Niles Audio SSVC-2, SSVC-4, SSVC-6 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. Niles, the Niles logo and Blending High Fidelity and
Architecture are registered trademarks 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. Printed in China 01/04 DS00357ACN

INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDE

SSVC-2/SSVC-4/SSVC-6

SSVC-2/SSVC-4/SSVC-6

SPEAKER SELECTION/VOLUME CONTROL SYSTEMS

B LENDING H IGH F IDELITY AND A RCHITECTURE

®

S

PEAKERSE LECTION

SSVC-2/SSVC-4/
SSVC-6

Speaker Selection/
Volume Control
Systems

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 1

Features and
Benefits 2

Installation
Considerations 5

Installation 8

Operation 10

Specifications 12

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

Introduction

The SSVC series is a combination speaker selector and volume
controller. It allows you to connect multiple pairs of speakers
to your stereo receiver or amplifier and adjust the volume of
any pair independently. Additionally, you can choose to listen
to any pair of speakers, or any combination of pairs simultane­ously. You don’t have to worry about overloading your amplifier.
The SSVC series uses impedance magnification to keep your
amplifier running safely, even with all speakers playing.

A perfect application for the SSVC series is individually control­ling speaker “on/off” and volume adjustment for multiple
pairs of speakers: one pair in the room with the main stereo
system and all other pairs at remote locations. The SSVC series
adjusts the volume of the 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.

S

PEAKERSELECTION

Notes

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

1 14

SSVC-4

SPEAKER SELECTOR/VOLUME CONTROL SYSTEM

1 2 3 4

Niles Audio Corporation Miami, Florida USA

AMPLIFIER SPEAKER 4 SPEAKER 3 SPEAKER 2 SPEAKER 1

1

SPEAKER PAIRS

5/6

2

3/4

S

PEAKERSELECTION

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

S

PEAKERSELECTION

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

12 position volume control

provides greater attenuation

than conventional

10 position designs.

Recessed

areas for

custom room

labels.

Attractive

low-profile

design.

Simple

push-button

operation.

Impedamce

Magnification

Selection.

3

Connect up to two pairs

of speakers.

Removable

Connectors.

Specifications

Audio Power Handling
100 watts/channel continuous music power

Frequency Response
+/- 1.2 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz

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
3 lb.

12

S

PEAKERSELECTION

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

S

PEAKERSELECTION

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

IMPORTANT

DO NOT use the

SSVC-2/4/6 with

amps or receivers

rated at more than
100 watts per chan­nel RMS at 8 ohms.

Installation Considerations

Power Handling

The SSVC-2, SSVC-4, and SSVC-6 are 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.

Important: DO NOT use the SSVC series with amps or receivers
rated at more than 100 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms.

Amplifier Impedance Load

As more pairs of speakers are parallel connected to a receiver
or amplifier, the overall system impedance becomes lower. For
example, if two pairs of 8-ohm speakers are connected in par­allel, the impedance will be 4 ohms, two pairs of 4-ohm
speakers in parallel become 2 ohms, and so on.

Most receivers or amplifiers are not rated for use below a
4 ohm load. Most manufacturers do not recommend connect­ing two pairs of 4-ohm speakers without using some form of
impedance correction.

Operation

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

2. Set the volume control for the speaker pair you wish to play
to maximum (fully clockwise).

3. 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 as 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 appropriate volume control on the front of the
speaker selector, adjust the volume of the speakers to the
desired listening level.

7. You can turn off the speakers by turning the appropriate
volume control on the SSVC series fully counter-clockwise,
or by pressing the on/off button.

“TECH TIP”

If your amplifier

or receiver has “A”

and “B” speaker-

pair outputs,

connect the SSVC

series to the “A”
outputs. Do not

connect anything to

“B”. This will prevent

the amplifier or

receiver from driving

an unusually low
impedance load.

5

10

S

PEAKERSELECTION

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

S

PEAKERSELECTION

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

Type of Speaker Wire

For most applications, we recommend you use 16 or 18
gauge stranded copper speaker wire for the SSVC-2/4/6 con­nections. For wiring runs longer than 80 feet, 14 gauge wire is
recommended. Using speaker wire larger than 14 gauge for
SSVC connections is not recommended—the wire may not fit
into the connectors. Never use solid-core, aluminum, or
“Romex” type wire with the speaker selector. 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
thought the speakers. If you must locate the SSVC series
wiring near electrical devices, route the speaker wires several
feet away from the electrical wiring.

Installation

1. Select a convenient location for the SSVC-2/4/6 .

2. Run all the necessary wiring to the SSVC-2/4/6 . Label the
wires for future reference. See (Figure 1).

3. Locate the connector plugs (and remove them if they are
plugged in). See (Figure 2) and (Figure 4).

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

SSVC-2 connector installation

a. On the SSVC-2 use a small flathead screwdriver or your

thumbnail to raise the locking tabs, exposing the holes on
the removable connector plug.

b. 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.

c. 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).

7

8

S

PEAKERSELECTION

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

S

PEAKERSELECTION

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

SSVC-4/6 connector installation

a. Insert each wire into the appropriate hole on the removable

connector plug.

b. Use a small flathead screwdriver to tighten each wire

in place.

c. Insert the connector plug into the socket and lock in place

by tightening captive screws on each side of connector.
See (Figure 4).

The inputs of the SSVC-2/4/6 are the connector terminals
labeled “AMPLIFIER”. The outputs are the connector terminals
labeled “SPEAKERS”. Be sure not to reverse these connections
or the SSVC-2/4/6 will not function properly.

5. Locate the pre-printed Room Labels. Affix the appropriate label
to the recessed area next to the knob on the SSVC-2/4/6 .

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.

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
SSVC-2/4/6 to match the number of pairs of speakers (1, 2,
3/4, 5/6).

“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.

9

6

S

TUNER 94.9

15

Niles Audio Corporation Miami, Florida USA

AMPLIFIER SPEAKER 4 SPEAKER 3 SPEAKER 2 SPEAKER 1

1

SPEAKER PAIRS

5/6

2

3/4

AMPLIFIER

KER PAIRS

SPEAKER 4

USA

Niles Audio Corporation Miami, Florida USA

AMPLIFIER SPEAKER 4 SPEAKER 3 SPEAKER 2 SPEAKER 1

1

SPEAKER PAIRS

5/6

2

3/4

PEAKERSELECTION

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

S

PEAKERSELECTION

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

11

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 SSVC series volume controls allow you to adjust the vol­ume of each speaker pair individually. You can leave the ampli­fier or receiver volume set at one position and use the SSVC
volume controls exclusively.

Speaker

Pair 4

Receiver

Speaker

Pair 3

Figure 1

Wiring Diagram

Tube Amplifier

Niles SSVC4

Speaker

Pair 2

Niles SSVC4

Speaker

Pair 1

Figure 3

Using a

Tube Amplifie

Figure 2

Connecting the wires

SSVC-2

r

Figure 4

Connecting the wires

SSVC-4/6

4

S

PEAKERSELECTION

Notes

13

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

S

PEAKERSELECTION

/V

OLUMECONTROLSYSTEM

Features and Benefits

• 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

• Non-skid 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 (SSVC-2);
Dimensions: 17" wide x 2" high x 9-1/8" deep(SSVC-4);
Dimensions: 17" wide x 2" high x 9-1/8" deep (SSVC-6)

• Shipping weight: approximately 5 lbs (SSVC-2); 10 lbs
(SSVC-4); 12 lbs (SSVC-6)

TECH

SUPPORT

HOTLINE

If you have

questions regarding

the operation of

the Niles SSVC-2/4/6,

contact your local

Niles dealer or Niles

Customer Service at

1-800-289-4434.

2