The Rockville RCS350-6 is a 350-watt, 6-zone rack-mountable digital hybrid amplifier/receiver designed for commercial audio applications. It supports 70-volt, 100-volt, 8-ohm, and 4-ohm speaker systems, making it versatile for various installations such as restaurants, bars, cafes, lounges, schools, and conference rooms where multiple speakers are required.
One of the key advantages of the RCS350-6 is its 70-volt system capability, which simplifies wiring and speaker matching, especially for installations with numerous speakers. The amplifier allows for flexible power distribution across its six zones. While it offers 350 watts of total power, it's recommended to keep the combined speaker wattage at around 270–280 watts (80% of the amp's power) to ensure optimal performance and longevity. This "headroom" helps the amplifier handle unusual power requirements, such as deep bass notes or booming finales, without strain. Each zone can be independently controlled for volume, allowing for customized soundscapes in different areas. For example, in a restaurant, dining room speakers could be tapped at 5 watts, bar area speakers at 10 watts, hallway speakers at 3 watts, and bathroom speakers at 1.5 watts, all while maintaining a simple wiring scheme where all positive speaker terminals connect to the amplifier's positive 70-volt terminals, and negative terminals connect to the amp's negative terminals. This eliminates the need to worry about impedance matching, as the power output remains constant. The 70-volt system also supports long speaker wire runs without significant signal loss, which is ideal for large installations.
The amplifier features multiple audio inputs, including three microphone inputs. Mic 2 and Mic 3 offer echo control with adjustable repeat length, speed, and volume, making the unit suitable for announcements, speeches, or karaoke. A dedicated chime button allows for a pre-announcement sound. For music playback, the RCS350-6 includes Bluetooth audio streaming, enabling users to play music or playlists directly from their smartphones. It also has USB and SD card inputs (supporting up to 32GB) for playing MP3 and WAV audio files stored on thumb drives or SD cards. Two line inputs (RCA) are available for connecting external audio devices like MP3 players, CD players, or TVs. Each of these inputs (Mic 1, Mic 2, Mic 3, MP3, Line 1, Line 2) has its own independent volume control, providing comprehensive sound management.
The RCS350-6 also incorporates several protective and convenience features. A built-in clipping limiter safeguards both the speakers and the amplifier from overheating, while an integrated cooling system ensures components remain cool during operation, enhancing durability and reliability. The unit includes a 2-band EQ (bass and treble) to adjust the overall output sound. EQ presets (Normal, rock, pop, classic, jazz, and country) are accessible via the remote control. A 5-segment signal level indication provides visual feedback on audio input levels. The front panel features a power switch, SD card slot, LCD display, USB port, and an IR sensor for the remote control. Status indicator LEDs show power, fault conditions (overheating or overload), and clipping (output signal exceeding supply voltage).
For microphone priority, the unit has a 1/4" TRS input for Mic 1, which, when active, overrides all other input signals. This works in conjunction with the chime and mute features. The mute function allows adjustment of the mute level during signal override by Mic 1. On the rear panel, there are binding posts for 70V/100V direct speaker output, a 4 to 16-ohm direct speaker output, and a common (negative) binding post. It's crucial not to use the direct output binding posts and the 70V zone output screw connectors simultaneously, as this can cause permanent damage to the amplifier. The 70V zone outputs are screw connectors, allowing for easy connection of multiple 70-volt speakers across the six zones. The unit also includes an FM antenna port, RCA line inputs and output, an AC 110V/60Hz power input, a ground terminal, and a cooling fan.
The remote control provides convenient access to various functions, including power on/off, mode selection (SD, USB, Bluetooth, FM radio), EQ preset changes, mute, volume adjustment, track navigation (previous/next, fast-forward/rewind), repeat modes (single track, all tracks, files within a folder, random), and direct track selection via a number pad.
For installation, it's recommended to use high-quality 16 AWG, 2 or 4 conductor, heavy-gauge, CL2 or CL3 rated, 100% Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) speaker wire. CL2 and CL3 ratings indicate fire resistance and voltage capacity, with CL3 handling higher voltage spikes. When using the 70V/100V speaker zone outputs, terminal forks up to 10 AWG or bare wire are recommended. For low impedance loads (4-16 ohm direct output), the total impedance of connected speakers should not be less than 4 ohms. For rack mounting, the unit should be placed at the bottom of the rack or above non-heat-producing equipment, with at least 1 RU (1.75") of space above and below, and at least 2" from side walls for proper ventilation.
The RCS350-6 is designed for ease of use and installation, aiming to empower users to set up their own 70-volt systems without requiring professional contractors. Its use of common plugs like RCA and 1/4" TRS inputs enhances its universality and user-friendliness.
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