Niles Audio PSW8 User Manual
B LENDING H IGH F IDELITY
AND
A RCHITECTURE
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INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDE
®
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Congratulations!
Thank you for choosing a Niles loudspeaker. With proper installation and operation,
you'll enjoy years of trouble-free use.
The PSW8 wall mount subwoofer is uniquely designed to provide unobtrusive low frequency augmentation. The selectable high and low-pass filters make it suitable for use
with a wide variety of satellite speakers.
Niles manufactures the industry's most complete line of custom installation components
and accessories for audio/video systems. For a free full line catalog write: Niles, Catalog
Request, P.O. Box 160818, Miami, Florida 33116-0818
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURES AND BENEFITS 2
HOW MANY SUBWOOFERS? 4
CONNECTIONS 5
IMPEDANCE 7
TREATMENT & PLACEMENT 9
INSTALLATION FUNDAMENTALS 10
INSTALLATION IN NEW CONSTRUCTION 14
INSTALLATION IN EXISTING CONSTRUCTION 15
FINAL INSTALLATION IN NEW OR EXISTING CONSTRUCTION 16
REMOVAL OF SPEAKER AND GRILLE 20
OPERATION 21
SPECIFICATIONS 22
WARRANTY REGISTRATION CARD 25
LIMITED WARRANTY 26
©2000 Niles Audio Corporation. All rights reserved. Niles, the Niles logo, Blending High Fidelity and Architecture and Systems
Integration Amplifiers are registered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation. BumpBack and MicroSensor are trademarks of
Niles Audio Corporation. Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Decora is a registered
trademark of Leviton Manufacturing Co. Because Niles strives to continuously improve its 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. Printed in Taiwan. 11/00 DS00278ATW
2
Features and Benefits
Figure 2
The PSW8 In-wall subwoofer
includes an easy access, baffle
mounted high-pass filter to prevent
over-excursion of the satellite’s
woofers. It also has an easy
access, baffle mounted low-pass
frequency selection switch.
New Construction Wings
Bracket
Frame
Speaker Baffle
IR Knockout
Grille
Features and Benefits
Injection Molded TCC
(Talc, Carbon and Ceramic)
Woofer with Butyl Rubber
Surround and Vented Pole Piece
The Niles PSW8 Subwoofer employs a
newly developed cone material that combines injection molded polypropylene
with talc, carbon and ceramic stiffening
agents. The result is a cone that offers
extreme stiffness and light weight for accurate, dynamic response. Additionally, the
woofer employs a vented pole piece for
increased bass linearity and a Butyl
Rubber Surround for improved damping
and clarity as well as moisture resistance.
Inverted Dust Cap
The inverted dust cap feature of the PSW8
actually reinforces the cone to further
increase the stiffness-to-mass ratio and
reduce distortion. In a subwoofer application, this dust cap inversion offers the additional benefit of reducing the “oil can” effect
that can cause traditional woofers to produce unwanted high frequency overtones.
Antiresonant Wave Bracing
The HD speaker’s baffle design employs
specially molded ribs that increase the
rigidity of the baffle and raise the resonant
frequency so that less “out-of-phase” cancellation takes place. Equally important,
the ribs are curved and crossed to further
shift vibration modes away from low-bass
canceling frequencies. This keeps bass
tones rich and dynamic.
Figure 1
Model PSW8 Shown
High Power Handling
The PSW8 employs an exceptionally heavyduty magnet/voice-coil/spider assembly that
is capable of handling high power amplifiers (up to 150 watts).
Infinite Baffle Design
The PSW8 is designed for optimum low frequency reproduction in a traditional 2 x 4
stud wall with varying air volumes. It does
not require a special enclosure to provide
high performance.
Selectable Low-Pass Filter
Installers can select to roll off the high frequencies from the PSW8 at 12dB per octave
at either 100Hz or 140Hz. This selection is
accomplished via baffle-mounted controls
that are accessible even after the subwoofer
has been installed.
Selectable High-Pass Filter
Installers can also select whether or not to filter the low frequencies from the satellite
speakers at a fixed frequency of 120Hz. Like
the low-pass filter, this selection is accessed
via baffle mounted controls.
Moisture Resistant Construction
All components of the PSW8 are moisture
resistant. The aluminum grille is rustproof.
This makes the subwoofer ideal for moist
environments which would cause some
brands of speakers to discolor. However,
the PSW8 is not waterproof and direct
contact with water should be avoided.
Low Diffraction, MicroPerf™
Aluminum Grilles
HD speakers include aluminum grilles.
The painted aluminum grille has hundreds
of precisely sized perforations, creating an
acoustically transparent grille.
No-Strip Speaker Terminals
The PSW8 is equipped with both left and right
speaker level input terminals to accommodate
a stereo amplifier driving a single subwoofer.
Output terminals are also provided to utilize
the switchable low-pass filter and provide for
convenient wiring to the satellite speakers. All
terminals are Niles patented non-strip design,
which greatly simplifies installation.
Easy Retrofit Installation in your
Existing Home
Designed for ease of installation, the Niles
mounting system makes retrofit installations
simple and fast. A supplied template assures
fast and accurate hole cutting. The bracket
slips behind the drywall and the screws
secure the bracket to the frame, sandwiching the drywall between them. The speaker
baffle attaches to the frame, and the grille
mounts over the speaker.
Snap-in Baffle Assembly
This proprietary Niles design enables
installers to attach Niles loudspeaker
assemblies to previously installed frames
without additional hardware or tools. Niles'
Snap-in design makes it easy to upgrade
Niles' speakers after installation without the
hassles associated with removal and reinstallation of traditional designs. Snap-in
baffles make installation of Niles speakers
easier and faster than other in-wall brands.
Three Stage Installation System for
Remodels or New Construction
You install only the parts you need for a
particular stage of construction. When the
framing and wiring are finished, you
install the
bracket. After the drywall is up,
but before the painter begins to paint, you
install the
frame and provide the rustproof
aluminum
grilles to the painter so that
they can be painted to match the surroundings. Only when construction is
completely finished do you put the valuable
speaker in the wall. You don’t have
to mask or prep the speaker for painting,
and worries about theft during the final
phases of construction are never an issue!
Features and Benefits
3
How Many Subwoofers?
4
How Many Subwoofers?
For most applications a single PSW8’s is
appropriate. However, in large rooms, high
performance listening rooms or in home
theaters, an array of two or more PSW8s
will deliver astounding results. Unlike
other subwoofer systems, a Niles
Subwoofer Array is concealed. Consider
the distance between the subwoofer(s) and
the listener, the size of the amplifier, and
the desired quality and volume of sound
when deciding how many PSW8s to install
in your home.
Single Stereo Subwoofer
One PSW8 can produce the bass sound
from both the left and the right channels
because of its unique dual voice coil
design. One voice coil powers the left channel and the other powers the right channel.
A stereo crossover divides the signal and filters it according to the settings of the switches on the front panel. A single stereo subwoofer is compatible with any 4 ohm stable
amplifier. Eight ohm stable amplifiers may
be used with a Niles IM volume control (see
Impedance section on Page 7)
Dual Subwoofer Systems
Using two PSW8 subwoofers in a system
raises the maximum attainable volume of
the system by 3dB. Additionally, at lower
volumes, excursion — and therefore distortion levels — are reduced. In a large room,
or a home theater system, the effect on
bass quality is extremely desirable.
Another 2dB increase is possible if the
voice coils of each are PSW8 paralleled.
This requires a multi-channel amplifier or
an amplifier capable of driving the 2 to 2.6
ohm load of the overall system.
VLSA Installations
A Very Large Subwoofer Array (VLSA)
installation lowers the amount of excursion required to achieve a high sound
pressure level. Lowering excursion dramatically improves the quality of the
sound. VLSA installations are most appropriate when the listener appreciates detail
and bass extension, but must have a concealed installation. A VLSA of four subwoofers must have a multi-channel amplifier with one channel assigned to each
subwoofer.
(See Figure 7).
Decibels and Power
65dB Conversation at three feet.
75dB Sewing Machine at three feet.
85dB Vacuum Cleaner at 10 feet.
95dB Subway Train entering a station
at 20 feet.
3dB The smallest difference in volume
the human ear can easily detect.
10dB Perceived as twice as much loud-
ness if it is an increase (half as
much if it is a decrease).
Any speaker requires twice as much
amplifier power to increase 3dB and ten
times as much power to increase 10dB.
Comparison of 1, 2 or 4 Subwoofers
16’ x 18’ x 8’ Room @ 12’
25 Watts 100
Watts
1 Sub 95dB 101dB
2 Subs 100dB 106dB
VLSA of 4 Subs 103dB 109dB
2 x Watts = 3dB Increase in Volume.
2 x Subs = 3dB Increase in Volume.
2 x Subs = 1/2 the subwoofer excursion for
the same volume.
If you double the distance from the subwoofer to the primary listening position
you decrease the volume by 4 to 6dB.
Connections
Single Stereo Subwoofer
A four conductor wire (Left+, Left-, Right+
and Right-) 16 gauge or larger is run from
the amplifier location to the local volume
control.
(See Figure 4).
From the local volume control, the four
conductor cable is run to the PSW8 and
connected to the Input connectors. A two
conductor wire is connected to each of the
stereo outputs and fed to the left and right
speakers. Now, the volume control will
raise and lower the volume for the subwoofer and the left and right speakers
simultaneously. Additionally, the crossover
is now connected so that the crossover
switches can be adjusted.
Dual Subwoofer Systems
A four conductor wire (Left+, Left-, Right+
and Right-) 16 gauge or larger is run from
the amplifier location to the local volume
control.
(See Figure 5).
From the local volume control, a two conductor cable is run to each of the PSW8s
and connected to either the left or the right
Input connectors.
Each of the satellite speakers must be connected to the correct subwoofer. Typically,
a two conductor wire is connected from the
left channel output on the left channel subwoofer and fed to the left satellite speaker
and another two conductor wire connects
from the right channel subwoofer output to
the right channel satellite.
5
Connections
Left Right
PSW800 PSW800
Amplifier
Either
Input
OK
Wire to
Corresponding
Output
Satellite Speaker Satellite Speaker
Left Right
PSW8
Amplifier
Left and Right
Input terminals
Left and Right
Output terminals
Satellite Speaker Satellite Speaker
Figure 4
A Single PSW8 Hook-Up
Figure 5
A Dual PSW8 Hook-Up
PSW-800 PASSIVESUBWOOFER Niles Audio Corporation, Inc.
H
SW2
C
L
LEFT IN
L
C
SW1
H
RIGHT IN
WF WF
—
+
L
R
LEFT OUT
RIGHT OUT
PSW-800 PASSIVESUBWOOFER Niles Audio Corporation, Inc.
H
SW2
C
L
LEFT IN
L
C
SW1
H
RIGHT IN
WF WF
—
+
L
R
LEFT OUT
RIGHT OUT
6
Connections
Now, the volume control will raise and
lower the volume for the subwoofers and
the left and right speakers simultaneously.
Additionally, the crossovers are now connected so that the crossover switches can
be adjusted to your requirements. You must
adjust the crossovers on each subwoofer
with this hook-up.
Optionally, a jumper of wire may be connected between the L+ and the R+; and
between the L- and the R-. This connects
both voice coils of the PSW8, giving you
a 2dB increase in output. Since each subwoofer’s impedance drops from 8
Ω to
4
Ω, make sure your amplifier is 2Ω stable
to accommodate the satellite speaker’s
impedance.
(See Figure 6).
Very Large Subwoofer Array
(VLSA)
Using four or more PSW8 subwoofers in a
system creates a system of unprecedented
clarity, with stunning bass impact and
potentially extraordinary maximum volume capability. Because of the extremely
low impedance of a parallel VLSA system,
multiple channel amplifiers are normally
used to power them. Because of this, inwall volume controls are incompatible
with VLSA systems.
In a system of this type, it is recommended
that the satellite speakers be driven full
range (or with an external electronic
crossover) by a separate amplifier channel.
Connections are straight-forward; two
conductor wires connect each amplifier
channel to each individual subwoofer.
(See Figure 7).
Each PSW8 has a jumper installed to parallel the voice coils for maximum efficiency.
(See Figure 6).
The crossover controls on each subwoofer
affect only the subwoofer response. Level
controls on the amplifiers facilitate blending and compensation for placement.
Speaker Wire
For most applications, we recommend you
use 16 or 18 gauge wire. For wiring runs
longer than 80 feet we recommend 14
gauge wire. The no strip terminals of the
PSW8 speakers will accommodate up to 12
gauge wire. When you run wire inside
walls, special jacketing (CL-2 or CL-3) is
required to both protect the wire and for
fire prevention. In some areas conduit is
required. For a trouble-free installation, low
voltage wire such as speaker wire must be
run in accordance with the National
Electrical Code and any applicable provisions of the local building code. Consult
your local Niles dealer or your building
contractor if you are unsure of code
requirements in your area.
Figure 6
Connecting the two voice coils in parallel with a
jumper (a piece of speaker wire).
Figure 7
Connections to a VLSA are normally made from
each PSW8 to a multi-channel amplifier like the
Niles SI-1230 twelve-channel amplifier.
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Impedance
With One or Two Subwoofers
When one or two PSW8 subwoofers are
connected to the satellite speakers, the
overall system impedance to the amplifier
lowers.
System Impedance in Ohms (Ω)
One or Two Subwoofers
8
Ω Sats 4Ω Sats
1 Sub 4
Ω 2.6Ω
2 Subs @8Ω each 4Ω 2.6Ω
2 Subs @4Ω each 2.6Ω 2Ω
If the impedance is too low for your amplifier, utilize a Niles speaker selector or IM
volume control to match the impedance.
VLSA (Four or More Subwoofers)
A VLSA installation lowers the amount of
excursion required to achieve a high
sound pressure level. Lowering excursion
dramatically improves the quality of the
sound. VLSA installations are most appropriate when the listener appreciates detail
and bass extension, but must have a concealed installation.
Each subwoofer should have its voice
coils connected in parallel for full output,
therefore
the impedance of each is four
ohms
. Because of this low impedance, a
multi-channel amplifier stable to four
ohms is the best way to drive more than
two subwoofers. Each PSW8 is connected
to its own channel of the multi-channel
amplifier.
Check Your Amplifier’s Specs
Every amplifier has a minimum impedance
specification. Check your owner’s manual
for the specification for four ohm low
impedance drive capability. If there is no
clear indication and your amplifier or
receiver has two sets of speaker terminals
(typically labeled “A” and “B”) your ampli-
fier may be capable of driving a four ohm
load. Perform the following test to be sure:
Parallel/Serial Speaker Connection Test
1. Hook up one pair of speakers to the “A”
speaker terminals of your amplifier.
Leave the “B” terminals unconnected to
speakers.
2. Engage both the “A” and the “B”. Listen
for sound.
If your amplifier plays sound when “A”
and “B” are engaged, it is capable of dri-
ving a four ohm speaker load. If your
amplifier does not play sound when “A”
and “B” are selected, it is only capable of
driving an eight ohm speaker load. An
eight ohm stable amplifier may only be
used with a PSW8 satellite/subwoofer system by installing an impedance magnifying volume control.
An amplifier stable to four ohms may be
connected without impedance matching
devices. Parallel connections via the “A”
speaker terminals to one or two PSW8 subwoofers (If the voice coils are not in parallel) and one pair of eight ohm satellite
speakers results in a four ohm load.
The “B” speaker terminals cannot be used
to power a second pair of speakers anymore.
The low impedance drive capability
of your amplifier is already utilized by the
satellite/subwoofer combination. If you are
connecting other speakers in other rooms
you must install either a speaker selector or
impedance magnifying volume controls.
A few professional/audiophile amplifiers
advertise the capability of driving two
ohm speaker loads. These amplifiers may
be used without impedance matching
devices if the rating is quoted as “RMS” or
“Continuous” power.
7
Impedance
Using Speaker Selectors With
Standard Volume Controls
In multi-room systems with standard volume controls any
Niles speaker selector
will maintain a four ohm load if you leave
one set of room outputs unused for every
speaker system with an impedance of less
than four ohms (such as a PSW8 connected to a pair of four ohm satellite speakers).
The protection switch must be constantly
engaged. Niles HDL series speaker selectors have a rear panel constant protection
feature.
(See Figure 8).
The benefit of a speaker selector is that
even with the protection circuit constantly engaged, more power will be delivered
to any single pair of speakers playing by
itself (all other speakers off).
In a multi-room system there is one indispensible control for true convenience—a
local volume control. It allows you to
adjust the volume of the speakers and the
subwoofer without leaving the room.
Niles makes a wide range of high performance indoor and outdoor volume controls
in Standard or Decora
®
style face plates
(just like your light switches and dimmers).
All of these volume controls enable full
power to be delivered to each speaker system when turned all the way up.
The combination of a speaker selector and
a standard volume control will deliver
high volume when only one pair of speakers is playing.
Using Impedance Magnifying
Volume Controls
The simplest way to increase the impedance of a satellite/subwoofer system is to
install a Niles VCS-2D-IM or VCS-2S-IM
impedance magnifying volume control
instead of a standard volume control. This
control has a behind the wall jumper which
is set at the time of installation to “magnify”
the speaker system’s impedance.
(See Figure 9).
For example: In the two times position, an
IM volume control will enable an eight
ohm stable amplifier to play a 4 ohm
speaker system without overheating. The
available power will decrease, which you
will perceive as a 3dB drop in maximum
undistorted volume.
If the jumper is set to the 4x position, a
6dB drop in volume will be perceived.
If the jumper is set to the 8x position, a
9dB drop in volume will be perceived.
A 10dB drop is perceived as half as loud,
so there are limits to the amount of magnification you can use unless the amplifier is
very powerful (3dB increase every time
you double the power) or you never listen
at high volumes. Consult the Decibels and
Power chart on page 4.
8
Impedance
➟
Figure 8
Setting the constant protection switch on the
Rear Panel of a Niles HDL series speaker
selection system.
Figure 9
Setting the jumper on the Niles VCS-2D-IM or
VCS-2S-IM Impedance Magnifying Volume Control
MAGNIFICATION
FA CT O R
16x
8x
4x
2x
JP1 (LEFT)
MAGNIFICATION
16x
8x
4x
2x
(RIGHT) JP2
FA CT O R
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