Niles Audio Portable Speaker OS3 User Manual

I N S T A L L A T I O N  
&
O P E R A T I O N G U I D E  
M O D E L  
M D E L  
OS3  
Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeaker.  
®
B L E N D I N G H I G H F I D E L I T Y  
A N D A R C H I T E C T U R E ®  
 
INTRODUCTION  
The OS3 marries unparalleled listening satisfaction with the freedom to listen to  
music anywhere! You can use them indoors and outdoors (even on a boat).  
The extraordinary sonic performance of the OS3 was achieved by harmonizing  
unique and proprietary technology with the most advanced manufacturing  
methods and materials available.  
The OS3 is a two-way speaker in an acoustic suspension enclosure. The cabinet  
is shaped to fit neatly into corners or eaves. It is supplied with a swiveling mount-  
ing bracket for easy installation anywhere. In addition, our engineers constructed  
the OS3's to withstand the stresses and strains of the world outside! Now anyone  
can affordably enjoy a concert on the green in their own back yard.  
 
2
FEATURES & BENEFITS  
LONG THROW POLYPROPYLENE WOOFER  
The unusually stiff and light polypropylene cone, the butyl rubber surround, the  
substantial magnet, and the rigid steel basket are all optimized for large excur-  
sions of the woofer. In this way, the five inch cone can create the same deep  
bass output of a much larger speaker moving small distances in and out. The  
end result is rich satisfying bass from a compact, weather resistant loudspeaker.  
WEATHER RESISTANT TWEETER  
The 1/2” polycarbonate dome tweeter offers extraordinarily wide dispersion  
characteristics, providing installers with greater flexibility when placing the  
speakers. The smooth, extended frequency response of this unique tweeter  
assures great stereo imaging and remarkable clarity.  
TAPERING SHAPE  
The cabinet of the OS3 is shaped so that the speaker will tuck discretely away  
into corners or under eaves.  
RIGID, ACOUSTICALLY INERT ENCLOSURE  
The cabinet of the OS3 is composed of mineral filled polypropylene. This  
material is extremely non-resonant. All you hear is the music.  
LOW DIFFRACTION GRILLE AND FRONT BAFFLE  
The grille of the OS3 has hundreds of precisely sized perforations, resulting in  
acoustical transparency. The front baffle is gently curved in a radius optimized  
for the best sound. Sound waves emanating from the drivers are not reflected  
by the surrounding parts of the speaker.  
PRECISION CROSSOVER  
An electronic dividing network inside the cabinet precisely distributes the  
music to the woofer and the tweeter. The two-way design of the OS3s  
crossover provides excellent stereo imaging and low distortion.  
 
3
SWIVELING BRACKET  
The U-shaped bracket and bracket knobs allow the OS3 to be pointed at the  
optimum listening position and locked into place quickly and easily.  
EASY THREE-WAY MOUNTING SYSTEM  
1. The OS3 can be hung from a nail using the nail hole on the bracket.  
2. The bracket can be screwed into the mounting surface using your hardware.  
3. The OS3 is equipped with 1/4-20 threaded inserts for OmniMount®  
(53 RST-UMK Series) or custom brackets.  
STABLE SHELF PLACEMENT  
The bracket knobs serve as one of the speaker's feet when the OS3 is placed  
directly on a shelf or desktop without the bracket. In addition, two feet are  
molded into the base of the cabinet to give added stability.  
PREMIUM GOLD-PLATED FIVE-WAY BINDING POSTS  
Gold plating gives you a corrosion-free high quality speaker wire connection.  
The connectors' five-way design allows you to use any of the most popular wire  
terminating methods.  
EASY FINGER-SIZED ACCESS  
The binding posts are mounted upside down in a molded recess on the back of  
the OS3. This prevents moisture from pooling at the connection. The recess is  
large enough to fit your fingers, so you can easily loosen or tighten the speaker  
connections.  
WEATHER RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION  
The hardware is made of stainless steel or brass, and the binding posts are plat-  
ed with gold. The bracket and grille are made of aluminum for the ultimate  
rust-proof construction.  
The enclosure itself is shatterproof. The OS3s components are weather-resis-  
tant, UV-resistant, salt water corrosion-resistant, and immune to damage from  
temperature extremes (-50 to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit).  
 
4
PARTS GUIDE  
a
e
b
c
d
b
d
f
g
h
e
 
5
i
j
OS3 Parts Guide  
a. Bracket  
f. Grille  
b. Nail Hole  
c. Wire Hole  
d. Screw Hole  
e. Bracket Knob  
g. Cabinet  
h. Baffle  
i. Binding Posts  
j. Threaded Inserts  
 
6
INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS  
TOOLS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED  
• A wire stripper  
• A pencil  
• A level (optional)  
• Three screws or bolts suitable for the mounting surface  
• The proper screwdriver for your mounting hardware  
• A drill bit of the right size and type  
• An electric drill  
WIRING  
The OS3 connects to your receiver or amplifier using 2-conductor speaker wire  
(See Figure 2). For most applications, we recommend using 16 or 18 gauge  
wire. For wiring runs longer than 80 feet, we recommend 14 gauge wire. The  
binding posts of the OS3 will accommodate up to 12 gauge wire directly.  
Larger sizes can be accommodated using spade, banana, or pin connectors.  
TECH TIP  
Wire size is expressed by its AWG (American  
Wire Gauge) number. The lower the number, the  
larger the wire, i.e. twelve AWG is physically larger  
than fourteen AWG.  
When you run wire inside walls, outdoors, or in marine installations, special  
jacketing or conduit is required for a trouble-free installation and conformation  
to the local and national building codes. If you are not sure of the correct wire  
jacket or type of conduit to use, consult a professional audio/video installer,  
building contractor, or the local building and inspection department.  
 
7
Figure 2  
Wiring directly from a receiver or  
amplifier  
Figure 3  
Incorporating a volume control  
INCORPORATING A VOLUME CONTROL  
It’s possible to control the volume of the sound at the speaker location. Plan to  
wire the system so that each pair of speakers has its own volume control. Niles  
makes a wide range of indoor and outdoor volume controls. Consult your local  
Niles dealer for more information. Volume controls are connected in line with  
the speaker, so you must connect the wire from the amplifier to the volume con-  
trol and then from the volume control to the speaker (See Figure 3).  
RECOMMENDED AMPLIFIER POWER  
We recommend an amplifier with a power rating of five to sixty watts per chan-  
nel for optimum performance (Niles makes a line of high-performance ampli-  
fiers. See your local Niles dealer for more information). Ironically, most speak-  
ers are not damaged by large amplifiers but by small amplifiers. If you are play-  
ing at high volume, a small amplifier will run out of power very quickly. When  
an amplifier runs out of power it creates damaging “clipping” distortion. A large  
amplifier will play at the same volume without distorting. See the section  
"Operation" for more information about clipping distortion.  
 
8
PLACING THE OS3 FOR THE BEST SOUND QUALITY  
The OS3’s dispersion pattern is very broad. The speaker is very sensitive and  
will handle a lot of amplifier power. This allows good sound quality over an  
extremely large listening area. However, if a single pair is positioned to provide  
coverage of a very large room or patio, you will have “hot spots” of loud sound  
when you are near the speakers. The best way to avoid hot spots for a large  
space is to use several pairs. A good rule of thumb is a pair of speakers for  
every 200 to 400 square feet of listening area. Your local Niles dealer is a good  
source for advice on speaker placement for your particular installation.  
When using more than one pair, it is usually best to alternate a left channel and  
then a right channel, so that you never have a "left next to a left".  
The position of the speakers and the environment around them play a very  
important role in how a stereo image is created. You should experiment to find  
the very best position for your speakers. Here are some guidelines to make the  
process quick and easy.  
Speaker  
Placement  
Zone  
10'  
5'  
10'  
Speaker  
Placement  
Zone  
Figure 4  
Illustration depicts the  
optimum placement zone for a  
listening distance of ten feet.  
 
9
Make sure you are not blocking or reflecting the sound off of furniture or other  
objects. You should have a direct line of sight with the front of the speaker. To  
determine the best position, measure the distance between the ideal listening  
position and the wall you plan to mount the speakers on. Try to place the speak-  
ers so that they are at least one-half the listening distance apart (this maintains a  
large, pleasant stereo "image") and less than the entire listening distance (this  
avoids a "hole-in-the-middle" effect). For example, if you are ten feet back from  
the wall, the speakers should be between five and ten feet apart (See Figure 4).  
You can control the speakers bass output by placement. This is called the  
boundary effect. You will get more bass response by mounting the OS3 directly  
to a wall or other flat surface (any boundary close to the speaker will reinforce  
the bass frequencies). You can increase the bass output even more by mount-  
ing the OS3 in a corner or under an eave (See Figure 5) This type of placement  
gives the speaker two boundaries, both reinforcing the bass sounds. Of course,  
if you wish to hear less bass, try moving the speaker away from the boundary  
(See Figure 6).  
Figure 5  
Figure 6  
Placement for more bass output  
Placement for  
less bass output  
MOUNTING METHODS  
The OS3 can be mounted either horizontally or vertically. The bracket knobs  
will keep the speaker angled correctly in any position once they are tightened.  
You can choose from three mounting methods to attach the OS3 to the wall,  
ceiling, or other mounting surface.  
 
10  
1. If the speaker is never going to be exposed to sudden accidental impacts,  
wind, waves or earthquakes you can simply hang it on a nail using the nail  
hole(s) of the bracket (See Figure 7).  
Nail Mounting  
Screw Mounting  
OmniMount or Custom Bracket Mounting  
Figure 7 The OS3 can be mounted three ways.  
2. The safest and most secure way to mount the speaker is by screwing it to the  
mounting surface using your own hardware (suitable for the surface you are  
mounting to) and the bracket supplied with the speaker (See Figure 7).  
3. There are threaded brass inserts on the back of the OS3 for attaching an  
OmniMount (53 RST-UMK Series) or a custom bracket (See Figure 7). This  
allows you to position the speaker at unusual angles or distances from the  
mounting surface.  
SAFETY FIRST!  
Be careful to use hardware that is designed for the surface you are mounting to.  
The OS3 with the bracket weighs 4 lbs. 8 oz. If you are not sure of a safe way to  
mount the speakers, consult a professional installer or a building contractor.  
You will maximize the useful life of the speaker by placing it so it receives less  
exposure to the elements. Look for the best overall compromise between sound  
quality, convenience, and exposure. Do not compromise safety.  
 
11  
PAINTING THE OS3  
The enclosure, the brackets, and the grilles of the OS3 can all be painted to  
match the surroundings. Because we want you to preserve the acoustic quali-  
ties of the grille, please paint the grille according to the grille painting instruc-  
tions. Make sure you pick a paint that is appropriate for the mounting location.  
There are interior and exterior varieties, and even paint for marine uses. If you  
are not sure what paint to use, consult a paint store professional or a painter.  
TOOLS REQUIRED  
• A spray can of primer paint (Krylon Sandable Spray Primer #1318)  
• The correct paint for the surroundings (oil or water based paint is fine)  
• A paint brush or applicator if the paint is not in a spray can.  
• A paper clip or a corkscrew (for removing the grille)  
• Masking tape  
• 2 paint masks (supplied)  
• A damp cloth and a dry cloth  
PREPARING TO PAINT  
1. Separate the parts of the speaker. You should remove the brackets and the  
bracket knobs. Remove the grille by hooking it with a bent paper clip or the tip  
of a corkscrew and pulling it away from the cabinet (See Figure 8).  
Figure 8  
Removing the grille using a paper clip  
 
12  
2. Wipe off the other sides of the cabinet, the bracket, bracket knobs, and grille  
with a damp cloth. Do not touch or rub the speakers on the front baffle. Make  
sure everything is dry before masking.  
3. Mask off the binding posts and the brass threaded inserts on the back panel  
with masking tape.  
4. Mask off the threaded inserts on the top and bottom with masking tape.  
5. Protect the front of the speakers by inserting the supplied paint masks in  
place of the grilles.  
PAINTING THE CABINET, BRACKET KNOBS AND BRACKET  
1. Apply two thin coats of a primer to the cabinet and knobs. We recommend  
Krylon Sandable Spray Primer #1318. The bracket doesn't require a coat of primer.  
2. Allow the primer to completely dry.  
3. Apply the finish color.  
4. Allow the paint to completely dry.  
5. Carefully remove the masking material.  
6. Do not reattach the speaker to the bracket until the bracket is mounted. Try  
to keep all handling of the freshly painted parts to a minimum.  
PAINTING THE GRILLE  
The grille is important to the sound of the OS3. Do not fill the holes of the grille  
with paint. The grille is constructed of aluminum with a perfectly even powder  
coat overall. This powder coat is an ideal primer.  
If you are using a spray paint, use two thin coats without any primer. If you are  
using a compressor and a spray gun, use the finest, most diffuse setting. Practice  
on paper if you are not experienced in painting with spray paint.  
 
13  
If you are using an applicator or brush and a can of paint, thin the paint first.  
Thick paint will tend to clog the grille holes.  
REPLACING THE GRILLE  
Carefully fit the grille into its recess so that it is barely in place. Starting with  
one corner, go around the speaker, pushing the grille in a little bit each time.  
You should be gentle, the aluminum grille can be easily bent out of shape. You  
will feel a positive “snap” when it is fully in place.  
 
14  
INSTALLATION  
MOUNTING THE BRACKET  
1. Remove the bracket knobs and the bracket from the speaker.  
2. Hold the bracket up to the mounting surface. The speaker can be mounted  
either horizontally or vertically. Hold the bracket so that the speaker wire fits  
through the large, circular wire hole in the bracket. Align the bracket to be  
square with the surroundings (use a level for accuracy).  
3. Mark the locations of the three oval-shaped screw holes (See Figure 9).  
Be sure to use all of the holes.  
Figure 9  
Mounting the  
OS3  
4. Drill pilot holes into the mounting surface.  
5. Pull the speaker wire through the wire hole in the center of the mounting  
bracket. Align the bracket so that the holes all line up.  
6. Use your hardware to attach the bracket to the mounting surface.  
 
15  
CONNECTING THE SPEAKER  
1. Separate the two conductors of the speaker wire so that at least two inches  
of each conductor are free.  
2. Strip one half inch of insulation from the end of each conductor of the  
speaker wire.  
3. If you have any connectors (gold pins or bananas) which you prefer to use,  
affix them to the stripped wire ends now. Only gold plated connectors should  
be used outside as they will not tarnish or corrode.  
4. Use the bracket knobs to attach the speaker to the bracket. Do not tight-  
en the knobs completely. Angle the speaker so that the rear terminals are  
accessible.  
5. Connect one stripped wire end (or connector) to the black and one to the  
red terminal. Pay attention to the markings on the wire. Each speaker must be  
connected to the amplifier in the same way.  
SPEAKER PHASE  
Speaker wire has two conductors. One conductor is attached to the negative (-)  
terminals and one conductor is attached to the positive (+) terminals of both your  
speaker and your amplifier. Usually, the wire is marked for your convenience.  
There are different ways to mark the wire; a stripe on one wire, a ribbed area of  
one conductor you can only feel, different colors of metal wire on each conduc-  
tor, or there might be a fabric strand or string wound into one of the conductors.  
Of course, there are some wires which appear completely identical. Be careful to  
avoid mistakes. If you do transpose the wires, it is possible that one speaker will  
be playing out of “phase” with the other speaker. An out-of-phase pair of speak-  
ers work against each other and the sound of the two speakers playing together  
will be lacking in bass and be “phasey” sounding. If you suspect the sound is not  
right and you cannot see any markings on the wire try this simple test:  
1. Point the speakers at each other, rather than at you.  
2. Play some music with the amplifier or radio set to Mono.  
 
16  
3. Stand so you are the same distance from each speaker and listen to the rich-  
ness of the bass and the loudness of the sound.  
4. Turn off the amplifier and reverse the connections on one speaker only.  
5. Repeat the listening test with the same setting of the volume control. When  
the sound has a richer bass and is slightly louder the speakers are working  
together or “in-phase”.  
FINAL ADJUSTMENTS  
1. After checking that the speaker is in phase and works correctly, angle the  
speaker for the best sound.  
2. Tighten the bracket knobs using only your hands. Use of any power tools  
may over-tighten the knob, and strip the threads of the insert.  
3. Check that the entire installation is safe and secure.  
 
17  
OPERATION  
LISTENING AT HIGHER VOLUMES  
Significantly more power is required to achieve a reasonable level of volume  
when speakers are installed outdoors. The two primary reasons for this are that  
when listening outdoors, there are no walls to reflect and contain the sound  
and listeners often find themselves further from the speakers. Trying to compen-  
sate for this by turning up the amplifier’s volume can create “clipping” distor-  
tion, which is caused by the amplifier running out of power.  
Clipping distortion makes treble sound very harsh and unmusical. When you  
hear harsh sounding treble from any good speaker indoors or outdoors, turn the  
volume down immediately! Those harsh sounds are masking some much more  
powerful ultra-high-frequency sound spikes which will quickly damage any  
fine loudspeaker.  
CLEANING  
You can clean the OS3's with a dampened soft cloth or paper towel. If the  
speaker is mounted high up on a wall or ceiling, use a broom to gently brush it  
off. Hosing off the speaker is not recommended, as the tweeter is a precise  
mechanism which might be damaged by a high pressure stream of water.  
 
18  
SPECIFICATIONS  
RECOMMENDED AMPLIFIER POWER  
Five to 75 watts per channel  
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE  
8 Ohms  
FREQUENCY RESPONSE  
110Hz to 20kHz, plus or minus 5 dB (on axis)  
SENSITIVITY  
91 decibels for 2.83 volts of Pink Noise, measured at 1 meter on axis  
WIRING REQUIREMENTS  
Sixteen to eighteen gauge 2-conductor (unshielded or shielded) wire for runs  
up to 80 feet. Fourteen gauge 2-conductor (unshielded or shielded) wire for  
runs up to 200 feet.  
TEMPERATURE EXTREMES  
-50° to 200° Fahrenheit  
DIMENSIONS (Speaker without bracket)  
7" Wide x 9-1/4" High x 5-11/16" Deep  
DIMENSIONS (Speaker with bracket)  
7" Wide x 9-1/4" High x 6-5/8" Deep  
WEIGHT (Speaker and Bracket)  
4 lbs. 8 oz each  
 
19  
WARRANTY REGISTRATION CARD  
OS3 Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeaker  
Model Purchased_________________________________________________________________________  
Serial Number__________________________________________________________________________  
Date Purchased (month/day/year)__________________________________________________________  
Dealer Name and Location________________________________________________________________  
_______________________________________________________________________________________  
Dr.  
Miss  
Mr.  
Mrs.  
Ms.  
Name__________________________________________________________________________________  
Address________________________________________________________________________________________  
_____________________________________________________________________________  
City___________________________________________State______________Zip__________________  
Telephone (___________)_________________________________________________________________  
Please take a moment to fill out our warranty registration card. The information helps us to  
get to know you better and develop the products you want.  
Age:  
Musical tastes:  
What magazines do  
you read?  
Do you . . .?  
Own a House. If yes,  
how many square feet?  
Under 25  
25-34  
35-44  
45-54  
55 & over  
(Please check all that  
apply)  
1._____________________  
2. ___________________  
3. ___________________  
__________________  
Alternative  
Classical  
Country  
Jazz  
New Age  
Popular  
R&B  
Rock  
Other______________  
Own a Town House/  
Condo/Co-op  
Rent an Apartment  
Rent a House  
Income:  
Who will install the  
product?  
Under $24,999  
$25,000-$34,999  
$35,000-$44,999  
$45,000-$59,999  
$60,000-$74,999  
$75,000-$99,999  
Over $99,999  
Are you interested in  
receiving literature on  
other Niles products?  
Custom Installer  
Electrician  
Friend  
No  
Myself  
Yes  
How did you hear  
about Niles?  
Which factor(s) influ-  
enced the purchase  
of your Niles product?  
Are there products/  
capabilities that you  
would like to see  
introduced?  
Architect/Developer  
Custom Installer  
Direct Mail  
Occupation:  
Arts/Entertainment  
Business Owner  
Engineer  
Finance/Accounting  
General Office  
Management  
Professional  
Sales/Marketing  
Student  
Tradesperson  
(Please check all that  
apply)  
Friend/Family  
____________________  
____________________  
____________________  
____________________  
____________________  
____________________  
____________________  
In-Store Display  
Interior Designer  
Magazine Ad  
Mail-Order Catalog  
Newspaper Ad  
Product Brochure  
Product Review  
Retail Salesperson  
Ease of Use  
Price/Value  
Product Features  
Quality/Durability  
Reputation  
Style/Appearance  
Warranty  
 
LIMITED WARRANTY  
Niles Audio Corporation ("NILES") warrants its outdoor loudspeaker products to the original  
purchaser to be free of manufacturing defects in material and workmanship for a period of two  
years from date of purchase.  
This Warranty is subject to the following additional conditions and limitations. The Warranty  
is void and inapplicable if NILES deems that the product has been used or handled other than  
in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer, including but not limited to  
damage caused by accident, mishandling, improper installation, abuse, negligence, or normal  
wear and tear, or any defect caused by repair to the product by anyone other than NILES or an  
authorized NILES dealer.  
To obtain warranty service, take the unit to the nearest authorized NILES dealer, who will test  
the product and if necessary, forward it to NILES for service. If there are no authorized NILES  
dealers in your area, you must write to NILES and include your name, model and serial num-  
ber of your unit, along with a brief description of the problem. A factory Return Authorization  
Number will be sent to you. DO NOT RETURN ANY UNIT WITHOUT FIRST RECEIVING  
WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION AND SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS FROM NILES.  
If the above conditions are met, the purchaser's sole remedy shall be to return the product to  
NILES, in which case NILES will repair or replace, at its sole option, the defective product  
without charge for parts or labor. NILES will return a unit repaired or replaced under warranty  
by shipping same by its usual shipping method from the factory (only) at its expense within the  
United States of America. THERE ARE NO OTHER WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT  
LIMITATION, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FIT-  
NESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT.  
REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS WARRANTY IS THE EXCLUSIVE  
REMEDY OF THE CONSUMER/PURCHASER. NILES SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR  
ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED  
(OR PROHIBITED) BY APPLICABLE LAW.  
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages,  
so the above limitation may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights,  
and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.  
For the name of your nearest authorized NILES dealer contact:  
NILES AUDIO CORPORATION  
P.O. BOX 160818, Miami, Florida 33116-0818.  
Please fill in your product information and retain for your records.  
Model____________________________________________________________________________________  
Serial No._________________________________________________________________________________  
Purchase Date_____________________________________________________________________________  
 
22  
PLEASE FILL OUT THE  
WARRANTY REGISTRATION  
CARD ON THE REVERSE SIDE,  
DETACH, AND MAIL TO:  
Niles Audio Corporation  
Warranty Registration Dept.  
P.O. Box 160818  
Miami, Florida 33116-0818  
 
Niles Audio  
Corporation  
12331 S.W. 130 Street  
Miami, Florida 33186  
Tel: (305) 238-4373  
Fax: (305) 238-0185  
©1999 Niles Audio Corporation. Niles, the Niles logo and Blending High Fidelity and  
Architecture are registered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation. OmniMount is a reg-  
istered trademark of OmniMount Systems 6/98 DS00216A  
 

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