Distributed Sound Systems

Distributed sound systems are used in commercial applications as an efficient means

to distribute sound. These systems are commonly referred to as constant voltage (CV)
systems or 70-volt systems. In some cases, usually schools or correctional facilities,
25-volts is used instead of 70-volts.
Almost all 70(25)-volt systems are made up of the following components:
1. Source Components - microphones, CD players, tape decks, etc.
2. Mixer Amps - these provide input selection, signal control, and power to drive
speakers. They have a 70(25) volt output that is usually just two screw terminals
on the back, "+" and "-".
3. Wire - most installations use 18 gauge, two conductor, stranded, jacketed wire.
There is no need for a shield.
4. Volume Controls - these are only necessary when sound levels need to be
changed in various areas on the same system.
5. Transformers - these are almost always mounted to the back of the speaker
frame and the step the 70(25) volt signal down to an 8 ohm signal; commonly
called step-down transformers. The input of these transformers is referred to as
the primary side and the output is called the secondary side. Therefore, a
transformer with a 70 (25) volt primary and an 8-ohm secondary would have a
70(25) volt input and an 8 ohm output.
6. Speakers - these can be almost any kind of speaker available. They need a
transformer to change 70(25) volts into the signal they are designed to operate
on, usually 8 ohms, sometimes 4 ohms.

Tap Settings Rules of Thumb

A. Amplifier Rule - The sum of the tap settings should never exceed 80% percent
of the amplifiers' rated output.
For example, if there are 23 speakers tapped at 2 watts, the load would be 46
watts (23 x 2 watts = 46 watts). To arrive at the needed power for this number of
speakers, simply divide the total load by .8. In this case, 46 .8 = 57.5 watts.
Therefore, a standard 60 watt amp would safely drive this load. To calculate the
amount of usable power an amp offers, simply multiply the rated output by .8,
i.e., 60 watts x .8= 48 watts.
B. Volume Control Rule - The sum of the tap settings on a volume control should
not exceed its power rating.
If the volume control is rated for 10 watts (i.e., AT10), then it could handle 10
speaker/transformer assemblies tapped at 1 watt. If the same assemblies were
tapped at 2 watts each, then the resultant 20 watt load would need to be
controlled by the next size up, the AT35.
Wire Rules of Thumb
A. The most common wire used on commercial 70(25) volt systems is 18 gauge, 2
conductor, stranded, and jacketed without a shield. Shielded wire is only needed
with low level signals.
B. The wire starts at the amplifier location and is paralleled past each speaker
location. One of the two conductors is connected to the positive lead of the stepdown transformer on each speaker assembly, and the other conductor is
connected to the common or negative lead (usually black).
C. Wire Length -18 gauge is appropriate up to 700 feet with a 100-watt load. If you
double the load (sum of your tap settings), you will reduce the footage by half, to
350 feet. Conversely, if you half the load, you may double the acceptable wire
length, i.e., a 50 watt load is safe over 1400 feet of 18 gauge. Stepping up to 16
gauge wire extends the allowable run length by approximately 35%. For
example, a 100-watt load can go 700 feet on 18 gauge; the same load may be
placed on 1100 feet of 16 gauge.