Intercom

RTS BP-325 Beltpack

The RTS BP-325 is a two-channel beltpack on RTS's analog partyline standard — clip it to a belt, plug a headset in the front, and you're on the comms ring. Two listen-talk paths means an SM can monitor both lighting and audio worlds without swapping packs. Powered over the partyline pair from a main station like the RTS BTR-800 or a Telex MCS-325. Backstage staple at theatres + arena tours.

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Documented outputs: 22 destination connections
Documented inputs: 2Based on documented inputs
Rack space: Outside rackPlan a shelf, tray, or stage position
Power draw: UnverifiedPower requirement is not verified in the catalog
Catalog estimate: ~$549Use retailer rows for current price and stock

01 · What it does—and what that changes in your rig.

Product overview

Start with the payoff, then work through how it functions, where it fits, and the details that change a real build.

The payoff

Intercom decisions, organized around the whole rig.

The BP-325 is a two-channel analog partyline beltpack — the piece of kit that puts a stage manager, fly rail op, or lighting board op on the comms ring without asking them to think about it. Clip it on, plug in a 4-pin XLR headset, and they're talking. The two independent channels are the real point here: one pack can simultaneously hold a place on both the audio world and the lighting world, so an SM running a complex show isn't fumbling between two beltpacks or calling blind. At $549 it sits firmly in the professional tier, and it's priced that way because touring and theatrical environments depend on it nightly.

Documented outputs: 22 destination connections
Documented inputs: 2Based on documented inputs
Rack space: Outside rackPlan a shelf, tray, or stage position

RTS product panelOutside rack · Unverified

Function

How it works in the path

Power comes off the partyline itself — from a main station like an RTS BTR-800 or a compatible Telex MCS-325 — so the beltpack draws nothing of its own and there's no battery to manage mid-show. The loop-thru XLR pairs on each channel let you daisy-chain multiple packs on a single run of partyline cable without breaking the circuit, which is how you build a twenty-position comms network off a single cable home run. At 400 grams and 60mm deep, it's genuinely comfortable on a belt for a four-hour load-in. The 4-pin XLR headset connector is the RTS/Telex standard, so headset inventory from either brand drops straight in.

Best fit

Where it earns its place in the system

If your production runs RTS or Telex analog partyline and you need crew members on more than one channel simultaneously, the BP-325 is the right call — it's built for exactly that environment and will work reliably in the hands of non-audio crew who don't want to learn gear. If your comms infrastructure is already digital — Clear-Com FreeSpeak, Riedel Bolero, or similar — this pack won't bridge over; you need beltpacks native to that ecosystem. And if you only need single-channel partyline, a less expensive pack might free up budget elsewhere. But for mixed theatrical and touring rigs running analog partyline, this is the industry-standard answer.

In the rack

Details worth deciding before load-in.

When daisy-chaining multiple BP-325s on a run, use the loop-thru outputs to maintain the partyline circuit — capping the last pack's loop-thru with a proper terminator prevents signal reflections that cause noise on long cable runs.
Label each beltpack's channel 1 and channel 2 assignments with a small piece of gaffers tape before doors — crew who aren't audio-trained will not remember which channel is lighting and which is production without a physical reminder on the unit.
Keep a two-pack float in your comms kit: the 4-pin XLR headset connector takes mechanical wear faster than the pack itself, and swapping a full beltpack is faster than diagnosing a connector problem during a show.
Verify headset compatibility against the RTS/Telex 4-pin standard before the gig — some Clear-Com headsets share the 4-pin XLR shell but wire differently, and plugging the wrong headset in will give you either no audio or a phase-reversed sidetone that makes the pack feel broken.

02 · Know the whole path before you buy.

Signal path

Learn the route as a block diagram: source, product function, transport, and destination. Select any block to see what enters, what changes, and what leaves.

Interactive block diagramAuto-looping · hover, focus, or tap to hold a stage

Port-type signalProduct functionSystem boundary

Follow one signal from source to destination

Each block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.

01 · Source · selected

01 · Source

2 documented inputs

XLR female

Arrives as: 2 documented inputs
Connector: XLR female
Signal: analog audio

03 · What this product asks of the rest of the system.

Compatibility

Treat connector names as the start of the check—not the answer. These are the boundaries that determine a complete working path.

Best fit · Intercom

Use it as intercom tracked outside rack rails; follow the manufacturer’s mounting and form-factor guidance.

Plan the companion path

Complete the path with upstream and downstream gear that matches connector, direction, signal type, protocol, and wiring standard.

Connector boundary

Documented connectors: XLR female, XLR male. Match connector, direction, and signal type—not shape alone.

04 · Every connector, grouped by job.

I/O ports

Switch the product view and the documented port inventory updates with it—hardware and data stay side by side.

Every connector, grouped by job.

Switch panels to keep the hardware view and the documented port list in sync.

Panel view

Front panel

Rear panel

All documented ports for RTS BP-325 Beltpack
Port	Panel	Connector	Direction	Signal	Channels
Channel 1 In (XLR-3)	rear	XLR female	input	analog audio	—
Channel 1 Loop-Thru (XLR-3)	rear	XLR male	output	analog audio	—
Channel 2 In (XLR-3)	rear	XLR female	input	analog audio	—
Channel 2 Loop-Thru (XLR-3)	rear	XLR male	output	analog audio	—
Headset (4-pin XLR)	rear	XLR female	bidirectional	analog audio	—

Showing 5 of 5 documented physical ports.

05 · Compare the decision, not just the price.

Alternatives

The rows are organized around fit, power, I/O, and system role so a cheaper unit cannot hide a more expensive workflow.

Compare	External unit RTS BP-325 BeltpackThis gear	Clear-Com HelixNet HMS-4X Main Station
Fit	📐 Outside rack	📐 1U
Power	⚡ Unverified	⚡ 25W
Weight	⚖️ 0.9 lb	⚖️ 8.4 lb
I/O	🔌 5	🔌 10
Estimate	💵 ~$549	💵 ~$4,499
Deep dive	Current selection	Full comparison →

06 · Resolve the questions that can change the purchase or build plan.

Planning questions

Short, source-backed answers surface rack fit, power, cabling, and connection details before they become surprises.

Where does the RTS BP-325 Beltpack live in a complete rig?

The catalog assigns it no rack units. Builder tracks it as non-rack gear; follow the manufacturer’s mounting, case, and form-factor guidance.

How much power does the RTS BP-325 Beltpack draw?

Its power requirement is not yet verified in the catalog.

What connections does the RTS BP-325 Beltpack have?

5 documented physical ports, including Channel 1 In (XLR-3), Channel 1 Loop-Thru (XLR-3), Channel 2 In (XLR-3), Channel 2 Loop-Thru (XLR-3), Headset (4-pin XLR).

07 · See this gear inside a complete system plan.

Builder preview

Builder keeps non-rack gear in the same bill of materials, budget, dependency, and connection plan as the rack-mounted system around it.Open in Builder

08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.

Intercom

Clear-Com HelixNet HMS-4X Main Station

1U · 10 ports · ~$4,499