Sonifex CM-AESX3 Instruction Manual

Passive Digital Splitters
User Handbook
CM-AESX3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3 Splitter, with
XLR connections.
CM-AESB3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3ID Splitter, with
BNC connections.

CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook
CMAESX3 & CMAESB3 PASSIVE DIGITAL
SPLITTERS USER HANDBOOK
CMAESX3 & CMAESB3 PASSIVE DIGITAL
SPLITTERS USER HANDBOOK
1
This handbook is for use with the following product:
Passive Digital Splitters:
CM-AESX3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3 Splitter, with XLR connections.
CM-AESB3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3ID Splitter, with BNC connections.
©Sonifex Ltd, 2013
All Rights Reserved
Revision 1.01, July 2013
Sonifex Ltd, 61, Station Road, Irthlingborough,
Northants, NN9 5QE, England.
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected].uk
Website: http://www.sonifex.co.uk
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of
the vendor. Sonifex Ltd shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from the use of information or any
error contained in this manual.
No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, information storage and retrieval systems, for any purpose other than the purchaser’s
personal use, without the express written permission of Sonifex Ltd. Unless otherwise noted, all names of companies,
products and persons contained herein are part of a completely fictitious adaptation and are designed solely to
document the use of Sonifex product.
Made in the UK by

CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook c
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Warranty i
Warranty and Liability i
Unpacking the Passive Digital Splitters iii
Returning the Warranty Card iii
Installation Information iv
Atmosphere iv
WEEE & RoHS Directives - Sonifex Statement iv
1 Passive Digital Splitters Introduction 1
2 CM-AESX3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3 Splitter, with XLR 1
Controls & Connectors 2
AES/EBU input(s) 2
AES/EBU outputs 1-3 2
Termination switches 2
CM-AESX3 Technical Specification 3
3 CM-AESB3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3ID Splitter, with BNC 5
Block Diagram 5
Controls & Connectors 5
AES/EBU input(s) 6
AES/EBU outputs 1-3 6
Termination switches 6
CM-AESB3 Technical Specification 6

dCM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook
CONTENTS & FIGURES
CONTENTS & FIGURES
Figures
Fig A: Packing List iii
Fig 2-1: CM-AESX3 Block Diagram 1
Fig 2-2: CM-AESX3 Front and Rear Panels 2
Fig 3-1: CM-AESB3 Block Diagram 5
Fig 3-2: CM-AESB3 Front and Rear Panels 5

CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook i
Warranty
Warranty and Liability
Important: the purchaser is advised to read this clause
(a) The Company agrees to repair or (at its discretion) replace Goods which are found to
be defective (fair wear and tear excepted) and which are returned to the Company
within 12 months of the date of despatch provided that each of the following
are satisfied:
(i) notification of any defect is given to the Company immediately upon its
becoming apparent to the Purchaser;
(ii) the Goods have only been operated under normal operating conditions and
have only been subject to normal use (and in particular the Goods must have
been correctly connected and must not have been subject to high voltage or
to ionising radiation and must not have been used contrary to the Company’s
technical recommendations);
(iii) the Goods are returned to the Company’s premises at the Purchaser’s expense;
(iv) any Goods or parts of Goods replaced shall become the property of
the Company;
(v) no work whatsoever (other than normal and proper maintenance) has been
carried out to the Goods or any part of the Goods without the Company’s prior
written consent;
(vi) the defect has not arisen from a design made, furnished or specified by
the Purchaser;
(vii) the Goods have been assembled or incorporated into other goods only in
accordance with any instructions issued by the Company;
(viii) the defect has not arisen from a design modified by the Purchaser;
(ix) the defect has not arisen from an item manufactured by a person other than
the Company.
In respect of any item manufactured by a person other than the Company, the Purchaser
shall only be entitled to the benefit of any warranty or guarantee provided by such
manufacturer to the Company.
(b) In respect of computer software supplied by the Company the Company does not
warrant that the use of the software will be uninterrupted or error free.
(c) The Company accepts liability:
(i) for death or personal injury to the extent that it results from the negligence of
the Company, its employees (whilst in the course of their employment) or its
agents (in the course of the agency);
WARRANTY
WARRANTY

ii CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook
(ii) for any breach by the Company of any statutory undertaking as to title, quiet
possession and freedom from encumbrance.
(d) Subject to conditions (a) and (c) from the time of despatch of the Goods from the
Company’s premises the Purchaser shall be responsible for any defect in the Goods
or loss, damage, nuisance or interference whatsoever consequential economic or
otherwise or wastage of material resulting from or caused by or to the Goods. In
particular the Company shall not be liable for any loss of profits or other economic
losses. The Company accordingly excludes all liability for the same.
(e) At the request and expense of the Purchaser the Company will test the Goods to
ascertain performance levels and provide a report of the results of that test. The
report will be accurate at the time of the test, to the best of the belief and knowledge
of the Company, and the Company accepts no liability in respect of its accuracy
beyond that set out in Condition (a).
(f) Subject to Condition (e) no representation, condition, warranty or other term,
express or implied (by statute or otherwise) is given by the Company that the Goods
are of any particular quality or standard or will enable the Purchaser to attain any
particular performance or result, or will be suitable for any particular purpose or use
under specific conditions or will provide any particular capacity, notwithstanding
that the requirement for such performance, result or capacity or that such particular
purpose or conditions may have been known (or ought to have been known) to the
Company, its employees or agents.
(g) (i) To the extent that the Company is held legally liable to the Purchaser for any
single breach of contract, tort, representation or other act or default, the
Company’s liability for the same shall not exceed the Price of the Goods.
(ii) The restriction of liability in Condition (g)(i) shall not apply to any liability
accepted by the Seller in Condition (c).
(h) Where the Goods are sold under a consumer transaction (as defined by the
Consumer Transactions (Restrictions on Statements) Order 1976) the statutory
rights of the Purchaser are not affected by these Conditions of Sale.
WARRANTY
WARRANTY

CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook iii
Unpacking the Passive Digital Splitters
The Passive Digital Splitters is shipped with the following equipment. Please check your
packaging to ensure that you have all of the items below. If anything is missing, please
contact the supplier of your equipment immediately.
Item Quantity Passive Digital Splitters
Passive Digital Splitters 1
Handbook and warranty card 1
Fig A: Packing List
Each Passive Digital Splitters is shipped in protective packaging and should be inspected
for damage before use. Where an item is found to have transit damage, notify the carrier
immediately with all the relevant details of the shipment. Packing materials should be kept
for inspection and also for if the product needs to be returned.
Returning the Warranty Card
In order to register the date of purchase so that we can keep you informed of any design
improvements or modifications, it is important to complete the warranty registration
document that is enclosed and return it to Sonifex Ltd in the UK, or register online at
www.sonifex.co.uk/register
For your own records you should write down the serial number (which can be found on the
rear of the Passive Digital Splitters).
Serial Number ………………………………………
WARRANTY
WARRANTY

iv CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook
Installation Information
Atmosphere
The units should be installed in an area that is not subject to excessive temperature variation
(<0°C, >50°C), moisture, dust or vibration.
WEEE & RoHS Directives - Sonifex Statement
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive was agreed on 13
February 2003, along with the related Directive 2002/95/EC on Restrictions of the
use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS).
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) aims to minimise the impacts
of electrical and electronic equipment on the environment during their life times and when they
become waste. It applies to a huge spectrum of products. It encourages and sets criteria for the
collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment. All
products manufactured by Sonifex Ltd have the WEEE directive label placed on the case. It gives
a contact for individuals who are unsure about the correct procedure when the product has
reached its “end of use”.
Sonifex Ltd will be happy to give you information about local organisations that can reprocess
the products, or alternatively all products that have reached “end of use” can be returned to
Sonifex and will be reprocessed correctly free of charge.
Sonifex Ltd has phased out the use of certain hazardous substances identified in the European
Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. The RoHS directive limits the
use of certain hazardous substances currently used in EEE manufacture, including lead, mercury,
cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and halide-containing compounds PBB (polybrominated
biphenyl) and PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether). Elimination of these substances will result
in more environmentally friendly recycling of electronic equipment. For the products which
Sonifex manufacture, the main area where products were affected was in the use of lead for
manufacturing and assembling electronics circuit boards.
Sonifex Ltd practices lead-free (LF) manufacturing processes. LF solder is used on the surface-
mount PCB manufacturing processes and for hand soldering. The printed circuit boards (PCBs)
used are either gold plated, or immersion tin plated, both of which use no lead. Historically the
PCBs were hot air solder levelled (HASL) PCBs which used tin/lead based solder.
The manufacturing processes include the assembly of purchased components from various
sources. Product is offered as RoHS compliant, or LF, only after sufficient evidence is received
from the component manufacturers that their components are RoHS compliant. Sonifex Ltd
relies solely on the distributor, or manufacturer, of the components for identification of RoHS
compliance. Thus whilst every effort is made to ensure compliance, Sonifex Ltd makes no
warranty, or certification, or declaration of compliance concerning said components.
Sonifex Ltd defines “Lead Free” as pertaining to any product, which has been manufactured by
Sonifex Ltd using components which have been declared by the manufacturers as “Lead Free”.
All statements by Sonifex Ltd of RoHS compliance are based on component manufacturer
documentation.
WEEE & ROHS DIRECTIVE
INSTALLATION INFORMATION, WEEE & ROHS DIRECTIVE

CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook 1
CMAESX3 & CMAESB3 INTRODUCTION
1
INTRODUCTION
1 Passive Digital Splitters Introduction
The Passive Digital AES Splitters are a range of small form units, for splitting digital AES3/
AES3ID audio from a single source to up to 3 destinations.
There are two Passive Digital Splitter products:
CM-AESX3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3 Splitter, with XLR connections.
CM-AESB3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3ID Splitter, with BNC connections.
2 CM-AESX3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3 Splitter, with XLR
The CM-AESX3 is a passive digital splitter, designed to split a single AES3 source to up to
three destinations, using Neutrik XLR connectors. 110Ω termination can be applied, if
desired to unconnected outputs. The CM-AESX3 is a single “one-to-three” splitter housed in
a small form box, and utilises a locking XLR socket for the input connector.
Block Diagram
Fig 2-1: CM-AESX3 Block Diagram
AES/EBU Input
AES/EBU Output 1
AES/EBU Output 2
AES/EBU Output 3
21
3
21
3
21
3
110
110
12
3

2CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook
CMAESX3 3 WAY PASSIVE DIGITAL AES3
SPLITTER WITH XLR
CMAESX3 3 WAY PASSIVE DIGITAL AES3
SPLITTER WITH XLR
2
Controls & Connectors
Fig 2-2: CM-AESX3 Front and Rear Panels
AES/EBU input(s)
The single digital audio input is via a female XLR connector with the following pin
assignment:
Pin 1: 0V Common
Pin 2: Phase
Pin 3: Non Phase
AES/EBU outputs 1-3
The digital audio outputs are via male XLR connectors with the following pin assignment:
Pin 1: 0V Common
Pin 2: Phase
Pin 3: Non Phase
Termination switches
It is possible to terminate Output 2 and Output 3 with 110Ω in the event that they are not
connected to a destination device. It may be necessary to remove termination from an
unused output if a used output is connected to a destination via a long cable run, in order to
increase the level of the AES3 carrier signal.

CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook 3
CMAESX3 3 WAY PASSIVE DIGITAL AES3 SPLITTER WITH XLR
2
CMAESX3 3 WAY PASSIVE DIGITAL AES3
SPLITTER WITH XLR
CM-AESX3 Technical Specification
CM-AESX3: Cable drive capability
The table below sets out the minimum signal amplitude required to drive 100m
(cumulative) of 110Ω twisted pair cable, based on the sample rate of the digital audio:
Sample Rate Minimum Signal Amplitude
32kHz *2Vpk-pk
44.1kHz *2Vpk-pk
48kHz *2Vpk-pk
88.2kHz 5Vpk-pk
96kHz 5Vpk-pk
* Minimum of 2Vpk-pk is defined by the AES3 format specification.
The table below sets out the minimum signal amplitude required to drive 30m (cumulative)
of 110Ω twisted pair cable, based on the sample rate of the digital audio:
Sample Rate Minimum Signal Amplitude
176.4kHz 3Vpk-pk
192kHz 3Vpk-pk
Equipment Type
CM-AESX3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3 Splitter with XLR connections.
Physical Specification
Dimensions: 7.7cm (W) x 8.3cm (D) x 4.2cm (H)
3.0” (W) x 3.3” (D) x 1.7” (H)
Weight: Nett: 0.22kg Gross: 0.33kg
Nett: 0.49lbs Gross: 0.73lbs

4CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook
CMAESX3 3 WAY PASSIVE DIGITAL AES3
SPLITTER WITH XLR
CMAESX3 3 WAY PASSIVE DIGITAL AES3
SPLITTER WITH XLR
2
Source Splitter
Destination 1
Destination 2
Destination 3
100m Short
Short
Short
Sample Rate = 96kHz
Signal Amplitude = 5Vpk-pk
100m cumulative
Source Splitter
Destination 1
Destination 2
Destination 3
Short 10m
10m
10m
Sample Rate = 192kHz
Signal Amplitude = 3Vpk-pk
30m cumulative
Source Splitter
Destination 1
Destination 2
Destination 3
50m 50m
50m
50m
Sample Rate = 48kHz
Signal Amplitude = 2Vpk-pk
200m cumulative
Examples of use of cumulative cabling:

CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook 5
CMAESB3 3 WAY PASSIVE DIGITAL AES3ID SPLITTER WITH BNC
3
CMAESB3 3 WAY PASSIVE DIGITAL AES3ID
SPLITTER WITH BNC
3 CM-AESB3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3ID Splitter, with BNC
The CM-AESB3 is a passive digital splitter, designed to split a single AES3ID source to up to
three destinations, using BNC connectors. 75Ω termination can be applied, if desired to
unconnected outputs. The CM-AESB3 is a single “one-to-three”splitter housed in a small
form box.
Block Diagram
Fig 3-1: CM-AESB3 Block Diagram
Controls & Connectors
Fig 3-2: CM-AESB3 Front and Rear Panels
AES/EBU Input
AES/EBU
Output 1
AES/EBU
Output 2
AES/EBU
Output 3
75
75

6CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook
CMAESB3 3 WAY PASSIVE DIGITAL AES3ID
SPLITTER WITH BNC
CMAESB3 3 WAY PASSIVE DIGITAL AES3ID
SPLITTER WITH BNC
3
AES/EBU input(s)
The single digital audio input is via a female BNC connector with the following pin
assignment:
Tip: Signal
Screen: 0V Common
AES/EBU outputs 1-3
The digital audio outputs are via a female BNC connectors with the following pin
assignment:
Tip: Signal
Screen: 0V Common
Termination switches
It is possible to terminate Output 2 and Output 3 with 75Ω in the event that they are not
connected to a destination device. It may be necessary to remove termination from an
unused output if a used output is connected to a destination via a long cable run, in order to
increase the level of the AES3ID carrier signal.
CM-AESB3 Technical Specification
CM-AESB3: Cable drive capability
Cumulative cable drive capability of 100m of 75 coaxial cable at sample rates up to and
including 96kHz.
Equipment Type
CM-AESB3 3 Way Passive Digital AES3ID Splitter with BNC.
Physical Specification
Dimensions (Raw): 7.7cm (W) x 8.3cm (D) x 4.2cm (H)
3.0” (W) x 3.3” (D) x 1.7” (H)
Weight: Nett: 0.22kg Gross: 0.33kg
Nett: 0.49lbs Gross: 0.73lbs

CM-AESX3 & CM-AESB3 Passive Digital Splitters User Handbook
NOTES
NOTES

www.sonifex.co.uk
t:[phone]
f:[phone]
[email protected]o.uk