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CX163 Installation and User Guide v1.1

6

OVERVIEW

Introduction

The Cloud CX163 is a 1U rack-mounting audio mixer 
suitable for use in leisure sector venues - such as licensed 
premises - where easy control of stereo background music in 
two separate areas needs to be combined with a microphone 
or paging system.
The CX163 independently mixes any one of six stereo line 
inputs with a microphone input for each stereo zone output. 
Separate controls for music and mic levels in each zone 
are provided, and music level may be controlled remotely if 
wished, either using standard Cloud remote control plates, 

or from an AV control system (e.g., Crestron, AMX, etc.) The 
zones may be configured for mono operation if wished.

In addition to the two primary zone outputs there is also 
a Utility Output, suitable for secondary areas such as 
corridors and toilets. The music source for the Utility Output 
is determined by internal jumper settings; the mic input is 
mixed with the music signal in a similar manner to the other 
zone outputs. There are no front panel controls for the Utility 
Output.

The mixer may be configured to operate with most paging 
systems:  the  mic  input  may  be  activated  by  voice  (VOX) 

or short-to-ground access connections. Additionally, in 

 

Zone 1, Line Input 6 may be set to have priority over any 
other selected to facilitate connection of a juke box, digital 
sound store or similar device.
A Music Mute input is provided to allow external systems 

such as fire alarm panels to disable background music in the 

event of an emergency. This is a function that may be required 
by Local Authority regulations.

Optional plug-in EQ cards may be fitted to any or all zone 

outputs to optimise the CX163 for use with various installed-
audio loudspeakers.

What’s in the box

Unpack the CX163 and its accessories with care. It is always a 

good idea to store all packaging (if practical), in case you ever 

need to return the unit to your Cloud dealer for any reason.
As well as this manual, the shipping carton should contain 
the items listed below. Please contact your Cloud dealer 
immediately if any of them are missing or damaged.

• 

Cloud CX163 Zone Mixer

• 

Anti-tamper cover for front panel Mic EQ controls

• 

IEC mains lead (AC cord) with moulded plug appropriate 

to the territory

• 

Set of mating connectors for all rear panel screw-terminal 
connectors

Main Features

• 

Provides mixed music and paging in two primary zones 
and a separate Utility Output

• 

Front panel controls for music source, music level and 
mic level in each primary zone

• 

Six (unbalanced) stereo line inputs with individual gain 

controls

• 

Balanced mic input; 12 V phantom power available

• 

100 Hz hi-pass filter on mic input

• 

Sensitivity and HF/LF EQ adjustment (rear panel) for mic 

input

• 

Two stereo, electronically-balanced zone outputs  

(Zones 1 and 2)

• 

Mono, electronically-balanced Utility Output

• 

HF/LF music EQ adjustment for Zones 1 and 2

• 

Paging priority control on mic input via short-to-ground 
access connection or VOX triggering

• 

Selectable Line Input 6 priority in Zone 1, with choice of 
release times

• 

Music Mute control input (N/O or N/C) for interface to 

emergency system

• 

Compatible with standard Cloud RL-1 Series remote 

control panels (music level)

• 

Optional Loudspeaker EQ cards per-zone (including the 

Utility Output)

• 

1U 19” rack mounting unit

Summary of Contents for CX163

Page 1: ...CX163 Installation and User Guide v1 1 CX163 ZONE MIXER Installation and User Guide ...

Page 2: ...ions 9 Power Supply 9 Fuses and ratings 9 System Connections 9 Music Sources 9 Microphone inputs 10 Zone Outputs 10 Utility Output 10 Music Control 11 Music Mute 11 SETTING UP OPERATION 12 Music Inputs 12 Gain level 12 Local remote control 12 Music EQ 12 Microphone Input 12 Phantom Power 12 Gain level 12 Paging Access Control 12 Mic EQ 13 High pass filter 13 Zone Outputs 13 Stereo and mono operati...

Page 3: ...RL 1 Series remote control plates general considerations 15 Control of music source and level via external DC 15 Fitting loudspeaker EQ cards 15 APPENDIX 16 Application example 16 PCB jumper location and settings 17 Ground loops 18 EMC considerations 18 Technical Specifications 19 ...

Page 4: ...to constitute a risk of electric shock The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance servicing instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance Un point d exclamation dans un triangle équilatéral est destiné à alerter l utilisateur de la présence d instructions importantes sur le fonctionnement et ...

Page 5: ...require installation by a qualified person CAUTION Mains Fuse Replace the mains fuse only with the same type and rating as marked on the rear panel Fuse type T1AH 250V Fuse rating 1 A Fuse Size 20 mm x 5 mm CAUTION Servicing The unit contains no user serviceable parts Refer servicing to qualified service personnel Do not perform servicing unless you are qualified to do so Disconnect the power cabl...

Page 6: ...a function that may be required by Local Authority regulations Optional plug in EQ cards may be fitted to any or all zone outputs to optimise the CX163 for use with various installed audio loudspeakers What s in the box Unpack the CX163 and its accessories with care It is always a good idea to store all packaging if practical in case you ever need to return the unit to your Cloud dealer for any re...

Page 7: ...ut in each Zone See Gain level on page 12 3 MICROPHONE LEVEL adjusts level of the mic input in each Zone See Gain level on page 12 4 MUSIC MUTE indicates red when external Music Mute is active See Music Mute on page 11 5 POWER green LED confirms power is applied to the unit 6 Rack mounting ears the unit may be rack mounted in a standard 19 equipment rack It requires 1U of rack height See Hardware ...

Page 8: ...ic EQ on page 13 6 OUTPUTS Z1 and Z2 balanced Left and Right Zone outputs for Zone 1 and Zone 2 See Zone Outputs on page 10 7 ZONE LF and HF preset controls for EQ adjustment in Zone 1 and Zone 2 See Zone EQ on page 13 8 REMOTE LEVEL CONTROL for connection of RL 1 remote control plates to allow remote control of music level in Zone 1 and Zone 2 See Music Control on page 11 9 UTILITY balanced mono ...

Page 9: ...hey can be connected to either the left or right input but the primary Zones should be reconfigured for mono operation see Stereo and mono operation on page 13 The sensitivity range available should allow most standard items of audio equipment such as computers tablets music servers and media receivers etc to operate at a satisfactory level Provided the music source is adjacent to the Zone Mixer n...

Page 10: ... output is designed to drive professional industrial power amplifiers with balanced inputs typically on XLRs In this case wire as the diagram in the next column Note that the screen can be left unconnected at the source end if earth loops are a problem 1 3 SCN pin 1 ground pin 2 hot pin 3 cold Balanced inputs XLRs 1 2 3 2 SC SCN CX163 Balanced output pin 1 ground pin 2 cold pin 3 hot The screen co...

Page 11: ...he other the level at the right output In this case wire the plates as shown below 1 2 3 1 2 3 RL 1 REMOTE LEVEL CONTROL WIRING PLATE USE TWO CORE SCREENED CABLE 4 1 2 3 PLATE LEFT CHANNEL RIGHT CHANNEL CX163 ONLY REMOTE MUSIC CONTROL CONNECTOR RL 1 remote control plates will operate once connected however it may then be desirable to disable the front panel MUSIC LEVEL controls This can be accompl...

Page 12: ...speakers in each zone The EQ controls are marked HF and LF the HF control has a range of 10 dB at 10 kHz and the LF control a range of 10 dB at 50 Hz Note that a flat frequency response is achieved by positioning the slots on the controls in the horizontal plane Microphone Input Phantom Power The microphone input has 12 V phantom power available This will be adequate to power a wide range of conde...

Page 13: ...ter to remove the lowest frequencies This helps to reduce the effects of breath blasts and microphone handling noise The filter is always in circuit Zone Outputs In normal operation the music level in each zone will be set by the front panel MUSIC LEVEL control 2 at Description of front panel on page 7 or by a corresponding control on a remote plate Follow the procedure described previously Gain l...

Page 14: ...umpers Line 6 priority It may sometimes be necessary for one music input to have priority over all the others for example a jukebox in a bar or a digital sound store programmed to make automatic announcements in a public space Line Input 6 may be set to have priority in Zone 1 over whichever source is selected for the zone by its SOURCE control Line 6 priority can be enabled by moving internal PCB...

Page 15: ...emote control plates general considerations Cloud RL 1 Series remote control plates are available in three form factors two fit single gang UK or American electrical back boxes respectively while the third is a 50 x 50 mm Media module suitable for Euro module mounting frames available in most European countries Back boxes of either the recessed type or surface mounting type may be used providing t...

Page 16: ...eas of a pub or bar Each area can set its own volume by means of the local RL 1 remote control panels optional Alternatively it can be set from the front panel of the mixer itself Music at a lower level could be made available to a third area such as the lobby or toilets Paging to either or both zones is achieved using a paging mic such as the Cloud PM4 which would typically be located somewhere o...

Page 17: ...TEREO J8 Zone 1 mono stereo operation STEREO Zone 1 stereo operation MONO Zone 1 L R channels summed STEREO J9 Line 6 priority Zone 1 OFF No priority in Zone 1 ON Line 6 hasVOX triggered priority in Zone 1 over other sources OFF J10 Music ducking release time 3S 3 seconds release time 6S 6 seconds release time ABSENT 12 seconds release time 3S J11 Mic 1 priority trigger Zone 2 VOX Paging mic signa...

Page 18: ...ut leads both left right channels on each line input until the hum disappears This problem is often caused by terminating a screened input cable into a signal source positioned a significant distance from the mixer A good way of avoiding this potential problem is to use signal sources CD players and the like that are double insulated with no connection to the mains supply earth If a signal feed we...

Page 19: ...t Frequency response 3 dB 100 Hz filter to 20 kHz 0 5 dB Distortion 0 05 20 Hz to 22 kHz Gain range 10 dB to 50 dB Input impedance 2 kohms Common mode rejection 70 dB 1 kHz Headroom 20 dB Noise 128 dB EIN 20 Hz to 22 kHz 0dB gain Equalisation LF 10 dB 150 Hz HF 10 dB 5 kHz Outputs Output level nominal 0 dBu Output level max 20 dBu Minimum load impedance 1 2 kohms General Power input 85V to 253V AC...

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