Russound Expands Multi-Room Series

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 4/20/2009

Newmarket, N.H. — Russound expanded its C5 series of multi-room-audio products with the shipment of the MCA-C5 multizone controller-amplifier and MDK-C5 multiline in-wall keypad at stret prices of $3,050 and $349, respectively.

The new controller-amp delivers more source inputs and zones than other models in the series, and the new keypad is promoted as more intuitive to use.

From eight stereo sources, the controller-amp routes stereo to up to eight zones, six of which are powered by an internal 12x40-watt digital amplifier. The device also features AM/FM tuner with RDS in a 2U rack-mountable enclosure. Each zone features both variable and fixed outputs to give installers the flexibility to use external amplification or create subzones through Russound's ABUS amplified keypads. The MCA-C5 also features front-panel USB port for programming and a rear-panel RS-232 port for integration with third-party home-control systems.

Metadata from the internal tuner and other Russound sources appears on keypads and touchscreens.

A source linking feature enables multiple zones to share the same source while retaining independent on/off and volume level. A zone-linking feature enables multiple zones to be controlled by one or more keypads.

The MCA-C5 can be controlled from the new two-gang MDK-C5 keypad, which features multiline LCD screen display, system clock, zone alarms, a sleep timer and paging. The two devices connect via a single CAT-5 cable. The new keypad includes an IR receiver for use with IR remotes, including the SRC-C5 System Remote Control with learning capabilities. Color conversion kits are available.

The controller-amp can also be controlled from Russound's UNO-TS2 smart touchscreen.

Product manager Roger Soucy said the new products were designed based on dealer response. As a result, the controller-amp offers more features and zones, and the keypad is more intuitive to use, he said.