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SONANCE MERLOT
®
MR/SSMR
Selecting the Proper Speaker Wire
For the best sound we recommend that you use premium Sonance MediaLinQ
®
speaker cable, which also complies with UL
fire rating codes. You may also experiment with audiophile brands of speaker cable and interconnects, but be sure to check
local codes governing wire that may be installed within walls or ceilings. Different brands of wire can have different sonic
characteristics, and some may be more compatible with the sonic “signature” of your various audio system components.
For the best sound you should never use thin-gauge speaker
wire – it will constrict the sound and diminish bass
response. Extra resistance in the speaker wire can make a
speaker sound less dynamic and reduce definition of the
bass frequencies. In extreme cases, it can even attenuate
high frequencies. Also, amplifier power is wasted in thin
wire with extra resistance, reducing your system’s
maximum output level. To prevent degrading sound
quality, the total wire resistance should be less than 10%
of the speaker’s impedance. This means that for an 8-ohm
speaker, the total resistance of the wire should be less than
0.8 ohms. Refer to
Figure 5
when selecting the proper
wire gauge for your system.
Preparing the Installation Location
Building a Back Box into the Wall Stud Bay
Sonance Merlot MR-series speakers are designed to provide exceptionally musical performance in a wide variety of enclo-
sure volumes. You can get the very best performance from your speakers by partitioning a section of the stud bay to form
a sealed back box with a specific internal volume. Building such an enclosure will create a dramatic improvement in your
speakers’ bass performance and power handling. The ideal back box volume for the Merlot 422
M, 421M and 421SSMR is
0.25 ft
3
.
Optional Merlot M-Series Speaker Enclosures
For installations where it isn’t possible to partition the stud bay into a back box, installing optional Merlot MR Acoustic
Enclosures (part #92445) will noticeably improve your speakers’ bass performance and power handling and will
significantly reduce sound transmission into adjacent rooms and spaces. These enclosures are made from ½”-thick MDF
and are designed to be installed in new construction only.
To reduce sound transmission into adjacent rooms in installations where it isn’t possible to install a Merlot M Acoustic
Enclosure (such as when you’re retrofitting the speakers into an existing wall), you can fit the speakers with optional Merlot
MR-Series Retrofit Enclosures (part #92443). This enclosure is designed specifically to be used with Merlot MR and SSMR-
series speakers, and will noticeably reduce sound “spillover” from the rears of the speakers into adjacent rooms and
spaces.
W
IRE
R
ESISTANCE
IN
O
HMS
VS
. L
ENGTH
OF
C
ABLE
R
UN
Distance in Feet 50' 100' 150' 200' 250' 300'
1.04
.65
.41
.26
.16
.10
18 gauge
16 gauge
14 gauge
12 gauge
10 gauge
20 gauge
2.07
1.30
.82
.52
.32
.20
3.11
1.96
1.22
.77
.49
.31
4.14
2.61
1.63
1.03
.65
.41
5.18
3.26
2.04
1.29
.81
.51
6.22
3.91
2.45
1.55
.97
.61
Figure 5: Speaker Wire Resistance Table