This Installation Guide is applicable for the following powered, ceiling-mounted audio systems:

Astronaut™ Series

Installation Menu

Voltage
Connections
Location
Ceiling Mount
Noise
Distortion
Low Volume
Plenum
Grounding

Noise

Do not assume that noise in the form of hum, static, pops, or distortion is the fault of the Cetacea speaker (see Troubleshooting).

Investigate noise through a process of elimination: switch out AC power supplies, input sources, and cables. For example, use a portable CD player instead of an iPod, or notebook computer instead of a DVD, VCR, or projector. Then, if noise is still present, switch out for an alternate Cetacea speaker. If the noise is still present, then the Cetacea speaker is not the problem. Think of the speaker as the canary in the coalmine; in other words, do not blame the canary for falling off its perch. There is a reason for it.

The following lists the most common sources of noise reported to us from various installations:

• Ground loop AC hum, 60 Hz (See Grounding)
• Bad sources like improperly grounded portable computer docking stations
• Ungrounded or improperly grounded wall switch plates
• Bad cables, especially custom cables
• Bad MP3 files or corrupted audio files from the Internet, a CD, or a computer
• Volume turned up too high (properly designed speakers sound distorted at maximum volume)

The larger the number of connection in a source path, the more likely it is that noise will transfer to the speaker. For instance, if the source is a computer that is connected to a docking station, wall plate, projector, and speaker, then there is much more opportunity for noise to be introduced into the system than if the computer was just connected to the speaker. Each and every source and connection is a potential cause of noise and must be investigated through a process of elimination.

Cetacea Sound speakers are very easy to diagnose. For additional support, refer to our Troubleshooting guide.