speakers are connected as a second set of speakers to 
your receiver/amplifier, check that the connections have been made to the “B”  
terminals, and that the “B” speakers are selected to play. 
No sound from one speaker • Check that the balance control on your receiver/amplifier is centered.  • Check the cord connecting the receiver/amplifier to the silent speaker. 
• Disconnect the working speaker from the receiver. Switch the cord of the silent speaker from its original receiver terminals to the other set of terminals (that the  
working speaker was originally attached to). If the speaker now works, \
the 
problem is in your receiver. If the speaker does not work, continue below: 
Remove the cord from the working speaker and connect it to the silent speaker 
and either set of receiver terminals. If the speaker now works, the problem is in 
the original speaker cord. If the speaker does not work, the problem is in the 
speaker. 
One speaker sounds distorted • Follow the same procedure for the problem of “No sound from one speaker,” as  outlined above.
Not enough bass or treble • Check the tonal balance setting on your receiver/amplifier. • Adjust the bass and treble controls on the receiver. 
• Check the connections to make sure they are correctly in phase(+ to + and – to –). Refer to “Make the connections” on pa\
ge 6. 
						

							 9 Reference  
Protecting the speaker cord 
The bare ends of the speaker cord can be affected by exposure to the elements. This is espe- 
cially true of salt water or water containing chemicals such as chlorine\
 or fertilizer. You may 
use a silicone caulking material, such as RTV adhesive, to protect the connections. It is com-
monly available at hardware stores. If you do use caulking, apply it only after the cords are 
connected. Check the connections annually, and reapply as needed. 
Technical Information 
Protective features  
• Environmentally resistant hardware  
Driver complement  
• One 4.5 (11.4 cm) environmental driver per speaker  
Color  
• Green  
Dimensions  
• 14 
1
/
 
2
 
 (36.8 cm) diameter, 15 (38.1 cm) height  
Weight  
• 12 lb (5.4 kg) each  
Compatibility  
• Compatible with amplifiers or receivers rated 4 to 8 ohms 
• 50W IEC continuous power-handling compatible with receivers and amplifiers rated  10-100W  
Environmental capabilities  
Designed to withstand:
• Salt fog, sun, high humidity (rain and snow) 
• Temperature extremes (-40°F to 158°F; -40°C to 70°C)
• Permanent outdoor installation  
Cord recommendations  
Based on maximum frequency response deviation of ±0.5 dB
Gauge Length 
18 (0.82 mm 
2 
) 20 ft (6 m) maximum
16 (1.3 mm 
2 
) 30 ft (9 m) maximum
14 (2.1 mm 
2 
) 50 ft (15 m) maximum
12 (3.3 mm 
2 
)  80 ft (24 m) maximum
Use direct-burial cable for outdoor installations. 
						

							 
©2003 Bose Corporation, The Mountain,
Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA
268612 AM Rev.00 JN30335