Russound is re-entering the light commercial market after a 10-year absence, demoing a 70-volt audio amp and audio ecosystem designed for applications such as small offices, retail spaces, coffee shops, and outdoor seating areas at restaurants.
The XZone70v features the company’s proprietary XStream audio technology, which integrates a full roster of popular streaming services from the cloud including SiriusXM For Business, Pandora, Spotify, and others, as well as internet radio hubs such as vTuner and TuneIn. It also features AirPlay compatibility and a USB port for flash-based or hard-drive stored audio.
Charlie Porritt, Russound CEOThe unit outputs 300 watts from a single 1U chassis.
An integrated microphone input automatically senses a vocal signal and pauses the audio stream for paging through the system. Condenser mic support is accessed with a sliding switch on the rear panel, in addition to a Mic Gain control for easy adjustment of the audio level, and a front panel Mic Volume Level that gives users access to increase Mic Volume as the environment dictates.
The 70v was designed with significant input from Russound’s installer client base, including adjustments to the shelf brackets to allow almost unlimited install options, including on-wall and under-counter mounts.
“The most vocal dealers were quick to tell us that a 70-volt version would have as big an impact on their light commercial installations as our [previously announced XZone 4] residential system did on home installations, which is when we went to work on the XZone70V,” said Charlie Porritt, Russound CEO.
The XZone70V is included in the Russound Certified Installer (RCI) Program, which unlocks the components only for RCI installer clients, which reduces unauthorized online sales of the company’s products, protecting retail margins. More than 5,000 Russound installers are taking part in the program. “It’s been extremely successful with our clients,” said Porritt.
Also announced at the show was the matching AW70v6 outdoor speaker featuring a rust-proof aluminum grill, 70-volt and 100-volt tap settings, a one-inch titanium dome tweeter, 6.5-inch polypropylene woofer, gold plated push connectors and dual 0.25-inch brass posts for third-party mounts or security bolts.
The third piece of the ecosystem is the ALT-70v-50, a 50-watt, 70-volt volume control wall plate with an 11-position rotary switch.
The 70v products will ship in December. The XZone70v amp will retail for $1,199, the AW70v6 speaker for $349 and the volume switch will be $49.
