is it really necessary to use an attenuator if I use AT853 (mini XLR terminated) > 3 Wire Bbox > AD20 > JB3 with optical cable? if yes I will consider to buy it...but it sounds like a surprise for me (I just got the AD20 some days ago and never tried it on the field yet). is the clipping risk really high even if the AD20 is set to minimum (+17db)?
I just got my AD-20 and did a test with my setup by cranking up my stereo......I found that with the gain knobs on the AD-20 turned all the way down...the levels on my JB3 were above 3/4.......that is usually where they were with my analog preamp, and that produced good results. If I turned up the gain just slightly...it goes into clip range.
My concern is that a show is MUCH louder than my stereo, so I thought I'd just get an 10 db attenuator and that should do it. I was just told on another thread that you need to know the impedance of the circuit and then make certain the attenuator allows that impedance.
I have no idea how to find the impedance of the circuit....and am starting to think to stay analog, since I've always gotten good results...and get rid of the AD-20.
I didn't think it was that big of a deal to get an AD-20, and was an upgrade...but now I question that...