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INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDE
VCS HUB8
VCS HUB8
Niles Audio Corporation
www.nilesaudio.com
12331 S.W. 130 Street
Miami, Florida 33186
Tel: (305) 238-4373
Fax: (305) 238-0185
©2003 Niles Audio Corporation. All rights reserved. Niles, the Niles logo, and Blending Technology and Architecture are registered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation. Decora is a registered trademark of Leviton Manufacturing. All other trademarks
are the property of their respective owners. Some of Niles products (or components thereof) are manufactured under one or
more U.S. Patents, foreign equivalents and/or pending patents (see product for details). Because we constantly strive to improve
our products, Niles reserves the right to change product specifications, descriptions, and prices without notice. The technical
and other specifications of information contained herein is not intended to set forth all technical and other specifications of Niles
products. Additional information can be obtained at www.nilesaudio.com or by calling Niles at 1-800-289-4434. Printed in
China 7/03 DS00312BCN
Volume Control Distribution Hub
B LENDING H IGH F IDELITY AND A RCHITECTURE
®
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Speaker outputs
to volume controls
Speaker outputs
to volume controls
Amplifier
input
Snap-in "Christmas tree" plugs
V O LUME C ONTROL D ISTRIBUTION H UB
V OLUME C ONTROL D ISTRIBUTION H UB
VCS HUB8
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Features and
Benefits 2
Installation
Considerations 2
Installation 4
Specifications 6
Contents 6
INTRODUCTION
The VCS HUB8 is a speaker distribution hub that mounts in a structured-wiring cabinet or on
a wall. It connects between the speaker-level output of an amplifier or receiver and the Niles
volume controls that adjust the sound level of your speakers.
A system with volume controls for multiple speaker pairs connected directly to an amplifier or
receiver requires a large number of connecting wires. This creates an unsightly and often
inconvenient installation, and increases the potential for connection errors.
The Niles VCS HUB8 eliminates such problems. Simply run a single set of wires from the
amplifier or receiver to the distribution hub, and then connect each of the volume controls to
the distribution hub.
With the VCS HUB8, you can distribute the output from your amplifier or receiver to the
volume controls for up to eight pairs of stereo speakers.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
The VCS HUB8 offers a number of improvements over other
speaker distribution hubs:
● Rustproof, weather-resistant housing of high-impact, injec-
tion-molded plastic.
● Removable connector blocks for convenient wire connections.
● Small size and compact footprint, designed specifically to fit
into a standard structured-wiring cabinet.
● Snap-in “Christmas tree” plugs (supplied) for quick and easy
installation in a structured-wiring cabinet.
● Also suitable for wall-mounting.
● Ideal for home and commercial sound installations.
● UL-rated to comply with all local building codes.
● 10 years parts and labor warranty.
Figure 1
INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS
Calculating the Impedance Magnification Setting
To ensure optimal operation of your amplifier or receiver, your
speakers must show it a load that it can handle safely and
effectively. This requires the use of impedance-magnifying (IM)
volume controls.
TECH TIP
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.
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V OLUME C ONTROL D ISTRIBUTION H UB
8x
4x
8x
4x
4x
AMPLIFIER
S
MINIMUMSPEAKER
L
O
AD I
S8OHMS
4 OH
M
Speake
r
Pair
s
023
234
5
678
2x
8x
AMPLIFIER’S MINIMUM SPEAKER LOAD IS 4 OHMS
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
2x
4x
8x
012345678910111213141516
8 OHM Speaker Pairs
4 OHM
Speaker
Pairs
1x
12 AWG
14 AWG
V OLUME C ONTROL D ISTRIBUTION H UB
Figure 2
CAUTION! Every speaker pair in the system must be connected to an impedance-magnifying volume control and set to
the same magnification.
When you install the VCS HUB8 and connect the volume
controls to it, doublecheck the switches on the volume controls
Figure 3
to verify that they are set correctly for the impedance load of
your speakers.
Use the following instructions and the accompanying charts to
select the correct switch setting on the volume controls for the
number and type of speakers in your system.
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. You should find this information in the
owner’s manual of the amplifier.
3. Read the correct switch position from the charts on the next
page. See Figure 2 if your amplifier can drive a 4-ohm
load. See Figure 3 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).
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. 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.
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.
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.
Type of Speaker Wire
We recommend 16-gauge str anded 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 solid-core,
aluminum, or Romex wire with an IM volume control. For
speaker-wire runs within walls, most U.S. states and municipal-
ities 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 Location
The VCS HUB8 is designed
specifically to fit into a structuredwiring cabinet, with snap-in
“Christmas tree” plugs for convenient installation.
Figure 4
Alternatively, you can mount it on a wall, a basement floor
joist, or some other unobtrusive location.
INSTALLATION
1. Run all necessary wiring to the VCS HUB8. Label the wires
for future reference.
2. Secure the VCS HUB8 in a suitable location. In a structuredwiring cabinet, use the convenient snap-in “Christmas Tree”
plugs (supplied) to mount it in the cabinet frame. On a wall
or other flat surface, remove the snap-in plugs, insert drywall
screws (not supplied) through the resulting holes, and secure
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V OLUME C ONTROL D ISTRIBUTION H UB
V OLUME C ONTROL D ISTRIBUTION H UB
the screws to the mounting surface. TAKE CARE NOT TO
OVERTIGHTEN THE SCREWS, WHICH COULD DAMAGE
THE HOUSING.
3. Locate the connector plugs (and remove them if they are
plugged in).
4. Strip 1/4" of insulation from the end of each wire. Tightly
twist the end of each wire until no frayed ends remain.
5. Use a small flathead screwdriver or your thumbnail to raise
the locking tabs, exposing the holes on the removable connector plug.
6. Insert each wire into the appropriate hole on the removable
connector plug, and snap the locking tab down.
NOTE: Maintain proper phasing. Connect the positive terminals on the VCS HUB8 to the positive terminals on the amplifier or receiver, and on the volume controls. Connect the negative terminals on the VCS HUB8 to the negative terminals on
the amplifier or receiver, and on the volume controls. 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 scalloped side of the connector plug into the smooth side of the socket.
7. Plug the connectors into the VCS HUB8 as shown. See
Figure 4. The single connector plug at lower right is the input
from the amplifier or receiver. The other connector plugs are
the outputs, each leading to a specific volume control.
SPECIFICATIONS
Mounting
In a structured-wiring cabinet, using convenient snap-in
“Christmas tree” plugs (supplied)
On a wall or other flat surface, secured with drywall screws
(not supplied)
iring Requirements
W
14-18 gauge, two individual runs of two-conductor speaker
wire, or one run of four-conductor speaker wire.
Unit Dimensions
6.85" wide x 3" high x 1.3" deep
CONTENTS
VCS HUB8
• VCS HUB8
• Snap-in “Christmas Tree” plugs X2
• Removable speaker connector X9
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