Niles HDL-6 Troubleshooting guide

HDL-6
INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDE
MODEL
HDL-6
HIGH DEFINITION SPEAKER SELECTION SYSTEM
HDL-6
BLENDING TECHNOLOGY AND ARCHITECTURE
™

Introduction
The HDL-6 allows you to connect up to six pairs of speakers
to your stereo receiver or amplifier and play any one pair,
any combination of pairs, or all pairs at once. You don't
have to worry about overloading your amplifier. The HDL-6
has a protection circuit that keeps your amplifier running
safely, even if you have all six pairs of speakers playing at the
same time.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Features and
Benefits 2
Installation
Considerations 4
Installation 9
Operation 11
Specifications 14
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
HDL-6
High Definition
Speaker Selection
System
1

Features and Benefits
The HDL-6 offers a number of improvements over other
speaker selectors:
●High power-handling capability of 250 watt/channel
continuous music power.
●Pre-printed room labels are included for easy identification
of speaker ON/OFF buttons.
●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. You can attach all wiring directly to the
connectors before installing them in the HDL-6. 2
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
TECH
SUPPORT
HOTLINE
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.

●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-sized components.
●May be used with 4-, 6-, or 8-ohm speaker systems.
●Ideal for both home and commercial sound installations.
●Requires only a 1/8" standard screwdriver and wire stripper
for installation.
●Frequency response: Flat (+0dB,-0dB) from 20Hz to20kHz.
●Ten-year parts and labor warranty.
●Proudly made in the USA.
3
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM

Installation Considerations
HDL-6 Power Handling
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.
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 that
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.
4
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
TOOLS
REQUIRED
• 1/8" Standard
Slotted Screwdriver
• Wire Stripper

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.
If you intend to use the HDL-6 with more than two pairs of
4-ohm speakers, we recommend that you verify that the receiv-
er 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
For most applications, we recommend that you use 16-gauge
or 18-gauge, stranded-copper speaker wire for the HDL-6
connections. For wiring runs longer than 80 feet, 14-gauge wire
is recommended. Using speaker wire larger than 14-gauge for
the HDL-6 connections is not recommended—the wire may
not fit into the connectors. Never use solid-core, aluminum, or
"Romex" wire with the HDL-6. For speaker-wire runs 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 contrac-
tor, or local building and inspection department if you are
unsure about which type of wire is best for your application.
5
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
"TECH TIP"
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
than 14 AWG.

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 the
speakers to emit a "buzzing" or "popping" sound. 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 you are connecting a tube amplifier to the HDL-6, be
sure at least one pair of speakers is switched on at all times. An
alternative is to permanently connect a 150-ohm, five-watt resis-
tor across the tube amplifier's output in parallel with the HDL-6.
See Figure 1 on next page for hookup diagram.
6
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM

7
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
Figure1
Using a
Tube Amplifier
Tube Amplifier
Niles HDL-6

8
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
HDL-6 HIGH DEFINITION SPEAKER SELECTION SYSTEM
PROTECTION
123456
NILES
SPEAKER 6
L+ L- R- R+
AMPLIFIER
L+ L- R- R+ L+ L- R- R+ L+ L- R- R+ L+ L- R- R+ L+ L- R- R+
SPEAKER 5 SPEAKER 4 SPEAKER 3 SPEAKER 2
L+ L- R- R+
SPEAKER 1
CONSTANT
PROTECTION
ON OFF
Niles Audio
Corporation,
Miami, Florida USA
NILES
Recessed
areas for
custom room
labels
Attractive
low-profile
design
Simple
push-button
operation
Connect up to six pairs
of speakers PROTECTION switch safeguards
your receiver or amplifier even with
all six pairs of speakers playing
Two-piece
removable
connectors
Constant
impedance-
protection
switch

Installation
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).
9
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
TUNER 94.9
15
SPEAKER 6
L+ L- R- R+
AMPLIFIER
L+ L- R- R+ L+ L- R- R+ L+ L- R- R+ L+ L- R- R+ L+ L- R- R+
SPEAKER 5 SPEAKER 4 SPEAKER 3 SPEAKER 2
L+ L- R- R+
SPEAKER 1
CONSTANT
PROTECTION
ON OFF
Niles Audio
Corporation, Inc.
Miami, Florida USA
NILES
Niles HDL-6
Receiver
Speaker
Pair 6 Speaker Pair 5 Speaker Pair 4 Speaker Pair 3 Speaker Pair 2 Speaker Pair 1
Figure2
Wiring Diagram

10
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
3. Make the connections to the HDL-6. The amplifier/speaker
connectors on the HDL-6 are removable. If you wish, you
may remove these 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 no frayed ends
remain. Insert each wire into the appropriate hole on the
spring-loaded connector terminals. Observe proper phasing
—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 terminals on
the amplifier and speakers. If the connectors were removed,
reinstall them. (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

Operation
You can use the HDL-6 in two ways: play one pair of speakers
at a time, or play multiple pairs simultaneously.
If you intend to play more than one pair of speakers at the
same time, you should become familiar with the operation of
the HDL-6's PROTECTION button.
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 that corresponds
to the speaker pair you wish to play. Set it to the ON posi-
tion.
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 amplifier. If the sound
becomes muddy or distorted, you have reached the limit of
your amplifier's volume capability and should reduce the
volume quickly to avoid damaging your speakers.
5. To turn off the speaker pair, simply press the correspond-
ing ON/OFF button on the HDL-6.
11
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
"TECH TIP"
If your amplifier or
receiver has "A"
and "B" speaker-
pair outputs,
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 Two or More Speaker Pairs Simultaneously
1. Make sure the amplifier or receiver power is OFF, and set
the volume to minimum.
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, which assures that your receiv-
er or amplifier will see a safe operating load when playing mul-
tiple speaker pairs simultaneously. Since most receivers and
amplifiers are not rated for use below a 4-ohm load, you must
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.
3. Locate the ON/OFF buttons on the HDL-6 that corre-
spond to the speaker pairs you wish to play. Set them to the
ON position.
12
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
When playing the following speakers:
1 or 2 pairs of 8-ohm speakers
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
The PROTECTION button should be:
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
ON
Set the PROTECTION button to the correct position using the chart shown above.
"TECH TIP"
You will need to
activate the HDL-6's
PROTECTION button
whenever the overall
system impedance
might fall below
4 ohms.

13
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
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 amplifier. If the sound
becomes muddy or distorted, you have reached the limit of
your amplifier's volume capability and should reduce the
volume quickly 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
protection circuit that enables you to defeat the front-panel
protection switch and maintain constant impedance protec-
tion. 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. This will maintain
constant impedance protection until the switch is turned
to "OFF."

14
H IGH D EFINITION S PEAKER S ELECTION S YSTEM
Balancing Speaker Volume
The volume control on your receiver or amplifier serves as
the "master" volume for all speaker pairs connected.
The volume level of the speakers may vary from room to
room, due primarily to the physical size of the room and also
to the size of the speaker and its efficiency.
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.
SPECIFICATIONS
Audio Power
Handling
250 watts/channel
continuous music
power
Frequency Response
+0 dB, -0 dB (flat) from
20 Hz to 20 kHz
Mounting
Table-Top component
Wiring Requirements
Individual runs of
Two-conductor speak-
er wire. Connectors
accommodate wire
sizes 14 gauge to 22
gauge (16 gauge rec-
ommended)
Overall Dimensions
17" wide x 2" high x
8-3/4" deep
Weight
4-3/4 lb.

Niles Audio Corporation
12331 S.W. 130 Street
Miami, Florida 33186
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
®
BLENDING TECHNOLOGY
AND ARCHITECTURE
™
www.nilesaudio.com
©2002 Niles Audio Corporation. All rights reserved. Niles and the Niles logo are registered trademarks
of Niles Audio Corporation. Blending Technology and Architecture is a trademark of Niles Audio
Corporation. 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 tech-
nical and other specifications of information contained herein is not intended to set forth all technical
and other specifications of Niles products. Additional information can be obtained at
www.nilesaudio.com or by calling Niles at 1-800-289-4434. Printed in USA 10/02 DS00100A