JL Audio CR-1, Owner'S Manual

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CR-1

Page 12

REAR PANEL CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS IN DETAIL

Main Stereo Inputs

The “Main Stereo Inputs” receive the primary Left and Right outputs from 

your 2-channel preamplifier. This is the full-bandwidth stereo signal, which will 

be split by the CR-1 to feed the satellite amplifier and subwoofer(s). 

If your preamplifier only offers unbalanced RCA-type outputs, use RCA-

terminated, unbalanced cables connected to the CR-1’s “Unbalanced” jacks. 

If your preamplifier offers balanced output connections, use balanced XLR 

or TRS terminated cables, connected to the CR-1’s “Balanced” XLR/TRS combo 

jacks. If the “Unbalanced” RCA-type inputs of the CR-1 will remain unused, 

insert the supplied RCA-type shorting plugs into these jacks, to eliminate the 

possibility of noise entering open, unbalanced input connections.

Note that all four (XLR/TRS and RCA) “Main Stereo Inputs” are separately 

buffered and can be used independently. It is therefore possible to connect two 

different preamplifiers to the CR-1’s “Main Stereo Inputs”, with one connected 

to the balanced inputs and another to the unbalanced inputs. As long as only one 

preamplifier is powered and delivering signal at one time, the CR-1 will behave 

normally, although it may require some adjustment of the “Sub/Sat Balance” 

control to account for level differences between preamplifiers. 

If both connected preamplifiers are on and delivering signals to the CR-1 

simultaneously, the CR-1 will not be damaged, but it will sum the balanced and 

unbalanced input signals together, which may sound very strange.

Managed Bass Inputs

The CR-1’s “Managed Bass Inputs” are designed to receive the subwoofer 

signal(s) sent by your home-theater receiver or processor, allowing you to share 

your room’s subwoofers with a multi-channel home theater system. 

If the HT receiver/processor only offers unbalanced outputs, use RCA-

terminated, unbalanced cables connected to the CR-1’s “Unbalanced” RCA-type 

“Managed Bass Inputs”. 

If your HT receiver/processor offers balanced output connections, use 

balanced XLR or TRS terminated cables, connected to the XLR/TRS combo jacks 

labeled “Balanced”. If the “Unbalanced” RCA-type “Managed Bass Inputs” will 

remain unused, insert the supplied RCA-type shorting plugs into these jacks, to 

eliminate the possibility of noise entering open, unbalanced input connections. 

When the front panel “Crossover Function” switch is in “Bypass” mode 

(switch “out” and red LED indicator lit), the “Managed Bass Inputs” are 

connected directly to the “Outputs to Subwoofers” and no signal processing 

occurs in the CR-1. The signal presented to the “Managed Bass Inputs” can be 

either stereo (independent Left and Right channels) or mono (incoming signal is 

already a summed (combined) signal for the subwoofer. See “Input Type” switch.

IMPORTANT: 

IF YOU FEED ONLY ONE MANAGED BASS INPUT IN THE 

MONO INPUT MODE, THE SIGNALS ON THE INDIVIDUAL LEFT AND RIGHT 

SUBWOOFER OUTPUTS WILL BE ONLY HALF THE VOLTAGE LEVEL OF THE 

INPUT (-6 DB). IF THIS LOSS OF OUTPUT LEVEL POSES A PROBLEM FOR 

YOUR SYSTEM, USE A Y-ADAPTOR TO SEND YOUR MONO INPUT SIGNAL 

TO BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT MANAGED BASS INPUTS – THIS ALLOWS 

YOU TO RECOVER THE 6 DB SIGNAL LOSS.

The Balanced Input Connections of 

the CR-1 utilize Neutrik

®

 Combo XLR/

TRS Connectors. These connectors 

are designed to accept either type of 

balanced input connector.