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Advanced Topics
channels are operating at maximum, an unlikely situation
even during a really fun party. Even more unlikely is all chan-
nels on multiple units operating at full output.
You know the system better than we do, so it is your
decision. If the only use is background music, then the one-
eighth power in the specifications at the end of this manual
is a reasonable (actually conservative) power draw. Of course,
you will want to include a margin of safety for unusual cir-
cumstances. And in the final analysis, you have to do what the
electrical inspector tells you to do.
Gain Controls and Level Matching
What is a “Typical” setting for the amplifier gain con-
trols on the rear panel?
Everyone wants to get the full
power out of an amplifier. How-
ever, very rarely does the setting of
the gain control restrict the power,
it just sets how much input voltage
is needed to drive the amp fully.
What the gain controls do affect is
the quality of the sound. In general, you want amplifier gain
controls down, e.g.. 10 o’clock, and the levels coming from the
pre-amp to be a higher level for no hiss and superior signal to
noise.
What should I use the “Trim” controls in the browser
for as compared to the rear panel gain controls?
The Trim controls are an easy to access level setting con-
trol which you can use while in the zone as compared to be-
hind the unit screwdriver in hand. The “Trim” controls allow
minor not major adjustments.
Unique Rooms and SPL in Large Areas
Are there any special considerations for bathrooms?
Bathrooms are irregular rooms, rooms within a room,
with high ambient background noise, often with noise mask-
ing type of ambient sound, highly reflective, and often fairly
large. If you pause and think about that for a moment, these
are some of the more challenging rooms.
Commercial noise masking systems rely on “white noise”
which sounds remarkably like a bathroom exhaust fan and
like the sound of water in a shower-- both of which are louder
Gain Level Adjustment
30