Musical Sounding Equalizer

[Dick West]

I need help selecting an analog graphics equalizer that has RCA inputs and outputs.

A 20 year old TEAC equalizer gives a hint of what is possible but it has way too much distortion to be useful. It imparts the "transistory edge" sound to what it processes.

Alesis and Behringer have models that seem pertinent except they use balanced XLR or TRS inputs/outputs.

Is there any consumer electronics product that has an excellent quality of sound and that has 5-10 controls per channel and that has unbalanced analog inputs and outputs?

Thanks for your suggestions.

[Sjef]

I really wouldn't worry too much about the balanced in and outputs. That's very easily to overcome with some XLR-->cinch adapter plugs, that's all, not more than that, as simple as it can be, nothing special. You even wouldn't need them if you make your owm interconnect cables, just put a XLR on one side in stead of a cinch plug.

[Dick West]

What is a "cinch" plug? Is this an RCA phono type plug? Without a schematic showing the pin out of the xlr/TSR connector jacks I am reluctant to make up my own cable. I read somewhere recently that the wiring of XLR connectors is not consistent, not all are wired the same way.

Can you point me to further info about how to make a conversion cable?

Thanks so much.

[ruerose]

the back of the behr will have a pin-out for you to avoid confusion, but you can just pick up a 1/4" T/S male to RCA female adapter plug at your local electronics store.


CANADA:
http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Pr...roduct=2740884
or
http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Pr...roduct=2740365

US:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=274%2D884
or
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=274%2D365

[Sjef]

Cinch = RCA, yes.

Signal XLR is always connected in the same way, it's a standard. XLR plug's are also often used for speaker wiring and then you will find different connections, don't worry about it with signal level.

If you are confused you can just buy two male XLR to RCA adapters and two female XLR to RCA adapters. Just plug them into the input and outputs and connect your RCA cable like you used to, e voila, it works.

[pinkmouse]

Originally posted by Sjef
Signal XLR is always connected in the same way, it's a standard.

Oh no it's not!

Signal XLR can be pin 2 or pin 3 hot, but as long as both adaptors are wired the same it will make no difference.

[Dick West]

sjef --

Thanks for the assurance that conversion is simple. The previous message said that the plugs linked below that convert phone plugs to RCA plug connections are conversion plugs.

US:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.a...%5Fid=274%2D884
or
http://www.radioshack.com/product.a...%5Fid=274%2D365

Is this true? Their description is "phono plug adapter" and nothing is written in their descriptions about converting balanced to unbalanced.

Thanks

[Dick West]

How about this for connecting balanced to unbalanced:

3. How do I connect balanced and unbalanced equipment?

Paraphrased from the excellent rec.audio.pro FAQ at

http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypert...o-faq/faq.html

[amongst other places]

The correct way to connect balanced and unbalanced equipment is an audio balance transformer

To connect an unbalanced output (typically on a phono connector from some home audio equipment, eg a CD player) to a balanced input (almost always an XLR connector). Connect the centre pin to pin 2 of the XLR connector, and the ground ring to pins 1 & 3

To connect a balanced output to an unbalanced input is trickier. If it's a floating (passive) balanced output you can connect pin 2 of the XLR to the phono pin and pin 3 to the ring. If it's an active balanced output then you may be able to XLR pin 2 to the phono pin and pin 1 to the phono ring, leaving pin 3 unconnected. If that fails try connecting XLR pin 3 to the phono pin, XLR pin 1 to the ring and leavin pin 2 unconnected. Both of these approaches may well cause distortion or more noise.