spawn2031 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Hey guys, been some experimentation with outputs and I noticed that the XLRs for my 500x are way quieter than my normal unbalanced 1/4" ones. Is this normal? I was really wanting to use my XLRs out to my new speakers but I'm having to roughly double the output from my pod to equal the volume with my 1/4" outs. Nothing too horrible but I was really wanting to get to the needed volume with the most headroom available. I have noticed some unwanted static in my 1/4" outs (not sure if it's the cable) my XLRs are clean though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb7170 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 The 1/4" outputs are switchable between "Amp" and "Line" levels -- the hotter Line level is what is normally needed for a power amp with no preamp. The XLR outputs are at "Amp" level only, such as needed for mic level inputs of a mixer with its preamps. I was disappointed that the XLR's could not be run at Line level for my Crown PA amp, as it has both XLR and 1/4" inputs. I wanted to use the balanced XLR cables, due to better noise rejection, but have found using 1/4" quality guitar cable not to be a problem, as far as noise goes. If you stay in 20 foot or less length or so, the 1/4" 2 - conductor good quality shielded instrument cable does not cause a noise issue, I've found. Incidentally, I believe the HD PRO X has switchable Line/Amp levels on it's XLR outputs. I did not need a rack mountable unit and the additional floorboard it would require to control it. I've been quite happy with my 500X and power amp combination. If the speakers are FRFR powered monitors, they may have a gain adjustment between Line and Mic level on their XLR inputs. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bvaladez74 Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 For me, for a live big rock gig....stage volume level....the XLR's aren't a realistic option. Unless, I'm running through a lot of headroom wattage powering it up to compensate for the volume drop. I was bummed too, but that's what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertmcollins3 Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I've found for live situations 1/4" into a DI box works best for me. If noise is ever an issue, which it usually isn't , I control it either with a noise gate (rarely) or just by lowering the volume and/or muting the strings when I'm not playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieVanSilva Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 The 1/4" outputs are switchable between "Amp" and "Line" levels -- the hotter Line level is what is normally needed for a power amp with no preamp. The XLR outputs are at "Amp" level only, such as needed for mic level inputs of a mixer with its preamps. I was disappointed that the XLR's could not be run at Line level for my Crown PA amp, as it has both XLR and 1/4" inputs. I wanted to use the balanced XLR cables, due to better noise rejection, but have found using 1/4" quality guitar cable not to be a problem, as far as noise goes. If you stay in 20 foot or less length or so, the 1/4" 2 - conductor good quality shielded instrument cable does not cause a noise issue, I've found. Incidentally, I believe the HD PRO X has switchable Line/Amp levels on it's XLR outputs. I did not need a rack mountable unit and the additional floorboard it would require to control it. I've been quite happy with my 500X and power amp combination. If the speakers are FRFR powered monitors, they may have a gain adjustment between Line and Mic level on their XLR inputs. Dave Don't want to derail here, but after just getting my HD pro hooked into a rocktron velocity 300, I ran it stereo, and had to crank the heck out of it to get to live volume, so I ended up just running it bridged mono to get more power. But I also had it switched to "amp" in the back, which is what I "thought" I was supposed to do. So you're saying the the "line" setting is hotter, and won't adversely affect tone or the equipment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfsmith0 Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I've made some measurements you can find here. You'll see that the gain from Guitar(normal) to 1/4"(amp) out is -4.9dB while the gain from Guitar(normal) to XLR is -14.3 dB (and gain from Guitar(normal) to headphone is +10.5dB). In addition, the 1/4"(line) output is 6dB larger than 1/4"(amp). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazzy Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 But I also had it switched to "amp" in the back, which is what I "thought" I was supposed to do. So you're saying the the "line" setting is hotter, and won't adversely affect tone or the equipment? Switch to line and if it clips switch back to amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfsmith0 Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 So, if the default settings reduce the guitar's signal by about 5dB. If you need to largest signal out of the HD500 then use the headphone output. If it's TOO hot then reduce it with the Master Volume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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