Installation and
Calibration
Lexicon
Wiring Considerations
Audio/Video Cables There is controversy over the audible effects of different types of intercon- nects. Good engineering practices have minimized the effect that cables might have on the inputs and outputs of the DC-1 — but feel free to evaluate different interconnects in your system. If you want to do some tweaking, be conscious of the mechanical stress from repeated insertion and overly tight connectors, and the possibly corrosive nature of some contact-enhancing fluids.
Note that the use of standard audio cables for video or digital audio applications may cause signal degradation, and is not recommended. For these connections, please use only cables that are designed for the applica- tion — these have different impedance characteristics than cables approved for analog audio applications.
Both audio and video cables should be kept as short as possible.
Speaker Connections In general, speaker cables should be kept short, and low-impedance wire should be used throughout to assure efficient power transmission and avoid audible distortion. Recommended wire lengths are given in the table below. Although these examples can be used as a general guide, your system manuals should provide detailed information specific to your components.
| Wire Lengths |
| |
Length | AWG Size |
up to 12 feet | 16 gauge |
up to 18 feet | 14 gauge |
up to 29 feet | 12 gauge |
up to 51 feet | 10 gauge |
| |
Audio/Video Connections
Before making any connections, turn off ALL audio and video components, including individual power amplifiers. (Unplug any preamps and power amps that don’t have power switches.)
The DC-1 is designed to function as the control center of the system, selecting inputs and controlling the volume of all speakers in the system. There are several ways to integrate the DC-1 into the system, but they basically fall into two categories: those where the DC-1 is connected directly to all of the amplifiers in the room, and those where the DC-1 is connected into a tape or signal processor loop of a preamp or receiver.
You may choose to connect the DC-1 in the tape monitor, or external processor loop of a preamp, allowing you to completely bypass the DC-1. This, however, will make the system somewhat more complicated to operate, and adds a gain stage (the preamp) that is not necessary.