User manual NILES SVL-6

MODEL SVL-6 SVL-6 SPEAKER SELECTION/VOLUME CONTROL SYSTEM NILES® INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDE S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM SVL-6 Speaker Selection/Volume Control System TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction The SVL-6 is a combination speaker selector and volume controller. It allows you to connect up to six pairs of speakers to your stereo receiver or amplifier and adjust the volume of each pair independently. Additionally, you can choose to listen to any one pair, any combination of pairs, or all pairs at once. You don't have to worry about overloading your amplifier. The SVL-6 has a protection circuit that keeps your amplifier running safely, even with all six pairs of speakers playing at the same time. A perfect application for the SVL-6 is individually controlling speaker "ON/OFF" and volume adjustment for six pairs of speakers: one pair in the room with the main stereo system and five additional pairs in remote locations. The SVL-6 adjusts the volume of the speakers connected to it by attenuating the amplifier signal. Niles volume controls use autoformers instead of L-pads for the volume controlling element. This assures minimal internal power dissipation with virtually no power wasted as heat. Introduction Features and Benefits 1 2 Installation Considerations 4 Installation Operation 9 11 Specifications 14 1 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM Features and Benefits The SVL-6 offers a number of improvements over other speaker selector/volume controllers: q The SVL-6 uses 12 position volume controls which are superior to 10 position designs. You get a broader range of adjustment--there are 10 steps of attenuation instead of 8. Steps 11-6 attenuate -3 dB per step; steps 5-2 are 6 dB per step. Step 12 is "full-on" and step 1 is "full-off". Greater dynamic range--you get 42 dB of total attenuation instead of the usual 20 or 30 dB. POP-FREE switching between all steps. Pre-printed Room Labels are included for easy identification of speaker ON/OFF buttons. Rear-panel switch for constant or selectable impedance protection. Isolated left and right channel ground returns make the SVL-6 compatible with all types of amplifiers. Self-cleaning, silver-plated switch contacts assure many years of trouble free use. TECH SUPPORT HOTLINE q q q If you have questions regarding the operation of the Niles SVL-6, contact your local Niles dealer or Niles Customer Service at 1-800-289-4434. q q q 2 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM q q Printed circuit board design assures high reliability. Two-piece removable connectors greatly simplify installation and hookup. All wiring can be attached directly to the connectors before installing them in the SVL-6. Removable connectors accommodate up to 14 gauge wire or "pins", making the SVL-6 compatible with most "highdefinition" speaker cables. 100% tested, electronically and acoustically, for frequency response, distortion and power handling. Standard 17" width allows the SVL-6 to stack neatly with other standard size components. May be used with 4, 6, or 8-ohm speaker systems. Ideal for both home and commercial sound installations. Only an 1/8" standard screwdriver and wire stripper are required for installation. Power handling: 100 watts/channel continuous music power. Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/-1.2 dB. Ten year parts and labor warranty. Proudly made in the USA. q q q q q q q q q q 3 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM Installation Considerations SVL-6 Power Handling The SVL-6 is designed for use with a receiver or amplifier having a maximum power output of 100 watts per channel at 8 ohms. Damage caused by the use of a higher-power receiver or amplifier will void the warranty. Consult your Niles dealer, or receiver/amplifier manufacturer, if you are uncertain about the power rating of your receiver or amplifier. IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE THE SVL-6 WITH AMPS OR RECEIVERS RATED AT MORE THAN 100 WATTS PER CHANNEL RMS AT 8 OHMS. TOOLS REQUIRED · 1/8" Standard Slotted Screwdriver · Wire Stripper IMPORTANT Amplifier Impedance Load As more pairs of speakers are parallel connected to a receiver or amplifier, the overall system impedance becomes lower. For example, if two pairs of 8-ohm speakers are connected in parallel, the impedance will be 4 ohms; two pairs of 4-ohm speakers in parallel become 2 ohms, and so on. Most receivers or amplifiers are not rated for use below a 4 ohm load. Most manufacturers do not recommend connecting more than two pairs of speakers without using some form of impedance correction. DO NOT use the SVL-6 with amps or receivers rated at more than 100 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms. 4 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM The SVL-6 includes impedance correction circuitry which protects your receiver or amplifier from low impedance loads. The circuitry assures that your receiver or amplifier will see a safe operating load, even when all six speaker pairs are playing at the same time. The actual impedance load the SVL-6 presents to your receiver or amplifier will vary, depending on how many speaker pairs are playing, and the impedance rating of each speaker. If you have six pairs of 8-ohm speakers playing, the SVL-6 will present a 4.3 ohm impedance load to your receiver/amplifier. With six pairs of 4-ohm speakers playing, the load drops to slightly under 4 ohms. If you intend to use the SVL-6 with more than two pairs of 4-ohm speakers, it is recommended that you verify that the receiver or amplifier is capable of driving a 4-ohm load. Consult your Niles dealer, or the receiver/amplifier manufacturer, if you are uncertain about the capabilities of the receiver/amplifier. Type of Speaker Wire For most applications, we recommend you use 16 or 18 gauge stranded copper speaker wire for the SVL-4 connections. For wiring runs longer than 80 feet, 14 gauge wire is recommended. Using speaker wire larger than 14 gauge for the SVL-6 connections is not recommended --the wire may 5 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM not fit into the connectors. Never use solid-core, aluminum, or "Romex" type wire with the SVL-6. When running speaker wires inside walls, most states and municipalities in the U.S. specify that you must use a special type of speaker wire. Usually, the requirement is that the wire that has a specific "CL" fire rating, such as "CL-2" or "CL-3". Consult your Niles dealer, building contractor, or local building and inspection department if unsure about which type of wire is best for your application. Avoiding Interference Speaker wires can act as an antenna for electrical noise. Locating speaker wires too close to a light dimmer or switch may cause a "buzzing" or "popping" sound to be heard though the speakers. If you must locate the SVL-6 wiring near electrical devices, route the speaker wires several feet away from the electrical wiring. Using the SVL-6 with Tube-Type Amplifiers Virtually all tube amplifiers must have a load connected at all times. If the amplifier to be connected to the SVL-6 is a tube amplifier, be sure to always have at least one pair of speakers switched on at all times. An alternative is to permanently connect a 150 ohm, 5 watt resistor across the tube amplifier's output in parallel with the SVL-6. See (Figure 1) on next page for hookup diagram. "TECH TIP" Wire size is expressed by it's AWG (American Wire Gauge) number. The lower the AWG number, the larger the wire, i.e., 12 AWG wire is physically larger than 14 AWG. 6 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM Tube Amplifier Figure 1 Using a Tube Amplifier 150 150 Niles SVL-6 AMPLIFIER L+ ON OFF CONSTANT PROTECTION LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 6 LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 5 LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 4 LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 3 LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 2 LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 1 LRR+ NILES Niles Audio Corporation, Inc. Miami, Florida USA 7 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM 12 position volume control provides greater attenuation than conventional 10 position designs. Recessed areas for custom room labels. SVL-6 SPEAKER SELECTION/VOLUME CONTROL SYSTEM Attractive low-profile design. PROTECTION 1 2 3 4 5 6 NILES Simple push-button operation. Connect up to six pairs of speakers. Protection switch safeguards your receiver or amplifier even with all 6 pairs of speakers playing. AMPLIFIER L+ ON OFF CONSTANT PROTECTION LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 6 LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 5 LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 4 LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 3 LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 2 LRR+ L+ SPEAKER 1 LRR+ NILES Niles Audio Corporation, Inc. Miami, Florida USA Constant Impedance Protection Switch Two-piece removable connectors. 8 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM Installation 1. Select a convenient location for the SVL-6. 2. Run all the necessary wiring to the SVL-6. Label the wires for future reference. See (Figure 2). Receiver Figure 2 Wiring Diagram Niles SVL-6 Speaker Pair 6 9 Speaker Pair 5 Speaker Pair 4 Speaker Pair 3 Speaker Pair 2 Speaker Pair 1 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM 3. Make the connections to the SVL-6. The amplifier/speaker connectors on the SVL-6 are removable. If you wish, you may remove the SVL-6's connectors to facilitate installation [see (Figure 3)]. Strip 3/8" of insulation from the end of each wire. Tightly twist the end of each wire until there are no frayed ends. Insert each wire into the appropriate hole on the connector terminals. Be certain that proper phasing is observed -- connect the positive terminals on the SVL-6 to the positive terminals on the amplifier and speakers and the negative terminals on the SVL-6 to the negative terminals on the amplifier and speakers. Re-install the connectors if they were removed. See (Figure 4). 4. Locate the pre-printed Room Labels. Affix the appropriate label to the recessed area over each ON/OFF selector button. Figure 3 Removing the Connectors Figure 4 Installing the Connectors 1 0 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM Operation "TECH TIP" There are two ways to use the SVL-6. You may play and adjust the volume of one pair of speakers at a time, or play multiple pairs simultaneously. If you intend to play more than one pair of speakers at the same time, you will need to become familiar with the operation of the SVL-6's PROTECTION button. Playing One Pair of Speakers At a Time 1. Make sure the amplifier or receiver power is OFF and set the volume to minimum. 2. Set the SVL-6 volume control for the speaker pair you wish to play to maximum (fully clockwise). 3. Locate the ON/OFF button on the SVL-6 which corresponds to the speaker pair you wish to play. Set it to the ON position. 4. Turn on the amplifier or receiver and select as source, such as the tuner or CD player. 5. Slowly turn up the amplifier or receiver volume and set it to a comfortable (not maximum) listening level. Be careful not to overdrive or "clip" your amplifier. If the sound becomes muddy or distorted, you have reached the limit of your amplifier's volume capability and should quickly reduce the volume to avoid damaging your speakers. If your amplifier or receiver has "A" and "B" speakerpair outputs, connect the SVL-6 to the "A" outputs. Do not connect anything to "B". This will prevent the amplifier or receiver from driving an unusually low impedance load. 1 1 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM 6. Using the appropriate volume control on the front of the SVL-6, adjust the volume of the speakers to the desired listening level. 7. You can turn off the speakers by turning the appropriate volume control on the SVL-6 fully counter-clockwise or by pressing the ON/OFF button. Playing Two Simultaneously or More Speaker Pairs "TECH TIP" 1. Make sure the amplifier or receiver power is OFF and set the volume to minimum. 2. On the right side of the SVL-6's front panel is a button labeled PROTECTION. This button activates the SVL-6's impedance correction circuitry. The circuitry assures that your receiver or amplifier will see a safe operating load when playing multiple speaker pairs simultaneously. Since most receivers and amplifiers are not rated for use below a 4 ohm load, you will need to activate the PROTECTION button whenever the overall system impedance might fall below 4 ohms. Use the following chart as a guide for setting the PROTECTION button. WHEN PLAYING THE FOLLOWING : 1 or 2 pair of 8-ohm speakers You will need to activate the SVL-6's PROTECTION button whenever the overall system impedance might fall below 4 ohms. 3 or more pairs of 8-ohm speakers 1 pair of 4-ohm speakers 2 or more pairs of 4-ohm speakers Any combination of 4 and 8 ohm speakers OFF ON OFF ON ON Set the PROTECTION button to the correct position using the chart shown above. 1 2 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM 3. Set the SVL-6 volume controls which correspond to the speaker pairs you wish to play to maximum. 4. Locate the appropriate ON/OFF buttons on the SVL-6. Set them to the ON position. 5. Turn on the amplifier or receiver and select as source, such as the tuner or CD player. 6. Slowly turn up the amplifier or receiver volume and set it to a comfortable (not maximum) listening level. Be careful not to overdrive or "clip" your amplifier. If the sound becomes muddy or distorted, you have reached the limit of your amplifier's volume capability and should quickly reduce the volume to avoid damaging your speakers. 7. Using the appropriate volume controls on the front of the SVL-6, adjust the volume of the speakers to the desired listening level. 8. You can turn off the speakers by turning the corresponding volume controls on the SVL-6 fully counter-clockwise, or by pressing the appropriate ON/OFF button. Refer to the Protection chart for the correct setting of the PROTECTION button. 1 3 S PEAKER S ELECTION /V OLUME C ONTROL S YSTEM SPECIFICATIONS Constant Protection Switch The SVL-6 is equipped with a manual override for the protection circuit that enables you to defeat the front panel protection switch and maintain constant impedance protection. This will safeguard your amplifier from being overdriven due to accidental or improper use by anyone unfamiliar with the equipment. To engage this override, move the rear panel "CONSTANT PROTECTION" switch to the "ON" position. Constant impedance protection will be maintained until the switch is turned to "OFF". Balancing Speaker Volume The volume control on your receiver or amplifier serves as the "master" volume for all speaker pairs connected. The volume level of the speakers may vary from room to room. This is caused by several factors. Two lesser factors are the size of the speaker and its efficiency. The largest factor is the physical size of the room. The SVL-6's volume controls allow you to adjust the volume of each speaker pair individually. You can leave the amplifier or receiver volume set at one position and use the SVL-6 volume controls exclusively. Audio Power Handling 100 watts/channel continuous music power Frequency Response +/- 1.2 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz Mounting Table-Top component Wiring Requirements Individual runs of 2-conductor speaker wire. Connectors accommodate wire sizes 14-22 gauge (16 gauge recommended) Overall Dimensions 17" wide x 2" high x 9-1/4" deep Weight 8 3/4 lbs. 1 4 NILES ® ® Niles Audio Corporation www.nilesaudio.com 12331 S.W. 130 Street Miami, Florida 33186 Tel: (305) 238-4373 Fax: (305) 238-0185 © 1999 Niles Audio Corporation. All rights reserved. Because Niles constantly strives to improve the quality of its products, Niles reserves the right to change product specifications without notice. Niles and the Niles logo are registered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation. Printed in USA 4/96 DS00096A