Need an A1 cable interconnect

KABII

Hello,

I have a need for an A1 cable for the polk 2.3 I agreed to buy. Does anyone make these on the polk forums? Please contact me if you do. I'd appreciate it.

Also, I acquired a pair of CRS speakers in near mint condition. Based on my discussions with tech support at polk, I'm told the interconnect has two blades on each of these speakers. Thus, it would not be possible to use the A1 interconnect. Is it possible to modify the interconnect on these CRS speakers to a pin and a blade on each interconnect port on the back of each speaker, thus making the use of the A1 interconnect possible?

Thanks.

Ken

Dennis Gardner

The two different types aren't interchangeable and I believe that the pin/blade is the only A1 capable connection.

strider

I made my own blade/blade A1. With some research around here and some help as I was doing it, it wasn't hard at all. Bought some speaker cable from bluejeans cable, a Stancor transformer from online somewhere, everything else I sourced from Radio Shack. I can get you some links tomorrow if you'd like; they're saved on my computer at work.

KABII

Of this I'm aware. I need to know the following:

a) Can a retrofit of a CRS be done from twin blade interconnect to a pin and a blade interconnect.

b) Does anyone make an A1 interconnect cable.

Thanks.

Ken

KABII

I need to know the answer to B, because I have agreed to buy a pair of SRS 2.3s and I need the A1 to work with my amp.

Ken

KABII

Thanks. I'd appreciate that.

Ken

KABII

strider wrote:

I made my own blade/blade A1. With some research around here and some help as I was doing it, it wasn't hard at all. Bought some speaker cable from bluejeans cable, a Stancor transformer from online somewhere, everything else I sourced from Radio Shack. I can get you some links tomorrow if you'd like; they're saved on my computer at work.

Thanks,

I'd appreciate that.

Ken

Dennis Gardner

Hey, Strider, how did you wire your A1?

My CRS+ are swapped within the IC, big blade goes to the small blade on the other end.

DarqueKnight

It is not a matter of the AI-1 being compatible with a specific type of SDA cable, but rather a specific type of crossover circuit.

Attaching pin/blade connectors a blade/blade cable won't work because each type cable is designed to work with a specific type of crossover. You also should be aware that the AI-1 interface cable does not work with all pin/blade SDA's. See post #32 of this thread: AI-1 Interface Compatibility Chart.

KABII

DarqueKnight wrote:

It is not a matter of the AI-1 being compatible with a specific type of SDA cable, but rather a specific type of crossover circuit.

Attaching pin/blade connectors a blade/blade cable won't work because each type cable is designed to work with a specific type of crossover. You also should be aware that the AI-1 interface cable does not work with all pin/blade SDA's. See post #32 of this thread: AI-1 Interface Compatibility Chart.

Now my head is really starting to swim? So -- If I'm buying a pair of 2.3s from Warlocks1 and they have a pin and blade interconnect hookup -- are you telling me that I cannot use the AI-1 interconnect to get around my problem with my amp not supporting a common ground?

I have two issues that I need to resolve:

1) For the SRS 2.3s I need an AI-1 interconnect, because my amp will not support common ground. I therefore need someone to build me an AI-1 interconnect transformer, for which I will pay a fair price.

2) I was wondering if it is even possible to convert the the CRS speakers to use the pin and blade interconnect instead of two bladed interconnect? Or am I better off to just buy an amp that will handle a common ground introduced by using the standard interconnect between the CRS speakers?

Thanks.

Ken

Please reply in detail or email me. Thanks.

Ken

DarqueKnight

KABII wrote:

Now my head is really starting to swim? So -- If I'm buying a pair of 2.3s from Warlocks1 and they have a pin and blade interconnect hookup -- are you telling me that I cannot use the AI-1 interconnect to get around my problem with my amp not supporting a common ground?

No. I am not saying that at all. You said this in your first post:

KABII wrote:

Also, I acquired a pair of CRS speakers in near mint condition. Based on my discussions with tech support at polk, I'm told the interconnect has two blades on each of these speakers. Thus, it would not be possible to use the A1 interconnect. Is it possible to modify the interconnect on these CRS speakers to a pin and a blade on each interconnect port on the back of each speaker, thus making the use of the A1 interconnect possible?

Thus, my reply:

DarqueKnight wrote:

Attaching pin/blade connectors a blade/blade cable won't work because each type cable is designed to work with a specific type of crossover. You also should be aware that the AI-1 interface cable does not work with all pin/blade SDA's. See post #32 of this thread: AI-1 Interface Compatibility Chart.

No, just changing the cable connectors or the cable sockets on the speakers will not work. The crossover would have to be modified. It would not be a practical or fun project. Get the schematics of the 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1989 versions of the CRS/CRS+ to see the crossover and driver changes that were made between versions.

KABII wrote:

1) For the SRS 2.3s I need an AI-1 interconnect, because my amp will not support common ground. I therefore need someone to build me an AI-1 interconnect transformer, for which I will pay a fair price.

You need to verify that your pin/blade SRS 2.3's are compatible with the AI-1. Please have the seller give you the serial numbers and then reference the AI-1 compatibility chart.

KABII wrote:

2) I was wondering if it is even possible to convert the the CRS speakers to use the pin and blade interconnect instead of two bladed interconnect? Or am I better off to just buy an amp that will handle a common ground introduced by using the standard interconnect between the CRS speakers?

When Polk wanted to make the CRS compatible with non-common ground amps, they did a re-design of the crossover. So yes, it is possible to "convert" the CRS to use the pin/blade interconnect, but you would be better off buying a common ground amp. Keep life simple.

strider

Ken,

Here are the links to info I used to construct my cable:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23442

Above link is what I followed closely when constructing mine. It turned out to look almost exactly like this. Good parts list on page 2 of the thread. Also good info from some knowledgeable folks.

http://polksda.com/A1_Interconnect.pdf

A PDF from Ken at Polk. Technical, but I'd treat it as gospel.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44518

That is a link to my build. Also, madmax offered to build mine for $500. Very nice guy.:rolleyes:

All that being said, I would temper any info I presented with a post to the forum regarding your particluar build, if you choose to do it yourself. I searched and asked a ton of questions as I was doing it; all my info is regurgitated from those who really understand the SDA. I don't pretend to know the technical reasons why the cables are constructed the way they are for each different model/serial number, etc.

strider

Dennis Gardner wrote:

Hey, Strider, how did you wire your A1?

My CRS+ are swapped within the IC, big blade goes to the small blade on the other end.

The link to all my questions is

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44518

I followed reeltrouble1's build pretty much word for word, which is the first link in my post above. Let me know if you have any more questions, I'd be happy to help as I can.

KABII

DarqueKnight wrote:

No. I am not saying that at all. You said this in your first post:



Thus, my reply:


No, just changing the cable connectors or the cable sockets on the speakers will not work. The crossover would have to be modified. It would not be a practical or fun project. Get the schematics of the 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1989 versions of the CRS/CRS+ to see the crossover and driver changes that were made between versions.



You need to verify that your pin/blade SRS 2.3's are compatible with the AI-1. Please have the seller give you the serial numbers and then reference the AI-1 compatibility chart.



When Polk wanted to make the CRS compatible with non-common ground amps, they did a re-design of the crossover. So yes, it is possible to "convert" the CRS to use the pin/blade interconnect, but you would be better off buying a common ground amp. Keep life simple.

DarqueKnight,

Thank you for the clarification. I understand completely now. It just so happens that the seller demoed the 2.3s with a Pioneer Amp and is going to sell it to me in the morning. We will be moving the speakers on the morning. I concur -- simple is good.

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Regards - Ken

KABII

I have my polks and I'm very happy with them. The serial numbers are 3216 (left) and 3053 (right). Based on looking at post #32 as suggested, this means that I CAN use the AI-1 interconnect with my SDA SRS 2.3s.