Avalon upgrade options
the Neutricon connector is not made like in the 90ies any more, so we suggest to upgrade to one of 3 options, all without soldering:
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the new Neutricon
keeps the original connector housings, only the contacts are very different. simply replace the flat cable in the Avalon and the flat cable in the Polysubbass. we suggest to replace the Neutricon in the back of the Polysubbass by a 13pin DIN.
The new Polybass-Box can be configured with a Neutricon input and 13pin DIN output so it can also serve as a conversion. -
the GK 13pin DIN standard
needs replacement of the preamp board in the Avalon and the output connector. brings direct compatibility with the Roland equipment and the Polybass-Box and PolyPan-Box with 13pin inputs. but its not trivial to continue with the Polysubbass. see Polysubbass Upgrade below. and the connector tends to create problems and is far less solid than the other options.
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the new 16pin LEMO clone
at least as solid as the Neutricon and smoother to connect. now available from many different manufacturers so this standard is least likely to disappear in the next decades. can be connected to a Polybass-Box or PolyPan-Box with the same input connector or a GK-10 or GR-55 with a upgraded input connector. or a adapter cable or box can be used to connect directly to a Roland GK 13pin compatible equipment. needs replacement of the preamp board in the Avalon. also see Polysubbass Upgrade below.
Polysubbass Upgrade
there are two major electrical differences between the Neutricon standard and the GK 13pin DIN / Lemo 16pin standards:
– the level has not been specified by Roland and RMC uses a higher level and Neutricon is again 3 times stronger than the RMC. so from Neutricon to RMC we can convert with 12 resistors while from RMC level to the input of the Polysubbass we need to amplify. its possible to create such a board which will become available if enough clients buy one. BUT:
– the Roland GK works as a +- 7V supply while the Neutricon works with a single 15V power. so I need to create a 7V higher ground level in the Polysubbass for the GK 13pin DIN / Lemo 16pin guitar input. the shield can continue the low ground. all the output Jacks of the Polysubbass will continue with the low ground, so the rest of the equipment (Mixer, GK boxes…) need to be on this low ground. so the GK 13pin DIN / Lemo 16pin standard output on the back of the Polysubbass will have no power connection and their ground (the housing in case of the DIN) will be low ground. while this works fine for the simple connection, it does not work if you connect a guitar with a 13pin DIN and a Jack out to the system or use some 13pin switching box between the Avalon and the Polysubbass because this will create a short circuit between the low ground of the Polysubbass and the high ground of the guitar. This is not easy to understand and I hope I can explain better with a graphic (to be made)
Prices
I would love to give you the ready price for each of the options but it depends on quantity and length of the cables you need. I suggest a 6m cable for stage + a 3m cable for the studio (or should I make those only 2m or 2,5m?)
so:
- Avalon intern cable (EUR 50)
Neutricon cable new (EUR 108+128)
Polysubbass intern Neutricon New (EUR 65)
= EUR 351 - Avalon Pre board (EUR 130)
13pin cables (we do not sell at this time, I estimate EUR 50 ea)
Polysubbass intern 13pin DIN (not available yet, I estimate EUR 80)
= EUR 310 - Avalon Pre board (EUR 130)
16pin Lemo clone cable (EUR 54+64)
Polysubbass intern 13pin DIN (not available yet, I estimate EUR 90)
= EUR 338