The Russound V-KP-1 packs a streaming player, a voice assistant and a stereo amplifier into a Decora-style wall keypad. Part of the VoicePlay family, it has Amazon Alexa built in, so a room can ask for music, news and smart-home control without a separate smart speaker, and it joins Alexa multi-room music groups with other devices. Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth 5.0 provide additional ways to stream from a phone or tablet. The integrated amplifier delivers 15 watts to each of two channels and can be set for 4- or 8-ohm loads with a rear slide switch (8 ohms by default), so a pair of in-ceiling or in-wall speakers connects directly to the keypad; two pairs of 8-ohm speakers can be wired in parallel with the switch set to 4 ohms. Touch buttons on the face handle volume, mute the microphones and trigger the action button. Because it reuses existing home-run speaker or low-voltage wiring, the V-KP-1 can take the place of an older A-BUS, CAA66, CA4, CAV or volume-control system with no new wires, and it suits new construction as well. Power comes from the separate V-PS-2 60-watt supply, which can run two keypads from a local or central location over CL2-rated cable up to 100 meters. Setup and Wi-Fi configuration are done in the Russound VoicePlay app for iOS and Android.
Key Features
- Amazon Alexa Built-in with multi-room music
- Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth 5.0
- 2 x 15W amplifier, 4 or 8 ohm selectable
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Up to 32 devices per home, up to 10 in a synchronized group
- Hardware microphone mute disconnects the mic array
In the Box
- V-KP-1 amplified keypad
- Removable screw-down 2-pin power connector
- Removable screw-down 4-pin speaker connector
- White and black faceplates
- White and black Decora wallplates
Ideal Applications
Kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, offices and patios where a pair of architectural speakers needs a voice-controlled source without a rack of equipment, and upgrades of older Russound or volume-control systems that already have home-run wiring.
Compatibility
Drives passive 4- or 8-ohm speakers. Requires the Russound V-PS-2 60W power supply (sold separately; one supply powers up to two V-KP-1). Mounts in a standard single-gang location; mounting depth 2.44 in behind the faceplate. For very large rooms, Russound amplifiers with a speaker-level input can be added.