Interest in multi-room systems, where you have access and control of all music sources from a number of different rooms, is growing year by year. Having the sound of a radio news programme or favourite CD follow you around the house as your day begins, from the bedroom to the

Multi-room systems have been available for a number of years but have involved long and expensive installations. Arcam's MARC module allows the Alpha 10 amplifier to deliver the most important features of the competition at a fraction of the price and brings the multi-room experience to music lovers for a suprisingly modest overall price. MARC is also available in FMJ styling.

The MARC module gives you the ability to control any source connected to an Alpha 10 from up to four additionall rooms as well as from the main listening room. Each room/zone additionally requires a minimum of a pair of loudspeakers plus a power or integrated amplifier with a IR (infra-red) sensor or key pad to feedback control commands to the main system.

MARC will work with a number of manufacturers' in-wall keypads and infra-red repeater systems. The module provides a number of features such as persetting the maximum volume level allowed in any zone and access restrictins to prevent a zone from getting audio from a particular source. These features enhance the use of the system and help prevent the system from misuse by children or at parties.

Installation is quite straightforward and because the system is fleixble you can add zones on a one by one basis as your plans for music in different rooms grows. You can mix and match different manufacturers source and amplification equipment and control it from a standard handset or a learning remote handset such as Arcam's CR 9000, which can be programmed to operate just about any peice of audio-video equipment.

Arcam is one of the few companies in the world who make an audiophile quality multidisc CD player. The Arcma MCD's ability to play 6 CDs enables you to plan a whole evenings listening which is great for entertaining, or just simply relaxing, and makes it a perfect partner for MARC.

Radio is also an ideal source for multi-room use and not only does Arcam make a high quality FM/AM remote controllable tuner, the Arcam Alpha 8 tuner, we also have made the world's first Digital Radio tuner, the Alpha 10 DRT, which brings radio into the 21st century and provides noise and interference free reception to music lovers. The system already reaches two thirds of all households in the UK and many other countries around the world are preparing to broadcast using the same Digital Radio system.

Arcam makes a range of power amplifiers which can be used with the MARC module. The optional CIM (custom installation) module available for them allows for remote power switching. The Alpha 10P has remote power on/off as standard. You can trim the balance from the MARC to compensate for any asymmetric speaker placement in other rooms.

The MARC board is easy to install into the Alpha 10 Amplifier, but it may be necessary for the software on older Alpha 10s to be updated to the current version. For more information, please contact your supplier. The MARC module is only available from a selected number of Arcam specialists who have the expertise and experience needed to support such advanced product architectures.

For more information on custom installations visit CEDIA International or CEDIA UK.

MARC outline specification

Set up options per external zone

• Maximum volume - may be set up to restrict the overall volume level in any zone
• Access restrictions - may be used to prevent zones from getting audio from particular sources
• Control restrictions - may be used to prevent zones from controlling particular sources
• Fixed volume output - fixes volume output of that zone to full line level
• Preset balance - allows a preset balance between left and right channels in a particular zone

Output levels	1 volt nominal, 7 volts max
Output impedence	50 Ohms
Noise	- 90dB
Distortion @ 1 kH	0.01%
Gain	Up to 5 times input voltage

4 pin control connections - +12v, 0v, control signal & status
4 sets of 3.5 mm jacks to feed remote IR emitters
2 source components per output plus a maximum of 4 of any one type of source component
1 3.5 mm jack to trigger power on/off to additional Arcam power amplifiers

E & OE 8/99