Sonance A800D User Guide

INSTALLING THE WOOFER

Before Installation: New Construction

For installations in new construction, Sonance recommends using 
a Virtuoso FlexBracket (part# 92247) to reserve a location for the woofer.
The FlexBracket is nailed or screwed to the studs and serves as a guide for the
drywaller so that the woofer hole will be in the desired location once the 
drywall is installed.

Before Installation: Retrofit

1. Determine the location for the woofer (see Woofer Placement on page 2).

2. Perform an obstruction survey to be certain that there are no studs, conduit,

pipes, heating ducts or air returns that will interfere with the woofer.

3. The cutout for the Virtuoso A800DR woofer is 10

1

/

8

” (257mm) in diameter.

There also must be at least 6” (152mm) depth within the ceiling for the
woofer.

4. Position the included cutout template where the woofer is to be located and

pencil an outline on the ceiling.

• If you are unsure about obstructions, drill a small hole in the center of the

outline and insert a coat hanger wire into the hole to feel-around for 
possible obstructions.

5. Cut the hole using a drywall saw, and run the speaker wire between the

amplifier and the woofer location.

Installation

The Sonance Virtuoso A800DR woofer features exclusive FastMount® tabs
and an integral RotoLock® mounting system for quick mounting directly into
an existing ceiling (see Illustration 4).

1. Remove the paint plug from the woofer. Connect the speaker wire to the

terminals on the woofer. Double-check that you connected amplifier + to
speaker + and amplifier – to speaker –.

2. Make sure all the RotoLock clamps are in the full clockwise position so 

that they are tucked within the mounting hole’s border. Insert the woofer
into the hole in the ceiling. The RotoLock system can accommodate a 
maximum wall material thickness of 1¼”.

• The FastMount tabs will prevent the speaker from falling out of the

mounting hole, allowing the installer to let go of the woofer to pick-up
tools or other items (see Illustration 4).

3. Tighten the four screws on the front of the woofer baffle. The RotoLock

clamps will automatically rotate into position and begin clamping the
woofer (see Illustration 4).

• When you notice resistance on the screws the woofer has been clamped

successfully.

4. Attach the grille after the woofer has been installed. Insert about half of the

grille into the groove at the edge of the woofer. Gently fit the remaining half
of the grille  by working around the woofer, fitting the grille into the groove
as you go.

PAINTING THE WOOFER AND GRILLE

You can paint the woofer and grille before installing it, which will 
eliminate the “paint scar” if the woofer ever needs to be removed for service.
You can also paint the woofer after installation, but before the grille is
attached. The Virtuoso A800DR woofer comes from the factory fitted with a
plastic ‘paint plug’. Use the paint plug to protect the woofer driver while the
flange is being painted along with the wall.

Sonance always suggests painting the grille separately from the woofer. Before
painting, carefully remove the under-grille cloth. It is held in place with a light
tacking glue that makes it easy to remove.

Spray the grille with thinned paint (5 parts thinner to 1 part paint), being
careful not to plug the holes. Too heavy a coat of paint on the grille can
adversely affect the sound of the woofer.

Once the grille and flange are painted and dry, replace the under-grille cloth,
remove the paint plug from the woofer flange and install the grille.

3

I N S T R U C T I O N   M A N U A L

S O N A N C E   V I R T U O S O

®

D R - S E R I E S

A 8 0 0 D R   8 ”   I N - C E I L I N G   W O O F E R

FastMount

Tabs

RotoLock

Clamps