RX47
RX57
RX57DIN
RX67
RX67DIN
RX87
RX97
®
Boston Rally Series
Coaxial Speaker Systems
Installation Instructions
Table of Contents
Tools Required
2
2
Before You Begin
Planning the Installation
Speaker Wiring
3
4
Installing Speakers in Factory Cutouts
Installing Speakers in Nonstandard Locations
RX47/RX57/RX67
5
8
10
11
12
13
RX87/RX97
Professional Tips
Adding Subwoofers and Electronic Crossovers
Notice
Installation of automotive stereo systems requires experience with a
variety of mechanical and electrical procedures. This manual explains
the installation flexibility of the Boston Rally Series coaxial speakers,
not the exact installation methods to be used in any given case.
If you do not have the experience that these procedures require,
we strongly suggest you consult your Boston Acoustics dealer about
professional installation.
Tools Required
Before You Begin
These are the tools required
to complete the basic installa-
tion of the Boston Rally Series
components. Additional tools
are necessary for more cus-
Familiarize yourself with the location of fuel lines, hydraulic brake lines
and electrical wiring. Use extreme caution when cutting or drilling
around these parts.
Shut off all stereo and other electrical devices before you start.
Protect the speakers by keeping them in their plastic bags until final
installation. Speakers attract metal chips and filings. Always rest the
speakers with their cones and tweeters facing up.
tom work.
1
8
1. Electric drill with /” (3mm)
1
4
and /” (6mm) bits
Never use force when installing any speaker.
2. Phillips screwdriver
3. Saber saw, hole saw
or nibbler
Check clearances on both sides of a mounting surface before
drilling any holes or installing any screws. Some screws require over an
inch of clearance behind the mounting surface.
4. Utility knife
Use a utility knife to cut fabric away from hole locations before you
drill or cut. Fabric is easily snagged by drill bits and hole saws.
Always wear protective eyewear when cutting and drilling holes or
when using power tools.
5. Silicon sealant or weather
stripping (optional)
6. Pliers or 7mm wrench
(RX87 & RX97 only)
2
Planning the Installation
Read all instructions carefully before you attempt any installation
procedures. Make sure all operations are clear to you.
Make sure you have adequate time and shelter to complete the
installation. Many installations require multiple days to complete.
Examine the Boston Rally Series speakers and hardware so that you
are familiar with them before you start the installation.
1. Decide on speaker placement.
2. Run the speaker wires.
3. Install the speakers and complete the wiring.
3
Speaker Wiring
For your convenience, two sets of two-conductor wire are provided to
use between the speakers and the amplifier or head-unit. Other wire
may be substituted if desired as long as it is at least 18 gauge.
Two-conductor speaker wire connects the positive and negative ter-
minals of each speaker to the corresponding positive and negative ter-
minals on the amp or head-unit. One side of the wire will be marked in
some way. Use the marked conductor to connect the positive terminals
and the plain conductor to connect the negative terminals.
stripe on one side
ridge on one side
different color wires
thread on one side
Routing the Wires
Include a large safety margin when estimating the length of each wire.
For Doors: Run the wires through factory harnesses or existing
holes, if possible. If drilling new holes, file the edges and install rubber
grommets and PVC tubing to protect the wires against abrasion.
For Rear Deck: Run wires along the door sills just inside the car, lift-
ing and replacing carpet as required. You may have to remove the rear
seat to pass wires back to the rear.
4
Installing Speakers in Factory Cutouts
1. Make sure the mounting surface provides a complete air seal between the front and the back of the
speaker. If the surface is uneven, or if air can leak directly from the back of the speaker to the front, seal the
air leaks with silicon sealant or weather stripping. Make sure that the sealing material does not touch any
moving part of the speaker.
2. Attach the wires to the speaker.
3. Attach the assembly to the factory cutout using four of the supplied #8 sheet metal screws or other
hardware. Tighten the screws just enough to seal the woofer against the mounting surface. Do not over-
tighten the screws.
5
RX47 Notice
The RX47 is supplied with the grille adapter ring attached to the metal basket of the speaker. For many
factory cutouts, this adapter ring will have to be removed for installation.
1. Hold the speaker between both of your palms with the speaker cone facing you. Hook your fingers
behind the magnet assembly.
2. Push one locking tab out and back with your thumbs to release it from the speaker frame (see
diagram). Repeat this on all sides of the adapter until the adapter falls free.
RX67/RX67DIN Mounting Screw Locations
Factory speaker locations for 6-inch (160mm & 165mm) speakers provide various screw holes for mounting the
speaker. The RX67 and RX67DIN include several different sets of holes. Rotate the speaker until the correct
holes line up.
4-hole pattern
3-hole pattern
6
RX87 and RX97 Installation Option
The RX87 and RX97 can also be installed from underneath the rear deck
to reduce the installed height of the tweeter module. A spacer is sup-
plied with these speakers to protect the rubber surround. The spacer is
installed between the speaker and the mounting surface as shown in
the diagram.
7
Installing Speakers In Nonstandard Locations
Check the clearance of both speaker locations. Your vehicle may not be
symmetrical. (There may be multiple window controls on the driver’s
side, for example.)
If installing in the doors, remove the interior panel. Avoid possible
speaker contact with door frames, handles and window tracks. Check
the window clearance by rolling the window up and down. Also check
for clearance with the door open and closed.
The Boston Rally Series speakers are heavy, and must be held in
place by a strong, rigid structure.
Check for signs of excessive water leakage inside the door. If the
door has a plastic moisture barrier, cut a flap to shield the speakers, or
make a flap from heavy sheet plastic and attach it to the inside of the
door above the speaker.
8
1. Trace the template onto the mounting panel. Mark the pilot hole,
the edges of the large cutout and the locations of the screws.
2. Make sure that the mounting surface provides a complete air seal
between the front and the back of the speaker. If the surface is
uneven, or if air can leak directly from the back of the speaker to the
front, seal the air leaks with silicon sealant or weather stripping. Make
sure that the sealing material does not touch any moving part of the
speaker.
9
RX47/RX57/RX67
1
8
3. Drill the pilot hole at the center of the cutout, then drill four / ” holes for the speaker’s mounting
screws. Make the large circular cutout with a saber saw, hole saw or nibbler (depending on the material).
4. Slip “U”-clips over the screw holes. Position the flat side toward the speaker as shown in the diagram.
5. Attach the wires to the speaker.
6. Attach the assembly to the cutout as shown in the diagram. Use four of the supplied #8 x 1” sheet metal
screws or other hardware. Tighten the screws just enough to seal the woofer against the mounting surface.
Do not overtighten the screws.
7. Attach the grille. Snap the grille on to the speaker assembly from the front. Be sure to align the logo on
the bottom of the grille before attaching the grille.
Optional Spacers
1
2
To reduce the mounting depth by / ”, optional spacers are available that can be mounted behind the RX57
or the RX67.
10
RX87/RX97
1
4
3. Drill four / ” holes for the speaker’s mounting screws. Make the large elliptical cutout with a saber saw or
nibbler (depending on the material).
4. Attach the assembly to the cutout as shown in the diagram. Use the supplied machine screws and nuts or
other hardware. Tighten the nuts just enough to seal the woofer against the mounting surface. Do not over-
tighten the hardware.
5. Attach the wires to the speaker.
6. Attach the grille front. Snap the grille on to the grille frame from the front. Be sure to align the notch on
the grille with the logo on the grille frame.
11
Professional Tips
• Some installers construct mounting surfaces from MDF. This dense
material dampens resonances and provides a rigid mounting surface.
• In cases where the speaker is being mounted on the surface of the
interior door panel and there is a gap between the panel and the
metal of the door, an appropriate thickness of MDF can be used as
a spacer.
• When mounting the speakers in nonstandard locations in the front
of the car, try mounting them as high up and forward in the doors as
possible to avoid firing into knees, seats and other obstructions.
12
Adding Subwoofers and Electronic Crossovers
The best way to combine a subwoofer with your Boston Rally Series
speaker system is with an electronic crossover. Level matching (making
the subwoofer play at the same level as the coaxial system) and precise
frequency division are much easier to get right with an electronic
crossover. Additionally, electronic crossovers have no insertion loss, and
they isolate the coaxial speakers from the subwoofer’s back EMF.
Subwoofer Crossover Frequency Recommendations
It is hard to predict the ideal crossover frequency to use between sub-
woofers and the Boston Rally Series RX47, RX57, RX57DIN, RX67,
RX67DIN, RX87 or RX97 coaxial speakers. Factors such as the interior
dimensions of the car, the type of subwoofers and the installation
method all play a role in determining the required crossover frequency.
We recommend using an electronic crossover flexible enough to easily
change crossover frequencies. Ideally, the subwoofer crossover fre-
quency and level should be independent from the high-pass section(s).
Only through experimentation can the optimum crossover fre-
quency be determined. However, you can use the following guide as a
starting point. Start with a crossover frequency of 100Hz for the RX47,
90Hz for the RX57/RX57DIN, 80Hz for the RX67/RX67DIN or RX87 and
70Hz for the RX97.
Experiment with the crossover frequency to achieve a natural,
balanced sound. Keep in mind that an electrical gap in crossover
frequencies is often necessary to achieve a flat acoustical response.
Depending on the installation location, it may become necessary to
invert the phase of the coaxial speakers relative to the subwoofers.
Even though they may be electrically correct, they may be acoustically
incorrect.
13
Limited Warranty
For one year from the date of purchase, Boston Acoustics will repair for
the original owner any defect in materials or workmanship that occurs in
normal use, without charge for parts or labor.
Your responsibilities are to use the speaker system according to the
instructions supplied, to provide safe and secure transportation to the
authorized Boston Acoustics service representative and to present proof
of purchase in the form of your sales slip when requesting service.
Excluded from this warranty is damage that results from abuse,
misuse, accidents, shipping, or repairs or modification by anyone other
than an authorized service representative. This warranty is void if the
serial number has been removed or defaced.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have
other rights which vary from state to state.
If Service Seems Necessary
First, contact the retailer from whom you purchased this product.
If that’s not possible, write to:
Boston Acoustics, Inc.
Service Department
300 Jubilee Drive
Peabody, MA 01960
We will promptly advise you of what action to take. If it is necessary to
return your speaker to the factory, ship it prepaid. After it is repaired,
we will return it freight prepaid to the U.S. and Canada.
300 Jubilee Drive
Peabody, MA 01960
USA
508.538.5000
Boston, Boston Acoustics, and Boston Rally are
registered trademarks of Boston Acoustics, Inc.
©2000 All rights reserved.
Covered by patents issued and/or pending.
042-000472-4
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