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INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDE
SVC100R
SVC100R
High-Power Sliding Volume Control
B LENDING H IGH F IDELITY AND A RCHITECTURE
®
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H IGH-POWER S LIDING V OLUME C ONTROL
SVC100R
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Features and
Benefits 2
Installation
Considerations 3
Installation 5
Operation 6
Specifications 8
Contents 9
INTRODUCTION
The SVC100R is a wall mount, stereo sliding volume control. It connects between the speaker-level output of an amplifier, speaker selector, or distribution hub and a pair of speakers.
A perfect application for the SVC100R is adjusting the volume of remotely located speakers.
The SVC100R adjusts the volume of speakers connected to it by attenuating the amplifier signal. 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 SVC100R is 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. Switches on the PC board select
these windings.
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.
In a typical application of IM controls, a system has eight pairs of 8-ohm speakers throughout
the house and in adjacent outdoor locations. Connect each pair of speakers to an IM volume
control with its switch in the 8x position, eliminating the need for an external impedancematching device to protect the amplifier. Even when playing all eight speaker pairs at once, the
amplifier runs at normal operating temperatures.
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FEATURES AND BENEFITS
The SVC100R offers a number of improvements over other
volume controls:
• A universal impedance-magnifying design enables the
SVC100R to act as both a stereo and an impedance magnifying volume control. You can magnify the speakers’ impedance by a factor of two, four, or eight.
• Unlike other impedance-matching volume-control products,
Niles IM volume controls maintain a 12-position adjustment
regardless of how much impedance magnification you use,
with total attenuation >54dB.
• Pop-free switching between all steps.
• Redesigned autoformers provide superior sonic performance,
exceeding the audio quality of non-impedance magnifying
volume controls.
• Isolated left and right-channel grounds ensure safety with
any amplifier.
• May be used with 4-, 6-, or 8-ohm speaker systems.
• Ideal for home and commercial sound installations.
• UL rated to comply with all local building codes.
• Available colors: almond, black, bone, brown and white.
• Installation requires only a screwdriver and wire stripper.
• Mounting depth of only 2-9/16". Fits into standard 18-cubicinch one-gang junction boxes.
• Power handling: 100W/channel RMS.
• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz ±2dB.
• Ten years parts and labor warranty.
Some speakers have selectable impedance.
Before you proceed, please confirm that any
selectable-impedance speakers in your system
are properly set for the system you are installing.
TECH TIP
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INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS
Calculating the Impedance Magnification Setting
Use the following instructions and the accompanying charts 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 4-ohm speakers and the number of pairs of 8-ohm speakers you are connecting. Count
pairs of 6-ohm speakers as 4-ohm pairs.
2. Determine whether the amplifier should see a 4-ohm load or
an 8-ohm load. This information is typically found in the
owner’s manual of the amplifier.
3. Read the correct switch position from the charts on page 7.
See Figure 4 if your amplifier can drive a 4-ohm load. See
Figure 5 if your amplifier must have an 8-ohm speaker load.
4. Set the switches on all of the controls to the same
position (1x, 2x, 4x, or 8x). See Figure 1 on page 5.
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Limitations in Volume with High
Magnification Settings
Using an 8x setting limits the
power to each speaker pair to oneeighth of the amplifier’s output.
In a typical application of IM volume controls, a system has eight
pairs of 8-ohm speakers throughout
the house and in adjacent outdoor
locations. Each pair of speakers is
connected to an IM volume control
with its switches set for 8x.
With eight pairs of speakers, one-eighth of the amplifier’s
power is available to any pair. Therefore, an amplifier rated at
100W per channel RMS into 8 ohms will deliver up to 12.5W
to each of the eight pairs – whether you play all eight pairs or
just one pair. This translates into a drop in the maximum volume capability of about 9dB at the 8x setting.
TOOLS REQUIRED
• 1/8" Standard
Slotted Screwdriver
• 1/4" Standard
Slotted Screwdriver
• Wire Stripper
USING SPEAKER SELECTORS WITH IM VOLUME
CONTROLS
Although IM controls provide volume and on/off at the volumecontrol location, they do not give you central control of speakers playing throughout the house.
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Speaker-selection systems give you central control, but some
speaker selectors have non-defeatable impedance-protection
circuits. Combining IM controls with such a selector will
reduce your maximum volume substantially. To solve this
problem, specify a speaker selector with a defeatable protection circuit (Niles models HPS4, HPS6, SS-4, or SS-6). Keep the
protection circuit off at all times.
JUNCTION BOXES
The mounting depth of the SVC100R is 2-9/16". When
installed, the unit extends 2-1/16" behind the sheetrock wall
(assuming 1/2" sheetrock). For installation, use a standard 18cubic-inch (or larger) junction box. Suitable junction boxes are
available from your Niles dealer or local electrical-supply company.
TYPE OF SPEAKER WIRE
We recommend 16-gauge
stranded copper speaker
wire for most connections,
and 14-gauge wire for runs
longer than 80 feet. Don’t
use speaker wire larger
than 14 gauge, because
larger wire may not fit into
the connectors. Never use
12 AWG
14 AWG
TECH TIP
Wire size is expressed by its
AWG (American Wire Gauge)
number. The lower the AWG
number, the larger the wire.
Thus, 12 AWG wire is physically
larger than 14 AWG.
solid-core, aluminum, or Romex wire with an IM volume control. For speaker-wire runs within walls, most U.S. states and
municipalities require a special type of speaker wire with a specific CL fire rating, such as CL-2 or CL-3. Consult your Niles
dealer, building contractor, or local building-inspection department if you aren’t sure what kind of wire is best for your application.
MOUNTING LOCATIONS
Some states or municipalities allow installation of devices such
as Niles speaker volume controls in the same junction box as
110V devices, with a low-voltage partition between the
devices. We do not recommend this, because speaker wires
can act as an antenna for electrical noise. Locating speaker
wires too close to a light switch or dimmer may cause the
speakers to emit a popping or buzzing sound. If you must
locate the volume control near electrical devices, install it in a
separate metal junction box, ground the box to the electricalsystem ground, and route the speaker wires several feet away
from the electrical wiring.
Convenient mounting locations include:
• Near doorways.
• Near a desk.
• At your bedside.
• Close to a telephone.
• Near other wall-mounted controls.
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DECORA®FACEPLATES
The SVC100R is designed to use Decorastyle faceplate mounting hardware. You
can combine multiple Decora-style modules (if all are low-voltage controls) within
one Decora faceplate (up to six-gang)
with color-matched plate screws. Decora
plates and screws are available from your
Niles dealer.
PREPARING FOR INSTALLATION
Before you install the SVC100R into an
existing wall, consider the possibility of
hidden obstructions inside the wall, such
as wood and metal studs; electrical, telephone, or other wiring; plumbing; conduit; and old wall safes.
Figure 1
1. Install the junction box in the usual manner.
2. Run all necessary wiring to the volume control. Label the
wires for future reference.
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INSTALLATION
Receiver
1. Locate the connector plugs (and
remove them if they are
plugged in). See Figure 6 on
page 7.
2. Strip 1/4" of insulation from the
end of each wire. Tightly twist
the end of each wire until no
frayed ends remain.
From Amplifier
(Input)
To Speakers
(Output)
SVC100
3. Use a small flathead screwdriver or your thumbnail to raise
the locking tabs, exposing the
holes on the removable connector plug.
4. Insert each wire into the appropriate hole on the removable
Speakers
Figure 2
Wiring Diagram
connector plug, and snap the locking tab down.
NOTE: Maintain proper phasing. Connect the positive terminals
on the volume control to the positive terminals on the amplifier and speakers, and connect the negative terminals on the volume control to the negative terminals on the amplifier and
speakers. See Figure 2. To help you avoid improper phasing,
the connector plug is keyed. Insert the smooth side of the connector plug into the smooth side of the socket. Don’t force the
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H IGH-POWER S LIDING V OLUME C ONTROL
scalloped side of the connector plug into the smooth side of the
socket. See Figure 6 on page 7.
5. Set the Impedance Magnification Switch (See Figure 1) as
determined by the IM charts (Figures 4 and 5 on page 7).
6. Plug the connectors into the volume control as shown in
Figure 6 on page 7. The inputs of the IM volume control are
the connector pins labeled AMPLIFIER. The outputs are the
connector pins labeled SPEAKERS.
NOTE: If you reverse these connections, the volume control
won’t function properly.
7. Secure the volume control to the junction box. Insert the
1-1/4" device screws into the oblong screw holes on the top
and bottom of the volume control. The oblong shape of the
screw holes helps you place the volume control in a vertical
position. Align the screws with the threaded holes
in the junction box. Tighten the screws using a Phillips
screwdriver. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN. If necessary, loosen
these screws several turns so the volume control fits flush
with the faceplate.
8. Use the shorter plate screws to fasten the Decora faceplate
to the volume control.
9. Align all the screws in the same direction for a clean,
finished look.
OPERATION
1. Make sure the amplifier or receiver
power is OFF and set the volume to
minimum.
2. Set the volume on the volume control
to maximum.
3. If you are using a Niles speaker-
selection system, locate the ON/OFF
button that corresponds to the speaker pair you wish to play. Set it to the ON position. Make sure
the defeatable protection circuit is not enabled. See Using
Speaker Selectors with IM Volume Controls, on page 3.
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. Don’t overdrive or "clip" your amplifier. If the sound becomes muddy or
distorted, you have reached the limit of your amplifier’s volume capability. Reduce the volume at once to avoid damaging your speakers.
6. Use the volume control to adjust the volume of the speakers
to the desired listening level. If all the speaker pairs in your
system are equipped with Niles volume controls, you can set
the amplifier or receiver volume at one position and use the
Niles controls exclusively.
Figure 3
Loosening the Screws
for a Flush Fit
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H IGH-POWER S LIDING V OLUME C ONTROL
A
2x
8x
AMPLIFIER’S MINIMUM SPEAKER LOAD IS 4 OHMS
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
2x
4x
8x
0123 45678910111213 14 15 16
8 OHM Speaker Pairs
4 OHM
Speaker
Pairs
1x
7
Figure 4
Figure 6
MPLIFIER’S MINIMUM SPEAKER
4 OHM
Speaker
8 OHM Speaker Pairs
012345678
0
2x
1x
2x
1
2x
4x
2x
2
4x
Pairs
3
4
4x
8x
8x
Figure 5
LOAD IS 8 OHMS
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7. To turn OFF the speakers, turn the knob on the volume control fully counter-clockwise, or press the ON/OFF button on
your speaker selector.
MAINTENANCE
Niles volume controls do not require any regular maintenance
other than occasional cleaning. Use a damp soft cloth and simply wipe the knob and wallplate clean. Do not use an abrasive
cleanser as this might scratch the surface of the wallplate.
When using a receiver, set all of your IM volume
controls at maximum volume. Then turn up the
master volume on the receiver until you reach the
maximum listening level. Finally, turn down the
volume controls.
TECH TIP
SPECIFICATIONS
Audio Power Handling
100W/channel RMS
200W/channel peak music power
Mounting
In-wall, fits into most 18-cubic-inch single-gang junction boxes
at least 2-3/4" deep
Wiring Requirements
14-16 gauge, two individual runs of two-conductor speaker
wire, or one run of four-conductor speaker wire.
Unit Dimensions
1-5/8" wide x 2-5/8" high
Faceplate Dimensions
Faceplate: 2-3/4" wide x 4-1/2" high
Depth Behind Faceplate
2-9/16"
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CONTENTS
SVC100R
• SVC100 volume control
• Snap-on Decora color insert
• Decora wallplate
• Slider insert
• Device mounting screws X2
• Faceplate screws X2
• Removable speaker connector X2
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(a) Electrical Box
(b) Speaker Wire
(c) SVC100 Volume Control (supplied)
(d) Snap-on Color Insert (supplied)
(e) Slider insert (supplied)
(f) Device Screws (2 supplied)
a
b
c
d
e
f
(g) Decora Wallplate (supplied)
(h) Faceplate Screws (2 supplied)
Figure 7
g
h
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Niles Audio Corporation
www.nilesaudio.com
12331 S.W. 130 Street
Miami, Florida 33186
Tel: (305) 238-4373
Fax: (305) 238-0185
©2005 Niles Audio Corporation. All rights reserved. Niles, the Niles logos and Blending High Fidelity and Architecture are registered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Printed in China
9/04 DS00411ACN
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