EX3 Series
Tweeter & Component
Speaker Systems
®
t h e s p e a k e r s p e c i a l i s t s
POLK AUDIO
5601 METRO DRIVE
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21215
(800)377-7655
“Polk Audio” and “The Speaker Specialists” are
trademarks of Britannia Investment Corporation used
under license by Polk Audio Incorporated.
INSTALLING EX3 SERIES COMPONENTS
Installing car speakers is a serious project. If you have any doubts about your ability to execute any
of the installation steps found in this manual, save yourself a lot of grief and contact a professional
installer. Your Polk Audio dealer is a good place to find one. If you intend to do the installation
yourself we assume you possess some skill in the proper use of hand and power tools. No matter
how much installation experience you have, we recommend that you…
EX3 Series Crossovers
You will need to make wiring connections from your amp or radio to the crossovers and from the
crossovers to your mid/woofers and tweeters [figure 1]. Choose crossover box locations that are
convenient for making these connections. We do not recommend placing the crossover
inside of door panels due to the increased potential for water damage and
interference with internal door and window mechanisms.
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Read this manual thoroughly before you begin
Plan your installation carefully
Allow enough time to complete the installation without rushing
Take steps to protect your car and upholstery from unwanted scratches and punctures
To install the Crossover, squeeze the terminal end of the “hood” and lift it up (like a classic sports car
hood, natch) to expose the mounting screw holes [figure 2]. Use the included crossover mounting
screws to secure the crossover in your chosen location. You may want to mark the holes with an
indelible ink marker and pre-drill your screw holes for easy installation. Be careful not to drill or
screw through any important mechanical devices in your car.
NECESSARY TOOLS
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Phillips head screwdriver
Flat blade screwdriver or putty knife
Door panel pry-tool (available at most auto parts supply stores)
Electric drill
3/16" and 1/8" drill bits
Hole saw of appropriate diameter for the speaker size (for “new location” and
flush mount tweeter installation only)
Indelible ink marker for marking the cutout (for “new location” installation only)
Metal file
Solderless, crimp-on connectors and a crimping tool
Safety glasses
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Wire strippers and cutters
NOTE: For EX3500 installation, please jump to page 8 now.
FIG. 2
EX3500 TWEETER
99.1
RADIO
AMP
(OPTIONAL)
CROSSOVER
MIDRANGE
FIG. 1
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Contact Polk Customer Service: 800-377-7655 [email protected]
Your EX3 Series Crossovers have terminals that are clearly marked for wiring connections. These
connections are shown in [figure 3]. The wires provided with your EX system have one red conductor.
Use this wire as the positive (+) lead and connect it to the positive (+) terminals on your crossovers
and the positive (+) terminals of each of your speakers.
4.) Disconnect the factory speaker. After disconnecting the factory speaker, connect the wires to your
new Polk Audio speaker, hooking up the positive [+] wire to the wider of the two EX3 terminals
and the negative [–] to the narrower EX3 terminal.
5.) Mount your EX3 Loudspeaker using the mounting hardware you saved from Step 2.
6.) Remount the factory grille cover.
7.) Repeat Steps 1-6 for the other speaker(s).
Installing your mid-woofers in a “New Location”
AMP
Factory locations uncool? Pick a new location. Be sure to take into account both your vehicle’s design
and your sonic goals. Before you begin, read all of these steps. If you have any doubts about your ability
to execute any of these steps, save yourself a lot of grief and contact a professional installer. Your Polk
Audio dealer is a good place to find one.
WOOFER
1.) Using the door panel pry-tool, carefully remove any door panels, kick panels, molded parts or fabric
coverings to expose the surface that will need to be cut to install the new speaker.
2.) Check the dimensions around and behind the installation area for fit. This includes any moving
parts behind the speaker (move the windows up and down) or the sides of the speaker (open and
close doors).
TWEETER
FIG. 3
3.) Locate the template over the desired location. Draw the inside circle and mark at least two opposing
screw locations.
4.) Cut the circle with the appropriate tool. Drill pilot holes for the screw locations. File the edges
of any bare metal surfaces until smooth, then coat with primer to prevent rust.
5.) When primer is dry, slip mounting clips over the screw holes.
Installing your mid-woofers in a factory location
1.) Carefully remove the grille covering the factory speaker. In most cases it will be “press-fit” or
screwed to mounting tabs molded into the surrounding area. On some cars, grilles are held by
screws or spring clips. The screws will be obvious, the spring clips may not be. If you experience
any resistance you may need to consult your dealer or your car’s owner’s manual to determine
if there is any special way the manufacturer has secured the grille. If you don’t feel comfortable
prying at your car’s interior with a pry tool, and the grille resists your efforts, back off and think
again about a professional installation. The cost of a professional installation is usually less than
the cost of new door panels or dashboards. Some grilles are integral parts of their panels and are
not removable. In these cases you will need to remove the entire door panel to gain access to the
speaker location. This will usually require the removal of door handles, window winder mecha-
nisms and perhaps other parts such as door pulls and lock buttons. Pros do this stuff in their
sleep. Think about it.
2.) If you’re still reading, and you’ve removed your factory grille, remember to keep all screws,
mounting clips or lock washers that held the factory speaker in place and save them for reuse.
Lift the speaker out of the hole a short distance.
3.) Before unhooking the speaker wires, identify the positive speaker terminal (usually marked with
a red dot or [+], or it is the terminal that is larger or wider) and identify the negative speaker
terminal (usually marked [–], or having no marking, or whichever terminal is the smaller or
narrower of the two). Mark the wire connected to the positive terminal for later identification.
Use a permanent marker or piece of tape.
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Contact Polk Customer Service: 800-377-7655 [email protected]
6.) In the meantime, attach speaker wires to the crossover mid-woofer terminals [figure 3]. The wires
provided with your EX system have one red conductor. Use this wire as the positive (+) lead and
connect it to the positive (+) terminal screw on your crossover. Connect the black wire to the
negative (–) terminal screw. There’s that pattern again.
7.) Now run wires from your amplifier or radio to the crossover. Attach these wires to the crossover input
terminals [figure 3]. Route these wires away from low-level electrical cables in your car, and use
grommets when passing through doors. Remember the pattern: attach the red wire to the positive
(+) terminal screw on your crossover, and the black wire to the negative (–) terminal screw.
8.) Pass the wires from the crossover through your cut hole [figure 4].
9.) Connect the wires to your new Polk Audio mid-woofers. Attach the red wire to the positive (+)
terminal, and connect the black wire to the negative (–) terminal.
10.) Place the grille frame onto the speaker being careful to line up the screw holes. Carefully orient
the new speaker over the screw holes and mounting clips. Tighten the screws firmly to secure the
speaker and grille frame to the mounting surface.
EX3 Series Tweeter Installation
Step 1—Choosing the proper tweeter location
When properly installed, component systems can improve the soundstage created by music in your car.
The soundstage will be dramatically affected by where you mount your tweeters. How do you determine
the best place for tweeter installation? Grab a friend and play along as we recommend a simple
“Tweeter Placement” experiment! Just follow these easy steps:
1.) Complete the installation of your entire system except for the EX3500 Tweeters.
2.) Connect the wires provided with your tweeters to the tweeter terminals on your EX3 Crossovers
[figure 3].
3.) Without actually running the wires through doors or under upholstered panels, connect up your
EX3500 Tweeters.
4.) Mount the tweeters in a temporary location (where you think you’d like to install them) with tape.
5.) Have your friend sit in the passenger-side seat while you sit in the driver’s seat.
6.) Now, with familiar music playing (we recommend music with vocals for this test), both you and
your friend should position the tweeters in different locations around the passenger compartment,
listening for resulting sound differences. Listen to the tweeter with the Elliptical Lens on it, and ALSO
listen to it with just the Grille on it. If you’re planning a surface installation, try this with both the
Straight Surface Mount Cup and the Angled Surface Mount Cup. Rotate the Angled Surface Mount
Cup in conjunction with the Elliptical Lens to help get the most desirable radiation pattern. Listen
for imaging, soundstage and clarity. In a short time, you should be able to determine the best
location for your tweeters.
11.) Place the mesh grille in the grille frame.
12.) Repeat Steps 1-11 for the other speaker(s).
7.) Mark the location, and move on to Step 2 and choose your mounting option.
The EX3500 Tweeter offers two optional “high frequency directors” to give you even more control over
your sound and to help you get better sound in difficult placements: an Elliptical Lens and an Angled
Surface Mount Cup. (You also get a Straight Surface Mount Cup and a Mesh Tweeter Grille. What
a deal.) Use the Elliptical Lens to focus the high frequencies in your system for better imaging and
directionality [figure 5]. When you’re doing the Tweeter Location Test (above), tape the Elliptical
Lens in place on either the Straight or Angled Surface Mount Cup to help find the direction best suited
to your system. When you find the perfect spot, simply snap the Elliptical Lens onto the tweeter. The
Elliptical Lens DOES NOT ROTATE. Use the Angled Surface Mount Cup to help you get the most
desirable radiation pattern.
FIG. 4
FIG. 5
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Contact Polk Customer Service: 800-377-7655 [email protected]
Step 2—Mounting Options
Tweeter Mounting Option #2—Flush Mount
1.) Remove the panel on which you are going to mount the tweeter and check for proper clearance
behind it. The flush mount kit is 3/4" deep; measure to make sure there is sufficient depth behind
the spot you choose.
2.) Mark the center of the spot and cut a 1 13/16" diameter hole using a hole saw or a large 1 13/16"
drill bit. Go slowly. You can use a razor or knife for this job if you wish to have more control.
3.) Assemble the cup, clamp and machine screws loosely as shown in [figure 6].
4.) Route wires through the round opening in the bottom of the cup.
5.) Press the assembly into the 1 13/16" diameter hole until the clamp edge is below the mounting
surface, then tighten the screw. The cup will clamp down to the surface as the screw is tightened.
In the case of a thicker-than-average mounting surface, the legs of the clamp can be bent outward
by inserting a screwdriver through the holes in the cup while still mounted.
6.) Connect wires from the tweeter terminals of the Crossover to the tweeter itself using the faston
connectors. Connect the red wire from the (+) terminal of the Crossover tweeter output to the
red (+) wire from the tweeter.
The Polk Audio EX3 Tweeter offers two mounting options for even more installation flexibility:
Tweeter Mounting Option #1—Surface Mount
Your EX3500 Tweeters come with both Straight and Angled Surface Mount Cups to fit any location and
installation situation. Use the Angled Surface Mount Cup to help direct the sound in conjunction with
the Elliptical Lens.
1.) Using the base of the surface mount cup as a template, mark the two screw holes and drill them
using a 1/8" drill bit. Drill a third hole (for the speaker wire) using a 3/16" drill bit.
2.) Attach either surface mount cup (angled or straight) to the panel using #8 screws of appropriate
length for the panel.
3.) Push the tweeter wires through the open area at the bottom of the cup and through the 3/16"
hole in the panel.
4.) Connect wires from the tweeter terminals of the Crossover to the tweeter wires using faston
connectors. Be sure to connect the red wire strand from the tweeter to the (+) terminal of the
crossover tweeter output.
5.) Mount the tweeter by snapping it into the mounting cup and turning the tweeter clockwise,
locking it into place.
7.) Mount the tweeter by snapping it into the mounting cup and turning the tweeter clockwise,
locking it into place.
MOUNTING CHOICES: EASY AS 1, 2, 3
PANEL
1.
Choose Mounting Cup.
2.
Snap the Tweeter
3.
Choose either the
For Flush Mount, choose (a), Assembly into place within
Mesh Tweeter Grille or
Elliptical Lens (for more
directionality). The Elliptical
Lens DOES NOT ROTATE.
Choose a position and
direction for the Surface
or Flush Mounting Cup,
and then snap the Elliptical
Lens on.
Angled Surface Mount
choose (b), and Straight
Surface Mount choose (c).
Use the Angled Surface
Mount Cup (b) to better
aim the tweeter for more
directionality and better
imaging. The Elliptical Lens
(see “3”) DOES NOT ROTATE
once it's snapped onto the
Mounting Cup. Use the
Mounting Cups and the
Elliptical Lens in conjunc-
tion to determine best
the Mounting Cup.
FLUSH
MOUNT CUP
RETAINING
BRACKET
TWEETER
3.
2.
1.
placement and sound.
MOUNTING SCREW
PANEL
FIG. 6
(a)
(b)
(c)
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AMPLIFIER POWER REQUIREMENTS
EX3500 Component Tweeter Hook Up
When purchased as a separate unit, the EX3500 tweeter includes a second order (12dB/octave)
crossover network integrated into the tweeter assembly. This high pass filter allows the EX3500 to be
used with other components.
Your new EX3 Loudspeakers will work well with a variety of electronic components. As little as 10 watts
per channel will deliver adequate listening levels in most cars. If you have a noisy car or intend to play
your system at loud listening levels, more power may be necessary to achieve the best performance.
Consult your Polk Audio dealer for specific requirements.
If your system contains an active crossover, you may bypass the in-line crossover and wire the tweeter
directly to the output terminals of an amplifier that has a high pass filter (crossover) on it input. The
minimum crossover point should be 4kHz @ 12dB/octave. It is important to maintain correct polarity.
The red wire connect to the positive (+) amplifier terminal and the black wire connects to the negative
(–) amplifier terminal.
SAFE LIMITS OF OPERATION
Your new EX3 Loudspeakers are made with the highest quality materials for years of durable,
trouble-free performance. However, damage can occur to loudspeakers when an amplifier, regardless
of its wattage, is made to play at higher listening levels than its power can clearly produce. This is
usually beyond the “1 to 2 o’clock” position on the volume control. This results in very high levels
of audible distortion, originating in the amplifier, which add a harsh, gritty sound to your music.
Contrary to popular belief, a speaker is more likely to be damaged by trying to get too much volume
from a low-powered amp or receiver than from a high-powered one.
DO NOT USE THE TWEETER WITHOUT A CROSSOVER NETWORK. Damage to the tweeter from
thermal overload will result without the protection provided by a crossover and will void your warranty.
POLARITY/BLENDING
If it seems that your tweeters and mid-woofers are not “blending” or not working together in harmony
(as we all should), try changing the polarity of both of the tweeters by reversing the positive (+) and
negative (–) tweeter wires that connect to the crossover. This reversal of the tweeter’s “absolute phase”
may help the blending or integration of all of your system components. This could be particularly
useful if your tweeters and mid-woofers are spaced far apart in your setup.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR SERVICE
If, after following these hookup and installation directions, you experience difficulty, please double-
check all wire connections.
Make certain your electronic equipment is operating correctly by hooking up another speaker to the
speaker output. For example, if you are not getting sound from the left channel speaker, connect the
right channel speaker to the left output. If you still get no sound from that side, the problem is in your
amp or source electronics. Should you isolate the problem to the speaker, contact the authorized Polk
Audio dealer where you bought your speakers. Authorized Polk Audio dealers are the best source for
advice and assistance.
LOW FREQUENCY CUT-OFF FOR SYSTEMS WITH SUBWOOFERS
If you have a subwoofer in your system, you may want to decrease the amount of bass going to
your mid-range speakers. This will get you better mid-range sound and increase the power handling.
There are two ways to roll off the bass before it gets to your mid-range speakers. One way is to use a
“bass blocker,” a capacitor placed in series with the speaker input. Bass blockers are installed in series,
one end connected with the positive lead from your amplifier and the other end connected to the
positive lead of each of your speakers [figure 7]. Bass blocker capacitors (200 microfarad @ 100volts,
non-polarized) are available at any RadioShack or parts supply house. The other route is to use an
electronic crossover device that allows filtering below 100Hz or so. Find these devices at your authorized
Polk Audio dealer.
Polk Audio’s Customer Service Department is available from 9am–6pm, EST, Monday through Friday,
at 800-377-7655. Please do not hesitate to call us if you have questions about your speaker system.
You will find additional information, informative articles, manual updates and cool
FIG. 7
Bass
Blockers
+
–
+
–
Bass blocker
or capacitor
Radio/Amp
Speaker
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Contact Polk Customer Service: 800-377-7655 [email protected]
EX3 SERIES COMPONENT SPECIFICATIONS
EX3 SERIES 1 YEAR WARRANTY
Polk Audio, Inc. warrants the original purchaser only that this Polk Audio EX 3 Series Product (the
Product) will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of (1) one year from
the date of original retail purchase from a Polk Audio Authorized Dealer. However, this warranty
will automatically terminate prior to the expiration of the (1) one year period if the original retail
purchaser sells or otherwise transfers the Product to any other party. The original retail purchaser
shall herein after be referred to as “you.” To allow Polk Audio to offer the best possible warranty service,
please fill out the Product Registration Card(s) and send them to the Factory at the address provided
in the Registration Card within (10) ten days of the date of purchase.
EX3560
two-way
system
EX3550
two-way
system
EX3500
tweeter
Type
Driver complement
6 1/2"
driver
with a 1"
dome tweeter
5 1/4"
driver
with a 1"
dome tweeter
1"(25mm)
dome
tweeter
Mounting
diameter
4 7/8"
124mm
4 13/16"
122mm
1 13/16" flush mount
46mm
Defective Products must be shipped, together with a proof of purchase, prepaid insured to the
Authorized Polk Audio Dealer from whom you purchased the Product, or to 2550 Brittania Blvd.,
Suite D, San Diego, CA 92154. Products must be shipped in the original shipping container or its
equivalent; in any case the risk of loss or damage in transit is to be borne by you. If, upon examination
at the Factory or Polk Audio Authorized Dealer it is determined that the unit was defective in materials
or workmanship at any time during the Warranty period, Polk Audio or the Polk Audio Dealer will, at
its option, repair or replace this Product at no additional charge, except as set forth below. All replaced
parts and Products become property of Polk Audio. Products replaced or repaired under this Warranty
will be returned to you, within a reasonable time, freight prepaid.
Mounting depth
(top)
2 1/4"
57mm
2 7/16"
62mm
9/16" flush cup
14.3mm
Mounting depth
(bottom)
2 1/2"
63mm
2 9/16"
65mm
N/A
Peak power handling
300w
100w
250w
85w
160w
60w
Continuous power
handling
This Warranty does not include service or parts to repair damage caused by accident, disaster, misuse,
abuse, negligence, inadequate packing or shipping procedures, commercial use, voltage inputs in
excess of the rated maximum of the unit, cosmetic appearance of the cabinetry not directly attributable
to defects in materials or workmanship, or service, repair, or modifications of the Product which has
not been authorized or approved by Polk Audio.
Nominal Imp.
Freq. response
4 ohms
4 ohms
4 ohms
50Hz-22kHz
68Hz-22kHz
4kHz-22kHz
Grille height
& diameter
1 1/16"
6 1/2"
7/8"
6 3/8"
N/A
N/A
This Warranty is in lieu of all other expressed Warranties. If this Product is defective in materials and
workmanship as warranted above, your sole remedy shall be repair or replacement as provided above.
In no event will Polk Audio, Inc. be liable to you for any incidental or consequential damages arising
out of the use or inability to use the Product, even if Polk Audio, Inc. or a Polk Audio Dealer has been
advised of the possibility of such damages, or any other claim by any other party. Some states do not
allow the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the above limitation and exclusion
may not apply to you. This Warranty gives you specific legal rights which may vary from state to state.
Sensitivity (SPL)
Crossover Point
92dB
92dB
92dB
4 kHz
4 kHz
4kHz
Crossover Slope
(high pass)
12db/octave
12db/octave
12db/octave
Crossover Slope
(low pass)
12db/octave
12db/octave
12db/octave
This warranty applies only to Products purchased in the United States of America, its possessions, and
U.S. and NATO armed forces exchanges and audio clubs. The Warranty terms and conditions applicable
to Products purchased in other countries are available from the Polk Audio Authorized Distributors in
such countries.
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Contact Polk Customer Service: 800-377-7655 [email protected]
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