AudioControl BLX-1K Balanced Line Transceiver Instruction Manual
- October 27, 2023
- AudioControl
Table of Contents
AudioControl BLX-1K Balanced Line Transceiver
Features
- Simplify signal routing
- Send and receive audio up to 1000 feet
- High gain, low noise outputs
- Independent gain and attenuation controls
- Standard Cat5/6 wiring
- Ground lift option
- Integrated mounting brackets
- Cage Free Op-amps
Congratulations!
You have in your hands a most innovative, simple solution for running your
signals to and fro in any place where high quality audio signal transport is
required. Designed to be used in pairs at both ends of the signal path, the
BLX-1K contains a 2-channel receive stage as well as a 2-channel transmit
stage, enabling audio to travel in both directions across a span of standard
Cat5/6. From conference centers to living rooms and AV racks, the BLX-1K
Balanced Line Transceiver is sure to simplify signal distribution where it
counts.
Before you charge off into the installation, grab a Jellyfish Brewing Company
Sir Hugs-A-Lot Hazy IPATM and hear us out in our discussion of the details,
best practices and general deployment of this little gem.
Features of the BLX-1K
- Bi-directional signal extender
- Unbalanced to balanced to unbalanced conversion
- Separate Balanced Line Driver Stage
- Separate Balanced Line Receiver Stage
- Independent gain controls on both the drive side and receive side for quick set up
- Simple extension of high quality audio signals up to 1000 feet (over 300 meters)
- Perfect for separating amps and sources in multi-room audio
- Easy signal routing over Cat5 or Cat6
A few notes before installation
- Head over to audiocontrol.com and activate your warranty
- Make a quick diagram of your system design. The BLX-1K is a two-way device and you may have multiple pairs a quick diagram will keep you on track.
- Use standard terminations on your Cat5 or Cat6 cable (T-568B)
- Make sure not to run the wire for the 24 Volt AC transformer near or parallel to your signal wires. This will make sure you don’t pick up any AC hum from the transformer
- These units should be used in pairs. There is an A/B switch on this unit. One of the two units should be set to “A” and the other one should be set to “B”. Failure to do so will cause cancellation in the quantum realm.
Important Safety Instructions
- Read these instructions.
- Keep these instructions.
- Heed all warnings.
- Follow all instructions.
- Do not use this apparatus under water.
- Clean only with a dry cloth.
- Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
- Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
- Use the 24 VAC power adapter that came with the unit.
- Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
- Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as the power input terminals are damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
- This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing, and no object filled with liquids, such as vases or glasses, shall be placed on the apparatus.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”
within the product’s enclosure, that may be of sufficient magnitude to
constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the
user of the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
Caution: to reduce the risk of electric shock, do not disassemble the
apparatus. There are no user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to
qualified personnel.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class
B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
| Recycling notice: If the time comes and this apparatus has fulfilled its
destiny, do not throw it out into the trash. It has to be carefully recycled
for the good of mankind, by a facility specially equipped for the safe
recycling of electronic apparatii. Please contact your local or state
recycling leaders for assistance in locating a suitable nearby recycling
facility. Or, contact us and we might be able to repair it for you.
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Features
- Input Gain This controls the amount of gain you apply to the input signal. Leave at Unity to start, boost as needed.
- Output Level Attenuates the RCA signal output.
- Inputs Connect these RCAs to your audio source.
- Output Connect these RCAs to your amplifier or signal processor .
- Balanced Input / Output Connect your RJ-45 & Cat5/6 cable here. It should be wired in the T-568B configuration .
- A / B This switch sets the configuration of the Ethernet pins in the Balanced Input / Output (Ethernet) jack. If the first unit is set to A, then set the other unit to B in order to send and receive audio signals.
- Ground / Lift (shielded Cat5/6 only) The default Ground setting should be good. If you get a ground loop/ AC hum noise though, you can push this switch in on one side or the other to create a “drain” wire set up. Try either side then both to correct for the noise.
- 24 VAC / 300mA Connect the Power adapter here, conveniently labeled in technicalese.
- Power When the Power LED is lit, the BLX-1K is on; when not lit it’s off.
Quick Start
Placement – Place the BLX-1K in a convenient position in or on the rack
but as close as possible to the unbalanced audio signal source. Keeping the
distance as short as possible will keep the possibility of picking up any
unwanted noise down to a minimum. Make sure signal wires are not parallel to
the 24 VAC power transformer wire to ensure that isn’t a noise source in the
system.
Wiring – The Balanced Input /Output jack (Ethernet jack) expects a T-568B
wiring configuration. Stick with this scheme to ensure you’re sending and
receiving the matched pairs.
Gains – Leave in the default setting (Unity Input Gain and -0 dB Output
Level) for best signal to noise ratio in common 10 – 75 foot run applications.
With the default settings, there is no increase of gain applied to the input
stage and no reduction of gain on the output side.
If you need to send your signal further, then you might increase the Input
Gain a bit and check you results. If you boost this Input Gain control too
much, and you clip the amp (or downstream signal processor), you can reduce
the Output Level. BTW – clipping sounds like a distorted signal, so turn down
the Output Level until the distorted sound goes away.
A / B Switch – If one side is set to A then the other side should be set to B. It’s just that simple. This setting flips the wiring inside the Balanced Input/ Output jack so that the send lines become the receive lines. If both units are set to A (or B ), then you won’t get audio. See figure 1 for a basic A to B configuration.
Ground / Lift Switch – If you are using a shielded cable, pressing this
button disconnects the shield from ground. Use this only if you’ve picked up
some noise along the way. If no noise, then just leave in the Ground position.
If you do have some noise, lifting the ground should get rid of it. Switch one
BLX-1K to Lift to create a “drain” path. If no joy, switch the other side to
Lift.
System Diagram 1: Local Zone and Whole House Integration
Makes local zone audio available to the whole house distributed audio system, and any source from the distributed audio system available to the local zone.
System Diagram 2: Theater Room and Whole House Integration
The 2 channel downmix from a Concert XR-8 is sent to the distributed audio system. Music streamer content is sent to Concert XR-8 for theater room enjoyment.
Troubleshooting
No Power Light
- Check the 24 VAC power adapter. You probably have another BLX-1K use that one to check if the light turns on when plugged in.
- Check the power source you are plugged into make sure the outlet is on and has power.
No audio
- Ensure you are using standard, T-568B pin-out (straight-through) Cat5 or Cat6.
- Check that the A/B Switch is set to “A” on one BLX-1K in the pair, and “B” on the other BLX-1K.
Sound is distorted
- Turn down the Output Level. The output may be clipping the input of the receiving device.
- Turn down the source device output.
Hum or buzz in audio
- Inspect the wiring. Make sure there isn’t a cut in the wiring that is shorting to ground.
- Turn up the input and or output levels. If the output level is turned too far down in some configurations, you may not get much audio at all and you’ll end up boosting the noise floor.
- Try lifting the ground on one side or both sides via the Ground / Lift button.
- Maybe it’s a song stuck in your head. If so, listen to the end of the song from a streaming service. The end resolves the stuck tune or hum and all will be well.
RJ-45 Pinout (T-568B)
The Warranty
People are scared of warranties. Lots of fine print, months of waiting around.
Well fear no more, this warranty is designed to make you rave about us to your
friends. It’s a warranty that looks out for you and helps you resist the
temptation to have your friend, “…who’s good with electronics”, try to repair
your AudioControl product. So go ahead, read this warranty, then take a few
days to enjoy the BLX-1K before sending in the warranty card and comments.
“Conditional” doesn’t mean anything ominous. The Federal Trade Commission
tells all manufacturers to use the term to indicate that certain conditions
have to be met before they’ll honor the warranty. If you meet all of the
conditions, we will warrant all materials and workmanship on the BLX-1K for
one year from the date you bought it (five years if it is installed by an
authorized United States AudioControl dealer). We will fix or replace it, at
our option, during that time.
Here are the conditional conditions:
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You have to fill out the product registration over at our website www. audiocontrol.com and send it to us within 15 days after purchasing the BLX-1K.
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You must keep your sales receipt for proof of purchase showing when and from whom the unit was bought. We’re not the only ones who require this, so it’s a good habit to be in with any major purchase.
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The BLX-1K must have originally been purchased from an authorized AudioControl dealer. You do not have to be the original owner, but you do need a copy of the original sales slip.
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You cannot let anybody who isn’t: (A) the AudioControl factory; (B) somebody authorized in writing by AudioControl to service the BLX-1K. If anyone other than (A) or (B) messes with the BLX-1K, that voids your warranty.
-
The warranty is also void if the serial number is altered or removed, or if the BLX-1K has been used improperly. Now that sounds like a big loophole, but here is all we mean by it.
Unwarranted abuse is: (A) physical damage (don’t use the BLX-1K as a hammer!); (B) improper connections (480 volts into the power jack can fry the poor thing); (C) unreasonable use cases (like hot rodding your oven to pump out low frequency heat waves). This is the best home audio product we know how to build, but if you mount it to the to the inside of a dish washer, something will go wrong. -
The warranty is five years from the date of purchase.
Assuming you conform to 1 through 6, and it really isn’t all that hard to do, we get the option of fixing your old unit or replacing it with a new one.
Specifications
All specifications are measured at 24 VAC. As technology advances, AudioControl reserves the right to continuously change our specifications, like our Pacific Northwest weather, although we are working on a surround- sound umbrella as well.
BLX-1K Balanced Line Transceiver
Inputs / Outputs
Unbalanced Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RCA x 2
Balanced Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RJ-45 x 1
Unbalanced Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RCA x 2
Balanced Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RJ-45 x 1
Max Unbalanced Output Level. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Vrms
Max Balanced Output Leve1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Vrms
Output Impedance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Ω
**Performance**
Frequency Response. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +/- 1 dB
Signal to Noise Ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . >100 dB
THD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.1%
**General**
Power Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 VAC
Current Draw. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~50 mA
Maximum Cat5/6 Cable Length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 1000 feet (300 meters)
Weight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.0 lbs.
Dimensions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 6.2” W x 4.3” D x 1” H
For more information about this fine product, and for details of the limited warranty and repair services, please visit www.audiocontrol.com
AudioControl, Inc.
22410 70th Avenue West
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 USA
Phone: 425-775-8461
email: sound.great@audiocontrol.com
©2022 AudioControl. All rights reserved.
All specifications are subject to being covered in hot sauce without
notice.
The Wallflower.
START/FINISH
Documents / Resources
|
AudioControl BLX-1K Balanced Line
Transceiver
[pdf] Instruction Manual
BLX-1K Balanced Line Transceiver, BLX-1K, Balanced Line Transceiver, Line
Transceiver, Transceiver
---|---
|
AudioControl BLX-1K Balanced Line
Transceiver
[pdf] User Manual
BLX-1K Balanced Line Transceiver, BLX-1K, Balanced Line Transceiver, Line
Transceiver, Transceiver
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>