Niles EVC-100 Owner's Manual

I N S T A L L A T I O N G U I D E

E L E C T R O N I C S T E R E O V O L U M E C O N T R O L

EVC-100

CONGRATULATIONS!

Thank you for choosing the EVC-100 Electronic Stereo Volume Control from Niles. With proper installation and operation, you should enjoy years of trouble-free use.

Niles manufactures the industry’s most complete line of custom installation components and accessories for audio/video systems. To see the complete Niles product assortment, visit us on the internet at: www.nilesaudio.com.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 2

Features and Benefits

Installation Considerations 6

Installation 15

Operation 18

Maintenance 22

Specifications

Limited Warranty 24

INTRODUCTION

The Niles EVC-100 is a wall-mount, infrared-sensing, push button-style, stereo loudspeaker electronic volume control with muting and impedance magnifying in a single, easy-to-use component. It is designed to provide volume control of a loudspeaker pair (including muting and unmuting functions) and IR control of your A/V system from a remote location. The EVC-100 adjusts the volume of connected loudspeakers by attenuating the ampliﬁed audio signals. To assure minimal dissipation of internal power with virtually no power wasted as heat, Niles volume controls use autoformers instead of L-pads as the volume-controlling element.

The EVC-100 is also an impedance-magnifying (IM) volume control. Unlike other brands, it has additional autoformer windings that magnify the impedance of connected speakers, while allowing all 12 steps to adjust the volume of the sound. A set of jumpers next to the speaker connections allows selection of the correct impedance setting.

With the volume control providing impedance protection for your ampliﬁer, you can create systems with no additional impedance-matching devices between the volume control and the ampliﬁer. Installed in a remote room location, the EVC-100 receives the IR commands transmitted from your existing handheld remotes in that room. The commands are carried via a Cat-5 data cable to a main system unit in another room, and instantly “repeated” to your A/V equipment.

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INTRODUCTION CONTINUED

The EVC-100 is compatible with all current Niles infrared systems. It may be used along with, or as an alternative to, the Niles TS100, WS100, MS100, MS200, and CS100 IR sensors or the IntelliPad®.

To complete a Niles IR repeating system, you will need the following components:

• IR Main System Unit – Model MSU140, MSU250, MSU480, or MSU440Z.

• IR Sensors/Keypads – Models WS100, TS100, MS100, MS200, CS100, MVC100IR, EVC-100, or the IntelliPad.

• IR Flashers – Models MF1, MF1VF, MF2, MF2VF, or the IRB1.

• (Optional) An IR sensor expansion hub, the Model IRH610, for additional sensor inputs to your system.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

The EVC-100 offers a number of improvements over other volume controls:

• Fully factory-tested universal system that is compatible with virtually all brands of A/V equipment and remote controls.

• Push button-type electronic control that compliments Niles CI keypads and modern lighting systems.

• A universal impedance-magnifying design enables the EVC-100 to act as both a stereo and an impedance-magnifying volume control.

• Loudspeaker impedance magnification by a factor of one, two, or four, while maintaining a 12-position adjustment range, regardless of how much impedance magnification is used.

• Override function allows page/doorbell signals to override the music at a preset level, even with the volume turned all the way down in mute state.

• Default Volume feature guards against high volume un-mutes.

• Sleep Timer for delayed EVC-100 muting with four possible count-down time periods.

• Status circuit monitors voltage from the source (i.e., trigger voltage of A/V receiver) for automatic mute control when a zone or system is first turned on.

• Precision autoformers provide superior sonic performance, exceeding the audio quality of nonimpedance magnifying volume controls.

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FEATURES AND BENEFITS CONTINUED

• Isolated left- and right-channel grounds ensure safety with any amplifier

• May be used with 4-, 6-, or 8-ohm speaker systems

• UL-rated to comply with all local building codes

• Ideal for home and commercial sound installations

• Available colors: almond, black, bone, and white

• Fits into a standard 18-cubic-inch one-gang junction box

• Included remote control also provides volume control and mute and un-mute functions

• Power handling: 100 watts (rms) per channel

• Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, ± 0.5 dB @ 8 ohms

• Two-year limited warranty

TECH TIP

Some loudspeakers have a selectable impedance. Before proceeding, please conﬁrm the selected impedance is properly set for the system being installed.

INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS

CALCULATING THE IMPEDANCE MAGNIFICATION SETTING

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

CAUTION! Every loudspeaker pair in the system must be connected to an impedance-magnifying volume control and set to the same magniﬁcation value.

1. Count the number of pairs of 4-ohm loudspeakers and the number of pairs of 8-ohm loudspeakers to be connected. Count pairs of 6-ohm loudspeakers as 4-ohm pairs. If desired, use our online impedance calculator at: http://www.nilesaudio.com/techsupport/calculator/

2. Determine whether the amplifier should see a 4-ohm load or an 8-ohm load. This information is typically found in the amplifier owner’s manual.

3. Refer to

4. On each EVC-100 control, set both impedance magnification jumpers to the same position (i.e., 1x,

Figures 1 and 2 to determine the impedance magnification position. Use Figure 1 on

page 7 if your amplifier can drive a 4-ohm load or Figure 2 on page 8 for an 8-ohm load.

2x, or 4x), as shown in

Figure 3 on page 9.

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INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUED

Figure 1. EVC-100 impedance magniﬁcation settings for an ampliﬁer driving a 4-ohm load.

AMPLIFIER MINIMUM SPEAKER LOAD IS 4 OHMS

8 OHM Speaker Pairs

4 OHM Speaker Pairs

4X84X

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