CONNECTION GUIDE
with
Planning Your Installation
It is important that you take the time to read this manual thoroughly
and that you plan your installation carefully. It is very easy to damage
expensive vehicle systems in modern automobiles. Never assume that you
have found appropriate wires without consulting a reliable wiring diagram
or without analyzing with proper test equipment. If you are uncomfortable
or unfamiliar with reading diagrams or testing methods, please enlist the
services of your authorized JL Audio dealer to perform the installation.
Your authorized dealer has the training, expertise and installation
equipment to ensure optimum performance from this product.
What is Included
(1) VXI-HUB
(1) Connection Guide
Product Description
The VXI-HUB is an accessory designed to provide network connectivity of
VXi amplifiers in a multi-amp system. Networking greatly simplifies the
configuration process by permitting the setup and tuning of all amplifiers
using a single TüN™ project file. Additionally, networking synchronizes DSP
presets of all amplifiers and propagates DRC commands across the entire
amplifier network, using a single DRC controller.
The VXi-HUB includes JLid-COMM connections to network six VXi amplifiers
(one Master amplifier and five Slave amplifiers). Up to two VXI-HUBs can be
daisy-chained allowing network connectivity for up to ten VXi amplifiers. All
energy to power the VXi-HUB is derived from the connected VXi amplifiers.
For systems utilizing a optical digital signal source, a built-in S/PDIF
digital repeater is also onboard to distribute optical digital audio signals
to networked amplifiers (one S/PDIF digital input and five S/PDIF digital
outputs).The digital audio outputs remain synchronized to avoid the
timing and phase issues that can occur with daisy-chain style connections.
Optical digital audio connections are capable of handling S/PDIF signals
up to 24 bit/192 kHz.
A dedicated JLid-COMM accessory port is included for the connection
of the optional VXi-BTC Bluetooth® Communicator (sold separately).
The VXi-BTC permits the wireless configuration of an amplifier network
using a compatible iOS® or Android® device running TüN™ Mobile or
TüN™ Express apps.
Note: The VXi-HUB utilizes a proprietary JLid™ communication protocol
via standard CAT5e network cables (not included). Use only CAT5e
type network cables and keep cable lengths as short as possible for
optimum performance. Audio signals are NOT transmitted via
JLid-COMM connections.
1
Configuration Switch
Use the Configuration switch to set the VXi-HUB’s functionality. A single
VXi-HUB can network a total of six VXi amplifiers, consisting of one Master
amplifier and up to five Slave amplifiers. A second VXi-HUB can be daisy-
chained to network ten VXi amplifiers, comprising of one Master amplifier
and up to nine Slave amplifiers. A maximum of two VXi-HUBs may be used
in a single network. Refer to the table below for a description of each
switch setting and select according to your specific system.
Setting
Function / Description
Standalone
Select for Single-HUB systems
Primary
Select for the first VXi-HUB in Two-HUB systems
Secondary
Select for the second VXi-HUB in Two-HUB systems
2
JLid-COMM Amplifier Port Connections
The VXi-HUB is equipped with one Master and five numbered JLid-COMM
ports to connect to the JLid-COMM port on VXi amplifiers. JLid-COMM
connections are made using standard CAT5e network cables (not included).
For optimum performance, use only CAT5e type network cables and keep
cable lengths as short as possible. Refer to the tables below for detailed
connection info for your specific system.
Single-HUB System:
JLid-COMM
Ports on
VXi-HUB
Connection
Note
JLid-COMM
Master Port
JLid-COMM
Port of the Master
VXi Amplifier
JLid-COMM
Ports 1 to 5
JLid-COMM
Port of Slave
VXi Amplifiers
If using the VXi-HUB’s built-in Optical
Digital Audio Distribution, a Slave VXi
amplifier connection to Port 1 is required.
Two-HUB System:
JLid-COMM
Ports on
VXi-HUB
Connection
Note
Primar
y HUB
JLid-COMM
Master Port
JLid-COMM
Port of the Master
VXi Amplifier
JLid-COMM
Ports 1 to 4
JLid-COMM
Port of Slave
VXi Amplifiers
If using this VXi-HUB’s built-in Optical Digi-
tal Audio Distribution, a Slave VXi amplifier
connection to Port 1 is required.
JLid-COMM
Port 5
JLid-COMM
Master Port
of the Secondary
VXi-HUB
Sec
ondar
y HUB
JLid-COMM
Master Port
JLid-COMM
Port 5 of the
Primary VXi-HUB
JLid-COMM
Ports 1 to 5
JLid-COMM
Port of Slave
VXi Amplifiers
If using this VXi-HUB’s built-in Optical Digi-
tal Audio Distribution, a Slave VXi amplifier
connection to Port 1 is required.
3
Amp Identifier and Status LEDs
Each JLid-COMM amplifier port is equipped with a status LED that will
illuminate solid blue when connected to a VXi amplifier. Pressing an Amp
Identifier button on the VXi-HUB will change its status LED to white and
cause the LED badge on the connected VXi amplifier to flash white. This
functionality may be useful to identify specific amplifiers, after installation.
4
Optical Digital Audio Distribution
The VXi-HUB is equipped with a built-in S/PDIF digital repeater to
distribute a single optical (Toslink) input signal to five optical (Toslink)
outputs, at up to 24 bit/192 kHz. Digital audio outputs retain absolute
synchronization to avoid timing and phase irregularities that can occur
with daisy-chain style connections.
Note: The five digital audio outputs
are unaltered replicas of the digital input, with no processing applied.
Optical Digital Audio Distribution functionality requires a Slave
amplifier connection to JLid-COMM Port 1.
5
JLid-COMM Accessory Port and LED
The JLid-COMM Accessory Port is used to connect an optional VXi-BTC
Bluetooth® Communicator (sold separately) to deliver wireless setup and
tuning control of VXi amplifiers, using a compatible handheld device running
TüN™ Mobile and TüN™ Express applications.
Note: The VXi-BTC provides a
control interface only and does NOT support audio streaming.
This connection is made using a standard CAT5e cable (included with the
VXi-BTC Bluetooth® Communicator). When a VXi-BTC is connected, the JLid-
COMM Accessory Port LED will illuminate blue to indicate a valid connection.
An amber LED indicates an incompatible connection.
Note: JLid-COMM
Accessory Port functionality requires an amplifier connection to
the JLid-COMM Master Port. When used in Two-HUB System applications,
the VXi-BTC should be connected to the Primary VXi-HUB only.
1
2
3
5
5
JLid-COMM
Master
JLid-COMM
Accessory Port
JLid-COMM
Port 1
(Required)
JLid-COMM
Port 2
JLid-COMM
Port 3
JLid-COMM
Port 4
JLid-COMM
Port 5
Output 5
Output 4
Output 3
Output 2
Output 1
Input
JLid-COMM & OPTICAL AUDIO NETWORK HUB
Configuration:
Amp Identifier
Status
Optical Digital Audio Distribution
Standalone
Primary
Secondary
Blue:
Connected
White:
Amplifier ID Request
4
