Schneider Electric Wired for Sound

  • By Brad Grimes

Orlando, Fla.--Schneider Electric this week showed off its new Audio Matrix family of multiroom audio products. Schneider, based Paris with North American operations in Palatine, Ill., makes the Square D Clipsal lightning control system.

"To this point, our focus for the Square D Clipsal system was primarily lighting control," said Brad Willis, director of installation systems and controls. "Now, starting with the addition of multiroom audio, we're expanding the system's control over other components."

Homeowners will be able to access the multiroom audio features through existing Square D Clipsal keypads, such as the Neo and Saturn lines. The family of audio products includes the Matrix Switcher, Desktop Amplifier, and Remote Amplifier. All are connected over the company's own Clipsal C-Bus network.

The new Matrix system supports eight zones and four sources. You can link up to three Matrix switches to support three times the zones and sources.

Willis said pricing for the multiroom solution had not yet been determined, and that the system would be available in the third quarter. Currently, the switch comes in a standalone design, but the company is researching a rack mountable version.