MEH Synergy Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Question for all. Currently, I am running straight out of a balanced DAC into a Behringer mixer and then into my PSA subs. I am looking for an affordable quality Preamp (signal is too low into the subs and they like a hot signal) that has a volume control. The behringer mixer notably degrades the sound of the subs a bit (as opposed to running straight into them out of the DAC). No lights or minimal lights is a plus. All I need is a volume control. Balanced is plus. Suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 People swear by the ART Cleanbox Pro for this kind of level matching/boosting. I have not tried one personally. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 5 minutes ago, babadono said: People swear by the ART Cleanbox Pro for this kind of level matching/boosting. I have not tried one personally. Thanks. That is one I considered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MookieStl Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 I use the ART Cleanbox Pro to boost the input level to a Crown amp for my subs. Works exactly as I had hoped. I don't notice any added noise. Solved my issue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MookieStl Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 It is balanced in and line level out OR line level in and balanced out! Those are the two options. It will not boost balanced to balance or line level to line level. It wasn't an issue for me as I could do it either way but tried line to line first only to find it wasn't an option. The Crown had switchable sensitivity but still didn't match up with the other amps until I boosted the signal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 2 minutes ago, MookieStl said: It is balanced in and line level out OR line level in and balanced out! Those are the two options. It will not boost balanced to balance or line level to line level. It wasn't an issue for me as I could do it either way but tried line to line first only to find it wasn't an option. The Crown had switchable sensitivity but still didn't match up with the other amps until I boosted the signal. I did see that c I planned to take RCA out into balanced on the subs. Exactly what I need. Both of you confirmed what I was thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 I think (please notice THINK) you can go in balanced then out the unbalanced, wrap that into the unbalanced in and come out balanced or vice versa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MookieStl Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 14 minutes ago, babadono said: I think (please notice THINK) you can go in balanced then out the unbalanced, wrap that into the unbalanced in and come out balanced or vice versa. $80 for amp $600 in cables and you're there! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 18 minutes ago, MookieStl said: $80 for amp $600 in cables and you're there! That there was laughable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=5346 This be a little short of $600. In fact I'd be surprised if anyone on this forum did not have some of these (or similar) laying around collecting dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 Custom mogami cables fit the bill for me and are quite affordable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 Cleanbox purchased. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 3 hours ago, Westcoastdrums said: Custom mogami cables fit the bill for me and are quite affordable to jumper an RCA to an RCA on the same piece of equipment? You could use a paper clip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 9 minutes ago, babadono said: to jumper an RCA to an RCA on the same piece of equipment? You could use a paper clip Not for a jumper. For the 10 Foot pair of balanced cabled I'm using Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 1 minute ago, Westcoastdrums said: Not for a jumper. For the 10 Foot pair of balanced cabled I'm using Duh. I thought you and the Mook were talkin' about my suggestion to wrap the Cleanbox around on itself. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 5 minutes ago, babadono said: Duh. I thought you and the Mook were talkin' about my suggestion to wrap the Cleanbox around on itself. Sorry. No. This box is perfect for me. I needed to convert to balanced to not get him in subs and have more gain. Great suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmlowz Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 I have used the Art Clean Box in and out of my systems through the years. I have had great success. One thing that it does that is not advertised is get rid of ground loop hum 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 1 minute ago, rmlowz said: I have used the Art Clean Box in and out of my systems through the years. I have had great success. One thing that it does that is not advertised is get rid of ground loop hum Good to know. I'm sure this is just what the doctor ordered. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 12 hours ago, babadono said: I think (please notice THINK) you can go in balanced then out the unbalanced, wrap that into the unbalanced in and come out balanced or vice versa. I tried that, since it was in the instructions that came with the Cleanbox. It worked, but didn't seem to sound any different. And I used the XLR-to-RCA cables that I had been using without the Cleanbox. I only had to buy one pair of XLR-to-XLR cables to connect the Cleanbox to the Dx38 and they cost less than $80. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 Big Cleanbox fan here. Have been using them for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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