Niles Audio DS00356ACN User Manual

Niles Audio

Corporation

www.nilesaudio.com

12331 S.W. 130 Street

Miami, Florida 33186

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

®

© 2004 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 China 1/04
DS00356ACN

INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDE

TVC-1

TVC-1

TABLETOP STEREO VOLUME CONTROL

B LENDING H IGH F IDELITY AND A RCHITECTURE

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TVC-1

Tabletop Stereo
Volume Control

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 1

Features and 2
Benefits

Installation 5
Considerations

Installation 7

Operation 9

Specifications 10

®

Introduction

The TVC-1 is a tabletop volume control for speakers. It con­nects between the speaker-level output of an amplifier, speak­er selector, etc. and a pair of speakers.

A perfect application for the TVC-1 is adjusting the volume of
remotely located speakers. The TVC-1 adjusts the volume of
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.

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 best way to balance speaker volume is to equip each of
the speaker pairs in your system with a Niles volume control.
The controls allow you to adjust the volume of each speaker
pair individually. If all the speaker pairs in your system are
equipped with Niles volume controls, you can leave the ampli­fier or receiver volume set at one position and use the Niles
controls exclusively.

SPECIFICATIONS

Audio Power Handling
100 Watts/channel
continuous music
power

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
8-1/2" wide x 2" high
x 7-1/4" deep

Weight
2-1/4 lbs.

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Installation Considerations

Calculating the Impedance Magnification Setting

Use the following instructions to select the correct switch
setting for the number and type of speakers in your system.

CAUTION! EVERY SPEAKER PAIR IN THE SYSTEM MUST
BE CONNECTED TO AN IMPEDANCE-MAGNIFYING VOL­UME CONTROL AND SET TO THE SAME MAGNIFICATION.

1. Count the number of pairs of speakers you are connecting
to the system.

2. Set the Speaker Pairs switch on the rear panel of the TVC-1
to match the number of pairs of speakers (1, 2, 3/4, 5/6).

TVC-1 Power Handling

The TVC-1 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.

7. Insert the smooth side of the connector plug into the
smooth side of the socket. Don’t force the scalloped side of
the connector plug into the smooth side of the socket. See
Figure 2.

The inputs of the TVC-1 are the connector terminals labeled
“AMPLIFIER”. The outputs are the connector terminals
labeled “SPEAKERS”. Be sure not to reverse these connec­tions or the TVC-1 will not function properly.

8. Locate the pre-printed Room Labels. Affix the appropriate
label to the recessed area next to the knob on the TVC-1.

Figure 2

Connecting the

Wires

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8

TVC-1

TABLETOP VOLUME CONTROL

AMPLIFIER SPEAKER

Niles Audio Corporation Miami, Florida USA

1

SPEAKER PAIRS

5/6

2

3/4

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“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.

Mounting Location

Convenient mounting locations for the TVC-1 are:

• With other stereo components

• Near a desk

• At your bedside

• Close to a telephone

Installation

1. Select a convenient location for the TVC-1.

2. Run all the necessary wiring to the TVC-1. Label the wires
for future reference. See (Figure 1).

3. Locate the connector plugs (and remove them if they are
plugged in). See Figure 6.

4. Strip 1/4" of insulation from the end of each wire. Tightly
twist the end of each wire until no frayed ends remain.

5. Use a small flathead screwdriver or your thumbnail to raise
the locking tabs, exposing the holes on the removable con­nector plug.

Recessed

area for

custom

room labels.

Attractive

low-profile

design.

12 position volume control

provides greater attenuation

than conventional 10 position

designs.

Removable

screwless

connectors

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AMPLIFIER SPEAKER

Niles Audio Corporation Miami, Florida USA

1

SPEAKER PAIRS

5/6

2

3/4

TUNER 94.9

15

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7

6. Insert each wire into the appropriate hole on the removable
connector plug, and snap the locking tab down.

NOTE: To help you avoid improper installation, the
connector plug is keyed.

Receiver

Figure 1

Wiring Diagram

Niles TVC-1

Speaker Pair

Type of Speaker Wire

For most applications, we recommend you use 16 or
18 gauge, stranded copper speaker wire for the TVC-1 con­nections. For wiring runs longer than 80 feet, 14 gauge wire
is recommended. Using speaker wire larger than 14 gauge for
the TVC-1 connections is not recommended—the wire may
not fit into the connectors. Never use solid-core, aluminum,
or “Romex” type wire with the TVC-1. 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 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
through the speakers. If you must locate the TVC-1 wiring
near electrical devices, route the speaker wires several feet
away from the electrical wiring.

TOOLS

REQUIRED

• Wire Stripper

IMPORTANT

DO NOT use the
TVC-1 with amps
or receivers rated
at more than 100

watts per channel

RMS at 8 ohms.

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Operation

1. Make sure the amplifier or receiver power is OFF and set the
volume to minimum.

2. Set the TVC-1 volume to maximum (fully clockwise).

3. If you are using a Niles speaker selection system, locate the
on/off button 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 a 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.

6. Using the knob on the front of the TVC-1, adjust the vol­ume of the speakers to the desired listening level.

7. You can turn off the speakers by turning the knob on the
TVC-1 fully counter-clockwise, or by pressing the on/off
button on your speaker selector.

9

Features and Benefits

The TVC-1 offers a number of improvements over other
tabletop volume controls:

• Power handling: 100 watts per channel RMS; 200 watts peak

• Selectable impedance magnification for 1, 2, 3/4, 5/6 pairs
of speakers

• Individual room on/off selector switches

• 12-step controls; 54dB maximum attenuation

• Separate left and right ground paths for compatibility with
all amplifiers

• Removable screwless connectors accommodate up to
14 gauge wire

• Rugged all metal chassis construction

•Nonskid feet won’t scratch furniture and ensure unit stability
during operation

• 72 adhesive-backed room identification labels

• Warranty: Ten-year limited

• Dimensions: 8 1/2" wide x 2" high x 7 1/4" deep

• Shipping weight: 2 1/4 lbs

TECH

SUPPORT

HOTLINE

If you have
questions regarding
the operation of the
Niles TVC-1, contact

your local Niles

dealer or Niles

Customer Service at

1-800-289-4434.

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