Greetings fellow audiophiles:

I am eagerly awaiting delivery of a 990 and I have a question about the pin-outs on the 990's balanced outputs.

Background:
Until recently, there were two competing pin-out protocols for balanced connectors:

One for consumer and one for pro gear.
Pin 2 hot or pin 3 hot (or vice versa)

I ask because I had a compatibility issue between a Lexicon MC12B and an Innersound ESL amp.

The Lex was "pro" and the Innersound was "consumer" and there was an out of phase connection as a result.

I still have the Innersound amp and wish to use the balanced outputs of the Outlaw 990 to connect to it.

Hopefully, one of the diligent Outlaw moderators can refer me to this information or a source with whom to pursue the answer.

Thank you for your attention.

Long live the 990! (Lexicon-lite? 8=>)

Dear PHT,

I'm using my 990's balanced outputs to feed a couple of nOrh monoblocks, which I never heard described as professional gear. BTW using the Outlaw XLR cables in place of the former unbalanced connectors silenced the slight hum on my phono input (I have a Grado pickup, which is "known" to hum with my AR turntable) and opened the sound even further.

I hope you'll have neither trouble nor regrets with your 990.

Paul Nay

I would guess pin two is hot, 3 is neutral and one is ground, since that's pretty much the standard. I'd also guess that it's somewhere in the manual, but I haven't read the whole thing yet so I can't be sure.

I don't remember seeing anything on this in the manual for the 990, but there may be something in the 7700/7500 manual (and since the two are sold as a package, the 990's configuration should match the amps). You could also give Outlaw's support line a call and I'm sure they could track the answer down for you.

PHT,

If you look at the back of the 7500 (Products, 7500, Gallery) you will see the pin layout used by the amp and the 990. Hope this helps you.

Thanks everyone for the quick replies!

Avfan's directions led to a graphic answer:

Pin 2 is "hot" or positive.

What a great online community!

8=>

I have a question regarding the 990's balanced outputs.

What is the ground tied to, the signal or the chasis?? I'm pretty sure the best way is for it to be tied to the chasis.

I have a Lexicon LX-5 that I'm planning to use together with the 990. Has anyone tried this with balanced cables? Supposedly the Lexicon LX-5 is 1.-ground,2.-positive,3.-negative.

If the Lexicon's pin 2 is the positive/hot conductor, then it matches the Outlaw amps - in which case, you'd be fine.