Dayton Audio CS420EC 4" 2-Way Enclosed Ceiling Speaker User Manual
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duce the chance of breaking the plaster. Test fit the speaker in 
the hole, the speaker should fit loosely and the speaker frame 
should cover the edges of the hole. Repeat these steps for the 
other speaker.
5) Speaker Cable
Don’t compromise sound quality by using thin, inexpensive 
speaker wire, we recommend using a high quality oxygen free 
copper speaker cable. For runs less than 50 feet we recom-
mend 16 gauge cable, and for longer runs we recommend 
14 gauge or larger cable. For installations with in-room stereo 
volume controls we recommend using a four conductor speaker 
wire from receiver to volume controls. Most municipalities require 
the use of CL2 rated speaker cable for installation in walls and 
ceilings. Leave enough speaker cable so you can stand comfort-
ably on the floor or ladder while connecting the speaker cable to 
the speakers.
6) Speaker Connection
Remove about 8" of the cable jacket to expose the inner conduc-
tors. Strip 1/4" of insulation from each conductor and connect to 
the speaker terminals. When connecting the wires to the speak-
ers, be sure to observe proper polarity. Most CL2 rated speaker 
cable will have red and black conductors so you will connect the 
red wire to the red speaker terminal and the black wire to the 
black speaker terminal.
For high impedance (70 V) applications set the rotary switch to 
the wattage to be used. For Low Impedance (8 ohm) applications 
set the rotary switch to the 8 ohm position.
Note: To avoid damage to the speaker, be sure to switch off 
the amplifier power when changing the input.
7) Final Installation
To install the speakers into the ceiling, remove the grills, 
this will give you access to the mounting screws. Turn 
the mounting clamps so they are positioned as in the il-
lustration, this will allow the speakers to clear the hole for 
installation. Insert the speaker into the hole, and tighten the 
mounting screws. As you turn each screw, the mounting 
clamps will rotate outward to engage ceiling material. 
CAUTION: Do Not Over-Tighten the Clamps. Too much torque may snap off the lug and the 
speaker will not seat securely. A snug fit is all that is necessary to assure proper performance.
8) Painting Speakers
If you choose to paint the speaker grill and/or frame we have provided a “Paint Masking Tem-
plate” to cover the woofer/tweeter assembly and help prevent possible damage. 
Do not try to
paint the frame and grill assembly together, the grill should always be painted separately. 
Do not apply heavy coats of paint that might block the perforations in the grill.
9) Troubleshooting
 
Should your speakers not work properly, check the following:
No sound from speakers:
●
Most stereo receivers have an A/B speaker selector switch. Make certain that
this switch is in the proper position.
●
Mute feature is activated.
One speaker is playing while the other is not:
●
Check the balance control on the receiver. Make sure it is centered.
●
Loose connection at either the receiver or the speaker. Double check connections.
●
Bad speaker cable. Replace suspect speaker cable.
Congratulations on the purchase of your
Dayton Audio
®
Contractor Series Ceiling Speakers.
These speakers were manufactured with high quality components and engineered to deliver top 
quality sound performance.
●
Long-throw polypropylene cone woofers with rubber surround
●
Coaxially mounted 1" mylar tweeter
●
Optimized crossover
●
Base reflex enclosure
Please read these instructions completely before you begin your installation.
1) Parts Inventory
 
Your speaker kit should include the following:
●
1 Dayton Audio Contractor Series Enclosed Ceiling Speaker with Grill
●
1 speaker installation / paint masking template
2) Installation Tools
 
The Dayton Audio speakers can be installed with the following simple tools:
●
Pencil
●
#2 Phillips screwdriver
●
Masking tape
●
Wire cutters & wire stripper/crimp tool
●
Drill & drill bits
●
Stud finder**
●
Utility knife or wallboard saw*
* Recommended for use if installing in plaster walls.
** Optional tools to make the installation easier.
3) Speaker Location
To achieve the best performance from your Dayton Audio speakers, it is important to carefully 
select the location for installation. Your ceiling speakers should be installed 5 to 8 feet apart to 
ensure proper stereo imaging. Mount each speaker the same distance from the intersecting 
walls to maintain a uniform look. Keep the speakers at least 2 feet away from the corners of 
the room to avoid overemphasized bass reproduction.
4) Speaker Installation
Once you have selected the location for your speakers, you are ready to install them.
CAUTION: Be certain that there are no electrical wires, water pipes, or heating ducts 
in the planned installation area before you start drilling or cutting into the ceiling. If 
there is an electrical outlet nearby, turn off the circuit breaker to avoid possible injury.
Ceiling speakers are designed to be mounted in the ceiling between the joists or trusses. 
Once you have selected the location, check to be sure you are between the joists or truss. 
One method is to tap on the ceiling, you will hear a hollow sound when between two joists or 
trusses and a sharper, more solid sound when right on top of, or close to a joist or truss.
An easier, more accurate method for finding the location of joists or trusses is to use a 
stud finder.
The Contractor Series Ceiling speakers include a two-part template. Remove the center circle 
from the template, this is a paint masking template to use if you choose to paint the speaker 
frames and grill. The outer ring is used to mark the cut-out for the speakers.
Once you have established that your chosen location is between two joists or trusses, and 
that there are no obstructions in the ceiling, tape your speaker template to the ceiling and 
lightly trace around the inside edge with a pencil and drill a 1" hole in the center of the 
template outline. Next, use a piece of stiff wire (a coat hanger works well), bend it 8" from the 
end at a 90 degree angle. Insert the bent part of the coat hanger into the 1" hole and rotate 
the wire in a complete circle to check for obstructions. If the wire hits a stud on either side, 
reposition your template to the left or right and mark the outline again. Keep the pilot hole 
within the template outline.
If the ceiling is made of drywall, simply cut the marked area with your utility knife or drywall 
saw. If the ceiling is made of plaster, you should use a saw with a higher tooth count to re-
