INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDE
VCS HUB8
Volume Control Distribution Hub
Niles Audio Corporation
©2003 Niles Audio Corporation. All rights reserved. Niles, the Niles logo, and Blending Technology and Architecture are reg-
istered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation. Decora is a registered trademark of Leviton Manufacturing. All other trademarks
are the property of their respective owners. Some of Niles products (or components thereof) are manufactured under one or
more U.S. Patents, foreign equivalents and/or pending patents (see product for details). Because we constantly strive to improve
our products, Niles reserves the right to change product specifications, descriptions, and prices without notice. The technical
and other specifications of information contained herein is not intended to set forth all technical and other specifications of Niles
China 7/03 DS00312BCN
12331 S.W. 130 Street
Miami, Florida 33186
Tel: (305) 238-4373
Fax: (305) 238-0185
®
B L E N D I N G H I G H F I D E L I T Y A N D A R C H I T E C T U R E
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AMPLIFIER’S MINIMUM SPEAKER LOAD IS 4 OHMS
8 OHM Speaker Pairs
to verify that they are set correctly for the impedance load of
your speakers.
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.
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.
12 AWG
14 AWG
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1x
2x
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.
4x
8x
4 OHM
Speaker
Pairs
TECH TIP
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.
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.
Mounting Location
Figure 2
The VCS HUB8 is designed
specifically to fit into a structured-
wiring cabinet, with snap-in
“Christmas tree” plugs for conven-
ient installation.
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.
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.
AMPLIFIER S MINIMUM SPEAKER
LOAD IS 8 OHMS
Figure 4
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
0
1
2
3
4
4x
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 OHM
Speaker
Pairs
4x
Alternatively, you can mount it on a wall, a basement floor
joist, or some other unobtrusive location.
4x
INSTALLATION
Figure 3
4. Set the switches on all of the controls to the same position
(1x, 2x, 4x, or 8x).
Type of Speaker Wire
1. Run all necessary wiring to the VCS HUB8. Label the wires
for future reference.
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-
CAUTION! Every speaker pair in the system must be con-
nected to an impedance-magnifying volume control and set to
the same magnification.
Limitations in Volume with High Magnification Settings
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
Using an 8x setting limits the power to each speaker pair to
one-eighth of the amplifier’s output.
When you install the VCS HUB8 and connect the volume
controls to it, doublecheck the switches on the volume controls
3
4
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CONTENTS
VCS HUB8
the screws to the mounting surface. TAKE CARE NOT TO
OVERTIGHTEN THE SCREWS, WHICH COULD DAMAGE
THE HOUSING.
7. Plug the connectors into the VCS HUB8 as shown. See
Figure 4. The single connector plug at lower right is the input
from the amplifier or receiver. The other connector plugs are
the outputs, each leading to a specific volume control.
SPECIFICATIONS
Mounting
In a structured-wiring cabinet, using convenient snap-in
“Christmas tree” plugs (supplied)
• VCS HUB8
• Snap-in “Christmas Tree” plugs X2
• Removable speaker connector X9
3. Locate the connector plugs (and remove them if they are
plugged in).
On a wall or other flat surface, secured with drywall screws
(not supplied)
4. Strip 1/4" of insulation from the end of each wire. Tightly
twist the end of each wire until no frayed ends remain.
Wiring Requirements
14-18 gauge, two individual runs of two-conductor speaker
wire, or one run of four-conductor speaker wire.
5. Use a small flathead screwdriver or your thumbnail to raise
the locking tabs, exposing the holes on the removable con-
nector plug.
Unit Dimensions
6.85" wide x 3" high x 1.3" deep
6. Insert each wire into the appropriate hole on the removable
connector plug, and snap the locking tab down.
NOTE: Maintain proper phasing. Connect the positive termi-
nals on the VCS HUB8 to the positive terminals on the ampli-
fier or receiver, and on the volume controls. Connect the neg-
ative terminals on the VCS HUB8 to the negative terminals on
the amplifier or receiver, and on the volume controls. To help
you avoid improper phasing, the connector plug is keyed.
Insert the smooth side of the connector plug into the smooth
side of the socket. Don’t force the scalloped side of the con-
nector plug into the smooth side of the socket.
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