VOL850: How To Set Up, Wire & Install

Introduction

The Rockville VOL 850 is an 8-ohm, 100-watt wall-mounted stereo volume controller, perfect for home theater setups and multi-room audio systems. This controller allows you to adjust speaker volume while maintaining high-quality audio throughout your space.

Since the VOL 850 does not have a built-in amplifier, it must be connected to an external amplifier or receiver.

This guide will walk you through:

• Wiring the controller to an amplifier and speakers
• Expanding your setup with multiple speakers
• Using multiple controllers for multi-zone audio

Step 1: What’s Included

• VOL 850 Volume Controller
• 2 Screws (for securing the controller in an electrical box)
• Cover Plate
• 2 Screws (for securing the cover plate)

Step 2: Installing the Volume Controller

1. Check your speaker impedance:
   • The VOL 850 supports 4-8 ohm speakers.
   • Check the speaker’s manual or label on the back to confirm the impedance.
2. Mount the controller into the wall:
   • Place the controller into an electrical box.
   • Secure it using the included screws.
3. Attach the cover plate:
   • Align the cover plate over the controller.
   • Secure it using the two included screws.

Step 3: Connecting the VOL 850 to an Amplifier and Speakers

Wiring the Controller to the Amplifier

1. Locate the input terminals on the back of the VOL 850.
2. Connect speaker wire from the amplifier outputs to the controller inputs:
   • Left Channel (Bottom Row):
     • Red (Positive) → Left Input (+)
     • Black (Negative) → Left Input (-)
   • Right Channel (Top Row):
     • Red (Positive) → Right Input (+)
     • Black (Negative) → Right Input (-)
3. Tighten the terminal screws with a screwdriver.

Wiring the Controller to the Speakers

1. Locate the output terminals on the VOL 850.
2. Connect speaker wire from the controller outputs to your speakers:
   • Left Speaker:
     • Red (Positive) → Left Output (+)
     • Black (Negative) → Left Output (-)
   • Right Speaker:
     • Red (Positive) → Right Output (+)
     • Black (Negative) → Right Output (-)
3. Tighten the terminals to secure the wires.

Summary of Wiring:

• Amp → Controller (Inputs) → Controller (Outputs) → Speakers.

Step 4: Expanding Your Setup with Additional Speakers

If you want to add more speakers, you can use parallel wiring.

Parallel Wiring for Additional Speakers

1. Use additional speaker wire to connect Speaker A to Speaker B:
   • Red wire from Speaker A → Red terminal on Speaker B.
   • Black wire from Speaker A → Black terminal on Speaker B.
2. Repeat for the right channel.
3. Final Impedance Calculation:
   • Two 8-ohm speakers in parallel = 4-ohm impedance per channel.
   • This setup works perfectly with the VOL 850 and most home theater receivers.

Step 5: Multi-Room Audio with Multiple Controllers

You can use multiple VOL 850 controllers to control audio in different rooms.

Setting Up Multiple Controllers

1. Use a multi-zone amplifier.
2. Run separate speaker wires from each zone output to a volume controller.
3. Connect each controller to its respective speakers.
4. Example:
   • Zone 1 → Living Room (VOL 850 Controller + Speakers)
   • Zone 2 → Kitchen (VOL 850 Controller + Speakers)

This setup allows independent volume control in each room.

Step 6: Testing the System

1. Turn on your amplifier or receiver.
2. Set the volume on the amplifier to a moderate level.
3. Slowly turn up the VOL 850 knob.
4. You should hear smooth volume adjustment with no distortion.

Conclusion

The Rockville VOL 850 is an easy-to-use wall-mounted stereo volume controller that gives you full control over your home audio system. Whether you’re setting up one room or multiple zones, this guide ensures a smooth and successful installation.