Speakon for biamp, 1/4 for passive in same JBL cabinet?

[Stapeld]

I have been gifted with a pair of JBL MR-926 2-way cabinets. The jack plate was set up with 2 parallel 1/4" inputs and a speakon using only pin 1+ and 1- to run as a passive cabinet. From the factory this cabinet was set up for passive crossover use only.

The previous owner cut the wires from the 1/4" jacks to the passive crossover and wired the speakon direct to the woofer and horn driver using a pin 1+, 1- and pin 2+, 2- so this box only functions as a biamp box from the speakon.

I would like to continue to use the speakon for biamp use but also have the option to use the 1/4" inputs to run the box passive. Can I simply wire the 1/4" inputs to the passive crossover and then connect the crossover to the woofer and horn driver? This would mean each driver would have two wires per terminal, one from the speakon and one from the passive crossover.

I have read that I could install a DPDT switch that would make the cabinet switchable but I thought that isolating between speakon and 1/4" inputs would be a lot simpler.

[dcibel]

Re: Speakon for biamp, 1/4 for passive in same JBL cabinet?

You can wire it up as you propose, however just be sure that you never wire up both the speakon and the TRS at the same time. Best solution is to install a switch to select between passive crossover or bypass.

[billfitzmaurice]

Re: Speakon for biamp, 1/4 for passive in same JBL cabinet?

I thought that isolating between speakon and 1/4" inputs would be a lot simpler.

A switch to take the crossover out of the circuit is necessary, as even if you bypass the crossover direct to the drivers with the Speakon wiring the crossovers will still be loading the drivers.

[Melby Audio]

Re: Speakon for biamp, 1/4 for passive in same JBL cabinet?

A switch to take the crossover out of the circuit is necessary, as even if you bypass the crossover direct to the drivers with the Speakon wiring the crossovers will still be loading the drivers.

+1