Incorporating a Local Volume Control
In a multiroom system there is one indis-
pensible device for true convenience—a
local volume control. It enables you to
adjust the volume of the loudspeakers
without leaving the room.
Plan to wire the system so that each pair
of loudspeakers has its own volume con-
trol built into the wall (think of a volume
control as a dimmer switch for sound).
Niles makes a wide range of high perfor-
mance indoor and outdoor volume
controls. They are available in Standard or
Decora
®
style cover plates (just like your
light switches and dimmers). Volume con-
trols are connected in line with the loud-
speaker, so you must connect the wire
from the amplifier to the volume control
and then from the volume control to the
loudspeaker.
Speaker Wire
Use 2-conductor speaker wire when
connecting DS8.3 and DS8.5 speakers to
your receiver or amplifier. For most appli-
cations, we recommend you use 16 or 18
gauge stranded wire. For wiring runs
longer than 80 feet we recommend 14
gauge stranded wire. The terminals of the
DS speakers will accommodate 12 to 18
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 preven-
tion. 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. If you are unsure of
the correct installation techniques, wire
jacket or type of conduit to use, consult a
professional audio/video installer, your
building contractor, or the local building
and inspection department.
Incorporating Remote Control
If your stereo system operates with a wire-
less Infrared (IR) remote control, consider
the advantages of installing a Niles Infrared
Extender System. Niles manufactures a
number of concealable IR sensors and wall
mounted keypads which send a copy of
your hand-held remote command via a
wire to your main equipment location,
where it is repeated to your stereo system.
The wire is typically installed with the
speaker wire, since the speaker signal and
the IR signal will not interfere with each
other. This makes almost no difference to
the installation time, and the cost of the
recommended IR control cable is reason-
able.
The correct routing for IR control cable is to
home run an IR control cable from the
main equipment location beside the
speaker wire to the planned volume control
location; and then on to the proposed
sensor location. The combination of IR
control cable and speaker wire enables a
programmable Niles IntelliPad
®
to be
installed at a later date (the IntelliPad has a
convenient speaker mute feature in addi-
tion to automating and controlling your
stereo system). An IR sensor is best placed
where it is convenient for you to point the
hand-held remote. Both an IntelliPad and
an IR sensor can be connected in one room
with one home run IR control cable.
Insulation Behind The Speaker
For best performance from your speakers
lay a batten of fiberglass insulation
(example: R-19 un-batted insulation) on
top of the speaker. Try to keep the same
amount of insulation for each speaker,
particularly in the same room, for consis-
tent bass response.
5
Ins
talla
tion Consider
ations
TECH TIP
Wire size is expressed by
its AWG (American Wire
Gauge) number. The lower
the number, the larger the
wire, i.e. 12 AWG is physi-
cally larger than 14 AWG.
