Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems SpeakerLink used as Digital Out (XLR or SPDIF) plus COMMS and RS232

I have run SL (MS600) into AES (ID30 in 861v4) using a simple cable and it worked great. I don't know if it sounded better than doing it the simple way with SPDIF, but at least I made the effort...

Many people have gone SpeakerLink (out) --> AES we know that's fine.

However, Springlike wishes to go AES --> SpeakerLink (in) ... I suspect it will be fine but I'm not aware of anyone doing the before. If any has don't be shy.


Springlike,
I look forward to hear how it goes.

Regards,
Carl

This connection works using the wiring provided by this thread:

AES (out) --> SpeakerLink (in)

I used it to connect my computer to the SL input of a DSP5200SE. There was no clipping. Sound quality was comparable to reasonably good quality SPDIF coax, certainly no worse and possibly better in some ways if you have better ears than me.

I used M2Tech HiFace Evo for asynchronous digital to digital conversion from computer USB. The Evo provides both SPDIF (coax and BNC) and AES digital output. I used an AES --> SL interconnect made by MI' using good quality S/FTP CAT 6a cable.

Many thanks for the update, glad you're up and running now.

Regards,
Carl

Hi everybody,

This weekend I tried to connect the SPDIF out from my receiver to the SpeakerLink in on my M6's. I was looking at this thread where Syles enumerates the functions of the pins in the SpeakerLink connection. I made a quick breakout to go from SPDIF out on my receiver to SpeakerLink in on the M6. I followed the guide, connecting AES+ and AES- to the brown/white and brown wires, respectively. Ground went to blue/white. When I connected the ethernet cable to the M6 speaker, one of the resistors fried (the 55Ω that goes from the AES- to ground). Needless to say, I unplugged everything very quickly!

After the smoke cleared (fortunately only the resistor was damaged), I plugged in the ethernet cable into the SpeakerLink in connection on the M6 again. This time the other end was unconnected so I could measure -- I got +12v from the brown AND brown/white wires relative to the blue/white wire (which I assume is ground).

Do you have any idea what is going on here? It seems odd to me that the SpeakerLink in has +12v for anything, but definitely not something I expected an AES digital input would have.

I thought SpeakerLink could power the MS200 on later DSP speakers. Perhaps this is the issue. Chris

Sounds like the issue is likely as Chris suggests. The two different standard wiring maps for RJ45 connectors may be the reason you ended up with the wrong pins connected. I would take great care taking the wire colours in an Ethernet cable as the same as pinouts. Either crimp your own plugs or look very carefully at what's connected to each pin at the plug end, presuming you can see it, with shielded connectors you often cannot.

Good luck

Richard

Just to add to Richard W are you using a crossover cable.

Yes, the MS200 can be powered by SpeakerLink DSP speakers.

It's definitely not a crossover cable, it's standard, el-cheapo Cat 5e cable. I'll post a pic in a minute of the termination, but it's standard orange/white to brown (from top to bottom). Even if it were a crossover cable, we'd have to assume that the master and ground were then powered at 12v ... that seems unlikely.

Interesting. Does this change the pinout in anyway? Are the brown and brown/white lines still the AES lines? If they are, then maybe I just need a transformer rather than a resistor network so that the voltage is balanced across the two sides?

Here's a shot of my cat 5 that I'm using for testing Blurry photo of an ethernet plug

There is 12v phantom power on pin 7 when connected to the master speaker. This is what would power a MS200.