M&S Systems dmc1 — Whole-House Music System Rough-In Instructions

Overview

The M&S Systems dmc1 is a whole-house music communications system designed for installation in new home construction. This rough-in guide covers pre-drywall wiring, positioning, and cabling requirements for the dmc1 master unit, room stations, door stations, patio speakers, and remote power amplifier. Installation must be performed by an M&S Systems dealer or installer and must conform to all local building and electrical codes.

Important Safety Instructions

• The dmc1 must be installed by an M&S Systems dealer or installer, and must conform to all local building and electrical codes.
• These installation and servicing instructions are for use by qualified personnel only. Do not perform any servicing beyond what is in the operating instructions.
• Do not attempt to service the dmc1 yourself — opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage.
• Locate the system away from heat sources (radiators, heat registers, stoves).
• Do not locate the dmc1 master or room stations in an outside wall, or expose the unit to moisture (fire/shock hazard, voids warranty).
• Do not place the master or room stations in any wall cavity containing other electrical wiring.
• Authorized connected devices: audio components via a line-level input, and the DMC1CD 6-disc player.
• Use only M&S Systems certified replacement parts, installed by an M&S Systems dealer or installer.
• Use only a damp cloth to clean the master and room stations — no liquid or aerosol cleaners.

Wiring Cautions

• A qualified electrician must run a 120V AC line to the dmc1 transformers.
• Use CAT-5 wire for all DMC1 wire runs (excluding door stations, which should use M&S Systems Brand MS4DCXSC wire).
• Keep CAT-5 wiring separate from 120/240V wiring, dimmers, security wiring, and other control wiring — do not let CAT-5 touch other wiring.
• Individual CAT-5 runs should not exceed 350 ft. from any single room station to the dmc1 master, or 1,000 total ft. for the entire system.
• Label all wiring runs. Connecting wires to the master, room station, or door stations incorrectly may result in system damage.
• Run a single “home run” cable from the master to each room/door station — do not loop cable between room stations.
• Do not staple cables (causes shorts) and do not splice cables (unreliable, defeats signal isolation).
• Keep cables at least 18 inches from fluorescent light fixtures, dimmer controls, and other AC/control wiring to avoid hum or buzzing.
• Keep cables away from heating/AC ducts, metal construction plates, and sharp edges that could damage the cable.

Room Station Rough-In — Do NOT Install In These Locations

• Return air ducts
• Exterior walls (insulation changes speaker range/efficiency; temperature swings reduce speaker life)
• Saunas (will not withstand extreme heat/moisture)
• Underneath cabinets or over countertops
• Stud cavities with other wiring or appliances
• Within 18″ of dimmers, fluorescent fixtures, security wiring, or other control wiring
• Within 10 feet of other room stations or the dmc1 master (causes acoustical feedback)
• Stud cavities with other room stations or the master unit (causes acoustical feedback)
• Facing other room stations or the master unit (causes acoustical feedback)

Ensure all mounting rings are level and oriented as specified in the manual.

Rough-In Instructions

Rough-in should be completed during new construction, prior to applying wall covering material. Rough-in boxes are provided for the master, door stations, and room stations. Required tools: power drill with 1″ auger, #2 Phillips screwdriver, wire stripper/cutter, tape measure, level.

Installing the Wall Housing (DMC1H & DMC1HC)

• Position the back of the wall housing flush with the back of a 2x4 stud, approximately 52″ high for DMC1H or 45″ high for DMC1HC (Combo). Transformers must be positioned on the bottom of the wall housing.
• The housing fits between 16″ on-center (OC) studs. If stud spacing exceeds 16″ OC, nail additional wood sections for support.
• A qualified electrician must run a dedicated 120VAC/60Hz line with ground connection from the power panel to the wall housing — the dmc1 requires a dedicated power source to avoid interference from looped power circuits, and the ground is necessary for proper radio reception.
• For the DMC1HC combo wall housing, have a qualified electrician loop a power wire from the TE5C transformer enclosure to the TE2C transformer enclosure using the same procedure.

Antennas

Isolate the antenna leads from the intercom cables by running them through a separate hole in the ceiling plate and top of the wall housing. Grouping antenna leads with intercom cables can shield them, resulting in poor reception. Keep antenna leads away from metal ductwork and aluminum-backed insulation.

To install the ferrite bead on the antenna: leave 41″ of AM antenna wire in the wall housing, open the ferrite bead, grasp the wire about 1″ from the end, wrap it around the bead a minimum of 6 times, then close and latch the bead. Failure to install the ferrite bead may cause interference with other electronic devices.

Speakers, Patio Speakers & Door Stations

• Room speakers: nail or screw the DMC1HR mounting ring 52″ above the floor at each room station location. Run CAT5 cable from the master wall housing to each remote station, wrapping ~12″ of excess wire around a nail/screw to protect from drywall damage. Secure cables at the master.
• Patio speakers: run a single CAT5 cable from the master to each outdoor speaker location and secure to the DMC1HRW mounting ring.
• Door stations: run MS4DCXSC cable from the master to each door station, allowing 12″ of excess cable on each end. Suspend the ME3 metal enclosure on the cable ~50″ above the porch floor so it can be flush-mounted in a brick wall by the mason, or use the SME3D surface-mount housing for wood/vinyl/aluminum siding (galvanized screws).

Important: label all cables at both ends — incorrectly connecting cables to the master, room stations, or door stations could result in system damage.

External Music Source

Choose an easily-accessible location for the AWP near the source components (receiver, TV, DVD player). The external source wire run to the dmc1 must not exceed 50 feet. Attach a single-gang box to a wall stud at normal outlet height, extending past the stud so it will be flush with the sheetrock. Run the included Red and Black shielded audio cables from the master to the AWP location, secure with a loose knot after pulling through the gang box, secure at the master, and label all cables.

Power Amp Installation — Stereo Upgrade

• Run MS7XSC cable from the dmc1H or dmc1HC wall housing to the remote power amplifier.
• Run MS5XSC cable from the remote amplifier to each volume control; from each volume control, run MS2SXSC to each respective speaker.
• The remote power amplifier should be located in a closet or utility closet within 6 feet of a standard NEMA 5-15R 120VAC receptacle. Install a 1-gang and 2-gang box on a single stud — the amplifier mounts over both.
• Speaker cables cannot be located in the same gang box used for 120VAC wiring.

Each pair of stereo or mono speakers is controlled by a single volume control (installs in a standard single-gang box). Run MS5XSC from each volume control to the remote amplifier, and MS2SXSC from each volume control to each satellite speaker (left & right, or mono).

Door Release Options

The door release option is a dry-contact closure from the dmc1 master, rated 24V at 4 Amps. Only one application can be used per dmc1 system at a time.

• Door/gate release mechanism: run PBVM127X1 from the DMC1H/DMC1HC housing to the door release mechanism (red and white wires to the two-wire terminals), and a second PBVM127X1 run to a gang box near a 120VAC receptacle for the RT11 remote power transformer.
• Panic interface with a security system: run PBVM127X1 from the housing to the security control panel, configured for a normally-open dry contact for panic operation (refer to the security panel's programming procedures). Have a certified security installer connect the dmc1 to the alarm system.

Warranty

M&S Systems warrants its products to be free of defects for 2 years (except AirVac Gold power units), beginning on the date of purchase/installation or the closing date of a new residence in which the product was originally installed. The warranty extends to the original user and each subsequent owner during the term. M&S will repair or replace parts and materials at no charge (parts may be new or rebuilt). Contact M&S Systems for a Return Authorization Number (RAN) before returning any product — items returned without a RAN will be refused.

Excludes damage from improper installation, acts of God, criminal acts, code violations, or use of non-M&S wire/cable (excluding CAT5 and RG-6) or wall housings.

Manufacturer

M&S Systems, 2861 Congressman Lane, Dallas, Texas 75220. Phone: 800-877-6631 (sales) / 800-366-9422 (technical support). www.mssystems.com