Bose Speaker System VCS 10 User Manual

Bose® Home Theater Speakers  
Owner’s Guide  
 
Where to find …  
For your records  
Serial numbers are located on the back of each speaker.  
Center speaker serial number: _____________________________________  
Surround speaker serial numbers: _______________and _______________  
Dealer name: ____________________________________________________  
Dealer phone: _________________ Purchase date: ____________________  
We suggest you keep your sales receipt and warranty card together with  
this owner’s guide.  
©2003 Bose Corporation. No part of this work may be reproduced, modified,  
distributed or otherwise used without prior written permission.  
Dolby is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.  
3
 
Setting Up  
Before you begin  
Thank you for choosing Bose® home theater speakers. Both the  
VCS-10® center speaker and the VCS-30® Series II center/sur-  
round speaker system are engineered specifically for use with  
video soundtracks. They are designed to make the most of audio  
for video (A/V) surround sound receivers or amplifiers with five  
amplified speaker outputs.  
In either package you purchased, there is a center speaker. Its  
magnetic shielding allows you to put this speaker directly on,  
above, or below your video screen without causing screen discol-  
oration. There it will deliver clear, crisp soundtrack reproduction  
from the center channel. Other speakers at the front of your room  
provide the left and right video sound.  
In additon to one center speaker, the VCS-30 Series II system  
includes two surround speakers. They are designed for use at the  
rear of your room. Advanced design brackets included in this  
package make the surround speakers simple to mount on a wall.  
Please read and follow the instructions in this guide. They will help  
you set up and use your new home theater speakers for the fullest  
listening and viewing enjoyment.  
Unpack the carton  
Carefully unpack the carton and save all packing materials for  
possible future use. Inspect the contents (Figure 1, A or B).  
If any speaker appears damaged, do not use it. Instead, repack all  
parts in the original carton and notify Bose or your authorized  
Bose dealer immediately.  
Note: Now is a good time to record the serial numbers found on  
the back of each speaker. Write them on your warranty card and  
on page 3 of this owner’s guide.  
4
 
     
Setting Up  
Figure 1  
Center speaker  
A. The VCS-10®  
speaker carton  
contents  
Owner’s guide  
Rubber feet  
B. The VCS-30®  
Series II system  
carton contents  
Right surround speaker  
Mounting  
brackets  
Left surround  
speaker  
Rubber  
feet  
Mounting hardware  
Owner’s guide  
Center speaker  
5
 
 
Setting Up  
Place the center speaker  
The center speaker provides center channel surround sound per-  
formance while taking up very little space. The slim, low-profile  
design allows it to fit directly on, above, or below your television  
(Figure 2). Rubber feet ensure stable positioning and magnetic  
shielding prevents video screen discoloration.  
CAUTION: The VCS-10® speaker is not designed to be set on end  
in a vertical position, mounted on a wall, or to support the addi-  
tional weight of items placed on top of the speaker, which could  
also hamper its performance. Do not allow debris or water from  
plants, or other items on a shelf above, to fall on the speaker.  
CAUTION: Do not install near any heat sources, such as radiators,  
heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that  
produce heat.  
For full enjoyment, follow these placement guidelines:  
• Place the speaker on, or very close to, your television set and  
center it with the screen.  
• Be sure to set it on a level surface.  
• Apply additional rubber feet farther in from the edges, as  
needed, for greater stability (Figure 3).  
CAUTION: Be sure the center speaker is in a stable position and  
does not extend beyond the edges of its support. Use additional  
rubber feet as needed to prevent it from tipping or falling from a  
television surface that is not completely level.  
Figure 2  
Alternate choices  
for placing the  
center speaker  
Figure 3  
Adding optional  
self-adhesive feet  
to the bottom of  
the center speaker  
Pre-attached  
feet (2 of 6)  
Optional self-adhesive feet  
(4 supplied)  
6
 
 
Setting Up  
Position your surround speakers  
Surround speakers in the VCS-30® Series II speaker system pro-  
vide surround sound effects from the rear of your viewing area  
(Figure 4).  
Figure 4  
Alternate choices  
for placing the sur-  
round speakers  
Surround speakers  
Brackets that come with these speakers allow you to mount them  
on the wall. If you use the supplied brackets, refer to the bracket  
instruction diagrams in the Appendix. Do not connect the speak-  
ers before reviewing those instructions.  
If you prefer, set the speakers on a table or shelf in a horizontal  
position.  
CAUTION: Do not install near any heat sources, such as radiators,  
heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that  
produce heat.  
For accurate surround sound:  
• Place these speakers behind the general viewing area, along the  
rear wall or to the rear of side walls.  
• Place both speakers at the same height.  
• Place the speakers as far apart as your room allows.  
To mount the speakers on brackets, be sure to leave room  
between the end of the bracket and the wall for tightening the  
bracket screw.  
Figure 5  
Applying self-  
adhesive feet to  
the bottom of a  
surround speaker  
7
 
 
Setting Up  
Connect the speakers  
CAUTION: Before making any connections, turn off your receiver  
or amplifier and unplug it from the AC power (mains) outlet. Not  
doing so may result in damage to your system.  
CAUTION: Never use broken or frayed wiring, which can result in  
damage to your components.  
Note: Before running speaker cord through a wall or under a floor,  
check your local building code requirements and safety regula-  
tions. You may want to contact an electrical installer for this infor-  
mation.  
If your receiver’s center channel is not amplified, you must con-  
nect an amplifier to the receiver. Use an RCA cable to connect the  
center channel RCA-type output on the receiver to the RCA-type  
input on the amplifier. The speaker will then connect directly to the  
amplifier instead of to the receiver.  
Choosing speaker cord  
Be sure to use the proper gauge (thickness) of speaker cord.  
Standard zip cord (2-conductor, 18-gauge wire found at electrical  
and hardware stores) works for most applications. If your speak-  
ers will be more than 30 feet (9 m) from the receiver or amplifier,  
see the following table, or check with your authorized Bose dealer.  
Gauge*  
Length*  
18 (0.75 mm2)  
16 (1.5 mm2)  
14 (2.0 mm2)  
30 ft (9 m) maximum  
45 ft (14 m) maximum  
70 ft (21 m) maximum  
* Based on a maximum frequency response deviation of ±0.5dB.  
At the ends of each cord, strip approximately 12 inch (12 mm) of  
insulation from both wires. Twist the bare end of each wire, so  
loose strands will not touch across terminals.  
Be sure to use the cord properly  
Speaker cord consists of two insulated wires. The insulation  
around one wire is marked (striped, collared, or ribbed). This  
marked wire is always positive (+). The plain wire is always nega-  
tive (–). These wires correspond to the red (+) and black (–) termi-  
nals on the speaker and the receiver or amplifier.  
Note: It is sometimes difficult to distinguish wire markings. Inspect  
both wires carefully.  
8
 
     
Setting Up  
Make the connections  
At the connection end of the speaker, push one terminal lever and  
insert the appropriate wire (Figure 6).  
Figure 6  
Red terminal lever  
Marked wire  
How to make ter-  
minal connections  
to the center  
speaker and sur-  
round speakers  
Marked wire  
Red terminal  
lever  
1. Connect one end of the speaker cord to your speaker.  
A. Attach the marked wire to the red (+) terminal.  
B. Attach the plain wire to the black (–) terminal.  
2. Connect the other end of the same cord to your receiver or  
amplifier (Figure 7).  
A. Attach the marked wire to the red (+) terminal.  
B. Attach the plain wire to the black (–) terminal.  
• The center speaker connects to the CENTER SPEAKER  
outputs on the receiver. Some surround sound receivers  
have two sets of center channel speaker outputs. Use  
either set.  
• The left surround speaker connects to the LEFT SUR-  
ROUND SPEAKER outputs.  
• The right surround speaker connects to the RIGHT SUR-  
ROUND SPEAKER outputs.  
9
 
 
Setting Up  
Check the connections  
Make sure each connection is made positive to positive (+ to +)  
and negative to negative (– to –). Check to be sure that no loose  
strands of wire touch across terminals. Bridged wires can short-  
circuit and damage the electrical components. Tighten any loose  
connections before you plug in the receiver or amplifier and turn it  
on.  
Figure 7  
Completed con-  
nections  
Center speaker  
OUTPUT  
To speakers  
FRONT  
SPEAKERS  
Left  
SURROUND CENTER  
SPEAKERS SPEAKER  
Right  
Right Left  
+
+
+
+
A
B
+
Right  
+
Left  
Receiver or  
amplifier  
Right Surround speaker  
Left Surround speaker  
10  
 
   
Setting Up  
Mounting your speakers on a wall  
CAUTION: Do not mount the brackets on surfaces that are not  
sturdy enough, or that have hazards concealed behind them, such  
as electrical wire or plumbing. If you are unsure about installing the  
bracket, contact a qualified professional installer.  
CAUTION: Do not hang items from the brackets or speakers. The  
brackets were designed to support the weight of the speakers only.  
Note: See the back pages of this guide for the mounting template  
and hardware information.  
Note: For vertical mounting, mount part A with the hole for screw  
C at the bottom. Be sure to tighten all screws.  
Note: For Stereo Everywhere® speaker performance, horizontal  
mounting is required.  
1. Hold the mounting template in position and mark holes for the  
mounting hardware. If you plan to feed wires through the wall,  
mark the speaker wire pilot hole also.  
2. Drill holes for the chosen mounting hardware.  
3. Mount bracket part A to the wall and mount bracket part B to  
the rear of the speaker (Figure 8).  
4. Secure the speaker with bracket part B to bracket part A  
using screw C. To adjust the angle, loosen screw C slightly,  
move the speaker up or down, and retighten screw C.  
Figure 8  
A
B
Speaker-bracket  
installation  
C
11  
 
   
Adjusting Your Surround Sound Settings  
For realistic home theater sound  
Each speaker produces only the sound directed to it by your sur-  
round sound receiver. During a surround sound program, the front  
and center speakers will emit sound almost constantly, while the  
surround speakers may be silent at times.  
How to set your Pro-Logic receiver  
For use in video applications, be sure the SURROUND SOUND  
center mode setting of your receiver is on NORMAL (Figure 9). You  
may press in the button labeled Loudness (Bass Boost or Super  
Bass on some receivers) to see if you prefer that video sound.  
Figure 9  
15  
14  
16  
17  
13  
The receiver or  
amplifier set to  
NORMAL sur-  
round sound  
mode  
18  
12  
19  
11  
20  
21  
22  
23  
10  
9
8
7
24  
25  
6
5
4
26  
27  
28  
3
2
1
29  
30  
0
Use the test tone on your receiver to further verify connections  
and to adjust the volume level of the speakers.  
To use the test tone  
1. Press test tone ON at the receiver remote.  
2. Listen and confirm that each speaker reproduces sound as  
the tone moves from speaker to speaker. One tone should  
come from both SURROUND speakers at the same time.  
3. Adjust the volume levels of the CENTER and SURROUND  
speakers so all of the speakers sound equally loud in your  
main listening area.  
Instructions for this process vary, depending on the receiver brand  
and model you are using. Follow your receiver owner’s guide  
instructions for more details on using the test tone.  
To balance the bass and treble  
Upholstered furniture, wall-to-wall carpets, or heavy drapes can  
muffle treble (high notes), making your speaker system sound  
bass heavy. Bare floors and walls and hard surface furniture can  
make your speaker system sound too shrill. After listening to your  
speakers, you may want to adjust the balance of bass and treble.  
You can use the bass and treble controls on your receiver.  
12  
 
             
Adjusting Your Surround Sound Settings  
How to set your Dolby Digital receiver  
Your VCS-10® or VCS-30® Series II speakers are compatible with  
the output from Dolby Digital receivers. Take special care to set  
the channel output on the Dolby Digital screen menu to SMALL for  
both the center speaker and surround speakers.  
Receiver channel output  
Proper setting  
Center  
SMALL  
SMALL  
Left and right surround speakers  
(VCS-30 Series II surround speakers)  
Follow the receiver owner’s guide instructions for using the  
receiver test tone to verify your connections and to adjust the vol-  
ume levels of the speakers.  
If the sound is interrupted  
The VCS-10 Center Speaker and VCS-30 Series II Center/Sur-  
round Speaker System feature an advanced automatic electronic  
protection circuit to prevent speaker damage due to an overload.  
When the center channel speaker detects an overload, the protec-  
tion circuit intermittently shuts down and resets the speaker a  
fraction of a second later, until the overload is cleared. Intermittent  
play will continue for the duration of the overload.  
If you hear this interruption, turn down the volume to relieve the  
overload. You will hear the speaker resume normal play when the  
volume is set at a safe level.  
Note: The overload problem described here should occur only if  
the receiver is overdriven and sending a distorted signal, or when  
the center speaker is driven by an amplifier rated well above the  
100 watts per channel maximum listed in “Compatibility” on  
13  
 
     
Reference  
Troubleshooting  
Problem  
What to do  
No sound  
Check the volume control.  
Make sure the receiver (or amplifier) is plugged in and  
turned on.  
Check all connections (see page 10).  
Make sure the receiver is not on Mute.  
Make sure headphones are not connected to the receiver.  
Center or surround  
speaker does not  
work  
Make sure your receiver has amplified center and surround  
channels.  
Be sure your receiver is set properly (see page 12 and  
page 13).  
Check the audio source material to be sure it is encoded  
for surround sound.  
Check the speaker connections. (see page 10).  
If your surround sound receiver is Pro-Logic, be sure an  
RCA stereo cable connects the receiver to a stereo sound  
source (TV, VCR, laserdisc, or DSS player).  
If the receiver is connected directly to a stereo television,  
make sure that all other program sources (VCR, laserdisc,  
or DSS player) are connected to the TV using RCA stereo  
cable as well.  
If your surround sound receiver is Dolby Digital, be sure  
the sound source (DSS, laserdisc, or DVD player) is con-  
nected directly to your receiver as described in your  
receiver owner’s guide.  
Center speaker  
intermittently shuts  
down  
Reduce the volume until that speaker returns to normal  
play. Automatic electronic protection circuitry may have  
engaged to prevent an overload.  
Check the power rating of your receiver (see “Compatibil-  
Make sure your receiver is set for NORMAL surround  
sound mode.  
Sound is distorted  
Check the speaker cord for damage.  
Reduce the output level from your TV or other components  
connected to the receiver.  
Customer service  
To arrange for service, contact your authorized Bose® dealer, or  
contact Bose directly.  
14  
 
     
Reference  
Cleaning speakers  
CAUTION: If liquids get into the product, disconnect the speaker  
from the receiver and allow it to air dry. Then reconnect the  
speaker and play it. If you notice any problems with how the  
speaker functions, disconnect it again and contact Bose® customer  
service.  
Clean the outside of your VCS-10® or VCS-30® Series II speakers  
by wiping each speaker with a damp cloth. If necessary, use a  
mild detergent, like dish soap, being careful not to allow any liquid  
to spill through the cloth grille or the ventilation slots of the speak-  
ers. No other maintenance is required.  
Warranty period  
Bose® VCS-10 and VCS-30 Series II speakers are covered by a  
limited 5-year transferable warranty. Details of the coverage are  
provided on the warranty card that came with your speakers.  
Please fill out the information section on that card, detach, and  
mail it to Bose.  
Technical information  
Features  
Ported speaker enclosures (all speakers)  
Magnetic shielding in all speakers  
Automatic electronic protection circuitry in all speakers  
Syncom® computer quality control of center and surround  
speakers  
Driver complement per speaker  
Center speaker: Four (4) 2.5" (6.3 cm) Twiddler™ drivers  
Surround speaker: Two (2) 2.5" (6.3 cm) Twiddler™ drivers  
Compatibility  
Center speaker: Compatible with amplifiers or receivers with  
center channel outputs rated 10-100 watts per  
channel; rated 4-8 ohms  
Surround speakers: Compatible with amplifiers or receivers with  
surround channel outputs rated 10-100  
watts per channel; rated 4-8 ohms  
Enclosure  
Molded polymer with a tuned port  
Size/Weight  
Center speaker: 3.25"H x 21.5"W x 6"D; 5.9 lb  
(8.2 cm x 54.6 cm x 15.2 cm; 2.7 kg)  
Each surround speaker: 4.17"H x 10.93"W x 4.98"D; 3.3 lb  
(14.6 cm x 28.0 cm x 16.5 cm; 1.49 kg)  
VCS-10 speakers, packed in carton: 8 lb (3.6 kg)  
VCS-30 Series II speaker system, packed in carton: 20 lb (9.1 kg)  
15  
 
         
Reference  
16  
 
©2004 Bose Corporation  
The Mountain, Framingham, MA 01701-9168 USA  
257530-ENGvo AM Rev.00  
 

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