Niles Audio MVC100IR User Manual

INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDE

MVC100IR

MVC100IR

INFRARED SENSING VOLUME CONTROL

B LENDING H IGH F IDELITY AND A RCHITECTURE

®

Niles Audio

Corporation

www.nilesaudio.com

12 331 S.W. 130 Street
Miami, Florida, 33186

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

©2004 Niles Audio Corporation. All rights reserved. Niles, the Niles logo, IntelliControl and Blending
High Fidelity and Architecture are registered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation. MicroFlasher is a
trademark of Niles Audio Corporation. Because we strive to improve our products, Niles reserves the
right to change product specifications without notice. The technical and other information contained
herein is not intended to set forth all technical and other specifications of Niles products. Additional
information can be obtained on-line at www.nilesaudio.com or by calling Niles at 1-800-289-4434.
01/04 Printed in China DS00327ACN

I NFRARED S ENSING V OLUME C ONTROL

MVC100IR

Infrared Sensing
Muting Stereo
Volume Control

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 1

Features and
Benefits 3

Installation
Considerations 5

Installation 14

Operation 17

Trouble­shooting 17

Contents 21

Specifications 21

Introduction

The MVC100IR is an infrared sensing, automatic muting stereo
speaker volume control that combines a plasma proof IR
sensor with a premium impedance magnifying volume control
in a single, easy to use component.

A perfect application for the MVC100IR is adjusting the
volume of a speaker pair; as well as muting and unmuting
them while providing IR control of your A/V system from a
remote location. The MVC100IR 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 MVC100IR 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.
A front panel switch selects the correct 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.

In a typical application of IM controls, a system has up to eight
pairs of 8-ohm speakers throughout the house and in outdoor

I NFRARED S ENSING V OLUME C ONTROL

locations. Connect each pair of speakers to an MVC100IR
volume control with its switch in the 8x position, eliminating
the need for an external impedance-matching device to
protect the amplifier. Even when playing all eight speaker pairs
at once, the amplifier runs at normal operating temperatures.

Installed in a remote room location, the MVC100IR receives
the IR commands transmitted from your existing hand­held remotes in that room. The commands are carried via a
category 5 cable to a main system unit in another room, and
instantly “repeated” to your A/V equipment.

The MVC100IR 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

®

.

The MVC100IR is just one part of the three building blocks
necessary to complete a Niles IR repeating system:

• IR Main System Unit—Models MSU140, MSU250, MSU480
and MSU440Z.

• IR Sensors/Keypads—Models WS100, TS100, MS100,
MS200, CS100, MVC100IR and the IntelliPad.

• IR Flashers—Models MF1, MF1VF, MF2, MF2VF and the IRB1.

An IR sensor expansion hub, Model IRH610, is available to
provide additional sensor inputs to your system.

IMPORTANT

Refer installation
to a professional

custom installer if

you are unfamiliar

with any of

the following

procedures.

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TOOLS

REQUIRED

• 1/8" Standard

Slotted Screwdriver

• Wire Stripper

3

Features and Benefits

The MVC100IR offers a number of improvements over other
volume controls:

• Plasma-proof performance— allows placement of the
MVC100IR near plasma displays.

• CFL interference resistant— expands installation flexibilty to
areas with fluorescent lighting.

• Works under most lighting conditions, including indirect
sunlight— eliminates environmental restrictions.

• Universal system— compatible with virtually all brands of
A/V equipment and remote controls.

• Excellent IR receiving range— you get 18' to 30' of remote
control range (depending upon the strength of your hand­held remote).

• 100% factory tested.

• A universal impedance-magnifying design enables the
MVC100IR 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.

• Interchangeable Decora-style inserts for fast, easy color
change. Inserts and knobs (sold separately) are available in a
variety of colors.

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• Optional remote muting capability available. See your autho­rized Niles dealer for details.

• Pop-free switching between all steps.

• Precision 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.

• UL rated to comply with all local building codes.

• Ideal for home and commercial sound installations.

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

• Mounting depth of only 2-3/4". Fits into standard 18-cubic­inch one-gang junction boxes.

• Installation requires only a screwdriver and wire stripper.

• Power handling: 100W/channel RMS.

• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz ±2dB.

• 2 years parts and labor warranty.

“TECH TIP”

Do not install the

MVC100IR next to a

light dimmer.

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TECH TIP

Some speakers have

selectable imped-

ance. Before you pro-

ceed, please confirm

that any selectable-

impedance speakers

in your system are

properly set for the

system you are

installing.

5

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 all the
volume controls must be 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 13. See Figure 6 if your amplifier can drive a 4-ohm
load. See Figure 7 if your amplifier must have an 8-ohm
speaker load.

4. Set the switch on each control to the same position
(1x, 2x, 4x, or 8x). See Figure 9.

Limitations in Volume with High Magnification
Settings

Using an 8x setting limits the power to each speaker pair to
one-eighth 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 switch set for 8x.

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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.

IR Receiving Range and Pickup Angle

The receiving range of the MVC100IR will vary according to
the IR output strength of the remote control being used.
Remote strength varies among brands depending on the
number and size of batteries used, and how many IR emitters
the remote has. For example, remotes that operate on two
small AAA batteries and have only one IR emitter are generally
not as strong as remotes that use the larger AA size batteries
and have two emitters. Tests with various manufacturers’
remote controls have shown that the operating range can vary
from a minimum of 18' to a maximum of about 30'.

Infrared signals travel essentially line-of-sight. They will not
pass through or around solid objects. Do not rely on an IR sig­nal being able to “bounce” off a wall or object to the
MVC100IR.

The IR pickup angle of the MVC100IR is 30° off-axis (horizontal
and vertical) at 20'.

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