Topic: un-switchable plug in power - could it hurt a soundboard?

[Will_S]

The iRiver H120 "line" input supplies ~3.4 volts of plug in power which, so far as I know, cannot be switched off.  Is there any way this could cause problems if taking a patch from a soundboard?

[SmokinJoe]

It's been done a hundred times and I've never heard of any issues.

[Will_S]

I realize it's been done (done it myself), just wondering if there's any conceivable configuration for a board's outputs that could cause trouble.

[Church-Audio]

I realize it's been done (done it myself), just wondering if there's any conceivable configuration for a board's outputs that could cause trouble.

Most consoles have dc blocking caps for the line input. So there should be no issues. But if it worries you make a cable with 2 x 2.2uf to 10uf caps Mylar would be good the higher the value the better. I have some 2.2uf caps I can send you if you need them and just put them in series with your line input that will block any dc coming from your recorder. There can be issues with consoles with transformer coupled inputs because they dont like DC very much. But again that's pretty rare.

[Will_S]

Thanks for the replies and the generous offer of the caps.  I'll pass on that, I'm asking bc this Saturday I may need to use my iriver, usually I'd use my R09 but it's on loan.  I may have to use a headphone volume control to attenuate the feed (I know that's not ideal), which should reduce the voltage further, right?

[Church-Audio]

No, the voltage is too small.  A console has to be able to tolerate a signal level that is at least +/-15V, DC or AC.  And really even above that the input should be protected by either a cap or diodes, or hopefully both!

I have seen a 9 volt battery take out a strip on a midas console... It can happen at much lower voltages then +- 15 volts.

Chris