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Can AyreLink Work With a non-Ayre Pre Pro?

Hi:
I have a pair of MX-R Twenty amps and a VX-5 Twenty amp. I am using a Theta Casablanca IV HD pre pro. My challenge is enabling AyreLink to work between the Theta and Ayre amps.
Although my dealer is very knowledgable they seem not to know how to make this hook-up work and suggested I call Ayre directly. I have called several times to speak with Michael but he has not been available or returned my call. So I am now seeking my solution here.
The 12v triggers on the back of the Theta are mini jacks. Of course the connections on the Ayre amps are RJ-11's. How can I make the trigger work with this set-up? Do I need some piece of equipment to enable the communication between the Theta and Ayre? Or can I find a way to connect a mini plug with the proper wire configuration?
I would really appreciate any assistance you can offer to make the trigger operate using my existing equipment.
Thank you!
popspin

I doubt you will get an answer on this question from Ayre.

listen I would give up on Ayre link it seems that if the connection is marginally wrong the whole amp stops working...so don't even try. See thread Ayre overheating towards the end people start mentioning that Ayre link is potentially lethal!!

They won't communicate with the Theta per se, but the Ayre amp can be sent a normal trigger voltage (+5 to +12 VDC) as a trigger with an appropriately wired cable:

http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/t...pscp4whijj.png

Here's what Ayre has to say about trigger inputs in the MX-R manual:

Quote:

A trigger control allows one component to control the “Standby” state of another component. If there are no other AyreLink components to control the operation of the MX-R amplifier, it may be convenient to use the trigger control from another component.

The trigger will directly control one MX-R amplifier. Additional amplifiers are in turn controlled by the AyreLink communications system. Connect the AyreLink ports of your amplifiers in daisy-chain fashion as described in the chapter “Connections and Installation”. The unused AyreLink port on an amplifier at either end of the AyreLink chain is then used as a trigger input.

An adapter cable must be fabricated to connect the trigger output of the control component to the AyreLink port of the MX-R amplifier. The easiest way to do this is to remove the modular (RJ-11) connector from one end of a two-line telephone line cord. (This is the type of cord that connects the telephone set to the wall. A two-line cord will have four gold contacts on each connector.) Then attach the connector appropriate for the component with the trigger output. Please refer to the owner’s manual of that component for details.

The trigger voltage should be between +5 and +12 volts DC for proper operation. The current draw of the trigger input on the AyreLink port is less than 5 mA.

There are two signaling methods that may be used; level and pulse. The MX-R automatically senses which type of trigger signal is being sent and responds accordingly.
A positive-going pulse of greater than 250 msec is treated as a level-sensitive trigger. Shorter pulses are treated as a pulse-sensitive trigger. The minimum detectable pulse length is 50 μsec.

During level-sensitive operation, applying a voltage to the trigger input will set the amplifier to the “Operate” mode. When the applied voltage drops to zero, the unit reverts to
“Standby”.

In the pulse-sensitive mode, a positive-going pulse will toggle the amplifier between the “Standby” and “Operate” states, duplicating the action of the front-panel button.

The front-panel button remains operative when the trigger input is used. Therefore, using the front-panel button will put the amplifier out of “sync” with the trigger control device. When used with level-sensitive trigger operation, the next trigger action will automatically restore “sync”. However when using pulse-sensitive trigger operation, “sync” can only be restored by pressing the front-panel button a second time.

As mentioned above, you need to be very careful about wiring the trigger cable; voltages applied to the ground or other pins of the connector may cause serious damage to the amplifier's control circuitry that will make it unusable until repaired.

You also need to make absolutely sure AyreLink cables used between amps are two-line phone cables wired to preserve polarity - where when pointed the same direction the color wires in one modular connector are a mirror image of the other - or, once again, serious damage to the amplifier's control circuitry will occur that will make it unusable until repaired.

Proper two-line phone cable wiring for use as an AyreLink cable:

http://static.electro-tech-online.co...0-rj11ends.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by popspin (Post 843751)

Hi:

I have a pair of MX-R Twenty amps and a VX-5 Twenty amp. I am using a Theta Casablanca IV HD pre pro. My challenge is enabling AyreLink to work between the Theta and Ayre amps.

Although my dealer is very knowledgable they seem not to know how to make this hook-up work and suggested I call Ayre directly. I have called several times to speak with Michael but he has not been available or returned my call. So I am now seeking my solution here.

The 12v triggers on the back of the Theta are mini jacks. Of course the connections on the Ayre amps are RJ-11's. How can I make the trigger work with this set-up? Do I need some piece of equipment to enable the communication between the Theta and Ayre? Or can I find a way to connect a mini plug with the proper wire configuration?

I would really appreciate any assistance you can offer to make the trigger operate using my existing equipment.

Thank you!

popspin

Simple Answer is Yes. I have my Ayre center and surround amps triggered directly from a Datasat processor 12v trigger. It's not hard to wire....but it is important that care is taken to do it correctly

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinster (Post 843801)

I'm with you on that. Not sure the limited benefit is worth potentially blowing out an amp.

Wow, guys! I seem to be getting 2 distinctly different answers.
One says they are doing it and it works and others saying be ware of damaging my amps.
I am now confused. I certainly don't want to damage my amps but hate having to deal with them manually as I have a highly automated space and system with a dealer programmed remote.
Perhaps my best option for now would be to daisy chain the 3 front Ayre amps so that when I turn one on or off manually the others would follow via AyreLink? Will this work?
Thanks!
popspin

Yes, it will work and it works just fine, just be careful when wiring the Theta to Ayre cable and be sure to use proper cables to daisy chain the Ayre amps to each other.

All you need to do is run the trigger cable to the first Ayre and daisy chain all the other Ayre amps to the first one.

Just follow the precautions I mentioned above or obtain AyreLink cables from your dealer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillK (Post 843911)

Hi Bill;
Thanks for the concise response. I will start with obtaining the proper AyreLink cables with RJ-11 terminations to daisy chain the amps together. Then I will work on the critical piece of wiring the AyreLink cable to a mini plug. At least I have a plan now!
Thanks again!
popspin