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Ideally the systems should be placed at least three feet from any walls. The

height, at the top of the midrange, should be at ear level. The two speakers

should be equidistant from your primary listening position; the distance

should be determined by the distance between the speakers. We recommend

that the angle between the speakers, at the listening position, be between

45° to 60°. For example, if the speakers are 8' apart, your listening position

should be 8'–12' from each speaker. To widen the area in which the best

stereo image will be perceived, turn the speaker to face the primary 

listening position (Figure 5).

It is normally recommended that the 

Century Gold

loudspeakers be

positioned so that the high-frequency transducers are towards the inside.

In some listening environments, however, the imaging characteristics may

be improved by positioning the high-frequency transducers towards the

outside. We suggest you experiment with the positioning of your loud-

speakers to determine the ideal placement in your listening room.

Placement

No.

7

3'

3'

3'

10 – 15

3'3'

3'3'

10 – 15

3'

3'

3'

3'

Ear level when 

seated in listening

position

Figure 5  Placement

Position Top View

Position Front View

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The 

Century Gold

loudspeakers can be connected by one of several

methods. The binding posts on the rear panel of the 

Century Gold

will accept most types of audio cable and connectors, including banana

plugs and bare wire (Figure 6). Follow the hookup method that best

describes your system.

1. For each channel, connect the red (+) terminal on the 

Century Gold

to the red (+) terminal on your amplifier. 

2. For each channel, connect the black (-) terminal on the

Century Gold

to the black (-) terminal on the amplifier. 

Connecting the systems in this manner ensures that they will operate in

phase; that is, they will work together rather than in opposition.

Connecting the speaker system out of phase will not cause damage but

will adversely affect the speaker’s sound.

No.

8

Speaker Connections

Figure 6  Connections

Banana/Spade 

Connecting Method

Bare Wire 

Connecting Method

Figure 7  Standard

Connecting Method

Standard Connections (Figure 7)

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The 

Century Gold’s

outer connection panel and internal dividing 

network are designed so that separate sets of speaker cable can be attached

to the low-frequency transducer and midrange/high-frequency transducer

portions of the dividing network. This is called bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can

provide several sonic advantages and considerably more flexibility in

power amplifier selection. The advantages of bi-wiring are as follows:

The majority of current flowing between an amplifier and speaker is devoted
to bass reproduction. In fact, 60% or more of an amplifier’s output is des-
tined for the woofers. When current flows through a wire, it produces an
electro-magnetic field (EMF) that expands and collapses at a rate equal to
that of the music’s complex frequency components. If a single speaker 
wire must conduct the full musical frequency, the preponderance of low-
frequency information can interact with or modulate high frequencies. 
The resulting intermodulation can create audible changes to the high 
frequencies even before they reach the loudspeakers.

By using separate cables for high and low frequencies, unwanted high- 
frequency modulation is avoided. Low-frequency information flows
through one cable while high frequencies flow through another.

Having the opportunity to use separate low- and high-frequency cables

allows you to use cables best suited to each frequency range. Optimally,

you should use high-quality, audiophile-grade speaker cables for both low-

and high-frequency conductors. However, let your ears guide you to the

cables that best match the

Century Gold

loudspeakers to your amplifier.

Bi-wiring also allows you the option of using separate stereo power 

amplifiers for left and right speakers, or even four mono amplifiers.

Whether you use two or four amplifiers, it is important to use the same

brand and model to power like connections on the

Century Gold.

Frequency-optimized Cables

No.

9

Reduction of Intermodulation 

Bi-Wiring

Amplifier Flexibility

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Figures 8 through 10 show two bi-wiring options, single stereo amplifier

and dual stereo amplifier modes. For passive and bi-wire connections, set

the switch to the Normal/Bi-Wire position (Figure 8a).

1. The external “strapping bars” that normally connect the 

Century

Gold’s

low-frequency and high-frequency terminals must be removed before

bi-wiring. To remove the shorting straps, simply loosen and slide the bars

off to the side (Figure 11).

2. Never connect two amplifiers to the same loudspeaker without first removing the

strapping bars. Operating two amplifier channels without removing the

strapping bars can seriously damage your amplifiers!

3. If you have hooked up your

Century Gold

loudspeakers in any of

the bi-wire configurations indicated, it is not advisable to use additional

speakers separately or simultaneously.

4. As with conventional one-amplifier connections, make sure that all

speaker cables are the same length.

No.

10

Figure 8  Bi-Wire Connecting Method

AMP

NORMAL/
BI-WIRE

Figure 8a  Normal/Bi-Wire Position

Bi-AMP

NORMAL/
BI-WIRE

Figure 11 Removal of Shorting Straps

AMP

NORMAL/
BI-WIRE

HF
LF

HF

Preamp

Stereo amp

LF

Figure 9  One-Amp Bi-Wire

HF
LF

HF

Preamp w/Y-corded output

Stereo amps

LF

Figure 10  Two-Amp Bi-Wire

Important

Bi-Wiring Connections

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