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CAUTION! Every speaker pair in the system must be con-
nected 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
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 num-
ber 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 through-
out the house. Each pair
of speakers is connected
to an IM volume control
with its switches set
for 8x.
With eight pairs of speak-
ers, one-eighth of the
amplifier’s power is avail-
able to any pair.
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 stranded 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 larg-
er 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 depart-
ment 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 structured-
wiring cabinet, with snap-in
“Christmas tree” plugs for conven-
ient installation.
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 structured-
wiring 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
V OLUME C ONTROL D ISTRIBUTION H UB
V OLUME C ONTROL D ISTRIBUTION H UB
8x
4x
8x
8x
8x
4x
4x
AMPLIFIER
’
S
MINIM
U
M
S
PEAKER
L
O
AD I
S
8
O
HM
S
4
O
H
M
S
p
eake
r
P
a
ir
s
0
1
2
3
4
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
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
43
Figure 2
Figure 3
12 AWG
14 AWG
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 physi-
cally larger than 14 AWG.
Figure 4
DS00312BCN/VCS HUB 8 11/12/03 10:40 AM Page 5