Filter
Top Products
| Fathom IWSPage 16
CONNECTING YOUR Fathom IWS
Balanced Inputs
If your home-theater receiver or preamplier/processor provides balanced
outputs, the Fathom IWS amp’s balanced inputs are the preferred connection.
Balanced connections are used extensively in professional studios and sound
reinforcement applications for a number of very good reasons. Besides ensuring
proper grounding between components, balanced signal transmission is designed
to cancel induced cable noise from the surrounding environment (particularly
important with long cable runs). e bottom line is that your system will be far
less likely to exhibit humming or other extraneous noises if you use balanced
connections.
e Fathom IWS subwoofers feature individual le and right balanced
input connections with XLR “combo” jacks. ese special jacks accept either a
three-pin male XLR connector or a “tip-ring-sleeve” (TRS) 1/4-inch (6.3 mm)
connector for compatibility with a wide range of equipment.
For systems with a mono subwoofer or “LFE” channel connection, only the
jack labeled “Le or Mono” will be used. is applies to most modern multi-
channel receivers and preamplier/processors. Separate le and right input jacks
are provided for systems without a dedicated mono subwoofer connection. is
typically applies to two-channel audio equipment.
Appropriate balanced cables are available from your JL Audio dealer and are
not included with the Fathom IWS.
Technical Notes:
• Do not use the balanced inputs with unbalanced signals via adaptors. e
unbalanced inputs of the Fathom IWS are optically isolated and preferable in
situations where only an unbalanced signal source is available. Balanced input
impedance is 10 kohms.
• Input connectors are congured according to Audio Engineering Society
recommendations for balanced signal cables as follows:
XLR Connection
Pin 1: Shield
Pin 2: Positive
Pin 3: Negative
TRS connection:
Tip: Positive
Ring: Negative
Sleeve: Shield
e Le and Right inputs on the Fathom
IWS are internally summed to a single
mono channel. Since the Fathom IWS
is inherently a “mono” or single channel
device, you can use the Le and Right
inputs for the master Fathom IWS and
then distribute the summed mono signal
to additional slave Fathom IWSs in the
system.
IMPORTANT
IMPORTANT: IF YOUR RECEIVER OR PREAMPLIFIER/PROCESSOR DOES NOT
HAVE XLR OR 1/4-INCH TRS BALANCED OUTPUTS, PLEASE REFER TO THE
“UNBALANCED INPUTS” SECTION ON PAGE 17 FOR INPUT CONNECTION
INFORMATION. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONNECT UNBALANCED OUTPUTS
TO THE Fathom IWS’S BALANCED INPUTS VIA ADAPTORS.