Owner’s Manual and Setup Procedures
Radia Series...R-75i & R-8i / R-50i / R-40i / R-LCRi / R-32i / R-20i
The Power of Clarity
BG Corp 20052
Congratulations and thank you for selecting state of the art
Radia Series In-Wall loudspeakers from BG
Corp. We have
assembled your loudspeakers with the greatest care using the
finest materials available. This craftsmanship, combined with our
patented planar ribbon technology, delivers sound unmatched by
any conventional loudspeaker.
The Radia Series, BG’s top of the line In-Wall loudspeakers, are
ideal for either critical music listening or high performance home
theater applications. The line is comprised of models R-75i & R-
8i, R-50i, R-40i, R-LCRi, R-32i, and R-20i.
CONTENTS:
Page
Introduction and Table of Contents........................ 2
Important Owner Information.................................. 3
General Information ............................................... 4
Technical Description ..............................................5
Installation ...............................................................7
Preparation
Hook up
Location (Vertical or Horizontal)
Connection & Processor settings
Installed Height ......................................................10
Warranty Information .............................................11
Introduction
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Read and Follow Instructions – Please read this entire manual before
unpacking and installing the Radia Series In-Wall loudspeakers. For
optimum performance and years of trouble-free enjoyment, all operating
and care instructions should be followed.
Retain – DO NOT discard any factory packing material. The packing and
shipping materials may be required in the unlikely event your loudspeakers
need to be moved or shipped to our service center at BG.
Cleaning – Use a wax-free cleaning substance only (i.e. Pledge™) with a
soft, dry polishing cloth not a paper-based chamois. DO NOT spray any
cleaning solutions directly on the grill as it can clog its perforations.
Liquid – DO NOT place BG loudspeakers near an open source of liquid
that may spill on the loudspeaker surfaces.
Heat – DO NOT place BG loudspeakers near a direct heat source.
Important Owner Information
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Unpacking Your BG Loudspeakers
1. Place the shipping box down on the floor, ensuring that you have
adequate space to set the loudspeaker down after removing it from the
box. Caution: If your floor is not carpeted, lay a blanket or other suitable
soft fabric on the floor to prevent possible damage to the loudspeaker.
2. Rotate the box so that the white product label affixed at the factory is on
top and facing up.
3. Pull the top flaps of the shipping box up, taking care not to cut yourself
on the staples used to close the box. Open the other cardboard end
flaps to expose the loudspeaker still cradled in its protective foam and
inside a protective plastic bag. Remove the foam pieces over the top of
the loudspeaker.
4. Remove the loudspeaker by lifting it straight up and out of the box. Due
to their weight, we recommend that two people work together to remove
Models R-75i and R-50i.
Proper Hookup: All Radia in-wall speakers are single post connections
clearly marked + and –.
#10 Phillips marked on PCB to positive (+) amplifier post
#10 Phillips marked on PCB to negative (-) amplifier post
R-75i & R-8i can be bi-wired or bi-amped by simply running dedicated wires
to these two components of this speaker system.
Break-In Times: Typically a BG loudspeaker requires not less than 48
hours of operation at moderate sound level before reaching its optimum
sound quality. This improvement may be subtle yet noticeable for a trained
listener. Note: Do not play your loudspeakers excessively loud to try to
accelerate this process.
Amplifier: BG loudspeakers are extremely accurate and deliver a high
degree of detail and resolution. Therefore a good 100-150 watt per channel
amplifier or receiver is needed to deliver adequate power for a typical room
size. Your authorized BG Dealer can recommend an amplifier best suited
to your needs.
General Information
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Radia Line-Source Loudspeakers
The operating principle of the Radia planar ribbon loudspeaker is one in
which the magnetic circuit, or motor, drives the radiating surface directly
rather than through an indirect path from voice coil to former to cone, or
dome. The mass of the diaphragm is less than the air that it drives which
provides exceptional detail, transparency and control. Using an advanced
push-pull motor, the Radia Series loudspeakers’ performance is further
enhanced by virtue of its highly linear drive principle whereby force on the
diaphragm is applied in a uniform fashion.
These planar ribbon drivers have an aperture width of only 1.25” providing
wide horizontal coverage, eliminating the “trial-and-error” method common
to other ribbon and electrostatic loudspeaker placement.
Radia Series loudspeakers are complete systems. Each contains a planar-
ribbon driver and complementary mid-bass system with integrated passive
crossover network. All are compatible with current home theater standards.
Using the directionality of the Radia Series allows unprecedented sound
field control. The uniform application of acoustic power provides coverage
and intelligibility unavailability from conventional loudspeaker systems.
Line Source vs. Point Source
A significant characteristic of the line-source loudspeaker is its ability to
maintain SPL over distance that attenuates (reduces volume) only half as
much as a point source (horn, cone, dome, etc.) that is, at a rate of -3 dB
per doubling of distance. The relative sensitivity of an 88dB line-source
loudspeaker measured beyond 4 meters is greater than 90 dB/1w/1m.
Relatively high SPLs at a distance does not mean excessive SPL closer to
the loudspeaker. The cylindrical coverage minimizes lost acoustic and
amplifier power, unwanted sound energy beyond the immediate sound
field, and eliminates ceiling and floor reflections– thus power loss. Radia
Series line-source loudspeakers also operate as one-way loudspeakers
above their bass crossover point achieving the ideal of coherent, consistent
amplitude (loudness) and phase response.
For additional technical information, please request a complimentary copy of Keith Yates’ white paper on
planar ribbon technology.
Technical
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What Installation Advantages Are Offered By
The Radia Ri-Series?
The installation of modern audio systems frequently calls for meticulous
attention to cosmetic design. The Radia Series offers the designer the
ability to achieve high-performance acoustically while simultaneously
providing an elegant and flexible cosmetic solution.
When installed in drywall, these systems measure less than standard low-
performance 6” in-wall speakers in the critical width dimension, freeing
space for furniture or decorative items. They are designed to be installed in
a common 2 X 4 8’ high, 16” on center or larger, wall cavity.
In custom designs, Radia Series systems install in vertical details in
cabinetry, in as little as 7” of width for the ultimate performance and
elegance.
Radia loudspeakers virtually disappear while still providing state-of-the-art
performance – performance absolutely unavailable from conventional
loudspeaker systems.
Technical
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Preparation for the Installation of Radia Series Loudspeakers
1. For the rear cavity behind the loudspeaker, allow for a minimum of
2 cubic feet and no more than 2.5 cubic feet for optimum
performance. A good rule of thumb is to use an enclosure no
smaller than a standard 2 x 4 stud-bay with 16” on-centers and 8
feet tall. Prepare any cabinet installation with at least this
enclosure size in mind. Enclosures such as 2 x 6 (or larger) can
be used with no detrimental effects however smaller enclosures
will limit low frequency performance. Sealing holes and joints
whenever possible will also enhance low frequency performance.
In addition, utilizing an open-cell compressible weather stripping at
the lip of the mounting flange is also recommended to minimize
unwanted vibrations.
2. Always fill the entire enclosure with slightly compressed fibrous
material as would be found normally in a loudspeaker enclosure
(Fiberglas insulation, Dacron, Miraflex, wool, etc.).
3. Whenever possible, prepare for the installation by first installing a
shear surface beneath the drywall. R-Series loudspeakers are
relatively heavy and are capable of producing high sound pressure
levels. A ¼” or 3/8” plywood sub surface with a loudspeaker cutout
will also enhance the system’s performance.
4. When installing the R-75i planar ribbon with its companion R-8i
woofer, they must be mounted within two feet of one another, in
the adjacent stud bay, for proper performance.
Installation
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Proper Hookup:
Connections: Two # 10 Phillips head screws and crimp on connectors
are provide for proper hook up. These Phillips Lug screws will be found
on the back PCB (Printed Circuit board) of the loudspeaker.
#10 Phillips marked on PCB to positive (+) amplifier post
#10 Phillips marked on PCB to negative (-) amplifier post
a. 2 crimp-on connectors also can be found on the back PCB with 2 #10
Phillips head screws as the fasteners
b. These connectors can accept a 16-14 awg cable
c. All Radia in-wall loudspeaker are single post connections clearly
marked + or -.
The R-75i and R-8i are connected to one another via a parallel wiring
scheme- either home run to the amplifier or daisy chain in parallel with
one another.
Installation:
1. Cut the proper hole size for the speaker for either vertical or
horizontal applications.
2. If new construction brackets were installed during the construction
phase of the project pull the cable out and connect the crimp on
connectors. If not, run the proper cable and then connect the
speaker wires via the crimp-on connectors.
3. Install fiber-fill within the mounting cavity.
4. Remove the speaker from the plastic packaging,
5. Pull one or both grill end-caps off and remove the grill by pulling it
up an out of the assembly’s channels.
6. Remove the black outer rubber covers on R-75I/R50i/R-40I to
reveal the 1/8” Allen-Key screws to the dog-toggles.
7. Connect the speaker cable and connectors to the speaker
8. Insert the speaker in the cavity.
9. Using the supplied 1/8” Allen-Key bit in a medium clutched screw
gun, engage the dog-toggles and tighten.
10. Test the speaker.
11. Re-install the rubber covers, grills and end caps.
Installation
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Radia Line-Source Loudspeakers in Vertical Applications
Installed vertically, the Radia loudspeakers behave in a conventional way,
radiating sound from below 60 Hz - 20 kHz (+/- 3 dB) with wide horizontal
dispersion making them ideal for 5.1 to 7.1 Home Theaters and 2-channel
audio formats. Used individually, the Radia loudspeakers can cover an
audience with unmatched intelligibility. When used in multiples, they can
provide multi-channel audio, stereo or surround to an audience with
maximum fidelity.
Installation: Models R-75i, R-50i and R-40i must be installed vertically
because of their directivity characteristics. The R-75i, along with its
companion R-8i subwoofer, should be mounted within two feet of one
another for best performance.
Radia Line-Source Loudspeakers in Horizontal Applications
A thorough understanding of the line-source theory recommends against
the use of horizontally installed line-source loudspeakers for a center
channel system in home theater. Listeners placed within the ends of the
loudspeaker will localize the center sound track at a position on the screen,
perhaps slightly off center. Listeners beyond the ends of the loudspeaker
will hear virtually nothing. Ceiling and floor reflections will become
significant resulting in diminished intelligibility. The benefits of the vertical
line-source loudspeaker may become disadvantageous in a horizontally
installed loudspeaker. The Radia Series contains specific models designed
for center channel and LCR uses.
Installation: Models R-LCRi, R-32i and R-20i are multi-purpose models
and well suited for home theater and surround sound. The ribbon tweeters
in the LCRi can be rotated for use either vertically or horizontally.
Electronic Connections:
Today’s electronic processors and a/v receivers have built in crossover
points described as small and large speakers. With all Radia speakers,
this option should be turned on for maximum performance.
Installation
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Installed Height
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Warranty
WARRANTY:
All BG loudspeaker systems are warranted to the original purchaser for five years
against defects in materials and manufacture when used in properly designed systems Warranty is two
years for the Z-Sub and Radia 210i subwoofer.
Please record your loudspeaker’s information below for future reference.
MODEL: ______________________________
SERIAL NUMBER: ______________________
PURCHASE DATE: _____________________
AUTHORIZED DEALER: _________________
As part of our policy of continual product improvement, BG reserves the right to change or discontinue
any specifications or parts associated with any of its products without advanced notice.
Thank you again for choosing BG loudspeakers!
BG Corp
3535 Arrowhead Drive Suite B
Carson City, NV 89706
775-884-1900 ph
775-884-1276 fax
www.bgcorp.com
sales@bgcorp.com
BG Corp 200512
www.bgcorp.com
The Power of Clarity
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