Niles Audio Portable Speaker HDL 6 User Manual

M O  
D
E L  
HDL-6  
HDL-6  
HIGH DEFINITION SPEAKER SELECTION SYSTEM  
NILES  
®
I N S T A L L A T I O N & O P E R A T I O N G U I D E  
 
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Feat ures and Benefit s  
The HDL-6 offers a number of improvements over other  
speaker selectors:  
High power handling capability of 250 watt/channel  
continuous music power.  
TECH  
SUPPORT  
HOTLINE  
Pre-printed Room Labels are included for easy identification  
of speaker ON/OFF buttons.  
If you have  
questions regarding  
the operation of the  
Niles HDL-6, contact  
your local Niles  
dealer or Niles  
Customer Service at  
1-800-289-4434.  
Rear-panel switch for constant or selectable impedance  
protection.  
Self-cleaning, silver-plated switch contacts assure many  
years of trouble-free use.  
Isolated left and right channel ground returns make the  
HDL-6 compatible with all types of amplifiers.  
Massive copper traces on printed circuit board handle  
large amounts of amplifier current, ensuring high dynamic  
range and clarity.  
Two-piece removable connectors greatly simplify installa-  
tion and hookup. All wiring can be attached directly to the  
connectors before installing them in the HDL-6.  
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Removable connectors accommodate up to 14 gauge wire  
or "pins", making the HDL-6 compatible with most "high-  
definition" speaker cables.  
100% tested, electronically and acoustically, for frequency  
response, distortion and power handling.  
Standard 17" width allows the HDL-6 to stack neatly with  
other standard size components.  
May be used with 4, 6, or 8-ohm speaker systems.  
Ideal for both home and commercial sound installations.  
Only an 1/8" standard screwdriver and wire stripper are  
required for installation.  
+
-
Frequency response: Flat ( 0 dB, 0 dB) from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.  
Ten year parts and labor warranty.  
Proudly made in the USA.  
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Inst allat ion Considerat ions  
HDL-6 Power Handling  
TOOLS  
REQUIRED  
The HDL-6 is designed for use with a receiver or amplifier  
having a maximum power output of 250 watts per channel at  
8 ohms. Damage caused by the use of a higher-power receiv-  
er or amplifier will void the warranty. Consult your Niles deal-  
er, or receiver/amplifier manufacturer, if you are uncertain  
about the power rating of your receiver or amplifier.  
• 1/8" Standard  
Slotted Screwdriver  
• Wire Stripper  
Amplifier Impedance Load  
As more pairs of speakers are parallel connected to a receiver  
or amplifier, the overall system impedance becomes lower.  
For example, if two pairs of 8-ohm speakers are connected  
in parallel, the impedance will be 4 ohms; two pairs of  
4-ohm speakers in parallel become 2 ohms, and so on.  
Most receivers or amplifiers are not rated for use below a 4  
ohm load. Most manufacturers do not recommend connect-  
ing more than two pairs of speakers without using some  
form of impedance correction.  
The HDL-6 includes impedance correction circuitry which  
protects your receiver or amplifier from low impedance  
loads. The circuitry assures that your receiver or amplifier will  
see a safe operating load, even when all six speaker pairs are  
playing at the same time.  
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The actual impedance load the HDL-6 presents to your receiver  
or amplifier will vary, depending on how many speaker pairs  
are playing, and the impedance rating of each speaker. If you  
have six pairs of 8-ohm speakers playing, the HDL-6 will present  
a 4.3 ohm impedance load to your receiver/amplifier. With six  
pairs of 4-ohm speakers playing, the load drops to slightly  
under 4 ohms.  
"TECH TIP"  
If you intend to use the HDL-6 with more than two pairs of  
4-ohm speakers, it is recommended that you verify that the  
receiver or amplifier is capable of driving a 4-ohm load. Consult  
your Niles dealer, or receiver/amplifier manufacturer, if you are  
uncertain about the capabilities of the receiver/amplifier.  
Type of Speaker Wire  
Wire size is  
expressed by it's  
AWG (American  
Wire Gauge)  
number. The lower  
the AWG number,  
the larger the  
wire,  
i.e., 12 AWG wire is  
physically larger  
For most applications, we recommend you use 16 or 18 gauge,  
stranded copper speaker wire for the HDL-6 connections. For  
wiring runs longer than 80 feet, 14 gauge wire is recommend-  
ed. Using speaker wire larger than 14 gauge for the HDL-6 con-  
nections is not recommended —the wire may not fit into the  
connectors. Never use solid-core, aluminum, or "Romex" type  
wire with the HDL-6. When running speaker wires inside walls,  
most states and municipalities in the U.S. specify that you must  
use a special type of speaker wire. Usually, the requirement is  
that the wire has a specific "CL" fire rating, such as "CL-2" or  
"CL-3". Consult your Niles dealer, building contractor, or local  
building and inspection department if unsure about which type  
of wire is best for your application.  
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Avoiding Interference  
Speaker wires can act as an "antenna" for electrical noise. Locating  
speaker wires too close to a light dimmer or switch may cause a  
"buzzing" or "popping" sound to be heard through the speakers.  
If you must locate the HDL-6 wiring near electrical devices, route  
the speaker wires several feet away from the electrical wiring.  
Using the HDL-6 with Tube-Type Amplifiers  
Virtually all tube amplifiers must have a load connected at all  
times. If the amplifier to be connected to the HDL-6 is a tube  
amplifier, be sure to always have at least one pair of speakers  
switched on at all times. An alternative is to permanently connect  
a 150 ohm, 5 watt resistor across the tube amplifier's output in  
parallel with the HDL-6. See (Figure 1) on next page for hookup  
diagram.  
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Tube Amplifier  
Figure1  
Using a  
Tube Amplifier  
150  
150  
Niles HDL-6  
AMPLIFIER  
L- R-  
SPEAKER  
6
SPEAKER  
5
SPEAKER  
4
SPEAKER  
3
SPEAKER  
2
SPEAKER  
1
L+  
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L-  
R-  
R+  
ON OFF  
N
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CONSTANT  
PROTECTION  
Niles Audio  
Corporation, Inc.  
Miami, Florida USA  
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Recessed  
areas for  
custom room  
labels.  
HDL-6 HIGH DEFINITION SPEAKER SELECTION SYSTEM  
PROTECTION  
Attractive  
low-profile  
design.  
N
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1
2
3
4
5
6
Simple  
push-button  
operation.  
Connect up to six pairs  
of speakers.  
Protection switch safeguards your  
receiver or amplifier even with all  
6 pairs of speakers playing.  
AMPLIFIER  
L- R-  
SPEAKER  
6
SPEAKER  
5
SPEAKER  
4
SPEAKER  
3
SPEAKER  
2
SPEAKER  
1
L+  
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
ON OFF  
N
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S
CONSTANT  
PROTECTION  
Niles Audio  
Corporation,  
Miami, Florida USA  
Constant  
Impedance  
Protection  
Switch  
Two-piece  
removable  
connectors.  
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Inst allat ion  
1. Select a convenient mounting location for the HDL-6.  
2. Run all the necessary wiring to the HDL-6. Label the wires  
for future reference. See (Figure 2).  
Receiver  
Figure2  
Wiring Diagram  
TUNER 94.9  
15  
Niles HDL-6  
AMPLIFIER  
SPEAKER  
6
SPEAKER  
5
SPEAKER  
4
SPEAKER  
3
SPEAKER  
2
SPEAKER  
1
L+  
L-  
R-  
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
-
R
-
R+  
L+  
L
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R
-
R+  
ON OFF  
N
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CONSTANT  
PROTECTION  
Niles Audio  
Corporation, Inc.  
Miami, Florida USA  
Speaker  
Pair 6  
Speaker  
Pair 5  
Speaker  
Pair 4  
Speaker  
Pair 3  
Speaker  
Pair 2  
Speaker  
Pair 1  
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3. Make the connections to the HDL-6. The amplifier/speaker  
connectors on the HDL-6 are removable. If you wish, you  
may remove the HDL-6's connectors to facilitate installation  
see (Figure 3). Strip 3/8" of insulation from the end of each  
wire. Tightly twist the end of each wire until there are no  
frayed ends. Insert each wire into the appropriate hole on  
the spring-loaded connector terminals. Be certain that proper  
phasing is observed —connect the positive terminals on the  
HDL-6 to the positive terminals on the amplifier and speakers  
and the negative terminals on the HDL-6 to the negative ter-  
minals on the amplifier and speakers. Re-install the connec-  
tors if they were removed. See (Figure 4).  
4. Locate the pre-printed Room Labels. Affix the appropriate  
label to the recessed area over each ON/OFF selector button.  
Figure3  
Removing the Connectors  
Figure4  
Installing the Connectors  
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Operat ion  
There are two ways to use the HDL-6. You may play one pair  
of speakers at a time, or play multiple pairs simultaneously.  
"TECH TIP"  
If your amplifier or  
receiver has "A"  
and "B" speaker-  
pair outputs,  
If you intend to play more than one pair of speakers at the  
same time, you will need to become familiar with the opera-  
tion of the HDL-6's PROTECTION button.  
connect the HDL-6  
to the "A" outputs.  
Do not connect  
anything to "B".  
This will prevent  
the amplifier or  
receiver from driving  
an unusually low  
impedance load.  
Playing One Pair of Speakers At a Time  
1. Make sure the amplifier or receiver power is OFF and set  
the volume to minimum.  
2. Locate the ON/OFF button on the HDL-6 which corre-  
sponds to the speaker pair you wish to play. Set it to the ON  
position.  
3. Turn on the amplifier or receiver and select a source, such  
as the tuner or CD player.  
4. Slowly turn up the amplifier or receiver volume and set it  
to a comfortable (not maximum) listening level. Be careful  
not to overdrive or "clip" your am plifier. If the sound  
becomes muddy or distorted, you have reached the limit of  
your amplifier's volume capability and should quickly reduce  
the volume to avoid damaging your speakers.  
5. To turn off the speaker pair, simply press the correspond-  
ing ON/OFF button on the HDL-6.  
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Playing Two or More Speaker Pairs Simultaneously  
"TECH TIP"  
1. Make sure the amplifier or receiver power is OFF and set  
the volume to minimum.  
You will need to  
activate the HDL-6's  
PROTECTION button  
whenever the overall  
system impedance  
might fall below  
2. On the right side of the HDL-6's front panel is a button  
labeled PROTECTION. This button activates the HDL-6's  
impedance correction circuitry. The circuitry assures that your  
receiver or amplifier will see a safe operating load when play-  
ing multiple speaker pairs simultaneously. Since most receivers  
and amplifiers are not rated for use below a 4 ohm load, you  
will need to activate the PROTECTION button whenever the  
overall system impedance might fall below 4 ohms. Use the  
following chart as a guide for setting the PROTECTION button.  
4 ohms.  
When playing the following speakers:  
1 or 2 pair of 8-ohm speakers  
The Protection button should be:  
OFF  
ON  
OFF  
ON  
ON  
3 or more pairs of 8-ohm speakers  
1 pair of 4-ohm speakers  
2 or more pairs of 4-ohm speakers  
Any combination of 4 and 8 ohm speakers  
Set the PROTECTION button to the correct position using the chart shown above.  
3. Locate the ON/OFF buttons on the HDL-6 which corre-  
spond to the speaker pairs you wish to play. Set them to the  
ON position.  
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4. Turn on the amplifier or receiver and select a source, such  
as the tuner or CD player.  
5. Slowly turn up the amplifier or receiver volume and set it  
to a comfortable (not maximum) listening level. Be careful  
not to overdrive or "clip" your am plifier. If the sound  
becomes muddy or distorted, you have reached the limit of  
your amplifier's volume capability and should quickly reduce  
the volume to avoid damaging your speakers.  
6. To turn off one or more speaker pairs, simply press the  
corresponding ON/OFF button(s) on the HDL-6. Refer to the  
Protection chart for the correct setting of the PROTECTION  
button.  
Constant Protection Switch  
The HDL-6 is equipped with a manual override for the pro-  
tection circuit that enables you to defeat the front panel pro-  
tection switch and maintain constant impedance protection.  
This will safeguard your amplifier from being overdriven due  
to accidental or improper use by anyone unfamiliar with the  
equipment.  
To engage this override, move the rear panel "CONSTANT  
PROTECTION" switch to the "ON" position. Constant imped-  
ance protection will be maintained until the switch is turned  
to "OFF".  
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Balancing Speaker Volume  
SPECIFICATIONS  
The volume control on your receiver or amplifier serves as  
the "master" volume for all speaker pairs connected.  
Audio Power  
Handling  
250 watts/channel  
continuous music  
power  
The volume level of the speakers may vary from room to  
room. This is caused by several factors. Two lesser factors are  
the size of the speaker and its efficiency. The largest factor is  
the physical size of the room.  
Frequency Response  
+
-
0 dB, 0 dB (flat) from  
20 Hz to 20 kHz  
The best way to balance speaker volume is to equip each of  
the speaker pairs in your system with a Niles volume control.  
The controls allow you to adjust the volume of each speaker  
pair individually. If all the speaker pairs in your system are  
equipped with Niles volume controls, you can leave the  
amplifier or receiver volume set at one position and use the  
Niles controls exclusively.  
Mounting  
Table-Top component  
Wiring Requirements  
Individual runs of  
2-conductor speaker  
wire. Connectors  
accommodate wire  
sizes 14-22 gauge (16  
gauge recommended)  
Overall Dimensions  
17" wide x 2" high x  
8-3/4" deep  
Weight  
4 3/4 lb.  
14  
 
NILES ®  
®
Niles Audio  
Corporation  
www.nilesaudio.com  
© 1999 Niles Audio Corporation. All rights reserved. Because Niles constantly strives to improve the  
quality of its products, Niles reserves the right to change product specifications without notice. Niles  
and the Niles logo are registered trademarks of Niles Audio Corporation. Printed in USA 4/96  
DS00100A  
12331 S.W. 130 Street  
Miami, Florida 33186  
Tel: (305) 238-4373  
Fax: (305) 238-0185  
 

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