Niles Audio SI-1260 Stereo Amplifier User Manual
Contents
1. of rooms To achieve different volumes and greater conve nience in different rooms with in a zone individual volume controls can be used Niles makes volume controls in vari ous styles and colors When i designing your system take into account who will use the system and when they will use it Consult your local Niles dealer for more information A multi zone system as shown in Figure 3 offers the house hold more flexibility For instance a family might have their family room wired for sur round sound and their living room wired for background music In a two zone system the children can watch TV in surround sound while Mom and Dad are reading the paper and enjoying background music in the living room CD PLAYER I TAPE PLAYER I VCR ES TV I A Single Zone System allows only one source to be heard throughout the house at a given time FAMILY ROOM LIVING ROOM LISTENING ZONE 1 Figure 2 Single Zone System CD PLAYER TAPE PLAYER VCR LIVING ROOM FAMILY ROOM LISTENING ZONE 1 LISTENING ZONE 2 Figure 3 Multi Zone System SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS Speaker Compatibility A single channel not bridged of the SI 1260 is capable of driving a low imped ance speaker load As many as three eight ohm speakers can be safely connect ed2. 5 m a fe Z 7 a ie 2 ie m q CONFIGURATION WORKSHEET BUS INPUTS amp OUTPUTS CONNECTED TO Left Bus Input 1 Right Bus Input 1 Left Bus Input 2 Right Bus Input 2 Cascade Output Bus 1 Right Cascade Output Bus 1 Left Cascade Output Bus 2 Right Cascade Output Bus 2 Left CH BRIDGED DIP INPUT SOURCE SPEAKER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 MODE SETTINGS IN USE SPECIAL CONNECTIONS OR NOTES Constant Audio Sense Voltage Trigger Control Output SPECIFICATIO NS Design Principle Linear voltage current amplification Continuous Power Output FTC Rated U nbridged all channels driven 60 watts per channel at 8 ohms 80 watts per channel at 4 ohms Bridged Power Output Adjacent channels bridged all channels driven 120 watts per channel at 8 ohms Input Impedance 47 000 ohms Input Sensitivity 100mv for 1 watt out 850mv for full output 60 watts level controls set at maximum Overall Voltage Gain 29 dB Frequency Response Bandwidth from 5 Hz to 50 kHz Distortion Normal mode 0 06 THD 20Hz to 20kHz all channels driven 8 ohms 0 06 THD rated 20Hz to 20kHz all channels driven 4 ohms Bridged mode 0 06 THD 20Hz to 20kHz all channels driven 8 ohms Overall Dimensions 17 inches wide by 7 375 inches hi
3. CREATE AN UNDESIRABLE MIX OF INPUTS ON THE ENTIRE BUS 2 3 o 2 Bridging Two Channels into One The SI 1260 s bridging switches allow you to create a more powerful amplifier chan nel by combining or bridging two adjacent amplifier channels together into one Figure 16 Channel Bridging Switch and DIP Switches Figure 17 Bridged Channel Connections Slide the bridg When two channels are bridged e NORMAL BRIDGED gt gt ing switch in the together connect speakers to the direction of the two terminals labeled Bridged 2 o 2 arrow to bridge 1 Choose which of the six pairs you wish to bridge and move the bridging switch for that pair to the Bridged position toward arrow two adjacent amplifier chan BRIDGED BRIDGED nels Set the controls of the newly bridged pair by using the EVEN numbered channel DESCRIPTION The 12 channels are grouped into 6 pairs e g 1 amp 2 Only the two channels within a pair can be bridged Thus only channels 1 and 2 or channels 3 and 4 could be bridged Channel 2 and 3 are nota pair and cannot be bridged CAUTION DO NOT CONNECT A SPEAKER LOAD OF LESS THAN 4 OHMS TO A BRIDGED CHANNEL Each bridged channel is designed for a 4 ohm minimum load Connecting multiple speakers to a single channel creating a nominal impedance of less than 4 ohms may cause the SI 1260
4. all affected products Cleaning and Maintenance The internal parts of the SI 1260 are electronic and require no maintenance Once a year it is appropriate to twist each input RCA connector to remove any oxidation and improve conductivity You can clean the amplifier with soft cloth or a paper towel dampened with water DO NOT use any spray type or abrasive cleaners on the amplifier 0 M 3 0 2 c e m T O 0 3 2 Q m TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE When a problem occurs consult this guide first If the problem persists or you have additional questions call your local Niles dealer or call Niles Technical Support at 1 800 289 4434 The most common problems are related to hook up Have your configuration worksheet handy when you call SYMPTOM Very low or no sound on one channel PO SSIBLE CAUSES AND TEST PROCEDURE ta BusMatrix DIP switch is notin the correct position Check your configuration worksheet and verify all settings Audio cable to the input is bad Connect the non working channel to a cable known to be good Bridging Switch is in wrong position Check your con figuration worksheet for the correct setting and verify No sound on one channel pair and channel pair LED is quickly blinking red m Check that connections are secure and that there are no loose strands of wires crossing from the positive to the negative terminal at the back of the amplifier a
5. unbridged amplifier channels than you would if you bridged four ampli fier channels into two and connected the two pairs of speakers in parallel APPLICATIONS Advantages of Using The SI 1260 in a Single Zone System By connecting a Niles Sl 1260 to a stereo receiver s preamplifier outputs you dedicate a robust 60 watts to each speaker in your multi room system Each channel has its own level control enabling you to compensate for architectural differences which may cause one speaker to seem louder than another In addition you can fine tune the sys tem so that when all of the room volume controls are set to the loudest level the large rooms and the small rooms play at the same volume DSS VCR CD Ls l bomma Le el bomma Preamplifier or AM FM receiver Le SI 1260 Niles VCS 2D Volume Control Single Zone Figure 4 Single Zone gt A 2 fe i 5 2 Z vi Q 2 4 m Es g m Y Q 2 A fe Z v U 3 fe Z vi Creating a Low Cost Second Zone Using A Dedicated Source The main problem in a single zone system is that when a source is being listened to in one room you cannot listen to another source in another room simultaneous
6. ED Gold plated dual banana plug spaced five way speaker binding posts Serial Number Pu Removable Two prong IEC compatible AC power cord Speaker Wire Connections CAUTION All speaker wire connections must be made with the amplifier O FF Figure 14 Binding Posts Bare Wire Unscrew the red or black plastic knobs and insert the bare wire through the hole in the post Tighten the knob until the wire is secure Banana Plugs There are many types of banana plugs available Some are crimped onto the speaker wire and some are soldered Niles offers banana plugs that have a quick connect binding system for the speaker wire included within the banana plug itself After the wire is attached the banana plug is simply inserted into the hole at the end of the amplifier s speak er binding post Dual spaced banana plugs will fit the SI 1260 bind ing posts ly clamped STEP DESCRIPTION 1 Label all wires If all wires connecting to the Sl 1260 are labeled with their destination rather than their specific connection to the SI 1260 it will be easier to reconfigure the system in the future A Splitthe speaker wire insulation at least 2 Connect one stripped wire end or 2 inches banana plug to the black terminal and one to the red terminal B Strip 1 2 inch of insulation from each speaker wire conductor CAUTION NOT EVEN A SINGLE S
7. FM directly centered 6 directly centered 2 on top of the SI 1260 behind the SI 1260 WZZM UDI Make sure that there is a minimum of 6 of free air space above the amplifier and 1 on each side for proper ventilation UA A If the cabinet rear is not open to fresh air or if your using low impedance Allow a minimum of 2 of depth behind the unitto accommodate cables and connectors loads install two boxer fans to pro vide continuous air flow into and out of the cabinet INSTALLATION Line Level Audio Inputs Caution The amplifier must be off whenever you make changes to the input con nections STEP DESCRIPTION 1 Correctly label the interconnecting cables coming from each source Use audio patch cables terminated with RCA connectors 2 Connect the sources by inserting the RCA connectors into a BusMatrix input or dedicated input jack on the SI 1260 s rear panel NOTE When you are using two ampli fier channels in the bridged mode assign the audio signal to be ampli fied to the EVEN numbered amplifier channel using the BusMatrix Dip Switches Cascade Audio Outputs The Cascade Audio O utputs enable you to connect additional amplifiers to your preamplifier s output Connection is accomplished with standard RCA interconnect cables The outputs are not buffered to daisy chain more than five Niles amplifiers you will need a Niles AVDA 3 buffered dist
8. INSTALLATION amp OPERATION GUIDE Systems Integration Amplifier LED BLENDING HIGH FIDELITY AND ARCHITECTURE CONGRATULATIONS Thank you for purchasing the Niles SI 1260 Systems Integration Amplifier one of the most versatile and powerful multi channel amplifiers ever offered Like all Niles products the Sl 1260 is built to the highest standards of quality and reliability With proper installation and operation you ll enjoy years of trouble free use Niles manufactures the industry s most complete line of custom installation compo nents and accessories for audio video systems For a free full line catalog write Niles Catalog Request PO Box 160818 Miami Florida 33116 0818 or visit www nilesaudio com TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 2 FEATURES AND BENEFITS 3 SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS 5 SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS 6 APPLICATIONS 8 CONFIGURING YOUR SYSTEM B INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS 14 INSTALLATION 16 FRONT amp REAR PANEL DETAILS 17 OPERATION 23 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE 27 CONFIGURATION WORKSHEET 29 SPECIFICATIONS 30 INTRO DUCTION Designed for use in high end high powered distributed audio systems the SI 1260 Systems Integration Amplifier provides a level of performance flexibility and ease of installation previously unavailable to custom installers The Sl 1260 s unique design enables each of its channels to be independently configured to reproduce stereo or mono in any combination as well
9. TRAND OF WIRE CAN BE ALLOWED C Attach banana plugs or twist the wire TO TOUCH THE AMPLIFIER CHASSIS strands of each conductor and insert them OR ANOTHER CONNECTOR into the appropriate SI 1260 binding post BusMatrix Input DIP Switch Settings Each channel has a dedicated BusM atrix DIP switch bank that assigns that chan nel s source input signal see Figure 15 To assign the BusMatrix source input sig nal for a particular channel set only one of the seven switches to the right DIP Switch Settings 1L is for the assignment of the Left Bus Input 1 1R is for the assignment of Right Bus Input 1 1L 1R is for the assignment of a summed mono signal of the Left and Right Bus Input 2L is for the Left Bus Input 2 2R is for the Right Bus Input 2 2L 2R is for a summed mono signal of the Left and Right Bus Input 2 The seventh switch assigns the dedicated input to its respective channel Again only one of the seven DIP switches OFF Position ON Position should be configured to the ON position switched to the right jo 1 i 1L 1R 5 E E 2R L co 24428 1 Figure 15 BusMatrix DIP Switches DESCRIPTION 1 Move only one 1 DIP switch to the CAUTION EACH DIP SWITCH ALLOWS ON position for each channel YOU TO MOVE ALL SEVEN SLIDE SWITCHES TO THE ON POSITION IF YOU SET MORE THAN ONE SLIDE SWITCH TO ON YOU MAY
10. Trigger Control Output INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS Automating the turn on of your SI 1260 is one of the easiest steps when installing it in a distributed system However do not plug the main power cord into the switched AC outlet of your preamplifier or receiver The high power design of the Sl 1260 requires large amounts of current from its AC power source Additionally it is always recommended to activate the system preamplifier receiver before turning on your SI 1260 in order to prevent system tum on thumps In order to address these important needs the Sl 1260 has three special turn on modes that let you turn the amplifier on only when it is needed These three options are accessed by the Turn On Mode selector switch see Figure 10 Important The Front Panel Power Switch must be in the ON switch in position for any of the three turn on options to function refer to page 23 for more information concerning the Front Panel Power Switch TURN ON Turn On Modes MODE Constant The auto tum on circuitry is O FF reo The front panel master power switch operates 1 aupto sense the amplifier When the switch is in the amp RIGGER INPUT is ON when itis out the amp is O FF Audio Sense The amplifier is OFF when there is no audio signal present at any of the 16 inputs but the sensing circuitry is active The turn on sensing circuitry looks for a tiny 0 amount of audio signal present at any o
11. as to compensate for differing volume levels in rooms of different sizes Additionally the amplifier s Dual Bus Matrix feature and multiple inputs enable it to be used in several different applications simultaneously if desired i e mono background music in some rooms and stereo in others As you read this manual and become more familiar with the SI 1260 s capabilities you will understand why our multi channel amplifier design has won many presti gious industry awards The first multi channel amplifier introduced by Niles the SI 1200 was selected Best New Product in 1994 by both Sound amp Video Contractor M agazine and the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association CEDIA In addition the Sl 1200 also won the Consumer Electronics Show s Innovations 95 Design and Engineering Award SI 1260 Systems Integration Amplifier Figure 1 Z 3 O y A J 2 2 c A un gt 2 0 W m Z m all T FEATURES AND BENEFITS Microcontroller Based Real World Power The Sl 1260 12 channel amplifier incorporates microcontroller technology which maximizes the amplifier s operational efficiency and enables it to deliver a solid 60 watts per channel into 8 ohms 20Hz to 20kHz 0 04 THD Its power increases to 80 watts per channel into 4 ohms 20Hz to 20kHz at 0 06 THD The massive Multi Tap Toroid power transformer features 6 independent secondary windings one for each of the six amplifier module
12. ay s Dolby Digital surround sound receivers include a second zone pre 3 amplifier output used to create a second listening zone Using this output with one Da of the Sl 1260 s BusM atrix inputs provides amplification for multiple rooms within Q a second listening zone as shown in Figure 6 2 DVD CD r CHANGER VER DSS EEE a r Second Zone Output Dual Zone Surround ffa Sound Receiver ZONE 1 Home Theater a I I I BusMatrix Input 1 a Niles VCS 2D SI 1260 Niles VCS 2D HP Volume Control O EEE y Volume Control HP High Power Lt A RTP E O UC A FP ERA EAR 1 I I fo e el EE i I l l I I i E Q I I 10 AGE AGE Ol i Living p Kitchen Exercise Room Hallway Patio Unbridged Channels1 8 ror ares Figure 6 Using a Dual Zone Receiver Adding Preamps To Create More Listening Zones In the ultimate multi zone system you would connect six stereo preamplifiers or a single component multi zone multi source preamplifier to one SI 1260 creating six completely independent listening zones M ulti zone systems enable listeners locat ed in six separate zones to simultaneously listen to di
13. e amplifier is plugged into a live AC outlet and the main power switch is OFF out position Solid Red The amplifier is plugged into a live AC outlet and the main power switch is ON in position Fast Red Blinking The AC line voltage is above or below the normal 120VAC Three Times Per Second This will cause the amplifier to turn off Normal operation resumes once the AC line voltage returns to 120VAC Slow Red Blinking Internal defect The amplifier should be returned to Niles Once Every Three Seconds for service Channel Pair LED Indicators mee 2 The SI 1260 incorporates individual multi colored LEDs for each channel pair y that indicate the following 2 CHANNEL PAIR LED STATUS OFF The channel pair is O FF 9 Solid Green The channel pair is active and operating normally Fast Red Blinking Indicates a possible short circuit or low impedance condition Three Times Per Second Speaker wire strands that are touching at the speaker or the ampli fier s speaker terminals and or a damaged speaker wire can cause a short circuit M ore than three pairs of 8 ohm speakers attached to the same amplifier channel present the amplifier channel with a low impedance Both of these conditions will cause the LED indi cator to blink red very quickly Eliminating the short circuit or con necting a proper speaker impedance load will enable the channel pair to resume normal operation Slow Red Blinking Indicate
14. electric curtain controls and other devices that require a constant 12V DC control voltage for activation This voltage is provided only when any of the amplifier channels are active or ON When all amplifier channels are OFF the 12V signal is OFF STEP Slide the switch with either your fingernail MODE or a 1 8 slotted screwdriver blade 2 3 fe 2 Figure 19 DESCRIPTION 1 Check the requirements of the device you want to control The control output provides 150 mA of current maximum 2 Connect the 3 5mm jack to the control output maintaining proper polarity tip Niles makes an accessory cable plug FG 00724 INLOTERvt Elfo O PERATION Front Panel Power Switch The Sl 1260 s master power switch is located on the front panel Pressing the switch toggles between the ON switch in and the OFF switch out position It must be in the ON position to enable the amplifier to activate regardless of the turn on mode selected see page 14 If you are going on vacation and or would like to reduce power con sumption while you are away set the master power switch to the OFF position W hen you would like to return to normal operation set the switch back to the ON position Power LED Indicator The SI 1260 features a bi colored POWER LED indicating the power status of the amplifier POWER LED STATUS OFF Amplifier is not plugged in to a live AC outlet Solid Yellow Th
15. er Leftl Right Leftl Rightl Left2 Right2 Left2 Right2 or to a dedicated signal input With the BusM atrix routing surround sound to the master bedroom stereo to the den and mono to a bathroom is as simple as flicking a switch The Dual Input BusM atrix makes the SI 1260 an ideal multi room or multi zone amplifier offering the profes sional installer exciting new features and sound system design possibilities Twelve to Six Channel Configurable Power Each of the SI 1260 s six adjacent output pairs are bridgeable You can create up to six 120 watt channels by setting the bridging switch to the BRIDGED position These switches are located at the top of the rear panel see Page 21 Figure 16 Bridging enables you to double the power to specific speaker locations including large rooms and outdoor applications Freedom From Noise and Cross Talk The unique design of the Sl 1260 s Dual Input BusMatrix PC board ensures extremely high channel to channel isolation Signal to noise ratio and cross talk specifications are comparable to those of mixing consoles used in professional recording studios With the Sl 1260 the music playing in the living room will not interfere with the music playing in the den Independent Level Controls Each channel has its own independent volume level control enabling you to individually adjust the setting for up to twelve different speaker locations for opti mum audio performance providing uniform so
16. f the audio inputs If it detects a signal the adjacent Figure 10 Turn On Mode pair of amplifier channels i e channel 1 2 3 4 5 6 etc assigned to receive the input signals will switch ON Once the audio signal stops the sensing circuit waits approximately 2 minutes then switches all amplifier channels O FF 3 30V AC DC Trigger Input The amplifier is O FF when a 3 to 30 Volt AC or DC signal is not applied to the voltage trigger input Once the sensing circuitry detects Such a voltage all adjacent pairs of amplifier channels that are receiving an audio signal switch ON Once the voltage is removed the Voltage Trigger circuit instant ly switches the amplifier O FF Voltage triggers may be supplied by Niles automat ed switchers some video projectors some surround sound processors or a 12 Volt DC wall adapter Niles FG 00665 plugged into the switched outlet of your stereo receiver If you are using a wall adapter or external power supply to provide the trigger it doesn t have to be very large a minimum current capability of 2 5 milliamps for a 3 Volt trigger increasing up to a minimum of 38 milliamps for a 30 Volt trigger Z 5 J 2 2 A fe 2 un g 5 2 Z v 2 2 A 2 2 a 0 e 2 un Placement CAUTION Placing the SI 1260 s weight on the rear or front panels will cause dam age to the amplifier s connectors or controls Place the SI 1260 on a flat level sur
17. face like a table or shelf The Sl 1260 must be placed with its weight equally distributed on the unit s four feet This amplifier like any high fidelity component will last much longer if it is given adeguate ventilation for proper cooling When installing the Sl 1260 in a cabinet be sure that the cabi net s rear is open to fresh air see Figure 11 Additionally place the Sl 1260 so that there are at least 6 inches of free air space above the amplifier and 1 inch on each side If the amplifier is located on a carpeted surface place a board under the ampli fier s feet If the cabinet s design will not accommodate an open rear install two small boxer fans to provide continuous air flow into and out of the cabinet see Figure 12 CAUTION When using low impedance speaker loads less than 4 ohms Normal Mode less than 8 ohms Bridged Mode refer to figure 12 for proper placement CAUTION DO NOT block the ventilation holes on the top and bottom of the SI 1260 The SI 1260 is equipped with a massive toroidal power transformer This transformer generates a powerful magnetic field that could induce a hum in a turntable particu larly a turntable equipped with a moving coil cartridge DO NOT place a turntable directly above or directly adjacent to the SI 1260 CAUTION Before placing the SI 1260 on a shelf verify that the weight bearing capacity of the shelf is 70 Ibs or greater Figure 11 Figure 12 Boxer Fan 105 CFM Boxer Fan 105 C
18. fferent source components as shown in Figure 7 DSS AM FM DVD CD TUNER CHANGER bomma bomma a bomma Led Niles A4 6Ci S Ssni z Zone oibus Dedicated Inputs SI 1260 O rr 38 08 6868 fele ZONE 1 ZONE 2 ZONE 3 ZONE 4 ZONE 5 ZONE 6 S 3 fe Z vi Q 2 4 m Es y m Y Q 2 A fe Z v U 3 fe Z vi Figure 7 Creating More Listening Zones Utilizing the Dual BusMatrix Input Many multi zone systems incorporate multiple rooms within a single zone The SI 1260 s Dual BusM atrix Input simplifies the connections required for this system design As shown in Figure 8 a Niles A4 6Ci Multi zone Controller has its first and second zone outputs connected to the Sl 1260 s Dual BusMatrix 1 and 2 inputs respectively Bus Input 1 is then routed to amplifier channels one through six via dip switch settings Bus Input 2 is routed to amplifier channels seven through twelve in the same manner Six rooms can now be connected to the SI 1260 placing three rooms in Zone 1 and three rooms in Zone 2 The remain ing zone outputs on the A4 6Ci can be connected to another SI 1260 for more zones DVD CD CHANGER Zones 3 6 SI 1260 O eso E de de de do dd Zones 12 7 Niles A4 6Ci BusMatrix Input 1 BusMat
19. gh including feet by 15 inches deep Weight 70 pounds 7 gt J 2 2 un NILESe Niles Audi Corporation 12331 S W 130 Street Miami Florida 33186 Tel 305 238 4373 Fax 305 238 0185 www nilesaudio com 2000 Niles Audio Corporation All rights reserved Niles the Niles logo Blending High Fidelity and Architecture and Systems Integration Amplifier are registered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation BusMatrix is a trademark of Niles Audio Corporation All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners Because we constantly strive to improve our products Niles reserves the right to change product Specifications without notice The technical and other infor mation 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 06 00 DS00257A
20. ire amplifier including the auto turn on circuitry y CHANNELS CHANNELS CHANNELS ES POWER 1 2 3 4 5 6 2 fe Z gt 2 U Pc gt pr 5 2 m 4 2 h Cascade outputs of the BusM atrix controls for each Level controls for each bus input enable you to daisy channel channel chain multiple amplifiers Gold Plated Dual Bus Inputs selectable by the BusM atrix provide N enhanced input flexibility BRIDGED BRIDGED BRIDGED BRIDGED Turn O n Mode Switch 3 5 mm Jack for E d 3 30V AC DC trigger input 3 5 mm Jack for 12v DC Control O utput 150 mA max Multi color Channel Pair LED indicators display channel pair on off status and protection modes Attractive extruded uminum front panel CHANNELS CHANNELS CHANNELS 78 9 10 11 12 M NILES D fe 2 gt 2 U pr gt pr 3 2 m i gt h Bridging switch for each channel pair DB 25 input connector for simplified dedicated audio and voltage trigger connection using Niles Multi Zone Products WHEN O BRIDGED LEVEL Gold plated RCA jacks for the dedicated inputs BRIDGED BRIDGED BRIDGED BRIDGED BRIDGED BRIDG
21. ly However for a listener who only listens to CDs a low cost second zone may be cre ated to allow simultaneous CD listening while the main system is playing another source This is possible only if the CD player you are using has dual audio outputs one with remote controllable volume and the other a fixed volume As shown in Figure 5 you connect the CD player s variable output to the SI 1260 s dedicated channel inputs for the particular room where you will listen only to CDs The fixed output is connected to the main preamp or receiver so you can also listen to CDs in the rest of the house The finishing touch is to install a Niles infrared repeater system IRR 4D IRP 2 and IRC 2 so you may adjust the CD player s volume via remote control from your CD listening room DSS VCR CD a Fixed Preamplifier or IRC 2 AM FM receiver A nr Variable BusMatrix Input 1 kort r BusMatrix Input 2 SI 1260 Niles VCS 2D Volume Control Niles IRR 4D IR Sensor ieee ele pee ee uoa A i Jo o o o o i I I I FA A KR Doaddadadbs seid I SN EE ee DE go o tre a 1 ZONE 1 ZONE 2 Figure 5 Low Cost Second Zone for CDs Using A Dual Zone Receiver for Two Listening Zones gt Most of tod
22. many seating areas and or many pairs of speakers Irregularly shaped rooms Bathrooms with one speaker over the tub and one speaker over the sink s Hallways or passagew ays including those with multiple speakers Small rooms such as walk in closets where more than a single speaker is not required Bridging Channels for Areas that Require More Volume and Power There are several situations where bridging is an excellent way to improve the sound There are also applications where bridging would seem to be appropriate but is not recommended Bridging channels increases the power to 120 watts per chan nel with an 8 ohm impedance These are some of the most common Do s and Don ts 1 Outdoors DO Sound dissipates faster outside than it does in a room where the walls enclose the sound and reflect it back to the listener A pair of speakers play ing into a large patio or yard will greatly benefit from bridging four channels into two 120 watt channels 2 Surround Sound Systems DO The dynamic demands for the center channel are much greater than the left right or surround channels This is an excellent application for two channels to be bridged into one 120 watt channel 3 More than one pair of 8 ohm speakers DON T In a large room or a long hall way often the best way to get good background music is to install multiple pairs of speakers You will actually deliver more power to two pairs of 8 ohm speakers by using two
23. nd or the speaker Disconnect the speaker wire at both ends separate the 2 conductors at both ends and test with a meter for a short circuit If there is no short connect the two conductors at one end and test for continuity Verify that the impedance load of the connected speakers is not less than 2 66 ohms with an unbridged channel and 4 ohms with a bridged channel No sound on one channel pair and channel pair LED is slowly blinking red The amplifier module has overheated due to inadequate ventilation or prolonged operation at clipping levels 1 Turn the amplifier off and allow the internal circuits to cool Check to ensure that there is sufficient ventilation for the amplifier After a reasonable time has passed turn the amplifier back on and check the LED again Lower the level controls for that channel pair No sound on one channel pair and channel pair LED is solid red The amplifier module requires service Contact your Niles dealer for service information SYMPTO M PO SSIBLE CAU SES AND TEST PROCEDURE Very low or no sound on some or all channels 1 Bridging Switch is in wrong position Check your con figuration worksheet for the correct setting and verify 2 Audio cable to the input is bad Connect a cable known to be good to the non working channel Hum from all of the speakers Hum can be caused due to a ground potential differ ence between connected c
24. omponents especially those connected to antenna or cable TV feeds 1 Check for faulty cables faulty source signals an ungrounded phono system cable feed and or a defective component 2 Reverse the AC plug of components with non polar ized plugs 3 Testthe AC receptacle using a Ground Tester Sound is distorted on one or more channels at normal volume 1 DIP switch es are not in the correct position s Check the worksheet and verify all settings 2 If the channel pair LED is Yellow then the channel is being overdriven volume set too high on the pream plifier The channel volume level should be re cali brated to avoid this condition refer to page 25 for infor mation on U sing Level Controls as Limiters No sound on any channels and power LED is slowly blinking Amplifier has an internal defect requiring service Contact your Niles dealer for service information Bass is weak and stereo sound is phasey 1 Check that the Bridging Switch is O FF If two adja cent channels are connected normally but the bridg ing switch is set to the BRIDGED position the two speakers will be out of phase 2 The speakers are wired out of phase Recheck polar ity and reverse the connections on the back of one speaker if necessary speaker connected to a bridged pair of amplifier channels sounds weak Check that the Bridging Switch is ON c ul m T O 0 2 Q
25. ribution amplifier A single AVDA 3 enables you to daisy chain five amplifiers from each of three outputs This allows 15 SI 1260 power amplifiers to be fed from the same master preamplifier If your pre amplifier has a vacuum tube output stage you must use a Niles AVDA 3 to drive more than one SI 1260 AC Power Plug STEP DESCRIPTION 1 Plug the SI 1260 s attached 2 prong power cord into a correctly grounded 120 Volt 60 Hz wall outlet Connect outputs from your source compo nents to the input jacks on the amplifier NEVER connect a preamplifier or source input e g record inputs to the SI 1260 inputs If you use a grounded power strip surge protector or extension cord verify that the proper ground is maintained CAUTION DO NOT PLUG THE SI 1260 S POWER CORD INTO A PREAMPLIFI ER S CONVENIENCE OUTLET 1 The SI 1260 draws a maximum of about 890 watts from an AC wall outlet This is much more than the typical accessory outlet on a component s rear panel can provide 2 Use the SI 1260 s auto turn on circuitry to switch ON the SI 1260 when the preamplifier is ON 2 3 o 2 Figure 13 Red Power LED confirms the amplifier is connected to a live AC outlet and that the front panel switch is on Additionally it indicates any AC line voltage problems and main power fuse status SI 1260 systems INTEGRATION AMPLIFIER Front panel Master Power switch turns off the ent
26. rix Input 2 SI 1260 __ Niles VCS 2D Volume Control o o o o ROOM 4 ROOM 5 ROOM 6 Figure 8 Dual BusMatrix Input S J 2 Z i Q 2 q m Es m a Q z A fe Z u E J fe Z T CONFIGURING YOUR SYSTEM The SI 1260 offers many configuration possibilities Therefore carefully plan the installation before starting Start by drawing a block diagram of your system and use the Configuration Worksheet on page 29 to document how you plan to connect your Sl 1260 Figure 9 shown below is an example of a Configuration Worksheet filled out according to the block diagram figure 6 on page 10 Figure 9 Sample Configuration Worksheet BUS INPUTS amp OUTPUTS CONNECTED TO Left Bus Input 1 Second Zone Left Output Right Bus Input 1 Second Zone Right Output Left Bus Input 2 N S Right Bus Input amp 2 N S Cascade Output Bus 1 Right N S Cascade Output Bus 1 Left N S Cascade Output Bus 2 Right N S Cascade Output Bus 2 Left N S A 2 Z a a 2 Z pe q g m Es CH BRIDGED DIP INPUT SOURCE SPEAKER Left Living Room Right Living Room Left Kitchen Right Kitchen Left Exercise Room Right Exercise Room Hallway 1 Hallway 2 N S Left Patio N S Right Patio 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 8 9 MODE SETTINGS SPECIAL CONNECTIONS OR NOTES Constant Audio Sense Voltage
27. s This extraordinary power supply design pro vides the power necessary to deliver solid deep controlled bass response to a house full of speakers Transparent Sound The audio circuitry of the Sl 1260 is constructed with the finest parts available including the latest in discrete output transistor design featuring 1 metal film resistors high quality capacitors and oversized heat sinks All this attention to technical detail results in a sound that is clear and uncolored Microcontroller Based Operation and Protection Modes The SI 1260 utilizes advanced microcontroller based operation circuitry that moni tors all facets of the amplifier s operation and protection modes over under line voltage main power fuse status channel pair on off status thermal protection short circuit low impedance protection and DC output protection Additionally easy to see front panel LED indicators display the operation or protection mode for each channel pair CH 1 2 CH3 4 CH5 6 CH 7 8 CH 9 10 and CH 11 12 as well as for the amplifier s main power supply providing fast and easy troubleshooting In the unlikely event that a problem occurs on one channel pair the other channels will continue to play When conditions return to normal regular operation will resume Dual Input BusMatrix Selector Nile s unique Dual Input BusM atrix selector gives you the flexibility to individually assign each amplifier channel to a BusMatrix input signal eith
28. s the channel pair is overheating due to inadequate Once Every Three Seconds ventilation Providing proper airflow to the amplifier will eliminate this problem refer to page 15 figures 11 and 12 for amplifier placement details Solid Red There is a damaged internal component in this channel pair module The amplifier should be returned to Niles for service NOLLWuad O Using Level Controls as Limiters Using the individual level controls the SI 1260 enables you to set a specific volume level for each of the different rooms connected Individual room volume levels can be calibrated so that all rooms have similar volume control characteristics regard less of size and acoustics and to establish a maximum volume level This is espe cially useful if your system is remote controlled or if some of the users like to play the stereo too loudly Calibrate your system s volume levels using the steps outlined below 1 Adjust all of the Sl 1260 s level controls to the minimum volume position If there are any other amplifiers in the system adjust their level controls to the minimum All of the amplifiers in your system must have level controls 2 Adjust all individual in wall volume controls to the loudest setting fully clockwise 3 Play a loud radio station 4 Increase the preamplifier or receiver s volume up slowly If you hear any sound lower the preamplifier s volume again and recheck all amplifier levels they must be a
29. t minimum If no sound is heard when the preamplifier is turned all the way up proceed to step five 5 Have someone step into each room and listen as you adjust each level control on the SI 1260 to the desired maximum level for that room 6 Adjust the volume for each channel to achieve a good balance from the most used lis tening position in each room Listening at Higher Volumes An output of 60 watts is adequate power to completely drown out conversation in a normal sized room Even at those levels the SI 1260 will sound clear and clean O bviously it requires more power to achieve a reasonable volume of sound in a large room than it does in a small room Even if you are normally very careful it is possible to turn the volume so high that the amplifier runs out of power This cre ates clipping distortion Clipping distortion makes treble sound very harsh and unmusical If you hear harsh sounding treble from any speakers immediately turn down the level controls for the channel pairs connected to those speakers These harsh sounds include power ful high frequency sound spikes that will quickly damage the tweeter of any loud speaker If you continue to operate the amplifier at clipping power levels the protection circuits will operate The protection circuits will reset when output signal condi tions have returned to normal Perpetually over driving your speakers and amplifier is abuse and will void the manufacturer s warranty on
30. to a single channel presenting the amplifier a 2 66 ohm load Proper ventila tion of the SI 1260 is critical when driving low impedance loads If the SI 1260 is not properly ventilated the protection circuits may activate and shut off the channel at higher volume levels for more information on proper amplifier place ment see Installation Considerations on page 14 A channel pair that has been BRIDGED is capable of driving an impedance load of 4 ohms Proper ventilation of the SI 1260 is critical when driving a 4 ohm load with bridged channels If the SI 1260 is not properly ventilated the protection cir cuits may activate and shut off the channel at higher volume levels for more information on proper amplifier placement see Installation Considerations on page 14 When designing your system try to specify 6 8 ohm speakers Niles offers a com plete line of in wall in ceiling outdoor and home theater loudspeakers with all models rated from 6 8 ohms Cable and Wire Because the Sl 1260 has many connections on the rear panel see Figure 13 it is important that you correctly label all of the input cables and speaker wires Label the cables and wires with their destination or source rather than the SI 1260 terminal to which they are connected This will make it easier to reconfigure your system in the future The SI 1260 connects to your sources via shielded line level audio cables with RCA con nectors Use high quality cables with
31. to go into protection mode or be damaged 2 Connect the speaker wires to the two bridged speaker terminals BRIDGED BRIDGED Carefully observe the polarity markings Connect the speaker wires to the two adja cent amplifier channel s RED terminals only NOTE If one of the speaker wires touches a BLACK terminal you will short circuit the amplifier CAUTION DO NOT CONNECT A HEADPHONE J UNCTION BOX TO THE OUTPUT OF A BRIDGED CHANNEL PAIR These connections to a bridged channel pair will cause either thermal shutdown or poor quality sound 3 Use the EVEN NUMBERED BusMatrix switch bank and level control for the adjustments and configuration of a bridged channel W hen two channels are bridged into one ensure that the odd numbered DIP switches are all in the OFF position Setting the Turn On Mode Switch The Sl 1260 has three 3 turn on modes Select the desired mode by sliding the mode switch to the proper position See Installation Considerations on page 14 and Figure 10 for more information about each of the turn on modes Figure 18 TURN ON AUDIO SENSE 3 30V AC DC TRIGGER INPUT The Control Output As shown in Figure 19 a 3 5 mm female mini yoo ot plug output jack on the rear panel of the SI 1260 ao ee i gue gt Usingthe 3 5 mm jack provides a 12V DC trigger signal It is suitable for triggering Niles automated switchers some motorized screens and
32. und in every room Turn On Modes The SI 1260 features three selectable turn on modes 1 manual turn on via the front panel switch 2 microcontroller enhanced audio sensing which activates only the appropriate amplifier channels while leaving unused channel pairs off to eliminate cross talk and 3 a 3 30 volt AC DC voltage trigger input which enables voltage act vation Audio Sense and External Voltage trigger modes enable you to configure the SI 1260 to turn on automatically in any kind of system configuration DB25 Audio amp Voltage Trigger inputs The SI 1260 incorporates a DB25 input connector to reduce wiring and installa tion time when using Niles Systems Integration Electronics Niles multi zone pre amplifiers are equipped with a mating DB25 output connector This output con nector provides 6 zones of line level audio signal output and a 12V Trigger Voltage for reliable amplifier activation Designed in the USA The Niles Sl 1260 was designed in the USA by Niles engineers and includes a two year parts and labor warranty em A un gt 2 0 W m 2 m a d 2 4 m 2 a 9 2 gt a A un SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS As shown in Figure 2 a distrib uted audio video system is defined by the number of lis tening zonesit has Within a lis tening zone you can listen to only one 1 source e g CD Radio Tape etc at any one time A listening zone can con sist of a single room or a group
33. your Niles amplifier for the lowest possible noise and best overall performance Your Niles dealer can recommend the proper cable A DB25 Multi Zone Input Connector is provided for use with Niles Multi Zone Products which include a mating DB25 output connector All 12 dedicated inputs are included within the single connector along with the SI 1260 s Voltage Trigger Input The SI 1260 connects to your speakers using two conductor 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 SI 1260 s high quality gold plated 5 way binding posts will accommodate up to 12 gauge wire Attaching banana plugs to the wire will enable the connection of larger wire sizes 2 q m Es E a 0 z Q fe z Y E 3 fe Z vi m 2 9 m Q Q Z A O Z m E 5 J 0 2 un Using Mono For Smoother Coverage In large or irregularly shaped rooms you may find that the main listening area may be closer to one of the speakers If the speakers in the room are connected to a stereo amplifier you will only hear half the music The Sl 1260 s BusM atrix enables you to create mono sound from one speaker without impacting the stereo quality in the rest of the system You can configure each room to either stereo or mono as needed with no ill effects Some of the most popular areas where mono will greatly enhance the sound quality would be Large rooms with
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