Fender SPL-M500 owner manual 100-UP 50-100

BASIC CONNECTIONS and WIRING

Power and audio signal cables are the most common sources of sound system failure. Well made and carefully maintained cables are essential to the reliability of the entire system. If long speaker cables are required, make sure the wire is of sufficient size to transfer all of the available amplifier power to the speakers rather than absorbing power itself. As a rule of thumb, the larger the wire the better (larger wire has smaller "gauge numbers").

Below are two charts listing speaker wire gauges and recommendations for best results.

SPEAKER WIRE GAUGE

Larger diameter (small gauge number) wire is expensive and long cables made from it are heavy. Rather than running long speaker cables, it is better to locate power amplifiers near speakers and run a line-level signal cable over the long distance to the amplifier. This approach eliminates most of the signal loss due to speaker cable resistance so the speakers are fed all of the amplifier's power without the need for heavy cables. In cases where speakers and power amplifiers are located far away from the signal source, "balanced line" cables are a wise choice. Doing so can actually save money.

The use of stranded wire is highly recommended since it is flexible and less prone to metal fatigue breakage. If an end is nicked while insulation is

SPEAKER WIRE LENGTH

100'-UP

(30.5 m-UP)

50'-100'

(15.25-30.5 m)

*25'-50'

(7.60-15.25 m)

10'-25'

(3.05-7.60 m)

0'-10'

(0.00-3.05 m)

8	10	12	14
10	12	14	16
12	14	*16	18
14	16	18	18
16	18	18	18
2Ω	4Ω *8Ω 16Ω

being stripped for connection, only one or two strands will break and not the entire wire.

NEVER use coiled cords for speaker hookup, even in an emergency.

Coiled guitar-type cords usually have higher internal resistance than the speakers themselves. This is due to the light-gauge wire used to keep the coil cords flexible. Unfortunately, these types of cord prevent most of the power from reaching the speakers. In high power operation, a coil cord can melt causing a fire hazard and possible damage to the amplifier. As a general rule, both straight and

SPEAKER IMPEDANCE [z]

*Example - If the speaker wire length required is between 25-50 feet (7.60-15.25 meters) and the speaker impedance is 8Ω, the minimum recommended speaker wire gauge is 16.

AWG	mm2	Resistance in Ω per foot
		(30.5 cm) @ 77º F (25º C)
18	0.83	.00651
16	1.32	.00409
14	2.10	.00258
12	3.32	.00162
10	5.27	.00102
8	8.38	.00064

coiled guitar-type connecting cords make poor speaker cables.

The SPL-M500 can produce enough power output to damage electronic equipment connected to its output. Besides being capable of destroying speakers, shock and / or fire hazards are also possible. High power amplifiers should always be properly applied and used with care in a clean and dry environment.

Be sure to turn on all other equipment before turning on the SPL-M500 power amplifier. This will prevent turn-on "thumps" from the mixer or other pieces of gear that could possibly damage speakers. Likewise, the reverse logic should also be applied -- turn OFF the amplifier FIRST -- when shutting down the system.

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