Niles Audio SI-1230 Stereo Amplifier User Manual
Contents
1. 5 Have someone step into each room and listen as you adjust each level control to the desired maximum level for that room Adjust the balance between speakers for the most common listening position in each room Bridging Channels for Areas That Require More Volume and Power There are several situations where bridging is an excellent way to improve the sound Likewise there are some applications that would seem to be appropriate but are not recommended Plan to bridge channels to increase the power to 80 watts per channel when required Here are some of the most common DO S and DON TS Surround Sound Systems DO The dynamic demands for the center channel are much higher than the left right or surround channels This is an excellent application for two channels to be bridged into one 80 watt channel Outdoors DO Sound dissipates faster outside than within 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 80 watt channels More than Two Speakers DON T In a large room or a long hallway you will often find that the best way to get good background music is to install multiple pairs of speakers You will actually deliver more power to four eight ohm speak ers by using two unbridged channels than you would if you bridged four chan nels into two An unbridged channel is stable down to four ohm2. Bandwidth Limited from 5 Hz to 50 kHz Distortion Bridged 06 THD 20 Hz 20 kHz All Channels Driven 8Q U nbridged 04 THD 20 Hz 20 kHz All Channels Driven 8Q 06 THD 20 Hz 20 kHz All Channels Driven 4Q Overall Dimensions 17 wide x 5 1 2 high including feet x 15 deep Weight 28 Ibs NILESe Niles Audio Corporation 12331 S W 130 Street Miami Florida 33186 Tel 305 238 4373 Fax 305 238 0185 www nilesaudio com 1999 Niles Audio Corporation Because Niles strives to continuously improve its products Niles reserves the right to change product specifications without notice Niles the Niles logo and Blending High Fidelity and Architecture are registered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation Systems Integration Amplifier and BusMatrix are trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation Printed in the USA 11 97 DS00207B
3. allows only one source to be heard throughout the house at a given time However if the system is configured to be a Multi zone system it would offer the household more flexibility In a two zone system the children could watch TV in surround sound while Mom and Dad read the paper and listen to music in the living room CD PLAYER TAPE PLAYER TV Se gt A Single Zone System allows only one source to be heard throughout the house at a given time AN AAN RECEIVER 7 FAMILY ROOM LIVING ROOM LISTENING ZONE 1 Advantages of using the SI 1230 in a Single Zone System In order to connect multiple pairs of speakers to a single stereo amplifier they must connect in parallel to offer the best sound quality and to allow the convenience of an individual room volume control Because parallel connections of multiple speak er pairs lower the overall impedance presented to an amplifier damage may occur An impedance matching device will allow amplifiers to safely play multiple pairs of speakers H owever the amount of power actually delivered to the speakers when all of the speakers are playing simultaneously is very low Typically a 100 watt stereo amplifier with an impedance matching device will deliver about 5 watts to each speaker in a system comprised of six pairs of eight ohm speakers By connecting an SI 1230 to the preamplifie
4. to the inputs of your SI 1230 channels in bridged mode connect the input cable to the even numbered amplifier input jack Cascade Audio Outputs The Cascade Audio Outputs enable you to connect another amplifier to your preamplifier output The connectors are gold plated RCA phono jacks Connect them to another amplifier s inputs with a standard audio patch cable The outputs are not buffered if you wish to daisy chain more than 5 Niles amplifiers you will need a Niles ADA 6 buffered distribution amplifier A single ADA 6 will allow you to daisy chain 5 amplifiers from each of its six outputs allowing 30 SI 1230 power amplifiers to be fed from the same master preamplifier If your preamp has a vacuum tube output stage you must use a Niles ADA 6 to drive more than a single SI 1230 AC Power Plug 2 STEP DESCRPTION J Plug the attached 2 prong plug intoa If you use a grounded power strip surge c correctly grounded 120V 60 Hz wall suppressor or extension cord verify that 5 outlet proper ground is maintained 2 2 CAUTION Do not plug the amplifier s The SI 1230 draws a maximum of approx cord into a preamplifier s convenience imately 890 watts from an AC wall outlet outlets This is much more than the typical acces sory outlet on the back of a component will provide Use the SI 1230 s auto turn on circuitry to turn on the SI 1230 when ever the preamp is on NOLLVYIdO OPERATION Po
5. to your sources via shielded line level audio cables with RCA phono plugs Use high quality cables with your Niles amplifier for the low est possible noise and best overall performance Your Niles dealer can recom mend the proper cable The SI 1230 connects to your speakers using 2 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 binding posts of the SI 1230 will accommodate up to 12 gauge wire Larger sizes can be accommodated by attach ing banana plugs to the wire Note that the binding posts do accept dual banana connectors as well as single connectors Niles Banana Plugs are available from your Niles dealer TECH TIP YW Wire size is expressed by its AWG American P Wire Gauge number The lower the number the larger the wire i e twelve AWG is physically larger than fourteen AWG Z 5 a 2 2 A 2 2 v g 5 J 2 Z 7 NOLLVTIVISNI INSTALLATION 19 Bridging Two Channels into One 23 Line Level Audio Inputs 20 BusMatrix Input Switch Setting 23 Cascade Audio Outputs 21 Setting The Turn On Mode Switch 24 AC Power Plug 21 The Control Output 24 Rail Fuse Holders 22 Speaker Wire Connections CAUTION ALL CONNECTIONS AND REAR PANEL SWITCH SETTINGS SHOULD BE MADE WITH THE AMPLIFIER S FRONT PANEL MASTER POWER SWITCH OFF Bridging Two Channels into One The SI 1230 s bridging switches allow you
6. you are not a teenager to turn the volume so high that the amplifier runs out of power This creates clipping distortion Clipping distortion makes treble sound very harsh and unmusical When you hear harsh sounding treble from any good speaker turn the volume down imme diately Those harsh sounds are masking some much more powerful high fre quency sound spikes which will quickly damage the tweeter of any loudspeaker If you continue to operate the amplifier at clipping power levels the protection circuits will operate when the amplifier overheats The protection circuits reset when the amplifier s internal circuitry cools Reduce the volume to prevent a reoccurrence Perpetually overdriving your speakers and amplifier is abuse and probably voids the manufacturer s warranty of all affected products Cleaning and Maintenance The internal parts of the SI 1230 are electronic and require no maintenance Once a year it is appropriate to twist the RCA connectors on each input to remove any oxidation and improve conductivity You can clean the amplifier with soft cloth or paper towel dampened with water or a glass cleaner Do not use any spray type abrasive cleaners on the amplifier o M 3 O Z TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE When there is a problem 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 re
7. EAMP WITH 6 STEREO OUTPUTS J S141230 systems SI 1230 atra r EEE EAR ETER O BiG 68 Ba ig 68 ZONE1 ZONE2 ZONE3 ZONE4 ZONE5 ZONE6 E 9 7 0 i 2 9 7 0 i Surround Sound in Two Rooms You can easily add a second room of surround sound speakers by connecting five of the SI 1230 channels to the pre outs of your surround system If there is a pre out main in loop use a Y connector as shown so that the internal power ampli fier can still be used in the main surround sound room When you configure a system for a second surround sound room consider bridging the center channel amplifier to 80 watts if the listener prefers high volumes The center channel per forms 60 to 80 percent of the dynamics of a movie soundtrack CD PLAYER TAPE PLAYER SATELLITE VCR TV RECEIVER Y Y go ROOM BEDROOM a LIVING ROOM KITCHEN PATIO HALLWAY MASTER In this two zone six room system a Surround Receiver a Stereo Receiver and the S 1230 com bine
8. ERATIONS 5 System Design Basics Assigning Rooms 8 Adding More Than Two Surround to Zones Sound Speakers 6 Advantages of using the SI 1230 in a Single 9 Creating a Low Cost Second Zone Using Zone System a Dedicated Source 7 Using Level Controls as Limiters 10 Adding Preamps to Create More Listening Zones 7 Bridging Channels for Areas That Require More Volume and Power 11 Surround Sound in Two Rooms 8 Using Mono for Smoother Coverage System Design Basics Assigning Rooms to Zones You define a multi room music system by how many listening zones it has Within a listening zone you can only listen to one source CD radio tape etc at a time A zone can consist of just one room or a group of rooms To achieve different volumes and greater convenience in different rooms within a zone indi vidual volume controls can be used Niles makes volume controls in various styles and colors Consult your local Niles dealer for more information When designing your system take into account who will use the system and when they will use it For example a family might wire their family room for surround sound and their living room for background music CD PLAYER TAPE PLAYER VCR TV A Multi Zone System allows different sources to be heard in each of the zones simultane ously A RECEIVER y A Single Zone System
9. INSTALLATION amp OPERATION GUIDE BLENDING HIGH FIDELITY AND ARCHITECTURE CONGRATULATIONS Thank you for purchasing the award winning Niles SI 1230 one of the most versatile and powerful multi channel amplifiers ever offered Like all Niles products the SI 1230 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 P O Box 160818 Miami Florida 33116 0818 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 2 FEATURES AND BENEFITS 3 APPLICATIONS AND SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS 5 CONFIGURING YOUR SYSTEM 12 INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS 13 FRONT AND REAR PANEL DETAILS 15 INSTALLATION 19 OPERATION 25 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE 27 CONFIGURATION WORKSHEET 29 SPECIFICATIONS 30 The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an CAUTION equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the product s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to CAUTION TO REDUCE constitute a risk of electric shock to persons THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER NO USER SERVICE ABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED operating and maintnance servicing instructions in the SERVICE PER
10. NI Setting the Turn On Mode Switch The SI 1230 has three turn on modes Select the mode you want by sliding the mode switch See Installation Considerations on page 13 for more information about each of the turn on modes TURN ON MODE AUDIO SENSE I conan 3 30V AC DC TRIGGER INPUT Slide the switch with either your fingernail ora 1 8 slotted screwdriver blade The Control Output f Using the ov 3 5 mm jack AOL NE for triggering Niles automated switchers some motorized screens some electric curtain controls etc This voltage is present only when the ampli fier is active or on W hen the amplifier turns off the 12V signal is off This terminal provides a 12V DC signal suitable STEP DESCRPTION 1 Check the requirements of the The control output has a maximum device you want to control current capability of 150 mA 2 Connect the 3 5mm J ack to the Niles makes an accessory cable control output maintaining proper plug FG00724 polarity tip Speaker Wire Connections CAUTION All speaker wire connections must be made with the amplifier O ff Bare Wire Unscrew the red or black plastic knob insert the bare wire end into the opening and then tighten the knob until the wire is securely clamped 1 Label all wires Banana Plugs There are many types of banana plugs some crimp some solder The Niles gold banana plug has a quick con nect bindin
11. SON NEL literature accompaying the appliance The exclamation point within an equivalent triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important INTRODUCTION We call the SI 1230 a Systems Integration Amplifier because for the first time a power amplifier has been specifically designed to solve the problems of interfacing with dif ferent brands and models of equipment different acoustic environments in different rooms and different kinds of applications home theater stereo and background music As you read this manual and become more familiar with the capabilities of the SI 1230 you ll understand why its predeccesor the SI 1200 was selected Best New Product 1994 by Sound amp Video Contractor Magazine and CEDIA Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association In addition the SI 1200 also won the Consumer Electronics Show s Innovations 95 Design and Engineering Award 2 2 O s C 0 J 2 2 SI 1230 ss SI 1230 Systems Integration Amplifier CEDIA and Sound amp Video Contractor Magazine Best New Product 1994 Award M un gt 2 0 W m Z m al g FEATU RES AND BENEFITS Real World Power The SI 1230 is a 12 channel amplifier that delivers a solid 30 watts per channel RMS into 8 ohms and 37 watts per channel RMS into 4 ohms The massive M ulti Tap Toroid power transformer features six independent secondary transformers for eac
12. ce hum in a turntable particularly a turntable equipped with a moving coil cartridge Do not place a turntable directly above or directly adjacent to the SI 1230 Figure 1 Figure 2 If the cabinet rear is not open to fresh air install two small boxer fans to provide continuous air flow into and out of the cabinet 5 SD IT od Make sure that there is a minimum p i of 5 of free air space above the 4 Y amplifier and 3 on each side for G A proper ventilation 4 VIII ka EM ZZ LUUL ZA Y Y y f GY A LJ LJ m p WLLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL p p Allow a minimum of 2 of depth H A behind unit to accommodate cables gD and connectors OAL EEE LLL Turn On Modes The SI 1230 draws more current than a preamplifier s switched AC outlet can safely supply Also your preamplifier may thump at dangerous volumes if the amplifier is already on when the preamp turns on It is usually best to turn the amplifier on only when it is needed The Turn O n M ode selector switch gives you three options for turning On and Off the SI 1230 Constant The auto turn on circuit ry is off The front panel master power switch operates the amplifier In is On Outis O ff TURN ON MODE Audio Sense The master switch on eG SENSE or the front panel must be in the On AC DC position The amplifier is off wh
13. en cons Er there is no audio signal present at any INPUT of the 14 inputs but the sensing circuit ry is on The tum on sensing circuitry looks for a tiny amount of audio signal present at any of the audio inputs If it detects a signal the adjacent pair of amplifier channels i e channel 1 amp 2 3 amp 4 5 amp 6 etc assigned to receive the input signals will turn on Once the audio signal stops the sensing circuit waits two minutes then turns all ampli fier channels off 3 30 Volt AC DC Opto Isolated Voltage Trigger The master switch on the front panel must be in the O n position The amplifier is off when there is not a 3 30V AC or DC voltage applied to the voltage trigger input O nce the sensing circuitry detects a voltage all adjacent pairs of amplifier channels that are receiving an audio signal turn on Once the voltage stops the sensing circuit instantly turns the amplifier off Voltage triggers can be supplied by Niles automated switchers some video projec tors some surround sound processors or something as simple as a 16 volt AC wall adapter Niles XF00008 plugged into the switched outlet of your stereo receiver Do not use a DC wall adapter The long discharge time of the DC adapter s filter capac itor will delay the turn off of the amplifier 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 f
14. ft Rear Pre Out Bedroom Left Kear MODE SETTINGS IN USE Constan Receiver Right Kear Pre Out Bedroom Right Kear SPECIAL CONNECTIONS OR NOTES Audio Sense Voltage Trigger Control Output 3 e 2 A 2 2 a g J 2 2 7 INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS Placement Place the SI 1230 on a flat level surface like a table or shelf It should be placed upright so that its weight rests on the unit s four feet PLACING THE WEIGHT OF THE AMPLIFIER ON THE REAR OR FRONT PANEL FOR EVEN AN INSTANT WILL RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE AMPLIFIER S CONNECTORS AND CONTROLS The SI 1230 like any hi fi component will last much longer if it is given adequate ventilation for proper cooling When installing the SI 1230 in a cabinet be sure that the rear of the cabinet is open to fresh air to provide proper cooling see Figure 1 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 2 Place the SI 1230 so that there is at least 5 of free air space above the chassis If the ampli fier is located on a carpeted surface place a board under the amplifier s feet Do not block the ventilation holes on the top and bottom of the SI 1230 The SI 1230 is equipped with a massive toroidal power transformer This trans former generates a powerful magnetic field which could indu
15. g post for the bare wire on the body of the plug A banana plug is simply inserted into the jack at the end of the ampli fier s binding post Dual banana plugs will fit the SI 1230 binding posts you label the wires for their destination rather than which terminal of the SI 1230 they are connected to it will be easier to reconfigure your system in the future 2 Connect one stripped wire end or banana plug to the black terminal and one to the red terminal CAUTION Avoid even a single strand of wire touching the chassis or another connector A Split the speaker wire insutatfon so that at least two inches of each conductor are separated B Strip one half inch of insulation from the end of each conductor of the speaker wire C Attach banana plugs or twist the strands of wire together and insert them into the appro priate binding post Z gt 2 2 NOLLVTIVISNI Line Level Audio Inputs CAUTION THE AMPLIFIER MUST BE OFF WHENEVER YOU MAKE CHANGES TO THE INPUT CONNECTIONS STEP DESCRPTION 1 Label all of the interconnecting cables for the sources they connect to Use audio patch cables with RCA phono plugs attached to the ends 2 Connect the sources by inserting the RCA plug into the amplifier s jacks NOTE If you are using two amplifier Connect outputs from your sources to inputs on the amplifier Never connect a source or preamplifier s input e g record inputs
16. h of the six amplifier modules As a result the SI 1230 delivers twenty percent more power than its predecessor the SI 1200 This extraordinary power supply design provides the energy necessary to deliver solid deep controlled bass response to a house full of speakers Twelve to Six Channel Configurable Power Each of the SI 1230 s six adjacent output pairs are bridgeable You can create up to six 80 watt channels by sliding the bridging switches located between each pair to the bridged position This enables you to allocate more power to specif ic locations such as large rooms or outdoor applications Freedom from Noise and Cross Talk The SI 1230 s Input BusM atrix PC board incorporates advanced construction ensuring extremely high channel to channel isolation Signal to noise ratios and cross talk are equivalent to a professional mixing board found in a recording studio With the SI 1230 the music playing in the living room cannot interfere with the music in the den Transparent Sound The audio circuitry of the SI 1230 is constructed with the finest parts available including 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 BusMatrix Selector Our unique BusM atrix selector gives you the flexibility to assign each channel to a common Left Right or Mono signal bus or to a dedicated signal input With BusM atrix r
17. ifier channels If one of the speaker wires touch es a black terminal thereby grounding the red hot terminals you will short circuit the amplifier CAUTION DO NOT connect a speak er selector or headphone junction box to the output of a bridged channel pair These connections to a bridged channel pair will result in either thermal shutdown Or poor quality sound 3 Use the EVEN NUMBERED input input DIP switch and level control for connections and configuration W hen two channels are bridged into one make sure that the odd numbered input DIP switches are all in the off position BusMatrix Input Switch Setting fiin 1 OFF Position ON Position Each channel has a dedicated BusM atrix DIP switch that assigns that channel s source To assign a signal from the Main Bus Input select one of the first three switches which will give you either Left L Right R or Mono L R To assign the channel s dedicated input select the fourth switch Only ONE switch should be selected to the ON position 7 LEL L BUS ma R m PN ET ae a EN er e DESCRIPTION 1 Move only ONE switch to the ON position for each channel CAUTION The DIP switch physically allows you to move all four of the switches to the On position If you accidentally set more than one switch On you will create an undesirable mix of inputs on the entire bus Z 3 2 2 NOLLVTIVIS
18. late to hook up SYMPTOM PO SSIBLE CAU SES AND TEST PROCEDURE No sound on one channel BusM atrix DIP switch is not in the correct position Check your configuration worksheet for the correct setting and verify Short circuit or loose wire at speaker or amplifier terminals Check that connections are secure and that there are no loose strands of wire crossing from the positive to the negative terminal at the back of the amplifier and the speaker F c W w m I O O 3 2 Q m Short circuit or a break in the speaker wire Dis connect 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 with a meter for continuity Speaker is not working Connect the speaker to a channel that plays another speaker Audio cable to dedicated input is bad Connect the non working channel input to another cable that is known to be good Bridging Switch is in the wrong position Check your configuration worksheet for the correct setting and verify The thermal protection circuit has operated because of overheating caused by overdriving or inadequate ventilation No sound on some or all BusMatrix DIP switches are not in the correct posi channels tions Check your configuration worksheet and verify all settings Audio cable to the main bus inputs is bad Connect the non working channel inpu
19. na spaced binding Removable Two prong posts for speaker connections 16 gauge 6 AC power cord 3 2 2 A 2 2 a 0 2 2 7 Speaker Compatibility CAUTION Do not use speakers with an impedance of less than 4 ohms with an unbridged channel Do not use speakers with an impedance of less than 8 ohms with a bridged channel An unbridged channel of the SI 1230 is designed to play into a speaker load of four ohms or more When a four ohm speaker is connected the continuous power rating of the amplifier increases to 37 watts RMS per channel all chan nels driven If the load is less than four ohms the protection circuits may operate and shut off the channel at higher volume levels A bridged channel requires that the load be eight ohms or more to deliver 80 watts RMS If the load is less than 8 ohms the protection circuits may operate and shut off the channel at higher volume levels W hen designing your system try to specify four to eight ohm speakers N iles offers a complete line of architectural loudspeakers with several models rated at 8 ohms Cable and Wire Because the SI 1230 has so many connections on the back panel it is very impor tant that you label all the input cables and speaker wires If you label the cables and wires for their destination or source rather than which terminal of the SI 1230 they are connected to it will be easier to reconfigure your system in the future The SI 1230 connects
20. or a 3 volt trigger increasing up to a minimum of 38 milliamps for a 30 volt trigger Z 5 a 2 2 A 2 2 v g 5 J 2 Z v Red Power LED confirms the Red Active LED lights amplifier is connected to a live AC when the amplifier circuitry power outlet and that the front has been turned on by the panel master power switch is on Turn O n circuits Front panel Master Power switch turns off the entire amplifier including the auto turn No SYSTEMS INTEGRATION AMPLIFIER 2 O Z D 2 U Pc gt pr gt 2 m 4 2 h on circuitry Z EEE Esme PROTECT Main Bus Inputs enable you Cascade outputs of the main Bridging switc to route a stereo line level bus input enable you to daisy inputs and lev source to the BusM atrix chain multiple amplifiers of the SI 1230 3 BRIDGED 4 eo A NVEL usecus Q WHEN BRIDGED Turn On Mode Switch BRIDGED BRIDGED BRIDGED BRIDGED BRIDGED BRIDGED 3 5mm Jack for 3 5 mm Jack for 12v DC Control Input 12v DC Control O utput Red protect LED indicates a Attractive extruded fault condition D C output aluminum front panel D fe 2 D Z 0 pr gt pr 3 2 m i 2 h M NILES hes BusM atrix controls dedicated Gold plated al controls for each channel RCA jacks Serial Number 120 Volts AC 60 Hz 100 Watts Max BRIDGED BRIDGED Dual bana
21. outing surround sound to the master bedroom stereo to the den and mono to the powder room is as simple as flicking a switch BusM atrix makes the SI 1230 an ideal multi room or multi zone amplifier and offers exciting new features and system design possibilities to the professional installer Independent Level Controls Each channel has its own independent level control enabling you to adjust the volume settings for twelve different speaker locations Each speaker can be adjusted for its location and who uses it Turn On Modes The SI 1230 features three turn on modes 1 Manual turn on via the front panel switch 2 Audio Sense and 3 External Voltage trigger Audio Sense and External Voltage trigger modes enable allow you to configure the SI 1230 to interface with any kind of system and turn on automatically Automatic Protection Each channel has independent thermal and short circuit protection In the unlike ly event that a problem occurs on one channel the other channels will continue to play When conditions return to normal regular operation resumes Status Display for Troubleshooting LED s on the front panel indicate Power Active and Protection Status With a glance at the front panel a troubleshooter is quickly provided with key information Made in the USA Limited two year parts and labor Warranty Cc M un gt 2 0 W m 2 m al d i E 9 3 0 3 i APPLICATIO NS AND SYSTEM DESIGN CONSID
22. r outputs of your stereo receiver or preamp you dedicate a robust 30 watts to each speaker in your multi room system Since each channel has its own level control you can compensate for architectural differences that cre ate sonic imbalances In addition you can fine tune the system 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 O G 2 5 g h 2 O g O G i 9 3 0 f i Using Level Controls as Limiters If your system is remote controlled or if you think that some of the users like to play the stereo too loudly you can choose to calibrate the system so that it is lim ited to a volume level you assign The SI 1230 allows you to set different volume levels for different rooms Calibrate your system volume levels with the steps outlined below 1 Lower all of the SI 1230 level controls to the minimum volume position If there are any other amplifiers in the system lower their level controls to the mini mum all of the amplifiers in your system must have level controls 2 Raise all of the individual in wall volume controls to the loudest setting 3 Play a loud radio station with the tuner set to Mono 4 Raise the volume of your preamplifier or receiver slowly if you hear any sound lower the volume again and recheck all of your amplifier levels they must be at minimum If no sound is heard proceed to step five
23. rround effects to sound like they are in the middle of your head just like headphones The best way to create a strong surround effect is to use multiple speakers In large or unusually shaped rooms this might be the only way to achieve good sound However the built in surround amplifier channels of a typical receiver will not successfully power more than one pair of speakers If your surround proces sor or receiver has rear pre outputs you can easily improve the surround effect with additional speakers and one or two channels of an SI 1230 The individual level controls of the SI 1230 allow six decibels of gain over the main and center amplifiers for easy calibration of a mix of brands models of speakers Additional surround speakers fed by the SI 1230 greatly enhance the effectiveness of your surround sound system O G 2 5 g h 2 O g O a i 2 9 7 0 i Creating a Low Cost Second Zone Using A Dedicated Source The biggest problem in a single zone system is that when the TV is in use in one room you cannot listen to music in another room For a listener who only listens to CD s itis possible to create a low cost second zone allowing simultaneous CD listening while the rest of the system plays the TV or any source This is possible with the advent of CD players which have two audio outputs one variable and controlled via remote control and one which is fixed You connect
24. s two pair of eight ohm speakers but a bridged channel is only useful with an eight ohm load Using Mono For Smoother Coverage In a large or irregularly shaped room you will often discover that in a particular chair all you can hear is one speaker If the room s speakers are connected to a stereo amplifier you hear only half the music The solution would be to connect that room s speakers to a monophonic amplifier However if you make one room mono with conventional systems all of the other rooms in the system are mono as well For the first time the SI 1230 s BusM atrix enables you to route mono to one speaker without affecting the quality of the stereo in the rest of the system You can configure each room to stereo or mono with no ill effects Some of the most popular areas where mono will greatly enhance the quality of the sound would be 1 Large rooms with many seating areas and or many pairs of speakers 2 Irregularly shaped rooms 3 Bathrooms with one speaker over the tub and one speaker over the sink s 4 Hallways or passageways even those with multiple speakers 5 Small rooms where only one speaker will physically fit Adding More than Two Surround Sound Speakers In a home theater we try to reproduce the experience of a great movie theater in our homes The biggest difference between a commercial theater and your home is the rear or surround speaker array In a home with a single pair of speakers it is easy for the su
25. t to another cable that is known to be good Some or all of the internal amplifier fuses are blown Return the amplifier to your dealer for service Have your configuration worksheet handy when you call TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE continued SYMPTOM Hum from all of the speakers POSSIBLE CAU SES AND TEST PROCEDURE Hum may be caused by a ground loop between two components in the system To test for a ground loop try reversing the AC plugs of each of the components in the system that have non polarized plugs Check for faulty cables faulty source material an ungrounded phono system cable TV feed or a defec tive component Amp will not turn on M aster power switch must be on AC power cord must be plugged into a working outlet Test that the AC power receptacle is working If the outlet tests O K the internal fuses are blown Return the amplifier to your dealer for service Sound is distorted on one or all of the channels at normal volumes BusM atrix DIP switches are not in the correct posi tions Check your configuration worksheet and verify all settings Normal volume cannot be reached One of the internal amplifier fuses is blown Return the amplifier to your dealer for service Bass sound is weak and the stereo image is phasey sounding in one room Check that the bridging switch is O ff If two adja cent channels are connected normally but the bridg ing switch is se
26. t to the Bridged position the two speakers will play out of phase with each other The loudspeakers are wired out of phase Reverse the connections at the back of one speaker A speaker connected to a bridged pair of amplifier channels sounds weak Check that the bridging switch is On x c W wu m I O O J 2 a Q m 3 2 2 CONFIGURATION WO RKSH EET BUS NS amp OUTS CONNECTED TO Left Main Bus Right Main Bus Cascade Output CH BRIDGED INPUT SOURCE SPEAKER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 pa o an pa m N MODE SETTINGS SPECIAL CONNECTIONS OR NOTES Constan Audio Sense Voltage Trigger Control Output For ease of use the Configuration Worksheet can be enlarged on a photocopier SPECIFICATIO NS Design Principle Linear voltage current amplification Continuous Power Output FTC Rated unbridged all channels driven 30 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms and 37 watts per channel RMS at 4 ohms a A 3 2 a Bridged Power Output Two channels bridged all channels driven 80 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms Input Impedance 10 000 ohms Input Sensitivity 67mv for 1 watt out 334mv for full output 30 watts level controls set at max Overall Voltage Gain 32 4 dB Frequency Response
27. the variable output of the CD player to the SI 1230 channels for a particular room where you are willing to listen only to CD s The fixed outputs remain connected to the main preamp or receiver so that you can listen to CD s in the rest of the house The crowning touch is a Niles remote control repeater system so that you can raise and lower the CD player s volume from your CD listening room AM FM TUNER TAPE PLAYER CD PLAYER AUDIO SPLITTER AMPLIFIER OR RECEIVER SI 1230 SYSTEMS INTEGRATION AMPLIFIER _ SI 1230 f ale ceo CETTE aa ETF O O o 6 OL oN elen ZONE 1 ZONE2 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 or matrix preamp to one SI 1230 and create six completely independent stereo systems A system like this allows six people to simultaneously listen to different sources Since the SI 1230 and the wiring of your house is already capable of a system like this you can easily upgrade the number of zones in your system by simply adding another preamplifier and changing the connections to the SI 1230 AM FM TUNER TAPE PLAYER CD PLAYER 6 STEREO PREAMPS OR 1 MATRIX PR
28. to create a more powerful amplifier channel by combining or bridging two adjacent channels 2 Slide the bridg When two channels are bridged BRIDGED ing switch in the together connect speakers to the direction of the two terminals labeled Bridged ml arrow to bridge BRIDGED _ BRIDGED 4 two adjacent Q LEVEL usECH2 LEVEL amplifier chan BRIDGED nels Set the controls of the newly bridged pair by using the EVEN numbered mmm mI oa ao mo oc OI channel STEP DESCRIPTION 1 Choose which of the six pairs you The 12 channels are grouped into 6 pairs wish to bridge and move the bridging e g 1 amp 2 Only the two channels within a switch for that pair to the Bridged pair can be bridged Thus only channels 1 position toward arrow and 2 or channels 3 and 4 could be bridged You cannot bridge 2 and 3 for example CAUTION Do not connect a speaker A bridged channel on a S1 1230 is load of less than eight ohms to a designed for an eight ohm minimum load bridged channel Connecting a speaker with a nominal impedance of less than 8 ohms may cause the SI 1230 to go into protection or be damaged Bridging Two Channels Into One continued STEP DESCRIPTION 2 Connect the speaker wires to the two Bridged speaker terminals BRIDGED BRIDGED Observe proper polarity markings Connect your speaker wire only to the red terminals of the two adjacent ampl
29. to provide great sound everywhere The stereo receiver plays in the Living Room the surround receiver plays in the Family room and the 1230 simultaneously plays Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound with a bridged center channel in the Master Bedroom stereo in the Kitchen and Patio and mono in the Master Bath and the Front Hall CONFIGURING YOUR SYSTEM Because the SI 1230 offers so many configuration possibilities it is important to plan carefully before you install it Draw a block diagram of your system and use the Configuration Worksheet on page 29 to record how you plan to connect your SI 1230 Here is an example filled out according to the block diagram on page 11 Sample Configuration Worksheet BUS NS amp OUTS Left Main Bus CONNECTED TO Stereo Receiver Left Pre Output O 2 2 a A Cc 2 2 9 lt 2 Cc pr 2 g m 3 Right Main Bus Stereo Receiver Right Pre Output Cascade Output CH BRIDGED Looped Lack inio the Stereo Reier Main hp INPUT SOURCE Main Bus SPEAKER Left Kitchen Main Bus Rohit Kitchen Main Bus Loft Patio Main Bus Reght Patio Main Bus Front Hall Main Bus Bathroom Bridged Bedroom Center Receiver Center Pre Out Bedroom Center 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Receiver Left Main Pre Out Bedroom Loft Receiver Right Main Pre Out Bedroom Right Receiver Le
30. wer LED The power LED indicates that the AC cord is plugged into a working AC power receptacle and that the power switch is in the On position Active LED The rear panel turn on mode switch determines when and how the amplifier will turn on The Active LED indicates that the amplifier is on Power Switch The front panel switch is a master or vacation power switch No matter which turn on mode you have selected the master power switch will turn off all cir cuitry including the sensing circuitry If you are going on vacation and or would like to reduce power consumption while you are away turn the master power switch O ff push the rocker switch out When you would like to return to normal operation turn the switch On push the rocker switch in D C Protection In the event a damaging D C signal becomes present on any of the speaker ter minals the D C protection circuit shuts down the entire amplifier and the red LED labeled Protection illuminates To reset the amplifier you must turn the front panel power switch Off and then On Listening at Higher Volumes Thirty watts is enough power to play a conventional speaker in a normal sized room loudly enough to completely drown out conversation Even at levels like that the SI 1230 will sound clear and clean However it requires more power to achieve a reasonable volume of sound in a large room than it does in a small room It is possible even if
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