Grounding – MK Sound LFE-4 User Manual

Page 7

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Input and Output Connector Wiring

The XLR connectors on the LFE-4 are wired as follows:

Pin 3:

Minus

Pin 2:

Plus

Pin 1:

Ground

General Connection Guidelines

To avoid loud transients that may damage your speakers and hurt your ears, turn off your power amplifiers

before connecting or disconnecting any cables or the power supply on the LFE-4.

Certain types of audio cables have high capacitance in the range of 0.75pf/ft. Long runs of high capacitance

cable can cause a decrease in high frequency performance of the LFE-4. Approximately 300 feet of 0.75pf/ft cable
will cause a drop of 3dB at 24kHz. In order to keep this effect to a minimum, use high-quality, low capacitance
cable or keep your cable runs from the LFE-4 to your amplifier to under a hundred and fifty feet.

5.

GROUNDING

The LFE-4 was designed so as not to add noise to an already clean system. To eliminate the possibility of the

extra safety ground introducing ground loop hum, the LFE-4 uses an external double-insulated UL approved power
transformer that does not require a safety ground. The LFE-4 is grounded to the audio signal ground of the mixer
and power amplifiers through the XLR cables. In order to minimize the grounding problems between the LFE-4
and equipment racks, the internal audio signal ground can be separated from the chassis ground. On the rear of
the unit are two binding posts. The black binding post is connected to the chassis. The red binding post is
connected to the audio signal ground. Normally, these binding posts are shorted together with a gold-plated
jumper. However in a situation where the chassis may be connected to a "dirty" ground, this jumper can be
removed, separating the audio and chassis ground. In addition, the binding post can be used to attach an
additional heavy gauge grounding wire.

TECHNICAL TIP:

It is sometimes a common practice to only ground XLR cables at one end to prevent ground loops through the

cable. In order to work correctly, the LFE-4 must be grounded to either the mixing console or the power amps or
both. This is normally done through the XLR cables. If you are using XLR cables with the shield disconnected at
one end for both inputs and outputs, you must use the RED binding post to connect the LFE-4 to the audio
system ground.

Bass Management Controller

7

24 VAC

IN

CHASSIS

GND

SIGNAL

GND

Remove jumper

Ground to clean
audio ground
if necessary

Ground to

rack

FIGURE 3:

GROUNDING

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