AMPLIFIERS I N S TA L L AT I O N SI- G U I D E
CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you for purchasing the Niles SI-1650, one of the most versatile and powerful multi-channel amplifiers ever offered. Like all Niles products, the SI-1650 is built to the highest standards of quality and reliability. With proper installation and operation, you’ll enjoy years of trouble-free use.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3. Heed all warnings. 4. Follow all instructions. 5. Do not use this apparatus near water. 6. Clean only with a dry cloth. 7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. 8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. 9.
INTRODUCTION We call the SI-1650 a Systems Integration Amplifier because it is a power amplifier specifically designed to solve the problems of interfacing with different brands and models of equipment, different acoustic environments in different rooms, and different kinds of applications: home theater, stereo, and background music. The Niles SI-1650 Systems Integration Amplifier brings extremely high current power to a custom installed A/V System in a remarkably convenient way. SI-1650 4 WWW.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS FEATURES AND BENEFITS REAL WORLD POWER The SI-1650 is 16-channel amplifier configurable to deliver a solid 50 watts per channel RMS into 8 ohms or 100 watts per channel RMS into 8 ohms using a special high power mode. A new digital power transformer design provides the energy necessary to efficiently deliver solid, deep, controlled bass response to a house full of speakers.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS CONTINUED... IP CONFIGURABLE EQ ADJUSTMENT, VOLUME LEVEL AND HIGH/LOW PASS SELECTION A web based IP Configuration utility provides independent EQ adjustment and volume level for each amplifier channel enabling you to EQ and set volume levels for 16 different speakers individually. A High/Low Pass Filter setting for each channel accommodates passive subwoofers and small full range speakers.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS As shown in Figure 1, a distributed audio/video system is defined by the number of listening zones it has. Within a listening zone you can listen to only one source (e.g. CD, Radio, iPod, etc.) at any one time. A listening zone can consist of a single room or a group of rooms. To achieve different volumes and greater convenience in different rooms within a zone, individual volume controls can be used.
SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS CONTINUED... A MultiZone system as shown in Figure 2, offers the household more flexibility. For instance, a family might have their family room wired for surround sound and their living room wired for background music. In a two zone system, the children can watch TV in surround sound while Mom and Dad are reading the paper and enjoying background music in the living room.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS CABLE AND WIRE Because the SI-1650 has many connections on the rear panel (see page 32 & 33), 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 SI-1650 terminal to which they are connected. This will make it easier to reconfigure your system in the future.
SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUED... CREATING HIGH POWER AMPLIFIER CHANNELS FOR AREAS THAT REQUIRE MORE VOLUME AND POWER All of the odd numbered amplifier channels of the SI-1650 (channels 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15) include a power output of 50 or 100 watts that is selected using a web based IP Configuration utility. When an odd numbered amplifier channel is configured to100 watts, it’s even numbered adjacent amplifier channel (e.g. channel 1 and 2, channels 3 and 4, channels 5 and 6, etc.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS CONTINUED... SPEAKER COMPATIBILITY Any SI-1650 amplifier channel configured to the 50 watt mode is capable of driving a 4 ohm impedance speaker load. No more than two 8 ohm speakers or no more than one 4-6 ohm speaker can be safely connected to a single channel. Proper ventilation of the SI-1650 is critical when driving lower impedance loads.
APPLICATIONS ADVANTAGES OF USING THE SI-1650 IN A SINGLE ZONE SYSTEM When you connect the preamplifier outputs of your stereo receiver or stereo preamplifier to the SI-1650 BusMatrix™ you dedicate a robust 50 watts to each speaker in your multi-room system. The SI-1650 has an IP Configuration and Setup tool to adjust volume and tone for each channel individually so you can compensate for architectural differences that create sonic imbalances.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS APPLICATIONS USING A DUAL-ZONE RECEIVER FOR TWO LISTENING ZONES Most of today’s Audio Video Receivers include a second zone preamplifier output to create a second listening zone. Using this output with the SI-1650 BusMatrix™ input provides amplification for multiple rooms within a second listening zone as shown in Figure 4.
APPLICATIONS EXPANDING A MULTIZONE SYSTEM TO INCLUDE MORE ROOMS Many MultiZone systems incorporate multiple rooms within a single zone. The SI-1650 BusMatrix™ Input simplifies the connections required for this system design. As shown in Figure 5, a Niles ZR-6 MultiZone Controller has its speaker outputs connected directly to speakers in zones 1-5. The ZR-6’s preamp output six, set to a fixed output mode, is connected to the SI-1650’s BusMatrix™ inputs.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS APPLICATIONS ADDING PREAMPS TO CREATE MORE LISTENING ZONES In the ultimate MultiZone system, you connect individual stereo preamplifiers (or a single component multi-zone/multi-source preamplifier) to the BusMatrix™ inputs of SI-1650. These independent input signals are then routed to the appropriate amplifier channels via the IP Configuration and Setup Tool creating completely independent listening zones.
CONFIGURING YOUR SYSTEM Because the SI-1650 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 Worksheet on page 41 to record how you plan to connect your SI-1650. Here is an example filled out.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS CONFIGURING YOUR SYSTEM The SI-1650 includes a Configuration and Setup Tool that provides easy access to the all essential features of the amplifier using the web browser on a laptop, PC, iPad , tablet or smartphone (e.g. IE, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc.).
CONFIGURING YOUR SYSTEM LOCAL AREA NETWORK CONNECTION The network IP address of the SI-1650 (both the factory default address and any address set manually using the Configuration and Setup Tool) is static and must be a unique IP address compatible with the local area network it is connecting to. Use the following steps to establish network communication between a PC, iPad or Tablet and the SI-1650 when using a local area network connection. 1.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS CONFIGURATION AND SETUP TOOL Open the Configuration and Setup Tool Using a Web Browser. Once a direct Ethernet or local area network connection is made, use the web browser included with your laptop, PC, iPad, tablet or smartphone to log into the web server in the SI-1650. Enter the current IP address of the SI-1650 into the URL line of your web browser. The factory default IP address of the SI-1650 is http://192.168.1.
CONFIGURATION AND SETUP TOOL AMPLIFIER CONFIGURATION MAIN SELECTION Choose the Amplifier Configuration main selection and the Input/Channel Names sub selection page is displayed. The Channel Power, Turn On Mode and Signal Routing sub selections are also displayed for selection and configuration. AMPLIFIER CONFIGURATION MAIN SELECTION – INPUT/CHANNEL NAMES SUB SELECTION Editable Input and Channel name fields are displayed for all 16 inputs and all 16 channel outputs.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS CONFIGURATION AND SETUP TOOL AMPLIFIER CONFIGURATION MAIN SELECTION – CHANNEL POWER SUB SELECTION Choose the Channel Power sub selection and the Channel Power page is displayed. All odd numbered amplifier channels are configurable to output either 50 watts or 100 watts. Odd channels are listed along with two checkbox columns. The first checkbox column is named 100 watts and the second is named 50 watts.
CONFIGURATION AND SETUP TOOL AMPLIFIER CONFIGURATION MAIN SELECTION – TURN ON MODE SUB SELECTION Choose the Turn On Mode sub selection and the Turn On Mode page is displayed. Refer to page 28 for more details on the three available turn on modes. 1. Select one of three available check boxes that corresponds to the Turn On Mode you wish to use, Audio Sense, Voltage Trigger or Constant On. 2. Select Save to save the Turn On Mode to the amplifier’s memory. Default Setting: Constant On FIGURE 11 22 WWW.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS CONFIGURATION AND SETUP TOOL AMPLIFIER CONFIGURATION MAIN SELECTION – SIGNAL ROUTING SUB SELECTION Choose the Signal Routing sub selection and the Signal Routing page is displayed. All 16 amplifier channels are listed on the left with their names and currently selected input shown to the right. Note: Even numbered channels are listed inactive if their adjacent odd numbered channel is set to 100 watts (e.g.
CONFIGURATION AND SETUP TOOL EQUALIZATION MAIN SELECTION Choose the Equalization main selection and the Manual EQ Presets page is displayed. The Room EQ sub selection is also displayed for selection and configuration. EQUALIZATION MAIN SELECTION – ROOM EQ PRESETS Choose the Room EQ Presets sub-selection and the Room EQ Presets page is displayed. All 16 channels are listed with their names and currently selected Room EQ Preset shown to the left.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS CONFIGURATION AND SETUP TOOL EQUALIZATION MAIN SELECTION – MANUAL EQ SELECTION Choose the Manual EQ sub-selection and the Manual EQ page is displayed. The amplifier channels are included in a single pull down list along with their names. Note: If an odd numbered channel is set to 100 watts, it even numbered adjacent channel will not be included in the pull down list (e.g.
CONFIGURATION AND SETUP TOOL UTILITIES MAIN SELECTION Choose the Utilities Main Selection and the Project Information page is displayed. The Generate Report, Create Backup File and Restore From File sub selections are also displayed for selection and use. UTILITIES MAIN SELECTION – PROJECT INFORMATION SUB SELECTION Choose the Project Information sub selection and the Project Information page is displayed.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS CONFIGURATION AND SETUP TOOL UTILITIES MAIN SELECTION – GENERATE REPORT SUB SELECTION Choose the Generate Report sub selection and the Generate Report page is displayed. 1. Select Generate Report to Screen to generate a complete configuration report to a new browser window. 2. Select Generate Report to File to save the report to a htm file. Use the Save As window to browse for a location for the Report.htm file. Enter a unique name and select Save.
INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS TURN-ON MODES Automating the turn-on of your SI-1650 is one of the easiest steps when installing it in a distributed system. However, do not plug the main power cord into the switched AC outlet of your preamplifier or receiver. The high power design of the SI-1650 requires large amounts of current from its AC power source. Additionally, it is always recommended to activate the system preamplifier/receiver before turning on your SI-1650 in order to prevent system “turn-on thumps”.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS 3-24 VOLT AC/DC OPTO-ISOLATED VOLTAGE TRIGGER - The Power switch on the front panel must be in the “On” position for the voltage trigger to function. When a Trigger Plug is inserted into the rear panel connector and the sensing circuitry detects a voltage, the amplifier is turned on. Once the Trigger voltage is turned off, the sensing circuit instantly turns the amplifier off.
INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS PLACEMENT Place the SI-1650 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 PANEL FOR EVEN AN INSTANT WILL RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE AMPLIFIER’S CONNECTORS AND CONTROLS. The SI-1650, like any hi-fi component, will last much longer if it is given adequate ventilation for proper cooling.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS INSTALLATION BUS MATRIX™ LINE LEVEL AUDIO INPUTS CAUTION! THE AMPLIFIER MUST BE OFF WHENEVER YOU MAKE CHANGES TO THE INPUT CONNECTIONS. STEP DESCRIPTION 1. Label all of the interconnecting cables for the sources they connect to. Use audio patch cables with RCA phono plugs attached to the ends. 2. Connect the sources by inserting the RCA plug into the amplifier’s jacks. Connect outputs from your sources to inputs on the amplifier.
Front panel “Master Power” switch turns off the entire amplifier, including the Turn-On circuitry Power LED illuminates to confirm the amplifier is connected to a live AC power outlet and that the master power switch is on. Factory Default Reset Switch 3.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS Bicolor Status LEDs, one for each of the sixteen channels, illuminate “green” when the amplifier circuitry has been turned on by the Turn-On circuits, and illuminates “red” to indicate activation of the amplifier’s built-in protection circuitry Removable feet for rack mounting Bus Matrix™ Input Gold Plated RCA Jacks Cascade Audio Output Gold Plated RCA Jacks INPUT 9 10 11 12 S I - 1 6 5 0 13 14 15 RJ-45 Ethernet TCP/IP Connection S y s t e m s
INSTALLATION SPEAKER WIRE CONNECTIONS CAUTION! ALL SPEAKER WIRE CONNECTIONS MUST BE MADE WITH THE AMPLIFIER OFF. Banana Plugs There are many types of banana plugs, some crimp, some solder. The Niles gold banana plug has 3 quick-connect binding posts for the bare wire on the body of the plug. A banana plug is simply inserted into the jack at the end of the amplifier’s binding post.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS INSTALLATION THE CONTROL OUTPUT This terminal provides a 12V DC signal suitable for triggering Niles automated switchers, some motorized screens, some electric curtain controls, etc. This voltage is present only when the amplifier is active or on. When the amplifier turns off, the 12V signal is off. STEP DESCRIPTION 1. Check the requirements of the device you want to control. The control output has a maximum current capability of 150 mA. 2.
OPERATION POWER SWITCH The front panel switch is a master or “vacation” power switch. No matter which turn-on mode you have selected, the master power switch will turn off all circuitry including the sensing circuitry. If you will not be using the amplifier for an extended period of time, turn the master power switch “Off” (push button switch out). When you would like to return to normal operation, turn the switch “On” (push button switch in).
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS OPERATION LISTENING AT HIGHER VOLUMES Fifty watts is enough power to play a conventional speaker in a normal sized room loudly enough to completely drown out conversation. Even at levels like that, the SI-1650 will sound clear and clean. However, it requires more power to achieve a reasonable volume of sound in a large room than it does in a small room.
TROUBLE-SHOOTING 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 Technical Support at 1-800-289-4434. The most common problems relate to hook up. Have your configuration worksheet handy when you call. Symptom Possible Causes and Test Procedure Short circuit or loose wire at speaker or amplifier terminals.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS TROUBLE-SHOOTING GUIDE Symptom Possible Causes and Test Procedure Sound is distorted on one or all of the channels at normal volumes Check your configuration worksheet and verify all settings. Normal volume cannot be reached One of the internal amplifier fuses is blown. (Return the amplifier to your dealer for service). Bass sound is weak and the stereo image is “phasey” sounding in one room Check that the bridging switch is “Off”.
SPECIFICATIONS Detail SI-1650 Design Principle Digital, high current bridgeable multi-channel amplifier Continuous Average Power Output 50 watts RMS per channel into 8 Ohms , 100 watts RMS per channel into 4 Ohms Continuous Average Power Output Bridged 100 watts RMS per channel into 8 Ohms Frequency Response Bandwidth Limited from 5Hz to 25kHz Signal to Noise Ratio 20Hz to 20kHz un-weighted > 102 dB Total Harmonic Distortion @ 1kHz <0.
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS CONFIGURATION WORKSHEET For ease of use, the Configuration Worksheet can be enlarged on a photocopier.
LIMITED WARRANTY Niles Audio Corporation (“NILES”) warrants to the original retail purchaser only that this product will be free of manufacturing defects in material and workmanship for the following periods and subject to the limitations and exclusions set forth below: Lifetime Warranty All Passive Amplifier Products (those not requiring AC or battery power). Ten years from the date of purchase All Other Passive Products (those not requiring AC or battery power).
16 CHANNEL, FULLY CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIERS NOTES _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _________________________
1690 Corporate Circle, Petaluma, CA 94954 1-760-710-0992 1 - 8 0 0 - B U Y- H I F I – w w w. n i l e s a u d i o . c o m ©2013 The CORE Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Niles and the Niles logos are registered trademarks of CORE Brands, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. We reserve the right to change specifications, descriptions and prices without notice.
