Intrasonic Technology RETRO-M — Retrofit Intercom & Music Distribution System Installation

Installation instructions for the Intrasonic Technology (IST) RETRO-M Retrofit Intercom & Music Distribution System — designed to replace an existing whole-house intercom system using the existing in-wall wiring, without needing to rewire the house.

Safety Instructions

• Must be installed by a qualified installer or dealer.
• Read the full instruction manual before installing.
• Do not attempt to remove/repair the existing system or the Retro system yourself — call a qualified installer.
• The apparatus must not be exposed to dripping/splashing liquids; do not place liquid-filled objects (e.g. vases) on it.
• Turn off power before performing any work on the existing system or the Retro system.
• Do not expose outdoor units (Patio or Door stations) to direct water exposure — this can cause premature failure.
• Use only Intrasonic Technology certified replacement parts.
• Note: The RETRO-M Master must be installed in an existing approved intercom housing or the I1000H housing to meet local electrical codes.

Do's and Don'ts

Don'ts

• Don't expose any part of the system to moisture.
• Don't install room, patio, or door stations closer than 10 feet from each other, or back-to-back on the same wall — this can cause system feedback.
• Don't perform any work on the system without turning off power first.

Do's

• Use a qualified installer or dealer, with Intrasonic Technology-approved products only.
• Use a dedicated 110VAC line (with its own disconnect device) to the master — sharing a line can cause popping, humming, or buzzing.
• Locate the master away from heat sources; label all wires.
• Only one auxiliary input can be installed per system.
• Wiring must follow NEC 640 and 725 for audio wiring; all holes must be filled with wires and sealed.

System Capacity & Wiring

The Retro system is designed to reuse existing wiring — if the existing wiring has 3, 4, 6, or more wires, select 3 wires per station. Maximum run length is 350 feet per station. It's an 8-ohm based system: external speakers must be high-efficiency, 8-ohm rated. Lower-rated speakers can degrade performance or damage the system.

Tools Needed

Tape measure, wire stripper/cutter, hammer, drill, screwdrivers, tin snips, volt/ohm meter, pry bar.

Removing the Old Master

1. If the existing system still works, test radio and intercom to each station first — a non-functioning station can indicate faulty wiring (swap stations to isolate a wiring problem from a defective unit).
2. Turn off power to the existing system before removing the master.
3. Label all wires (room, patio, door, AM/FM antenna, power) before disconnecting — the circuit board near each connection is usually marked with connection details as a reference.
4. If wires aren't individually distinguishable, ohm out each wire to determine its destination.
5. Check if the existing housing can be reused: it must measure 14 1/8"–14 3/8" wide and at least 5 3/4" high. If not, install an Intrasonic I2000H Rough-In kit.
6. Remove the old transformer(s) — the Retro system doesn't use them. Bring the Romex (110V) up into the housing for connection to the Retro Master, but keep the old transformer housing/cover for reuse once rewired.
7. Install the included mounting straps (flat side facing the chassis, centered top-to-bottom, set back no more than 1/2" from the front edge) if using the original housing. Make sure left and right straps are level so the master mounts level.

Wiring in the Master Station

• Remove the appropriate number of green connectors from the rear of the master PCB for the number of stations being installed.
• Strip existing wires 1/4" for all stations. Each station has 3 connections: +15V, GND, and LINK. Pick one consistent color code (e.g. red=+15V, black=GND, white=LINK) and use it identically at both ends of every run — master and station.
• Wire power (110V/Romex) via a licensed electrician; place connections in the old power/transformer box and replace the cover. Do not turn on power yet.
• Plug the wired connectors into the correspondingly labeled "room," "door," and "patio" receptacles on the master PCB. The door station must plug into Door port 14 or 15.
• AM/FM antenna: FM antenna connects to the 2 screws on the coaxial connector. AM antenna (usually brown/orange wire) connects to the screw on the small green circuit board (pull it off its red/black clips to access, then reattach).
• Auxiliary input: plug the AUX wall plate's red & white phono jacks into the corresponding jacks on the master PCB (only one AUX input per system).
• Door release: connectors CN5 (door 1) and CN6 (door 2) provide both Normally Open and Normally Closed contacts — typically the N.O. contacts close to allow the bell transformer to power the release mechanism.

Installing the Master in the Wall Housing

• Confirm no wires are touching/shorting and unused wires are safely secured before mounting.
• Green station connectors on the back of the master are numbered 1–13. Connectors 1–9 are room-station only; connectors 10–13 can serve as either room or patio (select via switch SW1-4 on the main PCB).
• Align the master over the rough-in box, insert both 2" mounting screws and tighten firmly — do not over-tighten.

Removing & Installing Room and Patio Stations

• Remove the old station and disconnect its wires. Leave any existing mounting ring in place — the RETRO-5RAV, RETRO-5RAH, or RETRO-8RAP adapter will mount to it.
• Screw the metal adapter plate to the existing housing (drilling new holes in the adapter if the existing hole pattern doesn't line up), then snap the plastic trim plate on top — 4 exposed screw holes remain for mounting the new station.
• For surface-mount patios, use the RETRO-PSB surface mount box in place of the old one.
• Wire the same 3 color-coded wires (+15V, GND, LINK) to the matching terminals on the back of the new station.
• For ceiling/in-wall speakers, wire them to connector CN4 on the rear of the station (wire dual speakers in parallel). Existing 25 or 45 ohm speakers must be swapped for 8-ohm speakers to work with this system.
• Move jumper JP1 to the correct position when connecting external speakers: terminals 1&2 for internal speaker, terminals 2&3 for external speakers.
• Attach the station to the adapter plate with the 4 provided screws (don't over-tighten), then snap on the dress ring.

Removing & Installing the Door Station

• Remove screws, pull out the old door station, disconnect and label wires. Leave the existing recessed mounting box in place if applicable; install the RETRO-DSB surface box if the old station was surface-mounted.
• Wire the same +15V/GND/LINK terminals used at the master, then attach with the provided screws.
• Larger door stations (e.g. replacing a Nutone unit) require the RETRO-DAP door adapter plate.

RETRO MyDoor™ Installation

1. Power on the MyDoor unit and connect it to home Wi-Fi before installation (see the Operation Manual for Wi-Fi setup).
2. Position the door unit to determine the correct camera angle before final mounting.
3. Route the two included 2-conductor cables through the adapter bracket opening.
4. Position and adhere the adapter bracket to the wall with wiring routed through it.
5. Route cabling through the rain guard opening and connect to the back of the door unit.
6. Position the rain guard on the wall; apply caulk to the top and sides of the guard and bracket (leave the bottom open) for weather protection. The station is weather-resistant, not weatherproof.
7. Screw the MyDoor™ to the adapter bracket, securing the rain guard behind it.
8. Position the faceplate over the MyDoor™ and secure with the included bolts.

MyDoor connectors: two tether connectors to the adapter bracket, Lock #1 and Lock #2 relay outputs (each supports up to two locks/strikes), a reset/programming button (hold 10 seconds to reset), a Micro SD card slot (up to 64GB, oldest data overwritten when full), an Ethernet/RJ45 port for CAT5 connection, and an adjustable camera.

Troubleshooting

Warranty

Intrasonic Technology provides a 2-year limited warranty from date of closing/installation against manufacturing defects, for products purchased from authorized dealers/distributors. Call (877) 435-0670 before any attempt to dismantle or repair — unauthorized repair attempts void the warranty. An RMA number is required before returning any product.