page 7
Xs Series Power Amplifiers
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. At the amplifier inputs, use either:
• 3-pin male XLR cable ends,
• TRS or TS 1/4" phone plugs, or 
• Phoenix-style connectors.
Unbalanced lines may be used, but may result in noise over long 
cable runs.
Figure 2.3   
Combo Input Connector XLR 
Wiring, Balanced (Top) and 
Unbalanced (Bottom)
Figure 2.5 
Phoenix-Style Input Connector Wiring,
Balanced (Top) and Unbalanced (Bottom).
 Note Jumper Between “S” and “–”
2 Setup
Figure 2.3 shows XLR wiring, Figure 2.4 shows 1/4" phone plug 
wiring, and Figure 2.5 shows Phoenix-style connector wiring.
NOTE: Custom wiring should only be performed by qual-
ified personnel.
2.5 Choose Output Wire and Connectors
Crown recommends using pre-built or professionally wired, high-
quality, two- or four-conductor, heavy gauge speaker wire and 
connectors. You can use banana plugs, spade lugs, or bare wire 
for your output connectors (Figure 2.6). Also, you can use a 4-
pole Speakon
®
 connector (Figure 2.7 and Table 1). 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 
Binding Post Output Wiring 
Figure 2.7  
Left: Speakon
®
Output Connector on Back Panel 
Right: Speakon
®
Cable Connector
TABLE 1: OUTPUT ASSIGNMENT
PIN CH PIN CH
1+ 2 1+ 1
1– 2 1– 1
2+ NC 2+ 2
2– NC 2– 2
CH 2 CH 1
Figure 2.4 
Combo Input Connector 1/4" 
Phone Wiring, Balanced (Top) 
and Unbalanced (Bottom)