XLS Series Power Amplifiers
page 7
Operation Manual
2.4 Choose Input Wire 
and Connectors
Crown recommends using pre-built or professionally wired bal-
anced line (two-conductor plus shield), 22-24 gauge cables and 
connectors. You should use 3-pin male XLR cable ends at the 
amplifier inputs. Unbalanced line may also be used but may 
result in noise over long cable runs.
Figure 2.3 shows connector pin assignments for balanced wiring, 
and Figure 2.4 shows connector pin assignments for unbalanced 
wiring.
NOTE: Custom wiring should only be performed by 
qualified personnel.
Figure 2.3   
Balanced Input
Connector Wiring
Figure 2.4  
Unbalanced Input
Connector Wiring
2 Setup
2.5 Choose Output Wire and Connectors
Crown recommends using pre-built or professionally wired, high-
quality, two-conductor, heavy gauge speaker wire and connectors. 
You may use 2-pole or 4-pole Speakon
®
 connectors (Figure 2.5 ) 
or banana plugs, spade lugs, or bare wire for your output connec-
tors (Figure 2.6). To prevent the possibility of short-circuits, wrap 
or otherwise insulate exposed loudspeaker cable connectors. 
Note: Binding post outputs on European models come 
with safety plugs installed to prevent European power-
cord plugs from being inserted. The top & bottom entry 
positions for these connectors should therefore be used 
with European models.
Using the guidelines below, select the appropriate size of wire 
based on the distance from amplifier to speaker.
          Distance         Wire Size
                up to 25 ft.           16 AWG
                26-40 ft.               14 AWG
                41-60 ft.               12 AWG
                61-100 ft.             10 AWG
                101-150 ft.             8 AWG
                151-250 ft.             6 AWG
CAUTION: Never use shielded cable for output wiring.
Figure 2.6 
  5-Way Binding Post Connections
Figure 2.5 
Left:  One of Two Speakon
® 
Output Connectors 
on Back Panel
Right: Speakon
®
Cable Connector