Viking Paging Horn for 70V Paging Systems - 25AE-70V

Viking Electronics 25AE-70V 70V/25V Paging Horn

Overview

The Viking Electronics 25AE-70V is a 5-inch commercial-grade paging horn built for distributed audio applications on 70-Volt and 25-Volt paging systems. Whether you're covering a warehouse floor, loading dock, parking structure, or light-industrial corridor, it handles up to 10 Watts of program material and connects directly to amplifiers without an external matching transformer — the step-down transformer is built in. If you're designing around Viking PA-30, PA-60, PA-250, or PA-250-IP amplifiers, the 25AE-70V is a natural fit in that ecosystem, but it works equally well with any standard 70V or 25V paging amplifier. Browse the full Viking Electronics paging line to pair it with compatible amplifiers and accessories.

Key Features

• Built-in 70V/25V Step-Down Transformer: No external matching transformer required. Tap directly onto a 70V or 25V distribution line — this alone saves wiring cost and a separate component per horn location on larger installs.
• 10-Watt Power Handling with Selectable Taps: The 25AE-70V (often searched as 25AE 70V) supports five 70V tap settings (.62W, 1.25W, 2.5W, 5W, 10W), five 25V tap settings (.08W, .16W, .31W, .62W, 1.25W), and five Viking tap settings (.16W, .31W, .62W, 1.25W, 2.5W). That granularity lets you tune SPL per zone without adding attenuators — critical when you're blending a quiet break room with a loud dock door on the same amplifier circuit.
• 400–7,000 Hz Frequency Response: That band captures voice intelligibility comfortably. For paging and public address — announcements, evacuation tones, plant-floor PA — you don't need extended bass or air; you need the 500–3,500 Hz core where speech sits, and this horn delivers it cleanly.
• 5-Inch Diameter Horn: A compact form factor for ceiling, wall, or overhead beam mounting. At 5 inches, it clears most standard junction-box footprints and doesn't dominate a finished interior ceiling the way larger horns do.
• Adjustable Base for Directional Aiming: The horn's base allows angular adjustment after mounting so you can redirect coverage without repositioning the backbox. On a warehouse beam or a parking garage column where you're covering a specific aisle or lane, that matters.
• IP53 Ingress Protection: Rated against dust ingress sufficient to avoid interference with operation, and protected against water spray at angles up to 60° from vertical. Suitable for covered outdoor areas, loading docks under canopies, and light-industrial interiors with wash-down proximity — but not for direct rain exposure or full outdoor unprotected mounting.
• 12-Inch 22 AWG Pigtail Connection: Short flying leads keep the horn self-contained and polarity-clear. Wire directly into your distribution line or terminate into a junction box. No special connector required.
• Two-Year Limited Warranty: Viking backs the 25AE-70V with a two-year limited warranty, consistent with their commercial-grade hardware line.

Integration & Compatibility

The 25AE-70V is verified compatible with Viking PA-series amplifiers (PA-30, PA-60, PA-250, PA-250-IP). Any 70V or 25V constant-voltage paging amplifier from other manufacturers will also drive this horn correctly — the transformer taps are industry-standard. When planning your paging system layout, account for total tap wattage across all horns on a zone; the 10W ceiling per horn means a 60W amplifier can drive six horns at full tap without headroom issues. For background-music or multi-zone installs, dropping to 2.5W or 5W taps per horn gives you four to six dB of SPL reduction per tap step, a useful tool for zone-level balancing without a dedicated volume control. Pair with a PA amplifier sized to your zone load. For broader distributed audio planning, review the distributed audio design guide for zone sizing and tap calculations. If the application involves access control integration or intercom tie-ins, the Viking intercom and PA accessories section covers compatible system components.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the 25AE-70V work with both 70V and 25V paging amplifiers?

A: Yes. The built-in step-down transformer supports both 70-Volt and 25-Volt constant-voltage paging systems. Select the appropriate tap for your system's distribution voltage — 70V taps range from .62W to 10W, 25V taps from .08W to 1.25W.

Q: What is the power handling of the 25AE-70V?

A: The 25AE-70V handles up to 10 Watts. Multiple selectable wattage taps let you set output level per horn without external attenuators.

Q: Is the 25AE-70V suitable for outdoor installation?

A: It carries an IP53 rating, which means it's protected against dust and water spray up to 60° from vertical. It's appropriate for covered outdoor areas like loading docks under canopies or protected overhangs, but not for direct rain exposure or fully exposed outdoor mounting.

Q: What is the warranty on the 25AE-70V?

A: Viking Electronics covers the 25AE-70V with a two-year limited warranty.

Q: What frequency range does the 25AE-70V cover?

A: The horn's frequency response runs 400 to 7,000 Hz — the core voice intelligibility band for paging, announcements, and evacuation tones.

Q: How is the 25AE-70V connected?

A: It terminates via a 12-inch, 22 AWG pigtail — short flying leads you wire directly into your 70V or 25V distribution line or terminate into a junction box. No special connector is needed.

Karl Wilson

The 25AE-70V earns its place in commercial PA installs because of one practical detail most spec sheets gloss over: the selectable tap range. With fifteen tap settings spanning three voltage standards (70V, 25V, and Viking), you're not just picking a wattage — you're controlling SPL zone-by-zone on a single amplifier run without adding a wall plate attenuator at every horn location. On a 60W PA-250-IP zone covering a warehouse with mixed-noise zones, that's real cost and labor savings.

Technical Highlights:

• 15 Selectable Tap Settings: Five taps each for 70V (.62W–10W), 25V (.08W–1.25W), and Viking (.16W–2.5W) systems — enables zone-level SPL tuning on the horn itself rather than at a control point.
• 400–7,000 Hz Response Band: Covers the full speech-intelligibility window. For plant-floor PA and life-safety announcements, intelligibility in the 500–3,500 Hz core is the only spec that actually matters — this horn delivers it without requiring a separate full-range speaker.
• IP53 Rating: Dust-resistant and splash-protected to 60° — solid for semi-protected industrial environments without the cost premium of an IP65 or IP66 rated unit when full weatherproofing isn't needed.

Deployment Considerations:

• The 12-inch pigtail is short — plan your backbox depth and conduit routing before mounting, especially on concrete ceiling pours where a deep junction box may be needed to give the pigtail enough slack for termination.
• IP53 is not rated for direct rain or outdoor unprotected exposure; for loading docks without an overhang or exterior wall mounts exposed to weather, step up to an IP65+ rated horn instead.

Best fit for covered industrial facilities, warehouse interiors, and semi-outdoor loading areas where a Viking PA-series amplifier is already driving the zone and per-horn tap selection eliminates the need for separate zone attenuators.