I have a customer with a Chevy dealership that would like to replace their Muzak system with a Sirius radio. The Sirius radio is a EQ-SIRRCV model. Anyway the Muzak plays threw a PA system w/ 70 volt speakers. There is also a Muzak music on hold module. I was thinking of using a PA amplifier with RCA inputs & then just running the speaker output to the existing Music on hold module & speakers. I have not done alot of work on 70 volt systems & any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Scott

well scott, you may have alot more on your plate than you have thought. If Sirius is like XM it will need to be powered down so it can rebuffer, if it does not, then it will lock up and not output any sound. as far as 70 volt gear goes you can get music on hold widgets from companies like bogen. I would suggest contacting your local ADI supplier. They sell alot of alarm, CCTV and comercial A/V products and have found them to be helpfull in the past, and if they can't help you, I am sure they can point you in the right direction. I will say if a 70 volt line system is already in place, I would not change it out, it will be alot easier to modify what you have got, all 70 volt I have dealt with has been daisy chained from speaker to speaker.

good luck

I would stay with the distributed 70-volt setup. Used to have the JBL tech note around here somewhere, can't find it, and JBL has pulled it from their site but they do link to this article [Link: svconline.com] and it is nearly identical to the original in content.

I'm going to assume that the Muzak system has an amp with the line transformer integrated into it so what you would likely want to do is scrap the Muzak gear, toss in an appropriately sized standard amp with a quality 70-volt transformer and you're there.

To properly size the amp, find the wattage rating of each of the existing speakers and add them all up. The amp's output should be greater than the sum. I plan an extra 30-35% because the customer inevitably adds another speaker or two a week after we finish up.

ADI will have the transformer and a selection of 70-volt speakers if you need them (Bogen, Atlas, et al) but we're partial to QSC amps and JBL Control 26CT speakers where quality sound is needed in distributed applications.

Just remember: DO NOT short the transmission line with power applied - even for a moment. Bad Things Will Happenâ„¢

And have fun trying something new!

I have placed many of the sirius radios into the famous sub shops in town. Some are 70V systems with Clarity 2x2 ceiling tile speakers and a Bogen amp, others are receiver based with just 4 speakers. My client purchased Sirius because he hated the fact that the commercials were TOO LOUD on the FM radio and some were of his competition.
Mr2channel, the Sirius systemdoes not have the buffer overrun problem like XM, nor does it have the poor remotes. Other than 1 amplifier issue, all the systems have been without service for a 1.5yrs.
BTW, some of the early systems are a car antenna mounted on a bread pan bracketed to the side of the building. I am glad Terk and others finally started selling outdoor building antennas.

Good to know, thanks GotGame.

Just wondering.....

I'm already a sirius subscriber at home, but does sirius care if the location is a commercial establishment that generates revenue? Is it like Directv or Dish that have a different fee schedule based on traffic or capacity? Or do you have to fib and tell them your xm or sirius is at your home.

gary