InSpire audio connections

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inSpire audio systems provide the most realistic church bell ringing available. This page contains instructions for installing these systems as well as illustratied downloads and links to each system's specifications. The digital amplifier supplied with inSpire audio systems has been custom tuned for the supplied speakers. All amplifier settings are pre-programmed to simplify the installation of this sophisticated bell ringing system.

Common instructions

• Do not connect power to system until all connections are completed.
• Start with the speakers and hookup amplifier and carillon last.
• Never combine primary power and audio wiring in the same conduit or junction box.
• Always use stranded wire for audio.
• Place a junction box at both the amplifier and speaker locations so 14 AWG cable pigtails can be used to make connections.

What size wire should I use?

Size matters when it comes to low impedance speaker wiring. As the distance increases, consider the insertion loss for a given wire size and then increase the wire size (smaller AWG numbers) accordingly. Pro audio system designers generally look for a loss less than 0.2 dB but that may not be realistic for your situation.

This table is provided to help you understand what kinds of losses occur with different size wire. A 3 deciBel loss is one fourth of your amplifier power, that is, for 100 Watts output, only 75 Watts will get to the speaker. Lost power is dissipated over the length of the wire as heat.

Loss for 4-Ohm Load (-dB)	Distance (feet) 14 AWG	Distance (feet) 12 AWG	Distance (feet) 10 AWG
3 (1/4 Power!)	300	450	750
1	100	150	250
0.5	50	75	125

If the amplifier is capable and programmed to output to a 70 Volt line, 14 AWG wire can be used. Keep in mind that speakers designed for 70 Volt lines have built-in transformers with their own insertion losses.

inSpire Outreach

This package includes a digital amplifier with DSP tuned to drive four long-throw mid-high frequency horns. Additional amplifier outputs are provided for

• Full-range tower speaker upgrade
• Inside monitoring speaker

The amplifier is factory programmed with the same parameters as the Ascent package below so use the Ascent hookup instructions.

inSpire Ascent

This package includes a digital amplifier with DSP tuned to drive four long-throw mid-range frequency horns and a single 12-inch, two way full range horn.

• inSpire Ascent System specification
• Download the illustrated PDF quick start guide
  • inSpire Ascent Millennium Connections
• Three pairs of wires to the tower and optional Chime Master factory installation can provide optional directional level control for the long-throw speakers.

inSpire AX Ascent hookup instructions

• Two tower cables without directional volume control
  • Amplifier preset AX16OA
• Three tower cables for directional volume control
  • Amplifier preset AX16OAD

The volume level settings in the AX virtual bell instrument can be found in the settings menu.

• Use Zone A level for the loud side
• Use Zone B level for the quieter side
• Use Monitor 1 level for the optional inside speaker if connected

Tower speaker connections

1. Secure speakers according to instructions enclosed in packing using supplied hardware as required.
2. Connect supplied pigtails to horn drivers before screwing the drivers into the horns. Note that low impedance drivers are normally supplied with two terminal screws. Do not move the screws to non-functioning 70V terminals.
3. Bring the pigtails from each horn to the supplied junction box. Bring the mid-range channel supply cable from the amplifier (Channels A and B outputs are paralleled with the supplied jumpers) into the junction box. Connect all five of the white wires together, then all of the black wires together using two of the larger brass set-screw wire-nuts and covers. Orient the threaded part of the brass insert toward the wire insulation. Tighten the set-screw and trim excess wire from the end of the insert before screwing on the wire-nut cover.
4. Remove the 70V Jumper on from the terminal on the full-range horn.
5. Connect the full-range channel supply cable from the amplifier (Channel C) to the full-range horn. Connect the white wire to the COM terminal, and the black wire to the 4 Ohm voice coil terminal.

Millennium Carillon connections

1. Use the supplied amplifier control cable to connect the Amplifier Control jack on the carillon to Input 1 and GPI. This supplies both tower audio and power/standby control to the amplifier.
2. Connect the carillon to AC power.
3. Connect the amplifier to AC power.
4. The carillon has been shipped with the scheduled outside volume set to Level 4. It can be adjusted for different times of the week from level 1 to 8.

Millennium optional inside speaker

1. Use the supplied 1/4 inch to green Euro connector to connect the Line Output Inside jack on the carillon to Input 4 on the amplifier.
2. Connect the lead from the inside speaker to the amplifier's Output D terminals. The volume level is set using the cursor up/down buttons on the front panel, or the iOS/Android Church Bell Remote App's monitor volume buttons.

inSpire AX Ultimate

The inSpire Ultimate package is specially designed for the Platinum AX and other carillons built on the AX platform.

Audio routing

Counter-Clockwise wiring

Directional

Use the separate Zone A and Zone B level controls in the AX system to adjust levels in two directions.

Point Zone A speakers in the direction needing the loudest sound.

Point Zone B speakers in the direction you want to have lower sound (if it matters).

Long-throw horns

400W outputs for the horns are equalized to provide as flat as possible frequency response over their mid-range bandwidth.

Output A on the 1600W amplifier drives Zone A's long-throw horns (four)

Output B on the 1600W amplifier drives Zone B's long-throw horns (four)

Full-range speakers

A 2500 Watt amplifier is dedicated to the full range speakers.

Low impedance mode offers the lowest distortion and best quality sound.

Parallel outputs AB (Zone A) and CD (Zone B) provide 1250-Watts into the 4-Ohm loads (two speakers per zone).

These amplifier channels are equalized to provide a balanced response when used with the long-throw horns

Sub-woofer

Output C on the 1600W amplifier is dedicated to driving the sub-woofer.

Level is controlled by Zone A which is generally set to be the louder channel.

If stereo mode is used, larger bells are found toward the left channel which is routed to Zone A.

Often the sub-woofer is installed facing downward to disperse low frequencies in all directions.

Inside speaker

Output D on the 1600W amplifier mixes the MON1 and MON2 zones together.

Hookup

Download a inSpire AX Ultimate PDF hookup diagram

Three separate cables are supplied:

1. Large four-channel audio cable
2. Amplifier control cable for Amplifier 1 (1600W)
3. Amplifier control cable for Amplifier 2 (2500W)

Balanced audio

One end of the audio cable will have four small (3.5mm) connectors for the audio outputs on the AX carillon. These are the monitor and outdoor zone outputs.

1. Plug the connector with the white wire into MON1 audio outlet on the carillon
2. Plug the connector with the red wire into MON2 audio outlet on the carillon
3. Plug the connector with the green wire into OUTA audio outlet on the carillon
4. Plug the connector with the blue wire into OUTB audio outlet on the carillon

The other end of the audio cable will have four larger connectors, and two of them will have additional jumpers, for the two amplifier inputs.

1. Plug the connector with the green wire into Input 1 on the 1600W amplifier, and its green jumper to Input 1 on the 2500W amplifier
2. Plug the connector with the blue wire into Input 2 on the 1600W amplifier, and its blue jumper to Input 2 on the 2500W amplifier
3. Plug the connector with the red wire into Input 3 on the 1600W amplifier
4. Plug the connector with the white wire into Input 4 on the 1600W amplifier

Amplifier control

The two control cables have a single connector on the carillon end and two connectors on the amplifier end.

Control Cable 1

1600 W amplifier

1. Plug the single connector end into the AMP1 portion of the Amplifier Control connector of the carillon
2. Plug in the two connectors at the other end of this cable into the control inputs of the 1600W amplifier on the left rear panel

Control Cable 2

2500 W amplifier

1. Plug the single connector end into the AMP2 portion of the Amplifier Control connector of the carillon
2. Make sure NOTHING is plugged into the rightmost two terminals of the Amplifier Control connector
3. Plug in the two connectors at the other end of this cable into the control inputs of the 2500W amplifier on the left rear panel

Speakers

After the tower speakers are connected, you may plug in power cords to the carillon and the two amplifiers.