VS-1.2a
Audio / Video Satellite Loudspeaker
OWNER’S MANUAL
Now Hear This
6400 Goodyear Road
Benicia, CA 94510
800-NHT-9993
fig. 2
fig. 1
When used as front or rear satellite speakers, the VS-1.2a’s
should be arranged as symmetrically as possible.The speakers
should be slightly toed-in and the drivers should face the
listening area without obstruction from furniture. If possible,
arrange the speakers so that the distance between the listener
and the center or the speaker plane is about 1.5 times the
distance between the two speakers (fig. 3). This configuration
puts the listener in the center of the stereo image.
For 5.1-channel discrete digital surround systems, we
rec-
ommend that all five speakers be placed equidistant from the lis-
tening position. For Dolby Pro-Logic® systems, it is preferable to
have a more diffuse, ambient sound radiating from behind the lis-
tening position. This is accomplished by placing the rear (sur-
round) speakers so that they fire across the room at each other
(not directly toward the seating position), and by placing them 3
to 4 feet above ear level.
Experimentation is the key to finding the best arrangement in
your listening environment. Be patient, have fun, and remember
that small changes in speaker position can sometimes have a
significant effect on the sound. For example, moving the
speakers nearer to a room boundary (walls, corners) will tend to
increase their bass output, but may result in “boomy” or “muddy”
sound. Conversely, placing the speakers farther away from
room boundaries will tend to decrease their bass output, but may
result in greater articulation and better imaging.
fig. 3
In addition, room furnishings play an important role in absorbing and reflecting soundwaves. Midrange and high frequen-
cies in particular will be absorbed by soft furnishings such as sofas, carpets and curtains. A large number of these soft
furnishings will dull the sound, while a “live” room with few furnishings will brighten the sound. If you are willing to spend
some time fine-tuning the performance of your system, you will enjoy the benefits for years to come.
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Speaker Stand and Shelf Mounting
When used in the vertical (upright) orientation, the VS-1.2a may be placed on a rigid speaker stand. NHT offers a 26.5”
stand (OneStand) which is ideally suited for the VS-1.2a. Refer to the OneStand owner’s manual for detailed installation
instructions. Additionally, the VS-1.2a may be placed on a shelf or in a cabinet, however this placement may have a
detrimental effect on the sound. For best results, place the speaker as far forward as possible to the front edge of the
cabinet.
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Wall Mount Bracket
Parts List:
2 brackets
2 long screws (#10 x 2” pan head)
4 short screws (#7 x 3/4” pan head)
1 template (included with owner’s manual)
Tools you will need:
power drill with 1/8-inch bit
Philips screwdriver or power driver
studfinder
level
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Whenever an object is affixed to a wall, you must take special care to mount it securely, to prevent it from falling
and causing possible injury. THE VS-1.2a MOUNTING BRACKET MUST BE ATTACHED TO STUDS, AS DRYWALL
(SHEETROCK) ALONE CANNOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE SUPPORT. Make sure that the mounting bracket will not
interfere with electrical wiring, plumbing, etc. IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT THE INSTALLATION OF THIS MOUNT-
ING BRACKET, CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTOR. Follow the mounting instructions carefully to ensure
proper installation.
There are two ways to mount the VS-1.2a to the wall with the supplied mounting bracket: horizontally or vertically. Before installing
the bracket, determine the desired orientation of the speaker.
If the VS-1.2a’s are to be mounted on the side walls and behind the listening position, it is advisable to mount them vertically, using
the cabinets’ shape to aim the speakers inward toward the listening position. If the VS-1.2a’s are to be mounted on the rear wall
of the room, it is advisible to mount them horizontally and high up on the wall, using the cabinets’ shape to aim the speakers
downward toward the listening position.
1. Do not attach the bracket to the VS-1.2a yet! That comes later.
2. Begin by selecting the desired area on the wall where the VS-1.2a will be mounted. Using a studfinder (or the old-fashioned
“knocking” method), locate one or two adjacent studs, spaced 16 inches apart. If the VS-1.2a is to be mounted vertically, both
brackets are mounted to the same stud. If the VS-1.2a is to be mounted horizontally, the brackets must be mounted to two
adjacent studs.
3. Using the supplied mounting template, mark the two screw locations, 16 inches apart and centered on the stud(s) - (see Fig. 4).
Use the level to ensure that the screw locations are lined up precisely.
4. Drill a 1/8-inch pilot hole into the wall for each screw. Be sure that the hole passes through the drywall and into the stud. If the
hole does not reach a stud, re-position the screws and pilot holes until it does.
5. Insert one long screw into each pilot hole. Screw all the way into the wall, until the screw head rests on the wall surface.
6. Place an unmounted bracket over each screw so that the screw head rests in the round section of the keyhole (Fig. 5). Don’t
worry about which keyhole to use at this point. Loosen the screw 1 to 1-1/2 turns, until the bracket is able to slide down and the
screw head now rests in the narrow section of the keyhole. The wall screws are now properly set.
7. Locate the four pilot holes (two per side) pre-drilled into the back of the VS-1.2a. Place one bracket above each pair of holes
(Fig. 6). Take care to align the brackets carefully: Both brackets must be installed facing the same direction to ensure
fig. 5
fig. 4
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fig. 6
fig. 7
exact 16” spacing. There are three offset “keyholes,” but only one keyhole will be correct for your installation
(see Fig. 7). When mounting the VS-1.2a vertically, use the middle keyhole on each bracket, and make sure that the brack-
ets are installed so that the narrow section of each keyhole faces the direction that will be “up” once the speaker is on
the wall. When mounting the VS-1.2a horizontally, use the appropriate “up”-facing keyhole on each bracket, making sure
that both brackets face the same direction.
8. Using the short screws, attach the brackets to the VS-1.2a. Do not over-tighten the screws, as this may strip the pilot holes.
On power screwdrivers, use the low-torque setting. Tighten the screws enough so that the bracket cannot move on the speaker.
9. Attach speaker cable to the VS-1.2a. When possible in new construction applications, run the cable inside the wall and have it
come out directly behind the location of the VS-1.2a. If this is not possible, simply run the cable along the wall behind the VS-1.2a.
Note: The speaker cable must be a maximum of 1/8-inches thick in order to fit between the speaker and the wall.
10. Hold up the VS-1.2a so that the brackets are aligned with the wall screws. Carefully place the brackets over the screws so
that the screw heads slide into the round sections of the keyholes. Slowly move the VS-1.2a downward until the bracket has locked
over the screw. Ensure that both brackets are securely mounted to their screws.
If you are unable to slide the VS-1.2a brackets down onto the wall screws, check to ensure:
z
z
z
z
z
Nothing is obstructing the speaker
The brackets are mounted on the speaker with both facing the same direction
You are using the proper keyhole on both brackets
The wall screws are exactly 16 inches apart, centered on the studs
There is enough room between the screw head and the wall for the bracket to slide down.
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System Configurations
The VS-1.2a is optimized for use in the latest five-channel discrete digital surround systems. Since digital surround soundtracks
are mixed as five discrete channels, uniform tonality in the playback system is essential for achieving a believable “you are
there” sound. The VS-1.2a satellites and VT-1.2 towers utilize identical upper range drivers, so there are two system configura-
tions that will each provide matched timbre to all five channels:
1- Use a pair of VT-1.2 Audio / Video Towers for the front left and right speakers and three VS-1.2a’s for the center and
rear speakers. Configure all low frequencies to be sent to the VT-1.2’s. Since the VT-1.2’s have built-in subwoofers, a
separate subwoofer is an option and not a necessity in this system.
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2- Use five VS-1.2a’s (front left, center and right, rear left and right) and a separate powered subwoofer (NHT SubOne or
SubTwo) for the low frequency effects channel.
For a no-holds-barred home theater system starting with either of the above configurations, powered subwoofers may be
employed on any or all five channels to provide balanced bass and increased impact.
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Connections
Before connecting speakers to your system, it is very important that you turn off the power to your amplifier /
receiver to avoid damage to the equipment.
The VS-1.2a is compatible with virtually all quality amplifiers. Proper wiring of the speaker is essential to good sound. At a minimum,
16 AWG speaker cable is recommended for runs of 10 feet or less, with 14 AWG cable used for larger runs. For specialty cable
considerations, consult your local authorized NHT retailer. For best results, use equal length runs of cable for all three front speakers.
Prepare your cable by stripping 1/4” to 3/8” of insulation from the ends and twisting the exposed wire strands tightly. The five-way bind-
ing posts on the back of the speaker will accept raw wire, banana plugs, or spade plugs. Tighten the binding posts by hand, as pliers
can strip or break them.
Be sure to wire all the speakers “in-phase.” That is, the Positive (red) terminal on the amplifier output must be connected
to the corresponding Positive (red) terminal on the speaker. Likewise with the Negative (black) terminals. All speaker wires
have some sort of marking along one or both conductors to help you make the correct connections. Incorrect speaker phase is
indicated by weak bass and the lack of a well-defined stereo image.
To minimize noise pickup, segregate cables by function. Do not run low level signal cables parallel to power cables, speaker cables,
or digital cables. Also, do not run speaker cables or digital cables parallel to power cords or parallel to each other. If different types of
cables are placed near each other at some place in your system, separate them by the maximum practical distance and cross them
at right angles where they meet. Do not twist or tie AC power cords with speaker cables.
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Operation
The VS-1.2a was designed to handle a wide range of listening levels, but every speaker has limits. It is important to use common
sense and listen for signs of possible distress from the speakers. Underpowered amplifiers are most often the cause of speaker
damage. For example, a 60-watt amplifier runs out of power when called upon to produce more than 60 watts, and the resulting
distortion can damage the speaker. If you tend to listen at high voumes, more powerful amplifiers are preferable because they are
less likely to run out of power.
Noticeable distortion or harsh breakup is an indication that either your amplifier or your speakers are running beyond their capacity,
and the volume should be decreased. If you can feel any heat emanating from the woofer or tweeter, reduce the level immediately.
Speaker damage most often occurs from sustained high volume levels, not from transient sounds or brief musical peaks. Excessive
boosting of bass, treble or equalizer controls can worsen the problem, and is not recommended.
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Maintenance
Your speakers require minimal maintenance under normal use. The cabinet may be cleaned using a damp cloth or a mild, non-abra-
sive glass cleaner. To clean the grille, first remove it from the speaker, then brush lightly with a soft brush or use a vacuum on its
lowest setting. Do not expose the speaker to direct sunlight, high temperatures, or moisture. Do not attempt to clean the actual
drivers.
Limited Warranty
Valid Only in the U.S.A.
Warranty Period
For the period of 5 years for parts and 5 years for labor from date of original purchase (the warranty period) from an authorized NHT dealer, Now Hear This (NHT) warrants that if our product fails to function properly
under normal use due to a manufacturing defect when installed and operated according to the owner’s manual instructions enclosed with the unit, it will be repaired or replaced with a unit of comparable value at the
option of NHT without charge to you for parts or actual repair work. Parts supplied under this warranty may be new or rebuilt at the option of NHT.
What’s Not Covered
This warranty does not cover any product which is used in any trade or business, or in an industrial or commercial application.
This warranty does not cover the cabinet or any appearance item, or any damage caused to the product resulting from: alterations, modifications not authorized in writing by NHT, accident, misuse or abuse, damage
due to lightning or power surges, or being subjected to power in excess of the speaker’s published power rating.
This warranty does not cover the cost of parts which would otherwise be provided without charge under this warranty, obtained from any source other than an authorized NHT service location. This warranty does not
cover defects or damage caused by the use of unauthorized parts or labor or from improper maintenance.
Altered, defaced or removed serial numbers void this warranty.
Your Rights
The liability of NHT will be limited to the purchase price of the product, and NHT will not be liable for incidental or consequential damages. NHT limits its obligations under any implied warranties under state laws to a
period not exceeding the warranty period. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, and some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages.
The above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state.
To Obtain Service
NHT has appointed a number of authorized service companies throughout the USA should your product ever require service. To receive warranty service, you will need to present your sales receipt showing place and
date of original owner’s transaction.
To find the name and address of the nearest authorized NHT service location, call 800-NHT9993 or write: NHT, 6400 Goodyear Road, Benicia, CA 94510.
Keep this warranty with your sales receipt. Record date and place of purchase for future reference.
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