Since professional level is defined as balanced and consumer level is defined as unbalanced, it gets a little
more complicated.
Consumer level is usually unbalanced. This means that a proper input cable (maybe from a phono
preamplifier) should connect Center (source) to Hot (dspMusik, tip), and Ground (source) to Ground and
Cold (ring) on the dspMusik TRS. The best way is with a three conductor cable with separate wires (shield &
twisted pair) connected at the source end.
Unbalanced outputs ONLY use the Hot and Gnd on the dspMusik. The Cold connection is left open.
Otherwise, The Cold output will drive into a short (Ground).
When making input connections, a less optimum but certainly convenient interconnect method is to use a
phono to 2 conductor (mono) phone plug adapter. This shorts the Cold and Ground connections at the TRS
input of the dspMusik. DO NOT DO THIS FOR UNBALANCED OUT CONNECTIONS! It will short the
Cold Output to Ground! Output cables for unbalanced circuits leave Cold open.
In the professional audio case, levels and interfaces are consistent. With consumer gear, everything gets a
little sketchy. Some consumer gear now has balanced audio connections available. The problem is that
–10dBV is no longer is clearly defined. If balanced connections are used, should levels be measured from
Hot to Cold or alternatively, Hot to Ground? This is a 6 dB difference and different manufacturers have
different ideas.
Another issue that comes up is power amplifier gain. Most power amplifiers have a gain of between 20 and
30 (26dB to 31dB). This can be referenced from balanced or unbalanced inputs. This means that a large
power amplifier might need to about 3.5V peak to swing to full range. If the output gain is insufficient, the
amplifier will not swing to maximum power. In general, you use the settings that allow the amplifier to go full
range and not more. This will usually be the Consumer –10dBV output settings wired as balanced if the
amplifier has balanced inputs and single ended (unbalanced) if it does not.
dspMusik™ 2/8 User Manual
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