View Full Version : Anybody know what this connector does?
montesquieu
10-08-2018, 22:13
Picked up a lovely sounding Gate Audio pre from Lawrence recently, in use in the study with a Garrard 401, Trichord Genesis, Pass Aleph M clone and a pair of Tannoy DC6es - really nice.
But it has a funny connector on the back - seemingly connected to the outputs - just wonder what it is?
My guess is either 1) earth socket - looks like it might take a banana plug? or 2) some kind of subwoofer output socket of a kind I've not seen before?
I had hoped to use split RCA cables to run a sub from the mono'd output of the only stereo pair of RCA outs, but it gave me a round loop so I gave up.
Anyway, could anyone enlighten me, I've shown a bigger picture of the overall layout in case that helps.
https://i.imgur.com/o9gxDcK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XjvqDAw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lcqdEQN.jpg
Looks like a 1/4" stereo locking jack socket, looped off the outputs.
Once inserted the red button has to be pressed to release the jack plug.
Could this be capable of driving a pair of headphones?
walpurgis
10-08-2018, 22:24
Looks like a 1/4" stereo locking jack socket, looped off the outputs.
Once inserted the red button has to be pressed to release the jack plug.
Could this be capable of driving a pair of headphones?
Yeah, could be. High impedance phones would probably be OK.
montesquieu
10-08-2018, 23:47
Bril. I’ll get a 1/4in to rca adapter that should hopefully drive the sub.
Lawrence001
11-08-2018, 21:20
Hey Tom glad you like it. I thought it must be designed for headphones but I tried a pair of high impedance Sennheisers and there wasn't much volume so I never really understood it. If it's connected directly to the output sockets as I think it was, I can't see how using this instead of RCA splitters would avoid the same ground loop, but I hope to be proved wrong.
Sent from my BLN-L21 using Tapatalk
Just an observation, but why would you have a socket to plug in headphones round the back of a bit of kit?
Lawrence001
12-08-2018, 12:48
Just an observation, but why would you have a socket to plug in headphones round the back of a bit of kit?Didn't Cyrus or someone similar also do that?
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Stryder5
12-08-2018, 13:01
Just an observation, but why would you have a socket to plug in headphones round the back of a bit of kit?
Because there wasn't one on the front?
Didn't Cyrus or someone similar also do that?
Sent from my BLN-L21 using TapatalkMy Claymore mk2 has one on the rear as well [emoji6]
montesquieu
12-08-2018, 19:52
Hey Tom glad you like it. I thought it must be designed for headphones but I tried a pair of high impedance Sennheisers and there wasn't much volume so I never really understood it. If it's connected directly to the output sockets as I think it was, I can't see how using this instead of RCA splitters would avoid the same ground loop, but I hope to be proved wrong.
Sent from my BLN-L21 using Tapatalk
It's a lovely thing Lawrence, I tried it in the main rig and while to be fair it's not quite there with the EAR 912, it gave a good account of itself and was extremely musical with good timing, rich timbre and a nice way with acoustic space.
It's not a gain monster though and I can see how it might struggle with some headphones. I've ordered up the right bits and we'll see whether there's sufficient to drive the sub. For the price of less than a tenner's worth of bits it's got to be worth a try, ground loop notwithstanding.
Am not sure if that is for headphones, it looks like it could be for a 1/4 inch TRS connection like used in studios and music production / rackmount gear.
montesquieu
14-08-2018, 00:14
Am not sure if that is for headphones, it looks like it could be for a 1/4 inch TRS connection like used in studios and music production / rackmount gear.
Would be very helpful if it was mono. It does appear to be connected to both sets of connectors but I can't see if it's stereo output or not.
TEA FOR ONE
14-08-2018, 01:08
It looks to me,like a neutrik speakon connection......????
montesquieu
14-08-2018, 01:13
It looks to me,like a neutrik speakon connection......????
Don't think so I have some of those.
Radford Revival
14-08-2018, 10:26
Looks like it's wired in stereo, connected in parallel with the normal RCA outs.
montesquieu
14-08-2018, 17:03
Well I plugged in a mono 1/4 jack (with an RCA socket on the back) and one channel (right) went silent ... I'm trying to find a stereo jack to see if the other channel also goes silent, but I suspect this means it's effectively a headphone socket. So I guess not a sub output then. Oh well. It still sounds pretty good in the room it's in without a sub, the little Tannoy DC6es are fine on their own in this space.
Like Raymond in NY I also think it is a Neutrik jack,
See here (https://www.jaycar.com.au/neutrik-professional-locking-chassis-jack/p/PS0196) for an example.
montesquieu
14-08-2018, 19:18
Looks like it
Does indeed
This is always the shape I associate with a Neutrik connector but I guess there must be more than one.
http://cpc.farnell.com/productimages/standard/en_GB/892373-40.jpg
Sherwood
14-08-2018, 19:22
Picked up a lovely sounding Gate Audio pre from Lawrence recently, in use in the study with a Garrard 401, Trichord Genesis, Pass Aleph M clone and a pair of Tannoy DC6es - really nice.
But it has a funny connector on the back - seemingly connected to the outputs - just wonder what it is?
My guess is either 1) earth socket - looks like it might take a banana plug? or 2) some kind of subwoofer output socket of a kind I've not seen before?
I had hoped to use split RCA cables to run a sub from the mono'd output of the only stereo pair of RCA outs, but it gave me a round loop so I gave up.
Anyway, could anyone enlighten me, I've shown a bigger picture of the overall layout in case that helps.
https://i.imgur.com/o9gxDcK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XjvqDAw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lcqdEQN.jpg
https://www.thomann.de/gb/neutrik_nj_3fp6cb.htm?glp=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw-8nbBRBnEiwAqWt1zcFb1RTvPHo_WwvwFkIJ3TqNDuO5LxouhXz IrAAiynLuldCcYuiOFhoCatkQAvD_BwE
montesquieu
14-08-2018, 19:32
https://www.thomann.de/gb/neutrik_nj_3fp6cb.htm?glp=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw-8nbBRBnEiwAqWt1zcFb1RTvPHo_WwvwFkIJ3TqNDuO5LxouhXz IrAAiynLuldCcYuiOFhoCatkQAvD_BwE
I guess that settles it. It does seem to cut out the main signal though (like a headphone socket) so not much use as a subwoofer outlet
you could always get it rewired to be a sub out I guess
Sherwood
14-08-2018, 20:22
Surely it's a pre-out. It's connected to the tape loop.
montesquieu
14-08-2018, 20:37
Surely it's a pre-out.
It cut the output to one channel when I put a mono 1/4 in jack in ... I don't have a stereo one to hand. If it mutes it's a headphone socket, if not then it's a preout. I have one coming on ebay so I'll keep you posted!
Lawrence001
14-08-2018, 23:15
It cut the output to one channel when I put a mono 1/4 in jack in ... I don't have a stereo one to hand. If it mutes it's a headphone socket, if not then it's a preout. I have one coming on ebay so I'll keep you posted!A headphone muting circuit is quite complex, this is a simple 3 way jack socket joined in parallel to the pre out. If it cuts out it's probably because a mono jack plug is joining the L/R positive outputs of the pre out together, which doesn't sound healthy to me. Could potentially result in damage, I wouldn't know.
All the subs I've had have had stereo RCAs in, with any mono RCA in being LFE. I believe LFE relies on an AV processor having a low pass output, or taking the .1 signal on a 5.1 soundtrack, so is not suitable for connection to stereo pre amps. Does your sub have stereo RCAs, in which case why are you trying a mono plug? If it has stereo inputs then a stereo jack should work fine. I should caveat I've not tried any of the above with it..
Sent from my BLN-L21 using Tapatalk
It cut the output to one channel when I put a mono 1/4 in jack in ... I don't have a stereo one to hand. If it mutes it's a headphone socket, if not then it's a preout. I have one coming on ebay so I'll keep you posted!
It's not a muting jack socket - that would require more contacts and a different wiring. Clincher is the relevant Neutrik product page that identifies the NJ3 type as a 'Stereo Unswitched' jack socket.
What you did when your inserted the mono jack plug was short one channel to ground - not an experiment worth repeating.
If you insert a stereo jack you will get both channels outputting in parallel with anything connected to the RCA outputs (i.e. nothing will be muted)
Edited to add link:
http://www.neutrik.de/de-de/klinkensteckverbinder/verriegelnde-635-mm-klinkenbuchsen/nj3fp6c-b
There is a downloadable set of circuit diagrams available to the right of the page.....
montesquieu
14-08-2018, 23:59
It's not a muting jack socket - that would require more contacts and a different wiring. Clincher is the relevant Neutrik product page that identifies the NJ3 type as a 'Stereo Unswitched' jack socket.
What you did when your inserted the mono jack plug was short one channel to ground - not an experiment worth repeating.
If your insert a stereo jack you will get both channels outputting in parallel with anything connected to the RCA outputs (i.e. nothing will be muted)
That's just what I was hoping - great stuff.
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