Russound ALTX User Manual

ALTx Volume Control

Instruction Manual

INTRODUCTION

8X
4X
1X-2X
2X-4X-8X
1X

8X
4X
1X-2X
2X-4X-8X
1X

8X
4X
1X-2X
2X-4X-8X
1X

8X
4X
1X-2X
2X-4X-8X
1X

8X
4X
1X-2X
2X-4X-8X
1X

8X
4X
1X-2X
2X-4X-8X
1X

8X
4X
1X-2X
2X-4X-8X
1X

8X
4X
1X-2X
2X-4X-8X
1X

The ALTx UltraMatch™ Volume Control you have just purchased is a wall­mounted Decora™ or Standard style, stereo speaker-level volume control.
It connects between the speaker outputs of an amplifier or receiver and a
pair of speakers.The 1X setting allows the volume control to be used as a
standard control. The 2X, 4X, and 8X settings allow it to be used as an
UltraMatch™ control. The UltraMatch™ volume control provides a
method of matching the minimum output impedance of the amplifier or
receiver, in addition to adjusting volume. It eliminates the need for a
speaker selector or impedance matching equipment. The ALTx adjusts vol­ume level by attenuating the amplifier signal output of the ALTx to the
speakers. All Russound Volume Controls are manufactured using a high­quality autoformer design which provides long life, excellent frequency
response, no heat build-up, and maximum power transfer from the ampli­fier to the speakers. All Russound ALTx volume controls conform to UL
Standard 1492 First Edition, and for Canada Certified to CSA Standard

22.2 No. 1-M94. This certification assures that your ALTx volume control
has been designed and tested for safety.

INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS

• Near other wall controls

• Near a desk/workstation

• In entryways or exits

• At your bedside

• Close to a telephone and an intercom

• Near a jacuzzi

P-RING AND ELECTRICAL BOXES

From the wallplate/faceplate to the back of the ALTx control, the mount­ing depth of the ALTx is 2 7/8”. You must use a minimum of a standard
light switch plaster ring (p-ring) or a standard 20 cu. in. (or larger) electri­cal box. Suitable P-Rings and electrical boxes are available from your
Russound dealer or a local electrical supply company. Using the P-Ring
during new construction (some building codes require that wall devices
be enclosed in electrical boxes. Check your local building code) is best
because it gives you unobstructed access to the full depth of the wall.

Jumper

Settings On

Circuit Boards

X1

X2

X4

X8

TYPE OF SPEAKER WIRE

For most applications, we recommend you use 16 or 18 gauge, stranded copper speaker
wire for the ALTx speaker connections. For wiring runs longer than 100 feet, 14 gauge
wire is recommended. Using speaker wire larger than 14 gauge for ALTx Volume Controls
is not recommended as the wire may not fit into the connectors. NOTE - Never use solid-

2

core, aluminum or Romex® type wire with volume controls. When running speaker wires
inside walls, most states and municipalities in the U.S. specify that you must use a special
type of speaker wire. Usually, the requirement is that the wire has a specific “CL” fire
rating, such as “CL-2” or “CL-3”. Consult your Russound dealer, building contractor, or
local building and inspection department if unsure about which type of wire is best for
your application. If you need speaker wire, we recommend you order Russound AW
series wire. These speaker cables use multi-strand copper wire and high-temperature PVC
jackets specially designed for snaking through the walls and for long speaker runs.

CAUTION

Do not install the ALTx into electrical boxes with 110 Volt devices. Some states or munici­palities allow devices such as the ALTx to be installed into the same electrical box as 110
volt devices, provided a “low-voltage partition” is used between the devices. Russound
does not recommend this. Speaker wires can act as an “antenna” for electrical noise.
Locating speaker wires too close to a light switch or dimmer switch may cause a “hum­ming” or “buzzing” sound to be heard through the speakers. If you must locate the vol­ume control near electrical devices, install it in a separate metal electrical box, ground the
box to the electrical system ground, and route the speaker wires several feet away from
the electrical wiring.

OPERATION

1. Make sure the amplifier or receiver is OFF and set the volume to minimum.

2. Set the ALTx volume to maximum (fully clockwise).

3. Turn on the amplifier or receiver and select a music source, such as tuner or CD player.

4. Slowly turn up the amplifier or receiver volume and set it to a comfortable (not maxi­mum) listening level. Be careful not to overdrive your amplifier. If the sound becomes
muddy or distorted, you have reached the limit of your amplifier’s volume capability
and should quickly reduce the volume to avoid damaging your speakers.

NOTE: 12 o’clock (50%) on most receivers is full volume. An amplifier that is being
driven beyond its potential will produce D/C voltage (clipping) which will not pass
through a transformer, resulting in improper signal transfer and possible amplifier shut­down or damage.

5. Adjust the volume of the speakers to the desired listening level using the ALTx.

6. You can turn off the speakers in each room by turning the knob on the ALTx completely
counter-clockwise.

IMPORTANT: If you are unsure of any of the installation procedures, the products
should be installed by a professional custom installer.

3

8X
4X
1X-2X
2X-4X-8X
1X

8X
4X
1X-2X
2X-4X-8X
1X

ULTRAMATCH™ VOLUME CONTROLS

Russound UltraMatch™ volume controls eliminate the

need for a speaker selector. By determining the drive capa-

bility of the amplifier with a few simple calculations, we

can determine the number of speakers the system can

safely operate.

Fig 1

DETERMINING THE PROPER JUMPER SETTING FOR

IMPEDANCE MATCHING

The jumper must be set in a position that correctly multiplies the impedance of the system
to a level that is equal to or greater than the impedance of the amplifier. The jumper set­ting can be determined using the following simple steps

1. Determine the amplifier's minimum impedance. The amplifier's minimum impedance
is usually found following Wattage and Frequency Response in the amplifier's specifica­tion page of the manual. It may also be listed on the back panel of the amplifier near
the speaker terminals. AC impedance is measured in ohms.

2. Identify the correct impedance-matching chart according to the amplifier's minimum
impedance. There are two impedance matching charts, one for 8 ohm amplifiers and
one for 4 ohm amplifiers. Choose the chart that describes your amplifier. If your ampli­fier is 6 ohm stable, use the 8 ohm chart.

3. Determine the impedance for each pair of speakers by referring to its manual.

4. Determine the total number of 4 ohm pairs of speakers. (rows on charts)

4

5. Determine the total number of 8 ohm pairs of speakers. (columns on charts)

6. Follow the appropriate row and column to determine jumper settings. (ex. see fig 2)

Fig 2 Impedance Matching Charts For UltraMatch™

Impedance Matching For 4 Ohm Amplifiers

8 Ohm Pairs

012345678910111213141516
0 - 1X 1X 2X 2X 4X 4X 4X 4X 8X 8X 8X 8X 8X 8X 8X 8X
1 1X2X2X4X4X4X4X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X
2 2X4X4X4X4X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X
3 4X4X4X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X
4 4X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X
5 8X8X8X8X8X8X8X

4 Ohm Pairs

6 8X8X8X8X8X
7 8X8X8X
8 8X

Impedance Matching For 8 Ohm Amplifiers

8 Ohm Pairs

Example: The table to the right shows
an 8 ohm minimum impedance
amplifier with 1 pair of 4 ohm speak­ers and 3 pair of 8 ohm speakers. The
chart indicates the jumper setting
should be set at 8X

012345678
0 - 1X 2X 4X 4X 8X 8X 8X 8X
1 2X4X4X8X 8X 8X 8X
2 4X8X8X8X8X
3 8X8X8X

4 Ohm Pairs

48X

CONSIDERATIONS

1. Make sure that your amplifier has adequate wattage for the number of speakers. Watts
per channel divided by the number of pairs should equal or exceed the individual
speaker’s minimum wattage requirements.

2. You must use an UltraMatch™ volume control for each pair of speakers.

3. Every jumper setting must be set on the same setting throughout the system.

4. A minimum speaker load of 4 ohms can be connected to the output of each
UltraMatch™ volume control.

EZB CONNECTING BLOCKS

The EZB-1 and EZB-2 connecting blocks are Russound accessories that simplify connections
of multiple volume controls and speaker pairs. The EZB-1 is a neat, compact wiring device
capable of connecting four volume controls to an amplifier's outputs. The EZB-2 expands the
EZB-1 to another 4 volume controls. Multiple EZB-2's can be used to expand the system to
sixteen volume controls.

5

WIRING INSTRUCTIONS

R+

INPUT

R- L- L+

R+ R- L- L+

OUTPUT

SPEAKERS SPEAKERS

SPEAKERS

INPUT

SPEAKERS

TO OTHE R

VOLUME CONTROLS

TO OTHE R

VOLUME

CONTROLS

1. Connect the leads from the amplifier’s outputs to
the connector labeled input. The wires should stay
consistent, left + of the amplifier to left + input of
the volume control, observing polarity and
identification.

CAUTION: Do not reverse the input and output
connections!!

CAUTION: A majority of receivers are designed to

operate at a rating of 8Ω. On receivers that offer A

and B speaker outputs, both A and B connections
share the same amplifier. It is important to note, due
to the way many receivers are wired, that when
using impedance matching devices, such as
UltraMatch™ volume controls, it is recommended
to wire all speakers to the A output. If you have any
questions contact Russound directly.

2. As outlined in step #1, connect the speaker wires to
the connector labeled output.

3. Install the completed assembly in the junction box.
Insert carefully to avoid excessive strain on the
connector. Taking the time to feed the excess
wire out the back of the junction box will help
you with the final assembly.

Fig 3

AMP / Receiver

Input

EZB-1

(OPTIONAL)

6

Output

Speaker
Pair

WARRANTY

All Russound volume controls are fully guaranteed against all defects in materials and
workmanship as long as the original purchaser and user of the volume control owns the
unit. During the warranty period, Russound, at its option, will replace or repair any defec­tive part and correct any defect in workmanship without charge for parts or labor. For this
warranty to apply, the unit must be installed and used in accordance to its written instruc­tions. If necessary, repairs must be performed by Russound. The unit must be returned to
Russound at the owner's expense and with prior written permission of Russound.
Accidental damage and shipping damage are not considered defects, nor is damage
resulting from abuse, or from servicing performed by an agent or person not specifically
authorized in writing by Russound. Damage to or destruction of components due to appli­cation of excessive power voids the warranty on those parts. Repairs to components dam­aged or destroyed due to application of excessive power will be made by charging the
owner the retail value of the parts and labor for the repair. To return items for repairs, the
unit must be shipped to Russound at the owner's expense, along with a written explana­tion of the nature of the service required. The unit must be packed in a corrugated con­tainer with at least 3 inches of resilient material to protect the unit from damage in transit.
Russound reserves the right to request proof of purchase. Except to the extent prohibited
by applicable law, no other warranties, whether expressed or implied, other than the
express warranties stated herein, shall apply to units sold to the purchaser. Russound shall
not be liable for any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
to any person other than the original purchaser and user. Under no circumstances shall
Russound be liable for property damage, economic loss or any consequential damages
sustained in connection with the purchase and use of its products. Some states do not
allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, or do not allow the exclusion or
limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions
may not apply to you. Russound neither assumes nor authorizes any representative or
other person to assume for it any obligation or liability other than such as is expressly set
forth herein. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other
rights which vary from state to state.

7

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