The better XLR adapter at DVinfo.net

Andrew Petrie · April 29th, 2003, 08:40 AM

I only ever hear about the beachtek XLR adapters, or the MA-x00 adapters. Which of the two provides the cleanest sound? I can snag a brand new MA-200 for $275.

Don Palomaki · April 29th, 2003, 05:07 PM

The Beachtek is passive, as is the Studio One and Signvideo. They should not introduce any noise (except perhaps for that coupled in from stray magnetic fields), but will have some insertion loss.

The MA-100/200 provides about 6 dB of gain, and because it is not passive it may add a wee bit of noise, but that is insignificant. It cannot accept line level signals.

Andrew Petrie · May 4th, 2003, 04:19 PM

in other words the MA-x00 can't accept line outs from say, a concert mixer feed?

Don Palomaki · May 5th, 2003, 03:41 AM

The MA-x00 starts to clip at about -7 dBV input level, and normal line level from a serious mixer is +4 dB. Many mixers have an option for mic level output which is typically -35 dBV give or take. This is OK. Altenatively you can obtain an in-line attenuator. Shure and others make them.

And if the run is short and the electrical noise environment modest, you could forego the MA-x00 and run a unbalanced line from the mixer's tape output jacks (if it has them) setting the XL1 to line input.

Jeff Donald · May 5th, 2003, 05:32 PM

Andrew, what I use is the Sound Devices MM-1. It gives me phantom power, decent headphone monitoring (with volume control), very high quality pre-amp, and line level out. The line out (about 6 inches) goes directly into the RCA line in. At times I use an attenuator cable, that Don speaks of. This allows me to go into the XLR connections on my MA-200 should I need 4 channel audio. The cable is available from sound Devices and Shure and others.

April 29th, 2003, 08:40 AM	#1
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	The better XLR adapter I only ever hear about the beachtek XLR adapters, or the MA-x00 adapters. Which of the two provides the cleanest sound? I can snag a brand new MA-200 for $275. __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

May 4th, 2003, 04:19 PM	#3
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	in other words the MA-x00 can't accept line outs from say, a concert mixer feed? __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

May 5th, 2003, 05:32 PM	#5
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Andrew, what I use is the Sound Devices MM-1. It gives me phantom power, decent headphone monitoring (with volume control), very high quality pre-amp, and line level out. The line out (about 6 inches) goes directly into the RCA line in. At times I use an attenuator cable, that Don speaks of. This allows me to go into the XLR connections on my MA-200 should I need 4 channel audio. The cable is available from sound Devices and Shure and others. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

April 29th, 2003, 05:07 PM	#2
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	The Beachtek is passive, as is the Studio One and Signvideo. They should not introduce any noise (except perhaps for that coupled in from stray magnetic fields), but will have some insertion loss. The MA-100/200 provides about 6 dB of gain, and because it is not passive it may add a wee bit of noise, but that is insignificant. It cannot accept line level signals.

May 5th, 2003, 03:41 AM	#4
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	The MA-x00 starts to clip at about -7 dBV input level, and normal line level from a serious mixer is +4 dB. Many mixers have an option for mic level output which is typically -35 dBV give or take. This is OK. Altenatively you can obtain an in-line attenuator. Shure and others make them. And if the run is short and the electrical noise environment modest, you could forego the MA-x00 and run a unbalanced line from the mixer's tape output jacks (if it has them) setting the XL1 to line input.