OT: Consumer and Pro Level conversion

**mah** · May 21st, 2012, 02:32 AM

I could use one of these to boost the consumer preamp signal going to the DEQ and attenuate the DCX signal going to the consumer amp driving the CDs.

Specs look OK. Any experience with this or similar?

Cheers, Marshall.

Apology, I forgot to place OT in the header.

**Old Guy** · May 22nd, 2012, 10:21 AM

As Crocodile Dundee said- "One what?"

**just me now** · May 22nd, 2012, 12:11 PM

I thought the same thing...
"one what?"

that being said, I do know of several guys that feed their Talents' (DJs mostly) preamp into another preamp, then into the main system processing/amplification racks...

benefit is said to be having control of the signal being input into the racks, also making sure the DJ is not overdriving or clipping the main mixer -- some of the 'prosumer' mixers clip pretty easily -- without driving enough signal for larger venue use...

so the solution was to put a mechanical limiter on the mixer pots to ensure no clipping at that stage... basically a well placed screww in the faceplate -- then run that mixers output into another mixer (or board) to provide enough juice for the racks to operate correctly...

maybe my story is applicable to what you were thinking? in a rambling sort of way.... :grin:

**mah** · May 22nd, 2012, 08:00 PM

Oops. I forgot the link to the ART Cleanbox Pro. I have found an answer here: ART Cleanbox frequency response - Home Theater Forum and Systems - HomeTheaterShack.com

I want to get the output of a consumer preamp up to pro level to feed the DEQ and attenuate the output of the DCX to feed a consumer power amp.

**Audio_by_Goodwill** · May 22nd, 2012, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by mah

Oops. I forgot the link to the ART Cleanbox Pro.........

Twice aparently.

**mah** · May 22nd, 2012, 09:44 PM

Here it is:ART Pro Audio (3rd attempt to post).

**tomt** · May 23rd, 2012, 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by Old Guy

As Crocodile Dundee said- "One what?"

just realized, still haven't seen that movie.

or the sequel(s) ...

**bowtie427ss** · May 23rd, 2012, 07:14 AM

I want to get the output of a consumer preamp up to pro level to feed the DEQ and attenuate the output of the DCX to feed a consumer power amp.

Have you tried driving the DCX with the preamp and found a problem with level mismatch.

I certainly haven't tried every combination, but i've driven my DCX with several consumer preamps and not had an issue.

In fact, the only level matching issue i've encountered in recent memory is with the analog output of the Beri SRC-2496 being too hot and requiring 20db of inline attenuation to tame it.

FWIW, the only thing i'd use an ART cleanbox for is a wheel chock.

**mah** · May 23rd, 2012, 10:23 PM

Bowtie, I have been reading some literature by Bill Whitlock(Jensen Transformers) on the topic and he agrees that the consumer preamp should be able to drive pro gear and also agrees that the pro line out should be attenuated when driving a consumer amp.

Would you mind giving me the details of your attenuator?

I also have some hum and buzz which I think is caused by the grounding connections in my interconnects. This shouldn't be hard to track down.

Cheers, Marshall.

**bowtie427ss** · May 23rd, 2012, 10:36 PM

Would you mind giving me the details of your attenuator?

You'll be disappointed, in a hurry i opted for some cheap inline XLR units from one of the generic pro interconnect companies, "Hosa" model ATT-448. They're switchable 20, 30, or 40 db attenuation. They worked well enough that upgrading that solution dropped way down the priority list.

http://www.hosatech.com/product/0/AT...XLR3F_to_XLR3M

Their price is a little nutzo, you should be able to get a pair, shipped for less than that.