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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: igene on March 27, 2011, 07:47:22 PM
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I know this is an old preamp that is discontinued, but it sounds real nice...
and this is a good solution.
I needed to add external 9V power to my DXA-10
as the internal 9V battery lasts like an hour...? (w/ phantom power ON)
Someone posted a battery insert they got from Beachtek to add an external jack.
Another person drilled a hole and added a jack.
I thought about it and went another route.
There's already a notch in the back of the pre.
Usually the mic output cable is there (in other models using the same body).
I removed the back and the 9V sled compartment.
Soldered a female DC connector pigtail to the same spot as the 9v out from the battery
(inside, on the back of the plastic battery sled housing)
Added a mini ty-wrap for strain relief, and dressed the wire around the back connector plate and thru the notch.
Done.
Now I can hot swap external batteries w/ a good 9V in the sled.
Also, I can now run the pre non-stop.
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z48/igene_01/100_5150.jpg)
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z48/igene_01/100_5152.jpg)
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z48/igene_01/100_5157.jpg)
labeled !
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z48/igene_01/100_5159.jpg)
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no comment ?
I guess this as exciting as dry toast :-\
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I got a question..how quiet is the pre....
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I've done the same mod.
The preamp is excellent, it has INA163 chips running with a full +/-12V internal supply and full phantom voltage. Unfortunately, it is too sensitive for live recording with "hot" mics. It has two gain settings, LO and HI. Even at LO I clipped with Beyerdynamic MC930 mics at a medium level rock show. On the other hand, for recording voice or unamplified music it would probably be fine.
I plan to modify mine for lower gain settings, or maybe put DIP switches inside. Ideally it should have a stepped gain control on the front, or at least have a much more "linear" control, with a wide range of levels. I rate it excellent on self-noise, but poor on headroom.
Richard
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I did some initial testing, and I have a few mics that it works well with.
Fortunately, for one, the AKG blue-line mics sound great.
I did notice the levels had to be around 30% gain for a good overall balance
(between a strong signal and clean output w/ headroom)
Any more and you OD the signal, or might.
But around 30 % gain seems to work fine.
But I do agree that if this pre had a lower gain setting internally, it would be much more controllable.
Is there a way to just add some sort of internal pad circuit ?
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The preamp is excellent, it has INA163 chips running with a full +/-12V internal supply and full phantom voltage.
Do you know if the Beachtek DXA-6HD has the same chips and comparable performance? I have a chance to buy one cheap.
Thanks.
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The preamp is excellent, it has INA163 chips running with a full +/-12V internal supply and full phantom voltage.
Do you know if the Beachtek DXA-6HD has the same chips and comparable performance? I have a chance to buy one cheap.
Thanks.
I think that one only has mic output, not line output.
Big difference.
Check and make sure...
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The preamp is excellent, it has INA163 chips running with a full +/-12V internal supply and full phantom voltage.
Do you know if the Beachtek DXA-6HD has the same chips and comparable performance? I have a chance to buy one cheap.
Thanks.
I think that one only has mic output, not line output.
Big difference.
Check and make sure...
You're right. Thanks for the heads up.
I just realized that it's only a mic adapter (for phantom power), not a preamp. Sorry for the interruption.
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no interruption, it's all a learning process here...
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no interruption, it's all a learning process here...
I hesitated about reviving an old thread, but since it is a learning process, I wanted to correct my previous post regarding the Beachtek DXA-6HD in which I wrote:
"I just realized that it's only a mic adapter (for phantom power), not a preamp."
That describes only the non-HD version [DXA-6].
The BeachTek DXA-6HD is a two channel, XLR adapter with built-in low noise preamplifiers and 48 volt phantom power supplies.
Sorry for the original misinformation.
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Hey Quick question how do you open the back? What kind of screw is that?