Russound RC61, RC61S User Manual
®
Ratio
High-Effi ciency Indoor Loudspeakers
Instruction Manual
INTRODUCTION
Product Description
Russound Ratio® High-Effi ciency Loudspeakers are
designed to provide high acoustic output with low
amplifi er power. This makes them perfectly suited for
use with low- powered amplifi ed keypads and amplifi ed
volume controls.
Low-mass driver materials and state-of-the-art engineering allow these speakers to produce higher sound
pressure levels than conventional speakers without
sacrifi cing sound quality.
When ordinary speakers are used with low-powered
amplifi ed keypads, they have limited output. This is
because the speakers are designed to handle higher
power levels from other types of amplifi ers. Because of
their high effi ciency, Ratio speakers play more loudly
than conventional speakers when used with amplifi ed
keypads.
Ratio speakers are designed to reduce installation time.
All models incorporate an innovative spring-clip mounting feature that makes them easier to install. Also, the
ceiling speakers have preinstalled grilles. These features
allow the installer to simply connect the speaker cables
and press the speakers into the ceiling for a quick
installation.
Caution
Ratio speakers are for use only with amplifi ed
keypads and volume controls or amplifi ers
with a power output of up to 20 watts per
channel. Do not use Ratio speakers with
receivers or amplifi ers rated at more than 20
watts per channel.
Spacer
Spring clip
5/8” (1.6 cm) ceiling
Mounting ringBoss for seismic restraint screw
Bosses opposite the spring clips on ceiling speakers can be used to attach seismic restraints.
Spacers on the spring clips are factory set for a 5/8” (1.6 cm) ceiling or wall thickness.
1/2” (1.3 cm) ceiling 3/4” (1.9 cm) ceiling
The spring clip spacers can be inverted to accommodate a ceiling or wall thickness of 1/2” (1.3 cm)
or removed for a 3/4” (1.9 cm) ceiling or wall, or when rough-in brackets are used.
2
INTRODUCTION
Applications
Ratio speakers provide room-fi lling sound in any
multiroom system with amplifi ed keypads. In many
cases where an external amplifi er would be added for
conventional speakers, a pair of Ratio speakers powered
directly by the keypad will suffi ce.
Designed for optimal performance with amplifi ed keypad systems, Ratio speakers make it possible to use such
systems in places where higher-powered systems would
otherwise be used. This provides an economical alternative to high-powered multiroom systems.
Speaker Placement
Following are some general placement guidelines for
stereo listening and background music applications.
Other things to consider for speaker placement include:
• Locations of unobstructed wall or ceiling cavities in
which to mount the speakers
• Accessibility for running cables through the walls or
ceilings to the speaker locations
Stereo music listening
Background music
Speaker placement for background music is less critical
than for stereo listening. Often the goal is to provide
even coverage throughout the room, without regard to
a fi xed listening position. In this case, the speakers can
be placed so they cover equal portions of the room.
In other cases, the goal is to provide background music
only in part of a large room or open area, often where
the seating is located. In this case, the speakers can be
located to provide coverage in that part of the room.
Speaker placement for stereo music listening is important for proper imaging. Imaging is the ability of the
speaker pair to reproduce sounds so they appear to
come from between the speakers.
In a stereo music system, we recommend placing the
left and right speakers about 60 degrees apart when
viewed from the center listening position. In-wall
speakers should be centered at ear level.
Speaker placement for stereo listening
Speaker placement for background music
in a seating area
Placement near corners
Placing the speakers near the corners of a room can
help emphasize bass frequencies. This is fi ne if both
speak ers in a stereo pair are mounted near corners, but
avoid placing one speaker in a corner and another in a
large open area.
The best acoustic performance will result if the speakers
face the same type of surface and are placed in similar
positions on the same type of wall or ceiling surface.
Small rooms
The RC61S stereo ceiling speaker is useful for providing
coverage for a small room from a single point. Usually it
should be placed near the center of the room.
Avoid wet locations
Ratio indoor speakers are designed to provide reliable
long-term service as long as they are not installed
in wet or damp locations such as showers. Also, they
should not be installed in areas continually subject to
high humidity, such as unventilated bathrooms and
porches in humid climates.
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PREPARATION
Prewiring
Run a separate 2-conductor stranded copper speaker
cable of at least 16 AWG (1.5 mm) from the amplifi ed
keypad or amplifi er to each speaker. (Note: When using
the RC61S stereo ceiling speaker, run either one 4-conductor cable or two 2-conductor cables to the speaker.)
Be sure to use cable with the appropriate fi re resistance
rating for the application. Check the local building
code for specifi c requirements. Russound offers 2- and
4-conductor speaker cables with a Class 3 fi re rating for
in-wall installation.
When running a speaker cable parallel to an AC power
cable, keep them at least 12 inches (30 cm) apart to
minimize electromagnetic interference. If the speaker
cables must cross AC wiring, cross them at right angles.
Leave about 2 feet (0.6 m) of cable at the keypad or
amplifi er end for connecting to the output terminals.
Label the cables so you will know which cable connects
to each channel. At each speaker location, leave enough
cable so that at least 2 feet (0.6 m) can extend through
the cutout for connecting to the speaker.
Cutting Holes in Existing Wallboard
Note: Ratio speakers are designed to mount to ceiling
and wall material between ½ inch (1.3 cm) and ¾ inch
(1.9 cm) thick. Spacers on the spring clips accommodate
varying thicknesses of material within this range.
1. Once you have determined roughly where to place
the speakers, use a stud fi nder to locate the wall
studs or ceiling joists and mark their location.
2. Check to make sure there are no obstructions such as
electrical cables, water pipes, or heating ducts where
you want to put the speakers.
3. Position the provided cutout template on the wall or
ceiling and trace around it with a pencil to draw the
outline of the cutout.
4. Score the outline with a utility knife to prevent chipping or tearing. Then use a drywall saw or spiral-cut
tool to cut the hole. Make sure you don’t make the
hole any larger than the template.
Installing Rough-In Brackets
If the walls and ceilings are not yet in place, you can
use Russound rough-in brackets to mark the speaker
locations and provide templates for making the cutouts.
Nail or screw the wings of the rough-in bracket to the
ceiling joists or wall studs, with the opening between
them where you want the speaker to be. The drywall
installer can then use the bracket as a template to cut
the hole in the wallboard exactly the same size as the
bracket ring.
Painting the Speakers
The speaker frames and grilles can be painted to match
the room décor. Be sure not to get paint on the speaker
baffl es or drivers.
1. Gently pull off the speaker grilles, making sure not to
distort them. To remove the grilles from the ceiling
speakers, fi rst unbend the retainer tabs on the edges
of the grilles. Remove the scrim cloths from inside
the grilles and set them aside for reassembly.
2. Mask the baffl es (the areas inside the frames that
house the drivers) with the provided paint shields. If
you will be spraying the frames, also mask the back
of the speakers to keep overspray off the drivers.
3. Paint the frames and grilles separately. Spraying is
ideal, but if you can’t spray the paint, a roller with a
short or medium nap will work better than a brush.
4. While the paint is still wet, clear any clogged holes in
the grilles with bursts of compressed air.
5. After the paint has thoroughly dried, remove the
masking.
The cardboard template supplied with each speaker has perforations for the cutout and a paint shield
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