Crestron AUD-EXT-100 audio extender

In one of my projects, I had to install a powered audio speaker some distance away from the source. I cautioned the client that having a long, unbalanced connection will lead to hum and RFI aka Radio Frequency Interference. The client agreed and said that they had no choice. So I installed some long RCA cables to the device that was some distance away. And guess what. The client tells me that he can hear some audible hum. And this was after my telling him that this is what he might expect if he uses long cables but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. The system was using unbalanced audio connections and there were no balanced connections in this.

After looking through the Internet, I cam across these Crestron AUD-EXT-100 audio extenders. Now, these look pretty good. According to Crestron on their website, the AUD-EXT is a family of low-cost (Crestron is never low-cost) audio extenders designed for transporting analog and digital audio signals over several hundred feet using inexpensive CAT5 (or better) UTP cable. I do not know how Crestron does this to keep these things totally passive with no power required. maybe I should refer this to the client and see what he thinks.

Audio cable for testing Extron amplifiers

I made this 3.5mm to Phoenix connector cable to test Extron amplifiers. We have a lot of installs with Extron amplifiers and sometimes we have to test the speakers that these amplifiers are connected to. So what I normally do is to connect my phone to the 3.5mm jack and connect the Phoenix connector end to the Extron amplifier. Sometimes I connect the 3.5mm of the cable to my Bluetooth dongle so I can walk around with my phone. This is a very useful cable to have, purely for testing purposes. make one now for your testing toolbox!

2-core cable used for BMS to be used as balance audio cable?

Just the other day at one of the construction sites that I am doing a project in, I happened to come across some cable that the main contractor was laying for the BMS or Building Management System. It looked quite sturdy so I asked him if he had any leftovers I could fool around with. He gave me some and I took it back home to have a better look. They seem to be made by a company named DNE or I could be wrong. They came in an un-labelled spool. This cable has a foil shield in them that was shielding 2 cores of wires. It also has an earth cable inside. I am thinking of either using it as a balanced mic cable for testing purposes or as an unbalanced cable. Whatever it is, the sleeve is tough. It was pretty hard to cut and “peel” away. I need to find out more about this cable. If any one knows, chime in please.

Fixing an old Technics SL-1200 MKII turntable

My friend dropped off this turntable at my house a couple of days back. He said that he was having some issues with the RCA connectors in this turntable. I know all about those RCA issues. These turntables, especially the older ones, have an issue with the RCA connectors being buggy after a while. I myself have faced issues with the RCA connectors on my own Technics turntables and changed them a long time ago. Maybe all that is required are a pair of new RCA connectors, and not changing of the whole audio cable. If I have to change the whole audio cable, the base has to come out. Let’s test it out and see how it goes