I'm laying out a Middle Atlantic rack that will include a client's CT-610. Can't tell from B&K's website if I can have the client order this with a standard 19" faceplate or if I need a custom rackshelf... notice there isn't one in MA's B&K listing.

Also, how many rack spaces? Looks like the dimensions listed are not 1.75" multiples?

As a side note, does this thing normally run:
A. Just above room temp.
B. Toasty, yet comfortable.
C. Very warm - but convection cooling is OK if the rack in general is vented OK.
D. One hot sumbitch - plan on fans & plenty of vented panels above & below this beast.

BTW, this a client who just can't justify extending the theater's Crestron system to remote rooms. Any feedback for the B&K as the "next best" option?

Thanks!

Last I checked you could order this with a 19" rack faceplate.


Four, I would guess, if you get the 19" faceplate. Five or six if you get the 17" and put it on a shelf.


Runs pretty nicely, call it a B. Does your client plan to have all channels driven pretty hard at the same time? Then a C.



Pity, the CT-610 supports some pretty nice two way RS-232 with volume indication, etc. Next best would be the B&K CK 1.2 keypads.

B&K list this as 7-1/2" high... more than 4 ru and less than 5 unless the rack faceplate goes up to 8-3/4".


Thanks - just wanted to make sure it's not the D / Sumbitch option.


OK, you've got me interested now... Is the control & feedback *so* solid & complete that I can replace *all* CK1.2 keypads and use the Crestron interfaces?

I've got touchpanels in the job already, and strangely enough, I've got the Crestron ML-500 remote in a couple spots. Looks very *similar* to the CK1.2's. Coincidence - I think not! Just thinking if I do end up with the CK1.2s that ML-500 might be great additions for the bedrooms & deck?

Also, this project is kind of a frankenstein - I've got Vantage keypads all over the place. Anybody want to educate me how well B&K integrates with Vantage?

they do not go up to 5 RU

B&K has, and continues to use, 1.5 inch rack spacing...they are one of only a hand ful that still do this

try racking a whole bunch of their gear...you end up with weird spaces you can't fill and loose probably 4-5 full spaces in a 44 space rack!

Aaahhhh - now I understand. So this would mean drilling and tapping rack rails and cutting blanks & vents down in a fully-loaded B&K rack? Thanks for the warning!

We sell the 610 with a MC2 and a CT1000 all the time. The B&K has 232 control that makes the end use think there controlling a PAD8. Nice.

Barry,

They WILL rack just fine...with tapped holes already provided!

No tapping and drilling required!

It's just by the end of an install...you can't FILL a 44 space (or ANY current rack that I know of) with STANDARD gear and panels!

They just use a weird spacing!

Audio Control uses the same spacing GRRRR!

********************* New from Middle Atlantic! *********************

WTF 19" Stand-Alone Enclosures.... Quality. Strangely Odd Sizes. Aggressively Priced.

Features:

* Fully welded construction, with fully adjustable, yet somehow solid sides
* UL Listed in the US, Canada, Grenada, Moldovia and Afganistan
* 16-gauge flexible steel tops, bottoms, & sides
* Laser-cut 1/8" thick internal bungee braces for strength
* 1 pair fully-adjustable front rackrail for those B&K and Audio Control wankers
* Available in 367 exciting vertical sizes. Stock them all! Trade with your friends!
* Configurable top in the new 49.875, 41.125, 36.750, 33.9999 sp. models
* Laser KO’s in side panels for cable pass-through (49.875, 41.125 sp. only)
* Finished in a durable black textured powder coat, like thats going to help
* Fits the new 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 sp. VTF Vent and HBL Blank Panels.

Oh yeah - NOW we're talkin!

I understand the new 2.0 firmware on the B&K supports output of volume levels, a breakthrough for the boys from Buffalo. Prior to that the unit would only tell you if volume was going up or going down, not where it had landed. The head engineer at B&K spent ten minutes telling me how to write a Crestron module to engineer around this by driving the volume level directly from Crestron, and deriving the volume level from the driven input. I told him in 15 seconds that he needed to fix his RS-232. I guess I won that one, but I'm guessing I was far from alone. :-) We've finished our driver to display volume levels, etc. on a Crestron touchpanel. Lotsa work, but it is nice.

I don't understand, why wouldn't you just order an RSH from Mid Atl for this piece?

So do you *replace* all the CK1.2's or leave them in place and add the Crestron functionality on your Crestron panels with B&K?

Do you have to poll B&K constantly or just "as needed"? Volume ramping works OK now? Can you set an absolute level? Just how slick is the integration... is it so good it ends looking like a PAD8 like Brijaws said?

Just to prove my ignorance of B&K, since i haven't opened up the manuals or software yet:

* Is the RS-232 used only to program and communicate with CT's, or can the CT control RS-232 source equipment, lighting systems, etc.?

* Can you program the CK1.2's from the central CT, or do you need to load them individually at each keypad?

* The literature mentions "doorbell" events. Anybody using it to mute audio or trigger chimes? Any rough-in/prewire advice here?

* Ganging 2nd & 3rd CT's for zones 7-18 looks like kind of a kluge from the little I have read. Is it better than it looks?

PennyG - I'm half-joking about MA, but I prefer rackmount equipment over an RSH if I get a choice. Just surprised to run into the oddball rack spacing.

Barry