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General
The Genelec AIW26 Active In-wall speaker
system consists of a bass reflex type two-
way speaker and a matched remote amplifier
module, RAM1. It has been designed to the
same rigorous standards as Genelec’s high-
performance HT series active Home Theater
loudspeakers. No other in-wall loudspeaker
can match the low distortion, neutrality and
high sound pressure capability of Genelec
AIW26. The AIW26 can be used in the most
demanding applications, like the main L-C-
R array of a Home Theater system, critical
Stereo listening or rear/side channels of a
large, state-of-the-art Home Theater.
Unpacking
A Genelec AIW26 set includes the following
items. Check that nothing is missing or dam-
aged in transit. If there is a problem with the
product, contact your local Genelec dealer.
• AIW26 loudspeaker unit with two
mounting brackets attached.
• Grill frame and grill insert
(packed separately)
• AIW26 cardboard cut-out template
• RAM1 amplifier unit
• Cable binding post tool
• Mains power cable
• Six M6x60 Pozidrive 3 screws
• Plexiglass cover for the control
switches
• This Operating Manual
Installation
Genelec recommends that you use the
services of an authorized installation spe-
cialist or other competent and experienced
installation company for the installation of
the AIW26 system. Ask your local Genelec
dealer for recommended installation compa-
nies in your region.
Matching speakers and amplifiers
Each AIW26 speaker unit has been factory
calibrated for optimum performance with the
RAM1 amplifier it is shipped with. Never mix
these matched amplifier-speaker systems in
the installation process. The matching units
are marked with the same ID number on the
reflex port of the AIW26 and the top panel of
the RAM1.
Speaker placement
Genelec AIW26 speakers are equipped with
Genelec’s proprietary Directivity Control
Waveguide™ (DCW™). One of the main
characteristics of the DCW technology is
that the speakers give a very even and con-
sistent frequency response over a larger
listening area than conventional loudspeak-
ers. A secondary function of the DCW™ is
to reduce the off-axis radiated sound energy,
thereby minimizing the reflections from the
side walls, floor and ceiling. This results in a
precise and stable sound image
If the AIW26 speakers are used in an applica-
tion where their capability for precise sound
imaging is needed, such as the front chan-
nels of a Surround Sound system or a Stereo
system, we recommend that the speakers are
placed as far away from corners or other walls
and reflective surfaces as possible. The speak-
ers should be placed symmetrically in relation
to the listening position and there should be
no obstructions between the speaker and
the listener. This guarantees clear dialogue
in films and a good stereo image with music.
Figure 2 shows a Left-Center-Right arrange-
ment that works well both as Surround Sound
front channels and as a Stereo pair.
If you prefer a diffuse sound field, which is
less critical to the listening position and gives
only a vague sense of direction, for instance in
a rear/side channel setup in a Home Theater
system, you may actually benefit from the
acoustical reflections from nearby bounda-
ries. In this case, place the speakers close to
the ceiling or another wall, or have them face
away from the listening position, so that the
proportion of reflected sound increases.
Choosing and installing the speaker
cables
The RAM1 amplifier unit has separate power
amplifiers for the tweeter and woofer. Accord-
ingly, there are two pairs of binding posts,
white (-) and red (+) for the tweeter and black
(-) and grey (+) for the woofer. Be sure to
maintain correct polarity when connecting
the speaker cables and be extra careful not
to mix the tweeter and woofer cables
Use a good quality 4-conductor cable and
make the cable runs as short as possible.
Figure 1. Main components of the AIW26 system.
Figure 2. Symmetrical L-C-R speaker instal-
lation
Table 1. Recommended maximum lengths for
speaker cables.
Cable gauge Max. length
2,0 mm
2
(14 AWG) 30 m (100 ft)
3,3 mm
2
(12 AWG) 40 m (131 ft)
5,3 mm
2
(10 AWG) 60 m (200 ft)