used trs in by way of old md player.i used a md for 6 years patching when i got mt player, i purchased mini>to rca adapter female and a rca male > trs cable and transfered many of my patch day md tapes to cd with mt, wonderful sound both left and right. i'm really leaning toward bad nt4 xlr or sp-adapter. trs boost was tried both on and off. off real static, on just high levels 1/4'' in on, tried L/M/H setting. still bad sound. will also check firmware i know i'm at 1.4. something. knock on wood mt and nt4 has been very nice to me, will see what way it goes