Skip to main content

WA858 Owner's Manual

Keith Harris
Updated

8" 8-Ohm In-Wall Home Theater Speakers

 

Included

Speakers (2)

Grilles (2)

Template

A technical line drawing depicting a pair of identical rectangular in-wall speakers positioned side-by-side: Speaker Layout: Each speaker features a 2-way driver design mounted within a outer rectangular baffle frame lined with perimeter mounting holes and corner assembly screws. Tweeter: Located in the top section within an oval recess, featuring a circular tweeter with a tri-star protective grille guard. The front speaker also features a small circular adjustment dial or switch located to the left of the tweeter housing. Woofer: A large circular woofer cone with ribbed surround detailing occupies the lower half of each speaker panel.
A technical line drawing depicting two rectangular speaker grilles side-by-side: Grille Design: Two flat, rectangular protective speaker grilles featuring a uniform, fine mesh/perforated hole pattern across their entire surfaces with rounded corners. Arrangement: The left grille is positioned slightly higher and in front, partially overlapping the second grille resting directly behind it to the right.
A simple line drawing illustrating a mounting or installation cutout template: Shape: A vertical, rectangular outline with slightly rounded corners. Text: The word "TEMPLATE" is printed in all capital letters in a clean sans-serif font centered directly in the middle of the box.

 

Speaker Placement

  1. Stereo: For best stereo performance, install the speakers at an equal distance from the listening position and each other. Preferably between 5 and 10 feet. When determining the height, keep in mind that the center of the speaker should be at the listener’s ear level. You could also place it slightly above, and adjust the angle of the tweeter as needed.A technical line drawing labeled "A" in a black circle at the top-left corner illustrates recommended speaker placement for a stereo setup: Layout: A top-down overhead view of a room showing two in-wall speakers mounted on the front wall facing a listener seated in an armchair against the opposite wall. Distances: Dashed double-ended arrows form an equilateral triangle between the components: Speaker-to-Speaker Distance: Horizontal arrow between the left and right speakers indicates a distance of 5ft – 10ft. Speaker-to-Listener Distance: Diagonal arrows extending from each speaker to the listener's head indicate a distance of 5ft – 10ft on each side.

     

  2. Home Theater / Surround Sound: Install the speakers on either side of the TV, ensuring that the center of the speakers are at a height that places them at listener’s ear level. If you are creating a 5.1 system, install a center channel speaker vertically or horizontally, above or below the TV, and directly in front of the listening position. Install the satellite speakers slightly behind the listening position, about 1 to 2 feet above ear level, and at least as far apart as the front speakers. If side placement isn’t possible place them to the rear of the listening position.

    A technical line drawing labeled "B" in a black circle at the top-left corner illustrates recommended speaker placement for a surround sound home theater setup: Front Channels: Three speakers are mounted along the front wall—a center speaker directly above a television labeled "TV", flanked by left and right front speakers. Rear Channels: Two surround speakers are mounted along the back wall behind the listener. Distances: Front Left to Right Spacing: A horizontal dashed arrow between the front left and front right speakers indicates a distance of 5ft – 10ft. Front-to-Listener Distance: Diagonal dashed arrows from the front left and front right speakers to the listener seated in an armchair form a triangle, each measuring 5ft – 10ft. Rear Speaker Spacing: A horizontal dashed arrow between the two rear surround speakers indicates a distance of 5ft – 10ft.

 

Installation

Tools Needed: 

  • Phillips-Head Screwdriver 
  • Drywall Saw
  • Drill
  • Wire Strippers
  • Level
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Gloves
  • Safety Goggles
  • Sturdy Piece of Wire (such as a coat hanger)
1.) Before beginning, make sure that there are no studs in the location you have chosen for installation.
A technical illustration labeled with the number 1 in a black circle at the top-left corner demonstrates proper template positioning relative to wall framing: Left Panel (Correct Placement): A rectangular cutout template labeled "TEMPLATE" is placed flat on drywall centered between two vertical wall studs, accompanied by a large green checkmark underneath. Right Panel (Incorrect Placement): The template is placed directly over a wall stud, accompanied by a large red X underneath to indicate improper placement.
2.) Position the cutout template and use a level to ensure that it is properly aligned. Use a pencil to trace around the template and recheck the tracing to make sure it’s level.

A technical illustration labeled with the number 2 in a black circle at the top-left corner demonstrates tracing a mounting layout: Template Placement: A rectangular cutout template labeled "TEMPLATE" is held firmly against a wall or mounting surface by a right hand placed along its bottom-right edge. Tracing Action: A left hand holds a pencil against the left border of the template to trace its outer outline onto the wall.

3.) Use a ruler to locate the center of the outline you traced and drill a pilot hole there.
A technical line drawing labeled with the number 3 in a black circle at the top-left corner demonstrates drilling a starter hole: Traced Outline: A rectangular template boundary is drawn with dashed lines on the wall, with vertical and horizontal dashed centerlines intersecting at the middle. Drilling Action: A hand holds a cordless power drill perpendicular to the wall, with the drill bit positioned directly at the center intersection point of the traced rectangle to create a pilot hole.
4.) Fold a coat hanger or other sturdy metal piece of wire, bend it 90º, and insert it into the pilot hole as shown above. Rotate the wire 360º to ensure here are no obstructions.
A technical line drawing labeled with the number 4 in a black circle at the top-left corner demonstrates probing the wall cavity: Traced Outline: The dashed rectangular outline of the speaker cutout is shown marked on a drywall wall surface. Probing Action: A hand holds a straight wire tool with a 90-degree bent tip inserted into the center pilot hole. Rotation Indicator: A circular dashed arrow labeled "360°" surrounds the hole, showing that the bent wire is rotated in a full circle inside the wall cavity to check for hidden studs, pipes, or electrical wiring before cutting.
5.) Use the drywall saw to cut out the outline you traced on the wall. Before cutting, check the outline to ensure that it is straight and level.
A technical line drawing labeled with the number 5 in a black circle at the top-left corner demonstrates cutting out the drywall opening: Traced Outline: A rectangular shape with a small drilled hole in the center is marked with dashed lines on a drywall wall surface. Cutting Action: A hand holds a handheld drywall saw (jab/keyhole saw) with its serrated blade inserted into the wall, actively cutting along the right vertical dashed line of the rectangular template outline.
6.) Run high-quality speaker cable* from your receiver to the hole you cut out. Be sure to leave a few extra feet

*Attention: Check local code requirements before installing in-ceiling or in-wall speaker wires. We recommend you use CL2 or CL3 rated, CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum) speaker wire such as Rockville’s CL or RCC series 2 and 4 conductor speaker wire.

A technical line drawing labeled with the number 6 in a black circle at the top-left corner demonstrates running speaker wiring: Wall Cutout: A clean rectangular hole cut into the drywall surface. Speaker Wires: Two insulated speaker wires—one red (positive) and one black (negative)—run through the wall cavity and extend outward through the bottom of the rectangular cutout opening. Exposed Leads: The ends of both wires are stripped, exposing short lengths of bare metal conductor ready for connection.
7.) Connect the speaker cables to your speaker. Refer to the next section; Connections for detailed instructions.
A technical line drawing labeled with the number 7 in a black circle at the top-left corner demonstrates connecting the audio wiring to the speaker: Circuit Board & Terminals: The rear crossover circuit board of an in-wall speaker unit features two push-button spring terminals—a red positive terminal and a black negative terminal. Wiring Connections: The red (positive) wire from the wall connects to the red terminal, and the black (negative) wire connects to the black terminal. Internal lead wires run from these terminals down to the speaker driver's voice coil connectors. Speaker Assembly: The rear of the speaker cone is visible below the circuit board, displaying a circular black magnet label with the Rockville shield logo and the model designation "WA858 WALL SPEAKER." Mounting dog-ear clamps are positioned along the outer plastic frame.
8.) Make sure the mounting screws are in the locked position. If they are not, turn them a quarter turn counterclockwise until they stop. Do this for all 6 screws.
A technical line drawing labeled with the number 8 in a black circle at the top-left corner illustrates securing an in-wall speaker mounting clamp: Dog-Ear Clamp Mechanism: A close-up view behind the speaker frame shows a plastic mounting tab (dog-ear clamp) being rotated outward. Alignment Guidance: Red dashed lines indicate the edge boundary of the wall cutout, while a green arrow demonstrates the clamp foot extending past the outer lip of the speaker housing to grip the back of the drywall. Component Details: The rear circuit board with red and black spring terminals and electronic components is visible on the right side of the frame.
9.) Insert the speaker into the wall and ensure that it is properly seated.
A technical line drawing labeled with the number 9 in a black circle at the top-left corner demonstrates inserting the speaker into the wall: Insertion Action: Two hands guide a rectangular in-wall speaker frame into a cutout in the drywall surface. Directional Indicator: A green arrow near the bottom edge points inward toward the wall, indicating pushing the speaker body into the rectangular opening. Speaker Features: The front face of the speaker shows a top directional tweeter being pressed/guided by a hand, a main woofer cone below it, an adjustable tap switch dial on the left side, and multiple mounting screw holes around the outer frame flange.
10.) Using a drill or phillips-head screwdriver, turn each one of the mounting screws clockwise until the clamps firmly grip the wall. Now tighten each screw one additional turn to ensure that the clamps are locked in. Do not overtighten.
A technical line drawing labeled with the number 10 in a black circle at the top-left corner demonstrates securing the speaker in place: Securing Action: One hand holds the outer frame of the in-wall speaker flush against the wall, while the other hand uses a Phillips-head manual screwdriver to tighten a mounting screw along the frame edge. Rotational Direction: A green curved arrow around the screwdriver shank indicates turning clockwise to drive the screw and engage the rear dog-ear mounting clamps. Speaker Features: The front of the installed speaker shows the upper tweeter housing, main lower woofer cone, and multiple mounting screw holes around the outer rim.
11.) Once the speaker is mounted, you can adjust the angle of the tweeter to ensure it’s pointing towards the listening position. Do this by gently pressing the outer edges of the tweeter housing as shown above. Do not push on the actual tweeter. Doing so will cause permanent damage.
A technical line drawing labeled with the number 11 in a black circle at the top-left corner demonstrates adjusting the speaker tweeter: Tweeter Adjustment: A hand points to and presses the outer edge of the circular tweeter. An L-shaped arrow points to the assembly labeled "TWEETER HOUSING." Directional Indicator: Green curved arrows surrounding the tweeter housing indicate multi-directional swivel motion (up, down, left, and right) to aim sound toward the desired listening area. Speaker Features: The surrounding oval baffle, top portion of the main woofer cone below, and an adjustable selector dial on the left edge are visible.
12.) The grill is secured to the speaker with magnets. Simply place the grill on top of the speaker until you feel it catch. 
A technical line drawing labeled with the number 12 in a black circle at the top-left corner demonstrates attaching the speaker grille: Grille Attachment: A rectangular mesh speaker grille is aligned directly in front of the mounted in-wall speaker assembly. Alignment Indicators: Multiple green dashed arrows extend from the corners and sides of the mesh grille to corresponding magnet/attachment points along the outer rim of the speaker frame. Speaker Assembly: The underlying speaker face shows the mounted baffle, tweeter housing, main woofer, and tap selector dial.

 

Connections

Strip ¼˝ to ½˝ of insulation from both ends of each speaker wire (fig. a). Fan out the strands (fig. b) and twist them (fig. c), making sure that there are none sticking out.
A technical diagram broken into three sequential panels labeled a, b, and c showing wire preparation steps for terminal connection: Panel A: Shows a red insulated wire with the outer jacket stripped back to expose straight, untwisted copper conductor strands. Panel B: Shows the exposed copper wire strands fanned out and separated from one another. Panel C: Shows the copper wire strands twisted neatly and tightly together into a single uniform lead ready for insertion into a connector or terminal.
Connect one end of each speaker wire to the appropriate output of your amplifier or receiver (fig. d).
A technical diagram labeled d in a black circle at the upper-left corner illustrates connecting speaker wires to an audio receiver/amplifier panel:Terminal Panel: A rear terminal section labeled SPEAKERS with separate channels labeled RIGHT and LEFT. The top row contains red positive ($+$) binding posts, and the bottom row contains black negative ($-$) binding posts.Wire Insertion:A stripped, twisted red wire lead is indicated by a black arrow inserting into the red positive ($+$) LEFT channel binding post.A stripped, twisted black wire lead is indicated by a black arrow inserting into the black negative ($-$) LEFT channel binding post.Safety Labels: Adjacent safety and warning labels on the rear amplifier panel are visible, including "DO NOT OBSTRUCT" and "CAUTION / RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK."
Connect the other end of each speaker wire to the corresponding spring loaded terminal of the speaker (fig. e). Check that it is fully inserted and properly secured. Make sure to observe proper polarity. Repeat these steps for the other speaker.
A technical diagram labeled e in a black circle at the upper-left corner illustrates connecting wire leads to push-style terminals on an internal speaker circuit board: Terminal Connections: A stripped copper wire with red insulation aligns with a black arrow pointing directly into the side hole of the top push terminal (marked with a red cap/end). A stripped copper wire with black insulation aligns with a black arrow pointing directly into the side hole of the bottom push terminal (marked with a black cap/end). Circuit Board Components: The surrounding circuit board surface displays electronic components, including internal wiring, a screw connector, capacitors, and an inductor coil.

 

Adjusting the High-Frequency Volume Control

To adjust the tonal balance of the speaker to suit your taste or your listening environment, use the control marked TREBLE on the front of the speaker (fig. f).

 

Slide the down to cut the high frequency volume level by -3dB or up for no cut (fig. g).

A technical diagram labeled f in a black circle at the upper-left corner highlights the treble adjustment controls on an in-wall speaker baffle: Treble Switch: Located to the right of the center tweeter housing, a vertical toggle switch is labeled TREBLE with options for 0dB (top position) and -3dB (bottom position). Visual Callout: A green circle encloses the treble switch assembly, and a horizontal green arrow points directly across the tweeter housing toward the switch to highlight its location. Speaker Baffle Layout: The surrounding front frame of the speaker shows the mounting screw holes along the outer edge, the central tweeter grille, and the top curve of the lower woofer cone.

 

Features/Specifications

  • Peak Power Handling: 320 Watts (per speaker)/640 Watts (per pair)

  • RMS Power Handling: 80 Watts (per speaker)/160 Watts (per pair)

  • Fiber glass Cone

  • Rubber Surround

  • 8″ Woofer

  • 1″ Silk Dome Tweeter

  • 1.49˝ KAPTON voice coil

  • 2-way tweeter attenuation knob on front panel

  • 21 oz. Ferrite Magnet

  • Built-in 12dB/octave crossover (cutoff frequency is 3kHz)

  • Easy to mount inside your wall

  • High-Quality Spring Loaded Push Terminals

  • Flush-Mount Grills

  • Speaker is designed to look beautiful with or without the grill

  • Frequency Response: 45Hz – 20kHz

  • Sensitivity: 88dB @ 1w/1m

  • Impedance: 8 Ohms

  • Mounting Depth: 3.94″

  • Cut-out Dimension: 13.18˝ x 9.05˝

  • Unit dimensions: 14.49˝ x 10.43˝ x 3.94˝

  • Color: White

  • Easy to follow installation and how-to videos

 

Dimensions

A technical dimensional drawing illustrating the front face and profile view of a rectangular in-wall speaker with measurement callouts: Front View (Left): Layout: Displays a rectangular outer frame containing a central woofer cone, an upper tweeter assembly, and a treble toggle switch labeled 0dB and -3dB. Height Measurement: Double-ended vertical dimension arrows indicate a total height of 14.48” (368mm). Width Measurement: Double-ended horizontal dimension arrows indicate a total width of 10.43” (265mm). Side Profile View (Right): Layout: Displays the depth profile of the speaker assembly, including the rear magnet structure, mounting dog-leg clamps, and crossover circuit board. Depth Measurement: Double-ended horizontal dimension arrows indicate a total mounting depth of 3.94” (100.08mm) from the rear of the mounting flange.

Related to

Comments

0 comments

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Powered by Zendesk