System Design Considerations - Niles SI-1260 Installation & Operation Manual

SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Speaker Compatibility
A single channel (not bridged) of the 51-1260 is capable of driving a low impedance
speaker load. As many as three 8 ohm speakers can be safely connected to a single
channel, presenting the amplifier a 2.66 ohm load. Proper ventilation of the 51-1260
is critical when driving low impedance loads. If the 51-1260 is not properly
ventilated, the protection circuits may activate and shut off the channel at higher
volume levels (for more information on proper amplifier placement, see Installation
Considerations on page 77).
A channel pair that has been BRIDGED is capable of driving an impedance load of
4 ohms. Proper ventilation of the 51-1260 is critical when driving a 4 ohm load with
bridged channels. If the 51-1260 is not properly ventilated, the protection circuits may
activate and shut off the channel at higher volume levels (for more information on
proper amplifier placement, see Installation Considerations on page 77).
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 mod-
els rated from 6-8 ohms).
Cable and Wire
Because the 51-1260 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 51-1260 terminal to
which they are connected. This will make it easier to reconfigure your system in the
future.
The 51-1260 connects to your sources via shielded line level audio cables with RCA
connectors. Use high quality cables with your Niles amplifier for the lowest possible
noise and best overall performance. Your Niles dealer can recommend the proper
cable.
A OB25 MultiZone Input Connector is provided for use with Niles MultiZone
Products which include a mating OB25 output connector. All 12 dedicated inputs
are included within the single connector, along with the 51-1260's Voltage Trigger
Input.
The 51-1260 connects to your speakers using two conductor speaker wire. For most
applications, we recommend you use 16 or 18 gauge wire. For wiring n ns longer
than 80 feet, we recommend 14 gauge wire. The 51-1260'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.