Listen Technologies C5-1 – 5A perimeter Hearing Loop Driver

Product Overview

The Listen Technologies C5-1 is a 5A hearing loop driver from the Ampetronic C-Series, specified for permanent installation in commercial AV systems where assistive listening is an accessibility requirement. It drives a single perimeter loop and accepts balanced mic/line and 100V line inputs, so it fits the signal architecture already chosen for the room. Analog mic/line and 100V line inputs suit rooms where the loop feed comes from a mixer, DSP output or existing paging amplifier. The unit is a compact 1U rack mount chassis with an internal power supply, which keeps a commercial hearing loop system inside the existing AV rack.

Product Description

The C5-1 sits in the Ampetronic C-Series range that Listen Technologies distributes. The line is built so performance characteristics stay consistent from entry-level rooms up to flagship installations, which matters when a specification has to cover several rooms of different sizes in the same building.

A perimeter loop driver of this rating is specified for single-room coverage, with the loop conductor run around the boundary of the space. Loop area and the metal loss measured during survey determine the current rating required, so the driver is selected after the loop design rather than before it. The 5A output delivers 20VRMS drive voltage. A switchable 250Hz low cut filter on the mic/line input helps control low frequency content that would otherwise consume headroom without improving speech intelligibility.

Installation is 1U of rack space, or wall mounting using the separately ordered WM-C-LP wall mount kit for C-Series 5A and 7A drivers. Loop conductor and terminations are ordered separately: 14 AWG hearing loop cable for perimeter runs, foil-to-cable crimp lugs where copper foil tape meets cable, and PVC protective extrusion where the loop is surface run and needs protecting.

Hearing loop performance is verified by measuring magnetic field strength against IEC 60118-4, not by a listening check, so plan the commissioning step at design stage. Most integrators pair the driver with a field strength meter and its signal connection cables. Where the building structure contains significant steel, a metal loss test driver is used during survey to quantify the loss before the driver rating is fixed.

Key Features

• 5A output stage — Delivers 20VRMS drive voltage for single perimeter loop designs sized during loop survey.
• Single perimeter loop output — Drives one boundary loop, the standard arrangement for single-room coverage.
• Balanced mic/line and 100V line inputs — Accepts a mixer or DSP output, or a feed from an existing 100V paging line.
• Switchable 250Hz low cut filter — Removes low frequency content that consumes headroom without improving speech intelligibility.
• 1U rack mount with internal power supply — Installs in the AV rack without an external supply or additional rack space.
• IEC 62489-1 designed — Built to the loop driver performance standard, supporting IEC 60118-4 compliance when correctly installed.
• Consistent C-Series behaviour — Shares performance characteristics across the range, so a specification carries between rooms of different sizes.

Typical Applications

• Conference room
• Boardroom
• Auditorium
• House of worship
• Government space
• Training room
• Multi-purpose room
• Commercial meeting space

Technical Specifications

Specifications sourced from the Ampetronic C-Series datasheet (UP39802-7). Confirm loop area and current requirements against a site survey before specifying.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know the 5A rating is right for my room?
Current rating follows the loop design, not the room dimensions alone. Loop area, aspect ratio and the metal loss measured during survey together determine the drive current required. Confirm the design before fixing the driver model; a metal loss test driver is used on site where the structure contains significant steel.

What audio sources can feed this driver?
The balanced input is switchable between microphone and line level, and a 100V line input is provided for taking a feed from an existing paging or background music amplifier.

Can it be installed outside a rack?
Yes. The WM-C-LP wall mount kit for C-Series 5A and 7A drivers covers this chassis for installations without rack space, such as equipment closets and AV cupboards.

What does the installation need beyond the driver?
Loop conductor, terminations, and commissioning equipment. Perimeter runs typically use 14 AWG hearing loop cable, with crimp lugs where copper foil tape meets cable and protective extrusion where the loop is surface run. A field strength meter is required to verify and certify the installed system.

How is the installation certified?
Hearing loop performance is measured against IEC 60118-4 using a field strength meter. A subjective listening check is not sufficient and will not satisfy an accessibility consultant. Budget the measurement step into the commissioning schedule.

When would I move up to a MultiLoop driver?
When overspill into an adjacent room has to be controlled, when the structure has significant metal content, or when a single perimeter run cannot deliver even field strength across the floor area.

What warranty and support apply?
Warranty duration and technical support terms are set by Listen Technologies. Contact Creation Networks for current warranty terms, RMA handling and pre-sales support on hearing loop design.