Rockville CT80 8″ 70V Subwoofer Instruction Guide
- June 3, 2024
- RockVille
Table of Contents
Rockville CT80 8″ 70V Subwoofer
Introduction
The Rockville CT80-SUB subwoofer is a great choice for any restaurant, office, retail store, or other commercial application. This subwoofer will make a great addition to any 70V speaker setup. Please read this guide carefully for proper use of your CT80-SUB. Should you need assistance, please call our technical help line at 1-646-758-0144, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
Functions
- Mounting bracket
- 70V/100V/4-ohm tap switch
- Binding post terminals
- Port
Choosing the Appropriate Tap
70-volt systems are the number one choice for any application for which you want to install multiple speakers. With 70 volt there are a lot of advantages over 4-ohm systems. One of the main advantages is the simplicity of the wiring, as well as how easy it is to match up the speakers with an amplifier. You always want your 70-volt amp to have at least 15% or 20%more power than the combined watts your speakers are tapped at. For example, if you have a 200-watt/70-volt amplifier, you can install five 70-volt speakers that are tapped at 20 watts each or fifteen 70-volt speakers that are tapped at 10 watts each as long as they total close to 175 watts. When we say the word “tap”, what we are referring to is the selector knob on the back of the CT80-SUB. It allows you to set how many watts the built-in transformer will allow the sub to get from the amplifier. The taps set at 10, 20, and 40 watts for 70-volt input; 15, 25, and 55 watts for 100-volt input. This range of taps allows for full customization of the sound for the space where the speakers are installed. In a restaurant, for example, you can tap your dining room speakers at 20 watts, the speakers in the outside seating area at 40 watts, and the ones in the hallway and bathrooms at 10 watts. Another great feature of 70-volt speakers is that you can mix and match any type, whether they are wall-mounted speakers (such as these), ceiling speakers, subwoofers, etc.
Another benefit of 70-volt speaker setups is the ability to run very long lines of speaker wire without signal loss. And, the wiring is very simple. You just connect all the positive terminals of the speakers to the positive 70-volt terminal(s) of the amplifier. The negative terminals on the speaker get connected to the negative (COM) terminal(s) of the amp. You do not have to worry about impedance as the power is constant.
Please be sure to check out Rockville’s complete selection of high-quality 70-volt speakers, amplifiers, and accessories.
Setup
7OV/1 OOV Speaker Configuration
The total number of speakers multiplied by the tap value cannot exceed the output power (in watts) of your 70V amplifier. The example on the facing page shows four total speakers and the CT80-SUB. Using the 20W taps, you will need an amplifier with at least 100 watts (5 x 20 = 100W). A good rule of thumb is to select an amplifier with 15% to 20% greater power; in this case, an amplifier that delivers about 120W.
Installation Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, drill, wire strippers, pliers, ladder
The CT80-SUB can be wall-mounted on a variety of surfaces. Make sure to place the mounting bracket at a height that will
provide enough clearance for the enclosure and will allow the subwoofer to be tilted as needed.
Flat Surface
Make sure the CT80-SUB is on a flat, stable surface. Bass frequencies are omnidirectional, so the subwoofer can be placed anywhere. Try placing it near a wall or a corner for increased bass.
Drywall/Masonry
- Using the swivel bracket mounting plate as a template, mark the mounting screw locations (fig. a). When mounting to drywall, we recommend you use a stud finder to locate the wall studs and mark their location. Drill pilot holes for the screws (fig. b). If you are installing on masonry or between studs, we recommend using anchors (included). Be sure to use the proper drill bit size for the anchors. Use no less than two anchors to secure the mounting bracket.
- Assemble the swivel bracket by sliding the swivel bracket base into the swivel bracket (fig. c). Next, use the included bolt assembly to secure the base to the bracket as indicated in figure d. Please note, there is a special material applied to the threads of the bolts to help keep them tight when you are screwing on the nut and to keep the nut from coming loose due to vibrations from audio playback. You may feel a bit of resistance and that is normal. To facilitate the process, use a pair of pliers (not included) to hold the nut in place while you tighten the screw with the included wrench.
- Now attach the swivel bracket assembly to the subwoofer cabinet. Unscrew the pre-mounted screws and align the holes on the bracket to the predrilled holes on the back panel of the cabinet. Use the screws to attach the bracket. Make sure that the screws are properly seated and that the bracket is securely mounted.
- Attach the swivel bracket mounting plate to the swivel bracket assembly.
- Finally, attach the unit to the wall where you drilled the mounting screw holes. Make sure to use all four screws to secure the unit to the wall.
Wiring
Bracket Adjustments
Vertical Adjustment
The CT80-SUB has a vertical adjustment radius of 80 degrees. To adjust the vertical angle of the cabinet, loosen the bolts (a) and adjust the bracket (fig. 1) up or down (fig. 2). Once you have attained the proper angle, tighten the bolts.
Horizontal Adjustment
The CT80-SUB has a horizontal adjustment radius of 80 degrees. To adjust the horizontal angle of the cabinet, move it left (fig. 1) or right (fig. 2) to the desired position.
Features/Specifications
- Can be placed on the floor or mounted to a wall with included wall-mount bracket
- Built-in 70V/100V transformer
- 20oz magnet
- Banana binding post terminals accept banana cables or regular speaker wire
- 40W, 20W, 10W selectable with 70V input
- 55W, 25W, 15W selectable with 100V input
- Bypass option to run sub at 4 ohm: BOW RMS @ 4 ohm
- Frequency response: 40Hz – 800Hz
- Sensitivity: 90dB (1 W @ 1 m)
- Includes high quality mounting bracket
- Unit dimension: 12.4″ x 9.65″ x 12.4″
- Unit weight: 12.9LBS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are Rockville subwoofers good?
They are reasonably priced and offer excellent bass. Rockville is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a solid subwoofer.
What wattage is best for subwoofer?
As a general rule, it is preferable to use at least 300 watts to ensure that your subwoofer has enough power. More speakers can always be added, but it’s crucial that the amp works with the speaker system as well.
How do I know if my speakers are 70V?
We can run several speakers on a single line at a fixed wattage and steady voltage thanks to 70-volt technology. A transformer is either incorporated into or affixed to the rear of every 70-volt speaker. The “tap” or “tap setting” is the term for the dial that often has a list of numbers on it.
What size subwoofer is best for sound quality?
The best subwoofers for the majority of people are 10-inch and 12-inch models because they are reasonably priced and capable of producing passable sound. 15″ subwoofers are the best option if you enjoy listening to music louder because they will provide you with the best overall performance.
Is higher wattage better for subwoofer?
The subwoofer in question’s wattage determines its power; a higher wattage indicates a more potent subwoofer.
How many watts is a good bass?
For practice sessions and short gigs, a bass amp with 100 to 150 watts is the absolute least; 300 watts is preferable because it enables the amp to output the same or louder volume with less effort or strain. Because a louder amp doesn’t have to work as hard, there is a lower risk of overheating, fuse blowing, or speaker damage.
What size subwoofer is best for bass?
There are some 8-inch subwoofers that sound pretty excellent and some may even compare them to a lower end 10″ or 12″, but in general, an 8 subwoofer is going to provide you nice, inexpensive, clean bass.
How many Hz is a good subwoofer?
For consumer products, a subwoofer’s normal frequency range is between 20 and 200 Hz; for professional live sound, it is between 100 and 80 Hz; and for THX- certified systems, it is between 80 and 100 Hz.
How many RMS is good for a subwoofer?
You won’t need more than 50 to 200 watts RMS of power for the bass on a factory radio. You could need a receiver with 200 to 300 watts of RMS power. speakers that have been amplified with about 50 watts RMS per channel; a reasonable starting point is 250 to 500 watts RMS.
How many watts is a 70V speaker?
The identical 120-watt amplifier will only detect a load of 100 Watts if the same speakers are connected to the 70 Volt line terminals. Example 2: The 50 Watts combined power of all the (70 Volt) speakers.
How far can you run 70V speaker wire?
Looking at the 70.7V figure on page 2, for a 125-watt load (always round your power up for the table), the permissible length for 16-gauge wire is 290 feet, hence 16-gauge cable is acceptable.
What does 70V speaker mean?
Due to its simple installation and construction, the 70v system, a constant voltage distributed sound system, is frequently utilized in commercial settings. According to the conventional loudspeaker system design, the impedance load must match the amplifier’s operating range.
Should Subs be louder than bass?
If you want to have enough headroom for the rest of the song, subbass should peak at -12 dB. Keep the subbass 2 to 5 dB below the kickdrum as a general rule of thumb if mixing with headroom isn’t working for you.