Connecting Juke to a Line-Level Device — Application Note

Juke application note (Revision 1.3): how to connect a Juke zone output to a line-level input on a third-party device, such as an external amplifier.

Summary

Juke provides outputs that power speakers directly in each zone. This application note explains how to connect a Juke zone output to a line-level input on another device — for example, a third-party amplifier — instead of (or in addition to) directly-wired speakers.

If Speakers Are Connected in Parallel

If Juke is already powering speakers in a zone and you also want a line-level device to play concurrently, you'll need the following part:

Connect the 4 wires of the PAC converter in parallel with the speaker wires connected to Juke's green connector for that zone. The correct wire order, left to right, is: white, white with a black stripe, grey, and grey with a black stripe. Connect the converter's RCA jacks to the line-level inputs on the third-party device. You can adjust the volume of the PAC with the rotary dials on the end, but in most cases the default setting works well and no adjustment is needed.

If Speakers Are Not Connected in Parallel

If you want to stream via Juke to a third-party device but retain the option of playing that device without also playing to speakers connected directly to Juke for that zone, an additional step is required. In addition to the PAC converter above, you'll need to add a resistor across the positive and negative terminals of Juke's left and right outputs for that zone — this makes Juke "think" that speakers are connected to that zone (otherwise it won't play).

To wire this: insert the wires for a resistor into the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals of Juke's left output terminal, in parallel with the wires going to the PAC converter. Do the same for the right output terminals using a second resistor. Tighten all 4 screws to secure the wires and resistors.