The Russound WALTx-2 is a weatherproof volume control designed for outdoor or wet locations, such as exterior walls or saunas, and can be mounted directly on a 3/4" PVC conduit. It provides superior protection against moisture from rain, splash, or sauna environments. This device connects between the speaker outputs of an amplifier or receiver and a pair of speakers, allowing for volume adjustment.
Function Description:
The WALTx-2 functions as an attenuator, adjusting the volume level by reducing the amplifier's signal output to the speakers. It incorporates a high-quality autoformer design, which contributes to long life, excellent frequency response, no heat build-up, and maximum power transfer from the amplifier to the speakers.
A key feature of the WALTx-2 is its UltraMatch™ impedance matching capability. This allows the volume control to be used with multiple pairs of speakers connected to the same amplifier without the need for a separate speaker selector or additional impedance matching equipment. The device offers several impedance matching settings: 1X (standard control), 2X, 4X, and 8X. These settings are configured via internal jumpers, which must be set correctly to ensure the system's impedance is equal to or greater than the amplifier's minimum impedance. The manual provides detailed charts for determining the appropriate jumper setting based on the amplifier's minimum impedance and the number of 4-ohm and 8-ohm speaker pairs.
Important Technical 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", with 43dB total attenuation.
- Wire Size: Maximum wire size of 12 AWG.
- Case: Weatherproof PVC plastic sealed case.
- Compliance: Conforms to UL Standard 1492 First Edition and is Canada Certified to CSA Standard 22.2 No. 1-M94, ensuring safety.
Usage Features:
- Volume Control: A rotary knob on the front panel allows users to adjust the volume from minimum (fully counterclockwise, turning speakers OFF) to maximum (fully clockwise).
- Impedance Matching (UltraMatch™): The WALTx-2 can be configured for 1X, 2X, 4X, or 8X impedance matching, enabling connection of multiple speaker pairs to a single amplifier. All UltraMatch™ volume controls in a system must have the same jumper setting.
- Minimum Speaker Load: A minimum speaker load of 4 ohms can be connected to the output of each UltraMatch™ volume control.
- Wiring: The device uses input and output connectors for speaker wires. It is crucial to observe polarity and ensure consistent wiring (left + of amplifier to left + input of volume control). The manual explicitly warns against reversing input and output connections.
- EZB Connecting Blocks (Optional): Russound EZB-1 and EZB-2 connecting blocks can be used to simplify wiring for multiple volume controls and speaker pairs. An EZB-1 connects up to four volume controls, and EZB-2s can expand the system to up to sixteen volume controls (with a 4-ohm amp and 8-ohm speakers).
- Installation: The WALTx-2 can be mounted on a hard surface or directly onto 3/4" PVC conduit. All outdoor wires should be run through 3/4" PVC conduit, with T-junctions used for branching to speakers or running separate lines from the home's interior.
- System Testing: Before permanently sealing conduit connections, it is essential to test the WALTx-2 and speaker operation, as well as the integrity of all wire connections.
- Operation Procedure: Before turning on the amplifier, the volume control should be set to maximum (fully clockwise) and the amplifier/receiver volume to minimum. The amplifier/receiver volume is then slowly increased to a comfortable listening level, avoiding distortion. The speakers can be turned off by rotating the WALTx-2 knob fully counterclockwise.
Maintenance Features:
- Weatherproof Design: The sealed PVC plastic case protects internal components from the elements, making it suitable for outdoor and wet environments.
- Conduit Sealing: Proper sealing of all PVC junctions and terminations with PVC adhesive is critical to maintain watertight integrity and prevent moisture ingress, which could lead to corrosion and malfunction. The manual suggests blowing into the open end of the conduit to check for leaks.
- Warranty: The Russound WALTx-2 Volume Control comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty covers replacement of defective parts and correction of workmanship defects at no charge for parts or labor, provided the unit is installed and used according to instructions and serviced by Russound.
- Warranty Exclusions: The warranty does not cover damage from abuse, accident, misuse, negligence, improper installation, power surges, lightning strikes, normal wear and maintenance, altered/modified products, or products with defaced identifying numbers/decals/serial numbers. Purchases from unauthorized dealers also void the warranty.
- Repair Process: For repairs, customers must obtain a Return Authorization number from Russound and ship the unit at their own expense, packed in a corrugated container with at least three inches of resilient material to prevent transit damage.
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