Elan S1616A User guide

Two-Year Limited Warranty

A New Class of Multi-Source/Multi-Zone Controller Ampliﬁer

S1616AS1616A

Designer’s Guide

S1616AS1616A

1

The S1616A is a new class of multi-source/multi-zone controller ampliﬁer from ELAN.

Built upon the solid foundation created by the D16, the S1616A adds capabilities and

user experience enhancements not available in any competitive product. The purpose

of this guide is to help you understand the features, capabilities and applications so that

you may design and install systems that enhance your clients’ musical enjoyment of

their environment.

The S1616A breaks with conventional source/zone paradigms. To efﬁciently design with

the S1616A you need to think in three distinct terms – Inputs, Zones, and Outputs –

as the S1616A treats each independently. Additionally, we are introducing the terms

“Chassis” and “Unit”. While these differences may seem slightly confusing now, by the

end of this guide you will fully understand them and how they apply to the S1616A.

CONFIGURATIONS

There are three conﬁgurations possible with the S1616A – Single Chassis Mode, Dual

Chassis Mode, and Ampliﬁer Mode. Single Chassis and Dual Chassis modes require a

g! Home Controller. Ampliﬁer Mode may be used in any installation.

Single Chassis Mode

A Single Chassis system provides 8 stereo inputs or 16 mono inputs or any combination in

between. Stereo and mono inputs are automatically adapted to the outputs. Mono inputs

are split to stereo outputs, and stereo inputs are summed to mono outputs without loss of

ﬁdelity. Expansion of a Single Chassis system provides additional Zones and Outputs as

described below. Each additional S1616A is called a “Unit”, and there may be a total of

sixteen S1616A’s running in Single Channel mode in any installation.

Dual Chassis Mode

A Dual Chassis installation uses one S1616A for the left channel and one S1616A for the

right channel. In this conﬁguration, all inputs are matched between the chassis creating

16 stereo (or dual mono) inputs. Dual Chassis systems are expanded in pairs of Units and

there may be a total of eight pair of S1616A’s in any one system.

Ampliﬁer Mode

In Ampliﬁer Mode the S1616A acts exactly like an ELAN D16 standalone digital ampliﬁer.

Design information for the D16 is covered in its Installation Manual available on the ELAN

website elanhomesystems.com/dealer.

Designer’s Guide

S1616AS1616A

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INPUTS

Common To Both Single Chassis and Dual Chassis Mode

• Level Matching is available for each source allowing you to match input volume

differences between sources for your clients’ enjoyment.

• Music/Audio Sensing

Event map triggers are available for all S1616A inputs that work off the

presence or absence of an audio signal

• Buffered loop outputs assure the same sound quality that goes into the ﬁrst Unit is

present at the 16th Unit.

Single Chassis Mode

• 8 Stereo or 16 mono or combinations thereof

• 2 Optical Digital Inputs are available for use in a single Unit installation

Using an optical digital input eliminates 1 stereo pair of analog inputs

(Optical inputs are compatible only with PCM signals.)

Optical Digital Inputs are disabled in multiple Unit systems

• The C2 Communications Controller connects to Input 16 as a mono source

Dual Channel Mode

• 16 stereo or dual mono inputs

• The C2 Communications Controller connects to Input 16 as a dual mono source.

Use a Y cable or the loop through feature to connect to both chassis

ZONES

A zone is an area that has independent access to sources and independent volume

adjustment. The S1616A is somewhat unique in that it separates zones from outputs.

Both Single and Dual Chassis systems can be conﬁgured with up to 64 unique zones, but

obviously there have to be outputs to match. A system designed with only 1 or 2 zones

could still utilize all 256 outputs.

Stereo Inputs Mono Inputs

8 0

7 2

6 4

5 6

4 8

3 10

2 12

1 14

0 16

Single Chassis Mode

Designer’s Guide

S1616AS1616A

3

SUB ZONES

Sub zones start life as a zone but are then attached to another zone in the Conﬁgurator.

A sub zone shares source selection and power status with the master zone but has

independent volume control. An example of this would be a master bedroom and sitting

area. The master bedroom is the master zone, and the sitting area is the sub zone. Either

area can select the source or turn the system on/off, but each area has independent

volume control from any of the g! interfaces.

In addition to common areas, each with their own zone adjustments, another sub zone

scenario that the S1616A makes possible is a master zone with variable output and a

sub zone with ﬁxed level outputs. This is useful in an area where you don’t need a

touch screen interface, such as a dining room, but you want to have constant volume level.

ZONE CONFIGURATIONS

Each zone has many settings that allow you to distinctly tailor the system to your

clients’ needs.

Whole House Music (WHM)

WHM allows you to link all included zones together with the touch of a single button from

the Settings screen. When linked, all zones share source selection and power status

while retaining individual volume control. WHM is deactivated at power down, when a

zone group is selected, or when it is deactivated on the Settings screen. Any zone may be

included or excluded in WHM.

Zone Group

Zone Groups are similar to WHM but on a smaller scale. They allow you to conveniently

link zones together without affecting the entire system. Common area zones such as

the entertaining areas, outdoor areas or master suite could be included in a zone group.

Activated through the Settings page, a zone group links all the zones in the group together

for source selection and power status while retaining individual volume control. The zone

group link is deactivated at power down, when WHM is selected, or when it is deactivated

in the Settings page. A zone may be included in one of the 8 zone groups or none.

Turn On Volumes

Minimum and Maximum volumes are selectable to allow the system to perform

predictably for your client when the zone is turned on. Maximum lowers the volume if it

was too loud when they turned it off. Minimum volume prevents them from thinking the

system is not working because the volume is too low when they select a source.

Bass, Treble & Loudness

Turn on settings may be established per zone. You can select from a speciﬁc level or

retain the last setting. If you do not include a Settings page on the user interfaces, then

the turn on settings will be the permanent settings for the zone.

Do Not Disturb

Overrides the paging and doorbell and WHM actions. It can be set to on, off or last.

C2 Status

Provides for the inclusion or exclusion in paging and doorbell from the C2

Communications Controller.

Designer’s Guide

S1616AS1616A

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OUTPUTS

The S1616A has only ampliﬁed outputs. Should your installation require more ampliﬁer

power than the S1616A’s 50WPC @ 8Ω (75WPC @ 4Ω), you can use one of any number

of speaker level to line level converters on the market to convert the ampliﬁed output to a

useable line level. The S1616A, like all digital ampliﬁers, utilizes a ﬂoating ground system

on its outputs and is not compatible with any converters designed for common ground.

You may use a speaker level to line level converter and a speaker simultaneously on the

same output.

Single Chassis

A Single Chassis system has sixteen individual outputs. Additional outputs may be added

to the installation by adding additional S1616A units. The maximum number of S1616A

units in a Single Chassis system is 16 which provides for up to 256 outputs.

Each output has several conﬁguration settings to help you tailor the performance to any

environment:

Zone Assignment

Any output may be assigned to any single zone.

Channel Assignment

Each output may be assigned to Left, Right or Mono channels. The S1616A

automatically sums stereo to mono or splits mono to dual mono as needed.

Output Level

One output per zone is designated as the “Master”, and all additional outputs assigned

to that zone may be volume reduced. This allows for relative output level matching

due to architectural or acoustic factors. It also allows matching of a sub/sat

system level.

Filter

Each output may have a crossover ﬁlter engaged that allows low pass

(for subwoofers) or high pass (for satellite speakers) signal ﬁltering. Crossover

frequency is selectable between 20Hz-180Hz in 20Hz increments.

Dual Chassis

In a Dual Chassis system, the outputs on the left and the right chassis are matched. This

means that Output 1 of the left chassis is always connected to the same zone as Output 1

of the right chassis. Outputs are expanded in groups of two units, and a total of eight pairs

of S1616A units may be used on one installation providing 128 stereo outputs.

Each output has several conﬁguration settings to help you tailor the performance to

any environment:

Zone Assignment

Any output may be assigned to any single zone.

Output Level

One output per zone is designated as the “Master” and all additional outputs assigned to

that zone may be volume reduced. This allows for relative output level matching due to

architectural or acoustic factors. It also allows matching of a sub/sat system level.

Filter

Each output may have a crossover ﬁlter engaged that allows low pass (for subwoofers)

or high pass (for satellite speakers) signal ﬁltering. Crossover frequency is selectable

between 20Hz-180Hz in 20Hz increments.

Designer’s Guide

S1616AS1616A

5

HOUSE SCENES

The S1616A includes the ability to store and recall three House Scenes. A House Scene

takes a snapshot of the status of the following attributes of all system zones:

Source

Volume/Mute

Bass/Treble/Loudness

DND

Power

With the press of a button or via an Event Map, these settings can be completely recalled.

For example the client could set up a home for a party and save then store it as House

Scene 1 then recall it before the party. In a restaurant you could set a House Scene for

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

House Scenes are available in the Event Mapper and may be assigned to buttons or

triggered events as you see ﬁt.

TRIGGERS AND IR

Triggers and IR connections are only for use in Ampliﬁer Mode and are disabled in both

Single Chassis and Dual Chassis modes

SYSTEM EXAMPLES

There are countless applications for the S1616A. We wanted to provide you a few to stir

the creative juices.

Go to the Next Page

Designer’s Guide

S1616AS1616A

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The clients want really good sound in their master bedroom and music throughout the

master suite. They also want music throughout the entertaining areas. The landscaping

isn’t going to be completed for another year, so the big outdoor speaker project comes

later and will get its own S1616A.

To get the sound quality in the master suite the client desires, an in-wall subwoofer is

used to augment the architectural speakers. The S1616A sends 80Hz and below to the

sub and 80Hz up to the ceiling speakers. The sub is used as the master so the ceiling

speakers can be turned down a little to emphasize the low end. A single speaker is used

in the shower. Not a two channel but just one single channel speaker and the master area

is zone grouped allowing the client to link all the zones together without disturbing the

main part of the house.

Grouping the entertaining area allows those zones to be run together conveniently without

disturbing the master suite. Of course, Whole House Music would turn on everything for a

housewide cleaning session.

Zone3

MASTERDECK

Zone4

MASTERBATH

Zone6

DININGROOM

Zone5

KITCHEN

Zone7

LIVINGROOM

Zone8

DEN

ZoneGroup2

Zone2

MASTERSHOWER

Zone3

MASTERBEDROOM

HC6

C2

IPORT

ZoneGroup1

SQUEEZEBOX

5,000 square foot home with a great master suite

USE CASE #1

Designer’s Guide

S1616AS1616A

7

This could be a sports tavern with multiple divided dining areas, much like an ESPN Zone

restaurant. A dozen TV’s are mounted throughout the establishment with a dozen satellite

receivers in a central rack. The need to select audio from any of the satellite receivers and

route it to any of the areas could make the system difﬁcult to conﬁgure and use.

The S1616A really shines in this type of installation. Zone Grouping allows large and small

areas to be tied together efﬁciently and volume controlled independently. This way, the

smaller area doesn’t get blasted when the large area has an increase in volume. Adding a

C2 and any standard phone allows paging guests with ease.

USE CASE #2

DIR E C

®

Digital Satellite Recorder

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC

®

DIR E C

®

Digit al Sa tellite Rec orde r

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC

®

DIR E C

®

Digital Satellite Recorder

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC ®

DIR E C

®

Digit al Sa tellite Rec orde r

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC

®

DIR E C

®

Digit al Sa tellite Rec orde r

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC

®

DIR E C

®

Digit al Sa tellite Rec orde r

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC

®

DIR E C

®

Digit al Sa tellite Rec orde r

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC

®

DIR E C

®

Digit al Sa tellite Rec orde r

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC

®

DIR E C

®

Digit al Sa tellite Rec orde r

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC

®

DIR E C

®

Digit al Sa tellite Rec orde r

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC

®

DIR E C

®

Digit al Sa tellite Rec orde r

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC

®

DIR E C

®

Digit al Sa tellite Rec orde r

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

ediuG

Select

Live TV

Info

DIR EC

®

Zone1

LARGEROOM

ZoneGroup1

ZoneGroup2

Zone2

SMALLROOM

Zone4

MAINBAR

C2COMMCONTROLLER

HC12SYSTEMCONTROLLER

Zone7

BILLIARDS

Zone9

LADIESROOM

Zone8

MENSROOM

Zone6

PATIOBAR

Zone10

PATIO

SATDVRS

Sports tavern with multiple divided rooms

Designer’s Guide

S1616AS1616A

8

This could be large estate with up to sixteen sources, dozens

of zones, and a large number of speakers can be a daunting

installation for both the dealer and the client. Using the S1616A

saves you potentially hundreds of hours of programming.

On most systems, zones and speakers are connected together

via wires. On the S1616A, they are connected by bytes. If your

client suddenly desires that the south patio and north patio

be one single zone, all you have to do with the S1616A is

change the zone setting for the speakers and hit apply. All user

interfaces are automatically updated – the change takes effect

instantly. You can even do this remotely from your ofﬁce.

USE CASE #3

DIR EC

®

Digital Satellite Recorder

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

Guide

Select

VT eviL

ofnI

DIREC

®

DIR EC

®

Digital Satellite Recorder

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPWR

®

Standby

Guide

Select

VT eviL

ofnI

DIREC

®

DIR E C

®

Digital Satellite Recorder

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPW R

®

Standby

Guide

Select

VT eviL

ofnI

DIREC

®

DIR E C

®

Digital Satellite Recorder

DOLBY

D I G I T A L

RECPW R

®

Standby

Guide

Select

VT eviL

ofnI

DIREC

®

POWER OPC

REMIT PU EKAW

POWER OPC

REMIT PU EKAW

HC12

IPORT

SQUEEZEBOX

IPORT

C2

RightSpeakers

RightChassis

RightInputs

LeftInputs

LoopOutto

additionalunits

LeftSpeakers

LeftChassis

LoopOutto

additionalunits

Zone

GROUP1

WHMGROUP

WHMandZoneGroupscanencompassmultiplechassis

Zone

GROUP2

Zone

GROUP1

WHMGROUP

WHMandZoneGroupscanencompassmultiplechassis

Zone

GROUP2

Large estate with up to 16 sources and dozens of zones

For the client, having a large home with many zones of music can

be a control nightmare. Think of lighting before the days of lighting

control, walking around the house making adjustments only to have

to repeat the process to turn it all off. With Zone Groups, your client

may quickly group common areas together. The entertaining areas

such as the dining room, kitchen, living room, parlor, foyer, gallery,

and family room can be turned on to the same source with the touch

of one button without affecting any other area. House scenes allow

a system-wide conﬁguration to be saved and recalled without any

work from you. Party scenes, all off except a couple areas, weekend

and weekday, whatever your client does that encompasses their

music system can be set up in advance and saved for easy recall.

And best of all, it requires no custom programming on your part.

UP TO 8 PAIR OF CHASSIS

CAN BE USED

elanhomesystems.com/dealer

Elan S1616A User guide

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