Niles Audio SI-1230 manual

INST ALLA TION & OPERA TION GUIDE B LENDING H IGH F IDELITY AND A RCHITECTURE ® Systems Integration Amplif ier ™ ®[...]

CONGRA TULA TIONS! 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 . W ith proper installation and operation, you'll enjoy years of trouble-free use. Niles man[...]

INTRODUCTION W e call the SI-1 230 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 bac[...]

FEA TURES AND BENEFITS Real W orld Power The SI-1 230 is a 1 2-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 Multi- T ap T oroid power transformer features six independent secondary transformers for each of the six amplifier modules. As a result, the SI-1 230 deliv[...]

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! T urn-On Modes The SI-1 230 features three turn-on modes: 1. Manual turn-on via the front panel switch, 2. Audio Sense and 3. [...]

System Design Basics – Assigning Rooms to Zones Y ou define a multi-room music system by how many listening zones it has. W ithin 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. T o achieve different volumes and greater convenience in different rooms wi[...]

A Single-Zone System 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. Adv[...]

7 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-1 230 allows you to set different volume levels for different rooms. Calibrate your system volume leve[...]

8 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 [...]

9 APPLICA TIONS AND SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERA TIONS 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 it is possible to create a low-cost second zone, allowing simultaneou[...]

Adding Preamps to Cr eate 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-1 230 and create six completely independent stereo systems. A system like this allows six people to simultaneously listen to different sources. Since the SI-1 230 a[...]

Surround Sound in T wo Rooms Y ou 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 c[...]

CONFIGURING YOUR SYSTEM 12 CONFIGURING YOUR SYSTEM Because the SI-1 230 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 W orksheet on page 29 to record how you plan to connect your SI-1 230. Here is an example filled out according to th[...]

13 INST ALLA TION CONSIDERA TIONS INST ALLA TION CONSIDERA TIONS Placement Place the SI-1 230 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 P ANEL FOR EVEN AN INST ANT WILL RESUL T IN DAMAGE TO THE AMPLIFIER&a[...]

14 T urn-On Modes The SI-1 230 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 T urn-On Mode selector switch gives you[...]

FRONT AND REAR P ANEL DET AILS 15 Red “ Power ” LED confirms the amplifier is connected to a live AC power outlet and that the front panel master power switch is on. Red “ Active ” LED lights when the amplifier circuitry has been turned on by the T urn-On circuits. Front panel “ Master Power ” switch turns off the entire amplifier , inc[...]

FRONT AND REAR P ANEL DET AILS 16 Attractive extruded aluminum front panel. Red “ protect ” LED indicates a fault condition (D.C. output). hes, BusMatrix controls, dedicated el controls for each channel. Gold-plated RCA jacks Serial Number . Dual banana spaced binding posts for speaker connections. Removable T wo-prong 1 6 gauge 6 ’ AC power [...]

17 INST ALLA TION CONSIDERA TIONS 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-1 230 is designed to play into a speaker load of four ohms or more. When a four ohm spe[...]

18 Cable and Wir e Because the SI-1 230 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-1 230 they are connected to, it will be easier to reconfigure your system in the futur[...]

INST ALLA TION CAUTION! ALL CONNECTIONS AND REAR P ANEL SWITCH SETTINGS SHOULD BE MADE WITH THE AMPLIFIER’S FRONT P ANEL MASTER POWER SWITCH OFF . Bridging T wo Channels into One The SI-1 230's bridging switches allow you to create a more powerful amplifier channel by combining or "bridging" two adjacent channels. 2 1 BRIDGED USE C[...]

Bridging T wo Channels Into One (continued) BusMatrix TM Input Switch Setting Each channel has a dedicated BusMatrix DIP switch that assigns that channel’ s source. T o 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). T o assign the channel’ s dedicated[...]

21 INST ALLA TION Setting the T urn-On Mode Switch The SI-1 230 has three turn-on modes. Select the mode you want by sliding the mode switch. See Installation Considerations on page 1 3 for more information about each of the turn-on modes. The Control Output This terminal provides a 1 2V DC signal suitable for triggering Niles automated switchers, [...]

22 Speaker Wir e Connections CAUTION! All speaker wire connections must be made with the amplifier Off. STEP 1. Label all wires. 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 . DESCRIPTION If you label the wire[...]

23 INST ALLA TION Line Level Audio Inputs CAUTION! THE AMPLIFIER MUST BE OFF WHENEVER YOU MAKE CHANGES TO THE INPUT CONNECTIONS. 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 in[...]

AC Power Plug STEP Plug the attached 2 prong plug into a correctly gr ounded 1 20V 60 Hz wall outlet. CAUTION! Do not plug the amplifier's cord into a pr eamplifier’ s convenience outlets. DESCRIPTION If you use a grounded power strip, surge suppressor or extension cord, verify that proper ground is maintained. The SI-1 230 draws a maximum o[...]

25 OPERA TION OPERA TION Power 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 [...]

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 &[...]

27 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE 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 T echnical Support at 1-800-289-4434. The most common problems relate to hook up. SYMPTOM No sound on one channel No sound on some or all channels POSS[...]

Have your configuration worksheet handy when you call. TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE (continued) SYMPTOM Hum from all of the speakers Amp will not turn on Sound is distorted on one or all of the channels at normal volumes Normal volume cannot be reached Bass sound is weak and the stereo image is "phasey" sounding in one room A speaker connected t[...]

CONFIGURA TION WORKSHEET 29 BUS INS & OUTS CONNECTED TO Left Main Bus Right Main Bus Cascade Output CH # BRIDGED DIP INPUT SOURCE SPEAKER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 MODE SETTINGS IN USE SPECIAL CONNECTIONS OR NOTES Constant Audio Sense V oltage T rigger Control Output CONFIGURA TION WORKSHEET For ease of use, the Configuration W orksheet can be[...]

SPECIFICA TIONS 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. Bridged Power Output (T wo channels bridged, all channels driven) 80 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms. Input Impedance 1 0,000 ohms Inpu[...]

Niles Audio Corporation 1 233 1 S. W . 1 30 Street Miami, Florida 33 1 86 T el: (305) 238-43 73 Fax: (305) 238-0 1 85 www .nilesaudio.com © 1999 Niles Audio Corporation. Because Niles strives to continuously impr ove its products, Niles reserves the right to change pr oduct specifications without notice. Niles, the Niles logo and Blending High Fid[...]