RJ45 Powerlink to RCA Cable

[Brian Lillo]

Does anyone know if it’s possible to use one of the powerlink RJ45 connections from the Theatre to output to RCA in order to connect a powered non-B&O subwoofer?  I have found powerlink DIN to RCA cables, but I can’t find any powerlink RJ45 to RCA cables.

I found the pinouts for powerlink RJ45 to DIN cables and I’ve found the pinouts for powerlink DIN to RCA cables.  In theory I could combine those two wiring diagrams and create my own powerlink RJ45 to RCA cables, but I don’t know enough about this potential setup to feel confident that it would work or even be safe to use.

I did purchase a B&O powerlink DIN (male) to RJ45 cable and I found a company out of New York called Atlantic ComputerTech, Inc that carries a B&O compatible female DIN to RCA cable.  If I can’t find a better solution I’ll probably try combining those two cables to see if it would work.

I did attempt using a BeoAmp2 in bridged mode to power the subwoofer, but it couldn’t provide enough power to run the subwoofer effectively.

Thanks.

[trackbeo]

I believe your cable combination will work, BUT you must ask/ensure that the female DIN->RCA is wired for Powerlink and not AUX in (or out).  Alternately, if you have an old DIN male Powerlink to RCA “lying around” (from some older setup) then your B&O dealer can supply a short RJ45-to-female-DIN cable, even though the website only shows RJ45->DIN-male.

Your comment about using a BeoAmp2 to power the subwoofer seems misguided because you say above that it is a *powered* non-B&O subwoofer.  Maybe it has both line-level and speaker-level inputs?  In any case, letting the sub’s own amp do the work seems wiser.

Building your own RJ45->RCA cable is not impossible, but it’s fussy if you have never done so before.  You must use a shielded RJ connector — which has a special crimper tool — and run the shield to the ground on the RCA, plus not just some wire but actual foil or braid thru the length of the cable — typical for running line-level audio around (and what was done inside the B&O cable you already own).

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