Unbalanced pc to balanced qsc mx700

erichthinks · 25th June 2012, 10:20 PM

Hi guys.

I need some help. I can usually trial-and-error my way out of a jam, but I'm a wiring design novice. This simple problem comes down to the following:

1. I have a 3.5mm unbalanced TRS stereo output (PC, ipod, what have you).
2. I have a QSC mx700 from ebay. Its manual here:
3. The QSC uses a 5-terminal barrier strip, or two balanced mono TRS inputs.

Which method should I use to connect? I can't make definitive heads or tails out of the manual, it assumes a greater knowledge of signal behavior than what I have.

Thank you for any links or shared experience you may have. Sorry if this is uber-nub.

dangus · 26th June 2012, 12:04 AM

The manual says "When making unbalanced connections, the unused terminal must be grounded for proper response." So, regular mono 1/4" plugs should do that for you, but the signal will be inverted. If polarity matters, use 1/4" stereo plugs, make the ring "hot" and ground the tip to the shell. So, the simplest solution is a 3.5mm to RCA cable, then two mono RCA to 1/4" cables.

25th June 2012, 10:20 PM	#1
erichthinks diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2012	Unbalanced pc to balanced qsc mx700 Hi guys. I need some help. I can usually trial-and-error my way out of a jam, but I'm a wiring design novice. This simple problem comes down to the following: 1. I have a 3.5mm unbalanced TRS stereo output (PC, ipod, what have you). 2. I have a QSC mx700 from ebay. Its manual here: 3. The QSC uses a 5-terminal barrier strip, or two balanced mono TRS inputs. Which method should I use to connect? I can't make definitive heads or tails out of the manual, it assumes a greater knowledge of signal behavior than what I have. Thank you for any links or shared experience you may have. Sorry if this is uber-nub.

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26th June 2012, 12:04 AM	#2
dangus diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vancouver Island	The manual says "When making unbalanced connections, the unused terminal must be grounded for proper response." So, regular mono 1/4" plugs should do that for you, but the signal will be inverted. If polarity matters, use 1/4" stereo plugs, make the ring "hot" and ground the tip to the shell. So, the simplest solution is a 3.5mm to RCA cable, then two mono RCA to 1/4" cables.