How to choose a speaker volume control

So you need a speaker volume control. How do you choose? Here is some information to help you out.

If you just want to buy a control, click on the image above to go to our product page.

How many RMS Watts is your system rated at?
You will need a control that will not burn out with the maximum power you will send through it. Many controls are rated at 100 Watts RMS. You need to make sure the wattage to each control does not exceed the maximum. Use RMS wattage for comparisons, not your audio systems peak wattage if it lists one.  

Are you going to hook up more than 1 pair of speakers to your home system?
If you are you need a control that is  impedance matching. This is a function that protects your amplifier from damage from multiple pairs of speakers. This function is performed by setting jumpers on the volume control. For example, on our Pro Wire IMP100WV the selection jumpers are for 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 pairs of speakers.Most volume controls are impedance matching. If you are also using an impedance matching speaker selector with the protection turned on, you may leave the jumpers on the control set for 1 pair of speakers.

DO you need the full Frequency Response?
Human hearing can extend from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Not all volume controls cover the entire range. This is not necessarily bad. Many speakers can not cover the full range. If the volume control covers the range your speakers can produce, you lose nothing if it doesn't cover the full range (unless you will want to upgrade your speakers later). In addition, how is your hearing? Hearing deteriorates with age. Most adults can't hear over 16,000 Hz anyway. (If you are doing an expensive high end system, you probably want these higher frequencies covered anyway for reasons beyond the scope of this article.)

Do you need a control that accepts a special size of wire?
  Make sure the control accepts the wire size you are going to use. Most accept 16 or 14 gauge wire. In wall systems need to be wired with cable rated either CL2 or CL3 for in wall installation, assuming it is not a special situation such as in a plenum in a commercial building. If it is the cable needs to be Plenum rated. Don't forgo this and use standard twin type speaker wire even if you want to do an illegal installation by ignoring the codes. The reason is that good in wall wire has a flexible protective jacket for pulling and has a certain amount of self shielding because of the twisted pair construction. Badly installed and improper wire may not only cause your system to hum, but induced voltages could possibly damage your speakers or amplifier.

Do you need a special size or color of wall plate?
Don't forget to match the wall plate color with your light switches if the volume control includes a plate. The wall plate style may also be a factor if you have Decora style plates.

Other considerations: 

Mounting:
Standard in wall volume controls mount in a typical (standard) low voltage box or mud ring.

Connections:
Most in wall speaker volume controls use a form of screw terminal quick connectors so no soldering or crimping is needed.

some controls are smooth operation, and some have graduated volume steps. The typical number of steps is 12 which works well in most cases. There are generally 2 styles of volume controls, the transformer type and resistor type. The resistive type may have better overall frequency response, but the difference in many cases would not be noticeable.