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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: timP on January 03, 2004, 08:43:54 PM

Title: How much better does XLR sound then mini plugs?
Post by: timP on January 03, 2004, 08:43:54 PM

I have a set of SP AT933 with the stereo mini plug....
just wondering how much sound I'm losing using this kind of plug vs the regular XLR plug. I'm running it thru  the SP batt box/pre amp combo, but have a denecke AD-20 with optical out.
What I'm thinking is getting a plain batt box with no pre amp and powering the mics thru that,then, with a mini>XLR converter, the AD-20, then out via optical to my recorder.... is it even worth it?
Thank You

Title: Re:How much better does XLR sound then mini plugs?
Post by: sexymexi on January 03, 2004, 09:42:04 PM

i woulnd't say its worth it cause your still running mini>xlr coversion, therefor having another break in your linage,  i'd stay with the mini, it would be a lot easier, xlr is nice yes, runs a cleaner, hotter signal, and its neccesary for mics that are made with xlr connections, i'd stay with what you have.  its easier.  save up for something else.  more mics, pre amps. deck.  i take it u are using either a MD or JB3 for coax outs.  good luck.  

matt

Title: Re:How much better does XLR sound then mini plugs?
Post by: timP on January 03, 2004, 10:40:18 PM

I'm usning the  iriver hp120....
can't think of any other way to hook up to my AD 20 without using the XLR coverter...then it has an optical out to my recorder

Title: Re:How much better does XLR sound then mini plugs?
Post by: sexymexi on January 04, 2004, 02:08:23 AM

yea what he said...  

Title: Re:How much better does XLR sound then mini plugs?
Post by: F.O.Bean on January 04, 2004, 04:00:29 AM

mainly, a big difference, is one is balanced(XLR's) and the others are unbalanced(1/4", 1/8", etc)

well, sometimes xlr's can be unbalanced, but w/ what we do, theyre usually balanced!!

Title: Re:How much better does XLR sound then mini plugs?
Post by: timP on January 04, 2004, 11:45:02 AM

mic supply has just what I need..
Thanks again for all the quck answers........

Title: Re:How much better does XLR sound then mini plugs?
Post by: drumminj on January 04, 2004, 01:13:57 PM

This isn't exactly relevant to your situation, however, I've found that having balanced(XLR) cables is a great thing.  Since I tape mostly in small bars, I find myself clamping or taping my mics to walls, etc, where there are lights, power cables, etc, all over the place.  With unbalanced mics, I'd get a buzz from the electricity.  A balanced cable will get rid of that(and gets rid of the need to use Cool Edit to filter out the buzz :)  

I don't know how it would work if going from mics w/ unbalanced cables -> XLR, if that would indeed be a balanced signal.  But the balanced cables are much more immune to electircal interference

Title: Re:How much better does XLR sound then mini plugs?
Post by: heath on January 09, 2004, 08:37:12 PM

Quote from: bean on January 04, 2004, 04:00:29 AM

mainly, a big difference, is one is balanced(XLR's) and the others are unbalanced(1/4", 1/8", etc)

well, sometimes xlr's can be unbalanced, but w/ what we do, theyre usually balanced!!

not to nitpick, bean, but 1'4" cables do come balanced. a little fyi.