Russound WALTX-2 User Manual

WALTx-2

Instruction Manual

Weatherproof Volume Control

Product Overview

The WALTx-2 Weather Proof
Volume Control is designed to
provide volume control for outdoor
or wet locations and can be
mounted on an exterior wall or
hard, flat surface, as well as directly
on a section of 3/4" PVC conduit.
The WALTx-2 provides superior

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protection against moisture from
rain, splash or sauna.

The WALTx-2 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
when more than one pair of speakers is connected to the same amplifier. 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 WALTx-2
adjusts volume level by attenuating the amplifier signal output of the WALTx-2 to the
speakers. All Russound Volume Controls are manufactured using a high-quality
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 WALTx-2 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.

Determining the Proper Jumper Setting for Impedance Matching

The jumpers 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.From Fig 1 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 connected to the amplifier by
referring to its manual.

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

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.

Once the jumper setting has been determined, set the jumpers to the appropriate
positions, either 2X, 4X, or 8X, as shown in Fig 2.

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

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

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

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.

Fig 1 Impedance Matching Charts For UltraMatch™

Impedance Matching For 4 Ohm

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

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

Amplifiers

Impedance Matching For 8 Ohm Amplifiers

8 Ohm Pairs

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

4 Ohm Pairs

48X

Fig 2 Jumper Settings On Circuit Boards

1X

2X

4X

8X

3

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.

Wiring Instructions

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

TO OTHER

VOLUME CONTROLS

INPUT

SPEAKERS SPEAKERS

SPEAKERS

Input

INPUT

R+

R- L- L+

R+ R- L- L+

OUTPUT

Output

SPEAKERS

TO OTHER

VOLUME

CONTROLS

EZB-1

(OPTIONAL)

Speaker
Pair

4

Installation Instructions

Fig 4

1.Select a suitable location for the WALTx-2. The WALTx-2 can
be mounted to a hard surface (Fig 4) or can be placed directly
onto 3/4" PVC conduit (Fig 5) . Do not permanently mount
the WALTx-2 until you have completed steps 2 - 6. Make sure
that the WALTx-2 can be accessed easily with the intended

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mounting position.

2.Run all outdoor wires through 3/4" PVC conduit. Wiring to
the speakers can be made by branching off the volume con­trol's conduit using T- junctions, or by running a separate line
of conduit from the interior of the home. See Fig 5 for typical
system wiring.

3.Wire the WALTx-2 as described in the Wiring Instructions
section.

4.Be sure to test the WALTx-2 and speaker operation before
attempting to secure the PVC junctions (see operation instruc­tions below). Also be sure to test the integrity of your wire
connections since all of the connections will be permanently
sealed in the conduit.

5.Once the system has been tested and you are sure that the
connections are secure, seal the conduit using PVC adhesive.
Be sure that all PVC junctions and terminations are watertight. Blowing into the
open end of the conduit is one way to help find possible leaks. If the conduit loses
pressure, there is probably a leak.

NOTE: Insufficient sealing at any point of the conduit network may cause moisture
to build up inside the WALTx-2 Volume Control. This may cause malfunction due
to corrosion to occur.

6.If the WALTx-2 is to be mounted to a hard surface, such as an exterior wall, use
four screws and appropriate mounting anchors to permanently mount it.

Operation Instructions

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

2.If you are using a Russound speaker selector system, locate the ON/OFF button
which corresponds to the speaker pair you wish to play. Set the button to the ON
position.

3.Set the WALTx-2 volume to maximum (fully clockwise).

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

5

5.Slowly turn up the amplifier or receiver volume and set it to a comfortable (not

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maximum) listening level. Be careful not to overdrive your amplifier. If the sound
becomes 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 on most receivers is approximately full volume. Adjust the vol­ume of the speakers using the WALTx-2. By using a Russound PRO- VC speaker
selector in your system, you can leave the amplifier or receiver volume set at one
position and use the WALTx-2 and ALT volume controls independently from the
primary listening area.

6.You can turn OFF the speakers by turning the knob on the WALTx-2 fully counter­clockwise, or by pressing the corresponding ON/OFF button on your speaker
selector.

RECEIVER/AMPLIFIER

Fig 5

3/4” PVC

6

Specifications

Power rating /channel: 126 watts power handling, 42 watts RMS continuous.

Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz, +1 / -0.5 dB at rated power

Attenuation: 12 steps, including "Off"

43dB total attenuation.

Wire Size: Maximum wire size of 12 AWG

Case: Weatherproof PVC plastic sealed case.

Warranty

This Russound volume control is 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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