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Re: Connecting EP500 to line output of receiver.
GregLee #290209 02/03/10 02:47 PM
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The new subs with the combo XLR/RCA jacks don't use an XLR to RCA adapter anyway. There's just a 1/4" phono hole in the middle of the XLR where an RCA-female to phono-male adapter is inserted.

There's no way to adapt an unbalanced RCA (which is what receivers put out), into balanced XLR (which what the Axiom subs use) with just a cable. You need active electronics--the sub has those electronics inside when you use the RCA input.

If the RCA inputs are not working, there's a chance the sub is broken. You said you bought it used? While Axiom will more than likely provide some testing ideas on the phone, you won't have any warranty support.


Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011
Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8
Sony PS4, surround backs
-Chris
Re: Connecting EP500 to line output of receiver.
ClubNeon #290214 02/03/10 02:57 PM
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 Originally Posted By: ClubNeon
There's no way to adapt an unbalanced RCA (which is what receivers put out), into balanced XLR (which what the Axiom subs use) with just a cable. You need active electronics--the sub has those electronics inside when you use the RCA input.

Oh. But then what are the XLR to RCA adapters and cables I see on sale used for?


Greg
VP180, M80s, M22s, QS8(4), CSW S305s, EP500, Pioneer VSX-90
M2i, M3(2), Pio vsx-1020
Re: Connecting EP500 to line output of receiver.
GregLee #290217 02/03/10 03:05 PM
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It's possible to go from an XLR signal source, to a device expecting an RCA input with just a cable. But not from an RCA source to an XLR input.

XLR has two signals on it. One normal, and one electrically inverted. When going from XLR to RCA the inverted signal can be ignored. But from RCA to XLR, you need something to generate the inverted signal--thus the active device.


Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011
Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8
Sony PS4, surround backs
-Chris
Re: Connecting EP500 to line output of receiver.
ClubNeon #290225 02/03/10 03:45 PM
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 Originally Posted By: ClubNeon
But from RCA to XLR, you need something to generate the inverted signal--thus the active device.

The current manual says: "Your subwoofer is shipped with a supplied 1/4” Phone-to-RCA-jack adapter already installed in the XLR female input. Connect a shielded coaxial cable, with male RCA plugs on each end, from the A/V receiver or A/V preamp processor’s Subwoofer Output jack to the RCA female jack on the 1/4” Phone-to-RCA adapter."

If an active device is needed, how can Axiom do it with an adapter? Or maybe they're not referring to a physically separate adapter here ...


Greg
VP180, M80s, M22s, QS8(4), CSW S305s, EP500, Pioneer VSX-90
M2i, M3(2), Pio vsx-1020
Re: Connecting EP500 to line output of receiver.
GregLee #290226 02/03/10 03:48 PM
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It is a physically separate adapter, but the plug they use is a combo XLA and 1/4" plug. The 1/4" plug is wired separately from the XLR and is unbalanced.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Connecting EP500 to line output of receiver.
Ken.C #290228 02/03/10 03:57 PM
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 Originally Posted By: kcarlile
It is a physically separate adapter, but the plug they use is a combo XLA and 1/4" plug. The 1/4" plug is wired separately from the XLR and is unbalanced.

I don't quite understand that. An RCA connector is going to be unbalanced in any case, isn't it? Are you saying that if I use a passive adapter to plug RCA into the XLR input it will be an unbalanced connection? Or that it won't work at all?


Greg
VP180, M80s, M22s, QS8(4), CSW S305s, EP500, Pioneer VSX-90
M2i, M3(2), Pio vsx-1020
Re: Connecting EP500 to line output of receiver.
GregLee #290229 02/03/10 03:58 PM
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The XLR is balanced. The 1/4" plug is unbalanced, as is an RCA connector.
You don't have a 1/4" input on your EP500, so...


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Connecting EP500 to line output of receiver.
Ken.C #290232 02/03/10 04:02 PM
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And it's not an adapter from RCA to XLR, it's RCA to 1/4" phono.

There is enough room in the center of the 3 pins for a female phono jack. It wouldn't be possible to have a female RCA there. So the adapter from the more common RCA to the less common phono is used. But an RCA male to phono male cable could be used in that case without the supplied adapter.

None of that matters to you, as this only applies to the newer subs, where the unbalanced (phono) and balance (XLR) inputs have been combined into one physical interface, but are still electrically separate.

The older sub, as you have, has the RCA and XLR both electrically and physically separate. I'm sure they were combined to save a little on parts and labor (plus the combined jacks are what the A1400-8/2 amps are using, so there's some standardization across the lines).


Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011
Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8
Sony PS4, surround backs
-Chris
Re: Connecting EP500 to line output of receiver.
ClubNeon #290236 02/03/10 04:13 PM
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Okay, I guess I'm with you. I'll do a little rewiring of my system to use the high level inputs of the EP500, for the time being. But if I want to use my other subs with the EP500, I'll lose any LFE channel input to the EP500, so it's less than ideal.


Greg
VP180, M80s, M22s, QS8(4), CSW S305s, EP500, Pioneer VSX-90
M2i, M3(2), Pio vsx-1020
Re: Connecting EP500 to line output of receiver.
GregLee #290237 02/03/10 04:16 PM
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Have you tested the high level to make sure they work? I'd do that with some temporary cables before you rewire anything.

I see you did test them already. Good. Did you try the RCA "out"? While they are labeled input and output, they're both hooked together inside the amp, and go to the same place (they basically form a Y).

Oh, that's another reason for the RCA adapter with the XLR. People kept breaking the RCA inputs which went straight into the back of the sub. The RCA adapter is 90 degrees, and can point down, thus less likely to break.

Last edited by ClubNeon; 02/03/10 04:21 PM.

Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011
Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8
Sony PS4, surround backs
-Chris
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