Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Rockville RockTower 68C Classic Home Audio Tower Speakers. This manual provides essential information for the safe and optimal use of your speakers. Please read it thoroughly before installation and operation.
The RockTower 68C is a passive 3-way tower speaker designed to deliver high-fidelity sound. It features dual 6.5-inch woofers for deep bass, a dedicated 6.5-inch midrange driver for clear vocals, and a 1-inch silk dome tweeter for crisp highs. With 125 watts RMS and 500 watts peak power, these speakers are suitable for various home audio setups. The cabinet is constructed from high-quality MDF with a classic wood grain finish, and it includes gold-plated 5-way binding post terminals for versatile connectivity.
Safety Instructions
- Electrical Safety: Always ensure your amplifier or receiver is turned off before making any connections. Use appropriate gauge speaker wire for your setup.
- Placement: Place speakers on a stable, level surface to prevent tipping. Ensure adequate ventilation around the speakers and connected audio equipment. Keep speakers away from heat sources, direct sunlight, and moisture.
- Volume Levels: Avoid prolonged listening at excessively high volume levels, which can cause hearing damage and speaker damage.
- Cleaning: Disconnect power before cleaning. Use a soft, dry cloth. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosols.
- Servicing: Do not attempt to service this product yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
Package Contents
Verify that the following items are included in your package:
- Rockville RockTower 68C Tower Speaker (Quantity as purchased)
- Detachable Grille
- Instruction Manual (this document)
Setup
Unpacking
Carefully remove the speakers from their packaging. Retain the packaging materials for future transport or storage.
Speaker Placement
Optimal speaker placement is crucial for sound quality. Consider the following:
- Stereo Imaging: For a stereo setup, place the speakers equidistant from your primary listening position, forming an equilateral triangle.
- Distance from Walls: Placing speakers too close to walls can overemphasize bass. Experiment with distances to find the best balance.
- Height: Ensure the tweeters are roughly at ear level when seated in your listening position.
Figure 1: Rockville RockTower 68C Classic Wood Tower Speaker with grille.
Figure 2: Front view of the RockTower 68C without the grille, revealing the speaker drivers.
Connecting to an Amplifier or Receiver
The RockTower 68C speakers are passive and require an external amplifier or receiver. They have an 8-ohm impedance. Ensure your amplifier is compatible with 8-ohm speakers.
- Turn off all equipment: Before making any connections, ensure your amplifier/receiver and speakers are powered off.
- Prepare speaker wire: Strip approximately 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) of insulation from the ends of your speaker wires. Twist the bare strands tightly.
- Connect to speakers: The RockTower 68C features gold-plated 5-way binding posts. Connect the positive (+) terminal (red) on the speaker to the positive (+) terminal on your amplifier. Connect the negative (-) terminal (black) on the speaker to the negative (-) terminal on your amplifier. Ensure no stray wire strands are touching between the positive and negative terminals, as this can cause a short circuit.
- Secure connections: Tighten the binding posts firmly to ensure a good electrical connection.
Figure 3: Detailed view of the speaker's gold-plated binding posts for wire connection.
Figure 4: Rear view of the speaker, highlighting the connection terminals and vented enclosure.
Video 1: This video demonstrates the process of setting up your Rockville RockTower speakers, including connecting them to an amplifier.
Operating Instructions
Initial Power-Up
After ensuring all connections are secure:
- Turn on your amplifier or receiver.
- Start with the volume at its lowest setting.
- Begin playing audio at a low volume and gradually increase it to a comfortable listening level.
Break-In Period
Like many new speakers, the RockTower 68C may benefit from a break-in period. Playing music at moderate volumes for several hours will allow the speaker components to loosen up and achieve their optimal sound performance.
Video 2: This video provides a general overview and features of the Rockville RockTower speakers.
Maintenance
Cleaning the Cabinet
Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to wipe down the speaker cabinet. For stubborn marks, a slightly damp cloth can be used, followed immediately by a dry cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners, solvents, or polishes that may damage the wood grain finish.
Cleaning the Grille
The detachable grille can be gently vacuumed with a soft brush attachment to remove dust. If necessary, it can be carefully hand-washed with mild soap and water, then allowed to air dry completely before reattaching.
General Care
- Keep speakers away from direct sunlight and extreme temperature changes.
- Avoid placing heavy objects on top of the speakers.
- Protect from liquids and excessive humidity.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No sound from speakers | Incorrect wiring; Amplifier/receiver off or muted; Source device issue | Check speaker wire connections (positive to positive, negative to negative). Ensure amplifier is on and not muted. Verify source device is playing audio. |
| Distorted or unclear sound | Loose connections; Overdriven amplifier; Damaged speaker wire | Check all speaker wire connections for tightness. Reduce amplifier volume. Inspect speaker wires for damage and replace if necessary. |
| Weak or no bass | Incorrect wiring (out of phase); Speaker placement; Amplifier settings | Ensure speaker wires are connected in phase (positive to positive, negative to negative) for both speakers. Adjust speaker placement. Check amplifier bass/tone controls. |
If you continue to experience issues, please refer to the Customer Support section for assistance.
Specifications
Figure 5: Dimensions of the RockTower 68C speaker.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Rockville |
| Model Number | RockTower 68C |
| Speaker Type | Passive Tower Speaker |
| RMS Power | 125 Watts |
| Peak Power | 500 Watts |
| Impedance | 8 Ohm |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 20KHz |
| Sensitivity | 87 dB 1W/1m |
| Woofer Size | Dual 6.5 inches |
| Midrange Size | 6.5 inches |
| Tweeter Size | 1 inch Silk Dome |
| Crossover | Built-in 3-way crossover |
| Enclosure Material | High-quality MDF |
| Finish | Classic Wood Grain Vinyl |
| Terminals | Gold-plated 5-way binding posts |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41.73" x 7.87" x 10.43" (106cm x 20cm x 26.5cm) |
| Weight per speaker | 26.2 lbs (11.88 kg) |
Warranty Information
The Rockville RockTower 68C speakers come with a 1-year limited warranty from the date of purchase. This warranty covers manufacturing defects and workmanship under normal use. It does not cover damage caused by misuse, accident, unauthorized modification, or improper installation.
Please retain your proof of purchase for warranty claims. For detailed warranty terms and conditions, refer to the official Rockville website or contact customer support.
Customer Support
For technical assistance, troubleshooting not covered in this manual, or warranty inquiries, please contact Rockville customer support. You can typically find contact information on the official Rockville website or through your retailer.
When contacting support, please have your product model number (RockTower 68C) and proof of purchase readily available.
